"It is never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot. Jonathan Greenwald is a 3:11 marathoner who qualified for the Boston Marathon in his forties. Those two facts alone are remarkable. Throw in the fact that he started running at age 40 and it becomes even more amazing. In this episode, Jonathan discusses why he started running late in life, the role of running groups in his rapid improvement, and his quest for Boston. You can follow Jonathan's running journey at www.instagram.com/runthesix and https://brooklyn2boston.com/.

"We must meet the challenge rather than wish it were not before us." - William J. Brennan, Jr., Former Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. In matter of 2:49:50 Becky Snelson went from successful amateur runner to the talk of the running community. Her 14th place finish at the 2018 Boston Marathon, in a personal best time, set off a bit of a controversy. Becky didn't initially receive prize money because she didn't start with the elite women. This remarkable achievement was a testament to her hard work, toughness in training, and successful race strategy. In addition to her elite running ability, Becky also has a full-time job as an engineer and is in grad school. A true dedicated amateur runner in every sense. You can read Becky's account of her Boston Marathon experience on her blog www.beckyontherun.wordpress.com and follow her at www.instagram.com/bsnelson0411.

"The good side of mental fortitude gets lauded in the press, but we don't talk about the other side enough without making it sound like weakness." - Marcus Brown. In this episode of the Rambling Runner podcast I am joined by world marathon major six star finisher Marcus Brown. Marcus completed the series at the 2018 Boston Marathon where he also, ahem, set a new PR. Shortly thereafter, improbably, Marcus toed the line of the London Marathon. We talk about all of this but, before we do, Marcus and I talk about his mission to raise awareness for those experiencing mental challenges in the United Kingdom. We discuss this issue generally before Marcus shares his own experiences with openness and candor. You can learn more about Marcus by following him at www.instagram.com/themarathonmarcus.

"A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results." - Wade Boggs. It is great to have Maurice Lowman back on the show. If you want to hear Maurice's full and amazing back story check out episode 12. In this episode, Maurice and I discuss he recent Boston Marathon experience, how to keep a positive attitude despite difficult circumstances, and the power of positivity. Maurice also talks about how he talks to fellow addicts who are struggling with the daily challenges of sobriety. You can follow Maurice's running journey at www.instagram.com/marathonpandamaurice. This episode is brought you by C3fit high performance sportswear. Their high performance compression tights and arch support socks are tremendous and I cannot recommend them highly enough. You can learn more about them at www.c3fit.com.

"If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do." - Lucille Ball. A doctor of speech pathology, nutrition coach, mother of three, and marathoner - Melissa Malani is one busy woman. Despite that, or maybe because of it, she is able to cram an awful lot into one day. In this episode we discuss how and why she does it, her preparation for, and performance in, the 2018 Boston marathon, and her internal drive that propels her to achieve. Melissa also shares how a mentally and emotionally abusive first marriage caused her to stop running. She picked it back up for the best possible reason - because it was something she, she alone, wanted to do. You can follow Melissa at www.instagram.com/isamarathoner.com

"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they're supposed to help you discover who you are." - Bernice Johnson Reagon In 2001, Jacky Hunt-Broersma had the lower part of her left leg amputated after a sarcoma tumor was found above her left foot. From that point on she used her strong will and determination to live the life she chose and not one she was forced into. 15 years later she started running. She increased her mileage so quickly that she ran her first marathon a year later and is currently training for ultras. In this episode, Jacky discusses her running background, the logistics of being an amputee runner, and her recent experience running the Boston Marathon. You can follow Jacky at www.instagram.com/ncrunnerjacky.

In our first Boston Marathon review episode we hear from James McKirdy from McKirdy Trained. We talk about the race, how he and his fellow coaches prepared their athletes for the race, and how runners can be prepared for conditions they have have never experienced in training. After our Boston conversation we dive the history behind McKirdy trained and why, how, and when it was started. James and I finish up with a Coach's Corner segment that includes when runners shouldn't wear a watch during a race, fighting through discomfort, James's opinions on marathon predictor workouts. You can learn more about James and McKirdy Trained at mckirdytrained.com and www.instagram.com/mckirdytrained.

"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members." - Coretta Scott King Carlos Del Pino was born in the outskirts of Tampico, Tamaulipas, México. As a growing boy, his passion turned to running. Once in the United States he began making friends in the local running scene. Carlos's community building was just getting started. To this day, Carlos has developed a wonderful running community that includes people from across the world. The symbiotic relationship between this group has allowed all of them, Carlos included, to achieve great running feats. Carlos discusses all of these topics in addition to becoming the "King of Treadmills," an ultramarathoner, and more in this episode of the Rambling Runner Podcast. You can learn more about Carlos at www.carlostherunner.com and www.instagram.com/carlostherunner.

