Stan’s Running Story
It all started with a couch to 5k in college with my now wife. I took a few years off after that. I decided to switch up shoes and bought some Vibram five fingers. I have since switched to Xero shoes and have never looked back, so yea I am one of those annoying minimalist runners. Started running again in 2015 with a few local 5k’s and a Tough Mudder, it escalated from there to running a Spartan Trifecta. In 2018 a friend convinced me to run a marathon (Jekyll Island) and I had the thought that most people have after their first marathon “I’ll never do that again”. Fast forward to November 2019, this same friend talks me into running the Fiery Gizzard trail marathon. It kicked my ass and I had the same thought, for about two days. Then I decided that I wanted to run ultras. Last year (2020) I ran the GA Jewel 35 mi (37.5) and immediately got back on ultrasignup.com and started looking for my next race. Next on the big list is the Cruel Jewel 50mi. training is starting slow, I plan to have a long slow buildup, well not too long (the race is May 15). That is if I get off the waitlist, I am #15 as of now. I am currently running a series of short trail races put on by Dirty Spokes here locally to help keep me motivated in the short run and to help me push my pace. I struggle, as I’m sure many runners do, with balancing training with family life and work. This is my first blog of any kind, so bare with me…. I’m also not much of a writer, lol.
Matt’s Running Story
When I was a kid, I was a runner… sort of. I was fast on the playground, when I was between 6 to maybe 16 years old, to be specific. But then I grew up. Physical fitness was never a focus in my youth, and even though I stayed active, I also ate whatever I wanted and never worried about that sort of thing. Fast forward to a sunny summer day when, at the age of 30, I decided to sign up for a 1 mile race. One of my competitors was my new friend, Stan King. I barely finished… in last place. And I thought I was dying for a few hours after that. I moved on from running as a definite pastime for me. Only a year later, my oldest daughter comes home wanting to run Cross Country for a local club. After only a few practices, we could tell that this was the first sport that she actually loved, and she then took me on my first run ever that was longer than a mile. At that point, my wife and I decided to volunteer and began helping coach the team. I went from being the coach who ran very slowly, making sure the back of the pack didn’t get lost in the woods, to being the head coach for the club in just a couple short years. Now, at 36 years old, I couldn’t imagine my life without running and coaching. I am able to enjoy watching all three of my kids run track and cross country. I hope to qualify for the Boston Marathon sooner than later, and may even attempt qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Trials in the Marathon. I love sharing my running stories with fellow runners and friends.
GA Runners 