Stephen Vinson - "Keep Showing Up"

Allison Gaillard interviews Steven Vinson of “Keep Showing Up, Steven,” who shares his lifelong struggle with weight, reaching 632 pounds, losing and regaining after injuries, surgeries, and depression, and adopting a July 2025 mindset shift from chasing perfection to consistently “keeping showing up.”

Steven describes adapting training to his body and the Alabama heat through walking, swimming, and indoor options, tracking streaks, and planning for worst days.

He’s training for the Rocket City Half as a promise to himself and a goal beyond the scale, emphasizing progress isn’t linear, community support, and the power of small, consistent actions.

Stephen Vinson - https://www.facebook.com/stephenrolltide


Races Mentioned
Rocket City Marathon
Mobile Marathon
Mercedes Half Marathon

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:15

Hi, Render Story family. This is Allison Gileard with Runner Story, where every story needs to be heard. And making sure that your incredible stories get heard this month are our friends from Rocket City Marathon getting ready to celebrate their 50th year in December, and they have a special message for all of us.

SPEAKER_00 0:31

50 years, five races, one incredible weekend, the Rocket City Marathon Race Weekend. Join thousands of runners December 11th through 13th in Huntsville, Alabama, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this iconic running tradition. Whether you're chasing a personal record, a Boston qualifier, or your very first finish line, there's a race for you, including the marathon. Half marathon, 10K, 5K, and one mile. Experience incredible race day energy, commemorative 50th anniversary medals, and a celebration 50 years in the making. Register now at irunrocketcity.com.

SPEAKER_02 1:13

Thanks, Rocket City. We cannot wait to see you guys in December and to cross that epic finish line. So very excited. Cannot believe training starts in two weeks. Oh my goodness. Wow. It's gonna be amazing. Guys, make sure you sign up and make sure you come and join us. It's gonna be a blast. Cannot wait. All I can say is get ready for this story. It was the perfect timing as we transition into getting prepared for Rocket Steam Rathon training. And that is Steven from Keep Showing Up Steven. Guys, if you're not following his social media pages, go follow him. What a genuine guy, what a nice guy, what a very authentic. One of the things you're gonna learn about him is that he is persistent, he is honest, and he is hopeful. Keeps showing up even on the successful days. He is all about consistency. That's one of the things that Steven talks about time and time again. Also, the advice that he gives about preparing for the worst days, I thought was wow. Okay, that was so good. And then how he made Rocket City Marathon into promise to himself. And progress isn't always linear. Again, I learned so much from Steven, and I'm incredibly thankful for his story. Cannot wait to meet him in person in December. I am thrivers excited about this. But what a genuine human being, and I cannot wait to see what he does in December. I've been following him since I learned about just a few weeks ago, and I'm pumped. I'm so excited that he took the time to share his story with all of us and the reality of even when we don't feel like it when we just show up. Show up for yourself. And that's all that numbers. Ugh, you guys are gonna love Steven. I'm so excited! I'm so excited. I can't believe we got to interview him. What a genuine human being. Um again, I cannot wait to see what he does around the same rock. It's gonna be such an epic weekend with him. With that being said, guys, lace up those running shoes, get ready, get set, and go run with my friend Steven and keep showing up. Well, thanks, Steven, for being on the podcast. I'm so excited. A huge shout out to our friends from Rocket City Marathon who is like, I really want Steven on the podcast. So here we go because you're training for Rocket City Marathon, which is so exciting. So I have a lot of questions.

SPEAKER_03 3:37

And so it sounds good, and I'm glad to be here. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 3:40

Uh yeah, it's awesome. So I'm excited because you have quite a story. And I've only just recently learned about you. So I've been trying to go back and backtrack and watch the videos and just learn your story. So, for those that don't know you, for those that are like listening for listening to this podcast and you're like, who is Steven? You have a page that is called Keep Showing Up Steven. So, how did we get here? How does this journey begin for you? And why keep showing up Steven? Why is that your mantra, whatever that it is, that you decided this is what we're gonna call it?

unknown 4:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 4:16

So how I got here, I'm someone that I've spent most of my adult life struggling with my weight. And at my highest weight, I was at 632 pounds. And I've lost hundreds of pounds before, but I've also regained weight after injuries and surgeries and depression and all that sort of stuff. And then in July of 2025, I made a decision that changed everything. Instead of chasing perfection, I just decided to focus on one simple goal of just keep showing up. And that's where keep showing up came from, whether it's walking, swimming, making a better food choice, or simply just getting back.

