Jon & Miranda sit down with John Kelly to talk about what Barkley Marathons success really teaches you about motivation, planning, and making peace with outcomes you cannot control. We also go deep on his Appalachian Trail record attempt for Hurricane Helene recovery, how his leg stopped functioning near the end, and how he rebuilt confidence as Western States draws near. 
• his evolving role at Barkley from rookie to veteran 
• fame inside a niche sport and why intrinsic motivation matters more than attention 
• supported FKTs and how crew commitment becomes a powerful reason to keep moving 
• Appalachian Trail fundraiser for Hurricane Helene recovery and the mindset tools he used day to day 
• the final day of the AT and the forced end of the adventure when his foot would not respond and long-term health became the concern  
• rehab reality after a failed attempt, from MRIs to nerve entrapment theories to targeted strength work 
• Western States pacing strategy, chase-pack patience and high-carb fueling at higher intensity 
• Tour de Géants as the race he loves that doesn't love him back 
• redefining suffering as voluntary artificial adversity and why it builds resilience for real crises 

Learn more about John's adventures: https://randomforestrunner.com/

Thanks for listening to Running With Problems. Follow us on Instagram @runningwithproblems. DM us there with questions in text or audio messages! Or email us at podcast@runningwithproblems.run.

Hosted by Jon Eisen (@mildly_athletic) and Miranda Williamson (@peaksandjustice). Edited by Jon Eisen. Theme music by Matt Beer.