By Ricky Miller, Co-Owner of Green Valley Window Tint in Henderson, Nev.; edited by Chris Collier, Editorial Director of Loop Magazine
To be honest, I never really noticed that I had a passion for running. My main drive was always just to take control of my health. I was always into sports as a kid. I had been the chubby (some would say fat) kid growing up.
My dad got me into baseball when I was about five, and that started my path down competitive sports that helped mold me into the man I am today. I didn’t realize at the time how much of an impact that would have on me.
For some reason, when I was going through my youth into my teenage years, playing Little League, travel ball, then high school baseball, I always hated sprints. I was slow as hell. But I kind of liked the longer-distance running drills ... I just never thought much of it.
Losing Sports, Losing Myself
After high school, I went full-time at our family business, Green Valley Window Tint. Being young and dumb and not having sports anymore, my health went downhill. In 2015, I was 238 pounds and hit a real low point in my life. Thankfully, because of my family (especially my wife) I started working on myself.
What got me on the path to running was my brother. He had caught the running bug and was training for an ultramarathon. I remembered that little part of me that always kinda liked distance running, and I wanted to try something I knew only a small percentage of people had done: run a marathon, and eventually qualify for the Boston Marathon.
So, I started training. Just going off advice from my brother, I kept it simple. I started slow with 7-8 miles a week and increased my distance about 10% each week. Around mid-2017, I jammed my knee on a 12-mile run and was out for a couple weeks. I had lost around 30 pounds and was starting to feel a difference in my life.
But I still didn’t fully understand the impact yet.
The Day It All Changed
There’s one day that sticks out, the biggest turning point for me. December 13, 2018. I remember the date because it was the day my son was born.
I can still remember holding him in the hospital while my wife was getting some rest. That was my "aha" moment. I looked at him and realized I had to be better, not just for me or my wife, but for him. I needed to show him that if you put your mind to something, you can accomplish anything.
That night in the hospital, I signed up for my first marathon. Once I commit to something, you better believe I’m showing up. I even downloaded a training app right then and there to help guide me, so I wouldn’t overtrain and would stay on track from day one.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that moment would send me down the rabbit hole of ultramarathons. At the time, my only focus was to get in better shape so I could be a better man, and more importantly, a better dad. The other stuff, the lessons, the mindset shifts, all came later.
Going the Distance
By the time I got to the starting line of my first marathon, I had trained for six months and never once wavered from my plan. I started listening to podcasts during my runs, and then I got into audiobooks. One book, in particular, changed my whole mindset: Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins.
His story showed me what was possible. That book, along with one moment from that first marathon, pushed me to go after a 100-mile race.
That moment came after I finished the race. I was hurting bad and sat down, watching people come through. I saw this older gentleman, probably in his late 60s, grab his bag and head back out to finish a 50K. I couldn't even imagine going another 5 miles at that point. I wanted to understand how that was even possible. I knew if I dedicated myself, I could figure it out.
The Western States Endurance Run
That’s when I learned about the Western States Endurance Run, the first 100-mile footrace in the U.S. It started as a horse race and evolved into what it is today. You can’t just sign up. You have to qualify through other 100K or 100-mile races just to get a ticket in the raffle.
That’s when things really started to change for me mentally. I began to see how these small improvements added up. That 1% change each day stacks up over time. And by the time you get to your goal, you’re a different person. I was doing it for my son in the beginning, but I started realizing how much it was changing me in every way.
My eating habits got better. I had more energy at work. I had more energy for my family. It showed me how much we underestimate what our bodies are capable of.
100 Miles of Pain and Purpose
Running my first 100-mile race taught me that even when your body’s on the edge of giving out, your mind still has more to give. It took me just under 30 hours to finish. That’s a feeling I’ll never forget.
The last 20 miles were brutal. I thought I was done. I wanted to quit. If it weren’t for my wife, my brother, and my cousin, I don’t think I would’ve made it. I had never experienced pain like that. But I had to get out of my own head. I had trained for over a year. I knew my body could take it. It was all mental now.
There were a lot of lows, but with the lows came highs. Around mile 90, I told myself I just had 10 miles left. That’s just a regular training run. Something clicked. I had this adrenaline dump and picked up the pace. The pain melted away, or at least it felt like it did.
That race showed me that anything is possible if you’re willing to put in the work.
Running the Business Like a Race
Getting into running and fitness has completely reshaped the way I look at life, and how I run my business. I’ve now run four 100-mile races, and every one of them has taught me something new. Whether it's staying consistent for small improvements, learning to recover, or knowing when to push and when to pull back. Those lessons apply directly to business.
When I started sharing my journey online, people would ask, “Aren’t you tired? You wake up so early.” Honestly, the days I don’t train are the days I feel the most tired. That sense of accomplishment first thing in the morning sets the tone for everything else.
Just like I wanted to set an example for my son, I realized I was setting one for my team too. That you can chase something hard. That you can dedicate yourself. And that work ethic carries over into everything.
The Real Goal
I’ll admit it, there’s something selfish about chasing a 100-mile finish. It’s you versus you. No one will run the miles for you. There’s no shortcut. You either put in the work or you don’t.
But that’s what I love most about it. The mental growth. The example I’m setting for my son. Showing him that hard work always pays off. That there are going to be days when you don’t want to train, but those are the days that matter the most.
I’d be lying if I said that everything in my life didn’t start improving after I got into this.
That doesn’t mean everything’s perfect. There are still extreme lows. But what this journey’s taught me, especially during races, is that lows don’t last. There’s always a high coming. You just have to keep moving.
Eventually, you look back and don’t even recognize the old version of yourself. And that’s the win I’m most proud of.
(Photo Courtesy of Candice Harris)
