The Ultramarathon Mindset: Trail Talk

Gwen Zywicke is my guest this episode. She is an ultra runner and an Instructor at Louisiana State University and a writer. Her book, Ultrarunning Mysticism:  Mind, Body, Spirit and the Sacredness of Overcoming Suffering, explores the relationship between ultrarunning and mysticism. She is working on a new book focusing on the science of the brain in relation to ultra running.

Devin and Jonathan are both returning podcast guests. They are both part of the Buckle-Heads running group in Topeka, KS. They have trained and raced together and supported each other in pursuing their running adventures. Their next big race is the Bighorn 100 on 16 June 2023.

Running is great for keeping both your body and your mind feeling great. But sometimes you need to take some time to look at how you are really doing inside yourself. And sometimes you will get an "aha" breakthrough when you spend some time working on what is inside of you.My friend, Renita, joins me this episode to talk about running long distances, being in the woods, and personal transformation.

Tara Bianca returns to the podcast for more great information about how breathwork can improve your health. She was my guest back in Ep. 74. In that episode we talked more about breathwork for runners. This week's episode is focused on how breathwork can benefit your health in general. Bio: Tara Bianca has been a holistic health practitioner for almost 20 years. She is the owner of BE Light Transformative Therapy, a now fully online holistic health company specializing in therapeutic breathwork, bodywork, mindset and sound healing. Her primary focus is on educating and coaching people to change the quality of their breathing, in order to powerfully improve the quality of their lives. She is passionate about building a global community that is dedicated to achieving optimal health and wellness – for people and for planet – as holistically as possible.  Here are my links:Website: https://www.belighttt.com/Breath Boot Camp: https://www.belighttt.com/bootcampBE Light Community: https://www.belighttt.com/communityYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/belightttInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarabelight/ 

Before surgery on his hand a man asked, "Will I be able to play the piano after surgery, doc?"The doctor assured him he would still be able to play piano after the surgery. To which the man replied, "Good, I've always wanted to play the piano."I took this "dad" joke and looked a little deeper. Most of us have dreams of what we want to do "someday." Hopes and dreams are usually put away on a shelf in your mind and you have comfort in knowing you can get them out "when the time is right."The sad fact is that most people breathe their last breath with those hopes and dreams still sitting on that dusty closet shelf.I challenge you to get one or two of your "someday" dreams out and start working on them.I'm dusting off an old skill that I never fully developed and after several decades I'm now going to learn it well.

John Crum was my very first guest on this podcast. When we last spoke, he was on an impressive run streak. Running at least a mile every day since November of 2015.He is still on his run streak. But his tenacity is impressive because he has also done 33 marathons or ultramarathons, including running a 100 mile race during his run streak. That means that he was out the door the day after finishing all those races to run at least a mile.I'm glad to have him back again for another conversation.

What does it mean to have freedom? We say we have freedom. But have you ever thought of what it really means to be free?In this episode I discuss my conclusion about freedom: It is, at its core, the ability to choose to do evil.

New Year used to be celebrated in the spring until the calendar changed in 1582. The New Year celebration lasted from March 25 to April 1.Some say that those who held to the old system were called fools. Thus, the origin of April Fools Day. But there is little evidence that this is true.But the fact is that your mindset is chained to the way our calendar is set up. How would you handle the change if we all went back to counting the New Year in the spring? If you are going after an epic life, you need a mindset that is able to handle and adapt to change, whether it's your choice or some crazy idea to change the calendar.

Randy Taylor is back for a second time on the podcast. He's had new running adventures since we last talked and has expanded his coaching services by partnering with other running coaches.I'm calling this a "Director's Cut" episode because I left my backup recorder running after the "official" closing and captured our continued conversation. You never know where a conversation is going to go when runners are talking. And we fell back into a discussion that is worth sharing. So keep listening past the "official" ending for the bonus track.

Artificial Intelligence -- AI -- has come to the mainstream. All the movies about what might happen when humans have to interact with AI are playing in the back of our minds. I asked ChatGPT to write a 10-minute speech about goal setting. It was a textbook speech. And the content was good. But if good content was able to change our lives, we'd be super-human by now. There's no shortage of good content. I dive into a couple of comments ChatGPT made in conclusion. Will AI ever be able to understand what a human mindset is all about?

Option 1: You have to have confidence and belief in yourself in order to run ultramarathons!Option 2: You start the race full of doubt and know that it's going to be so hard you may not finish.Which of these two options is the best mindset for ultramarathons? Both!Jeff Winchester and Jeremy Reynolds are The UltraRunning Guys. They are podcasters, ultramarathon runners, and Race Directors. In this episode we discuss what is the mindset that will get you to the finish. And discover it's not the same for everyone!

