Episode 117: Amy Haas - Race Across the States

Episodes

Jul 18

Amy Haas started with a two-hour half marathon run for her late cousin. She went on to finish a half in all 50 states, winning her 50th in under 1:20.

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About this episode

Amy Haas, known online as Race Across the States, grew up in Wisconsin, played soccer through college at Ohio University, and lives in Columbus, Ohio. Her older cousin asked her to run the Chicago Half Marathon in memory of the cousin's brother, Scotty, who died of cancer at 12, and that race started a roughly 10-year journey to run a half marathon in every state. She went from about two hours to breaking the tape, won her 50th state in Rhode Island in under 1:20, and ran a sub-3 marathon at Every Woman's Marathon. She coaches women through her Run with AIM community.

We talk about her slow climb past a 1:45 plateau, getting stitches 48 hours before the Hawaii half, a proposal the night before the Columbus Marathon, and a hard day at New York. Amy also shares what it is like to build an Instagram community of about 144,000 followers, how she works with brands, and her side of the Advil backlash. Now she is working through the national parks, with Cuyahoga Valley set to be number seven.

In this episode, we discuss

Racing a 10-mile trail race at Cuyahoga Valley, her seventh national park
The presentation her husband and mom made of all 50 state race times
Matching with her husband Jared while away at a race she won
Getting Jared to run with a Global Adventures honeymoon trip in Croatia
Winning races as a young kid in Wisconsin and switching to soccer
Running her first half marathon in memory of her cousin Scotty
Running the exact same time to the second at the same race two years in a row
Breaking through a long plateau around 1:45 to go under 1:30
Cutting her foot on coral and getting stitches 48 hours before the Hawaii half
A rooftop proposal the night before the Columbus Marathon
Chasing sub-3 and running her slowest marathon in New York
Why runners should stop trying to PR at the majors, and an IV in the Boston med tent
Breaking the tape for the first time in Little Rock
Building an Instagram following and starting Run with AIM during COVID
How she handles brand deals and the Advil backlash

Chapters

00:00 · Intro
04:00 · Race week and the national parks goal
08:00 · Half marathons in all 50 states
11:00 · Meeting Jared and a running honeymoon
14:00 · Growing up athletic in Wisconsin
19:00 · A first half in memory of her cousin
21:00 · From two hours to breaking the tape
25:00 · Stitches before the Hawaii half
28:00 · A proposal and a hard New York
34:00 · The majors and a Boston med tent
37:00 · Meeting Des Linden and a first tape in Little Rock
42:00 · A redo finish photo and a sub-3 marathon
45:00 · Building an Instagram community
51:00 · Working with brands
56:00 · The Advil backlash
1:01:00 · Mantra and next finish line

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Where to find Amy

Instagram: @raceacrossthestates
Run with AIM

Mentioned in this episode

Races: Cuyahoga Valley National Park trail race, Chicago Half Marathon, Columbus Marathon, Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, Little Rock Marathon, Every Woman's Marathon, Fargo Marathon, Indy Mini-Marathon
Organizations and charities: Run with AIM, Vacation Races Global Adventures, Ohio University, Miami University, Advil, BITCHSTIX, Sandy Boy Productions
Other: Des Linden, The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, National parks, "She believed she could, so she did"

Previous guests mentioned

Lindsey Hein (Episode 100)

Related episodes

Frequently asked

Who is Race Across the States on Instagram?

Race Across the States is Amy Haas, a Columbus, Ohio running coach who ran a half marathon in all 50 states and now runs the Run with AIM community for women.

Why did Amy Haas start running half marathons?

Amy Haas ran her first half marathon, in Chicago, because her older cousin asked her to race together in memory of the cousin's brother, Scotty, who died of cancer at age 12.

Where did Amy Haas finish her 50 states?

Amy Haas finished her 50th state in Rhode Island, where she won the half marathon and ran under 1:20.

What happened to Amy Haas at the Hawaii half marathon?

Two days before her Hawaii half marathon, Amy Haas cut her foot on coral while snorkeling and needed stitches, but she still raced on the stitched foot.

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Transcript

This transcript was generated automatically, so it may contain errors.

This is a Sandy Boy Productions podcast. Welcome to Finish Lines and Milestones, a podcast for everyday runners. I'm your host, Ally Brettnacher, and if you run, you are a runner. Every runner has a story. Join me every Friday as I share these stories and we celebrate finish lines and milestones together. Before I get into this week's episode, I wanted to mention our sponsor this week is Previnex Pren. X creates clinically effective supplements that promote longevity, performance, and everyday health. If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you've heard me talk about Previnex. I've been using several of their products for months now, and the one I wanna highlight today is their Gut and Greens Superfood blend.

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Thank you so much, Previnex for supporting this podcast. And now for today's episode, I'm really excited to introduce you to Amy Haas. You may already know her or follow her on the internet. She is @raceacrossthestates on Instagram and elsewhere. She has the run with AIM community and Business where she's a run coach and helps women set goals, meet their goals, especially related to running. And I was drawn to Amy initially because I've seen some of her content where she's had this. Amazing progression of speed over time and it, she just shows that hard work and persistence and consistency really pays off. And she has so many crazy stories because she completed running a half marathon in all 50 states.

And so we share some of those stories. During this episode. She is now working to tackle all the national parks, and so as I recorded this with her, mid-July, about a month ago, She was getting ready to tackle the Cuyahoga National Park in Ohio, which was her seventh park, and there are 63 national parks, but she's giving herself time to do that and explore all of them, but so cool. Her journeys are. Amazing. And then we also talk about what it's like to be a running influencer. So I hate that word. I know others do too. But she really has this, built this community over a, almost 150,000 followers, specifically on Instagram.

And so I was curious to hear what that's like. And I don't know if you remember this or if you were. You know, saw it at all. But there was a debacle with Advil involved and Amy was swept up in that. And so we talk about that and her side. And I just remember feeling so bad for her, just trying to, do your thing and make a business outta something you love. And then people take it the wrong way and it gets blown outta proportion. And here we are. But Amy is so lovely and I know that you're just gonna really enjoy this conversation with Amy.

Ha. Ally: Amy Haas, welcome. Amy: Thank Ally: is, Amy: having me. this is wild to me because I have like, I'm sure a lot of people you talk to have watched a lot of your content on the internet, and I've heard you on podcasts before and now I get to talk to you. It's really fun for me, so thank you so much. Yeah, I tried to do as many as I can. I feel like way Ally: a fun point Amy: get your story Ally: story out there, but I'm excited to chat. Yeah, so like I said, I don't know how the heck we're gonna fit all that I wanna ask you and talk to you about, into this next hour or so, but we're gonna try as hard as we can.

I wanted to start with the fact that it is a race week for you. It's Amy: It is. Ally: tell the people what race you're gearing up for this weekend. Amy: Yeah, Ally: Yeah. Amy: actually have a close race. Usually I feel like I'm traveling really far away, but this one is actually in Ohio, so that will be exciting. We're Ally: We're gonna Cuyahoga National Park, Amy: it's Ally: just a trail race, 10 mile trail race. So Amy: little Ally: little bit shorter than my typical half marathon, Amy: but we're Ally: we're really excited. We're trying to Amy: all the Ally: all the national parks at point Amy: real timeline on Ally: on.

But Amy: it's fun to knock another one out. Ally: yeah, it'll be number seven, right? Amy: Yeah. Ally: Yeah. Amy: it'll be Ally: Be number seven. That's wild. How many national parks are there? There's Amy: There's Ally: 63. 63. That is so many. I should know how many we have in Indiana, but I do not know Amy: I Ally: many are in Ohio. I think Amy: I think only Ally: only one. Okay, so you'll check that box, Amy: Mm-hmm. But then Ally: but then Alaska has like seven. Oh, okay. That'll be interesting. So you'll just move to Alaska for a year and it'll be fine.

Amy: Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. Ally: Yeah. Some states have like a few, like Seattle has, Amy: within driving distance of each other, so that'll be a fun one to, to hit. But Ally: Ohio Amy: just Ally: has. Amy: one, so we're getting it done. Now Ally: And remind me, Amy, what city in Ohio are you in? Amy: I'm in Ally: I'm in Columbus. Okay. That's, that's what I thought. And you're originally from Wisconsin? Yep. Okay. Wisconsin. Awesome. I have not done a race in Wisconsin and my sister lives in Milwaukee, so I just, I need to just go do it. Amy: Yeah. Ally: Yeah. Milwaukee's a good, a good spot.

