Episode 3: Christi Dee - Chasing Unicorns and Finish Line Feelings

Episodes

Apr 21

Christi Dee of Carmel, Indiana just earned her sixth star at the Boston Marathon. She talks about the long road to a BQ at 41 and the even bigger goals she's chasing next.

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About this episode

Christi Dee is a friend from Carmel, Indiana who just finished the 2023 Boston Marathon and earned her Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star medal, joining a group of just over 1,200 American women. She has run 39 marathons and 12 ultramarathons, including Chicago 12 times, and she qualified for Boston at age 41 after missing once by just 46 seconds.

We recorded at the Carmel Public Library, and we talk about her Boston weekend, the 10-year anniversary of the Boston bombing, how she went from dreading the mile in fourth grade to peer-pressured Mini-Marathon finisher, her move into ultras, and her work behind the scenes with the Full Mo 50K and Prairie on Fire. She also shares why she never runs with music and her plan to run all seven continents, finishing in Antarctica the year she turns 50.

In this episode, we discuss

What made the 2023 Boston Marathon weekend so special, from the Uber ride in to the finish on Boylston
Running Boston for fun and steady pacing, and placing higher than her bib number
Meeting Joan Benoit Samuelson and receiving the Six Star medal at the finish
The 10-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing and my dad's experience running in 2013
Missing a Boston qualifier by 46 seconds before finally earning a BQ as a masters runner
Charity runners at Boston and why the start line is for everybody
A car accident her senior year of high school that shattered both arms and ended her soccer season
Getting peer pressured into the 2006 Indianapolis Mini-Marathon and catching the running bug
Her first marathon at Chicago in 2008 and running Chicago 12 times
Tokyo and London canceled during COVID, and running Tokyo and Boston six weeks apart
Running 40 miles on her 40th birthday
Her first ultra at the HUFF 50K on muddy trails at Chain O'Lakes State Park
Helping TJ Daley organize the Full Mo 50K on the Monon Trail and the Prairie on Fire backyard ultra
Getting up at 4 a.m. every day and why she never runs with music
Being a stepmom, her favorite mantras, and her goal to run all seven continents by age 50

Chapters

00:00 · Intro
03:00 · Boston Marathon weekend
09:00 · Placing higher than her bib number
11:00 · Meeting Joan Benoit Samuelson and the Six Star medal
13:00 · Charity runners and Boston
20:00 · 10 years after the Boston bombing
24:00 · How she started running
28:00 · Chicago and the World Marathon Majors
32:00 · COVID cancellations in Tokyo and London
35:00 · 40 miles on her 40th birthday
37:00 · Getting into ultras
41:00 · The Full Mo 50K and Prairie on Fire
47:00 · 4 a.m. alarms and running without music
50:00 · Being a stepmom
54:00 · Mantras and seven continents
57:00 · Giving back with Ainsley's Angels

Where to find Christi

Instagram: @thisblonderuns

Mentioned in this episode

Races: Boston Marathon, Abbott World Marathon Majors, Chicago Marathon, New York City Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, London Marathon, Indianapolis Mini-Marathon, Carmel Marathon, Monumental Marathon, HUFF 50K, Full Mo 50K, Prairie on Fire Backyard Ultra, Ragnar Relay, Indiana Women's Half Marathon
Organizations and charities: Perfect Strangers running group, Ainsley's Angels, Shift Lab Cycle Club, Carmel Public Library, DePauw University
Other: Joan Benoit Samuelson, Des Linden, Eliud Kipchoge, Inkbox temporary tattoos, Monon Trail, Bub's Burgers, Sun King

Previous guests mentioned

Related episodes

Frequently asked

Who is Christi Dee?

Christi Dee is a runner from Carmel, Indiana who has run 39 marathons and 12 ultramarathons and completed all six Abbott World Marathon Majors at the 2023 Boston Marathon.

How many American women have earned the Six Star medal?

Christi Dee said that when she finished Boston in 2023, about 12,000 people worldwide had completed all six World Marathon Majors, including just over 1,200 American women.

How did Christi Dee qualify for the Boston Marathon?

Christi Dee worked toward a Boston qualifier for years, once missing by 46 seconds, before finally earning her BQ at age 41 as a masters runner.

What is Christi Dee's next big running goal?

Christi Dee plans to run a marathon on all seven continents, doing one every other year and finishing in Antarctica the year she turns 50.

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Transcript

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

Welcome to Finish Lines and Milestones with Ally Brettnacher incredible stories and tales of triumphs with everyday people achieving their goals in fitness. This podcast brought to you by Athlete Bouquets. Celebrate finish lines and milestones of the people that you love by visiting athlete bouquets.com.

Hello and welcome to episode three of Finish Lines and Milestones. I'm Ally Brettnacher, and we are coming off of the high of the Boston Marathon, which was this last Monday. I felt like I'm the only person in the whole world who didn't run according to my Instagram feed, but I did watch it on TV while in Florida.

I was in a pool and I had my phone on the side while I was watching Sydney dive for toys. So. What a, what a race, what a vibe. Uh, I just feel all the energy from that. And so I knew this episode had to be with my friend Christy D, who just got her sixth star. So if you're not familiar with the world, major marathons, they have a program where if you run all of them, all six of them all across the world, then you are in this special club whi, which Christie tells me she's one of only 1200 American women.

To have done this, and she's just like you and me, a person working. She is from Carmel, Indiana. We met through my running coach and this episode really left me so high on her energy, her stories about the big goals she is setting for herself after completing this monumental achievement. And I think you're really gonna love this conversation with Kristi.

