Brian Reynolds - Unshackling the Mind

Today's interview is with Brian Reynolds, one of the world's fastest double amputee runners.

When Brian was four years-old he contracted a rare form of bacterial meningitis, which led to him having both of his legs amputated below the knee.

Despite this, Brian was fairly active as a child-- and did his best to participate in most common childhood sports like baseball, basketball and even hockey.  (He grew up in Boston after all.)

When Brian was in college, he got into power lifting... which led to him to join the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training to hike across the Grand Canyon... and then finally to running.

Brian is now one of the fastest double amputee runners in the world, having set records in distances from the 5K to the marathon. 

Brian happens to live about a mile from me, so we see each other on our morning runs quite often. I'd love to run with him more, but I don't think I can keep up!

Last month, the Fleet Feet in our town hosted a trail running film festival featuring several short documentaries about trail running and ultramarathons.  One of the films was about Brian's attempt, last year, to complete the Leadville 100, one of the toughest ultramarathons in the world.

In a few weeks, Brian will be heading back to Leadville for another attempt.  And as we publish this episode, Brian is currently climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Brian is also sponsored by our partners at Brooks Running, so we definitely want to give a big thanks to them as well. 

For over a century, Brooks has been propelled by a never-ending curiosity with how humans move.

It drives their every decision and every innovation. Because they believe movement is the key to feeling more alive.

And we’re all moving towards something.

It could be the top of a mountain, a first-ever 5K, or peace of mind after a stressful day.  It could be a cure for Parkinson’s, a cleaner planet, fair play.

So… let’s run there.

With gear and experiences specifically designed to take you to that place.

Whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line. Let’s run there.

Head to BrooksRunning.com to learn more.