Run The Race

This former pro boxer, who has owned a gym for the last 7 years, showed me the ropes, in and out of the ring. On this episode of "Run The Race," he also has some advice of what you can do, in terms of workout and food, after Thanksgiving.

Speaking of that holiday, (2:15) I share what it was like to dress up like a turkey for a local "Beat the Bird 5K," then introduce this week's guest.

(8:10) Darrel Wright starts off talking about his journey from track star to the Army to boxing and now a personal trainer plus owner of Wright Way Fitness, a gym in Columbus GA. The military had an influence on his life and his choice of sports. (12:37) After 74 amateur bouts and being a 4-time GA golden glove champion, he became a pro boxer, but he explains why it was one and done with pro fights. There are a lot of life lessons, he says, that comes from boxing - like getting knocked down and getting back up! His motto: Think it, Speak it, Do it, Be it. That can be positive or negative.

Why was this former boxer (16:40) so focused on wanting others to succeed in fitness and boxing? Opening his gym was a leap of faith, inspired to do it by the Bible and comedian Steve Harvey. (21:30) And just this year, they now have a separate boxing gym with a ring. He talks about what it means to train like a boxer, which doesn't have to include getting punched, but does include a full body core workout. Wright has boxing clients as young as 7, as old as 70. His 2 kids, neither teenagers yet, are getting in the ring now. And this personal trainer says it's not all about weight loss, but being a better you!

(29:00) Wright doesn't do diets, wants people to enjoy eating, but he talks about moderation in the holiday season and continuing workouts in a judgment free place. (34:43) He also talks about the popularity and misconceptions of boxing.

(38:31) How can you stay motivated to keep up with fitness during the holidays? You use it or you lose it. (42:58) In the final segments: "Food for Thought" is about workout and food ideas post-Thanksgiving, "Parting Gift" is Thankful wisdom from the Bible, then my closing prayer.

Thanks for listening! And tell your friends about the #RunTheRace podcast. Subscribe to it! For more info, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.

Close to 500,000 lights! That's how many Jerry Ludy and his family have in their amazing display called the Ludy Christmas Lights Spectacular. He's our guest this week, on the "Run The Race" podcast that brings faith and fitness advice and inspiration that you can hear weekly if you subscribe to it.

After giving you a little taste of the movie "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," (4:38) our chat with Jerry Ludy starts with his family's Christmas lights display kicking off on Thanksgiving night, with some additions and surprises. They're back after taking a year off during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(7:49) He talks about how and why this turned into a passion and extreme hobby for him, started at age 12. He says it's not about the lights, but about the memories they create and definitely to promote that Jesus is the true light of the world. A nativity scene is the centerpiece of their massive holiday display that draws big crowds, like 2,000 cars per night on the weeks leading up to Christmas.

This is an intricate DIY project, (10:55) that takes a lot of work, so they start setting up in August! There are some tricks he's learned along the way, including uncooperative technology. They also got national attention being on the ABC show the Great Christmas Light Fight in 2014.

(15:18) They also do this for higher causes: the reason for the season of Jesus, and they've also raised a total of $170,000 over the last 12 years for Make-A-Wish Georgia. How excited are people for the Ludy Lights this year after they went dark in 2020? Jerry and his son Keith, the chief engineers, are back hard at work, getting the display ready and coordinating them to music.

(22:03) Putting up all those lights can be fitness or a workout, dangerous too being on the roof, but the injuries or pain they've mostly experienced is electrical shocks. (26:20) Jerry hopes the Ludy Christmas Lights Spectacular bring people excitement, joy, and close together after all we've been through during the coronavirus pandemic. His wife allows him to do it too, for now.

There are lot of other Christmas light displays too, (29:24) so stealing ideas is part of it, but Jerry likes to be creative, like with a unique ski lift in their display and a just-added 30 foot high ferris wheel they constructed. (36:40) Stuck in my head segment: hear me singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," appropriate, then "Parting Gift" inspiration and a closing prayer.

Thanks for listening! And please share it with your friends using #RunTheRace podcast. Also, write a quick review about it. For more info, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.

Why am I here in this world? Am I in the right job? How can I help others? Those are questions many of us have asked ourselves, tackled in this episode by our podcast guest Kelvin Redd, who's spoken in 35 states and is the only African-American author who's written 2 books about servant leadership.

(2:45) While we're talking about helping others, mental health is in the forefront these days. I start off with an appropriate song from Broadway play-turned-movie "Dear Evan Hansen" (yes, you'll hear me sing a little), then an intro of this week's expert.

