Choose the Hard Way

Tears, chamois cream, glory. Carb slurry was downed by the gallon and tears were shed in garages and at dinner tables around the world as the community collectively gave everything to secure midpack glory at select gravel major and minor races in mid 2026.
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This episode is a conversation about the Abandon Your Family 30,000 experience with Choose the Hard Way & One Real Voice founder Andrew Vontz, Spencer Martin of WeDu / Peacock / Beyond the Peloton, Jonathan Kaplan of the Riding With newsletter / pod & special guest Paul Redmayne in the UAE, a 4x outdoor Everester who drops the shocking truth that he rides a 12-inch wide Brooks saddle on his indoor bike.
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Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/
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Paul Redmayne: https://www.instagram.com/paul.redmayne/?hl=en
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Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter: https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/p/riding-with-friends?utm_source=publication-search
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Spencer Martin's Beyond the Peloton newsletter: https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/
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Choose the Hard Way is the show about how hard things build stronger humans who have more fun. This episode is about living that philosophy and how you can, too.
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The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host isn't optional. It's now a mission-critical skill for senior leaders.
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That's why I started my consultancy, https://www.onerealvoice.com/, to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and in the high-stakes, open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won.
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When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to [email protected].
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With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required.
—
Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com.
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JOIN US:
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One Real Voice - narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts & high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com
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Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod
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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/

Jens Voigt raced the Tour de France 17 times, wore the yellow jersey, won stages in the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, and set the Hour Record on the track at age 43. He joins Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz how crashing at 70 km/h changes you in ways the world doesn't see and the long arc of a life in sport.
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This episode explores Jens' childhood and upbringing in the former East Germany, his path through a state-run sports academy, and what it was like to build a career inside professional cycling without ever being the protected rider.
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This is a conversation about parenting six kids, literally carrying teammates through hard times, aging and how he stays World Tour fast to feel good and have fun.
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To support Choose the Hard Way, please become a paid subscriber of https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/.
—
The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host and being able to operate in dynamic unscripted contexts isn't optional. It's now a mandatory skill for senior leaders and doing it well isn't easy.
—
That's why Andrew Vontz started https://www.onerealvoice.com/ to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and the internal and external high-stakes open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won.
—
When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to [email protected].
—
With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today no experience required.
—
Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com.
—
Jens Voigt on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejensie/
—
Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/
—
One Real Voice – narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts and high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com
—
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/

Patrick J Murphy, First Iraq War Veteran Elected to Congress and Former Under Secretary of the Army
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Patrick J Murphy was the first Iraq War veteran elected to the United States Congress and later served as Under Secretary of the Army. He joins Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz for a wide-ranging conversation on service, leadership and responsibility.
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This episode explores what it means to engage seriously with people who hold different points of view and why stepping outside an echo chamber is a necessary discipline, not a political stance.
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This is a conversation about leadership without performance, curiosity without defensiveness and the work required to stay human in complex systems.
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Follow along here for new episodes and reflections and to support this work please become a paid subscriber of https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/.
—
The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host and being able to operate in dynamic unscripted contexts isn't optional. It's now a mandatory skill for senior leaders and doing it well isn't easy.
—
That's why Andrew Vontz started https://www.onerealvoice.com/ to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and the internal and external high-stakes open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won.
—
When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to [email protected].
—
With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today no experience required.
—
Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com.
—
Patrick J. Murphy: https://patrickmurphypa.substack.com/
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Patrick on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrickmurphypa/
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More about Patrick: www.patrickjmurphy.com 
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Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/
—
One Real Voice – narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts and high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com
—
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod
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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/
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On day 8 of the Abandon Your Family 500, Choose the Hard Way creator Andrew Vontz, Spencer Martin of Beyond the Peloton, and Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With share stories of deep fatigue, angry families, and the kind of indoor training glory you can earn but can't buy. 
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They explore the strain this challenge has placed on their friendship, and why they can't wait to do it again, slightly differently, in two weeks when they kick off the Abandon Your Family 30,000. 
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But first comes the second installment in the Choose the Hard Way Abandon Your Family Triple Crown, the 10 Pack. Follow www.instagram.com/hardwaypod for more info and DM Andrew or join the Strava Club to get in the action. https://www.strava.com/clubs/choosethehardway. 
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After that we'll be tackling the Abandon Your Family 30,000? It's climbing 30,000 vertical feet in a week, and the annual step Andrew, Spencer, and Jonathan take to polish their form before the Choose the Hard Way x Beyond the Peloton x Riding with x Kip's Corner training camp. 
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The 10 Pack starts December 25th and runs through January 1. The goal is to complete 10 Zwift races in that time frame and punch the ticket to get your 10 Pack. 
 
