The Runna Podcast

**Please note, this episode contains discussion of drug addiction, substance misuse, and suicide, which some listeners may find upsetting. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek professional support.**

"Discipline is the only thing that will set you free"

He beat opioid addiction. Then ran a 2:29 marathon at 50.

Ken Rideout is the fastest masters marathon runner in the world - and this week, he brings his story of addiction recovery, discipline, and complete reinvention to The Runna Podcast.

This isn't just a running tips episode. It's a story about what it takes to rebuild your life from scratch - and how running became the framework that made it possible.

Ken didn't just get clean - he replaced chaos with consistency, turned pain into purpose, and became living proof that it's never too late.

In this episode: 

🧠 The mindset behind taking risks vs playing it safe 

🏃‍♂️ What really happened in his NYC Half debut 

📊 His pacing strategy - and where it went wrong 

⚖️ The biggest mistakes runners make stepping up to the half 

🚀 Why just starting is the hardest - and most important - step

Whether you're a runner chasing a big goal, struggling with consistency, or need some proof that reinvention is possible - this one's for you.

🎧 Follow along for new episodes every Friday with Olympians, World Record Holders, and inspiring voices form the running community. 

🎁 Try Runna FREE for 2 weeks with code PODCAST26: https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST26

And if you’re just getting started, our New to Running and Return to Running plans are totally free 💛

📺 Watch the full episode → youtube.com/@therunnapodcast

And you can find Ken’s new book here: Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard: Amazon.co.uk: Rideout, Ken: 9781529956030: Books

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.