Hi all,

This was an emotional episode! I'm going to include my letter to myself below. I hope you'll accept my challenge in this episode and write a letter to your future self as well and if you will, share it with me!

Here's my letter:

May 4, 2020

To Future Me,

As it stands, we’re at a crossroads. Life has changed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We’ll most likely lose our business that we’ve built over the passed 13 years. Ha! Almost have to laugh. Just realized this would be our thirteenth anniversary. Fitting to perhaps see it go on such an anniversary. But that’s us isn’t it? We take a chance, work hard, roll with the punches, and see what happens. That’s running in a nutshell isn’t it? Running is a great metaphor for life, work, family, and relationships.

As I write this, we’re celebrating thirty years of running. God knows how many miles we have on our legs! We’ve celebrated victories, taken running to many levels, and followed our dreams. We’ve been to some amazing places and met people I hope we never forget! All while never taking performance enhancing drugs or cheating the system, the course, our sport, or ourself. I hope as you read this that still holds true!

We’ve got two amazing kids and the best wife that share this journey. We’ve tried to be an example of endurance, hard work, philanthropy, and love. I see our kids’ potential. I hope we bring it out in them and help them along their path to finding their happiness in life! I hope we continue to love every living being and do our best to make a difference in our community locally, nationally, and globally.

We’ve helped to create a number of things that have such far reaching impact. May we continue to learn, innovate, and evolve new and old ideas in the hopes that we create happiness and joy for others. I hope we continue to forge new relationships with others and collaborate in making new events, groups, trails, and ideas that are conceived with the love in our hearts and the purpose of spreading joy and happiness to ALL!

We wear our heart on our sleeve. We don’t hold back our emotions or our passion. We tell people we love them, and we mean it! May nothing ever perverse this! The world has always been jaded in some ways, but love shall always triumph! May we keep the burning passion for life, for its experiences, and adventures. For it’s the adventures that keep us young. What’s next? What goal has excited us? That’s what we live for! I hope we keep pushing, keep exploring our boundaries and our potential.

Aaron, we found ourself a long time ago! When I look in the mirror, I can look myself in the eye. Remain open, honest, trustworthy, and compassionate. Continue to work on your patience, listening to others, and asking for help. We’re not perfect, we’ll never be! However, we can always strive to be better and love deeper. We’ve found our passion in life. We know what makes us happy! Follow your heart. It hasn’t misled us yet!

Pride has hampered us in the past. Don’t let it cloud your judgement or inhibit your decisions!

Let’s continue to express our gratitude to the world. Find grace in every action and give thanks for every experience. The positive and the negative as we can learn from each. Never stop learning. Keep engaging your mind. You have to keep up with your wife and kids somehow!

That said, smile and laugh at yourself. Don’t take yourself too seriously. You’re a small fish in the large open ocean.  Stay humble and remember you’re here to serve others.

May we speak out when we see others wronged. Remember what it was like when we were wronged, and no one stood up for us! As an individual, we may be weak, but as a collective group, together our voices are so much stronger! Stand united with your brothers and sisters for what is right and what is just!

We’ve made mistakes, we’ll make more. It’s whether we continue to learn from those mistakes and not make them over again. We’ve asked for forgiveness and we forgive. May our heart stay open and continue to see and bring the best out of people.

Life is beautiful. Continue to take a moment of each day to appreciate your opportunity, then go out there and make the best of it!

Remember the statement, “Own your dash!”? We’ll have two dates on our gravestone. Those aren’t truly important. That dash mark in between is the key. What did we do in between those two dates? Did we live? Did we make a difference? Keep moving forward Aaron! Own that dash!!!

Love. Love all without thought, judgement, or prejudice.

Peace. Find peace without fear, negligence, or pompousness.

Endure.

So, the final question, did you stay true to yourself? Can you read back through these and say, “Yes Aaron! I did!”

I hope so…

I love you!

-Me

Podcasts I mentioned:

• Running Rogue Episode #181

Clean Sport Collect I've Pledge - https://cleansport.org/join-us

Discounts:

Fuel100 Electro-Bites - https://electro-bites.com/

Kogalla - http://kogalla.com/?aff=runningpains

Upcoming Events I'm involved with:

Sept. 12 - Cradle To Grave 10k & 30k Trail Races - https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=74268

Oct. 29-30 - River Loop 6/12/24 Hour Races - Registration & Information Coming Soon!!!

Nov. 20-21 - Hellbender 100 Miler - https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=70251

Dec. 5 - Headwaters 30k Trail Race - Registration & Information Coming Soon!!!

Jan. 23, 2021 - Tsali Frosty Foot 50k, 30k, 8k - Registration & Information Coming Soon!!!

My Socials, Channels, & Newsletter:

https://www.facebook.com/MRRUNNINGPAINSEVENTS/

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ6J512qA34z_N0KJSU4jfw

To sign up for my Newsletter - https://www.mrrunningpains.com

Email - [email protected]

Thanks to Houston Hamlin for the music, and thanks to all of you for listening! Please share the Podcast and please leave a review, rate, & subscribe if you haven't done so already!