Balance, Mindset and Reshaping What It Means to be a Professional Athlete with Sonya Looney- EP044

Ali Fitness Podcast

English - January 21, 2018 21:00 - 41 minutes - 33.4 MB - ★★★★★ - 15 ratings
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Previous Episode: Chasing Health and Longevity Through Balance with Sal, Adam and Justin of Mind Pump- EP043

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Be brave and do epic shit.

As far as mottos go, this is a pretty phenomenal one. And Sonya Looney definitely follows this advice herself: Not only is she one of the world’s best endurance mountain bike racers, she is also a writer, blogger, and photographer. Sonya has delivered keynotes at events around the world, and she hosts the successful podcast, The Sonya Looney Show. An early adopter of social media, Sonya is reshaping what it means to be a professional athlete by establishing and promoting her own strong personal brand.

Today Sonya shares her roundabout journey from graduate fellow in engineering to professional mountain bike racing, discussing her approach to training and how she incorporates time to work on the business. Sonya offers her take on balance, mindset and the future of women in sport. She explains her shift to a plant-based diet and offers tips around trending in the right direction when it comes to nutrition. Listen in for Sonya’s inspiring advice about pushing your limits and making time for human connection!

Topics Covered

[1:49] Sonya’s philosophy

Push limits, take on challenges Go outside comfort zone

[2:58] How Sonya landed on mountain biking as career

Bullied in high school Gained confidence training for marathon Pursued engineering degree in college Introduced to mountain biking Reviewed backpack on blog, company invited to join team Became national brand ambassador Approached by several brands in 2012 Established own media company

[8:31] Why Sonya enjoys being an entrepreneur

Growth opportunities, connect with others Fulfilling to help people live better lives Not just about riding fast, standing on podium

[10:11] Sonya’s take on balance

Implies stressful journey (tightrope) Make time for rest, human connection Focus on one project at certain times

[12:01] Sonya’s racing calendar

Race January through October One month in spring, summer to focus on business Reduce travel, no races during those months

[13:04] Sonya’s approach to training

Train less when racing more (recovery) Energy management vs. time management Incorporating Nordic skiing, strength training in off-season

[16:23] Sonya’s weekly off-season training schedule

Two hours strength training in gym Two to three hours of cross-training Four to five hours of yoga 10-15 quality hours on the bike

[18:00] Sonya’s coaching team

Works with sports psychologist, strength coach Self-coached in cycling Knows body well after 14 years of experience Tended to over-train with coaches Uses physiology assessment test Assesses race performance to gauge training Tracks power meters, heartrate and breaths/minute

[22:10] How Sonya handles down time

One month on couch after foot surgery Enjoyed down time Self-worth doesn’t come from training

[24:03] Sonya’s shift to a plant-based diet

Introduced by husband, Matt Watched Forks Over Knives documentary Gradually changed eating habits Performance improved as side effect Removed meat, chicken, cheese, milk Cut oil consumption

[29:04] Sonya’s macro levels on plant-based diet

30% of diet = fat 80-100 g of protein/day Whole food sources of carbs 70-80 g of fiber/day Tracks hormone, vitamin levels Sufficient DHA

[33:06] Sonya’s advice around diet and nutrition

Don’t have to eat fully plant-based diet Eat variety of whole foods Trend in right direction

[35:47] Sonya’s hope for the future of women in sport

More respect moving forward Empower younger generation through accessibility (i.e.: social media)

Learn More About Sonya Looney