Parkinson's: An Athlete's Journey

100 Marathons, 100 Days, and a Honda Odyssey Named Herbie | Larry Grogin

Larry Grogin is halfway through running 100 marathons in 100 consecutive days. He started in New Jersey on March 24 and is making his way toward Southern California as part of Strides for Humanity, a run raising awareness and support for people living with Parkinson’s. Each day starts with the same challenge: cover 26.2 miles, manage what Parkinson’s brings, and get up the next morning to do it again. Larry has spent decades around movement as a chiropractor, acupuncturist, and endurance athlete, having completed more than 300 marathons and 30 Ironman triathlons. Having been diagnosed in 2019 with Parkinson's, he marked his 71st birthday with the start of his run to show what movement can still look like after diagnosis. He talks about the long warmups, the moments when his stride has to shorten, and the people along the road who help him keep going. At the center of the run is a simple hope: that someone sees what he is doing and decides to walk a mile, get out of bed, or do a little more than they thought they could. Key Takeaways ➡️ Movement starts before the miles do. Larry spends hours warming up before his body begins to feel available. The early work is patience, rhythm, and staying with it long enough to get moving. ➡️ Adaptation can be small and practical. When his body resists, Larry shortens his stride, changes the pace, or gives himself time to rest. The goal is to keep moving in a way his body can handle. ➡️ One person moving can help someone else start. Larry wants people with Parkinson’s to see the run and try something of their own. That might mean walking, running, getting out of bed, or doing a little more than yesterday. ➡️ Past challenges become tools. Larry draws on decades of marathons, triathlons, and difficult races. Those experiences remind him that hard moments shift, and the next mile can feel different from the last. Key Moments 01:43 Eric introduces Larry and his 100 marathons in 100 days challenge 02:49 Larry’s athletic background and getting into triathlon 04:36 Living with Parkinson’s instead of trying to beat it 06:38 The first signs of Parkinson’s and getting diagnosed in 2019 08:06 Why exercise can be hard to start with Parkinson’s 08:35 Larry’s long warmups and what running every day is teaching him 14:09 Why Larry decided to run 100 marathons in 100 days 15:52 What happens when the body says no 17:39 Running 100 consecutive marathons and reaching day 50 19:23 Lessons from long endurance races 21:19 Purpose, resilience, and the human spirit 28:47 The route, the support vehicle, and how Larry chooses places to run 30:05 Learning his off times and when to stop fighting the body 31:18 Medication, exercise, and managing Parkinson’s day to day 33:32 What 50 straight marathons have taught him about adaptation 36:35 Planning the finish in Calabasas 38:23 Larry’s message for someone newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s 43:58 Dreaming big and refusing to limit the goal too early 45:01 The hard moments behind the optimism Larry Grogin: Strides for Humanity / Run Larry Run: https://dpf.org/runlarryrun [https://dpf.org/runlarryrun] IG: @runlarryrun26 [https://www.instagram.com/runlarryrun26/] Follow the journey: #RunLarryRun About the Host: Eric Von Frohlich is a fitness entrepreneur, coach, and athlete living with Parkinson's who founded EVF Performance and Row House before his diagnosis in 2020. On the podcast he talks with athletes, experts, and people refusing to let a diagnosis be the end of the story. Parkinson's: An Athlete's Journey 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community [https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/] 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-] 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/] 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast] 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com [https://evfmethod.com/home] Disclaimer This podcast shares personal experience and general education, not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medication, treatment, or exercise.