SPEAKER_02 4:50

That is amazing. So just to keep showing up.

SPEAKER_03 4:53

That's right. And uh yeah, so success is just it's not about never failing, it's just about refusing to stay down. So if I have a bad day, I try to just keep it one bad day instead of whirlwinding into something worse.

SPEAKER_02 5:07

Also, you said something that has really resonated with me, and that is instead of chasing perfection, you decide just to keep showing up.

SPEAKER_03 5:14

Right. And it especially when training, the heat has really thrown me off here. And that's one reason why I chose the Rocket City, is like, oh man, it's it's a race that's I don't have to deal with the heat, but you have to deal with the training. I didn't think about that. So because training was going very well, and then summer hit, and I was like, oh man, this is this is it's been brutal.

SPEAKER_02 5:37

Steven, I g I gotta know, you just talked about in July of 2025 that you decided to change that mindset. So was there this defining moment that you realized the importance of simply showing up instead of chasing perfection?

SPEAKER_03 5:52

There wasn't one dramatic moment. It was just more of a collection of moments where I realized every time that I quit, nothing changed. Every time I came back, things slowly got better. So the biggest lesson I've learned is that progress isn't built during the exciting moments. It's built on the ordinary days when you don't feel like doing it, but you decide to do something anyways.

SPEAKER_02 6:12

That is fantastic. Oh, and again, going back to as we're preparing for Rocket State Marathon in December, I too am very excited because I'm like, oh, cold weather. It's gonna be North Alabama. We gotta get through the heat and humidity of the South.

SPEAKER_03 6:27

Yeah, and I I saw that last year's was really cold. And I hope that's how it is this year. Everybody gripes like, it was cold. I was like, oh, please let it be there. Because when it's cold out, I don't probably because I'm so overweight, I don't even wear jackets and gloves or anything. Because once I get going, I warm up, and then if I have that stuff on, I have to carry it shit. So I've just learned to just not wear it and suffer for a little bit and then I'm good.

SPEAKER_02 6:58

A hundred percent. I have yet to be in a race where I've had friends that have talked about, oh, you know, like when a mobile marathon, it was like really, really cold that here, and I'm like, I vaguely remember it, but I don't think I was wearing like I I wasn't bundled up. So like I'm like, yeah, I totally understand. It's so hot, and I'm ready for the coolness. And there's something about being outside, and I think that's why I like fall so much, is because you have that crisp, cool air, and you don't just feel like you're a drenched rat in like all your sweat.

SPEAKER_03 7:27

Right. Yeah, I I walked this morning and I made the mistake of not doing it first thing, and I mean it was it was pretty rough. It's so hot and humid.

SPEAKER_02 7:36

That's right, yeah, yeah. Well, you know, there's a saying that it's summer miles call for fall smiles. So let's hope that that's what happens for both of us.

SPEAKER_03 7:48

I really hope so.

SPEAKER_02 7:50

So I want to ask you if you could describe this journey, because I mean now you've hit a year, because you started back in July of 2025, so here it is, July 2026. So how would you, if you had three words, how would you describe this journey this past year?

SPEAKER_03 8:07

Yeah, I would say persistent, honest, and hopeful. Those three words they really capture who I try to be, and I don't pretend the journey is easy. Um but I keep moving forward because it it is sometimes it is hard, sometimes it is easy, but there are days that you don't want to do it. Or you have a bad day where maybe you overdo it eating or something like that, and you still just have to keep going.

