#452 How To Increase Running Stamina And Endurance with Dan Caron, CEO of RNWY
Go to https://www.RNWY.life and use promo code SWEATEQUITY15 for 15% off
In this episode, hosts Law Smith and Eric Readinger interview Dan Caron, CEO and co-founder of Runway, a holistic running supplement brand. Dan shares the story of how he launched Runway after exiting Vital Proteins, including developing the product with his mentor Kurt Pullen. He discusses Runway's Foundation supplement and how it provides benefits like joint support from collagen and electrolytes to keep runners running. Law and Eric also get insights into Dan's entrepreneurial journey and how he applies lessons from the fitness industry to building a loyal brand community. Listeners will learn how to fuel and optimize their running routine with one daily supplement.
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#RunningSupplement #RunningSupplements #CollagenSupplements #KeepRunnersRunning #FuelYourJourney #HolisticNutrition #EntrepreneurshipJourney #FitnessBrandBuilding #RunningCommunity #FitnessPodcast
Running, Supplements, Collagen, Electrolytes, Runners, Runway, Foundation, Entrepreneurship, Nutrition, Fitness, Brand building, Community, Journey, Product development, Marketing, Hydration, Immunity, Joint support, Story, Interview, Podcast, Supplement brand, Holistic, Mentor, Influencers, Vital Proteins, Nestle, Equinox, Gym, Gatorade
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 0:00
Are we girl? Are you sure about sweat equity podcast and number one comedy slash business podcast in Laurel?
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 0:12
Is that one a good bet because it's new.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 0:14
What's that from?
I think you should leave. Oh, nice. 55 Burgers 55 milkshakes. Yeah. Listen to us on iTunes, Apple podcast, Spotify, if you could do us a favor if you were in your holes and you you could just go over to one of those apps give us a five star review. share it out to someone go hey, this is the best job business podcast in the world. I know. Like their tie their logos a tie. That's a penis. Yeah, they did that. That was your genius Eric. Oh, yeah. And Pete
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 0:51
probably for over 50 episodes together.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 0:58
Billy Madison one Yeah. We're going to urge you to page we're trying to get those subscriber numbers up because that helps us out big time. This episode is sponsored by the FBI Z up what 8k The first search optimized AI writer Look, man, you got to you got to create content. If you got any kind of brand, you've got to do some blog posts. That's the best way to boost your SEO. And I not only promote it, but I use it for men style. So if you guys if you go to Sup yak.com ZUPY aka.com promo code sweat, you get the hookup holler if you hear me and also in the episode description, we got hookups for Squarespace CallRail LinkedIn premium and bloom invoicing and runway and runway if you go to our guest is promoting a promo code of sweat equity 15 is the code on Runway are in w y dot life that's our in w y dot live you share promo works forever the sweat equity 15 You get 15% off don't go on Amazon buy it if you buy it because that they take a big chunk. Yeah. And you know, get the hookup. Let's get this party stored
are listening to the sweat equity podcast? Oh, all it problems. At least start there. That's the decision tree of all tech problems. We're good to go. We're good to go. We're recording. Yes. We got speed. Yes. Can I go? Do you need to do to sleep? What? Oh,
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 3:06
I stopped the recording started again. It's all good. All right.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 3:09
I don't know. If you got to hear an episode recently, where we've been doing a lightning round to kind of get to know the guests real quick. These are going to be quick. You know, quick answers from you. Some makes sense. Some won't. But you know, you want to go first.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 3:26
Sure. Do you like oysters?
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 3:30
Only raw.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 3:32
Okay, cake or pie? Hi. Smart.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 3:40
What do you think's the funniest movie of all time? Who I wrote that down to really? Yeah.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 3:46
It might be the first time I saw a super bad. I like I pissed my pants. That was really funny.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 3:52
Okay, okay. Well allow it will allow a good answer. There's
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 3:55
a airplane if you want me. Oh,
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 3:58
I mean, that's the great.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 4:00
Classic human. You get into like the Hall of Fame sort of talk. Well,
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 4:04
does God exist?
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 4:07
Ah, I'm in everyone's own way. Maybe God is karma. Maybe God is some guy in outer space. Maybe? I don't know. There's a higher power. Whatever it is. I don't know.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 4:21
We just want to see how you answered this.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 4:25
You gotta have it. Yeah. On that note, do you believe in ghosts?
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 4:28
Yeah. What about UFOs? Of course. Thank you. Thank you. Um, what do we ask? This my favorite one the first time you ever French kiss someone?
