Ep. 155: Time on Feet: How Kyle Thompson Uses Adversity to Chase Excellence

Regional Superintendent and ultramarathoner Kyle Thompson joins The Mental Mettle Podcast to break down how “time on feet” in the mountains has reshaped the way he leads, parents, and lives.

Kyle is the Regional Superintendent of ROE #11 in Charleston, Illinois, and a 100-mile finisher who believes deeply in intentional adversity—choosing hard things on purpose so you’re ready for the hard things you don’t choose.

In this conversation, we cover:

• How a simple question from his kids (“What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?”) completely changed his life
• Why he prefers 90-degree runs, 2 a.m. training sessions, and brutal trail conditions
• The mental and physical battle of his first 100-miler at Grindstone (106 miles, 35+ hours, cold rain, and massive elevation)
• DNFs, disappointment, and what failure in ultrarunning has taught him about leadership
• The difference between optional adversity (what you choose) and mandatory adversity (what life throws at you)
• How trail running and ultras have made him a calmer, more resilient leader and parent

We also dig into the work Kyle has done with Mental Mettle Coaching:

• Why he brought me in to do an 8-session group coaching series with his ROE #11 team
• How that coaching helped his staff with self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and vulnerability
• The culture shift that happens when a team feels genuinely invested in, not just managed
• Why he actively promotes my professional development and coaching to superintendents and schools across his region

If you’re an educator, coach, or leader who:

• Wants to build real resilience (not just talk about “grit”)
• Is curious how endurance training and leadership intersect
• Is looking for PD that actually focuses on the adults in the room, not another buzzword program

…this episode will give you a clear picture of what intentional adversity looks like in real life—and how it can transform both your work and your life.

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WORK WITH MENTAL METTLE COACHING
→ Group coaching & PD for schools, districts, and teams
→ Coaching for educators, leaders, and coaches who want to build real mental mettle

matt@mentalmettlecoach.com

www.mentalmettlecoach.com

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