Tag: ramblings

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2020 Sucks! Am I right?

Face Punch

It’s been a long time since I blogged. I just haven’t been motivated to write. 2020 was all set to be another great year, and then bam! A sucker punch like no other. All of the races I was scheduled to run have been canceled, chasing my entry to Western States has been put on hold, all of the races that I am the race director for have been cancelled or modified, my college kids are home, the running store and the staff were pushed to the limit, the political scene is a mess, and we’ve had tons of civil unrest. I truly believe that we will navigate all of this, but jeez, that is one heck of a list! And I know that everyone is feeling it, and I feel for them. And as easy and cathartic as it would be to just sit here and whine, that’s just not me. Instead, I am going to try and use this time to right my running ship.

While I was training for Indiana Trail 100, I was dealing with knee tendonitis, and once the race was cancelled, I shut it down to heal. Then, when I started running again, I injured my back. Like I said, bam! 2020 has been a hoot. So, in the last three weeks, I believe that I have run about three times for a grand total of like 9 miles. Not the stuff of legends.

I really don’t consider myself injury prone, so this has been tough to handle. However, it forced me to really reflect on what I have been doing and more importantly, what I have not been doing, that might have aided in me becoming an injured piece of shit. Sorry for the curse, but that is what you are called if you are an injured ultra-runner. It’s a medical term, I believe… Anyway, after close examination of my training and talking to my PT, it was obvious that my cross training had become almost non-existent as I was stacking up the 50-mile weeks and my work demands had increased. That led to a weaker core and weaker hips. No Bueno.

Of course, I’d like to say that I had a good reason, but honestly, I just hate cross-training and would prefer to run, hike, or punch myself in the face, rather then do it. As my PT so gently pointed out, I am approaching my 50th birthday, and I am no longer a spring chicken. If I am going to abuse my body, I have to take better care of it. Ok.

Now we are getting to the heart of the matter. My plan for the rest of 2020 is to tear myself down and build myself back up again. Rebuild a better running body. I am going to follow the cross-training plan that has been put forward for me to improve my core, hip, and back strength, no excuses. While my diet is fairly clean, it definitely can be cleaner. I plan on increasing my fruits and vegetables and lowering my processed food intake. Despite being a vegetarian since January 1st, you can still eat too much processed food, and I feel I may have been doing that out of convenience.

You are probably asking where all of this is going, since many of the races out there are cancelled or absolutely full. Well, you don’t need an organized race to run 100 miles. My plan is to attempt my first unsupported 100 mile run sometime in the first half of December 2020. This is an accountability post. I’m putting this out to the world so that I am accountable. I’ll write update posts as my training progresses and then write a race report for the run afterwards. There are definitely mixed emotions here. I’m excited to get moving again, but I definitely am a little scared, as I have never attempted a solo 100 miler. Regardless, I feel that this is what I need to do to stay productive as a runner in 2020 and prepare for what I hope will be a big 2021.With all of my heart, I hope that you and your families are all healthy and happy, and that you are finding the silver lining in this crazy year. I’d love to know what you are doing to stay fit and ready for your goals beyond 2020, so please leave your comments. I am taking a break on social media (Facebook & Instagram), so Strava is probably the best way to keep up with my training. Best of luck for the rest of the year!

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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The Mindset of an Ultramarathon

My blog and social media feeds are filled with running and nutrition advice. While these are absolutely essential to the success of an ultra-runner, they are really the price of admission. You have to get these things correct, just to have a chance at successfully running an ultramarathon. Other aspects that need to be addressed are gear and preparation for the various types of weather and terrain you might face. At some point however, all of these things fade to the background and the race comes down to you and your thoughts. Do you have what it takes to keep moving forward despite the pain, exhaustion, and elements?

Before I jump into my thought process, let me qualify what I am about to say with this. If you are injured, you must stop and live to fight another day. There is always another race. There is a difference between pain and injury. So please, do not misconstrue my thoughts here as a greenlight to run injured. They are not. I digress…

So, here are various ways/thoughts that I use to keep moving despite being deep in the pain cave. Some are done prior to race day, and some are done out there in the abyss.

