Dr. Cindra Kamphoff teaches how to go Beyond Grit

Cindra Kamphoff Loves running.

No, I mean, Cindra LOVES running!

So much so, that Cindra, a former Division 1 collegiate full scholarship track and field athlete at the University of Northern Iowa, who has run 15 marathons, took a trip to Houston in 2012 to watch the U.S. Olympic marathon trials.

To clarify, Cindra didn’t go to the Olympic games, she went to the trials to watch, which involved following athletes on foot and in her car, like a lot of other spectators. 

Usually people who watch marathons do so in support of a family member or friend, and they do so out of a sense of obligation to show up in person to yell words of encouragement that may or may not be heard by the runner they are supporting.

Dr. Cindra Kamphoff, Professor and director of the Sport and Exercise Psychology graduate program at Minnesota State University, Mankato, didn’t travel to watch the trials out of a sense of obligation. Cindra was there because running is her passion and because she loves to see people push themselves past their self-imposed limitations to attain peak performance.

“The purpose of my life is to live authentically in the now,” Cindra said. “Play BIG for myself and others, and live a life of service giving my whole self to the world.”

Cindra is recognized nationally for her work and contributions to the field of performance psychology, and as a high-performance coach, author and speaker, she brings a unique blend of infectious passion, energy and authenticity to her work with athletes, performers and business people.

With a P.H.D in Sport and Performance Psychology, Cindra served three years on the Executive Board of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and is the CEO of Mentally Strong Consulting, a business that provides mental training for individuals, teams and groups. Cindra also founded and directs the Center for Sport and Performance Psychology, and is the author of the groundbreaking book on gaining the ‘High Performance Mindset,’ “Beyond Grit.”

“When the worst things are happening around you, what do you do? When you suffer a deep, gut-wrenching loss or are forced to change direction, either at work or at home, how do you remain resilient and in control? Do you have the power to see problems as gifts?” Cindra asked. “Ask any gold medalist or top entrepreneur how they overcome the impossible, and they will tell you that it’s all in their approach. It’s all about mindset.”

Cindra is all about mindset too. One of her favorite sayings is, “You can’t take a day off when training the mind.”

To help make her content available to people beyond professional athletes, teams and businesses who pay for her insight, Cindra and I have launched the Beyond Grit Podcast, in conjunction with the National Sports Center, in Blaine, Minnesota.

“Mastering your mindset can mean the difference between being cut from or thriving on your team, losing your job or earning that bonus, playing it safe and remaining stagnant or taking a monster risk and having it pay off,” Cindra said. “Your relationships, career, health dreams and life’s purpose can flourish if you’re prepared to do the work.”

She would know. Cindra has never been one to shy away from hard work, because to Cindra, what she does fuels her passion, a passion to help others reach their peak mental performance. And clearly Cindra Kamphoff is in it for the long run.