He Quit Drinking—and Ran 256 Miles Across Arizona | Kiefer's Journey | EP221

Step into Episode 221 of On The Delo as Delo sits down with Keifer Gilbert - a tattooed small-town Arizona kid turned elite craft bartender turned sober ultra runner - for one of the most honest, raw, and inspiring conversations the show has delivered. From getting fired from Applebee's reeking of Jäger at 20, to helping launch Counterintuitive cocktail bar, to blacking out nightly while raising a newborn, Keifer's story is a masterclass in rock bottom, reinvention, and what it actually takes to do hard things sober.They cover the Phoenix and Scottsdale hospitality scene in depth - Cashmere, Cowboy Chow, Bitter & Twisted, Counterintuitive - and then pivot into the real story: how sobriety on Christmas Day 2018 led to Keifer trading shots for trail running and ultimately finishing the Cocodona 250, a 256.3-mile race from Black Canyon City to downtown Flagstaff with 37,000 ft of elevation gain in 108 hours. If you've ever struggled to let go of an identity that no longer serves you, or wondered if it's too late to become someone new, this episode will hit different.Chapter Guide (Timestamps):(0:17 - 1:25) Ep 221 Intro: Consistency, Repetition & Being a Little Psychotic(1:26 - 6:23) Getting Started: Flagstaff, Applebee's, Getting Fired, and One Semester at GCU(6:24 - 9:37) Landing at Cashmere & Cowboy Chow - Finding His Footing in Fine Dining(9:38 - 12:36) Counterintuitive: 32 Seats, 12 Hours of Prep, 8 Hours of Service - Craft Cocktails Done Right(12:37 - 17:20) Life at Bitter & Twisted: Long Shifts, Late Nights at Tally Ho, and a Body Falling Apart(17:21 - 19:26) Identity, Blackouts, and the Bar Industry's Dark Side(19:27 - 23:59) Sobriety: Christmas Day 2018, Cooper at 6 Months, and the Decision That Changed Everything(24:00 - 27:30) 8 Years Sober: The Emotional Lightning Rod Phase, the Three-Year Switch, and Life Today(27:31 - 29:01) From Jiu Jitsu to COVID Runs: How Ultra Running Accidentally Took Over(29:02 - 35:00) Cocodona 250: The Race, the Prep, the First Day Disaster, and 30,000 Calories Burned(35:01 - 40:18) What 256 Miles Does to Your Identity - And Cam Haines Cheering From the Trail(40:19 - 44:30) What's Next: Front-End Developer, USCA Certified Ultra Coach, and What Keifer Promotes(44:31 - 46:20) Rapid Fire: Climbs vs. Downhills, Warrant vs. Ratt, Bears on Mingus Mountain & More👉 If Keifer's story of sobriety, grit, and running through the Arizona backcountry resonated with you, hit Subscribe for more honest conversations on health, hospitality, and living fully.💬 Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway and share this with someone who needs a reminder that reinvention is always on the table.📺 Check out Keifer’s Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKeiferMadnessPodcast🔗 Connect with DELO: https://linktr.ee/iamthedelo💡 Entrepreneur Community: https://www.builtdifferentcommunity.com 📚 Grab DELO’s Free eBook: https://toastability-production.s3.amazonaws.com/iiaxm3o0iqiawpe96g9o5efki5gh📲 DELO’s Preferred Business Service Partners: https://iamthedelo.com/connect📋 Restaurant Resources: https://www.runningrestaurants.com/subscribe DISCOUNT CODE: DeLo2025