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 4:41
French.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 4:43
I was probably a late bloomer, maybe like 1516 Wow. Okay, I feel like maybe like the junior in high school like donkus That's not that bad. It wasn't college thing. Yeah, that's right. That's not terrible. Um, is a hot dog of sandwich.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 5:00
Yes, sir now,
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 5:02
dude, I never thought about that. Yeah, well, yeah,
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 5:04
you thought we're just really gone. It
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 5:06
is a stand. It's a cylindrical sandwich. You're right. Well,
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 5:10
I think we're split on this one. I
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 5:12
don't like the question. Why don't you like the question? Because it's that or no.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 5:17
He loves hot dogs and you don't want to tarnish them. Well, that you got any more. Yeah. Okay. Now, last one I had was once you lose your virginity
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 5:30
probably late bloomer on that one too. I'd say like 1617 So I was a senior in high school. Hey,
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 5:36
I was 21 So you're good, man. Really? Yeah. Why did I know that are being approved? Yeah, I was a god squatter man, I was getting married and then I was like, This is dumb. And now I regret doing that.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 5:51
I was kind of hoping your virginity answer will be before you're free to kiss answer.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 5:55
Either way, we can spice it up next guest or Well, you know I mean his Well, we got we in this the lightning round get which I want to throw some want to throw that music in the holding for a hero. We'll put that the sound bed later. I didn't listen to it. You know, Barney. Barney. What's the 80s? Song? No. Row. You know? It's the most at song. Yeah. Last few questions. I think you said you. Did you listen to the podcast before coming on. I think you said off air. Yeah,
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 6:28
I listened to an episode and it was I think like a neurologists guy. I'm definitely not going to be as smart as him. On me, like, definitely not that high level talk with you guys.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 6:40
Well, we're low common. We
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 6:41
were lost.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 6:42
Yeah. If we acted like we knew what we're talking about, we got nothing. We're just curious fellas. And then last question is what advice would you give your 13 year old self?
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 6:56
I could swear on this. Please.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 6:58
Please. Make up new ones it Yeah, fuck everybody. Fuck
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 7:02
everybody. You don't worry about what people think you don't try to be cool. You don't need to be part of a clique. Do you because like, if you're genuine, it's always going to be cool. That would be my advice. That is
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 7:16
a that's a better way to put it. We hear kind of the similar thing. Get rid of the radio noise or, you know, no one gives a shit as much as you think they do around you. kind of
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 7:28
fade away. It's kind of everybody's answer. Yeah. Well, like everybody. I mean, there's I don't know of any that really don't boil down to that.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 7:36
Yeah. I mean, if we really wanted to play, you know, a game where we could connect this in like some weird, big tree. They'd all connect in that route. Probably. Yeah. But you've earned yourself a plugs or worked in Pete, what is a company? Where can people find you? Give them your name? Why don't you?
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 7:55
Well, my name is Dan Caron, co founder of runway that's our N W Y. We're a sport supplement company really focused on helping runners keep running. Domain Name, our NWA dot life. That's our IG handle. Check us out DM us and then also sweat equity 15 promo code for all your listeners go on our website, though that code in say 15 Hell yeah.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 8:21
Writing it down.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 8:22
No, we got an email from his book, I believe Okay, or in the notes stopped writing it down. Yeah. But that's, that's very generous of you. Now. Tell us about it. I was looking at it earlier today. It looks like something both of us would probably buy and use as a supplement. What does What does? This do? Exactly? Because it looks like little bit eight G one ish kind of stuff. But, but I like yours better because you're on our show.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 8:51
Pack. Yeah. And that's a wonderful compliment comparing us to AG one super. I think formula wise, it is similar to AG one it's like a kitchen sink formula. So what we tried to do was provide as many benefits as we could in one product. So we have joint support coming from 10 grams of clinically studied collagen, very focused on athletes more so than the Hair, Skin nails beauty that we're all used to when we hear collagen, we've got almost 1000 milligrams of electrolytes for hydration. And then there's a B vitamin complex and two grams of L carnitine. To help natural energy, non caffeinated energy help your body work better. And then there's also like a couple supporting cast of vitamins so vitamin C to help with collagen. Also the vitamin C magnesium d3 and sync help with immunity so help keep you healthy and not sick so that you could be outside running. Those are the benefits it's like a multi benefit product, kitchen sink formula just like a G one you definitely want to take a daily college and an L carnitine. The benefit stack would prolong use it I'm it's called foundation is our first product. And it's meant to give you a strong foundation. So if you're out on a three hour run yet, throw some element in your pocket, throw some good gels in your pocket, but leading up to that run, you should be taken runway every day. We suggest in the morning, rather than basing it around an activity therefore, God willing, we wake up. God question. God willing, we wake up in the morning, you know what I mean? It's an easy habit to form.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 10:27
Yeah. And I'll even throw this out. Yeah, because, you know, even with our discount, it's still you know, some people might consider it pricey. But if you're like me, I'm a big liquid IV guide. And I'm an ag one guy. I'm gonna ditch those, I'll get this that that knocks out two birds one stone.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 10:47
Yeah, so when you think of it as a hydration product, it's definitely pricey. We see that on Amazon. Whereas you type in hydration keywords, we pop up on the side of liquid IV, they're less than half the price. They're also half the serving, we have pretty much the same amount of electrolytes they have around 870 milligrams, we have 836 but the price is the product is two thirds collagen. And the collagen is pricey. So if you look at momentous collagen, they use one of the forms of collagen we use are very similar in price. Bubs collagen very similar in price. I'm showing right now other brands but who are better, I think so what do you do?
