Episode 127: Mike Heard - Getting Passed by a Hamburger

Episodes

Sep 26

Mike Heard ran his first marathon at 43 and finished all six World Marathon Majors, including a 92-degree Boston where a hamburger passed him at mile 21.

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About this episode

Mike Heard is a retired Air Force officer, a Purdue engineering grad, and the incoming president of the board of Beyond Monumental, the organization behind the CNO Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, where he has served for nearly 10 years. He grew up in the Detroit area and northeast Ohio, served at the Pentagon, and spent his career in insurance. He didn't run his first marathon until he was 43, then qualified for Boston and went on to finish all six Abbott World Marathon Majors.

We talk about his Air Force ROTC scholarship, the DC commuting culture called slugging, and meeting his wife Cheryl on a blind date at Purdue in 1986. Then Mike takes me through every major: the brutally hot 2012 Boston, New York for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Berlin and Oktoberfest, Chicago four weeks before Monumental, London, and a Tokyo Marathon that was canceled three times before he finally finished it. Plus the story of his Purdue singlet.

In this episode, we discuss

Nearly 10 years on the Beyond Monumental board and becoming president
Growing up in the Detroit area and northeast Ohio
Choosing Purdue and how an Air Force ROTC scholarship works
More than seven years of active duty, including the Pentagon
Slugging, the unwritten rules of DC commuter carpools
Switching from baseball to track and learning race strategy in high school
Coming back to running in his forties for his health
His first marathon at 43 at Virginia Beach and the bear at mile 19
Meeting Cheryl on a blind date and a 1 a.m. first date after Rocky Horror
Qualifying for Boston at the Richmond Marathon
Running Boston in 2012 in 92-degree heat with his brother
New York for the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the roar of First Avenue
Berlin and Oktoberfest, then Chicago and Monumental four weeks apart
Using Marathon Tours for London and Tokyo's three cancellations
The Purdue singlet from Morgan Burke, Lose Yourself, and volunteering at Monumental

Chapters

00:00 · Intro
04:00 · The Beyond Monumental board
06:00 · Midwest roots and Purdue ROTC
11:00 · The Air Force, the Pentagon and slugging
20:00 · Growing up and high school track
26:00 · Back to running in his forties
32:00 · A blind date with Cheryl
38:00 · A Boston qualifier in Richmond
41:00 · Boston 2012 and the hamburger
52:00 · New York for the Michael J. Fox Foundation
58:00 · Berlin and Oktoberfest
1:00:00 · Chicago and Monumental four weeks apart
1:06:00 · London and Marathon Tours
1:08:00 · Tokyo and the sixth star
1:27:00 · Beyond Monumental and a career in insurance
1:32:00 · Lose Yourself and what's next

Mentioned in this episode

Races: Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, Abbott World Marathon Majors, CNO Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, Shamrock Marathon, Richmond Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, Beyond Monumental Kids K
Organizations and charities: Beyond Monumental, Purdue University, US Air Force, CNO Financial Group, Davies Group, GE Capital, Michael J. Fox Foundation, Marathon Tours
Other: Morgan Burke, Lose Yourself by Eminem, Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra, Clif Bloks

Previous guests mentioned

Related episodes

Frequently asked

Who is Mike Heard?

Mike Heard is a retired Air Force officer and Purdue graduate who serves on the board of Beyond Monumental, the organization behind the CNO Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, and has finished all six Abbott World Marathon Majors.

How old was Mike Heard when he ran his first marathon?

Mike Heard ran his first marathon at 43 in Virginia Beach, then qualified for the Boston Marathon at the Richmond Marathon.

What happened at the 2012 Boston Marathon?

Mike Heard ran the 2012 Boston Marathon in about 92-degree heat, when organizers offered deferrals to runners who chose not to start, and remembers being passed by someone in a hamburger costume at mile 21.

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Transcript

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

This is a Sandy Boy Productions podcast. Ally Brettnacher (2): Welcome to Finish Lines and Milestones, a podcast for everyday runners. I'm your host, Ally Brettnacher and if you run, you're a runner and every runner has a story. Join me each week as I share these stories and we celebrate finish lines and milestones together. This week I'm excited to bring on a new sponsor of the Finish Lines and Milestones podcast. Foot levelers. Foot levelers is the world's leading provider of handcrafted custom orthotics. They've been around since 1952. That's over 70 years. If you're watching the video. These are mine. They're custom to your feet. So obviously as runners, it's super important to take care of your feet and they are not one size fits all, so you actually get them designed from a scan or a mold of your feet so that you get support that is as unique as your stride.

There is three arch support, so most inserts, perhaps ones you've tried in the past only have support for one arch foot. Levelers support all three arches of the foot, creating a stable foundation for your whole body. Now I'm speaking of whole body. There are whole body benefits. So proper alignment is gonna reduce stress on your knees, hip, spine. Great. For runners who are trying to prevent injuries, aren't we all? And everyone dealing with back pain from daily life? That is me in a nutshell. There are options for every type of shoe and lifestyle. So whether you're in the midst of marathon training or you're on your feet all day for work, foot levelers has orthotics that fit all kinds of shoes, not just running shoes.

And they've been. Trusted by healthcare providers again for over 70 years, and they do that worldwide. If you are interested in getting a pair of foot levelers custom orthotics, you can go to foot levelers.com and find a provider near you. Thank you so much to foot Levelers for supporting this podcast. and now before I talk about this week's guest, I wanted to give quick shout outs to previous podcast guests who ran the Berlin Marathon last weekend. Many of who are still over in Europe, enjoying themselves, which makes me super jealous. We've got Curtis Hargrove, episode 96. Jason Noll, episode 62. Alex Baker, episode six. Nathan Partain, episode 82.

Mike Bridges episode one 13. Amanda Luper, episode one 10. Congrats to all of you, and hopefully I'm not forgetting anybody who's a previous guest and ran many other friends that I have on the internet ran as well. So congratulations to everybody and congratulations to everybody who got into the Boston Marathon. Boston just announced their buffer for qualifying time, meaning that if you ran a qualifying time. You still had to run like, what, four minutes and 24 seconds faster than that qualifying time, because so many people qualified to run and so many people want to run Boston. So I'm really excited for everybody who qualified. But I'm also so sad because I feel like the goalpost keeps moving for me personally because I have dreams of running Boston someday.

And so I'm gonna keep chasing my best and we'll just. See how that shakes out. I do turn 40 next year, which is a new age group for me, which does help. So we shall see. But my guest this week, Mike Heard, he has run both Berlin and Boston. In fact, he ran all six of the Abbott World majors and just completed that in the last couple of years. So if you're not familiar, that's Boston, Berlin, then New York, Chicago, Tokyo. In London. So I loved getting a chance to sit down with Mike and hear about all of his experiences and adventures abroad and here at the world, major marathons.

I met Mike originally through the board of Directors for Beyond Monumental, which is the organization behind the CNO Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. I sit on the board with Mike, and he has been on the board for nearly 10 years. He is currently the president in waiting. and will be president of our board starting in January of next year. But I was so happy to finally sit down and get to know Mike. So we talked about how he got into running, what it was like being in the Air Force. Uh, he had an Air Force scholarship to Purdue, so that whole experience living in DC and working at the Pentagon.

We talked about how he met his wife Cheryl at Purdue on a blind date. Loved that story. And another Purdue tie-in is a singlet that Mike has, that he wore in many of his marathons. And the story of how he got that singlet is really cool too. And I really loved finally getting to know Mike, and so I know that you will too. So, without further ado, enjoy my conversation with Mike Herd. Ally Brettnacher: Mike heard Welcome President of the board for Beyond Monumental. Are you still the interim? Mike Heard: in waiting. In waiting, yeah. President in Waiting. Mm-hmm. Who Ally Brettnacher: knows when this comes, when, when will it switch over?

January. Yeah. Mike Heard: So we'll get One more event Ally Brettnacher: more Mike Heard: our belts, not off we go. Ally Brettnacher: And then see if you can Mike Heard: I hope I can't. Although you good. It's such, uh, such cruise control with Jed and team that it's, it really is. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: What a incredible team and organization. So So fun. So when did you join the board? Mike Heard: Uh, that's probably, I think around 2016. Ally Brettnacher: Geez. Yeah. Yeah. So I, I joined, I, I worked at, CNO Financial Group, and when CNO took over, the naming rights of the marathon, and I was the, representative on the board.

marathon. Yep. Mike Heard: And when I left CNO in 2021, Jed and John Stilley at the time asked me to stay on as an independent director. Mm-hmm. And so, keep, keep going. I You did it for, I've lived in Washington, DC for three years Yeah. And was still a member of the board. I would fly in for the event, but yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's a, you know, it's like any investment, right. I feel like there's a huge return in yeah. If people don't, if people haven't met Jed before, they should meet Jed Terrific. lot of to be able to work with him and now as president of the board, to be able to work with him even closer is something I'm super excited Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

He's so good. We're Mike Heard: I, I think a big part of the role is to of his way. Exactly. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: he just tell us how we can help. We Mike Heard: just don't wanna do the same thing up. Right? Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. We don't need to Yeah. Get in your way at all. that's well put. Mike Heard: Yep. Ally Brettnacher: Are you born and raised Indiana? Mike Heard: No. No, but I am, I am all Midwest. I grew up in, Michigan, in the Detroit area. Okay. my dad worked in the auto industry for Chrysler his entire career, so we were kind of Detroit based, but my high school years, he got transferred to a plant in northeast Ohio between Cleveland and Akron.

Mike Heard: so that's where I went to high school. And then. When my, uh, parents moved back to Detroit was right about college time for me. Okay. So I thought I'd try another Midwest state and came to Indiana, Ally Brettnacher: It's like the trifecta almost. You like draw, like almost like a triangle. Mike Heard: Yeah. I, I, I'm, I'm completely a Midwest Yeah. Guy. And spent a lot of my life on the east coast, then in 2013 was able to come back to Midwest and Ally Brettnacher: where on the East Coast were Mike Heard: spent a lot of years. actually moved to Richmond, Virginia twice.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Mike Heard: and in between I was Massachusetts, Hartford, back, in the Midwest, you know, just something always brings Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. It's hard, hard to stay away. I can't manage to get away. I went to Ohio for college and then now I'm back. Mike Heard: Did you where? Where? Uh, Miami of Ohio. Oh, did you? Yeah. Mm-hmm. Ally Brettnacher: Yep. Good old Mike Heard: Yep, yep, yep. In the middle of nowhere in Ohio. Yeah. Lots of, lots of friends from high school, uh, that went there, went down to Ally Brettnacher: to And how did you find Purdue? Mike Heard: you know, I was, uh, I certainly wanted to be an engineer.

I knew that love, love math, loved science. and then I was 18 and you know, I didn't want to go to Ohio State 'cause I was close to home. I didn't want to go to Michigan 'cause that's where my parents went. Ally Brettnacher: Oh yeah, You gotta do Mike Heard: different. gotta do my own own thing. Uh, and so, uh, so chose, chose Purdue. I was, on a, air Force ROTC scholarship too, so I could kind of go where I wanted to go, which was a, a really neat position to Ally Brettnacher: air. How do you get an Air Force Mike Heard: Yeah, I mean, it, it's a similar process to like going to the academy congressional appointment.