You Are Not Fragile | Gaia Forlani

Before Gaia Forlani became a neuroscientist, she was a professional ballerina. Ballet gave her a direct understanding of movement at a high level: control, rhythm, timing, strength, coordination, and the constant feedback between the brain and the body. That background still shapes how she sees Parkinson’s. Today, she works at the intersection of neuroscience, coaching, and Parkinson’s performance, helping people think differently about movement, training, and identity after diagnosis. Eric and Gaia talk about why so many people with Parkinson’s are treated as fragile, even when they are strong, capable, and willing to train. They also get into purposeful training, recovery, sleep, overtraining, cognition, and the difficult overlap between Parkinson’s and aging. Key Takeaways ➡️ People with Parkinson’s are not fragile. Gaia challenges the way people with Parkinson’s are often treated as passive, incapable, or already declining, especially when many are still strong, capable, and willing to train. ➡️ Training needs purpose, not just effort. Eric and Gaia separate general activity from purposeful training, including strength, power, coordination, and movement that is matched to the person’s goals and capacity. ➡️ Recovery is part of performance. More exercise is not always better. Gaia and Eric talk about sleep, recovery, overtraining, and why athletes with Parkinson’s need to take rest as seriously as training. ➡️ Identity shapes how people adapt. The language people use around Parkinson’s matters. Gaia talks about seeing people as athletes rather than patients, while also recognizing that the constant “fight” mindset can become exhausting. Key Moments 00:01 — Eric asks about Gaia’s “You Are Not Fragile” message 00:22 — Why Gaia pushes back on people with Parkinson’s being treated as fragile 03:15 — Eric reflects on mindset, gratitude, and not feeling like a victim 05:34 — Gaia’s path from ballerina to neuroscientist 10:32 — How ballet shaped Gaia’s understanding of the brain and body 12:46 — Treating the whole person as an athlete 13:00 — Language, identity, and not calling people with Parkinson’s patients 13:56 — Sleep, recovery, and neurological regulation 14:55 — The risk of doing too much after diagnosis 17:28 — When exercise becomes harmful without the right foundation 18:44 — General movement versus exercise medicine 20:27 — Cognition, strength training, and metabolic health 23:25 — Aging versus Parkinson’s symptoms 24:53 — Muscle loss, strength, power, and bradykinesia 28:34 — Looking at the person before the diagnosis 29:15 — Training professionals to understand Parkinson’s movement 31:01 — Gaia’s work moving online and reaching a wider audience 32:02 — Coaching as a two-way learning process 32:34 — Eric compares Parkinson’s adaptation to jiu-jitsu 34:20 — Why the “fight” against Parkinson’s can be motivating but also exhausting 36:16 — Eric on balancing jiu-jitsu, pickleball, recovery, and downtime 37:00 — Education, family support, and the social side of Parkinson’s 38:38 — Beliefs, mindset, and defining your own story 39:53 — Eric on small wins, daily resets, and moving forward About Gaia Forlani: Gaia is a neuroscientist specializing in sensorimotor, clinical, and movement neuroscience. A former professional ballerina, she brings together movement science, coaching, and performance experience in her work with people living with Parkinson’s. She is the co-founder of the Parkinson Performance Centre and creator of the Parkinson Power Protocol. Connect with Gaia: Website: http://parkinsonperformancecentre.com/ [http://parkinsonperformancecentre.com/] LinkedIn: Gaia Forlani [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaia-forlani-ppc/] Instagram: gaia.forlani.ppc [https://www.instagram.com/gaia.forlani.ppc/] Facebook: Gaia Forlani [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576111081168] Parkinson's: An Athlete's Journey 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community [https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/] 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-] 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/] 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast] 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com [https://evfmethod.com/home] Disclaimer This podcast shares personal experience and general education, not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medication, treatment, or exercise.

