In this episode of Gone Running, Ben Sheppard sits down with adventurer Johnny Ward to uncover his remarkable journey from a tough childhood in Ireland to becoming the first person to complete the Explorers Grand Slam. Johnny opens up about his drive for freedom, the lessons he has learned from travel and endurance challenges, and why he believes running has a uniquely transformative power.
Johnny shares how he became the first Irish person to visit every country in the world and why financial and time freedom have been the foundations of his fulfilling life. He reflects on how his childhood struggles pushed him toward adventure and independence, and how he discovered that the beauty of life lies not just in reaching a goal but in the struggle it takes to get there. After completing his travels, Johnny faced depression, which led him to ultra endurance events, experiences he now sees as uniquely powerful in transforming both body and mind.
Through running, Johnny has learned that pain is temporary, but the self love gained through challenges lasts forever. He also speaks about the deep, unbreakable bonds created when people share endurance events, and how these connections can inspire us all to go further than we ever thought possible.
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