The Okayest JoggerThe Okayest Jogger
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Josh Hansen shares how he went from over 400 pounds to ultra-running goals, while dealing with injuries, anxiety and an autoimmune condition. The conversation highlights small, honest changes, community support and personal choice as key parts of long-term recovery and movement towards a 100-mile dream.
1:05:03•13 Jul 2020
The Okayest Jogger: From 400 Pounds to Ultra Dreams and Back-of-the-Pack Bravery
Episode Overview
- Small, consistent changes to food and activity can be more effective than extreme, all-or-nothing dieting.
- Writing down what you eat and do each day helps create honest awareness and realistic adjustments.
- Major setbacks like surgery, accidents and cancelled races don’t have to end a goal; focusing on the long-term finish line keeps you moving.
- Supportive communities and honest conversations about mental health make hard seasons more manageable.
- Past labels such as special education or weight struggles don’t define your future when you choose your own path.
“We let you choose what you wanted to do and you did it.”
Get ready to be moved by real-life accounts of how a “back-of-the-pack” jogger reshaped his life, one mile and one choice at a time. This episode of Addict II Athlete teams up with long-time friend of the programme Josh Hansen, the self-styled “Okayest Jogger”, whose story blends weight loss, running, injury, mental health and community support. Josh shares how he once weighed over 400 pounds, tried every diet under the sun, and finally cracked it by dropping the all-or-nothing mindset.
Instead of overhauling everything in a day, he simply wrote down what he was eating and doing, then changed one small thing each week. That steady, honest approach led to around 180 pounds lost and, eventually, to ultra-distance running. Things didn’t stay smooth. Josh talks through a torn peroneal tendon, surgery, a bone spur, then being literally hit by a car while on crutches with his nephew, followed by race cancellations during Covid.
Rather than quit, he focused on “seeing the end from the beginning”, keeping his dream of a future 100-miler in sight while rebuilding with short runs and careful training. Away from the road, he opens up about eight years in special education, a 4.0 term after leaving those classes, and a powerful moment with his mum who admitted they’d once doubted he’d finish school, a mission, or university.
Her words – “we let you choose what you wanted to do and you did it” – pushed him to own his path. For anyone in recovery who leans on running, struggles with setbacks, or feels written off by old labels, Josh’s blend of humour, honesty and slow-and-steady grit offers plenty to relate to. It might leave you asking: what small change could you stick with this week that Future You will thank you for?
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