306. Defining Success: Olympian Rachel Smith On Using Running To Cope & A Comeback Years In the Making

Today I am sitting down with olympian and Hoka sponsored professional runner Rachel Smith, who toed the line at the trials in the 5K final. We talk about Rachel’s resiliency throughout her career as she’s navigated loss and injury, and how she turned to running in those challenging times. Rachel shares her journey to motherhood, her comeback to sport, and how the definition of success changed after having her little girl.

IN THIS EPISODE

How Rachel feeling heading into the Olympic trials (3:58)

Navigating pressure and loss throughout her running career (8:01)

How Rachel has learned to process grief throughout different aspects of her life (12:40)

What hasn’t come naturally for Rachel and how she embraces the challenge (16:30)

How she navigated injury leading into the trails and her practice on letting go (23:26)

Rachel’s definition of success (27:02)

The journey to motherhood for Rachel (32:18a0

Her reflection on being in such good company with other mothers in the sport (41:30)

Rachel’s plans for after the summer (45:30)