Mike Malinin | Hennepin Hundred
Hi, I’m Mike Malinin — and I’m a musician living with dystonia.
I grew up in Miami and started playing drums the summer before 7th grade. I knew from an early age that music is what I wanted to do for a living. Throughout middle and high school, I poured myself into music, playing with friends, performing in school bands, and honing my craft.
After high school, I moved to Denton, Texas, to study jazz at the University of North Texas and dove headfirst into the vibrant local band scene. I played in clubs across Dallas and toured regionally with several artists. In 1992, I took the opportunity to move to Los Angeles to further pursue a career in music — and I went after every opportunity I could find. In 1995, I landed the gig as drummer for the Goo Goo Dolls, a role I held until 2013.
After my wife and I welcomed twins, we relocated to Nashville, where I continued playing — including a nearly 7-year run as drummer for Tanya Tucker from 2016 to 2022.
But behind all the personal and professional milestones was something deeply concerning: a growing issue with my right arm. Holding it at a 90-degree angle — the basic position for playing drums — became difficult and eventually impossible. At one point, I couldn’t even hold a cup of coffee with my right arm.
After seeking answers, I was diagnosed with focal hand dystonia — a rare and often debilitating neurological disorder that disrupts the brain’s ability to control muscle movements. It was robbing me of not only my ability to play drums but also my ability to enjoy everyday activities, including running — one of my greatest joys.
Many musicians don’t talk about injuries or chronic conditions, fearing it might cost them work. But after living with dystonia for several years, I’m ready to speak up — and to take action.
On October 4, I’ll be running the Hennepin Hundred, a 100-mile ultramarathon through Illinois — and I’m dedicating every mile to raising funds and awareness for the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF).
My goal is to raise $25,000 in support of DMRF’s mission: advancing research, supporting patients and families, and working toward better treatments — and ultimately, a cure.
The Hennepin Hundred is Illinois’ only point-to-point, all-trail ultramarathon — a true Midwest adventure stretching from Sterling to Colona, along the historic and beautiful Hennepin Canal State Trail. I’ll run through postcard towns, past autumn cornfields, over historic locks and lift bridges — all day and all night, for 100 miles straight.
This will be my seventh 100-mile race, and my training is fairly intense. I run 10-15 mile days, with a few 35+-mile long runs. Whatever I can fit into my schedule. You can follow my training progress here and on social media.
Here’s how your support can make a difference in the important work of the DMRF:
- Battling isolation through DMRF’s support programs for individuals families navigating the challenges of dystonia
- Educating those affected and their families with accurate, up-to-date information to develop the best treatment plan
- Funding cutting-edge research to engage young investigators to dystonia research and to find the cause of dystonia leading to better therapies and, one day, a cure
Join me on this journey. Help us reach the $25,000 goal — and make every mile count.
With gratitude,
Mike Malinin
English