photo credit: Tim Durbin http://www.24901experiences.com
For this impressive event, competitors race seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Durbin finished the seventh race in Sydney, Australia, to take seventh place in the event with an average time of 5:22:45 for each marathon. He was the only competitor from the United States in this year’s event.
I got Durbin on the phone recently to ask him about this grueling race and get his advice on marathon training. Continue Reading →
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Hey you guys! It’s Sean Astin star of The Goonies, Rudy, Lord of the Rings . . .
All favorite movies of mine.
As a kid I watched The Goonies a dozen times or more. I thought it was a true story. It’s not.
But what is a true story is how Sean has used running to recalibrate his health and fitness and reach greater levels of success.
In this interview you will hear all about Sean’s genesis as a runner, favorite running stories, and future marathon goals.
SPOILER ALERT: He’s working on a 50 State goal.
![Marathon Maniac founders Steve Yee, Chris Warren and Tony Phillippi [click to enlarge]](https://mtawebsite.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/TulsaPromo_SteveYee-e1423670422710.jpg)
Marathon Maniac founders Steve Yee, Chris Warren and Tony Phillippi [click to enlarge]
By Henry Howard
Steve Yee’s running passion started innocently enough. In 1983, Yee learned of the Seattle Mariners Fun Run, an 8-mile run that included four tickets to a ball game.
“With a few weeks training I was able to complete it without stopping so I got really excited, started training more and signed up for races every single weekend after that,” he says. “With each race more challenges emerged, I started running half marathons and finally took the plunge with my first marathon six months after the Mariners Fun Run.”
Turn the clock ahead 20 years and many marathons later, Yee was having lunch with Chris Warren, Tony Phillippi, Sue Fauerbach and Terry Watanabe after — of course — a marathon. The runners talked about how many marathons they ran throughout the year. Friendly oneupsmanship took over as the runners started throwing out race after race that they would do.
At one point, Yee said,
“I feel like I’m amongst a bunch of Marathon Maniacs.”
The name stuck, and Yee, Warren and Phillippi became the original founders and co-presidents of the most popular marathon group active today. Continue Reading →
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Hal Elrod is a motivational speaker, success coach and best-selling author of The Miracle Morning -The not so Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform your Life Before 8 a.m..
At 20 years of age Hal was hit head on by a drunk driver traveling 70 mph. Despite being clinically dead for 6 minutes, spending 6 days in a coma and being told he would never walk again, Hal made a comeback and went on to become a runner and even complete an ultra-marathon. Hal lives in California with his wife and 2 children. Continue Reading →
Air Force veteran uses lessons learned from high school football, military career and his religion to bring him to the finish line of endurance races.
By Henry Howard
In high school, Brian Burk played running back and safety on the football team. He had grown up playing a variety of sports but did not fashion himself as a runner.
Burk — aka “CleDawg,” a nickname stemming from his passion for the Cleveland Browns — readily admits that back in those days he lacked discipline and any knowledge about conditioning. Instead, he just wanted to play the game he loved.
That all changed one day when the coach made the team run a mile after practice. Continue Reading →
Mike and his dad at the Hawk Indoor 50k
Michael Wardian is an accomplished marathoner and ultra-marathoner from Arlington VA. Last year he won the Big Sur Marathon and the Disney Dopey Challenge, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.
His most recent accomplishment was setting a new indoor 50k World Record at the Hawk Indoor 50k in Hagerstown, MD, finishing 250 laps in 3 hours, 6 minutes and 7 seconds. Continue Reading →
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Dave Asprey is a Silicon Valley investor and technology entrepreneur who spent 15 years and over $300,000 to hack his own biology.
Dave lost 100 pounds without counting calories or excessive exercise, used techniques to upgrade his brain by more than 20 IQ points, and lowered his biological age while learning to sleep more efficiently in less time.
He is the founder of The Bulletproof Executive company and has one of the top health and fitness podcasts in iTunes. Dave’s new book, THE BULLETPROOF DIET, is available now. Continue Reading →
Running a marathon in every state requires proper training, sound logistics and financial planning. It takes a little more for those who live in Hawaii like Ed Loy.
By Henry Howard
Ed Loy was fed up with himself in September 2004. At the time, he was a 280-pound college senior interviewing for jobs. He was convinced that no one was hiring him because of his weight.
“I made a resolution to lose the weight and finally get in shape,” said Loy, whose previous athletic track record consisted of playing pick-up basketball with college friends. “At first, I walked a lot to school and home. Then took up workout DVDs at home (Tae Bo). I lost the initial 25 pounds this way, but wanted more.”
So, at the encouragement of a friend and former “Biggest Loser” contestant, Loy joined a gym in May 2006. “I became a strength junkie, but the weight didn’t come off,” he said. “I walked/jogged on the treadmill and thought this was a little fun. Once the scenery got old, I started to run outside near my home. As the distances increased, the more fun I was beginning to have, but it was a challenge just to stick with it. Eventually, I started to look into racing and did my first half marathon in September 2007.” Continue Reading →
Looking good and loving life. Colleen and Lee Staats with Meb Keflezighi before the Columbus Marathon.
In this episode we bring you a marathon success story with Lee and Colleen Staats, two Academy members from Galion, Ohio, who are transforming their lives through running.
They have both lost weight since starting to run and recently completed the Columbus Marathon.
Colleen set a PR in the half and Lee qualified for Boston by running 3:21:52.
They have both battled through injury and a busy work load to achieve their goals.
It has been my great honor to be their running coach. Continue Reading →
Editor’s note: On Dec. 11, 2016, Darrell Henry passed away. This ended a three-year struggle that was harder for the cancer than for Henry. “Cancer will have no victory here,” says his sister, Misty Henry.
Darrell Henry has no colon. But he has a heart, the heart of a champion.
Henry’s colon was removed in June 2013 “because of hundreds of polyps and a large cancerous tumor brought on because of familial adenomatous polyposis, a genetic disorder which causes polyps in basically any part of the body. With hundreds of colon polyps it’s inevitable some will become cancerous.”
The biggest drawback to being colon-less: Hydration. “Most of the body’s hydration occurs in the colon. I drink 150-200 ounces per day to stay properly hydrated,” he says.
Doctors used a section of small intestine to build a replacement (called a j-pouch) for the colon and followed up by 12 rounds of chemo. Henry endured one round of chemo every other week for six months.
Henry decided to enjoy the experience as much as possible and dedicate himself to running.
“My intention was to fight as hard as I could, take any treatment necessary and beat cancer but also to gain as much positive from the experience as I could,”
says Henry, who tries to run 50 to 70 miles a week, even during chemo. Continue Reading →
Just running wasn’t enough for Ryan Deguzis to break his addiction. It did play a role, however, and now he is loving life and giving back.
By Henry Howard
MTA member Ryan Deguzis has a lot going for him: he’s a classical musician, teaches students, has a steady girlfriend and recently finished his first ultra marathon.
But it wasn’t always like this. Like millions of Americans from all walks of life — millionaires to soccer moms — Deguzis battled an addiction to alcohol. He’s been sober for 3 ½ years now.
“Running was one of the things that helped me escape alcoholism,” he says. Continue Reading →
Vinnie Tortorich is a Hollywood personal trainer and author of the book Fitness Confidential.
He has been a fitness trainer for over 30 years. Many of you will know him for advocating a no sugar no grains lifestyle. You can hear him on the Angriest Trainer Podcast found in iTunes and at vinnietortorich.com
We brought Vinnie back on the show to talk about weight loss, clean eating, and answer questions sent in by Academy members.
I know you will love this interview! Continue Reading →