Ankle Weights and Stackable Wins | Jay Freyensee

Jay Freyensee has always moved through life as an athlete. Cycling, mountain biking, martial arts, Muay Thai, cross-country skiing, running, and Spartan-style events have all shaped how he understands effort, progress, and identity. His athletic life has never been about one discipline. It has been about staying active, learning what a sport asks of him, and finding the next way to challenge himself. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in his late 40s, Jay had to rethink what it meant to stay competitive and keep trusting his body. Kickboxing remains a key part of his training because it demands power, speed, coordination, reaction, and focus in the same session. He runs with ankle weights to help reinforce his gait, keeps strength work in the week, and uses races like Spartan DECA as a reason to keep building. Jay gets into his diagnosis, adaptation, clinical trials, support groups, and the importance of finding people who understand young-onset Parkinson’s. He also shares what he would tell someone newly diagnosed: get tested, stay close to the research, keep exercising, and do not try to handle it alone. Key Takeaways ➡️ Training became the anchor after diagnosis. Exercise shifted from athletic routine to daily structure, giving him a way to stay capable, measure progress, and keep fighting back. ➡️ Adaptation became part of the athlete’s job. Jay uses tools like ankle weights, kickboxing, strength training, and Spartan DECA goals to keep challenging his body while adjusting to what Parkinson’s changes. ➡️ Community made the diagnosis easier to carry. Finding people who understood young-onset Parkinson’s gave Jay support, perspective, and a place where he did not have to explain every part of the experience. ➡️ Newly diagnosed people need action, testing, and connection. Jay encourages genetic testing, staying aware of clinical trials, continuing to exercise, and telling trusted people instead of trying to carry the diagnosis alone. Key Moments: 00:45 — Jay’s athletic background and competitive history 03:30 — Training Muay Thai in Thailand 07:20 — First signs of gait changes 08:16 — Foot cramping during runs 10:36 — Receiving the Parkinson’s diagnosis 11:52 — Searching for better information after diagnosis 14:34 — Jay’s weekly training routine 14:55 — Running with ankle weights 16:34 — Spartan DECA as a training target 18:36 — Young-onset Parkinson’s and work 19:00 — Hand function, typing, and career change 21:52 — Navigating disability and insurance 31:22 — Presence, breathing, and mindset 36:52 — Clinical trials and future treatments 41:28 — Genetic testing and advice for newly diagnosed people 43:46 — Sharing the diagnosis with community 44:46 — Parkinson’s, identity, and athletic confidence 48:47 — Finding support from people who understand Connect with Jay LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-jay-freyensee-6193a7/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-jay-freyensee-6193a7/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freyguys_redlines/ [https://www.instagram.com/freyguys_redlines/] About the Hosts Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt are athletes living with Parkinson’s, sharing the day to day reality of training, adapting, and figuring it out as they go. Through honest conversations, they explore what helps, what does not, and how to keep moving forward with purpose. Follow / Connect 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community [https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/] 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-] 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/] 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast] 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com [https://evfmethod.com/home] Disclaimer This podcast shares personal experience and general education, not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medication, treatment, or exercise.

From Diagnosis to Saying It Out Loud | Jeff Martin

Jeff Martin helped shape what group fitness looks like today. Over nearly five decades, he built one of the early studio environments in New York City where people trained together, showed up consistently, and stayed connected to the work. That model spread, and companies like Equinox and Crunch grew out of foundations that started in studios like his. For 47 years, Jeff has been teaching classes. Tens of thousands of sessions. Movement has been a daily part of how he lives and works. He is now sharing publicly for the first time that he has Parkinson’s. In this conversation, Jeff speaks about his diagnosis, the hesitation around saying it out loud, and what shifted once he did. He reflects on how his relationship with training has changed, why exercise has become non-negotiable, and how he is adjusting to changes that show up day to day. While his experience with Parkinson’s is still new, he is actively working through it in real time and beginning to open up to others while continuing to train. Key Moments: 00:32 — Reconnecting and Jeff’s background in NYC fitness 02:18 — First public disclosure of Parkinson’s diagnosis 02:47 — Early symptoms and initial misdiagnosis 03:25 — Receiving the diagnosis 04:26 — Hesitation around engaging with the Parkinson’s community 06:13 — Humility and asking for help 06:44 — Changes in daily behavior and awareness 13:00 — Lifestyle shifts and consistency with exercise 17:15 — Processing the diagnosis and perspective shifts 19:30 — Changes in social life and routine 21:08 — Decision to share publicly 23:57 — Redefining strength and showing up 28:58 — Managing outside advice and information 32:00 — Training, coordination, and staying active 36:08 — What he continues to hold onto Connect with Jeff: Website: https://jeffmartinfitness.com About the Hosts Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt are athletes living with Parkinson’s, sharing the day to day reality of training, adapting, and figuring it out as they go. Through honest conversations, they explore what helps, what does not, and how to keep moving forward with purpose. Follow / Connect 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community [https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/] 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-] 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/] 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast] 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com [https://evfmethod.com/home] Disclaimer This podcast shares personal experience and general education, not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medication, treatment, or exercise.

