July 11, 2024 • 56 mins
Gina opens up about her transformative journey over the past year, sharing her aspirations to start her own business and become a motivational speaker. Her story is a testament to the power of personal growth and the importance of pursuing one's passion. What if your next career move wasn't about a job change but about discovering your true passion? In this heartfelt episode, we welcome Gina Rue, a packaging sales professional with dreams that stretch far beyond selling empty boxes.
Gina's path hasn't been easy, but it's been incredibly rewarding. We explore the significance of resilience and vulnerability as Gina recounts her experiences, from the unexpected opportunities that arise when one door closes to the organic feedback that can guide you toward your true calling. The conversation touches on the emotional and physical challenges she faced during a grueling 50-mile walk, underscoring the strength that comes from community support and the profound impact of sharing personal stories. These raw moments of perseverance highlight the importance of being comfortable with our emotions to foster genuine connections and healing.
Set against the serene backdrop of Tahazuka Park in Elkhorn, this episode delves into the camaraderie and resilience needed to overcome both physical and emotional pain. Gina and I discuss practical tips for long-distance marches, the power of a support system, and the transformational impact of sharing your struggles with trusted friends and family. Authenticity and vulnerability are at the heart of this conversation, reminding us that true strength comes from opening up and letting others into our lives—messy houses and all. Join us for this inspiring episode filled with real-life lessons and the beauty of human connection.
GINA RHUE
For more into about the 50 Mile March!
www.50milemarch.org
Gina's path hasn't been easy, but it's been incredibly rewarding. We explore the significance of resilience and vulnerability as Gina recounts her experiences, from the unexpected opportunities that arise when one door closes to the organic feedback that can guide you toward your true calling. The conversation touches on the emotional and physical challenges she faced during a grueling 50-mile walk, underscoring the strength that comes from community support and the profound impact of sharing personal stories. These raw moments of perseverance highlight the importance of being comfortable with our emotions to foster genuine connections and healing.
Set against the serene backdrop of Tahazuka Park in Elkhorn, this episode delves into the camaraderie and resilience needed to overcome both physical and emotional pain. Gina and I discuss practical tips for long-distance marches, the power of a support system, and the transformational impact of sharing your struggles with trusted friends and family. Authenticity and vulnerability are at the heart of this conversation, reminding us that true strength comes from opening up and letting others into our lives—messy houses and all. Join us for this inspiring episode filled with real-life lessons and the beauty of human connection.
GINA RHUE
For more into about the 50 Mile March!
www.50milemarch.org
Thank you for listening to The Connection Podcast with Jay Miralles. Please subscribe and share!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm so excited today to introduce my guest.
And you know, the connection isall about creating connections.
The more connections, thebetter.
Connecting yourself to theworld, connecting yourself to
community.
Today I have Gina Rue.
I had the pleasure of meetingGina a couple years back, or a
year back A year ago, a year ago, and I didn't know you, you
(00:23):
didn't know me.
What I love about today is wewe're not overprepared.
I had not spoken with youdirectly since last year's
mission and then maybe anothermedia event we had a couple of
weeks back.
So what we have today isunscripted.
But, gina, if you'll justintroduce yourself, of who are
you, what do you do?
And you know just topsuperficial that everyone should
(00:45):
know.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, totally Well.
Thanks for having me.
Oh my God, I'm so excited and,as a side note, it's very hot
out here, the worst day andsince you started talking, the
breeze is coming.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
It's cool, we'll listen to it.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Thank you, Lord this is nice.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
We love the breeze, it's only 109.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
It feels great out here, guys.
Anyways, yeah, thanks forhaving me and, like Jay said,
this is very unscripted, so wejust decided, hey, let's get
together and chat, you're likewe're podcasting today, I guess.
then I was like oh, okay, we'redoing a podcast.
Cool, let's not waste it onconversation we're.
(01:26):
My name is Gina.
I was a first time walker lastyear and that's how you and I
connected, but I love that youshared a little bit with me
about, like, what the podcast isabout, because I love to relate
to people.
The typical questions what doyou do?
Speaker 1 (01:35):
And it's like, yeah, we all have a job, but that's
not what defines us?
Right, who are you?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, Like who are you?
So I am in sales full time.
Um, I work for a packagingcompany, so I literally sell
empty boxes.
I get two reactions when I tellpeople that either one, they're
like that's really interesting,or two, it's like crickets and
they don't know what to say andthey just walk away.
So, um, it's quite, yeah, it'squite interesting, it's a
(02:01):
fascinating world, and um, Iwouldn't say that's my passion,
like, empty boxes are not mypassion.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Understood, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
But I actually love I'm doing my own podcast and I
would love to own my ownbusiness and company one day and
actually be a speaker and sharemy story, because it's
definitely one that, yeah, it'sbeen a long journey to get where
I'm at here today, and I knowthat there's a lot of people who
can relate to what I've beenthrough.
So, um yeah, it's just beenreally neat.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
So that was very high level, but no, but that is very
yeah, and we will, and let'sstay right there.
So, um, Gina, last year did youhave the ambitions of being a
speaker?
Did you have the ambitions ofowning your business?
Where were you at last year?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
this time.
That's a good question.
Last year, this time, I did nothave the ambition, I didn't
have the vision.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
yet Okay, you didn't have the vision.
I didn't have the vision.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
I knew I wanted to do something, and I had always
known, okay, I want to own abusiness or something to that
nature, but I didn't know whatit looked like, and so it was
just really kind of a process oftrial and error.
I tried a few different thingsand even talked with different
friends on hey, let's what if weteamed up and we did this and,
little by little, it just kindof like doors were closed, like
(03:19):
okay that's not really going tobe it.
And as those.
Yeah, and as those doors closed, I feel like other ones started
to open and I had a lot ofpeople say to me very random
people, uh, would come up and belike do you know, like you,
you're very gifted in how youspeak.
You should be a speaker.
I'm like what?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yeah, oh, that's weird Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
I didn't think about that, and then I would have more
and more people tell me thatand then more and more people
would say like, hey, I relate toyour story in this way.
So it kind of birthed out ofsomething very organic, of just
like starting to open up and bevulnerable with people, and it
was resonating and so and I lovesharing my story because
(03:58):
there's hope in it.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
I think, because so a lot of us get put through a
test.
Then usually there's the grindand then there's testimony.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah Right, oh, that's, good.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, but most of us fail at the grind and they just
hold on to the hurt.
They never get to theirtestimony because they still
want to hold on to the hurt andthey still.
But even those who made itthrough the storm and are like
I'm better now don't have thegift of transferring that energy
(04:29):
or transferring the blessing ofthat testimony.
There's a lot of people outthere that have triumphed beyond
you and I tenfold right, butthey just don't have the gift or
the heart, or maybe the desire,I don't know.
Whatever the reason is, there'sno testimony for them.
I don't know.
Whatever the reason is, there'sno testimony for them.
They completed Love themotorcycles here at Tahle Zuka
(04:52):
Park.
But you do, and this isspeaking to your soul now.
And so fast forward to todayManifest.
What does it look like now?
What?
What?
Oh, hey, jay, I'm doing aspeaking gig next week.
What does that look like If youwere to tell me oh, I love that
, yeah, you're manifesting,right, I love it.
Let's play this out.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, that vision casting.
I would say it's going to lookdifferent for each.
I don't despise the smallbeginnings at all, and so,
whether that's like speaking toa women's group awesome.
Or speaking on a big stagesomewhere.
But I would say my goal, myultimate vision, would be able
(05:34):
to speak to not just like churchgroups, because that's that's
one segment of people right.
I would love to even go into,like the corporate world, to go
into the secular world and belike, hey, no, this is stuff
happens and here's how you come,like, come out on the other
side.
And one thing I love aboutsharing our stories is that
(05:56):
every time we share it, we sharesomething like a little bit
different version of it, andsomeone can pick out something
different every time.
So, even though they may notlike, I've listened to speakers
before.
I don't relate to every detailof their story.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
No.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Right, but I'm like oh yeah, that Like that
resonated with me.
So I think, as far as like,what does that look like?
I think it'd be awesome to beon a big stage, but that's not
really the heartbeat reallybehind it, as long as I get to
connect with people and impactlives.
That, to me, is what mattersmore.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
It's harder to speak to 12 than it is to 1200.
I promise you, and you'veprobably felt it, and witnessed
it or seen it.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
So let's go through this Hard time, right.
Every story, or every goodspeaker, has a story.
It's not just a lesson onhere's how to be a better
salesperson, like, okay, youneed to tell the story.
The story needs to have thestruggle, it needs to have a
hero, it needs to have the enemy, it needs to have the struggle
(06:56):
and then the triumph, right?
So I want to talk about thestruggle.
Right, I want to talk about the50 mile march.
I want to talk about oh my gosh, why is Gina falling apart?
Wait, what's happening here?
And why is she showing hertears?
And everyone does it for adifferent reason, right?
And is she hurt physically?
(07:18):
Is she hurt mentally?
Like?
I remember seeing you cry.
I was like, okay, I lovewatching the emotion.
Not, I don't love watchingpeople cry.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Yeah, you don't like people in pain and hurting.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
But I love when someone some pain emerges yeah,
cause you got to deal with it,right.
And if it's okay with you, I'dlike to just jump into what was
your journey or challenge at thetime of the March.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Well, I will get into that in a second.
I want to touch on somethingyou just said, because you said
I love watching the emotionright and that you don't shy
away from that like you're notuncomfortable by like
uncomfortable with it, and it'sso interesting.
And something I've learnedthrough my own struggles is that
those who touch their own painyes can be with others in their
pain and like it doesn't.
(08:06):
It used to scare me to seepeople get really upset or angry
or sad or frustrated.
Like it would really scare mebecause I didn't know how to
deal with it.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
And now that I've dealt with my own emotions and I
don't classify emotions as goodor bad, they're just big, like
we can have big emotionssometimes A hundred percent, and
with that I don't mean to jumponto your idea, but I'll tell
you this when people say, oh myGod, I saw him crying, I saw her
crying, I wouldn't touch thatwith a 10 foot pole, it makes me
uncomfortable.
It does make peopleuncomfortable.
(08:38):
Think of a widow, right man orwoman who has lost someone.
They're crying.
You don't know what to say.
Just be there, just be there,just be there, just be Right,
right.
And you don't have to solveanything.
But I remember the moment I sawyou crying.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
You were on a um anti-gravity chair and I didn't
know you Like a stretcher.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
You were leaned back.
Yeah, your feet were likedestroyed.
I thought it was your feet.
Lindsey and a couple otherpeople were speaking life into
you.
They were telling you likethings.
Maybe you didn't want to hearat the time, yeah, but you had
to let it out.
And I would remember just goinglike almost like if I had
popcorn I'd be.
But I'm saying like I rememberwatching that.
(09:19):
Yeah, someone captured jerryteeter captured that photo yeah,
I was there, I saw, saw it.
Take us back to that moment.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah, that was a cool moment.
I mean, looking back, it was acool moment.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
It was a transformational moment.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
In the moment.
I didn't want to be there, sowe gosh, we'd been walking
through the night.
So it was.
It was the high V stop, so itwas 9am.
I remember that.
I remember that that's about 30, 38 miles in.
(09:51):
Yes, I know my details.
I was counting 38 miles in JayUm and so I had.
I remember previously, causethis was my first walk and I
remember everyone saying like,okay, the hardest, hardest point
is Lenoma.
Like you get to Lenoma andyou're going to be fine, yeah.
And we got to Lenoma and I waslike I feel good, I was like
sweet.
I'm like I'm good, got it and Ithink after we left Lenoma, not
I think.
(10:11):
I know that was the longeststretch.
I think it was 12 miles.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Yes, from Lenoma to Hy-Vee.
Yes, it was a very hard stretchbecause of the hills.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Yeah, because of all the other, and the sun just
emerging and all that stuff,yeah.
So, and I did not know thecourse, really I intentionally
did not study it because Ididn't want no, I'm telling you,
I didn't want to know where Iwas on the course because then I
would be thinking like, okay, Ihave nine miles left or three
miles left.
I just wanted to keep walking.
You know like sometimesoblivion is bliss and I was like
(10:49):
in this case.
I was like I don't want to knowmy mile markers, I just want to
know, like just keep walking andwe're going to get to the next
stop.
So I had no clue.
We had 12 miles.
I had no clue and I was like,sweet, here's the outlets
awesome yes yay oh my gosh, westill have so far to go, um, but
it wasn't really until wepassed the outlets.
I think we were on just like agradual incline and my feet just
really started to hurt.
But it wasn't.
That wasn't really whattriggered it.
(11:10):
I think it was just theexhaustion coupled with like I
don't man.
I think it was just like theemotions of hitting me, like why
we're doing this, like thatreally just started to get like
in in my heart and in my mind ofwhy we were doing this.
And because that's the partwhere it was so uncomfortable.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
And.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
I was like this is no longer like a fun Instagram
worthy thing I'm doing.
I was like holy buckets.
This is like this is the realdeal.
Um, and I think at that point Iwas just emotionally I wouldn't
say worn down, but just myguard was down and like, yeah, I
just emotionally I wouldn't sayworn down, but just my guard
was down and like, yeah, I, justI I wouldn't say where my
emotions on my sleeve, but Idon't shy away from them.
(11:51):
So it was just kind of a like areally impactful moment and, uh
, I was talking with my friendMegan.
