Writer, runner, advocate and mother Jen Murphy Parker joins Finish Line Moments for a soulful and deeply human conversation about her extraordinary memoir Fault Line Boy, raising a child with severe epilepsy, and how life can simultaneously break apart and become more meaningful.

Together, we explore running as refuge, motherhood as recalibration, uncertainty as a constant companion and joy not as something recovered, but redefined.

Jen shares the evolution of her relationship with running from childhood runs with her father on quiet Massachusetts streets, to marathon racing, to using running as survival during the hardest years of her son Lew’s seizures. We also talk about the profound lessons Lew has taught their family, including one deceptively simple question that now guides so much of their lives: “How can I be happy today?”

The conversation also explores the broader “blast radius” of epilepsy on an entire family system and how that experience ultimately led Jen and Dr. Joseph Sullivan to help launch the PECE Center at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital - expanding support for families navigating not only the medical realities of epilepsy, but the emotional and practical ones as well.

This episode is about care giving, resilience, identity, advocacy, family and learning to love the version of life - and the version of your child - that ultimately unfolds before you.

And in one of those beautiful full-circle moments that could only belong on Finish Line Moments, Jen shares that Lew’s favorite song is the very theme song of this show.

Because sometimes the finish line isn’t where you thought it would be. Sometimes it becomes something far deeper than you ever imagined.

On this episode of Finish Line Moments, we take you inside the landmark 20th running of the Denver Colfax Marathon, a milestone weekend that transformed Denver into a citywide celebration of running, resilience and community.

With more than 28,000 runners across the marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, urban 10 miler, Saturday 5K, and Girls on the Run 5K, this became the biggest Denver Colfax weekend ever. And throughout the weekend, you could feel the radiating pride behind the event, from the electric WOW at Every Mile activations to the stunning anniversary medals to the unmistakable energy of Colorado runners taking on the altitude, hills and challenge of one of the country’s most uniquely local races.

Leading that energy is Denver Colfax CEO Andrea Dowdy, who joins us to share the vision, intentionality and enormous behind-the-scenes effort that helped turn Denver Colfax into far more than a race weekend. From creating a true tour of Denver through the course itself to ensuring runners at every distance felt celebrated, Andrea reflects on what it meant to bring the 20th anniversary weekend to life and why this event has become such a source of pride for the city and the Colorado running community.

Travis Arp shares how running became a source of light, courage and strength during unimaginable loss. After losing daughter Nora and spending 125 days in the NICU with daughter Rylee, Travis made himself a promise while watching the Colfax Marathon from a hospital room: one day, he would run it. This year he crossed the finish line of his first marathon while raising money for Love for Lily and honoring both daughters every step of the way.

And finally, we celebrate David Rothenburger - the only person to have run all 20 Denver Colfax Marathons. Through evolving courses, unpredictable weather, altitude, hills, and two decades of race mornings, David’s remarkable consistency and love for the running community have become part of the fabric of this race itself.

This episode’s about what happens when a city rallies around runners, when challenge creates connection, and when finish lines inspire not only the people crossing them but the people watching too.

This Memorial Day season, Gretchen sits down with Lisa Hallett, co-founder and CEO of wear blue: run to remember, for a deeply human conversation about grief, movement, motherhood, military remembrance, resilience, and the extraordinary power of community.

After losing her husband, CPT John Hallett, in Afghanistan in 2009, Lisa turned to running as a way through unimaginable loss and ultimately built a movement that has impacted thousands across the country through wear blue Miles, remembrance runs and connection that transcends sport itself.

One of the most powerful threads throughout this episode is hearing Lisa talk not only as a widow, mother, advocate, and co-founder of wear blue but as herself, as an athlete, as a woman who has continued evolving, growing, competing, and discovering who she is through every season of life. Her strength comes through not just in what she has survived, but in who she has become.

We also talk about the emotional power of the wear blue Mile movement as healing unforgettable stories from the running community and why remembrance matters - now more than ever and beyond her advocacy and leadership, Lisa is also a fierce endurance athlete in her own right: an ultrarunner, IRONMAN finisher, and someone who deeply understands what it means to keep moving forward when the road gets hard.

Whether you’ve experienced a wear blue Mile before or are hearing about this movement for the first time, this is an episode about humanity, connection and what becomes possible when people choose to carry one another forward.

What happens when a race built for runners meets athletes ready to deliver?

You get a weekend like the Hoag OC Marathon Running Festival. Where the vibes are local, the energy is real, and the performances are next level. Fresh off our conversation with Race Director Gary Kutscher who pours a runner-first philosophy into every detail, we saw exactly what that kind of care creates:

A stage where athletes feel ready to go all in, community that shows up loud and proud, and moments that go far beyond the clock.

In this special race recap episode of Finish Line Moments, we’re joined by three standout champions: Katie Hansen, winner of the women’s 5K in 18:13, kicking off the weekend under the lights and stepping confidently into a new era of her running journey. Steven Martinez, men’s marathon champion in 2:14:06, breaking his own course record and hitting the Olympic qualifying standard for LA 2028 after a year of setbacks and rebuild. Salvador Capetillo, men’s half marathon winner in 1:04:54, continuing his rise after a breakthrough year and showing what consistency and belief can do.

From start-line intent to finish-line execution, this episode captures what makes this race - and this sport - so special. Because when runners feel supported they show up ready to do something extraordinary. This is speed. This is community. This is what it looks like when it all comes together.

Girls flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the US and this conversation shows exactly why.

Coach Garrett Sathre joins Finish Line Moments alongside standout athletes Elle Sathre and Xiomara “Xio” Morales for an inspiring, high-energy conversation about the rise of girls flag football, the culture they’re building, and why so many athletes are falling in love with the game via Sonoma Valley Griz and across the country.

What stood out most in this episode was the pride of a coach who deeply believes in his players and the smart, confident, hilarious energy of two young women who made it clear just how fun, competitive and downright badass this sport can be.

We talk about teamwork, leadership, toughness, opportunity, and what’s next for them, for Sonoma Valley, and for a sport whose future is wide open.

They’re not just playing the game. They’re helping shape its future.

Janelle Kellman brings contagious energy, optimism and depth into the studio for this episode of Finish Line Moments. From growing up with parents who taught her to shoot for the moon - and even if you miss, you’ll still go far - to becoming an ultramarathoner, public leader, and lifelong competitor, Janelle shares the mindset that has carried her through every chapter of life.

We dive into why both of us believe in getting comfortable being uncomfortable, how resilience is built through challenge, and the idea of pocket presence - being able to access calm, clarity and confidence in the moments you need it most.

We also explore the work and ideas of Brad Stulberg, Steve Magness, and Adam Grant, including redefining toughness, learning through failure, sustainable excellence and how growth often comes from the moments that don’t go according to plan.

This episode is full of laughter, grit, practical wisdom and powerful reminders about taking risks, trusting yourself and most of all, staying in the arena.

If you’ve ever needed motivation to go after something big - this conversation is for you.

What does it look like when someone doesn’t just run marathons… but helps shape the experience for thousands of others?

This week on Finish Line Moments, we sit down with Gary Kutscher - marathoner and co-owner/Race Director of the Hoag OC Marathon Running Festival.

Gary didn’t grow up a runner. He found the sport later in life, from a spontaneous Bay to Breakers to a 3:20 debut marathon in Honolulu, a Boston qualifier soon after and a sub-3 performance at New York City just 54 days after 9/11. What started as a personal journey became something much bigger.

Today, Gary helps lead one of California’s most impactful race weekends - an event that has raised nearly $10 million for charity and created thousands of meaningful finish line moments.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Finding running later in life and why that matters

• The power of community and connection through the sport

• Why being a runner shapes how he leads

• The small details that make race day unforgettable

• The human stories that keep him deeply connected to the work

Gary is thoughtful, grounded and incredibly generous - giving a full hour of his time during race week to share his story and perspective.

If you’ve ever wondered what goes into creating a race that truly honors runners, this conversation is for you.

A special expanded Finish Line Moments from the 130th Boston Marathon - one of the most historic, emotional and unforgettable race weekends in the world.

This episode begins with reflections from the streets of Boston: the reverence of Marathon Monday, the unmatched crowd energy, blue and yellow everywhere and why this race feels different from anything else in sport.

Then, a powerful lineup of guests who lived it:

• Shaun and Shamus - 2nd overall duo, record-setting fastest American duo, and their fastest Boston yet. Inspired, grateful and full of perspective.

• Campbell Ross - fresh off winning the Rock ’n’ Roll D.C. Half Marathon and then running a strong first Boston.

• Berk Fhara - Boston local sharing the heart of why this city loves Marathon weekend the way it does.

• Dave McGillivray - former longtime race director, generous leader and 54-time consecutive finisher who ran this year with his kids.

• Julie Weiss, the Marathon Goddess - bringing heart, purpose, and another beautiful Boston experience.

• Alberto Colin - completing his 130th marathon at the 130th Boston Marathon.

From course records and champions to family, gratitude, perseverance, and purpose - this is just a small sliver of the many stories that came out of Boston.

Because Boston isn’t just a marathon. It’s emotion. It’s history. It’s humanity.

In this special race recap episode, Gretchen takes you inside the 40th running of what many consider the best non-marathon event in the country, a race that has quietly shaped the modern running landscape while staying deeply rooted in its local community.

First, meet Howard Duncan, one of just seven Legacy Runners, who has lined up at the start every single year since 1986. His story is a powerful reflection on consistency, community and what it means to grow alongside a race for 40 years.

Then, San Diego-based endurance industry insider Dan Cruz shares the bigger picture - how Carlsbad helped redefine road racing, why its spectator-friendly, wave-based format changed the game and how it continues to balance being both a hometown, homegrown event and a truly world-class competition. He also highlights just how deep the competition runs, with multiple records falling in the 70+ age divisions this year.

Finally, Masters champion Meriah Earle brings it back to the roads with a standout performance and a powerful reminder: there is both life beyond the sport and still plenty of speed within it. Her perspective on longevity and continuing to show up adds a meaningful layer to an already unforgettable weekend.

From legacy runners to elite performance, from community connection to industry impact, all of these stories coming together on one road, on one day.

Gretchen is joined by Annie Schultz of Benaroya Research Institute (BRI), a leader in autoimmune disease research and human immunology. Living with type 1 diabetes, along with multiple autoimmune conditions, Annie shares her personal journey from diagnosis to daily life, alongside the generational impact of autoimmune disease within her family.

At the core of the conversation is BRI’s mission: to predict, prevent, reverse and ultimately cure diseases of the immune system. Through bold questions, innovative science and a commitment to understanding the immune system as a whole, BRI is advancing breakthroughs that have the potential to transform how autoimmune diseases are treated - and one day, prevented.

The episode also reflects on the two-year anniversary of “2 Halfs, 2 Coasts, 2 Days”, Gretchen’s cross-country endurance challenge that became far more than miles. What began as a physical test turned into a powerful effort to raise awareness and funds for BRI’s autoimmune research, connecting stories across cities, diagnoses and experiences, and reinforcing a shared sense of resilience and hope.

This is a conversation about living with autoimmune disease, the power of community, and the momentum created when personal purpose meets scientific progress.

Because a finish line isn’t the end - it’s the moment that shows you what’s still possible.