Latest / Reimagine Running / Reimagine Running | Interview with Dustin Booker S1E10
Transcript
- Coach Ryan Head: Running is a strange thing. Some people find it on the sidewalk at sunrise. Some find it deep in the mountains chasing daylight. And some of us find it when life feels heavy and running is the only thing that makes sense. For some, starts with the 5k. For others, it's a marathon. And for a few, it's a hundred miles that changes everything. But somewhere between the first step and the finish line, something happens. Running stops being about pace or distance or medals. It becomes about purpose. I'm your host Ryan Head. All right everybody, welcome back to Reimagine Running, the podcast talking about your why and why you do any of this, why you do all this running, why it's important to you. am excited. This episode today is be one for the books. I'm excited for the guest that I have on. He is someone who, to me, is ⁓ of best people in the Ogden area and he's just someone who ⁓ really leads by Hey runner, thanks for hanging out with me today on Reimagine Running. I'm grateful you're here and a part of this great podcast. I just want to remind you, if you ever feel stuck and unsure or just want someone in your corner, I do offer coaching for runners at any distance, whether you're starting out with the 5K or you're chasing some crazy big goals and dreams like the marathon or the 100 miler, I'd love to help you. Please reach out and I'd be happy to set up a time to go over options and plans and goals with you. Well, until next time. And this is Reimagine Running, the podcast dedicated to talking about why we run. Each episode, we'll sit down with runners from every background, trail runners, road runners, beginners, veterans, and talk about their journey. Not just where they've run, but why they run. Because for many of us, running didn't just change our fitness. It helped us find clarity, healing, discipline, hope, and sometimes even ourselves. Whether your why was born on a short loop around the block or somewhere deep inside a long, lonely mile. You know, when I think to myself about people out there who are trying their best, who they're finding their opportunities to do running when possible, this is my guest. Not only that, he is a devoted dad. He is someone who just does amazing stuff for his family. You know, we're gonna dive into a little bit of that today, but you're gonna hear about some crazy stuff, not only with regard to Take care of yourself, trust the process, stay disciplined and keep chasing that Y. This podcast is for you. Welcome to re-imagine running. his family, but how no matter what happens, he still goes out and gets his runs in. He still goes out and knocks out a self-supported race. I don't wanna give it away yet. He's been on another podcast. He's talked about this story. I'm excited for him to tell me this story so you guys can all hear it. It is just awesome. So I'm excited to have Dustin Booker join me today for this episode. Before we get into it with Dustin. I want to emphasize my premier sponsor Fleetfeet, who is amazing. ⁓ Fleetfeet, there Ogden Layton, they will get you taken care of if you have any needs, any nutrition needs, any gear needs. Go see them, they'll get you taken care of. So excited to have them on board with me as we continue to roll this out. So that being said, Dustin Booker, welcome to the podcast, man. Dustin Booker: Thanks dude, thanks for having me on man. Coach Ryan Head: Awesome. Well, it looks like you've got a friend there with you, which is awesome, and I'm loving it. That's awesome. You got your buddy there, which is so so cool. Dude, I was able to give a little bit of an intro of you, but why don't you take a few minutes and tell people a little bit more about you, and as I always kind of joke, You don't need to tell anything about running. I know you're also into other forms of exercise. You do some other cool stuff. Dustin Booker: Yeah Coach Ryan Head: But why don't you take a few minutes and tell everybody more about you. Dustin Booker: All right, man. Yeah, thanks again for having me on. I have really enjoyed your podcast, listening to all guests and getting inspiration and ⁓ getting to know people that I already know, but getting to know them better. I it's very cool. So, yeah, I am a father three and husband to the lovely Mrs. Booker. And then we got our little pit bull piggy I work in aerospace as a programmer and then I'm an MMA coach and a kids karate teacher and yeah, dude. Yeah, it's just family and fun, And all the madness that comes with it. Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. Yeah, that's awesome. Well, I love it. I know you're a busy man. always love ⁓ your stuff you post on social media. I think it's so cool to see you doing stuff with, like you said, MMA stuff, I know, ⁓ and we'll get to the very first time I actually really met you in person was at a race, but I remember after that we kinda started following each other and I was like. this dude's like way more into like, like, you know, being at the gym it was crazy to like see all this stuff about you. And then I don't know ever since then, dude, you just been like on this trajectory of just crushing it with running. And I think that's what's really cool about you ⁓ and why I think your story is just so inspiring. So, you know, let's hop into it, man. I am excited. Why don't you tell people? Let's talk about for a minute how, when did running become important to you? Or when did it first enter your life, if you will? Dustin Booker: Let's go. ran my life. I grew up in the ⁓ kind the foothills of Farmington there. like Farmington Canyon was my backyard. So just got to go run and like do all sorts ⁓ of like I got involved in martial arts when I was like six. And so for every belt test, we would have to run for that. you know, we'd have to go run like three miles and then come back and do our belt test or whatever. And then Coach Ryan Head: Nice. Dustin Booker: Kind of inspired by like the Rocky movies and stuff like that. Like running was just always a part of training for martial arts I was I was heavily into competition for a lot of years and so that's just what you did is, you know part of training you weren't running But then Man ⁓ there's there's some some gaps in there and ⁓ lot of dumb decisions then I would always kind of come back to it and would races here there. But yeah, it's always running up until probably about five years ago. Running has always been a part of my life, but it's always kind of been in the background. It hasn't been a real solid part. I'm sure we'll get into that. Okay. Coach Ryan Head: So when like, let's dive into that a little bit. When did running start to take, you know, not be on the back burner? Cause no, you said that's kind of like you said, ⁓ it's been there. And I honestly feel the exact same way as you. Like I remember, you know, when I was a teenager, I was actually good at it. I don't think I was great. I was just good. I could run the mile pretty fast. I could, you know, do almost a, you know, sub five minute mile and and loved doing it, but I was more of a football guy, I was more of a baseball guy, I loved basketball, that was my jam. And I always like to go out for a mile or two, was like, dude, this is just fun, but it's funny now when I think back about it, like, dude, you were actually pretty good at this, and if you hadn't hurt your knees, what could you have done? And it's okay, that's life, right? Like you said, we make decisions, we do dumb things sometimes, and that's how life goes, and you just say, well, I'll move forward, like you just go forward, but. Yeah, I mean, I guess that's my question is when did it like into what it is now with you because right, like I don't want to put the carpet before the horse, but like so many of us in the community see what you do every week. And we're like, what the freak is going on? And it's cool. It's so cool. Like, please know that it's so cool. But I'm not going to lie. The first couple of times I saw you doing this, I'm like, that dude is going to get hurt. But then you continue to do it. And I'm like, This is just the norm now with this guy. This is cool. So yeah, so when did it when did it start to kind of become more than just being on the back burner for you? Dustin Booker: so ⁓ the stuff that you're talking about, I've, kind of always done, like, I remember being a younger teenager ⁓ and ⁓ like, like 12, 13 or and, putting on, ⁓ my Walkman just put throwing on my headphones and it was either like the Rocky four or the last of the Mohican soundtrack and just running. And I would go from like fruit heights and I would end up in like bountiful and I'd have to call my parents to be like, I messed up. I'd have to go to like Danny's and be like, can I your phone, please? And be like, I messed up. Like I ran way too far and like, I can't get back. I'm start like I'm shaky. And, and, so like, I would always do kind of like dumb stuff like that. Right? Like, like, think this is a week after, do you remember the Bear Gutsman? Okay. So, so yeah. So, uh, like, Coach Ryan Head: I love it. ⁓ yeah, very familiar with that. Dustin Booker: a week after my second degree black belt test, right? I'm like, I'm 16 years old. And a group of friends called me up and they're like, Hey, we're go do this crazy race. Do you want to go? And I was like, Yeah, absolutely. And I'm still I'm just completely wrecked in this from this crazy belt test. and so we went to the DI and got these ridiculous ⁓ running like, ⁓ somehow all found matching. were like, baby blue, like john stockton sized shorts with with matching tank tops and like