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Yoshi Groen on everything that is Euro Trip, Growing up in a running family, Run Community, Running Junkies, race organizing for the community
112 Plays5 months ago
Last month I finally got to take part in an endurance event that had been on my bucket list for years. A relay race across Europe, from Strasbourg to Innsbruck, covering 420km as a relay team of six. The event was called Eurotrip and it certainly did not disappoint. Of course the highlights you see would be the smiles, beautiful scenery and happiness along the way but let me tell you, it was much harder than it looked. Facing the elements, extreme fatigue, logistics and challenging terrain for such a distance can be demoralizing at times however it‘s the resilience of a group of individuals that makes it all come together, creating lasting memories for a lifetime.
On this episode of Just In Stride we unpack what was The Eurotrip with the event creator himself, Yoshi Groen.
He’s a great runner in his own right but he just loves putting on these exciting ultra events for the run community and it attracts runners from across the globe.
We spoke about how the idea for the Eurotrip came about, the challenges his team faces behind the scenes and the motivations around why he dedicates his time to putting it all together. In the process we get to know Yoshi on a more personal level and I’m excited to share his running journey with you all.
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Thanks for tuning in to the Just In Stride Podcast. I truly appreciate you taking the time to listen and I hope you enjoyed that conversation as much as I did. Please take a minute after this to rate and review our show on Apple Podcasts. With your feedback we’ll be able to make the show even better and it’ll help us reach new listeners too. You can also find us on Instagram @justinstridepod and YouTube @justinstridepod for all the latest episodes and updates. Glad you came along for the ride with Just In Stride!
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Transcript
Introduction to Justin's Drive Podcast
00:00:03
Speaker
Hello, and welcome to the Justin's Drive podcast. I'm your host, Justin Puyese. If you love endurance sports, you've definitely come to the right place. On this show, we'll talk to athletes, coaches, and professionals who can help us reach our true potential. Being a student of distance running for over 10 years and interviewing people in the sport for the last five, I've learned a ton, but there's always more to discover. Everyone has a story, and I know you'll resonate with each of our guests as we embark on this new journey together. Join us at home, on the road, or while you run. Together, we'll have some fun.
Engagement and Sponsorship Details
00:00:39
Speaker
So follow along on Instagram at justinstridepod and your favorite podcast platform and prepare to be inspired. Come along for the ride with Justin Stride.
00:00:51
Speaker
This episode is presented by our friends at Exact Nutrition, a tasty and healthy way for you to fuel your body before, during, and after a solid training session. I can't leave the house without a few fruit bars in my pocket and they never make it back home. Exact is offering you 50% off your order when you use the code justinstride. So head to exactnutrition.com and fuel your goals today.
Justin's Euro Trip Relay Race Experience
00:01:14
Speaker
Last month, I finally got to take part in in an endurance event that had been on my bucket list for years. A relay race across Europe, from Strasbourg to Innsbruck, covering 420km as a relay team of six. The event was called Euro Trip and it certainly did not disappoint. Of course, the highlights you see would be the smiles, beautiful scenery and happiness along the way. But let me tell you, it was much harder than it looked. Facing the elements, extreme fatigue, logistics and challenging terrain,
00:01:45
Speaker
for such a distance can be demoralizing at times. However, it's the resilience of a group of individuals that make it all come together, creating lasting memories for a lifetime.
Conversation with Yoshi Groen: Event Creation and Growth
00:01:56
Speaker
On this episode of Justin Strad, we impact what was the EuroTrip with the event creator himself, Yoshi Groen. He's a great runner in his own right, but he just loves putting on these exciting ultra events for the run community, and it attracts runners from across the globe. We spoke about how the idea for the Europe trip came about, the challenges his team faces behind the scenes, and the motivations around why he dedicates his time to putting it all together. In the process, we get to know Yoshi on a more personal level, and I'm excited to share his running journey with you all. Yoshi, welcome to the Justin Stryde podcast. I appreciate you taking the time this morning. Thank you. I'm really happy to be here.
00:02:41
Speaker
Yeah. and And fortunately we got connected through um ah my most recent adventure in endurance sports, which is was EuroTrip, which was, which was amazing and um like nothing but great things to say about you and your team. And I'm still coming off that cloud. Has things kind of ah been organized after the fact? I'm sure there's so many things behind the scenes that have to take place. Yeah, like I'm also like, um, slowly recovering. So, um, yeah, it was, it was really, really nice, but also really intense. Um, so yeah, it was a great adventure and I'm really happy that it was that successful. Yeah. And so maybe like what can get into it, but like how long you've been doing that event and, um, you know, like what edition of this was, I think it's been six or seven years.
00:03:34
Speaker
No, no, no, it's quite recent. um So I saw, I started organizing races five years ago, but EuroTrip only, this was the third edition. Oh, wow. um Yeah, it's quite recent and it was by far the biggest edition. So yeah, it's, it's growing really fast. And, and what's like, what do you think ah contributes to that growth? Like what's the, you know, is it just like people are just gaining interest? Is it social media? Is it, you know, what's the, And how do you like measure that and also allow for it to grow like kind of organically without getting too, too, too big? Yeah, so like um to have a little history, the first edition was two years ago. um We only had seven teams. And I think all of the seven teams I know personally. So it was almost like, oh, we're doing this with friends. as let's Let's make a ah good adventure out of it.
00:04:32
Speaker
And then yeah, definitely the power of social media and the um community of runners who spread the word. So the second edition already had like 17 teams, which was already way better as well, but bigger is not always better, but. It was better in in terms that with seven teams, you don't see the other teams that much because there are not that much teams. There's a lot ah lot of differences in level. And with 17, you really like see competition, but you also see community. You see you meet each other on the road.
00:05:07
Speaker
And then, um yeah, I think last year was was really, really good as well. And it it got like the word got out. People shared it on on social media and other teams were like, Oh, next year I want to be in. And I think from the 17, also like 15 teams returned. And this year we had 31 teams and that was really the limit. I had a waiting list, but yeah, 31 was really like, okay, my goal was 30, but I over-promised. So I really was like 30 is the cutoff, but then somebody said like, yeah, you promised me the spot. i like holy shit right so And we made it to 31.
