American long-distance runner, Deena Kastor, won the bronze medal in the Olympic women's marathon in Athens. She was an eight-time national champion in cross country and won both the Chicago Marathon and the London Marathon. Deena has defied the odds over and over again to achieve her dreams and smash through barriers. This episode helps us reprogram our minds for the marathon of life ahead.
When people ask Deena what she does, how does she like to reply?
"I’m slower than I was, I am not going to run a 2.19 ever again.” Deena on creating a new identity.
What Deena discovered about the struggle that comes with running a marathon?
Can we come to learn to embrace struggle?
Deena’s proudest moment came in Chicago where she placed 6th. She did 7 mins slower than her personal best, why was that so special?
In the 2008 Olympic Marathon, Deena was favoured to run well and finished the race in a bus. The process of dealing with that and repairing our spirit.
Every marathon is hard - how we think about a thought that will serve us better.
How to compartmentalise?
How does Deena bring herself to the moment at the start line when it is all on the line?
At the start line, it's you, Kenyans to your left, Ethiopians to your right, they are going to work against you. How did you build the belief that you can be your best?
How does Deena view disappointment?
Barack Obama said, "there is nothing more defining of our character or satisfying to our spirit than giving our all to a difficult task." What was the darkest moment Deena faced in a race that brought the most satisfying moment?
Deena was found to have melanoma and was told it could be genetic. How did that impact Deena?
Deena was adopted, how did Deena view adoption and was there a story created in her mind at that time?
The purpose of running is to test the spirit of the human heart, would Deena agree?
Why is marathon such a beautiful race?
Deena talks of having an angel and a devil on her shoulders, how does she manage that dialogue?
Can Kipchoge's do it…can he run a sub-2hr marathon?
Not overtrained, but under-recovered. Not overworking, under-rested.
