Running For Distance

One of the most important things as Christians that we need to remember is to put God first. Just as Lauren Daigle sings in her song, "First", we need to bring our needs, our desires, our wants and our problems to God first before anyone else or before we do anything else. When we bring everything to Him first, then we are truly honoring Him as believers and avoiding the trap that is so easy to get into and that is being dependent on the world. The world does not provide the comfort and peace that comes with Christ when we cast our cares on Him and let Him have access to us, first. It's a sign of true humility and obedience when we follow what is stated in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Every year people by the scores set resolutions for the next year in hopes of losing weight, getting out of debt, spending more time with their kids, making better choices, etc and unfortunately many of those resolutions and desires fail and the individuals are frustrated and give up entirely. Fortunately many do not give up and many do achieve the resolutions they set out to achieve for the next year. In most cases those who are successful have a secret to their success and it's because they are persistent, they set a goal, they write it down, they share it with others for accountability and they don't quit no matter how hard the challenge is. This is what we need to do as believers each day of our lives and especially coming into a new year with new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of us waiting to be uncovered. We need to not only set New Year resolutions to be successful and healthy in our physical lives, but we also need to set resolutions and goals in our spiritual walk. That is the most important area of our lives that needs growth and development. It is crucial to have a Godly influence and focal point in our spiritual lives and allow it to spill over into our daily walk and lives. In Habbakuk 2:2-3 (Amplified Version) it states, "Then the Lord answered me and said, “Write the vision And engrave it plainly on [clay] tablets so that the one who reads it will run. “For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time. It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it, Because it will certainly come; it will not delay." We need to write down our visions and goals and make it big and bold so that we can see it and understand it when we are 'running'. We don't need to overcomplicate it or make it something we have to think a lot about. But we need to write them down and keep it close at hand and review it daily and share it with others and have them buy into your vision as well for accountability. If we put God at the forefront of our vision for the next year and the days we walk, we will most surely have success and not be frustrated the way one would be if they did not have vision with a Godly influence. We pray that 2022 is one full of vision, direction and favor for you as you step into a new season. We challenge you to state your vision and let God work in you and through you. Happy New Year!

It's crazy to think that Christmas is almost here. Literally, the most wonderful time of the year because of the one, true gift that we've been blessed with oh so many years ago. That blessed holy night, when Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave birth to the savior of the world. Isaiah 9:6 captures it best, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." We pray that the gift of God through His son Jesus would capture your attention and heart this Christmas season. May you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and happy New Year.

We absolutely love this time of year....as it is often stated, "It's the most wonderful time of the year" and we cannot disagree. In fact, Christmas, is the most wonderful time of the year because Jesus is the reason for the season and it's a joy to celebrate His birth and life. Join us this week as Melissa and Anthony touch on the Christmas story found in Luke chapter 2 and then share two of their favorite Christmas songs along with the history and background. We hope you will be blessed by this conversation and receive something out of it. 

Have you ever had questions or frustrations that you wanted to get off your chest and unload on God but where afraid it wasn't something we should do as Christians? It is perfectly fine to question God and many throughout the Bible, including David, Jonah and Job questioned God and were right in doing so. It comes down to the way you question and the intent behind it. Melissa and Anthony dig into why Christians should in fact question God and then how we should seek Him and grow closer to Him through the process. The word of God states in Proverbs 3:5 "trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding." He wants us to lean not on our own understanding, but rather seek His counsel and wisdom because our understanding is limited, but God's wisdom is infinite.    

Psalm 37:23 states, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way." Isn't that such an encouragement? God has laid out a path for us to walk even when we are given free will to do things that we choose. God grants us that freedom, but delights in us when we choose His will over ours. In this week's episode Melissa and Anthony talk about divine appointments and how God will put certain people in our paths or allows for encounters to happen where He can use us and be glorified. We just have to be ready, willing and able. God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. And how amazing it is when God allows an opportunity to arise and we have an opportunity to be used by Him to further the Kingdom.  We firmly believe that no encounter is by accident and that if we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, He will use us in a mighty way.  Join us in this conversation about divine appointments and walking in the destiny God has laid out before you. We pray that you will be encouraged and blessed.

As we approach Thanksgiving we enter a season of thanks and reflection. Many of us will immediately say and respond that we are thankful for our health, for our jobs, for our families and anything else that comes to mind. These are all wonderful things to think about and be thankful for. But Melissa and I would like to challenge you to prayerfully reflect this season and really ponder what we are thankful for and to think about those who are without so much during this time of year.  We talk about so many things we are thankful for during our podcast this week, but then we take it a little deeper and reflect on how we can take the things we are thankful for and share it with those who are less fortunate. To be true representatives and ambassadors of Christ. To share what we are thankful for with others and share the love of Christ during this season. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 it says, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." We hope you will be blessed and encouraged in this week's episode.

