Tales of Toughness

Known by the world as “The Greatest Adventure Racer”, Nathan showed the world his prodigious leadership skills—by winning six world championship out of fifteen world championship events across the globe. Adventure racing enraptured his youthful heart after attending the Outdoor Adventure Program. Nathan’s favorite part of racing is to refine every mistake his team encountered; transforming them into better decision-making outputs that would aid his team into winning the entire race. Currently, Nathan dedicates his time building a harmonious and willful family—the thing he inherited from his mother.   In this episode, you will hear about: Nathan’s mischievous history How Nathan found his calling Why being a parent is not the “end” of your adventure Learning from mistakes in racing Dealing with pressure and uncertainties Nathan’s “Winner’s Philosophy”   [03:01] Nathan originated from a family who were adventurer at heart in terms of camping, fishing and diving but not in extreme sports like mountain climbing and hiking. He enjoyed being one with the environment and its exploratory nature. [05:01] Growing up free-willed and mischievous, Nathan felt the unhealthy directions he was heading into. Even though he felt the excitement, he knew there was no future waiting for him by going to that path. [06:28] How Nathan found his calling: He got the opportunity by attending the Outdoor Adventure Program. It was a pilot program for twelve boys where it involves challenges that frightened the participants but Nathan found interest from it. He fell in-love with the outdoor sports and the adventure of being in the wilderness. [08:46] Nathan’s brother is exceptional at multiple sports like soccer, rugby, cricket but he discovered outdoor sports and the might of his endurance. He found the thing that was for him and he went off. [11:01] Nathan and Jodie, who is an outdoor educator, decided to have a family. They wanted to build their family through their strengths as a couple and outdoor athletes, offer their children with meaningful experiences and teaching them with lessons they have learned in life. [12:46] Many people predicted that by being a young parent, it is the end of your sporting career. But Nathan and Jodie defied expectations and prove the people who doubted them wrong. [16:30] Nathan’s children are all involved in high school adventure racing where his eldest daughter and son belong to the senior team while his younger daughter is in the junior team. [18:52] Adventure racing was not a thing until Jodie started an adventure club with the goal to compete in the nationals. In just five years, the school won championships from nothing. [20:30] Nathan deliberately took a step back because he did not want to put pressure to his children by being too involved in the school’s activities. However, he coaches the teams by making a training program for them or if they wish to seek advice from him. [22:43] In 1999, the Southern Traverse in New Zealand was Nathan’s first adventure. [26:00] Learn small things from the race in terms of the checkpoints, route choices, trails and being critical with the chosen equipment. Through this, you can make better decisions on your next race. [32:37] Even when Nathan’s had kids, he still attended adventure racing since he was essentially employed by Seagate as an adventure racer. However, he felt the need to take a break due to the difficulty of balancing family matters and his pressing heart condition. [38:23] The pressure comes from the team’s standard. If you know what it feels like to underperform as a team and get beaten up by better teams, then you are good to go. [44:04] To navigate the uncertainties during an adventure race, you need to accept what happened as soon as possible. Have the solution-based thinking and focus on what things will be helpful to navigate that moment. Stay calm, be rational and identify the mistakes committed and the solutions you formulated to fix it. [51:04] If you are in a challenging spot, Nathan encourages people to think what you will say first and if that will help your team. [55:58] To become a winner, you need to be prepared to lose it—have the confidence to do the best for your team even if you put yourselves out of the race. [01:00:57] You always do more when you’ve got to race. CONNECT WITH NATHAN! Website: https://nathanfaavae.nz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathan.faavae JOIN MY ADVENTURES!   JOIN MY INNER CIRCLE! If you would like to support the podcast – this space that I'm creating and these conversations that I'm having – please join my inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/GoSonja. Patreon is my online membership community that enables you to support my creative work as well as get access to more amazing resources!    Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete, and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast to download it.   *** EPISODE CREDITS:   If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.   He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

CJ believes it takes hard work and strong mental toughness to achieve any goal. He grew up playing various sports and developed a strong passion for mentoring and coaching youth athletes. CJ also works with individual athletes to help them achieve their full potential through mental and self-discipline. In this episode, you will hear about: How CJ turned his hobbies into daily work Impact of coaching Coaches’ Journey Fear of Overcoming Limits Connection of Body, Mind, & Soul [02:10] CJ wasn’t sure what to do for the rest of his life or what group of individuals he would serve -- until he noticed his own interests while playing sports and exercising. CJ decided to explore Kinesiology and Sport Science and landed internship at a facility called Gymnazo. [04:01] Working with individuals in an open environment, where there were no machines, CJ found a way to connect with individuals who are struggling to figure out how their body moves. He realized that working out is like a chore, and it's just something that he must do to stay healthy. Through different communication styles, CJ learned the deeper purpose of working out.  [07:30] Coaches meet different people with their own story, their own goals, ambitions, and even setbacks. CJ wanted to share authentic positive energy, which sometimes leads people to ask questions like, "why are you so happy all the time?". Coaches believe that when they show up for work, they are there to serve and are happy to help and guide others when someone is lost, or they're on their path, and we want to affirm it." [11:10] Being in a gym with coaches is like building chemistry for CJ. He believes that there is no one coach by themselves; they've got to work together. And as a team, they help to be a cutting edge of innovation and training. For CJ, it's not just about our physical training. It's a mental challenge and a spiritual challenge. [14:12] Every piece of equipment has its certification. CJ thinks that coaches end up getting stuck on how it needs to be done appropriately. CJ felt the limitation of working out, which will lead to burnout. Somehow, what changed his perception of how to program and how to see movement was that there are infinite ways to move people's bodies. [23:21] CJ's job is to help define what it means for someone to be healthy, fit, and more active, get to the more profound questions that drive someone's personality and their reality to shift in the way that they have always wanted to. CJ believes that's it is still accessible, but we have to be able to do the work and put in the effort to apply those things in practice. CJ wanted people to come back and give their best effort for him to do so as well. [25:33] CJ believes that to change someone's mindset starts with self-talk. [26:53] Accepting people's answers to what it means for them to be healthy and not questioning their beliefs. [29:02] Find your own goal or purpose for doing your training. It helps people to recognize the improvements and changes that happen over time. [36:21] Learning the proper way to breathing is beneficial to people. When it feels uncomfortable, people tend to react and stop doing it. But that's when people start to break free. As soon as they begin to have that basal foundation layer that's good for training, they begin to explore and turning it into a habit for better endurance and to be in tune. [42:56] Core values are essential for discovering what we value and what we believe in, connecting people that have the same wavelength as theirs. CONNECT WITH CJ! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-kobliska-8275538b/ JOIN MY ADVENTURES!   JOIN MY INNER CIRCLE! If you would like to support the podcast – this space that I'm creating and these conversations that I'm having – please join my inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/GoSonja. Patreon is my online membership community that enables you to support my creative work as well as get access to more amazing resources!    Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton!   If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast to download it.   ***   EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com  

Today, I have Dan Staudigel who will be talking about “Bend Racing.” Coming up in December, they'll be climbing 30,000 feet, close to a level of Mount Everest. Known on the team as "The Mule," Dan is a particularly skilled bushwacker, navigator, and analyst. He was drawn to adventure racing after being a student in Jason's high school class. His favorite part of racing is the power of having a team with a common sense of purpose; and therefore, being able to move with a speed that each teammate could never maintain individually. When not racing, Dan can be found creating digital spaces solutions as a software architect. In this episode, you will hear about: How Dan discovered the sport world The need to get engaged with a community Health awareness in sporting Philosophy of suffering and stress Journey towards body acceptance   [03:15] How Dan started the adventure racing sport: Jason was his teacher in high school (Dan was taking a climbing fitness class). He overheard Jason mention adventure racing, which was padding and running. They trained and then raced. [05:25] The team was originally Team Yoga Slackers, then became Team Gear Junkie, and now, Bend Racing. [07:15] Dan is a new Dad. His kid is just over 2 years old with one more on the way. He lives in Bend, about 100 yards from Jason. It began with an offer to watch Jason's parent's house. They have a modern racing, kid raising compound in their neighborhood. [09:45] One season, they ran three expedition races in two months: it was an expedition race every 4 weeks. Dan's wife Chelsea got a gallstone 30-60 minutes into the race. Every time they came back from a race, they had the "post-race blues." Around that time, a book came out about tribes and how important it was to mental health. The depression was due to being separate from the tribe. [13:45] Culture is so individual, and it's a lie. It's a relief to set aside that personal piece and ask the group how to help. [16:15] Dan participated in World's Biggest Race: Eco Challenge Fiji. [19:30] People talked about Dan's team "pushing really hard" but they could have continued at that pace indefinitely (fighting 7K tailwind) if it was colder. He didn't supplement enough salt. During eight hours of paddling, he drank six liters of water, ate 300 calories per hour, but only consumed a gram of salt. He sweat out his electrolytes. [21:30] For every liter of water you drink, you should consume 10 grams of salt, to help your muscles work. When you drink water, your body wants to move it from your gut into your body water system, but if it doesn't have enough electrolytes, it pulls the needed electrolytes from your body water and into your gut. It steals from the preserve. [23:45] The final stages of hyponatremia are: seizures, coma, death. In hindsight: carry salt pills. Dan prefers to drink water and supplement salt, because the 1% solution tastes awful to him. They dropped out of one race because of Jason's hip. [26:00] The team had a 24 hour headstart, but then it took 36 hours to traverse the distance the other teams took 8-12 hours. They ended in 7th-8th place because they did not want to inch-worm up a mountain and across a