Mental Training Lab

Be a Hybrid: Cam Smith on Motivational Flexibility and Having a Plan for Your Pain Cave

Pete Kadushin, PhD Episode 27

This is part 2 of my interview, Cam Smith (@camfromcb). If you missed his first episode, it’s definitely worth checking out, and as a quick refresher, Cam is a world-class ski mountaineer and trail runner. He’s an 11 time US Skimo national champion, and 5 time north American ski mo champion. Cam holds the course record for the three largest skimo races in the US, the Power of Four, the Grand Traverse, and the Gothic Mountain Tour. He’s the first American man to finish top-10 in a skimo world cup race, with his 3rd place finish in Andorra earlier in 2022. He’s won a long list of trail running races as well, and has qualified for the Mountain and Trail Running World Championships in Thailand this year.

Today, he talks about the benefits of being a two sport athlete, exploring the dark moments in endurance sport (and how to plan for them), and why blending motivations can make you a better competitor.  

To round it out, he shares a wicked reflection tool that has helped him squeeze a lot of extra growth out of each race. What really stands out throughout is that Cam is a dual threat and has found a way to be both a (great human being + elite performer). 

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