gold trim. They were so ridiculous, we all like we all ended up with the same running outfits. Anyway, we show up to this thing. I have no idea what this is. They're just like, you just go run up a mountain. I'm like, let's go run up a mountain. And so we showed up the next day. run you run all the way up the mountain there and in fruit heights and end up at Francis Peak. And then you go like, I don't know, half a mile, a mile down. And we get to the end and one of the race officials, ⁓ see the table with like, there's no aid stations, there's nothing like that. And we are so underprepared for this thing. One of our friends got lost somewhere in the scrub oak. ⁓ so we end up finishing this thing and... You have to have somebody come up and get you and drive you back down. We have no idea about any of this, but we see the big table with like all the fruit and we're like, ⁓ yes, dude, like we scored. And so we go over and start Mack and officials comes over and they're like, where's your bid? And like, I'm like, not a baby. What are you talking about? Like, no, dude, like where's your number? And we're like, I have no idea. And he's like, if you didn't register for this race, you can't have any of this food. And we absolutely like our way into this race and had no idea what it, we just thought there were a bunch of crazy people like running up a mountain and like there was fruit at the end. We're like, ⁓ this is great. had no idea. So that was my, that was kind of my introduction into trail racing. but mid late thirties, I would just go on like walkabouts just like. throw in my headphones and find a good walking stick and walk all over Ogden and end up at like a bar or something like that and hang out for a bit and then just like from until it was dark, just go. And there was always kind of that like desire just to go like wander, you know what I mean? And so, 16 years ago? ⁓ little sister went through two bouts ⁓ thyroid cancer. And then she beat both of those and then had get a, is it a shunt? Her brain swelling. It wouldn't absorb the ⁓ fluid in brain. And so was like pushing her eyes out. She's already been through so much, right? Coach Ryan Head: Mm-hmm. Dustin Booker: Had to go through like radiation, get a thyroid, move like the whole thing. And now she's dealing with this, like totally unrelated. she has to get this apparatus in her brain with this tube going down to her stomach and just like, No, she has no hardly scars now and stuff. And she hits me up one day. And she goes, I want to do something crazy that like celebrates being alive. I think I'm going to run a marathon. And I was like, you're nuts, dude. Count me in. Like, and and so we registered for the Portland Marathon. Because she that's that's where she lives. And so I started training for this thing. And I think ⁓ had done, ⁓ think a couple of half Coach Ryan Head: Let's go. Yeah. Dustin Booker: up to this point. But so I'm like, okay, let's do a marathon. And so started training for this thing got like halfway through the training block. And then a bunch of stuff fell through and it was it was looking like I wasn't going to be able to go up. And so ⁓ dad, last because he was he was a ⁓ big runner before he had to stop running ⁓ those kind of distances. But ⁓ like minute, like week of he's like, Hey, So I'm going to go up and run this thing with your sister. Uh, and I'm going to drive up. Like, do you still want to go? so we, we cruise up to Portland and, show up to the, to the starting line. And it is a torrential downpour dude. It is your typical Pacific Northwest weather out of nowhere. And it literally came out of nowhere. And like whole crew is going around passing out boxes full of trash bags to everybody because nobody's prepared for this. Like everybody's feet are already soaked. So we start on this. right after mile 13, I turned ⁓ my dad my sister. And I went, this is so cool. This is the furthest I've ever ran before. four eyes kind of turned slowly and they look at me and they're like, this is going to be a really long day. And I was like, no, no, no, I feel great right now. And my dad's like, okay. So anyway, ⁓ that was, one of the most awful experiences of my life. think I think it was like six, six and a half hours. Like my knee popped, like it was, it was so I just Shelf would have cried my way through this thing. And yeah, I really do think it was like six and a half hours that I finished this thing. And I was like, cool, well, you we wanted to do something crazy for celebrate being alive and we have done it now and I'll never do that again. Famous words is a distance runner. ⁓ so experience. mean, absolutely amazing experience. I, know, anyway, came and Coach Ryan Head: You Yeah. Dustin Booker: It was, I think, the next year a friend of mine died. that he died and I think it was like a couple days after that, a good friend of mine put up a thing saying, hey, I'm supposed to run this marathon up in Logan, but I can't anymore. Does anybody want this? And I so, I felt like so helpless with the death of my body that I was, it kind of went back to the same thing as, my sister battling cancer and everything like that. I was like, I want to do something crazy just to feel alive. And so I hit him up and I was like, dude, I'll take it. And I wasn't running at all, like no training at all going into this and went up to Logan and ran this thing. and, uh, every time you talk about your knee popping, uh, I kind of grinks. I'm like, I know what you're talking about. Cause I was maybe three miles in and it popped. and I had to ask one of the aid stations for some tape and I kind of taped it back in place. And I'm guessing that that was probably another six hour plus finish and just cried my eyes out the entire way. And it was just awful. And once again, I I will never do that again. Coach Ryan Head: that's awesome. Dustin Booker: Yeah, so this is all like 2010 and 2011, I think. Coach Ryan Head: No, it's just funny because I wanted to just comment on a couple of those races that you've done. So just for our listeners, the Bear Guts Men is essentially, it is almost the exact same course or the start of the Wasatch 100. It is a mean start to any race. And for those who wanna do the Bear Guts Men, it really is the majority of the race is just climbing. up what's called Bear Canyon as Dustin had mentioned in Fruit Heights it's like 4,500 feet over like three plus miles and ⁓ can wreck ⁓ person. And so for him to do that ⁓ then like, okay, let's just keep going, I think it's impressive because I how fun that canyon is and every time I've done it I'm like, dude, I don't want to do this. But then I I love hearing your stories about you running for people and I know we'll continue to it We'll get to that point here in a minute and and we'll continue to go down that path But I love that you're like, I just wanted to celebrate, know, my sister's life. Let's go do something crazy Let's do something awesome And I love that your whole family like gets involved in it because that's what I've seen from you I've seen that your dad gets involved. It's cool to see him running with you And like you said, sometimes it's not about the pace, it's more about the experience. And that's kind of been my story. That's like one of those things that I try to tell people is I'm like, you sometimes it's not really so much about what the whole story is or how fast you're doing it, but more of the story, what doing, why you're doing it. I sometimes think that's more important. So I love it, man. I think that's so, so cool. Alright, so you're talking about the early 2010s. What happened after that, man? Dustin Booker: Okay, so dad was, he got into marathons at like a super late age, you know, wasn't doing this stuff in his 20s and 30s. You know, we're talking more ⁓ and 60s. would you know, he's running, and had a couple of friends that he would, Go up in in your hood up by like friend would and they would go do these trail runs every Saturday and that was their thing they would you know, they would do, you know 13 18 miles whatever and I remember just just Hearing about this here. It's a dude. So I love that you have this I think it's so cool and then would go do different marathons all around Utah and stuff and he was good. he went out started doing some of trail races out ⁓ on Antelope, started with the ⁓ 25K. And he got leukemia. And so, That's how he knew that something was going on because he just had no he had no gas in the tank He was really struggling with energy and so went in and got checked out and found out that that ⁓ he has leukemia and So the doctor told him like you need to stop running because that's hurting like I love that you have this I know this is a good positive healthy thing, but it's actually hurting you more than it's helping you So this is something that you need to stop and so like his passion, his drive got taken away from him very prematurely. But he had to, you do what you got to do to take care of your family. So forward to 2020. And I'm at work. ⁓ And ⁓ my job is insane. But it's it's my my job is just crazy. there's no room for error. There's little thanks. Like I got to be on point constant, right? And so feel like a lot of health issues come up. If you too stressed out, that stuff will start to kind of manifest itself physically. So one day I'm work ⁓ and ⁓ I this right my sternum and then it kind of radiates up to my shoulder and I was like, ⁓ no. And then like, can, I can only sit in a certain position my desk or I'm in so much pain. so I, ⁓ finally go to the ER and I'm, ⁓ I call it my, my fossil position. Cause I look like I'm, I'm, ⁓ I to lay, kind of in a, in a letter C, but