<p>Mental toughness is more than just pushing harder or suffering more.</p><p>It’s about learning how to believe in yourself when things get uncomfortable — and knowing how to respond when they do.</p><p>In this episode, Hillary Allen joins the show to break down what <strong>self-belief and mental toughness actually look like for ultrarunners</strong>, and why so many athletes struggle to build them in a sustainable way.</p><p>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.</p><p>This conversation is for ultrarunners who want to perform better <em>without burning out</em>, and who want their mindset to be an asset — not a limiter — in training and racing.</p><p>In this episode, we explore:</p><ul><li><p>Why mental toughness is a <strong>trainable skill</strong>, not a personality trait</p></li><li><p>How self-belief quietly erodes — and how to rebuild it</p></li><li><p>The difference between pushing through discomfort and sabotaging progress</p></li><li><p>The hidden mindset mistake that drains motivation over time</p></li><li><p>Why rest and recovery are psychological skills, not just physical ones</p></li><li><p>How identity impacts performance more than most runners realize</p></li><li><p>What elite ultrarunners do differently when confidence is shaken</p></li></ul><p>If 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.</p><p><strong>About Hillary Allen</strong></p><p><strong>Hillary Allen</strong> 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 <em>Out and Back</em>, 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.</p><p><br></p><p>SHOW LINKS:</p><p>Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠desertpeakultra.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</p><p>Want to work with me to crush your next ultramarathon in our group coaching program? Sign up for our group coaching program here:<a href="https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coaching">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Want to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.theeverydayultra.com/everyday-ultra-coaches-page">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Book a free call here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit!</p><p>Follow Joe on IG:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupg">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Try HYPERLYTE Liquid Performance running nutrition and get 15% off your order when you use code EVERYDAYULTRA at www.hyperlyteliquidperformance.com</p><p>Try CurraNZ to boost recovery and performance and get 15% off your first order with code EVERYDAYULTRAPOD at <a href="http://www.curranzusa.com/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.curranzusa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Get your FREE TrainingPeaks account to track, plan, and analyze your training easier at trainingpeaks.com/everydayultra</p><p>Try PlayOn Pain Relief Spray at<a href="http://playonrelief.com">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠playonrelief.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Try Bear Butt Wipes and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at bearbuttwipes.com</p><p>Try Janji apparel and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at Janji.com</p><p>Follow Hillary on IG: https://www.instagram.com/hillygoat_climbs/</p><p>Hillary&#39;s Website: hillaryallen.com</p><p>Hillary&#39;s Book: https://www.hillaryallen.com/mybook</p><p><br></p>

Everyday Ultra

Joe Corcione

How to Build Self-Belief and Mental Toughness as a Runner with Hillary Allen

DEC 22, 202564 MIN
Everyday Ultra

How to Build Self-Belief and Mental Toughness as a Runner with Hillary Allen

DEC 22, 202564 MIN

Description

<p>Mental toughness is more than just pushing harder or suffering more.</p><p>It’s about learning how to believe in yourself when things get uncomfortable — and knowing how to respond when they do.</p><p>In this episode, Hillary Allen joins the show to break down what <strong>self-belief and mental toughness actually look like for ultrarunners</strong>, and why so many athletes struggle to build them in a sustainable way.</p><p>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.</p><p>This conversation is for ultrarunners who want to perform better <em>without burning out</em>, and who want their mindset to be an asset — not a limiter — in training and racing.</p><p>In this episode, we explore:</p><ul><li><p>Why mental toughness is a <strong>trainable skill</strong>, not a personality trait</p></li><li><p>How self-belief quietly erodes — and how to rebuild it</p></li><li><p>The difference between pushing through discomfort and sabotaging progress</p></li><li><p>The hidden mindset mistake that drains motivation over time</p></li><li><p>Why rest and recovery are psychological skills, not just physical ones</p></li><li><p>How identity impacts performance more than most runners realize</p></li><li><p>What elite ultrarunners do differently when confidence is shaken</p></li></ul><p>If 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.</p><p><strong>About Hillary Allen</strong></p><p><strong>Hillary Allen</strong> 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 <em>Out and Back</em>, 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.</p><p><br></p><p>SHOW LINKS:</p><p>Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠desertpeakultra.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</p><p>Want to work with me to crush your next ultramarathon in our group coaching program? Sign up for our group coaching program here:<a href="https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coaching">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Want to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.theeverydayultra.com/everyday-ultra-coaches-page">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Book a free call here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit!</p><p>Follow Joe on IG:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupg">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Try HYPERLYTE Liquid Performance running nutrition and get 15% off your order when you use code EVERYDAYULTRA at www.hyperlyteliquidperformance.com</p><p>Try CurraNZ to boost recovery and performance and get 15% off your first order with code EVERYDAYULTRAPOD at <a href="http://www.curranzusa.com/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.curranzusa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Get your FREE TrainingPeaks account to track, plan, and analyze your training easier at trainingpeaks.com/everydayultra</p><p>Try PlayOn Pain Relief Spray at<a href="http://playonrelief.com">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠playonrelief.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Try Bear Butt Wipes and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at bearbuttwipes.com</p><p>Try Janji apparel and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at Janji.com</p><p>Follow Hillary on IG: https://www.instagram.com/hillygoat_climbs/</p><p>Hillary&#39;s Website: hillaryallen.com</p><p>Hillary&#39;s Book: https://www.hillaryallen.com/mybook</p><p><br></p>