glacier. [29:30] The adventure racing mindset is: you push as hard as you can, and if they cut you off, they cut you off. Don't take yourself off the course, let the course take you off. [34:50] Dan explains his philosophy about suffering and trade-offs. Walking through 100K of thornfield jungles of Patagonia is good practice to "being where you want to be. Life will be hard no matter what. Choose HOW you want to suffer. [38:00] It's highly adaptive to think you are not enough, because how else will you progress towards the next "carrot" that's just ahead? In some cases, this can be demoralizing. If you don't choose your suffering, your mind will make up something else to suffer about. [40:00] Avoid suffering by cutting out doomscrolling and Netflix binging. Most humans in America experience fight-or-fight in relation to their power bill, mortgage, or job. There's something freeing about getting that stress response in the "nature intended way" -- you get the adaptiveness that way. [42:45] It's easy to over-train emotionally (in the same way you could over-train physically and injure yourself throwing weights around). Seek adaptive improvements to build resiliency instead of maladaptive responses, i.e. a toxic team. A benchpress can be done correctly or incorrectly, in the same way a difficult talk can be done "the wrong way." [44:00] Dan explains how failure in physical training and relationships can be corrected and lead to increase strength. [47:00] Dan describes his journey towards body acceptance. Everyone else in the race, relaxing in the pool, were very "jacked." But Dan realized his arms and legs were more efficient. [51:00] If Dan was slightly slimmer, he would have been at less risk of overheating, but would have had less sodium reserves. [52:30] When you see an athlete (like a cyclist) posing for a photo, they're flexing muscles. It's performative. [54:00] Self-talk is a choice. It takes a lot of practice to see that choice and make a different choice.   Ten Rapid Fire Questions [58:00] Favorite junk food item: Snickers bar When you think about the word tough, who's the first person that pops in your head? You, right now. Most used gear item and eco challenge? Backpack. Your go to pair of shoes: Topo Mountain Racer What was the hardest single day of your life? Patagonia, 2013. In five years you will be? On the Moon. Favorite race? I love them all. Dogs or cats? Dogs. You can train with one person for one day, who is it? The Kiwi Guys, Nathan. Tell me the go to phrase that you say to yourself when you're deep in the hurt locker. Tell yourself a new shitty story.   Key Quotes [27:00] "Always keep going if you can. Always find a way to keep going." [33:45] "The easiest way to be where you want to be, is to want to be where you are." [36:22] We have as a society traded away so much physical suffering for emotional suffering. Most people do not see this connection that your only choices how to suffer. They spend all sorts of time trying and failing to suffer less. And really, they just need to choose how to suffer and try to do their best at that. [51:30] "The whole game in adventure racing is to stay at a low level of output that you're primarily using body fat for fuel over stored muscle glycogen."   ***   EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com  

Heather Gustafson of Team Regulators in World’s Toughest Race joins the episode today. They are a team of four athletes and a support person from Redding and all of them were newbies in the Eco Challenge. Her team has survived 12 grueling days and completed some of the toughest challenges in the world. Team Regulators had proven that trusting each other’s capabilities, enjoying the journey, and valuing friendship are important to stay motivated amidst the toughest challenges! Be inspired by this empowering and inspiring woman as she shares how she managed to come through the struggles to overcome her eating disorder and becoming an athlete.   In this episode, you will hear: How Heather’s team got together and be selected to race the Eco Challenge 1:10 Overwhelming thoughts starting of the race – the difficulty of courses, training, and being away from family 4:15 Taking back into Heather’s life and how she came through the hard times to become an athlete 8:20 How exercise has help Heather overcome her eating disorder 17:00 The “chaos” prior to the race 20:10 The adrenaline-filled experience starting off the race 24:55 The fun filled but challenging mission to learn how to ride a mountain bike 29:00 The journey to the finish line 47:00 Started the race as friends and ended as family 50:50 Heather’s words to her old self with eating disorder 54:40   Join the adventure! https://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja     Join my inner circle! If you would like to support the podcast – this space that I'm creating and these conversations that I'm having – please join my inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/GoSonja. Patreon is my online membership community that enables you to support my creative work as well as get access to more amazing resources!    Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete, and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast to download it.   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