SPEAKER_02 8:34

Absolutely. So in theory, keep showing up, it sounds simple, right? Like, oh, I'm gonna show up, I got I've got this. But as you said, there are days where you're like, I just don't want to, I don't want to do this. But it's incredibly powerful. So what has this phrase meant for you over this past year?

SPEAKER_03 8:52

Yeah, to me, keep showing up it just means that one bad day doesn't erase your progress. It just means your success isn't determined by your best workout or your worst meal. It's determined by whether you're willing to come back tomorrow. Every day you show up, it's another vote for the person you're becoming. And I keep stacking good days and then when a bad one hits, I just keep showing up. You know, because every day 100% looks different. It's not the same. So some days your body may be tired and 100% maybe walk or run a mile, or then the next day you may be fine for three miles. So just keep showing up.

SPEAKER_02 9:34

That's really God. Have you seen this mindset shift? Like that it's looked different, as you said, there's some days where you're like, okay, I can go three or I need to go one. So how has this definition or your definition of showing up, how has it changed over this journey?

SPEAKER_03 9:51

Yeah, in the beginning I thought showing up meant giving 100% every workout that every day would look the same. I've learned and now I realize that showing up means honoring where I am that day. So sometimes that means walking three miles, sometimes it means swimming because my knees need a break, sometimes it means walking just 10 minutes because that's just all I've got. So showing up, it's not about perfection. It's just it's more about consistency. Consistency does more for you on this type of journey than perfection will.

SPEAKER_02 10:21

I love how you said honor where you are. Oh, that is so good. So, what does showing up look like on days when you you're like, I am not motivated, I don't want to do this? Or as you mentioned earlier, like you're having a bad day. What does showing up mean for for that moment?

SPEAKER_03 10:39

Yeah, I've learned not to depend on motivation. You know, motivation it comes and goes, and habits and routines are really what carries you. So on those hard days, I remind myself that I don't have to do everything. I just have to do something. So even a small step, it keeps the habit alive. And on my Apple Watch, I keep track of streaks of how many days you've worked out. And that's just motivating to me. I don't want to kill the streak. You know, but and I always plan it for my worst day. Like Yeah, because I consider my worst day would be if I have like a chest cold or something that I wouldn't be able to do that much, but I still want to do something. So I just plan for my worst day and just keep that streak going.

SPEAKER_02 11:24

What a cool mindset. That is very, very interesting to say, you know what, like not every day is gonna be perfect, not every day's gonna be good. I'm gonna plan for the worst day. That is really cool.

SPEAKER_03 11:35

Yeah, I mean, this is a long journey. It's not, you know, I wish it were fun every day, but some days aren't fun. And uh and so you just, you know, I find ways to just try to keep going and staying consistent.

SPEAKER_02 11:47

That's so good. Okay, so I have to know what made you decide to sign up for Rocket City Marathon weekend? Because you're training for the half, correct?

SPEAKER_03 11:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 11:58

So what went into this decision?

SPEAKER_03 12:00

Yeah, I wanted a goal that was bigger than the number on the scale. And I mean, I just walk. Eventually I do want to run. There was a time when I'd gotten down to 312 and I was running. I'd gotten up to eight miles, and then I was doing crossfit and got injured, had surgery and all that. Oh wow. So that was a big, big setback. And uh but yeah, I just wanted to the goal is really kind of made the glue that's kept everything together. And uh, you know, losing blade is important, but a finish line it gives me something tangible to work towards. And the Rocket City Half Marathon, it just became more than a a race, it just became a like a promise to myself. That's what I think about every day when I'm working out. It's like I've got it, you know, it gives you just something it puts just a little bit of pressure on myself to show up and keep moving forward.

SPEAKER_02 12:50

I love that. Uh so how did you learn about Rocket City Marathon?

SPEAKER_03 12:56

I had seen it online because I know it's been around this is the 50th year.

SPEAKER_02 13:01

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:02

And I've never done it before. I've I've done a half marathon in Birmingham before, but it was like 10 years ago. And so I had done a marathon or half marathon before, so I had just seen it online, and like I said earlier, what really attracted me is that it's in December. So anything in winter I would enjoy to I love that.