  1. Long runs are almost always non-negotiable. What do I mean by this? Well, you wake up and it’s bucketing down rain and you look at the forecast. Tomorrow looks sunny with a slight breeze! I’ll just switch today for a rest day and run tomorrow! Sound familiar? I try hard not to do this. I run in the rain, snow, sleet, dark… etc. You cannot control the weather on race day, so get out there and learn to embrace the suck.
  2. Appreciate the fact that you get to do this. As an example, I write with a pen on my left hand, a list of people that I know that have challenges in their life that they cannot put down. Cancer, diabetes, lupus, etc. This provides a firm understanding of why I do what I do, and when I feel like quitting, I look down at my hand and think about these people that I love, that cannot quit. Our suffering will stop when the race is over.
  3. Have confidence, not arrogance. People see the hat’s that I wear that say MACHINE, or BEAST, and make comments on how cool they are. I agree, they are cool, but they are also a reminder that I have put in the work, and I have earned the right to be out on that course, and I am a frickin’ MACHINE. I don’t stop. I don’t quit. I just keep cranking out the miles. It’s a mindset.
  4. Beware of the chair. I’ve seen it at every single ultramarathon that I have ever run. Life is sucking hard out there on the trail and suddenly you are in this warm, cozy tent. They have food. Not just food, but junk food! Soda, hot chocolate, and… CHAIR. You think, I’ll just sit a minute and eat this piece of pizza. Suddenly your tummy is full, and you start to nod off a little. You shake yourself awake and start asking yourself questions. Why am I doing this? What do I have to prove? 70 miles is pretty damn good! Word of advice here. Get into an aid station, do what you need to do, and get the hell out! I even start to think about my plan for the aid station about a mile before I get there, so I am ready to go. “I need refills on water and tailwind, and new batteries for my headlamp.” If I’m not changing my shoes, I don’t even sit down. That’s just me.
  5. When all else fails and I am actually contemplating quitting, I ask myself this question. “If I stop now, how will I feel about it in three hours after I have showered and put my feet up?” If the answer to this question is, I will be completely comfortable with that decision because I am injured or was going to miss a cut off, I drop. If the answer is that I will sit there and ponder how far along I would have been if I hadn’t quit, or I know that I could have kept going, there was no injury or time constraint, I keep moving. Even if it’s a crawl, I keep moving. I have seen people go from dead on their feet to running in a couple of minutes. You just have to muster the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Machine Hat
You Earned It

I hope that this small glimpse into my head helps you to achieve your goals. If you have any thoughts on how to keep moving despite the challenges of ultra-running, I’d love to hear them in the comments below!

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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Indiana Trail 100 Race Report (More Like Observations Really)

IT Night

Normally for these types of races, the race report is filled with struggles and moments of despair where a decision has to be made to keep going or not. Risk injury or chase glory. However, this race wasn’t like that for me at all. Everything went perfectly, including the weather. Yes, my left leg swelled and was extremely painful from about mile 70 on, but I had so much time left, that I was able to comfortably finish my second 100 miler under the cutoff. Success.

So, if this race report isn’t about the race, what is it about? It’s about the people, and my observations from the day. I would be remiss if I didn’t start with the Race Director, his staff, and all of the volunteers. They were amazing, and the event was absolutely top notch. Honestly, I cannot think of one thing that wasn’t done extremely well. I am so grateful for that and thank them from the bottom of my heart. But this isn’t about how well the event was run either. It’s about how the ultra-running community is an example of the best traits in human beings.

IT RD
Mike Pfefferkorn and His Team Put On a Great Race!

These events pull the best out of people, because they are vulnerable and struggling, and the crews and volunteers are there for the sole purpose to help the runners overcome their personal demons. Everywhere I looked, I saw strangers acting compassionately and selflessly, because they new that the runners needed it. Race, religion, political affiliation, etc. didn’t matter. No one asked questions about why. If someone saw that a runner was in need of help, they helped. And believe me, being one of the runners, I can tell you that all of that compassion and support made a huge difference. My success is as much their success, because I couldn’t have done it without them.

Joe Drove 3 Hours to Volunteer and Pace Me!