“Turn your setbacks into comebacks.” - Anonymous Over the course of her running career Jessica Tondre cameback from many physical setbacks that have also challenged her mentally and emotionally. From serious leg injuries to a kidney disease, unfortunately there has been no shortage of comeback opportunities for Jess. Despite those issues, she continues to exhibit a contagious positive attitude. We also discuss fear of failure, coaching kids, and her goals for 2018. If you want to get new, high-quality, running gear sent to your home then check out our sponsor Mercury Mile. You can learn more at www.mercurymile.com and save $10 by using promo code "ramblingrunner10.”

"If laughter cannot solve your problems, it will definitely dissolve your problems; so that you can think clearly what to do about them." – Dr. Madan Kataria In this episode, I was joined by my co-host for the Funny Stories Part I episode Laura Pierce. Laura will be running the Boston Marathon next week after putting together an amazing training cycle. As good as that cycle was, it was the result of a challenging and exciting 2017 that included five, yes five, marathons. We also discuss how she has used running as a form of therapy throughout her life, including after her mother's passed away a year after being diagnosed with ALS. The memory of her mother continues to inspire Laura as she focuses on the mantra "Because I Can," which is a reminder to maximize her physical capabilities. If you want to get new, high-quality, running gear sent to your home then check out our sponsor Mercury Mile. You can learn more at www.mercurymile.com and save $10 by using code "ramblingrunner10."

At this time last year Rachel Davis ran her dream race at the 2017 Boston Marathon. She exceeded her goal by seven minutes and ran a six minute and negative split despite in unusually high temperatures. In this episode of the podcast, Rachel and I talk about her 2017 race, the injuries and over-training that followed, and how she made the transition from 800m runner to marathoner. We also take a deep dive into nutrition. Rachel is a Ph.D candidate in nutrition sciences at the University of Alabama Birmingham. We talk about several practical things that affect many runners no matter their running level. You can learn more about Rachel, her running, and her nutrition expertise at http://fuelbyracheldavis.com. If you want to get new, high-quality, running gear sent to your home then check out our sponsor Mercury Mile. You can learn more at www.mercurymile.com and save $10 by using promo code "ramblingrunner10."

Sometimes you need to fight through discomfort to achieve your goals. Then, other times, you need to change course and find a new challenge. Audrey Springer has taken both roads and found success at the end of each. In this episode we talk about her college running experience that included her scholarship being revoked before she finished with successful senior year. We also discuss her recent half marathon PR, overcoming challenges, and working through burnout. You can learn more about Audrey at www.runningthealley.com. and www.instagram.com/runningthealley This episode is brought to you by one of my favorite things - Mercury Mile. You can learn more about this amazing box service that provides top of the line gear and accessories at www.mercurymile.com and save $10 by using promo code "ramblingrunner10" at checkout.

Jeff Haden is a LinkedIn Influencer, ghostwriter, speaker, and Inc. magazine contributing editor. In 2017, his online articles for Inc. attracted more than 20 million readers. Not only that, he is also a dedicated amateur athlete. In his book, "The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win," Jeff states that motivation is not the catalyst of achievement but, rather, the result of small and consistent successes that build upon one another. We discuss the easy wins that can lead to increased motivation, the best ways to increase willpower, and how to organize your life so you don't have to use it. You can learn more about Jeff at www.jeffhaden.com.

"One of the nice things about being busy is it makes you focus on what's important to you and how you use your time." - Lorne Michaels. Who decides to pick-up running after giving birth to triplets? McCall Lee, that's who. That's not to say she wasn't an athlete before then. McCall earned a black belt by age 12 before doing a year of cross-country in high school (where she promptly ditched practice to hit-up some fast food). In this episode, McCall talks about why she picked up running, how she balances it with raising her girls, and her current training regimen that has seen her already run a 22:08 5k. You can follow McCall's running journey at www.instagram.com/see_mac_run. This episode is brought to you by one of my favorite things - Mercury Mile. You can learn more about this amazing box service that provides top of the line gear and accessories at www.mercurymile.com and save $10 by using promo code "ramblingrunner10" at checkout.

Have you ever worked for years to achieve a goal and found yourself wondering if it was ever going to happen? Well, Jen is proof that if you keep working hard, and team up with the right people, you can breakthrough. It took her several years to break the 1:40 barrier in the half marathon but she finally did it this month with blazing fast 1:37. In this episode, Jen talks about what she changed in her training to finally get over the hump, why she makes a point to run with local running clubs/groups, and, of course, desserts! You can follow Jen at www.instagram.com/fueledbyfrosting. This episode is sponsored by Mercury Mile. You can learn more about this amazing box service that provides top of the line gear and accessories at www.mercurymile.com and save $10 by using promo code "ramblingrunner10" at checkout.

In this episode, it was a privilege to speak with with Sara Turner. Sara steadily worked her way from a 4:40 marathoner to a Boston Marathon qualifier. There were plenty of hurdles along the way including injuries, raising a newborn, and a disappointing DNF. Her humble nature is matched by her fierce persistence and desire to improve. You can follow Sara at www.instagram.com/therunningwife. This episode is sponsored by Mercury Mile. You can learn more about this amazing box service that provides top of the line gear and accessories at www.mercurymile.com and save $10 by using promo code "ramblingrunner10" at checkout.

