“Instead of being mean to myself and saying, ‘You’ve got nothing else outside of running,’ I said, ‘Look at all the other multi-faceted things you are. You are a son, you are a brother, you're a business owner. Humans are multi-faceted; you have an identity outside this sport. The sport may have helped you find more of your authenticity, but you're not bound to this sport. It's only a piece of the puzzle, a part of your identity.”

When Merrell Professional Athlete Aum Gandhi first started running six years ago, he barely went a quarter of a mile—and he describes it now as “the most nauseating, grueling experience ever.” But something compelled him to do it again, and again, and again. Now, he’s regularly conquering distances of 200 miles and more.

All that has taken him incredible places, including to the helm of endurance-sports publication Run Tri Bike; to that professional contract with Merrell; and as a key fundraiser for the Richstone Family Center. Several years later, however, all that came into question at mile 235 of a 240-mile race, when a hip injury forced him to make a huge decision about whether to continue.

Hear how Aum harnessed his inner coach to rebound from that injury and redefine his relationship to running; how the everyday athletes he profiles on Run Tri Bike inspire him; what he gains from his relationship with kids at the Richstone Family Center who are also overcoming trauma; and his advice for the ultrarunner in all of us.

Resources/links:

• Aum’s Instagram
• Run Tri Bike
• His fundraiser for the Richstone Family Center

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DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.