backwards, ⁓ that's the only comfortable position I can be in. Cause I'm just writhing with pain. Coach Ryan Head: Mm-hmm. Thank Dustin Booker: They hit me with morphine. That's not doing a thing. Did a bunch of tests. back, this, you know, came back like, I don't know, like two or three hours later. And the doctor walks in and he goes, you're a drinker. And I went, I don't see how that's relevant, but yeah, you know, I'm, I'm right then, you know, I'm, I'm in so much pain. Like, okay, what does that have to do with anything? And he goes, okay, so your pancreas exploded. I need you to understand. how serious I am when I tell you right now that you need to stop drinking or it's going to kill you. Okay. You got lucky this time, but you're gambling with this. So you need to stop now. I wasn't prepared for that. wasn't ready for that at the time I'm in, I'm in a punk band, everything that I do. It's not like drinking base, but drinking is everywhere of like everything that I do. just, it's just, you know, ⁓ whiskey and, and perhaps blue rib and just go hand in hand with everything that I do. And I wasn't ready for that, for that news. And so he goes, Yeah, you have you have, you know, chronic pancreatitis. You know, this is what you need to do to take care of it. And this this is number one. You need to quit drinking like immediately like you're done yesterday. And, and, and so first thing that pops through my head is I'm not going to make my kids fatherless over PBR. I was like, okay, I guess I'm done drinking. And so this was years ago yesterday, So thank you. you so much, man. So all this is so so get this. So doctor tells me stop drinking. Okay, okay, I have quit drinking. I go I Coach Ryan Head: Congratulations, Dustin Booker: I can't remember how long it is days later. And then I finally go back to work we get these, notifications that we are being put on furlough because the pandemic hits. Okay. And so we're on, we're on furlough. I'm still getting paid, but I don't have to go to work. And now I'm home. I'm home and I'm just with, with free time. and money and I'm just like, no, like, I'm gonna do some dumb shit. Like I got it. I really need to figure out how to handle this. And so I really got into fishing ⁓ ⁓ would go fishing from sunup till sundown every day, dude. Like I would go down to the Riverdale Parkway and just walk river for miles and hours, dude. Like I would just fish and fish and fish. Coach Ryan Head: Nice, good. Dustin Booker: And that was my substitute addiction. You know what I mean? And so one thing that I realized is I'm out fishing, know, it's starting to get dark or, you know, if I've been out there for like, no joke, dude, like six, seven hours, something like that. And I just like this voice in the back of my head, just like one more fish, just ⁓ one, ⁓ dude, out more trout and then we'll go home. And sometimes that would lead into the into the nighttime, dude. And I still don't have a fish. I have to go home now. And so was during this time that I realized what an addictive personality I have because the the like I am very much a holic, but the prefix changes, you know what I mean? Like like it was an alcoholic before and now it's a fishaholic. because ⁓ then it was always just OK, you know, just one more shot and then I'll go to bed. And now it's one more fish and then I'll go. that or and you know and then I'll go home so ⁓ when the wheels really started turning like you you've got some stuff that you need to come to grips with you've got some stuff that you need to start working through and so right about time ⁓ and I even remember what sparked this I signed up ⁓ a half marathon. It was the Morgan. It was the Morgan half marathon. And if this was just, think I just, I think I signed up for it based on remember looking on this, be like, okay, give me something that's, you know, a good, you know, two, three months out, let me get ready for this thing. And so training for this thing. And, you know, just from the ground up, dude, doing my one mile, take a rest day, doing my two miles, take a rest day. And dude, was so, I ⁓ my, printed out my training block and I put it on the fridge and I asked middle spawn. was like, okay, dude, you're, you need to help me. to stay on top of this, like you're my coach. Like I need to check off all these boxes every day or I'm not gonna be able to run this race, right? And so trained through it ⁓ went around the race and at like ⁓ about mile like nine or 10 knee pop and know, same thing, limped my way back in. I think I finished at like 2.30 or something like that, which is ⁓ awesome a half marathon when I haven't done a thing with that for so long. was so happy, but again, know, said to me, I'm never doing that again. You know, that was, that was dumb, whatever. it it was shortly ⁓ after this that a dear friend of mine, I was working on a Saturday and it dear friend of mine was running the Ogden full he lives way down far south and his couldn't be up here for it. And I was like, you know, the lab is right up the street. like, I'm gonna go surprise him. So I shot down and I've been at that finish line at Ogden so many times cheering my father on and various friends stuff like that. ⁓ And so go down and he crosses finish line, was bro! And he was like, hi! you know, it meant a whole lot to him. meant it was so cool because now we're in our 40s, right? And now it's so cool to see him. He one of my dearest martial arts. He was my best friend in martial and in life. like we did everything together. We fought against each other. We competed against each other. We were locker partners in junior high. And so to see him do this, like see him crossing America. Oh my gosh. I was so, I was so proud of him. And so we're, we're over sitting on the grass after and, and just talking and he's like, uh, do you think you'll ever do one again? I was like, no, dude, absolutely not. I'm, I'm, I'm totally done with this. And, uh, uh, and he goes, what's, what's stopping you? And I don't know why I have no, like there's, there's. There is a lot of truth to this, but my reasoning that I said right then is, dude, I got family stuff that I got to worry about, man. I can't afford to throw down a hundred bucks to go, you know, to go run a race right now or whatever. and so, ⁓ cause, I said, when's, when's your next one? And he said, I'm doing the, I'm doing the Antelope Island marathon. It wasn't the trail race, the road one out there. And said, I'm going to be doing this one here coming up. And I was like, dude, I am totally out there to cheer you on. think that's awesome. So we have this conversation. yeah, it's a money thing, whatever. And so he goes to leave, I go to leave. And about 30 minutes later, I get a notification that says, you're signed up for the Avalote Marathon. went. ⁓ Coach Ryan Head: I love it. Dustin Booker: man. And I'm not going to tell them no. Right. And I get home and I was like, you know, kind of ⁓ gather the family together and I was like, okay, so here's the thing. And they're just like, I guess you're doing a marathon. I was like, damn it. So I'm back in and I really want to do this right, because I have never had a full training block up to this point. Right. So this was This was the fall of 21, I think? so I want to represent well. I want to show up and do this well, because he has opened this door for me. And I don't want to show up and be like, ha ha, I'm not prepared, and you paid for this, and this is gonna suck, and here we go again. And so I trained well for this thing. I really, ⁓ you know, printed up my training block, put it on the fridge, middle spawn, helped me stay accountable for it again. You know, got up early before work would go do my runs and, ⁓ went out and, had a really good race. I think we finished in like four 30 or something like that. And it was hilly dude. It was gnarly. And, ⁓ and so finished that. And And then, we did, ⁓ was super happy about it. And then he did it again. I think he did it with Ogden. I think it was on the way home from that. He signed me up for another one. I was like, you're killing me smalls. Like, I don't want to do this, man. ⁓ ⁓ so my, have had, since I was 13 years old, I have had knee, hip and ankle problems, right? And, Coach Ryan Head: Hahaha Yeah. Yeah. Dustin Booker: through my adult years, I'm drinking, I've nicotine coursing through my veins. So I quit drinking ⁓ in and I'm still doing some of this stuff like the running and things like that, but my knees are still hurting, right? And I figured it's just because of all the martial arts, it's all just years of abuse I've put my body through. And so every year I would quit something new. so 2020, I quit alcohol. And then 2021, I quit smoking cigarettes. And then 2022, I think I quit the vaping or the Zen pouches. But I would just cut out something every year. And all of a sudden, I'm feeling better and better. And I can run further and further. And my knees don't hurt. And my hips don't hurt. My ankles don't hurt. And I'm like, what the hell is happening? I've got superpowers, right? Coach Ryan Head: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Dustin Booker: And then the question mark pops up. How far can I take this? Like, what can I do with this? And so ⁓ one the things that I realized during all of this ⁓ is that I have done to deal with life up to this point has been detrimental in one way or another, whether it's drinking like ⁓ you hear it all the time, you get home on a Friday night and be like, I just had, you know, just a, just an awful week and I absolutely deserve to get wrecked right now. And you do it all weekend long. Okay. Not thinking about like what you're missing out