00:05:49
Speaker
But I have, you had to make an exception. So you over-promised and over-delivered. Yeah, definitely. Which is not really how the, what the math works out. It's like under-promised, over-delivered, but anyways. Yeah, exactly. So that's great. Um, and then, so like what, where, like, where did the idea come from? Like maybe, you know, just kind of given, I, you know, kind of a history there, like, why did you decide to do it? Did you, how do you How do you plan for this thing? like Do you go and do the route or how do you decide on which countries? and you know This one obviously takes place in Europe. ah you're you're ah you know this The addition I did anyways, you go through five countries and cover over far and far and there's a road.
00:06:36
Speaker
So like, I think five years ago, friends of mine did the speed project, of course. ah And they came back and I think for like six months, they kept talking about the speed project. Like, Oh, it was amazing. Oh, oh do you remember? Oh, oh like I heard a lot about the speed project. yeah and I really felt like, okay, the idea is great, but why are we not having this in Europe? Because Europe is. I don't want to say more div diverse than America, but we have the possibility to travel and all in five countries in 400k or um to see five different sceneries, 20 types of different cities and in one run. So I really felt like, oh, let's um let's try to create create something like this in in Europe. And the idea was in the beginning completely different because I wanted to
00:07:34
Speaker
There's something in Europe called the Hansestat. It's an old um old trade agreement from cities who were trading. It's way before you the European Union. And I really felt like, oh, let's visit those cities because they're all really old and beautiful cities. um But um I was really limited to a few cities. yeah So we found like, why are we limiting ourselves and not doing it um bigger? So why are we not doing it all in Europe? And yeah, the first edition was um from Belgium to Germany. And yeah, I'm from the Netherlands. So the route was quite... Yeah, i I knew the route. The checkpoints were in the Netherlands. So I knew where the checkpoints were.
00:08:23
Speaker
And the first year we had um we had no route, no mandatory route, no recommend the recommendable route, like just this is start, this is end, there are three checkpoints in the middle. Good luck. ah And yeah, we figured out like in the middle of the night, I got a call that one team was taken off the highway by a police car. And so so and and none of the teams were meeting each other because everybody took a different road. It was like, oh, I'm going with friends on a trip. Hey, there are all the people at the finish line. So it it was not the the community fight we wanted. It was a great adventure and was really, really fun. but
00:09:07
Speaker
Um, I got like as a tip from one of the teams, like, Hey, maybe next year we should have at least a recommendable route, which is a safe route. It doesn't need to be the fastest route, but it could be the most safe and scenery route. So the year after I, um. I cycled the whole route, the recommendable route together with a friend. It was my first time road cycling as well. nice ah And we did it in three days and we were like like, oh, it's a nice recommendable route. And what we now see is that like 80 to 90% of the teams are taking the recommendable route because it's safe and it's good. And of course there are some people who are
00:09:49
Speaker
Yeah, they spent hours on Google maps and, on ah the and they want to take shortcuts. And I really appreciate that people take effort to take shortcuts. And I'm also happy that people succeed in taking shortcuts. Um, but it's good that there's now a recommendable route and each year we're going to cycle it, um, earlier, uh, in, I think in, in autumn, we're now planning to do it in September, October for the next edition. So a lot of like time to make adjustments. Yeah. Yeah. And it's, it's, it's that thing too,
Logistics and Safety in Event Planning
00:10:21
Speaker
right? Like you're, you're giving the teams and the runners the freedom to do with it, what they want, but also like, I think the recommended also helps to, you know, if you're not directionally inclined, if you're not geographically savvy to complete this thing in a, in a manner that's, you know,
00:10:47
Speaker
that's already kind of planned out for you, which, which is great, or to get back on track at least. Cause like you say, then you end up, you know, end up on a highway or you end up in who knows where, you know, and, uh, and you find like teams prepare for these shortcuts like ahead of time or like, is it on the fly or it's like, I didn't, I know for us, we were like, I was, when I found out a team had cut a corner, I was like, then I was looking for opportunities, you know, I didn't really think about it ahead of time, but I guess that makes sense. Um, yeah, like there must be so much strategy here, like after the fact or like, are you saying it really is like, yeah, some teams, they, um, the moment that I sent the route, they, uh, they locked themselves, uh, in a room and they start searching for shortcuts. And, um, yeah, like I, there was one team, I think they finished first, um, the run smart, not hard guys. Um,
00:11:45
Speaker
I really said a little about guys. I saw you taking roots, which was amazing. I think you took a lot of shortcuts. like And I knew the guy. I know that he's not the guy who's... preparing a lot. He's quite, how do you say it? Spontaneous. And so I was surprised. I was like, how, how is this guy? He said like, yeah, we were just on the road and we were checking Google maps and thought like, oh, this looks like a nice road. Some people are doing it on the road and some people are definitely doing it in advance. And yeah, for a lot of people, it's not for a lot of people, for some people planning is the in Dutch we say pretty fun.
00:12:25
Speaker
So it's already like, Oh, they are they already looking forward to plan things? And some things, teams are like, but let it happen. We just follow the road. And I like that there's like both opportunities for, uh, yeah, both type of runners. Yeah. You see the creativity come out, right? and And yeah. And that, so that's amazing. And so like for you guys, like behind the scenes, like, you know, your team was huge. the the organizing team, it's not just you that that's planning this. I'm sure like there's a lot of hands on deck. Can you, can you talk about that a little bit? How, how like internally the team has grown and like, who's part of this? I know one of the guys is your like longtime friend, like since childhood, you know, it's, it's really like, and it' it's like a big family, you know?
00:13:14
Speaker
it it It definitely is. yeah yeah but um This year we were with 11 and I think the past year we were always with 7 to 9. So it's it's a group of friends who are always helping at events and they are Yeah, yeah, they're really good with it. And I'm really happy with them. So um yeah, we we always have an evening to get together at my house and we discuss the rules, we discuss the logistics, the plan, and we always divide ourselves. This year it was four cars, so four little groups. And then you get the responsibility of start or the checkpoint.
00:13:56
Speaker
or the finish and as one guy was like on the road taking pictures. That's, he doesn't sleep. He just takes pictures. He goes wherever he wants. all like And, and it's awesome because the team, yeah, the event is growing, but our team is quite constant. We have the same guys, the same team each year. And yeah, you I can really rely on them. And I'm really terrible with delegating. They were all. They were all acknowledged that, but for the first time, it's really working that I can like really leave things at certain people. So yeah, yeah it's it's a really strong team. And the best thing is that they're all really social and happy. And they're really like, if people are coming to the the starting desk, they already feel welcome. I think they're really boosting the community vibe.