You know, you apply and I applied to all of the, to, to Army, and then just chose, I think I got an army and a Air Force scholarship and shows Air Force, you know, you think back to this years and so I said, well, this is where all the So that's where I went. I'll do that. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: So how does that work? 'cause you're not in the Air Force while you're at Purdue or are you, or Mike Heard: Right. No, that's a good, that's a great, question and probably a lot of, a lot of kids wonder too. How does that work? So, so you're part of a, a program, I'm, I'm sure it's changed over time, but your freshman and sophomore year, you take like an hour class a semester, and then there's like a lab where you put your uniform on and march and do all that kind of stuff and, and learn about customs and courtes and all that kind of stuff.

And then when you're an upperclassman, junior and senior, your, your junior year is a lot about leadership and management and it's like a regular three credit hour course. And then, your senior year is a lot of super interesting, like military history, history of those kinds of things. And then, uh, When you're an upperclassmen, you kinda lead the leadership lab for the and sophomore. Okay. So you do do that as well. And you wear, you wear your uniform. I, I don't know if they do this anymore, but there used to be like a uniform day on you would have to you have to keep your hair cut and stay outta trouble.

Mm-hmm. And all that, all that kind of stuff. but it was a, it, it's an interesting way to go if you don't want to go to an academy. Ally Brettnacher: Right. ' cause that's what I picture the only way to go into the military, Mike Heard: right. Yeah. Because I mean, academy is like all in, right? Yeah. Like, Ally Brettnacher: that's what you're doing, for your job, for your Mike Heard: um, another great way to do it You know, I served with plenty of people who went the academy route. There's a third route, officer training school where you just. Go away to kind of a boot camp.

I don't even know how long it is these days. 12 weeks or something, after college. And go to officer training school and then you come out, a second and so you don't have to do any of the stuff in college. And you can do it that, so those are the, you, the, the normal are the three main paved paths. Okay. To become an, a military Ally Brettnacher: So as part of your scholarship, it wasn't a requirement that you then, after school went in, it was just, that was Mike Heard: part of Oh, yes. Oh, you did? Oh, yes. Yeah. If you, if you accept the scholarship, Ally Brettnacher: like, Hey, this is what you're gonna do after Mike Heard: You graduate.

Yeah. I, I, I, I think at the time might have been, it was four years, I think I signed up for, you had to do four years of active duty. Ally Brettnacher: Active duty, Mike Heard: okay. Mm-hmm. Ally Brettnacher: And you did. And so what did that look like? Mike Heard: I did, yeah. I actually did active duty. I did, a little over seven years. And then, And then left active duty into the reserve and served another, reserve. So, so I'm, I'm actually retired. retired Air Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: for your service. Holy cow. Mike Heard: was a privilege. Ally Brettnacher: that's a lot of years.

Mike Heard: It was. And, and Ally Brettnacher: where'd you go? All over? Mike Heard: You know, it's kind of funny, we talked about the Midwest, right? So, so, Ally Brettnacher: to Illinois. Mike Heard: Exactly, exactly. It's, yeah, I joined the Air Force to see the world and my first duty assignment was in Oscoda, Michigan, three hours north of home. You're like, woo. Where my parents are. Yeah. And then, uh, my second assignment was in Dayton, Ohio. Ally Brettnacher: Oh my gosh. That Mike Heard: So, uh, so I, I wasn't really seeing the world. my third active duty assignment actually, served in Washington, DC at the Pentagon, and that was, Super cool and interesting and stressful learned a lot of great, a lot of great Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

At the Pentagon. Mike Heard: Yeah. The building as we Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. the building. huge building. Mike Heard: It is. And you know, everyone, for the most part in DC you live out in the community, so you get to, deal with the traffic Ally Brettnacher: Uhhuh just Yeah. Yeah. You think you'd get like a special lane Mike Heard: No way. No, but um, but it's funny, there's, um, in d in DC there's the high occupancy vehicle, people. And, uh, and I used to take, the bus into the Pentagon. And the Pentagon is like a hub for transportation DC 'cause you can go to the Pentagon, there's a metro station there, there's tons of buses there.

And so you can kind of get anywhere in the city from the Pentagon. And so the carpool thing worked that everyone came to the Pentagon and I would stand out at the bus, the bus stop. Somebody would pick me 'cause they would have two people in their car. They needed a third to get into the HOV lanes. That's, and it was, it was called, uh, slugging. So you were a slug if you were, you know, basically bumming a ride, just Ally Brettnacher: a ride. Just being used for the Yeah, Mike Heard: but everybody wins, right? You get a ride, they get, they get there quicker.

There was a whole set of unwritten rules. You know, the driver initiates conversation. The driver picks the radio station, the driver picks the, the temperature of the car, that kind of stuff. But there was, um. A mother and daughter who worked at, uh, US Airways in, in Roslyn, Virginia, which is right near the Pentagon, right there in Ar Arlington. Mm-hmm. And we went on a stretch of close to a year where they me up and I, and I said, and they would even tell me when they'd be on vacation, and I would tell them when I'd be on vacation. I'm like, at what point does this become a carpool?

Yeah, right. Because we do this every day. Yeah. Uh, you know, for a year. but, but it was just really neat. And you get to get to know people and other times you just sit there quietly in the backseat and when you, when they, there's this a place you go the Pentagon and they let you out, and then they get to go. They've made the hard, hard part of the trip through Virginia to get there. And the Pentagon and they way. Ally Brettnacher: Do you know what happened to Mike Heard: N no idea. Isn't that crazy to Ally Brettnacher: think about like every single day?

Mike Heard: Yeah. I think, I think when I left I Mean, there's kind of no clean breakup, you know, it was just like I stopped showing up and they're like, well, we gotta find another slug. Yeah. It it a really neat dynamic. Of course. I remember telling my mother about, she's like, horrify, you get in the car with straight. And I said, well, it kind of all just works. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Does that, I mean, that process, does that still exist? Mike Heard: Maybe? I, I would imagine so. I don't know how, I don't know how maybe the pandemic, changed some of those dynamics too, and how, but I, you know, when I moved back to DC I was suburb to suburb commuting, so I, I just wasn't in that scene.

Right. But there's certainly the traffic was back. So, it, it, it is very efficient and, and. The people who did it, which was a lot of people, the biggest concern was, please don't regulate this. Don't anybody jump in. Oh, right. Because that's what'll wreck it is. When you try to put too many rules on. It was a really, to me, a really interesting experiment and kind of self, self-regulated. Somebody just started doing it and, and then think the people at the Pentagon were the ones that said it's getting a little sloppy with drop off. So they created an area, said, drop off, bring your slugs here.

Drop yeah. You know, and drop 'em off. Same with, getting home. I would go get in the bus line. And people who worked at the Pentagon would come to bus lines that go to their neighborhoods and say, I need two. I need two. and you would jump out. And again, the the unwritten rules you worked from the front of the bus line back. So whoever was there first and some people said, no, I'll just take the bus. Right. And other people said out, were Ally Brettnacher: like waiting there to see if they could Mike Heard: Yeah. Get picked up. picked up. I think that's, so I think we called the people who picked up slugs.

We called 'em scrapers so the scrapers would Yeah. Yeah. kind of a weird who part of life. Right. Ally Brettnacher: something I would've thought that I would learn. Yeah. This morning. There you go. Is so cool. Mike Heard: can shut it off slugs because we got the most important thing. Yeah. Yeah. Most Ally Brettnacher: Now everybody's learned Or there's somebody listening who's like, waiting in the bus Mike Heard: line That's right. That's right. Ally Brettnacher: In the backseat of a car in you Mike Heard: see, Ally Brettnacher: knows. Yeah. I have a family that lives in Alexandria, Virginia. Oh, okay. My Mike Heard: husband, sister.

Ally Brettnacher: So my sister and brother-in-law are out there uh, and our nieces and I love, love going to visit them, but traffic, Mike Heard: Traffic kind of stinks. We, we were there a short time, just a couple, couple years. Mm-hmm. But we, we made really good use, of our time there. 'cause uh, every weekend We We just did all the, the DC stuff we were there. Ally Brettnacher: I'm sure it's so easy for people like we, because my kids we haven't done all the stuff And so it's kinda like, okay, like I think we're at a point where now it's time to some of that.

'cause it's easy to go and just hang we do stuff, don't get me wrong, but not like all your Mike Heard: decent Yeah. two different brands, I guess. Some people, some people would do the stuff and other people, you know, it's that mindset. We'll do it later, right? And then all of a sudden they get orders and out they go to their next studio assignment and they're like, wow, we were in the middle of all this cool stuff with never did it. Yeah. So we, we our, uh, my daughters were small at the time and so, so we took 'em to all of that, Cherry blossoms and all the monuments and National Cathedral and Ford's Theater and Spy Museum, all kids museum as well, so you gotta do that course.

But, it's also one of my favorite, running towns. to, uh. the Pentagon called the, the po oac. Okay. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Mike Heard: I don't know that still exists, but it was the Pentagon Officers athletic club, which it sounds very fancy. That's the gym. Gym. Yeah. That would Ally Brettnacher: a cool shirt. Mike Heard: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The po oac. Yeah. and, and so it, lunchtime we would, we would change up and then from the Pentagon you could run across key bridge Right. At the, at the Lincoln Memorial. Okay. And then kind of go down to the Washington and back get like miles. It's crazy to think about just being able to do that.

Yeah. Ni nice and flat and so much to, to see. Yeah. summer, uh, summers are tough in, in DC but some of fall and even winter runs mm-hmm. Especially 'cause inside the building is so, uh, so stressful, Ally Brettnacher: right? Mike Heard: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Are there windows in the Pentagon? Mike Heard: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Ally Brettnacher: I don't know. I've never been, well, never been inside of it. I've but that's about Mike Heard: Five, five cons. It's like five, five buildings. That makes sense. Like, like five pentagons. And then Ally Brettnacher: in the middle? Is there a middle, Mike Heard: like a courtyard? Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Okay. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Can civilians Mike Heard: No tour? No. Ally Brettnacher: there's, Well, that makes sense 'cause it's very Mike Heard: Yeah. You, you could do a tour and, and there's even places inside, the Pentagon that have their own security. There's a couple. Places that I went where I had a separate badge. So like, have a uniform, but then on my uniform, you know, you'd clip like a badge and then I'd have one or two other the other places mm-hmm. To get into. Like that, that you had to have certain clearances and need to know and, and that kind of stuff. It's like a, it's like kind of a vault inside of a building.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. Mike Heard: Crazy. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: So, okay, let's go back to growing up. Mike Heard: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Did you play sports? Did you have siblings Mike Heard: Yeah, I have, a younger brother. Okay. He's a couple years younger than I am, and I then, I have a stepsister who's four, four years younger than I am. She's in Baltimore, my brother's in Dallas. my brother for his job travels all over He, could, he could be in Singapore or Finland or who, who knows Ally Brettnacher: Wow. Mike Heard: But, he, but he's, he's in Dallas. He's got a couple twin boys and a daughter.