As it says in the word of God in Joshua 1:6-9, "Be strong and courageous...". We must be willing to obey God without hesitancy to step up to the waters' edge and attempt impossible things know that if God doesn't come through there is no 'Plan B'.  Melissa and I dig deep into how God stacks the odds against his followers and allows the opportunity to be glorified and seen as the main source. God makes the impossible, possible and is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We do not need to worry about the situation in front of us, but to trust God and trust in the process. We must be willing to take that leap and know that He is there to catch us. God will never fail us. Later on in Joshua 21:45 it firmly establishes this truth: God keeps his Word. Not one of God's good promises has ever failed, not before the time of Joshua not after, and not now. Listen in and be encouraged to know that even when the odds are stacked completely against us, that God will lead us to the waters' edge and beyond. Just as Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego walked through the fiery furnace with their unwavering faith and refused to comply to the king's demands, we can overcome the fires that rage in front of us each day.  

Much like David was faced with setback after setback in the Old Testament, we are reminded that when there is a set back that is an opportunity for God to make it a stepping stone for success. We all will face setbacks and challenges during our lives, but it's up to us to decide what we are going to do with it. Will we forget everything and run? or face everything and rise? With God, all things are possible. Allow Him to see you through the setback and lead you to the calling He has for you.    

This is our official podcast launch with the new format: The Sharpened Runner. The whole focus of this podcast is to share the love of Christ and to encourage and enlighten other runners who are like-minded. We have been called to unite runners to train their body, guard their heart and sharpen their mind and spirit. We are under constant bombardment in this crazy world and we need a place where we can sharpen one another like iron and rise up to the challenges we face. We know that hard work and perseverance is the path to success, but it is not always a clear or easy one to follow. Many times we are faced with tough and hard situations that we must traverse through to reach the destination. This is just part of life, but God has given us the tools to guide and motivate us during the toughest times. So whether you are not sure what your next step will be (Proverbs 16:3), if the journey is worth the reward (2 Timothy 4:7) or if you just need a reminder that God is always watching and has your back (1 Corinthians 10:31) take some time to listen and be encouraged and blessed. We pray you will receive something along the way and would love to hear from you.  

I have my friend Melissa Martinez on to share some insight she received after running the Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd last week. She really feels that we need to focus on the reasons we run and ultimately finishing the race we have begun. This associates with the physical races we sign up for and run, but is taken even deeper when it is compared to our spiritual race we are called to run and finishing what God has started in us. I encourage you to listen to our discussion and be blessed by the raw transparency of the discussion. While we really didn't have a set agenda for the discussion, it was meant to just flow and discuss what came up in the course of our chat.    Breaking News is announced at the end of the podcast that you will want to tune in for.

In this week's podcast I go to the vault and uncover something that has been locked away for a decade. I was part of a leadership conference in September 2011 in Shawnee, Oklahoma at my church, Living Word. It's amazing how even 10 years later the words I spoke resonate and speak to me today as I hope they will resonate and speak to you as well. After coming across this message I realized that I have been away from things that mean so much to me and that I haven't been embracing and walking in my calling. May we all recognize the areas where we struggle and rise up to the challenge. Be encouraged and blessed.

In this third installment of the men of faith series I sit down with my best friend and brother, Brandon Crites. Brandon and I met on social media almost 2 1/2 years ago and haven't looked back. We have had a great friendship and it just gets better every day. I enjoyed this episode with Brandon because even though we talk about some running, we also dig into Brandon's background and his faith and how important and critical it is for success in our daily lives. Brandon also joined me during season 1 on the podcast for episode 13, Faith, Family and Ultra Running,

In episode 2 of my "Men of Faith" series, I chat with my friend from Georgia, Jack Johnson. Jack and I met on Instagram in 2019 and we aired a podcast episode on the 4th of July in 2020 that can be heard here: Season 1: Deep South series: https://runningfordistance.podbean.com/e/jack-johnson-tiger-blood/ In today's episode Jack and I talk about a lot of different things ranging from overcoming adversity as a business owner, the importance of faith, being a godly example, making hard decisions but walking by faith and trusting the process and sharing love; the greatest commandment. I really think you will enjoy this discussion as Jack and I bring back some of our former discussion on ultra running and keeping a balance in our lives with Jesus at the front of it all. I would love it if you would share your thoughts and drop me a comment below and click the like button. If you haven't subscribed, I would really appreciate you following along in this adventure going forward.

In this 7 part series I will be visiting with several different men whom I have a lot of respect for and many who have been on the podcast previously and are successful runners and athletes. This series will touch on faith and the importance it has in their daily lives but also as athletes, fathers and husbands. We will touch many different areas dependent upon the flow of the conversation. In week 1 I visit with Mike Outler from Georgia. Mike is a former Army Airborne Ranger and pastor. He has been involved in sports his entire life and he shares his transformation from being a rough and tough Army Ranger to a pastor dealing with church growth and personal adversity to how faith has been important to him through his entire life. This episode will be a little different than the others in the series since i had not previously discussed Mike's background and wanted to capture that for the listeners. Keep an open mind and heart and I hope you will be encouraged by something in this episode.

