Dr. Kaz Williams - Performance Psychologist, Certified Running Coach and Ultra Runner. Striving to help people discover their mettle.

Listen to Kaz on the Tough Girl Podcast as she shares her passion for running and helping individuals discover their inner strength. Kaz founded Mettle—a platform dedicated to empowering runners to conquer personal challenges, chase personal records, and train for specific distances. Mettle isn't just about running; it's about equipping runners with coaching plans, mental strategies, and unwavering support to thrive both on the track and in life. Drawing from her extensive academic background—holding a PhD in human behaviour and an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology—Kaz delves into the intricacies of human performance, particularly in the face of adversity. Driven by a profound belief in the power of self-belief and self-discipline, Kaz shuns shortcuts in favour of cultivating a mindset geared towards achieving one's goals. Her relentless pursuit of excellence extends beyond coaching; it's woven into the fabric of her own running endeavours. Kaz's trail running journey is nothing short of awe-inspiring. From the rugged trails of Chamonix, France, where she tackled the Mont Blanc Marathon and UTMB races, to epic adventures like the Tahoe 200 (3rd F), Moab 240 (2nd F), and Ouray 100 (1st F), she continually pushes her limits.  Notably, Kaz completed 1 crazy loop at the legendary Barkley Marathon, and recently completed the daunting Last Annual Vol State, a 500K self-supported race across Tennessee. Through it all, Kaz's message remains clear: When we harness our best selves and embrace the challenges that come our way, extraordinary achievements become possible. Listen to Kaz share her story on the Tough Girl Podcast.  *** Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.  By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement.  Thank you for your invaluable support! *** Show notes Who is Kaz Living in Chamonix, France in 2010 Studying architecture at University  Joining  the TA - Territorial Army and becoming a Personal Training Instructor (PTI)  Doing a MSc in  Sport and Exercise Psychology Working full time while studying and running  Her trail running journey Learning about trail races  Wanting to run the UTMB  Running the Marathon de Mont Blanc  Struggling with the UTMB in 2014 Realising her mental game had let her down  Wanting to learn/understand more about the mental side of physical challenges Losing focus and not being present while training and what you can do about it Ending up in a dark place and questioning what you are doing Why you need a strong WHY Signing up to do Tahoe 200  The sacrifices and hard work which goes into training Suffering with audio and visual hallucinations Bears and Pizza! Running throughout the year Recovery after big races Being a plant based athlete  Food and nutrition Using Training Peaks  Where the name Mettle came from Coaching athletes and runners  "We are stronger, braver and more capable than we realise" Being a fan of David Goggins  Learning how to endure  How to connect with Kaz Tips for self belief  Our lives are the sum of our choices. The future depends on what we do in the present.  Think about what you want to be doing and what you can do now to achieve that.    Social Media Website www.mettlerunning.com Instagram @mettlerunning Personal Instagram @mountainkaz Facebook www.facebook.com/mettlerunning