Sabrina Stanley | Madeira Island Reflections, UTMB 2022, Adidas Trail Team
Jan 2, 2022
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Sabrina Stanley is a professional Mountain Ultra Trail Runner for Adidas Terrex, known for her impressive performances. She shares insights from her recent race in Madeira Island and discusses her strategic focus on the UTMB in 2022. The conversation delves into race preparation and recovery, shedding light on her unique training methods. Sabrina emphasizes the importance of mental well-being in a competitive environment and highlights the evolving landscape of sponsorships and community support in trail running.
Sabrina Stanley aims to be recognized as the top female mountain ultra trail runner, emphasizing the necessity of achieving the UTMB course record for validation.
Reflecting on her race at Madeira Island, Stanley highlights the lessons learned from technical challenges, underscoring the importance of preparation and reliable equipment.
Advocating for a culture of open competition in ultra running, Stanley believes candid performance analysis can enhance the sport's excitement and growth.
Deep dives
Sabrina Stanley's Competitive Aspirations
Sabrina Stanley expresses her desire to be recognized as the best female mountain ultra trail runner, though she feels this is yet to be fully established in the eyes of the running community. She believes achieving the UTMB course record is essential to solidifying that claim. Currently, she sees herself as tough and competitive, having consistently defeated top competitors in other events. For the upcoming season, her main focus is the UTMB, aiming to further validate her aspirations.
Lessons from Madeira Island
Stanley reflects on her experience at the Madeira Island race, where she faced significant technical issues with her headlamp that negatively impacted her performance. Despite feeling embarrassed about her results, she realizes these challenges are part of learning and growth in her running journey. The experience taught her the importance of preparation and having reliable equipment during a race. She considers the lessons from Madeira valuable as she looks forward to better results in future races.
The Importance of Recovery in Training
Sabrina emphasizes the significance of incorporating rest and recovery into her training regimen, aiming for long-term competitiveness in the sport. She believes that athletes often neglect recovery when racing frequently and sees the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between training and rest. Sabrina follows a structured approach, allowing sufficient recovery time post-races to prepare for future endeavors. She seeks to prolong her athletic career by prioritizing recovery, ultimately preserving her performance capabilities.
Candid Thoughts on Rivalries and Competitiveness
Stanley brings an outspoken competitive spirit to ultra running, advocating for a culture where athletes freely express their ambitions and competitiveness. She criticizes the ultra running community’s sensitivity regarding competition and believes that honest discussions about rivalries can enhance the sport's excitement. Sabrina welcomes candid analysis of performance among athletes and insists that competitive analysis is integral to achieving greatness. She cites that athletes, including her peers, should embrace this competitive edge rather than shy away from it.
The Future of Ultra Running
Sabrina is optimistic about the growing visibility and financial support for ultra running, which she believes will help elevate its status both in the U.S. and internationally. She notes the disparity in community support and recognition for athletes in Europe versus America and sees this as an area for improvement. To boost the sport's profile, she advocates for increased race participation and better organization, including public lotteries for race entries. Stanley is hopeful that continued growth and recognition will lead to a more vibrant and competitive ultra running landscape.
Sabrina Stanley is a professional Mountain Ultra Trail Runner for Adidas Terrex.
In this episode, we talk about her recent race at Madeira Island and position in the sport, the focus on UTMB in 2022, how she thinks about race preparation and recovery, and life on the Adidas trail team.
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