Ordinary Marathoner

It took two and a half years, but it finally caught me. I finally caught the Covid-bug. I was starting to think maybe I had some kind of natural immunity, or maybe I had it but without knowing… an asymptomatic case, that may have helped boost my immunity. My primary experience with Covid lasted 2-3 … Continue reading "Podcast #453 – Finally Got Covid" The post Podcast #453 – Finally Got Covid appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

What an incredible weekend in Lake Chisago, MN. This is exactly the kind of experience I was hoping to build when I started the Ordinary Marathoner Podcast. A cohesive and caring team with individual goals above and beyond anything they once thought possible. Lake Chisago was host to a great event. As a team, we … Continue reading "Podcast #452 – Team Ordinary Conquers the Lake Chisago Triathlon" The post Podcast #452 – Team Ordinary Conquers the Lake Chisago Triathlon appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

It's that time of year again! Ironman Lake Placid week! We have been traveling up to this serene vacation-area almost every year since 2017. I haven't done the race since 2019, but I have eyes on the 2023 version. That meant that this year's trip, along with being a spectator and volunteer, gave me an … Continue reading "Podcast #451 – Recon Mission: Ironman Lake Placid" The post Podcast #451 – Recon Mission: Ironman Lake Placid appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Running has been the bane of my triathlon existence lately. I just can't get off the snide – haven't embraced it as I once did. With lofty goals of 140.6 Miles in Lake Placid next year, it's time I confronted this issue head-on. How to go about doing so? Easy. Set a Medium-Term goal that … Continue reading "Podcast #450 – Running Is Truth" The post Podcast #450 – Running Is Truth appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Last year I completed IM Mussleman 70.3 despite being a bit unprepared, undertrained, and overweight. Heading up to Geneva, NY this year, I had 3 distinct goals. Improve on the swim, improve on the bike, improve on the run. I am happy to report that I improved on ALL THREE! It was a beautiful day … Continue reading "Podcast #449 – 2022 Ironman Musselman 70.3 Recap" The post Podcast #449 – 2022 Ironman Musselman 70.3 Recap appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Last week we talked about diet and the importance of not eating like a dick. This week, we bring a little more proof as to why. As I recorded last week's podcast, I speculated that my 2017 Ironman Lake Placid bike ride was faster than my 2019 bike. Unfortunately, I didn't have the numbers in … Continue reading "Podcast #448 – Less Weight = More Speed, Here are the Receipts" The post Podcast #448 – Less Weight = More Speed, Here are the Receipts appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

The dreaded yo-yo. That's the history of my weight gain and loss. Weight goes up, weight goes down. I feel like I have never reached my optimal weight in terms of performance. I start to lose, but the race always beats me to it and then I get content and gain it back. That is … Continue reading "Podcast #447 – My Best Diet Tip? Don't Eat Like a…" The post Podcast #447 – My Best Diet Tip? Don't Eat Like a… appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

This podcast was tougher for me to do than it looks. It took some self-reflection, some self-admission, and changing a long-held outlook I have dealt with for years. Parts of it may seem silly to others, even though it was important to me. It would be a fair assessment to call me naïve and possibly … Continue reading "Podcast #446 – What's My Why? Well, it's a Long Story." The post Podcast #446 – What's My Why? Well, it's a Long Story. appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Four days into my new training mindset. I was cruising – crushing workout after workout. Feeling great. Until… Waking up with an injured foot in WEEK ONE (of nearly 60 weeks to come) was something I didn't expect. It threw me for a bit of a loop, and led me to lose focus – especially … Continue reading "Podcast #445 – Don't Lose Focus… Even When Plans Get Bashed in the Face!" The post Podcast #445 – Don't Lose Focus… Even When Plans Get Bashed in the Face! appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

With Ironman Chattanooga 70.3 now in the rearview, it's time to look ahead. After much thought, I've decided it's time to think big again. As the years fly by, these big events tend to feel more and more challenging. There's just no better time than the present. This goal may be familiar… and it may … Continue reading "Podcast #444 – Setting A New Goal" The post Podcast #444 – Setting A New Goal appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Inspired by our recent trip to Chattanooga, where we met up with over a dozen Team Ordinaries and participated in the Ironman Chattanooga 70.3, the podcast returns! That's right! We're back! It's been about 5 months since our last podcast. It took an incredible weekend with incredible people to bring it back. Let's get started … Continue reading "Podcast #443 – We're Back With an Ironman Chattanooga 70.3 Recap!" The post Podcast #443 – We're Back With an Ironman Chattanooga 70.3 Recap! appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

