Finish Lines and Milestones

Joey Twidale, Founder of Wippet Apparel, and I met through Instagram. At first, I had no clue he was in Australia, but once I heard his story I had to get to know him better.

During this conversation, sponsored by Previnex, we talk about:

• How he’s never considered the irony of his name “Joey” as an Australian (you know, a baby kangaroo) Surely I can’t be the only one who thought this?
• The story of how I found his brand, Wippet, through Instagram
• The 50K he did last weekend in Cairnes, Australia in 80% humidity and 80+ degrees (29-31 C)
• How he got into endurance running
• His first marathon on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of Australia and how it was a family affair
• What he uses for running fuel
• His cancer diagnosis at age 22 two days before Christmas
• The story of how he met his wife at the black tie fundraiser his friends organized for him the year after his diagnosis
• Being a high school teacher (grades 7-12)
• His online apparel business for runners, Wippet, how he got started and where the name came from

Also, here are some new Australian terms I learned during this episode. Please let me know which ones I missed!

• Stall = Booth 
• Track = Course
• Ticket = Certification 
• Chrissie = Christmas

Brendan Kelly ran in college but then took nearly 10 years off of running and vowed to never run a marathon. Spoiler alert: he ran a marathon, BQ'd, and let's be honest - he will probably run an ultramarathon at some point too.

During this episode, sponsored by Previnex and Pure Fuel, we talk about:

• Wearing race medals after a race - has anyone slept in theirs?
• The mixed emotions that come with a 14 minute PR where you qualify for Boston but don’t know if you got enough of a buffer to actually get in
• Training for the Carmel Marathon (Indiana) only to have it canceled the morning of the race due to weather
• Last Chance BQ and Glass City - his two marathons
• How his dad is the one who got him into running and was the coach at his rival school in middle school
• Being part of his high school drum line that won state and got third in the nation
• Running cross country in college
• His “retirement” from running after college from June 2014 to April of 2023
• Nutrition and nerdy running stuff
• Digging into his Glass City Marathon

Sponsor Details:

• Previnex - Use ALLY15 for 15% off your first order
• Pure Fuel - Use FUEL20 for 20% off

Stephanie Perry is the Assistant Director of Community & Public Relations at the City of Fishers. After 18 hard months, Stephanie became a marathoner at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon last November 2024, something she never thought was possible.

During this episode, sponsored by Previnex, we talk about:

• Having imposter syndrome about being a runner since she doesn’t run fast
• The Indy Mini that just happened on 5/3/25 and how she doesn’t love it
• A little bit about my Mini with Ainsley’s Angel
• Mom life and having a husband who also runs
• Why she signed up for her first half marathon
• Starting an informal run club at the City of Fishers where she works to run during lunch
• How we’re both over going above and beyond to host parties (Thank you, Mel Robbins)
• Running at Lake Wawasee in Syracuse, IN and our love of vacation runs
• Nutrition and how she used to refuse to stop for water during races
• Her 18 month marathon training journey
• The 8 Hour Endurance Race around Butler University
• Life outside of running working for the City of Fishers (where she lives)
• The Geist Half Marathon

Sponsor Details:

- ⁠Previnex⁠ - Use ALLY15 for 15% off your first order

GoFundMe for Patrick Holden who passed away after the Indy Mini

Lauren Gaudion ran the 2024 Indy Mini with none other than Indy's beloved race car driver, Tony Kanaan. You have to hear the story of how I figured this out and tracked her down. Lauren is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Arrow McLaren.

During this episode, sponsored by Previnex, we talk about:

• How she ended up running a half marathon with Tony Kanaan and what that experience as like

• Her time as a collegiate pole vaulter 

• Working for an airline in Indianapolis 

• Arrow McLaren being featured in a Super Bowl ad

• What it’s like on Memorial Day Weekend in Indianapolis working for IndyCar

• Where her running journey started as an adult - she did her first half marathon in Oxford, Mississippi 

• How she DOESN’T USE A RUNNING WATCH

• Her TWO Boston qualifying races at Indy Monumental but why she still hasn’t run Boston

• Meeting her now husband on Tinder 

• Getting her MBA during the pandemic

• Her current running routine 

  
  

  Sponsor Details:

  - Previnex - Use ALLY15 for 15% off your first order

Maury Plambeck (pronounced PLAM-beck) and I met when I joined the Board of Directors for Beyond Monumental, the organization behind the CNO Indianapolis Monumental Marathon.