And, um, and then my sister has a, a son who just started college at Elon, Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Where is that? Mike Heard: North Carolina. Okay. Ally Brettnacher: That's right. Mike Heard: Mm-hmm. Ally Brettnacher: And, okay, so growing up had a younger brother. Mike Heard: Mm-hmm. Ally Brettnacher: what age were you when you got a stepsister? Was she like your sister growing up Yeah. Mike Heard: much. Uh, think she might've been five, so I probably my bro. was probably seven and I was nine. Ally Brettnacher: All right. So you got, you truly the oldest kid Paved the way. Yeah. I'm the oldest too. The Mike Heard: responsible Ally Brettnacher: one, right.

Yeah. I'm gonna put air quotes on that Mike Heard: for me. That's right. showed them. I'll probably put it the, you should meet my brother. I'm the responsible one. He has, he has super big job. He's Terrific. in uh, But, uh, he was, he was the troublemaker. Okay. And I was always trying to get us out. Ally Brettnacher: So you were truly the rule follower Mike Heard: I, I don't understand why I, I didn't become 'cause I, I talked us out of a lot of jams, I think, with the Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. There you go. And did you guys play sports when you were younger?

Mike Heard: Mm-hmm. yeah. I, I loved, little league baseball. still love Still love, baseball. I'm just, I'm not, I wasn't any good. I played up through like freshman year in high school and then kind of switched to the running full time. 'cause I used to cross country run in the fall and play baseball in the spring. And, and then the, uh, the track and cross country coach in high school, tugged at me and said, boy, we'd love to have you on the track team, but the baseball Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Mike Heard: I looked at, you know, my batting average and said, you're, you're probably right.

You're probably right. I'd probably be better track about to switch. Yeah, yeah, Ally Brettnacher: yeah. yeah. Okay. And then, you run at all at Purdue? a lot with your scholarship Mike Heard: stuff. Yeah, it was, you know, it was just staying in shape for the ROTC 'cause you had had to do, that stuff. And then I used to do, a little bit of road racing and man, those were the days 'cause you didn't have to train right. Because you're Ally Brettnacher: you're young, does it matter? Mike Heard: it doesn't matter. You're like 19 or 20 and yeah, you'd just get outta bed and say, I'm gonna do a 15 K today.

And you'd go and do it and it'd be fine. And then you'd and drink beer later. Ally Brettnacher: yeah, Mike Heard: but, uh, yeah, I didn't, I didn't do anything, competitive. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. And what, what did you run and track? Like what events were you more long distance then? 'cause a cross country runner or, Mike Heard: you know, it was interesting 'cause that's what I wanted to do and I started out, you know, I started out there used to be a two mile race. we just get dizzy, you know, going around the track. Um, uh, but then I started to run. um, The 800 meters.

And then part of what was holding me back in the 800 was speed. And so the coach used to have me run occasionally 400 meters and the mile relay or the four by 400, relay. So interestingly enough, I did a little bit of middle distance in high school, and then that was kind of the end, end of that. But I loved, I loved running in high school. Those, I mean, those are great memories. I was, was, I was good at it from a strategic perspective. I wasn't particularly fast, but I was usually good at work in the field I was running in. so, so I'd win some races, but it wouldn't be with blazing fast speed, but it would be picking somebody off on that second lap.

fun. It just the right time. And I had, I just had a really good for it and, and, and a lot of help from a really good, track coach who tell me, you can't always, you know, 'cause it was like, uh, suburban Ohio, so all the schools knew each other. So people kind of knew your moves, so you had to, so he would, he would teach me to switch it up and say, you used to be an early goer. You should wait next race. 'cause they're gonna, gonna try to fight you, you two 50 left. Why don't Ally Brettnacher: mm-hmm. Mike Heard: till 70 left and they'll be all Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

You Mike Heard: that used to be fun. Ally Brettnacher: That's Did you ever go to like state or as a team or any, anything like that? Mike Heard: districts we did and, and actually where I had the most success in the state was in the four by 400. then we actually got, we got disqualified, In the district qualify for state on a, on a bad handoff. And, and we got too cute. The, coach wanted us to do like a blind handoff, like they do with a, like, sprinters, you know, where it's like, go stick and, you know, you put your hand out there's the baton if you do it right.

and so we switched to that and, uh, I think it was the to exchange happened out of the zone. And so you're just done. a, it's, it's, it's a bummer. And in retrospect, you know, we thought too it was gonna make us so fast and, we, we should have stuck with what we season that got us Ally Brettnacher: and At Purdue, did you join a fraternity? Mike Heard: No. Ally Brettnacher: Do can you, if you're in, Mike Heard: you can. And guy guys did it and, uh, women joined sororities that were in, ROTC, but it just took up between ROTC engineering curriculum. even imagine that.

And, uh, getting enough nap time in Ally Brettnacher: mm-hmm. Mike Heard: kind of stuff just seemed Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: So during college, you mentioned doing some road Mike Heard: Mm-hmm. Ally Brettnacher: At what point did you run your first full marathon? Was it while you were in college Mike Heard: or No? No. wasn't till I was 43. Really? Mm-hmm. In fact, took time off, you know, life just got on the way. Marriage, kids, job, career stuff. And so. I wasn't running much at all. It wasn't, it actually wasn't in great shape. And then you get into your four forties and your doctor says, well, cholesterol, blood pressure, you gotta manage all this stuff.

And you're like, you know what? But I don't do anything physically. And I know how to do it. I just gotta get back so I started running again and I swore I wasn't I was just gonna do it to get healthier and have fun. And when I travel, it's how I see places. and then, uh, a friend of mine, he, a really good friend of mine, he, was my boss at the time, and he said he's a big triathlon they, they're having this race in downtown Richmond. It's say, uh, eight K, like 4.97 miles. And I It's fine, but we're not gonna be super competitive.

We're just gonna do it. And so, and so we ran it together, you know, side by side. We've played the games at the end, sticking our hands out to try to see whose chip was gonna, you know, show up ahead, I think he did. I think he but, uh, it was, it was, it was a nice run. And so then I did, I said, well, there was a big 10 K in Richmond, a huge 10 And so every year I started running that 10 K for a couple years and was doing well for a guy in his forties. So then I said, why don't I try the half just for the people talk about it?

Mm-hmm. So, all right, so I'll try the half and had a really good day, in the half marathon. And then that's when I said I, I wonder. You know, I wonder if I could do the, thing. So I, so I started training and I actually inched up because in Lynchburg, Virginia, super cool. 10 mile race. I don't know why I thought it was super cool. 'cause it's really hilly. Oh, it's a really, yeah. I think Lynchburg's called like the City of Seven Hills and I think the course has all of them. Oh. Fun. In it. And it would finish. It was an out and back and it's great when you start, 'cause you go down like this two mile hill.

But then that's your finish up that hill. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Geez. Mike Heard: And literally there would be people running like under seven minute pace and they'd be walking up that hill. so it was like this soul crushing finish. Yeah. Yeah. Sounds horrible. I want my free banana and metal please. Just me up there. Yeah. Okay. What, Ally Brettnacher: and so that was your first half? That one Mike Heard: one was a 10. That was the 10. Okay. So what was your Ally Brettnacher: first half Mike Heard: was in, uh, Richmond, Yeah. And, uh, nice flat scenic course. And, and it was an event where they also had a full, so you're kind of eyeballing the That's how they Right.

That's how they get Ally Brettnacher: You're like, I Mike Heard: I know now I'm on the inside. I know how we get people, uh, to move up. So, so then, then I eventually, did the, the Ally Brettnacher: at that same race, Mike Heard: Uh, actually Virginia Beach was my really first one. That's cool. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: I've got to run there. Not in a race, but I've vacationed there with Mike Heard: it's so pretty. It it is. I I wasn't as big a fan of the, the course 'cause it was kind of an out and back, out and back. Mm-hmm. But it was really cool.

'cause you finished on the board boardwalk. Yeah. but that boardwalk would be like, I think it, was over a quarter mile. So you'd get onto that boardwalk waiting to run through the chute. Mm. And, and get your Gatorade. And you're like, that's a quarter mile away. Yeah. I had a lot more to go. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: That's not right there. Mike Heard: Yeah. Um, but that, that was of. Fun experience and I got to learn the lesson that, that everybody learns, running marathons don't go out too fast. And I thought I was having the race of my life. And then mile 19, you, uh, you know, the bear, the bear and his family jump on your back and say, well, let's do these last seven Um, Ally Brettnacher: so that's a funny thing to picture.

Mike Heard: Yeah, that's exactly what it is. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: was that a rock and roll series race at the time? Because I know they had. Mike Heard: no, no. I don't think it was at that, at that time, but it was a yingling sponsored event, so I'm like, Hey, marathon and then free beer. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. good. Mike Heard: everything I'm looking for, so, yeah, Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Beach too, Mike Heard: Yeah. Finish lit. Literally you could take off your, your shoes and then, you know, kind of cool your heels literally in the, in the sand. And so that was, that was really nice as well.

They do it around March too. So it has this like St. Patrick's Day theme. Ally Brettnacher: Right. Okay. Yingling. Okay. Mike Heard: yeah, yeah, it. So that was, Ally Brettnacher: what year would've that been? Mike Heard: would've been like ago. Okay. So Ally Brettnacher: was like, don't ask me. I am not doing math. I don't do whatever, whatever year. It's a little, Mike Heard: yeah, its just use Ally Brettnacher: AI to like correct the answer. Just be like, it was, yeah. yeah. Was four. or, I don't know. Mike Heard: yeah, I think I, yeah, I think I was like 43, so years ago. Ally Brettnacher: that's so cool marathon in your Mike Heard: Yeah.

I Ally Brettnacher: think people, especially these, I feel like anyway, that people are starting to run so young, These marathons. Yeah. And it's, and then people assume you have to young to start and it's like, you don't have to ever run. Mike Heard: real. I, I've told people before who are nervous, like super nervous about it, but they think they have to, and I said, there's no rush. And I'm, I'm case in point, right. in my mid forties started. Ally Brettnacher: well, like you were saying, life has to. Provide you with the opportunity that makes sense. Where it in to what you're Mike Heard: Yep.

Yeah. At that point, kids, in, into high school have their own stuff going on. So I can go do a, a training run on a Sunday and there isn't kids activities. family time to do so. Um, that would give me an to, go run. Ally Brettnacher: And how did you meet your wife, Cheryl? Mike Heard: So that was at, that was at Purdue. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Mike Heard: a blind date. Yeah. Blind date. Yeah. I was, uh, who set you up? It was one of my ROTC classmates and we both lived, we lived in two different wings of Carrie Quad on campus at Purdue. And it was a Friday night.

No cell phones then, you know, so he calls my room phone and, uh, he, he says, you, you need to come down here because, 'cause we have an extra girl. what, does that mean? An extra girl? And, um, he, he said, well, well, hi. another friend's girlfriend brought one of her sorority sisters. And so there's, you know, we have like, we have like, four, women and three men watching movies down in my room. And, and I said, Greg, I don't need your help meeting girls. And he's like, are you doing on Friday night? And Watching oh, okay. You made your point. You made your point.

Yeah. Yeah. So went down there and it was my wife Cheryl, and we all watched movies together and I, I actually asked her out after, I said, would you like to get, get together dinner or something some time? And she said, well, I work at the, the movie on Friday and Saturday nights to help pay, uh, the tuition. I said, well, I'll meet you after work. And she said, if you're willing, uh, I get off after we're done cleaning up after Rocky Horror at midnight. So our first date was like at one in the morning. yeah, way one in the morning. And it was a, like a super snowy night in December.