For this episode, we’re going to talk about adventures, roles, and behind the scenes of an Eco-Challenge. Our guest is Kevin Hodder which is a race director, will give us more information on how he got into that role and how they manage all of the things for the Eco-Challenge.     In this episode, you will hear about:   How Kevin got his way into an adventurous lifestyle and job How did Kevin get into Eco-Challenge? Why has Kevin gone through this avenue? His Role Philosophy of course creation How to get into Adventure race management   [0:50] Kevin says that it started with their parents. His dad was a field geologist and started inviting Kevin to come along. And so they have adventures together, principally for his father’s work but also part of Kevin growing up.   [2:44] At the time where there was a registration for the Eco challenge in their town, Kevin is working as a Mountain Guide. The race organization was looking for a mountain guide that would both work on the race and guide the camera crews into more adventurous parts. Kevin got a 3-week job working as a guide.   [3:42] Then he got a call asking if he could work race management, accepted it, and instantly grab the opportunity. He worked for 11 years, in 5 different countries and 4 different productions.   [5:52] Kevin said that he always liked events and competitions. He likes working on things that are project-based and be involved in something that is exciting.   [8:49] They went and walked and paddled and grind, climbed the entire racecourse in Fiji. For Kevin, that’s one of the things that he takes a lot of pride in. That he personally travel every inch of that course in the same capacity, carrying the same load as the athletes.   [12:38] Kevin takes on getting the permit for both filming and for racing. And Everyone had to give their consent to allow them to go through, and other things like the coast guard, ministry of transportation. It’s a long process that takes 9-10 months.   [16:57] As a participant in events and races and sports, what Kevin look for in a race director is somebody that is as enthusiastic about their race as the most enthusiastic participant. ‘My job is trying to give you success and power you information, motivation, to have an amazing race experience” said Kevin.   [19:00] During the course design phase, Kevin constantly think of the questions like, Is this reasonable? Is this too much? Is this too easy or should we at this stage get them off their feet because they have been trudging for 70 kilometers by this point? So that’s the process.   [23:15] That’s eco-challenge. You can’t have this plan. Both on how you’re going to manage the race or how you can raise the race.   [28:23]  And that was a real challenge both to educate the crew and educate all of the teams that yes, you are going to Fiji, a beautiful tropical island, but the risk of hypothermia is going to be high.   [34:13] You look at your experience, you have this amazing 6-month journey. During that 6 month journey, you learned all these things, skills, increase your health and your endurance through your physical training, you learn a lot about yourself.   [37:32]  One advice that Kevin give young people a lot is that you’ve got to have this third thing in your life. That third passion.   [44:33] The outdoors doesn’t generally present a gender specificity. Our culture and our mindset and how we’re raised in communities can kind of dictate gender specificity.   [47:08] One great way to do it, the path that Kevin follow is to become a certified guide. That’s a way that gives potential employers the assurance that you have a certain amount of skills. That certification should get you the interview and that you should get yourself the job. Start by volunteering at races in your local community or your local country. Kevin also said that they’re always looking for volunteers. So show yourself as the great assets that can expand your future.   Key Quotes:   [32:19] “That’s part of adventure racing really is, getting to know yourself and your abilities and what you do well, what you struggle at.”   [39:18] “Adventure is really a state of mind.”   ***   EPISODE CREDITS:   If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com  

Out of a whopping 66 teams who competed in the Eco Challenge, particularly notable was Team Onyx with Team Captain Clifton Lyles, whose goal is to put together a barrier breaking team for the show. Clifton Lyles two decades of adventure racing began when he watched Eco Challenge on TV in 1999. Throughout his career, he noticed an evident lack of diversity in the sport. With the opportunity to appear and participate on Eco Challenge, Clifton decided to inspire potential future athletes by forming a team of people of color. Team Onyx is made up entirely of Black members, a first in the history of Eco Challenge and the global racing scene in general.  Join us and tune in to this latest episode as Team Onyx’s Team Captain – Clifton Lyles recalls their journey in the World’s Toughest Race: Eco Challenge, and how they have accomplished its goal of opening doors and inspire a more diverse contestants, and athletes in general to participate in future races! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL HEAR: Clifton Lyles’ family background and what he does outside adventure racing The journey through Adventure Racing Clifton Lyles’ racing experiences with different teams over the years How Team Onyx was formed Team Onyx as a community of people of color who are passionate in adventure racing Breaking the barriers of entry to adventure racing Team Onyx’s training leading up to the race and the challenges they encountered during the Eco Challenge The “wild” first few days of Team Onyx on the Eco Challenge race Recalling the crash that team captain Clifton Lyles suffered on the gravel road The responsibility of being the team captain and the only navigator of the team (which was not shown on the show) Clifton Lyles’ daughter – Mikayla Lyles – who acted as the team’s support person Clifton Lyles is leading the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force – what is the task force all about and what are their goals The story of Clifton Lyles “tattoo” CONNECT WITH CLIFF! Instagram: @cliftonlyles and @onyxadventureracing Website: http://team-onyx.com/     EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Dr. Anne Lord Bailey participated quite possibly in the biggest physical and mental challenge of her life. She is a member of Team Unbroken in the World’s Toughest Race and is also a pharmacist provider for the VA and works in Healthcare Innovation. After Bailey graduated from Columbia International University in 2006, she later continued her education, which allowed her to meet a veteran named Gretchen Evans, a retired Command Sergeant Officer who has a hearing disability due to a bombing encounter, who influenced her to participate in the race. Join us as we walk through their World’s Toughest Race journey and how they were able to endure varieties of elements, survive, and keep pressing forward as a team and as individuals!   