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 11:25
I mean, this is a this is a different collagen, we want you to be as genuine as you want to be, you know, like, people tend to not talk smack about their competition. I I think it's just it's going to be lingering in people's heads that are listening. You know, and everybody has a composition and especially with the supplement kind of nutritional product, there's always I mean, it is a saturated market. So there's always going to be David I'm gonna Google Yeah, but I'm what I'm saying is liquid IV is expensive. Ag one, it ain't cheap, either. I'd rather just get yours if it does both what I need coffee,
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 12:06
no sugar, so liquid IDEs that the regular product 11 grams of sugar, I guess it's part of their, like, patented delivery method. But um, yeah, we've got no sugar and nine grams of protein. So a little different macro, you're gonna get with us.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 12:19
I think that's much better. Because
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 12:21
yours? Is it sort of last longer in the day, that that quick shot?
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 12:27
Um, I don't know what a proper answer would for that would be. I don't know what you mean by that. It'll, it'll definitely rehydrate you. And if you take it first thing in the morning, it's a wonderful amount of electrolytes and start your day with after sleeping maybe six, eight hours and fasting.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 12:47
I want to ask you how you arrived at this. My hunch is that you? Most people, I feel like I mean, you're a pure startup that sounds like so there's usually a passion project around something else you're doing. And you've kind of figured it out because there's a need for it. What I what I want to ask before we get to that is collagen. It's something I've never looked up. But a lot of people talk to me about collagen in my dumb brain. I think of it as the stuff that goes in
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 13:15
your lip. Yep. The
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 13:16
Plastic Surgery ladies. That's where my brain goes. I hear it more and more. Now. It's one of those kind of buzzwords in these kinds of supplements or nutritional kind of conversations. What is college and what does it do? Why it was important? I assume joints are something
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 13:37
legalized legalizing collagen is a protein. It's the most abundant protein in our body. We're made up of, I don't know, maybe roughly 70% collagen production in our body declines after the age around 25. And most of the foods that provide collagen, we're not really eating as a society anymore. We're not. I mean, some people drink bone broth, but we're not. We don't have cauldrons over a stove and are hot. But you're not eating cowhide. We're not eating like
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 14:11
it's a commitment to do the bone broth cutter. If you're a bone broth person you really plan that shit out. I feel like like you got your spot. You make sure you get there every week to get it or get it shipped here.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 14:21
How many bone broth people do you know? Oh, I
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 14:23
mean, I got a guy. I got a couple of guys around town. We I mean, I gotta meet him in an alley. Bone broth. Bone broth. Man, I had a rhyme and man my brain sucks. I need this product. And so like collagen, I guess. Collagen is the gooey stuff. It's the Nickelodeon gag in you. I don't know. You got an answer.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 14:49
It's gelatin basically. So like jello that to gelatin. Collagen comes from gelatin. To protein. It's not a complete protein. It doesn't have the amino acid tryptophan. I'm asleep. He was like, basic entry level as deep as I could get with you guys because I'm not a PhD. From what I understand it collagen is a peptide a peptide is a group of amino acids branch together and certain structure. And yeah, that's that's collagen in a nutshell. It's well, I think
Speaker 1 15:25
it's used a lot in these anti aging things. It keeps everything, you know, pliable. It's like, yeah, it's the gooey stuff. So it doesn't, you know, as we get older we dry up inside, but white
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 15:36
people. Yeah, we lose it big time. Yep. We cracked it. Yeah, it's bad.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 15:43
So that's where it'll help with
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 15:45
skin elasticity and your gut lining as well. Those are two things. I think collagen is important for as well.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 15:52
