This week I had the opportunity to visit with my friend Diana. She is a certified L1 trainer and has been doing Cross Fit for the last 4 1/2 years. Diana shares a lot of great and practical fitness and health information; including some at home training tips that can be utilized in our daily lives during all of the crazy 'Stay At Home' orders. Diana enjoys pushing her limits and challenging herself on a regular basis and that is why she loves the mixture of what CrossFit offers her and gives her well-rounded workouts ranging from gymnastics to cycling and power lifting. Spending time investing in others and helping them achieve their goals is also something that pushes her to be a better coach and athlete. I hope that you will be encouraged by this podcast and get something out of it this week to motivate and inspire you to be healthier.

On today's live episode I just share my thoughts on how to stay positive and encouraged during a challenging time. So much craziness is going on around us that we often times get pulled into it and it affects us negatively. We need to be ready to face everything and rise up rather than running away from things. Be strong and courageous and know that you can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you. Have a blessed Wednesday!

This week I was able to sit down and chat with one of my best friends Brandon Crites. Brandon is a native from Missouri who has a very diverse background in training and development. He is Christ-centered and focused on faith and his family and being one to spread the good news of Christ through all things; especially ultra running. Brandon has a background in other sports including basketball and track. Brandon went from being a sprinter in track to an all around endurance athlete and completing his first 100 mile ultra marathon at Tunnel Hill last November. Brandon was a sub-20 hour finisher and has high expectations to take his ultra running to the next level in 2020 and beyond. Take a listen and I guarantee you will enjoy the visit we had.

In today's episode I sit down with Dustin Johnson. He has a really solid athletics background and played all of the sports; including collegiate baseball, but his real passion was long distance running. As a baseball player he would still go out and do his running with the cross country team because of the like-mindedness. Dustin has always felt a connection with runners and running. Dustin is also a Navy veteran and served four years for our country. Several of his tours took him all across the world and gave him a glimpse of places he would eventually run later on. Dustin continued the family tradition of serving and while originally planning on stopping the tradition, picked up the torch from his father and continued the legacy. After his time in the Navy, Dustin began to get plugged back into civilian life, but soon began to face demons when he tried to readjust back into society and ultimately almost perished from trying to escape the weight on his shoulders. Dustin did not want to put his burden on anyone else and speaks about how it is important to put your pride aside and talk to someone. Dustin had an ultra running friend who got him into touch with the Run Around the World organization and this gave Dustin motivation and inspiration. He took this along with his passion of running and set out to be come the youngest and first American to ever complete the 26,500 km (16,400 mile) run across 4 continents. Dustin teamed up with Stop Soldier Suicide to raise awareness for our veterans and the 22 that take their life every day. Dustin shares a lot of his background and struggles and takes us through his race around the world in this invigorating podcast. May is mental health awareness month and this was a perfect podcast to represent how to battle against mental health.

Meili is an ultra-running beast residing in the state of California and has come onto the ultra running scene strong in the last two years. She has reached the podium in more than a dozen races and has competed in some pretty well known ultras in the US: the Javelina Jundred, Across The Years, the Beyond Limits 100 and the Nanny Goat 24 hour event.

She is quickly becoming a well known fixture in the running community and looks to make a big impact in the months ahead. I think you will enjoy the back and forth conversation as we discuss everything from hydration, nutrition, training plans and all the craziness behind ultra running.

In this week's mid-week episode I sit down and visit with my good friend Jason Lorenz on his running background and discuss the experiences he has recently gone through while running his first 50 mile race and then leading into his first 100 mile finish. The road has been far from perfect with plenty of challenges and issues that flare up along the way, but as Jason would say, he is determined to get it done regardless of what he faces. He relentlessly moves forward. Jason enjoys spending time running with his bride Becky and his brother Jamie and they share the joy of pounding the pavement and plan to do so for a long time. When Jason isn't running you can find him, angling at a local lake, rooting on his favorite team, the Oklahoma Sooners, or riding off into the sunset with Becky on his Harley. Jason is a great guy and a lot of fun getting to know and share miles on the road with. I hope you enjoy the episode.

This week I had the privilege to chat with David Theriot, a native Cajun from Louisiana, who found himself running hundred mile ultra marathons after rehabbing from an ACL Tear during Jujitsu. With an outstanding ultra running resume, David now takes on the feat of The Triple Crown: 3-200 mile races.

This week in the mid-week motivation, Anthony shares about being disciplined in our daily lives. Without a game plan, direction and discipline our lives will become unbalanced and chaotic. Have a blessed Wednesday and be encouraged.

This weeks episode features Sean Lewis, a two-time 100 mile finisher, triathlete, boccia ball player, man of faith, advocate and motivational speaker. Sean does not let odds or Cerebral Palsy define him or slow him down. When Sean isn't competing in hundred mile races or triathlon events, he enjoys watching OU football, spending time with friends and hosting his own podcast and video blogs "Running with Sean Lewis" as shown on YouTube and heard on podcast apps everywhere. I hope you will be inspired and encouraged by Sean's story.

So many of us are facing challenges and obstacles right now due to COVID-19. We must persevere and endure the things we face; not lose hope and keep our faith. Regardless of what we are going through right now I wanted to encourage the listeners to dig deep and Go the Distance. Life is a journey and not a sprint. It is much like an ultra marathon and will take time, energy, effort and you will face adversity and obstacles along the way. Don't quit or give up too soon. Don't let these things distract you and detour you. Go the Distance.