Martinus Evans’ doctor told him that he needed to lose weight, but also that he couldn’t run. Martinus felt otherwise. He said he was going to start training for a marathon. The rest is history.  Over the past few years, Martinus wrote a book called the “Slow AF Run Club”, has built an impressive like-minded running community that supports non-traditional runners in larger bodies and has appeared on podcasts like this one and major events across the running world to share his message and vision for growing the running community. In this episode, we talk about: his entry point into the running community and what kept him inspired in the early days why running is not necessarily a weight loss journey for larger-bodied runners whether the running community is becoming less intimidating to enter into advice for runners struggling with doubt and insecurity when it comes to their athletic abilities how to cope with the pressure to be faster and achieve personal bests lessons learned from building a running community for slower runners No matter your perspective on the running community, I think you will find this to be an interesting and thought-provoking conversation! Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT! This week’s show brought to you by: BiOptimizers Beat the stress of the holiday season with stress guardian from BiOptimizers. It’s packed with a blend of 14 adaptogenic herbs that help to regulate your stress response naturally.  With daily use, Stress Guardian becomes your personal shield against seasonal tension, enhancing both your mental and physical well-being.  To get a head start on your holiday stress, visit stressguardian.com/runtothetop and use promo code RUN10 for 10% off your first order.  BIOptimizers is so confident in their products that they offer a risk-free 365-day money-back guarantee. Land Rover You’re up for any challenge that comes your way. The Defender 110 is, too.  The iconic vehicle has been reimagined for twenty-first century adventure, and its unparalleled off-road ability, as well as its robust interior, are invaluable whether you’re headed towards uncharted territory, or just a weekend of exploration.  The Defender 110 tackles challenging surroundings with absolute confidence. The SUV conveys strength outside and in, featuring peerless technology like an intuitive driver display and an award-winning infotainment system to keep you connected no matter where the journey takes you.  Adventure is unique to everyone, and so is the Defender. Choose from the two-door Defender 90, the four-door Defender 110, or the larger Defender 130 with the ability to seat up to 8 passengers — you’ll find uncompromising performance in all three.  Pack up and go even further with the Defender 110. Learn more at LandroverUSA.com/defender LMNT Did you know that you’re likely to sweat as much, if not more, in the winter than in the summer? That’s because we often wear such warm clothes to start our runs, which leads to more sweating towards the end. Plus, the sweat gets absorbed by our clothes, so it’s harder to notice. But, taking in fluids during or after runs in the winter isn’t as easy as it is in the summer. That’s why I love the chocolate medley LMNT. If you’re looking for the most effectively dosed electrolyte drink for runners, check out LMNT. It's loaded with everything you need to replenish your electrolyte balance and you can get a free sample pack by going to drinkLMNT.com/runnersconnect