It’s taken me more than a week to write this, but I needed space to think. More space than normal. This race, and more specifically the prep for this race, changed something inside of me. The more I think on it, the more I realize that this race internally cemented for me the identity shift that I’ve been seeking for more than 5 years now. After the race, I had several people not associated with Tribal Training say things like, “I’m not surprised you ran 50 miles because you told me beforehand you were going to do it,” or these words from my grandmother: “I’ll have to say, you’re dedicated to what you want to do and you don’t give up if you decide you’re going to do something.” These words from loved ones confirmed and validated the thoughts I was having internally. I had a rough four weeks leading up to Prairie on Fire. Stomach bugs throughout my house, a somewhat unexpected family funeral, and, of course, my busiest 2-week work period of the year. There was a very real possibility that I was going to be starting a jury trial on Monday, September 8th, which was the Monday after race day. In fact, after narrowly avoiding a jury trial set to start August 25th, I then did not receive final confirmation that my trial would not be going forward on the 8th until the morning of Thursday, September 4th. I had my car completely packed with everything I needed to camp, run and fuel a backyard ultramarathon, and potentially prep for a trial in the tent at the White River Campground. Luckily, I resolved all of my cases on Thursday morning, and the 9-hour drive to Indiana felt like the deep breath of relief I had been seeking for almost 4 weeks. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a drive more than that one. For the next 3 days, I could focus on nothing besides executing my 2025 A-race, being with friends, and enjoying the moment worry-free. To be honest, it was the first time in almost 4 weeks that I had truly thought about Prairie on Fire in earnest without something else fogging my mind.

The Start Line Lining up at the Prairie on Fire Backyard Ultra felt like a massive release. Just being there lifted the pressure of everyday life — fatherhood, work, and responsibility. It was freeing. But I also knew this was only the beginning. The Backyard Ultra format has no finish line. It ends when you can’t continue. That unknown was both thrilling and stressful. When the whistle blew, I wasn’t sure what lay ahead. I only knew I had to make decisions one yard at a time. Yards 1–3: Finding Rhythm I started assertive, leading the field out every lap. Not because I was the fastest, but because I wanted to run my race with presence. With Nora’s stroller taking up much of the path, I had to be strategic. I settled into a rhythm: two minutes running, three minutes walking. This gave us space, time to fuel, and a chance to recover before the next bell. These early yards were about calmness. The stress of the unknown turned into freedom, a sense of release as we crossed the prairie bridge together. Back in camp, I’d see my dad ready with fuel and hydration. Bri was balancing Wren and Dylan, with the help from Chris supporting so Bri could keep an eye on me. Just knowing they had it covered gave me peace. Yards 4–6: The Highs By the middle loops, I hit a rhythm. For several laps, I felt almost euphoric, calm, steady, at peace. It was as if positivity itself was fueling me forward. I was proud of how I carried myself. I wasn’t hiding at the back, worried about interfering with others. I was running up front, saying without words: “I belong here. Watch this. I’ll get mine.” Nora and I were one-of-one on that course. Every other runner was solo, but we embraced being the unique duo. What once felt like a limitation had become our biggest reason to run. And then there was the team, my Tribal Training crew. Every lap, I’d see familiar faces: Ryan, Jordan, Dylan, Uriah, Matt, Zach, Jonathan, Cam, Chris and Louie. The hugs, the laughs, the encouragement. We shared the course together yard after yard.

Lately, I’ve noticed a common thread among many of my teammates in the Tribal team—so many of us are navigating a new chapter of life where our parents or grandparents are facing serious health challenges. Whether it's hospital visits, surgeries, or the emotional toll of watching once-strong loved ones slow down, it’s clear that we’ve entered a season of transition. Today, my own father is set to have several stents put in. It is a stark reminder that time is moving forward, and the people who raised us, supported us, and stood as our pillars are now becoming more fragile. These are the same people who carried us through our youth, who once ran their own races with strength and purpose. Now, it's our turn. This experience has reminded me that life isn’t just about physical endurance—it’s about emotional and spiritual endurance too. Just as we train our bodies to go the distance in a race, we must also prepare our hearts to carry the torch for our families. We are being called to rise, to step into leadership, and to carry forward the legacy of those who came before us. Running races isn’t only about finishing strong—it’s about honoring those who started it for us. It's about showing up with grit, compassion, and resilience. And maybe, in the quiet miles and long uphill battles, we find that we’re not just running for ourselves—we're running for them. For their sacrifices. For their love. For the road they paved. This isn’t just our race now—it’s theirs too. And it’s our responsibility to carry it forward with purpose. Life is the longest endurance race we will ever run- it's not about speed, but about heart, grit, and the courage to keep moving when the road gets steep. Have the best day

Hey Gang! You may have heard me mention this in passing. But I wanted to officially share something I’ve been quietly building behind the scenes: I’ve been documenting my training for Ironman World Championships in a new YouTube series. At first, it started as a creative outlet. Just a fun way to document the process, try something new, and mentally lock into the build. But something unexpected happened… As I started editing, I realized this was becoming some of my clearest and most actionable coaching content yet. Each episode is about 20 minutes long. Real life stuff, packed with practical lessons that can help any athlete inside Tribal, whether you're training for an Ironman, Ultra, or just staying consistent in the chaos of life. So far, I've dropped 5 episodes that have covered: - How I build training plans - Training block breakdowns - Mindset tools - Prep race strategies - Juggling solo dad duty - Nutrition, recovery, gear - it's all in there The whole premise is this: master the fundamentals, achieve excellence You can watch the series here → [Series Playlist Link] And if there’s a topic you want me to cover in future episodes, reply here. I will fold it into the journey. @Jason Parker gave me some good ideas last week that will be coming in a future episode. To Running, Writing, Building... -- Ryan

I am currently reading Outwitting the Devil by Napolean Hill. I've read the book before, but it seems as though this time I'm reading with a new, fresh perspective. That's the amazing thing about books. A few years of experiences and growth can make it feel as though you're reading a book again for the first time. Outwitting the Devil is a provocative and insightful book written in 1938 but unpublished until 2011 due to its controversial content. The book is framed as an imaginary conversation between Hill and "the Devil"—a metaphorical figure representing fear, procrastination, and self-doubt. In this dialogue, Hill interrogates the Devil to expose the psychological and societal forces that keep people from achieving success and fulfillment. The Devil reveals that his greatest weapon is causing people to become "drifters" : those who move through life without purpose, direction, or control of their own thoughts. The core message of the book is that definiteness of purpose, independent thought, and spiritual clarity are the antidotes to fear and failure. Hill challenges readers to confront their inner limitations and reclaim control over their mind in order to outwit the “devil” within. Chapter 4 of this book, where the Devil distinguishes between drifters and non-drifters, has been one of the most thought-provoking passages I've read in some time. The Devil explains that a "drifter" is a person who lacks definiteness of purpose, is easily influenced by external forces, and does not take control of their own mind. Drifters go through life reacting rather than acting. They are vulnerable to fear, procrastination, and distractions, making them easy for the Devil to manipulate. On the other hand, a "non-drifter" is someone with clear goals, self-discipline, and mental control. These individuals think for themselves, make decisions quickly and firmly, and take consistent action. Because of this, the Devil admits he has no power over them. Here are 10 quotes from Chapter 4 that caught my attention and led to pauses and reflection: