Performance Psychologist: Why Your Brain Quits Before Your Body Does

Dr. Dana Lebo is a performance psychologist with over 30 years of clinical experience, a lifelong runner, and a clinical hypnosis expert (President-elect of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis).

In this episode of Post Run High, Kate sits down with Dana for a deep conversation about performance, resilience, and what happens when both the mind and body hit the wall.

Dana shares her firsthand experience of falling and breaking her arm at mile 12 of the New York City Marathon—and the mindset that helped her recover, return to racing, and keep moving forward. From elite marathon strategy to everyday mental health, this conversation explores how movement unlocks clarity, emotional regulation, and psychological breakthroughs.

You’ll hear Dana break down her MVP Method—Mindfulness, Visualization, and Positive Self-Coaching—and how these tools are used by elite athletes, CEOs, and high performers to push through physical limits, manage anxiety, and reframe setbacks.

This episode covers:
• What really happens mentally when runners “hit the wall”
• Why movement can be as powerful as traditional therapy
• How visualization actually works (and what people get wrong about it)
• The role of clinical hypnosis in performance and recovery
• Why aging doesn’t have to mean slowing down
• How to build mental resilience without relying on medication
• Why running—and moving—creates deeper human connection

Whether you’re an athlete, a high performer, or someone navigating a hard season of life, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to be perfect to keep going—you just have to keep moving.

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