About this episode

The episode discusses aging as an athlete with a focus on mindset, longevity, and the love of running.

In this episode of Trail Runner Nation's Aging as an Athlete series, along with Krissy Moehl , we welcome elite ultrarunner and therapist Darcy Piceu for a thoughtful conversation about longevity in endurance sports. Drawing on more than two decades of racing at the highest level, Darcy explains that there is no "magic pill" for staying in the sport long term, emphasizing instead the importance of self-care, strength work, listening to the body, and adapting training as athletes age. The discussion explores the mental side of endurance, including acceptance of changing performance, learning to manage negative thoughts during long races, and developing the wisdom that comes from decades of experience. Darcy also shares how mindfulness and time in nature play a powerful role in both mental health and athletic performance, something she incorporates into her therapy practice. We reflect on the evolving identity of an athlete over time, balancing competitiveness with enjoyment, family life, and other pursuits beyond running. We highlight that staying in the sport for decades is less about chasing podiums and more about cultivating resilience, perspective, and a lasting love for the…

People in this episode

Host: Krissy Moehl

Guest: Darcy Piceu

Topics covered

• aging as an athlete
• longevity in endurance sports
• mental health in athletics
• self-care for runners
• mindfulness and nature
• athlete identity
• resilience in sports

Keywords

• endurance sports
• self-care
• strength work
• mental health
• athletic performance
• resilience
• running

Sponsors

Tifosi Optics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Therapy in Action

Places: Bellingham, WA

More episodes of Trail Runner Nation

• EP 778: Audio Magazine- The Run That Changes Your Brain · April 23, 2026 · 1h 13m
• EP 777: Inside the Toughest Era of Ultrarunning · April 16, 2026 · 1h 10m
• EP 776: Build Stronger Feet Before They Fail · April 9, 2026 · 1h 2m
• EP 775: I Spent $4,500 on One Race · April 3, 2026 · 1h 3m
• EP 774: Aging As An Athlete- The Truth About Longevity in Running · March 26, 2026 · 1h 5m
• EP 773: Why We Choose to Suffer (And Love It) · March 19, 2026 · 1h 8m

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