213. Justin Grunewald: Everyone Deserves a Spotlight and a Support System

Justin is a physician, trail runner, partner to Amanda Basham, and father of two. Justin also was Gabe Grunewald’s partner up until she passed away from cancer in 2019. In this episode we talk about: -trying different race distances -balancing running with medical school and long work hours -learning from failure, overtraining and fatigue -ultra running and trail adventures -Justin’s relationship with Gabe (Gabriele) Grunewald -being in the public eye and raising awareness of rare cancers -playing a supporting role -gratitude and not taking life for granted -grief and loss -building mental strength in running -the lure of Western States -loving the process more than the races -taking rest days -finding joy through giving to others -Boulder trail running -safety on the run -the human experience We mentioned Ladia Albertson-Junkans and you can hear from her on For The Long Run Episode 63. Ladia Albertson-Junkans: Running on Hope. Freedom Solar Power This episode is brought to you by Freedom Solar Power, the company I am using to go solar on my house. When I first started looking into solar, I thought it would be a clunky and expensive process. Going solar isn’t as hard as you think it is, and Freedom Solar Power is a turnkey solution focused on educating the consumer and making sure they have all the information they need to make sure going solar is right for them, both financially and as a way to help the planet. With no downpayment required, solar not only ads value to your home and is great for the environment, and might even allow you to save money from day one. Freedom Solar operates in Texas, Colorado, Virginia, and Florida, but there are plenty of other great options nationwide. Tracksmith Thank you to Tracksmith for sponsoring this episode. Tracksmith just released their spring collection, and as the seasons shift yet again, I’m proud to continue this partnership with them. Tracksmith is a brand for committed runners like you and me. People who know that the best part of a busy day is squeezing in a workout. They offer products for training, racing, and rest days, which you know I’m a fan of, and create experiences that make running more rewarding, more connected, and more meaningful. Visit Tracksmith.com/forthelongrun to see some of my favorite pieces, and all orders with the code FORTHELONGRUN will receive free shipping, and 5% of your purchase amount will be donated to the Michael J Fox Foundation to help find a cure and support those living with Parkinsons. Hydrow Thank you to Hydrow for sponsoring this episode! Hydrow is an immersive workout experience, designed to bring the physical, mental, and emotional experience of on-water rowing, straight to your home. Hydrow workouts are quick, efficient and low impact. Rowing for just 20 minutes a day provides you with a full body workout, which engages 86% of your muscles major muscle groups. For context, cycling engages 44%. I’ve been enjoying my Hydrow to fit in bonus cardio that doesn’t take much time at all, as even a 10-15 minute row feels like a solid workout. It’s a fun experience to be able to row on familiar routes, or explore new ones. Head to https://hydrow.com/ to learn more, and use code FTLR100 for $100 off your order. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/forthelongrun/support