The Happiness of the Long Distance Runner

Summary

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
Episode: The Happiness of the Long Distance Runner
Date: July 22, 2024

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the remarkable comeback story of Georgia Bell, a former elite teen runner from the UK who fell out of love with her sport, stopped running for years, and then rediscovered her passion during the COVID-19 lockdown. With a new perspective on competition, ambition, and happiness, Georgia returned not just to recreational running, but to the highest levels of international competition — culminating in a dream shot at the 2024 Olympics. Host Dr. Laurie Santos unpacks the psychological lessons from Georgia’s journey, connecting her story to key science-backed principles of happiness, resilience, and personal fulfillment.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Passion, Pressures, and Identity

• Georgia’s Natural Talent:
  Georgia was a standout youth runner— “I was English schools champion when I was kind of 14. At that point, you can’t really do too much training. A lot of it is down to, okay, this kid is kind of good at this.” (Georgia Bell, 04:29)
• Love of Sport:
  Her introduction to running was fun and social, driven by her enjoyment and peer connections rather than external pressure.
• The U.S. Scholarship Experience:
  Receiving a college scholarship to Berkeley introduced new pressure:
  “Obviously, you’re a little bit of a business deal if…you're being supported financially to go over there and perform. That was probably the point where it went from being something that I really loved...to actually, this kind of new element of pressure added in had a bit of an impact on my performance and probably emotionally as well.” (Georgia, 06:30)
• Identity Crisis:
  Stopping competitive running after college was jarring, given her identity was so tied to being “the runner.”
  “It was definitely a bit of a strange piece for my identity…because again, I’d gone my whole life being the runner, and then all of a sudden I wasn’t running.” (Georgia, 08:16)

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2. Navigating Burnout and Making Space for Change

• Choosing to Quit:
  Georgia stopped running after graduation due to burnout and lack of enjoyment, embracing a full break and new experiences.
  “It had gone from being something that I really loved…to I just cannot wait to be done with this.” (Georgia, 08:56)
• Advice for Others:
  She highlights the real value in perseverance but validates the choice to step away when enjoyment disappears:
  “If you’re not enjoying it and haven’t been enjoying it for a while, then you need to make some changes to make sure that you can be happy.” (Georgia, 10:05)

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3. Rediscovering Joy in Running

• Lockdown as Catalyst:
  COVID-19 restrictions created space for Georgia to run again without pressure:
  “I was back living in London…pretty much the only time you were allowed to leave the house was when you were exercising. I obviously took the opportunity, wanted to get out of the house. And then I just found that I was really enjoying that release of just going for a run.” (Georgia, 11:13)
• Falling Back in Love:
  Running became a highlight and a “release” in her day.
  “Running felt like myself again. That’s still how I feel about running today…best part of the day, the part I look forward to the most.” (Georgia, 12:04)
• From Parkrun to Olympic Track:
  Her initially recreational runs led to rapid improvement:
  “I hopped into one of those [parkruns], ran a pretty fast 5k…I think I did a 16-minute 5k. And then after that, that made me think, okay, I’m actually in pretty good shape. Maybe it’s time to get back on the track after five years off.” (Georgia, 13:17)

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4. The Power of Community and Coaching

• Reconnecting with an Old Coach:
  Georgia reached out to her childhood coach, Trevor Painter, to take her training seriously again:
  “I just feel very lucky that I was able to kind of go back to him after all those years away. And he said, yeah, let’s give it a go and see what we can do.” (Georgia, 17:13)
• A New Model for Training:
  Significantly less weekly mileage, more cross-training, and more rest.
  “Here I’m running about 30 [miles per week]. But I’ll do a lot more on the bike to make sure I’m getting that work without any impact. And yeah, take a recovery day at least once a week…” (Georgia, 19:53)

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5. Mindset Shifts: From Pressure to Presence

• Mindfulness in Competition:
  Georgia emphasizes presence over pressure:
  “My race is about four minutes long. And I just love the feeling…you’re just so present, you’re running off instinct…for me, it’s the closest thing to just feeling alive.” (Georgia, 21:38)
• Time Affluence:
  She contrasts the stress of “time famine” — juggling full-time work and competition — with her newfound appreciation for free time and rest:
  “My life, when I had that kind of time famine was just…I was always just rushing…removing that whole time pressure has just meant that I can enjoy those aspects of the day, my training and recovery…” (Georgia, 23:52)
• Work-Life Revelations:
  Her coworkers were amazed by her athletic achievements, and Georgia noticed that her journey inspired others to reconnect with their own passions:
  “This is kind of a situation where you continue to do that, and actually if you keep showing up, you can get to these kind of exciting opportunities.” (Georgia, 25:52)

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6. Handling Stress, Self-Doubt, and Competition

• Reframing Nerves as Excitement:
  “The way how I used to see races is I would get really nervous for races…now I just genuinely go into races so excited. I always think I could be in an office right now doing a zoom call…how cool is that?” (Georgia, 29:47)
• Gratitude and Impermanence:
  Georgia leans into gratitude by recognizing the temporary nature of her athletic window:
  “Having that kind of time limit on it just makes me appreciate it so much more in a way that I just wasn’t mature enough to do when I was in my young 20s.” (Georgia, 30:22)
• The Power of Smiling (“Fake It Till You Make It”):
  “I always smile on the start line…people probably look at me and think I’m crazy…but I think it’s just a good habit. It kind of, like, tricks your body into reminding yourself that, like, you are going to have fun. This, it’s going to hurt. But, like, this is a really cool opportunity.” (Georgia, 31:44)
• Risk-Taking and the Joy of Uncertainty:
  Georgia finds excitement in strategic risk-taking during races:
  “Racing is fun when you don’t know what’s going to happen…ahead of that race, I’m going to be studying what other people have done…it’s kind of like a game of chess…if you take a risk and it pays off, like, it’s the best feeling.” (Georgia, 35:02)
• Beginner’s Mindset and Resilience:
  She values retaining a “beginner’s mindset,” which helps her stay positive, take risks, and avoid being paralyzed by fear or comparison:
  “I fill my head with more positive thoughts and exciting thoughts, and just over time, I’ve got really good at pushing away the fear.” (Georgia, 36:18)

