Unstoppable Ultra Runner

Susan Donnelly
  • 5.0 (53)
  • Running
  • Updated Weekly

Your body isn’t the problem—your mind is. Ultra runners don’t stop because they’re too tired. They stop because doubt, fear, and hesitation convince them to quit. You’ve trained your legs, lungs, and endurance, but when things get tough, does your mindset hold up? True mental toughness isn’t about being fearless. It’s about knowing—deep down—that no matter what happens on race day, you have the resilience, grit, and mental strength to keep moving forward. Unstoppable Ultra Runner is for you if you’re asking: *Why do I lose my confidence when a race gets hard? Learn how to trust yourself and stay mentally strong when it matters most. *How do I stop second-guessing myself before a big race? Develop an unshakable belief in your training and your ability to finish. *What’s the secret to pushing through when It seems impossible? Master the mindset shifts that separate those who stop from those who keep going. *How do I handle setbacks without falling apart? Turn challenges into fuel, so you come back stronger every time. *Why do I always play it safe instead of going after big goals? Break free from self-doubt and run with the confidence to chase what you really want. Hosted by Susan Donnelly, a veteran ultra runner with over 150 100-mile ultra finishes, Unstoppable Ultra Runner gives you the mindset focus you need to run your best races. As a coach, Susan has helped ultra runners of all levels—beginners to veterans—build confidence, increase performance, and go after big goals with a mental game that matches their physical training. Whether you’re aiming for your first finish or your fastest time, she’ll help you develop the mental strength to push past limits and run races you’re truly proud of. Follow now and start training the one thing that’s been holding you back. You can connect with Susan at www.susanidonnelly.com

  1. 6h ago

    78. How to Make the Leap from 50 to 100 Miles

    You’ve finished 50 miles, and now you can’t stop thinking about 100. But doubling the distance brings a whole new level of uncertainty. Do you need to run a 100K first? Are you really ready for 100 miles? And how do you prepare for a distance you’ve never experienced before? In this episode, I’m sharing the five things I would focus on if I were making my own leap from 50 to 100 miles again. I show you how to prepare for the challenges ahead so you can make strong decisions, adapt when things don’t go to plan, and give yourself the best chance of running a race you’re proud of. You only get one first 100, and the goal is to make it a triumphant adventure while laying a strong foundation for the 100s still to come. For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/78 Connect with Susan: Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly Mentioned in this episode: Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Today! Every race gives you experience. Few runners turn that into improvement. The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template helps you evaluate your races like experienced ultrarunners do - identifying what worked, what didn’t work, and what to do differently next time. Use it after races or key training runs to turn every effort into better performance. To download yours, go to: https://unstoppable-ultra-runner.captivate.fm/mastery-debrief-template Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Here!

    78. How to Make the Leap from 50 to 100 Miles

  2. Sep 30

    77. Why “Go Out Slow” Isn't a Race Plan

    You promised yourself you’d go out slow. And then the race starts. Everyone around you takes off, and suddenly you’re running faster than you planned because you don’t want to get stuck behind slower runners or feel like you’re already falling behind. Before you know it, the race strategy you meant to follow has disappeared in the first few miles. In this episode, I break down why telling yourself to “go out slow” isn’t enough to keep you from getting swept up in the chaos at the start of an ultra. You’ll learn how to plan for the pressures you’ll face when everyone else takes off, make intentional decisions instead of reacting to the runners around you, and start running your own race from the very first step. For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/77 Connect with Susan: Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly Mentioned in this episode: Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Today! Every race gives you experience. Few runners turn that into improvement. The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template helps you evaluate your races like experienced ultrarunners do - identifying what worked, what didn’t work, and what to do differently next time. Use it after races or key training runs to turn every effort into better performance. To download yours, go to: https://unstoppable-ultra-runner.captivate.fm/mastery-debrief-template Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Here!

