Finish Lines and Milestones

By SandyBoy ProductionsHealth & Fitness Fitness

Finish Lines and Milestones episodes

August 16, 2024Episode 69: The Rug That Ties the Room Together
Chris Galloway and I met through his wife, Julie. Chris has an incredible story about becoming the person he needed to be to strengthen himself as a runner (and as a human). During this episode sponsored by ⁠Athlete Bouquets⁠, we talk about:
Being a part of the Fishers, Indiana running community

His upbringing in Bedford, Indiana, and how he ended up going to Purdue University

The businesses he’s built - a chiropractic practice and Prime Car Wash

Using running in college to change how his body looked

How he grew up with his wife, Julie, and they’ve been together off and on since high school

His dad’s running accolades and how he began chasing them in 2007 - 4:58 mile, sub-17 minute 5K, 1:18 half marathon and a 2:46 marathon

Getting sober after drinking since he was 15 years old and battling issues with food

Faith and his relationship with Christ - how he chose Christ after reading a book he discovered while in jail

The 10-12 marathons he’s done in the past few years

Covering his watch during marathons

Using Strava to “Educate, Empower and Entertain”

Life Coaching with Vince Auten (EP 56)

Finally getting his dad's marathon PR

Heading to Hood to Coast with Mark Guyer (EP 59)
1 hr 40 min
August 09, 2024Episode 68: Don't Quit in the Chair
TJ Dailey is the Founder of the Meshingomesia (Mesh-In-Go-Mish-Uh) Track Club. During this episode, we covered as much of TJ's story as we could in 90 minutes. There's so much that he and the members of MTC have accomplished - and they aren't slowing down.
Some topics we cover in this episode sponsored by ⁠Athlete Bouquets⁠ are:
TJ's love of running shoes - how he hasn’t worn the same pair of shoes back to back for ten years

The correct pronunciation of Meshingomesia Track Club

All about MTC - how it came to be, events they host - The FULL MO the weekend after Memorial Day Weekend and Prairie on Fire the weekend after Labor Day Weekend

How TJ got into the sport of running when he was young

His first marathon in Seattle in 2007 and how he ended up working towards enjoying everything running has to offer

Problems with food and eating like an addict

How TJ (unexpectedly) loves the treadmill

Running with his brothers, Todd and Trent

The journey from marathon to ultramarathon

MTC Member, Cameron Balser’s, run around the perimeter of the United States - how he met Cameron and how this crazy run came to fruition

ULTRA: A Team Sport documentary - premiere is 8/23 get tickets here

How running fits into his life with a career, wife and three kids

His 10-year-old daughter, Kaelynn’s, 700+ day running streak

Cheering for Indy native, and now 1500 meter Olympic World Champion, Cole Hocker

Running a Ragnar relay - TJ’s experience and advice

His mom and her battle with MSA (Multiple system atrophy)

Running every street in Carmel and Westfield
1 hr 46 min
August 02, 2024Episode 67: From Cancer at Age 26 to 26.2
Nathan Lam and I met through Instagram when he found Athlete Bouquets and asked me to help him celebrate his first marathon with a custom sticker. During this episode sponsored by ⁠Athlete Bouquets⁠, we talk about:
Where Nathan is from and his heritage 🇺🇸🇲🇴🇮🇩🇵🇹

How he got the nickname, Cheezy

Moving back to the United States when he was 14

How he ended up back in Macau 🇲🇴

The story of his testicular cancer diagnosis while he was overseas

Why he didn’t celebrate any milestones leading up to the five year mark of being cancer free

How he grew up hating running and thinking it was torture

How cancer led him to finding the sport of running

That Tulsa, OK has one of the top 10 parks in the United States, Gathering Place

Finding his running community

Running his first marathon in Vancouver, Canada with his friend

How first time was a charm for him getting into the Chicago Marathon via lottery

How he started his running Instagram, @cheezy_run to help inspire others

His 2023 Chicago Marathon experience

The local Tulsa races he’s done - the Tulsa Run 15K and the Route 66 Half Marathon

The Fleet Feet Run Club he helps lead

What he thinks about his running future and how speed is not a short term goal

Brands he’s an ambassador for and why
1 hr 11 min
July 26, 2024Episode 66: Winning the Indy Mini at 23 Weeks Pregnant
Anna Rohrer and I were introduced by Nate Spangle, Episode 47. You read the title right, she WON the Indy Mini in May of this year at 23 weeks pregnant with her first child. Anna ran for Notre Dame and is an 8 time All American. 🤯 Can't wait to see what the future holds for her.
During this episode sponsored by ⁠Athlete Bouquets⁠ we talk about:
Baby status and running status - 33 weeks at the time this podcast was recorded

How she ended up running at the University of Notre Dame

That her middle school gym teacher is the reason she got into running

Dealing with injuries during her high school career

Becoming an 8 time All American at Notre Dame, but not without its ups and downs

Moving to Boston and running with the BAA with qualifying for the Olympics as the main goal, but then dealt with a return injury

Her back injury and moving past it through rest and coming back to racing on her own terms

Choosing to run her first marathon in Green Bay Wisconsin

Her approach to keeping herself healthy and injury free

Why she didn’t compete in the 2024 Olympic Trials (and it wasn’t just because she’s pregnant)

Dreamfuel, the company she Co-Founded

Mindset examples - visualization, reframing

Her coaching business for runners, Next Level Racing

Traveling with her husband, Nick. Experiencing a country’s culture by going to one big city and then a smaller city

The fun fact that she’s a 4-H Fair cake decorator 🎂
1 hr 14 min
July 19, 2024Episode 65: THAT 5K, Tori's Hike for Another Tomorrow
Christina Hook and I met through my friend, Becky Riley, who I met through previous guest, Nicole Dobransky (EP 21). Christina and her family started 𝘛𝘏𝘈𝘛 5K to honor the life of her younger sister, Tori Cook. Tori lost her battle with mental health in January of 2022.
During this episode sponsored by ⁠Athlete Bouquets⁠ we talk about:
How Christina doesn't feel like she’s a “real runner”

The fake YouTube videos our 7yo daughters create 🤦🏻‍♀️

Her recent family adventure to Montana

How she got into running for her wedding using Couch to 5K

The first half marathon she attempted at the Indy Mini that didn’t end as planned 🚑

Her redemption race at the Noblesville Half marathon and what she did to prepare

Running again after becoming a mom for the social aspect and then finding the Brownsburg Running Club

“Coming out of retirement” for the Flying Pig Half Marathon in 2022, when it was a torrential downpour

More of her memorable running stories

How we both love Peloton and our favorite classes and instructors

Why she doesn’t like running outside but now prefers the treadmill

All about her late sister, Tori, and THAT 5K her family started in her honor

Register for the race here
Please note that Christina was reliving a traumatic time in her life, so there are a few corrections: they lost Tori in January of 2022 vs. 2021, she was 26 years old, and she was born in 1995. ❤️
1 hr 27 min
July 12, 2024Episode 64: A Person of Extraordinary Ability
Rob Mullett and I met through our work together at Beyond Monumental, the organization behind the CNO Indianapolis Monumental Marathon and several other local events. During this episode sponsored by ⁠Athlete Bouquets⁠ we talk about:
Becoming a U.S. Citizen (August 2022)

Where he’s from and the difference between the U.K. and Great Britain (he’s technically from both)

How he started running and running in the U.K. compared to running in the U.S.

Highs and lows of his Butler University running career - being the first to break 4 minutes in the mile ever in Butler’s history 🤯

Almost stumbling onto the Olympic team in 2012, his breakthrough year

The steeplechase and his Olympic dream growing up

How he ended up back in Indiana working in run specialty while training, traveling, and winning cash at races

The July 13th phone call letting him know he’d be going to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

His experience at the Olympic games - athletes’ village, what you’re given to wear, the race itself, all of the swag… a crazy story about a piece of swag getting stolen and then returned to him

The decision to get an Olympic rings tattoo and how he thinks about having it when he races now

Why he went from middle distance to longer distances

Working for the Atlanta Track Club and helping organize 40+ events a year

Coming back to Indy and joining Beyond Monumental (he even holds one of our course records at the CNO Monumental in the 5K)

His Wikipedia page that includes some incorrect information (one piece that’s a joke from former roommates)

Highlights from running the Carmel Marathon races over the years

His dog, Nala, a fellow “Olympian” and 5K champion that his partner, Lisa, brought home from CVS

How he’s thinking about running these days

Thank you, Rob, for all you do to make our Beyond Monumental events world class!
1 hr 36 min
July 05, 2024Episode 63: Chaos Breeds Excellence
Brittany Koether joins the podcast on behalf of Chaos Crewing and thanks to Trena Roudebush (EP 31). Brittany and I became fast friends during this episode (sponsored by ⁠Athlete Bouquets⁠) where we talk about:
How she met Trena

The huge culture shock of moving from east coast Connecticut to Oklahoma

How one of her dogs growing up saved her dad's life and then a vet saved her dog's life

What it was like growing up with both of her parents being police officers

How her partner, Matt, got her into ultra running

How she walked on to the rowing team at UConn

Vet school in Oklahoma and tornadoes 🌪

Working with horses and how she can crack a horse's back

How she’s always had a running coach because she loves having accountability and a support system

How she went straight from half to ultra marathon at the Grind on the Grid backyard ultra her partner, Matt, puts on

How she did her first marathon at Flying Pig “the rain year”

The Mohican 50 miler

All things Chaos Crewing

RAM - Race Across America bike ride across the country

Her pacing advice since I’m pacing the Indiana Women’s Running Festival half on 8/31

Attempting her first 100 miler in October at Hennepin
1 hr 23 min
June 28, 2024Episode 62: Push Comes to Shove
Jason Noel is a brain cancer survivor AND marathoner. Need I say more? During this episode we talk about:
How he’s a boat captain (has a U.S. Coast Guard’s Captain’s License) and scuba dive master

What it feels like being called a brain cancer survivor

The crazy story of his diagnosis in August of 2021

His hospital roommate, Terrell, who was in prison for bank robbery (no joke)

How his journey of half marathons and marathons started from not wanting to sit still after surgery

Choosing to go to the happiest place on earth (Disney) for his first half he’d signed up for in the doctor’s office six weeks post op

Running the Indy Mini with Ainsley’s Angels in 2024

The 2 organizations he supports American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) and National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) and going to D.C. to lobby for more resources

What the word “survivor” means to him and how his family decided not to use the word “terminal”

His friend and battle buddy, Kelli McLaughlin, and the 5K set up to honor her life

The Sloths - Jason, Amanda, and Jennifer (EP 57)

His first marathon in Chicago 2023

What’s coming up - Chicago, New York, Dopey

How endurance is what excites him and how he looks at life as an endurance sport

His kids and running and the “two week rule”

His thoughts on whether or not he’ll write a book

How he’d like to have the opportunity to do some public speaking (cough, cough, hire this guy!)

How he’s actually had cancer TWICE

The fairy garden on the Hagan-Burke trail in Carmel
1 hr 46 min
June 21, 2024Episode 61: Running Miles Daily
Larra Overton is a Producer, Host, and Reporter for the Indianapolis Colts. She ALSO covers track & field for USATF, ESPN and the SEC Network. 🤯 Somehow, she finds time every day to run at least one mile and she's been on her #dailymile streak since November of 2019.
During this conversation we talk about:
The daily mile! Advice for anyone interested in starting a streak

A day when she almost missed getting her run in and how she made it happen

Running with her dog, Tugboat, and how Tugboat got his name

How lucky that her entire career and path has been close to home

Walking on at Indiana University and making her way to two NCAA championships

How her parents were coaches growing up and she was always around sports

Why she decided to pursue her career in reporting vs. running after college

Her one full marathon experience

Covering the NCAA Championships in Eugene and other types of events

Running with Michael Hartnagel (EP37) in his run across Indiana to honor his dad

How she came to be working for USATF, ESPN, SEC Network AND the Colts - and how she made her debut on ESPN at 17 years old

How she’s accumulated her wardrobe of Colts blue and her incredible sneaker game

Her favorite cities to travel to with the team

Her “matrimonial audible” during COVID

Having the opportunity to interview Kendall Toole from Peloton at the Colt’s Kicking the Stigma event in support of mental health awareness
1 hr 33 min
June 14, 2024Episode 60: It Never Always Gets Worse
Shea Aquilano and I met through our dads, which is pretty fitting considering it's Father's Day Weekend. This episode is going to blow your mind (neuroscience pun intended). 🧠 During this episode we talk about:
How I creepily followed her to our interview

Her first race was the Lucky Clover 4 miler in 2019

Her first ultra was a virtual race she planned herself and her family and friends helped crew

How she ended up at Notre Dame and choosing neuroscience

Working with Matt Ebersole to go from 4 miles to a 50K

8 Hour Endurance that she WON her first time racing an organized ultra

Trail 50 miler at Falls 50 in Kentucky in the kind of mud that wants to suck your shoes off

The cultural difference between the trail community and the road running community

What Shea likes to eat during ultra marathons and what it’s like being vegan as an ultra runner

How she trains for mountain ultras in flat Indiana

From 50 miles to 100K at Black Canyon

Mindset - how she believes perception becomes your reality

Running the Boston Marathon a week after qualifying for Worlds at the Lake Sonoma 50 miler

How a chat with some USATF representatives made her realize she could qualify for Worlds

Qualifying for Team USA and going to Worlds

Out and back vs. Point to point vs. looped races

Eating pretzels during races 🥨

Not finishing and not starting races

Golden star tattoos she wears on her face - reminds her that races are more of a celebration of all of the work you’ve put in

What “accumulating miles for smiles” means to her

Being sponsored by Näak and hoping to be a sponsored athlete moving forward
1 hr 38 min

About Finish Lines and Milestones

From the publisher's feed

Every runner has a story. Finish Lines and Milestones is a podcast that celebrates the everyday runner. If you run, you’re a runner. Join host, Ally Brettnacher, every week as she shares these runner…