Cheerful Endurance: Jay McElroy’s Lessons for a Stronger Life |180

Jay McElroy was born and raised on a small farm in Cuba, AL, where he spent his childhood roaming the fields and woods surrounding his home. He attended Bass Memorial Academy in Lumberton, MS, graduating in 1984, and then pursued higher education at Southern Adventist University, where he earned his degree and married Stefanie in 1987. After college, he worked for two years before enrolling at the University of Alabama with Stefanie, where he earned an MBA alongside her. Following graduation, he moved back to Cuba, AL, with Stefanie, joining the family trucking business, where he remains today. Jay and Stefanie have two married sons, four grandchildren, and a fifth grandchild due soon. Growing up in the rural South laid the foundation for his love of the outdoors, which evolved into a passion for ultra-distance endurance events. He has completed three Ironman races, seven 100-mile races, and two 200-mile events, in addition to dozens of shorter-distance competitions. His passion for endurance sports began with a desire to improve his health and redirect the path he was on. 

In this conversation, Marty and Jay explore physical fitness as a core male strength. Jay emphasizes mental toughness over physical limits, sharing tales of frostbite and hallucinations, yet finding God’s awe in nature. Despite a spinal fusion at 40, intestinal surgery, and melanoma, he thrives by staying active. Rest—8-8.5 hours nightly—and Sabbath renewal are vital, rooted in scriptures like Ecclesiastes 9 (“do it with all your might”). With a supportive wife, Jay urges men to set goals, push limits, and embrace trail running’s spiritual rewards. His message: take the first step—whether a 5K or beyond—to unlock God-given potential, blending physical endurance with faith and resilience. 

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