Being the Best is About the Journey to Your Goals—with Monika Sattler – EP99
As endurance athletes, we are good at goals. We know what it takes to prepare for a race, building a step-by-step plan to achieve a certain result. But what happens if you fall short? Do you see the experience as a failure? Or can you make the mindset shift to treat life like an adventure and truly enjoy the journey—whether or not the execution was perfect?
RAD Monika is a speaker, author and entrepreneur. She runs RAD Potential Coaching, a practice that focuses on authenticity and natural strengths. Monika combines the lessons learned from her unique experience as an IT management consultant and successful cyclist to empower her audience to reach their potential. She is also a multiple academic and athletic scholarship recipient, former Division I Volleyball player, and professional cyclist and adventure racer. Perhaps most notably, Monika set a world record in cycling, becoming the first female in history to complete the Vuelta a España.
Today, Monika joins us to share her experience as the first woman to ride the Vuelta a España, explaining how she trained for the event and what motivated her to take on the challenge. She discusses the women’s empowerment workshops she offers, sharing her top 5 strategies for gaining respect and excelling in any environment. Listen in for Monika’s insight on viewing life as an adventure and learn why life is about the journey—not perfect execution.
Topics Covered
[0:58] Monika’s fitness journey- Played college volleyball in US on scholarship
- Started adventure racing, excelled at cycling
- Rode every stage hours before male professionals
- 3,300 km ride, first woman in history to complete
- Inspire others to go after big challenges
- Media concerns re: interest in televised event
- Men faster while women excel in endurance
- No structured training (keep it fun)
- Ate local food, drank water during ride
- UCI in Philadelphia, Netherlands
- Prefers mental aspect of ultra-endurance races
- 330 km ride, 12K-meter climb in Andorra
- Goal to finish in 24 hours (fastest male 18 hours)
- Okay to fail, doubt and make mistakes
- See life as adventure to appreciate experience
- Experience in male-dominated fields (IT, cycling)
- Able to gain respect and be seen as equal
- Share lessons with women who want to excel
- Be real, authentic
- Focus on self (vs. comparison)
- Work hard to achieve best version of self
- Don’t make self inferior
- Stay true to morals
- Corporations interested in workplace equality
- Individuals aspire to excel in any environment
- All must be very fit
- Health very individual
- No coach, believes in listening to body
- 5 rides/week (with male pros on Saturday)
- 8 hours of sleep every night
- Leg day on Mondays
- Upper body on Wednesdays
- Prefers to create own challenges
- Compete against self
- Goals important to give sense of focus
- Individual journey MOST important
- Make life adventure (not about perfect execution)