Category: Sports Psychology

Rabid Raccoon 100 Pre-Race Questionnaire 2026

Posted on by be.short.run.ultra in Endurance Athlete, Endurance Athlete Mindset, Endurance Race Strategy, Endurance Runner, Finish Stronger, Finish Stronger Mindset Coaching, Goals, Manage Mental Struggles, Marathon Training, Mental Strategies for Athletes, Mindset, Mindset Coaching, Motivation, Pre Race Questionnaire, Rabid Raccoon 100, Race, Run PA, Running, Running Gear, Sports Psychology, Trailrunning, Training and Fitness, Ultramarathon, Ultramarathon Preparation, Ultrarunner Mindset, Uncategorized, Winning an ultramarathon

Have you ever completed a structured pre- or post-race questionnaire? If not, you’re about to discover one of the most powerful tools I use to prepare mentally and execute at a high level in ultrarunning. Before your next event, take time for a clear pre-race visualization. Define what success looks like for you. Then work … Continue reading Rabid Raccoon 100 Pre-Race Questionnaire 2026 →

Maximum Mileage Running Podcast: Ultrarunning, confidence, imposter syndrome, and mental strength

Posted on by be.short.run.ultra in Athlete Identity, Athlete Mental Health, Endurance Runner, Exercise and Mental Health, Finish Stronger Mindset Coaching, Have Fun, Marathon Training, Maximum Mileage Running Podcast, Mindset, Mindset Coaching, Motivation, Podcast, Runner Identity, Running, Running Coach, Sports Psychology, Training and Fitness, Ultramarathon, Ultramarathon Preparation, Ultrarunner Mindset, Uncategorized, Wellness, YouTube

If you’ve ever stood at a start line wondering, “Do I even belong here?” or quietly told yourself you’re “not a real runner”… this one’s for you. I sat down with Hannah Witt, who is a running coach — to talk about the silent struggle so many of us carry: Imposter syndrome. We dug deep … Continue reading Maximum Mileage Running Podcast: Ultrarunning, confidence, imposter syndrome, and mental strength →

Do What You Can with What You Got: Building mental flexibility that wins races

Posted on by be.short.run.ultra in Endurance Athlete Mindset, Endurance Race Strategy, Endurance Runner, Finish Stronger Mindset Coaching, Have Fun, Mental Strategies for Athletes, Mindset, Mindset Coaching, Race, Run through the mud, Running, Sports Psychology, Trailrunning, Ultramarathon Preparation, Ultrarunner Mindset, Uncategorized, YouTube

https://youtube.com/shorts/31PUG82NF_I?si=Y7hI7DTVteeg1Xac Do What You Can Flexibility isn’t just a physical thing—it’s the mental superpower that keeps you moving when everything else is trying to stop you. In an ultramarathon, the race doesn’t care that the weather turned to crap, the trail is a river of slush, or that your quads are screaming because the course … Continue reading Do What You Can with What You Got: Building mental flexibility that wins races →

Are There Shortcuts to Success in Ultramarathon Training?

Posted on by be.short.run.ultra in Athlete Mental Health, Endurance Athlete, Endurance Race Strategy, Endurance Runner, Finish Stronger Mindset Coaching, Goals, Manage Mental Struggles, Mental Strategies for Athletes, Mindset, Mindset Coaching, Motivation, Running Coach, Seeking Help, Sports Psychology, Training and Fitness, Ultramarathon Preparation, Ultrarunner Mindset, Uncategorized, Visualization, Wellness

Training seriously for an ultramarathon, especially if you are going to compete, is a full-time commitment (or close to it). Are there shortcuts to success? There is a stand-out number in experience research, which focuses on the prerequisites under which people achieve top performances. That number is 10,000 hours. There is another rule of thumb … Continue reading Are There Shortcuts to Success in Ultramarathon Training? →

Back of the Pack Ultra Guy Podcast: Ultrarunning and trauma

Posted on by be.short.run.ultra in Athlete Mental Health, Back of the Pack Ultrarunner, Coping with Distress, Coping with Stress, Counseling, Endurance Athlete, Endurance Athlete Mindset, Endurance Race Strategy, Endurance Runner, Exercise and Mental Health, Finish Stronger Mindset Coaching, Healthy Lifestyle, Manage Mental Struggles, Marathon Training, Mental Health, Mental Health Awareness, Mental Strategies for Athletes, Mindfulness, Mindset, Mindset Coaching, Mood Boosting, Mother Runner, Motivation, Seeking Help, Self-Care, Sports Psychology, Ultramarathon, Ultramarathon Preparation, Ultrarunner Mindset, Uncategorized, Wellness, YouTube

Just wrapped up a fantastic conversation with Christian Barratt, who is the host of the Back of the Pack Ultra Gup Podcast. We dive deep into ultrarunning and mental wellness. I shared my journey into ultrarunning, the mental health benefits of running, and the impact of trauma on athletes. Christian and I explored the mindset … Continue reading Back of the Pack Ultra Guy Podcast: Ultrarunning and trauma →