All right. I am here with Chrissy d and this is a real upgrade. I'm not in a closet. We're actually at the Carmel Public Library, and it's amazing. It's beautiful. We're in a digital media lab and there's this nice actual recording studio, so hopefully it'll sound better, but it's certainly more fun for us.

I didn't want poor Christie to have to come to my house and huddle in my closet. So Christie is fresh off the Boston Marathon. And she is, if you might follow her, she's at this blonde, runs on Instagram. She's a 39 time marathoner, 12 Ultra marathons, Boston qualifier at age 41, and she just got her sixth star and I actually, I don't remember how we met.

Do you remember how we met? I think Rachel introduced us like via email. It was just, you know. She was helping me make connections for the fomo. That's right. Okay. Yeah, and I feel like I feel a little stalkerish. I don't know if I told you about this when we first got coffee, but I remember I, I worked at Salesforce ExactTarget with Maggie Dials.

Oh, okay. And I would see her share about the Perfect Strangers Oh, nice. Which I actually didn't even include in. The questions I sent you, but that's how I remember seeing you in that group and being like, they are so cool. I wish I could be in that group. So that was so long ago. It was so fun. So I'm glad we're now friends.

So thank you so much for doing this. We're here. We have shakes, we're ready to go. So I'm gonna let you talk about Boston first because I feel like that's. Selfishly what I wanna hear most about and then we'll kind of roll through some of your other stories that you have about all things running in life.

So, alright, take it away. Sounds good. Well first of all, thank you Allie, for having me. This is a little bit outside my comfort zone, kind of getting into the depths of, you know, my journey and the story and everything. Um, but I really appreciate it and I admire you for putting yourself out there and getting this podcast started.

I appreciate it. So yeah, here we are. And it's like literally like so hard to know where to begin with Boston. Um, it was everything I had been looking forward to and more, you know, back many years ago, it was hard for me to even believe that I could get the BQ to find myself at that starting line one day.

So to be there, I just was interested in soaking it all in from like the first day our plane landed until we took off. It was a whirlwind. One thing, first I'll have to say is Boston knows how to show up. We got in the Uber, uh, from the airport and immediately our Uber driver was like talking about the marathon and you know, how exciting the whole, like the, it all was with the, um, the scene and everything and how every year was his tradition to go down to the finish line and spectate.

So immediately he started. Feel like just the energy of the city. And of course I've run in various cities all over the world, but the energy and the vibe was like so condensed within Boston that, you know, it's just everywhere you, you look, there was runners and you could just feel it was, um, it was just a really good, good feeling.

More like. You know, New York or Tokyo, it's, it's more spread out. So it's not like everywhere you go is it like groups of runners. But, you know, I had, you know, worked really hard to get a BQ for many years. There was a couple times I missed it by just a couple of minutes. There was heartbreaking miss by 46 seconds.

So to finally get there, you know, as a masters runner. It meant a lot last year. So I was really excited for that. And you know, before I go any further, I just need to thank my husband for supporting me through this whole thing. I haven't always had a sport and relationships, um, for, you know, these big, you know, kind of goals that I've had.

And so it's been really important, um, and special for me to have, you know, someone that was willing to just like travel the world and just like do it and encourage me to keep going. So one of my favorite things about traveling to run is, um, starts like in the airport before you even board the flight, you start looking around and seeing who else is traveling.

Um, you might fi see someone like reading a Runner's World magazine or like the new Dez book peeking out of someone's backpack or whatever. So kind of like is a little bit of a game that we start playing. Mm-hmm. You know, even in the airport before we, we depart, I like looking at the shoes. I look at people shoes and you're like, okay, for sure ho.

I see your hocus. Exactly, exactly. Um, my favorite thing about the majors is meeting all the fun people and just being around like-minded individuals. I mean. Runners getting to a start line. Um, we've all gone through something similar to get ourselves there and it's not been easy and there's probably been heartbreak along the way.

Um, triumph along the way as well. But for each of us to achieve our own success, whatever that might look like, you know, is just something that connects you to others. And that's something that's always been. Really inspiring for me. You just kind of look around and, and know that you, you're connected to these people forever, even though you'll never meet them really fully.

And for Boston in particular, you know, wicked fast runners, the whole course. It was, it was pretty inspiring to know that those were the fastest runners in the world that I was competing with on Monday. So most of the races that I've done, I've, I've had to navigate all the logistics. By myself, you know, um, getting to the expo, figuring out the protocols, getting to the start.

But over the past just couple of years, I've been able to do some of these big races with some of my friends. So, Chicago 2021. Jill Holsclaw was there and we also experienced New York City together last November. Um, and then for Boston it was super fun to ride on the bus with Rachel Senders. Who is your coach?

Lindsay Walty. Molly Bruner, and a new person. I met my new friend now, Alyssa Lozier. Uh, it was fun to share the anticipation with these people who I admire so much. So I think that that started to like add some, the icing on the cake for how exciting the whole experience was. So was my first Boston, of course, but it definitely won't be my last.

I soaked it all in. I enjoyed it. I. Held back. My, my main two goals were to run steady and to have a blast. Mm-hmm. And have so much fun. And I accomplished both those things. I was so worried about the Newton Hills. You hear about Heartbreak Hill, you know, it's the most notorious, but actually it wasn't the hardest.

