Without that curious piece — Huh, what went wrong? What can I do differently? How can I prepare differently? — then it is just a disappointing race. ~ Addie Bracy

Addie Bracy is a professional ultra trail runner, coach, and sport psychology consultant. She helps athletes of all ages and abilities to prepare for the mental demands of competing. She says curiosity is key.

Addie’s curiosity started with a simple question “Can I do that?” That’s taken her to “What can I do?”

As an athlete, Addie has come to see the necessary relationship between vulnerability and success. Her appreciation of curiosity’s superpower includes embracing open-mindedness and preparing for all possibilities; separation of ego and acknowledging the help we need from others; being present for the experience and not tied to the outcome.

Think of performance — authentic or otherwise — as a hypothesis; see what works, what doesn’t, and learn from that. “Self-awareness” she says, “is a by-product of curiosity.”

Her favorite curiosity lure? Having a goal to motivate you to action.

I’ve been in this sport for 27 years. I’ve raced probably 350 races. And I think without that curiosity of changing things, or adapting, or new challenges, I wouldn’t still be in it. 

Listen to Choose to be Curious #220: Superpower: Curiosity & Athletic Performance, with Addie Bracy

Check out Addie Bracy here: https://www.strivementalperformance.com

Here is Addie’s book and this is the Trail Runner Magazine article that caught my eye.

Find Evan Polman’s work on curiosity lures here: here:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749597822000814

Theme music by Sean Balick; “Glass Runner” by Marble Run, via Blue Dot Sessions.

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