Episode 26: Solo Strides #2 — Losing Rhythm, Finding Alignment

Welcome back to Solo Strides.

In Episode 26, I pick up right where the last chapter left off—but this time, we’re not talking about the break…

We’re talking about what happens when you finally find your rhythm again… and then lose it just as fast!

This episode takes you into the Crazy Mountains of Montana, where a single moment on the trail turned into something much bigger than a fall. Through raw audio, real-time frustration, and a moment where another runner stops to check on me mid-race, you’ll hear exactly what makes the ultra running community what it is — people who show up for each other, even when they don’t know your name.

We get into what it feels like when running—something that becomes part of who you are — gets taken away again… and how quickly “I missed a run” can turn into “Who am I without it?”

But more importantly, this episode is about the shift that came from it all.

Learning when to stop pushing…
 and finally start listening.

Because sometimes the lesson isn’t found in the miles you run —
 it’s in the moments that force you to slow down.

So lace up, press play, and let’s put one foot in front of the other together.

Photographer Credit: Anastasia Wilde (Photo Used With Permission) https://www.instagram.com/_anastasiawilde/

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Somewhere in the middle of the crazy mountains of Montana, a runner is out there, pushing through the miles, thinking it's just another day on the trail. But this one, this one had other plans.

SPEAKER_01 0:32

Yeah. Yeah, that's me. You're probably wondering how I ended up in this situation. And if I'm being honest, so am I. I didn't realize it in that moment, but that moment there changed everything. Because last time on Solar Strides, I talked about the break, why I stepped away, and what it took for me to come back. I had just gotten back into my rhythm. But then this happened. And just like that, it was taken away again. Uh I definitely wasn't ready for this one. Hey hey, what's up everybody out there running on Native Land? And welcome to the Run True Diaries Podcast. I'm your host, Luis Say KHico, and thank you for spending some of your precious time listening to the show. I appreciate it, definitely not gonna waste it. Lace up, brace up, and let's get moving. And today, we're stepping into the solo strides where we get real about the miles beneath the miles, the ones that break us and rebuild us. And today, this one feels different. Because this isn't just another episode. This is me stepping back up to the mic after almost a year away again. And if I'm being real with you, I didn't expect another hiatus to happen so quickly, and I didn't want to come back just to say, hey, I'm back, and leave it at that. Nah. That wouldn't be honest. And if there's one thing that this podcast has to be, is honest. So before I talk about running, before I talk about goals, before I talk about what's next on the road, I want to do what this podcast has always done best. Talk about the person behind the runner. Because over the past year, life asked more of me in other areas. I had to step up and heal from this injury. I had to put my family first and lock in on a lifelong career. And somewhere in all of that, I had to sit with who I was when I wasn't showing up as the runner I was used to being. And that's what this episode is all about. Not just the comeback, but what that break had taught me. What it showed me about healing, priorities, and identity. What it means when the miles stop. But life keeps moving. Because maybe some of y'all know exactly what this feels like. Maybe you had to step away from running. Maybe you got sidelined by an injury. Maybe your family needed you more. Maybe your job, your purpose, and your responsibilities pulled you into a season where the run had to take the backseat. And maybe you've been asking yourself, can I still call myself a runner? If I haven't been running the way I used to. And if that's you, trust me, I get it. So on this solo strides, I'm not showing up polished. I'm not showing up pretending I didn't feel the weight of this pause. And I'm definitely not showing up to perform my way back into that space. But I am showing up as a parent, as a professional, as a man who had to heal, as a human being who had to be present for the life outside of the run. And now, as someone who's finally ready to talk about it. So if you ever had to step back from something you love, if you've ever felt like you've been forced into a slower pace than the one that you're used to, if you ever had to learn that strength doesn't always look like pushing harder, but sometimes it looks like pausing long enough just to fucking listen, then this one is for you. So let's talk about what my time away has taught me. And the first thing this season taught me is this. Here, listen, let me show you what I mean. Oh fuck. God damn it. Yeah, I keep tripping.

SPEAKER_00 5:16

Okay. Yeah. Take a digger.

SPEAKER_01 5:19

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:19

Oh yeah, I did it earlier too.

SPEAKER_01 5:31

God damn it, keep kidding me. Shit. Fuck. Yeah. Oh shit. Fuck. I'll be okay. I mean. Do you want me to send somebody back?

SPEAKER_00 5:48

You guys doing okay?

SPEAKER_01 5:49

Yeah. I can walk it out.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

Okay. I got like super shades, maybe.

SPEAKER_01 5:55

I think I'll be okay until. Hi, Bex. I appreciate it. You want me to hang with you? I know I'll be okay. Are you sure? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. What's your number? 150.

unknown 6:06

Okay. I'll let him know it'll work for you.

SPEAKER_01 6:08

Alright, thank you. Luis. Thank you. Fuck. That right there, that's something special. That's the ultra running community. People you don't know, but will stop, still check on you, still offer to stay. And yeah, I told her I was good. But the fact that she even asked, that matters. And man, honestly, I didn't even know I left my camera rolling. And because of that, I got like an hour and 20 minutes of me out there falling, cussing myself out in the middle of the mountains, trying to act like everything was fine. But hearing that back, fuck yeah, I was going through it. Watching runners pass me like it was nothing, and I'm over here at mile 15, fighting for my life, like I'm fighting for that finish line. But that's where this lesson kicked in. Because this time pushing harder wasn't the answer. Listening was listening to my body in that moment. And after that, listening to what life was asking from me. And I start asking myself something real. Am I actually present? Or am I still trying to build my life around the run? Instead of letting the run fit into my life. And that one that one right there made me pause. Because for the longest time I thought I had it all figured out. Wake up, run, handle life after that, and repeat. Turns out, life doesn't always work on a training plan. And this season it made me adjust. It definitely made me listen. And it made me show up where I was actually needed. And even if that meant spending more time in the aid station than I planned. Yeah, the impatient side of me. That little diva. Definitely didn't like that at all. But she learned. Because when I finally slowed down enough to pay attention, it became clear. For a long time, I was running like my life had to serve my running. Everything had to fit around the miles, the schedule, and the grind. But this season totally flipped that script. It showed me something that I needed to learn the hard way. It's about shifting from a mindset where your life serves your running to one where running serves your life. And honestly, I feel I run a whole lot better now. Hey, if you're going through it, I hope you find a little spark in these words. And before I sign off, I want to take a moment to thank each and every listener, past, present, and future. Because as of now, episode 26, we've officially crossed 150,000 downloads. And yeah, it took a little time to get here, but that right there, that's a testament to long-term consistency. So truly, thank you. The continued support from the running community definitely means more than you'll ever know. So again, thank you. And with that, we have crossed the finish line. So if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or guest recommendations, contact me at runchu.diaries at gmail.com. Again, that is runchu.diaries at gmail.com. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, that's where we're most active. But you can also find us on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Keyword search Run Chew Diaries. Thank you for listening to the Run Chew Diaries Podcast episode 26, our second solo strides installment. Until next time, remember that with each step comes the decision to take another. So keep putting one foot in front of the other because it's amazing what you can do on your own, two feet in a mouth. Did I say there's a little impatient diva inside of me?