Laughs, Cravings, and First Marathon Feels | Fiery Embers Guest: Josh Cronin

When it comes to endurance sports, it’s easy to get lost in paces, splits, and mileage charts. But at Run Tri Bike, we know the real magic happens in the messy, human moments that make the journey unforgettable. In the latest episode of Fiery Embers, host Jason Bahamundi welcomes Josh Cronin to the mic for a laugh-out-loud conversation about funny marathon running moments. Why? Because Josh just finished hist first marathon and the memories are still fresh.

Hitting the Wall and Chasing Cravings

Josh shares his Eugene Marathon experience with raw honesty and humor. Around mile 20-21, his appetite vanished — a notorious wall many marathoners fear. But once he crossed the finish line? All bets were off. His post-race menu included ice cream, fried chicken, pizza, and cereal. Because nothing says victory like satisfying every craving in sight! Jason and Josh even debate the ultimate KFC side dish — biscuits or mashed potatoes — giving listeners a new kind of “fueling strategy” to consider.

World Marathon Majors: Food Rankings with a Side of Humor

In a deliciously absurd twist, Josh ranks the World Marathon Majors based on their local cuisine. Chicago takes the crown thanks to its legendary deep-dish pizza and hot dogs. Tokyo, New York, Berlin, Boston, and London all earn their spots, but not without some hilarious, good-natured roasting of cultural cuisines. (Sorry, Londoners — Josh meant it with love.)

Reflecting on Racing: Roads, Trails, and Stampeding Super Shoes

While Josh is proud of his marathon finish, he admits he might stick to trails for a while. The pressures of road racing — from getting passed by pacing groups to the intimidating thunder of Nike super-shoed runners — left him missing the joy and flow of trail running. This is a relatable reminder that it’s okay to shift gears when the sport stops feeling fun.

Life Movie Soundtracks and Being John Malkovich

Fiery Embers wouldn’t be complete without a few ridiculous (and awesome) questions. Josh reveals he’d cast John Malkovich to play him in a movie about his life and would kick things off with Jason Isbell’s song “Hope the High Road.” It’s a perfect anthem for any endurance athlete balancing personal growth with the wild ride of racing goals.

More Than Miles: Music, Hobbies, and Heart

As the episode wraps, Josh shares his love for music, especially the guitar and banjo, and his admiration for Americana and bluegrass artists like Billy Strings. His willingness to dive into hobbies mirrors the Fiery Embers spirit — celebrating the whole person behind the athlete.

At Run Tri Bike, and through Fiery Embers, we know endurance sports are about more than the numbers. They’re about connection, resilience, and collecting hilarious, heartfelt stories along the way. If you’ve ever questioned your life choices mid-race or needed a reminder to laugh through the tough miles, this episode is for you.

Hit play, share your go-to post-race meal, tell your funny marathon running stories, and subscribe for more heartwarming, hilarious endurance stories!

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