00:14:50
Speaker
Yeah. And I got that sense too, actually, that you mentioned it, that just like everyone was super nice and you know came over to talk to us and get to know the teams a little bit. And at every checkpoint, that you just wanted to make sure if you needed anything. And it's also like nice when you see people at checkpoints that you that you recognize. It's like a familiar face. like You've been grinding it out for a few hundred K, and then you see a face that you recognize that's welcoming. and It helps to kind of move things along, you know, when sometimes morale. Yeah, it really, it is this, um, this family five, which also, yeah, I have the feeling that we're all doing it together, like the the runners, the organization and all people around it.
00:15:37
Speaker
And it is not like we are an anonymous organization and you are the runner. Like what you have had like a Berlin marathon, a New York marathon, you sign up and there's no chance that you speak to somebody of the organization. um And here it's really like, oh, we're doing this together. So when we, for example, um ah cut down the mandatory part, it was, the decision that we like had to take and everybody felt like, Oh yeah, that's, it makes sense. It was really, everybody was really like flexible and and felt familiar with each other. yeah Yeah. Is that like, I was going to ask you about the challenges of an event like such as this, you know, one of the biggest challenges, like I guess cutting out part of the course is part of it. Yeah. Like a few things you, you can never control, which is roadblocks and, and, and the weather.
00:16:33
Speaker
And both were definitely in the weeks prior to the race, not in our favor. And so the weather forecast was horrible. I was really thinking like, oh, people are kind of like. There were floodings in in in Germany and floodings and in in Austria. And I really was like, oh, whatever. I'm sleeping. not and I didn't have my best sleep. But in the end, it all like like each day it went a little bit better. I even saw like a little sun. I was like, oh, man, this is going to happen. and that yeah And then people started asking questions about the mandatory part. And the problem with the mandatory part was that
00:17:15
Speaker
you You don't know because it's it's it was a really, it was a hiking road. ah You can't see like the condition of it and definitely not with all the rain and the mud. So that was the only part that really was like, okay, I don't know the condition of this path. um and But after you guys started, we had the chance to drive there and walk it ourselves. And then we realized like, okay, This is maybe really fun if this is the only thing you're doing on a day, but if you did 300k, it's raining in the middle of the night. And then this is definitely not safe, but also not fun at all. No. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And like that rain part was like fortunately we hadn't gotten there yet, but, um,
00:18:02
Speaker
we were you know in the in the night, in the rain. Soaking on us. Soaking, yeah, with like ah light in the background. you know I'll say like that was a ah concern, at least for our team. Um, but I was like, I can't hear, I can't hear the thunder. So maybe it's so far away that it's not so bad, but like internally i big decision you have big decisions to make too, right? So like that's, I mean, this is my first one. I always looked at the speed project is something that.
00:18:34
Speaker
I don't know if I wanted to be part of it now because it's so, so big. Um, if I can be honest, but I've done smaller relays and I really like the team aspect of of running and that you rely on each other to move forward and. I think it's so fun. And so when this opportunity came up, I like i had to jump at it. um When you look at the speed project, like because the idea came from there, your friends going and stuff, like is that somewhere you want to go with this event? Or are you trying to keep it more like manageable in terms of ah the teams? How many teams you bring on? And you you know what's the vision look like for your event?
Managing Team Size and Experience in Euro Trip
00:19:18
Speaker
So, um, yeah, like, of course we we've been on the road the whole weekend and discussed it a lot. yeah Um, so my goal is not to be the European speed project because, um, we're different and yeah, I should never copy something. Um, I really want every year to be different adventure. I like, I think it will be really. easy to use the same route each year. It would give me a lot less stress, but it would also make it way more more boring. And I really think like I want to like surprise everybody each year again. yeah um In terms of growing, I think like the 31 team we had this year could be the max because um
00:20:10
Speaker
Yeah, this is still manageable and it's still that everybody gets to talk with each other a bit. And I like with the 31 teams, that means almost 250 persons. I felt sometimes like a travel agency because me for me, it's really important that everybody stays in the same hotel afterwards. yeah And there's an ad body afterwards. I really think like that it's not like you sign up for a race. That's it. But I really think the whole package around the weekend should fit. And with 250 people, yeah, it's quite, quite some work, but it's still doable. Imagine we would double, then we would have two hotels and make it a bit more, um,
00:20:54
Speaker
anonymous, which yeah, we would not get the chance to talk with each other anymore. So yeah, my goal is to definitely keep improving the race because we make big steps every year. and But I really think like each year, we can like make a little step more. And that would not mean more people, but just like a better race, better, maybe better checkpoints, maybe. ah I don't know, content wise, we can definitely grow and maybe also um different routes, maybe adding some trail parts, but we haven't decided about that kind of stuff. So yeah, definitely give it a twist. um But not, yeah, I haven't been to this feed project, so I don't know, but yeah it looks sometimes really, I don't want to call it commercial, but it's really massive. And yeah, that that's not something I want.
00:21:52
Speaker
Yeah, and and certainly certainly, and I appreciate that, by the way, like i that you have your own vision and your own um idea. And I love the fact, I mean, I haven't done it in prior years, but I love the fact that next year, it'll be like ah from where we ended to a new location. I think that's so super cool because it's like a continuation of ah the path that you that you set on, right? um And that's that's amazing. you know And and it that that's what it does make it unique. and And also that with this amount of teams, like I even felt like I couldn't connect with but everybody. you know It's a lot of people, right? But I love the fact that we were all kind of in the same area, same hotel after, went to the after party. You can kind of see all the faces and stuff. and
00:22:37
Speaker
Um, yeah, that's, that's super great. So yeah, kudos to you. I actually, you know, I was in London last weekend and I saw, I joined a run, a run crew, um, just randomly. And one of the girls had a Euro trip hat on. She had, she had gone. Yeah, there was a team from London, wasn't it? Yeah. From this year. So. Um, so yeah, that was pretty fun. You know, it was pretty cool to see her and just chat about it, you know, even after the fact. So, Oh, that's amazing. And so, and so when you keep the same amount of teams, like, is there something going to change in the selection process? You know, how do you let other people experience this, this wonderful event?
00:23:16
Speaker
Yeah, a good question. ah yeah I think that like ah teams who joined in the past, they will get like a prior access because they've been they've been part of our growth and without those teams, we would never grow. And without those teams, it would never be a success. So they will definitely get a prior access. And we will also, of course, not all teams will always join. So we will have some open spots. And yeah, I want to keep them open because everybody should get a fair chance.