So how did you arrive at this making this product? Because it is it's definitely ambitious to have something like this, which makes me think you you were doing this on your own and making you know your own kind of pre workout drink or something and stumbled on it is that is that kind of a hunch? That's kind of close. leading question.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 16:16
Yeah, I grew up in what I call like, the bro space. So you know, going to the gym working out with the bros whipping up your own career taking Jack 3d Back when like, pre workouts were legit, right? Nowadays, it's three different views. And that's why we also did so I'm going to backtrack a little bit, but that also goes into part of it actually answers your question. So back in the day, taking a pre workout, it had everything you had a stim pack, it had your BCAAs and your nitric oxide booster and your supporting cast vitamins. And they got you revved. Now you look at the big heavy hitter brands on bodybuilding.com. Those are four different skews, there's a form of different products adding up to about $120. It's ridiculous. They used to be in a $40 product. So with runway, we wanted to create like a world class product and how can we deliver as much as we can in one bag? Save the consumer money save the Earth? I say optimize your pantry. My team hates it, but I'm
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 17:16
very RSA and involved.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 17:18
Well, you you have a digital marketing background. Correct. Have some sort of nearby Yeah, so that optimizes like, it's the buzzword in digital marketing. That's kind of always like,
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 17:32
yeah, yeah, it's one of our like, pillars energize, optimize, prolong. But my background is fitness. So I worked at pretty much every position in the gym from washing mayor's checking people in general manager, training director and personal trainer. When I was a personal trainer, I was fortunate enough to meet this guy called Kurt pulled them on the floor at Equinox in Chicago. He was in the squat rack really shaky no business being in there. sign them up for training some big 12 pack. And then we get to know each other. This guy turns out to be the co founder of Vital Proteins, the blue tub, like the biggest collagen company in America, a unicorn company $1.7 billion exit like the guy's a genius. So that was my client. I trained him for about a year and just like really nurtured that relationship and we grew to be friends. And then one day I just I asked him for a job at vital and he said yeah, so then he brought me in Vital Proteins as corporate wellness coordinator, there was maybe 50 People in the HQ at that time back in 2017. And then I also did digital marketing so part of the package was you need to bring on guys to Vital Proteins. It was heavy beauty focus back then like Olivia Culpo feed your beauty all that jazz. So bring on the guys bring on the CrossFitters so I did influencer management or influencer
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 18:58
stuff what your what your Is this about when you've started in
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 19:02
2017 to 2022 So I did the the corporate wellness coordinator I was like I was a corporate personal trainer. I trained any employees that wanted to work out I would scheduled group fitness classes to get relationships in the neighborhood with gyms and studios. But then the influencer stuff really took off and that was like my full time job. So I did that for a while. And then I also plugged myself into like the events so I did tons of table setups. I mean I did phoebo In Germany, I did Kona Ironman, Arnold Classic. Almost every year, we even took over power house Columbus for one of the Arnold classics. I lead that. So my background is really in social media. I'm not an influencer. I have like no followers. But I think I could find cool people events and like I've been taking supplements for like 20 years. So I'm really I'm like a geek about it. You
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 19:57
sound like you're kind of like us a little bit you just figure Get out. You were into it, you found you found a lane and you just went with it and the other parts, the other skills you just gained as you went, right? Because no one's like been an influencer manager for more than 10 years. Right? You know, it's not like the manager. But you're right. Or you're you're just a PR person for offline stuff, for sponsorships and whatnot. So you just figure it out as you go. Yeah, I'm done with the, you know, there's a couple ways to go. But I figured out who you look like and it's been bugging me the whole time. Here we go. Prefontaine baby that mustache. Are you kidding me? Yeah. It's the running. Yeah. Perfect. Is that what you're going for?
