Mishka Shubaly: We're Here Because We're Not All There - R4R 267

At 32, writer/musician Mishka Shubaly could have stepped out of a Bukowski novel. Then, after nearly twenty years of hard drinking, he quit cold turkey. A few months after getting sober, he ran five miles: "My life seemed to shift a few degrees. New possibilities had only been negative for a long time - it was possible that I would wind up in rehab; it was possible that I would wind up in jail. Suddenly some invisible divider had cracked and then shattered. It was now possible that I could do good things, too." Within a year he ran his first ultra marathon. His bestseller, The Long Run , is a raw, yet often humorous, chronicle of his substance abuse and becoming a runner. Mishka no longer has "one foot in the gutter and the other in the grave." On this week's episode, he shares his thoughts on religion, education, getting older, and of course, running. I made it as as honest and ugly as my experience had been, and when I when I turned it in, I was like, this is going to f***ing destroy any writing career that I have because I copped to so much. Because there's just so much filth and weakness, and then the response that I got was wild. When his editor suggested that he write about becoming a runner, Mishka was less than enthusiastic. "I didn't want to write about my transformation," he says, "because in 2011 that was an old story and I was like, "no it's b**s***. I'm not gonna write another one of those Lifetime made-for-TV movies. You know, the guy learns to run and then figures out all these relationships and it ends with this sort of rosy hued sunset and the family reunites, because it's b***s***, you know? And that's not what it's like." That wasn't what his editor had in mind. He wanted him to write about finding himself trapped in the inspirational narrative against his will. So that's what Mishka gave him, and the response was overwhelming. We root for the underdog, and in people's mistakes and weakness and vulnerability, we see our own. Mishka's brutal honesty about his life empowers readers and audience members to share their own stories with him. "Men will come up to me after shows and just reveal stuff to me where I'm like, "keep your voice down; this is a secret," you know? And it's an honor to be entrusted with those secrets. And also it's a f***ing drag because they're like "oh, thank God, I got that off my chest." And I'm like, "yeah, you got it on to mine." I realized that I had felt so alone and so isolated and that was my own invention in my head. People didn't necessarily relate to his circumstances, but his struggles spoke to them. It came as a surprise: "I had no idea that there were so many other people like me out there and now whenever I go to a race - not necessarily a 5K or something, but whenever you go to an ultra - and looking at the starting line, it's like, "what's up, you f***ing degenerates? You know everybody here has some awesome, horrible secret and that's what's driving you to run 100 miles, 50 miles, 50K, whatever it is, that, 'we're here because we're not all there.'" Running is limitless, it's boundless, and that is the hippiest thing that I will say on this podcast. Mishka describes his relationship with running in the same way that others describe their relationship with God: "I know that running is always there, it exists constantly whether I'm there participating or not ... it will always be there for me, it will always be available to me ... it's sort of like air, it's just everywhere, it's all around us, and we don't see it because it's all around us, not because it's not there." I will fight to my dying breath to say that people who take on the burden of educating themselves through any means, it doesn't need to be university, but it needs to be something where you interrogate your own beliefs, that that's an honorable pursuit and that it does make you a better human being. Running isn't the only thing in the air. So is anti-intellectualism, at least in the United States, and it's an attitude that he despises. "It's hard to go to school. It's hard to get an education. It's hard to take on that challenge of learning, to say, 'here's a thing that I don't know, that I don't understand.'" We can't go back and bring back the wisdom that we've acquired, we can't go back and leave the wisdom that we've acquired. Knowledge, of course, comes not only from education but also from experience. Despite the pitfalls of getting older - as Mishka says, "if you live long enough, you'll turn into the creepy old dude at the rock concert" - he wouldn't go back in time to be his younger self. Experience has taught him the value of doing things that don't garner accolades, like making sure that his cat and dog are happy and know that he loves them, even though, as he says, "I can't brag to anybody, 'I ranked second in my age division, competitive cat petting. I'm an ultra petter.'" I'm trying to just do little things where there's no finish line, there's no cheering spectators, there's no award, literally the only reward is in doing it. Resources: Mishka's website Mishka's Facebook Mishka's Instagram Mishka's Twitter The Long Run Thank you to Athletic Greens, Tracksmith, and Picky Bars for sponsoring this episode. Athletic Greens is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients to help my immune system be stronger and greater! It is so simple to make and it tastes good, as well. Go here to get a FREE year supply of Vitamin D and five FREE travel packs with your subscription. Tracksmith is a Boston based company that truly cares about the quality of their running clothes. Running can be demanding on our clothes; they definitely go through wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers truly work with the finest materials and keep you in mind as a runner, with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can go here to check out my favorites! You can get $15 off your purchase of $75 or more; click here and enter code TINA15. This offer will only be available for one more week! I am thrilled to be sponsored by Picky Bars! I have had a few people from the Picky Bars company on the podcast and I am happy to say that their ideals are right in line with what Running for Real stands for. These bars are not only delicious, but made of real food and are made for sport, imagine that…. They're gluten, soy, gmo, and dairy free, with even some vegan options. Click here for 20% off AND you can also get an additional 20% off your order if you purchase a Picky Club membership. A membership entitles you to build your own Picky Club Box, delivered every month. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real . If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here. "Thank you" to Mishka. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.