Maddi LeBlanc: Saying Yes to Big Dreams, Even When the Path Isn’t Perfect

Sometimes the biggest opportunities come with the shortest notice, and if you wait for the “perfect” moment, the opportunity might pass you by entirely. I know this firsthand, I signed up for The Alabama 650 with just 8 weeks to prepare because I understood that the mental shift from “I’m not ready” to “I’m ready enough” can be the difference between breakthrough life changing experiences and lifelong regret. Each day is a gift and we are not promised tomorrow, as such we must not sleep on our dreams!

Maddi LeBlanc , one of Canada’s top SUP athletes and a multiple-time national champion joins me for a raw and refreshing conversation about trust, identity, and saying yes to the unexpected.

What I love about Maddi’s story is how it perfectly captures the mindset work I do with endurance athletes: that moment when logic says no but your heart says GO. Her last-minute opportunity to race the legendary Moloka’i 2 O’ahu (M2O) came just two weeks before race day, and it wasn’t part of any structured training plan, it was pure leap of faith and leaning in to the opportunity.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you were “ready” for something big whether it’s your first ultra, a challenging race, or any endurance goal that scares and excites you, this episode will shift how you think about readiness, preparation, and trusting your gut.

This conversation is as much about personal growth as it is about athletic performance. This one’s for anyone who’s ever let fear disguised as “logic” keep them from saying yes to something meaningful.

When Logic Says No, But Your Heart Says Go

What if the thing holding you back from your biggest breakthrough isn’t your fitness it’s your willingness to say yes before you feel 100% ready? One thing I learned over the years of endurance is that you will never truly feel 100% ready, because you could always do more. More training, more recovery, more mental prep.

Maddi had dreamed of racing M2O for years, but when the opportunity finally came, it looked nothing like she’d imagined. No perfect training block. No ideal timing. Just a chance that required her to trust her readiness over her plan.

We dive deep into the mindset shift that helped her say yes and how these same principles apply whether you’re tackling your first century ride, signing up for that intimidating trail race, or taking on any endurance challenge that feels bigger than you.

You Don’t Need Perfect Preparation to Be Ready Enough

One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation is this: you don’t need a perfect plan to be ready for extraordinary things.

How many times have you waited for the “right” time to sign up for that race, join that training group, or attempt that goal you’ve been dreaming about? Meanwhile, opportunities pass you by while you’re waiting to feel perfectly prepared.

As Maddi put it so simply: “I think the universe has a funny way of saying… you’re meant to have this experience because it wouldn’t have popped up for you otherwise.”

The athletes I work with who have the biggest breakthroughs aren’t the ones with flawless training logs. They’re the ones who’ve developed the mental skills to recognize when they’re ready enough and the courage to act on it.

What Makes the Difference: Mindset Tools That Actually Work

Let’s get into the heart of it: What actually makes the difference when you’re facing a challenge that feels bigger than your preparation?

Maddi broke it down beautifully, sharing how she leaned on three key things that I see working with athletes every day.

First, sport as emotional anchor. During a personally challenging time, paddling became her grounding practice, not just physical training, but mental and emotional stability. Whether you paddle, run, cycle, or swim, your sport can be your safe place when everything else feels uncertain.

Second, journaling and self-awareness. Maddi works with a mental performance coach and uses journaling not just for reflection, but as a tool for processing emotions and building confidence. This isn’t woo-woo stuff it’s practical mental training that helps you show up stronger.

And third, trusting your gut over your textbook plan. Sometimes the best races, the most meaningful experiences, and the biggest growth happen when you stop overthinking and start trusting what you know about yourself.

Your Sport Can Be Your Superpower (Even When Life Gets Hard)

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is how Maddi talks about paddling serving as her grounding practice during a difficult time in her life.

Your sport isn’t just about performance; it’s a tool for resilience, processing emotions, and staying connected to yourself when everything else feels chaotic.

Whether you’re dealing with work stress, relationship changes, or just the general overwhelm of life, your training can be medicine. But only if you approach it with the right mindset.

What If You’ve Been Waiting for Permission?

Here’s what I know after working with endurance athletes: most of the time, we’re not waiting for better fitness or perfect conditions. We’re waiting for permission, permission to believe we’re ready, permission for others to believe in us, permission to take up space, permission to want something big for ourselves.

Maddi’s story is a masterclass in giving yourself that permission. And if you’ve been sitting on an opportunity, a goal, or a dream because it doesn’t feel perfectly timed, this episode might just be the nudge you need.

Aloha Athletics Action Steps:

There’s no point in listening to a podcast or reading a book if you don’t take action with intention. Learning only creates change when it’s applied. These prompts and practices are here to help you absorb today’s message and live it out—on and off the water.

✨ P.S. We do this kind of reflection monthly in the free community Aloha Athletics Book Club. If you love diving deeper, come join us.

1. Journal Prompt: When have you said yes to something that didn’t seem logical, but felt right? What did you learn about yourself in that moment?
2. Reflect: Is there an opportunity you’ve been hesitant to accept because it doesn’t feel perfectly timed? What might change if you trusted your gut over your timeline?
3. Ground Yourself: Take one solo training session this week with no goal but to connect with your breath and emotions. Let your sport be medicine, not just movement.
4. Practice Presence: Try journaling post-workout to process how you feel mentally, not just physically. What came up during your training that you hadn’t expected?

🎙️ Tune in and tag us in your favorite take away or action step: @aloha.athletics @earthgrownlindsey @maddi3leblanc