We're walking with one anotherand.
I just started crying while youwere walking while I was walking
, like just silently, likebefore before before.
(12:12):
Hy-vee and tears just startedlike falling down my face and I
was like I don't know why, likeI don't know why, but I was like
I'm not gonna judge myself onwhy I'm crying.
It just was like all theemotion was hitting me of like
what was happening, and then Iwould say, probably three miles
later was when my feet reallystarted to hurt like really
started to hurt.
Um blisters had formed.
They were reforming and poppingand reforming and popping Like
(12:34):
it was bad, and I do rememberthis, megan we had just met a
few hours prior, which?
Speaker 1 (12:39):
is crazy to me.
I thought you guys were friendsbecause of the Marquesas
already.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
No, we became besties between like midnight and 6 am.
It was awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
And I love that about the community part, but keep
going oh yeah, and so she.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
We had shared enough with each other, Like she just
knew in that moment like Ineeded to be spoken into and
she's like I need you to walk alittle bit faster, Because Lindy
had a speaker on her backpackRight, and so Megan grabbed her
phone and played a song andshe's like the song is for you
and it was literally about howGod walks with us through the
(13:12):
storms, and I was just like andjust everything that I had been
through the last few years of mylife, like it was just all very
like it was a very symbolicsymbolic moment yeah um, but
then we get to hy-vee and Ihonestly I don't remember a
whole lot from that point tohy-vee because it was just like
(13:33):
one foot in front of the other.
But I remember getting there andthey took my shoes off.
I could hardly get to my chairand jamie came and took my shoes
off and she was juststraightforward with me.
Like your feet, feet are in badshape, but we're going to get
you taken care of.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
And I was like okay, all right.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Right, and they just they were just stinging like
peeling the socks off.
I mean, it was just.
It was bad.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
It's a real thing.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
It's a real thing.
Um, it was probably some of themost intense pain I've ever
felt Like not to scare peopleaway, but it was.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
I want?
I want to scare people away.
If you're having a doubt, don'tdo it, Right?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
If you're, if you're scared, don't do it, yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
I mean, if you're scared, push yourself through it
.
But if you don't want to pushyourself, that's okay too.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
But do you realize?
You know, what did you everhear me say even during the
qualifier or any trainings mesaying you'll find 90% of
yourself?
Have you ever heard me say thatbefore?
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
I want people to realize what that means.
Most of us, you know, mostpeople who have a job, they
clock in, they clock out.
They make a paycheck to paytheir bills, to go to sleep, to
go to the job, to clock in,clock out to pay their bills.
That's 50% of life.
Yeah, okay, you're making aliving Good.
And and then there's the 70%who maybe they go to the gym.
(14:45):
They're better, they'reimproving themselves, they're
trying to be 1% better thanyesterday.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Then there's people who are crazy, who are stunt
people, enthusiasts, right,they're rock climbers, they are
um Mount Everest people.
Now, I'm never going to comparewhat we do as what we do in
Mount Everest, but I can assureyou this what we do as what we
do in Mount Everest, but I canassure you this, what we do,
Gina, is someone's Mount Everest.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
That's good.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Right.
For some people it's put yourshoes on and go to work.
That's Mount Everest for them,you know.
Yeah, but for me, when I say,gina, you're going to find 90%
of yourself on this March, yeah,you found yourself.
Oh yeah, the truth, oh yeah,the, the self, the, the, the
hurt, the pain and and andsometimes pain from the past
(15:30):
comes out.
Um, were you experiencinganything in your life that you
just either had to make adecision to say I just need
closure to this, I need to bestronger than this, or did you
give into it and say this ishurting me even more?
Speaker 2 (15:43):
in that moment in that moment.
Um, I think it was honestly.
For me in that moment it wasmore just the emotion came up
and because of everything I'dbeen through I had, I was
comfortable letting my emotionsout and.
I did not care who saw I waslike I really don't care.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Um and I was weeping, like, I mean, I was wailing, I
saw, it and I was weeping, likeI mean, I was wailing, I saw it.
Lindsay at one point was likego ahead and cry it out, but be
done after this, right.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
I don't even know what anyone said to me.
I was just in my own world.
I have no clue.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
And then what's funny is and I someone told me like
look at her.
Now we are taking off and youwere almost just fine, I
wouldn't have been, I wouldn'thave known.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
It was.
It was probably the mostintense 30 minutes of just
mental fortitude, of like, okay,I need to figure out what I'm
doing.
Because at that point and Iremember telling people right
after this, like I wasn't cryingbecause I was thinking about
quitting, I was crying because Iknew I wasn't going to quit and
how much it was going tofreaking hurt the next 12 miles
(16:46):
and.
I was like, if I don't cry now,I'm just going to cry the next
12 miles.
So I'm just going to get it outof the way.
Um, literally that was mythought, and I'm like I just got
to get it out of my system.
Like you know, when you feelstuff welling up inside of you
and you're like it's right there, it's right there, and we shove
it back down.
I was like I'm letting it outbecause it's going to be bad,
and that causes disease too.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
It causes strain, it causes depression, it causes a
whole mess of things and youknow, sometimes society teaches
people like you got to buck up,you got to grind and hustle,
like it's okay.
Listen, I'm going to tell youright now, when I feel like
crying, I'll cry.
Right, I don't cry just to cry,though.
I'm not Tammy Faye Bakering it,right, you know like I'm not
(17:32):
like, oh, join me in this quest.
Like it comes at the mostrandom times for me.
Last time it was, uh, shoot,I'm trying to think, cause it's
almost different every time.
Oh, yes, it was coming intoCabela's, so leaving Hy-Vee
coming right coming intoCabela's, so leaving Hy-Vee
coming into Cabela's.
I was like, oh, this is coolman, and I remember, I remember
(17:53):
Jardine, yeah, jardine was hewas hurting.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Ryan was hurting.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Yes, he was, I was like, but as long as I was
pushing him.
I was good when they took himand it was like the last hundred
yards.
I started Really yes, and I hadmy sunglasses on and you
couldn't tell if I was sweatingor crying until my nose started
running.
And Becky says what's wrong?
I said, oh, it's just, you know, but I feel I feel pain letting
(18:23):
go.
So when people are at 90% oftheir of their life, um a
hundred percent is death, by theway.
I mean, when you feel life at ahundred percent, you die at 90%
.
You're just on that edge oflike.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Everest, or 38 miles in right, it is.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
And that's when you get squeezed and you find out
what's actually inside.
Yes, and the authenticity comesout.
Are you a schmuck?
Do you hate people?
Are you who?
Are you?
Under 90%, people will find outwho you are, and that's what I
believe.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
And I remember Zach, so he was our platoon leader yes
, Zach Grady.
Yeah, we'll call him Slim Grady.
Slim Grady, he raps all thetime.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
I love it.
I love it, slim Grady, yes.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
There's a video from Iceland if you ever want to see
it.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Anyways, he had a speech, so our next stop was TAC
88.
And that was a long, freakingwalk.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
From Hy-Vee to TAC 88 .
And I think that's where mostpeople really started to feel it
.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Oh yeah, that was a long stretch.
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Even though it was only three miles.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
But it was still hot.
That's when the sun startedcoming.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
He gave us some like a David Goggins speech at TAC 88
.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
And it was all about yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
And it was all about like when you reach this level,
you've only reached 50% ofactually your true potential.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
And he pointed to me and he's like Gina's already
touched it and I was like I haveLike I don't know, okay, I
don't know.
I was like touch what, what didI do?
But honestly, um, but honestly,it was like after I left Hy-Vee
I remember leaving that parkinglot and it hurt like hell
getting my shoes back on but Ihad people on either side of me
and they literally walked me tothe start line.
(20:04):
And then I mean, you know howit is, it's not like you start
racing off the start line.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
It was a very slow start.
No, because your body feelslike it has rigor mortis and you
got to get it fired up again.
I mean, have you seen me on the40th mile?
I'm holding on to the RVhandles just to stand up.
Sorry, I didn't mean tointerrupt.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
No, it's true though.
So like it's like, oh, thestart line, Like it is not a
fast start.
It's just a very slow.
We're going to start movingback into it and it hurt like it
hurt and I could feel myblisters like filling up again
and then popping.
And that was the most painful islike it feels like acid in your
feet, um, but after that, Idon't know, there was just
something that came over me andI was like I made it, I'm okay.
(20:44):
And then what helped me kind ofwhat you were saying was
walking with other people whoare hurting, and I remember
catching up to a few others andI could see like, oh, they're,
they're struggling.
It was like hey, I get it, Iget it.
Oh, like, and I was just rightthere and it wasn't.
There was not a lot of likeverbal communication, but it's
like I get it.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Remember Dr Jamie Seaman said, Dr Fit and Fabulous
said what you put out into theworld comes into existence.
If you're going to tell peopleI hurt, my back hurts, this
hurts, Guess what Three peoplenext to you will hurt.
Everyone will hurt and say,yeah, I hurt too.
Shut your mouth, Put one footin front of the other.
(21:25):
Now, when you say your feetfeel like acid, that's funny
because I describe it that sameway People are like I'm a
bodybuilder, I'm a crossfitter.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
That's great, I'm a crossfitter too.
I've never felt pain like thatbefore.
Crossfitter that's great, I'm acrossfitter too I've never felt
pain like that before becauseyour body.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Still want to do things?
Yeah, but imagine like yourfeet.
Like you know, when soldiersget captured, part of the
torture is like back in the dayis when their feet used to get
freaking whacked oh, by, bywhips and everything like that.
Can you?
Speaker 2 (21:53):
imagine no, I can't it's.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
It's just a, it's just a raw form of punishment.
So here you are your body wantsto move and your feet are like
no, we ain't going nowhere.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Yeah and it's yeah.
So that's interesting about the.
You know, just being withpeople in their pain.
And it literally was somethingwhere, you know, I kind of view
it as I think there's a fineline of not admitting but like
acknowledging, like yeah, I hurtand it not admitting but like
acknowledging like yeah, I hurtand it's not, but it's, and and
and I'm going to keep going.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
And I think for me that's been the most helpful of
like okay, yeah, I'm not goingto pretend that my blisters
aren't there.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
They are, they hurt.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
And I remember just talking with people and being
like, yeah, I I'm hurting tooand we're going to finish this
together, like we're going tofinish this together, and that
was just kind of this, likeunspoken from there on out.
It was just this, like thisunspoken honor, dignity, like
respect that we just had withfellow walkers of like.
We've made it this far.
We're freaking finishing this.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Honor, dignity, respect, right of passage.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
We did it.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
You did it.
Hey Gina, have you run into any50 milers or people wearing the
shirt at all after the March?
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Yeah, I've run into a couple.
Well, I wasn't wearing mine butthey were wearing theirs and it
is it's like this, like nod oflike hey, like you're in, you're
in that 1%.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Yes, it is Like you're you're my people.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Um, it's self-selects for a lot of people.
Um, and I'll be honest, I'mscared for this year, Like I'm
I'm terrified Cause I'm like,huh, I don't want to go back to
that place.
Like I don't.
I don't want to go back to it,so this will be your hundredth
mile.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Right, so think about that.
How many people even wanted todo this once?
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Yeah, I didn't want to Like, I got peer pressured
into it.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
FOMOed.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
It was FOMOed.
Freaking Marquesas are the bestat that.
They are responsible for awhole platoon of people that
they FOMOed.
I know, and we were all justcursing their names Like what
did you guys get us into?
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Oh my gosh, It'll be 150 for them this year.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
And Matt politely told me the very first time Nah,
dude, I'm out, thanks bro, hey,we'll support you, we'll help
you raise funds, but me andLindsay we're out.
I just want to be real, bro.
It's like, yeah, mattappreciate it, thank you.
And you know, I even saw him atIowa Fieldhouse one time.
(24:19):
I'm like, hey, man, hey, I'mtelling you, jay, we're just, we
support you, we love you, butwe're out.
And then Zach Grady got backinto it and he was a catalyst.
But anyway, this is not aboutthem, it's about you.
I'm grateful to them.
Yeah, absolutely.
You heard of this march thevery first time through Marchese
(24:41):
.
What was your conception?
What was your preconceivednotion?
How did the conversation go?
Speaker 2 (24:49):
I'll tell you, I was watching Lindy's live feed from
the year before.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Okay, so you just saw her.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
I was watching her do this crazy 50-mile march and I
was like you guys are insane.
But that tracks like Marquesasdo a lot of insane things.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Yes, love you guys, and yes, you can do a lot of
crazy, more crazy things.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Yes, Love them.
That's part of the reason why Ilove them.
So I was like that tracks likethey're just doing something
crazy.
That makes sense and Lindy saidafterwards she's like that was
the worst 22 hours of my lifeand I was like I believe it,
girl, that looks awful.
And she called me like threemonths later maybe text me, I
don't know whatever.
And she's like hey, we're doingthis 50 mile March again next
(25:31):
year.
And my first response waswasn't that the worst 22 hours
of your life?
And she's like but it was sogreat.
Oh my god, I'm like wait, yousaid it was awful and you're
doing it again and she just saidlike it's the most inex,
unexplainable, inexplainableyeah, unexplainable,
unexplainable experience andit's true, I get that.
Now I get that.
(25:51):
I can't explain it to people,um, but anyways, a few months
went by and it was kind of radiosilent and I I hadn't
personally committed and so Iwas like I'll slide under the
radar.