Amy: Madison, Ally: Milwaukee, Amy: all are Ally: all are good. Good spots. We have a lot of Phoenix Amy: spots too, Ally: too, I feel like, for racing because it's on the water. Mm-hmm. Amy: there's Ally: There's lots of good places there. Yeah. And Columbus was Columbus, Ohio your very first ever Marathon? Amy: It Ally: Marathon? It actually, Amy: it was Ally: it was my first marathon. It was not my first half marathon. Okay. First Amy: first half Ally: half marathon when I went through Amy: states Ally: with Chicago. Amy: Chicago Ally: Half Marathon. And which one? Because there's a couple, right? Amy: Yeah. Ally: Yeah, it was in, I wanna say it was like September.

Amy: but I'm Ally: I'm not sure which one that is. Amy: big. It Ally: Okay. It was, it was Amy: huge. Ally: huge. There were a lot of people, I just remember being such a crazy big event, Amy: like so Ally: so much Amy: that Ally: that I just got Amy: completely Ally: drawn into this space. Yeah. How could you not be hooked after that? Mm-hmm. Amy: Mm-hmm. Ally: Yeah. Dangerous. And now here we are, you've run a half marathon in every single state Amy: Yep. Ally: now you're just ticking off national parks. And man, it's so fun. I love talking about running, which is why I started this podcast.

So I had more of an outlet to talk about it with people who care as much as I do. I'm assuming with doing all the national parks over time, you'll end up then hitting all 50 states again. Is that fair? Yeah. Yeah. A lot of um, I wanna say there's at least one, Amy: state, but I'm not a hundred percent positive. Ally: they're kind of scattered. Amy: so many out west, which Ally: Great. Because I, Amy: all the out West states. and Ally: There's like a lot in the really pretty spots that I would like to repeat anyway. Amy: it's a Ally: Mm-hmm. Amy: to go Ally: Go back because Amy: when I Ally: when I did the 50 states, Amy: I Ally: I wasn't as like thorough in my planning as I'm now.

I was Amy: young Ally: 20, like I Amy: signing up for Ally: up, Amy: races, Ally: wasn't Amy: really Ally: really looking into them, wasn't really seeing, Amy: you know, Ally: you know, whether they were Amy: fun Ally: fun location or whether there were things to do. It was just kind like a free for all. Yeah. Amy: some of the Ally: Some of the races I feel like I didn't see the best Amy: parts of Ally: of Amy: states or like the. The most like areas. So Ally: Yeah. I don't think, Amy: go Ally: go back and actually Amy: see Ally: see some of like the best.

I can only imagine. I have been to every state, but I've not run in every state. So I've visited them all. So I did my 50th half marathon in my 50th state. So not states overall, but I had done 50 total. Uh, and I did that in North Dakota, which is save the best for laughs. They literally have a club that you can be a part of when you save it for last, which was funny. So Amy: That's Ally: yeah. Yeah. Hilarious. Who would've thought, but also like, yeah, who goes to North Dakota? No offense. Um, it was a great race. I did the Fargo one.

Um, I did not. Yeah, it was really nice. So, so you've done mostly half marathons? Correct. What do you have a spreadsheet for? How you keep track of all these races? You do, Amy, because I feel like I would need one. I have one I Amy: finished my Ally: my last date. Amy: put together like this presentation, if you Ally: If you'll, Amy: of Ally: of all of dates in the order, Amy: with Ally: my finished time, Amy: everything. Ally: Um, so. Amy: my husband Ally: My husband did a lot of research back into like all of, Amy: my race times and Ally: and everything to really gather all of that information Amy: and I Ally: and I wish I had it somewhere that was like, Amy: you know, Ally: I was like, you need to do a video podcast, just like PowerPoint style like this.

Okay. Amy: Because it's really, really Ally: Really, really interesting for so many reasons. Amy: back and Ally: and look at those. Yeah, Amy: things. Like Ally: like there's so many variables when it comes to running that it's really fun to go back and be like, Amy: oh, you Ally: oh, you can see this trend Amy: getting Ally: faster. Mm-hmm. Amy: All Ally: All the spike and Amy: and all these things and like here you can see Ally: where Amy: was headed for a PR, but then had foot stitches and here you can like, so like there's a lot of just nuances to running that I Ally: that.

Amy: you could capture in something like that. Ally: Yeah, I'm so glad that I have a spreadsheet, but what I haven't done is what you've described, whereas like capturing some of the nuances or stories from those. Definitely it's documented now that I'm using Instagram a lot more for that. But you know, I'm like, man, I have no idea what that year was like. Like I can see the time and I know that I did it, but like I cannot even tell you what I wore or anything else. So Amy: Instagram was Ally: was definitely helpful in that, um, Amy: in kind Ally: kind of collecting all of those memories and all of those moments Amy: the Ally: Yeah.

Amy: stood out Ally: out to me for me today, so, Amy: yeah. Ally: yeah. Yeah. That's so freaking cool that your mom and your husband helped her do that for you. That's really special. I love that so much. Amy: Everybody Ally: loved sitting down for an hour Amy: watching Ally: watching, Hey, I would love it. Yeah. My husband would be like, no, thanks. I'm good. Because he, he's a one and done marathoner, so yeah. What is your husband's name? Amy? Amy: Jared, Ally: Jared, Jared. Okay, I'm so jealous that you guys run together. It's so amazing. I at least got my husband to do one.

So there's that Amy: that's an accomplishment. When Ally: accomplishment. Amy: it? Ally: We did it when we were dating, so he was still quote unquote trying, you know, Amy: That's hilarious. Ally: but it worked because then I was like, well this guy, this guy has to be the one, like we're, he'd never run more than a few miles, and then he started training. Well, there's so much I wanna know about you, kind of where you're from and upbringing to, but let's just talk about you and Jared for a second. Amy: Okay. Ally: How did you guys meet and how did you end up roping him into being your running buddy?

Amy: So we Ally: So we met online, um, oh, that's fun. Amy: a lot of bad dates, but somehow found him, it was ironic because we matched on one of the dating apps, um, while Ally: While I was away at a race like I had, Amy: left for the race and we matched and like, Ally: like, oh, whatcha doing this weekend? I'm like, oh, I have a race, Amy: And I Ally: I had the race and everything. Amy: was in Tulsa. And he Ally: He's like, oh, did you win? Amy: And I'm Ally: I'm like, yeah, Amy: did. Ally: is so perfect. Because little did he know like that, that's like, yeah.

Did you win? Actually, yeah, I did. He's like, okay, I'm interested. Amy: I was Ally: I was. Amy: by you. And I was like, oh, you don't have to be. Ally: but Amy: yeah, we Ally: yeah, we, Amy: and then. when did he start running? Let's see. He started running Ally: because Amy: for Ally: our honeymoon, Amy: I Ally: I decided I wanted to go on a global adventure Amy: vacation races, which is Ally: You Amy: you go to a Ally: to a country, you run every day on different trails. They kind of guide you through the best areas. Amy: And the one Ally: One that I wanted to go on specific Amy: in Ally: in Croatia, and it was.

Amy: on a yacht Ally: And you got get off and Amy: run on the Ally: on different islands. Amy: And Ally: And when I showed him it, he was like, Amy: will run Ally: I'll run for that. Amy: is like, Ally: Like that is something I do. So Amy: for. So Ally: that is what rope Amy: And Ally: And Amy: he Ally: he enjoyed it a lot. So he's been Amy: to Ally: run for his own enjoyment now. But Amy: I make Ally: I make his running plans so it works out well. Oh, that's so nice. I think you just gave me the idea for my, what I wanna do next year for my 40th birthday.

Like Amy: awesome. I would Ally: I would highly recommend. Amy: global adventures. Ally: They're Amy: so much fun. Ally: so much fun. Yeah. So while we're on the topic of vacation races, I, I thought that they were just doing it like around the majors or like big races. I didn't realize they did almost like a running tour kind of a thing. That's really cool. They're really, really cool because they're all inclusive too, so like, the chef makes you like cultural dishes. Oh my gosh. Amy: you're visiting. The Ally: The guide, the tour guides that are with you are from the country. So like. Amy: they Ally: They know exactly where they're going, what they're doing, what to show you the best trails, everything.

So Amy: you're Ally: you're really, really like immersed in this experience, but Amy: it's Ally: it's amazing. Okay. Yeah. Sign me up for that. Amy: Yeah, Ally: that sounds awesome. I have yet to do an international race, but I will at some point. Have you done a race abroad or, Amy: I Ally: okay. I did not. Ooh, okay. Well that's gotta be on the list for you. I'm sure Amy: indeed the Ally: majors are on the list. Yeah. Amy: So that Ally: that includes Amy: Tokyo will be Ally: Very hard to get into Yeah. Amy: of Ally: Than that. Amy: think, I think it's doable.