on. Cause I earned this, right? This I, I deserve this. And then you wake up Monday, absolutely feeling like garbage. And then you go back and you do it again. Right. And so, you know, whether it was like, Coach Ryan Head: Yep. Yep. Dustin Booker: A cigarette break. I need a break from work right now. I just need to step outside for a few minutes and think this through or you know, whatever it is. But everything that I was doing was was on the negative side of that spectrum. OK, so now all of sudden everything that I'm doing is more positive and building. OK, and I haven't experienced it on this end since I was a kid. Okay, since going and doing these crazy runs is like a 13 year old. And so I would go, I would start going up and exploring our trails up here in Ogden. And when I was locked in and training for a road marathon, I would miss that. would miss being up in the hills like that. I discovered that that was where I really wanted to be, but I was. doing the work that I needed to to show up for these road marathons and do these well. so after the last, I ran Ogden and that went well. And then shortly after that, I said, I'm just solely gonna do trails now. And so that's where I wanna be, let's go do that instead. And so I would go up and start doing all these trail runs and I could go further. Coach Ryan Head: Mm-hmm. Dustin Booker: further. And, then I jumped on kind of taking dad's lead let's go do a trail race. And so thinking about dad, his and everything that he did, I was like, I'm gonna go do ⁓ the ⁓ 25k that dad would do out on Antelope Island. And, you know, my father has always been on this huge pedestal. It's been this unreachable hero, right? And so I was like, no, if I can go do this, you know, I feel like this parallelism to my father that I've never felt before. If I can go do the same thing that he did, if I can go run the same trail that he does, yeah, let's go do this. So, you know, trained up on the trails, went and did this 25K, got my mug. And he was there at the finish line and oh my gosh, what a special experience to feel like it, the torch wasn't being passed and I never felt like I had to like walk in his footsteps or in his shoes or anything like that. But all of a sudden I felt like I was walking beside him. And I could just associate with so much. Coach Ryan Head: That's cool. Dustin Booker: that I don't feel like I really understood about the man before that. So did that and really enjoyed it. And I said, I want to do the 50K. And he was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Like now you're getting into crazy territory. I was like, I've done a handful of marathons. I'm sure it'll be fine. Right? And so. It was at that point that I said, let's see what this. Let's see what else there is around here as far as trail races. And so I jumped on and all of this is about to make you smile because I love this part of the story. I jumped on and I signed up for, what's the, what's the on skyline? What's the lowest distance? it the 25 K or the half or something like that? ⁓ so I, ⁓ I, on and I signed up for that. Coach Ryan Head: Yeah, yeah, it's the half, yeah. Dustin Booker: And then it was probably two or three weeks after that. It's just plaguing me. Like I've got this voice going, it's not going to be enough. And I was like, man. So I jumped back on and I upped it to the marathon. And that same voice was still on there. It's like, it's not going to be enough. And know this. so I think it was maybe two days later and I jumped back on and I upped it to the 55k and I have done nowhere the elevation that because what is it about 7500 feet for the 55k it's like I think it's about 7. Coach Ryan Head: Yep. It's like seven. Yeah, it's like seven or eight. Yeah. Dustin Booker: seven, seven and some change. So I think it was kind of like addiction awareness. I think it was, I think I knew that it wasn't like if, if I went and did the half, I knew I would finish that and be like, you're going to want more than that. You know what I mean? You want to drink till that bottle is done. You want to catch that last fish. You want to go like now that your body can do these things, you're going to want to go, go, go. Coach Ryan Head: Mm-hmm. Dustin Booker: So I trained really hard for that race, did the back to back, still had no idea at this point about nutrition or hydration. I know that you're supposed to eat some stuff and you're supposed to drink some stuff. had no idea about the specific science of it. And so ⁓ day comes and this is where I meet my good friend Ryan Head. ⁓ Coach Ryan Head: Yep. I really- I was just gonna say it's funny because, you know, leading up to this, hearing your story, it makes so much more sense about who you are and why you do the things that you do. It's been cool to hear, you know, you talking about kind of, like you said, if you will, like the passing of the torch between you and your dad, but... In that same sense too, one thing that I've really loved and I know we'll get to talking about your why here soon enough. And I think if you read between the lines, you're gonna, people, our audience, if you're listening to this, you're starting to read between the lines of what his why is. But it's so cool to see how much your family is involved in what you do. And think that just, it's a thing, right? Because I think just one if you will, of a why for so many people. one thing that I really appreciate that you touched on as well ⁓ is ⁓ the stuff. And I get where you're coming from there. Addiction is what ⁓ so many of us deal with in life. And I appreciate you just being able, willing to share it, ⁓ but talking about it because... I've already had multiple guests on who have talked about similar things and how they wasted, ⁓ sorry, that's not the right word, but they spent a lot of their life. You know, like you said, they get home on a Friday and they're like, I'm drinking until Sunday night, morning, and that's my life. And I mean, not I was in that boat, but I remember being about 85 pounds heavier than I am right now. and I accepted fate that I was gonna be overweight and that I wasn't going to accomplish much in my life. I was okay with that. I had accepted that fate about 15-ish years ago and I remember telling myself, like I accepted that and I thought, that's such a dumb mentality that I have this, I shouldn't feel this way. I should be telling myself, no, you're gonna push through, you're gonna do some ⁓ stuff, but remember being so hard. to be able to make that decision for myself. But it's been cool to hear other people kind of go through the same experience because it is tough. It's tough when you're like, I'm gonna do something completely different that I haven't experienced before. So I love that you shared that, man. take us to Skyline 55K. I remember this. I remember this race very well with you. So ⁓ go ahead, tell it, I wanna this. This is gonna be great. Dustin Booker: Dude! Man oh dude, I learned so much that day. I screwed up so bad. It was awesome. I So just right out of the gate You know going up that that backside of North Fork there and like I had been up to I had been up to Benny and I had been to Lewis and those just killed me dude by themselves. I'm like, how am I supposed to do this back to back? Dude, have to tell this story. I remember my first time going up to Benny which is a beautiful peak here in Ogden. And it's it's from the North Ogden divide. like 16 miles and like, I think like 4000 feet of climb. something like a like round trip. And and so my first time going up there was like, I have to go see what this is about. I have no idea what I'm doing, but I have to go see what this is about. And so I start going up and there's still like the spring trails going up. There's still snow on the backside and and it's super windy and and you're on this crazy ridge line. And I'm mostly blind in one of my eyes, so I don't have very good depth perception. And so sometimes I can't tell if something is a foot in front of me or a thousand feet in front of me. And so when you're up that high, the world starts spinning, right? And you're up there by yourself. And it's like, I hit the panic button so bad and I hear these voices behind me. Like I'm right at the saddle of Ben Lomond. I've made it to that point. And there's snow going all the way up to the top. And look up and these two women are coming down. with with poles and just mobbing it dude and it's Warren and and Jenny Horowitz right they're they're mobbing down ⁓ just local legends dude ⁓ and they're coming down and like i'm you know i i stand up out of my panic attack i'm like hey how's it going you know and and i will never forget this dude i said ⁓ so ⁓ did guys make it to the top And I'll never forget this dude like Tara was so kind with this dude. She just kind of cocked her head like You know, yeah. Yeah, we did, you know, and and I was like, man, that's awesome, dude and they were so encouraging anyway, I end up making it up to the top and that that definitely sparks. I'm like, Oh my gosh, I did it, dude. I can't believe I'm up here because you're looking at like three different valleys below you and and mob down. so back to Skyline. So we're going up the backside right there. We make it to the saddle. Go up to and I think you and I were within each other's vicinity like the entire race, dude. I think we were right next to each other like for most of it. I remember, especially at Lewis, okay, we go up, hit Ben Lomond Peak, got our stickers up there, mobbed back down, went across the ridge line, went down to the divide and there was that awesome aid station right there. And then we started going up Lewis. then it was at the aid