Episode 172: Chris Jones - Stay Obsessed

<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/runningcoachchris/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠Chris Jones⁠</a> and I first connected online, and got to know each other over coffee before this conversation.</p><p><a href="https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/Indianapolis/TheBigBO50k" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Support Chris's inaugural Big BO 50K (5K, 10K, 25K, 50K) on 10-10-26</a></p><p>During this episode, sponsored by <a href="https://kilarun.com" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠Kila⁠</a>, we talk about:</p><ul><li>[00:07:00] Playing goalkeeper for five years in college soccer</li><li>[00:12:00] Signing up for the <a href="https://indymini.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Indy Mini Half Marathon</a> with zero training at his wife Fiona's request</li><li>[00:16:00] The accidental progression that followed: one marathon (<a href="https://monumentalmarathon.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Monumental</a>), a 50-miler he signed up for without ever running a 50K, and a 100-mile finish at the <a href="https://runsignup.com/Race/IN/Albion/IndianaTrail100" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Indiana Trail 100</a></li><li>[00:20:00] The complete stranger who paced him the final 20 miles of that 100-miler</li><li>[00:02:00] His work as a physical therapist and running coach at <a href="https://divergentrehab.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Divergent Rehab + Wellness</a> in Carmel, where 90% of his caseload is runners</li><li>[00:05:00] Why he refuses to tell an injured runner to just stop running</li><li>[00:13:00] Meeting his wife Fiona in sixth grade — and the two mutual friends (now his best friends) she dated before him</li><li>[00:09:00] Moving to Washington state during COVID, then back to Avon for family and free childcare</li><li>[00:37:00] Building Running Coach Chris on Instagram and how the name stuck from a childhood nickname</li><li>[00:42:00] Training through the middle of the night to prepare for <a href="https://www.meshtc.com/prairie-on-fire" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prairie on Fire</a>, and why headlamp practice matters more than people think</li><li>[00:48:00] Last year's Prairie on Fire, getting sick mid-race, and still covering 71–72 miles before calling it</li><li>[00:34:00] Launching Stay Obsessed with his friend Joe — the lifestyle brand behind a brand-new race</li><li>[00:24:00] The <a href="https://runsignup.com/R