Aaron Burros was shot 5 times in a workplace shooting and then used running to overcome his PTSD and depression from that incident by attempting to run 50 marathon s in 50 states in 50 weeks. And this took place during the height of the pandemic, which had it’s good points and bad points.

Coach Dean and Mitchell share a story about a father/daughter marathon combo who once trained together years ago but no longer run together. The father is embarking on the Couch to Marathon journey after many setbacks. Then Dean shares his thoughts on the training partner we just don’t want to run with…

2:35 - Not too late to join C2M

4:27 - Post of the Week - Will Beverlin - Doing it when we don’t think we can

7:27 - Run of the Week - Haley Sharp - We bounce back quickly

10:14 - Trivia answer from last week

17:04 - “Lifestyle Training” and how to overcome it

23:08 - Story of the Week - Life is a Marathon - John Scheopner

28:04 - Hebrews 12:1-2 - Jesus endured the cross for the JOY that was set before Him

34:08 - Romans 5:3-4 - Suffering is GOOD for us!

37:43 - 1 Corinthians 13:7 - Love is often at the heart of suffering

40:21 - Why has God let me live?

47:09 - Why has HE put me in the situation I am in?

48:56 - When we get tired, how do we find strength for “one more marathon?”

52:53 - The most controversial thing we’ve ever said

53:58 - Marathon at Midnight and other oddities

1:02:07 - Dean’s Thoughts - Our Least Favorite Training Partner

1:14:53 - Why Running/Walking is so Awesome

1:17:41 - The 15 year old Kiwi did it!

1:19:11 - Where will AI take the running community?

1:22:20 - 79 year old first time half marathoner

1:23:37 - Trivia Question of the Week

1:24:12 - Motivational Thought of the Week

This week’s podcast is all about rest and recovery. The story of the week is about taking time to rest when we need it. Then Coach Dean shares his thoughts on sleep. You may be surprised how important the coach believes good sleep to be.

Couch to Marathon 2025

Post of the Week - Rebecca Wang - Explore your area

Run of the Week - Ashley Daly - Mesquite Canyon 30K

Trivia answer from last week

Best of BC - Ihor Verys

Story of the Week - Rest - Julie Dossantos

Matthew 11:28 - Being tired from physical vs mental things

Exodus 33:14 - Are we like Moses sometimes?

Psalms 62:1-2 - How to get your brain to calm down so you can sleep in one easy step

What part of your schedule could you give up in order to give yourself extra time for rest?

Are there busier times in your life, where you know you need extra rest?

What gives you rest?

Update on Scott Kaufman and giving blood

Dean’s Thoughts - Recharging the Batteries

Why WALKING is so awesome

New Zealand Phenom

Trivia Question of the Week

Motivational Thought of the Week

A Run Club member shares his “before” story before he starts the Couch to Marathon journey this year. Then Coach Dean shares his thoughts on how consequential one decision or action can be.

Big Day in the Hollis household!

It’s been 5 years of consistency

Post of the Week - Will Beverlin - Doing what it takes!

Run of the Week - Mary Pavluk Priolo - Representing in Tokyo!

Trivia answer from last week

What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened while running?

Story of the Week - So Close - Matt Wilson

Ephesians 6:10 - The Armor of God

John 10:10 - Going in the right direction

John 14:6 - The Way, the TRUTH, and the Life

Can you think of a time that you were so close to achieving something but fell short?

What does this mean? Prior planning prevents poor performance

How do those who love and know you the most describe you to those who don't live under the same roof?

Can a woman break 4 minutes for the mile?

Dean’s Thoughts - Changing the Course of History

Why Running/Walking are so awesome

Action from the past week

Heps Championship mishap

Trivia Question of the Week

Motivational Thought of the Week

Tune in to hear Scott Kaufman’s story about interrupting marathon training to donate a kidney – It is inspiring. Then Coach Dean talks about a benefit of cardiovascular exercise we don’t consider much – but we should.

Couch to marathon 2025-26

Post of the Week - Michelle Palma Stover - Be intentional

Run of the Week - Mike Powers - Sometimes the best runs are the ones you don’t want to do!

Trivia answer from last week

Running the length of New Zealand

Story of the Week - Go and Give - Scott Kaufman

Leviticus 17:11 - How is the blood of Jesus like a best friend?

Philippians 4:7 - You know its God when your peace surpasses the world’s understanding

Judges 6:14 - God will help us just enough to cover the distance between what we can do and the goal

Could you donate a kidney if someone needed it?

If you're able to donate blood and you haven't, why?

What risk is God asking you to take? What is holding you back?

What is Hyrox?

Dean’s Thoughts - Insurance Policy

Why Running/Walking/Rucking so Awesome?

Track and Field popularity

Trivia Question of the Week

Motivational Thought of the Week

How is a training program like Project Management? How is our faith like managing a project? Coach Dean and Mitchell talk about it. Then Dean shares a great story about a Tanzanian runner in the 1968 Olympic Marathon race and how that story informs us today.

