The Psychology of Ultra Running with Dr. Mabliny Thuany
What does it take to keep going when your body wants to stop? Ultra-running requires physical endurance, but what role does our psychology play in performance, recovery, and long-term health?
In this episode of Running Miles with Heart Disease CHD, I talk with Dr. Mabliny Thuany, a sport scientist and researcher at the State University of Pará in Brazil, about the psychological side of endurance and ultra-running.
We explore why runners are more than training numbers and race results, and why mental health deserves as much attention as physical performance.
The psychology of endurance and ultra-running
Mental health symptoms among ultra-runners
Exercise addiction and the difference between commitment and compulsion
ADHD and its relationship with endurance running
Anxiety, depression, sleep, and recovery
How psychological stress may influence running injuries
Fear of failure, perfectionism, and overtraining
Why persistence can become a problem when we cannot rest or adapt
How coaches can support athletes' mental health
Balancing training, recovery, family, and everyday life
Being physically fit does not make runners immune to mental health challenges. High mileage alone does not indicate exercise addiction; flexibility, control, and the consequences of exercise matter.
We also discuss how sleep and psychological well-being influence recovery, why screening tools are not clinical diagnoses, and why coaches should pay attention to changes in athletes' mood and behavior—not just their training data.
The biggest lesson: We are people first and athletes second. Learning when to push forward and when to rest is an important part of long-term success.
Interested in learning more about her work or research?
Running Miles with Heart Disease CHD explores endurance running, ultra-running, training, nutrition, recovery, and the experiences of athletes navigating health challenges.
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Thanks for listening, and keep putting in those miles while taking care of the person running them!
In This Episode, We DiscussKey TakeawaysConnect With Dr. Mabliny ThuanyAbout Running Miles with Heart Disease CHD
