After a near-fatal car accident left her with a fractured spine and a cervical fusion, Jackie Helm refused to let her story end in the wreckage.

In this powerful Route 66 Marathon Podcast episode, Jackie walks us through her remarkable comeback — from relearning how to move post-surgery, to training for her first Route 66 Half Marathon, to rebuilding her strength and identity after a devastating ulcerative colitis diagnosis.

Now a nutrition coach, athlete and Route 66 Marathon ambassador, Jackie shares how proper fueling, intentional recovery and unwavering faith helped her regain control of her life.

If you’ve struggled, lost momentum or felt stuck this training cycle, Jackie’s story is exactly what you need:

a reminder that setbacks don’t define you — your response does.

Get ready for a raw, uplifting and deeply inspiring conversation that brings race-week energy back to the podcast.

First-time marathoner Amanda Vavra joins the show to share her inspiring journey from 5K starter to Route 66 Marathon finisher in the making.

A Tulsa native with deep family roots in the community, Vavra opens up about reclaiming her body and her voice after years focused on motherhood and career. She talks about training with her husband (who tracks the splits), raising a young runner and finding her stride — mentally and physically.

From balancing work and family life to setting sights on international races and the Abbott World Marathon Majors, Vavra's story is about chasing bold goals with grace, grit and a whole lot of vibes.

Her mantra? “This is hard, but I’m harder.” Tune in to hear why that mindset might just carry her all the way to the finish line on race day.

In this episode of the Route 66 Marathon Podcast, we sit down with Travis McCullar, a guy who stared down the scale at 380 pounds and ran his way into a completely different life.

Through shutdowns, setbacks and shoeless marathons, Travis never quit. He kept showing up, and that consistency paid off with more than 200 pounds lost, 40+ mile training weeks and a heart for pacing others to the finish line.

Travis talks about what sparked the journey, how running became his lifeline and why helping others now fuels his fire. If you’re looking for motivation, grit or just a reminder that it is not too late to change — this episode is it.

Plus, you’ll hear about his favorite races, what keeps him grounded and the story behind his Instagram name: @whatkeepsmerunning.

Use his code TRAVIS66 to get $10 off your Route 66 Marathon registration.

After her boyfriend John's diabetes diagnosis turned their world upside down, Katy Cook made a life-changing decision: they were going to get healthy together.

In this episode, Route 66 Marathon Ambassador Katy shares how swapping soda for sweat led to more than just weight loss, it sparked a transformation that reshaped her mental health, physical strength and relationship.

From 300+ lbs and multiple knee surgeries to tackling her first half marathon at Route 66, Katy’s story is one of raw honesty, relentless grit and the power of a supportive running community. We talk about food, fitness, music that gets her moving and what it really means to become a runner — even if you don’t think you look like one.

Tune in to hear how Katy lost over 100 lbs, found purpose on the pavement and learned that every finish line starts with just one step.

In this episode of the Route 66 Marathon Podcast, host Kevin Green chats with Sonnie Simons — ambassador for Route 66 Marathon and Tulsa run — about her journey from hesitant runner to sub-4 marathoner, all while balancing college life and a future in law school.

Sonnie opens up about the injury that sidelined her in early 2024, what it taught her about rest and resilience and how running became her outlet during emotionally heavy seasons, like saying goodbye to undergrad and preparing for what’s next.

She also shares her love for Tulsa’s running scene, her involvement in building a collegiate run club at OSU and why she believes anyone can fall in love with running if they give it a chance.

Follow Sonnie on Instagram at @sonnielolo, and use her ambassador codes sonnie10 (Tulsa Run) and sonnie66 (Route 66) to save $10 on both races.

This week on the Route 66 Marathon Podcast, we’re joined by first-time marathoner and Route 66 Ambassador Summer Jowers, whose transformation — both in running and lifestyle — is as inspiring as they come.

Summer shares how she shifted from a high-calorie, fast-food lifestyle to a 90% plant-based diet, drastically improving her health, recovery and performance. She opens up about training with Jeff Galloway’s method, the importance of strength work and the role her running community, Girls Who Run DFW, has played in keeping her motivated.

Plus, hear about her supportive husband, her big goals and why Route 66 is the perfect place to run her first marathon.

Don’t forget: Follow Summer on Instagram @s_jowers21 and use her code SUMMER66 to save $10 on your Route 66 Marathon, Half Marathon, Double Challenge or Relay registration at route66marathon.com!

To kick off Season 2 and celebrate the 20th running of the Route 66 Marathon we’re joined by none other than Dean Karnazes — ultramarathon icon and global ambassador of endurance.

Dean ran in the very first Route 66 Marathon back in 2006, and in this episode, he shares his memories from that inaugural event, how the Tulsa course compares to some of the world’s most extreme races and what keeps him going after decades of pushing physical and mental limits.

Plus, host Kevin Green shares a quick update about the podcast's evolving focus and how it is growing beyond ambassadors to highlight the entire Route 66 running community.

Register for the 2025 Route 66 Marathon (Nov. 21–23) at route66marathon.com and use code GREEN66 for $10 off select races.

This week on the Route 66 Marathon Ambassadors Podcast, Kevin Green sits down with Stephanie McCrary, a PE teacher, runner and dedicated Route 66 Marathon ambassador.

Recorded after the 5K race during Route 66 Marathon weekend, Stephanie shares her strategy for balancing fun and training, her goals for the half marathon and the St. Jude Marathon and how she inspires the next generation through her school’s Run Club.

We discuss her running journey, including her postpartum challenges, the importance of giving oneself grace and her favorite moments on Tulsa’s marathon course.

Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or just starting out, Stephanie’s story is packed with motivation and insights for all runners.

Join us in this episode of the Route 66 Marathon Ambassadors Podcast as Kevin Green sits down with Lindsey Leppert, an experienced runner who has found joy, community and personal growth through running.

Lindsey opens up about her journey from initially running as a way to stay fit to completing longer races, all while juggling the challenges of training and life. We discuss her favorite moments from the Route 66 Marathon, the friendships she’s formed along the way and how she prepares for race day.

Whether you’re preparing for your first 5K or your next marathon, Lindsey’s insights will inspire and motivate you to keep going.

In this episode of the Route 66 Marathon Ambassadors Podcast, Kevin Green sits down with Misty Cooper, a dedicated Route 66 Marathon ambassador who has completed the race 10 times and is preparing for her next big goal: a PR under 4:40.

Misty shares insights from her running journey, including the benefits of training on hills, the importance of balancing hard work with enjoyment and how podcasts and community support have enriched her approach to training. She also talks about her inspiration from local runners and the impact of training with a local ultra-runner.

Whether you're looking to improve your own training or simply enjoy a great running story, Misty’s experience offers motivation and practical advice. And don't forget, you can use her code MISTY66 to save on your Route 66 Marathon registration!