Win Today

#212 | Breaking Ribbons Round 3: The 200 Mile Journey Across South Carolina

• Ryan A. Cass • Season 5

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On December 4th, I’ll run over 200 miles across South Carolina to raise a goal of at least $20,000 for families battling cancer through Breaking Ribbons, an initiative born from deep personal loss and a desire to do hard things for those going through even harder things. This challenge isn’t about running—it's about choosing voluntary suffering to serve those who don’t have that choice. Tune in, share the mission, and ask yourself: what hard thing is calling you?

3 Key Takeaways:

  • Voluntary suffering can become a vessel for healing and hope.
  • Breaking Ribbons honors loved ones lost and supports those still in the fight.
  • When you move with purpose, your pain creates impact far beyond yourself.

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Speaker 1:

Do hard things. Help one person, be good and do good, live a life of discipline and you will always win. You have all the tools that you need to succeed. Welcome to win today. Thank you so much for tuning in. My name is Ryan Cass and I am your host. My purpose in this world is to help push people further and harder than they believe possible and become unshakable in what matters most to them in their lives. Every week, you're going to learn from either myself or a renowned expert in their field and we're going to unveil pieces of our playbook to help you win today. Please, if you love this show, subscribe and share it with somebody that will benefit from it. Let's dig in and share it with somebody that will benefit from it. Let's dig in. To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.

Speaker 1:

That's one of my favorite quotes from Steve Prefontaine, and I know that my running friends will certainly recognize that name. But for those that don't, steve or he is better known by Pre for Prefontaine. But Pre was one of the most decorated and revered track and field athletes ever, and he was known for his very gritty racing style. Steve often broke the norms that you need to go out and pace yourself in a race. Steve was very much of the stance that I'm going to go out there as hard as I can and you're going to have to bleed to beat me. He has a whole slew of amazing quotes. My second favorite is the best pace is a suicide pace and today looks like a good day to die. So that describes Pri in a nutshell just very, very gritty, determined and didn't care to go for or with what the majority of the field was doing or what cultural coaching norms and best practices were, and I really resonate with the grittiness. So that's why we're starting off with him and, of course, we're going to lead into the next big challenge for 2025, the next big thing on the list, as many of you know, and as a lesson here, or something that I often preach, that can help anyone with accomplishing big things. Accomplishing your goals, achieving your vision, getting to the destination that you dream most of is to share it with somebody, write it down, put it in front of you, build a system around it and share it with people. That has been one of the enablers to why I've been able to do the things that I have in my life. It's often the most simple practice that have the most profound impact. So we are taking a page out of the playbook and announcing here, four months in advance from today, that I'll be running across the entire state of South Carolina, from Fort Mill, south Carolina my hometown, to Charleston, south Carolina. From Fort Mill, south Carolina, my hometown, to Charleston, south Carolina, beginning on December 4th. God willing, to raise money for families that have a loved one currently battling cancer.

Speaker 1:

Some of you all are familiar with Breaking Ribbons, and Breaking Ribbons is what originated as a passion project of mine to give back to those that have been impacted by some form of cancer through the sport of running, doing something hard for people that are going through something even harder and indefinite. It started off in 2023. And actually even before then. I've been running for years with a custom singlet with three ribbons on there for three people in my life that are no longer physically with us due to various forms of cancer Anita Cass, my grandmother. Noah Mayberry, a family friend from back home, and Julia Tomasovich, my best friend one of my best friend and brother Andrew, his mother, brother Andrew, his mother all no longer physically with us due to various forms of cancer, and I figured I wanted to make running, just as I do many things in life, something bigger than me and that, rather than do these really challenging quests just to see what I'm capable of and what I have inside of me, why not make it bigger and do it for that reason also, to inspire others to do the same, but even bigger than that, to help others that are going through something even more challenging. Help others that are going through something even more challenging.

Speaker 1:

The thing with these running pursuits endurance pursuits, whether it's the marathon or the death race or some of the other items, or even outside of that, whether it's high rocks, triathlons, anything through the entire training block and to the end of the race, there is a defined ending point. There is a defined point in where the pain will stop and it can be controlled, and it can be controlled on a day-to-day basis. Are you actually going to go, lace up your shoes and put in the work, or are you going to sit on the couch and make up excuses? People that are battling various forms of cancer and other illnesses. They don't have a date from a doctor that says, hey, such and such, on August 6th, you will become cancer-free and you will no longer have pain. These people are fighting day in and day out for the opportunity to beat this disease, but there is no defined point, whereas in a marathon, in a training block, there's the day that you're going to run the race and there's everything that you're going up to run the race and then after, of course, you'll be sore for a few days, but you can literally stop at any point in time.

