In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca Rusch is joined by mountain biking phenom and SheSends founder Kate Courtney for an honest, high-vibration conversation about racing, reinvention, and rising to your own standard of success. From being the only girl on her high school team to becoming a world champion and Olympic athlete, Kate has reshaped what it means to lead with values—not just victories. Now, she’s charting a bold new course in her career: founding her own team, launching a foundation, and redefining what success means from the inside out.

This conversation explores what happens when you bet on yourself—on and off the bike—and how the moments that test us can often be our greatest teachers.

Show Notes:

In this episode, Rebecca and Kate discuss:

The founding and vision behind SheSends: a race team and a movement
Her evolution from factory team rider to entrepreneur and team builder
How Leadville became her unexpected comeback after injury
Cultivating intrinsic motivation in a results-driven world
The changing landscape of women’s cycling and why it matters
Letting go of external validation to focus on values-based leadership
The mental and physical shift that comes from playing the long game

Transformative Insights:

Believing in yourself—not just the outcome—is the most powerful performance tool
You don’t have to wait to feel confident to take the leap—just “send it”
Structure is the secret sauce, not sheer discipline
Curiosity is often the most powerful motivator we have
Building your own path can energize your performance in unexpected ways

Vulnerable Moments:

Kate opens up about the injury that sidelined her season—and sparked a reset
She reflects on early years of being underestimated and overextended
Rebecca and Kate share how they’ve both wrestled with shifting identities in sport
Kate talks about learning to rest, reframe, and rebuild—without losing momentum

Practical Wisdom:

Use values—not just metrics—to define success
Treat injury or detours as data, not defeat
Redefine goals through bronze/silver/gold tiers to keep perspective
Let structure support joy, not stifle it
Create space for the “main thing”—and know when to let the rest go

Personal Growth:

Kate’s shift from peak performance to purpose-driven impact through SheSends
Her approach to writing, reflection, and building mental clarity through Monday Mantras
Embracing uncertainty as a form of freedom
Expanding her team from just staff and support to a mission-aligned community

Helpful Links:

Kate’s Website

SheSends Foundation

Kate Courtney's Substack – Monday Mantras

Kate on Instagram

Kate’s Interview on Rich Roll

Kate on the Second Nature Podcast

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She Sends - Foundation & Race Team