The Road to Austin: A Father-Daughter Journey of Grit and Growth

Every step of this journey began long before the starting line — built on early mornings, quiet miles, and an unshakable belief that mindset can carry you farther than age ever could.

At just 13 years old, Nadine Mousilli accomplished something extraordinary: she ran a full 26.2-mile marathon and made history as the youngest runner ever to complete the Austin Marathon. This wasn’t a fun run or a short race—it was the full distance, every mile earned through discipline, focus, and pure determination.

Behind her journey was her father and coach, Basim Mousilli—entrepreneur, creative director, and founder of Insert Fuel and Let Go Boss. Through his companies, Basim helps leaders and creators automate their businesses, strengthen their mindset, and reclaim their time through systems that fuel both success and freedom.

The Road to Austin

Three months before Austin, Nadine had already stunned everyone by taking first place for her age and gender at the Houston Half Marathon. While most kids might have stopped there, she simply asked, “What’s next?”

The minimum age requirement for the Austin Marathon is 13—but Nadine was technically still 12 years old just one week before the race. With her 13th birthday days away, she received official doctor’s clearance to compete. She didn’t want exceptions; she wanted the opportunity to prove herself.

Her training was demanding and self-driven. She ran through Houston neighborhoods, climbed steep hills in Colombia, and woke up for 3 a.m. alarms that turned into 5 a.m. runs. When others said she needed better conditions, she made do with what she had—turning sidewalks into circuits and her determination into endurance.

A Father’s View

As both her dad and her coach, I witnessed the entire journey—the early mornings, the long runs, and the quiet battles with fatigue and doubt. Every time she hit a wall, she pushed through it.

That experience reinforced a truth I’ve learned in business and in life: the mind quits long before the body does. Nadine’s goal was never about being the fastest—it was about finishing what she started and proving that consistency and mindset can overcome any limit.

What This Has to Do With You

Whether you’re a founder trying to scale, a professional stuck in the grind, or someone rebuilding after a setback, there’s a version of Nadine’s story in your own life. You don’t need more time or ideas—you need a reset in your mindset, supported by the right systems and guided by a coach who keeps you accountable when motivation fades.

Through Insert Fuel, I help business owners and executives automate what drains them so they can focus on growth and impact. Through Let Go Boss, I teach the mindset that makes that growth possible—how to let go of fear, structure your goals, and sustain success with balance.

If I can coach my 13-year-old daughter to make history, I can help you stop playing small, build structure, and scale with confidence.

The Next Chapter

After the Austin Marathon, Nadine didn’t slow down. Over the summer, she ran two more half marathons for fun, continuing to test her limits and learn what her body and mind are capable of.

Now, she’s training for a 50-mile ultramarathon next year—and has already set her sights on one of the toughest endurance races in the world, the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon, within the next two years.

Her journey is proof that focus and structure turn impossible goals into milestones.

The Lesson

Achievement isn’t defined by age, privilege, or luck. It’s built through consistency, self-discipline, and the willingness to take one more step when everything inside you says stop.

That’s the Let Go Boss mindset—letting go of excuses, limits, and self-doubt so you can create the life and business you were meant to lead.

Let go of the excuses.

Let go of the limits.

Let Go Boss.