The Boston Marathon means something different to everyone.

For some, it’s chasing a PR.

For others, it’s years of work just to get to the start line.

And for some, it’s something much deeper than the race itself.

In this episode, four runners share their Boston experience from completely different perspectives from a 2:31 performance, to a pro debut, to a dream years in the making, to a story of resilience and redemption.

Same race.

Different journeys.

Different meaning.

Chapters

00:00 Max - 2:31 PR at Boston

07:53 Polly - Pro debut at Boston

12:30 Emily - Chasing The Dream Race

17:19 Maurice Boston in a Suit

21:37 What Boston Marathon Meant

30:31 The Hardest Moments

38:17 The Magic of Boston

There are hard things… and then there’s choosing to run 100 miles in circles.

Sean Rhodes is getting ready for the Stoney 100, 400 laps around a track, but this isn’t just about distance. It’s about purpose. It’s about pushing into uncomfortable places and seeing what’s on the other side.

We talk about what it actually takes to train for something like this, the mental lows that hit in the middle of an ultra, and what happens when you come out of it stronger than you expected. But this goes deeper than running.

Sean shares the path that led him here from a rough stretch earlier in life, to finding discipline through bodybuilding, to building something meaningful through running. We get into chasing big goals, balancing life outside of training, and why sometimes the hardest things we choose end up teaching us the most.

This one isn’t just about a race. It’s about the kind of person you become while chasing something that big.

Chapters

00:00 The Stoney 100 - More Than a Race

08:08 Training for 100 Miles on a Track

10:05 Building The Stoney 100

16:37 2:44 Marine Corps Marathon to BPN 50 Miler 6 Days Apart

22:05 Can You Do It ALL? Lifting + Running + Ultra

29:22 How Running Found Him

33:05 Faith Running & Purpose

36:46 Why He Chooses Hard Things

38:55 Being Present Beyond Running

40:33 Big Goals at Chicago Marathon after Stoney 100

45:50 How He Recovers From Big Miles

48:55 A Rough Past and a Turning Point

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Anthony Di Paolo has done it all Ironman, ultras, and now over 20+ HYROX races, including competing at Worlds.

In this episode, we break down what actually matters if you’re trying to get better at HYROX and what most people are getting wrong.

From going out too fast on race day, to trying to train everything at once, to the mental side when a race doesn’t go to plan this is a real look at the mistakes, lessons, and adjustments that come with chasing progress in a hybrid sport.

If you’re training for HYROX, thinking about it, or just trying to balance strength and endurance without burning out this one’s for you.

Chapters

00:00 Why Hyrox

04:48 Ironman to HYROX

06:25 Transitioning to High Rocks and Early Success

09:07 First HYROX to Worlds

10:43 Doing Too Much & How He Trains Now

14:59 HYROX Mistakes on Race Day

19:45 Threshold Training Insights

25:28 Pro Weights, Podiums, The Diffrence

31:16 When It Doesn't Go Right

36:51 The Hybrid Athlete's Dilemma

40:33 Where Progress Comes From

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Scott wasn’t supposed to walk.

Now he’s chasing 100 miles.

This isn’t a clean, polished story. It’s what it actually looked like growing up being told what he couldn’t do, dealing with how people saw him, and figuring it out the hard way.

At one point he stopped going outside. Didn’t want to be seen. Didn’t like what he saw in the mirror.

Now he’s training for distances most people won’t even attempt.

We talk about the part people don’t see the pain, the judgment, the self doubt and the decision to keep moving anyway.

“No one’s better than you. You just have to go again.”

Chapters

00:00 Disney Full Circle Moment
06:07 " I Wasn't Supposed to Walk... Let Alone Run"
09:57 Challenges Chasing 100 Miles Despite the Odds
14:25 The Reality of Running in ExoSym
20:37 When It all Broke Down
23:30 It Wasn't the Pain
32:50 I Was in a Hole
35:28 Hearing What People Really Thought
38:41 Why Running
43:20 Bigger Than Running
49:18 The Next Challenge Awaits

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David stopped running for years after back issues and thought that chapter was over.

At 74, he found his way back building a daily run streak and rediscovering something he thought he lost.

We talk about what that actually looks like, how he adapted his running, and why showing up every day changed more than just his fitness.

