Brendan Leonard, Part 2 - On Running, Creating, & Other Irrational Passions
Brendan Leonard is a prolific writer and artist who is best known as the creator of Semi-Rad.com. He’s also the author of a brand new book titled “I Hate Running and You Can Too: How to Get Started, Keep Going, and Make Sense of an Irrational Passion.” The book offers motivation and witty insights into the sometimes-crazy pastime of running. And Brendan knows a thing or two about running irrational distances-- he’s completed multiple 100-mile ultramarathons, ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks, directed the film How to Run 100 Miles, and co-hosts the Off The Couch Podcast, which features interviews with runners of all stripes.
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Through his books, filmmaking, and writing on Semi-Rad.com, Brendan offers a unique perspective into the world of outdoor recreation and adventure. Rather than focusing on the mind-blowing feats of super-elite athletes, Brendan’s work highlights the passion and determination of regular people who enjoy pushing themselves hard in the outdoors. Brendan has also perfected the ability to draw larger life lessons from these outdoor adventures-- lessons that can be applied to creative endeavors of any kind. You don’t have to be a runner or mountain athlete to glean actionable wisdom from Brendan’s work, and I personally credit Brendan’s influence with helping me to grow and evolve Mountain & Prairie.
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Brendan and I connected a few days before the release of his new book and had a fun and wide-ranging conversation about everything from running to reading, from Ted Lasso to Matthew McConaughey. We started out by discussing his new book I Hate Running and You Can Too-- how the book came to be, the process of writing it, and how its lessons can be applied to writing or other creative pursuits. We then discussed some of his own running achievements, including running 52 marathons over the course of 52 weeks and the life lessons he learned from that year-long commitment. We talked about the fallacy of looking for hacks in running or life, some of Brendan’s creative heroes, the importance of vulnerability, the process of finding his creative voice, recent good books, and much more.
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If you’re the type of person who likes to push yourself creatively or physically, this episode is full of wisdom and insight that you can put to use immediately. I’d also encourage you to check out Brendan’s new book, and really all of his work-- check out the links in the episode notes or just head to Semi-Rad.com. Huge thanks to Brendan, and I hope you enjoy.
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TOPICS DISCUSSED:
- 6:00 – Brendan discusses his latest book, I Hate Running and You Can Too
- 10:00 – Brendan discusses his progression as a runner
- 18:15 – Brendan talks about his experience running 52 marathons in 52 weeks
- 27:00 – The lessons Brendan learned from 52 marathon challenge
- 33:00 – Brendan explains how becoming a runner influenced other areas of his life
- 36:30 – Brendan discusses his claim that “there are no hacks” in running (or life)
- 42:00 – Who Brendan looks up to
- 50:30 – Brendan explores the process of finding his voice
- 55:30 – Brendan discusses vulnerability and the process of sharing his own experiences in his writing
- 1:02:30 – Brendan’s book recommendations
- 1:07:30 – Brendan’s parting words of wisdom
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- Semi-Rad.com
- "I Hate Running and You Can Too" by Brendan Leonard
- "How to Run 100 Miles"
- All of Brendan's Books
- Brendan's first M&P episode
- Full Episode Notes and Links: https://mountainandprairie.com/brendan-leonard-2/
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