Leap and Find Your Finish
Leap and the Net Will Appear
When endurance meets authenticity, something powerful happens. That’s exactly what unfolds in Episode 38 of Beyond The Finish Line, the podcast hosted by Joe Hardin and powered by the Everyday Athlete Podcast Network by Run Tri Bike. In this episode, Joe welcomes Joey Metzger, ultrarunner, filmmaker, podcaster, and eternal optimist, to share a story about risk, reinvention, and the courage to define your own finish line.
Joey’s story isn’t about podiums or PRs. It’s about what happens when you stop waiting for the perfect moment to chase your dreams and leap anyway.
From Rock Bottom to the Ridge Line
Joey’s life didn’t always look like a highlight reel of trail adventures and creative storytelling. In the late ’80s, after flunking out of college and navigating personal struggles, he found himself driving down a cold North Dakota road when everything changed. Out of that moment came a mantra that would define the rest of his life:
“Leap and the net will appear.”
It wasn’t just a quote but rather, a shift in perspective. Instead of being paralyzed by fear or failure, Joey began to embrace uncertainty as an opportunity. That choice led him toward creative expression, endurance, and a deeper connection to the world around him.
Discovering Running Later in Life
Unlike many endurance athletes who start early, Joey didn’t find running until his 40s. What began as a few treadmill miles to warm up for strength training soon became something more. Running became a way to process change, rebuild confidence, and find community.
A simple office 5K sparked something inside him. That single race became the start of a lifelong passion that evolved into marathons, trail runs, and ultras. But for Joey, it was never about chasing medals. It was about rediscovering joy through motion and proving that it’s never too late to start over.
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Creativity Meets Endurance
Joey’s background in theater, debate, and acting became the foundation for a new kind of storytelling. This one is rooted in the endurance community. His YouTube channel, Run Joey Run, captures the real emotions of running: the grit, the laughter, the moments of doubt and triumph.
His podcast, Running Behind, flips the spotlight toward the athletes who often finish late or miss cutoffs. His guests are the ones who embody what it means to keep showing up. Influenced by creators like Billy Yang and Ginger Runner, Joey has built a platform where every runner’s story matters.
During their conversation, Joe Hardin and Joey explore how creativity and endurance intertwine. Both require vulnerability, resilience, and the willingness to fail publicly because that’s where growth begins.
The Lessons of Mammoth Trail Fest
Every runner has a race that teaches them something deeper than pace or position. For Joey, that race was the Mammoth Trail Fest, where he missed the 50k cutoff by 13 minutes.
Instead of walking away defeated, he reflected on what the experience revealed and the lessons about pacing, fueling, and self-compassion that he learned. He talks about meeting trail heroes, remembering his late dog Ricky, and feeling more connected than ever to the running community.
For Joey, the missed cutoff wasn’t a failure. It was a finish line of a different kind, the type that is defined by growth, gratitude, and perspective.
Defining Your Own Finish Line
That’s the heart of Beyond The Finish Line: redefining what success means for everyday athletes. Whether you’re toeing the line for your first 5K or your fifth 100-miler, your story is valid.
As Joey says, every time you take a leap and sign up for that race, share your story, or lace up after a setback, you’re betting on yourself. That’s the real finish line: believing that who you are today is enough to take the next step forward.
Beyond Running: The Rhythm of Life
Outside the trails, Joey continues to direct local races, experiment with filmmaking, and lean into his love of music, from Foo Fighters to bluegrass. His playlist mirrors his life philosophy: every rhythm, like every mile, tells a story.
He’s not chasing perfection. He’s chasing presence and that’s something every endurance athlete can learn from.
Why Every Everyday Athlete Should Listen
Episode 38 of Beyond The Finish Line is more than a conversation. This episode is a masterclass in courage, creativity, and optimism. Joey’s journey embodies the essence of the Everyday Athlete: someone who takes risks, embraces uncertainty, and finds meaning in movement.
If you’re looking for motivation to start training, overcome fear, or rediscover your purpose through running, this episode will remind you that you don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to leap.
Listen now on the Everyday Athlete Podcast Network by Run Tri Bike and remember: No podiums required. Just vibes, sweat and snack
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