In this special race recap episode of Finish Line Moments, we head back to Santa Rosa Marathon weekend through three runners who experienced it from completely different places. Barbara Devine traveled from Tucson for Wine Country Running Camp with Sara Hall, Ryan Hall and Sara Slattery before taking on the Santa Rosa Half Marathon. A runner through and through - her pets are even named Meb, Kara, Hoka and Tempo - Barbara shares how the camp, the people and the experience surrounding the race elevated what happened once she reached the start line. Then we meet Santa Rosa Marathon champion Nick Tsotu, whose victory carried a meaning no finish time could capture. After several difficult years dealing with injuries, Nick returned to win a race he'd also won in 2022. He was 2½ minutes faster then - but this time, he says, he appreciated the experience so much more. It's a powerful conversation about adversity, gratitude and learning to recognize the good days when they come. And longtime Santa Rosa runner and volunteer Tsun Tsai reminds us just how much of the running community is built by people who simply keep showing up. After running the 5K with his nine-year-old son, Tsun went straight to volunteering at the expo, then got up the next morning to run the half marathon. His joy in running, volunteering and supporting others is infectious. From the front of the marathon to the heart of the running community, this episode is a celebration of what made Santa Rosa Marathon weekend feel so special: people showing up for themselves - and for each other.

50 marathons. Seven continents. Seven World Marathon Majors. And Urszula “Ula” Musik still gets nervous at every start line - and cries at every finish.

Ula only began running in 2017, completing her first marathon a year later. In 2025, she became the first Polish woman to complete both seven marathons on seven continents and all seven World Marathon Majors in the same year.

Ula shares what it was really like to run a marathon in Antarctica, what it takes to keep showing up for enormous goals from logistics to recovery, and why every race she runs is dedicated to someone in her community, family or circle of friends.

We talk about her deep pride in her Polish heritage, her leadership as President of Polska Running Team, her work as a registered nurse and the community that has become inseparable from her running.

And through it all, there is something wonderfully human about Ula's relationship with the sport: after 50 marathons, she hasn't become immune to the experience. The start line still makes her nervous. The people she carries with her still matter. And the finish line still brings her to tears.

Few people have experienced and helped shape the modern history of running quite like Amby Burfoot.The 1968 Boston Marathon champion went on to spend more than three decades at Runner’s World, including 20 years as executive editor, becoming one of the sport’s most influential writers, storytellers and advocates. Through his own running and the stories he chose to tell, Amby helped open doors and expand the idea of who gets to be a runner.And just days before his 80th birthday, he’s still running and still looking forward.In this lively, wide-ranging conversation, Amby takes us from being the last kid picked for his JV basketball team to discovering running under the extraordinary mentorship of Boston champion John J. Kelley; from winning Boston while still at Wesleyan (with roommate Bill Rodgers) to finding his dream career at Runner’s World; and into the stories of pioneering women including Bobbi Gibb and Joan Benoit Samuelson, whose contributions to the sport he has worked to preserve and celebrate.Then we turn toward the miles Amby is running now and why they may tell us as much about him as the ones he ran at 21.Amby shares what he’s learning from a community of runners still chasing marathons in their 70s and 80s, his upcoming attempt to complete a marathon in eight consecutive decades of life and a remarkable 64-year Thanksgiving Day running tradition.His message is wonderfully simple: movement is medicine. Movement is health. The goal isn’t merely to add more years to our lives, but to put as much life as possible into the years we have.This is running history, yes. But more than that, it’s a joyful conversation about finding something you love, sharing it with others and staying with it for a lifetime.