Fresh off is sixth place finish at the U.S. 15k Championships, in a scorching time of 44:11, Ryan Vail brings his professional wisdom to the Rambling Runner Podcast. In this episode, Ryan talks about how he has juggled his recent training with raising his newborn son, his upcoming plans for his first Boston Marathon, and some of the tips he gives to his running clients. You can follow Ryan's weekly training schedule at www.ryanvail.blogspot.com/ and inquire about his coaching service at www.rundoyen.com.

We asked and you delivered! After our call-to-action for funny running stories the listeners provided many great ones. In this episode, co-hosted by Laura Pierce, we read these hilarious tales of running folly and added our two cents. Kudos to everyone brave enough to send these to us. We had a blast recording this episode and hope to do another one in the near future.

By the age of 29, Brooke Adams achieved an almost unbelievable feet. She completed all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors! Not only that, she did it with an average time of 2:59. This incredible runner did not come from a traditional running background. The daughter and sister dairy farmers, Brooke is now an assistant principal while pursuing her running dreams. In this episode she details her emergence from good high school runner to one of the only women to ever complete all six majors before the age of 30. We also discussed how she has drawn strength from her father who lost his ability to walk 20 years ago due to his battle with multiple sclerosis.

Heather Szuba is living the amateur running lifestyle to a “T.” She has whittled down her marathon time from 4:00 hours to 3:12 while working as an engineer and starting a coaching practice. At the age of 24 she came to the realization that she needed to become a healthier person. She started with the elliptical before introducing 10 minute running segments into her routine. Then one day at the gym she was inspired by the goal of running for an hour. From there, her running journey took off. We had a great conversation about all of these things and how to live a balanced life while trying to achieve big running goals. You can follow Heather at www.instagram.com/itsheathersturn or inquire about her coaching services at www.mckirdytrained.com.

All Ralph Peterson had to do was change everything. Severely overweight, struggling with addiction, and unhappy in almost every area of his life, Ralph knew he was capable of much more. His conversion into a dedicated marathoner is nothing short of remarkable. In this episode, Ralph details his running and dietary journey that was the foundation of his book “Adventures in Dietland: How to Win at the Game of Dieting from a Former Fat Guy.” We take a deep dive into some of the many tips he has for those of us who struggle with our food choices. You can get “Adventures in Dietland: How to Win at the Game of Dieting from a Former Fat Guy” here: https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Dietland-Game-Dieting-Former/dp/0998926809

“One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity,” - Albert Schweitzer. Jessica Hadley’s running origin story is one that should be familiar to many people. She was a young mom of two, working a full-time job, and just couldn’t take it anymore. She felt like her life was too crazy and she just needed something to calm the noise. So, she took up running. Three years later she is an accomplished runner in spite of her hectic schedule. In this episode, we talk about our shared experiences in pre-5:00 a.m. runs, balancing running with young kids, and our love of 90s rap. Jessica also details her recent half marathon PR in Phoenix which included a crazy schedule that only parents of little kids can truly appreciate. You can follow Jessica at www.instagram.com/jessbug1122.

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it." — Helen Keller. A common saying in the running community is "run to overcome." That is exactly what Elizabeth Jansen has done. From the shocking death of her older brother, to her struggles with binge eating disorder, Elizabeth has used running to help her overcome what ails her mind, body, and soul. Along the way she has grown to love the sport for its own sake and not only for it therapeutic effects. In this candid and open conversation, Elizabeth details her struggles, running progression, and what's next for her and the sport she loves. You can learn more about Elizabeth on her website www.runningforrobert.com and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/elizabeth_healthy_life.

In this episode, I am joined by the amazing Bethany Davis. Bethany is an accomplished marathoner, coach, mother of four, and former CrossFit athlete. We talk at length about her varied experiences running and lifting before and after child birth. Including this current rendition that has allowed her to bounce back quicker than ever. We also touch on overcoming mental obstacles in races and talking big goals into existence - including her own goal of sub-3 hour marathon. You can follow Bethany at www.instagram.com/be.fit.davis and visit her website at www.befitdavis.com.

“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, he turned into a butterfly.” – Proverb At first glance it looks like Mark Bottenhorn has it all. An ultra marathon winner, a former college soccer player, and a body that belongs on the cover of Men’s Health magazine. However, there is more to Mark than meets the eye. For a good part of his life he has been battling anxiety that has brought him to his knees. In this episode, Mark talks about his struggles in an open and honest way that illuminates a topic that is too often left in the dark. We also discuss his fantastic running exploits that are only getting better and better. You can follow Mark at www.instagram.com/bottenhornrunning and visit his website at www.markbottenhorn.com.