The first hill was actually harder, but I think my legs really enjoyed the difference in elevation. So getting the chance to use different muscles, you know, running uphill and down. I definitely know that I had some. Something left even at the end of the race. So you don't always wanna feel that way, but I'm glad I also didn't crash and burn.

So, yeah. Um, now once you know a course, then you're able to kind of analyze and go back and figure out how you want to execute the next time. Mm-hmm. You run the race. So that's how I, uh. I looking at that one day I'll good you, I'll get to be back there. That's gotta be, I think, not putting the pressure on yourself to try to BQ at Boston.

To me it's absolutely incredible when people do that. Mm-hmm. But I respect you for enjoying every moment of that experience that you earned. Yeah. Well, one thing, you know, because Boston runners, you know, always have to like up the ante a little bit. Yeah. One of the things that you can do besides PR or BQ in Boston is you wanna place higher than your BIB number.

Oh, I have seen posts about that. Yeah. So I did accomplish that. Okay. There you go. I don't even remember what your bid number was. Yeah, I know. I mean, it was. Middle of the pack. I mean, I'm still That's great. Certainly not the fastest person out there, but yeah, at a place higher than my bib number. That, that was something That's a thing in Boston.

Oh yeah. That's funny. So yeah, around the finish area, there's all kinds of, you know, motivational signage from all the stores and like, um, banners and all kinds of things. And one of 'em was along the side of the building on Boyleston and it said, running Boston changes you. And I just looked up at that every day.

We walked around the finish area, um, just taking it all in. And when I took that left on Boyleston and saw that sign and I was at the end of running Boston, I did feel changed. It was something that I worked for my whole life. You're gonna make me cry. That's a tattoo right there. True. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Ugh.

And you know, like, of course the race was the big reason we were there, but you know, all of the, um, events leading up to it, you know, we watched, um, a De and Kara podcast taping. I went to a des book signing, like going to the Red Sox game and just hanging out with friends the whole weekend. It was just like.

Amazing. Did you do any of the shakeout runs? I did. So Abbott had a shakeout run for the six star hopefuls, uh, that were there. Oh, cool. So, uh, the, the big celebrity that was there is Mike Ian. Uh, he ran with us and so I chatted with him about Ultras afterwards and so he is like, oh, you're a marathon and ultra runner too.

And so it was just kind of fun to connect, um, you know, with all these different people. I ran into Joan. Benno Samuel said, oh my gosh, I saw that picture and was like twice. You saw her twice. Yeah. So she was just walking down the street. And I'm not shy when it comes to that because I, I mean, when you see these women, they've paved the way for me to be here where like.

Doing these things for all of us to hit these start lines and, and finish lines and, um, you know, so I'm just compelled to say thank you. So I said, did you just hug her? Like, I feel like it'd be so, like, I know. Just wanna hug you. It's a little bit awkward going up to someone, but, um, I, I did lead with, I just wanna thank you for everything you've done for us and then ask for a photo that's amazing.

Yeah. And then she was, she works for Abbott, so she was in the Abbott booth when we got her six star medal right at the end of the finish line. So that was a really surreal moment as well. Yeah. Oh, I wanna see, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go get it. Okay. I wanna look at it. Okay. So I made, I made Christie bring her medal.

I'm actually surprised you're not wearing it. This is pretty heavy though. Yeah. Okay. So I'm holding the Abbott World Majors, world Marathon Majors, six star finisher medal. Holy crap. That's so beautiful in person. So can you go, like, will you, what are you gonna do with this besides wear it for the next month?

You know, I'm, you know, my husband might get mad if I sleep in it, I don't know, but just turn around and clang him in the face with it. Sorry. So at home I have a giant full wall display of all my running, you know, paraphernalia, the metals bib. S course maps, banners, different things that I've collected over all these years, and so that will get its own special shadow box over to the side of the regular metal stand.

So I'll send a photo to you when it's all said and done. Do you have one picked out already? I do. Yeah. Okay. Oh yeah. I mean, of course. Yeah. And then the Boston medal is just, I've actually never held a Boston medal because I've never qualified for Boston either, which is why you're so inspiring to me because I'm 36, 37.

I don't, I am 36 or three seven, so I've, I feel like there's inspiration there for me to, you know, continue to gain strength and speed and get there someday. Because it's, it's hard. I ran New York for charity, but I feel like Boston has a, there's this weird, like charity runners. It's just kind of weird.

How do you feel about that? So I believe that if you're gonna do whatever it takes, whether it's qualify or raise money, and that's the way you can get there, then the start line's for everybody. I think that if that's the way it works for you, then go for it. But I do know that there is that stigma, you know, it's like, oh, they're just a charity runner.

But no, everybody still has to train. Yeah, everybody still has to run from the start to the finish to become a Boston marathoner. So, you know, we're not all gifted with speed or you know, like just the natural ability. Mm-hmm. And, um, but yet people are allowed to dream big for what works for them. And I think that that is, you know, appropriate for, you know, whoever needs to do that.

Go for it. Well said. Yeah. Shout out to Bailey Smith who I, uh, she reached out to me and was raising money, and so I donated a bouquet to her and she raised over $15,000. That's incredible. In honor of her sister. And it was just so cool to support her and she crushed it. So That's incredible. And that's inspiring in its own, its own right.

Right. Yeah, man. Um, all right, I'm gonna put these down before I keep clanging around. I'm surprised you're not wearing them still. Really? I, I mean, continue to wear my marathon medal around. Just, you know, the jacket for Boston makes it nice and easy. How are you feeling about the color? So for those of you who maybe haven't seen it, which I can't imagine, 'cause on Instagram it's everywhere, but it's this like light sky blue, almost like a dusty blue this year.