SPEAKER_02 13:24

That's so cool. So you just answered my next question, which was was this gonna be your first finish line? So it sounds like it's not, but it's been a while since you've had a finish line experience.

SPEAKER_03 13:36

Right. I did, I'm just pulling it up here. It looks like a 2011 I did the Mercedes.

SPEAKER_01 13:43

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_03 13:44

And that's why I also why I wanted to do this half marathon because at that time it did the same thing for me. It helped to push me, and I I lost a lot of weight through the training. And then, you know, the race day is just like a celebration. It's just the training is where all the work happens. And so I wanted to go through and just have a little bit of pressure and something to push me to keep moving forward. And I think this Rocket City half is gonna be that for me.

SPEAKER_02 14:08

Oh, I'm pumped. I'm so excited for the whole weekend. It's gonna be a blast. So I gotta know because you you talked about how there are some days where you're in the water because the knees hurt, or like you said, like it's hot and humid out here. So, how do you silence the inner voice that tells you to quit that says we're done, we're not doing this anymore? How do you go to the next moment? How do you push past that?

SPEAKER_03 14:31

Yeah, honestly, I I don't silence it. I let it talk while I keep walking, or especially swimming, because I don't have headphones on right now when I swim. So I just, you know, I still let it talk. And that voice, it never completely disappears. You just stop letting it make your decisions for you. So that's what I do just to keep moving forward.

SPEAKER_02 14:52

That is so wise. Man, you're just a nugget of knowledge, Steven. Just so I'm like, man, I need all this in my training. I'm like taking notes over here. Like, silence the voice. This it's hot and humid, and I'm like, I don't want to go outside.

SPEAKER_03 15:05

Oh, it's the heat. I just didn't. Oh, it's it's so bad. It's it it's hard to put into words how bad the heat is. I don't know if it's is it worse this year?

SPEAKER_02 15:16

You know what? I I feel like we had this moment we at least this is my opinion, I could be completely wrong. But I feel like we had a longer springtime and we were like, wow, this is so nice. And then when the heat hit, it hit full force and was like, I'm here to stay. I hate you.

SPEAKER_03 15:32

Like I just it was like it just it did not ease into the it was It was like, wait, where'd spring go?

SPEAKER_02 15:40

Like there was no like okay, it's getting hotter, it's getting it was like ba-bam, here we are, and you're like, okay.

SPEAKER_03 15:46

Yeah. But fall is gonna feel so good.

SPEAKER_02 15:51

So how did you decide on a training program? And what has been the hardest part about training besides the heat?

SPEAKER_03 16:00

The hardest part, it isn't the workouts themselves, it's just adapting. Um because of my size, I have to listen to my body. Some days my knees need swimming instead of walking. And then sometimes this Alabama summer heat needs walking indoors instead of outside. So, you know, my training isn't about following a perfect plan, it's just about finding ways to keep moving consistently. And I don't like walking outdoors. Yeah. We my gym has an indoor track and it's just 200 meters, it's pretty short and I hate it.

SPEAKER_02 16:32

Yeah. I saw your post the other day about it, and it was like, I totally realize I'm like, I feel like Steven's like our brother because he gets it. Like he totally understands. Like, I want to be outside and I want to enjoy the views. It I feel like when you're outside, like your mind can just wander, you know, when when you're stuck indoors, you're like, oh, there we go, there's the window again.

SPEAKER_03 16:54

You know, like and the track is so short, you're constantly turning.

SPEAKER_01 16:59

It's like Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 17:01

So yeah. I mean, I I may have to if worse comes to worse, I may have to get on a treadmill. And I don't really care for treadmills, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:13

Yeah, the track was not not so much fun.

SPEAKER_02 17:19

So walking and running, moving our bodies. They teach us consistency, they teach us discipline. How do you see this connection between showing up every day physically for this training plan, physically to see the tangible Rocket City marathon finish line to everyday life? Do you see a connection?

SPEAKER_03 17:38

Yeah. So the walking, it teaches patience. You know, you don't wake up one morning able to walk 13 miles or run 13 miles. You know, you you earn it one step at a time. And I feel life works exactly the same way, whether it's improving your health or your relationships or your career, big goals, they're just are built from small, consistent actions. And I try to do that in all areas of my life. Just work on stuff a little bit every day, and it just it adds up over time.

SPEAKER_02 18:08

Absolutely. Steven, you've been connecting with so many people and you resonate with so many people because we all have this struggle of, and again, I love that just keep showing up, Stephen. Like I just that just resonates every day. And as you've pointed to so many nuggets of persistence and being honest and being hopeful, and you know, you're chasing a finish line and you're chasing consistency instead of perfection. So let's say that somebody's listening and they're like, I don't even know where to begin, or I'm stuck, I don't know how to get out of this. What is a piece of advice that you would give to somebody who is either afraid to start, or maybe they feel like that they they're like, oh, I've tried this and it just didn't work and I've done this so many times. Like, what is what is something that you wish somebody would have told you?

SPEAKER_03 18:58

Yeah, I've failed more times than I can count. And you know, really failure is how we learn.

SPEAKER_02 19:04

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 19:04

Yeah. So I mean, if failure disqualified us from succeeding, none of us would ever make it. And your past, it doesn't determine your future. What matters is what you do next is really what I would want to tell someone. What are you going to do next to achieve your goal, to work on yourself?

SPEAKER_02 19:24

That's so good. Uh you mentioned earlier about habits and showing up. So, what habit has made the biggest impact on your journey so far?

SPEAKER_03 19:34

See, the biggest habit that's made the most impact has really just been consistency, not intensity. I've learned that small actions repeated hundreds of times just change your life. Far more than one incredible week of motivation. I mean, I think we've all been there where we we're motivated and we're gonna start, or someone that needs to lose a few pounds and they have one great week, but then it after that it just goes back to normal.

SPEAKER_02 19:58

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:00

And you know, documenting my journey has also helped because it keeps me accountable and it just reminds me of how far I've come. So that's made the biggest impact on my life.

SPEAKER_02 20:11

And I want to say, going back and and watching a lot of your stuff, is that you you share very raw emotions, not just the great days, you also show the hard days.

SPEAKER_03 20:23

Right. Yeah. Because I mean, to me, that's real life. I mean, it's not, you know, because I know a lot of stuff on social media is manufactured and I just can't do that. If I'm having a bad day, you're gonna know about it.

SPEAKER_02 20:38

Which I appreciate. I I really appreciate that. Like I was watching it and I forgot which one it was, but I was like, I can't believe he said that, but I'm so glad he did it. Like you just you were like, it's okay. It's okay that today did not go according to plan. But here's when we made the adjustment and we move on.

SPEAKER_03 20:53

And I was like, Yeah, I know one day it just came out. I I teared up when I realized, like, hey, I can walk far enough where I can do another half marathon again. Uh, because it took so long. I had back surgery and I had complications. I got in an infection, I was real sick for a while, and it took years for my body to get over that. Then I was able to start walking five, six miles, and that's when it just that emotion hit me. Like, I can do this. Because you know, I've tried so much and my body just couldn't do it.

SPEAKER_02 21:30

So that's so so exciting. Oh Steven, do you have a mantra? Do you have something that you tell yourself, whether you're in the pool or when you're taking that step in the hot, humid albuma heat? Is there something that you tell yourself to keep going?

unknown 21:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:45

Funny enough, my mantra is just keep showing up. Just everything comes back to those three words when I'm having a bad day, keep showing up. When I'm discouraged, keep showing up. When things are going well, keep showing up. So that's just what keeps me consistent. And you know, like I said, I mean it's not always gonna be something extreme and 100% every day, and it does a little bit different. And so I keep that in mind, but it just keeps showing up as my monitor.

SPEAKER_02 22:10

I love that. So, Stephen, uh switching to Rocket City Marathon, what is something that you are learning about this journey to Rocket City Marathon weekend?