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7. Universal Takeaways & Happiness Lessons

• The Non-Linear Path to Success:
  Georgia encourages others that enjoying something, even after a break, is always possible.
  “Not everyone’s path is linear. There are all these different scenarios of how you can get to the same spot. And I think the key is just getting back into something and doing it for happiness. And then if you keep showing up, then the results will come naturally.” (Georgia, 39:05)
• Laurie’s Reflection for All of Us:
  “She’s taught me about the importance of giving myself grace and time and having the confidence to take risks and doing stuff merely for the enjoyment that comes from living in the moment.” (Dr. Laurie Santos, 39:45)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Rediscovering Running:
  “It was definitely just like a realization that this is something that I feel like I'm…meant to do. I really love.” — Georgia Bell (12:04)
• On Identity and Change:
  “It was a bit emotional just coming back to that point.” — Georgia Bell (12:04)
• On Racing Mindset:
  “I just love the feeling…so present, you’re running off instinct…for me, it’s the closest thing to just feeling alive.” — Georgia Bell (21:38)
• On Smiling before Races:
  “I will always be there smiling and waving, because I’m just thinking, how cool is this?” — Georgia Bell (31:44)
• Advice to Her Younger Self & Listeners:
  “Make sure that you’re happy first. This doesn’t mean this is an all or nothing situation. There are opportunities in the future for you to come back and get into running when you’re ready.” — Georgia Bell (38:20)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Georgia Introduces Herself & Early Career: 03:18-05:54
• Transition to U.S. College & Pressures: 05:59-07:59
• Identity Crisis After Quitting Running: 08:16-09:46
• Burnout and Taking a Break: 08:56-09:46
• Rediscovering Running during Lockdown: 11:13-13:17
• Reconnecting with Her Coach: 17:13-18:20
• New Training Approach: 19:53-20:14
• Mindfulness, Being Present in Competition: 21:38-22:16
• Time Famine vs. Time Affluence: 23:52-24:30
• Inspiration Story Resonates with Others: 25:52-26:17
• Reframing Nerves & Gratitude: 29:47-31:44
• The Power of Smiling & Fun: 31:44-32:54
• Mindset, Risk-Taking, and Beginner’s Mind: 35:02-37:41
• Advice to Her Younger Self: 38:20-39:45

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Tone & Style

The episode is supportive, warm, and deeply personal, featuring candid reflections from Georgia and science-backed insights from Dr. Santos. The conversation balances elite sports achievement with universally relatable struggles around identity, burnout, and adult life, making the lessons relevant to listeners well beyond the running track.

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Final Takeaways

Georgia Bell’s story exemplifies the importance of pursuing joy for its own sake, giving yourself permission to pause (or pivot), and the happiness that comes from embracing the present, taking risks, and maintaining a sense of wonder. Even as an Olympic contender, her journey is ultimately about being true to yourself and your passions — a message the Happiness Lab underscores for everyone tuning in.

Transcript

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Podcast Narrator/Advertiser]

Guaranteed Human research shows how often our intuitions lead us astray. That's why I value tools that help me think more clearly, not just faster. Claude, the AI from Anthropic doesn't just hand you quick answers. It thinks things through with you and helps you work through complexity instead of skipping past it. It's the kind of thinking partner I trust. Try Claude for free and at Claude AI Happiness. You know, one of the trips that filled me with pure joy was visiting Australia. The wildlife alone. From kangaroos hopping through open fields to kookaburras calling from the trees, it just made me feel so alive. I also love the Melbourne coffee culture. I tried my first flat white there and it was amazing. Australia has this incredible energy that fills you with joy. It showed me how much nature can boost happiness. And I can't wait to go back, explore more destinations in Australia and start planning your memorable [e-mail] this episode is brought to you by Choiceology, an original podcast from Charles Schwab, hosted by the amazing Katie Milkman, behavioral scientist and author of the bestselling book how to Change. Choiceology is a show about the psychology and economics behind our decisions. You can hear true stories from Nobel laureates, authors, historians, athletes, and more about why we do the things we do. Listen to [e-mail] podcast or wherever you listen to your shows. Pushkin.

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

This summer, Pushkin is going to the Olympics. We'll be sharing inspiring new athlete stories across our entire network, including the latest sports science from what's yous Problem? Some amazing swimmer stories on slight Change of Plans, a cautionary tales tale about how women had to fight to run the marathon, and an epic season of revisionist history on why America participated in Hitler's Olympics. Here on the Happiness Lab, I'll talk to the coaches who coach the Team USA coaches, and I'll hear from an athlete who fell back in love with a sport that she'd grown to hate just in time to head to the Olympics. Be sure to check it out.

[Georgia Bell]

Good morning.

[Interviewer/Host]

Good morning.

[Georgia Bell]

Hey Georgia.

[Interviewer/Host]

Nice to meet you.

