David Dushkin Changed The Trajectory Of His Life With One Decision
Today I’m talking with another one of my Team in Training teammates that is in town for marathon weekend.
David Dushkin has been a part of Team in Training for quite some time and he’s making a comeback this year after stepping back from Disney races a few years ago.
I am looking forward to going a few easy miles with David Dushkin today.
No Halfway
David Dushkin loves a good challenge and as proven by his history, he goes all-in on everything.
His introduction to running began when he was left “unsupervised” by his wife for a weekend.
David received a Team in Training postcard in the mail around the same time he met a man that was part of the group.
It only took 10 minutes of speaking with his new friend to convince him to run the Disney marathon.
Team in Training was personal for David because a close friend and co-worker had been diagnosed with cancer.
Initially, David couldn’t run a mile and was overweight, but that didn’t put him off to the challenge of running 26.2.
Unbreakable Bonds
When David first joined Team in Training he had no idea how it would ultimately change his life.
David has been a firefighter and paramedic for 2 decades and in that time had developed PTSD.
David found it difficult to share his emotions with his co-workers and his mental and physical health suffered because of it.
Running was rarely social for David until he joined Team in Training.
His teammates quickly became his social network and lifelong friends.
The year 2018 was especially challenging for David having lost 4 people that were close to him.
During his times of intense grief, David was able to lean on his teammates and open up during the many training miles.
David credits his family and teammates for pulling him out of some dark places.
Everyone Has The Ability To Make An Impact
Making the decision to join Team in Training and begin fundraising was an easy one.
David has run Disney races and challenges for 7 years and helped to raise over $30,000 collectively for the organization.
The task to raise money is not always easy and often requires creativity, but it is doable.
The Disney race this weekend will likely be David’s last one for the foreseeable future because there are so many other races he aspires to do.
In typical David fashion of going all-in on whatever he does, he is signed up to do his first ultra this fall which is a 100-mile race.
Running has given David his life and health back, a stronger bond with his son, lifelong friends, and a sense of purpose.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Stay connected with David Dushkin by following him on Facebook and/or Instagram.
David Dushkin changed the trajectory of his life and so many others when he made the decision to join Team in Training. Every step he takes is one step closer to finding a cure. Click To Tweet
As Always, I’d Love to Know What Stood Out to You From this Episode! Let Me Know Your Takeaway in the Comments Below!
Want to Support the Continued Growth & Production of the Show?
Check out the support page for ideas and suggestions of ways you can help me grow the show. And remember, not all support involves money. Some of the best ways you can show your support are 100% free.
Subscribe to the Show
Never miss another episode of the Diz Runs Radio by subscribing to the show, and for my fellow Apple fans out there, it’s never been easier now that the podcast app is native on the new operating system. iPhone/iPod/iPad users click here. Android users click here. SoundCloud users click here.
Please Give Me Some Feedback!
Take the 6 question listener survey to help me shape the future of this podcast.
Register for a Free Race Training Plan
Every month, I’m giving away a FREE training plan for the race of your choice. For details/information, and to sign up, just click here.
Join The Tribe!
There’s always room for more members of the tribe! Both the Facebook group and the email group provide opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else. The Facebook group is still small, but it is a great way to connect with fellow runners and foster community amongst like-minded individuals. The email group is THE way to stay up to date about future guests on the show, as well as getting some other freebies and offers that aren’t available to anyone else. If you’ve got questions about either/both, just let me know!
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!