Ally: Yeah, for sure. Especially like you said with the national parks, you're not setting a hard timeline for yourself. You're just like, let's do it. Because you see all these people, especially on the internet, who are like doing all the majors in a year, and you're like, what? Amy: it's Ally: How? How? Amy: It's, it's crazy. Like running has just evolved so Ally: So much from when I Amy: first Ally: got like on Instagram or started running. Amy: it is Ally: It's just gotten so crazy. So crazy. Okay, so that's perfect segue. Thank you. You are a professional. tell us a little bit about how you got into the sport.

Like you grew up in Wisconsin, where you athletic as a kid? Do you have siblings? Tell us more about that. Amy: I do Ally: I do have siblings Amy: and Ally: and I was Amy: athletic as a child. Uh, sports were Ally: like Amy: definitely Ally: my, my thing. Um, I was very, very energetic, very Amy: Loud Ally: and just like never stopped. Uh, so my mom got me into running the way of like calming me down and mm-hmm. Amy: that energy. Ally: that. Amy: And Ally: from the very beginning I loved it. Like I, Amy: I Ally: I was winning races as like a little kid.

I just like, loved the competition aspect of it. I loved like pushing myself really hard. Amy: I Ally: I even went to state, like as a kid, went to Madison and like ran Amy: track and Ally: and had like a coach and stuff, but Wow. How old were you do you think, Amy: I, Ally: you went to state? Looking first or second grade. Okay. That is a kid. 'cause I have one of those. Yeah. Amy: young. And, Ally: eventually I Amy: transitioned to soccer just Ally: just because all the friends were doing it and I didn't wanna do a solo sport like by myself. I didn't really like Amy: That it Ally: that it was a solo thing and that all the pressure was on me.

Mm-hmm Amy: thing. So transitioned to Ally: to soccer all the way through college. And then that's when my cousin asked me to do a half marathon, so I Amy: jumped Ally: jumped right back Amy: running. Ally: running. Yeah. That's so interesting. So you played in college soccer. Amy: Yeah, Ally: Yeah. Oh, Amy: play like, Ally: okay. Amy: like Ally: Still. Amy: or anything. Ally: Yeah. That's fun. And so you have siblings. How many siblings and where do you fall in the birth order? So I have Amy: siblings. I have Ally: three siblings. I Amy: siblings and one younger sibling. So I'm Ally: Okay. Right in the middle.

All right. Yeah, I mean it's helpful to have older siblings I've found with sports and stuff 'cause they can kind of bring you along. Were they all ki, were you guys all kind of similar in that you were pretty active? Amy: So my Ally: my older sister and my mom, sister are Amy: at Ally: at all there. Amy: of like the Ally: Interesting. Amy: and the Ally: Riding Amy: and Ally: all that. My brother, Amy: is Ally: he's my older brother, he is very athletic as well. And we're both very Amy: athletic and Ally: and very like business oriented. Like, we're both like have that same Amy: mindset, I Ally: I guess.

Um, Amy: think Ally: I think we're both achieve based. Yeah. Amy: like we both Ally: We really, really like personal. Amy: achievements. So. He definitely Ally: was Amy: inspiration for me Ally: for me growing up. Amy: every Ally: Every day he would wanna race me and he would Amy: whoop my Ally: my Amy: every Ally: every day because he was like eight years older than me. So Amy: like I Ally: like I Amy: little kid trying Ally: trying to keep up now I Amy: absolutely Ally: demolish him. Amy: a, anything longer than like a sprint. Ally: Mm-hmm. Yeah. I'm thank you to him for training you to beat the boys because one of my favorite pieces of content that you share is whenever you're like, yeah, these guys just underestimate me.

And then I win. And it's so fun. I love that. Amy: all the girls Ally: All the girls. Mm. like, I just love when women can like, can Amy: and just Ally: just show that we're Amy: are not Ally: not afraid to Amy: like put Ally: put ourselves out there to do that. Yeah. Yeah. And then, so where'd you go to college? Ohio somewhere? Amy: Yeah, Ally: Yeah, I went to Ohio University. Amy: went Ally: right. Ohio State. Amy: the Ally: Ohio State, Amy: I Ally: yes. Amy: the lesser, the lesser one. Just, just So you just Ohio University? Ally: just the OU one. They have the big Halloween party, right.

Amy: I Ally: So they're known for, Amy: school. Ally: okay. I went there my freshman year of college for Halloween. Amy: Nice. Ally: I don't remember much of that other than the fact that I was like a black angel, which I don't know. I can visualize the pictures, but not much else. But I went to Miami of Ohio, so I went to undergrad in Ohio as well. Um, j Crew U as they liked to call it. Amy: Yes. I actually had a scholarship there and I turned it down because for some reason in my mind I was like, I am not fancy enough for this college.

Like. Ally: I could talk to you about that for the next hour because I was not at all, I did not join a sorority while I was there. I felt outta shape or outta shape outta place for quiet and outta shape, frankly, for a while. And then I finally found my place there and really enjoyed it. But yeah, it was, yeah, it was scary. That Amy: did because that Ally: was definitely my, Amy: with going there. I was Ally: I was like. Amy: wanna be in a sorority, so Ally: So what do, Amy: Like, do I, I just Ally: just didn't go there, Amy: guess.

Ally: right? I know. Yeah. I was like, I, nobody in my family had ever been Greek, so I knew nothing. And it's like one of the biggest Greek schools and yeah, so you can, you can go to college and not be in a sorority. So, Okay. So let's go back to your cousin and why you ended up doing your first half marathon. So you, you mentioned that your cousin asked you to do it, um, but can you tell the story about why you did that race? Yeah, so Amy: her Ally: brother, my husband Amy: Scotty, had Ally: passed away when we were all young, um, Amy: from Ally: from cancer 12, Amy: only 12.

Ally: my God, Amy: I Ally: I, Amy: really young. I was like five or Ally: or six Amy: she was a little Ally: older, Amy: So Ally: like she's Amy: quite a Ally: a older Amy: me, like five or, or like eight or Ally: or nine years. Amy: So Ally: she asked me to race in memory of him, um, together. And so Amy: I Ally: agreed to, even though I didn't really wanna race, I, Amy: you know, Ally: you know, the sentiment of it was important to me, meaningful to me. So I was like, okay, one half, Amy: I will Ally: I will do whatever deal.

Amy: a big deal. My Ally: My mom got Amy: these Ally: a Philippine, Amy: to tie in our shoe laces. So Ally: Aw, Amy: time I ran, you know, it was Ally: that was something that I was like thinking about, but Amy: definitely lit a Ally: lit a fire under me to be like, okay, I can do this one race. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I love your mom. Every time you mention her it's like she's the sweetest. and my mom is too. Hi mom. She listens. so after that first one, that's so cool that you got to do that in honor of somebody and it got you started.

So then do you have a total number of half marathons that you have done up until now? Amy: I Ally: I Amy: honestly Ally: don't, Amy: but I would imagine, I know I've Ally: I repeated Amy: a few Ally: states two times and I've done a few in Ohio here and here. So I would say it's gotta be close to like 65. Okay. Yeah. That's around how many I've done, but I did a lot of 'em were just, were local ones that I would do every single year. So that adds up pretty quick. Um, I actually did. Amy: I Ally: I did, Amy: did the Ally: I did.

Amy: local one usually, Ally: And Amy: the Ally: the past two years I got the same exact time down to the second. Oh, that's weird Amy: Isn't Ally: isn't that so crazy? Yeah. Amy: oh, that looks familiar. And then Ally: And then I looked at my Amy: time and I was like, Ally: like, wait, Amy: that Ally: that is so Amy: crazy. Ally: Yeah. Because you couldn't even, I mean, getting in even in the same, I Yeah. That's really wild. Amy: I Ally: is a fun fact. Amy: it is a Ally: Uh, yeah. and when in that. Timeline, did you first break the tape? Because one of the things that I find so inspiring about you, Amy, is that, you know, you started, like a lot of people do, like call it around like two hours and, and then you've made your way to breaking tape, which is incredible.

So Amy: Yeah, Ally: was that process like? Because obviously it didn't happen right away. Amy: no, Ally: No, no. Amy: yeah, Ally: Yeah. The Amy: the Ally: progression like the actual progress that I made is super interesting Amy: yeah, I Ally: yeah, it started around two hours Amy: and like Ally: and like I wasn't doing anything to like really train or like, you know, I was just, Amy: I Ally: I kind of was trained for the race and then not trained again. Amy: I was Ally: I was pretty inconsistent when I first started, so I did Amy: one half Ally: half marathon a year for those first few years Amy: I Ally: when I.

