Meet Dan Walters, my running coach since 2017!
In this week’s episode Are you ready with Joan Molinaro?We talk about running, of course, but more than that, I want to share the story of how this one-time engineer turned his passion and side hustle into an incredibly successful career, as the head coach of Dan’s Chicago-based running team. Today led with his wife Allie.
DWRunning currently boasts 288 race wins, 496 Boston Marathon qualifying marks, 5 Olympic Marathon Trials appearances, countless personal bests and age group wins, and even a Bear Mile Champion! The diverse group of approximately 150 athletes is comprised of everyone from former college track stars to university professors, age group world champions to lawyers and content creators.
Personally, after just a year of working with Dan, I PR’d (personal records) in the single races I ran in 2018, including 3 marathon personal bests. But even with all the PRs and race medals aside, I’ve long counted the decision to join DWRunning and work with Dan as one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, because he’s taught me that it’s only when you put your ego aside that your confidence finally emerges. There is an opportunity to grow.
Dan is a mentor and a friend, and his inspiring story is a blueprint for building your dream career.
I remember the day I asked Dan if I could get a spot on the team. I would join Anthony—whom Dan was already coaching—for his Wednesday workouts. So early in the morning that the sun only peeked out from behind Cricket Hill, the grassy mound that saw countless runners complete their loops each morning. It was cold, probably in the low 40s, but almost everyone was running in t-shirts and shorts. I wandered into the grassy area inside the track. Dan still held his stopwatch as he chatted with his runners, several of them still bent as their frozen breath joined the air above them.
I introduced myself in my usually awkward way, “Hi. I’m Anthony’s girlfriend,” I said. “I was wondering… do you only take fast runners?”
Without missing a beat, Dan replied, “We accommodate runners at all levels.”
And, if you listen to the podcast, I’m sure you know what I felt at that moment, because you probably felt it when you heard Dan’s voice:
safe
Finally, after years of weekly coaching sessions, weekly long runs, and dozens of runs with Dan Walters, I would add the words:
challenged Push. and empowered.
Listen to my inspirational interview with Dan Walters!
Also on YouTube! (Goes live on 4/18)
This week’s recipe inspo – Banchan.
For this week’s recipe inspiration, I present to you banchan-Small side dishes that you can see on every traditional Korean dining table. Check out the full recipe tutorial of these two simple banchans on my YouTube channel!
Updates and random stuff.
- What I see. Believe it or not, we are now Season 7 of The Blacklist, and as a result, we didn’t really deviate too much from our night out (except to keep up with legacy) that said, I’ve heard a lot of good things about it BEEF, the new Netflix series starring Steven Yuen and Ali Wong. If any of you have seen this, I’d love to hear your thoughts!! Email me!
- That’s what I’m hearing. In case you missed it, I had the chance to speak with Vivian (@MyRichBFF), who recently started her own podcast, Net worth and chill.
- Signed book. As I mentioned last week, I recently got to hang out with the amazing Michelle Zauner and sign a bunch of books. Now serving LA. Be sure to pick up a signed copy here (Mother’s Day is right around the corner…!).
And that’s a wrap! Talk to you next week!
– Joan
