A MEMOIR
From the fastest marathoner in the world over fifty—and maybe the planet's most determined underdog—an inspiring tale of resilience, redemption, and personal transformation.
From the fastest marathoner in the world over fifty—and maybe the planet's most determined underdog—an inspiring tale of resilience, redemption, and personal transformation that recounts Ken Rideout's rise from a childhood cradled in poverty and criminality to a thriving job on Wall Street to struggles with addiction to athletic superstardom.
Born into a broken family just outside of Boston, Ken Rideout's early life was marred by drugs and crime. At just eighteen, he found himself working as a corrections officer in a prison where his stepfather had been incarcerated, and his brother would later serve time. Despite the bleak expectations set by his family, Ken harbored dreams far beyond the confines of his upbringing.
Ken's broke free from the gritty streets of Boston to the high-stakes world of Wall Street, where he carved out a successful career with top firms like Cantor Fitzgerald and Natixis. Yet, beneath the veneer of success, he battled a decade-long addiction to opioids, spending his hard-earned wealth on pills. The turning point came with the adoption of a daughter from overseas—a wake-up call to become the father and man he always dreamed of being.
Running became Ken's salvation. With unwavering determination, he willed himself to run vast distances. In three years, Ken transformed from a "running nobody" to the world's fastest marathoner over fifty. His mantra: Win—or die trying. In the book, Ken shares his awe-inspiring achievements, including winning the Masters' Marathon World Championships in Chicago at age fifty-two and conquering the Gobi March ultra-marathon, one of the world's toughest races. Through sheer resilience and grit, Ken rewrote his story.
Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard is for anyone ready to fight for the life they want—because, as Ken has proven, it's possible to turn the impossible into reality.
Ken Rideout is the fastest marathoner in the world over fifty and a former prison guard, Wall Street trader, and opiate addict. Since getting sober more than a decade ago, he has won some of the world's toughest races, including, at age fifty-two, the Gobi March—a 155-mile, self-supported race across the sweltering Gobi Desert in Mongolia—and a few months later, the Masters Marathon World Championships.
In addition to his many running victories, he has completed more than ten Ironman triathlons. In 2018, Ken founded capital solutions firm Camrock Advisors after a long career in finance working for such firms as Cantor Fitzgerald, Natixis, and Credit Agricole.
He lives in Nashville with his wife, Shelby, and their four children.
"Ken Rideout is the rare motivator whose message is backed by a life of extraordinary experience. Social media is a grossly oversaturated space, filled with hucksters and bullshit artists and pseudo-inspiration. Ken Rideout is the thunderclap that drowns out that noise with essential lessons from his truly unbelievable life of hardship and achievement."
"The heart and soul of my podcast is personal transformation. Ken's story of metamorphosis is one of the most compelling, improbable, and inspirational tales I have ever heard."
"Ken Rideout's life story about his time working in a Boston penitentiary to becoming a highly successful investor and broadcaster is the stuff of movies. As the combination of Rich Roll and Dave Goggins, his achievement in marathons and family inspire me."
"Ken is the most driven person I know. Incredible life story, athlete, family man, business mind, personal ethics, work ethics, friend. Run for office, Ken!"
"When I'm around Ken Rideout, I laugh, I think, and I'm reminded of what's possible. He's truly a one-of-a-kind human being who has the type of no-BS disposition that is exactly what this world is in need of. Strap on your seat belt and enjoy the transformation."
"There are certain guys if faced with walking down a dark alley for your life's existence, I'm picking Ken Rideout as the dude I'm going to war with!! Not only is Ken a tremendous athlete but also mentally strong as well"
"I came across one of your posts and you were saying 'you gotta exercise like your life depends on it because it does.' I'm right there with you, brother. I appreciate you, man, I appreciate all your hard work. I was really inspired by going on your Instagram page so I'm gonna hit the gym and do my best to run through a wall now."