One of the greatest distance runners in American history joins Finish Line Moments and somehow, the conversation feels less about running than it does about living well.In this episode, four-time Olympian, Olympic silver medalist, Boston Marathon champion, New York City Marathon champion, and Runner's World's "Most Influential Person in Running," Meb Keflezighi, shares the remarkable journey that began with his family's immigration from Eritrea and ultimately led to the biggest stages in our sport.Together, we explore the people who shaped him, the lessons hidden inside 26 professional marathons, and the philosophy that has guided his entire life: Run to Win - not by finishing first, but by getting the very best out of yourself.Along the way, Meb opens up about discovering running in middle school, the importance of academics and preparation, Coach Bob Larsen's influence, coming back from setbacks, why every marathon challenged him mentally and how learning to adapt became one of his greatest strengths. One insight that especially stood out: experience means very little until you reach the finish line.What struck me most wasn't just Meb's incredible résumé, it was his generosity. His willingness to reflect, laugh, tell stories and share lessons that apply just as much to life as they do to running made this one of my favorite conversations to date.And the best news? We only scratched the surface.We never even made it to Rio, his final races and some of the earlier lessons (hello breathe right strip), or many of the stories about family, fatherhood and life after elite competition. Thankfully, Meb has already agreed to come back, so consider this the beginning of a conversation rather than the end.Whether you're training for your first 5K, your next professional marathon or simply navigating your own next challenge, this episode is filled with reminders about perseverance, preparation, gratitude and showing up as the very best version of yourself.Because in Meb's words, that's what it truly means to Run to Win.

In this special race recap episode of Finish Line Moments, we celebrate a weekend that showcases the very best of two incredible communities. The journey begins beneath colorful hot air balloons rising over Napa's vineyards and winds through wine country before finishing with an unforgettable celebration in the heart of Sonoma Plaza. It's an experience that runners tell us somehow gets even better every year.Along the way, you'll meet three remarkable guests whose stories capture the spirit of the weekend.Ana Vergara shares the emotional journey from a lymphoma diagnosis to completing her very first half marathon less than 24 hours after learning she was officially in remission.Pat Evans, the 2026 men's champion, takes us inside his winning race and explains why Napa to Sonoma continues to be one of his favorite events.Carly Marasco shares how Team Fox and the Michael J. Fox Foundation transformed running into purpose, helping her raise more than $115,000 for Parkinson's research while creating a family tradition centered around hope, action and community.We also celebrate Sonoma County's own Jared Pacheco, whose hometown third-place finish thrilled the local crowd, and reflect on one of the weekend's most inspiring moments when Dariy Demko crossed the 5k finish line for the first time since being paralyzed from the neck down in a rock climbing accident two years ago, surrounded by cheers from Team Fox, volunteers, family and fellow participants.With more than 6,000 runners, 600 volunteers, participants from 45 states, welcoming local businesses, world-class wineries and countless moments of encouragement along the course, Napa to Sonoma is more than a race - it's a reminder of what can happen when two communities come together to create an unforgettable experience.

In this episode of Finish Line Moments, Mary shares the highs, heartbreaks, and hard-earned lessons that shaped her path, from navigating epilepsy, Crohn's disease, degenerative disc disease and high blood pressure to the disappointment of a Tokyo Marathon DNF and the decision to return one year later to finish what she started.Mary also opens up about why Team Abbott became so much more than a race team, how the community transformed her journey and what she's learned about advocating for herself, adapting when life changes the rules, and choosing possibility over limitation.This isn't a conversation filled with clichés, it's filled with perspective. Throughout the episode, Mary drops one memorable insight after another, the kind of quotes you'll want to pause, replay and maybe even write down. It's an honest, energetic conversation about courage, community, motherhood, chronic illness and discovering that our greatest finish line moments often happen long before - or long after - we cross the finish line.This conversation isn't really about seven stars. It's about remembering that sometimes our greatest finish line moments aren't found at the end of a race, they're found every time we choose to begin again.

In this episode of Finish Line Moments, Gretchen sits down with Sports Basement Senior Director of Marketing Ian Ballentine for one of the most authentic and thought-provoking conversations the show has had to date. From his childhood as a competitive swimmer and collegiate team captain to Ironman, mountain biking, Hyrox, functional fitness and fatherhood, Ian shares why being an athlete isn't something you do - it's part of who you become.

