Goals, in running and in life, are necessary for improvement, but sometimes your big goals can take away the joy of the journey. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways, backed by research, that we can achieve our dream goals without sacrificing our enjoyment of the present moment. Today’s conversation is with the incomparable Lauren Fleshman, a former pro runner and author of the groundbreaking bestseller Good for a Girl. This is Lauren’s second time on the show and our talk today is perhaps even better than the first. She’s celebrating the 10th anniversary edition of her Believe Training Journal which is designed to be a simple and effective way of getting to know yourself as a runner and can be a road map to achieving your goals. We go over: How a few minutes of pen to paper can profoundly shape your training How goals can shift as you age, and How you can inspire kids and yourself to be runners for life Lauren has a unique yet relatable perspective on how running affects us throughout our lives that I know you will enjoy. Welcome to the Planted Runner. I’m Coach Claire Bartholic and my mission is to help you improve your running, your mindset, and your life with science-backed training and plant-based nutrition. If you need more help, you can order my book The Planted Runner: Running Your Best With Plant-Based Nutrition wherever you get books or request a copy from your local library. Don’t forget to stay tuned all the way to the end of the episode for another Mental Strength Minute. Fortify your mind in 60 seconds or less. LINKS: If you’d like help directly from me, you can check out my freebies, personal coaching, and sign up for my PR Team at https://www.theplantedrunner.com/link. For my recommendations of at-home equipment and other running products I recommend, check out my curated list on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/theplantedrunner EARTH BREEZE Get your stinkiest running clothes clean (without the mess and plastic waste). Join me and the 2,000,000+ happy customers who made the switch to laundry detergent eco sheets, an elegant solution to the endless plastic jugs piling up in our landfills and laundry rooms. Get started today and enjoy 40% off when you subscribe and save. Cancel any time. Love your laundry or your money back guaranteed. https://earthbreeze.com/plantedrunner LIQUID IV: Just one stick of LIquid IV + 16 oz. of water hydrates better than water alone. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to https://www.liquid-iv.com/ and use code PLANTED at checkout. RECENT REVIEWS: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A+ I appreciate Coach Claire’s positive insights on training! JRA4177 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A highlight of my week It is a gift to be able to have a space for plant-based runners to learn! Claire’s advice is always solid and not just limited to the plant-based, but doesn’t include fueling your runs with unhealthy foods, which seems to happen on other podcasts. Thank you! AmyFica ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Best running podcast As a seasoned marathoner but new plant-based runner, Coach Claire is a valuable resource. Solid content for runners across the spectrum, I especially appreciate her confidence in middle age running ladies like myself who are trying to keep up the hobby they love most. She has helped me maintain my competitive nature while being realistic about my stage in life. Thank you for fantastic content! Scmilezzz Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat