Finding Confidence in Running and in Life with Peloton’s Ultrarunner Susie Chan

 

We met up with epic ultrarunner, Peloton Tread instructor & trainer (& and general force of nature) Susie Chan when she came to the island for the Guernsey Literary Festival to talk about her book ‘Trails and Tribulations: The Running Adventures of Susie Chan’.

From finding confidence through exercise to embracing ageing, Susie spoke candidly about how running changed her life and about the joy she finds in simply putting one foot in front of the other. Having started her running journey in her thirties, she now inspires thousands through her Peloton classes and her ultramarathon challenges showing that it’s never too late to chase a goal.

 

 

How would you describe your book to new readers?

It’s essentially a book about running, but I’d like to think it’s more about finding confidence through running. I hope people come away with a sense that they can try something they’ve always wanted to do, especially if they’re new to or returning to running. Each chapter covers a different stage of my life, usually involving a challenge or race.

It sounds like something huge to do all of these intense races but genuinely, I’m an average runner in terms of speed and performance. In a race, I’m in the middle. I just put myself in extraordinary situations, which makes it look like I’m doing extraordinary things. I’m not necessarily excellent at it. There are people who are much better than me. I’m not the fittest or the fastest, but I’m quite good at staying in the race, which is a great metaphor for life really. 

 

You started running to escape parts of your life, but found a whole new community.  You say it’s almost like a religion in the book. Do you ever wonder what might’ve happened if you hadn’t started?

I try not to think about what would happen if I hadn’t started running. I think I’d be a very different person. I’d probably still be in a similar line of work, and it wasn’t that I didn’t like my previous job, but in terms of how I view myself and my self confidence, I would definitely be a different person.

I used to be so crippled with self consciousness and so low in confidence. I wouldn’t even be able to say anything in a meeting. I would just be completely silent because I didn’t want to say the wrong thing or even speak to a small group of people. It terrified me, and running has enabled me to just be okay with speaking.

Now, if I’m speaking to a room full of people, in my mind I’m essentially just speaking to one person. People are hearing things individually, and running has definitely brought that confidence out of me.

 

 

In the book, you say ultrarunners are both the best and the worst. What do you mean?

Yes, it’s true! They’re the best because they’re so enabling and encouraging, which is also sometimes the worst, because you’ll just have run a 100 mile race and your friend is already suggesting the next one. It never really ends. With ultra runners, there's always another race, somebody that's done further, somebody that's done more.

You have to be quite careful to make a bit of space to acknowledge the things you have done and the things you’ve achieved. That’s important.

 

Totally. So, as someone who has set and smashed so many goals, what would you say your definition of success is?

It’s always changing - and I think that’s totally fine. It’s normal. Now that I’m 50, success can be just getting out the door for a slow 20 minute run. Yes some days it’s a 50 mile race, and other days it’s just managing to do a 5K. It’s whatever you can be on that day - and not just about running.

 

 

The idea of differing perceptions of time shows up a lot in your book. Like how you mentally reframe it during races. Has that mindset helped you in life too?

Definitely. It’s very strange, but other runners will understand this. If you’ve got to run a half marathon, your brain adjusts to that. You’re like, okay, I’m at mile 10, I’ve only got three to go. And if you’ve got to run a 5K, you’ll be like, okay, I’m at two miles, this is so hard, I’ve only got one mile to go. My brain somehow adjusts to the situation I’m in.

In day to day life, it’s helped me to break things down. Sometimes there’s a big work project or something quite nerve-wracking at work. At Peloton (where I teach live classes!) I break things down into their simplest form and focus on three key points. Like, I’m going to be talking for 30 minutes, but actually I’m going to talk about these three things, and that’s it. It really helps me break down things which can seem difficult into digestible chunks.

 

You stick to training programmes with real discipline. Where does that dedication come from?

I don’t know! It has to be a personality thing. If I say I’m going to do something, I will do it, and sometimes because of that I will avoid making that pact with myself. I won’t commit to doing 50 kettlebell swings a day or 100 miles in May unless I know I’ll actually do it. If I articulate it, I make it happen.

But yeah, I’m quite disciplined. I have a set routine and that really helps. It always goes slightly wrong when I go on holiday or have a break, but having that routine helps. And I like to get my training done in the morning, so it’s done for the day and off the list. I don’t want to think about it all day.

I also rope in a lot of friends. It’s so much easier to be accountable when you’ve said you’re going to meet your friend at 10 o’clock on a Saturday morning to run 10 miles. If I’m left to my own devices, I’ll probably make another cup of tea, look for a different pair of socks, start running later and then it might be shorter cos I have to go somewhere afterwards etc…

 

We loved how open you are in the book (and online) about menopause and ageing. What’s your perspective on that?

I’m actually proud of my age and of coming into running at 35. I mean, it isn’t old, but it’s a little later in life for sports and I absolutely embrace it. I’m proud of my age and what I can do with my body, and I don’t do the comparison thing. You know, that somebody else my age can run a lot faster than me. The saying 'comparison is the thief of joy' is so true. Even if you just do parkrun once a week, regardless of your age, you should be pleased with what you can do. I do a bit more yoga & strength training now. I’m definitely slower, and that’s okay. 

 

 

Tell us about life at Peloton and why you’ve described it as your dream job.

It is a dream job. It’s been a bit of a renaissance for me. In my late 40s, I wouldn’t have dressed like this if it weren’t for Peloton (Ed note: Susie was in a very stylish camel cropped jacket and long bubble skirt with a high plait and fun accessories - see here). It made me feel like I can wear that dress and wear the bright clothes, which I wouldn’t have done before. It’s helped me age with confidence, because you have to be confident in that job.

There’s a lot of training and it was very nerve-wracking. But again I come back to the one-to-one. It’s just me and whoever’s on the other side, like chatting to a friend. 

It’s been a real lease of life and what gives me the most joy is reconnecting with beginners and people at various stages of their run journey. I get messages from people all over the world saying “I just did my first 5K” and “You coached me to my first marathon” or “I’m 58 and I just signed up for my first race.” What a privilege it is to be part of that.

And of course, I get to run. I get to do the thing I love for work.

 

You’ve been running in Guernsey. What was your first impression?

It’s very hilly! I think if you’ve been running around the island and then you go run a marathon somewhere else, you‘ll find it easy.

 

Guernsey is full of runners and cyclists. Some even run the full 60km around the island. What’s your advice for stepping up to ultra distances?

Oh! Go for it! I mean, ultra running is a privilege. The races cost a lot of money, so let’s not pretend that isn’t a barrier. But if you can overcome that, it’s completely doable. To be honest, I couldn’t afford my first ultra. It put me into debt. But I have no regrets.

You can do it if you go for it. With Marathon des Sables for example, the timings are such that you could walk the whole thing and complete it. It’s tough. It’s longer. Running it makes it a bit quicker (and a bit tougher!) But it’s so much about experience over performance. You never regret doing something vivid and adventurous. You could stay at home, or you could make an unforgettable memory, right? I say just go for it. 

 

What’s your next goal?

I’m busy right now! I’m working on a very much 48 hour basis at the moment, so I don’t always know what I’m doing tomorrow! But I just want to keep running. As I’ve aged, it’s very much about experience over time or pace.

I’m coaching a good friend to do his first ultra and we’ll run it together, which I love. I’ve got a 100 miler later this year, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. Being menopausal is hard. You can wake up and feel terrible some days, so I don’t want to overcommit. But I will keep running. And I will most certainly stand at several more ultramarathons.

 

We have to end on Susie’s words to her LitFest audience: “You can do the thing you’re thinking about.” And after meeting Susie, we believe that too.

 

Susie’s book is out now everywhere books are sold (There are still a few at Lexicon, we think!) and you can catch her on both the Peloton app teaching Tread classes and on her Instagram.

Imagery via Susie Chan/Peloton.