177. Eva-Maria Sperger on the Mental Side of Trail Racing

Psychologist and elite trail runner Eva-Maria Sperger joins host Francesco Puppi for a candid conversation about the mental side of performance—self-compassion, motivation, and racing with vulnerability—just ahead of the World Championships in Canfranc-Pirineos. Eva explains why naming emotions builds real toughness, how to balance “listen to your feelings” with “do the opposite,” and a simple model to unlock motivation: autonomy, confidence, and belonging. They also unpack the difference between working with a sport psychologist vs. a mental coach, why athletes over-do volume to calm anxiety, and how to make better decisions when pain or fear show up.If you’ve ever wondered “Do I even belong here?” this one will feel like a deep breath and a plan.What you’ll learnHow self-compassion becomes a performance skill (not fluff)A practical way to handle negative thoughts without obeying themAutonomy–confidence–belonging: a simple framework to rekindle motivationWhen to choose a sport psychologist vs. a mental coach (and why)Process > outcome: redefining “success” before your next start line-----------Want to try VertPro?Use code RUNNINGLONG30 for 30% off your first month of Vert.run training.👉 Follow @vert.run👉 Download the app and sign up at vert.runFrancesco’s links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website