“I’m not the strongest. I’m not the fastest. But I’m really good at suffering.” – Amelia Boone
Amelia Boone (@ameliaboone) has been called the Michael Jordan of obstacle course racing (OCR). This episode explores her training, nutrition, rehab, “pre-hab,” and more.
In a sense, Amelia is more impressive than MJ, as she conquered OCR while building a stellar full-time career in law.
Since the sport’s inception, she’s amassed more than 30 victories and 50 podiums. In the 2012 World’s Toughest Mudder competition, which lasted 24 hours, she finished 2nd OVERALL out of 1,000+ competitors. This was ahead of every male except the winner, who beat her by just 8 minutes.
Her major victories include the Spartan Race World Championship (2013), Spartan Race Series Point Champion (2013 and 2015), and she is the only three-time winner of the World’s Toughest Mudder (2012, 2014 and 2015). She won the 2014 WTM eight weeks after knee surgery. Amelia is also a three-time finisher of the Death Race, and dabbles in ultra-running in all of her spare time.
Phew… I’m exhausted just writing this intro, but Amelia can do it all while eating Pop-Tarts for breakfast (seriously).
You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.
- Listen to it on iTunes.
- Stream by clicking here.
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Love wrestling as much as Amelia Boone? You will probably enjoy my podcast with Triple H. — In this episode, we discuss pre-fight rituals, injury avoidance, and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (stream below or right-click here to download):
Craving more OCR? Then you’ll want to check out my podcast with Joe De Sena, co-founder of the Death Race and Spartan Race. In this episode, we discuss grit, endurance, and building empires (stream below or right-click here to download):
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QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: Who do you consider the most dominant athlete right now and why? Please let me know in the comments. Scroll below for links and show notes…
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
- Check you AmeliaBooneRacing.com
- Learn more about Scott Kenneally, our mutual friend in suffering
- Learn more about electrical muscle stimulation
- Learn more about Active Release Technique (A.R.T.)
- Learn more about dry needling
- Check out BeetElite, Amelia’s pre-workout supplement
- In NYC this winter? Check out Brodo for delicious bone broth.
- House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski
- The Goonies
- Learn more about a Tyrolean traverse
- Connect with Amelia Boone on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
Show Notes
- Defining obstacle course racing [6:19]
- Origin stories and law school [10:09]
- Pre-race routines [15:59]
- Pre-race mobility work [18:09]
- Post-race recovery habits [21:59]
- Amelia Boone’s opinion on ice baths [22:59]
- Discussing how she placed 1st for women and 2nd overall (of men and women) in the 2012 World’s Toughest Mudder [23:34]
- On practicing hardship and training in less than ideal conditions [28:29]
- The most challenging and the most dangerous obstacles of Amelia Boone’s career [30:14]
- On knee surgery and her quick recovery [36:29]
- Nutrition habits and superstitions [45:29]
- The different gear for obstacle course races and ultra-marathons [50:24]
- Daily supplements [54:29]
- Injury prevention and average running miles per week [57:09]
- Amelia Boone’s daily morning rituals [1:01:24]
- What is your self-talk during races? [1:03:59]
- Interesting coping approaches for long-distance obstacle racing [1:07:24]
- Do you have a specific meditative practice? [1:08:14]
- Why move back to California? [1:09:39]
- How do you keep your body limber after ice or water immersion during a race? [1:10:49]
- When you hear the word successful, who is the first person that comes to mind and why? [1:11:19]
- Most gifted books [1:14:59]
- Favorite documentaries or movies [1:16:34]
- A purchase of less than $100 that has most positively affected your life in recent memory [1:17:09]
- Important habits to staying connected in the ‘social media’ world [1:19:14]
- If you could have a billboard anywhere, what would it say? [1:20:59]
- Is dating a challenge? [1:23:14]
- Advice to Amelia Boone’s 20- and 25-year-old self [1:24:49]
- People Amelia Boone would like to meet [1:27:39]
- Asks or requests of the audience [1:28:39]