    77. Why “Go Out Slow” Isn't a Race Plan

  3. Sep 23

    76. “I Don't Want to Be Here”: How to Stay in the Race When You Want Out

    There comes a point in some races when you just don’t want to be there anymore. The miles feel monotonous, you desperately want them to be over, and suddenly being anywhere but where you are feels like the only thing you want. In this episode, I share why the urge to escape can become a real problem in an ultra. I explain why wanting out isn’t actually the problem, what the problem really is, and how learning to tolerate those uncomfortable feelings can help you stay in your race, be present even when you’re not having fun, and build the mental strength to keep going when your goal is still miles away. For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/76 Connect with Susan: Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly Mentioned in this episode: Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Today! Every race gives you experience. Few runners turn that into improvement. The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template helps you evaluate your races like experienced ultrarunners do - identifying what worked, what didn’t work, and what to do differently next time. Use it after races or key training runs to turn every effort into better performance. To download yours, go to: https://unstoppable-ultra-runner.captivate.fm/mastery-debrief-template Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Here!

    76. “I Don't Want to Be Here”: How to Stay in the Race When You Want Out

  4. Sep 16

    75. Why a Bad Stretch Doesn't Mean Your Race Is Over

    In this episode, I’m breaking down the belief that once your race starts going downhill, it will keep getting worse. I explain why a few difficult miles aren’t enough to predict the rest of your race, why the lows you experience aren’t necessarily the start of a steady decline, and how this assumption can convince you that your race is over before it actually is. Learn how to replace “How am I going to do 40 more miles?” with a much more useful question: “What haven’t I tried yet?” so you can give yourself the chance to climb out of a low, keep moving forward, and discover what you’re actually capable of as an ultra runner. For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/75 Connect with Susan: Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly Mentioned in this episode: Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Today! Every race gives you experience. Few runners turn that into improvement. The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template helps you evaluate your races like experienced ultrarunners do - identifying what worked, what didn’t work, and what to do differently next time. Use it after races or key training runs to turn every effort into better performance. To download yours, go to: https://unstoppable-ultra-runner.captivate.fm/mastery-debrief-template Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Here!

    75. Why a Bad Stretch Doesn't Mean Your Race Is Over

  5. Sep 9

    74. Your GPS Watch Is Lying to You

    Your GPS watch gives you pace, distance, heart rate, location, and more data than you could ever need during an ultra. But what happens when those numbers aren’t as accurate as you think they are, or when your brain interprets them in a way that sends you straight into panic? In this episode, I’m exploring why your GPS watch isn’t an infallible source of truth and why more data doesn’t necessarily lead to better decisions on race day. I show you where inaccuracies can creep into your watch data, how your brain turns neutral numbers into potential threats, and why reacting to those numbers without questioning them costs so many ultra runners their confidence, race goals, and even their finish. For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/74 Connect with Susan: Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly Mentioned in this episode: Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Today! Every race gives you experience. Few runners turn that into improvement. The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template helps you evaluate your races like experienced ultrarunners do - identifying what worked, what didn’t work, and what to do differently next time. Use it after races or key training runs to turn every effort into better performance. To download yours, go to: https://unstoppable-ultra-runner.captivate.fm/mastery-debrief-template Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Here!

    74. Your GPS Watch Is Lying to You

  6. Sep 2

    73. Training Plan Entitlement: The Trap That Can Cost You Your Race

    Training plan entitlement is the belief that choosing and completing the right training plan means you’re owed a good race. In this episode, I’ll show you why this thinking can undermine your self-trust, how handing your decisions and expectations over to a training plan can actually work against you, and what to do instead so you’re prepared to handle whatever happens on race day. Discover how to use your training plan as a tool without letting it make your decisions for you and learn how to build the kind of self-trust that doesn’t depend on having an easy race, but on knowing you can handle a hard one. For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/73 Connect with Susan: Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly Mentioned in this episode: Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Today! Every race gives you experience. Few runners turn that into improvement. The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template helps you evaluate your races like experienced ultrarunners do - identifying what worked, what didn’t work, and what to do differently next time. Use it after races or key training runs to turn every effort into better performance. To download yours, go to: https://unstoppable-ultra-runner.captivate.fm/mastery-debrief-template Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Here!

