Mile 20 Mindset Podcast Episode 028 - Featuring Taylor Nguyen

From Casual Runner to Marathon Finisher: Taylor Nguyen's Inspiring Journey

Introduction:  
In the latest episode of the Mile 20 Mindset podcast, host Allen Maldonado welcomes Taylor Nguyen, who shares her transformative journey from a casual runner to completing her very first marathon. This inspiring conversation dives into the motivations, challenges, and triumphs that shaped Taylor’s running experience, offering valuable insights for both novice and seasoned runners.

The Beginning of a Running Journey  
Taylor’s journey into running began during her college years, a time when she sought an outlet for personal challenges and growth. Reflecting on her early motivations, she remarked, "The average person isn't born and they're like, oh yeah, I'm going to run 26.2 miles." She initially viewed long-distance runners with admiration, prompting her to dabble in running. After years of casual interest, she finally committed to her first marathon just 18 days ago, marking a significant milestone in her running career.

The Road to the Marathon  
Transitioning from a recreational runner to a marathon participant was not without its hurdles. Taylor found herself facing the common struggle of balancing life with rigorous training. She shared, "I always tell people... the hardest part isn't the race itself. It's the training up to it." With a schedule filled with commitments, carving out time for long runs was challenging. Taylor emphasized the importance of not skipping these critical training sessions, stating, "You should not skip long runs... they take two, three, sometimes close to four hours."  

After several attempts and deferrals, Taylor finally felt ready to tackle the marathon. She had completed multiple half marathons and a 10-miler, gaining the experience and respect needed for the 26.2-mile challenge. This year, she decided to commit fully, using the app RUNA to guide her training, which provided a more personalized approach compared to traditional training plans.

Race Day Experience  
Race day arrived, and Taylor described the atmosphere at the Chevron Houston Marathon. With excitement and nerves coursing through her, she recalled the energy of the running expo and the realization that it was time to put her training to the test. "Now I gotta do it. I talked about it, right?" The early morning routine was filled with anticipation: waking up at 4 AM, fueling her body, and managing pre-race jitters. Despite a restless night, Taylor pushed through the anxiety and prepared to face the race ahead.

Key Takeaways  
1. **Commitment is Key**: Taylor’s story illustrates the importance of commitment in achieving personal goals, especially in the realm of endurance sports. 
2. **Training Matters**: The training process is as crucial as the race itself. Consistent long runs and proper preparation can make all the difference. 
3. **Embrace the Journey**: Running is not just about finishing a race; it’s about personal growth, learning, and overcoming challenges along the way.

Conclusion:  
Taylor Nguyen’s inspiring journey from a casual runner to a marathon finisher serves as a reminder that with dedication and the right mindset, anyone can achieve their running goals. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced runner, her story encourages us to embrace our unique journeys and challenge ourselves to reach new heights. 

Tags: #RunningJourney #MarathonTraining #Inspiration #FitnessGoals #RunnersCommunity #EnduranceSports #PersonalGrowth #Mal20Mindset

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:04

Hey, what's up, y'all? It is Alan Maldonado, your host of Mal20 Mindset. This is the running podcast for elite runners, novice, and those that love supporting the runners in their lives. I have an incredible runner, an incredible guest, full of energy, full of life, full of love. Taylor Wynn, welcome to the pod. How are you doing?

SPEAKER_02 0:24

I'm doing good. Thank you for having me here.

SPEAKER_03 0:27

Well, I'm I'm I'm excited to get into this running journey with you as far as where did it all begin? Where did it start? As far as was it for physical, was it for health? Was it for, you know, mental clarity? Why and what made you to made you start this obsession with running?

SPEAKER_02 0:47

That's a great question, because you know, the average person isn't born and they're like, oh yeah, I'm gonna run 26.2 miles. That sounds like a great idea. Um, I got into it like when I first started college, maybe like 10 years ago, eight years ago, eight, ten years ago. I just wanted to challenge myself and have an outlet to like do things. I like looked at runners and I was like, those are the people that I want to be. Why can't I do that? And so I like just dabbled in long distance running for a while. And then um, like earlier this month, 18 days ago, actually, I just ran my very first marathon.