How do, what are your feelings? So at first I was a little bit disappointed that it wasn't the classic blue and yellow, but the, the, this color scheme has definitely grown on me. Um, and it couldn't be more special because, you know, I've like never worn a Boston jacket before and full disclosure, I've, uh, worn it about four days this week.

So, um, you know, getting my money's worth out of that. Mm-hmm. Um, but yeah, no, the colors are great. Um, and I'm glad you know, I'm also wearing a Boston T-shirt and it is in the classic blue mm-hmm. And yellow. So I'm glad they incorporated some of those, you know, pieces within the collection. But. Yeah, I won't trade that jacket for the world.

It is pretty, I do think it's pretty. That color is amazing. Looks good on you. Oh, thanks. Um, and before we started recording, and I mentioned this, um, when Boss, it'll change you or what that mural said, but before we started recording, I noticed, I forgot that, that Christie had tried out a tattoo before the race using Inkbox, which I love.

I've done that for race tattoos and I'm trying to figure out how to make race tattoos. But anyway, um, but she's got six stars like on her. Forearm, like the side of your arm? Mm-hmm. That's really cool. I think you should do it. How are you feeling about it? I have, or just that one? I just did this one. Um, I've tried it out before, like down the, uh, middle, middle of my forearm.

Mm-hmm. Um, I'm not a hundred percent sure yet. Uh, if you asked my husband, he would've driven me to the tattoo parlor straight from the finish line. Well, that's why I thought, I was like, oh my gosh. You did, you got a tattoo while you were there. But, um, I'm still thinking about it. Yeah. Yeah. It's kind of a big decision.

It's, it's, I've never been like someone that was like, oh yeah, let me go get a tattoo. So to commit to it would be a big deal to me. Yeah. Now that I got one recently, I'm like getting a it for a running related one. We'll see, I don't know. I don't know. So what else do you wanna tell us about Boston? We got, um, a lot to cover because you're just so fricking amazing.

I don't know about that, but come on. Boston was amazing. That's, um, yeah, I, I just. I've read all of these recaps from other people on Instagram, from their race experience and everything, and I attempted to start to write my own and it was just like all over the place and long and, you know, winded because it's almost, you know, hard to come up with the words.

That explain it and that's not helpful. Here, sitting here, you're wanting to hear, we hear from me. We need your words now. Thanks. Yeah. Um, but yeah, I mean, it, it was just, it was very special for so many, so many reasons. And you know, there are so many inspiring people that. Can continually qualify for Boston.

And I just look up to those people so much and just to rub shoulders with them, um, you know, through 26.2 miles and just how the city shows up. I mean, I already touched on that a little bit. Mm-hmm. But every mile was a different vibe. Um, the Wellesley Scream Tunnel, just like you hear it coming from like a half mile away, our weather wasn't that great.

Yeah. So we had miss. In like rain and whatnot. The good thing was we never had a. Strong headwind. So that can be a big factor in Boston because with it being a point to point, basically a straight line, if the wind's going in the wrong direction, you're screwed. So, um, thankfully we didn't have that. I've run in the rain before, so that wasn't a big deal.

You know, I. Basically partied up Heartbreak Hill, you know, with all the spectators. Um, and, you know, loved seeing my friends and my husband along the course a couple of times. I was gonna ask about that. Where is your husband's Rob? Yes. So Rob is spectator extraordinaire. He, uh, has seen me. As many as eight times in Chicago.

Uh, wow. He figured out how to navigate the subway in Tokyo and saw me six times. And so even for it being a point to point straight race, he was able to find two different locations. So, um. That's, you know, put, puts in a lot of effort to figure out as well. Yeah, yeah, yeah. A different type of marathon.

Mm-hmm. Trying to find your marathoner. Right. For sure. And I will say that another really special point of this Boston Marathon is the fact that it was the 10 year anniversary of the Boston bombings. Yeah. Um, so there was some things going on throughout the weekend, commemorate that, and to remember those, the, those who were lost and the survivors.

Mm. Uh, Netflix released a documentary the night before and I watched half of it before we went to Boston and finished the other half upon our return. And, you know, it just, it was good to find ways to pause and remember. That, you know, horrid event 10 years ago, the memorials, the first time we walked up on them, I brought tears to my eyes.

Mm-hmm. So, you know, always remembering that people have overcome so much, you know, within that city to keep that marathon and that spirit alive. Yeah. Yeah. I watched the documentary too. It was, it was, I mean, just really intense. Mm-hmm. And I've never been to Boston during the marathon. And I want to go and spectate and be there, but I just think about all, you know, most, a lot of the people that were hurt were people just there.

Mm-hmm. Being that loving support to their marathon or people just walking by the marathon and mm-hmm. Yeah. My, I can't remember, I don't know if you know, my dad was there the year Oh, I of the bombing he ran, yeah. Oh, wow. Yeah. So he, um, it was his first Boston and my mom went out there with him. And so I was in Chicago for a work conference and my husband, Zach called me.

He had gotten a call from our friend Justin, who lived in Boston at the time. 'cause he knew my dad was running. Oh gosh. And so he called Zach to tell him what was going on and Zach called me and just said, Hey, have you talked to your dad? And I'm like, no, he's running. He's like, I know. Do you know what's going on?