At the heart of the conversation is the Japanese philosophy of Misogi: choosing one challenge each year that's big enough to push you beyond your comfort zone and transform you in the process. It's a mindset that has shaped Ian's approach to endurance sports, his career, his family and the way he continues to grow through every season of life.

Together, Gretchen and Ian explore what it means to keep evolving after marriage and children, why movement can become a lifelong identity instead of a phase, how to model curiosity and resilience for your kids and why the most meaningful finish line moments often happen far from a race course.

They also dive into Ian's 17-year journey with Sports Basement, the incredible community that surrounds it and the way it gives back, the emotional highs and lows that come with chasing ambitious goals and why discomfort isn't something to avoid - it's often where the most meaningful growth begins.

Whether you're training for your next race, navigating a new chapter of life or simply wondering what challenge might help you become the next version of yourself, this conversation will leave you inspired to keep moving forward, keep learning, and never stop asking, "What's next?"

Before Elizabeth Pehota ever pinned on a marathon bib, she was immersed in the energy of Boston. As a Boston College cheerleader and sports journalist, she spent years encouraging athletes, telling their stories, and experiencing the magic of the Boston Marathon from the sidelines. Somewhere along the way, one simple thought took root: One day, I want to run this race.In this episode of Finish Line Moments, Elizabeth shares the journey that followed - from first-time marathoner to seven-time Boston qualifier, Seven Star Finisher and Guinness World Record holder for the Fastest Female Marathon with Multiple Sclerosis.Just days before the 2022 Berlin Marathon, Elizabeth received the life-changing diagnosis of MS. Rather than letting it define her, she chose to keep moving forward, eventually transforming her own journey into a source of hope and encouragement for others living with invisible illnesses.She also reflects on the remarkable partnership she shares with her husband, Matt. They met as cheer partners on their very first day at Boston College, Elizabeth the flyer, Matt the base. Years later, that same foundation has carried them through marathon training, diagnosis, recovery and some of life's biggest victories, offering a beautiful picture of what steadfast support can look like.

In this special race recap episode of Finish Line Moments, Gretchen takes listeners to Duluth, Minnesota for the 50th running of Grandma's Marathon a race that is at once historic, prestigious, world-class and deeply beloved.First, Grandma's Marathon Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider joins the show to discuss the 50th anniversary celebration, the history behind the race's unique name, the culture that keeps runners returning year after year and what it took to bring this landmark weekend to life.Then, three-time Grandma's Marathon champion and Olympian Dakotah Popehn reflects on her historic victory in the 50th running of the race, her special connection to Duluth, lessons learned from Paris and Boston and how the energy of the community helped carry her to yet another unforgettable finish.Finally, Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon champion Kasandra Parker joins Finish Line Moments after her first visit to Duluth and her impressive 1:10:16 victory. She shares how she found the mental grit to race alone for much of the course, the perspective shift that carried her through the final miles and why she may already be thinking about returning for the full marathon.

Gretchen sits down with Josh Walker, founder of PHX Run Club, and Daniel Wong, Director of Performance and Coach of PHX Elite, to explore how a weekly downtown Phoenix run evolved into one of the most recognizable running communities in the Southwest.

Josh shares how his perspective shifted from seeing himself as an athlete who ran to becoming a community builder, while Daniel reflects on the coaches who shaped his life and how those experiences inspired his passion for helping others pursue goals they once thought impossible.

Together, they discuss the growth of PHX Run Club, the challenge of balancing community and performance, why runners are flocking to run clubs in record numbers and what it takes to create a culture where first-time runners, walkers, marathoners and competitive athletes all feel they belong.

Along the way, they share stories of friendships, transformation, race weekends, coaching, leadership and the moments that remind them why this work matters.

Whether you're a runner, a community leader, or simply someone looking for connection, this conversation is a reminder that some of life's most meaningful finish line moments aren't crossed alone, they're shared.