I'm not doing this.
And then Tasha texted me likehey, you come to the qualifier.
And I was like what?
She's like, yeah, you're comingto the qualifier, Right.
(26:11):
And I was like no, we didn't,we did not.
We had this like vow, that likewe would either not do it
together or do it.
And she's like I'm doing it.
I was like, come on, no, thisis dumb.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
You guys didn't communicate with me.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
I wasn't in the loop, I was not a part of this, and
so the next thing I know I'mshowing up for a 15 mile march
in the middle of June last yearat Flanagan, because it was the
last.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Yes, last did the second one, not the large group
one.
I didn't do the one in april ormarch, when it was raining, and
all that stuff I did not dothat one.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
I did the really hot one at flanagan um and I was
like, and after I remember afterthe we did three five mile
loops yes and after two I waslike surely this is enough,
surely they'll call it becausethis is dumb yeah, and we don't
need to do anymore we don't needto do another five miles to
prove that we're in.
Like we did 10 and then we tookoff for another five and I was
(27:01):
like, oh my God, this is worstever.
But I will say I'm very glad wedid 15 because at mile 12 or 13
was when I first started to gethotspots and that's why I
believe that's part of thereason you do the qualifier that
way is because if peoplehaven't walked that far like you
, don't know your hotspots andyou do not want to find them out
.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
No, not on the March, and that's what I get scared.
So just last weekend oryesterday they did a 10 miler at
Nebraska Brewing Company andout of the 30 people there are
probably three or four that werelike not ready.
Um, you can't walk your dog andbe ready.
No you've got to, you've got torock.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
You have to rock.
Um, you know, now fast forward.
Um, you know, you talked aboutthe pain.
What are some of the thingsthat people should be thinking
about when it comes to preparingmentally first, mentally, I was
gonna say I think mentalpreparation is probably the
utmost importance.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
I think for me it was just the mental prep of like
this is going to beuncomfortable, and I have to be
comfortable being veryuncomfortable for an extended
period of time.
Sleep really wasn't that big ofa deal, I thought it was going
to be.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Right.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
But you're just on so much adrenaline and you're with
people and, like there, Iwouldn't have slept a minute
even if.
I had the opportunity.
Right, absolutely I thinkyou're just on adrenaline and
your breaks go by so fast.
So the breaks are like get yourshoes off, get water, go to the
bathroom, eat, try to get yourfeet elevated, and then it's
like time to go.
Go to the bathroom, eat, try toget your feet elevated, and
(28:39):
then it's like time to go.
So I don't know when peoplewould sleep.
I didn't sleep at all.
Um, I think the mentalpreparation again I'm just like
knowing this is going to bereally uncomfortable.
Oh my God.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Like that's scaring me now it is going to be, but it
is.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
It's just, it's going to be uncomfortable and you're
going to make it.
I think that was the otherpiece of it.
And that was something that,marquesas, we're picking on them
, but I'm going to give them agood shout out.
They were like you're going tomake it, Like you're, you're
going to finish and.
I was like no, I'm not like.
Yes, you are.
You're going to finish, andthere was never a doubt of like.
They didn't let me think I wasnot going to finish this.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
Right.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
And so that was in the back of my brain of like,
yeah, you're right, I know I cando this, even though I don't
want to, and it's going to suckand it's going to hurt.
I know I'm going to be okay.
Um might walk away with a fewblisters.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Or worse.
I mean, some people got shinsplints, Some people had to.
I was in crutches for a weekand a half after the last time
and then the week before Ididn't even know I was going to
walk.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
I don't know if you can, yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
My both yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
We were praying over you.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
I know, I remember that you were the first person
that came up to me and said hey,can I pray for you?
Speaker 2 (29:43):
I was like what?
And I started crying.
Oh, I love that.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
And.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
I was so happy to see you at the walk Cause we still
didn't know like that day youwere still TBD, Like I don't
know A hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
I was recovering like an NFL tight end.
I was on the protocol.
Anyway, jamie had me on somecrazy regimen, right, but it
worked.
Because the Friday night beforeI almost was like okay, I have
to give my speech of control.
It's okay, jay, you've donethis.
I did everything I could tomake me feel comfortable about
not falling through on mycommitment and I was going to be
good with it.
And I knew some people weregoing to judge.
But I staged myself for that.
I woke up that Saturday and Iremember just having peace over
(30:34):
me and saying good.
I can do this.
I love that.
It's going to hurt.
I probably am going, but once Iget my hip moving, once I stand
up straight, I just needsomebody to help pick me up.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
And on the 20th mile I broke down.
Really People were in the camper, yeah, and that was Baker's
candy, right, yeah, baker'scandies.
Hey, you need anything?
Jay, no, I'm good, I'm good.
People using the RV bathroomstinking it up, right, I'm like,
oh my God.
And Chris was like, hey, yousure?
I said I'm good.
I said, hey, can you geteverybody out?
Just just for a second.
(31:06):
Just ask everyone to leave.
He goes.
What I said just ask everyoneto leave the camper just for a
second.
Call my wife in here.
I need to talk to her.
Is everything okay?
I said, yeah, everything's okay.
I just need to talk to Beckyreal quick, five minutes.
Close the door.
I freaking broke down.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
I did not know this.
I was like I can't let peoplesee me.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
I said, god, I need the strength right now.
My hip, you know.
I just I wasn't asking ornegotiating or anything, I was
just like please give me thestrength to continue.
She said, listen, you startedthis.
You could have bowed out in thebeginning, or something like
that.
You know you've got this.
Give yourself the peptide shot,which she did.
Right, I'm like, oh, I'mknowing that it didn't do
(31:50):
anything for you that second,and she's like rubbing my, my uh
, hip and I'm like, okay, butwhat people were doing to you,
my wife did for me.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Yeah, just believing in me, yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
So you, you're gonna finish.
You're not gonna.
I'm gonna finish.
You know what I mean?
I mean, I don't mean to play itlike that, I'm just saying it's
real.
So someone is preparing rightnow for the 50 mile march and
they're listening.
What advice would you give forthem?
Physically Like?
People always ask how oftenshould I train?
What do I do?
I know that everyone'sdifferent, but what's some
(32:26):
general rules of thumb?
Speaker 2 (32:27):
man, you got to find your hotspots.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Yes, like define hotspots for people.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Hotspots would be like the places on your feet
that you're going to get themost friction in your shoes um I
would say get good shoes,that's like you can go with
everything else yes withouteverything else.
You need socks and shoes likeyes everything else will be
provided.
It's fine.
Um, I overpacked last year, bythe way, so yeah, way overpacked
(32:52):
beach towel all, like all thethings I've used, none of it.
Um, um, I would say, yeah, findyour hotspots, and the only way
you do that is rucking.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
Yeah, you just have to write.
If people I've made a postabout this the other day if you
practice consistency overintensity, you're not going to
be surprised.
Yeah, only rookies will besurprised.
Now, what does that mean?
Yeah, I'm not telling people togo 10 miles a day, five days a
week.
I'm saying be consistent.
So for me, I'll share with youthat.
(33:22):
Maybe you can share with mewhat your tempo is.
I'm five miles Monday,wednesday, Friday, at 3.4 to 3.6
miles per hour with 30 poundsin my back.
Okay, that's what I'm doing,right?
Yeah, consistent.
And then, every now and then,I'll find a bonus day to do 10
miles and that's that's the timefor me.
That's the time for by myself.
That's the time for me not tohave any pressure.
(33:43):
Where's the hotspots?
Are these shoes?
That are my laces?
Feeling funny?
Oh, maybe I should try thesesocks, cause last time you know
all those things.
What's your physical training?
Or?
You know?
I mean, I know you stay fit, sotell me all the things you do
to keep you fit.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Well, in full disclosure, I have not been
rucking.
I need to we're 60 days away.
I know I need to start it.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Consistency.
I need to start it.
You're welcome to join usMonday, wednesday, friday.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
Yeah, I actually really need to, so that's a kick
in the pants to me.
I go to the gym four or fivedays a week, so I lift weights,
but that's whether I'm not doingthe walk, that's.
I do that anyways.
Um and I, I actually do walk alot, I do walk my dog, but that
is not training, um, it's justnot the same amount of training
Um last year, when I would walkher, I actually just put my vest
(34:32):
on and we average about fivemiles a day.
But that is broken up becauseespecially now it's so hot.
So she can't go.
My dog just can't go five miles.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
But you still have a vest on with the weight.
But when you ruck the 50 milesyou don't have any weight.
So you're preparing yourselfwith a load.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
With a load yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
Some people are just not.
And I'm not chest, I'm sayinghow critical is it for you to
prepare and walk?
Speaker 2 (34:59):
Now that I've done it way more like last year, I did
have that thought of, like I'mfit, I'm physically fit, I know
I can walk, I'll be good.
And then I realized that, likemile 35 to 38, like oh geez,
like yeah you, you can't prepare.
There is an element, though Iwill say you just can't prepare
for the unknowns.
Like you can do all thepreparation and there will still
(35:22):
be unknowns.
And then that's when thatmental preparation overtakes,
like whatever that physicallacks, because at that point
it's like here we are and we'regoing, and I'm going to do the
best with what I have Right.
So, but I did last year I didtwo pairs of shoes, so I
alternated at every stop.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
Oh, so they're.
They felt fresh.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
Yeah, so they had two pairs of Brooks.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
I'm a Brooks girl, so I actually got A6 this year.
What yeah, you broke the mold.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
I did, I did, but I had two pairs of Brooks.
I had the adrenaline and the um, I don't know GTS or something
I don't know.
But, they were just differentenough to where one had a little
wider toe box and one wasnarrow.
So it just gave like.
And my idea behind that waslike, okay, I'm going to give my
feet a break every time and mixit up so that they're not
rubbing the exact same spot overand over again.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
See, in my mind I was like here she's crazy to be
switching shoes, but I get it.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
I liked it and then.
I realized, and now this year Iactually sized up a size.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Because they swell.
Speaker 2 (36:22):
Because your feet swell so much, and that's oh
like they swell so much, and soI did size up half a size.
And then everyone swears by toesocks, but they don't work for
me.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
So you're not a toe sock gal, I'm a toe sock dude.
Oh my God.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
And I need to find out something to do with my
pinky toe, cause that's likeanatomically, my pinky toe just
goes underneath.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
Underneath.
So does mine, right?
So toe socks.
I know it sounds crazy, but butyou can't wear toe socks alone,
are you only wearing toe socksalone?
So you got to put the, you gotto put the toe sock and then you
got to put a sock that iseither wool blend, non-cotton.
Oh, I didn't know that.
Okay, so here's why I didn'tknow that.
So your feet are like thisthey're splayed, is what the
(37:03):
socks do.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
And then you put that other sock around it.
So remember, the frictionhappens when friction causes the
heat, when your feet rub, butyour feet can't rub if your toes
are like this, and then youhave another layer.
You could literally try to dragyour foot on the floor and try
to create heat and it won't work, but not cotton.
Just as the least cotton blendyou can.
(37:26):
So if you have cotton slashwool that will keep them super
dry.
I also put so like when we stop.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
I did the salty britches too.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Oh yeah, that helps too, so for other people people
were like, oh, that's so weird.
No, it works.
It's either powder or lube,right, one of the two.
Lube that's not funny, it'sgross, but it works.
So I need to try that, then Tryit.
And now is the time to try itRight, like especially for the
little toe, yeah, and and I puta lot of Dr dr souls on just
(37:58):
because I don't want anymoisture.
Moisture is the enemy it isonce your feet get soft from
that excess moisture, you'redone you're done.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
I mean no matter what , you can be the toughest dude.
Yeah, oh, and there were oh manyou see grown men just brought
to their knees because it's youget a blister and oh yeah, no
joke I mean jardine's foot,ryan's foot, it was half of it
fell off like yeah.
Speaker 1 (38:19):
So the first year timothy sons was with us, the
whole sole of his foot slid off.
I know sorry about that.
I know no pictures, don't worry, but I remember him taking off
his and I was like, oh my god,what's that?
I thought what's that?
I thought it was jelly.
Sorry, that's disgusting.
I thought it was jelly but itwas the bottom of his soul stuck
(38:40):
to his sock, all of a sudden, Idon't have an appetite, sorry,
yeah, hey, wait, wait, waitDoing the 50 mile mark.
Exactly.
Are you sure it's good for?
Speaker 2 (38:48):
you, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
I want to talk to you as a person now.
You was, you was gina, yeah,gina um the why, right?
So you weren't, you weren't inthe military.
You know, and we talked aboutthis and you know, beyond the
physical challenge, beyond the,you know, testing yourself, what
does it mean to you toparticipate and why do you
participate?
Speaker 2 (39:12):
yeah, that was something that again I said fomo
was why I did it last year andso there was FOMO.
That's full transparency.
Um so I don't have, like Jaysaid, I don't have um military
background.
I have never served in themilitary.
I grew up in a military town inColorado Springs, so um just
grew up with that reverence andthat respect for our military
(39:33):
and lots of friends and familyin the military, so that was
just kind of like my upbringing.
So I have been always exposed tothat world and just what they
put themselves through.
And my undergrad is, or was, Ishould say, pre-med and
psychology, and so I rememberlearning.
I took an abnormal psych classand I thought PTSD was actually
(39:54):
one of the most interestingmental disorders because of how
it can impact people and likethe broad array of who it can
impact, like anyone from a CEOto like a veteran, like an all
in between.
And just I mean mental healthdoesn't discriminate anyways.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
Right.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
But I just found this one particularly interesting.
And then you think of like PTSDin the form of trauma, like it
doesn't have to be on Any trauma.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
Any trauma, it doesn't have to be on the front
lines.
It could be battery, it couldbe a bad experience.
I mean people who get robbed,yeah, people who are put under
intense pressure without notice.
That's how I kind of look at itit's an injury.
It's an injury.
Speaker 2 (40:36):
Yeah, and I think I just think of how I don't know.
I think of just like, how aloneI felt for so long in my
journey of like no one'sactually seen what's happening
all around me, and wishing I hadsomeone just come along and be
like this is not normal.
Like this is not normal and Ididn't have PTSD.
I do now for some things.
Speaker 1 (40:57):
I'm working through that.
Speaker 2 (40:58):
I'm in therapy and all sorts of things.
Um, but yeah, I think that wasmore like dang.
These veterans really don'thave.
They don't have the help theyneed and they're also so highly
trained and there is that likepride and that honor of like
well, if I admit that I, youknow, struggle with this, I now
I'm seen as weak.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
Yes, or you know you could have lost our job.
So if I would have told mycommander or my first sergeant.
You know I'm feeling a littledepressed.
I'm feeling blue boom.
Top secret security clearancegone right.
Access to everything gone,pretty much couldn't do anything
and you were on suicide watch,yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
And you just learned to shove it down.
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:37):
Cause you didn't want to lose your job.
You didn't want to go.
Hey see that guy right overthere.
He got all his stripes rippedoff.
He's on suicide watch.
Yeah, like who wants to belabeled that?
Speaker 2 (41:48):
No, no one does.
I wouldn't want that, andthat's a that's almost an
impossible situation to be putin.
It you know, it.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
It, it's a conditioning to say you shut
your mouth.
Oh, you like working at thestore, whatever right there's,
there's that.
Shut your mouth.
You like working in the store,shut your mouth and sweep the
floors.
That's one thing.
Yeah, you like working here, Idon't care about your mental
health.
You say anything, you'll beworth nothing.
Yeah, you say anything, you'llbe worth nothing.
Yeah, that's the condition, theresponse and the outcome.
(42:17):
Yeah, and then we taughtourselves Ooh, we better not ask
for anything.
So when we get, out, Gina yeah.
But you, on the other hand, nowknowing how important it is for
help, did you get help with with?
Are you getting help, okay?
So so let's talk about that.
Talk to talk to a person nowwho's listening and they're a
(42:42):
veteran.
Speaker 2 (42:42):
Tell them how important or how how okay it is
to not be okay I would say this,I would say the best healing
happens in community, like itreally does, like healing
happens in community.
Trauma happens in community,sure does, and healing happens
in community.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
Trauma happens in community, sure does and healing
happens in community.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
Dang, that's a mic drop right there Okay we're done
, just kidding, no, but in allseriousness, that is, I think
you know, shame, depression,isolation.
I'm sorry, all of that stuff iscausing you to go into
isolation.
Yes, and that's what the enemywants.
Like the enemy wants you silent?
And they, the enemy, wants youin the dark.
Speaker 1 (43:20):
Um and.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
I think the best way to fight that in my life and
I've seen it in others is letpeople into your mess.
Speaker 1 (43:26):
Let people into your mess.
I was hoping you'd say that Letpeople into your mess.
Tell people what that means Letthem into your mess, let them
in.
Speaker 2 (43:33):
Like it's okay to let people like see people, let
them see you cry, let them seeyou upset, let them see you just
like in literally in your mess.
Like house is a disaster, what?
Like you're falling apartmentally, like that's okay.
And now I will say this like asa caveat it's not just like
you're going to let some randoat the grocery store line.
(43:54):
No it's these trusted friendsand family that you're letting
in, right?
You're not pushing them awayLike I'm fine, everything's good
, it's all good, like put on agood face.
Speaker 1 (44:03):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
No, there's times when it's okay to just be like
yes, this is a really frickinghard day, yeah, and I don't, I
don't know what I'm going to dotomorrow, and just letting them
in Like me through today.
Just help me through today andI'll tell you one of the most
powerful stories that happenedto me personally.
Um so, obviously you know Iwent through a divorce and this
was this was pretty soon after Ifound out about like all the
(44:26):
affairs and all that kind ofstuff but I had ripped up every
photo, like every photo in thehouse, and I was just a mess
Like I mean every emotion fromrage to anger to sadness to
betrayal, like just the entirespectrum.
Um, and I was.
If there was a camera, like Iprobably would be locked up in a
psych ward right now, causeyou're like what is happening to
(44:47):
this chick.
Anyways, I was just going crazyand just screaming and like
pounding the floor and I wasjust so mad and like letting
that get out of my system.
And I didn't know, one of myfriends was coming over and
cause she just wanted to pop inand check on me.
And she came in and saw justlike pictures everywhere and I
was on the floor just likerocking and I was literally a
(45:09):
mess like a mess.
And she just came in, took hershoes off.
She didn't say anything and shejust held me and we just balled
together.
She didn't say a word and thatwas the most powerful moment, or
one of the most powerfulmoments, because she didn't know
what to say, but there wasnothing to say.
She was just there for you, shewas just there and then, little
by little, she like got up andshe just she put everything into
(45:32):
trash bags and she took it outand put it in her own trash, so
I didn't have to see it.
Yeah, we exchanged maybe threewords, but that, like to this
day, I was like that was one ofthe most powerful examples of
like letting.
Not only it was twofold, I hadto let her in, but she just was
there.
Yeah, she wasn't trying to fixit, she wasn't trying to say
like it's okay, it's gonna getbetter, it won't always be this
(45:54):
way.
Like Like you know these littleone-liners.
She was just like this is sohard.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
I was like yeah, it was amazing.
Not everyone has a friend likethat.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (46:05):
And not people.
People have friends like thatthat they don't let in.
Yeah, so when you say letpeople into your mess, I think
it's more than just saying Ineed help.
Let them into the mess, letthem see the real you.
When someone says, gina, areyou okay?
There are people who are like,oh my God, and they throw
themselves in front of the busright Like.
I don't even want to quantifythat, I don't want to demonize
(46:28):
people who do that, but to beable to say, hey, I really need
your help.
I don't I just, I just needyour help to get through today.
I need your help, listen to me,I don't need you to solve
anything.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
I just need you to listen.
That's harder than hell to say,though.
Oh, absolutely, and I will saythis that when you are that
person of asking for help numberone, that's terrifying because
you're fearing rejection, You'refearing they're going to be
like no, I don't have time, orwhatever.
I would bet.
I'm not a betting woman, but ifI was, I would say I would
venture to say 99% of the time,people are going to jump at the
opportunity to help.
(47:05):
Jump at the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (47:08):
We all want to serve each other, right Some people
are going to help you the rightway.
Sometimes it's trial and error,but Gina, I wanted people to
know who you are, because you'renot some superhero that wants
to be a motivational speakerthat is involved with the 50
Mile March.
Right, you are a real person.
You are you unapologetically,you are authentic, you bring a
(47:30):
different perspective.
You have your views.
I love your faith.
I love that.
You let it pour into otherpeople without being that
bullhorn everybody kneel down,yeah but.
But you know, um, oh my gosh,the hardest part for me,
(47:53):
remember when we're laying onthe Capitol steps for 22 minutes
.
Speaker 2 (47:58):
That's powerful.
Speaker 1 (47:58):
Yeah, and we're on cement and I think we were 20
minutes in.
I was like though I walkedthrough the chalet, the chalet
of death.
Speaker 2 (48:08):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (48:09):
I fear no evil Like that was our passage.
So good, that was the passageRight, and yeah, the valley of
death is 50 miles long for ustoday.
Speaker 2 (48:19):
It's a long valley, it's a very dark valley, oh my
gosh.
Speaker 1 (48:23):
I mean, if you could picture the start, the valleys,
and then the climb out.
Literally the climb out, theclimb out is the frigging worst
part.
Speaker 2 (48:31):
The valley is great.
We're going downhill, it's fine.
Speaker 1 (48:33):
It's the climb out.
Speaker 2 (48:36):
It's great we're going downhill.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
It's fine.
Speaker 2 (48:37):
It's the climb out.
No, I get it.
I'm not trying to make light ofit, but, yes, it's very
symbolic and that metaphor is,yes, very real.
Speaker 1 (48:41):
It is because the last hilt in Nebraska brewing
company is literally, I thinkthat's a nine degree or 10
degree incline, whatever that is, it feels like you're going
straight up.
Speaker 2 (48:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (48:52):
But you're just like listening to the end.
But and you know, I mean, thoseare details that people can
experience with us.
Gina, um, to wrap this up to,to make you know, next few
minutes, what do you want toshare?
Perhaps I may I may not haveasked, or what are some of the
things that you want people toknow about, gina?
Oh, you good question.
Speaker 2 (49:15):
Yes, I would say a little bit to tag on to you.
There's not a specific set ofcircumstances that makes me
better than anyone else, ordifferent or more qualified to
do this.
I wouldn't say normal.
I think we all are very unique,but yeah, I'm.
(49:36):
I'm a person living my life andthis just was part of it, and
I've learned so many lessonsthrough the 50 mile march.
You have so many lessonsthrough it.
And yeah, I would just say likemy story isn't over.
Speaker 1 (49:50):
No, this is beginning so cool, yeah, and you're in
control of the chapters, yeahRight.
Speaker 2 (49:55):
Absolutely, I mean.
Speaker 1 (49:58):
I understand what you've been through before right
, I've been there before too andyou as a person, what I want
people to know is um, I lovethat you're so on, non prepped
not I'm talking, not talkingprepared, I'm talking like raw,
authentic you, um, you bring anenergy about you that just makes
(50:23):
people go.
Oh, it's Gina the, the effectthat you had on Jerry Teeter,
the effect that you had on thosecamera guys, um, at at our last
media shoot, you know, with you, um, I saw some of the footage.
I was like there's something toyou and I'm not trying to place
you on a pedestal that bringssomething to our community and
(50:48):
it's you're, you're welcome, butit's not.
It's not like capability, it'snot like capability, it's not
ability, it's, it's reality.
You're a real person.
You just, you know people think50 mile a March, they gotta be
special operators, veterans andwe gotta wear 90 pound packs
Like.
And I want people to never andI and I know that you don't
(51:11):
people should never apologize orsay hey, I never served or I'm
sorry.
Do you now feel more connectedto the military community than
ever?
Oh, heck, yeah.
Speaker 2 (51:23):
And I get the camaraderie like on a whole new
level.
Speaker 1 (51:27):
Like I get it.
Speaker 2 (51:29):
And that's the other thing about community is like
yeah, stuff happens in community, trauma happens and pain
happens in community and so muchhealing happens in that.
And I think I mean, I look atthe people I walked with last
year, I would do anything forthem, anything for them.
Speaker 1 (51:45):
And.
Speaker 2 (51:45):
I know vice versa.
I could pick up the phone atany moment and be like, hey, I
need help with this and this, orI'm struggling with this, and
like boom, they'd be there.
Speaker 1 (51:52):
And you don't know everything about me, right?
Like, we're not best of friends, but I believe we're comrades.
I believe that we've beenthrough the rite of passage.
I believe we have similar corevalues.
Um, every time I talk to you,it's easy to speak, right?
Um, it's not like and how wasyour day, do you know?
Like, that's so.
I'm still that way with somepeople, but I think you want to
(52:13):
let people in you know.
And um, when, when people likeyou join our organization, it,
it creates even more credibilityfor what we're doing.
I love that.
I mean, yeah, you're welcomeand um, I'm just so grateful.
Speaker 2 (52:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (52:29):
And uh, I'm grateful for you, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (52:37):
I'm grateful for what you guys have started too.
Speaker 1 (52:39):
This is a whole movement and it's so yes, it's
the movement, it's so cool it iswell and I want to say one more
thing yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,land it, land it, and I'll try
to land it.
Yes, um.
Speaker 2 (52:49):
I will say this like thank you for the compliments on
just like being authentic, andI, I will say I haven't always
been that way.
I lived much of my life as,like a perfectionist and just
wanting to make sure, like, aslong as everything looks good on
the outside, ain't nobody gotto see what's happening on the
inside.
And there was always thisdisconnect of not living a
congruent life and the more I'veleaned into just being
(53:11):
vulnerable and being like thisis me and being okay, Knowing
that not everyone's, I'm notgoing to be everyone's cup of
tea and they're not going to bemy cup of tea, and that's okay.
And it's like it gives me somuch freedom and that's what I
think most everybody is after isfreedom.
And it's like when you justshow up and be yourself, like
just know, not everyone's goingto like you.
Speaker 1 (53:33):
It takes less calories to live that way it
does.
Speaker 2 (53:35):
Yeah, it takes less calories to live that way it
does.
Yeah, it's wonderful andthere's just so much freedom in
it and I think that's a bigreason why I want to share is
like I want people to experiencethat freedom, but it starts
with being vulnerable.
Speaker 1 (53:47):
Absolutely, it does.
Speaker 2 (53:48):
And that's the scariest part, and I think to
our veterans and to those whowant and need help the first and
most scary part is beingvulnerable.
Speaker 1 (54:01):
After that, you're going to have people around you
locking arms and literallypulling you through, and that's
what life, symbolically, issupposed to be about.