In this episode you will hear: How Anne and Gretchen Evans met Opportunity to participate in World’s Toughest Race Transitioning from Training Partner to Assistant Crew Member (TAC)  Initial concerns on joining the race as a Crew Assistant  The “chaos” on the beginning of the race and how they worked as a team Pushing through the Ocean Leg, challenges they faced as a team, and going through the race despite Dr. Bailey’s Diabetes The responsibility of being a support role to Gretchen and how the team communicated with Gretchen Evans regardless of her hearing impairment condition  Being more competent than confident Push to keep going and finish the Ocean leg and realizing they may not make it to the first cut-off  Team Unbroken moving forward after being eliminated from the race  Anne’s advice to self - Speak up in what I am observing, reading in the guide book, and seeing in front of me and around me   Connect with Anne! Instagram: @annelordb and @teamunbrokenusa Facebook: /teamunbrokenusa Join the adventure! https://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja Join my inner circle! If you would like to support the podcast – this space that I'm creating and these conversations that I'm having – please join my inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/GoSonja. Patreon is my online membership community that enables you to support my creative work as well as get access to more amazing resources!    Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete, and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast to download it.   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com  

In this episode, we have Travis Macy, the team captain of Team Endure in the World’s Toughest Race. Travis is the son of the esteemed adventure racing personality, Mark Macy, who also joined the race on the same team. Just like his father, Travis is also an accomplished Adventure Racer. In this podcast, Travis talks about their journey as father-son tandem, and the mindset shift he has made coming into Eco Challenge.   In this episode, you will hear: The achievement loop amongst athletes The concept of “Thinking about Your Thinking” when it comes to your what & why Travis’ consistency of always finishing races and how that mindset changed coming into the Eco Challenge The support Travis provided his dad during the race and accepting shifting roles – helping and accepting help Making the decision to stop The concept of “Never quit except when you should” “There’s a time to dig deep and forge ahead, and then there are times to go a different route” Letting the course take you out Spending less effort moving away from the things you don’t want and spending more effort to do the things that you do want. Tools or routines that Travis has to manage mental health on a daily basis   Join the adventure! https://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja   Join my trail family!   If you would like to support the podcast – this space that I'm creating and these conversations that I'm having – please join my trail family at https://www.patreon.com/GoSonja. Patreon is my online membership community that enables you to support my creative work as well as get access to more amazing content!    Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete, and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton!   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com  

Today, I have Joshua Forester, Team Captain of Team US Military in the World’s Toughest Race.   With roots in Atlanta, Georgia, Joshua is a Contracted Research Scientist for the Department of Defense. He’s an outdoor enthusiast with an extensive background in distance running, yoga, backpacking, mountain biking, paddling, rock climbing, and mountaineering.   Joshua once overcame depression with exercise and then began saying yes to challenges he feared most. After executing a self-guided expedition up Denali, among other incredible achievements, he geared up to be the team captain, a navigator, and a workhorse in Eco-Challenge Fiji.    Tune in to hear about Joshua’s journey in exploration and physical endurance, noting some of his biggest challenges during the race and what he thinks about the power of gratitude.   In this episode, you will hear: The phase of mountaineering Joshua suggests people start at His experience climbing Denali + Why he picked Denali over Everest About Team US Military and how he got everyone together How Joshua’s Eco-Challenge fanboyism saved the day after a shocking collision at the start of the race His struggle with the heat Joshua’s proudest moment of navigation Team US Military’s progression in the race  Eco-Challenge lore from Bear Grylls that led to a huge mistake What his team affirmed for him about teamwork The concept of the “Yes Year” + 3 things that stop people from saying yes How Joshua embraces fear and turns it into growth and achievement The power of gratitude, especially in Eco-Challenge *** EPISODE CREDITS:   If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Today, I have Becca of Team True North in the World’s Toughest Race. Becca is one of the strongest, brightest women I know and is here to tell tales of both triumph and near defeat from Eco-Challenge. She is an impressive young woman, having finished the race when she was just 18 years old! As a lover of cycling and university student studying astrophysics, with a father who’s a navigation expert, Becca was made for greatness. Though, greatness doesn’t come easily.  Buckle up for a few of Becca’s most notable moments during the race and how it has since affected her mental health.   In this episode, you will hear: What it was like to be very young on the team The lovely dynamic of racing with her father Her adrenaline-filled experience starting of the race Becca is not a runner… and Eco-Challenge was the longest hike she’s ever done! The mentally toughest part of the race for Becca + The thoughts that lead to meltdowns Special bonding moments with other teams Wild thoughts caused from sleep deprivation The story of her boat sinking  What people should be saying to young female adventurers + The best advice she’s ever been given  It’s in the weakest moments that we’re being super strong, even when you don’t feel it. Becca’s experience with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, anxiety, and depression after the Eco-Challenge *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

