The Runner Chronicles

You are already reading a new Runner Chronicles. Well, a lot of people are running. This time, we got to have a chat with Michael James Bocksnick, born and raised in Missoula, Montana, who grew up immersed in the outdoors. His love for sports started with football and later turned into a routine full of surfing, skating, and running.

Eventually, he was introduced to trail running by Gordon Clark (read his article here) and got hooked on the sport like many of us. Since then, he has become part of the RAD Global community and started competing in great races, such as the MOAB 240. We got in contact with Michael, and we couldn't be more stoked about what he has to say. From crazy races to frozen blueberries, this Chronicles has it all.

Firstly, can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your running journey?

Hello there! My name is Michael James Bocksnick. I’m 29 years old and was born on February 13, in the beautiful city of Missoula, Montana. Growing up, my childhood was shaped by being outside—riding horses, hiking, camping, fishing, and competing in every sport I could. From an early age, I needed competition and loved pushing myself to improve. Some of my favorite memories are from multi-day backpacking trips my parents took us on to pristine, untouched mountain lakes. These trips weren’t just adventures; they were lessons in resilience, appreciation for nature, and bonding with family. My parents, both educators, would teach us about the landscape, the ecosystems, and how to see the land through the eyes of a visitor. It’s these moments that instilled in me a lifelong love and appreciation for the natural world.

In middle school and high school, my competitive focus shifted toward football. My dream was to earn a D1 scholarship and play under the Friday night lights and eventually on Saturdays in college. Training became a core part of my life, and since I wasn’t allowed to lift weights until high school, I created my own late-night routines—thousands of pushups, sit-ups, and Bo Jackson-style workouts in my room. Running was always part of my training, and I pushed myself to be the fastest in every event or timed mile. I competed in middle school track and cross country, falling in love with the process of going farther and faster. I had some success in football, which led me to play for a small college in Southern California.

After college football, I needed a new way to channel my energy. I joined a CrossFit gym, mostly for the competition, and had a blast pushing myself in new ways with a solid strength background now. Around the same time, I was surfing a few times a week, skating a quarter pipe my roommate Chris built in our backyard, and casually running to the pier and back a couple times a week. I was living in Venice, CA, in my early 20s, and while I was social and having fun, I realized I was chasing the party scene too much. My friends and I would always say "We are the party" we thought we were pretty cool surfing, and not waiting in lines at local bars in Venice. Overall, a gross attitude being young, dumb, and insecure at times. To create balance, I started planning long Saturday runs with friends in the Santa Monica Mountains. These runs became both an accountability tool and a way to reconnect with what I loved most—being outside and challenging myself.

It was through these runs that I met Gordon Clark, a badass runner who introduced me to the LA trail running community and taught me the ins and outs of trail running. He helped “de-kook” me, if you will. From there, I was hooked. Exploring the Santa Monica Mountains, the Eastern Sierra, and new trails became something I looked forward to. My weekly mileage started growing and I started racing and won a 5k, 10k and trail half marathon. I wanted to improve, so I cut out the unhealthy habits/ negative relationships and began living a healthier, more intentional life. That decision led to the best things in my life—deeper relationships with my family and friends, meeting my amazing girlfriend, and becoming a part of the RAD Global team. A huge damn blessing.

You participated in MOAB 240.

Moab was an unforgettable adventure! A few friends ran the race (one even won!), and I had the honor of pacing Lucy Schodell, an incredible runner from New Orleans I met through the RAD team. I supported her for 90 of her 240 miles, witnessing her battle extreme terrain, manage calorie intake, and endure sleep deprivation. We faced heat, cold, and elevations above 10,000 feet, but Lucy tackled it all with jokes and a smile. I learned so much about endurance, nutrition, and how small details matter over 70–90 hours. She's truly inspiring! I want to get in and race it myself if I am lucky enough to get drawn in the lottery.

How did you became a part of R.A.D. Running?

A couple of years ago, I had the honor of being introduced to the RAD team while running the legendary TSP LA to LV race. It all began when I ran into a few of the guys in the hotel lobby casino floor, just before the big bet (IYKYK). After the race, which we ended up doing surprisingly well in—considering it was just a few friends piecing together a route with no brand support or real guidance—we took 5th out of 72 teams. We were buzzing with excitement, and after a beer or two, I started mingling with some of the other desert runners. One conversation, in particular, stood out when I struck up a chat with a towering British guy named Ben. He was instantly easy to relate to, and his magnetic personality made him stand out in any crowd. Little did I know, I was talking to the CEO, completely unaware of his connection to the company. What struck me most was how humble and genuine he seemed—our conversation felt effortless and authentic.