No. And he's like, there's been, he's explains to me there's been a bombing, and in my mind I have no idea what to even visualize. Mm-hmm. Right. You know, I'm picturing, I don't know what to picture. I'm picturing like hundreds of pe you know, which really it was right. Hundreds of people injured and, and I asked him if there were people that had been killed and he said yes.

And so I like felt so sick to my stomach, like that feeling you get when somebody you love is like in trouble. And so I called my mom. And this is actually kind of a lighthearted part of the story. I call my mother and I'm like, have you talked to dad? And she says, yes. And I'm like, okay. And I'm like, there's been an explosion at the finish line.

'cause at that time, I don't think they really, they were saying it was a bombing. I think it was an explo. They didn't know. They, I think they kind of knew, but weren't publicly saying that it was a terrorist attack. And then she's like, well, I'm at the mall and I see the finish line store and there's nothing going on.

I'm like, mom. I mean, are you kidding me? So anyway, that's funny. Um, but yeah, so for him, he went back the following year and you know, like many people, like a big middle finger to the horrible people that did that to such an amazing community. Right. And so, so how special for your first Boston Yeah. To be at the 10th year of that?

So it's really cool. So 10 years ago, um. I think the Boston Marathon and the bombing was like the weekend before Carmel Marathon, and I was running Carmel Marathon that year. Oh yeah. And so several of us, from the Perfect Strangers, we wore signs on our back, like Boston Strong. Mm-hmm. And somewhere I got a Boston Strong, like stretchy, like rubber bracelet.

And I found it, uh, right before we were leaving last week. So I wore it. Uh, through the whole weekend and it That's cool. Had the day on it, you know, four 15, uh, 13. Mm-hmm. So, um, that was a good reminder and it's something that I, you know, held with me personally through the whole weekend, just as a, you know, memory and, you know, reminder of, of where that city's been.

Yeah. Now I wanna know how you worked up to your Boston qualifier. 'cause I think a lot of people want to be like, well, there's no way I could ever qualify. But it doesn't take a year of hard training. It takes years of effort and every year it gets harder and harder even to qualify. So could you talk a little bit about how you trained?

To get to the, the point where you did qualify. Yeah, absolutely. You know, I can start from, you know, way back from when I was a child, if you want me to. Mm-hmm. Well, or I think it would be helpful too to just Yeah. Have some context as to how you even became interested in running. Yeah, let's, let's take it back.

So, I definitely wasn't born with, um. Major athletic ability or talent in, in running, um, fields. Um. But I was born with a level of stubbornness that if I decided something was going to happen and I was going to improve at something, that's what was going to happen. And so I had that innate, um, ability within me.

Um, always you can ask my mom about, you know, how stubborn I was as a kid. But the running thing, it was always intimidating. I mean, I remember in fourth grade we were supposed to run a mile in gym class and I pleaded and begged my mom to let me call in sick that day. I did not wanna run the mile. It sounded, you know, overwhelming, intimidating.

I didn't wanna be like, heaven forbid, be last. But hey, no one cares, right? Yeah. Um, but of course, you know, in the eighties, uh, my mom wasn't about to let me call in sick unless, you know, my arm was hanging off or something like that. Yeah. So, um. You know, beyond that, right? Slowly after that I started to get into playing soccer and I improved slowly through soccer and, you know, running became easier just, you know, naturally through playing that game.

I played soccer all the way through high school. And, um, my senior year in high school, I was in a really bad car accident. Um. Before our season had even started, we had started practicing, but um, the season hadn't started yet. And, um, both my arms were shattered. So I was out of my soccer season until the very last game.

And so, you know, I lost a ton of, you know. Um, confidence and ability and just desire to even be a part of the sports world just through that whole experience because it was, you know, kind of heartbreaking to just miss your entire senior Yeah. Season. So, you know, going into college, I, I wasn't doing much more than intramural this or that and, you know, um.

I heard you talking about, you know, the rec center that you would frequent at your college. I went to DePauw University, so Oh yeah. It's really like similar to, I've heard that Miami and DePauw Yeah. Are pretty similar. Yeah. So unlike you, I rarely stepped foot into the rec center and, you know, um, in our sorority we would sometimes do like aerobic videos on, on TV or whatever, but that was like the extent of like my.

Sports. Yeah. Well that's funny. So, um, then in 2006, um, as typical 26 year olds do, I got peer pressured into running the mini marathon. Oh, yes, yes. So there was like a group of like six or eight friends, and I was the last one to buy into this whole idea because I was literally like, do you guys understand how far 13 miles is?

And I couldn't wrap my mind around it. But again, 26, you get peer pressured and if everybody's doing it, you know, no fomo. Right? Yeah. So yeah, we ran the mini marathon in 2006 and I did not stop running after that. I just, the just. The bug bit me, real bad, real bad that it was the, oh man, a slow, slow, slow half marathon.

But that finish line feeling was something that I wanted to chase for the rest of my life. Um, you know, out of that group of friends that ran, I'm the only one that's still running and by a long shot, a couple of them ran a few more half marathons and then just kind of fell off. Um. My first marathon was 2008 Chicago.

Since then, I've run Chicago 12 times. Oh my Lord. Um, to me, I know that you, you love the monumental, and to me, Chicago was my home course. Mm-hmm. Um, because of being my first and just kind of, um, there is always, there's always a piece of your heart that's left at the finish line of your first marathon.

Mm-hmm. Um, so I've always looked forward to that every year, you know? In Chicago. That's when I first started to learn about the World Marathon Majors. Hmm. It was a new concept. It sounded really prestigious, you know, like the, like golf has its majors and that kind of thing. And back then there was only five.

