by George Banker: A profile of athlete Jonathan Ladson
April 6-7, 2024, Washington, DC, Credit Union Cherry Blossom—To those who are in the sport, the realization is that it takes time to perfect your skill at running. It is easy to learn how to jog and to place one foot in front of the other. There are some who develop a desire for “speed” and to improve. This desire has to start within you; you cannot start a fire until you strike a match.
To develop in the sport, it is a journey with different paths to take. Their environment shapes all athletes through who they come in contact with. The path chosen is a journey.
The question in front of you is: “What makes Jonathan Ladson unique?” Below you will get some insight into Ladson as a runner. It is a personal journey to know yourself and what you can do given the right circumstances. While reading below, keep these questions in mind: “Is Ladson consistent?” “Is Ladson insistent?” and “Is Ladson persistent?”
A few definitions from Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Running is the way in which people, or animals travel quickly on their feet. It is a method of traveling on land. It is different from walking in that both feet are regularly off the ground at the same time. Different terms are used to refer to running according to the speed: jogging is slow and sprinting is running fast.
Taekwondo, also spelled tae kwon do or taekwon-do, is a Korean martial art and combat sport involving punching and kicking techniques. The literal translation for taekwondo is “kicking,” “punching,” and “the art or way of.”
Boxing is one of the world’s oldest combat sports. It is held in a ring and played by two boxers (people who fight in boxing fights). They wear padded gloves and try to hit one another.
Let’s get to reading about Ladson through a series of questions.
Supposedly, boxing was part of your life.
Yes, I was an amateur boxer for quite a few years. My love for fighting sports that started with Tae Kwon also fueled my love for boxing Do in my childhood. From there, I became a constant sparring partner for an Olympian, as well as a few other professional boxers, and could train with their teams. Boxing was a genuine passion of mine, and I dedicated endless hours to training and developing my skills. My goal was to become a professional boxer prior to running.
How did you change to running?
In 2014, I suffered an injury while boxing and I wanted to continue to stay in shape while I took a break from training. I figured I could do that by running. I challenged myself to run one block and each time that became easier, I would push myself to go a little further. Eventually a friend talked me into running a local 5k race. When young kids in the race beat me, this fueled my competitive spirit to push myself harder and take the sport more seriously.
What were some obstacles you had to overcome?
My biggest obstacle was lack of experience and knowledge about the sport of running. I had to teach myself everything, including how to develop a training plan that worked for me and I learned through trial and error. While I conducted thorough online research, I often went back to the drawing board to experiment and see if the strategies aligned with my personal training approach. I also had a disadvantage compared to many who started running at a young age or had the guidance of a coach and team when I did not have that experience.
What is your philosophy about running?
My philosophy for running is as long as you are willing to work hard and overcome setbacks, anyone can reach their goals. I hope to show the world that regardless of where you begin, if you are committed, you can achieve a high level and turn seemingly unattainable goals into reality. When you put in the work, the reward will eventually follow. I want to inspire people to go after what they set out to achieve, even when it seems impossible to yourself or others. I also want to show people that even when you do things the non-traditional way, you can still become great in your own way.
How do you handle it when your results fall short of your expectations?
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I become more focused when my results fall short. I like it when this happens, because I learn a lot more about myself through failure than success. It helps me to push myself and go back to make the adjustments to achieve the results I want to see. This is where I realize I am capable of even more than I originally thought.
How do you get your head back into the game?
I am naturally a competitive person and whenever I do not reach a certain goal, this fuels me to try harder. I try to look back at what went wrong, and I do not accept that I am incapable of achieving it. I step things up another notch with my training, whether that means training at a faster pace for longer, incorporating strength training, speed work, etc. I eagerly expect my next chance to pursue that goal once more.
Do you maintain a set schedule for your training?
Yes and no. Mostly, I am very consistent with my training routine. Because I have a family and a full-time job, sometimes I must adjust to accommodate my other responsibilities. Regardless of what is going on in my life, I always get it done and do not let excuses get in the way.
What are your thoughts the last seconds before the start of a race?
My last thoughts are always positive and exciting. I think to myself, “Let’s go be competitive, have some fun, and show that all the hard work I’ve been doing will pay off.”
How did you become involved with World Vision?