00:23:49
Speaker
um I'm not going to do like an application form or anything, uh, because then I have to decide. So i yeah, it's going to be hard. Um, so, and so yeah, I think we just like keep it open and first come first serve. I think kind of thing. Cool. Very cool. Yeah. I asked kind of selfishly for myself, but also anybody listening. That's, that's interesting. It's such a thing. Well, now I'm in Europe. It's easy. You know, I told Darren, I said, yeah, I'm here now. So I'm just a train right away from wherever we got to go. So.
00:24:20
Speaker
I mean, so Yoshi, tell me a bit about yourself. I want to get to know you more on a personal level. Like, where are you from? Where'd you grow up? Like, were you active as a kid? You know, kind of what led you to this path of like, you know, organizing and and races and stuff like that. Yeah, of course. um So I'm Yoshi. I'm born in Amsterdam, raised in Amsterdam, live in Amsterdam. So it's that story is really short. um I never left Amsterdam and maybe one day it will happen, but not yet. um So I am from a running family. My dad is a runner. My mom is a runner. They both were really active at um their athletic club. um They both had a different athletic club because they want their own
00:25:08
Speaker
social network. So I, as like a kid who is like, doesn't want to do the same thing as the parents, I will, I went to football or soccer. Yeah, I think I was called a football. Yeah. So I, I joined an early age football. And of course, when my parents were going to races, I was always willing to join, but I never joined an athletic club. I also thought like, football was kind of cool. When you're a kid, you're like, football was the cool thing to do. And running, definitely not. Which like, men wearing tights, for example, it was not helping to like make running cool. so But um yeah, I think like after um
00:26:00
Speaker
16 years or 18 years I came to the conclusion that that I was a really terrible football player. ah It took a really long time to acknowledge that. I was really good at in running the whole rear the whole whole game. yeah but ah so So I changed a little bit more into running. um ah Still not joining an athletic club. um And ah then i ah some friend of mine tipped me about a running crew in Amsterdam and they were called the running junkies. And they were all like young people coming together on Tuesday, um doing a run of 10K and eating and drinking afterwards. And these were all guys from my age and and it was fun. It was really like the community vibe. So I became,
00:26:54
Speaker
Yeah, a real running junkie. I came every week and then on Thursday we had track session and it was it was not like an athletic club but we were really like into running but also on Friday night we were partying, on Saturday we were partying and on Sunday we were racing. It was all about like way more than like, oh, we're running together. it's Yeah, it was my family. It is my family still. yeah and um Yeah, so I got like more into running and running and then the running crews, they connect with each other worldwide.
Yoshi's Running Journey and Community Building
00:27:28
Speaker
So we got into the network of the the beautiful bridge gap scene. We went to Copenhagen, to Berlin, to Belgrade. We had a lot of like fun trips and got to meet a lot of like-minded people.
00:27:43
Speaker
And yeah, it was amazing. I discovered a whole world of of runners, which i I never knew about because I really felt like oh running is this car, these people with this neon clothes and tights, but it was was there was way more. um Yeah, so so I'm now, I think 11 years running with the running junkies, still a regular every Tuesday. I met my girlfriend that's a running junkie. So yes it it is really like the family thing. um And I think two years ago, I decided to join an athletic club for the first time.
00:28:20
Speaker
It's tough. I really have to motivate myself to go to training, which is sometimes happening sometimes not. But to get to really figure out the technique behind running, is it's fun. it's ah It's also something which is really new because of course, when you start running without a coach, you learn yourself a way how to do it. And when you're going to like, uh, the athletic club, you have to like re-school yourself, which is oh challenging sometimes. Yeah. Right. Yeah. So what where was the motivation to, so athletic club, you mean, uh, like a club that's focused on training and focused on performance. Yeah, exactly. Like, uh, the real, um, I don't want to say the real runners, but the real way, like a coach, you're doing like the, the exercises you do way more than like, okay, let's do four times 400.
00:29:14
Speaker
It's um really way more than yeah just an interval, but it's also like the training. And I think it was just before Corona or during Corona that I felt like, oh, I'm now on a level that I need somebody to reach the next level. And I thought the athletic club could help me with it. And how did you come to how do you get come that realization? or was it Were you racing at that point? or you Are you kind of plateaued maybe? or yeah Yeah, I was racing. I um i um ah did a 232 marathon.
00:29:52
Speaker
And then I felt like, oh, I want to do some 230. And so I really felt like, okay, what do I need for it? Maybe coaching would help me because I was training a lot. I was doing enough kilometers a week. I was eating it. I was like, I had a lot of things and I was like, okay, I can't really improve that. What can I improve? And then it was definitely the way I train now. Very cool. So I mean, 232 marathon, it's like pretty fast. Like, how do you, how did you get there? Like, was it, were you just a natural? Like, was this, is this in your but bloodline? Cause your, your parents are, are runners too.
00:30:35
Speaker
and my my My dad, he never did a 232. He was a good runner. I think he still is a good runner. but um so yeah It was natural, but I also i trained a lot, which is like 60 to 100K a week. And the last year, a lot less because every time when I start organizing more, as I keep running less. so yeah So yeah, it's finding the balance in your life too, right? that's ah
00:31:09
Speaker
That's super important, but like finding that sense of community too within like run clubs and and run cruise, it's pretty nice that you found it that way also. you know It's not just flashy clothing and and and tights. I guess, is this how your parents are dressing? Is that why you you viewed it like that? But I'm now giving him a lot of clothes, so he's value he he's now different. just He's decked out in nice stuff, right? so Yeah, you know this new a yellow shirt, right? You see at every race, you see a few of them. Yeah, exactly. So are they still running your parents or? Yeah, they're still running. Yeah, both of them. um They are also doing race directly. oh they They're not doing your trip, for example, but they're doing like, ah until 10 miles. What do they say about your running now, like, after years and years of pushing it aside?
00:32:04
Speaker
Oh, they love the events. They normally, if it's not within Europe, they're volunteering. They're almost always there. um Running myself, they... they yeah it down I don't know. They're sometimes thinking, like, what are you doing now? Like, this weekend I'm going to do a long run, a really long race. And then they're like, Did you train for it? No. Okay. Good luck. Yeah. So that's, they they are not like focused on like performance. but where Where would you see, where would you say that you saw the biggest improvement in your own running?
