
How to Build Self-Belief and Mental Toughness as a Runner with Hillary Allen
2025/12/22 | 1h 4 mins.
Mental toughness is more than just pushing harder or suffering more.It’s about learning how to believe in yourself when things get uncomfortable — and knowing how to respond when they do.In this episode, Hillary Allen joins the show to break down what self-belief and mental toughness actually look like for ultrarunners, and why so many athletes struggle to build them in a sustainable way.With a background in neuroscience, exercise physiology, and mental performance — plus years of experience competing at the highest level of mountain running — Hillary shares a powerful framework for developing confidence, resilience, and awareness that goes far beyond motivation or grit.This conversation is for ultrarunners who want to perform better without burning out, and who want their mindset to be an asset — not a limiter — in training and racing.In this episode, we explore:Why mental toughness is a trainable skill, not a personality traitHow self-belief quietly erodes — and how to rebuild itThe difference between pushing through discomfort and sabotaging progressThe hidden mindset mistake that drains motivation over timeWhy rest and recovery are psychological skills, not just physical onesHow identity impacts performance more than most runners realizeWhat elite ultrarunners do differently when confidence is shakenIf you’ve ever questioned your toughness, struggled with motivation, or felt disconnected from your “why,” this episode will give you a new lens on what it really means to endure better.About Hillary AllenHillary Allen is a world-class trail and skyrunning athlete, U.S. Skyrunning Series champion, multiple-time course record holder, and Team USA medalist. She holds a master’s degree in neuroscience and physiology, is currently studying sports psychology, and is the author of Out and Back, one of the most influential books in endurance sports. Hillary is also a mental performance coach who helps athletes build resilience, confidence, and long-term sustainability in sport and life.SHOW LINKS:Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at desertpeakultra.comWant to work with me to crush your next ultramarathon in our group coaching program? Sign up for our group coaching program here: https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coachingWant to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program? Book a free call here with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit!Follow Joe on IG: https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupgTry HYPERLYTE Liquid Performance running nutrition and get 15% off your order when you use code EVERYDAYULTRA at www.hyperlyteliquidperformance.comTry CurraNZ to boost recovery and performance and get 15% off your first order with code EVERYDAYULTRAPOD at www.curranzusa.comGet your FREE TrainingPeaks account to track, plan, and analyze your training easier at trainingpeaks.com/everydayultraTry PlayOn Pain Relief Spray at playonrelief.comTry Bear Butt Wipes and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at bearbuttwipes.comTry Janji apparel and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at Janji.comFollow Hillary on IG: https://www.instagram.com/hillygoat_climbs/Hillary's Website: hillaryallen.comHillary's Book: https://www.hillaryallen.com/mybook

How to Prevent and Treat Knee Pain and Injuries from Running: Runner's Knee and IT Band Syndrome with Kam Harder
2025/12/17 | 1h 12 mins.
Knee pain is one of the most common issues runners deal with — and also one of the most misunderstood.In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Kameron Harder (DPT) of Ridge Athletics to break down why knee injuries happen in runners, how to treat them correctly, and what you can do right now to prevent them from coming back.We specifically dive into the two most common knee issues runners face:Runner’s Knee (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)IT Band SyndromeIf you’ve ever dealt with pain around the kneecap, sharp pain on the outside of the knee, or been told to “just stop running,” this episode will completely change how you think about knee injuries.In this episode, we cover:Whether running is actually bad for your knees (and what the research really says)Why knee pain is usually a signal, not an injuryThe biggest mistakes runners make when treating knee painWhy strength training — not rest — is often the missing pieceThe role your hips play in both runner’s knee and IT band issuesWhat you can run through safely vs. when you should modify trainingWhy foam rolling your IT band doesn’t work (and what to do instead)How to prevent knee pain from becoming a recurring cycleThis is the first episode in a monthly injury-prevention series designed to help runners stay healthy, consistent, and durable — so you can keep training and racing without constantly being sidelined.If knee pain has ever limited your running — or you want to make sure it never does — this episode is a must-listen.SHOW NOTES:Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at desertpeakultra.comWant to work with me to crush your next ultramarathon in our group coaching program? Sign up for our group coaching program here: https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coachingWant to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program? Book a free call here with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit!Follow Joe on IG: https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupgTry HYPERLYTE Liquid Performance running nutrition and get 15% off your order when you use code EVERYDAYULTRA at www.hyperlyteliquidperformance.comTry CurraNZ to boost recovery and performance and get 15% off your first order with code EVERYDAYULTRAPOD at www.curranzusa.comGet your FREE TrainingPeaks account to track, plan, and analyze your training easier at trainingpeaks.com/everydayultraTry PlayOn Pain Relief Spray at playonrelief.comTry Bear Butt Wipes and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at bearbuttwipes.comTry Janji apparel and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at Janji.comBook a call with Kam to see if 1:1 strength coaching is a good fit: https://link.remotecoaching.app/widget/bookings/ridgeathleticsazGet Kam’s strength and mobility program: https://go.ridgeathleticsaz.com/strength-programKam’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/ridgeathleticsaz/

