Unstoppable Ultra Runner

Want to run faster? There's a mental power tool you're probably not using to its full strength, one that can make you faster but is instead slowing you down.

The power tool we're talking about is your attention. It's one of the most important tools in your mental toolbox, and right now it might be working against you. So this week, you'll learn three specific skills for managing your attention that will help you run faster without increasing your leg speed.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/34

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

So many ultra runners believe that mental strength is a shield against failure or a way to avoid the disappointment of a DNF. But what if that belief is the very thing holding you back? In this episode, we’ll talk about the real purpose of mental strength and why it’s far more valuable than a clean race record or a perfect finish.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/33

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 you could carry a ton of doubt all the way to the finish line of your next ultramarathon and still have the race of a lifetime? In this episode, I’m sharing the one percent rule: a game-changing mindset shift that will change how you think about doubt forever. Instead of trying to feel perfectly confident, you’ll learn what actually matters when your brain starts questioning whether you can keep going.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/32

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

Most runners carry a secret fantasy race script in their heads: how things are “supposed” to go for the day to be a success. In this episode, I’m breaking down how that hidden fantasy race gets created, how it quietly sabotages even experienced runners, and how to keep your race from going off-script.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/31

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

Every ultra runner knows that point in the race when the pain feels like it might stop you. But this moment isn’t really about pain…and you have the power to control it. In this episode, I break down how to separate pain from discomfort. We’ll talk about the mental shift that helps you stop fearing pain and start managing discomfort with confidence.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/30

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 ever crossed the finish line barely ahead of cutoff, you know that stress can feel like it’s chasing you all race long. In this episode, I explore what’s really happening when cutoff becomes the center of your focus, and how small shifts in where you put your attention can completely change how you race.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/29

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

When you’re worried you won’t make cutoff, it fundamentally changes how you race. In this episode, I'll share the three-question strategy that's helped me through countless tight cutoff situations, including making a critical cutoff at Massanutten 100 with just 15 minutes to spare. These questions work because they redirect your mind from catastrophizing to concrete actions you can control right now.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/28

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's harder than running a hundred miles? Spending hours convinced you're letting everyone down. In this episode, I'm diving deep into one of the most destructive mental patterns in ultra running: the overwhelming guilt of disappointing your crew, pacers, and volunteers when your race isn't going as planned. I'm sharing why this guilt trap is so insidious, how it makes dropping out feel like the "right" thing to do, and the crucial mental shifts you need to reclaim your race.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/27

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

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Just do it scared.” But pretending fear isn’t there or trying to push it away only adds more pressure. In this episode, I break down a smarter way to actually “do it scared.” By changing how you think about fear, noticing it, and using it as a guide instead of an obstacle, you can show up mentally stronger and run with confidence - even when your nerves are at their peak.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/26

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

The difference between dropping from an ultra and quiet quitting is profound. When you drop, at least you make a conscious decision. When you quiet quit, you keep moving through aid stations, consuming calories, going through all the motions - but mentally, you've already thrown in the towel.

Tune in this week to learn four specific race strategies that will enable you to stay mentally engaged when things get tough, and discover what's actually possible when you stop writing the story before it's over.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit www.susanidonnelly.com/25

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: 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