A Vessel Of Persistence

In partnership with

In This Issue:

• A Vessel of Persistence | Ben Fleming's Journey

• Rapid Q&A with Ben

A Vessel of Persistence

Running has served many purposes throughout Ben’s career. But regardless of how it shifted—whether as an opportunity or a challenge—running was always the vessel that showcased his steady persistence and belief. It was a teacher of gratitude, of humility, and of hard work. Lastly, it was a calling: to take a chance on what’s possible, even when the circumstances suggested otherwise.

It began as a "family tradition" that inspired him to run for Virginia Tech, following in the footsteps of his father and sister. Their journeys are what led him to evolve his original aspirations of being a soccer player and discover his love for running.

From there, it became an opportunity: the chance to earn a walk-on spot and begin his collegiate career at Virginia Tech, just as he had once hoped. Even when surrounded by teammates who were much faster and training harder than he ever had before, Ben wasn’t deterred. In fact, he embraced the challenge, deciding to put his head down and rely on the pure grit that got him there in the first place.

Running was the vehicle that revealed his work ethic as he rose through the NCAA ranks to become a multi-time ACC champion and All-American by his senior year at VT. But despite the moments of success, the sport also brought times of frustration, doubt, and pain, as Ben suffered four major injuries during his graduate year at the University of North Carolina.

Running even became an abandoned dream. Feeling uncertain about his future in the sport after so many injuries, Ben set running aside as a pursuit of the past, allowing it to take a backseat as he pivoted toward a career in professional triathlon. Yet, after two years, it became clear that running remained his true passion. After finding coaches Joan and Marc Hunter and a group to train with in Boulder, he decided to return to the sport and give it one more shot.

Ben has rededicated himself to running for the last five months, with his eyes set on new PRs for the upcoming indoor and outdoor track seasons. Returning to the sport at an elite level has required a lot of patience and trust. Through this process and the lessons learned during his time in triathlon, Ben has reframed his perspective on success. Instead of relying solely on the "grit and grind," he’s now all about the small wins, prioritizing the compounding potential of "stacking average days" over chasing a few outstanding ones.

Ready to dial in a system where progress compounds with consistency? Ben is now accepting 1:1 athletes.

Rapid Q&A with Ben

1. What’s your favorite race you’ve ever competed in?

   In my 5th year at Virginia Tech, we hosted the ACC Conference Championship for the indoor season. My entire family, including some of my extended family, and just about all of my friends came out to watch. I raced the DMR and the 3k, but the DMR at that meet has been my favorite race I’ve ever competed in. We were the underdogs and ended up winning. I led us off on the 1200 leg of the relay and the whole race was packed with so much drama. That was also my first ACC title, and to do it at home was really special. 

2. If you could only run one specific route for the rest of your life, where would it be?

   Trying to answer this question is torture. But I would have to say the Boulder Res loop.

3. Who’s the best person to go on an easy run with?

   Would have to be my brother in Christ, Austen. He’s a phenomenal encourager and we just chop it up about real stuff, time flies for sure and he doesn’t push the pace… usually. Honorable mention is Rachael, any chance I can run easy with her, it’s also a great time.

4. What’s the most valuable piece of advice a coach has given you?

   I have been so blessed with some incredibly wise coaches in my lifetime. But the quote that comes to mind the most is from my UNC coach, Chris Miltenberg. He said, “The best runners can have a bad workout or race, and still believe they’re great. They adjust and learn, and it adds to their confidence, it doesn’t defeat it.” Confidence has always been a cornerstone for me in my running journey, so this definitely hit home. Understanding that not all days will be perfect, but there is always something to gain. 

5. Any hot takes?

   Humidity is more challenging to run in than altitude. 

   The right sock can be more important than the right shoe.

What do these names have in common?

• Arnold Schwarzenegger

• Codie Sanchez

• Scott Galloway

• Colin & Samir

• Shaan Puri

• Jay Shetty

They all run their businesses on beehiiv. Newsletters, websites, digital products, and more. beehiiv is the only platform you need to take your content business to the next level.

🚨Limited time offer: Get 30% off your first 3 months on beehiiv. Just use code PLATFORM30 at checkout.

Start building for 30% off today.