"WHEN WE ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO CHANGE A SITUATION, WE ARE CHALLENGED TO CHANGE OURSELVES"--VIKTOR FRANKL
ABOUT ME
ANDREW JOHNSTON
NASM-Certified Personal Trainer
NASM-Certified Nutrition Coach
Ultramarathon Runner
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HOW IT STARTED
My passion for teaching, coaching, and distance running led me to develop a leadership and personal development course titled “Change through Challenge” when I was a Business Professor.
This was not your typical business course!
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This course taught key virtues for leadership and life: resilience, persistence, courage, and grit thorugh the transformative power of running long distances.
The final exam:: complete a 26.2-mile marathon...in 22 weeks.
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This course was featured in The Denver Business Journal, The Denver Post and Runner’s World Magazine and was the subject of my TEDx Talk in 2015.
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RESULTS
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95% of students who enrolled in the course completed the course
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100% of the students who participated in the race (marathon or half-marathon completed the race)
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MY APPROACH FOR YOU...NOT JUST RUNNING
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As an endurance athlete and NASM-Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach, I look forward to developing an individual and CUSTOM "Change through Challenge Performance Plan" for you.
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This is not just a fitness program.
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This is a comprehensive plan to maximize your performance in all areas of your life through the tranformative power of getting in the best shape of your life. Because a strong mind requires having a strong body. The "hardware" must support the "software."
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The success of my program rests on integrating running / walking with a plan of progressive resistance training, proper nutrition, recovery, and an academic component to train the mind.
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SPEAKING
In addition to coaching, my non-traditional career path in business, academia, leadership development, and endurance training / coaching allows me to bring a unique perspective to corporate and non-profit speaking events.
Popular speaking topics include:
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"What ultramarathon training teaches us about life"
"Developing an 'ultra' mindset...even if you never run a mile"
"Discovering your 'Why?'"
"Setting...and ACHIEVING your goals"
"Health and Wellness 101"
"I am 54 years old...never felt better. Here's how."
"How I lost 19 lbs from NOT running!"
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PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING APPEARANCES
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Podcast Inteview, Decidedly! "Why Endurance Events are a Vehicle to Self-Knowledge" May 2021
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Podcast Interview, SalesPop "What Marathon Running Can Teach Us in Our Professional Life" February 2021
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Presenter, Indonesia Human Resources Foundation for Leadership, Annual Leadership Summit, "What Marathon Training Teaches About Leadership and Life" June 2020
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Keynote Presenter, Rocky Mountain Area Conference, “Life’s Best Teacher: Run a Marathon!” September 2018
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Presenter, Rocky Mountain Area Conference. "Job Search Survival Guide: How to Find the Job You REALLY Want!" September 2017
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Keynote speaker, Colorado State Classified Employees Meeting, "What We Do Matters." January 2017
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Presenter, Two Year / Four Year Conference. “The Best First Year Experience? Run a Marathon.” September 2016Presenter, Two Year / Four Year Conference. “The Best First Year Experience? Run a Marathon.” September 2016
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Speaker, UC Synergetic. "Finding Passion in Your Work." June 2016
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Keynote speaker, Colorado Adult Education Professional Association (CAEPA) Conference. "Moving Forward with Innovation, Opportunity and Action." October 2015
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Presenter, TEDxMile High Youth Event. Ideas Unbridled. http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/What-is-the-Best-Business-Educa April 2015
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Volunteer keynote speaker at various Red Rocks Community College Student Government and Student Leadership events 2014, 2015, 2016
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Interview, Runner’s World Magazine, http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/the-business-of-marathon-training, January 2014
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Interview, The Denver Business Journal, http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/broadway_17th/2014/06/marathon-training-class-at-red-rocks-community.html?page=2 June 2014
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Guest appearance, 710 KNUS “Colorado Issues” with Tom Moller discussing pilot course at Red Rocks Community College called “Change Through Challenge” to boost student retention / performance. January 6, 2013
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Interview, The Denver Post (Your Hub), Red Rocks Business Course Culminates in Marathon, November 2012.
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Interview, The Lakewood Sentinel, Running the Life Marathon, December 4, 2012.
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Guest columnist, The Denver Business Journal, Making the Leap for Balance, January 16, 2009.
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Guest appearances at 6am, 9pm and 10pm on 9News, Job Search Strategies, March 15, 2009, Denver, Colorado.
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Guest appearance on nationally-syndicated radio show 630 KHOW “The Troubleshooter with Tom Martino”, Top 10 Job Search Strategies in Today’s Economy, February 11, 2009, Denver, Colorado.
