Unstoppable Ultra Runner

Why does doubt keep showing up during training, even when you’re doing everything right? You build belief in yourself, only to have it knocked down again by a new wave of doubt that makes you question your progress. In this episode, I break down the hidden pattern behind training doubt and why it can make you feel unprepared, no matter how much work you’ve put in.

You’ll learn how doubt shows up differently in the build, peak, and taper phases, and why it doesn’t actually mean anything has gone wrong. When you understand what’s really happening, you can stop reacting to doubt and start trusting your training. This is the key to showing up on race day feeling ready, even when doubt is still there.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/54

Connect with Susan:

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Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

A DNF often feels like the ultimate failure, but what if it’s actually the key to unlocking your next finish? In this episode, I’m diving into a pattern I see with so many of my clients after a DNF: viewing it as a setback instead of a sign that you are getting closer to your goal. So this week, I’ll walk you through the process of reflecting on your race, how to spot the wins that often get overlooked, and the one or two small adjustments that can make all the difference in your next race.

Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template here: susanidonnelly.com/mastery-debrief-template

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/53

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly

That question, “Can I finish?” has a way of taking over your thinking before a race. It feels important, like if you could just answer it, the doubt would go away. But the more you try to solve it, the more it pulls you into worry, keeping your focus on something you can’t actually control instead of the race itself.

In this episode, I break down why doubt shows up so strongly before a race and what’s really happening in your brain when you can’t stop questioning whether you’ll finish. I walk you through three better questions you can ask instead, so you can work with your brain, stay grounded in your race, and move forward with clarity even when doubt is still present.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/52

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

Ultra math is something every ultrarunner does. We rely on it, we stress over it, and more often than we’d like to admit, we regret the decisions we make because of it.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what ultra math actually is and why it can quietly derail your race if you’re not careful. You'll learn five strategies to take control of ultra math instead of letting it control you. From what to do before the race to how to handle calculations in the moment, these tools will help you make better decisions, stay focused, and avoid the kinds of mistakes that lead to regret later.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/51

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Introducing: 1:1 Mental Mastery Coaching for Ultrarunners

My 1:1 Mental Mastery Coaching for Ultrarunners is a six-month coaching program where we build the mental skills experienced ultrarunners use to handle difficult races well.

Click here to book your free consult call!

I’m talking about something every runner who stays in the sport long enough will face: aging. Not as something to cope with, but as the next challenge to meet.

I share six ways to think about aging that have helped me and my clients approach this phase with more clarity, intention, and confidence. Because aging doesn’t remove you from ultra running. It asks something different of you. And when you approach it as something to master, not manage, this phase can become one of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of your time in the sport.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/50

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

A lot of runners approach races like tests, whether they realize it or not. You train, prepare, and show up feeling like everything is about to be graded. Did I do enough? Am I ready? What if I blow it? In this episode, I’m sharing a completely different way to think about races, one that takes the pressure off and makes ultra running more productive and a lot more enjoyable.

Instead of seeing a race as a test you either pass or fail, I want you to see it as an experiment. Your race plan is not a script you have to execute perfectly. It is your best current hypothesis about what will work. When you start treating races this way, you stop chasing a grade and start building a body of work you can be proud of over time.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/49

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

What if the key to running your best race is not training harder, but training your mind? When things get tough deep into an ultra, the real challenge is not your legs. It is the thoughts in your head and how you respond to them.

In this episode, I share what ultra runners can learn from Olympic champion Eileen Gu. She approaches her mind the same way she approaches her sport, as something she studies, tinkers with, and improves over time. If you have ever tried to distract yourself from negative thoughts during a race or wished you could just get out of your head, this episode will show you a different path.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/48

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

Fatigue brain is something every ultrarunner faces at some point, especially in longer races. It’s when physical and mental exhaustion starts to impair your decision-making, and you can’t think clearly or focus. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what fatigue brain is, how to recognize it, and what you can do to manage it during a race.

Racing with fatigue brain can lead to mistakes, like making impulsive decisions or doubting your ability to finish. But here’s the good news: it's not some mysterious, uncontrollable force. With the right strategies, you can still race well even when you’re physically exhausted. I’ll walk you through simple ways to manage fatigue brain, like how to make decisions ahead of time, plan for potential mistakes, and stay focused even when you’re mentally drained.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/47

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

If you’ve been defaulting back to loop races because they feel safer, simpler, or easier to plan than point-to-point courses, this episode will help you see point-to-point races in a completely different light.

I walk you through how to rethink the unknown, level up your race planning, rely on drop bags instead of pressure on your crew, handle wildlife fears logically, and even see night miles as peaceful instead of scary. Facing your fears about point-to-point races is not about forcing yourself to suffer. It is about expanding what you believe you are capable of and choosing the race you actually want to run.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/46

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

If I could give you one skill to carry into every race, every long run, every moment of doubt for the rest of your running life, do you know what would it be?

In this episode, I’m giving you the one thing that has made 25 years of ultra running not just possible for me, but sustainable and deeply rewarding: self validation. Not confidence from race results. Not approval from other runners. Real self validation.

I walk you through three practical ways to start building self validation right now, including how to make your own decisions, how to validate your effort instead of just your results, and how to clean up your self talk so you become your own most reliable source of belief. This is the skill that lets you take bigger risks, race with more freedom, and stay in this sport for decades. It’s the skill that makes you unstoppable.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/45

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here