The education system conditions us to find the "first right answer." We have to learn the answers so we can repeat them back when we're asked to provide them. So we come out with a framework of "answers" that condition us to see how the world works and what our role is supposed to be in the world.Another word for "framework" is a Matrix.  Yes, I want you to think about the movie. That is the world we live in.And we stay trapped in the Matrix of the answers we "know" until we learn how to ask higher-value questions. Answers will keep you stuck where you are. But asking better questions will set you free to live an epic life.

Ultramarathon running is about taking on the challenge and finding out how far can you go. Barney Riesbeck is looking at life like an ultramarathon. In this episode we talk about the races he's run, the challenges he's created for himself and others, and the people that serve as an inspiration to keep going after epic goals for life. 

What are the best days of your life? If you follow the common belief they are somewhere in your past. Things were better "back then." But what if you change your mindset and start telling yourself the story that your best days are still ahead of you. How would your life be different? There is a truth that your expectations will determine what you get in life, for good or bad. 

Best-of Episode: Cliff Moitt's Spartan journey started with a TV show in the 80s called ”The Battle of the Network Stars,” and the stars were going through these obstacles. When he saw that he realized that the body is meant to do something different, something epic. At the time he was running 5 and 10K races. When the movie “300” came out, he was impressed by the Spartan culture and toughness. He continues to test himself in the Spartan races. 

There is a phenomenon called the placebo effect.You can have the benefits of a drug even without taking the drug.Your belief will create the outcomes.Drug trials - placebo even creates side effects.Placebo is a fake drug. It's a magic feather.It's your belief and expectation that produce the results.

Ila Allen was one of my first guests on this podcast. Many people know her from her posts in the ultramarathon running groups on Facebook. She trains outside in the weather extremes of Chicago, running along the lake. Wind (lots of wind), rain, snow, sleet, heat, or humidity, she says she can't run inside nor on a treadmill. But she won't run if there is lightning. A wise precaution.She ran the 100-mile option in the race, Across the Years. And she came so close, logging a little over 98 miles. Any DNF is disappointing. But she plans to go back again this year.

We tend to believe that we are right in what we think we know. But “what we know” isn't always right.Some things we used to “know” that aren't so.The earth is the center of the universe.The earth is flat.The sun revolves around the earth.Disease is caused by humours in the blood. The cure is to drain some blood out of your body.Humans only use 10% of their brain.Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.Eating carrots will improve your eyesight.Women are intellectually inferior to men.

We ultramarathon runners love to push and test our limits. The challenge is what draws us. And it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of doing more and longer races. But there's a downside too. Sometimes we forget that rest and recovery are just as important as training and racing. We're in an extreme sport, and we can take our drive to do more to the extreme and find ourselves in BURNOUT. My guest this week is Heather Hart. She's an exercise physiologist, ultra runner, blogger, and coach. She's had some personal experience with burnout, and in this episode she shares how she got there and her journey back to balance in life and running.

Then there's the story of the miner in California who gave up his claim after digging for years.10 years later someone bought the claim and struck one of the richest veins of gold ever found after digging only 3 more feet.Perseverance is at the heart of ultramarathon running.And perseverance comes from mindset.Your mind will give out long before your body.But there are times when you know it's time to take a DNF!

Mandy Miller has developed a strong ultramarathon mindset in her races and adventures from all around the world. She had run everything from multi-day stage races in the Sahara desert to 100 mile self-supported ultramarathons in the Yukon in January to Iron Man competitions in Hawaii.

We've been conditioned to believe that knowledge is the key to success so much that our first thought for doing something new – take a class.But I have news for you . . . knowledge is not power!In fact, too much knowledge might even rob you of power!

Sandi Nypaver is an ultramarathon runner, running coach, and adventurer. She did sports in school. But it wasn't until she went on a youth expedition with  Impossible to Possible that she got a taste of the mindset to test her limits. (Ep. 129 is where Ray Zahab talks about starting the organization of Impossible to Possible.)Sandi decided to do an ultramarathon. So she signed up for a 100 mile race and ended up winning.

There are things you know that you don't know that you know. You might have experienced this before. When you're looking for the right word. When you see a familiar face and try to remember the name. Or you have a sudden memory from your past. Psychologists believe that you and I are only aware of 5 - 10% of our own thoughts. The rest is what they call the subconscious.

Western States 100 is the "Boston Marathon" of trail running. It's an iconic race that many trail runners put on their bucket list.But there are other options if you don't want to wait for your name to come up in the lottery for Western States. You could create your own 100 mile trail race on trails close to where you live!That's what Gary (Story Hawk) Henry did. The trails near Lawrence, KS, are challenging. And, he says, during the night portion of the run they don't look much different from the trails at Western States.

