The Nick Bare Podcast 164: How to Turn Hard Seasons Into Your Biggest Breakthrough | Ken Rideout
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Mar 9, 2026 
Ken Rideout, author and endurance athlete who overcame addiction to find sobriety and a 2:28 marathon, shares his story. He discusses his new book, winning the Austin Half at 54, and the training and coaching that fueled a major marathon breakthrough. They dig into faith, identity, family trials, and the risks he took to rebuild his life.
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Late Start Runner Who Won Races In The Mountains
- Ken Rideout went from late-start casual runner to winning local races after moving to LA and training daily in the Santa Monica Mountains.
- He ran 10 miles every morning on trails with 1,200 ft elevation and saw rapid gains in half marathon and marathon results.
Sobriety Sparked An Endurance Transformation
- Ken lived as a full-time opioid addict from about age 28 to 38 taking 30–60 Percocets daily before getting sober around 2010.
- After sobriety at 39 he channeled his energy into endurance sports, which became central to his recovery and identity.
Coach And Structured Workouts Delivered A 2:28 Breakthrough
- Hiring coach Mario Fraioli after plateauing near 2:33 marathon led to a breakthrough at CIM where Ken ran 2:28 low.
- Structured workouts in a fighter-style training camp (flat runs, intervals) unlocked speed he lacked from trail-only mileage.
