What if running wasn’t about pace but about survival?

In this powerful episode of Beyond The Finish Line , Joe Hardin sits down with Tom Gillund, an 18-year military veteran who found healing through running. This conversation goes beyond splits and shoe choices. It dives into PTSD recovery, sobriety, and how endurance sports can become a mental health lifeline.

Tom shares how he started with walking, progressed to swimming, and eventually found ultramarathons. Along the way, running became more than exercise for him. It became a form of therapy. The solitude of long trail runs gave him space to process trauma, anger, and grief in ways traditional methods sometimes couldn’t.

They also explore the power of the trail running community which can be an inclusive space where first-timers, veterans, and back-of-the-pack athletes belong. Through organizations like Ainsley’s Angels and endurance challenges like the 4x4x48, Tom now uses running to serve others.

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