Jack Wilson: the conversation

Mornings in the Lab · Interview transcript

Someone told you what you couldn't be. A teacher, a coach, a doctor reading a chart. You remember exactly where you were standing. That voice doesn't fade. It just moves to the back of the room, and it speaks up every time you reach for something bigger. Most people build their lives around that voice. They stay inside the line someone else drew for them. Jack Wilson was born weeks early, under two pounds. Both lungs collapsed. Before he could take his first breath, the chart already had a verdict. That kid ran all the way to a track scholarship, the Olympic marathon trials, and 200 marathons. They said he'd never be an athlete. At 8, he ran his first mile at YMCA camp in 748. He still has the blue ribbons. In 2021, he entered the Moab 240, an ultramarathon through the Utah desert. At mile 140, his kidneys started shutting down. The desert won. He came back the next year, carried an engagement ring in his shorts for 240 miles. At the finish line, all 10 toenails gone. He couldn't stand. He got on one knee and proposed. She had to help him back up. If someone once told you what you'd never be, this conversation is for you. Jack, welcome to Mornings in the Lab. It's good to sit down with you. >> Honey, who was born under two lbs. He was told he'd never be an athlete. Then he ran 240 miles, proposed at the finish line. Let's bring him up, Jimmy. Jack Wilson this morning on Mornings in the Lab with Keith, John, and Friends. What's up, Jack? >> Hey, Jack. What's up, brother? >> Hey, good morning, guys. Thank you for the opportunity. Looking forward to it. >> Yeah. Where are you joining us from today Jack? >> I live in Harpsswwell, Maine on an island. >> Oh, on a on an island. >> You can take a You can take a bridge to the island. So, you don't have to boat it, but it's still an island. >> Yeah. Tell me. I I love the water. Tell me about your island. How big is it? >> Well, so it it's its claim to fame, John, is it's a working waterfront. So chances are if anyone out there eats lobster, it's probably a good a good chance that it's coming from this little village called Harpswwell. So, yeah, I I think permanent residence is under 3,000 >> and then and then because we're getting ready to hit the the tourist season, this thing will will blow up to, you know, 8 10,000 people >> and then, you know, everyone wants to come eat lobsters, look at the bald eagles and seals and all of that stuff. >> Oh, yeah. >> Is it like is it promise most of like M Paws or do you have like chains that have come in there? No, it we're we're we're 100% mom and pop. >> That is That is There's one little gas station on the island, I think. >> And no subways. >> Oh [ __ ] No. >> Perfect. >> Oh, perfect, dude. Oh my god. Sounds like a [ __ ] paradise. I came I came up here during during CO was going through a divorce after 36 years and and I just I was coming up here really to train for a race and got kind of surprised on the on the whole divorce thing and just fell in love not only with my with the the girl that I met after my divorce but with just how beautiful it is up here. Amazingly, stunningly beautiful. >> Yeah. Yeah. Jack and John with Keith Bill this morning on Mornings in the Lab. Jack, you said something that I I I'm sorry. >> Real quick, have have Jimmy or somebody put in the back pull up some some pictures or a video of this island. I >> Yeah, I agree. Jimmy, if you can find So, where's that Jack? What's What's it called again? >> Harpsell Maine. >> Harpsell Maine. Jimmy, if you can find that for us and throw it out, that'd be great because I do have to ask a question. Jack, my brother here is is great with words. Johnny is I've never heard somebody who listens as well as John. Picks everything up. But, but I pick something up too every now and then, Mr. Anderson. And Jack, you said something which I'm confused about. Okay, >> you're on an island, but it has a bridge. But that is not an island. >> Yes, it is. You weirdo. >> What is wrong with you? An island can't have a bridge. >> Thank you, John. >> [ __ ] Don't listen to this guy. He's [ __ ] nutty as a fruit cake, dude. >> Jesus Christ. He tries to make these [ __ ] arguments and they're so [ __ ] dumb. It's unbelievable. H. However, Keith, we do have many islands for you guys that want to take a [ __ ] boat. And >> Okay, there you go. Thank you. That's I want the real island, Jack. I don't want to pretend that. >> There's a So, an island that you can get to on a bridge or an island that you have to get there on a boat. They're both [ __ ] islands, you weirdo. It's >> true. It's connected to nothing other than the bridge. >> I just like to get reactions out of my brother, Jack. Hey, Jack. So you also said something 36 years of marriage e would you mind sharing with us like then you went through a divorce that's a long time brother and this we know our show for men we know it's funny because you know the title of today's show is that that sucks day why men struggle to admit failure and if you wouldn't mind maybe leaning into that like 36 years man and then all of a sudden it's time for a change. Yeah. Third 36 years. I mean, you know, the the honesty is and for people out there that are either going through the initial phases or have gone through it, you know, that you're you're you know, it's not a when it happened, it should have happened probably 10 or 15, you know, and and it for me it was I'm literally a victim