Stacked Days Add Up | Greg Schaefer

Greg Schaefer is used to long races. Kona, Ironman, and years of knowing what his body could do. When that started to change, he noticed. In 2023, he was diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s. He still trains and races, but the approach is different, and some days require more adjustment than others. He speaks openly about the days when he pulls back, when patience runs thin, and when the mental side is harder than anything physical. He also talks about what helps. Structure, training partners, and having someone waiting for you at 7 a.m. so you actually show up. Greg is clear about his “why.” Being present for his wife. Setting an example for his kids. Showing them what it looks like to keep going, even when things aren’t going well. What comes through is how he keeps showing up, and how those days, one at a time, still stack up. Key Takeaways: ➡️ You can’t rely on motivation to carry you. When someone’s expecting you at a set time, you show up. That structure matters more than how you feel that day. ➡️ Your reason has to be specific. For Greg, it’s his wife and his kids, and that’s who he shows up for every day. ➡️ Some days just aren’t there. Energy, movement, focus, they don’t always line up. Learning to recognize that without turning it into failure is part of it. ➡️ Adjusting is part of staying in it. The training is still there, but the expectations shift. Showing up and finishing start to matter more than performance. ➡️ Over time, those days stack. Not every day is strong, but the consistency builds when you keep showing up across all of them. Key Moments: 01:40 — Realizing something was off during Kona preparation 02:39 — Finishing Kona hours later than expected 05:38 — Diagnosis in March 2023 09:11 — Training changes and adjusting expectations 10:48 — First race back and a different experience of racing 13:41 — “What you do during the calm…” 16:17 — The idea of “stacked days” 23:09 — Daily routine and disrupted sleep 29:49 — Managing good days and bad days 35:51 — Accountability and training with others 37:08 — Starting the Forward Motion Fund 41:08 — The role of caregivers About Greg Schaefer Greg Schaefer is a 19-time Ironman athlete, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker living with Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease. Diagnosed in 2023, Greg continues to train and compete, while managing the day-to-day realities of the condition. He shares his journey publicly and co-founded the Forward Motion Fund with his wife to support families affected by Parkinson’s and contribute to research and awareness. Connect with Greg Instagram: @gschaeferundefined [https://www.instagram.com/gschaeferundefined/] Facebook: GSchaeferDefined [https://www.facebook.com/GSchaeferDefined/] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregory-schaefer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-schaefer-4892027/] About the Forward Motion Fund: https://gregoryschaefer.com/forward-motion-fund/ [https://gregoryschaefer.com/forward-motion-fund/] About the Hosts Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt are athletes living with Parkinson’s, sharing the day to day reality of training, adapting, and figuring it out as they go. Through honest conversations, they explore what helps, what does not, and how to keep moving forward with purpose. Follow / Connect 📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community [https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/] 🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://youtube.com/@parkinsonsathletepodcast?si=uWaZy-8-Q-BahmT-] 📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/] 🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey [http://linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athletes-journey-podcast] 🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.com [https://evfmethod.com/home] Disclaimer This podcast shares personal experience and general education, not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medication, treatment, or exercise.