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138: "Fail Forward": Finding Strength Through a Marathon Gone Wrong w/ Barry Scruggs

August 17, 2026 · 58 min

Show notes

Barry Scruggs came to running with his wife after some health struggles when they decided to make change happen together. It started with a Spartan race , and that single decision opened the door to a running life neither of them expected, eventually pulling them into Charlotte's trail and ultra running community and setting Barry on the path toward his first marathon.

By the time race day arrived, training wasn't the hard part. Days before the Charlotte Marathon, Barry was diagnosed with bronchitis that had turned into pneumonia, and both his doctor and his wife told him not to race. He toed the line anyway, and what followed became one of the hardest tests he's ever faced on a course. Somewhere in the miles that came next, Barry learned what his body could actually carry him through when his mind wanted to quit, a lesson he still leans on today.

Follow along with Barry Scruggs and his run club on Instagram:
@runbear_runnc
@locolocal.runclub

Follow along with the show:
👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays
🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod
📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast
🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources
Book a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! - https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440
Join the First Marathoner Community! - https://www.skool.com/myfirstmarathon/about

All episodes of My First Marathon

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