“I’m most proud of the way I handle decisions and thoughts now, versus when I started with you. I’m more confident in my own decisions and being able to tell what’s right for me, not because that’s what everyone else is doing. I’m better able to make decisions for me now, which I’m pretty proud of.

I’m significantly better at catching my thoughts and making better decisions mid-race, mid some kind of life stress. My inner dialogue now is so much better - I can catch myself now, get rid of the junk thoughts, and focus on the value. 

When I came to you about getting over the fear of getting back on the trail for Superior 100 after a sprained ankle, the purpose was to improve my running, but it blew up into something more than I expected - the difference is noticeable in my running and in life. Life is full of stress, things happen, and I’m able to handle things better, in a more healthy way, than I used to.

A mental coach, I think, is priceless. I had doubts before - I was trying to figure what kind of coach I wanted. Do I want somebody to create a training plan for me, and you know, do that kind of work for me? And then when I realized there were people like you out there, it was like…I can’t do both…I can’t afford both…what do I do? 

Best decision I ever made because my entire life is better. Not just running - my entire life is so much better now that I’ve worked with you.

I’d hands-down recommend you to anybody - I’d say “absolutely do it!” I can’t think of a situation where it wouldn’t be beneficial. The benefit of working with you is far greater than I had imagined. It was surprising how much I was able to grow. 

I can’t thank you enough - you have changed my life.”

- Aron Johnson, finished her dream race, Superior 100, on the first try and keeps moving up to new challenges

“It never wavered the entire time. I knew I was going to do it. Even in the dark moments, I knew I going to finish. There was no wavering whatsoever in my conviction to finish.

I’ve come a long way. Before, with the mud, I would just stop and just stand there and have a moment. This time, I didn’t let myself have the moment. I was like, “You just have to keep going.” I wasn’t scared. I wasn’t afraid of anything. Even when the rain came the second time, I knew I could do it. I just had to keep adapting and being confident in the decisions I made. Every decision I made got me here.

You kept causing me to think about what my goal was, how to reach my goal, and have confidence in myself and my ability.

To someone thinking about getting coaching I would say, “You need to do it. You need as much support as you can get. It’s not that you’re less of a person or that you can’t do anything… It’s like a two-way mirror - I’m looking at myself in one way but then Susan sees you another way. You have to do it.”

It’s helped me a lot. I don’t think I would have gotten through it. I think I would have let that 100-mile race go and not even tried…again. I would never have tried again and again.”

I can’t thank you enough. It was just perfect.”

— Karin Hand, after two DNFs, completed her first 100-miler at muddy Burning River 100

“I’m proud of preparing myself physically and mentally for Voodoo Ultra 135. And emotionally, because I went through a lot with that, I embraced the rough times, but there’s nothing I would have changed.

I am so proud of the journey, starting with signing up. 

Several times, I was like “No way!“ So many reasons I started giving myself, “I don’t have a crew, I’m going to be by myself, I’m going to be the only black woman, it’s going to be too…”  I’d go to sleep and say, “Nah, I’m dropping out, I’m not going to do it, there’s no way I’m signing up.”

And I can’t even imagine that now because my life is enriched by it.

My experience/performance at Voodoo Ultra was so excellent, starting from the reason I wanted to do it, to the extreme stress - I was losing sleep - then starting our one on one sessions and feeling so much better about the race, to the planning, and then the actual race. 

When I came to you before the race I felt like this overwhelmed mess and you said, “Wait, slow down. Let’s talk about it.” And you put it in simple terms too. It’s not this overly complicated story that you have in your head - and you break it down into a few sentences.

You have this amazing ability to get the real truth out of your client, meaning that it’s not just, “I’m scared of running at night.” It’s, “Well, let’s talk through the crisis and pull out what is it you’re really feeling.” And you break it down in such a way that it’s like, “Wow, I didn’t think of it that way.”

It’s almost like, even with those fears, “You’ve got this, and here’s why. Let’s discuss the reasons you feel you don’t, and let’s tackle this. Let’s get it taken care of - one sentence at a time.”

You allow your client to see what they are really capable of. That’s the best way to sum it up.

To anyone thinking of coaching, I’d say, “Do it, of course! If you’re thinking about it, why are you thinking about it? You should absolutely sign up.”

— Aisha Jordan-Johnson, 2nd woman at Voodoo Ultra 135