If you’re familiar with the Spartan world, you’d certainly recognize Kevin as the Spartan Pro, who's been on the podium in his age group last year in 30 separate Spartan events. Kevin is also the voice of Spartan on ESPN.  Stepping out of his comfort zone last year at the World's Toughest Race, Kevin took a job in production behind the cameras.  For him, it was an experience of a lifetime that brought out more weaknesses than he would ever have thought – but out of that mentally, emotionally, and physically brutal experience, he came out much stronger.  Today, Kevin gives us his different perspective on the race.  In this episode, you will hear: The physical and technical challenges of his job as an assistant cameraman at the EcoChallenge Kevin's Spartan race experience and how he trained for his races How the Spartan SGX came about and The Daily Burn Spartan A look into Spartan and OCR athletes Ryan Atkins and Rea Kolbl The camaraderies built from the race How he was able to bring out authentic conversations with the athletes Kevin’s personal challenges during the race Join the adventure! https://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja Join my inner circle! If you would like to support the podcast – this space that I'm creating and these conversations that I'm having – please join my inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/GoSonja. Patreon is my online membership community that enables you to support my creative work as well as get access to more amazing resources!  Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete, and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast​ to download it. Supporting Resources: Daily Burn Spartan https://dailyburn.com/program/spartan World OCR https://ocrworldchampionships.com/races/ *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Today, I am overjoyed to bring you the amazing Sylvia Greer who raced on Team Sundance Kids in the World's Toughest Race EcoChallenge: Fiji. Not Sylvia nor anyone on Team Sundance Kids had ever competed in an adventure race prior to Fiji. She’s an ultra runner and does very long-distance trail runs (think about 100 and 200-mile races) – but she has never experienced a race of this magnitude! What started with a text message saying yes to the EcoChallenge turned out to be this lifetime opportunity that she will remember forever – swollen knees, messy hair, and all! Today, she talks about the challenges of adventure racing – being fast enough, keeping up, holding it together, pushing to new heights, and being the weak link.  Sylvia lives in a small ski town called Eden, Utah. She’s a mother, a coach, the creator of Greer Endurance Coaching, and a track coach for the local school in the spring. In this episode, you will hear: Joining the Triple Crown of 200 and being the first woman to finish the series Sarcasm as their love language on the team Handling gear management Sylvia’s hair nightmare Floating on the Bilibili for 13 hours (in the dark and with deadly strainers on the river) Crashing at the bike section resulting in a serious knee injury Navigating the falls being one of the toughest sections in the race Finding deep connections with her team and other people on the race (including me!)   Join the adventure! https://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja   Join my inner circle! If you would like to support the podcast – this space that I'm creating and these conversations that I'm having – please join my inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/GoSonja. Patreon is my online membership community that enables you to support my creative work as well as get access to more amazing resources!    Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete, and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast​ to download it. Supporting Resources: https://greerendurancecoaching.com/   *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Mindy Zemrak is the competitive relations director for World's Toughest Race Eco-Challenge: Fiji. In other words, she’s the master communicator. Her team oversaw everything related to all of the competitors for the race – from newsletters to patches to moving gearboxes, and to our panic attacks – you name it!  She is also the Emmy-nominated, supervising casting producer for the ABC series Shark Tank. Her resume includes Beyond the Tank, America's Greatest Makers, American Idol, Top Chef, I Survived a Japanese Game Show, Expedition Impossible, and many, many more.  Mindy is a beacon in a dark land. She's the mama bear to all of us racers who competed in the World's Toughest Race. She's the first person you talk to after you submit your application. We have the majority of our communication with her as the race details unfold. She was practically there for us until the finish line. Her perspective on the race is so unique. And this conversation was a special look into what Mindy does behind the scenes, both pre-race, during the race, after the race, as well as how she takes care and supports all of us athletes out there on behalf of the race staff.  The World's Toughest Race was just as life-changing for Mindy as it was for us, racers, and I can't wait for you to enjoy her as much as I do! It was really the world's toughest race for so many people in their own way.  In this episode, you will hear: How Mindy balances this massive amount of back and forth communication with people What a casting director does How she found someone on her team who complemented her personality Mindy’s role as a competitive relations director on the World’s Toughest Race before, during, and even after the race What she learned from the athlete population How the EcoChallenge was a beast and a challenge for her Seeing how the EcoChallenge in its entirety was extremely different from the Hollywood environment that she’s used to seeing A change of perspective: Meeting this Fijian woman that forever changed her life   Join the adventure! https://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja   Join my inner circle! If you would like to support the podcast – this space that I'm creating and these conversations that I'm having – please join my inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/GoSonja. Patreon is my online membership community that enables you to support my creative work as well as get access to more amazing resources!    Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete, and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast​ to download it. *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com  

