While host Kyle is out of town, we're thrilled to welcome Gretchen and Elaine from "The Happy Pace Podcast" out of St. Louis as our guest hosts! These incredible women have mastered something that frankly boggles our minds – they record their entire podcast while actually running. That's a level of multitasking that would have Kyle gasping for air and forgetting his own name by mile two. In this episode, Gretchen and Elaine are joined by Eric Strand, a fellow runner who just conquered Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota. Eric brings his post-marathon wisdom and stories from the North Shore, and you can check out more of his running adventures on his YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/fV5WXgMovDA?si=EZvmWq_Vy4qAE8_6.

Unfortunately, our St. Louis friends have been dealing with more than just training miles lately. Recent tornado activity has devastated parts of their beloved running routes, including the park where The Happy Pace Podcast typically records their on-the-run episodes. Despite these challenges, Gretchen and Elaine continue to embody the resilience and positive spirit that makes the running community so special. How You Can Help St. Louis Recovery Efforts: The tornado damage has impacted not just running trails, but entire communities. If you'd like to help with recovery efforts, here are two ways to make a difference:

• General St. Louis Disaster Relief: https://www.stlvolunteer.org/disaster
• Forest Park Recovery (including running trails): https://www.forestparkforever.org/tornado-recovery?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwKrmPtleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABp2ZJ4Aof6y8KNM1I8_0Rz3chykinlevaVaEOxyPmDLQ42VLDpZEJWJN_pyp8_aem_ZynP-fP7esfHJrra7jkMPA

The running community has always been about supporting each other through both miles and challenges – this is a perfect opportunity to show that Back of the Pack spirit extends far beyond race finish lines.