If you remember our podcast with Noah Cass, you'll know of Kevin Coughlin. Kevin tagged along on the 145-mile run with Noah from Somers, CT to Lake George, NY. The excitement of that run lit a spark, and Kevin has been seeking bigger and better challenges ever since. He ran the 250 mile border of … Continue reading "Podcast #442 – Kevin Coughlin" The post Podcast #442 – Kevin Coughlin appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

When you build a non-profit, your first concern is always “How do I help people?” Scott Frasard had an idea. He developed our Actually Autistic Athletes program and began searching for a participant. Jonah Papovich is a 15 year old who loves art and music. Exercise was never a main focus, but his mother Maureen … Continue reading "Podcast #441 – Actually Autistic Athletes – Jonah and Maureen Papovich, Scott Frasard" The post Podcast #441 – Actually Autistic Athletes – Jonah and Maureen Papovich, Scott Frasard appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving! Special thank you to all who participated in this weekend's Ordinary Half Marathon – our informal fall race. We had more participants in this year's half than last year. We love when we see our community growing. Especially now that everything benefits the Ordinary Marathoner Foundation. While you … Continue reading "Podcast #440 – OMF Success, Ordinary Half, Giving Tuesday" The post Podcast #440 – OMF Success, Ordinary Half, Giving Tuesday appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Thank you for your patience as we work through a bit of a hiatus on the podcasting front. We have a bunch to catch up on including a number of big races that have taken place these past few weeks. We also discuss the incredible first year for the Ordinary Marathoner Foundation! This year we … Continue reading "Podcast #439 – Happy Thanksgiving" The post Podcast #439 – Happy Thanksgiving appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Greg Rajkovic is one of the more interesting characters I've come across while doing this podcast. He's based near Seattle, but our virtual paths crossed on a USA Triathlon Zwift ride. We invited him to our weekly trivia ride, and his quick answers and near-perfect attendance made him a fixture there. Greg was a quiet … Continue reading "Podcast #438 – Greg Rajkovic" The post Podcast #438 – Greg Rajkovic appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Noah Cass is a US Marine. When his friend Eddie Ryan was shot twice in the head leaving him paralyzed, Noah decided he wanted to help. Along with two friends, he decided to run from his home in Somers, CT, to Lake George, NY. The 145-mile journey would take more than two days. It was … Continue reading "Podcast #437 – Noah Cass, Tougher Than a Tank" The post Podcast #437 – Noah Cass, Tougher Than a Tank appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Meet the McCollum twins, Karla and Konnie. Both have been active members of the Ordinary Marathoner community for years and have run many long-distance races. In one of those races, Konnie suffered a heart attack… and still finished! Ever since then, the twins have always run together. And it has been their dream to qualify … Continue reading "Podcast #436 – Karla and Konnie McCollum" The post Podcast #436 – Karla and Konnie McCollum appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Around 10 years ago, Stu Weiner discovered the sport of running. Like many others who discover the sport, he climbed the distance ladder – culminating in some finishes at the Boston Marathon as a charity runner. Stu loves racing, and is approaching an incredible milestone – FIFTY half marathons! At his current pace, Stu thinks … Continue reading "Podcast #435 – Stu Weiner" The post Podcast #435 – Stu Weiner appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

After a little podcasting hiatus, we are back with a recap of the Ironman 70.3 Maine Relay event. Matt Schorer, Jacob Polzin and I went up to Old Orchard Beach last weekend for our first chance to participate in a relay-format half-Ironman event. All of us performed to the better side of our own expectations … Continue reading "Podcast #434 – IM Maine 70.3 Relay Recap" The post Podcast #434 – IM Maine 70.3 Relay Recap appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