#runningfordistance #gotheultramile #TimWillis In this week's episode I get to chat with ultra runner Tim Willis who resides in Miami, Florida. Tim is a Physical Therapy Assistant, running coach, ultra runner and recently published author of The Ultra Mile: The Joy, Freedom and Opportunities of Running that releases on May 10th on Amazon. We talk about his personal experiences pre-running with basketball and baseball and then eventually leading into running after high school where he embraced the 5K and wanted more and eventually wrestled with the marathon for several years before tackling 100 mile ultra marathons. In our discussion, which also is outlined in his book, we discuss his experiences in the Keys 100 where the wheels fell off at mile 25 and he endured 75 miles of pure hell. Our discussion journeys through mental toughness and grit and how to push the mind and body to its true potential. It was a fun conversation with Tim, who is truly passionate about what he does and has definitely found his why and it's evident in what he does and how he goes about getting things done. Sit back and enjoy this discussion with Tim Wills and also go out and snag his book on Amazon and help support an amazing individual.

In this week's episode I sit down with a local runner from the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, Deanna Whitham. She is a wife, stay-at-home-mother of a 2 1/2 year old and also an up and coming runner. She began as a soccer player through school and then developed into a half marathon runner and most recently completed her first marathon during COVID-19 last year in a virtual format and hopes to complete an in-person one this fall at the Route 66 in Tulsa. Deanna is an inspiration to so many as she relies on her faith in God and compares it to her walk in life and how she overcomes adversity. Deanna continues to grow in so many areas and will definitely be an encouragement for those who listen.

Melissa Martinez is my guest this week on the Running For Distance podcast. She comes from north central Missouri and has an amazing testimony behind her ability to run, the desire to become a race director, running 100 milers and sharing the gospel with others along the way. Melissa is bold and not ashamed. She compares ultra running and the perseverance behind it with our lives and how the gospel parallels with them both. Anyone who desires to be inspired needs to listen in to this weeks episode. Melissa truly shares the heart of Christ in this episode and it was a joy to be apart of something bigger.   You can check out the video version on the YouTube link below. https://youtu.be/VKppZ6IaO-o   Melissa's running ministry https://www.facebook.com/groups/FROGFITNESSGROUP  

#runningfordistance #run_free_and_strong #podcast In this week's episode I had the privilege to chat with fellow YouTuber, Reto, from Run Free and Strong. We've followed each other for a while and have had good dialogue back and forth in supporting one another and our own running journey. I enjoyed my discussion with Reto as we dive into his background as an ultra runner, but also his past running faster, shorter distances. Reto has what he calls a giant playground to go out and explore the Appalachian Trail on a regular basis. Many of his running adventures are captured on this beautiful trail. Reto shares how running is therapy for him to escape the daily grind, to help cope with so many things that cause a drain; including family and health issues. We discuss different methods that Reto uses to train and what he does besides running. He takes extra time to strength train and develop his body to prevent injuries. Reto has previously attempted a 100 miler in person and fell short in his initial quest, but followed up two months later to tackle it virtually. He is currently training for another 100 mile race, the 7 trails challenge in April. Reto is always looking for new adventures and exploring locations that are not known for ultra and trail running and would love to pursue an opportunity in Vietnam which could happen in 2022. Finally we talk a little wine, some food and coffee that both of us share a passion for. I hope that you will find this podcast/interview fun and engaging as we discuss running, life and everything in between.

In this week's episode I sit down with the current head coach and teacher from Sapulpa (OK) High School. We dig into a lot of coach Kip's philosophies of coaching and how he handles adversity and uses it to help train and coach the young men in the game of soccer, but also prepare them for the game of life. Coach believes in more than just winning and taking those experiences and capitalizing on them and growing from them. We also open the closet of coach Kip's past where he shares struggles and adversity and adds that even though he had championships and success everywhere he was, he was still missing something and was not happy until he went all in and changed direction and refocused his life and the priorities associated. This episode is one that will inspire you, challenge you and help you see that even when we are faced with hard obstacles and what seems like impossible situations that the sun will come up tomorrow.

I sit down and chat with Stu Humber from Lutterworth, England. Stu will begin his quest to tackle the 6633 ultra on March 1st. COVID-19 shut the race down in 2020 and forced them to go virtual this year. Stu will tackle the event pulling his sled for 380 miles around his hometown. He shares the challenges and obstacles he has faced leading up to this event and also shares his quest to log 10,000 miles from the beginning of the 6633 this year till the completion of the 2022 race in the Arctic next year. Stu will be writing his second book on the journey he will embark on and the people he will meet along the way. This was a really enjoyable chat and hope you will be inspired by Stu's story. You can follow along on his journey of the 6633 ultra and beyond on his Strava, Instagram and YouTube channel featuring his documentary. Strava  Instagram - 6633 to the 6633  6633 Ultra Documentary  

In this week's episode I sit down with Laura Kay Eriks from Illinois. This conversation was literally fresh off the completion of the Rocky Raccoon 100 on her birthday weekend and what a sweet gift it was to finish yet another 100 miler. Ultra marathons are nothing new for Laura. She has been running them for the last decade after her original attempt at running one with little training. She has run countless 50K and 50 milers and has completed well over 21 hundred mile ultras that include some of the following well known races: Heartland, Rocky Raccoon, Land Between The Lakes, Arkansas Traveler, Spirit of the Osage, Black Hills, Tunnel Hill, Hawk Hundred, Snow Drop, No Business, Hennepin Hundred and several others. Laura is not only an ultra runner, but is married to Michael who is an ultra runner and her son is an ultra runner at the age of 15. It is a family affair and they love it that way and it keeps the competition and training going year round in their home. Laura and Michael are also the race directors for their home grown race, the Arrowhead Endurance Run held in October every year in Johnston City, Illinois. When Laura isn't running or helping her family out in their training/races, she spends her time as a Nuclear Medicine Technician and an ambassador for Orange Mud and apart of the Ornery Mule Racing Team. You can also check out the video version of this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL-EoH4PvrE  

In Episode 3 of season 3 I sit down and visit with none other than Anthony Bailey. He is a fellow YouTuber who I have become acquainted with and have enjoyed a lot of discussion back and forth on our channels. Anthony has a remarkable story to share in overcoming Domestic Child Abuse, alcohol and drug abuse and also battling his own struggles over the years. It was a lot of fun chatting with Anthony and learning more about his passions of running, sharing his story and also his non-profit organization he has started with his wife, Jen. Run For Grace is a non-profit who's mission is to provide aide to those in need, the less fortunate, and to assist in the prevention of homelessness while promoting an active lifestyle with an emphasis on running. Not to mention he plans on completing the Goggins 4x4x48 and a 50K in hopes to raise money for different organizations. Check out Anthony's channel "Running For My Best Life" https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLRt...​ Anthony and Jen Bailey's non-profit - Run For Grace YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-lH...​ http://www.runforgrace.org/

In this week's episode I recap a lot of what took place in 2020 for me and how things transpired and ultimately changed from Scarecrow Runner to Running for Distance. I share the journey of the first year of this podcast and also my adventure into YouTubing and where it has lead me and then also jump into what is currently happening with me in my training and upcoming races. I hope these episodes coming down the trail soon will inspire and motivate you to be your best and do hard things. Remember regardless of where you are at in your training or in life you are always running for and going the distance. Have a blessed week!

Hello 2021 and welcome to the new format and new look. As many of you may or may not know, Running For Distance is the new look, name and brand for this podcast going forward. I felt like it is a good touch for what I want to cover in these weekly podcasts. Whether we are running 1 mile, 50 miles or 100 miles, we are always running for some kind of distance and that is also true in life. In this first episode of 2021, I sit down with my former roommate and collegiate teammate, Wade Hoss. Wade and I ran college cross country together at Allen County Community College and have stayed in touch ever since. We discuss Wade's early passion of running and how life and the fire that once drove his competitiveness died out and he lost the desire to run. We discuss the journey he has made over the years and the spark that has reignited his desire to begin running again. Not only do we cover running, but we also touch on some Chiefs football, life and philosophy, Wade's hobby of cooking and hunting and a little of everything in between. I think you will find this episode fun and inspiring.  

In the final episode for 2020, I sit down with Lauren Beihoffer of Tennessee. I became friends with Lauren on social media through Instagram, Lauren_Runswild and later on Facebook and have followed her running adventures as well as her own podcast she hosts "Run Wild with Lauren and Bud". In this episode we chat about Lauren's beginning roots of being a non-runner and the natural progression of her embracing her first 50K and eventually leading into running 100 mile ultra-marathons. When Lauren, who has a degree in bio-chemistry, isn't teaching, she is a full-time wife, mom of special needs children and ultra-runner extraordinaire. Her true specialty is in trail running and mountain hiking. That is definitely her go-to now as she begins to embrace lots of 'vert' for her next test looming in August 2021, the Bigfoot 200. I had a great time just talking running and life with her and loved the banter back and forth about keeping a balance and finding our true passion in running. We can't focus on what others are doing, but rather focus on who we are and the moment we are in. I hope you will be inspired by this down-to-earth and awesome running conversation. May you have a blessed and prosperous 2021 as the new year approaches.

#mentalmindset #positivity #livestream In today's episode of the Scarecrow Runner podcast, I visit with friend, coach and certified running and mindset coach, Cliff Pittman. We dive deep into how to overcome with mental mindset. Cliff was a previous guest in Season 1 Episode 5 and am excited to have him back today. Included in this episode: Process Oriented vs Outcome Oriented What we can/cannot control Embracing the process Identifying negativity in athletes Tackling the mindset and helping identify blind spots Building confidence - belief in ourselves Identifying Negative Thoughts Identifying Emotions Finding Your Why Writing down your goals and taking action Examples of overcoming adversity Resources for mental mindset

I had the opportunity to sit down and visit with Kara and Jen a few weeks ago on the back-end after my recent 50 miler to chat with them about their own 50 mile adventure. What started as a challenge ended up being a massive accomplishment for the two of them. Their journey lead them on a discovery to find their true heroes and inspires an entire community to help them get across the finish line.   Their friend even agreed to film the entire training process from start to finish in a documentary called Road To 50 miles. It was an OFFICIAL SELECTION at the LA Femme International Film Festival this year.   Anyone wanting to go out and accomplish something they have never done before should listen to this episode and allow it to inspire you to conquer goals and dreams.   Road To 50 miles- official documentary on VIMEO  

This week I sit down and had a live conversation on YouTube with my friend and fellow runner Chris Furlong all the way from Melbourne Australia. Chris currently is very active on his YouTube channel, CLFurlong where he documents his running journey's and training and interacts with people all over the world.   In this episode we cover a lot of information in a short amount of time. His background Running to lose weight Mental clarity  Training  Enjoyment   Overcoming the biggest obstacles How it inspires Dealing with injuries while training I encourage you to take a listen and be encouraged.

This week I feature Nick Fiedler (Feed-ler) currently living out west in Arizona, but is originally from Alabama. Nick started off as someone who knew nothing about running but started with just a normal pair of shoes and ran a mile as hard as he could and would repeat this on a regular basis through his first year of running.  In our discussion you will find that Nick is a creature of habit and steps up to the next challenge and repeats. Eventually his running led him to running a half marathon and then a marathon every week and finally a full Iron Man with his sister and didn't even have a bicycle when he started his training. Nick is now currently training to get a BQ in his next marathon. The challenge is finding the right opportunity in the midst of a pandemic. I think you will be inspired by Nick's running testimony as he has gone from not being an athlete to being a very inspiring runner. He can be found on Instagram at NickGoesWest I hope you enjoy this discussion of true running progression but also achieving any goal you put in front of you and not letting things detour you.

This week I got to literally sit down with my friend Brian Hoover in person and then virtually after a recording snafu on my laptop. None-the-less we powered through it like so many of us have during 2020 and were able to capture a great episode. This is the second podcast I have recorded with Brian. You will recall back in Season 1 - Episode 7 I had Brian on with me as discussed his adventures hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and we spoke literally the night before his next adventure along the PCT until the morning of when COVID-19 destroyed the plans. Brian is never one to shy away from challenges and always has a Plan B. When the second act of PCT was shut down, Brian quickly put the gears in motion for his next big adventure that he had always wanted to do, kayak down the mighty Mississippi River. Brian shares many of the adventures he and his friends face during their trip, the kind of food they would eat, the imminent danger they faced and the big fish stories that Brian has up his sleeves. You will have to listen in on this fun chat with Brian as we take a trip down the mighty Mississipp'  

In this week's episode of The Scarecrow Runner podcast I visit with Brodie Sharpe. Brodie lives in Melbourne, Australia where he is a physiotherapist, a published author with several articles and also the host of the Run Smarter Podcast. Brodie has a passion to help educate others in injury prevention, clear up misconceptions around running and ultimately help us to run smarter. In this episode we discuss several common injuries that athletes and runners experience and that he treats regularly and we dive into some misconceptions behind running and training. The main areas of our discussion into injury prevention and debunking the misconceptions were: Foam Rolling and is it really helpful and the IT band Are there benefits to stretching? Recognizing Adaptation - Doing too much too soon Plantar Fasciitis - what causes it and how to overcome it Causes of pain in the knee and knee cap area    You can find Brodie in the following places: Website: Run Smarter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runsmarterseries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brodie.sharpe His podcast: Run Smarter also can be found streaming on any podcast app

I had the distinct honor to sit down and visit with ultra runner and founder of MS Run the US, Ashley Schneider. Ashley founded MS Run the US in 2009, a 501(c)3 charitable organization to raise awareness and raise funds to further multiple sclerosis (MS) research and help those living with disability due to their MS symptoms. Ashley was inspired by her mother, Jill Kumlien, who lived with MS for 36 years before passing in 2017 due to complications from the disease.  Ashley talks about her journey running 3,288 miles across the United States with only a motor home and one crew member, her Australian boyfriend. She ran nearly a marathon a day, six days a week, for six months, while fundraising for multiple sclerosis. She was the 16th female ever to run across the United States. She ran through 11 pair of shoes, burned over 270,000 calories and sustained only two blisters during the entire journey.  Aside from talking about her journey across the United States and raising awareness for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), we also chat about her background as a runner, her love for distance running, local food, international travel, her previous dream job of teaching rock climbing and surfing for a cruise ship and her life as a wife and mom in Wisconsin. This was a fun conversation even on the cusp of such a deep and challenging topic. I hope you will be able to sit back and be inspired much like Ashley was when she allowed a dream become a reality.  

This week was a special treat as I got to chat with The Ultra Running Guys, Jeff Winchester and Jeremy Reynolds from North Carolina. These two awesome guys have been building a great ultra running presence up in their town of Leeland, North Carolina. Both guys started out as so many of us have as non runners and then eased their way into running in the OCR realm of Spartan racing and have sense embraced ultra running and the passion of long distance running. I enjoyed getting the opportunity to hear how both of them started running, how they came to know each other and bond as The Ultra Running Guys and since the recording of this episode they have launched their own podcast.  We also get to dive into their most recent event that both of them endured, The Halloween Hobble where Jeff took on the 100 mile event and Jeremy tackled the 24 hour event. Lo and behold a hurricane was brewing off the coast and drenched them with rain and eventually created crazy carnage on the race course. You'll have to listen in as both guys share their experiences.  

In this week's episode of The Scarecrow Runner podcast I had the privilege to sit down and chat with Brian Rosser who also manages Rosser Runs here on YouTube. It was a joy to just banter back and forth about ultra running and the sense of adventure. Check out his YouTube at Rosser Runs. Brian shares a lot about his background as we dig into his past where he enlisted in the service as a combat life saver after the events of 9/11, his battle with alcoholism and how he chose to dig himself out of very dark places and embraced running which then led to ultra running. That is something that saved his life and challenges him daily. Brian has learned to find the beauty and adventure in running and no longer is a slave to the watch and logging specific time and distance, but rather focuses on the beauty in the moment. As he mentions, mileage is just a number and he doesn't get wrapped up in those details any longer.

This week I sit down with Karen Sparks. Karen comes from the great state of Texas and brings with her a story of triumph over tragedy, but as Karen would describe as the 11 year burn. Karen was married for 11 years, had the fairy tale wedding and so many hopes and dreams until it all was taken from her in what she describes as the 11 year burn. Karen shares the heart wrenching story of losing her precious son Grant and daughter Reagan in a tragic story that will move you to tears, but listen to the heart of one whom God has begun to restore as Karen has found hope through Him and through the outlet of ultra running. She truly is turning tragedy into triumph and is an overcomer in so many ways.

In this week's episode I have the opportunity to visit with someone who I have a lot of respect for and have grown to become friends with over the past few years. JP Brose is the kind of man you want your kids to be around. He is a mentor and a leader. He has coached kids of all ages and taught them the value of sportsmanship, the skills needed for success in their sport, but most of all he has taught them about themselves and how to be someone in life. JP has always been active in some form of sports and that continues today. He had the making of a future triathlete as a young boy from swimming, biking and running he just hadn't seen the big picture yet. JP has evolved from being a great athlete to coaching and developing great athletes to developing and mentoring souls as a pastor.  This podcast is one that will touch every avenue of athletics, faith and the challenges a debilitating disease like M.S. has on a family, but ultimately how a family choses faith over fear and choses to live life to the fullest.  

Today I talk with Lexi Haefer currently living in Las Vegas, Nevada but originally from the small town of Flippin, Arkansas, known as the home of Ranger boats. Isn't that flippin' awesome? She is a High School chemistry teacher who also teaches honor's students and is also a part time retail associate. She is a 50 state half marathon club member and has run 44 half marathons (26 states and 2 continents). She completed the midnight sun run in Rakovic, Iceland and has even conquered a full marathon. She is hoping to get as many miles in this year and run some more races without quarantine keeping her from reaching these goals. Started running in high school, played volleyball and considered herself one of those 'band nerds'. She saw an advertisement for the Zion Half Marathon after she moved out to Vegas and thought it sounded cool and started her training and the rest they say is history. She went out and completed that race and hit her goal and was hooked from that point on. And to say she was hooked may be an understatement because she actually skipped her college graduation to run in a race. I think you will find this podcast is definitely as good as Au. And that's gold for those who don't know what the symbol is on the periodic chart.  

This week I had the distinct privilege to chat with Tanner Kern.  Tanner is a former D1 offensive lineman at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania. Football had been in his blood his entire life; including his dad who played at the University of Connecticut. So when Tanner suffered an injury and was told he couldn't play football anymore it took him to a very dark place. He gained a lot of weight and peaked out at 340 pounds and 43% body fat. He began to eat better and focused on getting health. He had a goal to lose 100 pounds and ultimately lost 140 pounds. Tanner was far from being able to run initially but kept working at it. He has gone from running his first 5K in 2019 to now training for ultra marathons.  Running helped rescue him from the dark place and changed his life. In July 2020 Tanner and his cousin teamed up with the sponsorship of Foodshare and ran from the US/Canada border to Hartford, Connecticut. A total of 260 miles in a 7 day span (60 hours of being on their feet) to raise awareness and fight hunger. They raised a grand total of $13K for this amazing non-profit and gained so much more in their experience. As Tanner shares in this podcast, it's a process. You have to start somewhere and put in the work. Hard work will result in a great payoff. Tanner is an amazing example of this and his hard work continues to pay off every day. Check out Tanner on his podcast at tannerkernpodcast and also his blog "It's a process". You can find more great information at tannerkern.com

This week's episode features RRCA running coach and former DJ at Z104.5 the Edge here in Tulsa, Cindy Knull. This episode was a real treat for me as we dive into Cindy's passion for running at a young age and then take a stroll down memory lane of year's gone by when talking about Cindy's past as a radio DJ for a rock station here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I spent so many hours as a youth pretending to be a DJ and know many of you probably did the same thing. Cindy has run more than 20 half marathons and has completed 7 marathons and 2 50K races, which makes her an official ultra runner and we even had some good discussion on what it would take for Cindy to take the next steps to complete a 50 miler. Cindy has taken her running passion to the next level as she recently completed her RRCA certification and desires to help other runners in their personal running journey. This is a very special thing to obtain and I know that Cindy is very excited for this next season in her life.    This episode is sure to motivate and inspire you as you take on your next challenge that may seem to big. Cindy imparts a lot of wisdom for runners and shares that it is important to just enjoy the journey and run the mile you are in and not worry about what is coming up next. It is so important to keep focus on the here and now instead of worrying about the past or even the future ahead. Cindy shares a valuable lesson in where anyone can accomplish anything if they put their minds to it. Of course it doesn't hurt when a friend challenges you to run a distance you have zero desire to complete and it turns out to be the catalyst to change your life forever.   Also be sure to check out my recent nomination by Feedspot as one of the top 10 ultra running podcasts. Extremely honored for this opportunity. Here is the link that you can go and listen to all of these amazing ultra running podcasts at  https://blog.feedspot.com/ultra_running_podcasts/  

In this week's episode I sit down with an amazing individual whom I have known for many years. Jessica Vaughn has held her ACSM Personal Training Certification since 2016. She has been a personal trainer as well as corporate wellness director, and group fitness instructor since 2015, and has been prepping herself and clients for bodybuilding shows, pageants, and other competitions since 2016. Jessica shares in her background of wanting to be a football player and vet and becoming an athletic trainer that evolved into strength and conditioning and then  into corporate wellness and body building. Jessica is passionate about fitness and develops personal and creative plans for her clients. No fitness and nutrition plans are alike with her clients but they all have one common goal they are working towards. Jessica states Every[BODY] is different, every mind is different, and fully believes in getting to know her clients on a personal level so that she can create the best plans and programs for them to reach nothing but success! Jessica definitely is passionate about what she does and the results show for themselves. When Jessica isn't training and prepping for a show she can be found exploring the outdoors, driving her jeep, shooting guns and even enjoying the occasional slice of pizza.  If you would like to know more about training, fitness, nutrition or even body building check out her website One 10 training or on IG @the_savagejess    

In this week's episode we sit down and talk with husband, father and founder of Active-Futures, Jeff Forrester. Jeff and I cover so many great topics and had a great conversation. Jeff shares how to: Actively plan and executing your goals and overcoming adversity. Not taking our faith for granted and quit taking on a pocket-like faith. Adding value in every situation and learning to find that untapped potential through the following 4 key points: Understanding yourself Importance of communication Importance of self-development Setting the proper course We didn't even get to talk about his new book that has just been published, “Unleashed Potential: Simple Steps To Be The Best Version of Yourself”. Connect with Jeff: Instagram: @jeff4ester Website: Active Futures Subscribe, Review, Share! Thank you for listening to The Scarecrow Runner Podcast

This week we visit with Chris DT Gordon of Michigan. Chris was an outstanding guest and I really enjoyed chatting with him and listening to his testimony on how he became a scar bearer in his battle with Necrotizing Fasciitis. Chris contracted this flesh eating bacteria back in 2015 and spent more than 2 months in the hospital and 6 months of Physical Therapy. He is a husband and father of 3 and is an online special education middle school teacher. Chris is a motivational speaker and has since started his own podcast, "Scar Bearers" along with a YouTube channel and continues to stay active even during a crazy quarantine. He has set or tied 4 PRs since being in the hospital and has completed 3 Ragnars and since recording this podcast achieved his black belt in Tae Kwon Do....so watch your back if you don't listen in to this week's episode. It was an entertaining visit and I look forward to having Chris back on in the future.

