177. Eva-Maria Sperger on the Mental Side of Trail Racing

Psychologist and elite trail runner Eva-Maria Sperger joins host Francesco Puppi for a candid conversation about the mental side of performance—self-compassion, motivation, and racing with vulnerability—just ahead of the World Championships in Canfranc-Pirineos.

Eva explains why naming emotions builds real toughness, how to balance “listen to your feelings” with “do the opposite,” and a simple model to unlock motivation: autonomy, confidence, and belonging. They also unpack the difference between working with a sport psychologist vs. a mental coach, why athletes over-do volume to calm anxiety, and how to make better decisions when pain or fear show up.

If you’ve ever wondered “Do I even belong here?” this one will feel like a deep breath and a plan.

What you’ll learn

• How self-compassion becomes a performance skill (not fluff)

• A practical way to handle negative thoughts without obeying them

• Autonomy–confidence–belonging: a simple framework to rekindle motivation

• When to choose a sport psychologist vs. a mental coach (and why)

  Process > outcome: redefining “success” before your next start line

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Francesco’s links: 

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