Choose the Hard Way

Chase Wark pounds Frosted Flakes & puts in 4.5 hours on a single bottle of water in his in-laws' 15-degree garage to pass the 760 km mark -- and Kip Taylor -- on the Abandon Your Family 500 leaderboard on day 6. — Art O'Connor, aka WUKAR Fit, strength coach to pro cycling's biggest names including Chase, World Champion Keegan Swenson and many more, reveals why Patrick Swayze is the secret to high performance on the trainer. — Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With reveals the indoor / outdoor hybrid approach that is taking D.C. and the Abandon Your Family 500 community by storm. — Spence logs off to continue to horde secret miles for a big reveal on day 10. — Andrew Vontz completes the Abandon Your Family 500, kisses Tempus Fugit goodbye, and just when you thought challenge season was over, drops details on the AYF Triple Crown series. — Heads up, we've got a full-length interview with Jens Voigt as you've never heard him before coming soon, stay tuned. — Follow along here for dailyish episodes here and to support this work, please become a paid subscriber of https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/. — DM Andrew on Instagram and let him know how your #AFY500 is going and anything you'd like us to cover in our daily updates. — -----The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host + being able to rock in dynamic, unscripted contexts isn't optional. It's now a mandatory skill for senior leaders, and doing it right isn't easy. — That's why Andrew Vontz started https://www.onerealvoice.com/, to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and in the internal & external high-stakes, open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won. — When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to hello@onerealvoice.com. ----- — With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required. ----- — Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com. ----- —JOIN US: — Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/ — One Real Voice - narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts & high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com — Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod — Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/ — Chase Wark: https://www.instagram.com/chasethebiker/ — WUKAR Fit / Art O'Connor: https://www.instagram.com/wukarfit/ — Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter: https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/p/riding-with-friends?utm_source=publication-search — Spencer Martin's Beyond the Peloton newsletter: https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/

Abandon Your Family 500 2025 Day 4 with Jonathan Kaplan and Andrew Vontz. Reflections on bad sleep, big carbs, and the skirmish between Front Range legends Andy Leach and Kip Taylor to top out first and complete #AYF500 in an FKT of under four days. — Day 4 sees the Kingpin, Big Spence, continue his secret training during the Boulder blackout. When will he switch his rides from "private" to "everyone" and deliver the big surprise sure to put him in the headlines? — Heads up. We have a full-length interview with Jens Voigt coming soon, and you will hear him in a way you never have before. — Follow along here for daily-ish episodes. To support this work, please become a paid subscriber: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/ — DM Andrew on Instagram and let him know how your #AYF500 is going and what you would like us to cover in the daily updates. — The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host, and being able to operate in dynamic, unscripted contexts, isn't optional. It is now a mandatory skill for senior leaders, and doing it well is hard. That's why Andrew Vontz started One Real Voice, to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels, and in high-stakes, open-ended internal and external conversations where reputations are built and business is won. https://www.onerealvoice.com/ When you're ready to be great, DM: https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to: hello@onerealvoice.com — With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Get started today, no experience required. https://www.blockchain.com — Lauf is the Apple of bike design. They make elegant products that just work better than everything else. https://www.laufcycles.com — JOIN US Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/ One Real Voice. Narrative, strategy, and coaching for podcasts and high-stakes conversations https://www.onerealvoice.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/ Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/p/riding-with-friends Spencer Martin's Beyond the Peloton newsletter https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/

