🥇 MEDAL MONDAY

How could I not be inspired to Dodge the Norm this week after watching 23,000 people crush the LA Marathon yesterday? My wife and I live just three blocks from Hollywood Blvd, and our first friend, Eric, was flying by at a 6:50/mile pace—so we had to hustle to our spot by 8 AM (good thing we’re morning people). His last name is Betts, so I think I nailed this sign. What do you think?

We posted up and waited for about eight more friends to pass us. Being a regular at run clubs around Los Angeles, I had a solid crew running this race—friends who trained long and hard through winter’s chill and those frustrating early sunsets.

You’re probably wondering… Dodge, have you ever run a marathon? Yes. Yes, I have.

Back in 2017, I was invited to be a Charlotte Marathon ambassador. Along with 12 other runners, we promoted the race throughout the year at various events and through social media. With such a strong support group, I figured—why not take on my first full marathon? Half marathons have always been my sweet spot (still are to this day), but I toed the line in November 2017, ready to tackle 26.2 miles across Charlotte. What followed was the longest five hours of my life.

Here’s where things went sideways. I trained for this race in the dead heat of a Southern summer—high temps, humidity through the roof, and more sweat than I could count. But three days before race day? Winter decided to crash the party. The starting temp was a brutal 32 degrees. I was completely unprepared for the cold. I overdressed, wasted energy early, and ended up bonking at mile 12… with 14 miles to go.

I’ll spare you the grueling three-hour details, but let’s just say it involved a lot of walking and a whole lot of “I’m never doing this again.”

But here’s the thing—I finished. And once you cross that finish line, no one can take that away from you. Aaron Dodge, you are a marathoner. It’s a badge of honor I wear proudly.

Want to know what made that day even more memorable? At the finish line, my sister told me she was pregnant. I was so dehydrated, yet somehow, I had enough water in my body for a river of tears.

I know exactly how everyone felt at the LA Marathon yesterday—the pride, the accomplishment, the knowledge that they did something only 1% of the world’s population has ever done.

If that’s not Dodging the Norm, I don’t know what is.

🦅 JACKIE & SHADOW: Feel Good News 📰 

This past week, I found myself locked in on what I consider one of the most important news stories of the week. No, not the tanking stock market. I’m talking about Jackie & Shadow—the country’s most beloved bald eagle couple.

These two have captured America’s heart as they recently welcomed three little eaglets into the world. Their nest, live-streamed on YouTube by Friends of Big Bear Valley since 2021 (which is actually wild), has had over 80,000 people tuning in at once.

They’ve been battling some intense snowstorms, and watching mom and dad work tirelessly to keep their babies warm has been nothing short of inspiring.

If you’re looking for a break from all the chaos in the world, this is your sign to check out the most wholesome reality show in existence. And if you’re not in the mood to pay for another streaming service? Congratulations, you just found yourself a free subscription to National Geographic.

Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.

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 💭 MY FINAL THOUGHT 💭 

A few weeks ago, my wife and I took a trip to South Carolina to surprise my sister for her 40th birthday (YouTube vlog here!). But what’s really been on my mind since that trip? Natural pools.

I’ve been intrigued by this concept for about a year now, but after seeing my parents' friend's fully functional, chemical-free, natural pool, I’m officially obsessed.

Mike Turner—the guy who built it—worked with a retired SeaWorld pool constructor to bring it to life. Unlike the typical murky natural ponds you might picture, this thing looked just like a regular swimming pool, except it was filled with natural water and zero chemicals. The secret to keeping the algae low and the water crystal clear? Goldfish. From Petco. That’s it.

Since then, I’ve been down a deep Natural Pool YouTube rabbit hole, trying to figure out exactly what it will take to get one in my backyard someday.

Looks like I’ll be crushing my sales calls this week—because now, more than ever, I need that natural pool dream to become a reality.

Go crush your week too and Dodge the Norm!  

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