Olympian Deena Kastor on practicing positivity; a running addict attempts to cross-train (for real this time); what you can learn on an overnight relay.
On this week’s Runner’s World Show:
- Elite marathoner and three-time Olympian Deena Kastor shares what may be the most critical element to her success: her mental game. (1:30)
- Tish Hamilton, our Executive Editor, runs to live. This summer, she's going to see if she can live with running less, and doing other sports more. (18:15)
- In the Kick, we discuss elite runner Alexi Pappas’s productive month, the new spin on the beer mile that will make your stomach turn, and tips for a great overnight relay race. (30:20)
Power of Positivity
Training for a marathon, pushing for a PR, heck, just dragging yourself out of bed to do a workout in the dark demands a certain mindset. One that, according to Deena Kastor, a three-time Olympian, is bestfocused on the bright side.
“Our thoughts become our emotions and our actions and our habits,” says Kastor to an audience during our inauguralRunner’s World Getawayin Hilton Head in March 2016.
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Cultivating a positive mindset has helped her to not only run fast, but to live a rich, fulfilling life. She wields the practice of positivity in everything from asking her husband to take out the trash, to enjoying a hot cappuccino, to setting records like the U.S masters mark she set in 2015 when she ran2:27:47 at the Chicago Marathon.
“Now I’ve gotten to a place in my runs where that challenge is there, and I’ve got to dig down to the bottom of my heart to find that positive side to get me through it,” she says.
In fact, she says, numerous studies have shown that focusing on the good benefits all runners. It canimprove your running efficiencyandboost your endurance.
Finding Joy in Cross-Training
Executive Editor Tish Hamilton is always down for a run. That is, except during the coming summer months.
Tish and fellow editor Christine Fennessy head outside to take advantage of a rare sunny day (it's been all gloom and showers here in eastern Pennsylvania) to talk about what happened recently to cause Tish to take a hard look at her running routine. She knows she needs to back off her mileage, and she’s got a plan for what to do, but it is NOT going to be easy.
However, she’s taking a page from Deena Kastor’s positivity perspective and is determined to find some redeeming value in doing other sports for a while. This is the first in a series of segments we’ll run on Tish as she tries to stay committed to backing off, building strength, and finding joy in branching out.
The Kick
We wrap things up with a few notable stories from the week:
- Filmmaker and Runner Alexi Pappas Has Had a Good Month
- Canadian Chugs Eight Brews and Runs Eight Laps
Episode Credits:
The Runner’s World Show is hosted by Editor-in-Chief David Willey.
The podcast is produced by Sylvia Ryerson, Christine Fennessy, and Brian Dalek with editing help from Rachel Swaby and Mervyn Deganos.
Our theme music is “So I Run” byThunderhoof.
Interviews on the podcast have been edited for length and clarity. Got a story idea for the show? Send it torwaudio@rodale.com.
Brian Dalek
Director of Content Operations, Runner’s World & Bicycling
Brian has spent more than a decade focused on creating compelling news, health, and fitness content—with a particular interest on enthusiast activities like running and cycling. He’s coordinated coverage of major events like the Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, and Tour de France, with an eye toward both the professional race and the engaging stories readers love.
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