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 20:42
Well, the the moustache came when we launched the runway, I figured I gotta blend in with the runners because like, I'm not that good of a runner. I'm good for maybe five, eight miles on a great day, and it leaves me sore for three days. Got the moustache man and Prefontaine who better to vie? Oh, my God, you just made my day. Wow. You're
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 21:03
the only one we said you look like this person. And you got excited about it. And about probably 100 guests. We've said that 100 guests.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 21:10
You've said that? Yeah, yeah, I'll go around saying that. I've got it after the
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 21:14
honesty tour ends. Yeah. But if anybody's watching, it's bugging them to you got to kind of speak for the audience here.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 21:22
I wasn't bothered bugging me. Looks like Jesus move on a
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 21:27
little bit. Yeah, yeah. But uh, Prefontaine. It's the running part
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 21:30
two pretty good. You know, two pretty good ones.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 21:33
I would say one lesson to pull out of that story. And your origin story is, we haven't really talked, we talked about a lot more on the show. But you know, surrounding yourself with, with successful people or, you know, movers and shakers, entrepreneurs. I mean, that sounds like you weren't, that wasn't your calculated way to get to Equinox to be around those people. But you were by, you know, kind of, it's kind of like a happy accident of sorts, right? As most as well because Equinox is the highest end gym chain, I think that's like 150 a month or something. Something like that. So really pricey.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 22:12
They got a killer. membership base, obviously. And my previous, okay, one of them. I made a face. I would try to sell memberships to people. And one of their rebuttals is like, well, I'll just go to equinox and it was like what is Equinox? And then I look it up. But when I when I lived in Chicago, it's like, oh, wow, this is creme de la creme gym. So when I decided I wanted to be a personal trainer, that was my goal, like I would only go to equinox and I failed the first interview.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 22:45
No, this is important. This is a good story. Because of failures. Hold them back. Go ahead. Sorry.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 22:52
I called the manager back and I said, Hey, Cameron, I think I know what I did wrong. Could you please give me another shot? Wow. And they gave me another shot. And I got hired.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 23:01
That wouldn't have never had that thought in my mind. Bombing an interview? Well, I bombed that one, I guess moving on. So that so Wait, what
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 23:11
did you say you did wrong?
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 23:12
Oh, man. So it was like a multi phase interview. And one of the like, tests was a floor poll, meaning you pull somebody off the floor that has bad form, you correct them and you sign them up, which is how I met Kurt, my mentor. So with this interview, it was like she was like the Regional Training Manager. She was such a hotshot at Equinox. She's doing an air squat. And I'm like, Hey, I'm like hi, feet shoulder width. Hey. And she was completely unresponsive. And like I mentioned, I worked at LA Fitness. And we were very rough around the edges there. So at Equinox, it's like, you got to be a little polish, but I brought some of this, this old energy there. And when this woman was unresponsive, I literally just like put my foot between hers and kicked her feet apart and said shoulder width please. And it was like a no go. And then the managers like Dan, I don't know, if you're a drill sergeant or a cheerleader, you're giving off mixed vibes that you need to own in your personality. And I'm like,
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 24:14
oh, man, all right. My bad. That'll mess with you, though. Like you're like, Oh, well.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 24:20
Because in my personal What the hell does that mean?
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 24:22
I would. Yeah, I would ruminate on that for days.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 24:24
Yeah, sure it ruminate on it. That's why I called them back and said, Give me another shot.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 24:29
And so what'd you do the second time around?
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 24:33
It was just literally like a talking interview. I didn't even have to go through the whole process. I think they were just impressed that I was like, that I gave that I tried again, and they brought me in. I explained what I did wrong, explained my personality, like I'm more of a cheerleader than a drill instructor is just my bad. She wasn't listening. So someone got a hold of me. And they're like, Alright, cool. We'll give you a shot. Yeah,
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 24:55
I mean, that's another in the inverse way being around You know, the the what are they called? They're like the big box gyms the, the huge gyms that no one cares about you as a person, you're just a membership, right? They hope you don't make it to February because they make all the money that way. So they sign you all up, they get you fired up in January, New Year new you. And by March most of the people are going to be there so they don't give a shit ever. It's a numbers game for them. Crunch is the same way all these low cost. Big Box like Best Buy style gyms of sorts. Yeah. And so Equinox is definitely a different animal. And they're interesting business to work for. Because I know, you have to do a lot more than what you've told us so far. There's it's kind of a philosophical thing, are you bringing some of that to what you're doing now, that kind of corporate culture that you learn there.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 25:52
So I like to bring like the the hospitality aspect. So at Equinox or even at LA Fitness, like any gym, they tell you, you should know every member by first name, you should be the mayor of the gym, you're the manager that was like what I would tell my people. So what I tried to do, and I got this from Vital Proteins to they were a little they like the big influencers. But for me, I really like putting everybody on a pedestal. So at runway we have we have like a small Ambassador team right now we got like 60 people, they promote runway, we send them product, they love it. And we feature them on our page, and I don't give a shit if they have 500 followers or 5 million. If you're loyal. If you're cool. If you're a fan and you're supporting, I'm going to support you. So that's a little satin that I took from the gym is just show love to everybody equally it like this guy, Kurt, like I didn't know he was so powerful to me willpower, I didn't know he was so successful to me, he was a tall guy literally ready to blow his back in his knee out in the in the squat rack. And I approached him the same way I would have approached someone that I knew was hyper successful, like there's no bias, just treat everybody great and put everybody on a pedestal. And
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 27:05
we need more people like you. That's very refreshing. Encouraging. Right?
