Erik Valiente is the founder of the popular running club, BlacklistLA. From late night Monday art runs, to early morning Saturday marathon training, BlacklistLA attracts runners from all over the city. Not only has Erik organized a 5K just to celebrate the birthday of LA, he has created lasting impact with his vision to improve the city and give back to those around him. With community in mind, Erik aims to inspire all to go after their dreams. Book Recommendation: http://amzn.to/320UHrg   Erik's Social: https://www.instagram.com/runangeles/   BlacklistLA: https://www.instagram.com/blacklistla/  http://blacklistla.city/

Thavee is a marathon runner, real estate investor, succulent enthusiast, and a benevolent friend of mine. After running non-competitively for most of his life, Thavee dove into serious marathon training in his mid-forties. For the last ten years, he has shared his love and  passion for running with many in LA. I hope you enjoy our conversation, and gain some perspective on what it takes to enjoy running in the long run. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thavster_one_one/  Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/19537579

Jennifer Sunahara talks about her lessons learned from participating beauty pageants, individualistic sports, and her views on training as an experienced runner. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azn_jen/  Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/2319682

I talk about the wild ride to my first 100 miler and finding the work that I love doing. On this episode, we have a different format where I am the subject of the show. I talk about starting graduate school, discovering long distance running, and how that eventually led me to run the San Diego 100 and the Angeles Crest 100 in the summer of 2017. I share my perspective of how life has changed and how I view the concepts of work life balance and dealing with failure. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelttfang/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/15581988

Dustin talks about his running career and his journey into tech. Dustin is a startup cofounder, front end web developer, photographer, and runner. After attending Sacramento State with a full ride scholarship for running in the 800m, Dustin found his way into tech through web development in the early 2000’s. Since then, he has become an early contributor to notable companies such as Yahoo, Google, Twitter (where he built the tweet button), and Medium (where he built the editor). His startup, Agent, aims to be a better way to book models and safely connects talent with clients. Agent: https://joinagent.com/ Website: https://www.dustindiaz.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polvero/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/31286898

Myles talks about his experience working in media and his desire to touch people through his films. Aftering attending Lee University in Cleveland, TN, Myles took on the role of Technical Director at ABC and worked on live programs such as the Academy Awards, NBA Finals, and Dancing with the Stars. Myles is now a Los Angeles filmmaker and content creator at Matsuno Media. His company has worked with big names such as Spotify and Michelle Obama. His award winning short film, First To Go: Story of the Kataoka (Ka-TAU-aka) Family, reveals how his great grandfather, Ichiro became the first San Francisco Japanese prisoner of war to be taken by the FBI in 1941. Myles recently directed, edited, & produced his first feature film, Christmas in July, which premiered at the Knox film festival in 2019. The film features a once prominent musician who, against all odds, tries to stage a last minute celebration for his sick grandmother. Not only is Myles an accomplished filmmaker, with guest interviews on NBC, CBS, and other news channels, he is a serious marathon athlete as well as a husband and father for his wife Whitney and newborn child Koa. One of his current projects is “We’re The People,” an online docu-series uncovering the little known stories of humans trying to make a difference. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcm7VVi3gP1c3b32hQXu-eA  Website: http://www.mylesmatsuno.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myles_matsuno/  Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/5872435

Victor is an experienced marathon and ultramarathon athlete. He recently ran under 2 hrs and 34 min at the 2020 LA Marathon, which placed him 5th out of 22,000 participants. Victor has worked with a number of global running brands, including Brooks and Hoka One One. Through his personal and professional work, he has gained a wide range of marketing knowledge and experience in the outdoor performance industry. Always thinking and tinkering, Victor is an endless outlet of creative ideas. In this episode, Victor talks his running origin story, his philosophy on training, and the lessons learned along the way. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQP3jjuGU6tYym2bnR_Uf5Q Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindtherun/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/1771024