279. Justin Grunewald

Ali on the Run Show

Ali Feller

Sports, Fitness, Health & Fitness, Running

4.9 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 9 September 2020

⏱️ 70 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

"I think the biggest thing with grief is knowing that some days you're gonna be drowning and unable to breathe, and I think I've had 12- to 24-hour cry-fests where you literally feel like you're going to suffocate or die of dehydration. But it does end eventually. And then you take that deep breath and drink a glass of water and look outside and the world is still there. And you can keep going. Just having the hope to keep going is the most important."

Justin Grunewald is a doctor, ultra runner, and avid chaser of FKTs. He's happiest running up mountains in pursuit of running the fastest known time on any given trail. (So far in 2020, Justin has run more than 15 FKTs — two of which he did since we recorded this episode!) In addition to his many accomplishments, both professionally and on the run, Justin is perhaps best known as husband to the late Gabe Grunewald, who passed away last year after a long and arduous battle with adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare cancer. On this episode, Justin shares what he's learned about grief, and how he finds hope even when life feels particularly hard. He talks about feeling joy amidst pain, crying happy tears alongside sad ones, and about finding love after loss. Justin opens up about meeting Amanda Basham, and reveals some big news on their behalf.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! Go to ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones!

What you'll get on this episode:

What's making Justin happy right now? And where is he living? Plus what it's been like working in a hospital during the past seven months (3:35)
How Justin met Gabe (16:25)
How Justin held onto hope as Gabe's health worsened (18:50)
What the final days of Gabe's life were like for Justin, and why he chose to share so much on social media during that time (26:40)
What Justin has learned about grief, and how he's learned "not to sweat the small stuff" (33:30)
On "going public" about his relationship with Amanda Basham (40:55)
Taylor Swift talk! (58:25)
Justin pops in with some "wild and crazy news" (1:00.48)

Stuff we mention on this episode:

Gabe Grunewald on Episode 62 of the Ali on the Run Show

Brave Like Gabe Foundation

Ladia Albertson-Junkans on Episode 178 of the Ali on the Run Show

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of The Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by Aftershocks.
0:04.0	Go to ontherun.aftershocks.com to say 15% on all wireless headphones.
0:14.7	Welcome to The Alley on the Run Show. I'm your host Allie Feller and every week I talk with
0:19.4	inspiring people who lead interesting lives on the run and beyond. And while running is the
0:24.7	thing that brings us all together, on these episodes we cover more than what happens on the run.
0:30.3	We learn the wise behind the runs. The decisions people have made to get where they are today
0:34.8	and how getting sweaty has factored in. My guest today is Justin Groenwald.
0:40.4	Justin is a doctor, a runner, and an avid chaser of elusive FKTs.
0:47.0	In 2020 alone, Justin has run the fastest known times on, at last count, 14, though it might be 15
0:54.6	by the time you're listening to this. For now though, Justin has run the FKT on 14 different
1:01.0	trails. Running up mountains, he says, is his favorite thing to do. And of course, if that name
1:07.2	Groenwald is familiar, which I know it is, that's because we all know and love Gabe Groenwald,
1:12.2	professional runner and Justin's late wife, who passed away last year after a long and arduous
1:18.5	battle with adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare cancer. Gabe is a legend. If you haven't yet
1:24.2	listened to her episode of The Alley on the Run Show, definitely make sure you do that. It's episode
1:29.2	62, during good times and challenging ones, Gabe famously hung on to that one powerful word.
1:37.4	Hope. It was really special to get to talk to Justin about Gabe's legacy and about what the
1:43.0	past year has looked like for him. He talks about what he's learned about grief and talks about
1:47.6	finding joy and its pain, happy tears alongside sad ones, and love after loss. He talks about
1:55.4	meeting Amanda Basham and reveals some pretty big news on their behalf at the end of this episode.
2:00.6	So make sure you listen the whole way through if you don't already know what's coming.
2:05.3	Justin, thank you for sharing so much with all of us. Thank you for sharing Gabe's final days with
	...

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