EPISODE #167: The Mental Side of Running: Patience, Confidence & Performing Under Pressure with Dr. Haley Perlus

In this episode of RUNWITHALLI LIVE, I sit down with sports psychologist Haley Perlus to explore the mental skills that help runners thrive both in training and on race day.While many athletes search for the perfect workout, Dr. Perlus reminds us that lasting progress starts with mastering our mindset.One of the biggest themes from this conversation? Patience.As runners, we often expect immediate results from our training. We want the breakthrough workout, the PR, and the confidence boost now. But meaningful growth both physically and mentally takes time.Dr. Perlus shares practical strategies for developing patience, building confidence, and learning to perform under pressure.WHAT WE COVER:00:00 – Introduction & Welcome00:30 – Meet Dr. Haley Perlus: Sports Psychologist & Performance Expert01:30 – Why Mental Performance Matters for Runners03:45 – Dr. Perlus' Journey into Sports Psychology05:15 – Managing Self-Doubt, Injuries & Performance Plateaus06:25 – How to Build Confidence Through Action07:15 – Developing Tolerance for Doubt09:25 – Using Data Without Becoming Controlled by It10:25 – Balancing Mental Toughness with Self-Compassion12:40 – Giving Yourself Grace vs. Letting Yourself Off the Hook14:40 – Why Recovery Runs Require Mental Strength17:50 – Moving Beyond All-or-Nothing Thinking19:40 – The Power of A, B & C Goals22:00 – "Pressure Is Not the Enemy, It's the Invitation"23:10 – What Does This Moment Need From Me?24:55 – Understanding Different Types of Motivation26:10 – The Mindset Skills Every Runner Should Practice29:45 – The One-Minute Mindset Technique31:20 – Focusing on What You Can Control33:00 – Why You Need to Train Your Mind Before Race Day35:40 – Final Advice for Runners & Closing ThoughtsKey TakeawaysConfidence is earned through action.Every workout completed, every challenge faced, and every small goal achieved provides evidence that you can do hard things.Patience is a performance skill.Mental fitness develops the same way physical fitness does: through repetition, consistency, and practice over time.Doubt doesn't disappear at higher levels of performance.The goal isn't to eliminate fear or uncertainty. It’s to build the ability to move forward despite them.Pressure is information, not an enemy.Learning to interpret pressure as a sign that something matters can transform your race-day experience.Progress isn't all-or-nothing.Missing one goal doesn't erase everything you accomplished along the way.Memorable Quote"The work isn't about getting rid of doubt. The work is developing your tolerance for it." — Dr. Haley PerlusFinal ThoughtsWhether you're training for your first 5K, chasing a marathon PR, or navigating a setback, remember that both physical and mental growth require patience.Keep showing up. Trust the process. Give yourself grace, but, don’t let yourself off the hook!And remember, there’s no pace too slow!Share this episode with a training partner who needs to hear it!Connect with Haley Perlus: Website (where you can sign up for Haley's newsletter and receive those Mental Toughness Moments!)And take ONE thing from this episode and apply it to your next run.Thank you for being here. I appreciate you! Support the showThe RUNWITHALLI LIVE Podcast is hosted by Alli Felsenthal, founder of RunWithAlli Coaching and virtual run coach to runners around the world. Each episode brings expert guests, honest conversations, and practical tools to help you train smarter, race better, and love the process. Whether you’re chasing your first finish line or a new PR, you’re in the right place.ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? Your support helps this podcast reach more runners who need it. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the #1 way to help the show grow: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/runwithalli-live/id1510066149Share this episode with a runner who needs to hear itSubscribe so you never miss an episodeWORK WITH RUNWITHALLI 1:1 Run Coaching. Personalized plans from the mile to the marathon → runafastermarathon.comFollow on Instagram → @runwithalliJoin the newsletter for weekly training tips, athlete wins, running science, and more → http://runafastermarathon.com/newsletterFree community with free weekly resources → Discord