Today, I have Jeff Bates, the team captain for Team Nika on the World's Toughest Race. Jeff takes us on this beautiful journey from love to loss. He shows us how it should look like when things go right, and also when things go horribly wrong.  He is a true testament to owning your experiences – and, well, just making lemonade out of lemons! Jeff is the director of operations at a hospital where he oversees about 200 people. And one of the most interesting things he said on the show was that he learned more about leadership during the race than he ever had in an office setting.  So get ready for some fresh perspective and lessons on life, love, and leadership! In this episode, you will hear: A beautiful love story The power of interacting between different teams Assembling the team (where some members have never personally met!) The different stresses they had to face pre-Eco-Challenge One thing to know about endurance sports Quitting doesn’t mean failing Leading a team in the Eco-Challenge vs. leading a team at a company The kind of people you need to find for your team   Join the adventure! https://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja   Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast​ to download it.   *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Today’s guest was the biggest positive light for me during my breakdown moment when I was really struggling to go on with the race. She gave me a soul-level pep talk that I'll never forget in my life!  Heather Bond is the founder of Bond Fitness & Adventures and author of her memoir, Athena Rising. Heather is a Certified Personal Trainer, an international adventure guide, motivational speaker, and former firefighter and stuntwoman. Heather is an experienced adventure racer who has been through all facets of the sport. And she’s one of six people selected to be on an international logistics team for the World’s Toughest Race in Fiji.  In this episode, you will hear: Heather’s specific role at the Eco-Challenge How she’s able to connect with people on a soul level Heather’s adventure racing experiences doing course design and all aspects of it Adventure racing back then versus now How she ended up in an Indian prison and getting the biggest gift out of this life-altering experience Honoring your child's growth Heather’s advice to the next generation of adventure racers   Join the adventure! https://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja   Join my inner circle! If you would like to support the podcast – this space that I'm creating and these conversations that I'm having – please join my inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/GoSonja. Patreon is my online membership community that enables you to support my creative work as well as get access to more amazing resources!    Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast​ to download it.   Supporting Resources: www.bondfitnessandadventures.com Athena Rising by Heather Bond: https://www.amazon.com/Athena-Rising-Memoir-Heather-Bond/dp/B08BWHQ87B   *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com  

Jason is the team captain for Team Bend Racing, who just happens to be one of our top American adventure racing teams.  Jason is a father and a modern-day Renaissance athlete. He excels in a ton of different sports from ultra-endurance racing, circus partner acrobatics, and yoga, to highlining, rock climbing, and whitewater paddling. He even does some swing dancing and bowling with over 50 expedition races under his belt.  His team, Bend Racing, was really looking to make their mark on Eco-Challenge Fiji. And after watching the coverage, I think that we can all agree that they left a mark! I have learned so much from this conversation with Jason and it has made such a deep impact on me that I will be using pieces of this conversation for years to come! In this episode, you will hear: How Jason and his wife, Chelsey, dealt with the loss of a baby Mistakes they’ve done on the Eco-Challenge How the Eco-Challenge is different from the Ironman Some adventure racing tips (especially for the newbies!) How being first changes the whole dynamic on your psyche Learning to be good at competitiveness when you’re the underdog Figuring out how to use your story to get the win What makes adventure racing different than any other sport in the world What happens at a post-race debrief Join the adventure! https://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete, and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast​ to download it. Supporting Resources: http://yogaslackers.com/ http://jandctraining.com/ http://bendracing.com/ http://americastoughestrace.com/   *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

