The Comeback After Mile 19

Here’s the truth we don’t talk about enough:
Things aren’t always going to go your way.

No matter how prepared you are.
No matter how committed you feel.
No matter how much effort you put in.

Sometimes life surprises you. Sometimes it stops you short. And when that happens, what matters most isn’t the setback itself—it’s how you respond.

In this episode of The WTF Podcast, I sit down with Paul Stroessner to talk about one of those moments. After running 19 miles of the Marine Corps Marathon in 2024, Paul was pulled from the race. He didn’t quit. He didn’t stop trying. He didn’t make the time cut-off.

And in that moment, the emotions were real: shock, defeat, frustration. That kind of moment messes with your confidence. It makes you question yourself. It puts you at a crossroads.

What I love about Paul’s story is that he didn’t bypass those feelings. He acknowledged them.

He let himself feel the disappointment. And then—once the dust settled—he chose how to move forward.

Instead of letting that moment define him, Paul used it as information. He learned from it. He trained differently. He showed up again. And a year later, he ran the Marine Corps Marathon once more—this time crossing the finish line.

This episode isn’t really about running. It’s about what happens when things don’t go as planned. It’s about honoring how you feel in the moment and choosing not to stay stuck there. It’s about resilience, self-trust, and the quiet determination to keep going—even when the path changes.

If you’re in a season where things feel off, unexpected, or disappointing, let this be your reminder: A setback doesn’t have to be the end of the story.

Sometimes, it’s the beginning of the comeback.

Listen to this episde on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or watch on YouTube. And be sure to subscribe or follow to stay up to date on new episodes.