It takes a lot of effort and planning for an event like Ironman Lake Placid to go off without a hitch. One often overlooked detail is the setup and maintenance of the aid stations. When my daughter Sam and I volunteered at Aid Station 6, we got a great look at it. Things need to … Continue reading "Podcast #433 – Rhiannon Berry, Volunteer Extraordinaire" The post Podcast #433 – Rhiannon Berry, Volunteer Extraordinaire appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Another poorly kept secret is out… In 2022, Team Ordinary will be making a splash in Chattanooga, TN! Ironman Chattanooga 70.3 is scheduled for May 22nd and many of us will be participating! We started looking at the 2022 race schedule a while ago and Chattanooga just stood out. As I made the rounds checking … Continue reading "Podcast #432 – Chattanooga Here We Come" The post Podcast #432 – Chattanooga Here We Come appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Ironman weekend in Lake Placid has been a very special time for me the past few years, Covid year excluded. The past three races, I've been there as a competitor. This time it would be as a spectator. The differences between the two were certainly notable. The lack of heightened anticipation, anxiety and responsibility paved … Continue reading "Podcast #431 – Ironman Lake Placid… as a Spectator" The post Podcast #431 – Ironman Lake Placid… as a Spectator appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Call it a badge of honor. Perhaps it's slightly unsanitary. But can you think of a cooler fashion accessory than the Ironman Wristband? I struggle to come up with one. At any Ironman-branded race, participants are likely to be given the bracelet (which allows you access to the transition area) at registration. You keep it … Continue reading "Podcast #430 – Cutting the Wristband, Making Changes" The post Podcast #430 – Cutting the Wristband, Making Changes appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Sometimes the best laid plans… GO EXACTLY THE WAY YOU PLAN THEM!!! That's what it took for me to get around 70.3 miles of Geneva, NY at the Ironman Musselman 70.3 . I didn't feel very enthusiastic about this race. I did the minimum to get ready for the swim. And though I had done … Continue reading "Podcast #429 – Ironman Musselman 70.3 Recap" The post Podcast #429 – Ironman Musselman 70.3 Recap appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

There are a lot of good things going on in the Ordinary Marathoner community. Our last podcast with Erin Shepherd and Mike Romans drew great reviews. Racing appears to be returning back to normal, and Team Ordinary members are out crushing them. Our nonprofit is off and running, pun intended, with many great things in … Continue reading "Podcast #428 – Doing Good Things, Though a Bit Undertrained" The post Podcast #428 – Doing Good Things, Though a Bit Undertrained appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Today we interview Erin Shepherd and Mike Romans, two Team Ordinary athletes who recently competed in their first Ironman 70.3. Ironman Des Moines 70.3 will go down in history as a challenging race. The weather on race morning posed difficult challenges, a delayed start and a shortened bike course. This didn't stop our athletes from … Continue reading "Podcast #427 – Erin Shepherd and Mike Romans, Ironman Des Moines 70.3 Recap" The post Podcast #427 – Erin Shepherd and Mike Romans, Ironman Des Moines 70.3 Recap appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Thank you to everyone who reached out with condolences after the passing of my dog, Jake. It meant a lot to me. We are still processing the grief, but a little visit from a moth made things a little easier. Do you believe? I'm still not sure, but some things are really strange. My trip … Continue reading "Podcast #426 – The Magic Moth, a Kidnapping, and Iowa Ain't Half Bad" The post Podcast #426 – The Magic Moth, a Kidnapping, and Iowa Ain't Half Bad appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Happy New Garmin Day! Perhaps only one step down from New Bike Day is New Garmin Day. After a 5 year love affair with my Garmin Forerunner 935XT, it was time to let it go. Two snapped bands and a scratched face and it was just time. An early Father's Day gift later and I've … Continue reading "Podcast #425 – New Garmin Day and Farewell to a Loyal Friend" The post Podcast #425 – New Garmin Day and Farewell to a Loyal Friend appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Is there anything Denny Krahe doesn't do? He's the host of the DizRuns podcast, closing in on 1,000 episodes! He's a multi-time marathoner, a running coach and an author. And now he's making his 4th appearance on the Ordinary Marathoner Podcast. If he wasn't already, this officially makes him “a regular.” We catch up on … Continue reading "Podcast #424 – “DizRuns” Denny Krahe" The post Podcast #424 – “DizRuns” Denny Krahe appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