I know that I am not alone on this observation, as I saw a post on social media from the Allison Woods Halloween Hobble 100 miler, where a runner wrote “I thought about how easy life would be if we treated each other this way all of the time.” It’s just one sentence, but it really says it all. Life can be tough for a lot of reasons. Some are definitely self-inflicted, but others are not. Sometimes, bad things happen to good people. It’s unfortunate, but it also happens to be true. And, I am as a guilty as the next person here, we can all get a bit judgmental. We see someone who is suffering and make all sorts of assumptions about why they are in the situation they are in, without knowing their story or acknowledging our own story. We forget about the times that we needed help.

I Never Met Mark and Dan Before This Race, But I Couldn’t Have Done it Without Them!

Well, ultra-marathons have a way of reminding us of what it’s like to really suffer, and how a supportive hand can turn things around in a split second. Believe me, when you are suffering, and it’s dark and cold with no end in sight, you suddenly don’t care who’s hand it is. Once we melt away our differences and focus on a common goal, we are suddenly family. Bonds are created and lifelong friendships are made. Our differences no longer matter. Life becomes… easier.

If we could somehow transfer the way our community interacts on race day to the way our world interacts with each other every day, imagine how amazing life could be. I’m not putting my head in the sand, I understand that there are so many issues in the world that are not close to a resolution, but I can change me. I can own my circle of interactions. There is hope in my heart because I have seen it. Volunteer at an ultra-marathon, and I promise, you will see it too.

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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Doing Laundry

Laundry

Lately, I have had a lot of conversations around doing things that most people don’t find enjoyable. I mean who likes doing laundry? I’m not referring to finding satisfaction in getting it done and crossing it off your to do list either. I’m talking about finding joy in actually picking up the dirty clothes, washing them, drying them, folding them, and putting them away. It’s safe to say that the overwhelming majority, including myself, do not love, love, love doing laundry.

But I do it. I do it regularly, and when I do it, I do it until the job is done. The reason I do it regularly, is that I don’t want it to pile up. If I stay on top of it, and don’t let it become a massive chore, it’s not so bad, and it doesn’t take up too much of my time. I’m doing what I HAVE to do so that I can do what I WANT to do.

Laundry is a metaphor for a lot of things in our life. If we build it up to be this big, pain in the neck thing, and let it pile up, it becomes that big, pain in the neck thing. And then it takes up an entire day of our lives to just get it done, while we could have been doing other things that we love. Here’s the cross over.

As a runner, I look at cross training, stretching, icing, going to the physio, and other non-running activities as laundry. Honestly, I don’t really enjoy most of that stuff. Those are the things that I have to do, so that I can do what I want to do… run. If I don’t do them regularly, and let them “pile up”, it very often ends with me losing a lot of time running. Injuries occur and guess what. I end up spending a huge amount of time cross training, stretching, icing, and going to the physio anyway. Worst of all, I most likely am NOT RUNNING.

Just like laundry, I try and stay on top of all of this stuff. I get my core work, stretching, and icing in when I watch TV. It’s the easiest time for me to do it, because if I’m sitting still, I can be icing. If there are commercials, I can plank or do push-ups. If I’m tight, I can roll or stretch. This is what works for me. If I can watch a game daily (Stanley Cup Play-Offs anyone?), I can do all of this other stuff too. Think through your day and find what works best for you.

My experience is that I have had a pretty direct correlation to skipping a lot of the non-running activities, especially when my mileage is increasing and I’m tired or “don’t have time”, to the injuries that have side lined me the longest. So, just like the laundry, you may not like doing it, but you’ll love the results…Clean clothes! Errr; I mean no injuries… The buzzer on my dryer just went off, time to fold some clothes.

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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Leave Your Mark

Make Your Mark

Regardless of what I am doing, I try and find the value in it. Some things, admittedly, are easier than others. When I left the corporate world and started working at the running store, I imagined my days filled with talking about running, with runners, and providing them with all of the essentials that they needed to achieve their goals. And, that definitely is a part of what I do every day.

However, I also clean the bathroom, vacuum the carpet, take out the trash, wipe the windows, dust the shelves and merchandise, fold apparel, etc. Honestly, the list goes on and on. Some people think that leaving a high paying job to do all of that is absolutely crazy, but to me, it’s a dream come true. How, you may ask, do I see that as a dream come true? It’s all in my perspective and keeping the bigger picture in mind.

