Editor’s note: I’m thrilled to welcome the Mental Healthlete podcast to the Slow Guy on the Fast Ride podcast network. As this first episode with Melody Fairchild will show you, host Bill Garrels isn’t afraid to dig deeply into the mental health challenges and successes we all face as athletes. We’re bringing the Mental Healthlete podcast into the fold so athletes of all ages and stripes can find a community, and some guideposts for living healthy lives in sport.
Look for a new episode every other week right here on Slow Guy on the Fast Ride.
Welcome to the Mental Healthlete podcast. I’m Bill Garrels, and my guest this week is Melody Fairchild. If you’re into running, there is a good chance you’ve heard of Melody. She’s arguably the best high school distance runner in US history.
She was the first high school girl to break 10 minutes for two miles. She was the NCAA indoor 3000-meter champ while running at Oregon (go ducks!) and she’s a University of Oregon Hall of Famer – As she says, not because she was the best, but because she persisted. Love it.
She kept running after college, turning pro and winning medals in world championships. And for the last 11 years, she’s directed Boulder Mountain Warriors — a running club for kids.
I’ve known Melody for nearly a decade and she’s one of my favorite people. We had a great talk that I’m so happy to share with you in this episode.
I learned about ‘becoming’ from Melody Fairchild. If you’ve read the Velveteen Rabbit, you’ll already know the concept. I hadn’t but now I’ll never forget it. In short, it’s a process of self-acceptance.
Do you have a personal story that you’d like to share? Do you know of other athletes who are open to talking about their mental health and its relationship to sports? Send me a note at bill@mentalhealthlete.com.
And if you’re struggling right now, reach out to a loved one, training partner, coach, or doctor, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. You are not alone.
Be sure to check out the Slow Guy on the Fast Ride podcast too! Enjoy lots of great interviews with guests like Geoff Kabush, Phil Gaimon, Shayna Powless, Amy Charity, and many more.