Human Performance Outliers Podcast with Zach Bitter Episode 455: Keira D'Amato | Don't Call It A Comeback
Sep 10, 2025
Keira D'Amato, a professional runner and author, discusses her incredible journey from an 8-year hiatus to breaking American marathon records. She shares insights on finding motivation and identity in running, emphasizing resilience through challenges. D'Amato reflects on balancing her real estate career with her athletic ambitions and advocates for the importance of adapting training methods. Humorously, she touches on drug testing as a seasoned athlete, inspiring listeners to embrace aging as a path of continued capability.
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First Race Sparked A Love Of Limits
- Keira joined high school cross country to impress her soccer coach and hated the first race but finished it anyway.
- That race taught her she enjoyed pushing through hardship and chasing limits, which launched her running career.
Eight-Year Break Before Returning
- After college injuries and lack of insurance coverage Keira stopped running for over eight years and assumed her elite days were over.
- She later returned to running for wellness, which unexpectedly led to top-level performances.
Success Without Running Being Everything
- A single workout convinced Keira she could outperform her college self even while running lower on her life priority list.
- That realization shifted her belief that running must be number one to achieve elite results.