Amy: took me like 10 years to do the states, for those first three years, I was doing one per year. Like it was like not, it was a slow burn for for the, for a little bit. And I didn't make that much Ally: Much progress for a while Amy: and then Ally: I got to state four, which which was Indiana Mm-hmm. I decided, Amy: hey, I Ally: hey, I think I'm actually gonna try to Amy: all the states. that's when Ally: when progress started happening a lot faster because I started Amy: a little Ally: a little bit more frequently and like training Amy: round Ally: instead of just training for like one race, like for 16 weeks.

Amy: to it. Ally: Mm-hmm. Amy: I started Ally: started running more, Amy: consistently, I Ally: I noticed my pace going down and like getting faster, Amy: but Ally: but then Amy: I Ally: I hit Amy: very Ally: big like block around like 1 45 and I just could not, not it. It took me, wanna I wanna say like 10 or 15 Amy: where I Ally: where I just floated around between like Amy: one Ally: 50 Amy: and Ally: and like one 40 and I just like couldn't really like get out that like, Amy: and Ally: and then all of sudden like. Amy: years Ally: later, all of a sudden I just like went way down.

I took like five or six minutes off of my time, like Amy: one Ally: one race and it was just because of those years of Amy: training Ally: leading up to it. But Amy: it all Ally: it all kind of like came at once and Amy: that Ally: that was really interesting to me. Amy: really, Ally: Yeah. Amy: really shows that all Ally: all that you're doing is paying Amy: even if you can't really see it right now. Ally: Right. I tell myself that a lot, Amy: Yeah. Ally: a lot. I so hard to trust that, but mm-hmm. Such a good example for me because Amy: all of a Ally: all of a sudden Amy: just like, and it wasn't just that Ally: that Amy: it was like the Ally: like the next three race, I took time off, like boom, boom, boom Amy: and Ally: and ended up going sub one 30 within like the next few years.

So. Amy: like happened pretty fast. Once I Ally: I got through that like block. Mm-hmm. Well, and running, as you know, is so mental, so it's probably partly a mental block. 'cause then once you did that, you're like, oh, your brain is like, oh, I can actually do that. Yeah. Amy: And it took a lot of me reminding Ally: Remind myself Amy: like Ally: that like not every race had to be Amy: and like a Ally: Yes. Amy: I did had tough courses, or they were in locations that I wasn't used to running, or they had weather that I wasn't used to experiencing, or I was going straight from where the Ally: Tempera was like 40 in Ohio somewhere where it was 80.

Amy: And so Ally: So yeah, all conditions where I wasn't really thinking about it at the time. Looking back, Amy: well, of Ally: well of course I wasn't gonna Amy: that Ally: be that rate, but it was great training. Like yeah. Yeah. I've finally realized that myself, like in the last few years. you don't have to try to be your fastest every time. I mean, I've done so many. It's like just do it for fun, which is so hard because I'm super competitive, not necessarily with other people. More so with myself. Right. So, Um, I would, we'll have to talk more about that 'cause I would love you to give some advice on, on that topic.

'cause I could talk about that for a while too. But I want to dig into some of the stories within your 50 states because you're so nice in sharing your content. You highlight some of them and I'm like, okay, good. I'm just gonna use this list and we're gonna talk about these. Amy: Yeah. Ally: Probably my favorite one is Hawaii because that's, you mentioned stitches earlier, so please tell us the story of Hawaii. Amy. It's ridiculous Amy: my God. It's like, it's still frustrating to this day, so going into Hawaii, you have to realize that I had been working towards a sub one 20 for Ally: for Amy: Two Ally: years at this point, and in February, so I was gonna Hawaii in April, in February, I got a one 20.

Amy: So I only Ally: I only needed 30 Amy: Right? Like I'm setting Ally: setting Amy: for this because going into Ally: into Amy: I am Ally: i Amy: like peak condition, right? I, I Ally: I that Amy: it's Ally: I, Amy: sight. I Ally: I only need 30 seconds off. Amy: am Ally: I'm like trading my butt off. I am ready, I'm gonna take paper and seriously, Amy: I am Ally: I'm gonna Amy: control Ally: everything I can going into this. Amy: And then we get there and my husband is like, he's like, it's four 20, would you like to take a gummy and go snorkeling?

Like would Ally: Yeah, obviously. Amy: like, duh. Ally: Duh. Amy: of course we should do that. we Ally: Oh my God. Amy: and. Ally: And I like feel something Amy: and I'm Ally: my foot like, Amy: I just cut my foot and he is like, oh, it's Ally: like, oh, it's probably not that bad, Amy: it actually Ally: actually hurts. Amy: We should get out. Like this doesn't feel quite right. So we get out and Ally: Get out, Amy: like nonstop gushing blood and we're both looking at it like, this is a problem. So we tried to Ally: try to go the door Amy: and like Ally: and like handle it.

Amy: with Ally: Oh my God. We got like, Amy: even Ally: can't tried like, uh, Amy: like Ally: like glue. We tried to like glue it back Amy: it just Ally: and it just like would not hold. Amy: just Ally: God. Amy: bleeding. So Ally: So eventually we did have to go into. Amy: the ER and Ally: And Amy: stitches and this Ally: and this was 48 hours before the race. And Amy: this Ally: this girl is looking at me like I'm crazy as I'm asking to add an extra stitch because I have a half marathon. Yeah. You're like, no, really get it, really get it good.

Amy: She is Ally: She's like, that's not happening. I'm like, that is Amy: So like Ally: like whatever we need to do. Amy: But the Ally: the next day, like I couldn't really even walk on it. So I'm like, I dunno if this is gonna happen. We, Amy: like bib pickup and Ally: and I'm, Amy: I'm just like Ally: yeah, that's Amy: because we came Ally: all this way. Amy: so ready for this race and yep, I did Ally: I did end up raising it Amy: and Ally: and Amy: stitches Ally: just held up. It was very painful and like I paid for it for weeks because you know Amy: changes, you change Ally: everything.

Amy: form to compensate for that pain. And I knew that going into it. I Ally: I knew it. Amy: I was gonna do it, but Ally: But also I was gonna pay for it and I did. And Amy: it's all Ally: so crazy. Amy: It is. It is fine. Ally: Well, looking back, you have like one of the best stories ever. Like never have I ever run a marathon after I got high and cut my foot on the coral in the ocean and then still did it. Amy: moral Ally: Moral of the story is, you're going to Hawaii. Amy: water shoes Ally: Yeah. Oh my god.

Amy: that's it. Ally: Yeah. That's wild. That is. Oh my gosh. Okay. And then Jared proposed to you the night before one of your races? Mm-hmm. Amy: Mm-hmm. Ally: What year? What year was that? When did you guys get engaged? Amy: oh, it's 2025. It would've Ally: It would've been 23. Okay. Yeah. Amy: Yeah. Yeah, because it was October and that sweet boy, he, he Ally: He like Amy: Told Ally: told me we were picking out outfits for like a friend's wedding and so we went and like got these outfits and Amy: tried everything Ally: everything on. And then it turns out Amy: propose to me and them.

So he was like, Ally: like as we were getting ready, he's like, let's go up to the roof and like take a picture really quick. Like he looked so pretty and I'm like, okay. Amy: And Ally: And up there was like all these roses and stuff. Amy: to me. So it was very Ally: Ooh. Amy: And I had a race the next Ally: The next day slammed a brunch with all of our friends and family afterwards. Amy: very, it was very sweet. Ally: Okay. Like your mom and Jared. Really? Amy: Really, really Ally: That's pretty amazing. Okay. And so what race was that that you did the next day?

Columbus. Okay. Because of co Of course. Yeah. That makes sense. Okay. And then, ooh, the well was this New York. This was New York Marathon, so diverting from half marathons. You had been fighting for a sub three hour marathon. Amy: Oh my Ally: Oh my God. Going into New York. And then that was hell, it looked like, um, Amy: terrible. Ally: Yeah. So you go try to run your fastest marathon and you end up running your slowest marathon. Amy: Yeah. Yeah. So I Ally: I ran, Amy: marathon in Columbus, and then Ally: then I ran my second one in Boston. Amy: it Ally: It absolutely destroyed me.

Amy: was Ally: Very unwell. Um, Amy: just say Ally: just say that. Amy: And Ally: And then I went Amy: New York hoping for a Ally: for a, Amy: I had Ally: I Amy: training really Ally: really hard for it. I Amy: had Ally: had like an 18 mile race, like as one of my peak weeks where I, Amy: was Ally: it was very clear that I could do up Amy: three. Like I just, Ally: mm. I just, I just needed to Amy: To train. Ally: train. Right. And Amy: for Ally: for whatever reason that day I went out way too fast. Those hills Amy: me up Ally: up Amy: me out.

