Hey neighbor!!! If you ever want a running or hiking buddy hit me up! Thanks for sharing your story, and the nice surprise of someone else explaining where we live. :)
Go, Tyson! I LOVED this--especially appreciated your transparency with how running has helped your mental health. When I was at a particularly low point, I decided to hike the 500 mile Camino de Santiago de Compostela in roughly 30 days. Apart from being one of the best experiences of my life, I'm pretty sure it saved my life. Thanks again for sharing your powerful story.
As someone twice your age (!), Tyson, this story brought me joy!! You touched on so many great things, but I fully appreciate what you share concerning the mental benefits of running. Several years ago, one of my third grade students said to me: You didn't run today, did you, Mrs. Jones? Made me laugh. There's just something different about those running days:) How fortunate we are that we GET to run. Thank you so much for sharing your journey!!
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.
This really means a lot, thank you. I’ve only been running for about five years, and I help lead a run club now, so people often assume I’ve been doing this forever. The truth is there’s a whole story before the long miles, before I ever thought of myself as a runner.
I don’t see myself as someone people should follow, but leading a run club has taught me how powerful it is to meet people where they’re at, shoulder to shoulder. Just showing up, over and over, slowly shifts your baseline for what feels possible. That mental clarity you’re talking about, that’s been one of the biggest surprises for me.
I really appreciate you sharing your experience too. It’s wild how those shifts sneak up on you.
Absolutely powerful piece. Framing terrain as teh primary driver over speed flips conventional training wisdom, and makes sense when running becomes therapy rather than sport. I've seen similar patterns where mountain miles unlock problem-solving clarity that gym sessions never touched. The Cocodona 250 goal as a five-year anchor shows how aspirational events sustain commitmenteven through tough stretches.
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.
Hey neighbor!!! If you ever want a running or hiking buddy hit me up! Thanks for sharing your story, and the nice surprise of someone else explaining where we live. :)
Go, Tyson! I LOVED this--especially appreciated your transparency with how running has helped your mental health. When I was at a particularly low point, I decided to hike the 500 mile Camino de Santiago de Compostela in roughly 30 days. Apart from being one of the best experiences of my life, I'm pretty sure it saved my life. Thanks again for sharing your powerful story.
As someone twice your age (!), Tyson, this story brought me joy!! You touched on so many great things, but I fully appreciate what you share concerning the mental benefits of running. Several years ago, one of my third grade students said to me: You didn't run today, did you, Mrs. Jones? Made me laugh. There's just something different about those running days:) How fortunate we are that we GET to run. Thank you so much for sharing your journey!!
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.
This really means a lot, thank you. I’ve only been running for about five years, and I help lead a run club now, so people often assume I’ve been doing this forever. The truth is there’s a whole story before the long miles, before I ever thought of myself as a runner.
I don’t see myself as someone people should follow, but leading a run club has taught me how powerful it is to meet people where they’re at, shoulder to shoulder. Just showing up, over and over, slowly shifts your baseline for what feels possible. That mental clarity you’re talking about, that’s been one of the biggest surprises for me.
I really appreciate you sharing your experience too. It’s wild how those shifts sneak up on you.
Absolutely powerful piece. Framing terrain as teh primary driver over speed flips conventional training wisdom, and makes sense when running becomes therapy rather than sport. I've seen similar patterns where mountain miles unlock problem-solving clarity that gym sessions never touched. The Cocodona 250 goal as a five-year anchor shows how aspirational events sustain commitmenteven through tough stretches.
Glad this series is back! You are living the dream! Sequoia National Park looks gorgeous and definitely on my to-visit list.
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.
Thanks Rebecca! Well said, and I agree 100% with you.
Another great story. Terrific!
Thanks Jim!
Great to hear more of Tyson’s story - I’ve also started following him recently here on Substack. Love the casual running across Portugal!!
Thanks Terrell.
Thanks Craig! I appreciate you brother.