00:32:46
Speaker
Um, yeah, good question. Like, um, I think like, um, maybe. eating different. Like back in the days I was eating and drinking a lot before the race and still performing. But after a while you think like, okay, if I perform with this amount of like, uh, food and drinks, maybe I can improve that easily. And it's quite easy to improve. Like, um, let's say two days before the race, no, no alcohol or, uh, eating a bit different. It's, it's really easy to change and it really can help your performance. So yeah, for me it did.
00:33:36
Speaker
And were you eating like is it was just like the types of food that you're eating or, you know, if certainly like maybe drinking alcohol is good to cut out a few days before, but, um, like what types of food were you eating before? And then what did you kind of change to? I, uh, I became, I think then based for five years ago. Oh, nice. It helped it helped me because I, um, I ate a lot of like cheese as a real Dutch person. yeah And from the the cheese, I always get a lot of, how do you say it? Fixed slime. and huh So it doesn't help me. I was also like i had a cold for like maybe six months a year. So now I can... like
00:34:19
Speaker
better brief and stuff and I don't want to like say like oh plant basis is a solution for everybody but for me it it helped me to uh yeah to better perform. Wow okay I'm also plant based so that's that's pretty awesome. Oh nice. Yeah and I like talking about it because I think it's interesting for me I like I changed because I saw a few documentaries and then the aoc Game changers. Yeah. And forks over knives. I think I watched, but, um, and know yeah. And then I just, I just saw like parents, uh, my friends, like my, my parents' age, like having health problems and stuff and, uh, cardiovascular issues and stuff like that. And then I was like, Oh,
00:35:05
Speaker
Maybe this is a better way for me for the future. you know What was the reason? like Why did you end up changing? Or how did you discover that ah type of eating? Yeah, I think um like my girlfriend first, my sister, I think it was even 10 to 15 years ago, she um she went on exchange to Australia. And she got there in a bed and broccoli, which is like a bed and breakfast for vegan people. And yeah, it it does exist. and and And she came back to the Netherlands and she was changed. She was, she she was yeah, she was fully vegan. And back in the days, it was not that super easy to be a vegan because nobody knew. So I really,
00:35:55
Speaker
Yeah. Remember my mom checking all labels at the supermarket. Like what can she eat? What can't she eat?
Adopting a Plant-Based Diet for Health
00:36:01
Speaker
And if we, if we went out for dinner with the whole family, we always went to like this really. duchy underground places is where they had plant-based food. like um For me, it was like not a thing back then, but then i'm I met my girlfriend and we started eating and exploring way more plant-based food. And for me, it really like the I was not eating that much meat, so that was not the hardest thing to cut out of it. But like cheese or eggs, that was something I was regularly eating.
00:36:36
Speaker
And, but I really felt like when I got the the cheese and the milk, it directly benefited my, yeah, like my slime and stuff. And so it, for me, it was really like about the health condition. I really felt better. So yeah, it was an easy decision to make them. Yeah. and And did you notice it in other aspects also, or was it just like with this saliva you're talking about that that was a apparent, but did you notice it other like in your energy or like. Like I just tell people when people ask me, like oh, how do you feel? Like, I might feel very good. I don't know. Like, and I kind of forget how I felt before, but yeah, i I have that problem. Like, like right now I feel really good and I have a lot of like energy and I really, I really stable energy as well. So I don't know if it's that's, that's the blend based, um, food or.
00:37:27
Speaker
Or yeah, so I don't know how it was way before. yeah it's It's been too long that to see the differences. ah But yeah, right now I feel really good and I don't have like, I only. the The only struggle I have with plant-based food is when you're like a marathon season or something, you have to eat a lot. And and that's, I'm really lazy. So when when, yeah, like, like I really struggle with getting enough food in. And where do you get your protein? I'm sure that's a big question you get. I get it too. Where do you get your protein from? Yeah, I eat a lot of like lentils and stuff. So yeah.
00:38:11
Speaker
That's lentils, beans, and rice is definitely something I really enjoy. And is it easy to be vegan in Amsterdam? Yeah, it is. Yeah, it is. it's so We're really lucky that it's it's quite hip within the city, so every every restaurant at least has a few options. Okay, good. Yeah, it's good. I'm noticing too in Switzerland, they they're kind of getting much better too, but other European countries are just so much further advanced, you know, it's, it's nice to see that actually. So, um, you char act yeah sorry no go yeah, if you guys do like the the big cities like Berlin or like Berlin or Paris or London, there's so many options. It's amazing, isn't it?
00:38:55
Speaker
Yeah. No van Berlin. I mean, I ran the marathon there a couple of years ago and it was like super nice. Yeah. The restaurants were amazing and stuff like that. And now you're focused on the marathon distance or are you racing all kinds of different stuff? um My own focus is terrible. So i did ah ah recently I did a 5000 on the track, nice which is which was really fun. And this weekend I'm running a race with a friend of mine, a race that I organized myself as well.
00:39:27
Speaker
I, back in the days, I made a promise that I would never raise and organize at the same time because I always failed, but I keep making the same mistake. So so this this weekend we have a raise, it's called the longest day. And the longest day is ah from sunrise to sunset. um How to run as many kilometers as possible. But you're like a couple. So one person runs a lap of 10k. Then the other person runs a lap of 10k. And so you continue until the sunset. And yeah, that's 17 hours. So if if we're equally ah fast, it would mean a eight and a half hours of running each.
00:40:12
Speaker
Um, yeah, we have no tactic, but we have a big mouth. So we, we're saying that we can make 100 K each. So, but it's it's it's fun. It's on a beautiful Island. Uh, we are with 25 teams and it's all around the bonfire with camping. It's a whole mid-summer experience. Okay. That's wild. That's so cool. What? Yeah, I'm looking forward. Yeah. it's um it's amazing It sounds like a backyard ultra kind of thing. like where it It does. It looks like it. Yeah. But then way shorter than a backyard ultra. That's right. Yeah. I know. I did a charity one during COVID actually. It was five key loops around my house.
00:40:55
Speaker
um Raise money for charity or whatever, but it's it's quite fun. it It wasn't in relay, but it was quite fun So I have to ask where do you have this passion to organize?
Passion for Organizing Urban Racing Events
00:41:06
Speaker
These events like now so you we just did euro trip you've already now you're organized another one like does it end with the organizing or is this how many of these ones have you done like where Where's your interest in in organizing? ah These these types of events Yeah, so um i within the the the running through the running junkies, I was always one who i was i one i was one of the people who organized a lot. So at the running junkies camp, or we had a brewery run, or we had a summer party, or we had a long run. And I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed to make the people happy and get together and really connect people.