Chapters

00:00 Running Again at 74

04:18 How He Runs Every Day Without Breaking

09:17 Defiance

11:47 Family Support and Sharing the Journey

16:53 Reflections on Running and Life Lessons

20:32 His Running Form & Technique

23:14 Consistency Over Intensity

27:16 Why He Keeps the Same Course

28:58 Nutrition and Lifestyle Choices

30:18 Community Engagement and Support

32:22 Tracking the Journey & Daily Rituals

37:55 The Gift of Running Again

38:53 It's never Too Late

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IG: instagram.com/run.anotherday/


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In this episode of The People Run Podcast, Fitz sits down with Rio Mata to talk about what it really means to build yourself through adversity.

At a young age, Rio faced injuries, family challenges, and isolation. Instead of folding, he found the gym, leaned into discipline, and started chasing something bigger. That path led him into bodybuilding, running, coaching others, and now preparing for one of the toughest 100 mile races in the country.

This conversation goes beyond training. It’s about learning through struggle, investing in guidance instead of going it alone, and developing the mindset to keep showing up when things aren’t ideal. From running a marathon through pain to using breathwork to stay locked in, Rio shares how he’s continuing to evolve and push his limits.

Chapters

00:00 Early Struggles & Finding the Gym

04:34 Taking the Risk (Hiring a Coach)

08:10 Why Doing It Alone Keeps You Stuck

13:00 The Breathwork Trick That Helped Him Run Through Pain

19:03 Coaching Others & Leading a Team

22:14 Purpose & Doing Hard Things

30:00 Mindset, Identity, Belief

37:39 First 100 Miler: Why IMTUF?

40:04 Training for the Mountains From Texas

42:19 What He'd Tell His Younger Self

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IG: instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
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IG: instagram.com/itsriomata/


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After years of chasing a sub 3 marathon, Bobby finally hit his goal… and started asking what was next.

Instead of doubling down on running, he decided to try something completely different stepping on a bodybuilding stage for the first time.

Chapters
00:00 After Sub 3 : What Now?
03:09 Marathoner to Physique Prep
06:26 Can a Runner Build Stage Ready Physique?
09:29 Teaching Himself Bodybuilding (No Coach)
12:09 The Experience on Stage
15:19 Show Day vs Race Day Pressure
18:28 Winning His First Show: 1st Novice, 3rd masters
23:04 Parallels Between Running and Bodybuilding
28:02 What Bodybuilding Taught Him About Glycogen and Underfueling
30:26 The Importance of Nutrition in Training
31:57 Surprising Himself. " I Didn't ThinkI Belongned"
33:27 What's Harder: Marathon Training or Bodybuilding Stage?
35:37 Applying Bodybuilding to Marathon Training (San Diego Build)
38:07 Utilizing Bodybuilding Techniques in Running
40:31 Chasing 2:50 at San Diego Marathon
43:25 Balancing Training, Family, and Life
47:18 What He's Building Next

Follow Us:
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IG: instagram.com/vividcoachingllc/


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Eric went from a D1 basketball background to competing in Hyrox and recently dropped 8 minutes off his time.

In this episode, we talk about what actually helped him improve: running on tired legs, speed work, race strategy, and the reality of Hyrox.

We also get into balancing training with a full schedule, the mental side of racing, and why you just have to show up and figure it out.

Chapters
00:00 4:45 AM Mornings, Coaching & Training Balance
09:05 Sacrifices vs Tradeoffs in Pursuing Fitness
12:56 D1 Basketball at Northwestern
19:11 Basketball to Hyrox
22:10 Getting Humbled in His First Hyrox
26:17 How He Trains Now & Running on Tired Legs
28:50 Inside Hyrox: Stations, Pacing & How Hard it Really is
31:25 His Best Race & Breakthrough
33:42 Hyrox Progress: How He Dropped 8 Minutes
35:24 Why Shoes Can Make or Break Your Race
37:20 170 BPM MID Race What to Do
41:29 Race Smart: Strategy, Pacing, and Just Starting
44:20 Goals + Future in Hyrox
45:58 Advice for FirstTime Hyrox


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IG: instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
YT: youtube.com/@ThePeopleRunPodcast
Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/

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IG: instagram.com/ez.train/


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