The American mountain athlete shares her tips for finding joy in the grind. Plus share how you guard your psyche and get entered to win a free pair of shoes!
After suffering what could have been a career-ending fall at the Tromso Skyrace in 2017, she battled back from physical and mental injuries to be a stand-out in the mountain running world. Hillary, also known as Hilly Goat, has the highest finish of any American athlete at the infamous TDS race by UTMB, the gnarliest of races around Mont Blanc that’s 95 miles of the most technical and challenging terrain the Alps offer. Recently, she has become known for strong performances in the world of gravel bike racing with a top ten finish at the Stetina PayDirt Gravel race and a 21st-place finish at the Unbound Gravel 200.
Hillary, who runs for Brooks, is known for her curiosity and resilience in the face of adversity. So how does she cultivate a mindset that enables her to embrace setbacks while still competing at the top of the sport? We dive deep into Hillary’s mindset in the interview and video below, where she shares her strategies for staying positive, embracing setbacks, and finding happiness in the grind.
Whether you’re facing your own challenges on the trail or in life, Hillary’s insights can inspire you to keep moving forward. We invite you to share your own tips on guarding your psyche in the comments section. Plus, by joining the conversation, you’ll have a chance to win a free pair of Brooks Cascadias!
Hillary Allen: I smile! or I meet up with friends to have a chat, or plan a coffee date after 🙂
Hillary Allen: For me all of the races that I choose scare me—this plays to my competitive side, to challenge myself. But I know that for every big race I have to put in some big training and that plays into the happiness factor—I plan big adventures or trips with the goal of training and this brings me a lot of joy while I’m putting in the big weeks.
Hillary Allen: If I’m having a hard time enjoying it, I tell myself to stay curious and I focus on a certain sense and try to engage with that. I also tell myself that every day isn’t supposed to be easy, and if I’m having tough days, then I’m doing it right. I also relieve the pressure—I tell myself to go out and try (just start the workout, start the long run, etc) and then I can see how I feel. Training isn’t about nailing every workout 100%; there’s a lot that can happen even if you nail 80-90%.
Hillary Allen: My friends and my team. I know a lot of people in the trail running world and community I truly appreciate and love every single one of them—and I’m also a very private person. I have a very small group of close friends—we share miles together and workouts, we help motivate each other when things are super hard. But for these people getting together for a run is secondary, it’s more of a chance to talk or even be silent and share the miles together. I started a group chat called “the Boulder Babes,” and I put in my workouts there each week. Everyone meets up for what they can do for the week. These people help me so much during rough moments in life and training.
My team is also important. My coach gives me perspective outside of running (even when he’s trying to kill me in workouts!). My family, who love me regardless of a race result and support me endlessly, and my Brooks teammates, who share training camps where running is the focus, but really, it’s about bonding with each other and forming memories together.
Hillary Allen: I guard the psyche by making sure I enjoy the process and the day-to-day. I view each day as an opportunity to get the most out of myself. I’m a process-driven athlete and not an outcome-driven athlete. I also mix it up and try to be a well-rounded athlete—incorporating different sports into my routine. I also focus on my identity of self outside of sport and running.
Hillary Allen: I write in my journal a lot. It’s a daily practice for me—checking in on how I feel. I am also an introvert and need a lot of time alone to recharge, so I make sure I prioritize these moments daily, usually by doing something non-sport or competition-related.
Hillary Allen: There’s actual science behind it. Smiling to lift your mood is a real thing! I think people dismiss people who are ‘running happy’ as not serious or too carefree—but life is too short to take things too seriously and not to have fun or enjoy what you’re doing. I think running happy ultimately means finding joy in the process of doing really hard things.
How do you guard your psyche? Share with us in the comments section and you’ll be one of a few lucky runners to win a free pair of Brooks Cascadia’s.
I ran my very 1st 104 mile race, this was my longest I ever ran. It was 106° with 24,000 vert. I realize that this is not as hot as some places. But for Washington State it’s pretty hot. I did alot of research since this was the longest race with the most vert I’ve ever done. Research on how to stay positive and focused without letting myself go into a negative state. I trained my mind to stay focused during every single training day.
