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Episode 51: Why Endurance Athletes Need a Strong Mind and Stronger Community: The Journey to Ultra with Jess Hanson
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In this episode of On Adventure, I sit down with Jess Hanson—a certified mental performance consultant, ultra runner, and coach—to explore what it takes to build a resilient mindset for both high-performance athletes and everyday adventurers. Jess shares her journey from playing lacrosse in college to coaching athletes across sports like skiing, mountain biking, and ultra running. We dive deep into how the mental game shapes athletic success, and how pushing your physical and emotional limits can unlock deeper purpose, confidence, and grit.
If you’ve ever faced the “dark moments” in endurance sports or wondered how to mentally prepare for big goals, this conversation is for you. We talk about identity, risk, motivation, and what it really takes to show up when things get hard. Plus, Jess gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her own ultra journey - yes, even the gritty details of 100K races, helicopter skiing, and rim-to-rim-to-rim Grand Canyon adventures.
⏱️ Timeline Summary[1:20] - From lacrosse to ultra running: Jess shares her athletic evolution
[4:45] - Why mental performance matters—and how it’s different from traditional coaching
[11:40] - Facing fear in the backcountry and building confidence in uncertain moments
[16:50] - Running her first 50-miler with just two months of training (!)
[21:55] - Mental spirals and self-talk strategies during her 100K trail race
[33:10] - Why she loves working with high school athletes and how she helps them reshape their relationship with sport
[45:10] - What drives Jess to keep pushing her limits in running, skiing, and life
Jess Hanson’s Coaching: https://cognelite.net
Association for Applied Sport Psychology: https://appliedsportpsych.org
Find a CMPC-certified consultant: AASP Directory
Instagram: @cognelite
If this episode gave you fuel to keep chasing your goals - or gave you tools for when the trail gets tough - please rate, follow, and share On Adventure. Also find us on our new YouTube page and click to subscribe! And if you haven’t yet, go back and check out Episode 36 with Jess’s dad, Scott Hanson, for more inspiring stories from the trail.
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