(7:19) As one of the top leadership coaches in Alabama and Georgia, Kelvin Redd helps us understand what servant leadership is, the lifelong journey there, and how self-awareness is a key ingredient. (13:03) How does faith play a role for us on the job, especially in a toxic work environment?

(14:21) Finding your purpose in life isn't easy, but he lays out 3 questions to ask yourself! That may involve changing careers. It may also include wearing your faith on your sleeve, or not being able to. (21:16) There are different ways to "Define Your Destiny," the title of one of his books. He's also an expert in emergenetics, but what's that?

(25:07) Redd - who hopes to not bore you but make you think after leadership workshops - says there are ways to become self-aware, maybe through certain exercise or mindfulness. (29:59) There are also lessons he points to in the Bible, like from Proverbs, where Jesus advises us to walk with the wise or be destroyed with the fools. Who you are with matters. That's why this coach says 1 of the 2 most important decisions of a leader is who you marry. We dive a little more into the characteristics of a servant leader and how you can "Stand Tall" (the title of his other book). We also touch on big differences between coaching and parenting.

Fitness is also a tool (37:54) for leaders. Redd himself lost 20+ pounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear why he had enough and made certain changes, after so much travel around the nation. (41;06) Leaders and all of us can also learn very valuable lessons from sports. Redd is writing a new book about that and the philosophies of his dad, who was a very popular high school basketball coach in East Alabama.

(46:26) Our parting gift is some Biblical wisdom, then on this Veterans Day, I give you a brief reminder of some of our past episodes featuring inspiring military heroes sharing their stories, followed by my closing prayer.

Thanks for listening! And tell your friends about the #RunTheRace podcast. Subscribe to it! For more info, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.

Our guest this week - on a pod that you really should subscribe to - has taken it to the extreme, a 66-year-old psychiatrist who has run close to 530 marathons, almost all of those in the past decade.

Before we get to him, (2:15) there's the quick recap of my San Diego CA marathon experience, (5:33) and a lesson in losing faith that had the Atlanta Braves proving everyone wrong, being resilient and winning the World Series. And hear my version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" before that.

(9:40) Dr. Ken Fattman of Springfield MO has been a pacer for close to 225 of the marathons he's run. He talks about that passion for helping others, especially beginner distance runners, and what he does to distract or entertain them. (15:20) How did he get into running and then jump to 500+ marathons? It started with 1 mile. And after his first marathon, he took almost 30 years off until the next one. Through all the self-doubt, he's now proven he can do all things through Christ who gives him strength.

Fatherhood is key to his story, (20:42) being a single dad, having adopting a baby boy who grew up to run with dad, averaging a half marathon a week for one year - as a 10 year old! Hear how his son is doing now in the Air Force. (28:10) Dr. Fattman waited until his 50s to get serious about endurance running, a hobby for this doctor that includes eating Little Debbies. He has advice on how to avoid injuries and what surprisingly causes his body to stiffen up.

(31:45) Through all the hundreds of races, he finally just ran the Boston Marathon for the 1st time - and literally 1 day after running the 2021 Chicago Marathon! Dr. Fattman has some secrets to how he runs all these back-to-back or week-to-week marathons. He also gives us the finish times he normally paces, a job he volunteers for, to inspire fellow runners to meet their goals.

By the numbers, (42:08) his accomplishments seem unbelievable, so we ask why he runs so many marathons, averaging 1 per week - for the past 9 years!! (45:25) There are lessons he's learned and taught along the way about faith, passion, self-improvement, which include certain Bible verses that apply to running and preparation.

(48:55) His new goals involve the number 10, as in years. He explains, plus what he wants to do around the world. (50:20) His favorite races are some of the big ones you know, plus ET in Nevada, and an unusual one in 2012 called "The End of the World Marathon." (55:12) Our Parting Gift segment brings some inspiration from Jimmy Buffet, then my closing prayer.

Thanks for listening! And please share it with your friends using #RunTheRace podcast. Also, write a quick review about it. For more info, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.

In the middle of the World Series, our guest today on the podcast is former major league All-Star Glenn Davis, who played most of his pro baseball career with the Houston Astros. His former team is up against the Atlanta Braves to win the 2021 title. We talk about about this matchup plus fitness, faith and service to others on and off the baseball field. Make sure you subscribe to “Run The Race” to hear insight and inspiration on a weekly basis.

(5:10) Is Glenn Davis rooting for both teams? Being a city councilman for the last 19 years in Columbus GA, he is happy for fans that the World Series is being played in Atlanta, where it will be difficult for either team to win 3 straight games. (12:20) This former home run hitting 1st baseman pulls no punches about the importance of the Fall Classic being in Georgia after he said the All-Star Game was “unfairly” taken away. He thinks this is great for baseball.

