Athlete On Fire

Our guest is nothing if not passionate about the sport he has made his career.  As the only Irish born NBA ever he shares the story of how he came to play basketball after an initial love of hockey.  A 7 inch growth spurt somewhat ruined that dream as did the powerful, and negative, words of his first high school coach.  Things would change as his family would move to a new state, playing for a new coach.  Hard work and a journeyman's attitude would pay off in college and playing overseas and he shares an unlikely story of running in to some ex teammates who didn't believe he was a starting center in the NBA.  A great storyteller, our guest shares some amazing stories from his career as well as what his legacy might be leading young athletes today.  Plug those earphones in and go for a shoot around for today's first NBA athlete on the Athlete On Fire show!

This episode of Athlete On Fire brings a National Champion and world class athlete in the sport of cyclocross in to the mix.  He shares what his family did every summer and how it formed his idea of what work is.  He got into his sport at 15 and pretty much never looked back. He shares how his optimism allows him to compete at a high level and what a day in the life is like.  He breaks down the sport of cyclocross for anyone who may not know what it is and his passion is contagious.  After today's show you are going to go out and find the next cyclocross event near you and enter because today's athlete is absolutely on FIRE!

Our guest today is a a self proclaimed lifetime athlete. From excelling in football at a young age to playing division I at Colorado State University, sprinting at the highest level and playing professionally, he takes us through it all.  A broken family at an early age had him living out of a car with his sister.  This led to stops at foster homes and inconsistency as a growing young man.  His story is great for anyone who thinks you can't make it from a bad start.  He is a cerebral athlete and shares habits and training advice for any level. He goes into why he will always be an athlete and you are sure to appreciate to takeaways in this episode of Athlete On Fire.

Our guest was one of the catalysts for Athlete On Fire as a Colorado buddy of Scott's and he just happens to be an amazing athlete himself.  Learn how he manages a crazy work/life balance with training for endurance mountain biking, raising two little ones, and running his own successful online brand and podcast, Mountain Bike Radio.  We talk about how being authentic is a byproduct of tough endurance racing and how to break down long events. He gives some great actionable advice and we go off topic a bit with our history.  Hope you enjoy this 52nd installment of the Athlete On Fire podcast!

Our guest is first and foremost an adventurer.  He started in the world of motor sports and eventually came upon penny farthings.  Yes, those crazy old school bikes with the giant front tire.  He began building these after taking some notes at a museum.  His talent and passion allowed him to build the very bikes he would ride all over the world.  Join us to learn how he prepares mentally and physically for these amazing journeys.  He is truly an Athlete On Fire!

Our guest is a runner.  He runs ultra's and marathons at a very high level.  His consistency and ability to run so many distances at a high level is his hallmark.  Here is the kicker. He works a regular 9 to 5 and has a great family life.  The show was even recorded in his office to fit us in and I love the authenticity here.  He has raced in the last 6 weeks in New Zealand, the North Pole, Boston , and Big Sur.  He has done some really cool things in the sport and you are going to enjoy how he takes us on the ride with him.  Enjoy this episode with family man, working man, and amazing runner who is obviously an Athlete On Fire!

Our guest is a runner.  He has mastered so many distances and styles of race that we could never cover it all in just one show but he does take us on the journey.  From a childhood spent in the woods to the aventurous life in the Pacific NW we cover everything from the transition to Ultra distances to the Cascade Trifecta, an amazing attempt at an amazing feat.  Stay with us as he gives a great running challenge for you to try out and if you have kids you are going to love what he is trying out for a better running experience with them.  Another humble, interesting, and accomplished athlete on this episode will inspire you to go out to do amazing things yourself!

Our guest wanted a change from his life in his early thirties so he join a running club, ran his first marathon, and was hooked with the "running bug".  Fast forward to being named the Ultra Runner of year in Australia in 2013.  We find out what a day in the life for him is like, and it is filled to the brim.  As a sponsored athlete, special education teacher, and coach he shares stories from all three that are interesting and inspiring.  We hope you all draw from the strength and integrity of this amazing Athlete On Fire!

