
160: The Psychological Cost of Chasing PBs
From The Running Channel Podcast by The Running Channel
March 7, 2026 · 50 min · Season 1 · Episode 160
About this episode
The episode discusses the psychological cost of chasing personal bests in running and the pressures from social media.
We’re LIVE from ASICS in London, where Andy, Rick and Sarah explore the psychological toll of constantly chasing a personal best. Together, they discuss how social media and constant comparison are increasing the pressure on runners to always run faster and hit new time goals. As runners, chasing a PB can be exhilarating and motivating for us and act as a powerful way to stay focused by pushing your limits. But what happens when that drive starts to take a toll? Can it lead to inevitable burnout and anxiety? The Running Channel Podcast tackles one big topic each episode, amongst helpful tips and light-hearted chat on the latest news in the running world. Hosted by Sarah Hartley (amateur runner) and Andy Baddeley (former pro runner) alongside Rick Kelsey (recovering runner), the TRC Podcast is friendly, jargon-free, and the perfect accompaniment to your runs. Join The Running Channel Club for exclusive additional podcast episodes, bite-sized courses, live Q&As and so much more! Head to The Running Channel Club For all enquiries contact podcast@therunningchannel.com . If you liked this, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And leave us a 5* review and rating, it…
People in this episode
Hosts: Andy Baddeley, Rick Kelsey, Sarah Hartley
Topics covered
- psychological toll
- personal best
- social media pressure
- burnout
- anxiety
- running motivation
Keywords
- personal best
- psychological cost
- running
- social media
- burnout
- anxiety
- motivation
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: ASICS
Products: Wahoo KICKR RUN
More episodes of The Running Channel Podcast
- 173: The Running Questions Everyone Wants Answered · June 6, 2026 · 56 min
- 172: What Can We Learn from Elites & Why the Enhanced Games Failed · May 30, 2026 · 50 min
- 171: Running Alone Is Holding You Back... Here's Why · May 23, 2026 · 42 min
- 170: How To Train For Shorter Distances After a Big Race · May 16, 2026 · 46 min
- 169: This Is What Happens To Your Body After a Race · May 9, 2026 · 50 min
- 168: From Start to Finish, Rick Relives the London Marathon in a Black Cab · May 2, 2026 · 1h 2m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Running Channel Podcast podcast page.