Doing Hard Things the Right Way
Description
šāāļø Episode Summary
In this solo episode, I dive into one of the most important but overlooked aspects of ultramarathon training:Ā the difference between meaningful challenge and pointless suffering.
Inspired by theĀ Excellence, ActuallyĀ podcast episodeĀ āThe Art of Doing Hard Thingsā, this show explores how we can train smarterānot just harderāby avoiding āZombie Burnout,ā reframing our approach to stress, and aligning our effort with purpose.
I also break down what this looks like inside a 12ā16 week ultramarathon training block, and the biggest mistakes I see runners make when chasing big goals.
š§ What Youāll Learn
- Why āhardā doesnāt always mean āhelpfulā in endurance training
- How to recognise and avoidĀ Zombie Burnout
- A breakdown of aĀ realistic and purposeful ultra training cycle
- Common traps runners fall into (comparison, overtraining, under-recovering)
- How to build a long-term mindset that supports both performance and joy
š Episode Segments
- Training with Purpose, Not Just Pain
- Ask better questions. Train with intent. Stop following hype.
- Avoiding Zombie Burnout
- How to recognise when youāve lost the emotional connection to your trainingāand how to reset.
- Applying the Excellence Framework in Your Training Plan
- A step-by-step look at what a meaningful 12ā16 week ultra plan should actually look like.
- Common Pitfalls to Watch For
- Mistakes Iāve madeāand you can avoidāto stay healthy, consistent, and motivated.
- Coaching & Community
- Details on my 1:1 run coaching and how to get in touch.
š Connect & Coaching
Instagram:Ā @davidultrarunner
1:1 Coaching Enquiries:
šĀ David Taylor ā Glasgow Running Coach | Team RunRun
If youāre working toward a big ultra or need help avoiding burnout while still pushing your limits, Iād love to work with you.
š Support the Show
If this episode hit home for you:
- Share it with a friend or your running group
- Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
- Follow or subscribe so you never miss whatās next
š§ Next Episode Teaser
Next week, Iāll be back to the usual interview format with a previous guest and friend of the show that's just smashed a long standing FKT so stay tuned and keep those legsāand your mindsetāmoving forward.
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