🏅Meet John Heady, our December Featured Member

For many reasons, college was a great time in my life. I met amazing people who have become life-long friends, studied a subject I still enjoy, and loved being alive. College was also a physically unhealthy time for me. My meals were deep-fried, I rarely exercised, and I thought pulling all-nighters made me tough. By my last year, I had gained a lot of weight. Through luck, that last year, I also made friends with a yoga instructor who inspired me to start practicing yoga twice a week. This led to me going on short runs and eventually signing up for a DINO 15k at Town Run. It took me two hours to run that race. I stumbled to the finish line while Brian was passing out podium awards and vomited in front of the crowd. I remember being so embarrassed and frustrated with myself for being out of shape. Running started as a way to flog myself and turned into an activity that gave me purpose.      

I run with a Garmin as a fashion choice, but I usually don’t turn on the GPS. In 2017, I was in my kitchen peeling vegetables and turned toward the trashcan to toss scraps. While turning, I heard a pop in my hip, followed by intense pain. Many PT sessions followed that night, then surgery to screw torn cartilage back in place, then more PT. Running pain-free again took nearly 18 months, and I’m thankful I can now. The experience changed my perspective from viewing running as a way to improve my future self to instead seeing it as a way to enjoy today for what it is. I don’t turn on my GPS watch because how fast or far I run doesn’t matter.

My first marathon was DINO’s Tecumseh Trail Marathon. Back then, you would sit on an hour-long bus ride to the start line. I remember sitting on that bus next to strangers, with everyone acting like we were old friends. There was lots of joking, beginner advice, and a warning about Indian Hill. It helped a lot with the nerves and made me feel welcome. In my time as a trail runner, I’ve found the community to be supportive and inviting. The trail-running community means a lot to me because it feels like a community.

Having post-run cookouts at Fort Ben is high on the list, as are margarita shots at the Dam Aid Station and post-run tacos in Broad Ripple. My absolute favorite memories are all just running in the middle of a group while listening to everyone talk about their lives. There have been funny conversations, meaningful conversations, and “this doesn’t leave the trail” types of conversations. I’ve enjoyed every one of them.

Scare O’Fat/High King in Yellowwood. I love it, but I hate it. Hopefully, that makes sense.

Yes! I just finished the Fuzzy Fandago 50k in Mohican State Forest with a group of amazing ITRA members. Next year, the same group is signed up to do the POW 50k in Spartanburg, SC. We’ll be training this coming summer, and anyone is welcome to join us. I’m also building up the courage to sign up for the Born to Run Ultra in Los Olivios. 100 miles in four days. That’s got to be fun, right?