What happens when the thing you love most starts hurting you?

In this episode of Enduring Minds, Evan Birch and I sit down with former NCAA national record holder and ultra-runner Parley Hannan for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had with an everyday athlete navigating mental health, identity, and self-worth through endurance sports.

Parley opens up about depression, disordered eating, and the pressure of believing her value depended on performance. From chasing Olympic Trials standards to running ultramarathons through the Atacama Desert, she shares how she rebuilt her relationship with running and learned that healing matters more than pace.

This conversation is for every everyday athlete who has ever questioned whether they were enough without a workout, a medal, or a finish line photo to prove it.

There’s vulnerability, honesty, a few laughs, and the kind of connection that reminds us we’re not alone in this sport or in life.

There are times when the bravest thing an athlete can do isn’t racing harder.

It’s admitting they’re struggling and showing up anyway.

👇🏼 Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know: Has running ever helped your mental health while also creating pressure?

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Everyday Athlete burnout is real, and in this Fireside Chat, Joe Hardin and I get honest about the burnout signs runners often ignore.

From losing joy in running to balancing sobriety, work, family, and endurance sports, this conversation is about the emotional weight everyday athletes carry.

We discuss how burnout slowly replaces passion with pressure and why community, vulnerability, and purpose matters more than metrics.

If your training feels heavier than inspiring, this episode will help you reconnect with why you started.

The strongest everyday athlete can admit they’re running on empty before burnout takes everything.

Give it a listen and leave us a comment on where you are in your journey.

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Everyday Athlete stories deserve the spotlight, and this week on Shoutout Nation presented by RTB Awards, I celebrate the people making our running community stronger through vulnerability, connection, and authenticity. As an everyday athlete myself, I believe the heart of endurance sports lives in the people willing to show up as they truly are.

In Episode 7, I shout out Maren Williams, Coach Becky Croft, Shannon from Run_Shanni_Run, and three inspiring women from the Pittsburgh Marathon community.

They talk mental health, identity, community, and why everyday athletes matter far beyond race results.

Subscribe, share, and join the conversation.

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Join host Angela Hollowell as she sits down with Badia Weeks, a Hyrox competitor on a mission to become the first Black woman world champion. In this conversation, Badia shares her journey from competitive swimmer to hybrid athlete, revealing how she's redefining what it means to be an everyday athlete of color in predominantly white sports spaces.

Discover how Badia transformed personal struggles, including mental health challenges and eating disorders, into fuel for athletic excellence. She discusses the demands of Hyrox training, nutrition strategies for sustaining elite performance, and the critical role of community support in breaking through barriers.

Beyond competition, learn how Badia founded NDURE, a free community fitness collective, and leads diversity initiatives at Fitness Alive. Her work centers on making fitness accessible and inclusive for underrepresented communities.

This episode is perfect for everyday athletes seeking inspiration as well as for those who want to understand how representation matters in athletic spaces.

Badia's story proves that breaking barriers isn't just about winning but about building community and inspiring the next generation.

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Everyday athlete isn’t just a label. For us, it’s a reality check.

In this Fireside Chat, Santino Williams and I unpack burnout, joy in running, and the burnout signs we ignore until it’s too late.

This episode focuses on the everyday athlete balancing life, training, and expectations while quietly riding the edge.

From Santino’s decision to skip the Pittsburgh Marathon to the pressure of chasing metrics, this conversation explores how burnout builds and how to protect your joy.

If you’ve felt disconnected from running, this episode reminds you: you’re more than your numbers, and your why is worth revisiting.

As an Everyday Athlete, I created Shoutout Nation to celebrate the everyday athlete moments that make running unforgettable. This podcast is where humor meets heart, highlighting runners who remind us that endurance sports are about joy, connection, and community.

This week, I share stories from Valerie, Kevin, Sarah, and the Pittsburgh run crew along with the moments that made me laugh, reflect, and appreciate this journey. From suspiciously good runs to finish line family memories, it’s all here.

If you’re an everyday athlete looking for motivation, laughter, and real stories, this episode is for you. Share it, smile, and nominate someone next.

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Everyday Athlete stories don’t start with podiums. They start with people.

In this episode, Alyssa Eichholtz shares how she went from struggling with loneliness to building a thriving run club, Pennsy Run Club, and nonprofit rooted in connection.

This conversation goes beyond pace and distance, focusing on belonging, mental health, and purpose.

If you’re an everyday athlete searching for motivation or thinking about joining or starting a run club, this episode will remind you why you started.

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• The Everyday Athlete Running Hat Is Here

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What happens when an everyday athlete stops shrinking and starts defining their own story?

In this episode of Enduring Minds, Evan and I have the opportunity to chat with Badia Weeks. Badia is an athlete, director, and community builder. We explore identity, resilience, and what it truly means to belong. We go beyond sport and into the heart of what drives everyday athletes to keep going.

Badia shares her journey through depression, anxiety, bullying, and a suicide attempt, showing how pain can transform into purpose. Her story is raw, honest, and deeply human. Your setbacks don’t define you and Badia shares that message with all everyday athletes.

Together, we unpack the pressure to “be one thing” in a world that rewards labels, and why breaking free from those expectations can unlock your full potential. We also redefine community and not as followers or metrics, but as real connection, accountability, and belonging.

Do you know where you fit in endurance sports or life? If you are unsure, then press play on this episode.

This is more than a podcast. It’s a reminder to every everyday athlete: you are allowed to take up space, rewrite your story, and build something bigger than labels.

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• Run Tri Bike on Instagram
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