Cole Bensinger Opened A New World By Overriding His Self-Preservation

Cole Bensinger will be joining me on the show today for a chat about all things running.

We first met during the Big Beach Marathon and have stayed in touch via social media.

I am looking forward to going a few easy miles with Cole as he shares more of his running journey.

Cole Bensinger

Motivated To Compete

While growing up, Cole Bensinger played multiple sports, but only if they involved chasing a ball.

Cole never understood the point of running just to run.

As a married father with two kids, his view of running hadn’t changed over the years.

His wife took up running after the birth of their second child as a way to get in shape and shed some weight.

Cole is competitive and was motivated to try running after he watched his wife win age group awards in local races.

The first run Cole went on did not go quite as he had envisioned.

After running almost half of a mile, he collapsed on a neighbors lawn and then proceeded to walk home.

Cole was humbled after his first run but wasn’t deterred.

Training His Body AND His Mind

Cole was convinced that trying to become a runner was the dumbest thing he had ever done.

He kept going back to what his dad had always said to him, “If you’re going to be stupid, you have to be tough.”

That first run had taught Cole that his mind was in self-preservation mode.

After thinking about the run for two days, Cole laced back up and went out for his second run.

That second run and each subsequent run after went better than the last.

Running ended up being the thing that re-sparked Cole’s competitive flame.

Cole was in his mid 30’s when he began his running journey.

He quickly learned that the greatest thing about our sport is that anyone can do it.

Cole Bensinger and his son

Gaining Experience and Knowledge

Each race that Cole has done has taught him something.

Over the years as he has gotten stronger he has also gotten more competitive.

His social media presence has also influenced his running.

He has been able to connect with runners all over the world and share experiences and tips.

Connecting with other runners is what convinced him to try a run streak.

Cole successfully ran at least 1 mile a day for 6 months.

Cole was most surprised that the run streak required more mental strength than physical.

A shared love for running has served to increase the bond between Cole, his wife, and their kids.

Cole Bensinger and his family

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Big Beach Marathon

Stay connected to Cole Bensinger by following him on Instagram and/or Twitter.

Cole Bensinger didn't begin running until he was married with two kids. Running has become a way for Cole and his family to share in new experiences and lead healthier lives. Click To Tweet

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