“Because I wasn't a competitive runner, I don't think I ever had to face failure in that situation … but in strength sports, when I compete, I'm doing that in front of a crowd and a judge who is just looking at me. And it's totally changed the way that I have to handle that fear of failure because it's right there in front of me. I can't escape that someone is looking directly at me and judging whether I've passed or failed. And what I've learned from that is just that it makes you, I think, a better person when you face failure in that way.”

On this week’s episode of The Injured Athletes Club, Alyssa Ages, an endurance athlete, strongman competitor, and the author of Secrets of Giants: A Journey to Uncover the True Meaning of Strength shares the many lessons she’s learned during her athletic pursuits—and why sometimes, failure is the ultimate success.

Alyssa discusses her transition from being an endurance athlete to a strongman competitor and how a miscarriage she suffered led to a profound change in her perspective. (So, a note that that’s a topic we touch on, in case that’s a tender spot for you right now.)

She delves deep into her experiences with injuries, how strength training helped her physically and emotionally, and how she copes with setbacks using skills she picked up from various sports. The conversation also highlights her thoughts on body image and the cultural norms surrounding women's bodies.

Resources/links:

• Alyssa’s website and Instagram
• Her book Secrets of Giants: A Journey to Uncover the True Meaning of Strength
• Her Ultraphysical article, “Exploring Our Physical Limits”

You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show.

To access more resources for injured athletes:

• Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
• Access webinar videos, injury sources, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work
• Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
• Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
• Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
• Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.