The Runner Spotlight for March is on Nathan Bolling, a self-described “huge hockey fan!” In addition to watching the sport with his family, Nathan stays active “playing in a mens rec. league 2-3 nights a week.” He says, “I started playing hockey when I was about 13 years old and have been in love with it since … My 5 year old son is skating and is soon to play, I’m looking forward to getting into coaching in some capacity in the near future!”
Looking for a sport to supplement his time on the ice, Nathan started running “a mile or so a few evenings a week in the summer of 2021.” His primary goal was to lose weight and—although he ran fewer than 50 miles over the course of that first year—his interest in the sport continued to grow.
Nathan says: “The summer of 2023 was when I focused more on running and signed up for my first ever race! Since my first ever 5k race in ’23, I was hooked.” In 2024, Nathan’s New Year’s resolution was “to finish two 5k races…every month of the year.” He discovered Bishop’s Events in January and, by May, was finishing six races in a month. At the end of 2024, Nathan clocked 57 completed events and almost 400 miles! He now runs 95% of his races with Bishop’s Events and says, “In 2025 I have a personal goal to run 5+ Bishop’s events every month.” As Nathan continues to develop speed at the 5k distance (earning PRs both times he ran his favorite course—Hains Point), he has started to look ahead “to a 10k at some point, but the ultimate goal is to one day run the Grand Teton half marathon or the Zion half marathon!”
Nathan keeps returning to Bishop’s Events for a lot of reasons, including “the welcoming staff and runners;” “collecting all of my finishers medals and seeing my collection grow;” and “check[ing] out new places where the races are held that I otherwise wouldn’t ever really get out to see.” He says, “There’s just something about running a race that feels really mentally rewarding … My favorite part of the race would probably be crossing the finish line because at that point I’m usually gassed out, but it makes me feel accomplished so I always find myself coming back to do it again!”
“Running has changed my life both mentally and physically in a huge positive way,” Nathan continues. “Since I started running back in 2021 I have lost over 60 lbs, I am able to do so much more physically now than I could compared to pre-2021. Before losing the weight I had struggled with some daily routines let alone running a mile without stopping. I am now able to get through 3-4 miles at a time without stopping! Although 60 lbs is a lot, I still haven’t hit my target weight loss goal, working my way to lose another 45 lbs. Running sure has helped me stay on the right road to get there. Running also really helps clear my mind when I’m out there somewhere on a course!” We look forward to seeing Nathan at our future events as he works toward his fitness goals! Come chat running and hockey with him during your next race.