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Chris Zajac

@therealchriszaj

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1.3K

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1528

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Nashville, TN

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Couldn’t be more grateful to God 🙏🏼 by @therealchriszaj

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2 months ago

Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy? 🫶🏼 by @therealchriszaj

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3 months ago

5ks, 10ks, 3 Half Marathons…and now I’m finally doing a full marathon. And I figured I’d do a pretty cool one for my first!This October I’m running the Chicago Marathon, not just to check off 26.2 miles, but to run for something bigger than myself. Running has changed my life and I see how it can impact/save other’s lives as well.I’ve teamed up with Team World Vision to help bring clean, life-changing water to kids and communities around the world. Right now over 1,000 children under the age of 5 die every day from diseases caused by dirty water, poor sanitation, and lack of hygiene. The crazy part is this is a problem we can actually solve in our lifetime.$50 provides clean water for one person.One donation can genuinely change a life.If you’ve followed my running journey the past couple of years, then I’d be incredibly grateful if you helped me turn these miles into something meaningful.Donation link in bio or comments.Thank you for the support. It really means a lot.Also the last picture with Unc’s face from diamond gym is how I’m about to be looking this training block 😂😂 by @therealchriszaj

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6 months ago

What a year…did not go as I thought it would but went incredibly well in a different direction that I’m so grateful for! From moving back to Nashville, two half marathons, and to starting a new career (no more mandatory weekends 🙌🏼). All I can say is wow thank you God. Still in awe of all of the places I went from a Fort Lauderdale beach day trip all the way to a weekend in New York City. Grateful for all of the new friendships I created and the ones I strengthened. A few years ago I had dreams of what my life could look like and now that I’m living that I’m dreaming even bigger and my vision for the future is even more unimaginable. I’d say 2025 was a year of “why not” and “let’s try it” and I’m glad because I discovered a lot of things I thought I wanted were actually not what I wanted 😂🤷🏻‍♂️ but you never know until you give it a shot.And I truly still can’t believe everything that happened within just this past year. Literally unreal lolSo here’s to another year of running and pushing boundaries in every aspect of my life 🥳 by @therealchriszaj

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7 months ago

This past year I ran three half marathons. The first one I trained for last minute, just six weeks of figuring it out and sending it. The second one I actually committed to, and it paid off with a 13-minute PR.Then came this last one. I barely trained. Life got busy, balance slipped, and I ended up dropping from the full to the half. A year ago that would’ve crushed me, and at first, I thought it did. I was struggling with the idea of dropping down, but after some affirmation and real conversation after this last race, I got reality checked and felt grateful just for the chance to still run.I ran the same time as my first race, but for the first time, I didn’t struggle mentally, only physically (which makes sense given the lack of training lol). And honestly, that feels like the biggest win yet, even more than chasing a time PR.I used to run to escape. Running was how I survived. But this past weekend, I found a new reason to run, not to fix anything or prove anything to others, but because I’m running for who I’ve become.All I know is don’t expect me to relax or chill out anytime ever…also a 100 inspection rating?? come on nowAlso first 2 📸: @ab__co by @therealchriszaj

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8 months ago

July was a grind.Showing up every day. Creating when I didn’t feel like it. Posting even when I second-guessed it.But I learned something:You don’t grow by waiting for perfect.You grow by doing it scared.30 days later, I feel more confident in my voice, my work, and my why.Most people don’t fail because they’re not talented.They just stop showing up.So here’s to showing up, even when it’s messy. Even when it’s hard.August isn’t ready! by @therealchriszaj

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a year ago

Sound design isn’t extra. It’s essential.Here’s a look behind the scenes of how I built the audio world for @mccallmemaybe22Every detail designed to feel as intense as it looks.Sfx from @ocular.sounds 🎧 Watch with sound on.DM me if you want your story told like this. by @therealchriszaj

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a year ago

Success is never owned, it is rented; and the rent is due every day.#dedication #workout #motivation #consistency #grind #hardwork #hyrox #gym #hybrid #endurance #success #international by @therealchriszaj

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a year ago

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a year ago

Not just a PR.This is my journey—where I started, what I’ve fought through, and what I’m building now.If you’re chasing purpose or rebuilding yourself—this one’s for you.Let me know what part hits you most 👇Track 📸: @ab__co by @therealchriszaj

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a year ago

Grace + DawsonLove is patient and kind.It doesn’t envy, boast, or act with pride.It honors others, isn’t self-seeking or easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs.Love rejoices in truth, not in evil.It always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.Love never fails.#wedding #weddingvideography #sacredmarriage #videography #sonyfx3 #tennessee by @therealchriszaj

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a year ago

“This is only the beginning”Two years ago, I decided to start running for my mental and physical health—and to take my life back. Shortly after, I lost everything I had at the time, and it was in that moment that I knew I had to make a choice: either give up or overcome.Running taught me perseverance and how to fight through hardships. I lost 50 pounds that first year and casually worked up to running my first 10K race, all while going through my own personal healing journey. After that, I stopped running for a bit, but returned to it this past summer and fall for the community aspect.I never expected to be welcomed with open arms, but that’s exactly what @theexchangerunningcollective did. This past weekend, I completed my second half marathon—this time with a proper training block—and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing community that running has surrounded me with.This isn’t just a running store or a running group; this is my family.I can confidently say that God has used running to save my life and to help me continue becoming the best version of myself.Next stop: Indy Monumental Marathon 🏁Shoutout to everyone who has been there in this journey: @theexchangerunningcollective @6run5_ @lolu.life @prvnhq @wnrr_nashville & of course @chriskunk by @therealchriszaj

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a year ago