Amy Mower is working on a book called 'DNF Rising from the Ashes,' which is a compilation of stories by endurance athletes about the lessons learned through races they didn't finish. The book aims to shed light on the often overlooked aspect of failure in the world of endurance sports. Amy discusses the challenges of selling a book about failure in a society that values success. She also shares her own experiences with DNFs and how they have shaped her perspective on growth and pushing one's limits. The conversation explores the fear of failure and the importance of stepping outside of one's comfort zone. Overall, the book aims to provide a platform for athletes to share their DNF stories and inspire others to embrace failure as a part of the journey. This conversation explores the topic of dealing with a Did Not Finish (DNF) in endurance races. Amy Mower shares her personal experiences and insights on how to use a DNF as a learning opportunity and motivation for future races. The conversation also touches on the challenges of multi-day races, the pressure on elite runners, and the impact of social media on athletes' mental well-being. Amy's book, 'DNF: Rising from the Ashes,' is discussed as a resource for further exploration of the topic.
Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Project Overview
01:02 The Importance of DNF Stories
04:30 The Difficulty of Selling a Book about Failure
06:48 Collecting Stories for the Book
07:53 The Response to the Call for Stories
09:19 The Lengthy Stories in the Book
11:27 The Taboo of DNFs and Fear of Failure
13:35 The Safety of Races You Think You Can Finish
19:17 The Influence of Others in Making Race Decisions
22:01 Different Mindsets: Completing vs Competing
23:07 Participating and Celebrating the Community
23:51 Should Everyone Experience a DNF?
24:41 Coming to Terms with a DNF
24:43 Dealing with a DNF
26:00 Learning from a DNF
27:17 Using a DNF as Motivation
28:48 Reflecting on a DNF
29:34 The Challenges of Multi-Day Races
31:36 Living in a Bubble during Multi-Day Races
33:35 DNF vs. Low Mileage in a Multi-Day Race
34:38 Different Meanings of Numbers in Multi-Day Events
35:18 Internal and External Motivations for the Fear of DNF
36:14 Analyzing the Fear of DNF
37:08 Pressure on Elite Runners
38:31 The Impact of Social Media on Elite Runners
40:38 The Pressure of Public Expectations
42:07 The Pressure on Elite Athletes
43:04 The Pressure of Social Media on Elite Athletes
44:14 Lower Threshold for Dropping Out for Elite Runners
45:36 The Drive to Finish Despite Potential Risks
46:48 Lessons Learned from Enduring Physical Challenges
47:17 Release of the Book 'DNF: Rising from the Ashes'
Amy's book is available now on Amazon
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