Dirt Nap Diaries
A trail running podcast for everyday trail runners juggling training with real life. Hosted by women’s trail running coach Brittany Olson, it’s where the messy, funny, and real parts of running meet strength, joy, and the reminder that you’re more than “just” a runner.
Dirt Nap Diaries
Episode 22: When Shit Goes Sideways: Safety, Scars, and Still Chasing Big Dreams
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Trail running is unpredictable. Weather changes. Bodies change. Plans fall apart. And sometimes, even when you do everything “right,” things still go wrong.
In this episode of Dirt Nap Diaries, I talk about what happens when something scary or traumatic happens on the trail and how you find your way back instead of letting fear take the thing you love.
This isn’t a fear-based safety episode. It’s a real conversation about preparation, perspective, and rebuilding trust with yourself after a hard experience.
In this episode:
- The difference between being prepared and being afraid
- The basic safety practices that help mitigate risk
- Why experience doesn’t make you immune to things going wrong
- My story of being medically evacuated from the Grand Canyon
- The mental aftermath of a scary trail experience
- How to rebuild confidence and joy on the trails, slowly and intentionally
Trail running isn’t about pretending nothing bad will happen. It’s about choosing how you move forward when it does.
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Links & Resources for This Episode
- Andrew Schenk: Resilient Body Solutions - treat yourself to that massage
- Follow me on Instagram
- Visit my website: www.sunrisetrailscoaching.com
- Want to work together? Learn about 1:1 Coaching
- Free guide: What’s In My Pack? Download here