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

I love interviewing elite athletes, but they're often tricky to schedule, which means a podcast host needs to grab any opportunity she can to chat with them.

[Interviewer/Host]

Thanks so much for taking the time for this.

[Georgia Bell]

No problem. Thanks for waking up early to do it.

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

To talk to Georgia. I had to get up at the butt crack of dawn.

[Interviewer/Host]

It's like it's pretty out. The sun's out already here in Boston, so it's all good.

[Georgia Bell]

Great You're East Coast. That makes me feel a little bit better.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah. Yeah. If it was California, it'd be a little rough.

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

But I was pretty excited to set my alarm for this interview because Georgia has an inspiring story to share. Until recently, Georgia was a cybersecurity expert. She ran competitively as a teen, but had a falling out with her sport and hung up her sneakers.

[Podcast Narrator/Advertiser]

Then a few years ago, she decided

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

to try out a few amateur races just for fun and learned that she was one of the fastest women on earth.

[Georgia Bell]

Hi, my name is Georgia Bell. I am from London and was working, but have taken the summer off to be a professional athlete named for the Olympic Games in Paris.

[Interviewer/Host]

I really love the idea of, like,

[Podcast Narrator/Advertiser]

I'm taking the summer off.

[Interviewer/Host]

Oh, what are you gonna do? Are you gonna, like, travel to France or something? Like. No, I'm gonna run in the Olympics. It's just what I do.

[Georgia Bell]

Fingers crossed. Yeah, fingers crossed. Was the intro okay? Because I know, yeah, British people are quite bad at doing their intros. My mum's like, you need to pick yourself up more. You're. You're a world finalist. So if you want me to do it again, I can do it with a bit more pizzazz.

[Interviewer/Host]

You did it great. But I think that's another lesson for all of us, right? Is that, like, you know, we all have to kind of toot our own horn a little bit too.

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

And Georgia Bell has a lot to toot her horn about. After her return to elite racing at age 30, she's begun winning both national and international medals. She's also landed a sponsorship deal with Nike. And what makes all this even more incredible is that Georgia spent the last five years sitting in front of a computer, not out running day after day, year after year, like the runners she's now beating. But Georgia's talent didn't totally come out of nowhere. As a teen, she was pretty much the best runner in the uk.

[Georgia Bell]

I was English schools champion when I was kind of 14. At that point, you can't really do too much training. A lot of it is down to, okay, this. This kid is kind of good at this. So, yeah, it was something that I kind of knew from a young age was something that I had a little bit of talent for. And, yeah, it was exciting to be at that level at that age for sure.

[Interviewer/Host]

And so talk about those early days, because in the US Right now, kids in sports sometimes feel like they're doing it out of pressure to their parents or that kind of thing, you know. Was yours from pressure? Did you really like it. What was your relationship with it?

[Georgia Bell]

Early on, I beat one of the boys in the races and one of the parents just spoke to my parents and said, you should really get her down to a local running club. And from there I just started going Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, down to my local club Saturday. So started running from a really young age. I think the first race I ever did properly on a track, I was aged 11 and just continued to compete from there. Really, I really liked it. It was really fun. It was really social. You know, it was an opportunity for me to see my friends. I was good at it, which I think helped. You know, kids always feel like they want to do things that they're good at, so that really helped. So especially in the early days, I was just really enjoying training and racing and just getting to do it as a very social activity, while also, I guess at the same time, not that I would have had awareness of this when I was younger, but getting all those endorphins and things that are good that come with exercise.

[Interviewer/Host]

What happened when you went to uni? Did you kind of continue when you started college?

[Georgia Bell]

Yes, so I continued to compete. And I think what happened was either I got worse or everybody else caught up, but I just wasn't having the same results that that I had had as a very successful youngster. Still managed to get a scholarship to go to university in the US which is, you know, was a really big achievement, and went over there to the US To Berkeley in California to compete on a track scholarship, but never ran faster than I did in the uk. And I think that's really the point where the pressure started to come in. Obviously, you're a little bit of a business deal if, you know, you're being supported financially to go over there and perform. And I think that was probably the point where it went from being something that I really loved did for fun. But actually, this kind of new element of pressure added in had a bit of an impact on my. My performance and probably emotionally as well. The training is very different. These big scholarship programs in the US they just have a huge roster of athletes, and it's kind of a general training program that you kind of fit into and you sink or swim. For me, I sunk, I guess, when I did that out in the US and, you know, it really works well for some people, but it didn't work so well for me.

[Interviewer/Host]

I mean, what was that like? That must have been so stressful to kind of feel that pressure. You're far away from home, like how did you handle it?

[Georgia Bell]

While I was really loving the whole experience of going to a university in the US and I still to this day think it is an incredible thing to experience from a running perspective. I just wasn't as good as I was in the uk. I was perpetually injured in and out of boots because I had stress fractures. And so that just translated to not running as well on the track and not running. Running as fast. And, you know, that was obviously difficult to deal with. You know, there's an expectation on you. You expect a certain amount from yourself, but also your team, the scholarship team, you know, everyone like that. There's an expectation on you. So, yeah, it was definitely a difficult time. And you just have to keep showing up kind of week in, week out, even if you're not fit, because it's your responsibility, you know? Yeah, it was a tough time in lots of ways.

[Interviewer/Host]

I imagine that also. Also been kind of a hit to your identity as well. I mean, I work with college students really closely at Yale, and I think it's hard for them to think of themselves as like, I'm a person who runs, I'm a person who rows crew. Like, I'm a runner. I'm a crew member. Right. Did you have to kind of update your identity to deal with these changes?

