Episode 651: The Wellness One – Emily Saul on Race-Day Mindset, Segmenting the Marathon, and Redefining Success

We are back with another Wellness One episode, and today I’m joined by our favorite running sports psychologist, Emily Saul. I’ve admired Emily’s work for years, and several athletes I coach have worked with her and seen real shifts in how they handle racing, training, and life. Emily shares how she came to sports psychology through rowing, coaching, November Project, and counseling, and why she views movement as both classroom and laboratory. We dig into the “helpful vs. unhelpful” frame, flipping perfectionism into process, and building a mental race plan that breaks a marathon into truly manageable chunks. Emily walks through practical tools for race day and how to define success with process and experience goals so your body can do what it is trained to do. I think you’ll feel your nervous system settle a bit just listening, and leave with a plan you can use at whatever race is next on your calendar. Topics discussed: • Emily’s path to sports psychology and why movement is a vehicle for growth • The “helpful vs. unhelpful” reframe for plans, workouts, and expectations • Process goals and experience goals that support performance • Building a mental race plan by chunking time, course sections, and fuel windows • What to do when discomfort shows up early and how to choose your next best action • Keeping attention in the present and letting completed chunks count as wins • Why success is self-defined and how to let running serve your life Media recommended: • Mindfulness by Ellen Langer • The Mindful Body by Ellen Langer • Emily’s site: esaulmovement.com Support Our Sponsors: Eternal Go to eternal.co and book your performance physical today. Check out Lindsey Hein’s training plans! Use code wellness for $10 off on any training plans! DONNA Marathon Weekend (Jacksonville, FL | Jan 30–Feb 1) — Funds breast cancer research and supports patients. I’ll be there! breastcancermarathon.com — code: LINDSEY10 for $10 off. Foot Levelers — Visit FootLevelers.com to find a provider near you, or email me at lindsey@sandyboyproductions.com or DM me on Instagram @lindseyhein626 and I will point you to the right contact.