Running and racing offer us so many lessons that can be applied outside of our athletic endeavors. Approaching running and life one day at a time and taking the long view is the ultimate path to success.
Life hacks may be all the rage, but success in running is best achieved with patience and a one-day-at-a-time mentality. This is also true for many of the more valuable things in life!
Training for a long distance effort like a marathon can’t be rushed. No matter how talented a runner you may be, you still need to build your mileage and workouts gradually to allow your body to acclimate to the workload. Rush the process, and you’ll probably wind up injured. But if you can seek out value in the daily challenges of training, you’ll likely be rewarded with a successful race.
No matter how well you prepare, you are always venturing into the unknown in the marathon. Over 26.2 miles, any number of things may be thrown your way that you’ll have to manage in order to reach the finish line. And if you want to try to run 3 marathons in 60 days? Then you better be prepared for any possible surprises!
This week’s guest on the podcast did not start running until 2018, but he quickly developed an intense love for the sport. His passion for running coincided with his newfound sobriety, and the parallels he discovered in the two helped him truly live the mantra one day at a time.
Tommie Runz on life lessons learned from the marathon
Tommie Runz has built an enormous following both on Instagram and through his podcast, the Run Eat Sleep Show. We happened to meet at Skratch Labs Cafe on Global Running Day in Boulder. After sharing some miles together, I got him on the podcast the very next day to tell his unique story, including his adventures running multiple marathons.
In his short running career Tommie has already run half of the World Marathon Majors and earned an impressive 2:46 PR on Boston’s challenging course this past April. Tommie continues to work with a number of running brands and represents those who are all too often an infrequent presence in the running community.
Tommie and I discuss how he got involved in running, and how he has accomplished so much in such a short window of time. Some of the topics we touch on include:
- How Tommie’s journey of running and sobriety coincided
- Why his (over)zealous start to running initially led to injury
- Learning patience from his running coach
- Why he loves the daunting unknowns of the marathon
- Tommie’s progression to running 3 marathons in 60 days
- Why he switched up his current training for shorter races
Tommie’s story is inspiring and his love for the sport is contagious. Enjoy!
Subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or Google Play
Links & Resources from the Show:
- Listen to Tommie’s podcast, the Run Eat Sleep Show
- Learn more about Tommie Runz
- Check out Tommie on Instagram
- Follow Tommie’s running on Strava
- Learn more about marathon myths and breakthroughs
Thank you DrinkLMNT!
A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best.
DrinkLMNT’s products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.
The watermelon flavor has become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.
There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out DrinkLMNT to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack.
Thank You AG1!
We’re also supported by AG1, the greens superfood mix. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens. It’s recommended by professional athletes and has over 7,000 positive reviews.
One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.
I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. They’ve made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable and rigorous with the 3rd party testing that they do.
For our listeners, they are offering a year’s worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop – the choice is yours. Check out AG1 to redeem your offer today.
