Tough Girl Podcast Denise Mueller-Korenek - Goal Setting, Overcoming Performance Anxiety and becoming the fastest cyclist on earth!
Aug 4, 2021
43:36
In 2018, Denise Mueller-Korenek set the world record for paced bicycle land speed, traveling at an average of 183.932 MPH, becoming the fastest cyclist on earth. Denise smashed the previous record of 147.7 MPH set in 1995, and in doing so, became the first and only woman in history to hold the world record, which was first established in 1899. Denise also has multiple other athletic achievements to her name, including:
- US Women's Human Powered Bicycle Record holder (non motor paced) at 70.6mph (Sept 2019)
- 15 National Cycling Championships (Mt. Biking, Road & Velodrome)
- Ironman and Half Ironman finisher (2013)
- 2 x Jr. World Championship medalist in Mt. Biking in Italy (Downhill & Cross Country)
- Completed over 50 half marathons in 29 states + DC
- Completed over 9 marathons on 4 continents, including Antarctica (2013) & The Great Wall of China (2017)
- Being based in San Diego in California
- Her claim to fame
- Being an athlete her entire life
- Her passions and interests at a young age
- Coming from a high achieving family
- Getting her first bike
- Entering her first 100 mile charity race with her dad
- Riding from San Fransisco to San Diego
- Meeting her Cycling Coach John Howard
- Role models in the sport
- Her dreams of becoming a professional athlete
- Creating vision cards
- Dealing with performance pressure/anxiety
- 1991 - Going to the World Championships to Italy as a Junior
- Deciding to leave the sport
- Making the transition out of the sport and what happened next
- Meeting her husband and having children
- Running a family business
- Keeping healthy but not challenging herself physically
- Being inspired by the women at the gym
- Signing up for her first Marathon
- Building on each success
- Dealing with anxiety related to extreme competition
- Looking for the next challenge and next opportunity
- Being the first female to go after the land speed record on a bike
- Needing to become a National Champion
- Doing hypnotherapy
- What the land speed record is
- What's going through her head at that speed
- Why there is nothing apart from that moment
- Dealing with the dangers and managing the risks
- Having trust in her team
- Physical preparation and being in the shape possible to take on this challenge
- Setting a new goal - Running half marathons in every state of America
- Having a gratitude board
- Advice around setting goals