Inspired Soles
Inspired Soles is a podcast that fuels your passion for running and helps you achieve peak performance with every stride. Host Carolyn Coffin talks with industry experts, coaches, Olympians and everyday runners to educate and inspire you to take your running to the next level.
Inspired Soles
278. Jeff Cunningham | Beyond Training Plans: Confidence, Comparison & Caring for the Whole Runner
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text
Jeff Cunningham returns for a deeper conversation about the parts of coaching that go far beyond workouts and race plans.
We explore what happens when the real obstacle isn’t fitness, but confidence. When athletes are running 90+ miles per week but not fueling enough. When self-worth gets tangled up in race results. When comparison — amplified by social media — chips away at belief.
Jeff shares how he navigates these challenges as a coach, especially when the issue isn’t physical but emotional — or when it falls outside of his own expertise. We talk about the danger of the success-or-failure mindset, what it really means to “stay on the path,” and how to rebuild trust in yourself after a disappointing performance.
This episode is about caring for the whole runner — not just the one chasing a PR.
If you’ve ever felt like your biggest hurdle wasn’t the training plan but your own self-doubt, this conversation is for you.
Connect with Jeff:
Jeff's Past Episodes on Inspired Soles:
- Episode 256 on Marathon Pacing
- Episode 217 with Polly (Jeff’s Canadian sub-elite athlete)
Connect with Carolyn:
- Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin
You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.