of COVID in the sense that I was a, you know, a business executive, three million mileer on Delta, lived in Atlanta, you know, so I was I was literally for 20 years a part-time husband and a part-time father. >> I would be gone all weekend, sometimes for weeks at a time. >> Yeah. >> And then come home and do that weekend warrior, you know, get my fix of of being a a father and a and a h >> husband. And then when COVID hit, you know, we were all [ __ ] forced together for some period of time that no one knew, right? It was like unknown how long this was going to last. Yeah. And I was I was not prepared quite honestly to to just be in that environment. And so it it kind of compounded and then I got this this consulting gig in Paris out of all out of all things. We're we're six months into co and this French guy because I used to live in Paris speak French and and he said you know hey we're going to launch a company after CO and we would really like your expertise on on helping us get there. So, I thought it was a consulting engagement that we could do like this over Zoom, but the crazy French had a different idea and they said, "No, no, no. We want you in the office." And I said, "Guys, it's a global pandemic going on. What are you talking about?" They said, "No, no, we'll get you a a special visa." And I thought, "Well, it's the French, you know, it'll take them for [ __ ] year to figure this out." And they and they and they figured it out within two weeks. I thought I thought, "Shit, man. I'm going to Paris in the middle of a pandemic. So, go to the airport in Atlanta, get on the big airplane that maybe had 10 people on it. So, that was just a mind-blowing experience. Fly into Charles de Gaul completely empty. >> Yeah. >> And get a taxi. And so, anyway, I worked with these guys for two months and my my then wife said, "Hey, listen, man. Our shit's kind of going sideways. Why don't we take these? You're going to be gone two months. when you come back, it's going to be the start of like summer break. So, she's got two and a half months off. So, let's take this four and a half months. You do you. I'm going to do me. We never talk about whatever happened during that four and a half months and then let's decide at the end of it like real adults if we're going to stay married or not. I thought it was a fant I thought it was a fantastic idea. So the whole time I'm in Paris, I've got this vision of Boys Gone Wild, you know, I'm gonna be Ma Matthew McConna, you know, s bongo drums, beach, you know, doing all that [ __ ] >> And I just couldn't figure out where I'm going to go with this newfound freedom. So I'm within two days of leaving Paris, can't figure it out. And I get that phone call from that friend that everyone has that you speak to twice a year. And as soon as you speak to him, it's like you're best friends again. So I'm in Paris. I get the phone call and it's my buddy Bob Davis. And Bob's like, "Jack, what's going on?" I said, "Hey man, I might be going through a divorce." And he said, "I'm heads down into one. I've come up to my cottage in Maine and let's chill out." So I'm like, "Okay, I'm going to Maine and I was going to be here for six weeks." So I come home, my kids, my wife, we set them down, tell them what's going on. They helped me pack my RV and I'm up here for about three weeks and I get I get sucker punched by that knock on the RV door and I got served divorce papers. >> Oh yeah. >> And it completely changed my my life, who I was, who I am now. It was it was painful. It was embarrassing. >> Hey, why did brother Why did you feel like it was a sucker punch? Yeah, because because we had the agreement that that you know, hey, we we were going to take this this time because the timeline wasn't up yet. I got >> Yeah, the timeline wasn't up. And I and I think what happens is, you know, she got with all the girlfriends in the afternoon drinking wine and, you know, husband bashing, so she got that shot of courage. Oh, there there there you go. There there's where I live, guys. >> Okay, good. So, I don't see a bridge. So, I do believe, John, that he lives on an island now. So, thank you. So, I think Jimmy erased the bridge. John, don't [ __ ] shake your head at me, brother. No, don't don't don't don't shake your head at your husband, Johnny. You, Jack and Keith and John, >> you know what? You're you're you're you're not even my husband. You're just you're just a whipping post. >> You're you're workwise. >> Yeah. You're you're just you're you're I don't even know there's a word. You're there's like a you're like my squab. You're like the little You're like the little fat, you know, person in the goddamn tribe that walks around and does this [ __ ] that I don't want to do. >> There's his house. There's Jack's house there in Harpsville, Maine. That's it. That's awesome. >> Which is the big island? Is that the one you're talking about, brother? There's There was a few of them. >> There there there are I mean, guys, there are hundreds of islands. >> Oh, yeah. Really? >> That Yeah. I mean, there are so many islands here. Most of them are are not in inhabited. So all all of these are just little islands out in the ocean. That that big one there is probably inhabited. Can't really >> There's some islands that might only have a few hundred people on them. >> That's pretty cool, man. That's that's >> There are some islands, guys, that have like three people on them. You know, they build these they build the houses and you