Ally: mountain. And I will say. Amy: Jared played a role in this one as Ally: as well. Amy: He was like, Ally: He was like, Amy: let's Ally: walk to this Italian restaurant. Amy: only Ally: only like, Amy: like Ally: he like got it mixed up, which Amy: it was. And he had made us reservations. We Ally: We ended up walking like five miles Amy: this Ally: plane, Amy: the day, like the Ally: like the night before Amy: And Ally: race. And I'm like, just every step I'm like, oh my gosh, this is gonna be bad tomorrow. And it was, it was Amy: so Ally: so hard.

And I have actually never had a race like that where I've stopped on the course and like Amy: literally Ally: walked or even like mm-hmm. Amy: Right. Ally: And like I was crying. I. Amy: The Ally: The only thing keeping me going was I knew my family was waiting in Central Park for me, and Amy: like, Ally: just really wanted to get there. But when I got there, at this point, I, Amy: I'm Ally: I'm not even walking in front of aid station. I'm walking behind them because I'm moving. So Amy: that I'm like, Ally: I'm like, oh, I can't just parked. Amy: of this aid station.

Ally: What? Oh my gosh. That's crazy. Like my back hurts. So that everything was breaking down because like my Amy: was Ally: was breaking down. Everything was breaking down. Amy: I Ally: I definitely under fueled, which Amy: I Ally: I learned my lesson immediately and changed everything about it the next time. Mm. But um, Amy: yeah, Ally: yeah, that was a nice, oh yeah. New York, I didn't, I did that in 2018 and I, it is, I didn't know I'd been to New York and I was like, I've run in Central Park, it's flat. I had no idea until the day before. Somebody's like, oh, there's a lot of hills in Central Park.

I knew there were the bridges, right? So I trained a little bit for elevation, but yeah, that was, it's a rough, rough go those last few miles. Amy: hard Ally: Hard race, like Amy: I feel Ally: I feel like Amy: 13 miles and it just gets so Ally: so Amy: hard. Like I just, such like Ally: like a Amy: race Ally: too, that I feel like it's so easy to go to fast and then you're just like paying for it. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. It's a great one to have done. Like I'm definitely glad that I did it. You're probably like, I wish I could redo the first time I did that.

Amy: I, I just like, the thing I'll say about the majors is like, Hey, a quick break to tell you about a brand that I have used before and has sponsored this podcast. Cure Hydration. Cure is a brand that has optimal hydration with clean ingredients. There's no added sugar. It's plant-based, vegan, gluten-free. It's a female founded brand, all focused on advanced hydration, and now they have a formulation that is just for kids. So I don't know about you, but anytime my kids see a Gatorade. Really love that stuff and I would much rather give them something that doesn't have so much sugar. And in this case, no added sugar.

Also, no artificial sweeteners or fake colors, just the hydration. And personally for me, my 8-year-old has had issues with getting overheated, even fainting and her pediatrician recommended getting her. More hydration. So using a supplement like a cure. So we actually haven't tried the kids formula yet. I'm waiting for it to arrive. But if it tastes anything like the regular kind, I know my kids will love it because they have stolen that from me before. And the kids' flavors have things like pink lemonade, berry, I mean, obviously pink lemonade. Sold. My kids will surely love that. So if you wanna feel good about giving your kids something that is actually good for them, Go to cure hydration.com/allyb for 20% off your first order.

That's cure hydration.com/allyb for 20% off. Clean hydration. The whole family will love. Now back to the show. Amy: the thing I'll say about the majors is like, I wish. We all would stop trying to PR at them because like that's not what they're meant for. Like they're meant as the celebration because you PRD your last one, not because you need to PR this one. And it would just be so much more enjoyable because I feel like there's so much expect expectation and like Ally: Like people are tracking each other and Amy: you Ally: you know, when you set those lofty goals on those challenging courses, Amy: you're Ally: you're setting yourself up for, right?

And then you don't enjoy it as much, which sucks 'cause it's such a magical experience. You're like, well I wish I would've just ran that for fun. Amy: because been a lot better. Ally: Yeah. Well it always, it just blows my mind. People go to Boston and then try to requalify for Boston. At Boston. Amy: Yeah. Ally: I'm just trying to get my ass to Boston. And then that is my finish line. Like, when I get there, I will do, I don't know, I'll just go, just do it. You know? Amy: Yeah, Ally: Boston was another hard one for me. I ended up in Amy: the med Ally: med Amy: and it Ally: was, Amy: a whole disaster.

Ally: yeah. For anyone who hasn't been in a med tent, I have. But tell people what that's like. Amy: Well, Ally: Well, they tried to give the stop Amy: 18. They were Ally: they were like, come on, come on, come on. Amy: You don't look well. Like, come sit down. I'm like, no, no, no. Like, I'm gonna keep Ally: I'm good, Amy: And I'm like, at this point I'm like, people are screaming my name and I have videos of me like Ally: like looking over and like not actually looking at people, but I'm just like, like so out it, Amy: yeah, I Ally: I crossed the line and Amy: Vomited Ally: everywhere.

Got hoisted into the Med 10 out. Amy: passed out. They Ally: They put things around both my ankles, they were bleeding, they with Amy: have any Ally: water because what had happened was I had like taken in too much water and not enough fuel or electrolytes and so they were really worried about, I think it's called like Amy: or Ally: or something, what Amy: where like Ally: your brain can swell and stuff because you've taken in too much water, not, not like sodium to balance it. So Amy: another note for fueling correctly, but they like put an IV in me and everything and. I just have to tell this 'cause it's so Ally: So funny.

When I left the med test, they forgot to take the IP outta me and I found my husband and gave him a hug. And he like, heck. Amy: And Ally: And he, you still have an Amy: have an IV in you? My Ally: lip? Amy: purple. I have Ally: I have an, Amy: IV in me. I have that, like that gown thing over Ally: yeah. Amy: He's like, what Ally: What is up? Amy: you Ally: You look like a ghost walking around. You're like, just a casual, just an everyday Monday, man. I'm here. What do you mean? That's wild. So did you go back to have him take it out or did you just take it out yourself?

Amy: I Ally: I went back. I would've too, 'cause I would've been like, am I gonna like bleed to death if I do this wrong? Amy: Yeah. It's so gross. Ally: Oh my gosh. Yeah. That's wild. Well, and what I always, well, not always, I don't know if I've ever shared it on this podcast, but in med tense, they take, don't take your temperature like in your mouth. So you probably don't have remember that Amy: No, I don't, I do Ally: I like, I like barely remember, because somebody else told me this and I was like, oh, yeah. You know, I think in New York I have this vague memory now of, uh, that, so Amy: hilarious.

Ally: Oh, that's an, that's wild too. and then, okay, gosh, you've run with Dez That's so cool. In Mississippi of all places. Amy: yeah, Ally: So Amy: for Ally: for some reason, Amy: there were a few other like really famous runners, and I can't remember who they were, I know that she was there. 'cause I was like, holy Ally: holy crap, this is crazy. But Amy: they Ally: they had all come, I think it was part of like, some kind of PR thing, but, um, Amy: were Ally: they were all there and it was super cool because you could see them all warming up like they.

Amy: bus and everything. Ally: And since I was in the starting corral, I was like right behind them, like right as we started. So like, I gotta watch them take off, they gotta Amy: before Ally: everybody. Mm-hmm. Amy: sense. And Ally: And then we took off, Amy: I couldn't see them as I was racing because they were just like so far ahead. Ally: but Amy: I Ally: I finished Amy: With Ally: with enough time to like, as they were cooling down, there were only Amy: few people who had Ally: who had finished. And so like Amy: just Ally: just hanging out there and I'm just like walking up like.

Amy: oh, we Ally: We just happen to be in this recovery 10. Amy: same time. Like, would you like Ally: Hello? Yeah. Would we like to? Yeah. That's so crazy. I have not ever met Des and I hoped to meet her at some point. I loved her book. I just think her whole like demeanor and vibe and outlook is just great. So I'm jealous of that experience. and then there's a couple stories about breaking tape I wanted to cover. One was, well, first of all, the first time you ever broke the tape. So as somebody, and I, I bet a lot of people listening have never had that experience.

So could you just talk about what that feels like, especially when it's your first time you're like, is this real life? Amy: Yeah, Ally: Yeah. Little Rock was the first race that like, had a, Amy: had Ally: had this special, like Amy: was Ally: it was bigger race. Amy: So it like kind of made like, just was the Ally: the first Amy: that Ally: like, Amy: really was like, holy Ally: holy crap. Amy: believe I won this. this is like, it Ally: Like, it wasn't like a hundred people, it was like thousands of people. Crazy. Amy: and Ally: I'll say, when I first started, Amy: I'm Ally: I'm somebody who like Amy: always underestimates Ally: myself very much.

