Episode 46 - Endurance, Pain, and Purpose: Talking Athletic Performance with Ollie Russell
Description
🎙️ The MindSets Podcast welcomes endurance athlete and performance coach Ollie Russell (@russellperformancetraining) for a powerful conversation about resilience, redemption, and the pursuit of excellence. Host Angus Cook (@MindSets_Podcast) takes listeners on Ollie’s intense journey—from growing up as a dedicated rugby player to facing life-altering personal challenges that would shape his career and purpose forever.
Ollie opens up about a turbulent period in his life, triggered when both his parents were diagnosed with cancer. While his mother fought through and survived, he lost his father, his greatest role model, to the disease. Grieving and searching for direction, Ollie walked away from rugby, threw himself into brutal training sessions as a form of self-punishment, and explored the Marines as an escape. Caught in a cycle of extreme fitness, partying, and substance use, he eventually found a new path in CrossFit and, later, the world of Hyrox. Fast-forward to 2024, and Ollie has not only straightened out his course but set a world record with Team THETA, clocking a 47:33 relay time.
This episode explores how Ollie’s journey through loss, intense challenges, and self-discovery became a foundation for his remarkable endurance feats, including a 48-hour burpee world record attempt and six marathons in six days. It’s a raw story of resilience, transformation, and finding purpose through athletic performance.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation on:
- Transforming pain into resilience and purpose 🧠💪
- The mental and physical demands of extreme endurance sports 🏃♂️
- Insights on training and focus from a Hyrox world record holder 🔥
- Ollie’s journey from self-destruction to world-class performance
Ollie Russel: @russellperformancetraining
Instagram: @mindsets_podcast
TikTok: @mindsets_podcast
Personal: @angus_cook
Enquiries: mindsetspod@gmail.com
The MindSets Podcast, hosted by Angus Cook, dives deep into the mental strategies, resilience, and motivation of top athletes and fitness professionals. Each episode brings you inspiring stories and practical advice to help you achieve your personal and fitness goals.
https://linktr.ee/mindsets_podcast
Podcast Intro/ Outro Music:
Song: TULE - Fearless [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds
Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/Fearless
Watch: http://youtu.be/9rujCfYXhQc
Follow for more stories of grit and redemption! 💥 #TheMindSetsPodcast #OllieRussell #Hyrox #CrossFit #EnduranceTraining #PerformanceCoach #MentalResilience #AthleticPerformance #OvercomingAdversity
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