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From War Zones to Ultra Podiums: How Running Makes Joshua Stevens Thrive

In this episode, Coach Claire digs in to find out how Joshua went from that shocking diagnosis to running his first ultra at age 44, and eventually becoming the Badwater Ultra Cup Champion. We also learn how he approaches training and injury prevention, his plant-based nutrition, and how he could run for 24 hours on a treadmill.

Joshua has incredible insight and is an inspiration, even if you don\u2019t plan on running any farther than a local 5K. His experiences overcoming his injury, racing for 24 hours, and helping to pace and crew for friends are enlightening and huge confidence builders.

4:42 How do you look at aging and running performance?

6:27 What percentage of your training goes to all the \u2018extra\u2019 things beyond actually running?

7:17 How can people learn to stop worrying and love the treadmill?

9:38 What was it like to go through your spinal injury, receive a diagnosis that you\u2019d never run again, and then actually start running again from scratch?

11:41 What were the steps you took to start running all over again?

12:52 What is the experience of pacing, and being paced, like?

14:49 How do you talk to somebody you\u2019re pacing through the Dark Times of a race?

15:55 What is it like to be running an ultra really hard in the middle of the night and being sleep deprived?

18:25 What other learnings from your military experience carry over into your running?

19:36 How did you develop your running form and what tips would you share with us?

21:18 Is it easier to have better form in the gym than on the road?

22:47 What do you normally eat before and during a run?

26:14 Do you have any mantras that help you get through races?

27:59 Can you develop a positive voice when you\u2019re not racing?

30:11 What advice would you give yourself back when you started running?

31:27 What is the best gift running has given you?

33:03 How can people connect with you?

33:35 What\u2019s on your horizon?

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\u201cIt\u2019s what you do with the other 20 hours. At least two-thirds to three-quarters of everything that I do is in support of the actual running.\u201d

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\u201cIf you have a negative mindset from the moment you step on the (treadmill) belt, it\u2019s never going to be a good experience.\u201d

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\u201cI\u2019m just exceedingly stubborn. If you want me to do something, tell me not to do it, and I will make it my life\u2019s mission; it will become my purpose to do it.\u201d

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\u201cI didn\u2019t know what I\u2019d been missing until I got to pace and crew for some of my friends.\u201d

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\u201cWhere sleep is absolutely imperative is in the training and recovery cycles. I typically get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep a night. I try to be routine in that sometime between 9:00 and 10:00 is when I\u2019m going down and getting up organically between 6:00 and 7:00.\u201d

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Art Loeb Trail

Run Rabbit 50 and 100 miler

Spring Energy Products

Wolf Pack - vegan-endurance-meal-for-athletes

SPEEDNUT WITH CAFFEINE (Vegan) - Extreme Efforts

Canaberry (Vegan)- Any Distance Fuel

Kodiak100

Antelope Island 50-Miler

Badwater 135

The Javelina Jundred

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