SPEAKER_03 1:26

Yes, yes, yes, yes. So let's, let's, let's let so you so you started this thing, you were sort of casually interested into the running community. What was like your first steps towards that goal? Was it like, did you run like a 5K? Like, did you run a 10K? Or did you like, okay, I'm I like running. I I I ran in college and I have this sort of urge to get back out there, and I just signed up for a marathon. What, what was it? What initiated sort of these thoughts to get to finally the marathon?

SPEAKER_02 1:57

So I like to, I'm I'm a person that's always liked to challenge myself. And I I didn't know anything about running, right? I just knew that you, you know, you just like keep adding more miles or whatever. Yeah. Um, so I just found a plan online and I was like, I'm gonna do the marathon. And I never got there. I never got there. Between between life and between like the semester being long and just other things, like I never like got myself there um until like this past year when I had like a little more time, a little more maturity um to stick to the training plan and learn about distance running. Because it's not just about adding another mile. Like there's technique to it, there's injury prevention, there's rest, there's recovery. And you don't really pay attention to that when you're like 19. Yeah, no, no, not at all. So you're it's been a exactly. It's it's been a journey. Um, and so I've I've learned a lot of little things throughout the way, and it culminated into a full marathon this year.

SPEAKER_03 3:00

So, so what was the well, I guess what was what sparked it? Like, was it did you run a couple 5Ks, 10Ks, and then was like, oh, I'm doing a marathon? Or was it like because it sounds like you've you've you've had several instances where you were like, oh, I'm gonna run a marathon, and then maybe due to life and you know, different of these things happen, what was so different about this particular moment in time where it's like, all right, I'm doing it this time. And what was that moment where it's like, I'm gonna run a marathon this year? Or 18 days ago, rather.

SPEAKER_02 3:30

Yeah. Uh I think it just came down to just me saying that I was gonna do something for so long, and then like, why don't you commit and do it? I like I've signed up for it in the past, and then I just like deferred it. Like I pushed it to another year.

SPEAKER_03 3:47

I'm like, I So you actually bought uh bought registrations and was like, ah, nah, nah, nah, nah, I'm gonna do it next year.

SPEAKER_02 3:54

I I did it for the half marathon. So I was I was clever enough to not like jump into it after a while. It's been like it's been a live and learn kind of journey for sure.

SPEAKER_04 4:04

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_02 4:06

And so like this year, like I've at this point in time, right, this January, I've had three half marathons under my belt. And then I did like the Army 10 Miler like last year as well. Okay. So I know I know what distance feels like.

SPEAKER_01 4:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:20

There's like a great amount of respect for the 26.2, and then being familiar with that, I guess it kind of matured, and then I've just I I ended up doing it.

SPEAKER_03 4:33

Okay, so let's let's talk about that as far as you you you get a couple of these, you know, um half marathons, 10Ks, you get a couple long distance races under your belt. You finally decide to do this marathon, which is 18 days ago. Um, which marathon was it? And how was the training?

SPEAKER_02 4:54

Uh, it was the Chevron Houston Marathon. Happens every year in January. Um, and the training I used, um, I used the app Runna. So in the past, I would take Hal Higdon's plan. He's a a huge prominent marathoner. He's done over a hundred marathons in his life. And I was like, okay, he probably knows a thing or two. Yeah, yeah, right, right. You know. So, but the thing is, he would just have like a PDF and you would just follow it. And so um with Runna, it kind of like follows you and how you do with the previous workout. And so I just followed that and I was like, this is the year you're going to do what you say you're going to do. Yeah, yeah. You're not gonna chicken out. Yeah, you've done you've done the half. You've done the half three times. It's time to put on your big girl pants. Yeah, yeah. You know, like who's like, I did, I did half a bachelor's degree, I did, I did half an associate's degree, I I finished half a movie, you know? Yeah, yeah. I was like, let me finish this. Yeah, it's it's time to put on my big girl pants, stop being scared, and do it.

SPEAKER_03 5:58

And so you decided to say you decide to sign up. You you got the the runner program going. So, what was like the hardest part uh of training uh aside from or not when I mean that aside, but rather was it dealing with injuries? Was it like managing your time? What was the most difficult part of training for you?

SPEAKER_02 6:19

So I always tell people this. Um, they're always like, how do you how did you get like running like all that? Like 26.2, like what do you do? The hardest part isn't the race itself. It's like sure, like it is hard, but it's not the hardest part. I would say the most difficult part about a marathon is the training up to it, right? Um you cannot skip long runs. You should not, let me say. You can do whatever you want, but you should not skip long runs. Like you're nine, yeah, do whatever you want to live your life, but I would advise you not to skip your long run. It's it's important, you know, things like 10, 12, 13, 16 miles, right? Yeah. And they're usually Saturday, Sunday, because you're busy throughout the week doing shorter runs. And those runs take two, three. Sometimes it would take me like close to four hours and to carve out that time. Wake up in the morning, oh, the sun's out. I don't want to be burning, right? Like having to do that. Um, having to kind of like mold your life around that, be like, you if you don't wake up, you're not running. Like, so having to commit to yourself and like what you say you're going to do and and follow through with a plan and balancing your life around that would be, I would say, the hardest part.

SPEAKER_03 7:38

Okay, so let's let's let's go to race day. Let's go to race day. Um, you you've been dodging this, you've been avoiding this several times. You've you've you've signed up and not showed up, but you showed up today. Talk about race day. Like, how does it how what was going through your head as far as you this whole experience? Like, there's there's somebody listening right now that has never done a marathon. Please, please share how you felt from picking up your bib to the morning of.

SPEAKER_02 8:08

So the Chabon Houston Marathon's huge, huge. They have this running, and I know this because I've done the half marathon like two times before, but okay, they would have like the huge run expo, and all these big brands come through, and you pick up your packet, and there's so many people, and they're all runners, and they're all excited. Um this time it was just even more like excitement for it. I'm like, okay, this this is this is real. Like telling people you signed up for a marathon is like cool, but like now it's real. Now you gotta do it. Like now I gotta, now I gotta do it. Like, what do you mean I gotta do it? I talked about it, right? Yeah, yeah. Um and so like it's a huge convention, and that happened like two days before. The day before I signed up for the 5K. So you do a little shakeout run just to get everything ready to go. Your muscles are primed, right? Yeah, yeah. Um, and then Sunday is the race. I wake up at four. Because you gotta wake up at four. You gotta wait mad.

SPEAKER_04 9:11

You just wake up mad early. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:13

Mad, mad early, mad early. You wake up, you gotta make sure you hit the restroom. That's important. Drink your coffee, yep. Eat your carbs, right? Stretch, whatever, make sure you have all your shoes. Well, all your shoes and stuff and whatever should be done the night before. But you need to make sure breakfast is in you, coffee is done, you went number two, number one, whatever you need, right? And then you gotta drive there, find parking, whatever. That morning, straight anxiety.

SPEAKER_04 9:43

I love it. I love it. I was like the night before, though. What did you even sleep the night before?

SPEAKER_02 9:48

Barely. Barely.

unknown 9:50

Okay, okay, okay.

SPEAKER_02 9:52

I slept for maybe I think like four hours like from from the anxiety. The anxiety the night before. So, like, it's this anticipation, right? Like, like, I think, I think it's your brain and your body are like doing two different things, right? Your brain is like, oh, there's gonna be some pain tomorrow, and there's gonna be a lot of effort tomorrow, but your body's like, this is just another regular day. So that kind of mismatch is there. And this one being my first one was like a huge thing.

SPEAKER_03 10:25

Huge thing. Okay. So when you get there, you get there, it's the crowds, you you're you're in your corral, you're you're you're steps away from the start line, the gun goes off, and you're a couple steps into this marathon. What is going through your head at that particular time?

SPEAKER_02 10:46

Let's just get to mile one. Let's just let's just get to mile one. I cannot, I cannot comprehend mile 20, 22. And and here's the thing. Here's the thing. At this point, and so like when you train for a marathon, like the the these are things that I've discovered along the way, right? You don't run the 26.2 and then you run the 26.2 race day, or you don't train for it. You train for it by like, there's more to it. You do your long run, your peak week, which is like your highest mileage. And my highest mileage at that time was 18.

SPEAKER_04 11:19

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 11:21

So I knew there were there were a couple things like mentally for me, right? First was getting to 10 miles, because I'm like, okay, double digits.