This thing parallels so manythings in life.
It teaches me lessons every day.
It keeps me going.
This keeps me honest in allother parts of my life.
I can't be a 50 Mile Marchfounder and live foul day.
It keeps me going.
This keeps me honest in allother parts of my life.
Right, I mean, I can't be a 50mile March founder and live foul
(54:27):
.
Right.
And also you taught me somethingtoday you don't have to be on.
Yeah, you don't have to be on.
And um, I I hear that all thetime, but I see people say it.
I hear them like, well, thehouse is messy, don't let people
over.
I get that part.
You know you don't want to seethem midweek into your house but
at the same time, let peopleinto your mess be who you are.
(54:49):
And, gina, I just want to thankyou for being here today and I
want this to continue foranother two hours, but that time
you do not have.
Speaker 2 (54:57):
Yes, and it's a little hot, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (54:59):
No worst day.
So I mean perfect backdrop.
We're here at Tahazuka Park inElkhorn and this is the tank
behind it and this is the story.
This is the story we share.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (55:10):
Thank you, appreciate it All right, thank you, thank
you.
Speaker 1 (55:11):
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you
, thank you, thank you, thankyou, thank you, thank you, thank
you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you, thank you.
I'm so excited today to introduce my guest.
And you know, the connection isall about creating connections.
The more connections, thebetter.
Connecting yourself to theworld, connecting yourself to
community.
Today I have Gina Rue.
I had the pleasure of meetingGina a couple years back, or a
year back A year ago, a year ago, and I didn't know you, you
(00:23):
didn't know me.
What I love about today is wewe're not overprepared.
I had not spoken with youdirectly since last year's
mission and then maybe anothermedia event we had a couple of
weeks back.
So what we have today isunscripted.
But, gina, if you'll justintroduce yourself, of who are
you, what do you do?
And you know just topsuperficial that everyone should
(00:45):
know.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, totally Well.
Thanks for having me.
Oh my God, I'm so excited and,as a side note, it's very hot
out here, the worst day andsince you started talking, the
breeze is coming.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
It's cool, we'll listen to it.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Thank you, Lord this is nice.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
We love the breeze, it's only 109.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
It feels great out here, guys.
Anyways, yeah, thanks forhaving me and, like Jay said,
this is very unscripted, so wejust decided, hey, let's get
together and chat, you're likewe're podcasting today, I guess.
then I was like oh, okay, we'redoing a podcast.
Cool, let's not waste it onconversation we're.
(01:26):
My name is Gina.
I was a first time walker lastyear and that's how you and I
connected, but I love that youshared a little bit with me
about, like, what the podcast isabout, because I love to relate
to people.
The typical questions what doyou do?
Speaker 1 (01:35):
And it's like, yeah, we all have a job, but that's
not what defines us?
Right, who are you?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, Like who are you?
So I am in sales full time.
Um, I work for a packagingcompany, so I literally sell
empty boxes.
I get two reactions when I tellpeople that either one, they're
like that's really interesting,or two, it's like crickets and
they don't know what to say andthey just walk away.
So, um, it's quite, yeah, it'squite interesting, it's a
(02:01):
fascinating world, and um, Iwouldn't say that's my passion,
like, empty boxes are not mypassion.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Understood, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
But I actually love I'm doing my own podcast and I
would love to own my ownbusiness and company one day and
actually be a speaker and sharemy story, because it's
definitely one that, yeah, it'sbeen a long journey to get where
I'm at here today, and I knowthat there's a lot of people who
can relate to what I've beenthrough.
So, um yeah, it's just beenreally neat.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
So that was very high level, but no, but that is very
yeah, and we will, and let'sstay right there.
So, um, Gina, last year did youhave the ambitions of being a
speaker?
Did you have the ambitions ofowning your business?
Where were you at last year?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
this time.
That's a good question.
Last year, this time, I did nothave the ambition, I didn't
have the vision.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
yet Okay, you didn't have the vision.
I didn't have the vision.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
I knew I wanted to do something, and I had always
known, okay, I want to own abusiness or something to that
nature, but I didn't know whatit looked like, and so it was
just really kind of a process oftrial and error.
I tried a few different thingsand even talked with different
friends on hey, let's what if weteamed up and we did this and,
little by little, it just kindof like doors were closed, like
(03:19):
okay that's not really going tobe it.
And as those.
Yeah, and as those doors closed, I feel like other ones started
to open and I had a lot ofpeople say to me very random
people, uh, would come up and belike do you know, like you,
you're very gifted in how youspeak.
You should be a speaker.
I'm like what?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yeah, oh, that's weird Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
I didn't think about that, and then I would have more
and more people tell me thatand then more and more people
would say like, hey, I relate toyour story in this way.
So it kind of birthed out ofsomething very organic, of just
like starting to open up and bevulnerable with people, and it
was resonating and so and I lovesharing my story because
(03:58):
there's hope in it.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
I think, because so a lot of us get put through a
test.
Then usually there's the grindand then there's testimony.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah Right, oh, that's, good.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, but most of us fail at the grind and they just
hold on to the hurt.
They never get to theirtestimony because they still
want to hold on to the hurt andthey still.
But even those who made itthrough the storm and are like
I'm better now don't have thegift of transferring that energy
(04:29):
or transferring the blessing ofthat testimony.
There's a lot of people outthere that have triumphed beyond
you and I tenfold right, butthey just don't have the gift or
the heart, or maybe the desire,I don't know.
Whatever the reason is, there'sno testimony for them.
I don't know.
Whatever the reason is, there'sno testimony for them.
They completed Love themotorcycles here at Tahle Zuka
(04:52):
Park.
But you do, and this isspeaking to your soul now.
And so fast forward to todayManifest.
What does it look like now?
What?
What?
Oh, hey, jay, I'm doing aspeaking gig next week.
What does that look like If youwere to tell me oh, I love that
, yeah, you're manifesting,right, I love it.
Let's play this out.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, that vision casting.
I would say it's going to lookdifferent for each.
I don't despise the smallbeginnings at all, and so,
whether that's like speaking toa women's group awesome.
Or speaking on a big stagesomewhere.
But I would say my goal, myultimate vision, would be able
(05:34):
to speak to not just like churchgroups, because that's that's
one segment of people right.
I would love to even go into,like the corporate world, to go
into the secular world and belike, hey, no, this is stuff
happens and here's how you come,like, come out on the other
side.
And one thing I love aboutsharing our stories is that
(05:56):
every time we share it, we sharesomething like a little bit
different version of it, andsomeone can pick out something
different every time.
So, even though they may notlike, I've listened to speakers
before.
I don't relate to every detailof their story.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
No.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Right, but I'm like oh yeah, that Like that
resonated with me.
So I think, as far as like,what does that look like?
I think it'd be awesome to beon a big stage, but that's not
really the heartbeat reallybehind it, as long as I get to
connect with people and impactlives.
That, to me, is what mattersmore.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
It's harder to speak to 12 than it is to 1200.
I promise you, and you'veprobably felt it, and witnessed
it or seen it.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
So let's go through this Hard time, right.
Every story, or every goodspeaker, has a story.
It's not just a lesson onhere's how to be a better
salesperson, like, okay, youneed to tell the story.
The story needs to have thestruggle, it needs to have a
hero, it needs to have the enemy, it needs to have the struggle
(06:56):
and then the triumph, right?
So I want to talk about thestruggle.
Right, I want to talk about the50 mile march.
I want to talk about oh my gosh, why is Gina falling apart?
Wait, what's happening here?
And why is she showing hertears?
And everyone does it for adifferent reason, right?
And is she hurt physically?
(07:18):
Is she hurt mentally?
Like?
I remember seeing you cry.
I was like, okay, I lovewatching the emotion.
Not, I don't love watchingpeople cry.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Yeah, you don't like people in pain and hurting.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
But I love when someone some pain emerges yeah,
cause you got to deal with it,right.
And if it's okay with you, I'dlike to just jump into what was
your journey or challenge at thetime of the March.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Well, I will get into that in a second.
I want to touch on somethingyou just said, because you said
I love watching the emotionright and that you don't shy
away from that like you're notuncomfortable by like
uncomfortable with it, and it'sso interesting.
And something I've learnedthrough my own struggles is that
those who touch their own painyes can be with others in their
pain and like it doesn't.
(08:06):
It used to scare me to seepeople get really upset or angry
or sad or frustrated.
Like it would really scare mebecause I didn't know how to
deal with it.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
And now that I've dealt with my own emotions and I
don't classify emotions as goodor bad, they're just big, like
we can have big emotionssometimes A hundred percent, and
with that I don't mean to jumponto your idea, but I'll tell
you this when people say, oh myGod, I saw him crying, I saw her
crying, I wouldn't touch thatwith a 10 foot pole, it makes me
uncomfortable.
It does make peopleuncomfortable.
(08:38):
Think of a widow, right man orwoman who has lost someone.
They're crying.
You don't know what to say.
Just be there, just be there,just be there, just be Right,
right.
And you don't have to solveanything.
But I remember the moment I sawyou crying.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
You were on a um anti-gravity chair and I didn't
know you Like a stretcher.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
You were leaned back.
Yeah, your feet were likedestroyed.
I thought it was your feet.
Lindsey and a couple otherpeople were speaking life into
you.
They were telling you likethings.
Maybe you didn't want to hearat the time, yeah, but you had
to let it out.
And I would remember just goinglike almost like if I had
popcorn I'd be.
But I'm saying like I rememberwatching that.
(09:19):
Yeah, someone captured jerryteeter captured that photo yeah,
I was there, I saw, saw it.
Take us back to that moment.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah, that was a cool moment.
I mean, looking back, it was acool moment.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
It was a transformational moment.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
In the moment.
I didn't want to be there, sowe gosh, we'd been walking
through the night.
So it was.
It was the high V stop, so itwas 9am.
I remember that.
I remember that that's about 30, 38 miles in.
(09:51):
Yes, I know my details.
I was counting 38 miles in JayUm and so I had.
I remember previously, causethis was my first walk and I
remember everyone saying like,okay, the hardest, hardest point
is Lenoma.
Like you get to Lenoma andyou're going to be fine, yeah.
And we got to Lenoma and I waslike I feel good, I was like
sweet.
I'm like I'm good, got it and Ithink after we left Lenoma, not
I think.
(10:11):
I know that was the longeststretch.
I think it was 12 miles.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Yes, from Lenoma to Hy-Vee.
Yes, it was a very hard stretchbecause of the hills.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Yeah, because of all the other, and the sun just
emerging and all that stuff,yeah.
So, and I did not know thecourse, really I intentionally
did not study it because Ididn't want no, I'm telling you,
I didn't want to know where Iwas on the course because then I
would be thinking like, okay, Ihave nine miles left or three
miles left.
I just wanted to keep walking.
You know like sometimesoblivion is bliss and I was like
(10:49):
in this case.
I was like I don't want to knowmy mile markers, I just want to
know, like just keep walking andwe're going to get to the next
stop.
So I had no clue.
We had 12 miles.
I had no clue and I was like,sweet, here's the outlets
awesome yes yay oh my gosh, westill have so far to go, um, but
it wasn't really until wepassed the outlets.
I think we were on just like agradual incline and my feet just
really started to hurt.
But it wasn't.
That wasn't really whattriggered it.
(11:10):
I think it was just theexhaustion coupled with like I
don't man.
I think it was just like theemotions of hitting me, like why
we're doing this, like thatreally just started to get like
in in my heart and in my mind ofwhy we were doing this.
And because that's the partwhere it was so uncomfortable.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
And.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
I was like this is no longer like a fun Instagram
worthy thing I'm doing.
I was like holy buckets.
This is like this is the realdeal.
Um, and I think at that point Iwas just emotionally I wouldn't
say worn down, but just myguard was down and like, yeah, I
just emotionally I wouldn't sayworn down, but just my guard
was down and like, yeah, I, justI I wouldn't say where my
emotions on my sleeve, but Idon't shy away from them.
(11:51):
So it was just kind of a like areally impactful moment and, uh
, I was talking with my friendMegan.
We're walking with one anotherand.
I just started crying while youwere walking while I was walking
, like just silently, likebefore before before.
(12:12):
Hy-vee and tears just startedlike falling down my face and I
was like I don't know why, likeI don't know why, but I was like
I'm not gonna judge myself onwhy I'm crying.
It just was like all theemotion was hitting me of like
what was happening, and then Iwould say, probably three miles
later was when my feet reallystarted to hurt like really
started to hurt.
Um blisters had formed.
They were reforming and poppingand reforming and popping Like
(12:34):
it was bad, and I do rememberthis, megan we had just met a
few hours prior, which?
Speaker 1 (12:39):
is crazy to me.
I thought you guys were friendsbecause of the Marquesas
already.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
No, we became besties between like midnight and 6 am.
It was awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
And I love that about the community part, but keep
going oh yeah, and so she.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
We had shared enough with each other, Like she just
knew in that moment like Ineeded to be spoken into and
she's like I need you to walk alittle bit faster, Because Lindy
had a speaker on her backpackRight, and so Megan grabbed her
phone and played a song andshe's like the song is for you
and it was literally about howGod walks with us through the
(13:12):
storms, and I was just like andjust everything that I had been
through the last few years of mylife, like it was just all very
like it was a very symbolicsymbolic moment yeah um, but
then we get to hy-vee and Ihonestly I don't remember a
whole lot from that point tohy-vee because it was just like
(13:33):
one foot in front of the other.