After 16 years in pro baseball, 10 in MLB, (17:10) Davis recalls what it was like hitting a homer in the postseason vs pitcher Dwight Gooden, how adrenaline can impact batters and pitchers. In a game of centimeters, as he calls it, this former Astro breaks down the difference between this Houston team and the Atlanta Braves. (27:12) Staying fit is also important, not just as a pro athlete, but he talks about what he has done post-baseball and now as a 60-year-old who loves to eat. Davis' motto, learned while playing pro baseball in Japan, is "Keep Moving." He also gives you advice on how to avoid injury at the gym and what he does competitively to be in shape.

(37:02) Coming from a broken home himself, Davis talks about how he was given so much as a major league baseball player that he has a responsibility to give back. Hear how he leans on faith, how his family gives back to kids in need plus also through leadership in city government. Davis also throws in some personal lessons learned from baseball greats like Nolan Ryan and Yogi Berra, especially about taking time for others.

(49:30) Does Davis have a prediction for this World Series? He gives his final take on what he calls 2 balanced teams about to play in Atlanta. (54:30) In the final segments, I sing a little of the song “Centerfield” for Stuck in My Head, then a “Parting Gift” quote from baseball legend Hank Aaron, followed by my closing prayer. And go Braves!

Thanks for listening! And tell your friends about the #RunTheRace podcast. Also, write a quick review about it. For more info, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.

With abortion back in the headlines, this week's guest on the podcast is at the center of the pro life fight, having survived an abortion just 4 years after landmark decision Roe v. Wade allowed abortions. We tackle this polarizing issue on "Run The Race," which hopefully you subscribe to.

(5:48) Melissa Ohden is the survivor of a failed saline infusion abortion. She describes being in a toxic solution in her mother's womb for 5 days, living through that, then being adopted, only to find out at the age of 14 about the abortion attempt. (11:05) Faith intersects with this issue of abortion and Ohden thinks churches should be bolder about rights for babies, just like womens' rights.

(14:40) She has testified before Congress in her pro-life fight, talks to us about God calling and using her to help babies and moms. (17:12) Ohden also shares the story of reconnecting with her birth mom, after going through a lot of pain and anger, but finding real healing through forgiveness. It took her more than 10 years to find her biological parents. What's it been like for her mom, who had the abortion forced on her?

(25:22)As the founder and director of The Abortion Survivors Network, she talks about what their non-profit does to support families. (27:22) It's come full circle, as she's now a mom of 2 herself, sacrificing for them. (29:02) Ohden's first book "You Carried Me" was reprinted in 2020 and she has a new book coming out next Spring 2022.

(31:51) What can be done for the moms who have an abortion or choose not to have one? (34:38) How can pastors approach the issue of abortion? What if being pro-life makes you appear judgmental? Ohden answers these tough questions. (38:20) We dive into the latest developments and why Ohden has hope that Roe v. Wade may be overturned.

(42:33) Our guest, who I met at the Sound Choices Pregnancy Clinic gala in Columbus GA last month, closes us in Prayer. (46:30) The final segments are "Food for Thought" about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defending her pro-choice stance as a Catholic and "Parting Gift" with the Bible's take on the value of life.

Thanks for listening! And please share it with your friends using #RunTheRace podcast. Also, write a quick review about it. For more info, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.

It's never too late to get started. One example is this week's guest for "Run The Race," which you should subscribe to now. Pam Howe is an an accountant, run specialty store co-owner, and running coach who did not start running until age 50. And 8 years later, she's about to run her 15th marathon.

I met her at the finish line of the 3rd annual GA Run for the Fallen at the National Infantry Museum next to Fort Benning. After taking you inside that event, which is a team effort to run 164 miles in 2 1/2 days, (5:37) we open up the chat with Pam about that event, paying tribute to the nearly 800 military men and women from Georgia who have died in service since October 2000, honoring Gold Star families each mile of the run. She's also the mom of a Marine and the deputy chapter captain of Team RWB in the Savannah area where she lives.

(12:27) She talks about how and why she started running at age 50, with a rocky start that led to walking then gradually more. After trying her first ever 5K. she ran a marathon 8 months later, crying at that finish line, and not long after, qualifying for the Boston Marathon. (19:38) Her goals now include traveling more for races, including finishing off the 7 world majors.

(22:41) This certified running coach also has advice and encouragement for people, starting with running form. (26:12) Pam is the CFO of Howe2Run store, giving out tips to customers and clients about injuries, strength exercises, especially when people have issues with their glutes and calves.

