“I want you to develop a taste for winning,” says Nick Symmonds, one of a kind athlete, YouTube sensation, and two-time Olympian.

Nick has forged his own interesting path from a modest and unlikely athletic beginning to the very pinnacle of international elite sport, and competed for the United States in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, and was the World Championships silver medalist in the 800 meters in 2013, and the second fastest American of all time in 1:42.95. A New York Times feature article described Nick as, “The most outspoken, polarizing, and essential American track and field athlete of the past decade. As a runner, his preferred style was to sit and kick. As an activist for athletes’ marketing rights, as well as an advocate for gay rights and gun control, he operated from the front, a loud, bold provocateur.” One official nicknamed him, “Team USA’s official pain in the butt.”

These days, Nick works as an “athlete-preneur,” utilizing his passion for fitness to inspire clients to become “the kind of athlete that has so many tools in your chest that you can win no matter how the race goes. Whether it’s rainy, sunny, or windy, you always find a way to win.” Still, Nick is careful to not focus too much on the “winning” aspect of the outcome and points out that it is possible to be “too dedicated.” Instead, he emphasizes the importance of keeping your approach to training light-hearted enough that you still enjoy yourself. “For me, it’s less about the competition, and more about just having fun with fitness: staying fit and inspiring others to have fun with their own fitness.”

Nick has also built up an impressive resume in a very short time, in the mountains specifically, and he is currently working on collecting all 50 state high-points! He’s also publicly expressed his desire to climb the 7 Summits, the tallest mountain on each continent. And when he isn’t running or climbing, he can be found working on the business that he co-founded in 2014, Run Gum. Nick’s goal with formulating Run Gum was to have an energy product that you can easily keep in your back pocket for whenever you need it most. He serves as CEO for this fast growing energy company, and in this episode, you’ll learn all about what inspired him to start Run Gum, the clean ingredients it’s made of, and why it’s not just for athletes, but really, for anyone and everyone in need of an easy energy boost. Be sure to check out his awesome YouTube videos here, and enjoy this conversation about the importance of having a balanced perspective in your approach to fitness.

TIMESTAMPS:

Brad introduces his guest who is a great Olympic runner and promoter of track and field sport. [01:25]

For Nick a daily workout is kind of the glue that holds everything else together. [04:33]

One commonality that all the good coaches have is patience. [07:15]

A coach really sets the culture on a team. [11:54]

Because Nick developed his running in a small community, he built up the confidence of how good he was. This would probably not have happened had he run in stricter competition. [15:06]

His coach told him to develop a taste for winning. [17:17]

Confidence cannot be understated or undervalued. [19:41]

Sometimes you just stop thinking about time and just focus on racing and the time will come. [22:14]

After breaking his PR in the race, he was depressed. [25:59]

Now with racing behind him, Nick is known as the YouTube guy. [28:32]

All three medalists from the 2012 men’s 800 were injured in the 2013 season. [30:56]

The New York Times article quotes that Nick was the USA’s official pain in the butt. Why? He knew where all the money in the sport was going. [31:05]

Why does he think the athletes have not been able to band together as a force and try to advocate for fairness and for better compensation? [33:00]

Maybe a benefit from the COVID is that the whole Olympic movement has been disrupted. [37:22]

How did the Run Gum thing get started? [39:18]

You really have to understand the money part of your business model to have it succeed. [42:39]

Know what you are good at and know what you are not good at. [46:36]

What words of wisdom does Nick have for the young athletes? Have fun but focus on where you want to go in life. [53:53]

What is in the future for Nick? His YouTube videos are growing in popularity. [57:55]

LINKS:

Brad’s Shopping page
Nick races Strangers on Venice Beach for 100 bucks
Nick Symmonds YouTube
Nick Symmonds
Nick undergoes a 30 Day Body Transformation
Symmonds wins 6th title US Championship
Run Gum
Eliud Kipchoge
NY Times feature story about Nick’s athlete advocacy
2007 Pre Classic incredible come from behind victory in 800 meters that landed Nick on the world stage of running

QUOTES:

“Become the kind of athlete that has so many tools in your chest that you can win no matter how the race goes. Whether it’s rainy, sunny, or windy, you always find a way to win.”

Join Brad for more fun on:

Instagram: @bradkearns1

Facebook: @bradkearnsjumphigh

Twitter: @bradleykearns

YouTube: @BradKearns

We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to getoveryourselfpodcast@gmail.com. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you!

Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, Brad won’t sell out to anyone if he doesn’t love the product. Ask anyone.

Almost Heaven Sauna: Affordable at-home sauna kits for the ultimate relaxation and hormonal boost on demand
Brad’s Macadamia Masterpiece: Mind-blowing, life-changing nut butter blend
CAR.O.L bike: Cardiovascular optimized logic stationary bike for a highly effective eight-minute workout
Male Optimization Formula with Organs (MOFO): Optimize testosterone naturally with 100% grassfed animal organ supplement
Perfect Keto: The cleanest, purest, most potent ketone supplements and snacks
LetsGetChecked: At-home medical testing with great prices, quick results, and no hassles
Vuori Activewear: The most comfortable, functional, and fashionable gear, evoking the chill SoCal coastal lifestyle

Donations!

This free podcast offering is a team effort from Brad, Daniel, Siena, Gail, TJ, Vuk, RedCircle, our awesome guests, and our incredibly cool advertising partners. We are now poised and proud to double dip by both soliciting a donation and having you listen to ads! If you wanna cough up a few bucks to salute the show, we really appreciate it and will use the funds wisely for continued excellence. Go big (whatever that means to you…) and we’ll send you a free jar of Brad’s Macadamia Masterpiece as a thank you! Email to alert us! Choose to donate now, later, or never. Either way, we thank you for choosing from the first two options! :]

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