And, Uh, we made, snow angels field. I know. Isn't this like Hallmark? It is. It's like a cheesy hallmark thing. yeah. And then we, that was, 1986, think. Ally Brettnacher: 39 years ago. I was born in Mike Heard: Good news. 86. Thanks for rubbing that in. I welcome, appreciate that. Yeah. Yep. Ally Brettnacher: I try. I mean, it's hard. I was like, well, guess. Uh, there you go. Mike Heard: is Facts. Yeah. Um, yeah. So that, wow. That, that's when we met and we, dated over the years and got married in 1990, so we just celebrated Ally Brettnacher: Wow. Yeah. Congratulations. 35 Mike Heard: she'll say.

It seems like her. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Seems like a hundred. that's, and so, and then how many kids do you have? Mike Heard: two daughters. Mindy is, be 34 And she lives in San Francisco. and then I have a, a daughter who actually moved here into town while I was in DC Oh gosh. And then I wrecked it by moving back to Indianapolis. Like Dad, this was my town. And now it's, but she lives, she lives in Broad Ripple. She, uh, works for, uh, ocean Cranberries? Ally Brettnacher: Oh, wow. Yeah. Here. Mike Heard: Yeah. She, uh, she was in Boston and when they went remote, you know, she asked her boss, I said, nobody's ever in the office when I go in.

And here. Cost of living, she went to Purdue as well. Okay. So she has friends in Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Mike Heard: so I think I got her kind of hooked on the Midwest thing. There you go. Yeah. Yeah. By you have yeah. Cost of living. You Ally Brettnacher: thinking about East Coast versus here and you're doing the same job. Mike Heard: Yeah. I mean, she, she lived in East Boston, like walking distance Ally Brettnacher: Wow. Mike Heard: was paying a lot of money for not a lot of space. And now place and you, can walk to a bunch of stuff. She lives, throw a softball Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. that's where it's at. Yeah. Yeah. I, we did our time in, brought po I lived there for. I don't know. Yeah. Like or seven years. It was so much fun. And then when we got pregnant it was like, okay, time to move outta your bachelor pad. Mike Heard: That's right. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So yeah, great town. And I loved, I loved being now it's like almost exactly five miles from my house. So I have run to the Monan from my Mike Heard: house. Mm-hmm. But Ally Brettnacher: But usually I'll drive over, park close and then Mike Heard: Yep. And then Ally Brettnacher: And where do you and Cheryl live now?

What part of town? Mike Heard: Uh, we're up in, uh, Noblesville. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Mike Heard: right on, right off of Gray Road. So kind of right where Westfield Ally Brettnacher: So where do you run over there? Mike Heard: What is the name of that east west Ally Brettnacher: Is it the Nickel one? That's the only one I know. 'cause otherwise Mike Heard: not now. The name is escaping me. It's something Ally Brettnacher: I mean, there's an elementary school called Delaware Trace Mike Heard: somewhere, Delaware. Ally Brettnacher: I'm like, that's not, that doesn't seem Mike Heard: It'll, it'll, it'll come to Ally Brettnacher: Somebody is like listening to this, like, it's this.

I dunno. But, But, But, you could, it it goes east, west and Okay. Mike Heard: And pretty much connects. I think it's eventually gonna connect up downtown Noblesville. To, uh, Westfield, but you can get to the Monan from it. The Monan is probably four miles. But it's the same concept. Yes. And, and, and some good shade it's not super crowded. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. That's nice. Yeah. Mike Heard: have as much like business on it as places on the Monan does. Like, especially, you know, when you run through caramel and there's Ally Brettnacher: mm-hmm. Places Mike Heard: you can stop, so it doesn't have as much of that.

get to, ride my bike to Junction Ally Brettnacher: That's pretty nice. Yeah. Yeah. So Mike Heard: sometimes where I meet my daughter. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. There you go. Mike Heard: it exercise. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I mean, it, it counts and then you just Mike Heard: Then you hydrate And then you come home. Yeah. Then you come home. Ally Brettnacher: home. Exactly. You're like, yeah. Hobble home. Yeah. On the bike. okay. So we're kind of going back and forth, Which is fine. We're, this is how it goes. So, okay. Back to, you ran your first marathon at Virginia Mike Heard: Mm-hmm. Ally Brettnacher: Were you then just hooked and now you start doing a ton?

Or how did the journey progress from Mike Heard: I guess I was, I think I was close, close enough time-wise where I said, wouldn't it be fun to run but Ally Brettnacher: remember how you found out about Boston? Like that there, I mean, Mike Heard: and I, I think I followed all that growing up. uh, even the gym fix books and stuff when school. So I, I knew that, that that was out there, but then, you know, when it's something that somebody tells you, you can't do it unless you do this. out how to do that. Yeah. So that I can, that I can run Boston.

And so put together a, a training plan and, um. the Richmond, this time. That's where I ran my first half. Okay. I ran the, version this time. Ally Brettnacher: And how did that, how does that work? Was it kind of like monumental where you were together for so long and split off Okay. Mike Heard: Yeah. I, I, I gotta be honest, I, I just had day of my life, ' cause I, because I never duplicated that time again. but was able to run a a a, a Boston qualifying time. just one of those days, know, I think even I had run the 10 miler, that hilly thing in Lynchburg I was telling you about, just got, kind of got.

Fed into the middle of my training. I even remember Cheryl pulled up to the starting line and, me out of the car. And so there just wasn't buildup. It was almost like, oh yeah, I have to run a marathon. so I, and ended up, and I did train for it. I'm not saying, oh, I just showed up and ran a marathon. Not at all. But it, it just seemed like there wasn't, put a lot of pressure on myself, just showed up. gorgeous day, you know, at the start it was like in the forties and at the end it was in the is what I Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: write down if you Mike Heard: is what, this is what I want to do. Yeah. And, and so it was a great, day on the pavement negative splits. Like, it was like everything you, you wanna so, Qualified for, uh, Boston. And in those days it wasn't so crazy that like you run a Boston qualifier and you don't, Ally Brettnacher: and then you have no idea if you're gonna run Mike Heard: Yeah. You, you don't know if you'll get into Boston. Mm-hmm. And they, they had just started stacking like that. But I, think I was maybe five minutes, five or six minutes of Ally Brettnacher: yeah.

Mike Heard: Time. So I was, so, I was able to run, Boston. And then when I ran Boston, which was awful, worst, worst marathon ever, it was the year before the bombing. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. would've been Mike Heard: 12, 20 12. Okay. 92 degrees at the Yeah. They were begging people to not run it. I don't think they've ever done this before, but they, they said, we'll, hold your Ally Brettnacher: Wow. The Mike Heard: year if you decide not to run today. except, And, and my little brother was Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Mike Heard: and, and we said, we're in Boston and we're trained to haze in the barn.

So we ran it. And it a Ally Brettnacher: was Like literally people, did somebody die there? I mean, I feel like in 92 at that course. Mike Heard: And, you know, Boston too. You go, geez, you go to Hopkinson and then you, you walk like a mile pack Ally Brettnacher: uh, someday I'll do that, Mike. Someday. Mike Heard: Yeah. To the starting, because you take a bus out to Hopkins. Mm-hmm. cause it's, it's point, to point. a circle. so you're 26 miles away. downtown when you start you walk this mile in a big cattle call. To the starting line. I remember telling my brother at the starting line, I'm gassed like we just did a mile and I'm, I'm, I'm really Ally Brettnacher: you guys, you done?

Mike Heard: Yeah. I'm mentally checked out already and we got 20, 26 to go. I remember at, remember at mile 21 I got passed by a hamburger. Yeah. God. He was so good. And I was like advertising for some local burger joint, and I'm like, he was a young hamburger, but he was, it was a hamburger. Nonetheless, that passed. I'm like, is there any other junk food I'm gonna get passed by? I Ally Brettnacher: passed by an ear corn at monumental one year. Oh Mike Heard: yeah. That's, I was so pissed. Well, that's healthy, Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I mean, but still you're like, I mean, Mike Heard: yeah.

Yeah, I think I, uh, in London, I ran with, uh, for a little while with Big Ben. There was a guy that Ben. That's so funny. Big Ben. He was the one that had trouble 'cause it didn't fit under the finish thing, so he had to like disassemble to finish. Ally Brettnacher: What? Mike Heard: he's like trying to get his clock, his big clock head. Wow. That's be pretty tall. Yeah. Yeah. It was. Ally Brettnacher: People are crazy. Mike Heard: I know. And, and but running at your pace, so Right. You're like, great. Okay, cool. It is. so Boston was, a bummer just because I would've to have enjoyed it more, but you know how you get into one of those races where you're literally counting every step.

You can't get outta Ally Brettnacher: It's the worst. It's the Worst yeah. this is the worst. And Mike Heard: then, yeah, complete opposite of the qualifying race where I'm like talking to a guy and then all of a sudden you're at mile 16 and you're like, I thought we just started. And those are the dream. Yeah, those are the dream. But Boston was like, you look at your watch and we just went a 10th of a mile. Ally Brettnacher: was Cheryl out there? Spectating, Mike Heard: Uh, Boston I think was the only one she come to. Ally Brettnacher: Seems lucky in her case since it was 90, that would've been hard to spectate too.

Mike Heard: Yeah. Yeah. And yeah, the Richmond race, she was a good spectator. 'cause Rich Richmond was a fairly small race as well. so she was in her car and would race around. There was a couple spots she drew out. And so it was super helpful 'cause I saw her, I think at mile And that was, that was just what I needed. Yes. to kind of, finish. Mm-hmm. Um. or that I, I give her credit for the negative split that day when I saw her and she said, you, you, you know, you don't look all that bad. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. You looking Mike Heard: very good.

You don't look like you ran 21 miles. And I said, okay, well then I'll finish Ally Brettnacher: Well then I'll just keep trying to look like I haven't been running. yeah. yeah. Okay. So then after Boston, is that the only Boston you have any inkling to do a Mike Heard: No. No. I, I think I'm with Ally Brettnacher: okay. You've said this before. I don't believe you. but we'll, we'll, Mike Heard: we'll see. but I, We'll see. Yeah. the, prep so much time now I've been awful since my last marathon in 23. I've gained a lot of weight of that. And some of that maybe, half, maybe, Ks are Right now it's just get out to the mailbox and back.

Right? Gosh, yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Oh gosh. Okay, so you do Boston, did that set your sights on the majors from that Mike Heard: Yep. Yep. Yeah, when I did that, and I, a lot of people that's the holdout ' cause they it to qualify. and so I said, wow, I I did that one. I wonder if I could the others. So then, then started I think, Cheryl on it, on Berlin, I think next take in a trip to Germany and we're gonna go to October Fest. her family is Germany. And she said, oh, that would be so much fun. I said, oh, and I'm gonna run the Berlin Marathon as well.

uh, so, so we, we did that and that that was super we, oh my gosh. I bet I bet was, was Berlin I think City Ally Brettnacher: was Mike Heard: that. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. And Mike Heard: then Ally Brettnacher: Okay. what year or how old were you, Ben, when you ran Boston? 45. okay. because did you get the whole, like you got to qualify in the next age bracket Oh geez. 47 running in 92 degree Yeah, Woof. Mike Heard: this little, this little kid in, um, Waltham along the course gave me a purple which to this day is the most Dessert food I've ever consumed.