A brief, unexpected hiatus from the podcast, but we're back. No apologies… we're making things better! We will be making some technology investments to shore up our Zwift livestream and hopefully make it more reliable . We couldn't do it without the Patrons' support on Patreon. Thank you! Our Thursday Night Trivia rides will be … Continue reading "Podcast #423 – We're Back, More 5AM Warriors" The post Podcast #423 – We're Back, More 5AM Warriors appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Sometimes you meet the most interesting people… Eric Gillman is a sales guru for Cutco Knives. In his spare time, he aids the poorest country in the hemisphere. As in… they built and maintain a hospital there. That qualifies as INCREDIBLE! I met Eric in a networking group for nonprofits thanks to the Ordinary Marathoner … Continue reading "Podcast #422 – Eric Gillman" The post Podcast #422 – Eric Gillman appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

“This is the greatest thing we’ve ever done,” Stefany told me as Saturday’s Run For the Fallen miles ticked by throughout the morning. She just might be right. Our annual 10-day running event, The Ordinary Marathon, was an extra-special occasion this year for more reasons than one. We took things to the next level this … Continue reading "Podcast #421 – Ordinary Marathon Recap" The post Podcast #421 – Ordinary Marathon Recap appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of something we’ve done. This year’s race has gone above and beyond everything we hoped… and there is so much left to come! Green Monday was a great success. Aside from many people out running in green, we saw some of you go the extra mile and … Continue reading "Podcast #420 – Making A Difference" The post Podcast #420 – Making A Difference appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

We are only three days in, and we are seeing so many amazing things! At least THREE of you have run full marathon distances in one day! Shannon Pierangeli ran her VERY FIRST MARATHON this past weekend. I’m honored that she would do that during our race. Just incredible! Not to be outdone, there were … Continue reading "Podcast #419 – Accomplishments Abound at the 4th Annual Ordinary Marathon" The post Podcast #419 – Accomplishments Abound at the 4th Annual Ordinary Marathon appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

We are hours away from the kickoff of the 2021 Ordinary Marathon. This is the FOURTH straight year of the Ordinary Marathon. Not even COVID could keep us down! We keep on keepin’ on, and we are making this race bigger and better. Along with the highest ever registration numbers, this race has tons of … Continue reading "Podcast #418 – Midnight Madness Starts TONIGHT!!!" The post Podcast #418 – Midnight Madness Starts TONIGHT!!! appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

It always seems like it’s a long way in the distance. Like the day will never get here. Then is sneaks up real fast! IT’S ORDINARY MARATHON WEEK!!! The Ordinary Marathon will start this Friday, May 7th and go until Sunday, May 16th. We will kick things off with the Midnight Madness Mile on Thursday … Continue reading "Podcast #417 – Ordinary Marathon Week is Here!!!" The post Podcast #417 – Ordinary Marathon Week is Here!!! appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Failure isn’t always a bad thing. I have a few DNF’s under my belt. I finished some races where I felt it wasn’t on my terms, but by sheer survival-instinct. In every case, I have used that motivation to push me forward. In every case, I have come back stronger and overcome the challenge that … Continue reading "Podcast #416 – Failure is Not an Option" The post Podcast #416 – Failure is Not an Option appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Adopting a warrior-mentality when it comes to getting up at 5am has been successful so far. 3-For-3 at answering the alarm and getting out of bed. The actual working out part? Hmm… not so successful. Two weak AM swims and an FTP Test that forced me into total capitulation before the halfway point. Bad times. … Continue reading "Podcast #415 – Warriors Battle Through Bad Workouts" The post Podcast #415 – Warriors Battle Through Bad Workouts appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

It’s not easy. It’s not fun. There’s nothing happy about an alarm ringing at 4:30. Nobody smiles. But there’s one thing you CAN do… You can get up. It’s been almost a constant analysis for me the past few years. Do I wake up early? I should. But I don’t wanna. It’s good for me. … Continue reading "Podcast #414 – 5am Warriors" The post Podcast #414 – 5am Warriors appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

It’s been a pretty busy few days. I find myself saying that a lot lately. Sometimes the work seems tedious. Doing the same thing over and over. Laying out tasks, then knocking them out. Staying at that base-level of thinking can drive you mad. Does it ever end? Is life just one small task at … Continue reading "Podcast #413 – Top-Down Thinking, The Big Picture" The post Podcast #413 – Top-Down Thinking, The Big Picture appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