There is a story, I’m at a loss for the origins, about three bricklayers. It goes that a man comes across three bricklayers on a job. He asks the first what he is doing to which he replies bluntly, “I’m laying bricks.” He asks the second the same thing, and his reply is a little cheerier, “I’m building a wall.” When he asks the third, the man breaks in to a smile and says, “I’m building a cathedral.” Same job, very different perspectives.

It’s my belief that no matter where you are or what you are doing, you have the opportunity to help make someone’s day a little better. You don’t need to be a titled leader to lead, and you do not need to be in a position of power to make a huge impact. Yeah, I might be cleaning the bathroom before the store opens, but it’s part of the bigger process of helping people achieve some pretty massive goals, such as running a marathon.

In fact, two thirds of the people that I help, aren’t runners at all. They are simply in pain and looking for help that will literally improve the quality of their life. How amazing is that? Every day I have the opportunity to help someone live a better life simply by helping them with shoes, inserts, compression, etc. More than once, I have had a complete stranger hug me because they hadn’t been able to walk pain free for years, until the moment they came to see us! I didn’t get many hugs like that as an Operations Director.

Whether I’m helping an elite athlete compete at the highest levels, or helping a grandmother go on a long walk with her grandchild, I’m truly living my dream. And, if part of that dream includes a toilet brush and a squeegee, I’m ok with that. I’ve never been afraid of hard work and building cathedrals every day has its perks. My soul is full of joy. This is how I am leaving my mark…

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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You Gotta Own It

“Most problems in life are simple to solve. I didn’t say EASY, I said SIMPLE.” – Joe the Runner

When I was at my heaviest, my family and my doctor were telling me that I needed to change. My blood pressure was high, I lacked energy, and my legs almost always hurt. I knew that they were all right, but I wasn’t ready. We would have discussions around why I was so heavy and what had gotten me to this point. Was it genetics? Many of my family members are obese? Had my metabolism slowed down? Etc. This was always my reply. “I am fat because I eat too much, drink too much, and I don’t exercise.” That my friends, is owning it.

Now don’t get me wrong here. Owning it is NOT the same thing as doing something about it. But it is a step in the process. Deep down, I knew why I was obese, and I also knew I wasn’t ready to change it. But as long as I didn’t lie to myself, I also knew that when I was ready, I would make the changes I needed to, and get healthy. Sure enough, that’s what happened. For whatever reason, when I was ready, I got off my butt and started to make changes. I took to running. My alcohol consumption plummeted. I cleaned up my diet. And I lost weight as a result.

There are a lot of reasons why we don’t own our issues. However, for the overwhelming majority of us, it’s most likely that it’s just easier when our problems are someone else’s fault. Money issues. “It’s my boss’ fault, I don’t get paid enough.” Weight issues. “It’s genetics, it runs in my family.” And the list can go on and on. The great thing about it being someone else’s fault, is that you don’t have to do anything about it. Right? I mean, if there is nothing you can do to lose weight, why bother eating healthy and exercising? If your boss won’t give you a raise, why work hard?

Look what happens when you own your issue though. “I don’t make enough money because I don’t add enough value to the organization.” “I am overweight because I don’t eat healthy and exercise.” Now the onus is on you. You have to admit that you are not living the life you want because of the choices that you are making and everyday it remains that way, it is your own fault. Now, when you are ready, you will do something about it.

You’ll go to work and look for ways to add value and get rewarded. If your boss still doesn’t belly up, you’ll look for another job. Instead of a beer, you’ll drink water and get out there for a walk. You get the point. Once you’ve owned your issue and are ready, you’ll start to take action. Consistent actions lead to new habits, and new habits lead to results. Most problems in life are simple to solve. I didn’t say EASY, I said SIMPLE. We know when we don’t have money, we shouldn’t buy that new pair of shoes, but it’s hard to put off that gratification. SIMPLE solution, but HARD to do.

My suggestion is taking small steps. Identify something that you really would like to change, and really own it. Take ownership of the issue by looking at it as something that you can control. Do this over and over with this one issue, and eventually you will get to that point where you are ready to make changes. When you get to that point, you WILL take action. The only one who can change you, is you.

If I can help you on your journey in any way, please reach out to me.

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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Randene Rant: Haters!