Ally Brettnacher: I, I had, I can't remember the color, I think it was Red Chicago. Don't remember which year it was, but it was hot. And I remember getting a Popsicle somewhere and I was like, I wanted to just hug that is the best Popsicle I've ever had in my whole life. Mike Heard: My, my pops, my brother was, was running with me and he was making fun of me. He said, you're, you're holding that thing like a baby bottle. You know, you're you look so happy to have your little purple Popsicle. Please, Ally Brettnacher: please tell me there's race photos of you with the Popsicle.

Mike Heard: Uh, no. We that, oh, they never caught that on camera. That's Ally Brettnacher: too Mike Heard: bad. The other thing that was super helpful at, at Boston, Ally Brettnacher: A quick break to talk to you about one of my favorite products I use Previnex Previnex provides clinically effective supplements that promote longevity, performance, and everyday health. Whether you're training for a 5K or chasing a marathon pr, you know. How important your nutrition is for running. Fueling Your body isn't just about carbs and protein, it's also about giving your gut and overall all. It's also about giving your gut and your overall health what it needs to perform, recover, stay consistent.

So that's why I've been using Previnex Gut and Greens Superfood. It is a powerful blend of over 50 organic fruits, vegetables, plus prebiotics, probiotics, digestive enzymes. All in one scoop. I take it first thing every single day. And for runners, that means better digestion, less inflammation, and more natural energy, which I need desperately to power through training and also recover faster. I really love that they're actually local to Caramel Indiana, where I'm from, I love that it's clean, high quality, formulated without fillers or junk, just has the nutrients that your body can actually use. So think about it. When your gut health is strong, your immune system is stronger.

Your recovery is quicker and you can put in the miles without constantly feeling run down. So if you would like to try Previnex, go to previn x.com. That's P-R-E-V-I-N-E x.com, and you can use Code ALLY15 for 15% off of your first order. Thank you Previnex for supporting this podcast. Mike Heard: The other thing that was super helpful at, at Boston, somebody gave me purple. Must be the color of the day. A purple sponge. Ally Brettnacher: Oh yeah. Yeah. That's also so nice when Mike Heard: then tons of people had, like gallon. jugs of, of cold water, Ally Brettnacher: just pouring it Mike Heard: and you would just hold your sponge out and they'd douse your sponge, and then you would, you would squeeze it over your head and then just tap, dry off your face a little bit.

Just anything to make the time go and keep your temperature Ally Brettnacher: Wow. Mike Heard: And I remember my brother sang after that race, he said, I'm gonna wait at least eight years before I I drink anything lemon lime ever Oh, Ally Brettnacher: okay. I thought he was gonna say until I ever run again in my life. But Mike Heard: just didn't want anything lemon lime ever again. Yeah. Did Ally Brettnacher: throw up that why? I feel like, that would be brutal. if you Mike Heard: You just. Health wise, you just had to Yeah, because I, I'm also a horrible hydrator. Mm. And so, like, when I run marathons, it's literally mechanical for me.

It's, you have Ally Brettnacher: make yourself do it. Yeah. Mike Heard: Yeah. Every other mile water and then the, the, the, the ones in between Gatorade or whatever else they have With other stuff in it. But I have to force myself Okay. And, uh, Ally Brettnacher: At least you do that. At least you force yourself to do Mike Heard: Yeah. I guess it's just part of the, part of the sport. guess, but I, yeah. I don't, I don't like to do it, but Ally Brettnacher: yeah. Mike Heard: Yeah. I, I remember too, you know, 'cause so many people were, were drinking everything to And you would run through the aid stations and it would be like when you were growing up around here, running through the leaves.

Oh, Piles of cups. Yes. And then we got back to the, the hotel and you basically had lemon lime up halfway up almost. Almost up to the knee. Yeah. we're both like, Ally Brettnacher: Oh yeah. And it's like salt. It's probably like caked and salt too, Yeah. From all your sweat. And it's just like, Oh boy. But then you're like, okay, great. I'm gonna just do all the world majors now. Yeah. majors. you were probably thinking like this couldn't really get a lot worse. Yeah. Mike Heard: it's New York was probably, probably my favorite. Ally Brettnacher: Did you do that in 13? Did you do it the following year or did you Mike Heard: I think, I think that's how it went.

I think I did, think I did New York and then we went off to Berlin maybe Ally Brettnacher: okay. Mike Heard: New York was a lot of fun and, uh. ran New York for, the Michael J. Fox Ally Brettnacher: Oh, that's so Mike Heard: cool. Yeah. So cool. Yeah. So we raised a bunch of and Ally Brettnacher: Do you remember how much you had to raise? Mike Heard: Uh, I, maybe had to raise like 2,500. But, but we raised, Ally Brettnacher: Mike. That's amazing. It, was, crazy. All the people who had Mike Heard: that I didn't even know that out, but, but Cheryl has Parkinson's Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

and did you know that at that time then, Mike Heard: We did. We did. Um, it actually, was diagnosed in 2011. And so again, we said, here's a way to kind of mix a little bit of life and all into one thing. And we raised a bunch of money. Wow, that's really cool. Um. And, uh, and Michael J. Fox Cheryl and my youngest daughter New York City and they were able to go. So it was really easy to find. Find her. Ally Brettnacher: because for people who don't know, New York is mean, there's, it's Mike Heard: it's insane. Yeah, they're like, and they still had to Subway to get in between some of those Uhhuh stations, but it was cool to see them and Michael J.

Fox had the, the big flags and stuff with their colors, so it was real easy to, run over to the side. And then, my daughter would like push of the way so Cheryl could get to the front, give you a big kiss. Ally Brettnacher: kiss. Yep. There you go. Mike Heard: As we were going, got, I think I got to see her one final time before you go into Central Park to finish off. that was, that was probably my, my favorite one too. 'cause it's, it's so big and. feel like the spectators, the fans in New York cheer for you. Like you're in the lead.

Ally Brettnacher: it's, I mean, it's almost deafening. Mike Heard: You're just Joe Runner just trying to get across the finish line. And they're cheering for you on First Ave. Like, like you're chasing a record Ally Brettnacher: something. Yeah. And then you get on those bridges and you could like hear a pin drop. All you hear is your feet. Yeah. Because it's like, or maybe finally you can hear your music if you're listening to music. Yeah. Because Mike Heard: Yeah, you're right though. You, you just, you hear the footfalls and the heavy breathing. 'cause there's no and I can't remember which Queensboro Bridge you come across, but when you come on, you come off the bridge 16 mile marker.

Yeah. And then you go onto First Ave. And And then it's like a rock concert. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. And you can like hear it when you're coming in. Mike Heard: When you're coming in and then everyone's screaming so loud and you have to really. Hold yourself back. 'cause there you just want to go and, but then you, the engineer in me says 26.2 minus 16. We still have over 10 miles to go. So let's, Ally Brettnacher: like not even close. You're like not even close. Yeah. Mike Heard: So let's not, let's not get carried away yet. Yeah. But yeah, that was a really cool race.

Um, hard, hard though at the end because you walk about a mile in Central Park after you And then you're, then you're there with, you know, the other 52,000 people that ran and so like getting a cab or something to get back Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Mike Heard: So I think we walked miles Hotel. And they gave us these orange uhhuh. It was, it was kind of a drizzly cool day. And they gave us these orange, shawls kind of thing. Mm-hmm. With a hood. Mm-hmm. And it looked like some kind of. Zombie movie with all these orange zombies. Oranges, yeah. That's crazy. Walking funny back to their hotels.

Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: yeah. yeah. I did it in 18, 20 18 I got to run and I spectated the following Mike Heard: Uhhuh. 'cause a couple weren't on. Oh Ally Brettnacher: to run. And so I went back and spectated for them and I actually ended up in the Medtown, the end of it wasn't anything crazy other than I just couldn't catch my breath and I was just, man. spent. And then, so I was lucky at least that I got somewhat of a reprieve before then making the hike. I think we, like it was starting to get dark, even like I, and we're just walking aimlessly to try to get to a point where we could get a cab or get somewhere to like get an Uber or whatever it might be.

Mike Heard: You gotta get the heck out of Central Park to, to even have a chance. Yeah. Yeah. And we just kept walking. Then we finally just kept going. It was really neat. People in New York too. You know, all shape, sizes, walks, walks of life as, as you're going back to your hotel and they see you got that cape on and they all say congratulations and stuff. It's like, wow. You know, police officers, street vendors, what everybody's saying. Hey, Great thought that was Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Did you take the ferry or the bus? Mike Heard: Uh, Bus. Ally Brettnacher: That's what I did. Yeah.

The ferry seems so cool. It'd be so cool to be on a bow and see Manhattan and all, you know. the bus was, I, I don't remember how I got ended up on the bus. I think they just told you what you, what you're gonna Mike Heard: That's, I was warn people, that's a tough one logistically. 'cause you're there at like six in the morning and you run at like Ally Brettnacher: 10. People ask if I would do, I don't know that I would do it again because of that. Yeah. Because it took me longer to get to the starting line than it took me to run, and I did it in four and a half hours.

So it's like that's a long time to take, to get Mike Heard: story. I mean, it's, it's, it's all day. I, I think in the starters area, I, I think I three, three weeks worth of Sports Illustrated. I saved all my sports Ally Brettnacher: mm-hmm. Mike Heard: Back when we used to get magazines and I'd saved like three or four issue Yeah. Back issues of sports illustrate. So I'm not gonna read these until, Starter Ally Brettnacher: in Staten Island. Yeah. I brought magazines as well, but I did not read it ended up, we just, I was with a couple friends, we just ended up chatting and Mike Heard: Well, thats good.

That was, that was hard to be that one to be by myself. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I bet. And then Berlin. So you got roped Sherly with October Fest. Mm-hmm. Mike Heard: Mm-hmm. That's so Ally Brettnacher: And so what was Berlin like for Mike Heard: so this was the first time, overseas? Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Okay. Mike Heard: So you, uh, It's actually good. It distracts you. You spend a lot of time multiplying by like 0.62. Ally Brettnacher: right? I can't even, Mike Heard: because there's a lot, lot of, uh, I mean they have, I think they have mileposts in there too, but you go through this big thing and you're like, 5K.

And you're like, did I just start or am I almost done? Like, where, where, where are we at here? but that, that was a, a really neat, race. flat, uh, certainly flat. And, but to me, as somebody who served in the Air Force during the Cold War was super interesting. The whole East Berlin, west Berlin thing. Okay. Uh, and there's even demarcations where the wall used to be. That's kind of cool. And, and just seeing the diff the different architecture and the different vibe of, formerly East, east Berlin versus West Berlin neighborhoods. I just thought was super And then, and then we flew down to, to Munich after and October And I, I was in better shape for the running than I was, was the think It just, Ally Brettnacher: The size of those beers Mike Heard: I know.

