Elite Runners on Failure: How 6 Pro Runners Deal with Disappointment

2017-09-12

But we almost never discuss the failures of the world's best runners. What does it feel like to never achieve your biggest goal throughout your entire career? How does an elite keep perspective? Do they ever think about quitting? Most importantly... how do elites bounce back from setbacks? Do they have a different mindset than us normal runners? What enables them to continue training at high levels for years? How do they overcome a bad workout, long run, or race? These are the questions that I c...

But we almost never discuss the failures of the world's best runners.

What does it feel like to never achieve your biggest goal throughout your entire career?

How does an elite keep perspective? Do they ever think about quitting?

Most importantly... how do elites bounce back from setbacks? Do they have a different mindset than us normal runners?

What enables them to continue training at high levels for years?

How do they overcome a bad workout, long run, or race?

These are the questions that I couldn't get out of my head.

So I interviewed six pro runners to get their hot take on failure:

Alexi Pappas - Olympian, Greek national record holder, and star of Tracktown
Mike Wardian - racing phenom, world record holder, and nicest guy ever
Brandy Erholtz - Pikes Peak Ascent champ, US Mountain Running team member
Nick Symmonds - 2x Olympian and the CEO of Run Gum
Devon Yanko - 2017 winner of the Leadville Trail 100, multiple national champion
Travis Macy - ultra runner and author of The Ultra Mindset

They're the stars of Episode 39 of the Strength Running podcast. I think you're going to love this episode.

We talk about their own personal failures, how they bounced back, and whether their approach to failure has changed over time.

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