Today we have a guest that is sure to inspire all of you. His name is Jason Hardrath. Jason is an elementary school PE teacher in a small town in Southern Oregon who spends his summer breaks on trails all over the country chasing what are known as FKTs - Fastest Known Times - which he defines in the beginning of our conversation today. His ultimate goal is to set 100 FKTs which involve anything from simple trail running over epic distances and sometimes multiple days of effort, to mixed discipline trails involving technical rock climbing or mountaineering.

Jason found running early in his life and it helped him overcome the struggles he was dealing with academically and socially due to impulsive ADHD. To this day, he still struggles at times with maintaining focus or staying on top of routine tasks, but he finds serenity, even spirituality, on the trails where he pushes his body harder and faster than anyone ever has, and advocates for the cognitive benefits of exercise in his classroom and his community.

I do believe all of you will feel inspired to find a pursuit that brings the level of fulfillment that the race for 100 Fastest Known Times has brought to Jason’s life.

Connect with Jason

• Instagram: @jasonhardrath
• Website: www.jasonhardrath.com
• Strava: Jason Hardrath
• LinkedIn: Jason Hardrath

Action Plan

Inspired by Jason’s stories, your action plan is this - I want you to do something you haven’t done since Episode 3 of this podcast, if you’ve been listening that long. Episode 3 focused on the philosophy of Momento Mori - a reflection on our own mortality which translates to “Remember, You Must Die”. We all must die at some point, no one is immortal. To consider your death is not a sign that you are surrendering your life, but that you are embracing some sense of urgency in how you will use your days, however many you have left, in pursuit of a purpose and with an intention to get the absolute most out of this one life. That was my biggest takeaway from this conversation with Jason - he is living a fully engaged life. He is immersed in this human experience. What is it that brings you the most joy? What leaves you feeling more “alive”? And how can you start to experience that feeling more often, even by just a few percentage points, in 2021? As always, write it down and make a plan - because without a plan a goal is just a dream!

Until next time we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.