The Runna Podcast From Wall Street Millionaire to Rock Bottom - Then a 2:29 Marathon | Ken Rideout
Apr 3, 2026
Ken Rideout, a former Wall Street pro who beat a decade-long opioid addiction and became the world’s fastest over-50 marathoner, tells his reinvention story. He discusses sobriety, how discipline replaced chaos, the mindset behind risk and pacing, and the relentless consistency that forged elite performances.
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Quitting In Kona Sparked A Life Reset
- Ken Rideout quit an Ironman run in Kona and that humiliation became a turning point in his life.
- After collapsing with shame he vowed never to give in to the shortcut impulse that fueled his decade-long opioid addiction, forcing a radical life reset.
Sobriety Triggered By Facing Fatherhood
- Ken went from daily opioid dependence to sobriety when facing fatherhood and nearly choosing suicide.
- He endured brutal Subutex withdrawal while running daily as penance, which anchored recovery and led into triathlon and later elite running.
Quit The Drugs Before Chasing Big Goals
- Stop digging the hole: the first step in addiction recovery is to cut out the substances and the don'ts before chasing big goals.
- Ken warns against substituting one drug for another (Subutex/methadone) and advocates sober-first progress.