00:41:48
Speaker
And then after a while, thought like, yeah, but now I'm quite limited to my own group. Why I'm not doing this to many more people because it's, it's so much fun and it brings so much joy to everybody. And yeah, so I started, uh, doing it for a wider audience. And I also thought like, okay, the running community in the Netherlands is quite straightforward. We have a few big runs. Let's call the marathon, Amsterdam out of Rotterdam. dumptodown We have a few really massive events like 20,000 people plus. And we have a lot of really small kind of run around the church vibe. But we never had like this this this urban type of raising, this urban type of raising where you like, if you look at um
00:42:39
Speaker
retro crit, or you're looking at at some races in London or in Berlin, there's this is whole urban vibe around running, which could make running cool, and the unsanctioned part of it as well. Then I felt like, okay, we have the runners here. So why are we not having this race? So I started really small with a 50 person race in Amsterdam. um from one subway station to a different subway station. And there were 50 people and it was sold out and everybody was super happy. And I really, really, I had a feeling like, oh man, I'm really giving something to the community. And then it started like growing now. um
00:43:22
Speaker
Yeah, I have a lot of like ideas and I'm sometimes really surprised that people also really enjoy the idea. I keep like so being surprised, like sometimes i think like like especially like the one from this weekend, I was like, who's gonna run 17 hours on um on a weird island? And then it was so loud within two weeks and I was like, oh, there's so many crazy people, I love it. and yeah So yeah yeah, this year it was it was quite... wild with a lot of like organizing, a but a lot of races. um But I really enjoy it's each one of them. And yeah, it's good to see that they're growing and also good to see that new people are really feeling the vibe and getting together at at at this event. And yeah, in the beginning of the year, I was a bit struggling with my audience because
00:44:18
Speaker
I really like the, let's call it the cool crew runner, but I also like a wider audience and my events are, I wish they had a line in them. Like you would say, like all these events are urban and cool, but then there's an event which is completely different. That's like, uh, Uh, for the people who want to run their first race, then there's a race for the people who want to do ultra, then there's a race for people who want to break their PB. So that's not really like the only line in them is that it's all about it running and all about bringing people together. And yeah, it's, it's, it's so much fun. Yeah, that's amazing, man. So.
00:45:00
Speaker
And you are giving back to the community in a big way, you know, um, using your own creativity to, and sharing that passion with others and then getting to see them all come together. I guess that's the benefit of not participating that you get to see more, right? It is. Yeah. Whereas, uh, this one you're going to get to participate. How many of them do you get to participate in really though? Um, no, I did, I did only like four or five, um, but I participated myself. And then the rest of the time you're just kind of like organizing and kind of answering questions and, and doing that both around, it's facing around. Yeah. Yeah. So it's cool, but it's cool when you get to like, actually do the event yourself, right? Cause, or do you like, do you always do the event prior to organizing or do you like, is there always, cause you know, you like bike the route, for example, for Euro trip, how do you like foolproof the events or do you have to necessarily?
00:46:01
Speaker
Yeah, I always was like the route you should always check um when there's a route, some races doesn't have a route, but like the route is always something that I really check and really have to feel the vibe and really get to know it. All the orders is really like go to the locations and really feel it like, okay, how could it work out? How would it look like? And yeah, really like feel the vibe and think like, oh, what can I create here? Yeah, for sure. That's awesome. So good. So like, what's your big, do you have a big picture goal with this or are you just like year by year, you kind of go, you know, kind of figure it out like one year at a time or is there an end goal to it? No, that's not an end goal. It is really like, it is growing and the things that I really enjoy, I keep doing and some new things I really like to launch it.
00:46:59
Speaker
for the first time this year, I also, um, not canceled, but it was the last edition of one race where I took like four, I think it was three, four years. And then it was now now, I felt like, okay, I put all my creativity in it now it's, it's done. And I could definitely do it again next year. And it would definitely be. successful, but I don't get energy back from it anymore because I put everything I have in it and now it's, it's, it's done. Of course, I have a few people who ask me if they can continue the race and it's really like be my guest. But for me, it's it's also, it's not about, um,
00:47:42
Speaker
It's really easy to keep continuing things because then it's also like you can make it really profitable because you know already everything. You put all the investments in it. But um because for me, it's it's all about fun. And if I don't feel fun in it, then yeah, I don't think boy then it feels like working and it should not feel like working. Yeah. And you and you have a job too, right? Like I really have a job. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I really, I enjoy my job as well. So that's it also give me the flexibility to not focus on on profit. I can make decisions because i because I would like to do things like I spent money on on terrible special effects. Which which is definitely definitely not something you would do if um like a confetti gun, which was like ah the confetti gun in Eurotrip, which was I don't think the best investment ever, but it was fun to use it for one day. Yeah.
00:48:39
Speaker
Yeah, for one day, yeah. Do you try and put all the money back into the events when you like that people pay for registration? or like Maybe that's too personal in terms of... No, you can always ask. an i dont know um No, i like most of the funds is going back into the community. Most of the, like, so many fans are, yeah, at the end, they're not making profit. They are negative. So then I need some funds and some events. Definitely when they happen for the second or third time, they are making a profit. So then I keep it on the bank. it's I don't have to pay my rent for it. So I'm quite, um,
00:49:18
Speaker
Yeah, I'm really flexible about it. Yeah. Yeah. Like you say some make some don'ts or like, and then unforeseen expenses or whatever. Like you guys had, you know, trucks and rental trucks and, you know, hotel rooms for everybody. Yeah. Like, um, then I think like, Oh, these lights look amazing. Let's buy them. And then I, yeah. i then I spend it on um on stuff again. i always yeah yeah so but it it What it does is ah it gives you some flexibility. It allows you to make decisions quickly. right You're not like, oh, where am I going to get the money for this? Or where am I going to get the money for that? it's like It doesn't make sense. do i Can we do this? And then kind of make the call. right so
00:50:02
Speaker
Um, so how do, and how do you make balance in your life, you know, for relationship for work for, and also for these, these race events, you know, like I have work and the podcast relationship, you know, it's not always easy to kind of make all these things happen. That's definitely, it's not a spot like balancing. Um, so yeah, balancing between like work. the indie donor projects, relationship, friends and running myself. They're like, definitely the last few months, the balance was not there because it was really big period for events. And the thing is that you, I, yeah, I really had to say to myself like, okay, you see, these are like ah two, three months that you really have no other life than doing projects.