know, you can only get there. >> So they do they own the island? >> They do own the island. >> Wow. >> [ __ ] killer. >> That's awesome, man. That's awesome. So you you you can see kind of the makeup there just you know how how it's all fingered together. It's >> Oh, that's really cool, Jack. I didn't I didn't That's really cool. Thanks for sharing that with us. Let's take So John asked you a great question and and I'm I'm curious about this. You know, you're you're in your head. You're going through this process of of figuring out your lives and all of a sudden the do the knock on the door and you're you're you're you're like, "Holy [ __ ] >> Holy shit." And and the guy was so cool. He was an old guy with a straw hat and a pair of overalls, right? I mean, just remember that you remember that AJ like it was yesterday. >> You you'll never forget it, man. And so he hands me this this thick document, you know, papers, and he said he said, "Son, you might not want to open that until you're in the right mindset." And I thought, you know, what's what's he talking about? And he was so gracious because he he could see that I was like confused. Yeah. and and he said he said, "Son, whatever is in that in that document, it's not good for you." He said, "So, why don't you go out and have one more normal day before you open it?" >> And it it literally sat on my on my table for three days. I I just walked around it, looked at it, and I got into the right mindset and finally opened it. And I said, "Shit, he's right. My life is over." you know, I'm gonna have to I'm gonna have to dig into this and, you know, hire an attorney and go through all the [ __ ] And it got it just got so contentious that I never went back to Atlanta. I literally I left for for training. So, I had all of my summer clothes to run. >> Yeah. >> And I And I never went back to my to my home in Atlanta. I was so pissed off. I told my my then wife, I said, "You know what? Sell it all. I don't need any of that [ __ ] I'll start over from scratch. Wasn't the smartest move. It was one of those in in anger things. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> I mean, like literally, you know, you know, I was 55 when I went through that. >> How old do you know, Jack? How old? >> I I'll be 58 May 8th. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. Wow. >> So, all the [ __ ] that I had accumulated in life, I just let it all go. I mean, literally, >> Quick question, brother. If you were gonna take that approach by letting everything go, why where did the lawyer come into play? Is it a lawyer when you're fighting over [ __ ] >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you know, we you know, we we we were fortunate enough to have income, so we were fighting over over over stuff. >> But I mean, but you you said take it all. >> Yeah. >> Then the only thing left to fight over was the income. >> Was the income. >> I got you. Okay. >> Right. So we we we it took us about about two years of you know because attorneys all they want to do is get you guys fighting. Oh yeah. >> So they can keep billing you. >> Yes. >> You know and and and for all of you for all you attorneys out there if I'm wrong please you can direct it at me. But you know in my opinion this could have been done way easier, way cheaper. And the crazy thing is I made a very generous offer early on. Very very generous. And no, you know, her attorney was going to go for the juggler. And it turned out being at the very end of two years and spending all that money, the original offer that I had made is what we settled on, which even pisses me off more. >> Yeah, no kidding. Jack and John and Keith this morning at Mornings and Live. So, Jack, I'll say I I I I've gone through that journey as well through divorce. My attorney, shout out to Richard. Richard Pollock, awesome dude, man. Richard taught me a life lesson during my journey that I I I take to this day and I share with John often. I was going through some conversations during that journey and I was about to react to something and he said to me, he's like, "Keith, is what you're going to say going to move the conversation forward and he hit me like a [ __ ] rock?" >> And and I was like, "No, that was going to cost you another 50 grand. You sure you want to do that?" >> And and it hit me like a [ __ ] rock. I was like, "Oh, no. It's not going to move it forward." He says, "And why are you going to say it?" And and man, that just that that hangs with me to this day because because I learned I learned I saved a bunch of money to John's point with him teaching me that because I was about to say something and he's like, "But Keith, it's not going to move it forward." He's like, "It's not going to move anything forward, so why even bother articulating it?" I was like, "Holy [ __ ] man." That was and I was Johnny was like 46, 47. Jack, that was a life lesson. understand before I adopted Keith, he was a very reactive little sucker. >> Yeah, it's true. Actually, yeah, >> I had to teach him to stop reacting. He was very reactive. >> He's absolutely very right. 100%. >> I think I think now I understand our relationship better. >> I had to adopt you to set to there's that's I had to teach you the ways. >> You're even wearing the shirt. You're even wearing the shirt. Dominate, man. That's >> There we go. Yeah. So, we have a great relationship. Yeah. I spend my time in the in the camp cooking. John's out there getting getting the animals for us. That That's Keith and John's relationship. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> So, let's get serious, brother. You You run the Moab 240. You ended in an ambulance. Your kidneys are shutting down. Flashing two thumbs up to Melissa from the stretcher. And then, but you didn't finish. But then you came back and you finished. brother, that is not a lot of people would do that. Why'd you do that? >> I I think because man, and and I'm going to go back to being eight years old and having, you know, that kind of adversity. >> Yeah. >> I Well, so when I didn't finish the race and I spent six hours in the hospital, what I did when I got out is I told my crew, I said, "Hey, take me to the finish line." And they said, "Why the hell do you want to do that?" And I said, 'Ive got to see this with my own eyes, right? I I' I need to see someone do this. And the very first person I saw come across finish line was a lady probably in her early 60s, maybe a 100 pounds with the biggest [ __ ] smile I had ever seen on a human. And then the second person to finish was a guy about the size of John. He was six foot two, over 200 pounds. So none, neither one of these individuals looked like me and I saw it. So I went up to the race director, you know, hobbled up and I said, "Hey, I'm in for next year." And so I had a year to train and to and it was and and as a as a as an adult, you know, at the time I was 56 57 56. That whole year I knew I could do it, but when I showed up for that race, I was scared. I mean, like a a grown man. I don't know anybody listening or you guys, when's the last time as an adult that you actually had fear, right? It it really doesn't happen. >> And you without a >> I'm sorry. Broke up. Go ahead, brother. Sorry. >> Yeah. >> Go ahead, Jack. >> I'm sorry about that connection, guys. >> That's okay. Go ahead. You're finish. I I I just knew there was Yeah. There was no way to finish that race without a a a sizable amount of discomfort. So, I I just really leaned in to the to the to the suffering of it. And and I was going to ask Melissa to marry me. She No one knew this but me. So, I carried that [ __ ] ring for 240 miles. And whenever I wanted to quit, which was many, many times. I mean, when when when you run these races, picture >> it was 240. It was 240 miles. >> 240 miles. >> How long did that take you? >> It It's a timed event. You have 114 hours to figure it out. >> Yeah. So, I I made it I made it I made it in 96 hours. >> God damn it. I mean that's some interesting strategy too. [ __ ] >> that's your face watching the math in your face you're like 240 miles. Yeah that's a timed event and you can see the math. >> I'm sitting here thinking [ __ ] how does somebody stay on his feet for that long? >> I know. So everybody you know the questions are you know so do you sleep? >> Yeah >> and the answer is if you have to. So the first day because you start in the if anyone's been to Moab, you actually start in downtown Moab and then you head out towards the towards the desert, right? That first day is 100% exposure in the middle of [ __ ] nothing but rocks desert rattlesnakes just complete exposure >> really to >> Are you Are you on like a trail or a road? >> All trail. 100% trail. >> Oh, [ __ ] So you're you're having you've got these poles, you know, you're going up down. Actually, the the vert the vertical climb and Moab is 36,000 ft. So over over the period of that race, >> we we we ran to the top of Mount Everest and down. That was the theation. >> Jesus Murphy. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So So you got you got poles like to keep just to keep you up. So you could be running or kind of speed walking. >> Yeah. Well, yeah. It's it's for a old guy like me, it's it's a mix of >> running, walking, speed walking, and then when you get tired, it's called a trail nap. You literally, so picture you're on this trail that is, you know, it's big enough for you. So left and right is, you know, nothingness. And when you're tired, you just literally face plan in the dirt for maybe 15 minutes. And that 15 minutes feels like eight hours of rim sleep. That's how exhausted you are. And so when you get up, you literally have no concept of time because you're delirious, right? I mean, you're [ __ ] tired. Sleep deprivation. And then you just get up and you just keep going forward. I mean, it is it is by far the most challenging mental. People always say physical. The physical, you know, the first thing to go is you say, "Oh, I got a blister. You know, my foot hurts." All that [ __ ] happens, but it's the mental thing to say, "Fuck it, man. I saw that lady and that guy. I saw them finish." And that literally was in the back of my mind. I'm like, "What do they have that I don't have?" And you know, that first time it was just it was mental. And that's all you you guys think about it. And this is not just crazy Jack hyping people up, but the [ __ ] that that goes on here can either impact you in a positive way totally or a negative way. And it's up to you to decide how you handle >> Bro, you you just [ __ ] summed up everyday life right there. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> But I mean, the only sound the only thing that those two people had that you didn't after talking to you, you got the mental fortitude. They just had some kidneys that decided to stay on track. I I ran out of water that first one and I and I ran eight miles with no water and that was the thing that that got me. for O's now.