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Choose the Hard Way is the podcast about how hard things build stronger people who have more fun. The Abandon Your Family 500 is one of thousands of ways the Choose the Hard Way community around the world embodies this philosophy every day. 
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Follow along here for dailyish episodes here and to support this work, please become a paid subscriber of https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/. 
—
DM Andrew on Instagram and let him know how your #AFY500 is going and anything you'd like us to cover in our daily updates. 
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Heads up, we've got a full-length interview with Jens Voigt as you've never heard him before coming soon, stay tuned. 
—
Follow along here for dailyish episodes here and to support this work, please become a paid subscriber of https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/. 
—
DM Andrew on Instagram and let him know how your #AFY500 is going and anything you'd like us to cover in our daily updates. 
—
-----
The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host + being able to rock in dynamic, unscripted contexts isn't optional. It's now a mandatory skill for senior leaders, and doing it right isn't easy.
—
That's why Andrew Vontz started https://www.onerealvoice.com/, to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and in the internal & external high-stakes, open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won.
—
When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to [email protected]. 
-----
—
With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required.
-----
—
Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com. 
-----
—
JOIN US:
—
Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/
—
One Real Voice - narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts & high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com
—
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod
—
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/
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Chase Wark: https://www.instagram.com/chasethebiker/
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WUKAR Fit / Art O'Connor: https://www.instagram.com/wukarfit/
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Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter: https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/p/riding-with-friends?utm_source=publication-search
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Spencer Martin's Beyond the Peloton newsletter: https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/

Chase Wark pounds Frosted Flakes & puts in 4.5 hours on a single bottle of water in his in-laws' 15-degree garage to pass the 760 km mark -- and Kip Taylor -- on the Abandon Your Family 500 leaderboard on day 6.
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Art O'Connor, aka WUKAR Fit, strength coach to pro cycling's biggest names including Chase, World Champion Keegan Swenson and many more, reveals why Patrick Swayze is the secret to high performance on the trainer.
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Jonathan Kaplan of Riding With reveals the indoor / outdoor hybrid approach that is taking D.C. and the Abandon Your Family 500 community by storm. 
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Spence logs off to continue to horde secret miles for a big reveal on day 10.

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Andrew Vontz completes the Abandon Your Family 500, kisses Tempus Fugit goodbye, and just when you thought challenge season was over, drops details on the AYF Triple Crown series.
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Heads up, we've got a full-length interview with Jens Voigt as you've never heard him before coming soon, stay tuned. 
—
Follow along here for dailyish episodes here and to support this work, please become a paid subscriber of https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/. 
—
DM Andrew on Instagram and let him know how your #AFY500 is going and anything you'd like us to cover in our daily updates. 
—
-----
The media landscape has changed. Scripted is out. Real is in. Being a great podcast guest or host + being able to rock in dynamic, unscripted contexts isn't optional. It's now a mandatory skill for senior leaders, and doing it right isn't easy.
—
That's why Andrew Vontz started https://www.onerealvoice.com/, to help industry leaders thrive on podcasts, panels and in the internal & external high-stakes, open-ended conversations where reputations are built and business is won.
—
When you're ready to be great, DM https://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod or reach out to [email protected]. 
-----
—
With over $1 trillion in transactions to date, Blockchain.com is your trusted partner on your crypto journey. Go to Blockchain.com to get started today, no experience required.
-----
—
Lauf is the Apple of bike design and they make elegant products that just work better than everything else. Check them out at www.laufcycles.com. 
-----
—
JOIN US:
—
Andrew Vontz's Choose the Hard Way newsletter: https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/
—
One Real Voice - narrative, strategy and coaching for podcasts & high-stakes conversations: http://www.onerealvoice.com
—
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hardwaypod
—
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvontz/
—
Chase Wark: https://www.instagram.com/chasethebiker/
—
WUKAR Fit / Art O'Connor: https://www.instagram.com/wukarfit/
—
Jonathan Kaplan's Riding With newsletter: https://ridingwithkaplan.substack.com/p/riding-with-friends?utm_source=publication-search
—
Spencer Martin's Beyond the Peloton newsletter: https://beyondthepeloton.substack.com/