Why not you with John OBrien

Brad was nice enough to sit down and talk with me about a wide range of topics.

We talked about Running, Injuries, Recovery, Strength Training, Treatments, Training methods, Goals, Races, Speed vs Easy runs, Long runs, Ultra Training, Backyards, Fueling, Gels, Precision Fuel (looking for a sponsor!), The mental aspect of running, Running gear, watches, VO2 max, HR, HRV, Running Coaching. A callous mind.

What is your identity? Are you tied to one identity, like being a RUNNER? It's important to have something like running or biking or a passion but maybe you shouldn't have something so "risky" be your entire IDENTITY...It was a great conversation.

From Brad's LinkedIn profile. As the Founder and CEO of MedShred, I am dedicated to revolutionizing healthcare by empowering professionals to prioritize their own health and well-being. Leveraging my extensive experience in flight transport and endurance training, I have developed a comprehensive coaching and wellness platform tailored specifically for those in the healthcare industry.Our user-friendly app, launching on March 1st, 2025, offers personalized fitness programs, healthy meal prep recipes, wellness resources, injury prevention strategies, and progress tracking tools. It also provides instant messaging access to coaches and trainers, ensuring continuous support for our users.At MedShred, we believe that by fostering a culture where healthcare professionals prioritize their own health, we can enhance patient care and drive positive change within the industry.I am passionate about connecting with like-minded professionals and organizations to further this mission. Let’s collaborate to redefine health in healthcare.

Med-Shred | Wellness Solutions for Healthcare HeroesAt Med-Shred, we empower healthcare professionals to take charge of their health and wellness. We know the demands of long shifts, high-stress environments, and irregular schedules—because we’ve been there.Our mission is to provide personalized fitness, nutrition, and recovery solutions tailored to the unique challenges of EMS workers, nurses, and other healthcare providers.

✅ Custom Workouts: Flexible plans that adapt to your schedule.

✅Food Tracking: Simplify nutrition with easy logging and actionable insights.

✅ Injury Prevention: Programs focused on staying strong and pain-free.

✅ Recovery Support: Tools to recharge your body after grueling shifts. You dedicate your life to saving others—now it’s time to prioritize YOU. Join Med-Shred and discover how small, consistent changes can lead to big results. #WellnessForHealthcare #MedShred #FitHealthcare #WorkLifeBalance #HealthAndWellness

Update on the appointment with Dr. Beau Shay. I called last week and got an appointment right away which was yesterday. I went into this with cautious optimism because cortisone shots are no joke. I knew it was going to hurt and I was right, it hurt like hell. That needle doesn't just poke you and pinch a bit, he works that thing around a bunch and you can really feel the stuff going into your foot. I also talked about podcasting, the contest I entered sponsored by iHeart radio/Ryan Seacrest. I didn't know it was going to be one of those contests that people need votes, also that you can buy votes, so my chances of winning are basically 1,000,000,000 to 1. Oh well, I love doing these podcasts and will keep doing them, I just need guests! So please start sending people my way. Reach out on FB or text me or call me or email me.

563-468-3692

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I start off giving an update on my right foot plantar fasciitis injury. It's been a super depressing last 5 weeks not being able to run. I'm supplementing it with lifting (mainly squats), biking, stationary bike, and rowing the Concept 2 rower. My squat workout is simple. start with a weight you can do relatively easy for 1-set of 20-reps. you're going to do 1-set of 20-reps every day, but you add 5lbs to it and progress from there. I've been using a wooden slant board and it's been a hard workout. I've been riding the stationary bike at Level 2 fitness at the Bettplex as well. 45-60 mins every day. The rowing is super tough. I do 2,000 meters right after the squats. I talked about Drugs in sports, where did the drug testing go? Who is taking them? Is the NFL or NCAA testing? Speculation...Money in the Ultra world, good or bad? Is this possibly going to increase the doping/PED's in trail running? Maybe because when there's $100,000 on the line for the 1st place male and female of a 100-mile race, that's not chump change, that's a "job"...I think it might. I went home to Peabody and got to spend a lot of time with my dad. 5 days on the North Shore and got to see my friends (James Olson, Bob Irzyk, Joe Rigol and Dan Connelley). Quick trip home to be with family for the 25th anniversary of my mom's passing 9/16/2001. Love you Louise Vera McCarthy O'Brien. Got home and then took a quick trip to Vegas with friends. The sphere! Wizard of Oz. Gambling. Aria Hotel. Penthouse Sky Suites...Amazing experiences. Food. Fun and Gambling. Iowa Hawkeyes win over Michigan. Iowa's upcoming game against Ohio State. College game day in Iowa City.