So Tokyo wasn't added until a few years later. But I did think it would just be cool to one day complete them all. It wasn't like really anything official yet. It was just something that kind of started to sprout in my brain. You know, there's these majors, so when those be the ones you want to go run around, you know the world.

Yeah. And do two of my favorite things. Run and travel. Um, so when Tokyo was added in 2013 and it became the Sixth World Majors, it was shortly thereafter that they created the official kind of like six. Star series. And this became something that I thought was really cool because it was a way that they rewarded the elite athletes that you can earn points and then therefore like prize money.

Mm-hmm. For where you place and if you win like a certain amount of these majors or whatever. But it also just allowed the everyday runner to kind of reach for. A big goal. Yeah. And so that was cool. I'm glad that, you know, they made this like official series, but you know, like I said, even before that, you know, the little sprout in my brain was like.

Those are the ones I wanna run. Mm-hmm. And so, um, there was no question in my mind that I just wanted to like, figure out how to make that happen. And being really young and kind of like a new newer runner, it was really intimidating to consider, you know, traveling. And at the that time in my life, I would've had to be traveling alone to like figure this out.

Um, I hadn't met Rob yet. I had. I left a previous relationship and, um, I was like, well, I'm just gonna figure it out and do it on my own. Mm-hmm. And thankfully I didn't have to do that. I had someone, um, met Rob and was able to find that support network and a travel companion, um, to be able to pull all of that off.

But yeah, I, it's, it's taken all these years to figure out how to make it all happen. Most of the majors, their lotteries to get into. Mm-hmm. Um, and then of course, uh, we have Boston, which is the qualifying time. And yes, I was open to doing it as a charity eventually, if that's what it was gonna take, but last year I decided to give it that one last, you know, push to get that bq.

And so, um, I'm glad that that's the way my journey. Went. So as of just now with the finish of Boston, there's about 12,000 people in the world that have completed all six majors and just over 1200 American women. So I feel like I'm, oh my, that's really cool. A little small little group of the population.

So is there like a Facebook group? 'cause if not there's Facebook groups. We gotta about Facebook. Women running communities later. But yeah. Facebook group's website where you like have your whole runner's portal where it shows like you've accomplished all these things and you know, that kind of thing.

You can look up other people and, and see the whole entire list of all the finishers. Wow. So that's where I got get those stats from that Abbott, um, website. My other majors that I've run, I've run New York twice in 2014 and 2022. Berlin was in 2019. And Tokyo and London. Those were heartbreaking. The way that it went about with that, they were both scheduled for 2020.

Mm-hmm. And then, you know, COVID. Yeah. And Tokyo was the most heartbreaking out of that because they canceled the marathon literally two weeks to the day before we were supposed to leave. And so I had just finished my last 20 miler. You know, I had trained all through winter, and then it's like, bam. Uh, you're not going.

So, you know, obviously everybody in the world went through difficult times, you know, grasping with things being canceled or postponed or whatever in the world through that period of time. But, um, for me that was kind of like my biggest thing that was impacted. Thankfully. Finally, Tokyo was up and running again by 20 for 2023, which is what I just did six weeks ago.

And then another fundraise I wanna see just six weeks ago. I know it was six weeks, and then Boston. Geez. Yeah. Well, a funny thing is. That didn't intimidate me at all. I've run back to back marathons before on multiple occasions, and I've also run the, the Chicago, New York Double or Chicago Monumental Double, which are only four weeks apart.

The six weeks. It, it was a perfect amount of time. Yeah. Keep building up after, after Tokyo. Mm-hmm. But I wanted to talk about Ragnar because you mentioned that Oh, yeah. In one of your recent episodes, I've done one Ragnar and I'm dying to do another one. Okay. Ooh. So, oh, we got another girl on the bus. I heard you guys talking about that.

I was like, I'm gonna tell Allie I need to sign up. I'm on that team. Yeah. So, um, yeah, totally that. How, how are you free December 3rd? Probably, probably, I know that's the one I was eyeing, just because it's not right next to any, like, anything major. Yeah. Early December, you know, it's kind of the awkward time between Thanksgiving and Christmas and it'd be in Florida, which would be a nice break from our Midwestern winter.

Yeah. Okay. Where did you, where was yours? I did Michigan. Okay. And it was for one of my friend's, um, 40th birthday. I was in Van one. Um, I had one of the, um, most mileage. Of, of the runners. Makes sense. Yeah. And it was a week before Chicago one year. So can you imagine like taking your whole weekend? No sleep, running all the miles?

No. And then turning around and driving up to Chicago. Run a marathon? Not really. No, I can't. So I guess that's the kind of thing that I do. Yeah, it's just whatever, whatever. Yeah. Oh man. So that's cool. Yeah. Oh shoot. You said something that made me, oh, the 40th birthday thing. So. You ran. Tell me about the 40 on four.

I don't know. What did you call it? 40 and 40. 44. 40. 44 40. Yes. So that also happened in COVID. You know, we had to be real creative with kind of the fun things and the different challenges or goals that, you know, as runners who had all of our races canceled, had to come up with something. And for many years I had, you know, kind of like joked or kind of said, well, I'm just gonna run 40 miles on my 40th birthday.

And so it just. Became the perfect thing to do. And so I mapped out a route. I like had friends jump in and run different parts of it with me. Um, and at that time it was the longest run I'd ever done. I had done, um, many 50 ks before that, which is just at 31 miles. So just, yeah, going to the 40 mile mark was, was a really big step for me.

