Motivation Monday - Two Gomers

Three years ago, Liz started listening to a podcast called Two Gomers Run a Half Marathon. I was a little slow to join the i-pod craze and didn't start listening until the first season was almost over. Once I started listening, I went back to the beginning and listened to the episodes I had missed until I was caught up. We've been hooked ever since.

The Gomers' podcast is about two guys who had never run before (or done much of anything athletic) that decided to train for and run a half marathon. The episodes are weekly updates on their training and their learning process as they figured out what is involved in distance running.

It was awesome to experience what it's like to be back at the beginning... listening to these guys (Anthony and Steven) starting at the basics. What to wear? What to eat? How to train? Everything you never think about until you're doing it yourself. But what makes the show so fun to listen to is the Gomers' personalities. The guys are just plain entertaining. They have that special something that makes you want to listen whether they're talking about running, tv, movies, current events, or their Love of the 80's.

After their half marathon, the Gomers recorded two more seasons: Two Gomers Run a Marathon and Two Gomers Run a Marathon: The Sub-Five Strive. Their podcast grew from just a handful of listeners to thousands of faithful subscribers. The Gomer Nation has become a community of it's own and interacts often on facebook. But Steven and Anthony took it a step farther and have organized some Gomer gatherings. There have been two Gomer Fun Runs, the Gomer Labor Day Virtual 5k/10k Run, and in June the Gomers invited listeners to join them for the Minneapolis Marathon.

Liz and I made the trip and met the guys. We weren't sure what to expect when we met the Gomers face-to-face, but they guys couldn't have been nicer. We felt like old friends who just happened to have never met. We hung out with Anthony, Steven, and some fellow fans at the expo the day before the race. Then we met up for some pre-race photos and Liz went with some of the runner's family members to cheer everyone on while I ran the marathon. Afterward, we all shared our stories from the ridiculously hot and hilly race while we had lunch at Chipotle.

It was awesome meeting the Gomers and we're even bigger fans after getting to know them a little better.

The guys are getting ready to start a new season (and Anthony's getting ready to become a father) so we're looking forward to hearing what adventure they choose to take on next.

If you're looking for a fun running podcast (that often strays from the topic of running), or if you're just looking for some good entertainment, I highly recommend checking out the Two Gomers. And do yourself a favor... go back to the beginning and listen to the guys as they make progress on their journey.

Monday
Goal For The Day: Rest.
Distance: 0.00 Miles.

Notes: I'm feeling recharged and ready to start the next phase of my training. Bring on the heavy mileage!

Daily Miles: 0.00 Miles.
Blog Totals:
  Run - 284.85 Miles.
  Bike - 122.45 Miles.
  Swim - 9,050+ meters.