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 27:09
And he was accepting of that, too. You know, that's another part of this is, you know, sometimes, like if someone shows me how to do something like, Home Improvement wise, I'm never like, I do it my way I got it. I was like, thanks. I don't you know, that's a better way to do it. You know, I never had formal training in this. So this is great. So there's, there's two parts of that, where it's kind of like, you can go up and go, Hey, let me let me show you feet shoulder width apart, or, you know, don't bend your back down and get his feet apart. I mean, I respond to that. It's like a team sport. That's some use of that for coaches and stuff, I think, well, so, runway, I want to get back to you getting to runway for vital. You know, I don't know if this is part of the vital umbrella or you'd said, Hey, I'm ready to go off on my own. I'm putting the timeline together. You know, you're there. 2017 to 2022. So, you know, we had that, that neat, cool lockdown everybody went through. And that kind of really showed people either you went crazy staying inside too much. Or you really kind of figured out something and kind of got improved your life like self.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 28:31
But there was probably a nice little bump in that stuff.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 28:34
You know, like eventually I saw like those lows commercials where it's like, yeah, you can get five pound buckets and or five gallon buckets and put the quack creed in it and make your own kind of deadlift bar and all that stuff. Make your own barbells out of whatever you got. You know, that's, that's a good American ingenuity kind of thing. I feel like what tell us how you transition from, you know, someone that it seems like you're very loyal to since you told them how to squat properly. Yeah,
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 29:02
yeah. So it literally it still goes back to this guy, Kurt. So got the job of idol who's my mentor, we ended up becoming like Bros and training partners. And around 2021 2022, Nestle Health and Science did a partial acquisition of Vital Proteins. So it's like they did half the sale one year and then half the sale the other year and get the right out this transition phase. And Vital Proteins was a billion dollar company, but it was ran like a startup like we had a wonderful culture. It was great. We had a freaking cafe in our headquarters. And we had this landing page where we would order coffee or matcha lattes and a barista would deliver it to us at our desk. Like it was so wonderful working there. And then when Nestle came in, it got superduper corporate and processes started changing my influencers weren't getting paid, and I had great great relations. ships with my influencers, creators, whatever you want to call them these days. And I get text messages literally at 6am. Like, Dan, I'm not going to make rent like, where is my money? Oh, and it got to the point where I had this one guy. He like he had my heart man and he was like my age, I'm pushing forward. He had kids, single dad, bodybuilder. And he was like, down and out. We owed him like eight grand. And it's like, it got to the point where I just I let them borrow $1,000 out of my pocket. He paid me back. My boss yelled at me for doing that shit. But I'm like the right thing to do. But we owed so much money. It ate my soul. And that was my that was my my lever. That was that was my moment where I was like, I can't do this anymore. Like this is fucking up my sleep. I feel like a scammer. So I, I exited vital. I took a couple months to figure it out. I dabbled in the cannabis space, which was miserable. I don't recommend that for anyone. And that's when I was like, after I left cannabis, I only lasted four months I call Kurt and I'm like, Hey, Kurt. Let's go. I want to go back to being your your apprentice. And he kind of laughed at me. He's like, wow, Dan, what was that four months? You know, I have a saying fail fast. You failed real fast. And I'm like, hahaha, no, really. What's, what are you doing? He's like, come on to La Let's talk. So I flew out to LA. And I basically told him like, look, I got so much to learn. last job socked? I don't know what my next phase is. And he basically said, What's your product? And I was blown away. I'm like, What do you mean? What's my product? Like, dude, I came here to like, hang out with you and like, learn from you. I don't know, I don't have a plan. And he's like, we'll come up with a product and come back in a week. All right. So flew home. I'm in Denver right now. That's where I was. And I came up with a non caffeinated pre workout. And at the same time that I was doing this, my old colleague from vital who I like, I really respect and adore this guy cam. He left by goal. And he hit me up like yo, done, what's happening and I'm like, camp, come to LA with me. I have an opportunity. Like, I could use your help. So we flew out to LA I pitched my little paper formulas. And then Kurt was like, Alright, who's your client? Tell What's your brand and I'm like, well, bodybuilders the broad space. That's what I know. And he's like, no, no, no, no, no. You need to hone in you need a brand. And my partner cam he's a legit runner. Like sub five minute mile qualified for Boston. He struggled legit. industry background. Yeah, he's five
