306. Defining Success: Olympian Rachel Smith On Using Running To Cope & A Comeback Years In the Making
Hurdle with Emily Abbate
iHeartPodcasts
4.9 • 1.4K Ratings
🗓️ 24 June 2024
⏱️ 53 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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 (32:18)
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)
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | at the end of the day when I'm like, all right, if I really stay true to my definition of success, |
| 0:05.9 | it's so separate from some outcome or some destination. |
| 0:10.1 | And that makes me feel, I don't know, I'm more excited to just like do what I can and let go |
| 0:16.4 | the rest. Hey, Herlars Emily Abadi here. You are listening to episode 306 of Hurtle, a wellness focused |
| 0:38.4 | podcast where I talk to inspirational people about everything from their highest ties and toughest moments to |
| 0:43.8 | essential tips on how to live a healthier, happier, more motivated life. |
| 0:49.0 | We all go through our fair share of hurdles. My goal through these discussions is to |
| 0:54.3 | empower you to better navigate yours and move with intention so that you can |
| 0:58.8 | stride toward your own big potential and of course have some fun along the way. For today's |
| 1:06.4 | episode I am chatting with Rachel Smith an Olympian and Hoka sponsored professional |
| 1:11.9 | runner who will be if you're listening to this in real time. |
| 1:14.8 | Towing the starting line tonight at the US Olympic track and field trials in the 5K for the |
| 1:21.2 | women's final. So all the good vibes out there, Rachel, |
| 1:24.6 | we are rooting for you. |
| 1:26.4 | In today's episode, we talk about so much more |
| 1:29.3 | than her evolution with running in sport. |
| 1:31.3 | The mom of one-year-old Nova opens up about pregnancy after loss |
| 1:35.0 | and how she used running to grieve after miscarriage. We also talk about what |
| 1:40.0 | it's been like for her to make a comeback in sport, |
| 1:42.9 | recently winning the USATF 15K Championship |
| 1:47.1 | and placing second in the USATF 10-mile championship. |
| 1:51.9 | I love her sentiments on a nonlinear career coming back to |
... |
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