00:50:54
Speaker
doing um now of course the relationship and doing work those three are my prior things but yeah then you can see like my own running gets less and less and I need it to stay healthy and stay creative and also the social thing gives me space to at least be a bit more joyful which I also need for everything so it is all about finding this balance and yeah the I have no no solution for it. One week it works better out than the week after. Then there's one week where I think like, oh man, I i have it all figured out. I have the perfect balance. And the next week I'm like, oh, I didn't run. I feel lazy. yeah So yeah, it goes on always.
00:51:39
Speaker
I didn't eat, I didn't cook for myself. Yeah, exactly. Like, oh shit, I am i keep only talking about raises. Well, now everyone's talking about EuroTrip, like they were talking about Speed Project 2 a few years ago. um And like, is there a pressure on you at all? Do you feel a pressure? How do you, how do you disconnect from, from this stuff? You know, like from getting all the messages and all the questions and and and all that stuff, you know, we were talking a bit before, um, you know, maybe there's an expectation on you when, when there's big events coming up that, you know, birthday parties or anniversaries, et cetera, to, to plan these elaborate things. Yeah, I think the biggest expectations are from myself. yeah I always think that people have really expectations like, oh, it should be bigger and better than previous edition. And if you sign up for an indie runner race, it should be an experience instead of a race. and But maybe people don't even expect that. That's just me. um So yeah, I always think that it it i have a lot of like um no yeah I have a lot of pressure,
00:52:49
Speaker
which I focus on myself. And yeah, that's that's so sometimes also pushing me to do things better, to change things and and look for different opportunities that doing this safe choice. Yeah. Right. and And you've been part of the community for so long. like How would you say it's evolved over time? you know for At the moment, it's crazy. like like I remember that like I think 10 years ago, there were maybe two running crews in Amsterdam, which is a Pata running team and running junkies.
Growth of Amsterdam's Running Community
00:53:27
Speaker
That was it. Now, I think there are over 20.
00:53:30
Speaker
And each of them, like, like you think like, okay, they're 20 running crews. Maybe they have a few people each. No, each of them have like over 100 people. It's amazing. But they're also social media based. Like they're amazing. I, I, I, maybe it's also a bit of jealousy. I am not strong on social media. I have a really good photographer. I have a really good videographer and the only thing that I have to do is press post. yeah That's the only thing I can do as well. But these guys have like whole stories, whole style guides and stuff like that. It's sometimes even more focused on the style than on the running, which is
00:54:13
Speaker
Yeah, that makes running at the moment, definitely the running community is super hip. I think there's like articles now in the newspaper about these are like the the biggest running groups in Amsterdam. There's even like, oh, running crews are the new dating. this it's it's It's getting less and less about running and it's getting more and more about ah attention. Yeah. And it's, it's, it's, it's a sad development, but, um, it's the positive thing is that it gets more and more people into running, which, which is good. Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's an interesting, uh, way to look at it for sure. And, and I guess, uh, it's, it's the way it is because of how we can, we're exposed to so much stuff through, through social media, you know, and, uh,
00:55:06
Speaker
the brands that get involved and ah you know all these things. like There's positives and negatives to all of it, I guess. um I just think, yeah, I don't know. I guess sometimes it's like people want to join the party and then you got the people that actually want to run. you know and yeah And I guess in both ways, it's like as long as you can find joy and in it and the way you want, I think that's always a if If the silver lining anyways is, is that, you know, so, but it becomes a challenge as well. Like, does it push you to maybe want to do more social media or do less? Um, no, I think I need it. I still think I need it. Uh,
00:55:55
Speaker
i I wish I was better in it, really. If I look at at some people, like how they pose and how they already like hype, I think it gives, it can give and another dimension to the race. Sure. Because people really, um in the weeks prior or the weeks after, you can really like, get the hype a bit, a bit out there and people are getting excited for the race and people are really looking, staying longer on the cloud, as you, as you would mention. Yeah. um
00:56:27
Speaker
Um, so yeah, that works, but yeah, the thing is, um, yeah, maybe that's something I need a person for, or, uh, there's something I should delegate maybe. Oh, there there's there we go. yeah Yeah, but we will see. Yeah. But, but also like, I think, I think you're maybe, even if that's not your focus, you're a, you have a ability to bring people together and to also. make time for people and connect with them. And that's what I saw at EuroTrip. And I think that's that's a huge advantage too. And I think that's, from what I see anyways, is that's who you are also, that you want to you want to be part of the party also. And um sometimes it can get lost when you're focused on the social media side, which is what everyone else sees. And and maybe they don't get to see things that you get to see at these events, right?
00:57:29
Speaker
Yeah, I think so. Yeah. And I really, I prefer to get the real life social instead of the social media social, which is the real life social is way more personal, but you reach way less people. But it is way more, I think it it fits the organization, our team way better than putting really cool stories out there. that's that's In EuroTrip, I was really looking at the teams and they fought they made ah really beautiful content. And I just had to like repost. I was like, oh, I'm so happy that these people take so many nice pictures. yeah
00:58:09
Speaker
Yeah. We, we tried to do that on our own. Like we had two cameras, um, in our car and like, just try to get some nice shots of, of our team, like, uh, throughout the journey. And it was certainly like really nice to look back, back on for sure. and Yeah, that's good. Yeah. What's, uh, what's something that you've accomplished that you never thought you would.
00:58:34
Speaker
Yeah. I think like, like definitely like. um All the events are are weird accomplishments, and I sometimes feel it's still really strange how it works works out. Especially like when but you guys signed up for EuroTrip, I was like, oh, there's a team coming from Canada. you canada Wow. What are they doing in my race? and But it was also a race last year at 10K, and then um if few there were like five Olympians at the starting line. I was like, oh.
00:59:07
Speaker
okay, these people are coming for this race. This is amazing. And so each time I get like a surprise again. Yeah. That's amazing. Any, any funny stories that you can, that you can share? Like and it doesn't have to be from our last event, but just maybe from any event it that stands out to you. Oh, that's a good question. ah It's too early to have funny stories. I think like every event definitely has something in, has definitely in the preparation, but a lot of people don't see.