During this episode, sponsored by Previnex and BITCHSTIX, we talk about:

• How we met
• His time in city planning (not planting!) and how it brought him to Indianapolis
• How his mom is 89 and still can ride a bike and walks every day
• Farm life growing up and learning to drive a tractor at less than 10 years old
• When running came into the picture after college as a stress reliever
• His first Indy Mini in 1990-1991 and how he ran 24 in a row!
• Why he always runs with pacers
• Signing up for his first marathon without really thinking too much about it
• Qualifying for Boston but not signing up on time only to requalify and run his first Boston Marathon in 2013, the year of the Boston bombing
• And his second Boston Marathon was 2018 “the horrible weather and Des Linden year”
• How he runs six days a week no matter what
• The local RUN(317) race series he does every year (prices go up 5/1)
• Getting involved with Back on My Feet Indianapolis THIRTEEN years ago
• Everything else Maury does to give back to the Indianapolis community
• Meeting his husband, Sam. They’ve been together for 38 years.
• Why as runners we need to volunteer and give back to the running community
• His coming out story that he and Sam recently shared with their Lutheran Church
• The Fox Hollow Farm documentary on Hulu (if you don’t know, there was a serial killer in the early 90s in Indianapolis targeting gay men)
• How he got roped into some very long bike rides by a good friend

00:37 Boston Marathon and Carmel Marathon Updates

02:21 Gearing Up for the Indy Mini

03:42 Guest Introduction: Maury Plambeck

06:17 Maury's Background and Early Life

09:00 City Planning Career and Move to Indianapolis

27:38 Running Journey and Mini Marathon Experiences

34:05 Reflecting on Running Habits

34:38 First Marathon Experience

36:38 Qualifying for Boston Marathon

38:01 The Boston Marathon Bombing

42:54 Running in Extreme Weather

48:52 Back on My Feet Organization

56:40 Volunteering and Community Involvement

01:01:27 A Night Out in Cheyenne

01:02:02 Meeting Sam and Moving to Indianapolis

01:02:34 Sam's AIDS Diagnosis and the Damian Center

01:05:34 Volunteering and Community Involvement

01:07:13 Sam's Resilience and Support System

01:11:04 Coming Out and Family Acceptance

01:15:09 Fox Hollow Farm Murders

01:21:07 Biking Adventures and Future Plans

01:31:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Sponsor Details:

- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Previnex⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ALLY15 for 15% off your first order

- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BITCHSTIX - ALLYB for 20% off your order

Mandy Bode and I met when previous guest, Sara Oltvedt, aka @runnergirlfargo (EP34), commissioned an Athlete Bouquets mug for Mandy's Lean Horse 50 Miler. Then, I found out that Mandy was the Peloton member who helped instructor, Tunde Oyeneyin, finish the NYC Marathon. A wild story.

During this episode, sponsored by Organic Pure Fuel and Previnex, we talk about:

• Our TwentySixDiamond necklaces 💎 (EP18)
• How she started her endurance sports journey in triathlon - 3 full Ironman and 9 half Ironman races across 6-7 years
• Doing her first 5K for heart kids because her oldest was born with a congenital heart defect
• Getting into Peloton and finding the community
• Her first marathons at Grandma’s in Duluth (Mandy is from Minnesota) and how she likes running in heat
• Other races she’s done - Stillwater, Twin Cities, New York City
• Finishing the New York City Marathon with Tunde Oyeneyin (we talk about how their late moms must have put them together) Here's the Access Hollywood video
• Her first 50K at Afton, MN and how they made it a family affair
• Ranch life - 6 horses, 9 goats, 2 ducks and a baby donkey
• Raising two teenage girls
• Her tattoos and how she and her daughters all got tattoos together
• Losing her mom unexpectedly nearly 4 years ago
• The abusive relationship she endured during her first marriage
• Her three dogs
• The amazing workout wardrobe she has that’s mostly Peloton apparel
• When she decided to go to nursing school to become a nurse
• How she’s done nearly all race distances possible throughout her endurance journey

Sponsor Details:

- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Previnex⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ALLY15 for 15% off your first order

- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pure Fuel -FUEL20 for 20% off your order

00:00 Welcome to Finish Lines and Milestones

00:38 Celebrating My Dad's Birthday and Upcoming Marathon

01:32 Race Season Excitement and Carmel Marathon Plans

02:04 Shoutout to Eileen and Carmel Marathon Expo

03:11 Sponsor Spotlight: Anderson's Organic Maple Syrup

04:13 Introducing Mandy Bode: Ultra Marathoner and Peloton Enthusiast

06:11 Mandy's Journey: From Triathlons to Peloton

13:55 Balancing Family Life and Endurance Sports

30:31 Mandy's Ultra Marathon Experience and Future Goals

39:44 Life on the Ranch: Horses, Goats, and Dexter the Donkey

44:03 Introduction to Barrel Racing

44:26 Nervous Watching Fast Riding

44:39 Slow Moving Horse Girl

45:10 Cattle Sorting Explained

45:39 Tim's Involvement with Horses

46:07 Horse Allergies and Family Vacations

46:48 Raising Teenage Daughters

48:31 Running with the Girls

48:35 Previnex Sponsorship

50:13 Peloton and Running Classes

53:34 Tattoo Stories

58:25 Remembering Mom

01:00:10 Escaping an Abusive Marriage

01:04:28 Life on the Ranch

01:06:15 Running and Workout Wardrobe

01:07:35 Nursing Career and Family

01:09:42 Ultra Marathons and Future Races

01:21:28 End of the Podcast Questions

Jake Hostetler is a runner, musician, and manager at a local specialty running store, Athletic Annex.

During this episode, sponsored by ⁠Previnex⁠ and ⁠BITCHSTIX⁠, we talk about: his personal journey from overcoming physical challenges in childhood to becoming a dedicated runner in middle and high school. He discusses his switch from being a music performance major to focusing on music production and audio engineering due to severe performance anxiety. Jake also talks about his experiences in the running specialty industry, his training strategies, and his participation in various races, including a recent ultra marathon. The episode also explores his passion for creating and producing music, including podcast intros and other audio projects.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

01:43 Welcome to Finish Lines and Milestones

02:18 Spring Break Recap

03:27 Upcoming Running Events

04:48 Alcohol-Free Journey

05:10 Introducing Jake Hostetler

06:19 Jake's Early Life and Running Journey

18:07 High School Running Experience

22:53 College and Music Career

31:03 The Gigging Life: Studio Sessions and Jazz Solos

31:47 Transitioning to Retail: From College to Jackrabbit

31:57 Building a Career: Meeting Luke and Developing Skills

32:30 Managing at Jackrabbit: Challenges and Growth

33:12 Joining Athletic Annex: A New Opportunity

34:20 Navigating Retail During COVID-19

34:58 Innovative Sales Strategies: Adapting to Challenges

38:00 The Importance of Proper Footwear: Customer Experiences

42:19 Running Journey: From High School to Half Marathons

45:25 First Full Marathon: The Mill Race Experience

50:56 Ultra Marathon Adventures: Prairie on Fire

59:20 Discussing Drinking During Runs

01:00:09 Documentary: Chasing 100

01:02:10 Becoming an Ultra Marathoner

01:04:13 Music Production Journey

01:05:07 Creating Custom Music

01:08:45 The Art of Music Production

01:16:01 Running and Music Preferences

01:18:58 Future Running Goals

01:22:05 Podcast Conclusion

Sponsor Details:

- ⁠⁠⁠⁠Previnex⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ALLY15 for 15% off your first order

- ⁠⁠⁠⁠BITCHSTIX⁠⁠⁠⁠ -ALLYB for 20% off your order

Mike Lee is an incredibly talented photographer and videographer. In fact, that's how I found him - through his work with Beyond Monumental through his company, Mike Lee Productions.

During this episode, sponsored by Previnex and BITCHSTIX, we talk about: his journey from starting his production company during the pandemic to running marathons around the world. Mike shares his experiences of training and running in major races like the Tokyo Marathon, his preparation for the Sydney Marathon, and the challenges he has faced including injuries. Additionally, he delves into his passion project 'The Blend,' which highlights local coffee shops through film photography. The episode is packed with discussions on community, overcoming obstacles, and Mike's dream of filming the 2028 Olympics in LA.

00:00 Introduction to Finish Lines and Milestones

00:24 Sponsor Spotlight: Previnex

01:49 Exciting Giveaway Announcement

05:53 Interview with Mike Lee: From Runner to Filmmaker

14:15 Mike Lee's Tokyo Marathon Experience

27:26 The Role of Spectators and Volunteers in Marathons

36:47 Mike Lee's Running Journey and College Experience

45:25 Reflecting on the Boston Marathon Experience

47:14 Training Without a Coach

47:51 Upcoming Marathons: Berlin, London, and Sydney

49:24 The Importance of Personal Bests

50:44 Sponsorship and Brand Collaborations

52:05 Family Influence and Running Legacy

53:16 Inspiration and Overcoming Challenges

01:01:20 The Blend: Combining Coffee and Film

01:10:24 Future Goals and Manifestations

01:14:05 Final Thoughts and Podcast Wrap-Up

Sponsor Details:

- ⁠⁠⁠Previnex⁠⁠⁠ - ALLY15 for 15% off your first order

- ⁠⁠⁠BITCHSTIX⁠⁠⁠ -ALLYB for 20% off your order

Chris Slater and I met through my friend, TJ Furman, who is not a runner but a former coworker of both of ours.

In this episode, sponsored by BITCHSTIX, Pure Fuel and Previnex, we talk about his journey from being a professional football player as a kid to dealing with a severe cocaine addiction, and ultimately finding his way to sobriety through running.

Highlights include: Chris's early football career; starting a nightclub promotions business in university; his struggle with cocaine addiction and road to recovery; beginning to run during COVID and completing isolated marathon challenges; participating in multiple major marathons including Brighton, London, and Manchester; achieving 52 marathons in 52 weeks in 2022; competing in the Marathon des Sables and finishing in the top 50; and his experiences with the UTMB ultra races. Chris also introduces his dog, Bobby, as part of his support system. Throughout, Ally and Chris discuss the discipline, mental strength, and training required for these remarkable achievements.

00:00 Introduction to Finish Lines and Milestones

00:23 Sponsorship and Upcoming Event

01:45 Episode 101: New Beginnings with Video

03:30 Geography Lesson and International Guests

04:52 Conversation with Chris Slater Begins

05:17 Chris Slater's Background and Early Life

07:21 Football Career and Transition to University

15:30 Nightclub Business and Descent into Addiction

22:26 Struggles with Addiction and Path to Recovery

29:21 Running as a New Passion

33:56 Marathon Journey and Charity Work

44:37 Reflecting on Personal Bests and Lap Races

45:25 Major Marathons of 2023

45:41 Challenges of Marathon Entry and Lottery Systems

46:33 Future Marathon Goals and Ultra Running

47:28 Experiences from Major Marathons

50:59 Marathon Des Sables: The Ultimate Challenge

54:29 Training and Preparation for Ultra Marathons

01:02:04 The Mental and Physical Demands of Ultra Running

01:11:32 UTMB and Lessons Learned

01:17:44 Future Plans and Career Balance

01:20:59 Personal Life and Inspirations

01:23:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

UK Newspaper article about Chris

Tickets to Indy Mini Event on 5/2

Sponsor Details:

- ⁠⁠Previnex⁠⁠ - ALLY15 for 15% off your first order

- ⁠⁠BITCHSTIX⁠⁠ -ALLYB for 20% off your order

-⁠⁠ Pure Fuel - FUEL20 for 20% off your order

Lindsey Hein joins me for the ONE HUNDREDTH episode of Finish Lines & Milestones. She is the reason this podcast exists. I've been inspired by Lindsey since she started her running podcast, I'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein, nearly nine years ago.

During this episode, sponsored by Pure Fuel and Previnex, we talked about:

• The god wink of her speaking at Linking Indy Women exactly 7 years before this episode aired 

• Our Indy Mini event coming up on 5/2 at The Bottleworks Hotel

• How she’s from Indianapolis (well, Bloomington) and has been a runner since she was 15 

• Celebrating milestones in her podcast 

• Her husband, Glenn, and the story of how they met 

• How she started running 

• Choosing San Diego as her first marathon and running a BQ 

• Her first Boston Marathon and why it was such a tough race 

• The journey to becoming a mom of four boys and running three marathons within a year after having her first son

• The secret to running her fastest marathon in the midst of chaos (spoiler: letting the pressure go)

• Starting the I’ll Have Another with Lindsey Hein podcast nearly NINE years ago

• The two times she’s run the New York City Marathon   

• Why she’s not interested in going after the 50 states

• Her health anxieties and preventative surgeries related to breast and ovarian cancers

• The work she does for the Donna Foundation and their February race each year

• NEVER HAVE I EVER RUNNING EDITION!

  
  

  Get tickets to our live show before the Indy Mini on 5/2 before they'e gone!