[Georgia Bell]

Yeah, it was difficult because I was used to being from such a young age. I was used to being kind of the girl that's good at running, and then you kind of go through a period where you're not so good at running, but everyone sees you that way. So, yeah, it was definitely a bit of a strange piece for my identity. Also, when I just stopped running altogether once I graduated college, that was strange time as well, because, again, I'd gone my whole life being the runner, and then all of a sudden I wasn't running. So, yeah, there were definitely periods of time where this sport that was so combined with my identity. Yeah. Had some strange experiences coming to terms with who I was without that.

[Interviewer/Host]

So how did you make that decision to stop altogether? That must have been kind of extreme.

[Georgia Bell]

Yeah, it was. In a way, I guess I had finished my collegiate career and I had graduated from Berkeley, and I just wasn't running so well. I'd been doing it for kind of the best part of 20 years, so I just thought I really wasn't enjoying it anymore. Is the bottom line. Not only were my performances not good enough to sign professionally, but I also was just really looking forward to finishing running. It had gone from being something that I really loved and looked forward to racing and training to. I just cannot wait to be done with this. I just took a complete break after college, went into the working world, lived in San Francisco, and it was actually a really good period for me because it was a chance to kind of do all the things that you say no to so much. You know, even things like going for dinner, going away with friends, just things you cannot do when you are an athlete. It's a full lifestyle choice.

[Interviewer/Host]

I'm just curious, though, because I think, you know, so many people go through the kind of thing that you went through, maybe not with running, but with something else. You know, this job that you totally love, now, you hate it, or maybe this volunteer activity that you're into is now putting all this pressure on you. I'm kind of curious just, like, how you navigated that transition and the sort of emotions that came up from that.

[Georgia Bell]

Yeah, it was hard. I mean, on the one hand, I think people can just continue doing things because it's been habit for so long. And it's tough because I do think there is real value in just showing up to things that you don't want to do. That's what builds discipline. And then if you do enough of those days, over a period of time, that's what makes the difference. So in running, you keep showing up. That's when you become fit. You know, you show up on the days you want to show up, on the days you don't want to, you show up. And then after a couple of years, you know, you become a really good athlete. And I think that can translate into other jobs. You know, you keep showing up for your job, then you get better at it, and then suddenly you like it. But I think, yeah, it had just been such a long period, and I just. I'd thought about it for a while, and, yeah, I just kind of sat down with myself, talked to my friends and family, and just decided that for me, at that point in my life, it was really time for a. So it's not an easy decision. I'm sure other people going through that. It will be a tough decision. But I think ultimately, if you're not enjoying it and haven't been enjoying it for a while, then you need to make some changes to make sure that you can be happy.

[Podcast Narrator/Advertiser]

And so how long was the break

[Interviewer/Host]

and how did you come back from it?

[Georgia Bell]

I think I didn't go for a run for probably like a year, like a full break. I gained a little bit of weight, but just kind of completely stopped for a while. And then I really got back into it over Covid. So obviously during that period of time, I was back living in London at this point, and there was just nothing else to do. You know, everything was shut down. And pretty much the only time you were allowed to leave the house was when you were exercising. I obviously took the opportunity, wanted to get out of the house. And then I just found that I was really enjoying that release of just going for a run. And then suddenly I started adding things into my run instead of just going for a small jog and realized that I was liking that competitive element to it again, you know, what was it

[Interviewer/Host]

like when you first put the running shoes back? Like, were they the same ones that you had at Berkeley? Like, you know, just kind of curious what that moment felt like.

[Georgia Bell]

Yeah, exactly. Like it was shoes that had literally been gathering dust that hadn't been touched for so long. And yeah, originally, I like the why of getting out of the house was I just need to get out of this house. You know, like, we've just been cooped up here all day. And then suddenly it was a part of the day that I was just so looking forward to. Yeah, I guess it just felt really natural again. Just running felt like myself again. That's still how I feel about running today. You know, when I have training or a workout is still the best part of the day, the part that I look forward to the most. And I think everything had just been so intensified in Covid that, yeah, it was probably even more heightened when I put the running shoes on and got out of the house, because it was just such strange times that we were living in. But it was definitely just like a realization that this is something that I feel like I'm. I'm meant to do. I really love. And yeah, it was a bit emotional just coming back to that point. And then after lockdown subsided a little bit, I'd gained some fitness over that period and entered what we have here in the uk, which is quite big, called Parkrun. Every park on a Saturday just hosts these 5k runs. And it's just a really measurable way of seeing your fitness. So I hopped into one of those, ran a pretty fast 5k. I think I did a 16 minute 5k. And then after that, that made me think, okay, I'm actually in pretty good shape. Maybe it's time to get back on the track after five years off. And that kind of started the whole comeback.

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

Let's put Georgia's Parkrun performance into perspective, shall we? Running 5,000 meters in 16 minutes puts Georgia about 90 seconds behind the British record and just two minutes behind the fastest woman on the planet. For an amateur race in her local park. Georgia's time was pretty amazing, but how did she take the next step to

[Podcast Narrator/Advertiser]

make the steep climb back to the

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

pinnacle of her sport? We'll hear how when the Happiness Lab returns in a moment.

[Podcast Narrator/Advertiser]

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[Dr. Laurie Santos]

After years as a gifted runner in school, Georgia Bell fell out of love with the sport. She just couldn't see a life for herself as a professional athlete. But the COVID lockdown got her back in her running shoes and she began clocking some pretty impressive times. But there's a big difference between a park run and the Olympics. Running may seem like an individual pursuit, but it's really a team sport. As a teen, Georgia trained with renowned coach Trevor Painter. If she was going to become a serious contender again, she'd need his help.