Like I didn't even wanna be in the A corral. Like, I was like, mom, I'm not fast enough for that. Like, Amy: she's like, Ally: like, you need to start up there like, otherwise you always get stuck behind people and then you're frustrated to just start where you need to start. And Amy: that Ally: that made me nervous I Amy: didn't. I wanna Ally: wanna put expectations on myself. I hate kind Amy: kinds of Ally: expectations. And so we took off and we're running and all of a sudden this biker pulled up next to me and he is like, Amy: in Ally: in his walk, he like, I'm with the first woman.

I'm like, I, Amy: so. I'm like, there's somebody, there's Ally: there's Amy: be Ally: be something else. Amy: I Ally: I literally. Amy: go check. He's like biking up. He comes back, he's like, Nope. Like you're the first girl. And that was a Ally: A little nerveracking because I had to hold it like whole time. Amy: that was in the Ally: The first, Amy: So I'm Ally: no, Amy: like, what the heck is Ally: oh, Amy: I'm like asking the biker like, is anybody behind me? And he's like, I'm not allowed to Ally: to tell why? Why is he not, that's Wow. Okay. You make me turn around.

Yeah. Amy: Yeah, but he was super nice. He Ally: That's so cool. Amy: filmed the Ally: filmed the whole Amy: on his Ally: thing on his little Velcro. Amy: wearing, and so he Ally: He sent me all these videos after and was like, Amy: a Ally: here's a video of, Amy: to your Ally: here's Amy: and like, Ally: a video of you Amy: of you like Ally: like getting Amy: on by all these Ally: these other women. I'm like this, so Amy: nice of Ally: what an angel Amy: yeah, the feeling of Ally: into Amy: finish Ally: finish line and like Amy: the Ally: the finishing shoot just like all the people, Amy: and there Ally: and there were cameras behind the line of like the local newspaper and stuff, and just like Amy: it's such a moment of Ally: of just utter like.

Disbelief of Amy: is Ally: is happening. You just feel like you're like literally floating, like you're just like Amy: in a Ally: in a different Like Yeah. It, it's hard to explain. It's like on your wedding day or something like Yeah. Feeling Amy: like, Ally: like, Amy: existing. Like Ally: yeah. Or when you have a gummy on four 20, it's kind of the same. Amy: You're Ally: Like, like, I'm here and just watching my life for, from somebody else. Amy: Yeah. It is Ally: It's a, it's a crazy. And did you think like, one of the first things that comes to my mind, I've actually held the tape.

Okay. Because I'm on the, I'm on the board of directors for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, which you have to come do sometime. But yeah. So I've held the tape, not for the marathon, but for one of our other events. And I just remember being so nervous, like holding it, Amy: Mm-hmm. Ally: I'm like, you don't wanna get it too low. Like, especially when the first female comes, you've gotta make sure like. The guys get, don't mess it up. So anyway, like were you thinking, what do I do with my hands? That's like one of the first things that would come to my mind because you can't just like run through it like you normally would.

You have to put your hands up. So like, do you remember thinking that I, I have always put my hands up. can you imagine I didn't Amy: a Ally: photographer, Amy: I'm usually just like Ally: so I'm just like looking at them and like, Amy: or Ally: or whatever. Yeah, yeah. Amy: Yeah, I definitely have on state 50 when I knew that I had won and like it was like such a big moment and like there was just like so much going on. I was like, what do I Ally: What Amy: What do I do? Ally: do, what do I like? Turn around and wave.

Amy: Like what do I do right now? What am Ally: Yeah. Amy: Because there's Ally: Like you almost wanna stop time. You're like, well, I just want this moment last longer. Yeah. Amy: like slow Ally: Slow down and walk through the tape. Or like, yeah, right. Or, yeah. That's just so cool. Okay. And then my favorite story is when you had to redo a picture. Amy: Yeah, Ally: Yeah. That, Amy: where was Ally: is so funny to me. Amy: Yeah. So the 10 k and the half marathon Ally: Marathon has started Amy: like Ally: like Amy: time and they didn't expect a half marathoner yet.

And so like I run through and like nobody says anything. My mom is cheering. She's like, what? You won? Like, like so Ally: so excited. Amy: And Ally: And finally like the people who are like over by the Amy: line are like Ally: line, Amy: at my mom, looking at me Ally: obviously Amy: how fast I came Ally: running. Amy: and they like walk over and they're like. Did you Ally: Did you? Amy: marathon? I'm like, yes. And they were Ally: They were like, shoot, shoot. That's Amy: Like Ally: so embarrassing for them. Amy: were runner. Like we need, we need a Ally: We need a picture.

You. Amy: Like, could you come back and like do this again? And at this time I had already like taken off my, like I had taken Ally: Oh, no. And Amy: had like put it aside or whatever, like I Ally: remember, like, I've done. Amy: And then they made me redo it. And I was Ally: That's, Amy: fine. Ally: that's so ridiculous. That's so, yeah. That's so funny to me. Well, and as race organizers, they were probably mortified. but it's like, come on guys, like you have one job. Yeah. It's like you have one job, like, and you have walkie talkies everywhere. Like somebody should know.

Amy: Yeah. It Ally: Yeah. Oh man. Okay. I think I've covered most. I know I haven't. You finally got your sub three at every woman's. Amy: I Ally: Marathon. And that was last year, right? Mm-hmm. Amy: Mm-hmm. Ally: Yeah. So amazing. Um, and you've done a sub one 20 half and that was the one in Rhode Island where it was your 50th state, you win, and it's your, I mean, how did you, how do you celebrate that? Amy: We Ally: we actually had a, a vacation home for a week after that. Amy: it was like, it was, it was quite the celebration Ally: Did you wear your medal the entire week?

Because I probably would've, Amy: for a lot of time Ally: every time you leave the house, you're like, I must put my medal on. Amy: yeah. I mean Ally: I mean, that Amy: was Ally: was very much, Amy: Amy Center. Ally: yeah. That's so cool. Amy: own show. Ally: That's really fun. That's so well deserved too. After like, all the hard work for all of those things, like the time is great, but like 50 states, that takes, like you said, a lot of years, a lot of planning. And did you ever officially join like the half, um, what is it called, like 50 states club or anything like that?

No. I Amy: I didn't Ally: didn't even know that was a thing until Oh, that's funny. Pretty relevant to my journey. And then I was like, oh Amy: there's people who do this. Ally: yeah, I guess this is a thing. Yeah, it's a whole subculture, which I'm not super familiar with. I just had a woman on who's done it and is about to do it for a second time and it's just like wild. This like, people are nuts. Um, Amy: is, Ally: you included man. Okay. So I also really wanna get into being an influencer because I find that so fascinating as somebody who is trying really hard.

It is so hard. And, so let's talk about that journey. 'cause I really wanna hear about how you, you mentioned getting on Instagram when you kind of first started running to document your journey, but just kind of walk us through that. Now you're at 144,000 followers. It's just How many is too many too, because I feel like at some point it's like, starts to get scary, but Okay. Tell us the story. How did you start? Yeah, Amy: I, Ally: I, I started it Amy: when I Ally: I started, Amy: and like I Ally: didn't do anything, Amy: outside of honestly, I swear I just like posted every state.

Like I, Ally: like, Amy: in a Ally: while I was like posting this case Amy: because I did Ally: I did it Amy: was more of like a way for me to Ally: to reverse like all the periods of time, like everything like that. Mm-hmm. Amy: so Ally: So I started Amy: with Ally: with that intention Amy: and Ally: and then started posting like a few more in between, maybe some training stuff, Amy: some like runs, Ally: whatever. Amy: And Ally: I noticed people kind of started to follow or ask me questions and stuff about the states because they were intrigued. Or like people from certain states you are like, oh my gosh, I live there.

It's crazy. Amy: And Ally: I really loved that because I was like, oh my like this is fun. Like I talk to these Amy: people Ally: and Amy: lot Ally: lot of like, women were messaging me, like questions about running and stuff. So Amy: I Ally: I started putting Amy: a Ally: a little bit more time into it and actually like following other people and building it. Amy: And Ally: And it picked up pretty slowly at first where it was very, Amy: hard. Ally: um, Amy: and it Ally: and it wasn't until I started making Amy: a Ally: a priority, like actually posting every day or Amy: your Ally: mm-hmm.