station at the top of Lewis, where this is where my most vivid memories of you are. Because you, this made me laugh so hard because I listened to yours and ⁓ episode And you guys were talking about this. And you guys were talking about. like what a grumpy mood you were in and I was like, what the hell are you talking about, dude? Like you were, I couldn't believe how positive and just how stoked you were. Like I gained so much stoke and so much motivation, like every, and I have no idea who you are or what you've done or what you've accomplished or like, I have no idea your background. As far as I'm concerned, you're just another crazy dude, just like me that's doing this for your very first time. And we're just pushing each other like, yeah, dude, like awesome. You look great. I count of how many times you said that, dude, you look awesome. You look great. And I'm like, hell yeah, I can do anything right now. You went down to the ⁓ went to Lewis and came back and then started going down the ⁓ switchbacks And again, listening to the previous episodes about those switchbacks, everything was pretty comfortable up until that point. And had absolutely ⁓ the ball on nutrition. remember grabbing like handfuls of gummy bears and it had gotten so hot that they just kind of like congealed into this like gel that point. I'm like, ⁓ it's just like a goo, no biggie. And, you know, had no idea about like sodium intake or carb intake or anything like that. Like at that, that point in the game, I was like, I think my plan was I have to put down 300 calories an hour because that's what I had heard on like a podcast or read somewhere or whatever. got to put 300, 300 calories an hour. And I didn't know at the time that 300 calories of protein and fat is a lot different than 300 calories of carbs and you know, and, and so I'm wrecked coming down the switchbacks and the heat is radiating off the dirt road at this point and, just going right up your shorts, man. I mean, you are, you are cooking in a convection oven ⁓ the only way to cool down is to keep going. If you stopped and walk, were ⁓ dude, you were in a seven 11 oven with the taquitos just baking. And, and so I'm, I have nothing left in the tank at that point. And, and, ⁓ I'm. Coach Ryan Head: Mm-hmm. Dustin Booker: but I've got to keep running or I'm going to ignite on fire. So, and then you guys were talking about like one of these switchbacks has to be the one like I'm going to, you know, it's this has to be the end of it. And this is the one section ⁓ the race that I had never been before. And so I had no idea what to expect. Finally it down to windsurfer beach down to the down to the A station right there. There's a dude in there who's ghastly white who they have towels around and like he i'm i got my eagle scout award and like i'm i'm looking at this dude like do i need to administer first aid right now because i think this guy's dying and i didn't know that was a thing up here doing this stuff like we're just running right and he ⁓ wrecked and was like and then it becomes a possibility like if it can happen to him it can happen to me And I was like, oh, I better start taking this seriously. So that aid station was amazing. Every aid station you hear about on races where you're just like, man, they treat them like royalty. Dude, I walked in there and they immediately sat me down and Sean Franzen was in there. And that guy is just a local supporting hero, dude. He is awesome. He's like, hey, dude. Coach Ryan Head: Amazing. Dustin Booker: He's throwing ice packs on me and they've got cold towels and they fill up my soft flasks for me. And he's like, do you want some watermelon? And I was like, you guys have that? And like, I've liked watermelon just fine my whole life, right? But this thing had a halo around it, dude. I'm like, this is awesome, dude. And ⁓ I have put down half a watermelon in there. And then one dude's like, do you want a popsicle? And I was like, yeah, I want a popsicle. And he's like, dude, we got paces popsicles. I'm like, do you have a green pace popsicle? And like, I'm like seven years old at field day at school again. And it's you got a green paces popsicle. so, and then he goes, he goes, do you want me to pack your hat full of ice? I'm like, this is awesome. I could do this forever. If this is what we're dealing with. Okay. Cause they're like, you've got, what is it like three, four, five miles from that point to the Coach Ryan Head: Mm-hmm. Four miles. Yep, four miles. Dustin Booker: Okay, so it's four miles. I'm like, dude, that's like a little over a five K. I can totally do this, dude. I've got my hat full of ice. I've got my watermelon. I've got my I've got my green paste popsicle. I'm like, let's go, dude. So I walk out, dude. And I'm so happy to and I cross the street right there. And I get on the trail. And the sun is just pounding right there. Right. So my hat's on backwards. And I was like, all right, I need to flip this around to shade this. So I Grab my hat and I go to turn it around not thinking and a whole hat full of ice Just falls down goes everywhere right and and I do exactly that and I went no And I go to grab the ice and I drop my paces popsicle Okay, so I no longer have a half full of ice I no longer and it's in just straight dirt dude like there's no coming back from this you can't even wash this off in the lake right there, you know, I'm like Coach Ryan Head: Ugh. Dustin Booker: No. And so like, I'm looking back at the aid station, like I could go back and then I'm forward and I'm like, just finish this dang thing, dude, just just so I'm I'm just moping for for probably a good half a mile. And in fact, ⁓ Jenny and I ran side by so that's where I met Jenny, your your your guest last week, dude. she was so wonderful, man. She was great. Such an amazing attitude. And was so good talking with her and ⁓ you know finished the thing out and by the time i finished i had appetite they had those amazing pulled pork sandwiches at the finish line couldn't eat dude i'm looking at this it smells so amazing dude and i'm like my gosh that's all i want is to is to go mac this stuff and and couldn't but anyway ⁓ Coach Ryan Head: I just wanna just like what I saw of you out there. I remember seeing you multiple times and I thought to myself, this guy looks strong. You can say all day that I'm the guy that's nice to everybody, but dude, you were reciprocating it. You were like, Hey man, you're doing awesome. We're having a great day. I mean, you're like high-fiving each other every time we see each other. And I'm like, I don't know who this dude is, but I think we're like best friends now. I like, I like this. Like this guy is so positive, so good. And I remember thinking like, if someone can be this positive on this race, like he's got the right mentality to be, you know, an ultra runner. Like he's doing it right. Dustin Booker: Yeah. Coach Ryan Head: Like you said, it is screaming hot, just a hot race, especially those last, you know, as you're coming down the switchbacks and all that. And it's funny because you, me, Jenny, Eric Sutterfield, we've all talked about, and I don't wanna, ⁓ know who it is, I won't say his name, I know who is in that aid station that was like ⁓ white, just a sad situation, right? And again, sad, I don't know if that's right thing, it's just sometimes you lose control of your nutrition. Dustin Booker: It was scary. Yeah. Coach Ryan Head: Yeah, but it was scary for us. Like it was scary for us because it made running and like you could die really like realistic. And I know Sutterfield actually was able to finish the race with him. He got up and he eventually got through, but this guy was pounding it out. Like he was killing it on the race, but then just started tanking really bad. Dustin Booker: Nice. Coach Ryan Head: You know, just like you said, I mean for you, I know you're like, I need to figure out my hydration nutrition. You're like, I think I got to do 300 calories, which honestly, it's better than not knowing what to do at all. You're like, I guess I'll just do something and hope for the best result. And I'm not suggesting that's the right approach either, but what I will say is at least it's something because I think sometimes people are like, well, I'm just gonna go and let's hope for the best. Let's see what happens. But it was so cool to see you and I remember when I came through the finish line, dude, you were like the second person, Jamie McDonald was there first. She came up and gave me big hug, high-fived me. But you were like the second person to come up. You were like, bro, you did so good. And I was like, and I remember being like, who are you? And like, that's when we got to know each other. was like, who are you? Because dude, you were like the coolest guy out there. And that's when I found out you were like, no, I'm more into like MMA. Like I've kind of liked running throughout my life, but I'm, you know, I'm. had a love on this trail scene. This trail scene's like, this is fun and I remember you being like, this is how trail running is, I wanna get into it because there's just so many kind people. And I was like, bro, this is exactly what it's all about. It is so fun. And so I remember after that, I went home, we followed each other on social media. And then just since then, we have just known each other. We've always rooting you on, whether that's on Strava, whether that's on your social media. It's just been really cool to see a lot of what you've been doing. I want to jump to two experiences in particular, really quickly. I know we're, we're getting there on time, but I want to touch on one in particular. And that was the Antelope Island 