🚨 New Episode Alert! 🚨 Ultra-running fans, get ready for an inspiring conversation with none other than John DeDoncker—a legend in endurance sports! John is an 8-time Leadville Trail 100 finisher, a Leadman finisher, and a Western States 100 miler finisher—but he's aiming for something even bigger: becoming a 10-time Leadville Trail 100 finisher! Hailing from the Quad Cities, John grew up in East Moline and has lived in FIVE of the Quad Cities! He graduated from the University of Iowa (Tippie College of Business) and earned his JD from Iowa College of Law in 1988. A former President of TBK Bank Midwest Division, John’s journey from playing golf and tennis to conquering ultra marathons is truly remarkable. His story is one of grit, determination, and relentless pursuit of excellence—and I promise, it’ll leave you motivated to chase your own big goals! Please like and subscribe to the channel!

Let’s celebrate the incredible journey of John DeDoncker together. #UltraRunning #Leadville100 #Endurance #Inspiration #JohnDeDoncker #PodcastRelease 🎤🏔️🏃‍♂️

Welcome to Taking Chances - Why not you? where we dive deep into the minds of the world's best athletes, thinkers, and visionaries. Today, I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with a true legend in the world of ultrarunning—Michael Wardian.

If you’ve ever glanced at the leaderboard of an ultra-distance race, chances are you’ve seen his name at the top. Michael holds too many race records to list here, but if you’re curious, you can find the staggering details at Michael Wardian's Results.

From dominating the U.S. National 100 km Championship to claiming multiple U.S. 50 km and 50-mile titles, Michael has pushed the boundaries of human endurance time and time again. But how did he get here? What drives someone to run—sometimes for days on end—through pain, exhaustion, and every obstacle imaginable?

In this conversation, Michael takes us on a journey through his incredible career, sharing insights into his training, his mindset, and what it truly means to be one of the greatest ultra runners in the world.

Stay tuned—you won’t want to miss this.

I had the privilege of sitting down with Curt Johnston, a 2018 Leadville 100 Trail Race finisher, for a conversation packed with grit, determination, and a whole lot of heart. We reflected on his early days playing basketball in high school and college, his quest to break 46:00 at the Bix7, and—most importantly—his incredible comeback from a DNF in 2016 to crossing the finish line at Leadville in 2018. Curt shared his physical and mental approach to preparing for that redemption race, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it.

Oh, and today’s a special day—Curt turns 49! So be sure to send him a birthday shoutout. And what’s next for him? Maybe a big buckle in Leadville. IYKYK. Tune in!