Content that, that things started Amy: kind of Ally: of progressing. And it, like, I will say if you're somebody's Amy: trying Ally: trying to start Instagram, it takes up, you really Amy: posts Ally: like, to like Amy: all of Ally: all sudden break through like slump of Amy: Where Ally: you're. Amy: and then like you get to a new plateau because you go Ally: Go viral or whatever, you have to be really good posts and then you get to like a new level of normal, but it's always much. Mm. Amy: feel Ally: I feel like it's always, Amy: it's a Ally: it's a tough game.

Yeah. What, what was your, do you remember what your first viral post was about? Amy: I Ally: I don't, honestly, but I wanna say like Amy: there were Ally: there were a lot of women centered things Amy: on that Ally: that I feel like went really viral. Like whether it was like about cat calling and like, like Amy: issues that Ally: mm-hmm. Amy: that Ally: That were more like, Amy: nobody wants to Ally: wants to talk about these. And I think I would like post about them Amy: were like, Ally: and like, oh, Amy: okay, like Ally: like Amy: we're Ally: we're gonna talk about this.

We're gonna jump in, we're gonna like, have our voices heard. Mm-hmm. Amy: And Ally: And those posts Amy: went, Ally: went. And this was Amy: a lot less Ally: when? Yeah. What year would this have been? Amy: This Ally: This was. Amy: I wanna say this was like 20 15, 20 16. it Ally: it was like a while. It was a while because When did you ru when did you, what year did you run the Indiana race? Amy: 2016, Ally: probably. Okay. 2016. And is that, can we say your Instagram was started in Indiana? Did you start it like, at that race? Amy: It Ally: was Amy: it was Ally: around then because that's when I like actually like Amy: documenting Ally: everything.

Amy: like Ally: Put time into it and stuff. That's cool. Amy: yeah, I will Ally: I would say Amy: different back then. The Ally: algorithm. Amy: a lot differently. it Ally: It works. Amy: it's Ally: It's a lot smarter now. I'm like, does anybody know how it works now? Tell me. Amy: all the time. Ally: I know, Amy: hard. Ally: crazy. Yeah. But Amy: of fun, especially Ally: fun, especially if you, Amy: just keep your Ally: your head straight. Amy: remember that, know, not Ally: Not everybody gonna love everything. Amy: fine. Ally: Yeah. Let them. Right. Have you, are you into Mel Robbins at all?

Amy: I did Ally: I did read that though. I did too. I really, I, you know, regardless of what people think about Mel Robbins and whatever, but I just, that book, you have to read it. It's so, Amy: That's a good one. Ally: it's so good because you're just like, yeah, no matter what I do, Amy: Yeah, Ally: people are not gonna like it. It's so weird that that's not so obvious. Yeah. Amy: yeah, and it did get, it did Ally: It did start getting crazy, Amy: the Instagram when people started Ally: started like recognizing me, like places Amy: at Ally: at, Amy: or Ally: or Amy: I will Ally: I'll say in Idaho, Jared, and I got off the plane and like, usually the first thing we'll do is stop at the grocery store, like stock up on like bagels, whatever.

Amy: that's like clean, but like easy Ally: Easy carbs. Yeah. So we're at the grocery store. I look like Amy: Death, like I am like, like Ally: I'm like, like just like my hair. Everything's like not, not well. Amy: I'm Ally: And I'm walking through this Amy: store Ally: store and get to check out and this girl's like, are you Amy? And I'm like, Amy: are Ally: you kidding? Amy: somebody. And she Ally: She Amy: a Ally: for a picture. And I'm like. Amy: shoot. Like, good Ally: You are like, great, this is gonna be on the internet. Amy: Yeah. Ally: That's gotta be hard.

'cause I, I tell you what, my daycare attire when I drop my kids off places, like I look homeless most of the time and that's, you know, I guess hopefully not too offensive, but it's like, yeah, that's gotta be hard 'cause you're out and about and Amy: and Ally: Yeah. Not actually the most extroverted person, like, I, Amy: I definitely can Ally: can Amy: extroverted in certain situations. And Ally: Situation. Like, Amy: the Ally: the reason I do so many podcasts is because I'm Amy: pretty, Ally: like, it's actually pretty hard for me to like, Amy: speak Ally: openly. Like this Amy: so people Ally: people come up to me, I'm actually pretty coy.

Like, I'm like actually pretty shy, so Amy: It's Ally: it's actually Amy: crazy to me because I feel like Ally: I, Amy: not exactly what people expect because I'm just like, oh, Ally: hi. Yeah, Amy: why are, Ally: that's. I am so awkward. I, there's people like, because I, you know, in the local running community, people listen to this podcast and so they know me and I don't know them, and then they say something and it's like the best because I'm like, that's so cool that people actually listen to my podcast. Amy: yeah, Ally: you're like, oh my gosh, this is kind of like really weird too at the same time.

Um, well, and I wish you really bad. Amy: know who somebody Ally: Yes. Amy: know who I am because they'll like Ally: Like, say hi. I'm like, Amy: what Ally: what is your Amy: handle? And they'll Ally: right? Amy: and I don't recognize it. I'm like, don't know why I just asked that because now I still don't know who you are. Ally: Yeah. That's funny. I mean, Amy, I have like 3000 followers. Okay. And I still have that problem. And it's so funny to me to think that you could try to keep track. And I think it's helped me understand, with other people, it's like, yeah, you are gonna have no memory.

Like if I came up to you at an event, shoot, we've had an hour long conversation. You still won't know because we've never met in real life. And I would not be offended because it's just how it works. And I have a horrible memory anyway, so. do you remember like the first brand that approached you or did you start approaching brands? Because I feel like influencers, I don't know when that really became a thing, but like right when you started, it really wasn't quite yet. Right. Wasn't really, A lot of brands back then were doing a lot of gifting. Amy: like, Ally: Mm. I Amy: actually reached Ally: reached out a, Amy: for prizes for, because that's Ally: mm-hmm.

Amy: when I Ally: Started Amy: the Run with Aim Ally: group and Amy: with Aim group started ultimately out of a need for me to make more Ally: money Amy: couldn't Ally: couldn't afford to do the, Amy: And so Ally: and so I, Amy: and I was Ally: I was doing Uber Eats to supplement my income and Amy: just, this is just not Ally: working, like I'm working all the time. I was doing Uber, Amy: I was Ally: I was dog Amy: I Ally: I was like nannying. I was doing all kinds of like, random jobs and finally crazy of Amy: none of these Ally: these things are things I actually wanna be doing.

Right. Amy: don't I just put some thought Ally: Like something Amy: actually Ally: I actually wanna offer. Amy: and like. Ally: Actually take a step here. So I started thinking about starting a running group. It was when COVID hit. So I'm like, Amy: people Ally: people want an online space, they need something. Amy: So I Ally: So I started that and I started reaching out to brands to like ask for prizes Amy: And Ally: and that's where I established a lot relationships. Like I asked Amy: way Ally: way back Amy: I Ally: and I Amy: work Ally: work with. Amy: six years later. Ally: That's amazing.

Amy: now in a paid space, but Ally: Back then. Amy: them sending me some products. So Ally: So Amy: a lot of those relationships started a long time ago and have evolved a little bit. But back Ally: then it was a lot Amy: me reaching Ally: out Amy: and now Ally: now it's a little Amy: them reaching out Ally: reaching out, right? Absolutely. 'cause now you've built yourself a platform. this is so interesting because like at what point, this is so awkward when they're like giving you free stuff and now you understand your value and you're like, I. Hey, like even having you on this podcast feels like cheating because I'm not paying you to be on my podcast, but as a result of having somebody like you on my podcast, it'll be more visible.

So how do you navigate those kinds of situations where brands are like, here, I'll give you this free stuff and you'll post about it, right? And you're like, no, no, that's not how this works. Amy: Yeah, Ally: it work? Tell people, Amy: a canned message that I just plug in and I'm like, thank Ally: thank you so much. Amy: if you would like my rates, please email me. Ally: There we go. Amy: I've actually sent that to a few friends who like are at that like space where they're like, do I just keep saying yes or and I'm like, just send this message, put Ally: Yeah, Amy: and send it because we Ally: we have entire room Amy: am not even gonna freaking lie.

It's Ally: called our inventory Amy: and it's upstairs and it is where we will hopefully have a baby someday. But Ally: but right now it. Amy: A room full of totes, full of products that need to just give away to other Ally: Other people because like, Amy: don't, I'm not Ally: I'm not gonna use, Amy: like, there, there's Ally: there's so much of it. Yeah. Amy: I Ally: You can't Amy: can't possibly a Ally: A brand, I'll be like, yeah, send me, Amy: sure Ally: sure. You can send me, Amy: X and they'll send me Ally: send 2020. Amy: year's worth of this. Like, Ally: Yeah.

Yeah. So, Amy: so, but they Ally: but they do it in hopes that I would continue it. Amy: using it. And Ally: Right. So like what happens? Amy: you just end up with all this stuff, and I Ally: I dunno if you know this, like I actually have a fulltime job outside of it. Amy: where Ally: I do. Amy: am an influencer and affiliate manager. And I've had a few influencers who I have like booked for projects or whatever, or like asked if we could gift them stuff. And they're like. Out of like respect for the environment. no Ally: Right. Amy: I'm Ally: I started thinking about that.

Amy: That is such a good, I'm stealing that and like incorporating that because you're Ally: You're so right, Amy: need to Ally: need to like stop sending Amy: these things that Ally: that like Amy: our nos Ally: because Amy: we're just wasting stuff. Ally: Yeah. Amy: like not, not Ally: not good. Well thank you for letting me send you a bouquet for every women's marathon Amy: Yes. I Ally: because it's one of those things where I'm like, you know, I'm a really small business. To me it's like brands that are, have the money that expect you to do things for free. That's what really grinds my gears for people like you.

Not necessarily for me. 'cause I'm trying to make my way and prove that I can. That Amy: I use the Ally: was so sweet. I use bug all the time. I saw you use it. I was like, oh my God, I made that so fun. Amy: mug because it's bigger Ally: Bigger than all. Amy: mugs. Ally: should see how many I have in my cabinet. It's embarrassing. Yeah, they barely fit. I can't believe I only have a short amount of time with you. I don't know. I'm so sad that I can't just ask you a million things. I wanna hear your side of this, of the Advil stuff because, because the reason I wanna talk about it is 'cause I want people to better understand what.

It's like to be in the position you are in, because imagine that big of a brand wants to work with you. Like that's a dream. And then it turns into like this nightmare of people being like really mean. Amy: that was Ally: I was actually so insane, Amy: because right, Ally: right? As Bill reaches out and I'm like, Amy: holy Ally: shit. Like Advil, like fricking like Amy: name, Ally: name like product just reached out to me. Like one of the like huge, Amy: right? Ally: So Amy: I Ally: I didn't even really think twice. I was like, I use, Amy: sometimes. I don't Ally: I don't use it like every day.

I mean, I'm not like popping Amy: before I Ally: before I go up. Amy: like, hasn't Ally: Butt had an Advil, like yeah, that, that was my, Amy: I didn't Ally: I didn't even think about it in terms of anything except for like, Amy: Oh, Ally: oh, this will be easy. Amy: Like Ally: Yeah, Amy: has Ally: everybody uses Advil. Yeah. Amy: This a pretty, everybody in the, like us Ally: has adv. Amy: in their closet. So Ally: Yes. Amy: there's a billion contexts that I could create content for this with. And then, you know, Ally: Know, they send you a brief and the Amy: is Ally: checked so strenuously because they're a medical Amy: So Ally: Yeah, Amy: it's very Ally: specific.

Amy: you Ally: You can Amy: say Ally: say what you can't, couldn't even take Amy: on screen of like Ally: like all Amy: Like there's Ally: there's rules, Amy: follow, Ally: right? Yeah. Amy: So Ally: So all of that happens. I follow all the rules. Creating content be really, really hard in that way because you have, Amy: you have Ally: you have to use Amy: Like, Ally: like, you can't like be like, Amy: and Ally: and here all the disclaimers. Amy: Like, do not take like, you're certainly not gonna do that in a reel. Like it's a short form video, Ally: Yeah. Amy: So I didn't think, none of that even crossed my mind until the content came out.

And then when people were like really Ally: Really kind of drilling Amy: me Ally: me. Amy: obviously at that point I paused and was like, one, I Ally: I hate the fact that people are assuming I thought of this before this happened like Amy: no Ally: no part Amy: like, Ally: like, yeah, Amy: I Ally: I should assume that people are gonna think that I'm, that'd be great. Yeah. Amy: take this Ally: This every day Amy: to Ally: to like, Amy: Like the things that Ally: oh my God, Amy: you think Ally: you influencer sit there and think like, Amy: okay, Ally: if Bobby Jones says this, Amy: this, Ally: like Amy: I Ally: I need to account for that in my content before I even know.

Yeah, Amy: to Ally: no. Amy: Like Ally: Like Amy: all Ally: all of that was Amy: was what Ally: what it was. But Amy: I will Ally: say Amy: at Ally: at the end of the, Amy: I did Ally: I did understand the concerns Amy: people Ally: people had and so Amy: I opted to Ally: IED to take it down. Amy: was Ally: Yeah. Like Amy: that Ally: that was my bad. Amy: maybe not thinking of the context, but also like not really because Ally: No, Amy: have possibly thought of all those contexts, Ally: but. Amy: at the end Ally: At end of the day, I was like, that's just not worth it.

Yeah. It's so intense what you went through. Like, and I think most people just can't even understand how and, and Amy: like that, that Ally: That day, Amy: the Ally: the next day when like people, Amy: when it was Ally: like Amy: starting Like everybody was Ally: was making content about it and like, Amy: like you Ally: like, you know, people are DMing you like, oh, I didn't mean about you. And I'm like, no, Amy: nope, When you bring Ally: bring it up. Amy: you Ally: Yeah, Amy: who is Ally: yeah, yeah. Amy: sorry if you're attacking somebody else, like that's not fair either. And if you don't think I wanna be attacked, why would I support you attacking somebody else?

Like that's just ridiculous. So my issue with the whole Ally: thing Amy: more so people jumping on the bandwagon just to be a part of the conversation and not taking into account how painful it is to have to Ally: everybody. Amy: about you when you sign on to social media. Like Ally: Right in something that was like a dream opportunity. Like this is a household name to your point. It's like Amy: it just Ally: it got taken so outta context. Amy: that Ally: Yeah. Amy: it was Ally: It was really hard for me to understand how Amy: I. Ally: outta context Amy: It got taken and there were so many people Ally: in the space messaging, like Amy: is absurd.

Like this is getting Ally: Yeah. Yeah. They're like, people are just, I don't, yeah. And, and people see one thing that somebody said, it just amplifies it and it's like an absolute nightmare. Okay. I, there's so many other things I wanna talk to you about. 'cause Bitch Sticks is a local company and you, work with them and I just love them so much. Emily and, and Kelly. Ugh. They're just lovely people. Great product. I'll talk about that more outside of this interview. Gosh, you've got like 35 codes live right now with all the brands you work with. I love that you're also working with, you know, perhaps people a little bit bigger than me, right.

To figure out how to navigate the space. That's such a need. I would love to talk to you more about that for other stuff that I do, but, um, I have to ask you the end of the podcast questions 'cause you have a meeting and I don't wanna be the person that's like, just babbling on while you're like, I have to go, Allie, shut up. Oh. So I'll ask you them and we can make it quick. So, favorite money running mantra and or song? Amy: the mantra I've always used Ally: ever since I started Amy: was that like she believed she could, so she did.

It's just so simple and so like Ally: mm-hmm. Amy: you just think you can just go do it, stop. thinking about it, stop planning it, just like go do Ally: Mm-hmm. Do you listen to music when you run? Nope. Amy: Not Ally: And not anymore. I used to too and now I've kind of dabbled in the not listening. It's kind of fun. and then your next finish line is obviously this weekend in Ohio. I forget how to say the name of the park. Kaya Cuyahoga. Um, it looks like it's by a ski resort. I did, I did some looking 'cause I was like, this looks a little hilly.

Amy: Yeah, Ally: was like, huh. Yeah. So, and then obviously I just, I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you, like I have all the warm vibes for you becoming a mom. That's been a really hard journey for you. I've not personally been through it, but obviously no people affected by that. And so just know that I'm praying for you and Jared and I can't wait until you share that good news. I will be so excited for you guys. Amy: We're Ally: Yeah. Amy: positive. It is. It is very, very hard. But, hopefully we'll be worth it. Ally: Yes, it will be for sure. Well, thank you for doing this, Amy.

Amy: Yeah. Ally: appreciate your time so much, and thank you to everybody who's listened and happy running. If you enjoyed this episode of Finish Lines and Milestones from Sandy Boy Productions. Please be kind and share with your friends. Gimme a rating or review that really helps spread the news about this show. And if you like this show, you may like other shows that are in the Sandy Boy Productions Network. Of course, the original. I'll have another with Lindsay Hein podcast with Lindsay Hein. Then there's also my show. Then two more related to Running Miles with Moms podcast, which is hosted by four moms. And then the Trail Network, all things trail and ultra running.

so give those a listen as well. And I can't wait to see you next week. And if you don't already, you can follow me on Instagram. I'm Ally, A-L-L-Y-T, Brett, B-R-E-T-T, alle t Brett Runs. See you next week.

Ally Brettnacher