Have you ever had a big goal race go SO CATASTROPHICALLY SIDEWAYS that you're plummeted into an existential crisis afterwards? Yeah, us too! In this episode with Dr. Victoria Sekely (@trainsmartunstrong) we discuss the pressure of setting goals, the impact of race disappointments, and the influence of others' opinions. PLUS, we talk about the challenges faced by women in running and the importance of living with uncertainty and being able to pivot. The conversation includes personal experiences, such as training for and racing the New York City Marathon, and going out too fast in races! KEY HIGHLIGHTS! 04:45 The Impact of Race Disappointments 06:37 Vicky's Experience of Training for and Racing the New York City Marathon 20:51 Navigating Expectations and Perfectionism 45:12 Dealing with Shame and Self-Worth 55:00 Trusting Yourself in Races 01:05:13 Redefining Goals and Expectations 01:07:15 Approaching Future Goals with Awareness 01:12:08 Accepting Imperfection and Progress -- Victoria Sekely is a Manhattan-based Physical Therapist with a passion for all things running. Victoria graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and went on to complete her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York University. Victoria is also a USATF Level 1 and RRCA-certified run coach. She is dedicated to helping runners of all levels by using her skills and knowledge to assist runners who are rehabbing from an injury, interested in injury prevention, and/or looking to improve their training with custom running programs.