The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish #34 Amelia Boone: Learning How to Suffer
Mental Shutdown
- Amelia Boone mentally shut down 48 hours into a Death Race, overwhelmed by carrying a log up a ravine.
- After resting, she realized focusing on the next step, not the whole task, was key.
To-Do List Trick
- Write to-do lists and include already completed tasks.
- Crossing them off creates a sense of accomplishment and momentum.
Winning vs. Fulfillment
- Winning isn't enough; many top performers are still unhappy.
- True fulfillment comes from the process and shared experiences, not just results.
Since the popularity of Obstacle Course Racing, or OCR, has exploded onto the scene, there has been one woman who has dominated the sport: Amelia Boone.
Amelia ran her first race in 2011 after some prodding from a co-worker, and though she says she stumbled her way to an unimpressive finish, she was smitten. She has since amassed over 50 podiums and two dozen victories, including the Spartan Race World Championship in 2013, and the World's Toughest Mudder (three times!) in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
Oh, and her 2014 victory came just eight weeks after major knee surgery.
Though she vehemently denies it, Amelia is superhuman.
This interview is a little different than others you may have heard on The Knowledge Project but no less fascinating.
We cover a wide variety of topics including habits, reading, self-reliance, and training.
Specifically, you’ll learn:
- Why Amelia was drawn to obstacle racing even though running was something she despised
- The complementary connection between her sport and her professional work and how racing has made her a more effective attorney
- How Amelia fights physical and mental fatigue when most people quit (she even shares a story of how she dealt with a vacant support station halfway through a 100 mile race)
- What she does to develop grit and resilience so she knows she can rely on herself when things get rough
- Amelia’s “to-do list” trick that makes sure she’s productive — you’ll want to steal this
- How a serious injury taught Amelia some of her most powerful lessons about who she is and what’s important to her
- What Amelia’s parents did to teach her to be self-sufficient from a very young age
- How she learned to deal with setbacks, and how careful she is with the language she uses when she speaks to herself when things go wrong
- Why Amelia runs with a Sharpie and the same playlist she’s listened to for the past 5 years
- How Amelia transformed herself from a casual weekend warrior to one of the most finely tuned athletes in the world
Whether you’re an athlete, a weekend jogger, or the only exercise you get is the leisure stroll from the couch to the refrigerator, there are lots of insights and plenty of inspiration waiting for you in this interview.
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