Um. But it was super fun. Such a fun day. And my birthday's in June, so I had to start early in the morning. Yeah, I bet. Oh my gosh. To kind of like beat the heat. Still finished midday. It was hot, you know, but, um, it was still fun. Yeah. Yeah, that's, I hopped at Bubs, uh, for a, a grilled cheese sandwich. Smart.

Yeah. So we just made a whole day out of it. Oh, that's funny. Be like text, I don't know, like text your friend and be like, I need a sandwich. Will you get it for me? Here you go. Hand it right off. The bubs is like right off our monan trail and caramel. And so you could just, you could probably just have it waiting.

Yeah. What did you, um, do to celebrate at the end of that 40 miles? So, um, I strategically ended at the Sun King Plaza. There we go. So, perfect. I had some friends meet me there and so we just hung out. And then, um, the next day as a surprise, we went out of town to visit my best friend in Charlotte the next day.

So that was kind of like the whole weekend celebration, couple days in Charlotte after that. Wow. What, what gave you the ultra bug? Like how did you get into that? Because for me, as somebody who's run a lot of half. Seven, I've done seven fulls. The, the ultra seems like, not like, I'm like, I can never do that.

Yeah. You know, at the end of that 26.2 miles, I'm like, I'm good. But I used to feel that way about 13. Sure. So, you know, tell, tell me about how you got into running Ultras. Yeah, I think it's just continuing to chase that feeling of the finish line, um, that I described earlier. Um. I started to realize that, you know, a, an official distance for an ultra was 50 K, and that was only a few more miles than 26.2.

And also the intriguing part was, you know, running on trails, which I hadn't ever really done. Mm-hmm. So my first ultra was the Huff, and that's in Albion, Indiana at Chao Lake State Park, and it was in December. So I had just trained for Chicago and monumental. So I was like basically trained up and you know, just a few weeks.

Later was this ultra. So I was like, I'm gonna sign up for this and go for it. Luckily at the time I had, uh, some friends that signed up to do the relay version. So we all went up there together and kind of had a fun day of it. It was muddy and painstakingly long and, but getting a peek into the ultra world was.

Very intriguing to me. Um, ultra runners are very different. Their mindset is completely different. And I like to feel proud that I can identify as both a road runner Right. And an ultra runner so I can make fun of both sides. Yeah. And a six star finisher, you know, it's like Got it all. Well, world runners are like super uptight.

Yeah. Like super tight, serious. A super just like buy the book all the things and. Ultra runners are laid back like, you know. Just gonna take what it is. Or like eating junk as their fuel. Like it doesn't matter, you know, your nutrition plan or your strategy, like all the, and the funny thing was driving up to Chain O'Lakes.

I'm like, you know what? I've never run on a trail in my life, but here we go. Let's run 31 miles. Oh my gosh, ever. That was like a different level of soreness after that. It, no, it wasn't. 'cause you kind of like, you pace yourself a little bit slower because of the technical aspect of trail running. Mm-hmm.

It is not gonna be these like super fast mile times that you find And that, I mean, for me, for like a regular person such as myself of course, like does Linden has the 50 K world record right now. And so like, I mean. Her that was faster than like any of my marathons I've ever run. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So, um, but yeah, for like us normal people just like navigating the technicality of, of trails kind of, you just like slow down naturally.

It's just a different mindset and I think occasionally my mind and my body needs the break from just like the uptight, rigid right training program and just to like get out into the woods and just, you know, enjoy being in nature for. 31 miles or whatever. Yeah. Yeah. And not pounding the pavement. Uhhuh, like, I think about that too as I get older and just like, I'm sure being on trails is a little gentler, but I'll never give up road racing as long as my body allows me to continue.

Oh, I totally, I'm sure you feel the same. Feel the same, but I am intrigued by the whole ultra scene. I, this is probably a good time to talk about the full MO too. Yeah. Because that's kind of how we officially met Uhhuh was when. My running coach, Rachel Senders, introduced me to you via email and was like, Hey, Christie helps organize this ultra marathon you should meet.

And I'm like, I recognized your name and thought, oh yeah, I finally get to meet her. So cool. And we got coffee and you told me about it and I helped. I can't remember what I did the first time we met. Did I? Like, I don't know. I made the age group awards or I did something Yeah. To sponsor, but it was the first time I'd ever heard of this race.

Not super new, but I feel like it's starting to, you know, grow and really gain traction. So how'd you get involved with the Full mo? Yeah, so the Full MO and our second Race Prairie on Fire. Mm-hmm. Which I'll also talk about. Started by MTC, Michigan Music Track Club Leader TJ Daley. Those are both his, like, you know, babies, um, that he started.

I met tj. We ran into each other at Orangetheory one time, and then we officially met in 2019 and we had seen each other, like out on the Monan, that kind of thing. Um, but then we became friends after we met, and he, it was right before I was going to Berlin, so we kind of like talked about, you know, all the majors and all, like what was, you know, the big goals and things like that, you know, then right after that with COVID.

Um, in 2020, MTC ran a 50 mile run. We ran from. Um, Cicero to Marian, Indiana and we raised money for a good cause, like, and we teamed up with this, um, other bike team, shift lab cycle club for this 50 mile run. And I joined the guys for that. There were 12 people on this run. And I was the only girl, so that was a little bit intimidating going into this.

