How to Achieve Record Success & Happiness!
Learn how to achieve incredible success through mindfulness, focus, perseverance and joy! Discover how following your heart, and loving your family lead to world record performance!
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SHOW DESCRIPTION:
At 5’4″ and only 104 pounds, no one knew quite what to expect as 41-year-old Deena Kastor lined up for the 2014 Philadelphia Rock ‘N’ Roll Half-Marathon.
An Olympic bronze medalist and American record holder for the marathon, she’d recently set two American master’s records on her way to victory at the Dallas Rock ‘N’ Roll Half Marathon.
For this race, her goal was even larger; she was eyeing a world-record. As she lined up, she had nervous butterflies, or what she calls “excitement,” a feeling she describes as being completely prepared and ready to get to the task at hand.
Years earlier, feeling supremely prepared for the biggest race of her life, her body broke. Only three miles in at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a stress fracture took her out of her race.
But that was then.
For most elite runners, 41 is well past retirement, particularly for a mother with a daughter who’s now four. But Deena had had a string of successes in recent years and was showing no sign of slowing down.
The gun went off.
Deena Kastor Leading a World Class Field in the 2014 Philadelphia Rock ‘N’ Roll Half-Marathon. Photo Credit PhotoRun.net/Competitor Group
Deena did her best to follow her game plan, yet only six miles in, struggled with painful side-stitches, which would return in the last few miles of the race. She says it was touch-and-go, that she thought about giving up, but dug deep and went for it.
It was a race for the record books and she did it! In just 13.1 miles, Deena Castor wiped out 4 world master’s records, from the 5 km through the half marathon.
So how’d she do it, and what can we learn from her?
Deena has an amazing attitude, a positivity and sense of gratitude about her that spills over into everything she does. She attributes a large part of her success to her mindfulness, a practice she’s used to cultivate her positive attitude and what she calls an “attitude of gratitude” over the years. She says it’s not something she was born with but had to work at.
Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with Deena virtually and ask her about her practice. I wanted to understand how her lessons could benefit others. Her attitude was infectious; it was hard not to laugh and smile as she shared the ups and downs of her journey, and how she’s stayed positive through it all.
Key Topics:
- living a quality, purpose driven life
- practicing an attitude of gratitude
- how to be positive in any situation
- seeing challenges as opportunities
- focusing on your passion
- the art of continuous improvement
- the importance of being excited about life
- re-framing situations and turning nervousness into excitement
- taking things one baby step at a time
MORE ON DEENA KASTOR:
Deena’s career is earmarked by her groundbreaking 2004 Olympic Bronze Medal in the marathon in Athens, Greece, which shattered a 20-year medal draught for U.S. women in the event. Yet, the accomplishments of the 3-time Olympian certainly don’t stop there. Deena is currently the American Record Holder in the marathon (2:19:36) and half marathon (1:07:34) yet has held American records in a distances from 5K to the marathon. She has made 19 U.S. Teams, won 18 U.S. titles and earned two Silver Medals at the World Cross-Country Championships. She is also an 8-Time NCAA All-American.
Deena’s win at the 2005 Chicago Marathon was highlighted in the inspiring documentary, Spirit of the Marathon
Deena has called the town of Mammoth Lakes, CA home for the last 14 years where the altitude of 8,050 feet and simple mountain lifestyle have enhanced her running and allowed all aspects of her life to thrive.
SHOW NOTES:
Deena Kastor Online: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Mammoth Track Club: Deena’s hometown running club
Other References:
Spirit of the Marathon
Olympic Medalist Deena Kastor Shares 10 Mindfulness Tips for World Record Success, Health & Happiness: Huffington Post article by Michael Sandler
Deena Kastor Breaks U.S. Masters Record at Chicago Marathon (October 10th 2015): Runner’s World article
Mindful Running Program: created by Michael Sandler & Jessica Lee
Related Podcasts:
How to be Fearless & Find Greatness (Dean Karnazes, Ultramarathon Man)
Iron Cowboy Completes 50 Ironmans in 50 States in 50 Days (James Lawrence)
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SHINE BRIGHT!
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