The one thing I was hesitant to tell my first athletes
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Ultra success:
51% mindset, 49% physical
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When I first started coaching, I was eager to share my experience and training philosophy—one that I know works for the ultra-distances.
It’s rooted in science. It’s backed by results. And in many ways, it’s not novel.
But there was one truth I held back.
A truth that felt obvious, but also cliche:
Ultra success is 51% mindset, 49% physical.
Anyone who’s run an ultra knows how much the mind matters. But as a coach, I feared that admitting this would make my training plans sound… irrelevant.
If mindset was the majority of the success equation, what did that say about my role as a coach?
But over time, I realized something important:
I was presenting mindset and physical training as if they were separate.
They’re not.
The physical work builds mindset.
And mindset amplifies the impact of physical work.
Every hard workout, every choice to show up, every adjustment on a tired day—these aren’t just physical reps. They’re mental ones, too.
It’s easy to slip into going through the motions.
Some training days are dull. Repetitive. Necessary but unremarkable.
But those are the days that matter most.
Because big picture—you’re not just checking boxes.
You’re proving something to yourself:
- That you can show up without ideal conditions.
- That you can follow through even when motivation is low.
- That you can take action when your brain is offering excuses.
And when you’re at the 100K mark of your next 100-miler, your body will be depleted.
That’s when your mind takes over.
And the strength you’ll draw on won’t come from your best workouts—it’ll come from the ones you had to grind through.
So, here’s the takeaway:
Mindset isn’t something you switch on during a race.
It’s something you train—quietly—on the days that feel the most ordinary.
Keep stacking those days. They matter more than you think
Happy training!
If you have any questions about how I train for ultra triathlons or ultramarathons, just reply to this email!
