The Human Potential Running Series Podcast · John Lacroix

Episode 53: Reboot with Thomas Stott and Talking Preparedness

·1 hr 33 min·5 clips

John shares how his mom would have grounded him for a single B on a report card, shaping his struggle with positivity.

This episode features host John LaCroix, founder of the Human Potential Running Series, and his new co-host Thomas Stott, a physical therapist assistant, teacher, and longtime HPRS community member. They discuss a new collaborative direction for the podcast, aiming to foster community and explore personal growth through running. Thomas shares his background, including his previous podcasting experience focused on hypermobility disorders with his wife and his current career shift toward clinical psychology. He recounts how he discovered the HPRS community in 2018 by pacing a friend at the Silver Heels 100-mile race, describing the event as a transformative experience that changed his perspective on running. John explains his own background in outdoor education with a focus on wilderness therapy, which informs the experiential and growth-oriented vision behind HPRS. He reveals personal struggles with childhood trauma and his difficulty processing both negative feedback and positive reinforcement, citing Snoop Dogg as an unexpected model for graciously accepting praise. The conversation touches on the concept of "spoons" as a metaphor for energy management in chronic illness, which Thomas encountered through his wife's work. They explore the idea that HPRS events are not just isolated race goals but stepping stones in a larger life journey, contrasting this with a more compartmentalized approach to training. Thomas observes that the HPRS community is characterized by authentic selflessness, where people help others without seeking recognition. John describes his emotional responses as all-or-nothing, comparing himself to a fire hydrant rather than a faucet with adjustable flow. The tone is a candid, meandering conversation between two acquaintances deepening their connection. It blends personal storytelling with philosophical musings on community, purpose, and self-improvement. This episode will appeal to HPRS community members and trail runners interested in the intersection of running, mental health, and personal development. Listeners seeking strictly race recaps or performance-focused content might find it less directly applicable.

As heard by us

A holiday wrap-up that turns into a candid look at feedback, old wounds, and a strong HPRS year.

This episode starts with a December 2024 holiday check-in from the front range and a plain thank-you to the HPRS community after a banner year.

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Why you'd press play

You want a holiday check-in that turns personal instead of staying abstract.

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