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 32:38
sub five minute miles crazy love five
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 32:41
minute mile dudes fast. And he's not a little twig. He's six one. He's like, he's a dude.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 32:48
In Boston, for those that don't know, that's the hardest one to get in. Like, you can't just you know, I want to do that one. You got to like, it's
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 32:54
like the artist wanted to do I believe? Oh, my
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 32:57
sister's told me plenty of times she got into it. But yeah, sorry. Keep going. So
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 33:03
yeah, this guy cam I worked with him at vital for like a year or two. I really like his style. I knew he was a smart guy. And he could help me out at the time. We were both in the same position. So and he's he also knows curve we both know, obviously. So we go out there. He's got 10 years at Nike pretty much started the Eagan program that's like the field reps, the tech reps. He also has agency experience. Everything he did was with runners and shoes and apparel. He's dialed in man. So we went out and we were like, Alright, what about runners? What's the whitespace? And then we thought about it. And it's like, everything for runners is a race day product. It's a it's a goo a gel in the form of sugar. You know what I mean? However, goo gel, it's all the same. And it's a race state product. There was nothing surrounding the race. You know, where's the holistic approach? Or where's the brand loyalty? So then we're like, I think we got this we did about 60 Like phone will call on conversations, not interviews with runners of all sorts, man like couch to 5k ultra runners, even a couple of Olympians because camp still has great connections from Nike. And what we found was they're they're taking multiple different supplements. They're taking college and they're taking d3, they have electrolytes, but they're not sticking to one brand. It's like well, why not? Oh, because there's not a brand serving runners. And then what led us to our first product Foundation, which I had the parking lot this non caffeinated pre workout, we are going to launch it later this year. was we had a question what's your biggest fear? And it was an Olympian we were talking to other people said it but she was the first my biggest fear is not being able to run any my freaking eyes got watery, bro. I was like, oh my god, this is it. Like we need to do this. And that's how we kind of came up with this. Fuel your journey tagline keep runners running like if we can keep runners running even one more year. The amount of joy you bring them the health benefits, the mental benefits. So that's what led us to runway.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 35:08
This is Oh man I love. That's a great story. Yeah, great story. And thanks for telling it to us in our audience. You know, I feel like you're, you're a very big empath. And some people are empathic, but can't get out of their own way have the empathy to move forward. So you have a good ego empathy kind of balance, you know, you need enough to move the ball forward, right? Like to call for that second interview to call Kurt after you failed fast, you know, you had to have enough healthy ego to be able to do that. And then I love Kurt, he's an Oracle. This guy, this guy's like, you No,
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 35:51
no, no, I mean, that's awesome that like, your morals came into play. And you said I'm you know, I can't do this anymore. I feel like a scammer, and I'm definitely going to use that word. Yeah.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 36:02
I've never heard that. And like Nestle is one of the six big Come on mom and pop Corporation. There's you ever seen that infographic with the six conglomerates that own almost all the foods that are in the grocery store? It's wild. Yeah, I would say it not my brain goes into like marketing mode. You know, I think you can even extrapolate this out to people that just want a walk. You know, yeah, there's Boomer generation of people that would probably want to do this. What use this
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 36:34
speed walkers versus a nice transition, you know, with their little butt wiggle. But
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 36:39
yeah, I mean, like I the story you said about not running. You know, it reminded me of us trying to play basketball like two years ago. Let's collapse to like, in five seconds. Now granted, it was like July and it was in Florida here but we we definitely are just feeling it because we're all in haven't played basketball in a while.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 36:58
I'm better off now. Okay.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 37:02
That goes into our tagline fuel your journey. People age out of sports, people our age aren't really joining pickup games. We're not playing football anymore. Like what do people our age? Do? We
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 37:13
pickleball Yeah. For that we'll code dad crowd.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 37:17
Yeah. But gives us room to expand. Yeah, I
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 37:22