If you made a list of everything you love, would you include your own name on the list?If you've been out shopping you've probably noticed the next major holiday is Valentine's Day.(Public Service Announcement) Men: She probably doesn't want flannel pajamas or a giant Teddy Bear.

Poor decisions make for the best stories! This is a quote from Sarah Snyder's website. She says she's gotten into adventures because she's willing to join her friends when they suggest even the craziest things.She became an ultramarathon runner. Then she became an assistant Race Director. And now she is Race Director for several challenging races including the Cruel Jewel.She has the mindset for adventure as well as for success.

Once upon a time . . .You know a story is coming next when you hear this introduction.And you know the story will require you to suspend your disbelief in what is possible.In the story of the Three Little Pigs you have to accept that pigs have money, build houses, and negotiate business deals with strangers on the road.You also have to believe that wolves are polite enough to knock on your door before they eat you and that they huff and puff when you refuse to let them in.But the lesson you were supposed to learn from this story isn't what you thought. Building a house out of bricks isn't good enough.

There are a lot of reasons to run ultramarathons. For most of us, it's a personal challenge, a way to test our limits and see what we're made of.But none of us live in a vacuum. The people who matter to us need to see that we are doing the work to become the best version of ourselves we can be.My guest this week is Shaun Bemis. He returns for a second episode. He is balancing his training with the demands of a new job as well as being a dad and husband. He found a way to get back into running that also showed his children that setting goals and doing hard things can be fun.

Training for an ultramarathon requires a lot of hours out on the trail. It also requires time in the gym. But when you are an ultramarathon runner and an obstacle course runner, it requires a lot of time both running and in strength training.Devin Nelson is both an obstacle course runner and an ultramarathon runner. And he says that his training plan is the Dad Training Plan. He squeezes in his workouts wherever he can between working and being a dad and husband. He finds a way to get it all done. He has several 100-mile finishes to his credit and this year competed in the World's Toughest Mudder 24-hour obstacle course race. 

But don't let the idea of “Achievable” be an excuse to set goals that are “Safe.”Here's a clue that you're setting your goals too small.If you feel stuck, you might be playing it too safe.If you feel like your're in Groundhog Day, you might be playing it too safe.If you feel tired and sluggish, you might be playing it too safe.If you have brain fog and get distracted, you might be playing it too safe.If you often feel bored, you might be playing it too safe.

Ray Zahab has run in some of the most extreme places and conditions in the world. From the Sahara Desert to Death Valley and most of the major deserts in the world, he's crossed them on foot in the hottest parts of the year. On the other extreme, he's done multiple Arctic treks, including a world record to the South Pole.He uses running and adventure as a way to instruct and inspire students around the world who follow his adventures and interact in real time with him. And he founded Impossible to Possible, an organization that takes students out of the classroom to experience their own adventure challenges. 

Follow the Pirate Code!The only thing I remember from Pirates of the Caribbean.But when the Code isn't working out so well for you:Well, it's not a Code. It's more like guidelines we try to follow.This is the start of a New Year.A lot of us are setting goals for what we want to achieve this year.Some of you are setting SMART goals.

Going off into the bush by herself is Jaqui O'Donohoe's idea of a great way to spend the day . . . or several days. Jaqui is an ultramarathon runner and adventurer. She enjoys trail running and racing. And she also likes to put her necessities in a backpack and head out by herself on the trail.Jaqui also enjoys playing Cricket on a women's Cricket team.

New Year Resolutions don't last much longer than fresh fish in the fridge.Then why do we keep making them?Here's a radical idea. DON'T make Resolutions this year.Instead, set goals that matter to you and do what it takes to crush them.Here is a free offer! My video course called “How to Crush Your Goals.”

Walking a mail route every day would be enough of a workout for most people. But Ryan Petty is both a mail carrier and an ultramarathon runner. He says running saved his life. He decided to lose weight and get his life straight, and running seemed to him like a good way to do that. He progressed by trial and error and gathered injuries and lessons along the way. Now he is a seasoned ultramarathon runner with the mindset and goal to be a lifelong runner. 

Imagine yourself sitting in the scene from Anger Management.Who are you?Not your job.Not your personality.Not your roles and responsibilities: Mother, Father, Husband, WifeMost of the time none of us stop to think about this.Why does it matter?Carl Jung: The world will ask who you are, and if you don't know, the world will tell you.What does this mean?The world will tell you that who you are is determined by what you do and what you have.