Speaker 1:

I often think about how the things that we do and the things I choose to do, how hard they are. But, zooming out, there's always somebody in a group of people that are going through something astronomically more difficult and I want to be able to help them, and my preferred method is to do something very hard for something for people that are going through something even harder. So, breaking ribbons in a perfect world, we don't have these cancer ribbons because we have cures, and when you win a race, you see that the runner commonly breaks tape or breaks a ribbon. So that's how Breaking Ribbons was born in 2023. And I remember having that vision. Let's do something really hard.

Speaker 1:

So I decided to put out in the world that I'm going to run 100 miles on the Ravenel Bridge here in Charleston, south Carolina, 20 laps back and forth to raise money for families. That was very successful and we brought in just over $5,000 that first year and supported four families that had someone fighting the good fight In 2024, last year decided to up the ante again and go back to the bridge for 150 miles, 30 laps back and forth on the Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, south Carolina, and that brought in about $8,000. So collectively over the last two years, over $13,000 has been provided to eight families across the Southeast through the help of individuals and nonprofits that have helped identify these folks. And in 2025, what I've written down on my goal board is to run across the entire state from my hometown to my current hometown in effort to raise more money than ever raised in the last two years. So 10,000 plus, but ideally 20,000 plus, but ideally $20,000 plus in 2025. That will go to at least four more families that have a loved one fighting the good fight.

Speaker 1:

This is clearly something that scares me and I know and encourage others that if there's something that is continuing to knock on your door and it scares you a little bit, consider that a sign that that's the thing that you're intended to go and do. Don't shy away from the fear. That could be the very thing that is creating the invitation for you to go and get after it. I know for me that's one of my calling signs is, if something continues to be put on my mind and heart and I feel this magnetic draw then and a little bit of fear in there too, that's my sign that, okay, this is what we're supposed to go do next.

Speaker 1:

And as I was reflecting on last year and the bridge run, this thought kept coming up of how cool would it be to literally run across the state from where you grew up to where you live now, and along the way there's going to be hundreds of people that join you. Now I'm speaking the future into reality, or this is what's going to happen. Rather, there's going to be hundreds of different people that jump on board and join you. There's going to be hundreds of different people that jump on board and join you, and you're going to impact more families than you ever had. You're going to run further than you ever have before at a place that did so much for you at the Citadel, at your alma mater, and it's going to be one of the most memorable experiences of your life, but more so the lives that you're about to impact. And this vision kept playing in my mind of starting from the wrestling room at Fort Mill, one place that really started to change my life, to finishing at another place that has had an unthinkable impact, unimaginable impact on my life, at the Citadel Go about 200, if not a little more than 200 miles and bring a lot of people along the way.

Speaker 1:

And I know that at first I was thinking man, I'm not sure how the heck are we even going to do that? And it kept coming up and here we are, so I put it on paper and now I'm speaking it out. Route is not planned yet, a lot of things are not planned yet, but this will, god willing, be happening and I'll be running alongside my brother, edwin Martin. He is committed to run the entire distance with me, and that invitation is open for anybody that is listening, is open for anybody that is listening, and the invitation is open for people to join for one, some or all of the miles. So that's the Berlin Marathon coming up next month, in September, followed by the Chicago Marathon, followed by the Javelina 100 in Arizona, 100 miles in the desert about two weeks after Chicago, in October and then not long after that, about five weeks or so, we're going to be running across the whole state.

Speaker 1:

So if there's one request I could make, it's that there's prayers that this body stays lean, mean and strong throughout the entire process. I'm working to get in the best shape of my life right now. That was the two things I wrote down for my physical goals this year to run across the entire state and to get in the best physically fit condition ever, strongest, best endurance. All of the measures and we're we're getting there. We're certainly getting there and we're going to make this happen. So, more of the what's to be expected and more of the vision here and then, as always, with the intent to give a few tools what's to be expected and what's the vision be expected and what's the vision.

Speaker 1:

Ideally, we're going to surpass both 2023 and 2024's fundraising in one year, and I look and often visualize giving away at least $20,000 plus to at least four families, if not more, that can really use it, that don't have that definite end date as to when the pain goes away. I envision that we'll have some amazing brands that want to get behind this and help out and help spread the good word and share their powerful vision and mission behind why they do what they do, and we've got some of that in work right now as well. What I'm getting at here is that when that finish line is crossed on likely December 6th, maybe December 7th that it's not going to be just myself and Edwin that have crossed the finish line, and perhaps others that are going to be with us. There's going to be us crossing this finish line. There's going to be the powerful message of multiple brands that are being put into life through us, and we get to carry that out every step of the way. There are going to be, as a result of this, dozens of people that then make the choice to go and do something very hard for themselves, to push themselves and to honor somebody else or a cause that's important to them along the way, I envision that we're going to experience the pain cave in a whole new way and a way that we could have never imagined, and a way that is going to help us forge an even stronger friendship.

