When Molly Seidel crossed the finish line at the Tokyo Olympics to win bronze, she cemented her place in marathon history. But behind that moment of triumph were years of struggle: from eating disorders and injuries to rediscovering her passion for running on her own terms.
“I’m not sure I’d call it destiny,” Molly laughs, “but running has always been my happy place — my way of making sense of the world.”
In this episode of The Runna Podcast, host Ben sits down with Molly to explore the ups, downs, and mindset shifts that turned her from high school prodigy to Olympic medalist, and why she’s now turning her sights to trail ultramarathons.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Whether you’re chasing a new personal best or trying to reignite your love of running, Molly’s story offers lessons in perspective, patience, and mental resilience.
The growth mindset that turned early setbacks into strength
How she balances ambition with self-care after years of injury
Inside her Tokyo Olympic bronze medal race and what it taught her about belief
What she learned after dropping out of New York
Why she’s moving from marathons to trail ultrarunning
How to separate your passion from your profession and rediscover joy in the sport
🎧 Listen to the full episode for Molly’s reflections on failure, pressure, and finding freedom in running again.
Molly Seidel’s Early Strides in Running
Molly’s journey started simply as a ten-year-old trying to keep up with her dad on a jog through the Wisconsin woods.
“That was the first time I felt really good at something,” she recalls. “Running became my safe space.” By high school, that spark had become a fire.
She dominated local meets, won multiple state titles, and was eventually crowned national cross-country champion.
“That early confidence — what I now call childlike delusion — became the foundation of my fearless racing style,” she says.
Setbacks, Growth, and the Power of Coaching
When Molly joined Notre Dame, the transition was tough. The environment was demanding, the coaching negative, and her performances dipped. “Running became miserable. I nearly quit.”
Everything changed when a new coach, Matt Sparks, arrived. “He was the first to tell me that where you are now isn’t where you’ll be in six months,” she says. “He gave me a growth mindset, that belief that things could change.”
Within a year, Molly went from struggling at nationals to becoming a multiple NCAA champion, setting the foundation for her professional career.
When Passion Becomes a Profession
Turning pro brought new pressures. “When your passion becomes your job, it changes everything,” Molly explains. “It’s not always fun — you have to learn when to grind and when to protect your love for the sport.”
Her early professional years were marked by injuries and recovery from an eating disorder. But through patience and persistence, she rebuilt her strength and her sense of self.
“People overcomplicate success,” she says. “It’s not about talent — it’s about showing up when it sucks.”
Tokyo: The Race of a Lifetime
Few expected Molly to medal in Tokyo. She’d only raced one marathon before — the U.S. Trials, which she entered “on a whim.”
“The race was brutal,” she recalls. “It was so hot, and at halfway, I thought it was over. But I just kept moving forward.”
In the final mile, she realized she was in third place. “That’s when I let myself believe it,” she says. “It was pure joy — the best kind, because it was so unexpected.”
That bronze medal became both a defining moment and a lesson in humility. “It proved that even when you doubt yourself, you can still show up and do something extraordinary.”
Injury, Perspective, and the Art of Listening to Your Body
The years following Tokyo weren’t easy. Molly faced multiple injuries, including a fractured kneecap that nearly ended her career.
“I’ve learned the hard way that you can’t always push through pain,” she says.
“There’s good pain and bad pain, and knowing the difference can save your career.”
At New York 2025, Molly made the difficult call to drop out of the marathon at mile 18 rather than risk long-term damage.
“It sucked,” she admits. “But I was proud. A few years ago, I would’ve run through it and broken something. Now I know better.”
Running off the Beaten Track
Now, Molly is embracing a new chapter: training for the Black Canyon 100K trail race in Arizona.
“I think I could be really good at ultra,” she says with a grin. “It’s that same excitement I had before my first marathon; you don’t know what’s possible yet.”
Trail running, she says, gives her freedom: “It’s about adventure, not perfection. There’s no pressure to chase a time, just the joy of pushing limits again.”
The Lesson Every Runner Can Learn from Molly Seidel
Molly’s story is proof that greatness isn’t defined by medals but by mindset.
“You give everything you have,” she says. “You can’t expect anything out of it, but if you keep showing up, something good eventually comes.”
Whether you’re chasing your first marathon or building consistency, Molly’s approach of curiosity, courage, and consistency is a blueprint for running and for life.
Listen to the Full Conversation
Hear Molly Seidel’s full conversation with Ben and on The Runna Podcast.
She opens up about her Tokyo experience, injury comebacks, and why every runner should embrace imperfection.
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