“I didn’t even live in Tennessee when I started running with East Nasty.” Woah. Now that’s some East Nasty cred, if I do say so myself. Meet this week’s East Nasty of the Week, Josh Furnier.

How many East Nasties can say they started running with the group before they even lived in this state? I’m guessing that is a short list. We have Josh’s now-wife-then-girlfriend, Vanessa, to thank for introducing him to our running group. She got Josh out for weekend training runs when he would visit on weekends back in 2010 and 2011. Josh moved to Nashville in 2012 so he could be closer to East Nasty Vanessa.

Josh & Vanessa at a Yazoo Barely a 4k 2012

But let’s back up a little. Josh was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from high school there, but also lived in Colorado Springs and Bend, Oregon while growing up. As a kid, he didn’t have any interest in playing sports but does remember that when he tried soccer he was able to run up and down the field without ever getting tired. {This is called foreshadowing.} Josh remembers one year in gym class he had to run a mile, and the teacher approached him after and suggested he join the cross country team. {This is also called foreshadowing.}

Josh is a paralegal at the Department of Law for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. He said I could call it just “Metro” but I think the full name sounds much cooler.

He began his running career in September 2008. He had spent most of his twenties eating poorly and not being very active, and decided as he approached 30 that it was time to make a change. A family member encouraged him to sign up for a Thanksgiving Day 10k training program. He started out run-walking, but by race day finished without stopping in just under an hour. And the rest is history!

Josh running his first marathon in 2010 - the Flying Pig Marathon

Josh completed the Flying Monkey Marathon in 2013 in under four hours – 3:55:47 was his official time. It was only his second marathon and was a 45 minute PR. Hopefully everyone is familiar with this unique Nashville marathon, but if you aren’t – it’s basically the Percy Warner 11.2 run two times with some extra miles thrown in to get to 26.2. It’s not exactly flat or fast – so that time is pretty darn impressive. Way to go Josh! And thanks for being a part of East Nasty!