think you'll have so many other, you know, segments to hit in this kind of even look, if it does liquid IVs job or the comparison to that, you know, you got drinkers that would just drink it like we do with Gatorade. Yeah, we're people just got accustomed to like, I'm hungover. I need this. You buy supplements. And you get the you get caffeine in there. Boom. You know, that's right there. They don't need to be a runner. They just need to get up out of bed to be an alcoholic. And we know that. Well, there is a lot of Americans that they party, but they got to get up and go to work or whatever they're doing. slugging it out and apple picking with their kids and wife, you know, blueberry
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 38:06
picking on Saturday. Oh, yeah, maybe
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 38:09
that's what made me think of it. But you know, I think y'all this I think you might be at the beginning of a huge journey. Dairy I say along jog along race. And we're just at mile one kind of thing. Anything before we get out of here anything else that we didn't cover on here and we will take all the free products you want to send us that bird
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 38:43
sneeze that you're holding back in? Oh, it was like a queef again, like the lat dude. Yeah, one day you had the gnarliest burps No, I ate
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 38:52
a whole pound of bacon cup and ate it on the drive over here. Oh my god. Intermittent fasting now so I gotta get a cup of bacon. Well, you know, it's just a it's just a thing to put the bacon to
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 39:07
put in your shirt pocket.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 39:10
Yeah. Anything else? We may have not covered that we wanted to get out there. Um, go to that we go to our Anyway, go to our NWY dot life. And is it sweat equity? 15 is the promo code.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 39:29
Sweat equity fifteens promo code save 50% We got free shipping. We got one product right now foundation lemon lime. Tastes like OG Gatorade. That was the goal. Quick story about that when we were coming up with the product. We really wanted to capture the nostalgia of Og Gatorade. It brings up memories of like, going into little league and someone is mixing the powder Gatorade in the dispenser and you could always tell who made it like if the coach made its bomb. If somebody's mom made it's totally sucks. It's water. Yeah. Dude socked so that that was the goal OG Gatorade went to the flavor house, we brought literally a bottle of Gatorade, put it on the table and we're not leaving until we get this. So that's foundation. That's the story of flavoring. We got a wild cherry flavor coming out soon. And then we also have a, a protein plus creatine coming out. We'll say June chocolate and ice flavored, super excited about that. And then um, that non caffeinated pre workout called EXTRA MILE that'll be in, like the fall.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 40:29
I'm gonna pitch warning for the Fall coming up. Quinn's gum is Oh, no, but quince gum rule is lastly five seconds but it was an awesome Sports Authority impulse buy me plates you can get it. My dad was actually on the guinea he was a guinea pig for Gatorade, the original Gatorade 1966 You have the Florida Gators football team. So you know, there is a third whole circle baby. There's a 30 for 30 on Gatorade and he's interviewed in it in his in his law firm office back in the day, but that's just a weird kind of coinkidink that you were talking about that? We call it a Gatorade Doctor Cade Gatorade, the Gators. I'm gonna pitch for the moms out there. We want to get that mom market because 90% of purchasing power is the lady in the house. You know, pumpkin spice flavored for the fall. You show girl drinking it out of a mug with two hands on it. You know looking out the window getting ready to go run thinking about it. Yeah,
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 41:35
we'll double the college and we'll throw some froth on it. Yeah,
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 41:38
but you need like a comfy like sports hoodie. A buttery hoodie on you know, she's She just dropped her kids off. And now she's thinking about going for that run because she's got a little time.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 41:51
Yeah, maybe send him some aloe leggins Allah oversized hoodie.
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 41:56
Fuck. I mean, if you get if you get in the moisturizing business of white women are all over this. They have a functional process that I didn't realize growing up. Yeah, there's a 15 minute moisturizing lotioning like, you know, kind of before bed time routine.
Eric Readinger, Fractional CMO, Producer and Head Of Media 42:14
Okay.
I didn't know you didn't know about that. No, you should be moisturizing dude. Now I want to
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 42:21
look like an old sailor. That's the new innovation. Well,
Law Smith Comedian Fractional CMO 42:24
thanks for coming on. Appreciate you telling us that story and opening up and yeah, let us know when you want to come back on man.
Dan Caron, RNWY.life CEO 42:31
Yeah, thank you, gentlemen, everyone. Thanks. Bye bye.