At that point, I was familiar with RAD’s work in the training world and was excited to learn they had started a running channel and were diving into performance running shoes. Ben and I talked for about ten minutes, surrounded by a group of others, and we exchanged information shortly afterward. That connection sparked a series of friendly interactions on social media, and a few months later, I found myself interviewing for the Running Community Manager role here in California. One thing led to another, and now, I have the coolest job. I get to run, host community events, test and provide feedback on unreleased shoes in development, and host races across the U.S. All while being supported to train for my personal goals and races—it's truly a dream.

RAD is made up of a talented team split between our offices in London and Portland, and we’re celebrating our 3rd anniversary this month with some exciting new drops. RAD Running is releasing a marathon shoe, recovery shoe, speed shoe and trail shoe all within the next year. Very exciting times make sure to follow our channel @rad_running on Instagram for information. The shoe design and testing have been going really well, and we cannot wait to share. While people are zigging in the market, RAD is zagging. Unapologetically our own self and making things that we think are cool and the shoe design is just that.

You are also seen taking on some waves. How would you compare the surf culture with the running culture from today?

Running and surfing share a unique cultural crossover absolutely—both are more than just sports; they represent lifestyles that shape how people live, dress, and connect. As corny and hippie as it sounds, I say that peaks of waves and mountains are best shared with friends. Taking on something much bigger than you that was here before you were born and will be there long after we are gone. Surfing’s roots in rebellion and punk culture translate into a similar raw, individualistic vibe in trail and street running communities. RAD is the epitome of punk rock and underground grit with its roots starting in London. We have incorporated these street races once a month in different cities to give homage to the skate/ surf scene. Fast, not defined, for the people and almost anarchy in how they are set up. Lets see who is the fastest one down the block and back capturing emotion.

I personally think everyone should take a wave on top of the head to get humbled at least once in their life. hahaha

How does your fridge look like?

Let's see currently in my fridge I have: Sourdough bread, cheese, 4 steaks and a tri tip marinating, tomatoes, a bunch of different fruits and a tub of blueberries in the freezer along with some other random things. Apparently, frozen blueberries have better health benefits then not frozen more antioxidants and they help the immune system. I love good quality food and have become a bit of a snob with getting organic. The types of foods I eat are all dependent on if I have a race approaching or not. If I don't have a race, I am more relaxed with diet and will have a couple beers here and there. In a couple weeks I have the Lake Sonoma 100 miler, so I have been eating mostly a carnivore diet while training to be in a carb deficit so before I race, I eat a ton of carbs, and my body has a ton of energy. I don’t know the science behind it but it has helped me before ha-ha. I will also taper caffeine and won't drink alcohol while racing. Don't let me fool you, I love In-n-out burger, pizza and ice cream too.

Best and worst thing about running?

The best and worst thing about running is the time commitment it demands to truly get good. Natural talent can only take you so far—what really sets people apart is the consistency and the countless hours spent on your feet. That’s the beautiful thing about running, its raw and merit based. There’s no room for politics or gray areas—times, distances, and placements define everything. It’s a pure reflection of effort, discipline, and persistence, which makes both the struggle and the triumph so rewarding. People will have opinions but running is about facts, did you or did you not win, there is no escaping which I like. Some days are better than others and trail there is less pressure on the times, it's more for the journey. You can learn to be good. A perfect example of this is this year's Leadville 100 course record holder and Javelina 100 winner David Roche. He is now winning at 37-38 years old.

What are you working towards at the moment?

Each day, I strive to be a better person, partner, friend, and community leader for Rad Running. I wake up every day feeling grateful and celebrating the opportunity to make a difference. I’m incredibly thankful for my friends and family, but above all, my mission is to create a more meaningful and positive impact in people’s lives. As for my running goals, I have a list of ambitions I’m working towards—goals that I’ll keep close to my heart until they, hopefully, become a reality. Cough cough.... Transcon, UTMB, WESTERN STATES. All of the fun ones.