From 1 Mile Runs to 300 Miles: Lydia Oldham on Building Courage, Grit, and Meaning Through Running
2025/12/15 | 59 mins.
Lydia Oldham didn’t come from a traditional ultrarunning background. She started running during lockdown — running 1 mile runs, sprinting every 5K, and having no idea she’d one day be creating 300-mile running projects across countries.In this episode, Lydia breaks down how she built herself into someone capable of taking on massive, self-created challenges — including running solo across Portugal, completing a solo Speed Project, and most recently running 300 miles from London to Cornwall for charity.But this conversation isn’t just about distance.It’s about courage, self-belief, creativity, and redefining what’s possible when you stop waiting for permission.We dive into:How Lydia went from struggling through short runs to creating multi-day ultrarunning projectsWhy self-created challenges can be more powerful than racesThe mindset shift that helped her stop fearing failureHow she mentally navigates dark moments during 300-mile effortsWhy enjoying your runs matters more than “grinding”How storytelling gives meaning to hard effortsWhy you don’t need elite talent to do extraordinary thingsIf you’ve ever thought:“Could I do something bigger… or is that not for me?”This episode will change how you think about your limits — and what you’re capable of building over time.SHOW LINKS:Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at desertpeakultra.comWant to work with me to crush your next ultramarathon in our group coaching program? Sign up for our group coaching program here: https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coachingWant to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program? Book a free call here with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit!Follow Joe on IG: https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupgTry HYPERLYTE Liquid Performance running nutrition and get 15% off your order when you use code EVERYDAYULTRA at www.hyperlyteliquidperformance.comTry CurraNZ to boost recovery and performance and get 15% off your first order with code EVERYDAYULTRAPOD at www.curranzusa.comGet your FREE TrainingPeaks account to track, plan, and analyze your training easier at trainingpeaks.com/everydayultraTry PlayOn Pain Relief Spray at playonrelief.comTry Bear Butt Wipes and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at bearbuttwipes.comTry Janji apparel and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at Janji.com

How I’m Designing My Western States 100 Miler Training — And How You Can Design Yours
2025/12/13 | 1h 20 mins.
If you’re training for a big race and unsure how to structure your training block, this episode gives you a repeatable framework you can use for any A-race, at any distance.I’m using my preparation for the Western States 100 as the real-world example — not to list workouts or weekly mileage, but to show you how to think about training so you can build a plan that actually moves the needle.In this episode, we cover:• How to set goals that force real growth (without selling yourself short)• The 5 pillars of ultra performance and how to identify your biggest limiter• How to decide whether durability, speed, fueling, mindset, or execution deserves priority• Why most runners train hard but still miss their potential• The mistake athletes make when they plan too early — or too late• How to structure training when your race isn’t guaranteed yet (lotteries, waitlists, life)• Why aiming bigger almost always leads to better outcomes, even if you miss the goal• How to avoid building a plan that looks good on paper but fails on race day• The difference between “being fit” and being race-ready• How to think in training blocks instead of workouts• How to balance ambition with sustainability so you don’t burn out• Why your biggest gains often come from fixing one key weakness — not doing more• How to design a flexible plan that adapts as your life and training load changeThis isn’t a “here’s my Western States training” episode.It’s a blueprint for building smarter training blocks — with Western States as the case study.SHOW LINKS:Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at desertpeakultra.comWant to work with me to crush your next ultramarathon in our group coaching program? Sign up for our group coaching program here: https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coachingWant to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program? Book a free call here with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit!Follow Joe on IG: https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupgTry CurraNZ to boost recovery and performance and get 15% off your first order with code EVERYDAYULTRAPOD at www.curranzusa.comGet your FREE TrainingPeaks account to track, plan, and analyze your training easier at trainingpeaks.com/everydayultraTry PlayOn Pain Relief Spray at playonrelief.comTry Bear Butt Wipes and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at bearbuttwipes.comTry Janji apparel and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at Janji.com

How Matt Shapiro Turned Pain Into Power Through Ultrarunning to Get Sober and Be the Best Version of Himself
2025/12/13 | 59 mins.
In today’s episode, I sit down with Matt “Shapiro the Hero” — one of the most creative minds in endurance sports and one of the toughest, most resilient humans you’ll ever meet.You’ve seen his work everywhere: Black Canyon, Mammoth, Cocodona, Sally McRae, Max Jolliffe… but today, you get to hear the story behind the lens — the journey that turned Matt from a talented photographer into a 200-mile finisher and a pillar of the endurance community.We dive into:✨ How documenting epic runners became a “cheat code” for his own ultra-running ✨ The moment he realized he could run 200 miles ✨ His wild 2024 triple — Ute 100 → Mogollon Monster → Mammoth 200 ✨ His powerful journey through alcoholism, relapse, therapy, and ultimately sobriety ✨ Why runners with “all-or-nothing” personalities must learn balance ✨ The unexpected pacer who changed the final miles of his 200 ✨ His philosophy for getting better one tiny step at a timeThis is one of the most raw, honest, and inspiring conversations we’ve had on the show. Matt’s story is a reminder that endurance isn’t just about races — it’s about rebuilding your life, choosing a healthier path, and believing you can do hard things even when your past tells you otherwise.If you need a spark of motivation or a reminder that you can turn things around, this is the episode.Huge thank you to Matt for being on the show!SHOW LINKS:Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at desertpeakultra.comWant to work with me to crush your next ultramarathon in our group coaching program? Sign up for our group coaching program here: https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coachingWant to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program? Book a free call here with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit!Follow Joe on IG: https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupgTry CurraNZ to boost recovery and performance and get 15% off your first order with code EVERYDAYULTRAPOD at www.curranzusa.comGet your FREE TrainingPeaks account to track, plan, and analyze your training easier at trainingpeaks.com/everydayultraTry PlayOn Pain Relief Spray at playonrelief.comTry Bear Butt Wipes and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at bearbuttwipes.comTry Janji apparel and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at Janji.comFollow Matt on IG: https://www.instagram.com/shapirothehero/?hl=enMatt's website: https://matthew-shapiro.com/



Everyday Ultra