Moving to the United States opened my eyes to just how vibrant and diverse running could be. I settled in Chicago, home to one of the world’s most famous marathons. My brother-in-law, already a marathon finisher, encouraged me to jump in, too. Initially, the idea of running 26.2 miles felt like something out of a sci-fi movie. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try — completely unaware of training plans and blissfully ignorant about the importance of nutrition and fueling.

Predictably, my first marathon turned into a monumental suffer fest, clocking in around 4 hours and 30 minutes. It wasn’t just tough; it made me swear off long-distance events altogether. But curiosity got the better of me. Soon after, I dove headfirst into articles, books, and online forums, hungry to learn everything I could about running — especially how fueling worked.

Somewhere along the way, I relocated to a suburb right next to a gorgeous forest preserve. It had trails that let me rack up miles and explore nature, free from the noise of traffic lights and skyscrapers. Naturally, I kept pushing my distance. I ran a couple of official marathons and even more unofficial ones on the trails. But as my miles stacked up, so did my GI issues.

Turns out, not everyone can handle the endless barrage of artificial ingredients in the most common gels and chews. I tried every product on the market — if it was neon-colored or promised extra speed, I gave it a shot. It was an expensive, frustrating experiment.

Reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall lit a whole new fire. The spirit of ultra-distances and the idea of running for hours through rugged landscapes felt like the ultimate adventure. So, I raised the stakes and registered for the Bishop High Sierra Ultra 100K. Suddenly, I was entering a world where fueling wasn’t just a side note — it was essential to finishing upright.

To survive and thrive in a race that long, I realized I needed a fueling approach that was both clean and effective. I cut out artificial junk, focusing on products that used real food ingredients. The difference was night and day. My body responded better. I ran steadier, recovered faster, and felt genuinely excited to lace up for the next run. It wasn’t easy — training my stomach to handle bigger quantities of carbs took time. But eventually, my fueling plan clicked.

Through this journey, I learned that fueling can make or break a run — whether it’s a breezy 5K or a grueling ultra. Yet I also realized how time-consuming (and expensive) it can be to test every new bar, gel, or powder on the market, especially for runners trying to balance family and work.

That’s why I started Outside Running Co.: to take the guesswork out of nutrition and make clean, all-natural fueling more accessible for every runner. Our mission is simple: help you spend more time running strong and less time worrying about what’s in your gel packet.

As a husband and a parent, I know how precious every mile can be. When training time is limited, you don’t want to waste a single workout feeling sluggish or battling stomach issues. With Outside Running Co., we deliver the products and guidance you need — so you can focus on what matters: enjoying the run, chasing new goals, and sharing those special moments with loved ones.