153 | Elite Runner and Coach Becki Spellman: Embracing Your Best Each Day

“ It really helped me as a coach to be able to look at my athletes and remind them, it doesn't have to be about a PR, doesn't have to be about the best day you wanted, but it can be—if you're healthy—about the best day you have that day. And that can be celebrated, that can be fun, even if it isn't the outcome you would've ideally written in your book.”

 

Becki Spellman has had a long, successful career in distance running—she qualified for her first Olympic Marathon Trials in 2008 and her fourth in 2020. In that time, she’s dealt with her fair share of setbacks, including two Achilles surgeries, diastasis recti, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, and more.

 

As she shares in this week’s episode, she’s come to realize that the ups and downs are all part of the sport. As an athlete, her injuries have taught her about her body, her motivation, and ultimately, her resilience. As a coach, she’s learned how to guide others through both the postpartum period and injury-related setbacks, helping find the root cause of their problems and rebuild so they can get back to doing what they love. 

 

Becki is on the upswing now—she just won the Cap City Half Marathon on April 27 in 1:23:09. But at this point, her race times don’t define her; showing up, even when you’re far from your best, can be just as joyful and rewarding, she’s found. (And, she’s also found the LEVER system to be a critical part of both her rehab and her training—she shares more about how she uses it and why she continually recommends it to her athletes.)

 

Resources/links:

• Recording of The Injured Athletes Club Recovery Summit: The Athlete's Toolkit

 

A huge thank you to LEVER Movement, the exclusive sponsor of season 8 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast! As you heard Becki describe, the LEVER system is an innovative way to reduce your body weight, and the impact on your joints, while exercising on a treadmill. Use the code “TIAC20” to get 20% off your purchase. 

 

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!
• Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}