[Georgia Bell]

I was just going for runs and training on my own, which, you know, is not so fun. But I decided at that point, okay, I've run a decent time. I'm actually going to get in touch with my old coach who I was working with before I went over to the US On a scholarship. And so I got back in contact with him and said, look, no, we haven't spoken for years, but I've kind of run these times on my own. Do you think it would be worth us working together again and see what we can achieve? And I know that Trevor had always said, you know, I was the one that got away. He really didn't want me to go to the US he really thought, stay in the uk. I can train you to be an incredible athlete. He has got incredible athletes. You know, Keely Hodgkinson is one of his who is hopefully going for gold this summer. She got an Olympic silver medal when she was just 19. So there's a lot of pedigree in the group and his training. And yeah, we've been working together now for two years and it's just going so well. It's great to be part of the community and, you know, getting that guidance. Yeah, I just feel very lucky that I was able to kind of go back to him after all those years away. And he said, yeah, let's give it a go and see what we can do.

[Interviewer/Host]

He must be thrilled to get you back. Like, it must be like such a cool thing for him to have the one that got away coming back.

[Georgia Bell]

Yeah, definitely. I think it's been great for the whole group because there's, you know, so many athletes that are doing well at different times in their life. You know, I'm definitely one of the more mature athletes in the group. A lot of people just think of like 16 year old phenom runners that go straight into professional contracts and then the Olympics. Whereas I'm an example of doing it another way around, but still hopefully getting to that point. Yeah, he's just been a fantastic coach. Emotional support and guidance and yeah, I have full trust in him and I think that's one of the things that has led to a lot of the success as well.

[Interviewer/Host]

And it seems like now you have a slightly different relationship to running than you did when you left Berkeley. What does it feel like now when you engage in it?

[Georgia Bell]

Even though I am on a professional contract now, like I am a Nike athlete since earlier this year, so in a way you would think, okay, there's kind of pressure there as well. But it doesn't feel like that. Like I'm much more mature. I think I'm making a lot more decisions over my body and racing and training that I just felt like it didn't really have before. And that means that I just feel a lot more in control and enjoying it. So I'm just so grateful for having a second shot with running that I think it's just translating really nicely into races. Like I'm just happy to be here, seizing every opportunity. So yeah, I'm just loving it at the moment.

[Interviewer/Host]

It seems like you're less injury prone as well. I mean, it seems like there's a kind of different model of training where it's not like push, push, push, but trend maybe is taking in more rest and sort of taking more breaks.

[Georgia Bell]

Is that right too? Yeah. So I probably do about half the amount of running that I was doing in the U.S. so in the USA I was on 55, 60 miles a week. Here I'm running about 30. But I'll do a lot more on the bike to make sure I'm getting that work without any impact. And yeah, take a recovery day at least once a week and then just some hard track sessions to make sure that we're fit and healthy to compete.

[Interviewer/Host]

Which I think is its own message. I think when we're trying to push ourselves to something, whether it's as an athlete or at work or just, you know, with some sort of new personal habit that we're trying to, you know, develop, we can sometimes want to push, push, push and like do it in this extreme way. But sometimes engaging in a little bit of self compassion and taking that rest can actually mean the difference between being able to do it long term and like just some short blip of whatever we're trying to do.

[Georgia Bell]

Exactly. And I think for me, knowing what it feels like to be constantly injured and trying to come back to fitness, I never want to be in that situation again. So I'm much better at kind of listening to my body. I'm very quick to kind of share information with my coach if I'm feeling any kind of concerns, whereas in the past, perhaps I wouldn't do that. I would just keep it to myself and it would translate into a bigger problem. And so, yeah, I'm just much more mature in terms of looking after myself and making sure that I am maybe doing less miles. But that means that I can consistently build year on year and year, rather than taking breaks out because I'm injured. And that's resulting in, you know, some good performances on the track.

[Interviewer/Host]

I mean, it seems like you're embodying a couple of the happiness principles that we talk about on the podcast. I mean, one of them is just this idea of kind of mindfulness or being present. And as I hear you talk about running now, it seems different than the way you talked about it at Berkeley, where it's like, oh, it was this pressure thing and I'm worried about the scholarship. It seems like you're able to just be present now. Is that really kind of what's going on in your runs these days?

[Georgia Bell]

Yeah, definitely. I mean, being present, there's nothing that you could get as close to that as is with race day because, you know, you haven't got any distractions around you. And on your phone, there's no screens. And you just are so in the moment for that period of time. So my race is about four minutes long. And I just love the feeling that you have where you're just so present, you're running off instinct, you're reacting to the crowd things around you. And yeah, it's just. For me, it's the closest thing to just feeling alive when you have that race day moment. And yeah, you're just so there. You're so present. And it's just something really special, I think.

[Interviewer/Host]

I love that Another one of the kind of happiness principles you've embodied kind of comes with when you got your Nike scholarship, which is that my understanding is that you were kind of doing these park runs and getting faster and faster, but you were also like working full time, right?