50 miler. And I was there. I was doing the hundred miler and I was sad. ⁓ know you weren't, but you're a day after me. Dustin Booker: I wasn't. Coach Ryan Head: Because I remember being excited because I knew I would see you. I was like, ⁓ I'll see Dustin out here. And I remember when I didn't see you, I understood. was like, you know, life happens. I guess something he wasn't able to do. But what happened, dude? What happened? What happened with that race? Dustin Booker: Yeah, okay. So our caboose, who's almost four, has some, ⁓ has just this, this like cornucopia of, ⁓ of like superhero medical issues, right? And, ⁓ and ⁓ so just, just unique situations, right? there's like, man, there's ⁓ such information on it. we're just like, the combination that she has ⁓ is, the are just like astronomical that she ended up with like this combo of stuff. ⁓ And just this last four years just the ⁓ learning experience. it has made the world's most amazing almost four year old, right? Like she's just incredible. Like without these challenges, without this stuff, she wouldn't be who she is today. She is ⁓ absolutely one of my heroes, dude. so the step in the thing, I like, okay, let's sign up for a 50. And so signed up for the Antelope Island 50-Miler Trail Race. the week of ⁓ I'm packing my drop right? I'm getting those together and I get a call. My, my wife is at a doctor's appointment with her, with, with our, little one. ⁓ And she goes, need to go down to primaries right now. They're expecting us in the, in the ER. And so stopped hacking those drop bags and turned around and went and packed all of our bags and had to jet down there because they had found blood clots in our in our little one and so and the thing about this is that you can't see blood clots right but my wife had a feeling she they ⁓ there was was something there was something going on you know like I said there's there's you Coach Ryan Head: Yeah. Dustin Booker: Not a whole lot of information with the combo of things that little one is dealing with. And so it's not like you can like Google these symptoms. And so my wife was like, I have a feeling there's something going on here and I think this is it. And so was at doctor's appointment and said, hey, there's something I'm concerned about. And they're like, ⁓ no, I'm sure it's, know, blah, blah. And she said, no, I need you to pursue this right now. And they said, okay, I guess we're pursuing this right now. And so went down to get an ultrasound ⁓ found blood clots on the back of her leg, right where my wife thought they were. And ⁓ to day, like ⁓ if my daughter is a superhero, it is a hundred percent because of her mom. because like how she was able to do this, like this is one of those things and I'll just never understand fully how this, was just incredible. So anyway, we pack everything up and we jet down to primaries, which just thank goodness for that place, man. That place is incredible. And we've spent a lot of time down there even before this, but we jet down there, go into the ER there. And they begin the process of taking care of the blood clots in my then two-year-old. So she's two at the time. And those are words you never think that you're going to put together, right? Is blood clots in my two-year-old, right? And she's already on a bunch of really weird medication, just crazy medication. One of the medications that she's on There are, she's one of 700 people in the world. Okay. my poor man, her other full-time job is battling insurance doctors ⁓ and just pushing. is the absolute champion advocate for our little one. And, you know, God whoever gets in her way. And I'm so thankful. mean, we say a lot. This little one absolutely landed in the right nest. And again, that is very much because of her mother. anyway, so we are in, we had to stay at primaries for some days. And the morning of the race comes and I had I don't think I slept much that entire time, but I watched the sun come up through the hospital window and looked down and was kind of counting down. knew that it was about go time for the 50-milers. ⁓ I don't like to say good luck, but I like to say give them hell. I like good luck takes away from any kind of preparation that anybody's done, but give them hell seems a little bit more on the offense rather than like, I sure hope everything goes well. So anyway, I'm looking out the window and watching the sun come up. watching my, I'm looking at my watch and times ticking down and it hits, you know, six or seven or whenever it was. And I just kind of whispered, give them hell guys. that was that. up until that it it was just kind of a, this bobbing little question mark in the back of my head. Like you've, you've got this race, you've got this race. No, I don't do it. Like the race is done. This is, this is more important. Like this is priority only. at this point. And so, so yeah, the race was done. it, it just wasn't on the radar anymore. ⁓ Races will come and but I need my two year old ⁓ to be dialed. And wife was so sweet about it. ⁓ my gosh, she, she reaches over and grabs my hand. She's laying there in the hospital bed with our daughter and just grabs my hand. She's like, I'm so sorry. And I said, absolutely not. Thank you so much. like, No need to be sorry. they get Avon dialed in and everything's taken care of, know, thank goodness. so they give us this one medication that now she's on, this blood thinner that you need to take home. We're like, oh, wow, you know, again, that's never anything you'd you think a two year old is gonna be gonna be on. We were like, okay, you how long do we need to take this is like, you know, a week, two weeks. And they said forever. This is a forever thing. And we went, oh, it's like that. Okay. So, you know, add one more thing into the superhero equation. And so anyway, we get home and I come inside and I'm looking at my drop bags and everything's still packed. And I kind of looked over at the family and they kind of looked over at me and I was like, Do you mind? you good if I, and they're like, nope, do your thing. we're dialed, go do your thing. I was like, okay. So got up early the next morning, drove out to the island. It was important to me to do the race as close to where everybody else had to. I don't want to just run 50 miles just for the sake of 50 miles. I want to go through the same hell that everybody else had to go. It was like, was slightly raining when I got there and it looked like a silent hill. It so creepy. And Jim still had the tent set up, but there's nobody there. It was so creepy. I drove around to the ⁓ White Rock parking lot and I figured I could go over the fence line right then so I was just adding like an additional mile on. to where the starting line was and then went the exact same route that everybody else did. And so I had to pack out everything that I would need because the first stretch was like 28 miles. so no drop bags, no aid stations, no whatever. Packed out everything. I had like seven pounds of liquid on me or something like that. Like all the nutrition that I would need, layers because it's snowing and then raining and windy and whatever. So did the first 28 came back and my wife, middle kiddo, our caboose my parents are all at my truck and they've got cool signs and they're like, go dad. ⁓ so was able to swap everything out, refill everything and then go hit the last 22 miles where all the elevation is. But yeah, dude went and did it ⁓ and looked Coach Ryan Head: Yeah. Dustin Booker: back on that experience and it was tough. But compared to what I just watched my two year old go through for the week before that, it was like, it felt like nothing. And I think it's kind of jarred my ⁓ race and experience for the future, because I feel like I'm going to go into that with that same attitude, but I feel like it's going to absolutely kick my butt instead. You like, no, you had much more ⁓ like, driving you back then than what you do now. Jim, ⁓ the race sent me my mug because I had finished the course. that is my most cherished race medal is that coffee mug. So yeah, so finished it. Coach Ryan Head: Mm-hmm. Dude. Yeah, dude, I just want to say for all of us in the running community, you know, we had heard, you know, kind of what had happened with you. And then all of a sudden to see you go out and you basically do a self-supported 50-miler on the island, you knock it out, you like, I don't remember what your time was, but I remember being like, that was like insanely fast too. for being self-supported. Usually when it's self-supported, you take a little bit more time because you're a little bit more conservative with your energy and you don't want to. But you go out, you bust out a 50-miler you do it after everybody's gone. You know, there's nobody there. It's just by yourself. you're, mean, like you said, your family's there. Your parents come, your kids come. That's awesome. But ⁓ there's aid stations for you. There's no, and you go out and you do this. Dude I remember being so proud of you so inspired You know I was like doesn't just went and did something epic and when I say this I mean it like were all talking about you for a long time about that Because like yes like I've run hundreds I can go whatever right I did the hundred the day before but I had crew with me I have eight at every aid station. You know, it's yeah, it's still impressive. Whatever it is, what it is. But for you to do this by yourself and everything you did with it, just wow, dude, just like super wow, like so, so cool. So, we've talked about all this running stuff, all these races you've done. I know if you're listening right and listeners are hearing this, you know, I, if you haven't