We have lots to go over today. It doesn’t help that I missed Friday’s podcast! Thank you, New York City traffic. At least it’s good to see things getting back to normal. We hit a fundraising milestone this morning. Thank you for all who have donated to the Ordinary Marathoner Foundation or registered for the … Continue reading "Podcast #412 – The Best Awful Workout" The post Podcast #412 – The Best Awful Workout appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Not much to discuss today, so I’ll keep it short. We are very excited about the Ordinary Marathon this year. Especially for the Run For the Fallen. We have gotten a number of requests for time slots to run miles for your fallen loved ones. We are currently building the infrastructure, including policies and webpages, … Continue reading "Podcast #411 – A Short Update" The post Podcast #411 – A Short Update appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Another area where we think The Ordinary Marathoner Foundation will be able to make a difference is with military veterans. Today we have two outstanding military men, Jeff Beason and Ron Boos, joining us to discuss ways to do just that. Ron has been working directly with the foundation to find ways for us to … Continue reading "Podcast #410 – Jeff Beason and Ron Boos" The post Podcast #410 – Jeff Beason and Ron Boos appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Exciting times at the Ordinary Marathoner Foundation this week. Yesterday we launched our first program – Running For Autism. Today we’ll talk to Erin Shepherd, a member of our Advisory Board. She is spearheading our program to help Deaf and Hard of Hearing Athletes. Without her hearing devices, Erin would be able to hear. So, … Continue reading "Podcast #409 – Erin Shepherd – Helping Deaf and Hard of Hearing Athletes" The post Podcast #409 – Erin Shepherd – Helping Deaf and Hard of Hearing Athletes appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

We are just a little more than a month away from our annual virtual race, The Ordinary Marathon. Registration is picking up and we are implementing some great new ideas. One of which is to spend one day of the race to highlight each of the programs The Ordinary Marathoner Foundation expects to be rolling … Continue reading "Podcast #408 – The Ordinary Marathoner Foundation Autistic Athlete Assistance Program and The Ordinary Marathon" The post Podcast #408 – The Ordinary Marathoner Foundation Autistic Athlete Assistance Program and The Ordinary Marathon appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Welcome to Redemption Week. After a subpar week on many fronts, it’s time to stop feeling bad about it and move forward. But for some reason, this past week got me thinking about training and wondering… Does training have to be fun? Many of us exercise nearly every day. Surely not every day can be … Continue reading "Podcast #407 – Does Training Have to be Fun?" The post Podcast #407 – Does Training Have to be Fun? appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Bad week. Terrible week. Things not getting done, unforseen obstacles in the way. Runs not finished. Podcasts not released. It happens. Rarely, but it happens. To those of us who train regularly, you know the best laid plans don’t always unfold the way you’d like. But when that happens, it’s often times the way we … Continue reading "Podcast #406 – Four Steps To Emerging From a Bad Week" The post Podcast #406 – Four Steps To Emerging From a Bad Week appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

These announcements may not be new. I may have let the cat out of the bag multiple times. But they are now official, at least! Dates for the 4th Annual Ordinary Marathon have been set! Circle your calendars from May 7th – May 16th. Ten days of running to celebrate our sport. We truly believe … Continue reading "Podcast #405 – Ordinary Marathon Announcements and Birthday Weekend Recap" The post Podcast #405 – Ordinary Marathon Announcements and Birthday Weekend Recap appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

Yes, it’s my birthday today! Otherwise known as, that day of the year when you get a gazillion facebook messages and can’t possibly respond to all of them. I’m riding my recent wave of optimism and appreciating everyone who took the time to reach out today. Thank you. Today’s podcast we dutifully pay respect to … Continue reading "Podcast #404 – The Birthday Podcast" The post Podcast #404 – The Birthday Podcast appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.

A year into Covid and while some races are being held, others are not. Our local St. Pat’s 10k is postponed… again. Ironman Texas… postponed. As more and more people are vaccinated, we do see some in-person races happening. But some others are still taking the route of precaution. We’ve talked a lot about pessimism … Continue reading "Podcast #402 – Staying Optimistic Even as Other Races Get Canceled" The post Podcast #402 – Staying Optimistic Even as Other Races Get Canceled appeared first on Ordinary Marathoner.