[Georgia Bell]

Is that right? Yeah. I was. So I've only. I've gone on a sabbatical over the summer period. When I started running again competitively, I was working full time and I have been until quite recently. So in a way it was good because it was took off all the pressure financially. You know, I wasn't relying on running for that in a way that perhaps in the past I might have been or how other athletes might be. But definitely from a timing standpoint, I did not have a lot of time. I was pretty much just waking up early to train before work and then training after work. So there were really long days and it was really tough. And so, yeah, since the beginning of May, I've been on just full running mode. And it is amazing. I'm just very happy to have time back in my life to recover, train, and not be rushing around. But yeah, it was a big juggling act for the beginning of this year. I was at world championships in March taking zoom calls between my heat and my final. Not an ideal scenario for performing well, but luckily it went well. But yeah, no, I'm very happy to be having some time back in my life right now.

[Interviewer/Host]

And that so nicely fits with everything we know from the science. Researchers talk a lot about this phenomenon of time famine, where you're kind of feeling like you're starving for time. And that's a huge on your happiness and a huge hit on your performance. And so it's so nice to see that you embrace the kind of time affluence which is the opposite, where you kind of really had some free time.

[Georgia Bell]

My life, when I had that kind of time famine was just. I was always just rushing, like rushing to get to the track to train, rushing to get back to be on my next zoom, brushing in the five minutes I had between calls to make a protein shake so I could not be starving while I sat there between my next kind of block of calls. And that kind of took me away from being in the moment, as you say, for lots of those things, because I'm always thinking about the next thing that I have to do and stay on top of. And so kind of removing that whole time pressure has just meant that I can enjoy those aspects of the day, my training and recovery and all those things that you need to do to be a top athlete.

[Interviewer/Host]

I bet not everybody at your cybersecurity firm is like taking off time to go to Olympics this summer. So how have people reacted? Are people shocked that you're kind of at this level now?

[Georgia Bell]

Yeah, definitely. I mean, I think once I started running well, which has only been since the beginning of this year, really where I've been in that elite territory. So it's gone from being, oh, Georgia kind of does some running on the weekend. She used to be a good runner when she's younger to like, okay, Georgia's a British champion, she's a Nike athlete now. She's trying to go to the Olympics this summer. So it's been a big switch up Work have been really supportive. But yeah, as you say, they were very surprised. I kind of told them, turn on BBC, I'm going to be racing in World Championship now. I'm taking a couple of days of annual leave to do it. And then I think they kind of realized, you know, how good an opportunity this is, especially ahead of the Olympics in Paris. So, yeah, people were have been incredibly surprised, especially because it's just kind of started as doing some park runs and has now escalated into this world athlete situation. But everyone is really happy, I think, and excited by the story. Like, I've got lots of messages from people, both people I know and also just kind of strangers who are following the story on social, social media. Just being like, I just heard your story. It just inspired me to get back into my local kind of football club or boxing or you just inspired me to go for a run. Just hearing the story, I think people can kind of relate to it because when you get into the working world and you start adulting, you kind of just give up on your passions or things you used to do quite easily. But actually this is kind of a situation where you continue to do that and actually if you keep showing up, you can get to these kind of exciting opportunities.

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

That's what I love about Georgia. As she explained, so many of us fall into adulting. We give up on the hopes and dreams we had. Growing up, Georgia was able to rediscover her childlike joy for running and that's taken her right to the Olympics. But Georgia knows that real life is not a movie. To compete at this level, Georgia realizes she'll have to face the same doubts and fears that have ruined many an athlete's career. So how's she handling all that? Well, she'll share what she's learned when the Happiness Lab returns from the break.

[Podcast Narrator/Advertiser]

One of the things I keep coming back to in my research is how often our intuitions lead us astray. We think we know what will make us happy and sometimes we're wrong. That's why I value tools that help me think more clearly, not just faster. I'VE been using Claude the AI from Anthropic to brainstorm new ideas for the show. What I appreciate is that Claude doesn't just give me a quick answer and move on. It's helped me think through the sorts of real world situations that people tend to get wrong. When it comes to happiness. Working with Claude feels like thinking alongside a well read research assistant. That's the kind of tool I trust. Try Claude for free at Claude AI Happiness and see why problem solvers choose Claude as their thinking partner. Seeking more brightness these days, research shows that simply gazing at bodies of water like the Pacific Ocean can help lower your heart rate and increase feelings of relaxation. Consider a trip to sunny San Diego. Put your toes in the sand, smell and feel the ocean breeze. Spending time in nature can be great for your mental health and as you soak up the bright side, feel your taste buds, your health and your wellness. With a local cuisine fueled by San Diego's year round farm fresh produce, San Diego isn't just a destination, it's a disposition. Come to the bright side. Plan your trip to San Diego by going to san diego.org funded in part with City of San Diego Tourism Marketing District Assessment Funds. On the Happiness Lab, we often focus on why dramatic lifestyle overhauls don't last, but small, manageable changes do.

[Interviewer/Host]

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[Podcast Narrator/Advertiser]

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[Dr. Laurie Santos]

1500 meter champion Georgia Bell loved running as a kid, but competing under pressure as a young adult became less enjoyable over time. She came to dread her meets, but at age 30, Georgia has returned to her sport with glee. She says that changing the way she thinks about the stressful parts of competition has made all the difference.