figured out is why yet I'm Dustin Booker: Thank you. Coach Ryan Head: You know, we'll have him just tell it but dude, why do you do all this man? Why do you even continue to do all this? Obviously, you've said it so many times throughout this whole conversation in many different ways and many different forms. But why do you do this man? Why do you continue to slug along and just own the trails own the roads? Do this because I you know, before we wrap up, I want to talk about what you've been doing lately. But why do you do this man? Why is this? Why is it what it is to you? Dustin Booker: So personally, I feel like I'm living on borrowed time. And I want to make the most out of it. I know that time is finite. of my go-to sayings is one day I won't be able to do this, but today I can, and so I will. And when that day comes, I don't want to look back on this with any kind of regrets. I don't want to look back and be like, you should have gone on that run, but you didn't. As far as. I touched earlier ⁓ things I would do ⁓ to of cope with life that were so negative between ⁓ family and There is, I have to be on point constantly, right? And some of these things are so daunting. I... It's really easy to let my head go with it. And it would be really easy just to throw in the towel and. Those voices pop up a lot during the week. When go do what I do on Sundays. I can go do that, it makes everything else not seem. So daunting. Everything seems a lot more manageable. And. ⁓ I've got people counting on me and I can't let them down. And feel so bad because like I'm, I this stuff. you know, made me not so grumpy all the time. I wish this stuff would, you know, would just help me be a little calmer, but I feel like everything I've ever done in my life is very, it kind of has a jet engine behind it. Like we don't half-ass anything, we full-ass everything. But that's a... I think there's a punk rock level to it too. I feel like... As an adolescent, you've got people saying, don't do stuff. And then you're like, well, I'll show you and I'll do it anyway. You know what I mean? And then now in my late forties, I feel it's a, I've got, know, when I'm, when I'm on a long run on Sunday and I've got my body and my mind telling me like, you should stop, you should turn around and you should go home. You can't do this or whatever. It's like, I feel I'm still raging against the machine, but now I'm the machine. As an adolescent, you've got people saying, don't do stuff. And then you're like, well, I'll show you and I'll do it anyway. You know what I mean? And then now in my late forties, I feel it's a, I've got, know, when I'm, when I'm on a long run on Sunday and I've got my body and my mind telling me like, you should stop, you should turn around and you should go home. You can't do this or whatever. It's like, ⁓ I like I'm still raging against the machine, but now I'm the machine. Like, so, That's, that's, I think that's one of the biggest parts of the answer that I can give you is that, there's little in sight. And so it's one of things where like the cavalry ain't coming. And so I got to be there. I have things that I need to take care of. ⁓ And sometimes it's too much, but I can go do this stuff, then I can turn around and go. that's, I think that's one of the biggest parts of the answer that I can give you is that, there's, there's little in sight. And so it's one of things where like the cavalry ain't coming. And so I got to be there. I got to, I have things that I need to take care of. And sometimes it's too but if I can go do this stuff, then I can turn around and go. look what you just did, you can handle anything right now. look what you just did, you can handle anything right now. it drives me through to the next week. And so instead of getting, instead of getting shmammered all weekend long, and then rolling back up and ⁓ another week like that, I'm, feel like I'm fueling emotionally and, ⁓ and morally little more properly than I have in the past. Coach Ryan Head: I it man. I'm proud of and I know I speak for so many people in this community when I say we're proud of you You're an inspiration, you're motivation to so many of us because ⁓ you're genuine and I we know that. You're just a kind person and you mean well and It's funny how when I talk to so many people in this community about those who impact, who have a significant impact, one of them, the main reason why I started this podcast is, We all have a story. Every one of us has a story. Again, and then we talked about this before we started today, me and you, but everybody has a story. And yes, you can listen to Elites and you can listen to stuff that's just, it's not us, man. It's not me and you. It's not Laquita and Kirk. It's not Eric Sutterfield. It's not Tim Cotterall. That's not us, man. We're not gonna be that because we're parents. We're work our nine to five. We've got responsibilities. We got all this stuff man, but to hear these stories from people like you Jenny to hear from Micah you know these people that that we have on ⁓ it's cool because it just tells us deep like this it not only just a purpose, but It tells about you. It gives so much more about who you are as an individual it's because we have this story, all of us do. ⁓ And excited continue to just let people hear these stories because there's someone out there that ⁓ needs to this. They're getting to the end of this podcast right now and they've heard your story and I promise you and they might reach out to you or they're gonna reach out to me they're gonna say, ⁓ I needed hear Dustin's story. That was important to me. Anyways, dude, I just appreciate you being honest. I appreciate you telling us you. I know sometimes it's hard. It's hard for people to hear these types of stories. It may be difficult, but I love that you just face it, And you're like, it's me who I am. It's what I've been through. It's what I've done. I can't hide from it. So I'm going to accept it. I'm going to continue to move forward. And I'm going to be trying to be the very best version of myself. And you know, I dare say, dude, I'll just end with this with ⁓ get off my soapbox after this, but Dude, what an inspiration you are to your kids. what a, you know, I know your daughter is your superhero and she is so much to you, but dude, I can assure you, you're a lot to her. And I know one day she'll look at you and be like, my dad is my superhero. That's my guess. That's just my humble guess. you're good, dude, you're a good man. You really are. Dustin Booker: Thank you. Thank you, Mame. I appreciate that so much. Thank you. Coach Ryan Head: Yeah, as we wrap up here, as we get to the kind of the finish line here, so what's the future look like for you? Dustin Booker: go once a I go running every Sunday ⁓ I will continue to do yeah, it's I'm thankful to be able do And I know it's crazy, but I love it. ⁓ It's hands down my favorite addiction. Coach Ryan Head: Mm-hmm. Dustin Booker: But yeah, I'm going to keep doing that. I do. love races, but ⁓ I those kind of as they come. When one's offered up, ⁓ if something comes I don't get a whole lot of Sunday is my running day and that's Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. Dustin Booker: from my family and so ⁓ kind of take away from even more of that even if it's just a couple hours and so I'm thankful that I have my my run that I get to go do every Sunday and and so ⁓ I I would really like to do a hundred miler before I'm 50 and I got a couple years before that and So I would really like, I'm just chomping at the bit to be able to do that. And that'll happen when it happens. And I will be so thankful for every step of the way once finally time to do that. So yeah, no big major plans, just. Coach Ryan Head: Yeah, the weekend stuff, dude. That's what I love about you. guys, like anyone that's listening, I know I'll put this in the notes at the end, I'll put this in the show notes and ⁓ announce it at the end, but if you're not following this dude on Strava, if you're not following him on Instagram, if you're not friends of him on Facebook, like you really should. I'm just gonna throw it out there because ⁓ it's impressive. It's cool to see what you're doing. And I'm like. Dustin Booker: you Coach Ryan Head: You know, he just goes out and busts out a long run and he's doing marathon plus every Sunday and I'm like, what is going on? Like, this is so cool. And that's what I was alluding to earlier when I was like, what is this guy doing? And I remember like, he's going to get hurt. And then all of a sudden he just keeps doing it. And that's, you know, and kind of playing off of your, your comment, dude, the moment you do a hundred, you're going to crush it. You're going to do absolutely insane. It's going to be insane to see what you do because You have the mindset, you have the attitude, you have the dedication, the commitment. It's just gonna be crazy. And I remember I mentioned that to you in the past. was like, bro, if you ever wanna do 100, I know you're gonna do amazing. You've got the base, like you can do it. So dude, the day you do it, I wanna be there to help, whatever that is. Whether that's me helping you with a plan, whether that's me helping you at the stations, pacing you. Dustin Booker: ⁓ yeah, dude. Coach Ryan Head: Bro, I wanna be there. So the day you say you do it, I'm in. Like, know you've got someone that wants to be there to be a part of it. Dustin Booker: Dude, thank you, man. And I thank you. And I have I have the raddest Voltron corner. Like, like I have such like amazing people that when it's that time, like that's going to be such a fun experience just because of the the people that like I am