Speaker 1:

Speaking for Edwin and I and whoever's with us, I envision that we're going to have a bunch of people coming and visiting us on back roads and wherever this route takes us, because it doesn't look like we're going to be able to go straight down Highway 77 and 26. Although, if that's what it takes, that's what it takes, and we will forest gump this thing if we have to. Whatever it takes, I envision that we're going to have people that decide to join us and go further and harder than they ever have before. Further and harder than they ever have before, as a result of us choosing to live out our purpose and do something hard in service of others. I envision that this will generate an impact for not just 2025, but for decades to come, and that by doing this annual pursuit as we have since 2023 to now 2024, with 150 in 2025, that this is the invitation or the catalyst for many others to start something on an annual basis.

Speaker 1:

It is more than the miles, more than the miles. That's something that many of us in our group like to say. Between Edwin Sean, the Washed Up Coffee Club crew, what we're doing is far bigger than what our watch says. It's far bigger than the pace. It's far bigger than the distance, the calories burned. This is about changing lives and impacting generations by helping one life. We'll never truly understand the impact of our actions. Some people give you feedback that, because of what you did, they did X, y, z. Some people might not come back for years and then tell you all the things that they did because of X, y and Z. What's important is that you are clear on what it is that you really want to create in this world, regardless of if you want to help one person or 5 million.

Speaker 1:

It all starts with one and doing one thing and taking the action. This just happens to be my preferred way of doing it Going after what appears to be the most physically and mentally and emotionally, spiritually daunting tasks to help pave the way and show others what's possible of themselves when they push past the voices, and how that can then be turned into creating something incredible for our community, for our state, for our world, for our region. It starts with you. You have all the tools. There's more to come, but for now, december 4th, which is a very special date. First because, as I mentioned in the very beginning, three lives are represented on the Breaking Ribbon singlet Anita, julia and Noah ribbon singlet Anita, julia and Noah. Anita's passing date excuse me, julia's passing date is December 4th, so we get to honor Julia on December 4th and that also happens to be my 33rd birthday, and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate a new year of life than by living it on purpose.

Speaker 1:

What better gift than to give back? The best gift in this world, in my view, is to give back to help one person, is to give back to help one person to do something that's in alignment with your goals, your vision, your mission, your purpose. To get clear on what are your goals, mission, vision and purpose so that you can act in alignment with it. December 4th through December 6th, maybe 7th, we'll see At least 200 miles the breaking ribbons. 200 run across the entire state of South Carolina is going down. Run across the entire state of South Carolina is going down.

Speaker 1:

And if you listen to last week's episode about the introduction of winning is where I simply defined it as winning is living in. Rather, winning is being in constant creation in alignment with your goals. And then, in addition or under that, winning is a lot of things. Winning is doing very hard things. Winning in life, in my view, is doing very hard things in service of others, and that's what we are choosing to do and it's going to be an incredible experience are choosing to do, and it's going to be an incredible experience. If I can ask anything of y'all that are listening as you see this and see much that's going to be coming out in the media about this, is that you help share and spread the good word, in that this is what's going to impact many lives of people that are going through something far more difficult than what these 200 miles are going to bring.

Speaker 1:

We get to control our pain level. These people do not Think through that. Next time you're really struggling, as it relates to something physical, you get to control that pain lever. If you really wanted to. You can slow your pace down, you can stop, you can walk, you can crawl, you can drink water. You can bring your body back to speed. There is somebody in this world that would love to have your pain because it's controllable.

Speaker 1:

I often think about that. There is somebody in this world that would love to have your biggest quote problem the long walk from the parking lot to the grocery store. The person that doesn't have legs or is paralyzed would love to have your long walk in the 95 degree heat. The person that is battling cancer right now and is stage four and going through chemo would love nothing more than to feel the suffer that you get to go through on a hard run in the humidity. What a blessing it is to suffer, to do hard things, to make the choice to do things in alignment with your purpose. That is winning. With your purpose. That is winning. Help spread the good word, help join the journey. December 4th more to come here's some accountability that this is happening. We're doing it. We're doing big things. We're doing hard things. We're going to impact many lives and inspire many people along the way so that they too can push themselves further and harder than they believe possible and win today. Thanks so much you.

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Ryan Cass

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