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2019 World Rowing Championships Linz, Austria.JPG

69-Cara Stiwicki, on how to learn confidence

August 08, 2020 by Kendall Johnson in Podcast

In today’s episode I interview blogger, two-time U.S. National Team rower, and 2019 World Champion in Lightweight Women’s pair, Cara Stawicki.

I was first drawn to Cara after reading her blog [carastawicki.com]. In her posts, Cara opens up about her struggles and provides incredible resources aimed at supporting and inspiring female athletes.

I highly recommend taking a peak at it! 

Cara started out as a competitive swimmer; she didn’t start rowing until college at Lehigh University. Her senior year, she was captain of womens’ varsity crew, most valuable female rower, and Lehigh University’s athlete of the year. She also found success in the classroom, earning a BA in Journalism and Political Science and an MA in Political Science. 

Years of hard work, discipline, and relentless drive earned her a spot on the U.S National rowing team. 

Despite her success, one of her biggest struggles was confidence in her abilities as an athlete and competitor. In 2018, she went through a huge mental shift. She started working with a high performance coach who helped her develop the mental part of her game, and she started learning through others--using things like athlete blogs, podcasts, and books.  


In today’s episode Cara talks about:

  • The most critical component of being a top athlete

  • How writing helps her show up her best in her sport

  • Where her incessant desire to learn comes from-including he recommended books and podcasts

  • Her process of developing confidence 

  • How life experience has made her a better athlete at 37 than she was in her 20s.

  • “Confidence is a learned skill that you can develop overtime.” 

Listen on iTunes HERE 

Resources

Follow Cara on instagram

Follow Arrow Living on instagram

Be the first to know when a new podcast or article drops, and receive other magical content HERE 

A list of the 11 books that have had the biggest impact on my life as an athlete HERE

August 08, 2020 /Kendall Johnson
female athelte, female athlete podcast
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Paige-Pattillo.jpg

38 Paige Pattillo- On 100 miles races, running with poisonous snakes, and her motto “just don’t do it”

October 27, 2017 by Kendall Johnson in Podcast

In today’s episode, I interview ultra-runner Paige Pattillo. Paige grew up running in her hometown Bothell, Washington. She ran cross country at the University of Portland. Two years ago, at the age of 26, Paige ventured into the ultra-running racing scene. Paige recently completed in the Gorge Waterfall 100k, and because of her finish, was one of just ten people to receive a golden ticket to the Western States, one of the most competitive and prestigious 100 mile races in the world.

Who in their right mind would want to run 100 miles? I did not understand it, until I did some investigation. After talking with Paige, it’s clear why people catcha the ultra-running bug.

Paige is a very inquisitive soul and we go deep into her mindset during her races.

In our conversation we talk about:

-why Paige and her wife, former Seattle Reign FC Player Keelin Winters Pattillo, lived in a camper van for over 3 months in Australia for their honeymoon

-Paige’s counter-cultural motto “just don’t do it” and how training less improved her performance.

-Her experience with  “runner’s high” and how she loses sense of time.

-How she deals with the negativity during the lowest point of her races.

-Her training regimen for the Western States 100 mile race

-Why she believes every human, physiologically, was made perfectly for long distance running

And more.

Here’s the the 100 mile Western States documentary Paige shared with me. Be prepared to get me amped up on life! LIFE IN A DAY | The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run

I hope this interview gets you inspired as well. Enjoy, my conversation with Paige Patillo.

Show Notes

:54                             Who is Paige Pattillo?

1:30                            What type of person wants to run 100 miles?

4:38                            Paige’s Honeymoon in Australia

6:32                            Her experience WWOOFING down under

9:24                            Paige’s encounter with deadly snakes

12:00                   The most prestigious and oldest 100 mile race

13:08                   Did Paige always have a goal of running the “Western States”?

14:03                   How does one qualify for the Western States race?

15:44                   Paige’s 1st qualifying race

17:44                   What is the “gap the chase pack” strategy?

22:40                   The power of letting go

23:08                   What is Paige’s training regimen?

24:38                   Are the majority of elite runner sponsored or working full time?

25:38                   How does Paige balance her life?

27:13                   Typical Ultra runner compared to Paige

29:00                   Paige’s approach of less training mileage

32:07                   Paige’s motto: “Just Don’t Do It”

32:50                   Paige’s alternative training – yoga, strength, cycling

34:40                   Comfort in Discomfort

37:25                   Arrow Living Article: When Two Competitive Athletes Fall In Love

37:43                   Paige’s running mindset and why she would choose to run 100 miles

40:27                   Advice to  “non-runners”

44:44                   Paige’s race mindset – the runner’s high and lows

53:00                   How to get out of negative thoughts on a run and her mental strategies

57:15                   How is running a metaphor for life?

100:40                  What is a safety runner?

1:01:10                 Paige’s replenishment choices

101:59                  What is Paige’s goal time?

1:03:13                 Paige’s morning routine

1:03:50                 One belief that other people think is crazy

1:06:50                 Biggest misconception about Paige

1:07:19                 What non-athlete does Paige look up to?

1:08:45                 Paige’s favorite failure

1:09:54                 Greatest accomplishment

1:10:11                 What mental & body prep does Paige do before a race?

1:11:04                 Post race movement activities

1:11:25                 One simple tip for female athletes

 

 

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Resources

Paige and Keelin’s love story: When Two Competitive Athletes Fall in Love

Watch this to get amped on life! LIFE IN A DAY | The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run

Click HERE to become a part of Friday Feelz

Click HERE for a list of the 10 books I believe ever female athlete MUST read.

Click HERE  to be the first to know when a new podcast or article drops, and receive other exclusive content

October 27, 2017 /Kendall Johnson
endurance run, female athelte, Gorge Waterfall 100k, Keelin Winters, Paige Pattillo, running, Seattle Reign, University of Portland, Western States
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Praise

“There isn’t anything Kendall does without pouring everything she has to offer into it. She cares enough to not be scared to say what you might not always want to hear. She’s already been a great mentor. She is someone I admire so much. She doesn’t make excuses and will achieve what she is after.”
— Allie Long, USWNT World Cup Champion
“Few people have positively impacted me on or off the field as much as Kendall. She has a unique ability to help elevate all of the lives she comes in contact with. Through her own pursuits, triumphs, and trials, she has accumulated a wealth of different approaches to professional and personal growth. It is impossible to spend time with her and not walk away as a better version of yourself.”
— Michelle Betos, NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year
“In the world of professional athletes, you are surrounded by self-motivated people who are all working to a varying degree of “obsessive” to push themselves as hard and far as they can physically, mentally, and psychologically go. This doesn’t even begin to describe Kendall’s approach to all aspects of life. She lets nothing slip through the cracks and has a natural ability to put her passion to practice. Anyone who sits down in a conversation with Kendall will leave smarter, challenged, and with their perspective on life considerably altered.”
— Emily Menges, NWSL Champion
“I met Kendall at a challenging time in my life, and from the start, I felt comfortable sharing those challenges with her. After I first opened up to her about it, it was easy from then on out because she always helped me see my feelings are valid; my experiences and my story are my own, and I can make them to be what I want. She helped me find the beauty in times of struggle and she somehow managed to respond to my life hurdles, and her own, with an open mind and a good laugh. She has helped me to believe life works for us, not against us, and my life has become better for that. She is an amazing teacher.”
— EJ Proctor, Duke goalkeeper

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