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Josh Allan thought he had it figured out.
He was fast. Really fast.
Running national-level 400m times.
Training with some of the best athletes in the country.
But deep down, he knew something most athletes avoid admitting.
This wasn’t going to be his career.
In this episode, Ryan sits down with Josh Allan, now Head Coach of Men’s Rugby at the University of Toronto, to unpack the real decisions behind leaving one path… and choosing another.
From growing up in Halifax and playing multiple sports at a high level, to representing at national level in both rugby and athletics, Josh shares what it actually looks like when you’re good at everything… but forced to choose one thing.
And more importantly, what happens when none of those paths turn into the future you imagined.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
- Why being talented at multiple sports can actually make decisions harder
- The moment Josh realized track wasn’t going to be his career
- What it really takes to “go all in”… and why most people don’t
- Walking away from elite rugby pathways and what that felt like
- The reality behind the “3%” who make it professionally
- How he ended up moving to Chicago with no real plan
- Why sport became his gateway into life, not his destination
- Building confidence through coaching, gyms, and personal training
- The identity shift every athlete has to face
- What he now tells 18-year-olds who think they’re going pro
This episode isn’t about success in the traditional sense.
It’s about awareness.
Josh knew early on that continuing down a path just because he could… didn’t mean he should.
And that honesty changed everything.
From stepping away from track after hitting a ceiling, to returning to rugby, to eventually realizing sport wasn’t going to be the end goal, this is a story about making decisions before life forces them on you.
It’s also a reminder that just because something doesn’t become your career… doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth it.
Want to go deeper?
If you are looking for career clarity for your next step, visit www.2ndwind.io
to learn more or book a consult.
