Episode 160: Steve Gilbert - If You're Not Sure You Can't, You Probably Can

Steve Gilbert is an 80-year-old, two-time Boston Marathon finisher and one of the most inspiring people I've ever had the pleasure of sitting down with. Steve was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2004 — the same year he was forced into early retirement and diagnosed with prostate cancer. He could have accepted the "go home and take your medication" prescription. He didn't - and has since completed seven marathons.Thank you to Alan Errichiello for connection to Steve!During this episode, sponsored by Cure Hydration and Noogs, we talk about:Being told "this is the best you'll ever be" at 59 — and choosing to ignore itHow a prosecutor, a Golden Gloves boxer, and a borrowed gym space became Rock Steady Boxing — now a worldwide movement for people with Parkinson'sHis very first Indy Mini in 1979 — because his wife said soTraining through winters, falls, and a fall outside a Kroger on 116th Street (with a DoorDash driver as the first responder)His first marathon finish at the 2011 Monumental — complete with the Rocky theme playing as he turned onto the finish stretch 🎵"You've got a soggy butt" — the PT diagnosis that changed his running foreverWorking with coach Matt Ebersole of Personal Best Training since 2014Why Saturday mornings with the Fishers Running Club get him out the door every weekMedals4Mettle — the Indianapolis-born program that gives earned race medals to seriously ill children, and why Steve donated his very first marathon medalRunning the Drake Relays 800-meter invitational in Des Moines — his first and only track race, with 10,000 people in the standsHow his wife had the idea to celebrate Steve's 80th birthday in Boston 🎉Running Boston 2025 as a para-athlete (T38), setting a Boston PR at age 80, AND qualifying for 2027Running a Parkinson's 5K the weekend after Boston and the 50th Indy Mini 12 days laterRaising awareness for the Red Tulip Association for Parkinson's — every 24 seconds, someone in the world is diagnosedWhy age group categories at races need to catch up with the runners who keep showing upHis mantra: counting one, two, three — a tip from Coach Matt to keep his gait even and his mind focusedNext finish line: the Carmel 10K with his son, who got inspired at Boston and downloaded a training plan that same week 🏅Previous Guests MentionedMatt Ebersole - Episode 89Alan Errichiello - Episode 111Sponsor DetailsCure Hydration - Use ALLYB for 20% offNoogs - Use ALLYB for 15% off your first order + free shipping on 2+ cartons (lower 48 only)Other LinksFollow me on Instagram @allytbrett_runsSubscribe to Finish Lines & Milestones weekly newsletterThis is a SandyBoy Productions podcast.