Mile 90 with 6,000 more ft to climb and 14 more miles to run really put my mind to the test. My tip that helped me, was I did not think about the pain I was in, or how I felt like I was running on pure nails, or how hot it was, and how I wanted to be done with it all. Instead I focused on getting to the next ade station. Then after that get myself to the next aide station. And then Finally, get myself to that finish line with a qualifying time and that belt buckle. Staying focused on the aide station knowing I have people waiting for me is what kept me focused in a positive way. This is easier said than done. Finding something to focus on like your next aid statio even of its loops helps alot. Because everything passes even the pain and the rest of the struggles your going through. Keep thinking positively and don’t let your mind think negative thoughts. And if you do, get your mind to think of something positive. The sooner you start the better you’ll be.
I’ve always found the best way to gaurd your psyche is to remember you CHOSE to do this. Running an ultra or being on the trails is a gift we chose to pursue. Sure, it’s physically hard, but man oh man is it magical!!
To help remind myself that I want to be here or this is fun I often wear silly outfits to help remind myself to smile. For example I wore a tutu for the UTMB. Hard to not smile when you look down and you see a tutu on yourself! That is how I guard my psyche!
Ours is a lifetime sport, and if you’ve been at it long enough, your strength, ability, and life commitments will naturally wax and wane with life’s seasons. I embrace these changes with a beginner’s mindset and find something new to enjoy. It’s fun to try a shorter race or switch things up with a relay where you can take in the camraderie and make it about the fun. I keep my sense of humor and work to honor the season of life I’m in. Sometimes, it’s okay to set aside the seriousness and data to just get out and reconnect with what drew you to the trails in the first place. For now, freshly postpartum, I push just enough to be excited to do it again tomorrow, and give myself the grace to make a mindful return to the sport that I love!
Hillary Allen’s reflections really resonate with me—she reminds me that the real joy lies in the journey, in the daily grind, rather than just the outcome. Staying curious and finding happiness even when things aren’t perfect is key to maintaining mental resilience. It’s a powerful reminder that by embracing the process, I can enrich both my training and my life.
When I think about how I guard my psyche, it’s all about enjoying the journey and fully embracing every moment, whether it’s a high or a low. For me, ultrarunning is almost meditative, a practice of being deeply in tune with myself and finding the strength to push beyond my limits.
I just stay focused on the immediate RIGHT now. As soon as I catch my mind drifting to how tired I am or my feet hurting, I bring it right back to “left foot, right foot, open up your chest, breathe deeply” and bring myself back to those little things I can control.
I work a desk job after spending 6 years in the Army. Initially, I found the transition to be very difficult because I thought grinding away at the office was the right thing to do for my family by providing. It took me ~4 years but I realized fitness is essential not only to my mental health but to leading my kids to a healthy lifestyle. For me, fitness regulates my psyche even more than sleep some days. The ability to push myself and raise the heartrate is the best kind of therapy around.
The only thing that beats it is a day off with my kids (all under 5 years old). A day out and about taking them to new places always helps me remember what is truly important at this stage in my life.
I surround myself with others who love nature & the outdoors, adventure, trail running, and with whom I can have deeper conversations. I do my best to show up and be present as a mom, grandma, wife, friend. I’m learning to show up for myself, be kinder with the words I say and the way I think about myself, be less critical of my running performance and all of my imperfections. I’m trying to bring a better balance into my life, which I’ve lost since COVID and moving: quiet reflection/meditation/gratitude journaling, yoga & be better with my strength training routine.
As a 57 year old post menopausal ultrarunner, I know my time and opportunity on the trails and ability to train for big races is limited. I will never get THIS day and opportunity back so I try to make the best of it. What is the best thing I can do TODAY to set me up for success and keep me running? That is what I try to do. It keeps me motivated and enjoying the process.
I am working on learning how to shut off work when work is over. I keep organized lists and write notes to myself so I can close my laptop with confidence and let my brain melt into my workout, or simply being in the moment. If I feel like I have something to do, that anxiety does not allow my mind to recharge, which takes away from the quality of my free time. It’s a work in progress!