This week, we sit down with ultra-endurance athlete Rebecca Rusch, who shares her incredible journey from managing sports teams to conquering the Iditarod to biking the Ho Chi Minh Trail. At 55, Rebecca continues to push her limits, embracing an explorer’s mindset and maintaining a top performance level. She opens up about her strategies for recovery, the importance of mental preparation, and the insights she’s gained from decades of outdoor adventures. Rebecca also discusses her mission to inspire others through the Rusch Academy, encouraging everyone to find their own adventure and embrace resilience.
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Key Moments
“I have the nickname the Queen of Pain. I’m known for being tough as nails, gritty, all that kind of stuff. But people are always surprised when they meet me. I am quite soft and sensitive and caring, and they don’t expect that.”
“I feel like probably the biggest metric that has been helping me is learning how much stress the body is absorbing, even when you’re not working out. Whether it’s a stressful job, or you’re thinking and ruminating on something, the body is taking that almost as workout stress.”
“Real, diligent self-care — we used to think that that was reserved for Olympians and world champions. Athletes have been doing this stuff for a while; now, it’s accessible to everybody. And people are realizing, ‘Oh, if I treat myself like a world champion, I’m going to perform like a world champion in whatever arena I’m in.’ And it feels great to feel good, doesn’t it?”
“Astronauts do the same thing. They go through the routine of knowing what’s going to happen so that when something unexpected happens, you fall back on what you know. And you don’t have to be an astronaut or someone riding your bike in Alaska to take that kind of training to everyday life.”
Connect with Rebecca Rusch:
– Website
The ideas expressed here are solely the opinions of the author and are not researched or verified by AGEIST LLC, or anyone associated with AGEIST LLC. This material should not be construed as medical advice or recommendation, it is for informational use only. We encourage all readers to discuss with your qualified practitioners the relevance of the application of any of these ideas to your life. The recommendations contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You should always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or stopping any treatment that has been prescribed for you by your physician or other qualified health provider. Please call your doctor or 911 immediately if you think you may have a medical or psychiatric emergency.
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