0:56 - International phone calls

1:53 - Getting pulled over by the police

3:45 - Couch to Marathon 2025

5:16 - Post of the Week - Mary Priolo - Sometimes pictures do lie

8:36 - Run of the Week - Karen Hammrick - The importance of friends

12:41 - Trivia answer from last week

16:56 - A 68 year old inspiration - Enedina Modesta Perez

20:01 - Story of the Week - Project Management - Kent Ogle

28:33 - Luke 14:28-33 - Plan it before you do it

32:43 - Joshua 24:15 - Decide today!

36:24 - Romans 12:1-2 - The difference between the pig and the chicken for breakfast

39:01 - What can you do now that you once thought you’d never accomplish?

41:03 - What aspects of your life do you need to be more intentional about?

44:03 - How can you leverage your experiences and knowledge to help or encourage someone else?

47:00 - The Wim Hof Method and other cold things

55:29 - Dean’s Thoughts - Finish the Race

1:06:33 - Why Running/Walking is so Awesome

1:07:31 - World records galore! - But why?

1:20:54 - Trivia Question of the Week

1:21:34 - Motivational Thought of the Week

A running group can be really important to our fitness journey and a church group can be critical to our relationship with Christ. Coach dean and Mitchell discuss that topic today. And Dean shares his thoughts on people who stay until the last person finishes the race.

0:58 - On the road

4:28 - Tornados?

5:10 - Looking for help for a Run Club member…

5:37 - Post of the Week - Josh Johnson - friends in St Petersburg

7:55 - Run of the Week - Travis Hess - It’s all good no matter how the race went

14:02 - Trivia answer from last week

21:02 - Sodium Bicarbonate - the latest controversy?

25:24 - Story of the Week - The Role of Community - Rebecca Taylor

35:14 - Hebrews 10:25 - Getting together with other believers is important

38:09 - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Building one another up

43:16 - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - Two are better than one

45:19 - What are some of the positive words a fellow runner has shared with you that have helped you overcome discouragement or a setback? How can you pass that encouragement along to another runner who may need it? How is this a reflection of Jesus Christ to others?

49:04 - In the story, the case is made that our spiritual walks are both an individual and a team effort. In what ways is your spiritual life just between you and God (individual)? In what ways does it involve your church or parachurch organizations (team)?

54:38 - How connected are you to a local body of believers? Are there areas of your spiritual life (prayer, Bible study, accountability, etc.) that would benefit from increased involvement in a church? If so, what are some practical steps you can take to get active in ministry?

57:41 - Should we forgive logistical race mistakes?

1:03:52 - Dean’s Thoughts - Staying Until the End

1:15:54 - Next year’s Big Beach Marathon

1:19:27 - Why Running/Walking is so Awesome

1:21:07 - World records

1:25:58 - Trivia question of the Week

1:26:36 - Motivational Thought of the Week

Have you ever made a mistake? Then today’s podcast is for you! What does God say about mistakes? Then Coach Dean shares his thoughts on how the mind and body are not two different things.

New App

Post of the Week - Lyn Carroll McDonald - Excited about the future!

Run of the Week - Jerri Seigler - A year of running/walking

Trivia answer from last week

Connecting our appetite to the workouts we do

Story of the Week - The other End of the Pencil - Jerry Snider

Philippians 3:13 - Forgetting the bad and focusing on the good

Psalms 34:18 - God is close to us even when the chips are down

Ephesians 4:2 - Showing grace to those around us

Did you ever make a mistake that turned out to be a blessing?

Is there a mistake you need to forgive yourself for?

Is there someone you need to forgive for making a mistake?

Changing running shoes can be a bad thing

Dean’s Thoughts - Mind and Body

Why Running/Walking is so awesome

What studies would you like to see?

Trivia question of the week

Motivational Thought of the Week

Coach Dean and Mitchell share a story that talks about evaluating the things we do and planning a better course going forward. Then Dean shares a story about how our mind can go from one extreme to another.

1:16 - New Couch to Marathon group!

5:41 - Post of the Week - Michelle Palma Stover - “Easy has never been in my vocabulary”

10:29 - Run of the Week - Richard Ball - coming a long way

14:27 - Trivia answer from 2 weeks ago

20:21 - Woman dressed as Polar Bear Raises money for Cancer

24:14 - Story of the Week - Time to Rest, Reflect and Plan - Rhonda Williams

31:35 - Proverbs 21:5 - Planning

35:00 - Isaiah 28:29 - God has a different plan for all of us

38:20 - Proverbs 24:27 - Doing things the right way

42:37 - How was 2024? Did you achieve your goals, running and non-running? What do you see as you look back?

45:04 - Do you take time to rest, reflect and plan at the end of each year?

50:33 - Do you start each new year with a run on New Year’s Day?

51:25 - Obese Nation

1:01:21 - Dean’s Thoughts - Just 21 More Miles to Go

1:15:36 - Why Running/Walking is so awesome

1:17:09 - The truth about training plans

1:22:36 - Trivia Question of the Week

1:23:36 - Motivational Thought of the Week

Dean is joined in the studio by longtime Upward Running supporter and founder of Big Peach Running Company in Atlanta and the surrounding area, Mike Cosentino. They talk about the industry, running trends, faith, and many other things.