Our guest is wildly entertaining.  Almost as wild as the events she competes in all over the world as the first female obstacle course racer.  She tells stories of failure and why you shouldn't take yourself so seriously. She shares a story of a man who was once 700 pounds and how it inspired her.  Her story about a crazy event in Nicaragua has everything from carrying live chickens to climbing bamboos poles and almost losing it.  She is also a writer on obstacle racing and has her very own book with her expertise in the sport to showcase for all.  This is one of those shows you hope will never end which means we will just have to do it all again!

Our guest is an adventurer first and foremost.  His attraction to wild and beautiful places has led him to where he is today as an inspiring ultra runner, coach, and photographer. His website alone will leave you awestruck and ready to hit the road, trail, rail, or air!  He shares what works for him on the trail and some amazing insights from his crazy adventures including a crazy incidence at the Hardrock 100.  His early days were spent in Europe with teacher parents and he shares some of those experiences.

Our guest is a former Olympian and current running liason to the masses. He shares how making the 1972 Olympic team changed his life in how he wanted to share the sport he loved with the world.  He founded the first specialty running store in the US.  He tells stories of his upbringing including a great one about his dad, Elliott Galloway, who ran his first marathon in under 3 hours around 60 years old.  It's an inspiring story for sure. He goes on to share the importance of mantra's and how they force us back into our conscious mind, allowing us to keep the negative thoughts that always creep in during competition at bay.  His humble, unique approach to teaching and coaching is going to inspire YOU to do amazing things yourself.

Our guest is a writer and runner.  Amongst other things she shares her process and how she was able to write her very powerful memoir, "So Far." She has great insights to the running world as long time contributor to "Runner's World". She used running as medication and therapy as well as her natural love of the act.  Learn about why running and being active in general was important coming from such a difficult situation at home.  We touch on some new topics to Athlete On Fire including mental health and how our guest has dealt with her own.  She happens to also be married to former Boston Marathon champion Amby Burfoot and has some fun stories of how her life of running with him has taken her on some great adventures.  We talk about the parallels between writing and running and there is no doubt everyone will learn something from this episode!

Our guest takes us to Boston with amazing perspective in his newest book "4:09:43."  This is just his newest project.  Learn how one of the true legends in the running world got started running and writing and how he has been able to be successful in both endeavors.  Hal takes us through his life decade by decade and shares some great stories, including the one regarding his 1964 Boston Marathon where he finished as the first American.  I learned so much and you will too.  You are going to feel like you were able to sit down and talk with Hal just as I did on this latest and greatest episode of Athlete On Fire.

Our guest started from humbling roots in unicycling.  You heard that right! From a champion unicycler to world class endurance athlete, he take us on a pretty sweet journey that includes some ridiculous feats.  He also shares some of the ways he prepared for the World's Toughest Mudder and why it's so important to be strong for endurance! 

Our guest bagged every one of New Hampshires 48 4,000 foot peaks multiple times and even in the winter.  He is an avid ultra runner and as passionate about his athletic pursuits as any guest we've had on the show.  He shares some great inspiring stories and even one about a blind man doing amazing things in the mountains.  You are going on an adventure today!

He started as a All American in one sport and ended up as an Olympian in another.  Listen to the awesome story of a passionate athlete that breaks down some of the mental barriers we all have in competition and life.  If you can't pull something of value out of this one you weren't listening!

Our guest runs in places most can only dream of, at speeds we can't comprehend.  Join us as he takes us on his journey.  He shares what inspired him and  why having a backup plan in competition is so important. Learn about the series he directs and how you can get out there and participate in these inspiring events and listen to all of the amazing takeaways he gives you, the Athlete On Fire, listening on your run, workout, or drive!

Our guest tells stories so well he'll have you from the first 10 seconds of the show.  He is one fo the most well known endurance athletes on the planet and he shares things with Athlete on Fire you probably haven't heard anywhere else.  Grab that smart phone, plug in those ear phones and get out there while you listening to the inspiring guest today!

Our guest is a mountain runner to the extreme.  Listen as she takes us all over the world and to some of the most amazing places anyone could dream of running!  She paints an amazing picture of her hometown in New Zealand and talks about what it takes to face challenges that are right in front of you.

In this episode our guest takes us on his journey to one of the fastest sports in the world, luge. He tells us how he chose luge over bobsled and just how unique a sport luge is to train for.  Added to the mix is his insatiable appetite for speed and adventure and you are going to learn a bunch from this inspiring young athlete!