dragging along with that. Like I've thought about that a lot before. Like I should just go out and do this solo and just, you know, do this. And like, no, dude, like there's been This has been a journey and you haven't done this alone, man. are a few really key people that I hold very dear to my heart and want guys to experience that with me and I want to help you guys to accomplish your goals however possible. So thank you, dude, and you will definitely be there. Coach Ryan Head: Yeah, that's all. Yeah, I ⁓ and I mean that for sure. I seriously mean would be ⁓ an honor because just know you're gonna crush it. It's gonna be epic. Well, ⁓ as I've done with every of my guests, let's jump to the lightning round. You ready for this? ⁓ Let's jump to the lightning I'll throw four or five questions at you and then we'll get this wrapped up for the night. ⁓ Dustin Booker: Yes! Yes! Coach Ryan Head: First lightning run question. What is your favorite race distance? And I know again, maybe you don't do a whole lot of races anymore But what is your favorite race distance that you've done? Dustin Booker: So it's 28 miles. It's not a race day. It's because I've only done a handful of races. And so like the majority of my stuff is just the Sunday long run. And there is something about when I hit, because it's the Sunday long run, like you know how long they are. And there is something about that 28, that just like, feels so, I love that. I love that. So it's, I don't know why, but it's 28 miles. Coach Ryan Head: Nice. I love it. No, I know it is. I knew exactly what your answer was gonna be before you said it. was like, he's gonna say 28, which is not a racist since again, as everyone knows, but. Dustin Booker: Okay. It's not, dude, it's not a marathon, it's not quite a fitting, Coach Ryan Head: do, dude. It's just cool. So I love it. This one might be a hard one for you because I know you do both road or trail. Dustin Booker: road to trail because ⁓ discovered I think it was last summer that like if I go drive to Benny if I go drive to a trailhead that's time that I could be running and so because I because I've got ⁓ so I leave my front door to go do these to go do these long runs ⁓ and and so I've I've just kind of like worked out different routes and so Coach Ryan Head: I love it. Dustin Booker: that's a very honest answer ⁓ road to trail. one of them that I do is it's like six and 10 miles of surface streets up to the trailhead. And then, you I'll go hit the elevation from there and go do like the last 20 miles or whatever, you know, ⁓ probably like 10 miles and then another 10 miles home on the surface streets. But after you do those in the morning, like by the time you hit trail, Coach Ryan Head: know it is with you. Dustin Booker: Like you're so thankful for trail like doing doing like, you know, six to 10 miles on the surface streets by the time you hit the trail, you're like, this is great, dude. I'm so happy to be here. So ⁓ genuine answer, dude. Road to trail. Coach Ryan Head: That's all. 100 % know that about you as well. And I was gonna say, again, this goes back to what I was saying about Strava with him. If you are not following him on Strava, go follow him on Strava. It's insane to see what he does. I'm like, he does half of this run or more on road and then he's like on trails, like climbing some freaking peak. And then he like, anyways, just like, what is, what does this guy do? And it's because people are either one way or the other usually on a run. And I'm like, he combines both of them. It's just epic. So that's awesome. Dustin Booker: You Coach Ryan Head: ⁓ Morning or evening runs? Dustin Booker: Primarily morning, I like getting back and being able to spend time with the family. there is something, especially in the summertime, I'll go knock out a ⁓ midweek halfie or whatever. I really like the dark. There's something the dark, whether it's early in the morning or late at night, I ⁓ love it. Coach Ryan Head: Nice. Dude, you know the craziest thing? I'm gonna give away one of my secrets that I have not told many people. exactly the same way. ⁓ love being in the dark. ⁓ people know me, they're like, he's a freaking vampire, and I'm like, there is some truth to that. I being in the dark. There is something magical about it with running, so I love that you like it as well. I think me and you may be some of the only two people that feel that way, but. Dustin Booker: Yeah. Coach Ryan Head: Absolutely epic. think my favorite runs I've ever had have always been in the dark. So that you love it too, dude. That's super cool. And like you, ⁓ yeah, I prefer to be early in the morning, but I have done some epic midnight one o'clock. I mean, obviously in my hundreds that's what that's happened. But I tell you that's when the magic happens usually. So that's awesome. Next question, favorite post-run or race meal? What do you like to eat after you've ran a race or a long run? Dustin Booker: That's awesome, thanks for sharing that man. all of it, everything dude. I get home and just like, I make sure to get the important stuff in I can do this the next week. know, get the protein shake and the creatine and like get ⁓ that dialed in. And then it's just ⁓ after that, man. Dude, I live on ⁓ like trail mix from Costco. Coach Ryan Head: Cool. Dustin Booker: My gosh, I put down like one of those containers a week. I swear dude. I'm always eating dude. I'm I am I absolutely have like That's that's a I even call it a guilty pleasure man. I just I just eat all the time. I love it so Specifics but yeah. Yeah. Yeah, Coach Ryan Head: Yeah, well you almost have to, right? You almost have to in this crazy sport that we love, so you Dustin Booker: I eat like half a pizza before a race and I usually eat the second half when I get home. But that or like burritos or my wife's enchiladas or let's not like, dude, all of it. Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. my favorite post-run meal, depends, or post-race meal is ⁓ I love personally to do ⁓ a protein shake. love, after 100, all I want, ⁓ really hard for me to eat food and I know this is wrong and I've gotten flack from. Dustin Booker: Mm-hmm. Coach Ryan Head: many people about this, but I struggle to eat solid food after a hundred milers. So the best thing I can do is get a protein shake in me. I love to put some ice, some of that chewable ice in there ⁓ it just tastes good and just great for me. So that's my, that is my favorite thing to do post race. But yeah, ⁓ I love a, I love a good as well or some pizza. ⁓ I think I've said multiple times. can almost eat a whole pizza by myself after a race. So yeah, epic. All right, last lightning ⁓ round question for you. Music, or silence on your runs? Dustin Booker: Absolutely music unless there's water around if if there's if there's you know Creek River like if there's any kind of water I'll hit pause and But yeah primarily music dude, I ⁓ don't really podcasts I can do audio books, but it's got to be kind of light and ⁓ there's there's so going on in the there's you know Coach Ryan Head: Yeah. Dustin Booker: five computers in my head that are processing all at the same time. I'll do it. I'll miss an entire episode of a podcast or an audio book or whatever. it's primarily music, dude. I'm very music driven. Coach Ryan Head: Yeah. Dude, that's awesome. I hear you. I'm the same way. I struggled to do like an audio book or a podcast. I will miss so much of it. So that's awesome about music. Well, cool, dude. Well, I just want to wrap up by getting telling you, dude, thank you so much. Your why I know usually I always end by asking people if there's anything else about your why. But dude, you've done such an eloquent job of sharing this with us. I'm grateful they've had you on. think this episode is gonna be absolute money for so many people out there. You're just a good person. If people wanna follow ya, are you cool with people following you on Strava, Instagram, Facebook, that type of thing? Dustin Booker: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, Strava and Instagram are probably the best bets. Coach Ryan Head: Well, will. will throw that in the show notes kind of your your tag and and the links to it, but dude Thank you so much. Thank you for being you know willing to be on this podcast with me today, and it's been an honor dude to have you on here So thank you so much Dustin Booker: Dude, thank you so much for having me on and thank you for everything that you do for the community with your race training groups, with the the stoke that you give out on just to everybody. You and Tim are just absolute amazing cheerleaders. You promote and just help so many people. I really appreciate that. Thank you for everything that you do for the running community. as team as individuals and thank you for this podcast. Dude, you are really helping people with this and I'm so excited to hear more episodes on this and thank you for having me on man. It's been an honor. Coach Ryan Head: Well, awesome, dude. Thank you for your kind words. That really means a lot. it's just fun, man. There's just so many good people out there. There's, you know, no matter what's going on in the world and what maybe leaders of our world are saying, you know what, there's still a lot of good and there's a ton of good out there and we can be good people and ⁓ be examples that. And that's the goal. That's definitely the goal always. So dude, thank you so much. Okay, we'll wrap it up. Thank you again. Dustin Booker: I love that, I love that. If they're not gonna do it, we'll do it. Coach Ryan Head: We will do it dude. We will do it. So dude. Thank you so much again for being on the ep on this episode