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

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

  • -----------

Want to try VertPro?

Use code RUNNINGLONG30 for 30% off your first month of Vert.run training.


👉 Follow @vert.run

👉 Download the app and sign up at vert.run


Francesco’s links:

Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website

Jaksot(185)

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181. Mario Fraioli | Go One Less: The Mindset That Actually Makes You Better

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Mario Fraioli joins host Francesco Puppi for an honest and thought-provoking conversation about the modern state of running — from content overload and algorithm fatigue, to what it really means to “g...

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180. Max Keith & Moises Jimenez | Run Less, Live More: Finding Balance as an Athlete

180. Max Keith & Moises Jimenez | Run Less, Live More: Finding Balance as an Athlete

Vert.run co-founders Moi Jiménez and Max Keith join host Francesco Puppi for a deep conversation on the evolving trail running scene in Latin America, the return of The North Face Endurance Challenge ...

28 Loka 202557min

179. Toni McCann | Beyond the Podium: finding meaning in the process

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South African trail running star Toni McCann joins host Francesco Puppi for an honest and vulnerable conversation about rediscovering her love for the sport, handling pressure after success, and what ...

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178. Francesco Puppi & Max Keith | CCC to Worlds: The Art of Recovery

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