(31:58) One of the biggest challenges people create themselves is they run too fast or too far, especially early on in their running. Pam also says you need to run most of the time EASY, which is conversational pace. Also important is pushing through the hard times on runs with positive self-talk. It's a choice to be happy!

Nutrition is a big deal too. (39:05) She talks about what she does, in terms of protein, carbohydrates, and fueling runs with fat instead of sugar. This nearly 58-year-old wants to motivate you to eat and run better. And she's excited, nervous about running the Chicago Marathon, a few days from now.

(49:34) We close out with me rapping/singing, appropriately, some of "The Distance" by Cake for our Stuck in My Head segment, followed by a "Parting Gift" quote for inspiration and my closing prayer.

Thanks for listening! And tell your friends about the #RunTheRace podcast. Also, write a quick review about it. For more info, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.

Need some motivation to get fit...or get started with working out, eating better? This is the podcast for you, and we've got plenty of episodes focused on physical and spiritual health, so make sure to subscribe to "Run The Race."

(4:30) The guest this week is Major Dewayne Webb, who's been in the Army for 23 years. By day, he's a public affairs officers for the 1st Security Forces Assistance Brigade on Fort Benning. 3 nights a week, he leads a free boot camp at a local park, part of the non-profit he started years ago, All About Fitness, which has thousands of followers worldwide. We talk about how it get started, how he gets funding, (8:42) and their mantra of "No Excuses" because it's a family friendly, safe environment to work out, with no cost. He talks more specifics about what a total body workout is, and the importance of accountability.

Along with connections between the military and fitness, (12:50) MAJ Webb also tells us his personal story: what it means to get 2nd chances after almost getting kicked out of the military because of being lazy and rebellious to authority. Faith has played a role on his journey too. Doing AAF since September 2012, he's heard a lot of success stories and gives us his favorite workouts.

(20:59) The personal trainer also has important nutrition advice, giving us some misconceptions about foods and drinks. Also good for mental health, he says, is getting fit and serving others, which he's got to do in other states with his Army brigade during this COVID pandemic.

(27:01) He has a message for those intimidated by the gym or not knowing how to work out. (32:44) And overall health is vital, MAJ Webb advises, including spiritual. He starts every fitness boot camp with prayer. (36:06) In the final segments, like Stuck in My Head, you'll hear me sing some of the Christian song "Letters from War" and we get some soldier inspiration in "Parting Gift."

Thanks for listening! And please share it with your friends using #RunTheRace podcast. Also, write a quick review about it. For more info, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.

He's been a firefighter for 36 years, a pastor for decades too...and like you, remembers where he was on September 11, 2001: watching his fellow first responders give up their lives to save others. Make sure to Subscribe to this Run The Race podcast to hear motivating messages and extraordinary stories like his.

(5:25) Battalion Chief Mark Burnett for Columbus (GA)Fire &EMS opens up about the feelings of anger & pride on 9-11 as we just had the 20th anniversary. He's also an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, answering questions about why God would "allow" such evil to happen. And how does he juggle the roles of husband, father (7 grandkids too), firefighter and preacher? (15:31) Being an outspoken Christian in a fire department provides its opportunities and challenges. And Mark gives us the 4 foundational things for you to do, in order to have an impact on other people's lives, from right where you are at.

He's also in great shape at age 55. (23:14) Mark tells us why fitness is a priority to him and what his routine for workouts is, starting at 5:30am most mornings at the gym. His passion is triathlons, having done a half Ironman so far. (31:12) He also gets specific on nutrition goals and the importance of being fit for firefighters, how that can impact mental focus for all of us. Mark calls the local church the "hope of the world" and points to lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. (43:38)After his closing prayer, I give a "Parting Gift" from Joshua in the Bible.

Thanks for listening! And tell your friends about the #RunTheRace podcast. Also, write a quick review about it. For more info, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.

Prayer is something we can often skip or hurry through or don't know how to "correctly do it." Our guest for this week's episode describes it in an easy to understand way, and shares his excitement for "10 days of awe" happening now, including a Tent America event that starts this Friday 4pm going for 50 hours straight of worship, prayer, and more. You can hear inspiring guests talk about faith and fitness by subscribing to "Run The Race."

(2:00) After sharing some memories from September 11, 2001 including a poem I wrote 20 years ago, "God Help Us," (7:12) we hop into the chat with Brandon McKenzie, a former drug addict who got kicked out of the Army but is now a husband, father and the Harvest House of Prayer coordinator for "Take The City" non-profit ministry based in Columbus GA.

Thanks for listening! And please share it with your friends using #RunTheRace podcast. Also, write a quick review about it. For more info, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.