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Sub Sandwich and My Very Low Pain Threshold (read description for more).

One of the things I’ve often felt most embarrassed about is my very low threshold for pain. People brag about how high their pain threshold is, but I can honestly admit, I’ve almost passed out over a paper cut, I’ve shed tears over a stubbed toe, and don’t even get me started on period cramps. Thus, my instinct is to avoid pain at all costs. Sometimes, I feel like my entire life is about that one thing: avoiding pain. I didn’t want to feel rejection from my parents—so I spent my entire childhood and young adult life doing everything I could to make them proud of me. I didn’t want to feel shut out from my ex-husband—so I begged, groveled, and shrank until I was small enough for him to love me. I didn’t want to feel lonely—so I stayed in a relationship I knew was causing me to fade away.

I think that’s what running away does—it causes you to fade away.

Despite this fear of pain, I started running marathons. Not surprisingly, my objective was to figure out how to gain the extraordinary confidence boost of crossing that finish line WITHOUT ANY PAIN! It turns out, that doesn’t exist. I discovered that no matter how hard I trained, how expensive my shoes were, or how many pain-killers I downed at Mile 18, my feet always ended up feeling like they were carrying a semi, my lungs began to burn, and my stomach would try to eat itself. The second I pumped my legs past 26.2 miles, I’d bend over and see stars, as I retched a trickle of spit (all that was left inside me) into the pavement. And during that grossest of gross moments, I carried the knowledge that I just did one of the hardest things I could ever do, and what a splinter of joy that knowledge provides…

As Dan (@dwrunning1) says, our ability to lean into pain, to embrace the pain—that can be our secret weapon, as we bulldoze our way to the finish lines that beckon us forward.
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For this sandwich, I used some high protein tofu, my magic sauce (gochujang + hummus + chopped pickles + pickle juice), avocado, tomato, my own ramen seasoning (coming soon), julienned cabbage + carrots. It was outstanding.

Joanne Lee Molinaro is a Korean American trial lawyer, New York Times best-selling author, James Beard Award-winner, and host of the Are You Ready podcast. With nearly 5 million fans spread across her social media platforms, Joanne has appeared on The Food Network, CBS Saturday Morning, ABC’s Live with Kelly and Ryan, The Today Show, PBS, and The Rich Roll Podcast. She’s been featured in the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR, and CNN; and her debut cookbook was selected as one of “The Best Cookbooks of 2021” by The New York Times and The New Yorker among others.

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23 Replies to “Sub Sandwich and My Very Low Pain Threshold (read description for more).”

  1. Yesterday I cried myself to sleep, I had so much anxiety regarding my future, I have no goals yet, I just enjoy whatever I do, it's not like I'm gonna do a particular job my whole life, I wanna keep experiencing everything. But somewhere I feel like I'm such a useless, I can't move forward, this feeling is ripping me apart–

  6. listening to this episode was such a breath of joy. I totally get why you admire this man as a coach and a friend 🙂 Listening to him talk about being vulnerable with aspiring runners, fitting running into their life instead of making their life about running, really gave me perspective on how I should shift my focus on making my hobbies and profession parts of my life not the utmost definition. Really enjoying your podcasts so far, keep going strong Joanne 🙂

  8. or, heck, it doesn't have to be printable – just a recipe (for the magic sauce) with the proportions….

  10. My grandma told me to make peace with pain, cause it's telling you, you're still alive…

  13. I know this problem wasn't the intended audience, but talking about leaning into pain after the passing of moonbin feels vital for people to hear. Mourning isn't a fun process, but maybe it's necessary to feel the pain that comes from it?Someone said that grief is just proof that you loved someone, it's just you don't have the outlet/person to point your love to anymore…. they phrased it a lot better though

  16. ❤❤❤❤ this is beautiful. And confirmation of thoughts I have had lately.. thank you for sharing your soulful stories on life paired with delectable food preparation and a dessert of words I only wish to be able to create. ❤❤❤ keep going.

  17. I had to watch this multiple times to actually hear what you were saying, I got distracted by the sandwich.

  18. Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I appreciate you! Stay safe stay great and keep up the good work!!!

  19. I have had unexplainable chronic pain for the last 3 years. I'm sick of feeling sorry for myself. I'll try to embrace it as much as I can, and run "with" it <3

  20. yes this resonates so hard. Thank you Joanne <33

    I always end up in pain due to love, academics, and just giving too much of myself to others. And I’ve had to learn that pain is good, it’s a natural part of life. And that pain is beautiful because it shows us we are human and that we are alive.

    I’ve embraced the hurt I feel after failed love or academics because as long as I know I tried my best, the pain is bearable 🙂 and that the pain wasn’t worthless

  23. This is what honestly a lot of sports teaches people, dealing with pain is something EVERYONE experiences or has experienced. Especially in sports, which I think is really the beauty of it. It’s a lesson. If you’ve never been hurt by something you won’t know it’s true meaning or feeling. As they say, no pain no gain. ❤

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