Please reach out if you want to be on the podcast: 563-468-3692 email: [email protected]

Dealing with this nagging super painful plantar fasciitis is not fun. I've had it before but never this bad and not in my heel. I've been trying to do the exercise bike to substitute my running but it's not even close to the same things. I've also been rowing again. Concept 2 rower. I've also started a squat workout that I did back in college. You start with a weight you can do 20-reps with (back then that was 135lbs), you do 1-set of 20-reps every day, but each day you add 10lbs. Back then I got up to 275 for 20-reps. now that I'm 58 years old, I started with the bar and i"m doing them on the slant board. I've added 10lbs every day since I started so today was 20-reps with 110 lbs...it's getting hard. As soon as the set is over I hop on the rower and row 2,000 meters...which is a killer workout. We'll see how this thing goes, been doing everything possible to get over it. Calf raises, ice, heat, etc...wish me luck.

Explaining how you can deal with an injury. Depression, Anger, Denial. Calf raises, rehab, show inserts. Training continues but on the exercise bike. 35-mins, 45-mins, 60-mins, 60-mins, mentally dealing with not running.

I talk quick about how Motivation is the fuel that gets the fire started (it is supposed to create action) It's like starter fluid for an engine that won't start...it's like kindling wood used to start a fire. But, consistency and discipline are what keeps you going.

Me again doing a solo episode again. I'm going to talk about Leadville 2026 and another recap or update to the Last Soul Ultra (LSU) because I saw Ello's interview with his coach Sam Harvey. It's up on YouTube now, the infamous lap 87 was discussed and it was awesome to hear Ello's experience and his coach's perspective as the race was happening.

Just me doing a solo episode on what Taking Chances - Why not you? Is really all about.

It's about being motivated, having mental toughness, taking risks, doing something hard, overcoming adversity. It's turning that why not you? Into a Why not me? Why aren't you achieving your dreams and goals, others are doing it, why not you? If they can do it, you can do it. It's that simple. Set big goals, take chances, don't sit on the sidelines and watch as others achieve amazing things!

Scott Kummer is an attorney, doberman owner and quite possibly the most painstakingly average runner known to man. Scott has stumbled through numerous plus 4 and 5 hour marathons. He's DNF'ed the 150 mile, 100 mile, 50 mile and marathon distance. He was once kicked out of an ultra running group due to allegations of cyber-bullying. He has a habit of offending people by accident while trying to help them. He is a co-founder of the Flatlander Ultrarunners in Chicagoland which has rapidly grown to over 1,100 members. He came up with the idea for Ten Junk Miles after becoming frustrated with hearing interview after interview of Scott Jurek and deciding that runners needed more: more discussions of bathroom breaks that went wrong, pacer stories from hell, DNF reports, stories of getting lost on the trail and other related matters.

The Run of Hope Liberty Torch Relay - The Run of Hope Liberty Torch Relay

Mark 7 born as Mark Llewhellin in Haverfordwest, Wales, left school with low confidence.

In the Army, he faced setbacks, including failing his initial fitness test and being voted the fattest in his troop. He overcame those obstacles and went on to become an Army commando. After seven years of service Mark left 7 Commando battery, 29 Commando Regiment, and worked as a bodyguard, door supervisor, and personal trainer, and later a support worker for individuals with learning difficulties, autism, brain injury, and epilepsy.

He dabbled with a little ultra-endurance by completing the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert and ran from Denver to San Francisco, averaging 27 miles per day. He broke a treadmill distance record and placed 1st in the Strava Distance Challenge in both 2014 and 2015, competing against tens of thousands of participants.