SPEAKER_03 22:21

I'm learning that it's hot in Alabama in the summer. I'm learning that progress is rarely linear. Some weeks everything clicks and it's going great, and then other weeks it just feels like you're moving backwards. And those are tough weeks. But the important part is just remembering that the one difficult week doesn't erase months of consistency. I know in our minds, and I know in my mind, and if I have one difficult week, I tend to think, oh, everything's ruined. But okay, so you know that's when you just keep moving forward and keep showing up.

SPEAKER_02 22:57

So good. Stephen, what are you most excited about with Rocket City Marathon weekend?

SPEAKER_03 23:03

I'm most excited about crossing the finish line and I do love that it's in Huntsville, you know, and you go by the space in Rocket Center and everything. And honestly, I'm just as excited to experience the running community. I know they have a b a big running community there in Huntsville, and we do too in Birmingham. And I'm connected with so many inspiring people online and getting to meet some of them in person will but it'll make the weekend really special.

SPEAKER_02 23:27

Yeah, yeah, for sure. So let's say it's December, we're having the best time, we cross a finish line. What happens after Rocket City Marathon weekend? Are you already looking at another race?

SPEAKER_03 23:40

Yeah, I am. Um, because yeah, that's not the finish of my story. And I'm gonna keep walking, keep swimming, and sharing my journey. And I know there's like a half marathon here, I believe in February. Okay. But then I won't attempt. And with the swimming and everything, I'll probably eventually get back into cycling and I'll try to do a triathlon or something like that.

SPEAKER_01 23:59

Oh, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_03 24:01

So and I love swimming. So and that's what everybody loves online. They love the swimming.

SPEAKER_02 24:10

You kind of already touched on a little bit. What does community mean to you?

SPEAKER_03 24:14

Yeah, community it just reminds us that we're never doing this alone. So every encouraging comment, every message from someone saying they they took a walk because of something I shared, it just reminds me that showing up is contagious. We're all just helping each other become a little bit better every day. And I do eventually want to get back into the running community here in Birmingham. But I want to get a little bit faster than I am right now, because I'm still just walking pretty slow, and I don't want to get with a group and slow them down or anything. So right now I live over here by the Birmingham Crossplex and I walk there a lot. Go to my gym. But that's what the community reminds us that we're just we're never doing this a lot.

SPEAKER_02 24:54

I love that. That showing up is contagious. And the community is just so everyone's in a different chapter, everyone's in a different season. And right now I'm in the injured season, and my PT is trying to work miracles to get us ready for August 1st, which launches our training program for Rocket City. And just you know, I had a our dear friend of mine who just yesterday she was like, Okay, I'm gonna go run. I was like, Okay, nobody else showed up to go, you know, run or anything. And I was like, Okay, well, I have my headphones on. I'm like, okay, well, I'm gonna walk because I'm I'm still not allowed to run right now. And she was like, you know what? I'll walk with you. And I was like, you don't really have to. She's like, it's fine, I'll walk with you. And we had the best conversation. And I mean, just I felt so good after because you know, like we we walked and we talked, and it was just this time together, and that is something that I think will stick with me is that like she gave up her her time to spend with me, and that was just the sweetest thing.

SPEAKER_03 25:50

It is, and I love moments like that.

SPEAKER_02 25:54

So, Steven, if you could leave our listeners with something to carry them on their next run, or maybe they're facing a dark season or a dark chapter, what is some advice or wisdom? Because you've dropped a lot of nuggets of wisdom, but what is something that you would want to say to them?

SPEAKER_03 26:12

I would just want to say that you don't have to change your life today. You just have to show up today. Because enough days of showing up can it can completely change your life. And firmly believe that, and that's what I would tell them.

SPEAKER_02 26:26

Steven, I cannot thank you enough for taking time out of today. And I'm gonna be fangirling meeting you in person at Rocket City because I just know it's gonna be a blast. I'm so excited to get to chat with you in person for Rocket City. So this has been pretty special. I'm really honored to get to know more of your story, and I just want to encourage you to keep doing what you're doing because you have no idea the people that you are inspiring. Like I said, even on my my having my little pity party, I watched some of your stuff and I was like, okay, just show up, just do what you can. And that's what I've been doing. So I just want to say thank you for inspiring me.

