Ken Rideout was a Wall Street gambler who wanted a lot of money, until a streak financial crises and opioids dependence almost destroyed it. But instead of succumbing to the demons of drug abuse and economic ruin, Rideout rode out the storm.

“Every time I've been in the depths of hell, I've turned it into a strength,” he says.

Rideout is now a successful investor and the world's fastest marathon runner over 50. In the latest episode of A day with Jon BierI spoke to him about how he turned his life around, the importance of a never-give-up mindset, and his five essential tips and tactics for living your best life.q

'Showing up is so important'

Rideout has won countless races, including the 50 and over division at the New York and Boston Marathons. Recently, he placed first in the Gobi March, a grueling 7-day, 155-mile race in Central Mongolia.

But he says half the battle is just showing up.

“If I didn't have the balls to go out there and get on the start line, I never would have known I could do it and it's become a crowning achievement for me,” he says of the Gobi race. “But guess what doesn't happen? If I don't go there, nobody cares because I don't win. I don't know what I can do.”

Rideout emphasizes the importance of consistently showing up and working hard, whether it's for training, pursuing new experiences or facing challenges.

“Showing up doesn't just mean race day. The race itself is a beauty pageant,” he explains. “The hard work was done months ago, in the rain, in the snow, in the dark.”

Connected: I ran a marathon without training. Here's what I learned and how it made me a better entrepreneur.

“Do things outside your comfort zone”

Rideout is all about pushing new boundaries.

“One thing I've always done and it's been a huge strength is I'll try anything,” he says. “I'm willing to try almost anything.”

He tells the story of the conversation he had with his wife a few weeks before Goby's marathon, after having second thoughts.

“I said to her, 'I think I can win, but do I really want to go sleep in the desert for six days? I'm not a camper. I like to stay in fancy hotels. But she said, 'You're always talking about doing things out of your comfort zone you talk all this shit on the internet and as soon as she said i was like i'm doing it.

“Thrive in a Routine”

Rideout credits a disciplined daily routine with helping him stay motivated and accountable for his fitness goals. He says that creating consistent habits makes it automatic.

“I missed my calling by not joining the military when I had the chance,” he says.

His typical weekday routine consists of taking the kids to school (he has 4), and running for 90 minutes around 8:30 a.m., he breaks to shower and finish work, and around 4 p.m. , he lifts weights for 30 minutes. . Then, he takes his kids to Jui Jitsu and has a family dinner.

He says, “For people who may be struggling with motivation in certain areas, I can tell you that when you do something enough, eventually, it just becomes automatic.”

Connected: The power of routines

“Learn from failures”

Rideout shares how dropping out during an Ironman in Kona, Hawaii, in 2012 was his biggest bombshell as an athlete, but it also changed his mindset.

“I quit. I just stopped running, I just gave in like a big kid,” he recalls. “I was so disgusted with myself that it basically transformed my whole journey. I told my wife, 'I'm not going to feel like this anymore. I'd rather be dead. I don't want to live like this. I don't want to live with this feeling when I think about leaving that race once I get there and then disrespecting the race and all the people who do it in a weird way makes me feel less than zero…I promise I will f $%king. die before I leave.”

“Sustainability is the key.”

How does an ex-opioid addict in his 50s outlast clean, scrappy athletes in their 20s? Rideout says it's all about consistency.

“As you get older, you become mentally tougher. You put things more into perspective,” he explains. “When you're younger, you're doing a lot. There's a lot of distractions, and it's great. But once you realize that the clock is ticking, then you start to really focus and optimize for the things that are important to you now.

“I still don't think I'm a very good runner. I'm just trying harder than people.”