Runner Performance Scale for Important Areas of Life

Posted on by be.short.run.ultra in Athlete Identity, Athlete Mental Health, Behavior, Coping with Stress, Endurance Athlete, Endurance Athlete Mindset, Endurance Race Strategy, Endurance Runner, Finish Stronger Mindset Coaching, Goals, Habits, Healthy Lifestyle, Manage Mental Struggles, Mental Health, Mental Health Awareness, Mental Strategies for Athletes, Mindfulness, Mindset, Mindset Coaching, Motivation, Self-Care, Sports Psychology, Training and Fitness, Ultramarathon Preparation, Ultrarunner Mindset, Uncategorized, Wellness

Some helpful performance-related stuff below (Download the free resource) Survey tools, like scales and writing exercises, can help you better navigate the mental side of your performance. This could be race, job, or life performance. You can take the mini survey below, grab a pen and paper. Think of this survey as a personal navigation … Continue reading Runner Performance Scale for Important Areas of Life →

Oil Creek 100 Race Report (2025)

Posted on by be.short.run.ultra in Endurance Athlete, Endurance Athlete Mindset, Endurance Race Strategy, Endurance Runner, Finish Stronger, Finish Stronger Mindset Coaching, Gerard Hiking Trail, Goals, How to Run 100 Miles, Manage Mental Struggles, Mental Strategies for Athletes, Mindfulness, Mindset, Mindset Coaching, Mother Runner, Motivation, Oil Creek 100, Oil Creek State Park, Pennsylvania, Race, Review, Run PA, Running, Running Gear, Sports Psychology, Trailrunning, Ultramarathon, Ultrarunner Mindset, Uncategorized, YouTube

https://youtu.be/Fte-kiXQL4E?si=A18pPXLC-ABfaMS0 Thanks for supporting my YouTube channel! This was the first 100 miler that I decided to compete in. It was an excellent choice of race because I'm very familiar with the course and was getting my revenge for four prior DNFs here. Results I did it! I “struck oil.” “Strike Oil or Move On” … Continue reading Oil Creek 100 Race Report (2025) →

Oil Creek 100 Pre-Race Questionnaire (2025)

Posted on by be.short.run.ultra in Endurance Athlete Mindset, Endurance Race Strategy, Endurance Runner, Finish Stronger, Finish Stronger Mindset Coaching, Gerard Hiking Trail, Goals, Habits, Have Fun, How to Run 100 Miles, Manage Mental Struggles, Mental Strategies for Athletes, Mindfulness, Mindset, Mindset Coaching, Mother Runner, Motivation, Oil Creek 100, Oil Creek State Park, Pennsylvania, Pre Race Questionnaire, Race, Run PA, Running, Running Gear, Sports Psychology, Trail Running in Pennsylvania, Trailrunning, Ultramarathon, Ultramarathon Preparation, Ultrarunner Mindset, Uncategorized, Visualization

With RD Heather Nelson Have you ever completed a pre or post-race questionnaire? Prior to your race, do a pre-event visualization and think about what your hopeful outcomes are. Complete the pre-race questionnaire and see if you have everything (or close to everything) covered. When it is done, you can give copies to your crew … Continue reading Oil Creek 100 Pre-Race Questionnaire (2025) →

Big Client Wins and What it is Like Working with Me

Posted on by be.short.run.ultra in About Shannon, Athlete Mental Health, Endurance Athlete, Endurance Athlete Mindset, Endurance Race Strategy, Endurance Runner, Finish Stronger, Finish Stronger Mindset Coaching, Marathon Training, Mental Health, Mental Health Awareness, Mental Strategies for Athletes, Mindset, Mindset Coaching, Mother Runner, Motivation, Running, Seeking Help, Sports Psychology, Ultramarathon Preparation, Ultrarunner Mindset, Uncategorized, Wellness, YouTube

Here are some big client wins and things that people are saying about working together from the past few months. I work with runners and ultramarathon runners all over the U.S. on their mindset, mental wellbeing, and race performance. We discuss things going on in their day-to-day lives and the things that they may face … Continue reading Big Client Wins and What it is Like Working with Me →

Ultrarunner, Coach, Professional Counselor, and Mom

Posted on by be.short.run.ultra in About Shannon, Athlete Mental Health, Counseling, Endurance Athlete, Endurance Athlete Mindset, Endurance Runner, Finish Stronger, Finish Stronger Mindset Coaching, Finish Stronger Mindset Community, Mindset Coaching, Mother Runner, Running, Seeking Help, Sports Psychology, Ultrarunner Mindset, Uncategorized

Hi, I'm Shannon! If you are reading this, then you may be new to my content and services. Allow me to introduce myself... Many people know me as Be Short Run Ultra. I've been running 50+ mile ultramarathons since 2016. My focus has been to get faster over the 100 mile distance. Read Shannon's race … Continue reading Ultrarunner, Coach, Professional Counselor, and Mom →