Haters

“Dear haters, I have so much more for you to be mad at. Just be patient.” – Unknown

I haven’t done a rant in a while, because they always feel like they have a negative slant to them, and I’m just not a negative person. By no means am I perfect, but generally speaking, I am positive, surround myself with positive people, and try hard to send out positive vibes. However, lately I have had a few run ins with people who like to tear other people down.

I have quite a few friends that dream big, set big goals, and share them with the world. Me included. I’m talking about goals, where there is the very real chance of failure. Running 200 miles, qualifying for the Olympic trials, and qualifying for Western States 100 would all be real examples. Anyone brave enough to chase these types of goals and bold enough to share it, should be applauded. The world needs people like this so that they can see what is possible. They can follow along and share in the journey, finding inspiration and joy. The goal, most of the time, is not nearly as important as the journey and the people who are a part of that journey, either as participants or spectators.

So, why are there always people who look at these people and knock them down? You know the type, they say things like “I hope he/she does it, but I really don’t think they can.” “I’m not being negative, I’m a realist.” I’ll share my opinion on why these people do this. It’s easy. It’s easier to point out the difficulty and tear other people down, then to invest in them and their journey. It’s easier to point out the challenges facing others, than to look at what they are doing and realize that THEY may not be challenging themselves to grow. There is no risk in hating, it’s safe. If the hater is right and that person fails, they can say “I told you so.” And if the hater is wrong, no one will clap back at them.

Here’s the thing, you cannot control what other people will say or think, so why worry about it. Stay busy doing the work, surround yourself with positive people, and pay attention to the only opinion that matters; yours. There is this great quote by Wayne Dyer, “What other people think of me is none of my business.” Amen. Let that sink in a minute. Imagine how liberating it is to focus on your goals, do work, drink in the positive, and IGNORE the negative.

This is my canned answer to people who “share” their opinion of other people with me. “I hope they achieve their goal. It’s amazing that they are stretching themselves like that and being kind enough to share the journey. Regardless, I’ll be right there to congratulate them for chasing their dreams.” This ray of sunshine usually quiets them immediately. But, if they still haven’t gotten the message, there’s always “Let’s talk about you, what are your goals?”. THAT one always shuts them up…

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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Ultra-Running Math – The Exponentiality of the Suck

Suck Graph

(This post is meant to be fun, but still share some experience and tips. The math isn’t real, or is it?)

Suck – “Be very bad, disagreeable, or disgusting”

Embrace the suck. We hear that a lot in our sport. There’s the definition right out of Webster’s. And, as much as I love our sport, I can tell you, there is a ton of suck to embrace when you run ultra-distances. Blisters suck. Dehydration sucks. Exhaustion sucks. The list goes on and on. So, what do I mean by the exponentiality of the suck, and why is it important to grasp and overcome?

We already concluded that blisters and their ilk suck. Any of these calamities in and of their own right can spoil a run. So, what about when you are dealing with more than one? If you run a 5k, the probability of any one of these issues occurring is extremely low. However, as you increase the distance, the probability increases. Here comes the math, try and keep up… S = Suck, P = Probability, D = Distance, C = Calamity, and V = Severity. Here is our equation for level of suck:

D x P x Cx x V = S

Now, that equation is pretty linear EXCEPT for Cx. Let us now look at the long list of potential calamities:

  • Dehydration
  • Blisters
  • Chafing
  • Exhaustion
  • Cramping
  • Stomach Issues
  • Aches and Pains
  • Bee Stings
  • Weather (Rain, Heat, Cold…)
  • Terrain (Mud, Hills, Rocks, Roots…)
  • Cell Phone Died (No Selfies)
  • Cell Phone is Charged (Too Many Selfies)

The list is practically infinite.

Dealing with cramping sucks. Dealing with cramping and a bee sting really sucks. Dealing with cramping, a bee sting, and hills, takes the suck to a whole new level! All of that and 60 miles to go is a hell that most of us don’t want to think of! But, we must. The truth is, if you look at that equation, it can get worse. In fact, it can always get worse! I’m not saying that to scare you, I’m saying it to prepare you.

