The Path to Excellence: A Conversation with Brad Stulberg s6e5
- 13 hours ago
- 5 min read
What does excellence actually mean in a world that glorifies hustle culture, viral success, and constant optimization? In a recent episode of the Running Explained Podcast, we sat down with bestselling author and performance coach Brad Stulberg to explore that exact question. The conversation challenged the modern narrative that excellence is about perfection, nonstop intensity, or rigid routines designed to squeeze productivity out of every waking minute. Instead, what emerged was a more grounded and sustainable definition of excellence, one that is deeply human and far more aligned with long-term fulfillment.
Brad made it clear that excellence is not perfectionism, nor is it obsession disguised as ambition. It is not waking up at 4 a.m. to broadcast an elaborate morning routine to social media, and it is certainly not grinding yourself into exhaustion in the name of self-improvement. Excellence is not about external validation or applause. Rather, excellence is involved engagement in something that aligns with your values running-explained-podcast-with-…. That definition carries weight because it shifts the focus away from outcomes alone and toward how we live and act in pursuit of those outcomes.
There are two essential components embedded in that definition. First, you must genuinely care. Excellence requires that you step into the arena with intention and vulnerability. It demands that you risk failure rather than hide behind indifference. In a culture where it can feel safer to be nonchalant or ironic about our ambitions, choosing to care deeply is itself an act of courage. Second, your pursuit must align with your values. If your goal does not reflect what matters to you at your core, even achieving it will leave you feeling unfulfilled. The pursuit of excellence, then, becomes less about checking a box and more about becoming a person who embodies the values you claim to hold.
In the context of running, this perspective is particularly powerful. Many athletes talk about focusing on the process instead of the outcome, and Brad agrees with that sentiment, but with nuance. It is not process instead of outcomes. It is process and outcomes running-explained-podcast-with-…. Outcomes matter. Qualifying for the Boston Marathon matters. Breaking three hours in the marathon matters. Hitting a personal best matters. These milestones can open doors and create opportunities, and it is healthy to want them. However, the deeper reward lies in who you become while striving for them.
Brad illustrated this through his own experience when his book hit the New York Times bestseller list. He celebrated with Thai noodles and a glass of wine, and the next morning he returned to work running-explained-podcast-with-…. That moment of recognition was meaningful, but it was brief. The daily practice of writing, the discipline of showing up to the craft, and the relationships built along the way were far more enduring. As he put it, the top of the mountain is narrow, while life happens on the sides. In other words, the podium moment is fleeting, but the work that led there shapes your character in lasting ways.
This idea directly challenges what psychologists refer to as the arrival fallacy, the belief that once we achieve a specific goal, we will finally feel complete. Runners often fall into this trap. We tell ourselves that once we break a certain time barrier or qualify for a major race, we will finally see ourselves as legitimate athletes. However, whether you run 2:59 or 3:01, the transformation has already occurred in the months of training. The resilience, discipline, and self-awareness you developed are not erased by two minutes on the clock running-explained-podcast-with-…. The clock does not create your worth. The work shapes who you are.
Another powerful theme in our conversation was the concept of the “humble badass.” Through years of research and interviews with world-class performers, Brad observed a paradox. The individuals who consistently embodied excellence were intensely driven and fiercely committed to their craft, yet they were also humble, kind, and grounded. The pursuit of excellence, when done with integrity, seems to both harden and soften a person at the same time. It builds grit and toughness, but it also fosters empathy and perspective. When you have experienced failure and discomfort, you gain a deeper respect for others who are also putting themselves on the line.
Click below to listen to the whole conversation, you will love it!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Guest Brad Stulberg
04:02 The Journey of Writing and Coaching
05:21 Understanding the Arrival Fallacy
08:14 The Process Over Outcomes Philosophy
10:59 Defining Excellence and Its Misconceptions
14:00 Aligning Goals with Personal Values
17:12 The Importance of Caring and Vulnerability
21:04 Building a Supportive Community
26:58 The Concept of the Humble Badass
30:03 Navigating Extremes: The Middle Ground
36:28 The Myth of Balance: Embracing Seasons of Life
44:05 Sitting with Discomfort: The Path to Mental Toughnes
52:27 Final Thoughts: Advice and Insights from Brad
Key Takeaways for Runners
Excellence is not perfectionism; it's about engaged involvement.
The journey shapes who you become, not just the outcome.
Values should guide goal setting to ensure alignment with personal beliefs.
Community plays a crucial role in achieving personal goals.
Being a 'humble badass' means balancing intensity with kindness.
Sitting with discomfort is essential for personal growth.
Digital detoxes can enhance creativity and mental clarity.
It's important to have multiple aspects of identity to avoid burnout.
Growth should never come at the expense of integrity.
The process of becoming is more important than the end result.
Brad Stulberg is author of the New York Times bestseller The Way of Excellence.
Connect with Amanda and Nick:
Instagram:
Amanda - @amanda_katzz
Nick - @nklastava
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About Your Hosts
Amanda Katz is a full-time fitness professional; a certified personal trainer, RRCA certified run coach and serves as a group fitness instructor specializing in indoor cycling, treadmill running and total body conditioning formats at Equinox in New York City. She’s a marathoner, lover of distance running and lifting heavy. Her philosophy is based on the notion that all bodies deserve a fitness experience without guilt or shame. She approaches her craft with humor, real talk and ultimately, wants her clients feeling strong and more capable in their bodies through movement.
Nick Klastava is CEO of Running Explained and started running back in 1996 and has been competitively running for 26 years now with a brief break in his 20’s. His spark for running came back in High School, being a part of a team and finding a sport that brought out the best in himself. He ran competitively in college for Monmouth University in New Jersey after college he took 8 years off from running and thought he was done forever. After moving to Maryland in 2010, Nick found his spark again with running and found a new outlook on running with less pressure and less emphasis on the numbers and broke all of his college PR's by age 38.
Nick lives just outside Baltimore, Maryland, and his favorite thing about coaching is to unconditionally support runners and their journeys.
With Coach Amanda Katz & Nick Klastava, you’re getting more than just two coaches! You’re getting mentors who understand the pressures, challenges and ups and downs of navigating running and life. They’ve been in your shoes, struggled with comparison and perfectionism, but grew through the noise to help you find a sustainable, enjoyable path to becoming your best; mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Through Running Explained, We offer training plans, online courses, and 1:1 coaching designed to help runners achieve their goals while avoiding the common pitfalls of overtraining, under-fueling, and burnout. Whether you’re training for your first half marathon or chasing a new PR, her guidance will help you train smarter, race stronger, and love the journey.
📲 Learn more at RunningExplained.com
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