SPEAKER_00 11:28

Yep, yep, yep, yep.

SPEAKER_02 11:29

10 miles. And then the second was getting to 18, because that was like the long, like after 18, anything I do after that will be the longest run of my life.

SPEAKER_03 11:39

Yeah. Yes. So let's so let's let's talk about let's get to the nitty-gritty right now. Let's get to the Mal 20 mindset as far as when every runner gets to this point in a race where the wall happens. And I often refer to it as the the bully from fifth grade coming with all of your trauma and ready to display it and yell and scream and do everything to you to stop. When was that moment? What mal and what was the what were those thoughts?

SPEAKER_02 12:08

I think it was like it really hit around mile like 21. Yeah, it was like 21. Like the block between 20 and 24 was like terrible. Like, I'm not gonna lie. Like that was I was fighting for my life. Like, talk about fighting.

SPEAKER_03 12:28

Talk about what was the most happening.

SPEAKER_02 12:31

So at that point, like your body, like at that, so I didn't I didn't do like uh stellar in terms of time. I I just wanted to have fun. I wanted to finish.

SPEAKER_01 12:41

Right.

SPEAKER_02 12:42

And I did it, right? So like my pace dropped, and at that point, I would I had already been pounding the pavement for three and a half, almost four hours. No kind of. Like four, I would say. And I I've been on my feet and I've been pounding, and I can feel it. And like every step was just more and more and more um just getting heavier and heavier with each step. It gets heavier and heavier with each step. And like I was already anticipating this. Like I've talked to people, they've done it. Um and at 20 to 24, I was like, okay, we didn't get this far just to go this far. Come on, we did not get we like I I don't care over my dead body. Like I'm I'm climbing there, and it it it's that commitment to finishing, it's it's me telling myself I can do hard things. Like that was something that I would chant to myself. My name's Taylor, and I can do hard things. This is really hard. I can do hard things. Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 13:40

And so it's it's needed, it's definitely necessary.

SPEAKER_02 13:44

Yeah, those two things. And I was just I was just fighting it. Okay. That's like that's kind of one of the things that made me fall in love with running in the first place, is like it's you versus you, and there's no cheating that, right? Like with basketball, tennis, like you you can rely on teammates, you can, you know, sleight of hand, fouls. There to get to mile 20, you have to do mile 19. And you have to do mile 18, and so on and so forth, right? Um, and it was just you versus your mind and really knowing who you are when things get hard, and who you are when the rubber's on the pavement, right?

SPEAKER_03 14:26

Man, that that's the truth. So let's let's let's talk about when you finally crossed the finish line. How did it feel? You f you were fighting for your life through the mile 20 and 24, fighting for your life, and you won. And you won. You you crossed the line. How did it feel once you finally got that meadow around your neck?

SPEAKER_02 14:53

Um it was a very emotional moment, I'm not gonna lie. Uh because people think it's like the culmination of like 26.2 miles, but really it's the culmination of those months of training, right? Leading up to it. Like all that to lead to this. It's almost like graduation, right? Like you you do all this, or like any any any big thing that you do. Um and it was I don't know, it was just like it's super emotional. I I I teared up a little. Um and it was like proof to myself that I could do the hard things and I could commit to a goal and see it through. Um, and so I I definitely got teary-eyed and they put the metal around my neck, and I was like, wow, this is uh a thing that most people don't get to experience, and and I'm I'm glad I did. I I feel very privileged to have the time to train and you know the means to sign up and do these things. So yeah, that's it.

SPEAKER_03 15:59

Yeah, no, that's that listen, every every time I I cross the finish line, it is it is definitely emotion, emotional. Uh I've cried happy tears, angry tears. The last race I ran, um, when I got my 330. I was going for a sub-three. So when I crossed, although I got my 330, I I was I was crying in disappointment. Like, like, damn. I was I was I was I was cooking to Mal 23, and then the the wheels.

SPEAKER_04 16:28

And then you got cooked. Well done.