You've probably heard the story of how to boil a frog. If you put the frog in a pot of boiling water, he will jump out. But if you put a frog in a pot of cool water and gradually turn up the heat, the frog will stay in until he boils to death.My experience with frogs: They wouldn't stay in the pot no matter what.But the conventional wisdom from this story is: You will adapt to gradual “crap” piling up on you until it eventually kills you.

Brian Hoover is a man who loves adventure. And I can't think of a better person to feature on a best-of episode. This conversation comes from way back in Episode 28. Brian decided to kayak the Mississippi River from the headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico. My first conversation with him had been about his trek, hiking from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail. If you love stories that inspire you to find your own adventures, you will love listening to Brian tell about his mindset that lets him pursue experiences that feed his soul.

Carol Dweck is a psychologist who wrote a book talking about the differences between people with fixed mindsets vs those with growth mindsets.Someone with a growth mindset views intelligence, abilities, and talents as learnable and capable of improvement through effort. On the other hand, someone with a fixed mindset views those same traits as inherently stable and unchangeable over time.

Nita Sweeney is the award-winning wellness author of Depression Hates a Moving Target, You Should Be Writing, and Make Every Move a Meditation. UltraMarathoner. Meditator. Writing practice zealot. Mental health advocate. Dog mom. Publisher of Write Now Columbus.Nita joined me for a great conversation about the power of running and it's relationship to meditation. It's good to be a moving target.

Your default response to anything unpleasant or painful is to get away from it. You learned this early in life when you first touched a hot stove. In my case, it was a hairpin in an electrical outlet at 18 months. But you will put up with pain and suffering If you think the reward is big enough. If you think change will be too hard. Ultramarathon runners. Most people in the US are stuck in jobs, or life events they hate. If you are going to put up with pain and suffering, you have three choices: Two are unhealthy. One is both healthy and effective.

The stories that Sally McRae shared with me stuck in my memory. When I thought of what conversations I could share as a “best of the show” episode, this conversation was the first one I thought of.Sally is a tough competitor and trains her mind as well as her body. In this episode she shares stories of how she developed the drive to succeed and to keep moving forward.

Your body is designed to heal itself. There is a natural force within us to fix and repair injuries and fight illness. What isn't discussed very often is that your soul/mind also influences what happens in your body.You have probably experienced the principle that whatever you focus your attention on grows bigger. This same principle applies to those aches and pains or injuries you might have. Your body will eventually heal even when you're focusing worry and anxiety on what is wrong. But your negative attention does tend to make the pain greater and take longer to heal. You can speed your healing with the power of gratitude. This is not a denial of the injury or pain. But rather an expectation that healing is taking place and an appreciation of the result you know will come.

Ciara Carter is a mindset coach, a marathon runner, and she isn't afraid to do things that scare her. This year she decided to pack up her stuff and move from Florida to Utah. In this episode, we talk about how easy it is for us to get stuck in our comfort zone and settle into a rut. Ciara knew it would be a challenge to leave her friends in Florida and move to a place where she knew absolutely no one. But she went ahead and took the leap. She knew if it didn't work out the way she wanted she could always move again.

There was a psychological study done where people were asked to watch a video and tell how many times basketballs were passed by a group of people. About half of the people watching were so focused on counting the passes that they did not see a “gorilla” walk through the middle of the group and beat his chest.You can see an example of the video HEREYou and I are wired to filter out a good deal of “reality.”Your brain takes in 2.3M bits of information each second.It filters out 99.994% of this information. It Deletes, Distorts, and Generalizes.

Ben Reale went into the Marine Corps as a licensed attorney and an officer. He found that the life of a JAG officer was not as glamorous as the hit TV series made it appear. And after his service, he decided to take a very different career path.He became certified as a personal trainer and then went on to become certified as a nutrition coach. He demonstrates the “ultramarathon mindset” approach to his coaching, encouraging long-term sustainability over the “microwave popcorn” quick-and-fluffy approach.

Most people like to know what to expect. They don't like change. They don't like surprises.The appeal of fast food franchises is they are all the same.McDonalds in Tucumcari, NM has the same food as New York City.How would you feel if you woke up one day and discovered that every McDonalds in the world was now vegan? And every one has a different menu.Vegans: every option you had in your city was now a BBQ.

Andy Moskal is willing to push hard to find his limits. But he's also willing to pull the plug when things aren't going right in a race. His hundred-mile attempt at the Yeti 100 had him looking at a sub eighteen-hour time and in 5th place overall. sub-eighteen-hour. But around 50 miles in he was facing the symptoms of  rhabdomyolysis. He decided to pull the plug and survive to race another day.