But I remember getting there andthey took my shoes off.
I could hardly get to my chairand jamie came and took my shoes
off and she was juststraightforward with me.
Like your feet, feet are in badshape, but we're going to get
you taken care of.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
And I was like okay, all right.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Right, and they just they were just stinging like
peeling the socks off.
I mean, it was just.
It was bad.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
It's a real thing.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
It's a real thing.
Um, it was probably some of themost intense pain I've ever
felt Like not to scare peopleaway, but it was.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
I want?
I want to scare people away.
If you're having a doubt, don'tdo it, Right?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
If you're, if you're scared, don't do it, yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
I mean, if you're scared, push yourself through it
.
But if you don't want to pushyourself, that's okay too.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
But do you realize?
You know, what did you everhear me say even during the
qualifier or any trainings mesaying you'll find 90% of
yourself?
Have you ever heard me say thatbefore?
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
I want people to realize what that means.
Most of us, you know, mostpeople who have a job, they
clock in, they clock out.
They make a paycheck to paytheir bills, to go to sleep, to
go to the job, to clock in,clock out to pay their bills.
That's 50% of life.
Yeah, okay, you're making aliving Good.
And and then there's the 70%who maybe they go to the gym.
(14:45):
They're better, they'reimproving themselves, they're
trying to be 1% better thanyesterday.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Then there's people who are crazy, who are stunt
people, enthusiasts, right,they're rock climbers, they are
um Mount Everest people.
Now, I'm never going to comparewhat we do as what we do in
Mount Everest, but I can assureyou this what we do as what we
do in Mount Everest, but I canassure you this, what we do,
Gina, is someone's Mount Everest.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
That's good.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Right.
For some people it's put yourshoes on and go to work.
That's Mount Everest for them,you know.
Yeah, but for me, when I say,gina, you're going to find 90%
of yourself on this March, yeah,you found yourself.
Oh yeah, the truth, oh yeah,the, the self, the, the, the
hurt, the pain and and andsometimes pain from the past
(15:30):
comes out.
Um, were you experiencinganything in your life that you
just either had to make adecision to say I just need
closure to this, I need to bestronger than this, or did you
give into it and say this ishurting me even more?
Speaker 2 (15:43):
in that moment in that moment.
Um, I think it was honestly.
For me in that moment it wasmore just the emotion came up
and because of everything I'dbeen through I had, I was
comfortable letting my emotionsout and.
I did not care who saw I waslike I really don't care.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Um and I was weeping, like, I mean, I was wailing, I
saw, it and I was weeping, likeI mean, I was wailing, I saw it.
Lindsay at one point was likego ahead and cry it out, but be
done after this, right.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
I don't even know what anyone said to me.
I was just in my own world.
I have no clue.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
And then what's funny is and I someone told me like
look at her.
Now we are taking off and youwere almost just fine, I
wouldn't have been, I wouldn'thave known.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
It was.
It was probably the mostintense 30 minutes of just
mental fortitude, of like, okay,I need to figure out what I'm
doing.
Because at that point and Iremember telling people right
after this, like I wasn't cryingbecause I was thinking about
quitting, I was crying because Iknew I wasn't going to quit and
how much it was going tofreaking hurt the next 12 miles
(16:46):
and.
I was like, if I don't cry now,I'm just going to cry the next
12 miles.
So I'm just going to get it outof the way.
Um, literally that was mythought, and I'm like I just got
to get it out of my system.
Like you know, when you feelstuff welling up inside of you
and you're like it's right there, it's right there, and we shove
it back down.
I was like I'm letting it outbecause it's going to be bad,
and that causes disease too.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
It causes strain, it causes depression, it causes a
whole mess of things and youknow, sometimes society teaches
people like you got to buck up,you got to grind and hustle,
like it's okay.
Listen, I'm going to tell youright now, when I feel like
crying, I'll cry.
Right, I don't cry just to cry,though.
I'm not Tammy Faye Bakering it,right, you know like I'm not
(17:32):
like, oh, join me in this quest.
Like it comes at the mostrandom times for me.
Last time it was, uh, shoot,I'm trying to think, cause it's
almost different every time.
Oh, yes, it was coming intoCabela's, so leaving Hy-Vee
coming right coming intoCabela's, so leaving Hy-Vee
coming into Cabela's.
I was like, oh, this is coolman, and I remember, I remember
(17:53):
Jardine, yeah, jardine was hewas hurting.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Ryan was hurting.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Yes, he was, I was like, but as long as I was
pushing him.
I was good when they took himand it was like the last hundred
yards.
I started Really yes, and I hadmy sunglasses on and you
couldn't tell if I was sweatingor crying until my nose started
running.
And Becky says what's wrong?
I said, oh, it's just, you know, but I feel I feel pain letting
(18:23):
go.
So when people are at 90% oftheir of their life, um a
hundred percent is death, by theway.
I mean, when you feel life at ahundred percent, you die at 90%
.
You're just on that edge oflike.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Everest, or 38 miles in right, it is.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
And that's when you get squeezed and you find out
what's actually inside.
Yes, and the authenticity comesout.
Are you a schmuck?
Do you hate people?
Are you who?
Are you?
Under 90%, people will find outwho you are, and that's what I
believe.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
And I remember Zach, so he was our platoon leader yes
, Zach Grady.
Yeah, we'll call him Slim Grady.
Slim Grady, he raps all thetime.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
I love it.
I love it, slim Grady, yes.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
There's a video from Iceland if you ever want to see
it.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Anyways, he had a speech, so our next stop was TAC
88.
And that was a long, freakingwalk.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
From Hy-Vee to TAC 88 .
And I think that's where mostpeople really started to feel it
.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Oh yeah, that was a long stretch.
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Even though it was only three miles.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
But it was still hot.
That's when the sun startedcoming.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
He gave us some like a David Goggins speech at TAC 88
.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
And it was all about yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
And it was all about like when you reach this level,
you've only reached 50% ofactually your true potential.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
And he pointed to me and he's like Gina's already
touched it and I was like I haveLike I don't know, okay, I
don't know.
I was like touch what, what didI do?
But honestly, um, but honestly,it was like after I left Hy-Vee
I remember leaving that parkinglot and it hurt like hell
getting my shoes back on but Ihad people on either side of me
and they literally walked me tothe start line.
(20:04):
And then I mean, you know howit is, it's not like you start
racing off the start line.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
It was a very slow start.
No, because your body feelslike it has rigor mortis and you
got to get it fired up again.
I mean, have you seen me on the40th mile?
I'm holding on to the RVhandles just to stand up.
Sorry, I didn't mean tointerrupt.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
No, it's true though.
So like it's like, oh, thestart line, Like it is not a
fast start.
It's just a very slow.
We're going to start movingback into it and it hurt like it
hurt and I could feel myblisters like filling up again
and then popping.
And that was the most painful islike it feels like acid in your
feet, um, but after that, Idon't know, there was just
something that came over me andI was like I made it, I'm okay.
(20:44):
And then what helped me kind ofwhat you were saying was
walking with other people whoare hurting, and I remember
catching up to a few others andI could see like, oh, they're,
they're struggling.
It was like hey, I get it, Iget it.
Oh, like, and I was just rightthere and it wasn't.
There was not a lot of likeverbal communication, but it's
like I get it.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Remember Dr Jamie Seaman said, Dr Fit and Fabulous
said what you put out into theworld comes into existence.
If you're going to tell peopleI hurt, my back hurts, this
hurts, Guess what Three peoplenext to you will hurt.
Everyone will hurt and say,yeah, I hurt too.
Shut your mouth, Put one footin front of the other.
(21:25):
Now, when you say your feetfeel like acid, that's funny
because I describe it that sameway People are like I'm a
bodybuilder, I'm a crossfitter.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
That's great, I'm a crossfitter too.
I've never felt pain like thatbefore.
Crossfitter that's great, I'm acrossfitter too I've never felt
pain like that before becauseyour body.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Still want to do things?
Yeah, but imagine like yourfeet.
Like you know, when soldiersget captured, part of the
torture is like back in the dayis when their feet used to get
freaking whacked oh, by, bywhips and everything like that.
Can you?
Speaker 2 (21:53):
imagine no, I can't it's.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
It's just a, it's just a raw form of punishment.
So here you are your body wantsto move and your feet are like
no, we ain't going nowhere.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Yeah and it's yeah.
So that's interesting about the.
You know, just being withpeople in their pain.
And it literally was somethingwhere, you know, I kind of view
it as I think there's a fineline of not admitting but like
acknowledging, like yeah, I hurtand it not admitting but like
acknowledging like yeah, I hurtand it's not, but it's, and and
and I'm going to keep going.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
And I think for me that's been the most helpful of
like okay, yeah, I'm not goingto pretend that my blisters
aren't there.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
They are, they hurt.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
And I remember just talking with people and being
like, yeah, I I'm hurting tooand we're going to finish this
together, like we're going tofinish this together, and that
was just kind of this, likeunspoken from there on out.
It was just this, like thisunspoken honor, dignity, like
respect that we just had withfellow walkers of like.
We've made it this far.
We're freaking finishing this.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Honor, dignity, respect, right of passage.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
We did it.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
You did it.
Hey Gina, have you run into any50 milers or people wearing the
shirt at all after the March?
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Yeah, I've run into a couple.
Well, I wasn't wearing mine butthey were wearing theirs and it
is it's like this, like nod oflike hey, like you're in, you're
in that 1%.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Yes, it is Like you're you're my people.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Um, it's self-selects for a lot of people.
Um, and I'll be honest, I'mscared for this year, Like I'm
I'm terrified Cause I'm like,huh, I don't want to go back to
that place.
Like I don't.
I don't want to go back to it,so this will be your hundredth
mile.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Right, so think about that.
How many people even wanted todo this once?
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Yeah, I didn't want to Like, I got peer pressured
into it.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
FOMOed.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
It was FOMOed.
Freaking Marquesas are the bestat that.
They are responsible for awhole platoon of people that
they FOMOed.
I know, and we were all justcursing their names Like what
did you guys get us into?
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Oh my gosh, It'll be 150 for them this year.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
And Matt politely told me the very first time Nah,
dude, I'm out, thanks bro, hey,we'll support you, we'll help
you raise funds, but me andLindsay we're out.
I just want to be real, bro.
It's like, yeah, mattappreciate it, thank you.
And you know, I even saw him atIowa Fieldhouse one time.
(24:19):
I'm like, hey, man, hey, I'mtelling you, jay, we're just, we
support you, we love you, butwe're out.
And then Zach Grady got backinto it and he was a catalyst.
But anyway, this is not aboutthem, it's about you.
I'm grateful to them.
Yeah, absolutely.
You heard of this march thevery first time through Marchese
(24:41):
.
What was your conception?
What was your preconceivednotion?
How did the conversation go?
Speaker 2 (24:49):
I'll tell you, I was watching Lindy's live feed from
the year before.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Okay, so you just saw her.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
I was watching her do this crazy 50-mile march and I
was like you guys are insane.
But that tracks like Marquesasdo a lot of insane things.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Yes, love you guys, and yes, you can do a lot of
crazy, more crazy things.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Yes, Love them.
That's part of the reason why Ilove them.
So I was like that tracks likethey're just doing something
crazy.
That makes sense and Lindy saidafterwards she's like that was
the worst 22 hours of my lifeand I was like I believe it,
girl, that looks awful.
And she called me like threemonths later maybe text me, I
don't know whatever.
And she's like hey, we're doingthis 50 mile March again next
(25:31):
year.
And my first response waswasn't that the worst 22 hours
of your life?
And she's like but it was sogreat.
Oh my god, I'm like wait, yousaid it was awful and you're
doing it again and she just saidlike it's the most inex,
unexplainable, inexplainableyeah, unexplainable,
unexplainable experience andit's true, I get that.
Now I get that.
(25:51):
I can't explain it to people,um, but anyways, a few months
went by and it was kind of radiosilent and I I hadn't
personally committed and so Iwas like I'll slide under the
radar.
I'm not doing this.
And then Tasha texted me likehey, you come to the qualifier.
And I was like what?
She's like, yeah, you're comingto the qualifier, Right.
(26:11):
And I was like no, we didn't,we did not.
We had this like vow, that likewe would either not do it
together or do it.
And she's like I'm doing it.
I was like, come on, no, thisis dumb.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
You guys didn't communicate with me.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
I wasn't in the loop, I was not a part of this, and
so the next thing I know I'mshowing up for a 15 mile march
in the middle of June last yearat Flanagan, because it was the
last.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Yes, last did the second one, not the large group
one.
I didn't do the one in april ormarch, when it was raining, and
all that stuff I did not dothat one.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
I did the really hot one at flanagan um and I was
like, and after I remember afterthe we did three five mile
loops yes and after two I waslike surely this is enough,
surely they'll call it becausethis is dumb yeah, and we don't
need to do anymore we don't needto do another five miles to
prove that we're in.
Like we did 10 and then we tookoff for another five and I was
(27:01):
like, oh my God, this is worstever.
But I will say I'm very glad wedid 15 because at mile 12 or 13
was when I first started to gethotspots and that's why I
believe that's part of thereason you do the qualifier that
way is because if peoplehaven't walked that far like you
, don't know your hotspots andyou do not want to find them out
.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
No, not on the March, and that's what I get scared.
