Optimize Your Mental Performance for Running with Kristen Schindler

Reframing Failure and Redefining Confidence

Kristen Schindler knows that mental performance isn’t just about positive thinking. It’s about building flexible, honest stories that help you navigate setbacks and show up aligned with your values. Drawing from decades of experience as a trail runner and coach, Kristen helps athletes get unstuck from limiting narratives and perform with more resilience.

Her framework blends Acceptance and Commitment Coaching, narrative theory, and cognitive-behavioral techniques, aiming to treat the whole athlete, not just the race-day mindset.

“Confidence isn’t a personality trait. It’s a skill you can train, just like anything else.”

Whether working with youth athletes or seasoned pros, Kristen focuses on what’s underneath the pressure, helping her clients get clarity about what they’re really chasing and how to enjoy the process.

Trusting the Process in Tough Times

Kristen’s own running journey has included podiums, burnout, career pivots, and deep personal work. Her perspective: sport isn’t separate from who you are; it reflects who you are.

In this episode, she shares how defining your role during challenging moments can shift everything. From navigating injury or transition to coaching athletes through identity struggles, Kristen emphasizes curiosity over control.

“Sometimes the story we’re telling ourselves is the biggest limiter—not our body.”

Empowering the Next Generation

One of Kristen’s passions is supporting youth athletes through their formative years in sport. She offers practical tools to help them build confidence, foster mental toughness, and avoid early burnout.

Her goal? To empower athletes to write their own stories—ones rooted in values, not just validation.

What You’ll Learn

• Kristen’s philosophy on sport psychology and confidence

• The mental performance tools she uses with athletes

• What to do when you feel “stuck” in sport or life

• Why your self-talk matters more than you think

Ready to step up your mental tactics? Give this one a listen. 👇

Join us on July 17th in Boulder for the PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Launch Party!

Get ready to celebrate the launch of the new PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 at Fleet Feet Boulder! We're hosting an exciting event in collaboration with Boulderthon and Fleet Feet, and we'd love for you to join us! Whether you're an experienced runner or just beginning, this is a great opportunity to experience the latest in PUMA's running lineup, designed for both speed and comfort.

Here's what you can look forward to:

Group Run: The event starts at 6:00 PM MST with an organized group run from the store. You'll have two distance options and the chance to try out demo units of the brand new Velocity NITRO 4 during the run.

Live Podcast: After the run, enjoy a live podcast featuring PUMA Pro Runner, Annie Frisbie, and For The Long Run. They'll be discussing what Annie looks for in top-notch running shoes and how to rotate them for different types of runs and workouts.

Sip, Socialize, and Shop: Afterward, you can mingle, enjoy cold beverages, connect with our sponsoring partners (Elements Massage, Acupuncture of Boulder, PR Sports Labs, and Boulder Community Health), and explore our fit process to find your next pair of trainers.

We can't wait to see you there! Register for free below 👇

Join us on July 19th, beat the heat, and test the PUMA Deviate NITRO™ Elite Trail shoes 👟

In partnership with Boulderthon and Fleet Feet, we are excited to demo the PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite Trail shoe (one of my absolute favorite trail running shoes!!). Join us at 8 am for either a 5k or 5-mile trail run option at the Lefthand Trailhead and demo Puma's new exciting trail super shoe.

Drinks and snacks will be provided as well as a raffle for two pairs of the Deviate Nitro Elite Trail and maybe some other brand goodies! 👀

Register to join us below 👇

Being a Purpose-Driven Endurance Company Through Storytelling with Yuri Hauswald of GU Energy Labs

From Farm Kid to Gravel Hall of Fame

Yuri’s path to endurance sport wasn’t conventional. He grew up on a farm in Northern California, played collegiate lacrosse, and spent over a decade as an elementary school teacher before discovering the bike. Once he did, everything changed.

He went on to win the 2015 edition of Unbound Gravel and was later inducted into the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. Today, Yuri continues to ride, coach, and lead athlete partnerships at GU Energy Labs with the same grounded, purpose-driven energy that has shaped his entire career.

Gravel Culture and the Power of Community

Yuri shares how gravel cycling opened the door to something deeper than racing. It offered camaraderie, inclusivity, and a celebration of effort over outcome.

He reflects on his first ride at Unbound in 2013 and how that moment sparked a love for gravel that has only grown. The gravel scene, with its broad accessibility and community-first ethos, is a major part of what keeps him inspired and engaged.

Inside GU’s Commitment to Purpose and People

For Yuri, GU’s commitment to inclusivity isn’t performative. It’s rooted in the company’s values and has been part of the culture for more than a decade. He outlines key initiatives including product collaborations with RIDC and Rising Hearts, event sponsorships that center new voices, and programs that support adaptive athletes.

He also speaks candidly about why companies must reach broader audiences and what that means for the future of outdoor sports.

Athlete Partnerships That Go Beyond the Podium

As an athlete manager, Yuri seeks more than just fast finish times. He values athletes who communicate, who show up with creative ideas, and who understand that partnerships are two-way relationships. Whether it's a pro trail runner or a coach with a small but meaningful following, he’s looking for humans first, athletes second.

He also offers tactical advice for pitching brands and building sustainable sponsorships, particularly for athletes and creators who may not fit the traditional mold.

Tune in for a meaningful conversation about movement, marketing, community, and how storytelling can shift what’s possible in endurance sports. ⬇️

The Adventure Buddy You Need 👇

GOES is your essential outdoor guide that keeps you informed and ready, no matter where the trail takes you. Created by wilderness medicine doctors, this app helps you level up your knowledge, plan smarter trips, and handle medical emergencies with more confidence, even when you're far off the grid.

Let’s say you’re out in the backcountry on a long trail run, out of cell service, and something goes wrong. With GOES, you can literally tap on a body part, and the app will walk you through how to triage the situation, assess the level of risk, and take the right next steps. It’s like having a wilderness first responder in your pocket. 🤯

Honestly, it’s an absolutely essential piece of my adventure gear—and one I won’t head out on trails without. Download yours today! Use code 25FTLR30 for 30% off an annual GOES+ plan. GOES+ gives you access to the rewards program plus much more additional medical content and our emergency assessment tool.

About Jon Levitt and For The Long Run

Jon is a runner, cyclist, and podcast host from Boston, MA, who now lives in Boulder, CO. For The Long Run is aimed at exploring the why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated.

Follow Jon on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.