SPEAKER_03 27:03

Thank you, and thank you for having me on. And I've been listening to all the different podcasts from the podcast alley and from Rocket City, and they've all been great. And yeah, I can't wait. I think it's gonna be a fun race, a fun weekend, and I look forward to it. Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_02 27:21

Absolutely. All right, Steven, just keep showing up, my friend, and we'll see you in December.

SPEAKER_03 27:26

All right, we'll see you then. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 27:36

What a human being. What an incredible guy. I know that you guys are probably like, I'm encouraged, let's go. I told Steven after this interview, I was like, dude, you need to write a like a mantra book about just keep showing up. Like all the things that he said in this interview was just absolutely amazing. And the biggest takeaway was just to honor where you are. Start where you are. And as Steven said that, yeah, in our minds we might have said, oh, I failed at this, but what did you learn from it? Because that's the biggest lesson. And then go and try again. And I'm at beautiful stuff. A beautiful story from a beautiful human. So thank you, Steven, for your story. Thank you for taking the time and entrusting us with it. You guys, again, go follow his page. You're gonna be inspired. You're gonna be like, wow, like he is authentic and the real deal, and what an honor to share that. And I again cannot wait to meet Steven in person at Rocket State Marathon. It's gonna be so much fun. Oh, I'm so excited. It's like Rocket State Marathon just keeps getting more and more special. Very, very cool. And speaking of, thank you to Rocket State Marathon for believing in the running community, for believing in the run stories, and for 50 incredible years of putting out such an epic race. We are so honored to be a part of this and cannot wait to hang out with all of our podcast buddies and the podcast alley. It's gonna be absolutely amazing. So incredibly grateful for this opportunity and thank you for supporting this podcast. We are beyond excited. As always, thank you to Gileard Tech Services. Incredibly grateful for all that he does and just so excited with all the ideas that he has for Runner Story and he just keeps taking us forward, he keeps moving us forward in Runner Story, and so we're very excited and very thankful to have Greg Gilead as day one part of Runner's Story. So he loves this podcast, he loves all the things that we do, and so incredibly grateful to have him. So if you need a website built, if you need an app built, if you have no idea where to start, definitely reach out to him. He would love to sit down and chat with you and make your dream become a reality because he knows how important your stories are online, and whether that's a business or whether it's a hobby, whatever it is that you're doing, you need some online presence. He's got you there. Thank you to our Patreon family members. We love you, we adore you, we are so grateful for you. We're so thankful that you have joined us. I love getting emails saying, hey, you have somebody else. It's so much fun and we're so excited and just incredibly thankful for every single one of you for coming alongside us and being a part of so many stories. It's all because of you, your belief in us, your encouraging words, sharing on social media, whatever it is. Just thank you for being a part of the Runner Story family. So thanks to our Patreon family members. We could not and would not be where we are without you. Thank you again to everybody who listens. Thank you for making moments like this possible. We are incredibly grateful to all of our listeners. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who likes, shares, comments. We believe in the running community, the walkie community, the move, just moving our bodies, how important it is. Physically, spiritually, mentally. All the finish lines that we complete together. It's it's one big community, and I'm incredibly grateful for that. So thank you to every single person who believes in runner story. It's it's truly an honor to share the stories, and we're incredibly grateful for that. And as always, it's gotten stuff, and thank you guys for what you do. So grateful that you guys are there are like, let's go ahead and schedule for next month. We're booked for next month. It's so exciting. But to have these guys that are so excited, they love runner story. If you've not checked out today's vlog, make sure you go and do that as well. He's always putting them out and just such an outstanding job, different perspectives, whether it's life, running, reviews, whatever it is. He does such a great job. Say thank you, Dave. Thank you, Scott, thank you, Stefan, and thank you, Craig. They make up Runner Story team and would not be where we are without them. Ugh, it's the A team. They do a fabulous job. With that being said, guys, go run your story. Because your story needs to be heard.