Brian Scantlin, a 45-year-old father of 4, got hooked on running thanks to his wife of 22 years, Tawnisha. 

“She wanted to run a 5k before the age of 40. She did that and then got me hooked along the way,” he said. 

Hooked on running might be an understatement. Six years later, Brian has nine 100 mile races or longer and a few 50Ks under his belt. He was even 3rd Place Male at the Lhotse 200 Miler in 2019. 

“For the most part, it has been fun. But there has been pain along the way.”

Not every runner goes from running 5Ks to ultra marathons. Brian believes in aiming high.

“I like to enter events where I have a high possibility of failure and come out the other side with a finish.”

His advice for others wanting to push themselves? 

“Set your goals high, even impossible. But also have secondary and tertiary goals that you can be proud of. Risk the fail.”

Though Brian runs longer distances than most people ever dream of, his motivation to run is something that many runners can relate to. 

“[I exercise] to help accomplish my running goals, for my overall well-being and really to be able to enjoy my two vices of eating chicken wings and drinking beer.”

We wish Brian the best of luck as he chases his next running goals later this year: completing the Hawk 100 and then turning around and running the Barkley Fall Classic 50K two weeks later.