Running Transforms Lives, Changes World | Running Tales Guest: Justin Cheesman
Justin Cheeseman’s journey from the dread of running to transforming lives globally through endurance challenges shows the transformative power of putting one foot in front of another.
From Punishment to Passion: An Unexpected Journey
For Justin Cheeseman, running was once the dreaded punishment handed down during baseball practice—something to be avoided at all costs. Like many athletes who experience running as disciplinary action rather than joy, Justin carried this negative association well beyond his playing days.
“I viewed running as the worst form of torture,” Justin shared on this episode of the Running Tales podcast with Craig Lewis. “If you made a mistake in baseball, you ran. It was always the punishment, never the reward.”
This perspective began to shift after college when Justin found himself seeking both physical activity and mental therapy. The watershed moment came during an impromptu five-mile run with a friend—a distance that would have once seemed insurmountable. That single run fundamentally altered his relationship with the sport, transforming running from an obligation into something he actively sought out.
Building Mental Toughness One Step at a Time
What began as a casual fitness activity soon evolved into competitive pursuits. Justin found himself drawn to increasingly challenging events: the Chicago Marathon, the infamous Goggins Challenge (running 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 straight hours), the Palmetto 200 relay, and the Escape the Cape triathlon.
“Each event taught me something different about myself,” Justin explains. “The Chicago Marathon showed me I could push through physical barriers I thought were absolute. The Goggins Challenge revealed depths of mental fortitude I never knew I possessed.”
These events weren’t just physical tests—they were laboratories for developing mental toughness that transcended running. Justin discovered that the resilience cultivated through endurance sports spilled over into his professional and personal life.
“When you’ve been running for hours and think you can’t go any further, but somehow find the strength to continue—that experience changes how you approach every obstacle in life,” Justin emphasizes. “The phrase ‘this too shall pass’ takes on real meaning when you’ve lived it through running.”
Finding Community in Shared Struggle
Perhaps most surprising for Justin was discovering the profound sense of community that running fostered. What started as a solitary activity transformed into a social experience that provided both accountability and emotional support.
Group runs became more than just training sessions—they evolved into mobile therapy groups where conversations flowed naturally alongside footsteps. The shared experience of pushing physical limits created space for vulnerability and connection that Justin hadn’t found elsewhere.
“There’s something about struggling together that builds instant bonds,” Justin reflects. “When you’re side by side at mile 20 of a marathon, pretenses fall away. The raw, authentic connections that form in those moments are irreplaceable.”
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Leveraging Running for Global Impact
As running reshaped Justin’s personal outlook, it also revealed a pathway to meaningful social impact. During the pandemic, Justin channeled his newfound passion into a remarkable challenge: running a 5K daily for 100 consecutive days. This initiative raised an impressive $10,000 for Life Community Services in South Africa.
“Running gave me a platform I never anticipated,” Justin shares. “People connected with the daily discipline, and that created an opportunity to direct attention toward causes that matter.”
This experience inspired Justin to co-found Empower, an international nonprofit focused on breaking down barriers. The organization’s annual ‘Run It Back’ event mobilizes runners worldwide while providing tangible support to small businesses in South Africa, including essential resources like inverters to combat power outages.
“What started as personal transformation became a vehicle for global change,” Justin says. “That’s the beautiful thing about running—it begins with individual steps but can create ripples that travel incredible distances.”
The Soundtrack of Transformation
Even Justin’s approach to music while running reflects his evolution. His eclectic playlist features motivation-building tracks like Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Perfect Drug’ for intense efforts, while he reserves podcasts for longer, steady runs to maintain a sustainable pace.
“The right song at the right moment can push you through almost anything,” Justin notes. “But sometimes, especially on long runs, storytelling through podcasts helps me settle into a rhythm and find flow.”
Embracing the Process: Wisdom for Fellow Runners
For those still viewing running as a necessary evil rather than a joy, Justin offers simple but profound advice: learn to embrace challenges and love the process.
“Running doesn’t have to be punishment,” he insists. “When you shift from focusing solely on outcomes to appreciating the journey itself, everything changes. The daily discipline, the incremental improvements, even the struggles—they all become part of a larger story of personal growth.”
Justin’s transformation from reluctant runner to passionate advocate exemplifies how the simple act of running can become a catalyst for profound life change. His journey reminds us that sometimes the activities we initially resist hold the greatest potential for transformation.
Whether you’re an experienced ultramarathoner or someone still hesitant to lace up for the first time, Justin’s story offers a compelling reminder: running’s true power to transform lives locally, and globally, is not just in physical accomplishment. It has the capacity to reshape our relationship with challenges, community, and our potential for positive impact.
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