9X Marathon Winner Explains Life as the .001% of the world ft Joey Whelan

Follow Joey on IG:   / jpwhelan23   Follow me on IG:   / shelldapodcast   Out of 8 billion people on earth, less than 1% will ever run a marathon… and an even smaller number will ever win one. In this episode of The Shellda Podcast, I sit down with elite marathon runner Joey Whelan, the winner of the Austin Marathon, to explore the mindset, sacrifice, and obsession behind competing at the highest level of endurance sports. We talk about: • What runners actually think about during a marathon • The mental battle between miles 18–26 • Training through brutal winters and treadmill miles • Why winning a marathon still doesn’t silence self-doubt • Running as identity, therapy, and obsession • The moment Joey proposed to his wife at the Austin Marathon finish line If you're a runner, aspiring marathoner, or someone chasing excellence in any field, this episode will give you a raw look into what it takes to operate at the elite level. Chapters: 0:00 The 0.0001% of Runners 0:50 Meet Austin Marathon Champion Joey Whelan 2:00 Growing Up Competitive in Buffalo 5:20 The Mental Battle During Long Runs 7:00 Race Day Nerves Before a Marathon 9:15 The Moment Another Runner Took the Wrong Turn 11:30 The Mind Games of Miles 18–26 14:15 When Joey Realized He Would Win 16:00 The Brutal Hill at Mile 26 17:05 When Running Became His Identity 19:10 Redemption After a Bad Race 20:30 Running as Therapy and Strategy 21:30 Life Outside Running 25:00 Being in the Top 0.0001% of Runners 27:00 What Winning a Marathon Feels Like 31:00 The Finish Line Proposal Story 38:00 Why Austin Changed His Career 41:00 The Discipline of a Runner's Lifestyle 43:30 Running While Working Construction 45:00 Olympic Trials and Future Goals 47:00 Training Through Winter and 120 Mile Weeks 49:00 The Dream of Wearing Team USA 50:50 What If Running Was Taken Away? 53:00 Advice for New Runners 58:10 Final Thoughts -- Join this channel to get access to perks and see the podcast early:    / @shellda   Join Shellda's exclusive discord and see the podcast early:   / membership   Shop BFPGear here: https://www.blackfridaypaintball.com Want 10% off on ProDNA gear? https://infamouspaintball.com/SHELLDA... Grab Shellda's Book here: https://a.co/d/bG1hU8e Brands: Reach out to Dan at [email protected] to discuss brand deals and integrations. #running #runner #marathon