[Georgia Bell]

The way how I used to see races is I would get really nervous for races. I would feel like this big expectation. I'd always be thinking about the things that could kind of go wrong and just let doubt creep into our head which inevitably if you have that in a race it's going to impact your performance. Whereas now I just genuinely go into races. So excited. I always think I, you know, I could be in an office right now doing a zoom call, but I'm sad. I'm in Oregon@nike HQ going into this massive race with huge athletes, like, how cool is that? Instead of thinking, oh my gosh, this is completely overwhelming, feel really out of my depth, depth. And so yeah, I genuinely, as I say, just love that feeling of being in the moment racing. Look forward to it so much. As soon as I finished my last race last week, I was on to my coaches. Like, when's my next one? I think I've got a two week break now. Like, can we get another one in before. I know with an athlete's, you know, life, it's not something you can do forever. And I think in a way just having that kind of time limit on it just makes me appreciate it so much more in a way that I just wasn't mature enough to do when I was in my young 20s. Because, you know, you think the world is your oyster then and in many ways it is, but it's almost like getting a little bit older and just seeing. Actually no, this is really special, this really unique. Go for it in every race that you've got. And yeah, luckily for me, that's translating really nicely into how the results are turning out in races because I just take advantage of every opportunity and go for it.

[Interviewer/Host]

And I think that gratitude is so important and I think it does come from maybe not age so much or wisdom so much, but really this ability to like recognize like this isn't permanent. Right. You know, the ancients talked about this phenomenon of negative visualization, right? Where it's like, what if I'm injured and I can't run anymore? What if I'm, you know, way too old to run at the same pace or to participate in races and it seems like you kind of have that negative visualization almost on the stand. You're not thinking like, oh, I'm so nervous. You're thinking, you know, how many more of these do I have? Like, you know, I'm so grateful. It's so cool to see you do that.

[Georgia Bell]

Yeah, exactly. And I just, I always smile on the start line and in the call room before we go on to the race, which people probably look at me and think, think I'm crazy. But I think it's just a good habit. It kind of, like tricks your body into reminding yourself that, like, you are going to have fun. This, it's going to hurt. But, like, this is a really cool opportunity. So when the camera comes around, you'll see that, you know, some people are super serious and in the zone, but I will always be there smiling and waving, because I'm just thinking, how cool is this?

[Interviewer/Host]

That's awesome. It's so funny. I've started working out with my old trainer again. Not nearly at the level that you're working out, but he always in the middle of, like, you know, squats or something, will be like.

[Georgia Bell]

And remember to smile. And I'm like, I don't want to smile.

[Interviewer/Host]

Like, my legs hurt. I hate this. But now Olympic athletes are telling me I should do this. So I'm gonna. I'm gonna jump on.

[Georgia Bell]

I think it does help. It kind of tricks you, your mind and your body just a little bit. And especially people say if you're doing a long race, like a marathon or things like that, you know, if you see friends and family throughout the race, like, it's good to smile and just, like, take a moment. And people do say there is a real connection between the mind and the body when you do that. Like, if you're feeling really tired, it does give you a kind of boost that you might not have had before.

[Interviewer/Host]

And so I'm curious about how you're kind of dealing with the competitive parts now. Right. I'm sort of curious how you're thinking about your comeback and sort of what it means.

[Georgia Bell]

Yeah. You know, there is obviously a lot of pressure. Team USA and Team GB are probably the hardest teams in the world to make. There are just so many good athletes. And you have to run the Olympic qualifying time, which is basically the Olympics saying, you're fast enough to come. So I've done that, so I know I'm good enough, which is awesome. But I think I just look at it as if you told me this time last year that I would go to the Olympics. There's no way I would have believed you. So I just feel like even to be at this point, I just feel like this is something so special, and I'm just really grateful for the opportunity, which is how I deal with the pressure. I think I'll know I've kind of given it everything, especially with taking the break off work this summer, I'd really given it everything to make it to such a special opportunity.

[Interviewer/Host]

You know, when you talk about enjoying your races so much, it seems like you're kind of prioritizing fun in a different way. And I'm curious, is that something that your coaching staff has really emphasized? Like, do they want you to also be enjoying this and have fun too?

[Georgia Bell]

They adjust to me a little bit. So every athlete is individual and running is such an individual sport that they kind of work with what they see their individual athletes works for them. And I think, yeah, they notice for me that when I am having fun and in a good mood, that's when I'll run my best. And so my coach will always say to me before a race, like, go out there and have some fun. And I think that does work for me, for me, because I've had that kind of break from corporate life. And even if you like your job, it is a bit mundane, you know, the commute, the day to day zoom calls. And so for me I'm like, this is so awesome. I'm gonna have some fun out there. And yeah, that's, that's what I see fun as being now. You know, it's not going out with friends, it's not things like going on holiday for me is racing. And that's what I look forward to the most. So that's what I see as being the most fun.

[Interviewer/Host]

That's so interesting because I feel like so many people with the same situation, if they could let that competitiveness come in or a certain kind of fear, like, you know, how do you fight off those kinds of things?

[Georgia Bell]

Don't get me wrong, like I have that competitiveness, like I do want to win, but I just think it should be hard and it will be. And I think racing is fun when you don't know what's going to happen. So the thing about the distance that I do, 1500 meters, just under a mile, is it does have tactics in it. So it's kind of like a game of chess. So ahead of that race I'm going to be studying what other people have done in other races and when I can make a move. And based off my strength and I think it's fun and adds pressure to it when there's a championship on the line, a European medal, that if you take a risk and it pays off like it's the best feeling. But you have to put yourself in those kind of dangerous or tricky situations in the race to get the reward. If you just play it safe. You're not going to win. And so that's what I find exciting about it. And, yeah, people watching the race will also be like, this is awesome. And when you watch races and people take risks like that and it pays off, like, it's just the best feeling for the athlete, but also amazing just for the sport and the atmosphere as well.

[Interviewer/Host]

It seems like even with taking these risks, you're kind of just like, shoving the fear away, because I imagine if you're kind of doing something novel, that that could be kind of scary and things like, what's your relationship to fear? Is that something you've also kind of pushed to the side?