Abandon Your Family 500 2025 Day 3 brings big drama when 100 mile-per-hour winds mean the power grid goes offline in Boulder and Big Spence has to skip the daily recording to keep banking secret miles to upload later at an undisclosed location. Meanwhile, Andy Leach powers over the top and dominates the leaderboard while Meg Volz enters the chat and shows her family what commitment looks like. Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With logs another signature indoor / outdoor Norwegian method dual threshold workout day and continues his love letter to High Fidelity with hopes of getting Nick Hornby into the challenge. Andrew Vontz shares the secrets that gets him through the moment that arrives every day when his brain says why are you doing this and his wife asks him if there's a better week than this to ride a trainer for 20 hours. Choose the Hard Way is the podcast about how hard things build stronger people who have more fun. The Abandon Your Family 500 is one of thousands of ways the Choose the Hard Way community around the world embodies this philosophy every day. Follow along here for dailyish episodes here and to support this work, please become a paid subscriber of https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/. DM Andrew on Instagram and let him know how your #AFY500 is going and anything you'd like us to cover in our daily updates. ----- The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host + being able to rock in dynamic, unscripted contexts isn't optional. It's now a mandatory skill for senior leaders, and doing it right isn't easy. That's why Andrew Vontz started https://www.onerealvoice.com/, to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and in the internal & external high-stakes, open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won. When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to hello@onerealvoice.com. ----- With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required. ----- Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com. ----- JOIN US: Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/ One Real Voice - narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts & high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/ Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter: https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/p/riding-with-friends?utm_source=publication-search Spencer Martin's Beyond the Peloton newsletter: https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/

A deep dive on the big action and family fallout from day one of the Abandon Your Family 500 in a groundbreaking conversation with Andrew Vontz / Choose the Hard Way, Spencer Martin / Beyond the Peloton, Jonathan Kaplan / Riding With, and the front range legend Kip Taylor (of Kip's Corner fame) making his highly anticipated Choose the Hard way debut. Andrew, Jonathan, & Spencer press Kip on his 11th-hour upload of a 105-mile ride on day one. Get a look inside the high-stakes world of #AYF500 strategy from one of the masters of the game in this discussion of the obstacles challenge participants are overcoming to get the challenge done. Country breakfasts, family feuds, entertainment recommendations, this episode has it all. Choose the Hard Way is the podcast about how hard things build stronger people who have more fun. The Abandon Your Family 500 is one of thousands of ways the Choose the Hard Way community around the world embodies this philosophy every day. Follow along here for dailyish episodes here and to support this work, please become a paid subscriber of https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/. DM Andrew on Instagram and let him know how your #AFY500 is going and anything you'd like us to cover in our daily updates. ----- The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host + being able to rock in dynamic, unscripted contexts isn't optional. It's now a mandatory skill for senior leaders, and doing it right isn't easy. That's why Andrew Vontz started https://www.onerealvoice.com/, to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and in the internal & external high-stakes, open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won. When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to hello@onerealvoice.com. ----- With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required. ----- Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com. ----- JOIN US: Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/ One Real Voice - narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts & high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/ Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter: https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/p/riding-with-friends?utm_source=publication-search Spencer Martin's Beyond the Peloton newsletter: https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/

Nothing says I love you like abandoning your family to get in shape for your endurance sport. The Abandon Your Family 500 is a challenge to ride 500 km on planet earth or on a virtual cycling platform over the course of 10 days brought to you by Choose the Hard Way / Andrew Vontz, Beyond the Peloton / Spencer Martin, and Riding With / Jonathan Kaplan. During the #AYF500, Andrew, Jonathan, & Spencer will be doing minisodes to share their experience participating in one of life's most rewarding experiences: having fun doing something hard with your friends. Follow along here and at https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/ DM Andrew on Instagram and let him know how your #AFY500 is going and anything you'd like us to cover in our daily updates. ----- The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host isn't optional. It's now a mission-critical skill for senior leaders. That's why Andrew Vontz started https://www.onerealvoice.com/, to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and in the high-stakes, open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won. When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to hello@onerealvoice.com. ----- With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required. ----- Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com. ----- JOIN US: Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/ One Real Voice - narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts & high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/ Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter: https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/p/riding-with-friends?utm_source=publication-search Spencer Martin's Beyond the Peloton newsletter: https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/