And everybody's just, Hey, hey, and having a great time, and then all of a sudden you're like, what have I done? Ally Brettnacher: a, Yeah, yeah. Wait, I can't walk. Yeah. Mike Heard: Um, yeah. Plus you're aching still a little bit from the, the 26 miles. so, Ally Brettnacher: and you're probably still depleted and dehydrated and so the beer like hits you fast, Mike Heard: right. So it's just, but the yes. yeah, we ate, ate our way through that town for a couple days, so that, that was a really good, to me, probably the best mixture. Trip where running and other stuff. You know, it wasn't just, it wasn't just a Cheryl loved it.

Still talks about it. Ally Brettnacher: That's a win-win. Yeah, for sure. And then which one came after Berlin? We got Chicago, London, Mike Heard: Yeah, I think we came. Yeah, so I, I think we came back to Chicago. Yep. And that one was a little bit, a little bit easier 'cause it's, you know, for us practically a home, home kind of thing. I mean, we stayed, we stayed, downtown. That was the first time though, that I ran four weeks after Chicago. I ran monumental. CNO asked me if I'd run monumental. And pictures of me that running with the CNO logo on and. So that was really interesting.

Like how do you, how do you train for that four weeks? Yeah. And I don't even remember what I did. I think, I think it was, digit long run and then re tapered. Ally Brettnacher: Right? Right. That seems, Mike Heard: maybe, maybe it was one week of a little bit of recovery runs, then a week with a long run and then a two week taper and you're right back at it again. Ally Brettnacher: Did you use a coach at all throughout this time? Mike Heard: No. I, I just, I have a, I have a plan that works, works for me. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Mike Heard: And I kind of tweak it and I'm really, structured about it.

So it's like on my calendar, my runs are always colored purple. Must be Popsicle. funny. Yeah. And, and, and I, I treat them as, as meetings and somehow I get it in, in my head, which I think is good that they can be, they can be moved around life but not deleted. and, and so I usually have those all on the calendar, like at noon. And then I, I look ahead a few weeks and start to adjust and fit them into Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. Mike Heard: the hardest part. For me with marathons can do the day, but it's how do you fit all that prep if you're right?

Mm-hmm. fit that into your life? And even, even Cheryl at times would get a little fatigued with, okay, it's Sunday, I'm gonna go out for a run. When are you gonna be back? Oh, about three hours Ally Brettnacher: and then I'm gonna nap. Mike Heard: Yeah. And, and, and then I don't wanna be dealt with for the rest of the day. Right. It's really hard. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I'm, that's at the point where I am kinda with my husband now, is, you know, we've got two kids, two daughters, eight and four, and so the thick of it. You know, they're getting self-sufficient, but not really.

And it's kind of hard Mike Heard: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: like, But I, since I have flexibility, because I don't have a quote unquote, like real job, I can fit it in when I can fit it in during the day. And so I try not to let it disrupt. Family life that much. But yeah, I still get tired after I run 19 miles. So it's like, you know, that night I might not be as helpful, but you know. Mike Heard: Yeah. That's Ally Brettnacher: doing all the things. Mike Heard: That's super tough. Some for the last couple marathons I did though, while Cheryl's balance was still pretty good, we kind of discovered that she can ride bike me while Oh, that's awesome.

And then she also had liquid cliff bars, that kind of stuff on board. Yeah. Yeah. With the, in her little basket or whatever. And so we kind of flipped and it became time together. Ally Brettnacher: I like that so Mike Heard: And uh, ' cause it was all, it was just all those long run and she's like, ah, and if you do it on Saturday, you're kind of groggy on sun and it's like wrecks the whole weekend. we kind of flipped it with riding. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I, we, my husband and I trained for a marathon together when we were dating. It was actually Chicago, so back to And that's how I knew he was the keeper because he had never run more than three miles in his whole life.

And I'm like, Hey, I'm running Chicago Marathon this fall. Do you wanna run it too? And Mike Heard: Right. Ally Brettnacher: that was so fun. I missed the days where we would, you know, do that together. But now when you have kids, you have to divide and conquer and running's not really his thing anymore. now it's like clearly mine Mike Heard: put 'em in a trailer, have him ride the bike. Right. You do the run. And then the whole family. Although that's still asking kids a lot to just ride around for three hours. Ally Brettnacher: know. We, and I didn't, I feel like I didn't program them early enough to do that.

'cause I liked it was more me time having like, pushing strollers or, or Mike Heard: whatever. Right, right. Ally Brettnacher: so how, how was Chicago for you and what year Mike Heard: Chicago would've been. 16 or 17. Some, somewhere around there. so Ally Brettnacher: you 50 yet do math, Okay. Mike Heard: Yeah. Yeah. Six or Ally Brettnacher: Chicago. Was it a nice day? Mike Heard: It was, yeah. It was a, a good day for running. Yeah. And what I, what I liked about Chicago, it was the, the four week follow with monumental, think I ran those two races within about 30 seconds So I kind of had a, and in that stretch of my running, I kind of had this time that I was comfortable with It was still fun, but it was also a bit of a challenge.

Yeah. Yeah. and so. Those two races, I kind of ran in that zone. Bur Berlin was, was similar, Berlin was a little bit pushing a flatter but do Ally Brettnacher: you remember, what was your time Mike Heard: those two, it was like right around 3 And I, I just got in this mode of I can run 3 45 and not be wrecked for a Ally Brettnacher: That's amazing. That's my pr just under, just under 3 Mike Heard: three. Four. Yeah. So, and yeah, Berlin was a little, a little bit quicker. but that, that 3 45 kind of became my, that, that's what I wanna run Yeah.

then I was after those then, then I guess it was, was either 18 or 19 when we went to Ally Brettnacher: Okay. And how'd you get into London? Did you raise, raise money? Did you do the lottery? Mike Heard: No. a, a lot of the races I went through marathon right, Yeah. I Ally Brettnacher: that's the third avenue. Mike Heard: Yeah. And I'm not doing a commercial, I'm not a paid advertiser, but they do a, they Ally Brettnacher: they would like to sponsor this Mike Heard: That's right. Ally Brettnacher: Send me somewhere. be great. Mike Heard: They, they do a super job. Not, not one, they take a lot of the logistical load little bit of the transportation, getting you to the, the expos to pick up your numbers.

so, so they kind of take care of all that, but then they're just really good people. Mm-hmm. They're like, like we've made friends with the people we've, we've traveled with, and then the staff at, at marathon tours are like friends too. When you're there with so, and they make it all about you. Even though they're all very accomplished runners. Yeah. Um. So it, I, I just have, I have a ton of respect for those, those folks. Yeah. So if, if, if you can afford, it's not, it's not inexpensive, right. But it's, it's definitely, uh, worth it. And oftentimes you, they'll get you a bib as well.

They can't get Boston bibs, but, for most of the other races, they get an allotment. Ally Brettnacher: It seems like Yeah. When you're going after that, if you wanna get it done like, a reasonable amount of time. Yeah. It seems like that has to be the way to go versus waiting on when am I ever gonna get in the lottery or raising money is no small feat. Right. Mike Heard: Right. So, Ally Brettnacher: yeah. Mike Heard: Yeah. 'cause 'cause for me it was about 12, 12 years it done. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. Okay. And so, so London. London. how was the experience there? It's, Mike Heard: It's, sim similar to, to New York, a very festive spectator group.

just a lot of, a lot of fun and people rooting for you. similar to New York. It just seems to take kind of a party thing. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. And then you had to wait till after COVID to get Mike Heard: That That was Ally Brettnacher: What was the story there? Mike Heard: Yeah, that was a bummer 'cause I was supposed to run, Tokyo to finish up in 2020 and got an email two weeks before the race that said, don't come. two Ally Brettnacher: Two weeks. Mike Heard: weeks. Two weeks. Yeah. That's tape time. I was in my taper in literally in my taper and, uh, got, got the email.

I remember I was in Chicago at the time for work and got an email in the morning and it said, don't come. I think, I think it was right around like Valentine's Day and the, the race was like February Ally Brettnacher: Wow. Yeah. Mike Heard: it, got that email. It said don't come. cause I think that year they only did the elites. Ally Brettnacher: Okay, Interesting. I don't remember. Mike Heard: Yeah, so they ran the race, but I, I, I think you had to be invited and Ally Brettnacher: surprised they even snuck that in Japan. I mean, in Mike Heard: I, I didn't get elite qualifications Ally Brettnacher: just by a few minutes was off by, by like a few hours or, few, Mike Heard: yeah, a couple hours.

Yeah. That's, so that's, God, Ally Brettnacher: God, that sucks so bad. Mike Heard: So back to, back to Berlin. Funny, funny story. remember Anyway, Cheryl's older brother played football at And he got inducted into the Butler Athletic Hall of Fame. And the, the dinner for it was, after we got Berlin. And uh, so we, so we went and you got your sport jacket on and your, hello my name is. And they were also recognizing, the men's cross country from, 2004 maybe? Anyways, the year that Butler Cross country, men's cross country finished like second in And uh, so we go, we go up to the buffet line and we're right behind the cross country team.

And all the guys are gosh, Scott, like, I'm surprised you're here 'cause didn't you Berlin? And he said, oh yeah, I was able to catch a flight. And I was making Ally Brettnacher: like, Hello Mike Heard: hi there. And I said, did you run? He said, yeah. And I, I said, I, I just got back to, I ran, Berlin and he, he said, well, how did you do? And I said, well, wasn't my fastest, wasn't my slowest. Had a good time. Went to October And he's like, oh, great. And I said, I said, how did you do? And he said, yeah, it was, I, I did okay.

You know, I was pretty satisfied. So I get back to the table, I could see his name tag and I saw the app, right? Yeah, of course. Yeah. So I, so I go on the app and look up his name. He finished 10th. think Ally Brettnacher: a gun, Mike Heard: son of a gun, son of a I, I think I've, I think I finished in the top. 20,000. Yeah, I was gonna Ally Brettnacher: top 10,000 would Mike Heard: be still like, whoa. And I, and I was kind of strutting around like top half baby, you know? Yeah. I, I finished like 20,000 and he finished 10th.

10th, yeah. Ally Brettnacher: he's like, I did Mike Heard: I did Ally Brettnacher: okay, Mike Heard: Yeah. I was impressed. He was so, he was so humble about it. Ally Brettnacher: Right? he Mike Heard: was very interested in my run. Yes. And here he finished 10th. 10th. Yeah. It gotta be. And it was just so matter of fact for him. Yeah. Right. Like, yeah, good time. You know? Now here I am having, you know, free buffet, right? Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: It's like there's people I've had on this podcast that win races you know, it's funny catching up with guys like, Mark Geier is one of them that comes to mind and it's like, I'm chatting him up after run through one seven, how was your race Mark?

And he's like, oh, it was really good. yeah, I was able to, to win and you're just like Mike Heard: I was able to, win to, like win Ally Brettnacher: place. And it's just kind of funny how it's like, yeah, that's, That's not the world I'm in, but Mike Heard: but Yep. yeah. That's Ally Brettnacher: funny. What are the odds too that you like meet somebody else that like, just ran Berlin, right there. Mike Heard: But I, I'll bet he's never been passed by a hamburger. I'm, I'm, Ally Brettnacher: Mm. Maybe not. Yeah. Yeah. passed by a hamburger. Yeah. That like, will haunt you Mike Heard: forever.