SPEAKER_03 16:32

Well done. I just I this is my first time ever going for a PR in the marathon. Yeah, Mal 23, my legs went out, I almost took a crap on myself. I had three inch shorts, and I had to make a very busy, I had to make a business decision. You know what? I don't want it that bad. I don't, I don't, I I want to sub three. I do, I really do. But I didn't want it that bad. So yeah, yeah, yeah. I had to I had to slow it down. I had to slow it down, and I will it it in another race. Yeah. But crossing that finish line is is something that I wish I could sort of you know take out of my head and put into some certain people's minds as far as the self-confidence that you get because no one can take credit for what you just did. And that is something like you mentioned earlier, when it comes to other sports, you have other teammates and different things that you can rely on that can sway in sort of sometimes dick takes a win for a person that may not deserve it, where when you run this marathon and you finish, you deserve that marathon because you took every step in that race. So definitely congratulations on um your marathon. And my next question would be is what would there's a there's a runner right now that is, you know, maybe finished their their full or are on the fence of signing up for their marathon, or maybe just like you, have passed up on signed up and not showed up on the day. And it's like, you know what, this is I'm going to do it in it in and being inspired by your story.

SPEAKER_01 18:20

What would be your biggest tip to that runner running their first marathon? Biggest tip. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02 18:33

Follow a training plan.

unknown 18:36

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 18:37

Follow a training plan. Like, I don't care what it is. Don't just don't just think you know, like it's 2025 2026, right? There there's so many resources out there, so many things like that. Follow a training plan and take it step by step. All right, it's like anything. How do you eat an elephant? Right? You can take it one bite at a time. It's day by day. Don't don't worry about mile 26.2. Don't worry about race day. Worry about today and what you can do about it. Have have some sort of a plan. Like if today is like three miles, five miles, worry about that and get through that. Then you're just one step closer, right? If you if you look at the full thing, you'll be crushed by the weight of what you have to do. And and it's built through those little daily things. Um, and and there it's proof that you can.

SPEAKER_03 19:29

Beautiful. Beautiful. So my next question is how do you think you as a person have changed since completing your marathon? Which is 18 days fresh. So how do you feel you have you are uh you are now with that goal, with that meadow now? How do you feel that has changed you?

SPEAKER_02 19:52

Um it's it's another page in my book of things that I can do. Um I don't think anyone just like runs and that's the that's just their little like side hobby, right? It's uh it's something that bleeds to like other areas of your life, right? If it mile 20, all the miles, like dealing with the pain, dealing with the training. It it bleeds into other other parts of your life. And what I mean by that is like when you when you encounter like a difficult conversation or some struggles at work or something like that, you're like, you know what, I've I've done hard things before. I can handle this, right? I have proof that I'm disciplined, I have proof that I can follow through, I have proof that I can make it to the finish line. And I think it's that little like pep in my step, you know, when when I encounter things like that. Um, so yeah, another page in the book of proof that I can do hard things.

SPEAKER_03 20:52

And and what and what would you say to the to to the version of you prior to running this marathon? Like yeah, there's there's so many thoughts. There's so it's it's such a mystery, especially on your first marathon. It's such a mystery of what is going to happen. What would you say to yourself, you know, the version of you that didn't run a marathon, um, and and maybe in those early stages of you contemplating and you kind of stepping your toe in, what would you say to yourself to encourage you to get to the place where you are now?

SPEAKER_02 21:27

Um let's say the unfathomable is fathomable, right? And what I mean by that is every single time I've completed a half marathon, right? 13.1, and I I cross that finish line, I'm like, you gotta do two times this. No, two, two. I already have blisters, I'm already tired. Like, you gotta two times. Like, yeah, I'm sure, I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels that way. Like when you do your first half. Your first half marathon, you're like, no way. No shot. No shot, right? And so like the unfathomable being fathomable is built through proof. And I think that's really what the heart of it comes down to with the marathon, right? Um you don't you don't come out the womb like, yeah, I'm gonna run 26.2 miles, like I'm gonna I'ma just clock, you know, uh 12 miles on the daily, not even daily, but like weekly. Um you don't do that, and and it's built through those little things and people people say that, oh, I couldn't I could never run a marathon, but you know, I don't I would say say you don't want to, because during that race, I saw blind people running. I saw people, you know, that that were you know wheeling themselves on on on wheelchairs and and things like that and and and doing it. If you don't say that you could never, right? Um and once again it's it's built through that little proof, um, and and that that like proving it to yourself that you can. Um so yeah, uh does does that make sense? Yeah, no, it does. It does.

SPEAKER_03 23:19

It does. No, it completely does, man. Just because it's it's all mental, man. It becomes these mental battles with yourself, it's you versus you. And that's what I love about running, because running for me is sort of the the the only time that I have these internal conversations that good or bad, um, I get to have. Um and although I may be running from a destination, I'm actually running towards myself. And a lot of times that is where I find my clarity, like where I find my answers. And when it comes to a marathon, is this is this a space where I can be in that conversation for a very long time. For a very long time. And yeah, and sometimes those conversations ain't great. Sometimes, like I said, from like Mal 20, like you said, Mal 20 to 24, those are some tough conversations you have with yourself. And and how we sort of relate it to life is it's the same thing. Sometimes in life, there's gonna be challenges, and you're gonna have these conversations with yourself, and you and yourself is gonna be like, uh, I don't know. And you have to find a way to get over that and win that battle with versus you. So that's what what completing a marathon sort of how it resonates with me. So let's go to the last segment of the of the pod, which is our our what I call the knees out speed question. Knees out coalition is my running crew. So shout out to the knees out crew. Um, you answer knees out as yes, because that's how that's our battle cry, is get your knees out. Um so that's a yes, and knees in for no. So these are one-word, sort of one-word answer, but please elaborate. It is not, it is not a test of where you have to say strictly knees out. But here's the first question. Did you ever think about quitting while training, but still showed up for yourself?

SPEAKER_02 25:19

Knees out. That's yes, or yeah, yeah, yeah. Knees out. Okay, okay, all right. Um, absolutely, absolutely. Um, if you wanna, if you want me to elaborate on that. Please, please. When it is, here's a simple uh a thought experiment scenario, right? It is 5 a.m. in the morning and you have a 14-mile run. No, I don't wanna do that. I don't want to do that. It's early. People are like still sleeping, all right? Um like I'm tired. I didn't sleep enough, I didn't sleep enough last night is a big one. Um so but it comes down to hey, I said I was gonna do it, um, and and showing up.

SPEAKER_03 26:02

Yeah, and listen, I I always say if you train, if your training sucks, your um your day is gonna be great. Meaning that if you if you stick, if you stick to it on the bad days, even then when you don't want to do it, the marathon day is gonna be a good day. Now, if you don't, marathon day is gonna be a bad day. It's gonna be it's gonna be a bad day. Um, so my next question is this Do you believe everyone has at least one marathon day?

SPEAKER_01 26:35

Knees out! Knees out that's right, that's right.

SPEAKER_03 26:39

That's right, that's right, that's right. Now, this was sort of a trick question of is the marathon more mental or physical?

SPEAKER_04 26:50

Ooh. Please elaborate.

SPEAKER_01 26:54

Knees, because I think it's yes or no. I think it's yes or no.

SPEAKER_04 27:02

Let's go. Knees on the middle.

SPEAKER_02 27:09

I think it's I think it's yes and no.

SPEAKER_04 27:12

Like no, you write on. That's the yo that's the I think it's what I've gotten so far. Yeah. Knees. Just knees. Knees.

SPEAKER_02 27:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 27:24

So so so elaborate. Elaborate, please.

SPEAKER_02 27:27

I think it's both, right? Because yes, it is a physical thing. It is a physical feat. You have to train your legs, you have to train your joints, you have to, you have to do that, because you could seriously injure yourself. You could seriously, you know, or not finish, right?

SPEAKER_04 27:42

Right, right, right, right.

SPEAKER_02 27:44

And and and I don't want to say there's always gonna be pain associated, but there's always I okay, I can't say there's always gonna be pain because I don't want to speak for everyone, but there's always going to be effort, right? Yes, yes, it is.

SPEAKER_03 27:58

I mean, listen, it it and with with effort comes pain. With every with effort.

SPEAKER_02 28:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 28:03

Yeah, yeah. It's it's it's it's part of the equation.

SPEAKER_02 28:07

Yeah, the effort originates mentally, right? So, like the exertion, right? Your body doesn't tell you, your mind tells your body to go, right? So that's why I think it's it's a little bit of both. Yes, it is physical, but at the same time, since there's always going to be effort, your mind is involved, especially 20 to 24, all right. I'll tell you what. Like mile 20 to 24.

SPEAKER_03 28:29

It's it's a it's it's all mental at that point. Yeah, your body's on uh automatic. Like your body's on whatever, whatever you said to do, it's gonna do. Now, you gotta be you just gotta keep that mind strong and keep telling it to keep moving forward. So, my next question is and we've had this, we had a brief conversation before we started the five, but I I know the answer, but I would love to just dive into this. Would you run an Ultra?

SPEAKER_01 28:58

Oh. I've thought about it.

SPEAKER_02 29:05

I've thought about it. You thought about it. Okay, okay, okay. I thought about it. I I can't. So I guess knees out, like I knees out, like um knees-ish knees.

SPEAKER_04 29:22

I got one knee out. I got one knee out, yeah. I got I got one knee out, right? One knee in.

SPEAKER_02 29:27

Um I think maybe maybe a 50 miler. Like I I I had this conversation with another friend about like ultra running and like those people that do like hundred-mile races, 200-mile races, like on foot. Like it goes over a day, day and a half of running. And yeah, I'm like, after a certain point, it's like running until you can't run anymore. Which, you know, respect to the ultra runners. More mile to them. Yeah, more power to them. More power to you. But I also like the aspect of racing. So personally, right? Personally for me, I think the most I would ever go is like a 50 mile race. And that's like me being very bored one year.

SPEAKER_03 30:04

Like that's it. The reason why I I'm I'm I'm so into I've never ran a uh ultra, but I'm I'm very interested in probably next year will be the year that I do it. Is the what's fascinating to me, and what I guess what's enticing rather, is it's in nature. Like a lot of the the the the ultras are in nature. So I I love the idea of being in nature for that amount of time versus I don't even see them, I don't even see the the the mouths. I don't even really kind of recognize, I just recognize, oh, I get to be in be in be in the mountains for a day. You know, that's that's how I'm tricking my mind. I'm tricking my mind, like, oh, this is just a long hike. I'm gonna be all right. So that's sort of what is enticing me. Because it's a complete contrast from the race and the marathons, and which is filled with people, in which I love that. I love the ability. Uh oh, what happened now?

SPEAKER_04 30:57

Then what happened now?

SPEAKER_03 30:59

Oh, there it goes. There go the camera. Okay. Are you back? Okay. I'm back. I just froze up. I was I just froze up for a second. But no, the nature part of an ultra is what's really enticing to me and why I I feel that I it's definitely on my my my list to do at least one, but I said that about marathons, so I don't want to lose myself and now I'm 12 ultras in. But um yeah, yeah, yeah. Let me ask you the last question. Okay. Last question. Um, do you think running can change a person beyond the mouths?

SPEAKER_02 31:35

Yes. I mean, sorry, knees out. No, no, no, no, no. Knees out.

SPEAKER_03 31:40

Yeah. Well, please elaborate. Please elaborate on how you think that is so.

SPEAKER_02 31:44

Beyond the miles, it's it's not just the miles, it's it's internal. Right. It's it's you doing it and pounding the pavement and going the distance. And and really going the distance. Um and and like I said, I think it's a really good test of who you are when things get tough, right? Who you are when when you want to quit, right? Um so I think once you you get to that point and you collect that data and you come back to yourself, it it it reveals a little bit more about who you are. Um, and so I definitely believe that running takes you beyond the miles. Knees out.

SPEAKER_03 32:33

Beautiful, beautiful, beautifully said, beautifully said, man. Um wow. Uh this is thank you, thank you, thank you so much for for sharing your your first time. Um, I'm excited for you. Uh being that this is still fresh. I don't if it 18 days after my first marathon, I'm pretty sure I had I still had my medal on everywhere I went. Although it was the most rinky dink medal. Like my first marathon medal is a sticker. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. It feels like a fourth grade perfect attendance medal, but um it's mine. It's mine, and I'm sticking by it. You earned it. Sticking by it. Um but yeah, no, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for uh joining the pod, man. Everyone out there listening, please follow and subscribe. This is another great episode of Mal20 mindset. Peace, y'all.