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April 2025
Run from the Norm Newsletter
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Hey there Friends!
It’s been a busy month over here with Run from the Norm, but honestly, that seems to be the way I like to keep things. It's also been a fun reflection as I put this Newsletter together. I'm always filled with equal parts excitement and equal parts fear right before I hit the "publish" button.
Will the hotlinks work? Will people find value in the content? Does any of this even make sense? And then I take a deep breath, trust that the juice is worth the squeeze, and hit the button.
So here's a quick rundown of what's been happening over here at RFTN HQ.
Podcasts: We released a fun multi-part podcast conversation with Bozeman, Montana based trail and ultra runner, Carolyn Garriott. We got to know her more personally in Part 1, and then followed up in Part 2 to hear all about her seven-day battle through the Arizona Monster 300. Both were great conversations with Carolyn dropping wisdom bombs all over the place. You'll definitely want to listen to both episodes.
I also recorded a chat with 11-time (soon to be 12-time) Badwater veteran Frank McKinney, whose story is one of the most varied and multi-faceted personal journeys I’ve ever heard. Frank’s a philanthro-capitalist, a real estate artist, a 9-time author across 8 different genres, and he’s been featured in major outlets like USA Today, Forbes, Kiplinger’s, and on shows like Oprah, 60 Minutes, and The Today Show. Trust me—you’re going to want to hear this one to understand what all the references mean.
We also hosted a live podcast recording at the Fleet Feet Meridian store with co-owner, professional runner, and community powerhouse Megan Lacy. Megan’s run everywhere from Stanford and BSU to representing Team USA in mountain and trail running—and now she's helping to build a stronger, more connected running community through the Fleet Feet stores, the Boise Run Collective, and some incredible races. That conversation will be coming your way soon too!
Writing: Behind the scenes, I’ve been working hard on new blog content that I hope brings a little entertainment and value to your day. I enjoy putting them together as it helps keep my creative batteries fully charged. And like a true man-child who can't sit still, I'm constantly working on new ideas that I can't wait to share!
Personal accomplishment: I finally tackled my first big vertical run since back surgery, and catdang it felt good to suffer in all the right ways again! Grinding up to a high point to earn the view is a huge shot of the good stuff to my system, and it’s got me fired up to start expanding my goals again. More to come!
And finally, whether you’re grinding, growing, or just trying to get one step closer towards a big, audacious goal—keep moving forward! It's easy to forget that even the smallest steps forward are still moving you in the right direction. And some times you gotta be ok with kicking your feet up to stare at the fire for awhile while you reflect on how far you've actually come. 🤘
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🚨 So, what did we share this month?
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Podcast Episode #21
Carolyn Garriott (part 1)
From Marin to Montana: Carolyn's Journey of Resilience and Ultra Running Adventures
In this episode, I sat down with Carolyn Garriott—a trail runner, mother, and mountain soul who's built her life around resilience, curiosity, and the willingness to take on the long climbs.
From the Marin Headlands of California to the rugged ridgelines of Bozeman, Montana, Carolyn’s journey is full of the kind of strength that only shows up when life pushes you back and you're forced to make hard decisions.
We talk about racing in the dark, parenting through pain, and finding peace on the trail—including her desire to chase 300-mile ultra finishes at age 62!
Carolyn is living proof that it’s never too late to go long, go hard, and come back changed.
Podcast Episode #22
Carolyn Garriott (part 2)
Tackling the Arizona Monster 300
In Part 2, Carolyn and I went inside her seven-day experience at the Arizona Monster 300—a new (and first of it's distance in the USA) ultramarathon that pushed her to the limits of comfort, doubt, and exhaustion.
From trail-side blister surgery, dehydration so bad she almost didn't make it to the end, to a final emotional push toward the finish, Carolyn shares what it feels like to be stripped down to the essentials, have nothing left in the tank, and how the human spirit still finds a way even when no easy path remains.
It wasn't about crossing a finish line.
It was about the self-discovery you experience during the miles that nearly break you.
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🎧 Find these and every other Run from the Norm episode wherever you listen — or head straight to the source on the RFTN webpage.
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This month was a focus on building momentum—mentally, physically, and creatively. (Click the link to read the entire post)
- Go All In (be a whole-asser)
→ It's not about doing everything. It's about choosing your goal, committing to it fully, and showing up like it matters, all without losing the parts of life that make it worth living.
