In this episode, I answer a great question from listener (and She Runs Ultras member) Kierstin:

How do you train mental toughness and resiliency when the moments you need it don’t show up until 12+ hours into a race? And how do you practice that in everyday life without recreating 20 hours of race fatigue?

Here’s the truth: you’re practicing mental toughness 24/7, whether you realize it or not. It doesn’t start with huge, heroic efforts. It starts with the small, uncomfortable, inconvenient stuff you’d rather avoid.

Inside the episode, we cover:

Why mental toughness is built the same way strength training is — light weight first, then load.
How “small annoyances” are actually prime training reps for mental resilience.
Why skipping straight to the big challenges leaves you vulnerable to the small ones that derail races.
Real examples of micro-challenges you can start using today:
stretching after a run, running the hill you hate, waking up early, joining the back of the pack, choosing the rocky trail, etc.
How to make a simple “uncomfortable list” and use it as a training progression from small → big.
The real battle: the mental chatter that shows up before you even start the task.
Why your self-talk before, during, and after these moments matters just as much as the action itself.
A reminder that on race day, curveballs will happen — and these daily reps are what prepare you to meet them instead of fold.

I also talk about Episode 90 — Believe Hard, and why believing in your future self (yes, even irrationally at times) is a huge part of developing resilience.

If you want mental toughness to show up for you on race day, now is the time to start practicing — with the small stuff first.

Enjoy this episode — and start training your mind just as intentionally as your miles.

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Ep. 303 - The Simple Way To Sharpen Your Mental Toughness