    73. Training Plan Entitlement: The Trap That Can Cost You Your Race

  7. Aug 26

    72. The Top 3 Distractions Stealing Time From Your Race

    If you're constantly worried about cutoff, it's easy to assume you need to train harder or run faster. But you may already have more time available than you realize. The problem is that without noticing it, you could be giving that time away mile after mile to distractions that have nothing to do with getting you to the finish line. In this episode, I share the top three distractions I see stealing runners' attention and valuable race time, and explain how each one pulls your focus away from what you need to be doing right now, whether that's maintaining your pace, fueling consistently, or simply paying attention to the trail in front of you. For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/72 Connect with Susan: Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly Mentioned in this episode: Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Today! Every race gives you experience. Few runners turn that into improvement. The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template helps you evaluate your races like experienced ultrarunners do - identifying what worked, what didn’t work, and what to do differently next time. Use it after races or key training runs to turn every effort into better performance. To download yours, go to: https://unstoppable-ultra-runner.captivate.fm/mastery-debrief-template Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Here!

    72. The Top 3 Distractions Stealing Time From Your Race

  8. Aug 19

    71. The Infinite Game: A Better Way to Approach Your Ultra Running

    In this episode, I introduce one of the core philosophies behind my coaching: the concept of the infinite game. I explain why viewing ultra running as one long game, rather than a series of make-or-break races, changes everything. No single race can ever be a verdict on your ability, and changing your mindset on this lowers the fear of failure, and helps you race with more confidence, freedom, and enjoyment. When you stop treating every race like the final exam of your ultra running, you free yourself to learn from every experience, and keep growing for years to come. This episode will show you how embracing the infinite game can help you let go of unnecessary pressure, and enjoy the challenge of becoming a better ultra runner one race at a time. For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/71 Connect with Susan: Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly Mentioned in this episode: Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Today! Every race gives you experience. Few runners turn that into improvement. The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template helps you evaluate your races like experienced ultrarunners do - identifying what worked, what didn’t work, and what to do differently next time. Use it after races or key training runs to turn every effort into better performance. To download yours, go to: https://unstoppable-ultra-runner.captivate.fm/mastery-debrief-template Get The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template Here!

    71. The Infinite Game: A Better Way to Approach Your Ultra Running
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About

Your body isn’t the problem—your mind is. Ultra runners don’t stop because they’re too tired. They stop because doubt, fear, and hesitation convince them to quit. You’ve trained your legs, lungs, and endurance, but when things get tough, does your mindset hold up? True mental toughness isn’t about being fearless. It’s about knowing—deep down—that no matter what happens on race day, you have the resilience, grit, and mental strength to keep moving forward. Unstoppable Ultra Runner is for you if you’re asking: *Why do I lose my confidence when a race gets hard? Learn how to trust yourself and stay mentally strong when it matters most. *How do I stop second-guessing myself before a big race? Develop an unshakable belief in your training and your ability to finish. *What’s the secret to pushing through when It seems impossible? Master the mindset shifts that separate those who stop from those who keep going. *How do I handle setbacks without falling apart? Turn challenges into fuel, so you come back stronger every time. *Why do I always play it safe instead of going after big goals? Break free from self-doubt and run with the confidence to chase what you really want. Hosted by Susan Donnelly, a veteran ultra runner with over 150 100-mile ultra finishes, Unstoppable Ultra Runner gives you the mindset focus you need to run your best races. As a coach, Susan has helped ultra runners of all levels—beginners to veterans—build confidence, increase performance, and go after big goals with a mental game that matches their physical training. Whether you’re aiming for your first finish or your fastest time, she’ll help you develop the mental strength to push past limits and run races you’re truly proud of. Follow now and start training the one thing that’s been holding you back. You can connect with Susan at www.susanidonnelly.com

Information

  • Creator
    Susan Donnelly
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Susan Donnelly
  • Show Website
    Unstoppable Ultra Runner

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