- The Middle Miles (where sh*t gets real)
→ Growth doesn’t happen at the starting line or the finish. It happens in the middle miles, the ones that almost break you.
- Act As If
→ Belief doesn’t always come first. Sometimes you have to act like you believe it before your mind catches up.
- Take ACTION: A Rally Cry to Get You Off the Couch
→ A no-excuses framework to get you unstuck and moving—one imperfect step at a time.
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📝 More Stories. More (s)Miles 😎
If you're into tails from the trails, emotional gut punches of honesty, or random rants to roast your excuses... I've got more of that.
Some posts target the heart. Others tickle your amygdala. Either way, consider this your official invite to continue scrolling with purpose.
🔎 Browse the full blog archive to see what else speaks to you and keeps your feet (and maybe your brain) moving forward.
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This month’s book picks? Full Pressfield.
I love Steven Pressfield and read more of his books than I can count. What he says lands hard with me because most of the time what he has to offer is exactly what I need. And it's not more inspiration—it's someone to hand you the shovel and tell you to get back to work.
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Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Want to Be
Steven Pressfield
If you’ve ever felt stuck between wanting to start and actually starting—this one’s for you. I love Steven Pressfield because he doesn’t waste time with fluff. He’s here to remind you that dreams don’t manifest out of inspiration—they get built when your ass is in the chair, on the trail, or wherever your heart keeps pulling you.
It's not self-help. It’s self-honesty.
And it’s a slap upside the head in the best possible way.
Whether you’re writing, running, building, or rebuilding, this book is a great shot of fire and focus. Short enough to finish in one sitting, and potent enough to punch through the noise that’s holding you back.
💥 Favorite line:
“The difference between an amateur and a pro? The amateur waits for inspiration. The pro shows up.” 👉 Find it here, read it, get to work, and don’t forget to bring snacks. 🍿 🍪 🥨
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Do The Work
Steven Pressfield
This month we’re going full Pressfield because, frankly, the guy just gets it. He writes like he’s inside your head, calling out your BS, and handing you the exact roadmap you need.
If Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be is about showing up, Do the Work is about settling into your comfy chair and getting it done. It's short, sharp, and pulls zero punches.
Resistance, procrastination, overthinking—it names the monsters and teaches you how to stab them in the eye, create some momentum, and keep moving.
💥 Favorite line:
“Start before you’re ready.” Seriously. Read it. Then take action and go build, run, write, launch, or create whatever you've been talking about doing but putting off for far too long.
Find it here 👉 Do The Work
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🌲 Food for Thought 🤔
Some truths don't need fixing, just facing.
"Don't confront me with my failures. I have not forgotten them."
Jackson Browne "These Days"
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📣 Super Sponsor Shoutout!
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This is becoming a partnership forged in fire! 🔥
You know that we only partner with brands that get it, and Fleet Feet Treasure Valley gets it.
Whether you're training for your first 5K or gearing up for another crack at a 100-miler, they’ve got the gear, nutrition, accessories, and know-how to keep you moving forward.
But what really sets them apart?
They don’t just sell you stuff. They listen.
The team at Fleet Feet takes the time to understand what you actually need—so you’re not just walking out with a shoe and a receipt, you’re walking out with a plan.
With two locations—The Village in Meridian and Karcher & the Blvd in Nampa—Fleet Feet isn’t just a store, it’s a community hub.
It’s where runners help runners.
It’s where you go to get unstuck.
It’s where people show up.
So stop in, get dialed, and tell ’em you’re there to Run from the Norm. 🤘🏃♂️🏃♀️
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Was this month on target? 🎯 |
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Your feedback matters.
Seriously—this whole thing only works if it resonates.
What stuck with you? What felt off? What made you move?
I’d love to hear it.
And while you’re at it...
🔥 What’s fueling you lately?
What’s lighting a fire under your feet—and in your heart?
Hit reply and let’s swap sparks.
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The world’s loud. The trails are long.
But you're still showing up, and that means something.
Thanks for being a part of this!
In grit & gratitude,
Jayk 🤘
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Because the best stories come from the road less traveled.
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If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. Thank you 🙏
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