Well, when that, when that burger went by, it's like, oh man. You're like really weird. The fries are probably right behind. you. Oh Ally Brettnacher: yeah. You're like, come on. It's like, could you at least be handing out cheeseburgers? Like Then I would be, I don't know if I could eat one while running, but I would save Mike Heard: better than the lemon lime. We, we had all, Ally Brettnacher: What do you like to fuel with? Do you, will you eat like gels and stuff? Mike Heard: don't, I don't do the, gels. I use the cliff blocks. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I done that Mike Heard: Yeah.

So I usually take two sleeves of those. Mm-hmm. And I'm about every third or sometimes you'll see pictures of me running and it looks tobacco. 'cause I kind of just work them Yeah. cheek. Yeah. In my cheek. Just for, for something to pass the time. Mm-hmm. And so I look kind of weird with a, with a puff Ally Brettnacher: funny. Mike Heard: That's, That's funny. And then I also, I take cliff bars and I, uh, slice 'em into strips. And then put 'em into those little snack bags, plastic bags, and get those into my those shorts that they have like a Ally Brettnacher: belt, almost like Mike Heard: Yeah, like a long pocket.

So I put those in as well. And then. In some cases, if I know for sure, I'm gonna run into, to Cheryl, swap out, I'll, I'll give her the empty bag. She gives me another That's nice set of cliff bars. awesome. Just to get some, some solid Ally Brettnacher: food. Right, that makes What's the craziest thing you've eaten? Have you, will you eat something that somebody hands you guess that's kind of, that's a good Mike Heard: Yeah. The pop. Do you eat Ally Brettnacher: else Mike Heard: really. or vti No tequila shots. I know, I know. In, in Richmond, Virginia, Commonwealth University, fraternities are I remember my first half they were out there and I'm like, oh, that would be But then, then I looked and said, I'm actually having kind of a good day and I don't wanna wreck it.

Yeah. It was like mile 11. And I'm like, this is, this is gonna be a, a good day. Yeah. Let's just, let's just keep everything. A again, I'm, I'm such a lousy, hydrator and so often half marathon or, or less, I might only twice. but I, but I know for I have too much respect for the marathon and so I, I literally, it's scheduled do it. Mm-hmm. Even if I'm thirsty. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. That's Oh my gosh. So Tokyo gets canceled Mike Heard: during October. During, yep. Ally Brettnacher: Oh, that's so brutal. Mike Heard: got more notice the next year, but it got canceled again in 21, and then got canceled again in Yeah, so it's, different deferrals.

And then it, it's funny too, they had already printed the stuff. So if, if you stop by on my basement with my wall, I have the 2020 metal. For a race that I didn't run, run because they ordered 40,000 medals. Ally Brettnacher: like, well you can have it because why? We don't know what to do with them. Mike Heard: They boxed it and they sent me race program, the, the, Ally Brettnacher: that's kind of Mike Heard: The space blanket. They bought all that stuff, so they just boxed it up and sent it to Ally Brettnacher: you run a virtual Mike Heard: No. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

I mean, some people did that. I, I did a virtual it was kind of fun actually. did it around my friend's houses, Like in Carmel Zionsville. But Mike Heard: But after that Ally Brettnacher: I was like, I'm never, I don't I don't, I I don't know how people By themselves Mike Heard: yeah. We, you know, it en ended up working out. 'cause then, uh, Cheryl had some, some surgery and so then there was just a lot to do after. And, and, and then I had to kind of REIT in shape for and now I'm a little heavier and I'm o three years older. Ally Brettnacher: That's a long, so long.

That's an eternity. Mike Heard: 57, 58. Wow. Yeah. When, when I ran Tokyo and so that was considerably slower. but like Cheryl tells me it, the same metal. And you didn't get passed by hamburger. So Yeah. So win. So the win all around and that was a super interesting, super interesting trip. Not my favorite course. 'cause they, they try to keep it efficient and so there's a lot of out and back. Ally Brettnacher: I've seen, it was hard for me to actually like try to track Tokyo. 'cause Mike Heard: it could you kind of run 10 k. from the government district into kind of the commercial part of the city.

And then you go out and back. Out and back. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: and Mike Heard: Like makes It Ally Brettnacher: yeah. I, I don't know that I would Mike Heard: those, those switchbacks are demoralizing too. 'cause you see how many people front of you. Mm-hmm. Ally Brettnacher: And Mike Heard: you Right. You also have this false sense of, oh, so I'm just gonna up here and turn around. It's like, no, it's, it's 5K up there and turn around. That's hard. So you're just waiting, waiting. Like, when do I get to Ally Brettnacher: turn around? Yeah. Yeah. That's hard. we're there still like COVID type protocols in Mike Heard: Tons, tons, tons.

Yeah. Uh, have to run with your which I don't run with usually. Okay. So I trained with a type of situation. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. But yeah, you had to, you had to keep taking COVID tests. I think I had to take three COVID tests while I was in country prove. And then, then you got like a green pass on your phone that you would show to get into the starters area. Ally Brettnacher: That's so Mike Heard: I, I was scared to death. Every time you take that COVID test, you're like, and it's not inexpensive to get over to Tokyo and a lot of time outta your, Ally Brettnacher: there had to be somebody there who Mike Heard: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: And that would be after it getting Three year you train again, then you get there, you might not even have symptoms and you test positive. That would be the Geez. Mike Heard: you also had to wear a mask in the starter's area and then. put on a mask or they would give you a mask when finished as well. Ally Brettnacher: Oh, woof. You're like, I'm trying to breathe. I know, Mike Heard: I know. Yeah. And you put the, on. But, but very, a very well run. It was, it was amazing. We stayed in a hotel right by the starting area, which it's like the Metropolitan Center.

It's like where the Tokyo City government Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Mike Heard: whole bunch of buildings and stuff. And that's the starters And you know, so we, so we, start, the race took a long time, then you kinda hanging out at the finish, get, connected with Cheryl, then you take a bus back to that starting area. No sign at all that sort of race. I mean, no trash, no all, all the porta-potties are gone. All the, the Wow. Like traffic gates and stuff. Yeah. All, all the fences that define gone. It was just like restored back to normal, and this would've been probably six or seven hours later.

Gone. Ally Brettnacher: Can you imagine being like the last person trying to run up all the stuff, Mike Heard: right? Right. It's like, let's Ally Brettnacher: They're like literally moving the cones, like as you're walking, running by 'em or whatever. Yeah. Wow. That's great though. Mike Heard: Super impressive. But, the other stressful e even though I didn't think my times would have me in trouble for it, but they have the hard gates that you have to hit the race. Oh. It isn't just like you have to finish and by this time seven hours or something. Every 5K there's a cutoff. Ally Brettnacher: I did not know Mike Heard: And yeah, and, and, and, and they run like a gold rope across the road.

And if you're behind the gold rope, there's a bus. And you get on and your okay and your day is done. Yeah. cause they want their streets back. Ally Brettnacher: Right? I was gonna say, well, no wonder they could get it all done. They're Mike Heard: yep. Yeah. Super efficient. So, so again, it's like, it's like weighs on you even though you're like, I'm not gonna be at that quick quicker than that. But it just weighs on you that like, what if I, Ally Brettnacher: I don't know, sprained my ankle, I've gotta walk Mike Heard: Yeah. Have a bad tie. It's just one of those days and um So you're like worried about, is the sweeper truck Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Mike Heard: for that gold rope to come across? ' cause you'd read about online people who didn't Oh, that's kind of, didn't get the memo. Which it's hard to believe because. They're pretty clear over and over. Yeah. These are the, these are the times. And sometimes people, when they start and they take pictures to people and have a great time, and then all of a sudden they get to the 5K mark and there's a rope their day is done. So, so part of it, part of it for people, this is a place where just stick, stick the business for the first half of the race and Ally Brettnacher: That you don't end up in trouble.

Yeah. Mike Heard: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: good advice. And so then when you go and you're getting your, did you wear a special bib that said It's my sixth It, they give you that, right? Yeah. That's cool. Mike Heard: Yeah, it's super cool. And I think there was something, something for us to pin on the back as as well. as well. Yeah. And a lot of people the name said, said stuff the race that getting your one. And then when you, you cross the finish line. They see it and they, they grab you Ally Brettnacher: special medal. Do you need to stay on a certain side of the finish line to get Mike Heard: they, they, no, Ally Brettnacher: they know, Mike Heard: they, they see it on your bib and they, they grab you and say You're over and they, they throw the, the, the Tokyo medal over you, and then they take you down and Abbot folks have a tent, they put the big metal on, which, which weighs like 200 pounds at, at the end of a, yeah.

End of a race. You're like how much farther do I have to walk with this? and then they do a bunch of photo ops I sent, I, I sent you one of 'em that was in the, that was in the, uh, finish shoot. Ally Brettnacher: so cool. Yeah. And you wore your Purdue single Mike Heard: I was, I was, sporting my Purdue Ingle. Yeah. Did you Ally Brettnacher: some, any boiler up throughout? You had to see somebody else that Mike Heard: I may have. I, I remember it. was crazy 'cause I, I think I sported the Purdue singlet in Berlin and in the first 400 meters, somebody from the side yelled boiler up.

And I'm like, seriously? Ally Brettnacher: Whoa. That's, so cool. Mike Heard: so cool. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. Mike Heard: certainly up in Chicago it All, day long. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Did you wear that for every, every one Mike Heard: one couple of my wore the CNO colors. Yeah. they, they, they made me some CNOs for the monumental Yeah. And they were just really I, I stuck with them. That interesting story on the, Purdue, , singlets. at the time when I was gonna run Berlin is when I wanted to, to sport some Purdue, but it's really hard to find. Singlet, you can find like cotton tank tops, And stuff like that.

But Ally Brettnacher: like a basketball Mike Heard: But yeah. But I really couldn't find any run. And, and I was at Mackey Arena for a game and I saw, Morgan Burke, who was the athletic director who's since passed away. And I, I ran into him and I, I said, Hey Morgan, here's, here's the thing. Is there a way I can buy running singlet? And I, I wanna represent Purdue over in Germany. And he's like, I'll take care of you. And he said, what, what's your email? He types it into his phone. was that. And I'm like, okay. I got a phone call two days later from the track and field coach at Purdue, and he said, what's your size?

Ally Brettnacher: Wow. Mike Heard: in the, in the mail, two days later, envelope, a gold one and a black one. Ally Brettnacher: Cool. Yeah, that's a great story. Mike Heard: Yeah. So that Morgan, Morgan Burke, the former Ally Brettnacher: that's Mike Heard: who's a great, that's very nice, really great guy. And he, Ally Brettnacher: buy them now? Like, that seems like something that they Mike Heard: I, I think now you can get, I thought Ally Brettnacher: with all the running stuff, Mike Heard: right. I thought locally I, I bought some, but these were like the track uniforms. special. Yeah. Which was, which was really Ally Brettnacher: Well, it's like you can buy a basketball jersey, right?

So like, why couldn't you buy even like a legit track and field one, you Mike Heard: and field one. Yeah. And I remember I sent him an email after, after I said, gosh, I'm so, so appreciative. Thank. And they didn't even ask for any money. He just said, Ally Brettnacher: just send it to Mike Heard: Because I told him I'm willing to buy whatever, if you could just direction. But he sent 'em to me and so I sent him a thank you email and I just got a, a two word email back from it. Just said, run fast. Ally Brettnacher: That's pretty cool. Mike Heard: Yeah.