00:59:44
Speaker
People see like, okay, the event, oh, it's well organized. But there were so many things prior to the event and so many little crises that you have to fix. And the fixing part is maybe the fun part as well, because it's really, you need a lot of creativity for it. Then, uh, the core, the course is blocked one day for the race or, um, the light is not working. Uh, like you, you have a lot of little fires. You have to like, uh, how do you say it? Put water on. Yeah. Yeah. as far as you have to put out for sure. Thanks. yeah yeah I can imagine, yeah, it's just like, logistically, it's got to be you know a nightmare. But fortunately, like we take care of our own rentals and all that stuff. and
01:00:28
Speaker
You know, I brought a bike from Switzerland on the train two to, uh, for our team, which we only used in the last leg, by the way. Right. Yeah. Like, like the team, the team from the UK, they, I think they bought a, they bought a bike in, um, they bought a bike in Strasbourg and they left it at the finish line. They said like, yeah, we want to take it with them. We can't take it. So I took it with me to Amsterdam why and. i i cycle on it I cycled on it yesterday and it's um so I have so much respect of them how they did 420k on it. It's a tiny children bike. which like like yeah Yesterday I felt so much appreciation for these guys. And it made you it made you like remember them, right? so
01:01:19
Speaker
Yeah. I took a picture, which I'm going to send to them today. I'm like, how did you do this? Yeah. okay That's so funny. So what kind of, it's like children's bike. It's a small, it's is it's really, really small. And it's, yeah, it's like, there's also some some squeaking in it. Maybe that's yeah. Maybe it wasn't there at the starting line, but yeah, crazy. Yeah, we had actually had some, uh, like, so the bike, the bike spent most of the time in the car, which is for, uh, for us. Cause we had two vehicles, but, um, nice. Yeah. Um, there was like, and there was a few moments, uh, like encounters that we have a one, one guy on the highway or not the highway on the side of the road. He came approach that was asking us for gas. There was one, that was one encounter. Then there, another one we were like in the night, like pitch black in Austria.
01:02:10
Speaker
we' We're in the car and some guy knocked on our on our window. He was so drunk. And he was asking us what we were doing there. We tried to explain it to him. And he's like, I live right here. And then he asked us, because we were parked outside his house, and he asked us if we had beer in the car for him. I don't think he needed more beer. But he asked for more. And then we told him we were Canadian. He got so excited. I don't know what that means in Austria. I was like, what connection this guy had to Canadian people?
01:02:43
Speaker
but ah or how Canadian people are viewed. But um he was very excited that Canadian people were camping outside his home in ah in a big band. So there was some certainly memorable moments along along the trip. And I got to run with cows in Austria, which was which was quite fun too. So what would you say um like running has brought to your life, Yoshi?
Impact of Running on Yoshi's Life
01:03:10
Speaker
A lot of friends. a family ah and a lot of adventures for sure. Yeah. And it's it's and it's it's kind of addictive too, isn't it? um For yourself, like you're going through your own running journey, but also through these events. Yeah, definitely. It's it's also like getting, no, I can put ah so much creativity in, in, in everything. And I can really like this discover for a whole new world, which is, which is really fun. Yeah.
01:03:38
Speaker
And would you say like you're you're a creative person, I guess, right? like Have you always known this or is it just through like the passion? and i I would not. um I'm really good in organizing and bringing people and stuff together. i yeah in need In events, I can put a lot of creativity, but I would not say I'm a creative person, which yeah sounds weird, but I think creative person always have the feeling that they they do art and stuff. which I work in finance, where creativity is not a good thing. It can put you to jail. so yeah here and In work, I'm definitely not creative. now
01:04:21
Speaker
And that's so funny. And what would you say to people like looking to join a run crew or a running event like this? Or like, what would you tell them? Yeah, go for it. It it it can bring you so many things just like um ah go to running through it. it You meet so many like-minded people. And right now there are so many running crews. So if, if one running crew doesn't fit you go to a different one and events, yeah, do them. It it can also like, it can change you like, um, running a 5k or a 10k you can do every weekend. But if you maybe do a weird race against like a tram or, uh, do a race, uh, for a few hours or do like Euro trip, it can really like also let you look at running differently.
01:05:09
Speaker
Um, it's not all only about like, um, BBs and, uh, BBs and exact distances. Yeah. Yeah. Is that how it's impacted you also? Like, I know you're on the performance side, but you're also very community. So you have like, again, like balance within the sport. Do you feel? Yeah, I think so. Yeah. Yeah. lot Like I also really enjoy the. But that's, I think maybe my football background, I really liked the team effort. So back in the days, we did a few achy dents, which is like a marathon in relay form. And I really enjoyed it. It's ah really about your own performance, but also about the performance of others. And you really feel like, oh, we're a team. And running is quite quite a solo sport.
01:05:55
Speaker
But to make it a team effort is really, really fun. Yeah. Amazing. Well, I'm happy you discovered that you, you know, your future wasn't in sock in football anyways. And that, yeah, that you took the running path and I'm sure your parents are quite happy with that too, to see i think so yeah some of their passion in you, you know, where can people find out more about you? You'll see. I would not say social media, but it's social media. I would go to like the Instagram of Indie Runner, which is Indie Dodge Runner. Amazing. So straightforward. Yeah. So cool. Yeah. Well, I mean, I appreciate you coming on and getting to know you a little bit better. You know, it was quite chaotic over the
01:06:37
Speaker
the Euro trip weekend and you try and have as many conversation as you can but you can only get pulled in so many directions and I'm glad we got this this time the chat time. Yeah I'm really happy. Yeah yeah it's also for me good to like reflect on things. Yeah for sure. Well I wish you a very good day and and we'll talk soon. You as well man. Thanks. Cheers. Thanks for tuning in to the Just In Stride podcast. I truly appreciate you taking the time to listen and I hope you enjoyed that conversation as much as I did. Please take a minute after this to rate and review our show on Apple Podcasts. With your feedback, we'll be able to make the show even better and it'll help us reach new listeners too. You can also find us on Instagram at Justin Stride Pod for all the latest episodes and updates.
01:07:23
Speaker
Of course, this show wouldn't be possible without a solid team behind me. With logo and design by Vanessa Pugliese, as well as audio, music, and editing by Forest McKay, a huge thank you goes out to both of them. Guest outreach, social media, writing, and advertising are handled by me, your host, Justin Pugliese. Finally, we'd like to thank you, our listeners, for coming along for the ride with Justin Stradd.