THAT is the importance of grasping this concept. It’s the preparation part. There are a couple of ways to use this information to prepare yourself for it. The first is the actual preparation for the race. Ensuring you have a nutrition plan and sticking to it, lubing up sufficiently and often, having a change of clothes, etc. All of these things reduce the probability and severity of the suck.

Then there is the mental preparation. If you understand that the suck is real, and that it will come, you can set the expectation and not be blind-sided by it. This is the “embracing” part. Welcome pain and exhaustion like old friends to the party. “Hey, I know you. I guess we’ll finish this thing together, arm in arm.” If Yogi Berra was an ultra-runner he would say “Ultra-running is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.” And that will make 110% sense at mile 87, trust me. Once the suck settles in, unless there is a legitimate medical reason to stop, the race is all in your head. Can you take one more step despite the pain?

Let’s end this on a positive note. Although the suck will come, and believe me, it will, it is not permanent. If you put one foot in front of the other, you will finish your race, you will get that medal or buckle, you will drink that beer, and you will get that hot shower that you will regret the second that the chafed areas go nuclear on you. This too shall pass, and you will have one epic story to tell. Consider the suck as the price of admission to becoming a badass. When you have achieved your goal, no one can take it away from you. If anyone argues with that logic, just show them the math…

For behind the scenes photos and comments on my training and personal life, follow me on Instagram: joe_the_runner  Strava: Joe Randene  YouTube: Joe Runner  Facebook: Joe Randene

Questions, comments, feedback? Please leave them in the comments section BELOW and we can have a discussion!

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Nobody Does It

Mocko Quote

“Everyone always says follow your dreams and your passion, but nobody does it.” – Chris Mocko

I’ve started to write this post several times and stopped. I’m scared. This is scary stuff. I’m 47, with two kids in college, so I have responsibilities. Look, I am definitely not a rash guy, or what you would call a risk taker, but I am not afraid to do some things differently than most people if I feel it is an opportunity. We have run the numbers several times, and they work. So, I retired early. Not the kind of sitting in a rocking chair, playing bridge, and napping all day retired. No. This is about taking a shot at living my dream life. And where does it start? Working part time in a running store.

I want to build my life around my passion of running and I want to use the platform to raise awareness and money for the issue of bullying. The goal isn’t to make a bunch of money, it’s to make enough, and be really, really happy every day. Between working at the store, coaching, and running my investments, I think we can make it work. And that will leave me with time to train and do the charitable work that I have been wanting to do.

If this sounds crazy, remember, this is MY dream. And as scared as I am, I have been on cloud nine since I handed in my notice and made it official. To be clear, this is not about my unhappiness with my old career. I love the company that I worked for and I will be forever grateful for the people that I worked with and the opportunities that they provided. This is a true case of “It’s me, not you.” I simply do not want to wake up one day, a 65-year-old man, and have regrets. I want to take my shot.

Amazingly, my wife has been my biggest supporter. Or maybe a better way to say it is “OF COURSE, my wife has been my biggest supporter.” She has never let me down, and I couldn’t do this without her. In fact, most of my friends have been overwhelmingly supportive. There have been a few comments made about leaving my “safe job to work at a running store?” But that’s ok. You either get it or you don’t. This is not a choice for everyone.

The rules that society has laid out are pretty clear. Go to college, get married, buy a house, have kids, work until your 63 or so, and then retire when you are probably in the twilight of your life. Well, I did most of that stuff, but I want a little twist at the end. I don’t just want to work, I want to live. I want to live my life in a way that makes a difference, doing what I love with the people I love.

So, what have I been up to in 2018?

  • Ran the Bloody Massacre Relay Marathon with my friends and family
  • Became the “Trail Writer” for Running Junction Magazine
  • Paced a woman to her first successful 100-mile race
  • Partnering with Operation Warm Wishes and running the #owwrunagainstbullying campaign to raise awareness against bullying on Instagram
  • Retired as an executive to work part time at a running store
  • Became an ambassador for Runners High Herbals JOETHERUNNER10 for a 10% discount
  • Ran the Northern Trails Marathon and finished 12th overall, 11th male, and 4th in my age group
  • Started to officially coach people to help them reach their dreams and running goals
  • Training hard for the Devil Dog Ultras 100 Mile Race in December

Where will this all lead? I don’t know… but I am happy, and I feel like I am off to a pretty good start.

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