My involvement with World Vision began when Michael Wardian was running across the United States to fundraise for clean water with World Vision in 2022. On the last few days of his journey, I joined him in running 150 miles over two days, which gave me plenty of time to talk with him and others and learn about World Vision. Mike offered me the chance to join World Vision for the Comrades Marathon in 2023. This opportunity required me to fundraise for World Vision and their mission to bring clean water to children in Africa. While traveling to Africa for the Comrades Marathon, we had the privilege of visiting some villages where World Vision has provided access to clean water and improved quality of life. Personally, I sponsored 10 children, and I had the opportunity to meet some children and their families who benefitted from our fundraising efforts. After seeing their work firsthand, it inspired me to get involved again to fundraise with World Vision and run the Comrades Marathon in June 2024 for the second year in a row. I am currently fundraising for this year, and my goal is to raise $25,000 for World Vision.
For anyone who wants to help me reach this goal and change lives, you can do so by donating here: https://www.teamworldvision.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=397312
What is the distance which brings out your best?
Honestly, for me, there is no specific distance that brings out my best because each race requires a different version of me. No matter if I am running 100 miles or a 5k, each one still brings out the best in me because I try to push myself to be better each time.
Do you hold a higher value for place or time?
I place a higher value on time because even if I win first place, I will not be truly satisfied if I did not fully use my time to achieve my potential. If I don’t feel that I pushed myself hard enough, then it will not matter if I win the race or not. For me, time is how you can truly measure your progress and see how far you have come and how your training has paid off.
What is your WHY for running?
My why wants to overcome obstacles and limitations that I placed on myself. Because I always hated running when I was younger, I told myself that I wasn’t good enough or going to take it seriously. Once I decided to become a runner, that was when I saw what I was truly capable of and that limitations are sometimes just in our own mind.
What would you tell a younger Jonathan about running?
I would tell myself to go after those outrageous goals that you don’t think are possible much sooner. It will pay off. Don’t let yourself believe you are not capable because only people with talent make it far. I would also tell myself, do not be afraid to put yourself out there and try hard things because you will do better than you could have imagined.
What was your strategy at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 5K?
My strategy was to go toe to toe with whoever was in the lead group. My focus was to stay with them as long as I needed to and to place in the top three. I planned to go all out and leave it all on the course, even if the weather were not ideal. Note: Ladson was first in the 5K with a time of 16:09 and returned the next day to run the 10-miler with a time of 53:40 (chip time).
Did you lead the entire race and if not, when did you make your move?
Surprisingly, I ended up leading the entire race. I went out at a quick pace and after the first mile, that was when I expected others to pass me out there. After I realized no one was passing me, this is when I kept going faster and faster.
What did you think about the level of competition?
The level of competition impressed me; they brought competitiveness out of me.
At what point did you feel you had the win?
Right after I crossed the finish line is when I realized I had the win because you can never be sure until then.
Do you feel you need mental toughness to perform at your level?
Yes, mental toughness is extremely important. Not only do you have to overcome physical barriers when running, you also need to remain focused on your goal the entire time. You need to push through whatever is in your mind and sometimes your mind tries to work against you, even when your body can do more.
Is there a weakness which you have that you must work on?
One of my weaknesses is to achieve all my running goals right now, rather than being patient and giving myself time. I want to make sure that I don’t get injured or burnt out and keep having fun with running.
What do you want the reader to know about Jonathan?
I am the type of person who does not let the word “no” stop me, and I am motivated by people thinking I cannot do something. I love to push myself outside of my comfort zone and go after huge goals. One thing I love is to inspire people to take a leap of faith and try to accomplish things that they might have thought were impossible, as I have done before.
If you are at a race and you see a runner wearing a Dobok, boxing gloves, and running shoes, it could be Ladson.
Performances
Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile
2024 54:39 (clock time) 53:40 (chip time)
2023 58:47
2022 53:47
2021 55:40
2019 54:20
Marine Corps Marathon 50K
2023 3:25:18
2022 3:24:30
Fire on the Mountain (Flintstone, MD)
2023 5:59:32 5th Place
2022 6:02:54 2nd Place
2021 5:47:57 2nd Place
On a different level, on July 23, 2023 Jonathan made the 91.7 miles around the Washington DC Capital Beltway in a time of 17 hours, 53 minutes and 46 seconds! On June 29, 2019, fellow runner Michael Wardian made the trip in 17:54:58.
Categories: Athlete Profiles, Race Coverage
Runner's Gazette 
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