This episode of Endurance State of Mind brings together real race experience and expert insight into the mental side of endurance sports.

We start with a full recap from the Fondren Ultra, breaking down race-day strategy, lessons learned, and how the endurance community continues to grow. From first-year reflections to experienced race execution, we talk through what actually changes when you spend time in the sport—both physically and mentally.

Then we sit down with Sierra Morris, a sports and performance psychologist and ultra runner, to dive deep into the mindset required for endurance racing.

If you’re training for a marathon, ultramarathon, Ironman, or any long-distance event, this conversation will give you practical tools you can apply immediately.

In this episode, we cover:

• Ultramarathon race recap and real-world endurance lessons
• How to mentally prepare for a race (24 hours, race morning, and start line)
• Sports psychology techniques for endurance athletes
• How to handle pain, discomfort, and mental fatigue during long races
• The difference between positive thinking and productive thinking
• Self-talk strategies and mental performance tools
• Building confidence and resilience through training
• Why endurance sports are more mental than physical

Whether you’re running your first 5K or training for a 100-mile race, this episode will help you better understand the mental side of performance and how to stay strong when things get hard.

Because at some point in every race, it stops being physical—and becomes a decision.

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We’re back.

After a couple weeks off, we finally catch up—and yeah, there’s a lot to unpack. Anthony just got back from Europe, and what was supposed to be a vacation somehow turned into an endurance event (24 hours of travel will do that to you). We talk Switzerland, Lake Como, Milan, and why running through those cities hits different.

We also get into what’s been going on back home—Hattiesburg Half, Rattlesnake Rumble, and some big performances from people in our circle.

Then we shift into cycling for a bit because Paris-Roubaix was absolute chaos. If you don’t follow cycling, this is the one race that’ll pull you in—crashes, cobblestones, and a sprint finish after 160 miles.

And somehow… Fondren Urban Ultra is already here. We talk about where we’re at going into it (mentally and physically), and what we’re looking forward to this weekend.

Just a good old-fashioned catch-up episode.

Also—if you’ve been listening and enjoying the show, go leave us a rating and review. We’re terrible at asking, but it helps more than you think.

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Anthony is currently somewhere in Europe pretending he’s on a “business trip” (we all know it’s mostly espresso and views), so Zach is holding down the fort and keeping Endurance State of Mind rolling.

In this episode, Zach sits down with Grayson Taylor to talk about what it looks like to trust your instincts and bet on yourself. After building an impressive high school running career at Oak Grove and setting school records in the two mile and 5K, Grayson seemed to have a clear path in front of him. Instead, he made the bold decision to step away from running and fully commit to cycling.

Grayson opens up about burnout, outside criticism, and the pressure that comes with walking away from something you are known for. He shares how that transition happened, what gave him confidence in the decision, and how quickly things began to click once he got on the bike.

The conversation also dives into his rapid early success in cycling, what he is learning about the sport, and why trusting the pivot has already started to pay off. This episode is about more than running and cycling. It is about having the courage to choose your own path even when other people don’t understand it.

https://www.instagram.com/endurance_stateofmind?igsh=cjBnanNobHhhYXNu