September is Suicide Awareness Month. As someone who's experienced suicidal ideation and mental health challenges through the years, I feel this is the best time to have some bold conversations around complex mental health issues.  You see, a few brave souls reached out to me after watching my story of struggle on the World's Toughest Race. And those raw conversations with them have put me in a place where I feel the need to understand these topics beyond my own experiences.  Today, I’m bringing in an expert, Dr. Josephine McNary, a board-certified general psychiatrist. She and her entire team at CalPsychiatry specialize in medication management, particularly focusing on the use of complementary medicine for mood and anxiety disorders. I wanted to dive deeper into those issues to raise awareness, especially how we, as athletes, need to think about mental health and wellness.  In this episode, you will hear: The mental health stigma within ourselves Why it’s hard for society to accept mental illness The hierarchy of struggle The collective trauma people are experiencing during COVID times Is my struggle worth it? When to start seeking help and how to navigate the first step Who to go to: psychiatrists vs. psychologists and other therapists What is the best therapy out there? Defining depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and passive suicidal thoughts Depression and anxiety among athletes The role of coaches and training partners Join the adventure! https://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja   Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete, and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast​ to download it.   Supporting Resources: www.calpsychiatry.com  https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/calpsychiatry-presents-mindstories/id1501515784 https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/the-weight-of-gold  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provide free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please keep their number in your wallet, in your drawer, or at your bedside. You may not need it, but you might need to give it to a friend.    *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Toughness comes in so many forms. In this episode, Chris Ellison gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the World's Toughest Race: Eco Challenge – not as a racer, but as one of the 13 embedded camera operators of the show.  Chris managed to complete much of the course with us. He was committed to telling our team’s story. And it was his commitment to the purpose that ultimately got him through the hardships of the course.  Today, Chris reminds us that you don't have to have it all figured out to get started. Taking action always means it's either going to be a ton of fun, or it's going to make for fun disaster stories. Either way, you're going to grow from it.  In this episode, you will hear: Challenges Chris faced both physically and on the technical side of things Concerns of getting dropped and keeping up with the racers The mentality of figuring things out Certain sections of the race that stood out for Chris The biggest challenge for Chris How Chris got started in his filmmaking career Finding a sense of home from people   Join the adventure! https://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja   Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes an in-depth look at how to overcome limiting beliefs, develop awareness into why you compete, and understand what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast​ to download it.     *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

So you might wonder what the heck is this mom of a teenage daughter doing in Ironman and The World’s Toughest Challenge? Nope! I’m not a superhero.  Really, I’m just a mom who’s passionate about building on my skills and experiences. And joining these amazing marathons, triathlons, and adventure races are what lights up my fire! So today, I want you guys to get to know me better (shit and all – like literally!) Meet my best friend, Prianka Nandy, who will interview me today. I wanted to share more about myself so people could understand the context that I bring to my interviews. In this episode, you will hear: Shitting in my pants at the Kona Ironman World Championships The Health First approach How your journey and your goal are married to each other How to manage your stress bucket as an athlete My first triathlon experience and how I’ve built on my experiences Lessons from my adventure racing experience The difference between adventure racing and Ironman What it was like to be our team’s navigator on the World’s Toughest Challenge   Join the adventure! https://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja   Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast​ to download it.   *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Being able to do something that you love with the people you love is such an amazing privilege. And for Jeff & Hunter Leininger, adventure racing is something that has made their father-and-son bond even more special and stronger.  Hunter is the world's youngest adventure racer. While Jeff has now completed over 100 expedition and adventure races alongside Hunter and close friends. This dynamic duo has been doing adventure races together since Hunter was six years old. At 18 years old, Hunter was also one of the youngest athletes on the start line at the World's Toughest Race. Being a mom to a 14-year-old, I know how it feels to have a super adventurous kid. In this conversation, I was touched by the love and care they both have for each other. Adventure racing has definitely created a bond between them that few people will ever understand.  In this episode, you will hear: Jeff’s role as a very supportive father Hurdles they had to overcome just so they’d let Hunter race with the adults What Hunter brings to the team and the other team members rallying around him Letting go of your kid as they become their own person The hardest points of the race Some strategies they used in the race to gain ground Why they switched their game plan and what that conversation was like Join the adventure! htt://gosonja.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sonja.wieck https://www.instagram.com/gosonja/ https://twitter.com/goSonja   Subscribe and Review I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast. Each week, Tales of Toughness takes a deep dive into how to overcome limiting beliefs, developing awareness into why you compete, and understanding what makes high-performers tick. The goal is to help develop more confidence and toughness both mentally and physically. If you’re feeling really generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton! If you really enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://gosonja.com/podcast​ to download it.   Supporting Resources: www.ARGeorgia.com www.HunterEndurance.com Follow Hunter on Instagram @hunter_leininger https://www.instagram.com/hunter_leininger/ *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com