Climb Your Mountain

After taking a year off due to long COVID, I was excited to make 2024 my most epic summer yet!

Things started off well. I finished a trail marathon in May and was gunning for my first post-Covid 50K in June.

And then bam. Setbacks!

COVID struck again, followed by a drug-resistant UTI. June became a wash, and I found myself off for the entire month. 

When July arrived, I tried to ease back into hi...

In this episode, we dive deep into the psychology of perfectionism, exploring its impact on mental health, stress levels, and self-worth. 

Key Quotes:

• “Perfectionism is the belief that if we live perfect, look perfect, and act perfect, we can minimize or avoid the pain of blame, judgment, and shame." – Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection
• "Perfectionists feel every bump in the road. They’re quite stress-sensitive.” – A...

In this week's episode of the Climb Your Mountain podcast, we dive into a common struggle for perfectionists and athletes alike: missed workouts. 

Whether you’re training for an endurance event like a marathon or just exercising to look and feel better, skipping a workout can send you into a spiral of panic and guilt. 

I know this firsthand, having transitioned from a personal trainer for outdoor endurance at...

In this week's episode of Climb Your Mountain, I share the story of an unfortunate series of drink spills ... and the surprising lessons that came from them. 

From embarrassment and guilt to spiritual insight and self-kindness, this story goes deeper than just clumsiness. It’s about learning to be kinder to myself and embracing the imperfections we all have.

Key Takeaways:

• The spills: On vacation, after a long hike,...

You're focused on a goal like following a training plan, eating healthy, or meal prepping.

You do great for a week ... or sometimes a few weeks.

And then ... CRASH.

You just can't get yourself to step on that treadmill, log that sushi, or take out that slow cooker.

When you try to act, a brick wall of resistance comes up.

Is it because you're lazy?

Do you just need a kick in the pants?

I used to believe when it came to exercise, more was always more.

Especially for a multisport athlete who is running, backpacking, mountaineering and wanting to be ALWAYS READY TO ROLL at a moment's notice.

Also, as I cruised toward 50, I felt like I needed to work harder just to maintain a certain level of performance.

But this summer, I got tired of being exhausted.

Tired of grinding throu...

"I'm silly for feeling this way."

"Other people have it worse."

"Some people have war in their countries."

"Look at me and my first world problems."

Have you ever said things like these to yourself during times of stress or sadness?

If so, it's totally understandable!

We're all programmed to disregard our mental health by a ...

Have you ever thought about signing up to hike the Inca Trail?

Or summit Mt. Rainier?

Or even join a pub run at your neighborhood bar?

And then stopped yourself, because you're worried about slowing the group down or getting left behind?

Friend, if you are feeling ashamed of your pace and worrying you won't fit in ...

I have a GOLDEN tip for you on this week's episode of C...

Before I was a life coach, I was an endurance sports coach (think running and mountaineering).

And I'll tell you one thing: almost all my clients were overtraining.

They believed that more was better.

And if they slowed down even a little, they'd crumble.

And that the answer to getting older was to train harder.

Almost none of them were getting enough rest to really hit their p...

You've got big plans for your life! You want to ditch the day job, start your own business, and run a 100-mile ultra — all while dating and finding your perfect person.

But who the hell has time for that?

A lot of us are afraid to dream bigger because we already feel so squeezed for time.

But here's a cool thing: It's possible to create more time.

Not by bullet journaling your life...

A lot of people think changing careers will be a shortcut to happiness. (Kinda like people think having a baby or getting married or buying a house will finally make them happy.)

But what if you could be happy in any career -- including the one you're in now?

Here's a truth that might feel a little confronting.

It's not your work that makes you happy. It's your thoughts.

And t...

Is there such a thing as a life coaching cult? Yes, but they're exceedingly rare.

Notable examples: Lighthouse (see the BBC podcast series "A Very British Cult" and arguably Scientology). 

Yes, your girly loves a good cult documentary. 🤣 

So rest assured, if you sign up for help to stop yelling at your kids, it's extremely unlikely you'll end up living in a dorm, eating a mango-o...

What's wrong with advice? Everyone wants advice, right? (Especially great advice yours!)

Here's the thing.

We're all conditioned to give and receive advice. You can't post about your cat's teeth-grinding without getting a million helpful suggestions — everything from supplements to surgery to GET HIM TO THE VET IMMEDIATELY BEFORE HE DIEZ.

But repeat after me:

🦄 More than...

"All I do is give ... and no one cares."

"I'm drowning under the weight of my obligations."

"I'm surrounded by takers who drain me."

"I'm sick of being the strong one who's there for everyone else." 😡 

^ If you've ever had thoughts like these, you're not alone.

The issue of support (and lack thereof) comes up so often...

Can we just all agree that exercise (the actual doing of it) is wicked uncomfortable?

This is doubly true if you've been away for awhile living life and are now coming back to fitness.

"I can't WAIT to get on the treadmill and start huffing and sweating and feeling like I'm charging through a wall of jello."

^ Said no human ever. 🤣 

When exercise feels hard, we often mak...

You've cleaned up your schedule.

You've prioritized your life. 

You're saying no to friends and invitations that exhaust you.

You've scheduled more time to relax.

You got to bed on time.

So why are you still so damn tired?

Here's the thing. Rest isn't just a about taking a bubble bath or getting more sleep.

Your body can be still. But if yo...

Tired of waiting for you bestie to get her shit together and go to Paris with you?

Would you give your left arm to get your partner off the couch and onto a romantic island?

Friend, if your soul is longing to travel — and you've been putting it off because no one will go with you — this week's podcast episode is for you.

This week, we're diving into all things solo travel.

Why it&a...

When we believe a thought like "I'm not enough," we will see evidence of our not-enoughness EVERYWHERE.

And that's NOT because it's true. 

It's because your brain will always show you more evidence of what you already believe.

(Look at your MAGA Uncle Ted if you need further proof!)

What if you could make this confirmation bias work in your favor?

What if yo...