Hearing Your Stories: Tyson Baker
'I’m not really focused on speed, it’s the distance and the terrain that really captures my mind.'
Morning, friends! ☀️ (Or should I say, 🥶!)
If you’ve been reading this newsletter for a while, you probably remember me putting out a call last year to share your stories, your personal reflections on the journey of your life and what running has done for you.
The stories you’ve shared ever since have been some of the best pieces I’ve ever published here, and I feel like I’ve gotten to know you on an individual level so much better.
Today, we meet Tyson Baker, who I discovered recently on Substack Notes. His amazing photos of his runs throughout the western U.S. where he lives caught my eye, and I’ve just been so intrigued by hearing what it’s like to run through places like those — he brings a sense of adventure and exploration that has been so cool to see.
I know you’ll enjoy hearing Tyson’s story and what inspires him about running, and how it’s changed his life, as much as I did — and seeing all his amazing photos!
This is where I add, please know I’d LOVE to hear your story too, if you’re interested in sharing it. All you need to is reply back by email or in the comments below, and we’ll go from there. — Terrell
So, let’s hear a little bit about you! Who are you, your age (if you’d like to share), where you’re from, what you do, etc.
My name is Tyson Baker. I am 33 years old and live in Visalia, California. For those of you who don’t know, that’s basically the middle of California and the gateway to Sequoia National Park.
What do I do? That’s a hard question to answer, but in a nutshell, I chase adventure, which is what eventually led me into trail running.
What does your running routine look like? How many times a week, and how far do you run?
My weekly routine is pretty much the same. I don’t live super close to the trails, so most mornings I’m running about 7 miles around town right after I wake up. I usually start the day with coffee in bed, then head out.
When I get home, I work for a couple of hours at my marketing job, answering emails and taking care of whatever needs attention that day. After that, I head out for a second run of around 3 miles.
On a few afternoons or evenings each week, I roll straight into a bar shift at the brewery. On the weekends, I like to get out for longer runs on the trails.
I typically run 6 to 7 days a week, averaging anywhere from 50 to 80 miles, depending on where I’m at in a training block and whether I’m preparing for something big.
Were you an athletic kid growing up? What are your early memories of what fitness and health were about?
Growing up, I wouldn’t say I was an athletic kid, or at least I didn’t think I was. I had more of that ADHD energy and loved being outdoors. I spent a lot of time riding my bike, skateboarding, and I was also in the Boy Scouts, where I was introduced to backpacking and rock climbing at a fairly young age.
In a sense, that’s where athletics first showed up for me, even though I didn’t really view it that way at the time. It was less about sports and more of a lifestyle.
How did you first get into running? Was there something that inspired you — like a performance at the Olympics, for example, or a runner you discovered by watching them on social media or TV? Or was there someone in your own life who inspired you to think, ‘maybe I can do this?’
I got into running almost five years ago, during a pretty low point in my life when I was dealing with a lot of mental health stuff. One day I was on YouTube and came across a documentary about the inaugural year of Cocodona 250. It really stuck with me and inspired me to go out for a run.
I remember that single run made me feel so good. It cleared my mind and helped more than I expected. I honestly haven’t stopped running since that day. Running has taught me a lot of valuable lessons and pushed me farther in life than I ever imagined, all with the hope that one day I’ll line up for Cocodona 250.
How has your interest in running evolved since then? Do you run farther, or faster now?
Oh yeah, my running has changed a lot. Back then I was really weak, both mentally and physically. I remember thinking three miles was impossible.
Since then I’ve done multiple multi-day runs, and most recently I ran across all of Portugal with friends. Running has become something I’m obsessed with, but in a healthy, mindful way. I’m not really focused on speed, it’s the distance and the terrain that really captures my mind.
What do you balance your running with? Do you have a family to take care of? Kids, parents or other relatives or loved ones? If so, how do you balance all of it and still make time to run/care for yourself?
Yeah, I’m still young. I’m in my thirties and don’t have kids right now. I do have a wife, and part of learning to run consistently has been figuring out how to balance being a husband, keeping up with chores, managing two jobs, and still carving out time for myself.
Sometimes it’s as simple as just getting out the door, even if it means sacrificing a little rest. But you know, I’m also not perfect and I don’t have this all figured out.
I’m still a runner at the end of the day, with sweaty running clothes sprawled throughout the house like a complete feral animal. Then again, I’m pretty sure all runners are like that. Ask me this again once I have kids, and I’m sure my answer will be completely different.
Is there anything you’re especially proud of that you can point to your running and say, ‘this helped me achieve ______’?
I’d say running has helped me achieve a kind of mental clarity and perspective that I didn’t have before. When I’m out there on long runs, it’s like the noise of life quiets down, and I can really think or sometimes, not think at all, and just be present.
That sense of calm and focus has been huge for me, and it’s something I carry with me off the trail too. It’s definitely one of the things I’m proud running has given me.
What have you learned about yourself from your running journey? Is there anything that’s changed about you since you started?
Yeah, this one’s pretty easy for me to answer. Running has helped me build resilience. I used to be pretty weak mentally, dealing with my own mental health struggles, and running taught me that I’m stronger and more resilient than I ever thought.
Honestly, that mental strength and healing is probably one of my biggest accomplishments from running, it’s given me a sense of confidence and endurance in life that I never had before.
Where would you like to go with your running? Is there anything special you’d like to achieve — like, say, running all six World Marathon Majors, or running an ultra?
Honestly, Cocodona 250 is kind of the race that inspired me to start, so finishing that one is definitely a goal. Beyond that, I’m drawn to self-supported adventures through the mountains and other personal projects. Running not just for races, but for the challenge, the exploration, and the experiences along the way.
What keeps you going? Especially if you’ve been running for a while — do you ever get bored with it? How do you find new things to motivate you, to keep you going?
What keeps me going is motivation in the movement itself, the simple act of getting out the door, even on days I don’t feel like it, or going for a long run when I’m tired. It’s really all about consistency that motivates me. But what drives me most is discovering new terrain.
If running ever starts to feel like it’s taking a toll or getting repetitive, I try to hit new trails or explore different areas. Turning a run into an adventure keeps my mind fresh and motivated.
Look back at yourself when you were a kid, maybe say 10 years old. Remember how you felt, what you thought, especially what you thought you were capable of back then. If you could talk to that kid now, what would you say?
That it’s okay to feel restless and unsure, those are the things that will lead you to the adventures that matter. Keep running, keep exploring, and trust that getting lost is part of discovering your path.
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This really resonates. The mental clarity piece is underrated, like how running can be both therapy and meditation at the same time. What strikes me is that progression from thinking 3 miles was imposible to multi-day runs, the way our baseline for what's possilbe shifts when we just keep showing up. I've been through similar transformations with different challenges and its wild to watch it happen.
Loved this — especially the attention to mental health. I tell people all the time that being active is first and foremost to benefit my mental health; the physical health benefits are a nice added bonus.