So just last weekend oryesterday they did a 10 miler at
Nebraska Brewing Company andout of the 30 people there are
probably three or four that werelike not ready.
Um, you can't walk your dog andbe ready.
No you've got to, you've got torock.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
You have to rock.
Um, you know, now fast forward.
Um, you know, you talked aboutthe pain.
What are some of the thingsthat people should be thinking
about when it comes to preparingmentally first, mentally, I was
gonna say I think mentalpreparation is probably the
utmost importance.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
I think for me it was just the mental prep of like
this is going to beuncomfortable, and I have to be
comfortable being veryuncomfortable for an extended
period of time.
Sleep really wasn't that big ofa deal, I thought it was going
to be.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Right.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
But you're just on so much adrenaline and you're with
people and, like there, Iwouldn't have slept a minute
even if.
I had the opportunity.
Right, absolutely I thinkyou're just on adrenaline and
your breaks go by so fast.
So the breaks are like get yourshoes off, get water, go to the
bathroom, eat, try to get yourfeet elevated, and then it's
like time to go.
Go to the bathroom, eat, try toget your feet elevated, and
(28:39):
then it's like time to go.
So I don't know when peoplewould sleep.
I didn't sleep at all.
Um, I think the mentalpreparation again I'm just like
knowing this is going to bereally uncomfortable.
Oh my God.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Like that's scaring me now it is going to be, but it
is.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
It's just, it's going to be uncomfortable and you're
going to make it.
I think that was the otherpiece of it.
And that was something that,marquesas, we're picking on them
, but I'm going to give them agood shout out.
They were like you're going tomake it, Like you're, you're
going to finish and.
I was like no, I'm not like.
Yes, you are.
You're going to finish, andthere was never a doubt of like.
They didn't let me think I wasnot going to finish this.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
Right.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
And so that was in the back of my brain of like,
yeah, you're right, I know I cando this, even though I don't
want to, and it's going to suckand it's going to hurt.
I know I'm going to be okay.
Um might walk away with a fewblisters.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Or worse.
I mean, some people got shinsplints, Some people had to.
I was in crutches for a weekand a half after the last time
and then the week before Ididn't even know I was going to
walk.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
I don't know if you can, yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
My both yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
We were praying over you.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
I know, I remember that you were the first person
that came up to me and said hey,can I pray for you?
Speaker 2 (29:43):
I was like what?
And I started crying.
Oh, I love that.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
And.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
I was so happy to see you at the walk Cause we still
didn't know like that day youwere still TBD, Like I don't
know A hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
I was recovering like an NFL tight end.
I was on the protocol.
Anyway, jamie had me on somecrazy regimen, right, but it
worked.
Because the Friday night beforeI almost was like okay, I have
to give my speech of control.
It's okay, jay, you've donethis.
I did everything I could tomake me feel comfortable about
not falling through on mycommitment and I was going to be
good with it.
And I knew some people weregoing to judge.
But I staged myself for that.
I woke up that Saturday and Iremember just having peace over
(30:34):
me and saying good.
I can do this.
I love that.
It's going to hurt.
I probably am going, but once Iget my hip moving, once I stand
up straight, I just needsomebody to help pick me up.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
And on the 20th mile I broke down.
Really People were in the camper, yeah, and that was Baker's
candy, right, yeah, baker'scandies.
Hey, you need anything?
Jay, no, I'm good, I'm good.
People using the RV bathroomstinking it up, right, I'm like,
oh my God.
And Chris was like, hey, yousure?
I said I'm good.
I said, hey, can you geteverybody out?
Just just for a second.
(31:06):
Just ask everyone to leave.
He goes.
What I said just ask everyoneto leave the camper just for a
second.
Call my wife in here.
I need to talk to her.
Is everything okay?
I said, yeah, everything's okay.
I just need to talk to Beckyreal quick, five minutes.
Close the door.
I freaking broke down.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
I did not know this.
I was like I can't let peoplesee me.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
I said, god, I need the strength right now.
My hip, you know.
I just I wasn't asking ornegotiating or anything, I was
just like please give me thestrength to continue.
She said, listen, you startedthis.
You could have bowed out in thebeginning, or something like
that.
You know you've got this.
Give yourself the peptide shot,which she did.
Right, I'm like, oh, I'mknowing that it didn't do
(31:50):
anything for you that second,and she's like rubbing my, my uh
, hip and I'm like, okay, butwhat people were doing to you,
my wife did for me.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Yeah, just believing in me, yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
So you, you're gonna finish.
You're not gonna.
I'm gonna finish.
You know what I mean?
I mean, I don't mean to play itlike that, I'm just saying it's
real.
So someone is preparing rightnow for the 50 mile march and
they're listening.
What advice would you give forthem?
Physically Like?
People always ask how oftenshould I train?
What do I do?
I know that everyone'sdifferent, but what's some
(32:26):
general rules of thumb?
Speaker 2 (32:27):
man, you got to find your hotspots.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Yes, like define hotspots for people.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Hotspots would be like the places on your feet
that you're going to get themost friction in your shoes um I
would say get good shoes,that's like you can go with
everything else yes withouteverything else.
You need socks and shoes likeyes everything else will be
provided.
It's fine.
Um, I overpacked last year, bythe way, so yeah, way overpacked
(32:52):
beach towel all, like all thethings I've used, none of it.
Um, um, I would say, yeah, findyour hotspots, and the only way
you do that is rucking.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
Yeah, you just have to write.
If people I've made a postabout this the other day if you
practice consistency overintensity, you're not going to
be surprised.
Yeah, only rookies will besurprised.
Now, what does that mean?
Yeah, I'm not telling people togo 10 miles a day, five days a
week.
I'm saying be consistent.
So for me, I'll share with youthat.
(33:22):
Maybe you can share with mewhat your tempo is.
I'm five miles Monday,wednesday, Friday, at 3.4 to 3.6
miles per hour with 30 poundsin my back.
Okay, that's what I'm doing,right?
Yeah, consistent.
And then, every now and then,I'll find a bonus day to do 10
miles and that's that's the timefor me.
That's the time for by myself.
That's the time for me not tohave any pressure.
(33:43):
Where's the hotspots?
Are these shoes?
That are my laces?
Feeling funny?
Oh, maybe I should try thesesocks, cause last time you know
all those things.
What's your physical training?
Or?
You know?
I mean, I know you stay fit, sotell me all the things you do
to keep you fit.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Well, in full disclosure, I have not been
rucking.
I need to we're 60 days away.
I know I need to start it.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Consistency.
I need to start it.
You're welcome to join usMonday, wednesday, friday.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
Yeah, I actually really need to, so that's a kick
in the pants to me.
I go to the gym four or fivedays a week, so I lift weights,
but that's whether I'm not doingthe walk, that's.
I do that anyways.
Um and I, I actually do walk alot, I do walk my dog, but that
is not training, um, it's justnot the same amount of training
Um last year, when I would walkher, I actually just put my vest
(34:32):
on and we average about fivemiles a day.
But that is broken up becauseespecially now it's so hot.
So she can't go.
My dog just can't go five miles.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
But you still have a vest on with the weight.
But when you ruck the 50 milesyou don't have any weight.
So you're preparing yourselfwith a load.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
With a load yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
Some people are just not.
And I'm not chest, I'm sayinghow critical is it for you to
prepare and walk?
Speaker 2 (34:59):
Now that I've done it way more like last year, I did
have that thought of, like I'mfit, I'm physically fit, I know
I can walk, I'll be good.
And then I realized that, likemile 35 to 38, like oh geez,
like yeah you, you can't prepare.
There is an element, though Iwill say you just can't prepare
for the unknowns.
Like you can do all thepreparation and there will still
(35:22):
be unknowns.
And then that's when thatmental preparation overtakes,
like whatever that physicallacks, because at that point
it's like here we are and we'regoing, and I'm going to do the
best with what I have Right.
So, but I did last year I didtwo pairs of shoes, so I
alternated at every stop.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
Oh, so they're.
They felt fresh.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
Yeah, so they had two pairs of Brooks.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
I'm a Brooks girl, so I actually got A6 this year.
What yeah, you broke the mold.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
I did, I did, but I had two pairs of Brooks.
I had the adrenaline and the um, I don't know GTS or something
I don't know.
But, they were just differentenough to where one had a little
wider toe box and one wasnarrow.
So it just gave like.
And my idea behind that waslike, okay, I'm going to give my
feet a break every time and mixit up so that they're not
rubbing the exact same spot overand over again.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
See, in my mind I was like here she's crazy to be
switching shoes, but I get it.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
I liked it and then.
I realized, and now this year Iactually sized up a size.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Because they swell.
Speaker 2 (36:22):
Because your feet swell so much, and that's oh
like they swell so much, and soI did size up half a size.
And then everyone swears by toesocks, but they don't work for
me.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
So you're not a toe sock gal, I'm a toe sock dude.
Oh my God.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
And I need to find out something to do with my
pinky toe, cause that's likeanatomically, my pinky toe just
goes underneath.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
Underneath.
So does mine, right?
So toe socks.
I know it sounds crazy, but butyou can't wear toe socks alone,
are you only wearing toe socksalone?
So you got to put the, you gotto put the toe sock and then you
got to put a sock that iseither wool blend, non-cotton.
Oh, I didn't know that.
Okay, so here's why I didn'tknow that.
So your feet are like thisthey're splayed, is what the
(37:03):
socks do.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
And then you put that other sock around it.
So remember, the frictionhappens when friction causes the
heat, when your feet rub, butyour feet can't rub if your toes
are like this, and then youhave another layer.
You could literally try to dragyour foot on the floor and try
to create heat and it won't work, but not cotton.
Just as the least cotton blendyou can.
(37:26):
So if you have cotton slashwool that will keep them super
dry.
I also put so like when we stop.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
I did the salty britches too.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Oh yeah, that helps too, so for other people people
were like, oh, that's so weird.
No, it works.
It's either powder or lube,right, one of the two.
Lube that's not funny, it'sgross, but it works.
So I need to try that, then Tryit.
And now is the time to try itRight, like especially for the
little toe, yeah, and and I puta lot of Dr dr souls on just
(37:58):
because I don't want anymoisture.
Moisture is the enemy it isonce your feet get soft from
that excess moisture, you'redone you're done.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
I mean no matter what , you can be the toughest dude.
Yeah, oh, and there were oh manyou see grown men just brought
to their knees because it's youget a blister and oh yeah, no
joke I mean jardine's foot,ryan's foot, it was half of it
fell off like yeah.
Speaker 1 (38:19):
So the first year timothy sons was with us, the
whole sole of his foot slid off.
I know sorry about that.
I know no pictures, don't worry, but I remember him taking off
his and I was like, oh my god,what's that?
I thought what's that?
I thought it was jelly.
Sorry, that's disgusting.
I thought it was jelly but itwas the bottom of his soul stuck
(38:40):
to his sock, all of a sudden, Idon't have an appetite, sorry,
yeah, hey, wait, wait, waitDoing the 50 mile mark.
Exactly.
Are you sure it's good for?
Speaker 2 (38:48):
you, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
I want to talk to you as a person now.
You was, you was gina, yeah,gina um the why, right?
So you weren't, you weren't inthe military.
You know, and we talked aboutthis and you know, beyond the
physical challenge, beyond the,you know, testing yourself, what
does it mean to you toparticipate and why do you
participate?
Speaker 2 (39:12):
yeah, that was something that again I said fomo
was why I did it last year andso there was FOMO.
That's full transparency.
Um so I don't have, like Jaysaid, I don't have um military
background.
I have never served in themilitary.
I grew up in a military town inColorado Springs, so um just
grew up with that reverence andthat respect for our military
(39:33):
and lots of friends and familyin the military, so that was
just kind of like my upbringing.
So I have been always exposed tothat world and just what they
put themselves through.
And my undergrad is, or was, Ishould say, pre-med and
psychology, and so I rememberlearning.
I took an abnormal psych classand I thought PTSD was actually
(39:54):
one of the most interestingmental disorders because of how
it can impact people and likethe broad array of who it can
impact, like anyone from a CEOto like a veteran, like an all
in between.
And just I mean mental healthdoesn't discriminate anyways.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
Right.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
But I just found this one particularly interesting.
And then you think of like PTSDin the form of trauma, like it
doesn't have to be on Any trauma.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
Any trauma, it doesn't have to be on the front
lines.
It could be battery, it couldbe a bad experience.
I mean people who get robbed,yeah, people who are put under
intense pressure without notice.
That's how I kind of look at itit's an injury.
It's an injury.
Speaker 2 (40:36):
Yeah, and I think I just think of how I don't know.
I think of just like, how aloneI felt for so long in my
journey of like no one'sactually seen what's happening
all around me, and wishing I hadsomeone just come along and be
like this is not normal.
Like this is not normal and Ididn't have PTSD.
I do now for some things.
Speaker 1 (40:57):
I'm working through that.
Speaker 2 (40:58):
I'm in therapy and all sorts of things.
Um, but yeah, I think that wasmore like dang.
These veterans really don'thave.
They don't have the help theyneed and they're also so highly
trained and there is that likepride and that honor of like
well, if I admit that I, youknow, struggle with this, I now
I'm seen as weak.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
Yes, or you know you could have lost our job.
So if I would have told mycommander or my first sergeant.
