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Home > Trail Runner Nation > EP 765: Aging as an Athlete - Quinn Brett on Redefining Life as an Athlete After Injury
Podcast: Trail Runner Nation
Episode:

EP 765: Aging as an Athlete - Quinn Brett on Redefining Life as an Athlete After Injury
Category: Sports & Recreation
Duration: 01:12:28
Publish Date: 2026-01-23 03:09:00
Description:

In this powerful episode, we sit down with our special co-host, Krissy Moehl, and with climber, endurance athlete, and paraplegic adventurer Quinn Brett for a conversation that stretches far beyond sport. We explore what happens when the body changes, identity is shaken, and resilience becomes a daily practice.

Quinn's story is one of dramatic transformation. Once a climber, guide, and search-and-rescue professional, her life changed forever after a catastrophic fall on El Capitan in 2017 that left her with a T11 ASIA A spinal cord injury. With honesty and clarity, Quinn explains what that diagnosis means, how it affects her body, and how it reshaped the way she sees herself and the world.

But this episode is not about loss. It's about endurance redefined.

Drawing on her background in psychology, yoga, and ultra-endurance sport, Quinn shares how the mindset she built as an athlete now fuels her recovery and her future. Endurance, she explains, is no longer measured in miles or summits, but in the daily choice to keep moving forward, mentally and emotionally.

The conversation weaves through the realities of aging, injury, and reinvention, highlighting the role of community, purpose, and curiosity in building a meaningful next chapter. Quinn's eyes are firmly on the horizon, with goals that include open-water swimming and even triathlons, proof that adventure doesn't end when life changes direction.

This episode is a reminder that while our bodies evolve and our paths shift, the spirit of an athlete, the drive to explore, and the courage to adapt can remain boundless.

Gold Nuggets

  • Aging and injury can redefine, not diminish, the athlete's journey

  • Understanding spinal cord injuries fosters empathy and support

  • Endurance is as much mental as it is physical

  • Community, mindset, and purpose are essential for long-term resilience

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