Choose the Hard Way is the show about how hard things build stronger humans who have more fun. This episode is about living that philosophy and how you can, too. Choose the Hard Way & One Real Voice founder Andrew Vontz, Spencer Martin of WeDu / Peacock / Beyond the Peloton, and Jonathan Kaplan of the Riding With newsletter / pod discuss the history and lore of the Abandon Your Family 500. The #AYF500 is a challenge to do what endurance athletes do best--focus on themselves, ignore their families and real life obligations and ride 500km between December 15 and 25. The second annual Abandon Your Family 500 kicks off soon. If you want to secure your mid-place finish at a Lifetime Grand Prix event or other gravel major in 2026, the time to get started is right now. DM Andrew on Instagram to join the challenge. ----- The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host isn't optional. It's now a mission-critical skill for senior leaders. That's why I started my consultancy, https://www.onerealvoice.com/, to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and in the high-stakes, open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won. When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to hello@onerealvoice.com. ----- With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required. ----- Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com. ----- JOIN US: Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/ One Real Voice - narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts & high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/ Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter: https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/p/riding-with-friends?utm_source=publication-search Spencer Martin's Beyond the Peloton newsletter: https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/

Former NFL linebacker & Texas Congressman Colin Allred joins hosts Andrew Vontz & Jonathan Kaplan on United States of Sweat, presented by Choose the Hard Way. Allred played at Baylor and for the Tennessee Titans before a neck injury ended his NFL career. He went on to earn a law degree from Berkeley, work in the Obama administration, and win a U.S. House seat in 2018. After a close Senate race in 2024, he's back on the campaign trail, running again to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. Allred talks about the mindset it takes to survive the NFL—where, as he says, there's a 100% injury rate—and how that toughness translates to politics, parenthood, and public service. Plus: his favorite way to train and the one piece of workout gear he can't live without. --------- Jonathan Kaplan is the founder of WRITE CADENCE STRATEGIES, helping individuals and organizations navigate Washington, shape policy and manage reputational risk. He also writes RIDING WITH, a newsletter and podcast exploring the intersection of pro cycling, media, business and politics. Find that at ridingwithkaplan.substack.com.--------- For senior execs, pro athletes, and political leaders, podcasts aren't optional anymore. They're mission-critical. At One Real Voice, Andrew Vontz coaches leaders 1:1 to help them thrive as podcast guests & hosts and stand out in the long-form, open-ended conversations where real influence is built. When you're ready to be great, DM him @hardwaypod or email hello@onerealvoice.com. --------- The number one way to support Choose the Hard Way is to become a paid subscriber to alwaysthehardway.substack.com. That's where Andrew Vontz shares his reflections on these interviews and writes about engaged mindfulness, bikes and life. --------- Wherever you're listening to this podcast, please subscribe and hit 5 stars. ------------- Crypto curious? With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, https://www.blockchain.com/ is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Create your free wallet and get up to 10% in annual rewards by putting your crypto to work. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required. ------------- Choose the Hard Way Newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/ ------------- One Real Voice podcast coaching & strategy: https://www.onerealvoice.com/

Pro cyclist Dylan Johnson & Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz on why you should always finish the races you start. Choose the Hard Way is the show about how hard things build stronger humans who have more fun. This conversation explores why Dylan Johnson walked two hours in road bike shoes on gravel to get to the finish line in the Big Sugar classic, the final race in the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix. Choose the Hard Way has big plans for 2026. We need your help to make it happen. Please help me double the Choose the Hard Way community in the next three months. Share this episode with a friend, subscribe and take a moment to hit five stars and like this wherever you listen or watch. I share my reflections on every episode on my Substack, and the number one thing you can do to help me bring you more of these conversations is to become a paid subscriber. Find my Substack at alwaysthehardway.substack.com and you can always find the link in my bio @hardwaypod on Instagram and in the show notes. The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host isn't optional. It's now a mission-critical skill for senior leaders. That's why I started my consultancy, One Real Voice, to help you thrive on podcasts, panels and the high-stakes, open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won. When you're ready to be great, DM @hardwaypod or reach out to hello@onerealvoice.com. Crypto curious? With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required. Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at laufcycles.com. LINKS Substack: alwaysthehardway.substack.com One Real Voice – narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts & high-stakes conversations: onerealvoice.com Instagram: instagram.com/hardwaypod LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz Follow Dylan: instagram.com/dylanjawnson

Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton / WEDU / Peacock's Tour de France team & Andrew Vontz, co-host of the Beyond the Peloton podcast & creator of the Choose the Hard Way podcast & newsletter talk about why 15 minute training sessions count and how we get it done on the road, at the playground with the kids or at home. We're both dads, bike racers and recovering perfectionists who have found 15 minutes is plenty of time to get in an impactful workout. Marketing might persuade you to think you need an hour, a $20,000 bike, and a $12 recovery shake to stay fit. You don't. We talk about how to train when you're traveling, at your kid's soccer practice or living out of a GoRuck bag. Andrew shares why he always has a TRX and a GoRuck bag in his truck wherever he goes and brings it with him on the road. Spencer shares his Drago-style hill sprint workout secret and why carrying your child might be the ultimate force multiplier to build strength. This episode is part of an experimental series of short episodes exploring real-world functional training for real people with busy lives who are committed to staying fit. Whether you're racing Unbound, BWR, Mid South, Overland, Gravel Worlds, or just a busy parent who enjoys running, riding, lifting, hybrid training, Hyrox, or being able to get off the floor after a Netflix binge without injuring yourself, your fascia and breathwork will thank you for listening to this stunning episode. Leave a comment or DM @hardwaypod and let us know what you think of this new format. The number one way to support Choose the Hard Way is to become a paid subscriber at alwaysthehardway.substack.com. That's where I write about mindfulness, bikes, and what it takes to stay human in an optimized world. At https://www.onerealvoice.com/, Andrew Vontz coaches leaders to thrive as storytellers and stand out in the long-form podcast conversations where real influence is built. If you have a podcast — or are starting one — I can help you win from episode one and keep winning. When you're ready to be great, DM me @hardwaypod. Wherever you're listening, subscribe and do humanity a favor when you hit five stars. Crypto curious? With over $1 trillion in transactions, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Create your free wallet and earn up to 10% in annual rewards. Choose the Hard Way Newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/ One Real Voice Coaching & Strategy: https://www.onerealvoice.com/ Beyond the Peloton Newsletter: https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/

Josh Turek knows how to win. A U.S. Senate candidate, current Iowa State Legislator, and two-time Paralympic gold medalist for Team USA, Josh joins Andrew Vontz & Jonathan Kaplan on United States of Sweat presented by Choose the Hard Way. This is the show where politicians and policymakers share stories about fitness, health and the sports they love playing. Josh has faced adversity his entire life. Born with Spina Bifida after his dad was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, he overcame 21 surgeries by the age of 12. Later he was cut from the Team USA wheelchair basketball squad six times. Relentless in his training and as a top professional wheelchair basketball player, Josh kept coming back. He finally made the team and went on to represent the U.S. at four Para-Olympics where he won two gold medals. After his basketball career ended with a gold medal in Tokyo in 2021, Josh campaigned to represent his hometown of Council Bluffs in the state legislature. Competing in a district that Donald Trump won twice, Josh pushed his chair up hills and crawled up stairs to talk to Iowans of all political stripes, eventually winning his first race by six votes. He was re-elected by a five-point margin at the same time Trump was winning the seat by eight points, not only because of his work ethic but because he's developed a reputation as a common-sense, bipartisan legislator. --------- Jonathan Kaplan is the founder of WRITE CADENCE STRATEGIES, helping individuals and organizations navigate Washington, shape policy and manage reputational risk. He also writes RIDING WITH, a newsletter and podcast exploring the intersection of pro cycling, media, business and politics. Find that at ridingwithkaplan.substack.com. --------- The number one way to support Choose the Hard Way is to become a paid subscriber to alwaysthehardway.substack.com. That's where Andrew Vontz shares his reflections on these interviews and writes about engaged mindfulness, bikes and life. --------- For senior execs, pro athletes, and political leaders, podcasts aren't optional anymore. They're mission-critical. At One Real Voice, Andrew Vontz coaches leaders 1:1 to help them thrive as storytellers and stand out in the long-form podcast conversations where real influence is built. When you're ready to be great, DM him @hardwaypod or email hello@onerealvoice.com. --------- Wherever you're listening to this podcast, please subscribe and hit 5 stars. ------------- Crypto curious? With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, https://www.blockchain.com/ is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Create your free wallet and get up to 10% in annual rewards by putting your crypto to work. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required. ------------- Choose the Hard Way Newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/ ------------- One Real Voice podcast coaching & strategy: https://www.onerealvoice.com/