Finishing last isn't the same as failing. Ultrarunner and race director Mandy Hansel shares what her DFL finishes have taught her about courage, cutoffs, and creating races where every participant feels welcome.
At the back of the pack, the aid stations may be picked over, the course markers may be coming down, and long stretches of the race may be spent entirely alone. Mandy has experienced all of it, from having a sweeper push her out of an aid station to being cut halfway through a race she had trained hard to finish.
Those experiences helped shape the kind of race director she wanted to become. Mandy, co-founder of Storm Sporting Events, joins Scott to talk about the mental strength required at the back of the pack, the fear of finishing last, and why a DFL finisher can deserve the same celebration as the person who came in first.
They also explore fixed-time events as an approachable way to take on something big, what race directors can do to create a more inclusive experience, and how Storm Sporting Events uses its races to support youth mental health in southeastern Minnesota.
Chapters
- (00:00) Meet Mandy Hansel and the meaning of DFL
- (01:51) From road running to Mandy's first ultra
- (04:24) How Storm Sporting Events began
- (06:52) What finishing DFL taught Mandy
- (08:12) Race cutoffs and choosing the right event
- (10:12) Keeping the finish line up for every runner
- (12:37) What runners experience at the back of the pack
- (14:45) Chasing cutoffs and dealing with imposter syndrome
- (15:59) The fear of finishing last
- (16:29) Why Storm gives an award to its DFL finisher
- (19:35) Storm the Day and the appeal of fixed-time events
- (22:01) Turning race registrations into support for youth mental health
- (24:23) Mandy's encouragement to runners who are afraid to try
Connect with Mandy
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/girl_out_doing_what_she_loves/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/mandyl.hansel/
The Storm Trail Race Series
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thestormtrs/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thestormtrailraceseries/
Storm Sporting Events
Website:
https://www.stormsportingevents.org/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/stormsportingevents/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/StormSportingEvents/