You know I'm feeling a littledepressed.
I'm feeling blue boom.
Top secret security clearancegone right.
Access to everything gone,pretty much couldn't do anything
and you were on suicide watch,yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
And you just learned to shove it down.
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:37):
Cause you didn't want to lose your job.
You didn't want to go.
Hey see that guy right overthere.
He got all his stripes rippedoff.
He's on suicide watch.
Yeah, like who wants to belabeled that?
Speaker 2 (41:48):
No, no one does.
I wouldn't want that, andthat's a that's almost an
impossible situation to be putin.
It you know, it.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
It, it's a conditioning to say you shut
your mouth.
Oh, you like working at thestore, whatever right there's,
there's that.
Shut your mouth.
You like working in the store,shut your mouth and sweep the
floors.
That's one thing.
Yeah, you like working here, Idon't care about your mental
health.
You say anything, you'll beworth nothing.
Yeah, you say anything, you'llbe worth nothing.
Yeah, that's the condition, theresponse and the outcome.
(42:17):
Yeah, and then we taughtourselves Ooh, we better not ask
for anything.
So when we get, out, Gina yeah.
But you, on the other hand, nowknowing how important it is for
help, did you get help with with?
Are you getting help, okay?
So so let's talk about that.
Talk to talk to a person nowwho's listening and they're a
(42:42):
veteran.
Speaker 2 (42:42):
Tell them how important or how how okay it is
to not be okay I would say this,I would say the best healing
happens in community, like itreally does, like healing
happens in community.
Trauma happens in community,sure does, and healing happens
in community.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
Trauma happens in community, sure does and healing
happens in community.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
Dang, that's a mic drop right there Okay we're done
, just kidding, no, but in allseriousness, that is, I think
you know, shame, depression,isolation.
I'm sorry, all of that stuff iscausing you to go into
isolation.
Yes, and that's what the enemywants.
Like the enemy wants you silent?
And they, the enemy, wants youin the dark.
Speaker 1 (43:20):
Um and.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
I think the best way to fight that in my life and
I've seen it in others is letpeople into your mess.
Speaker 1 (43:26):
Let people into your mess.
I was hoping you'd say that Letpeople into your mess.
Tell people what that means Letthem into your mess, let them
in.
Speaker 2 (43:33):
Like it's okay to let people like see people, let
them see you cry, let them seeyou upset, let them see you just
like in literally in your mess.
Like house is a disaster, what?
Like you're falling apartmentally, like that's okay.
And now I will say this like asa caveat it's not just like
you're going to let some randoat the grocery store line.
(43:54):
No it's these trusted friendsand family that you're letting
in, right?
You're not pushing them awayLike I'm fine, everything's good
, it's all good, like put on agood face.
Speaker 1 (44:03):
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
No, there's times when it's okay to just be like
yes, this is a really frickinghard day, yeah, and I don't, I
don't know what I'm going to dotomorrow, and just letting them
in Like me through today.
Just help me through today andI'll tell you one of the most
powerful stories that happenedto me personally.
Um so, obviously you know Iwent through a divorce and this
was this was pretty soon after Ifound out about like all the
(44:26):
affairs and all that kind ofstuff but I had ripped up every
photo, like every photo in thehouse, and I was just a mess
Like I mean every emotion fromrage to anger to sadness to
betrayal, like just the entirespectrum.
Um, and I was.
If there was a camera, like Iprobably would be locked up in a
psych ward right now, causeyou're like what is happening to
(44:47):
this chick.
Anyways, I was just going crazyand just screaming and like
pounding the floor and I wasjust so mad and like letting
that get out of my system.
And I didn't know, one of myfriends was coming over and
cause she just wanted to pop inand check on me.
And she came in and saw justlike pictures everywhere and I
was on the floor just likerocking and I was literally a
(45:09):
mess like a mess.
And she just came in, took hershoes off.
She didn't say anything and shejust held me and we just balled
together.
She didn't say a word and thatwas the most powerful moment, or
one of the most powerfulmoments, because she didn't know
what to say, but there wasnothing to say.
She was just there for you, shewas just there and then, little
by little, she like got up andshe just she put everything into
(45:32):
trash bags and she took it outand put it in her own trash, so
I didn't have to see it.
Yeah, we exchanged maybe threewords, but that, like to this
day, I was like that was one ofthe most powerful examples of
like letting.
Not only it was twofold, I hadto let her in, but she just was
there.
Yeah, she wasn't trying to fixit, she wasn't trying to say
like it's okay, it's gonna getbetter, it won't always be this
(45:54):
way.
Like Like you know these littleone-liners.
She was just like this is sohard.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
I was like yeah, it was amazing.
Not everyone has a friend likethat.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (46:05):
And not people.
People have friends like thatthat they don't let in.
Yeah, so when you say letpeople into your mess, I think
it's more than just saying Ineed help.
Let them into the mess, letthem see the real you.
When someone says, gina, areyou okay?
There are people who are like,oh my God, and they throw
themselves in front of the busright Like.
I don't even want to quantifythat, I don't want to demonize
(46:28):
people who do that, but to beable to say, hey, I really need
your help.
I don't I just, I just needyour help to get through today.
I need your help, listen to me,I don't need you to solve
anything.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
I just need you to listen.
That's harder than hell to say,though.
Oh, absolutely, and I will saythis that when you are that
person of asking for help numberone, that's terrifying because
you're fearing rejection, You'refearing they're going to be
like no, I don't have time, orwhatever.
I would bet.
I'm not a betting woman, but ifI was, I would say I would
venture to say 99% of the time,people are going to jump at the
opportunity to help.
(47:05):
Jump at the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (47:08):
We all want to serve each other, right Some people
are going to help you the rightway.
Sometimes it's trial and error,but Gina, I wanted people to
know who you are, because you'renot some superhero that wants
to be a motivational speakerthat is involved with the 50
Mile March.
Right, you are a real person.
You are you unapologetically,you are authentic, you bring a
(47:30):
different perspective.
You have your views.
I love your faith.
I love that.
You let it pour into otherpeople without being that
bullhorn everybody kneel down,yeah but.
But you know, um, oh my gosh,the hardest part for me,
(47:53):
remember when we're laying onthe Capitol steps for 22 minutes
.
Speaker 2 (47:58):
That's powerful.
Speaker 1 (47:58):
Yeah, and we're on cement and I think we were 20
minutes in.
I was like though I walkedthrough the chalet, the chalet
of death.
Speaker 2 (48:08):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (48:09):
I fear no evil Like that was our passage.
So good, that was the passageRight, and yeah, the valley of
death is 50 miles long for ustoday.
Speaker 2 (48:19):
It's a long valley, it's a very dark valley, oh my
gosh.
Speaker 1 (48:23):
I mean, if you could picture the start, the valleys,
and then the climb out.
Literally the climb out, theclimb out is the frigging worst
part.
Speaker 2 (48:31):
The valley is great.
We're going downhill, it's fine.
Speaker 1 (48:33):
It's the climb out.
Speaker 2 (48:36):
It's great we're going downhill.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
It's fine.
Speaker 2 (48:37):
It's the climb out.
No, I get it.
I'm not trying to make light ofit, but, yes, it's very
symbolic and that metaphor is,yes, very real.
Speaker 1 (48:41):
It is because the last hilt in Nebraska brewing
company is literally, I thinkthat's a nine degree or 10
degree incline, whatever that is, it feels like you're going
straight up.
Speaker 2 (48:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (48:52):
But you're just like listening to the end.
But and you know, I mean, thoseare details that people can
experience with us.
Gina, um, to wrap this up to,to make you know, next few
minutes, what do you want toshare?
Perhaps I may I may not haveasked, or what are some of the
things that you want people toknow about, gina?
Oh, you good question.
Speaker 2 (49:15):
Yes, I would say a little bit to tag on to you.
There's not a specific set ofcircumstances that makes me
better than anyone else, ordifferent or more qualified to
do this.
I wouldn't say normal.
I think we all are very unique,but yeah, I'm.
(49:36):
I'm a person living my life andthis just was part of it, and
I've learned so many lessonsthrough the 50 mile march.
You have so many lessonsthrough it.
And yeah, I would just say likemy story isn't over.
Speaker 1 (49:50):
No, this is beginning so cool, yeah, and you're in
control of the chapters, yeahRight.
Speaker 2 (49:55):
Absolutely, I mean.
Speaker 1 (49:58):
I understand what you've been through before right
, I've been there before too andyou as a person, what I want
people to know is um, I lovethat you're so on, non prepped
not I'm talking, not talkingprepared, I'm talking like raw,
authentic you, um, you bring anenergy about you that just makes
(50:23):
people go.
Oh, it's Gina the, the effectthat you had on Jerry Teeter,
the effect that you had on thosecamera guys, um, at at our last
media shoot, you know, with you, um, I saw some of the footage.
I was like there's something toyou and I'm not trying to place
you on a pedestal that bringssomething to our community and
(50:48):
it's you're, you're welcome, butit's not.
It's not like capability, it'snot like capability, it's not
ability, it's, it's reality.
You're a real person.
You just, you know people think50 mile a March, they gotta be
special operators, veterans andwe gotta wear 90 pound packs
Like.
And I want people to never andI and I know that you don't
(51:11):
people should never apologize orsay hey, I never served or I'm
sorry.
Do you now feel more connectedto the military community than
ever?
Oh, heck, yeah.
Speaker 2 (51:23):
And I get the camaraderie like on a whole new
level.
Speaker 1 (51:27):
Like I get it.
Speaker 2 (51:29):
And that's the other thing about community is like
yeah, stuff happens in community, trauma happens and pain
happens in community and so muchhealing happens in that.
And I think I mean, I look atthe people I walked with last
year, I would do anything forthem, anything for them.
Speaker 1 (51:45):
And.
Speaker 2 (51:45):
I know vice versa.
I could pick up the phone atany moment and be like, hey, I
need help with this and this, orI'm struggling with this, and
like boom, they'd be there.
Speaker 1 (51:52):
And you don't know everything about me, right?
Like, we're not best of friends, but I believe we're comrades.
I believe that we've beenthrough the rite of passage.
I believe we have similar corevalues.
Um, every time I talk to you,it's easy to speak, right?
Um, it's not like and how wasyour day, do you know?
Like, that's so.
I'm still that way with somepeople, but I think you want to
(52:13):
let people in you know.
And um, when, when people likeyou join our organization, it,
it creates even more credibilityfor what we're doing.
I love that.
I mean, yeah, you're welcomeand um, I'm just so grateful.
Speaker 2 (52:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (52:29):
And uh, I'm grateful for you, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (52:37):
I'm grateful for what you guys have started too.
Speaker 1 (52:39):
This is a whole movement and it's so yes, it's
the movement, it's so cool it iswell and I want to say one more
thing yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,land it, land it, and I'll try
to land it.
Yes, um.
Speaker 2 (52:49):
I will say this like thank you for the compliments on
just like being authentic, andI, I will say I haven't always
been that way.
I lived much of my life as,like a perfectionist and just
wanting to make sure, like, aslong as everything looks good on
the outside, ain't nobody gotto see what's happening on the
inside.
And there was always thisdisconnect of not living a
congruent life and the more I'veleaned into just being
(53:11):
vulnerable and being like thisis me and being okay, Knowing
that not everyone's, I'm notgoing to be everyone's cup of
tea and they're not going to bemy cup of tea, and that's okay.
And it's like it gives me somuch freedom and that's what I
think most everybody is after isfreedom.
And it's like when you justshow up and be yourself, like
just know, not everyone's goingto like you.
Speaker 1 (53:33):
It takes less calories to live that way it
does.
Speaker 2 (53:35):
Yeah, it takes less calories to live that way it
does.
Yeah, it's wonderful andthere's just so much freedom in
it and I think that's a bigreason why I want to share is
like I want people to experiencethat freedom, but it starts
with being vulnerable.
Speaker 1 (53:47):
Absolutely, it does.
Speaker 2 (53:48):
And that's the scariest part, and I think to
our veterans and to those whowant and need help the first and
most scary part is beingvulnerable.
Speaker 1 (54:01):
After that, you're going to have people around you
locking arms and literallypulling you through, and that's
what life, symbolically, issupposed to be about.
This thing parallels so manythings in life.
It teaches me lessons every day.
It keeps me going.
This keeps me honest in allother parts of my life.
I can't be a 50 Mile Marchfounder and live foul day.
It keeps me going.
This keeps me honest in allother parts of my life.
Right, I mean, I can't be a 50mile March founder and live foul
(54:27):
.
Right.
And also you taught me somethingtoday you don't have to be on.
Yeah, you don't have to be on.
And um, I I hear that all thetime, but I see people say it.
I hear them like, well, thehouse is messy, don't let people
over.
I get that part.
You know you don't want to seethem midweek into your house but
at the same time, let peopleinto your mess be who you are.
(54:49):
And, gina, I just want to thankyou for being here today and I
want this to continue foranother two hours, but that time
you do not have.
Speaker 2 (54:57):
Yes, and it's a little hot, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (54:59):
No worst day.
So I mean perfect backdrop.
We're here at Tahazuka Park inElkhorn and this is the tank
behind it and this is the story.
This is the story we share.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (55:10):
Thank you, appreciate it All right, thank you, thank
you.
Speaker 1 (55:11):
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you
, thank you, thank you, thankyou, thank you, thank you, thank
you, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you, thank you.
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New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!