This week I was joined with one of my F2E teammates, Aaron Dana. Aaron has a background in soccer and up until July last year never really spent time running. He mainly would run for conditioning, but that was about it. It wasn't until his friend Brandon Rizzo enticed him to start getting some exercise and hiking mountains with him that his passion for running on trails and more kicked in. Aaron has literally been running for a year and just conquered his first 100 mile ultra marathon last weekend at the Mighty Mosquito in Western New York in 26:32 as the 3rd overall male and a 4th overall finish. I really enjoyed the mindset and attitude Aaron shares with us as he is grateful in everything he is apart of and spent the majority of his 100 sharing his gratefulness for those around him. You will definitely want to listen in on this podcast as Aaron shares how he was able to overcome a lot of the pain and challenges one faces during a 100 miler and is able to replace it with gratitude and joy.

The scripture reference for today's motivation is Matthew 6:34 and encouraged me to not worry about tomorrow and the things going on around me, but rather to focus on today and the ways that I can further the kingdom of heaven. We are to be about our Father's business, so why worry about things we don't have any control over.

This week I had the privilege to speak with Becky Croft from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Becky is the only certified Chi Running coach in the region and has been certified since this last December, but has been practicing it for many years after she was trying to correct her 'heel' strike. She implemented this running style because how important and efficient it helps you in running and assisting in realignment in the body during running. Becky also mixes in yoga several times a week as a compliment to her running. Becky has been running for the last decade and has run more than 40 half marathons. Her favorite races include the first half marathon she ran in Joplin, Missouri, running in Eugene, Oregon and finishing at the 50 yard line of Autzen Stadium. She has completed 4 marathons and is training for her 5th this next year and was selected in the lottery process to be apart of the 2019 Berlin Marathon which was an amazing adventure for her. She is currently in training for CIM in California in December 2020. This interview was a very informative one for me and getting a better understanding of different running philosophies and strategies. It is important to keep the mind open to new things and ensure we find something that works well for our bodies and minds. 

This week's episode features Stephanie Scocchera (pronounced sko-cara) who resides in sunny Florida, but with a name like that you would expect her to be training along the countryside of Italy.  Stephanie and I have been following each other on social media for a few years and thought it would be fun to have her on as as guest. We covered so much in a 1 hour episode and discussed everything from running to marriage to motherhood to racing to faith. It was a great discussion that connected all the ups and downs of life and the challenges and joys we can associate to running. It was a super fun and great conversation. 

This episode was a super special one for me because I had the chance to sit down and chat with my sister Ashley. We had a lot of fun with this episode and there was definitely some sibling rivalry going on with this one. I get to hear from my sister and what has fueled her desires to run as she embarks on a 10K trail race later this fall where she wants to take me down. So sit back and enjoy a fun and light-hearted episode I have with my dear sister. I think you will find it exactly what you needed to hear today. Enjoy!

This week's final installment of the Deep South Series - Georgia features Brad Lord from Macon, Georgia. Brad was a perfect bookend to this series. We had a great conversation and covered things ranging from musical interests to his background as a PE teacher and football coach to being heavily involved in F3 (Fitness, Faith, Fellowship). Brad has ran the Chicago Marathon as well as the Rocket City Marathon and pursues many different hobbies on the side as well; including his love for doing trick shots similar to those made famous by Dude Perfect. Brad also keeps running motivation and his adventures on his YouTube channel "Run with Brad". I highly encourage you all checking him out and listening to this cool dude share a little bit about himself and his passions in this episode.

On this week's episode I sit down with John Robert McKay, A.K.A. the Blind Donkey Runner. Many would think John would not be able to run due to being visually impaired, but that doesn't stop this thoroughbred. John became legally blind at the age of 2, but that doesn't prevent him from enjoying something he loves to do and that is run.   I enjoyed the conversation John and I had regarding college basketball, ultra marathons, trail running and overcoming life's obstacles and challenges. I hope you will enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it. Thanks for a great chat John!

On episode 1 of the deep south running series I have a great interview with Jack Johnson. Not that Jack Johnson, even though he is has the same name, this Jack is an ultra running machine. Jack and I hooked up on Instagram earlier this year and I knew that he was someone I would like to chat with. We have a lot of common ground and similarities with our families, faith, business mindset and of course ultra running. We dive deep into Jack's past and how he grew up in Florida, but found his way to Georgia and has called it home ever since. Jack shares the challenges that you can face in training and running hundred milers, but of course mentions the crazy humidity and heat that Georgia runners can all associate with. Jack recently completed a 100 mile race in Chattanooga, Tennessee and also the Pinhoti 100 in November. Jack is an admirable athlete and thrives on what he calls 'Tiger Blood' and how to live life with no fear and taking a simple approach to completing tasks by not over thinking it. Jack is not afraid of failure and sees it as an opportunity for future success in life and ultra running. Jack is huge on relentless forward progress as a mantra during races and can push through the pain and self doubt when faced with adversity. Jack digs deep into his walk with Christ during races and pulls on that strength through prayer and support from his crew chief, his wife Kimeran. I think you will enjoy this great episode.