MILTON — Josh Holladay was a two-pack-a-day smoker for 10 years.
The Milton resident, born and bred in Munson, said he also battled drug and alcohol addiction in his youth.
“My whole life, I never achieved anything,” he said.
Three years ago, he decided to make a change. He quit smoking and took up running.
What a difference a few years make.
Next month, Holladay will face his biggest running challenge: the Wildcat 100, a 100-mile race at the Pensacola Equestrian Center. The 40-hour endeavor amounts to 40 laps around a 2.5 mile course.
QUITTING SMOKING, NOT RACES
Holladay said three years ago, when he was 26, he saw a flier for a 5k starting at the Blackwater Bistro in Milton.
He said his father, Jack Holladay, jokingly said he couldn’t complete a 5k. So, Josh accepted the challenge. He quit smoking and started training.
Finishing that 5k, he said, was “an accomplishment (he) never felt before.”
The next day, Holladay said he began training for a 10k.
“I haven’t run a short race since,” he said.
Holladay shares his life and races on social media through Facebook and Instagram, under username @feralrunner.
For two years he had been inadvertently promoting his Altra running gear, so he said when the company accepted him as an ambassador he had a track record of supporting its products.
As an ambassador, Holladay said Altra sponsors his races and provides gear, but no other monetary compensation.
Last year, he signed up for a 50-mile race called Bear Bait at Bear Lake in Milton, but Altra let him know about another 50-mile race in Tennessee. So, he said he ran the one in Tennessee in 22 degree weather and two weeks later ran Bear Bait.
By contrast, his last 50-mile race was in South Florida at Fort Clinch in 98 degree heat.
Halfway through, he said, he called his family because he was ready to quit. But his daughter, London Mae, now 3 years old, told him to bring home a medal — so he pushed and finished the last 26 miles.
He and his wife, Megan, also have a 9-month-old named Doc.
TRAINING FOR THE LONGEST RUN
Despite the numerous races he’s previously run, Holladay knows the Wildcat 100 is twice the distance of the longest race he’s ever finished.
To that end, he’s focused on training in three areas: nutrition, heat and darkness.
When he started running, Holladay said he had to double his caloric intake and protein. For a 100-mile race, he said he’s had to go to a quadruple level.
Since the run will be during peak hours of the day, Holladay said he’s worked on being able to tolerate the heat as he moves.
He typically has 15 pounds of gear with him, including food and water.
Finally, Holladay must consider the mental aspect of running in the dark. Shorter races, Holladay said he’s found to be more competitive, but in longer ones, runners just want to see each other finish.
However, since the Wildcat 100 lasts 40 hours, Holladay said he’ll see the 2.5-mile loop course partly in the dark.
“At some point, you’re not going to see people,” he said.
LIVING THE DREAM
Holladay said quitting his old habits has led to happiness.
When he started running, “Everything started to fall into place,” he said.
For instance, he met his wife when she was asking him about trails.
Further, the self-described “milk man,” said his workplace, Winn-Dixie — where he’s a department lead over frozen food and dairy — has supported his efforts.
“He’s a high performer and a self starter,” Erik Patterson, Holladay’s manager at Winn-Dixie, said. “That’s the kind of person you want around. He’s a leader in the store. Others come to him. He’s real helpful.”
Patterson said he’s offered Holladay a promotion but he didn’t take it.
“I think he does the job he does now because he’s comfortable maintaining work-life balance. Not everybody wants to sacrifice their personal time.”
Holladay said when he ran two 50-mile races back to back he had to come into work the next day, and he finished that shift. However, he said Patterson told him he needs extra time off after his future races to recover.
“The community has my back in Milton,” he said.
So, what’s next?
Holladay said two races he wants to run are the Cottonmouth 100 and the Barkley.
The Cottonmouth 100 takes place on several Florida hiking trails including the Juniper Creek Trail, the Jackson Red Ground Trail, the Hutton Trail, and the Wiregrass Trail, with connector trails to Bear Lake and Karick Lake, according to the Ultra Sign Up website.
The Barkley, a Tennessee-based 100-mile race, features four 25-mile loops, with every other loop run in reverse. There is no set map for the race, either. Runners receive the map when they arrive for the race.
“Barkley is going to happen,” Holladay said.
But Holliday said his biggest goal is to inspire others. He hopes will “get just one person off the couch.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton runner turns life around, inspires others