Just said run fast, Morgan Burke. Ally Brettnacher: I like that a Mike Heard: a lot. Ally Brettnacher: Yes. You're like, okay, I'll try. That's fun man. And so did you have, were you emotional getting your six star? Were you just tired? Were, what was that feeling like to finally complete that journey? Mike Heard: I think because of the COVID thing, it was a little more of relief. Ally Brettnacher: yeah, that's Mike Heard: maybe oh, I chased it down and I got it. I think it was like, thank goodness something else didn't like, like you said, like that I didn't test positive and there was so much more to it than covering Ally Brettnacher: miles for the patient in Japan.

Yeah. That was the easy part. Mike Heard: Yeah. That was the easiest part. So there, there was a, a bit of, uh, a bit of relief. and then to be fair, not in the kind of shape I wanted to be for it. And so, and the time reflected mean, and so I was, I was. I was disappointed there. and, my wife Cheryl did a great job of talking me out of like, stop it. Yeah. Just stop it. Yeah. You cannot, you are kidding me? Big baby. Yeah. Come on. Ally Brettnacher: I would need the same talk though. It's hard. I mean, you know, do Mike Heard: Yeah.

you want you want finish strong, Ally Brettnacher: go out on a high note. Right. It's like, well, great. Thanks a lot COVID. Mike Heard: Yeah. And well, and father time, right? Who's undefeated, right? Ally Brettnacher: Undefeated. Mike Heard: Yeah. Undefeated. Yeah. I was, yeah, I was 12 or 13 years older than when I ran, started the So, Ally Brettnacher: yeah. And then you see all these nuts on social media who like somehow do it all in a year or something. You're just like, Whatever. Mike Heard: I mean, it, it, you know, we talked about this, it's fitting it into life. You know, it's different than an elite runner where this is your job, but if you're full-time job career and then having to fit this in, and then the logistics of getting into races and making the arrangements and getting time off of work just for the trip and then saying, okay, now I gotta weeks of intense Ally Brettnacher: so being on the board almost 10 years, it'll be 10 years next Mike Heard: Mm-hmm.

And Ally Brettnacher: then you'll be the president. And what made you join? It was just like you worked at CNO and they were like, you love running. Like, do this. Mike Heard: Yeah. we we had a, at CNO we had a pretty good kind of runners community. Ally Brettnacher: that's fun. Mike Heard: and so I tried to play a role there of getting people to come out the race to either compete, volunteer, do those kinds And then there's a, a group of us that used to run at gym over there with and then That's We were like mile from the monan. And So when they asked, I think it was, uh, I think it was Eric Johnson original, member of the board representing CNO.

And he asked me and, I was like, yeah, for sure. so got involved there and then, when, when we departed for Washington dc Cheryl and that's uh, John and Jed asked consider staying as an and so I joined all those We were all virtual meetings anyway. Right. So, Ally Brettnacher: um, I hadn't met you for like, years into being on the board. Mike Heard: Right. yeah. Does he Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. is he, real or is he Mike Heard: Yeah. Yeah. Who knows? He's, he's ai. and, and then it worked out great when we decided to come back, to Central Indiana. And so then, then I could be a little more.

involved and of the smaller events. Ally Brettnacher: Right. Oh, The Mike Heard: that kind of stuff. Ally Brettnacher: And for people who don't know what CNO insurance and that's do you spend pretty much your entire career after the Air Force in insurance? Mike Heard: Yeah. That, that, that, and that's kind of a weird one, right? Because, um, you know, I, I studied engineering in college and then I was a civil engineer in the Air Force. And so the next logical step is insurance. Right. That Exactly. doesn't make any sense Makes no sense. It makes no sense. But, um, when I was leaving, active duty at the time, general was hiring, officers coming out of the military and they were doing the Six Sigma program.

The, yeah. Process improvement thing. So they hired me, GE Capital at the time is where they they sent me to Richmond, had just purchased Life of Virginia Insurance and First Colony Insurance Company in, in Lynchburg, Virginia. And so I just figured, you know what, this is my way in. I'll do this and then I'll go make washing machines or light bulbs or clock Yeah. Medical equipment. Do the engineering thing later. But this is kind of my foot in the door. And then I was there insurance for 16 years, kind of wake up one morning and say, I insurance now. Pretty much, um, Yeah. Huh. Yeah.

What ha how did, how did this happen? Um, but yeah, I, I did, uh, six Sigma for a while and then. Ally Brettnacher: And you don't just have the black belt. What's the one called? Mike Heard: uh, actually a master black belt. That's right. Funny story in, in Richmond, Virginia. So my girls were little at the time, and there were these two twin boys, that lived in the neighborhood that they used to terrorize with their big wheels, that the four of them would be all over the neighborhood. Well, you know how sometimes, you know, parents can get curious and they kind of use their kids to find things out about the neighbors.

Ally Brettnacher: well, I would never do that. Mike Heard: so. Yeah. So the, so these little boys are a, are asking my daughters, what does your dad do? Ally Brettnacher: oh, I see where Mike Heard: going. Yeah. And they said, oh, he's a, he's a master black And they, they said, no, no, no, no, no. But like, like. job is Master So those folks never gave me any because they're like, that Ally Brettnacher: amazing. Mike Heard: He, he's like this some kind of sensei or something, you know, master black belt. Ally Brettnacher: he's like in the CIA or like Mike Heard: Yeah. So they never gave me any trouble, you know, never parked their cars in front of my house.

So Ally Brettnacher: that Mike Heard: is Yeah, Ally Brettnacher: that's the I love that. Yeah. Wow. Oh my gosh. Mike Heard: But yeah, so it, it, you know, insurance, administration and technology, so like customer service billing and that's kind of stuff I've done pretty much my whole yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, And like we could talk about AI for the next 90 and all the Mike Heard: Yeah. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: And then, well I'm gonna save this because it's part of the end of the podcast So I'm gonna ask you the end of the podcast now late for me. People are waiting for Mike. Mike Heard: No, I told them I would be late.

Ally Brettnacher: gonna be late. So what is your favorite running song? And or mantra. Mike Heard: I don't, I'm not, I don't really have a mantra Ally Brettnacher: Run fast. I liked that. Oh. I was like, I would, Mike Heard: I know more. Yeah. We need to, we need to quote Morgan Burke. Morgan Burke run fast. which I actually admired the simplicity of the message. Right, right, exactly. And people told me Morgan was, was a, uh, champion of the short email. He was not a wordy. Ally Brettnacher: great. Like, I don't need to be like, Hey, hope you're having a great day. Mike Heard: Yeah.

Just like run. Tell me, run fast. Run fast Morgan. It might have even been mb I think it was just signed mb. but, but my go-to song is also my walkup song, anytime I'm but is, uh, lose Yourself that. Yeah. You come to that. Yeah. and then if I need pace, uh, Mr. Blue Sky that. I Ally Brettnacher: I don't, I, maybe I would have to Mike Heard: It's like super heavy beating if you that. Somewhere shows up in the mix in my headphones at an appropriate time. on pace. But Lose Yourself is the one that I, I can even kind of, instead of a mantra that kind of plays In, my head when I'm struggling.

Ally Brettnacher: Yep. That's a good one. Okay. And then next finish line or milestone, I was gonna take this opportunity congratulate you on your recent promotion as part of the but you're no longer at CNO, you're at Davies, Mike Heard: Yep. A firm called Davies Group. We, so we do a lot of that administration for insurance Ally Brettnacher: Gotcha. Okay. Okay. If, Yeah. And you just got promoted. Mike Heard: congrat. yeah. yeah, yeah. It's, it, it exciting. I was, I was doing things for the life and health business and they've asked me do that for North America. Cool. So Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: And then finish line.

Are you signed up for anything right Mike Heard: now? I'm not. Ally Brettnacher: mean, now you got a big job. Mike Heard: I, I'm just, I'm just trying to work, work on a plan right now, to be honest, back into markers will all point in the right get it. And so it, it, it is hard though because of the age thing, putting on some extra pounds and so you go out and you do it and it's really discouraging. now for me, running a couple miles is like, it used to be running 12 miles. and so I, I've gotta fight through that. So I'm, I'm just trying to get up to like regular running by the monumental, Whatever the distance is.

EE even if it's, I can go out and run four or five miles. Great, great, great. That, that's, so that's the goal right now, but no. Time race, metal, Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. Huh. And the next milestone for monumental, yeah. Wait, it's gonna be September, October. So the, we have the Beyond Monumental Kids Movement Kids K September 20th, is that right? Mike Heard: Right. Then the, then the half Ally Brettnacher: and the half Mike Heard: 30th year. Isn't that crazy? Yeah. Yeah. And then, yeah, and then marathon, which is, and, and that's been to me, one of the, one of the gifts I think of me not being, good, like race condition is the chance to volunteer.

Yes. And, um, kind of see the race from that side and just how inspiring Because when, when you run, you're around, you bump into a dozen people, And then you finish and you get out of there and, and rehabilitate. But at the finish line, you, you see almost everybody come across that line and everybody's got a story. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Mike Heard: And, uh, it's, you know, people fighting health, people running with their mother or whatever it is, it's just so to, to see them all come in like that. Yeah. so that to me, that that's been a real gift or an up upside of me not competing is to be able to be involved with that.

Ally Brettnacher: yeah. This year, Mike, I was like, okay, this year I'm running the Marine Corps on Mike Heard: 26th. Mm. Ally Brettnacher: so and so, I was like, I'm gonna just volunteer. I'll And then we launched the legacy and I was like, oh, I need my medallion. Mike Heard: I know, I know. Ally Brettnacher: I know, I know. So now I'm running the half with Ashley Mike Heard: Yeah. Is there a, is there a prize? Right. Yeah, yeah, Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So I, because it's true, like I run every year, I love our events, and so, but then it's like, can take a year off and just dedicate the time to volunteering.

Yeah. Which I will, I promise at some point. Mike Heard: But But Ashley won't. Ally Brettnacher: I don't think so. Mike Heard: probably running right now, probably. Yeah, Ally Brettnacher: She literally is. Yeah. For sure. Well, thank you so much for doing this, Mike. It was a Mike Heard: It does. Thank now. Yeah. Thanks for having me. Ally Brettnacher: Of course, of course. And thanks to everybody who listened Mike Heard: Thanks to everybody who listened Thank you. Yay. Ally Brettnacher: If you enjoyed this episode of Finish Lines and Milestones from Sandy Boy Productions, please share with a friend rate on iTunes, on Spotify, and review.

It means a lot. Also, if you have not signed up for the 30th, running of the Indie half, and you are local to this area, wait no longer, go to beyond monumental.org to register today. It's gonna be a blast. And I am hosting a Taylor Swift themed Shake It Off, shake Out, run on October 3rd, the day before, because that's the day her 12th Studio album comes out. And I just had to do it. So if you're local, join me there too. And then in. November for the monumental marathon. Big things coming. I can't wait to tell you about an event that we're gonna have to celebrate the Monumental Marathon.

So the Day of the Race, a live podcast event with Lindsay Hein at the Bottleworks Hotel. Super excited to tell you who's gonna be joining us for that, and you'll have to just wait to find out. but thanks again for listening and I'll see you next week. Bye

Ally Brettnacher