[Georgia Bell]

I'm pushing it to the side a lot at the moment. And, you know, don't get me wrong, like, I'll see people compete and be like, oof. That's. You know, they're gonna be really tricky to come up against, or just understanding that the race is gonna hurt, like, you're gonna put yourself in pain. I will train for it. I will do the work. And it's almost like that's the tug tough part, the training day in, day out, the missing time with family, friends, weddings, all that stuff that you have to do. And then the racing is the time where you get to have fun, you get to actually showcase. And you need those pressure environments to get the good results. And it's exciting to see what can come out of that. There'll always be, you know, fear and doubts naturally, but as long as you can kind of overcome them. And I just think I fill my head with more positive thoughts and exciting thoughts, and just over time, I've got really good at pushing away the fear. And especially in the race, I go into races just with positivity, and I hope I can continue to do that. It might be a bit of naivety as well, because I'm kind of new back into the sport. But I hope that I keep that naivety because it just means you go for it in races, whereas you could get overwhelmed with some of the big names and things like that, but I don't. And I just like how that translates into racing.

[Interviewer/Host]

It's so lovely how you've been able to kind of re. Embrace the beginner's mindset. It's just a reminder to all of us that even if we're using used to something, we can kind of get back to the mindset we had when we first started. Something.

[Georgia Bell]

Yeah, exactly. It's like when you learn to ski or something when you're a child, you'll do it better. But when you're an adult, you can think of all the things that could go wrong and you could be a bit more scared. But actually embracing that kind of young mindset and going for it, you'll learn more quickly, you'll enjoy it more. And yeah, I've been taking that into races.

[Interviewer/Host]

There's such an interesting moral to your story, right? Which is like you were this runner at Berkeley feeling like you're kind of losing your time, and that was it. Now you've really had such an amazing turnaround, maybe even one that that runner back at Berkeley couldn't have imagined. If you were able to kind of tell her something or kind of go back and give advice in some time machine, what. What would that be for her?

[Georgia Bell]

I think I would have just said to her, you know, make sure that you're happy first. This doesn't mean this is an all or nothing situation. There are opportunities in the future for you to, to come back and get into running when you're ready, when it feels right. I wish I had known more stories of people who have these comebacks and hopefully, you know, if someone's hearing this who's going through a to or who used to have a real passion for something and was good at it, and it's kind of just died out. Like, I wish I had known that there are opportunities to come back. And yeah, there are just a lot of amazing stories in the moment with me on the one hand, who kind of went into the working world, just got back into doing something for passion and fun, kept showing up, and is now in this position to go to the Olympics this summer. But there are other stories, like Ellie St. Pierre, who is an American runner who is now running faster than she ever did after having her baby last year. You know, if you told her before that that she's going to be running even better after she has a baby, like, she probably wouldn't have thought that's the case. Now that I'm aware of kind of my situation and my story. You keep hearing others that are similar about having this kind of break and then coming back stronger. So that's what I would just say to my younger self and to anyone else. You know, not everyone's path is linear. There are all these different scenarios of how you can get to the same spot. And I think the key is just getting back into something and doing it for happiness. And then if you keep showing up, then the results will come naturally.

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

I, for one, can't wait to see Georgia's smile. Beaming on the Olympic start line. It's so inspiring to see the joy she brings to running, but Georgia also has a lot of happiness tips for non athletes. She's taught me about the importance of giving myself grace and time and having the confidence to take risks and doing stuff merely for the enjoyment that comes from living in the moment. I wish Georgia and team Team GB well, but my heart this Olympics will still be with my countrymen and women from Team usa, partly because I know some of them are benefiting from the lessons they've heard on this very show.

[Interviewer/Host]

This is such a special occasion for me. I have been a big fan and it resonated so much with me that we were sharing episodes of the Happiness Lab with the coaches we were working with.

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

So join me to hear how happiness science helps the coaches who coach the Team USA coaches. All that next time on the Happiness lab with me, Dr. Laurie Santos.

[Podcast Narrator/Advertiser]

Research shows how often our intuitions lead us astray. That's why I value tools that help me think more clearly, not just faster. Claude, the AI from Anthropic doesn't just hand you quick answers, it thinks things through with you and helps you work through complexity instead of skipping past it. It's the kind of thinking partner I trust. Try Claude for free at Claude AI Happiness Seeking More Brightness these days, research shows that simply gazing at bodies of water like the Pacific Ocean can help lower your heart rate and increase feelings of relaxation. Consider a trip to sunny San Diego. Put your toes in the sand, smell and feel the ocean breeze. Spending time in nature can be great for your mental health. And as you soak up the bright side, feel your taste buds, your health and your wellness. With a local cuisine fueled by San Diego's year round farm fresh produce, San Diego isn't just a destination, it's a disposition. Come to the bright side, plan your trip to San Diego by going to sandiego.org funded in part with City of San Diego Tourism Marketing District Assessment Funds. One of the things we talk a lot about on this show is behavior change and how small, easy swaps actually stick. That's why herobred is such a great example of making progress without overthinking it. Hero makes everyday bread products with 0 to 5 grams of net carbs per serving, 0 grams of sugar and up to 19 grams of protein and they still feel satisfying to eat. It's bread that fits into real life. Visit Hero Co check out their products and reviews and use my code happiness for 10% off your first order. All figures are per serving. Not a low calorie food. See Nutrition Facts for more info.

[Dr. Laurie Santos]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.