I'm like, I hope I can hang. But it worked out great. It was a lot of fun. And like that whole group, like I just bonded with them. I knew that I wanted to keep supporting the club and participate in whatever it was that I was able to, they're all extremely fast runners. Like a handful of them have run under three hours in the marathon and damn, just like, um, they're insane.

But I could. Participate by helping plan these events and like being in the background and like behind the scenes kind of. And so I just kind of like encouraged, you know, like, let's, let's do this. The fomo, you already did it once as a small group during COVID, so let's make it a bigger thing. And so we started planning this, um, and basically what the full MO is, is running the entire MONAN trail.

From Sheridan all the way downtown, and it is right at a 50 k with like, we, I think we had like one or two just like little out and backs to make it the official distance, um, by the time you get to the finish line. So it's really cool to me that TJ wanted to create this stage for people to perform competitive experience, people to perform, but also give a chance.

For, you know, beginners or people that just want to like, try and test their limits, uh, a chance to like participate in something too. So, um, with it being a paved 50 K course, uh, net downhill, it's a way to, for somebody just to kind of like. Put their toe into the waters of the ultra world and kind of get a sense for what that's like before actually like heading down to Brown County or whatever.

Yeah. Like to more technical terrain. Yeah. Yeah. And Prairie On Fire is new as well. This'll be the second year. It's September 9th and it's a backyard Ultra. And what's really cool about that is again, it allows people to just set. Their goal for what's you know best for them. The Backyard Ultra is on top of the hour every hour.

It's like a 4.1 something something loop, and you have to complete that within the hour. However fast you get to do that, you get all this time to relax, rest, refuel, uh, and then at the top of the next hour, the group sets out again. Oh, that's interesting. Yeah, so you could be in it for one loop. You could be in it, you know, for five loops.

Like whatever might be what you feel is like pushing your own limits, or you can be in it for the whole deal and try to be the last man standing. So that's kind of like what? It's, oh, so you, so you, oh my gosh. It never ends until someone's the last one that finishes the loop. So wait, is this new? Yeah.

Okay. Brand new. Sorry. You did call yourself so like it was last October. Okay. For the first time. Okay. So there has been one, this coming September will be the second. Mm-hmm. Who was the last person standing last year? Her name was Jessica. Um. I forget her last name. Yeah, go Jessica. Yeah, I know I wasn't there.

How many loops but, um, you know, I wasn't there. Okay. That, that year, so I forget. But it went well into the night. So like, they started at 7:00 AM and it was like well into the night. Interesting. That's really intriguing to me. Okay. Yeah. So you were talking about put that in the back of my mind, kind of.

Yeah. Well, I mean, I feel like, I dunno, I, I picture doing. You know, maybe more than a half marathon, but not, not like 31. Not quite like all the way into the Ultra, but maybe I could participate in some way. That sounds cool. Yeah. So if anything, just to kind of hang out and watch people do it afterwards.

Exactly. So I mean, we're gonna like, encourage people to come, I mean. Just spend the day up there, even if you don't wanna run or run a couple laughs. Yeah. And stay and like cheer people on. That's cool. It's a neat setting because every loop, everybody comes back. And so you have that comradery, you have that chance to socialize, you know, get.

Regrouped and everything like that to before you head back up. Cool. That's really cool. Well, we're running out of time, pun intended, obviously. Well, I'm also nervous. We're in this room, in the library, as I mentioned at the beginning, and it's 10 30, so I'm such a rule follower. I'm like, oh my time's up. But also like, what if somebody else reserved it?

Well, they'd be like at the door. So we're good. Gosh, I want, there's, I could sit here and talk to you for hours about all the running because there's so many more races. We didn't. Talk about, there's so many more experiences. I know that you've had, we also haven't really gotten to know you, Christie, like, as a person outside of running.

And one of the things that I, we, we talked about was, how the hell do you fit all this in and make it work with a very demanding job? I know that you run early in the morning. Mm-hmm. But yeah. How, how do you do it? Um, I would say, yeah, you, you find time, make time for things that are most important to you.

And for me, running is up there on that list, so I've gotta make the time to do that. And that means I set my alarm for four something in the morning, every day of the week. And, you know, there's just no excuses. And if you get into a routine and you. Just you get up on your first alarm, you don't set snooze.

Mm-hmm. You just like have your stuff laid out the night before and you just know in your heart that that's going to get you to where you want to go. Then you just keep doing it. Mm-hmm. And you keep at it. Are you always, always running with other people? I'm not. Oh, I run mostly by myself. Um, even in the early mornings and I never run with music, which smart I think is, um, people think is interesting.

That is really actually, but well, at first I was thinking, well, yeah, in the dark you gotta be able to hear so you're safe. It was my first thought, Uhhuh, but wait, never run with music. Never, ever. Ever. So you're not even gonna have a song to give us at the end of this. It's your song. I don't have a song, but I have other things to say.

Okay. Wow. No music. No music. Why? Um, you know, it was early on, just within a couple of years that I started running one day, I forgot my headphones, and I didn't even realize it until I was like eight miles into like a 12 mile run. What? And I was like, wait a second, I forgot my headphones. And I was like, but wait a second.

This is the most peaceful feeling I've ever had in my life, and so I never went back. I just didn't need it. That is fascinating. It's just I get lost in my own thoughts. Like I think about my goals, I think about just, you know. Even just daily life stuff. You just, you know, yeah. Solve all your problems, I guess, when you're out there on the long run.

I think when I always have to have music, I, I can't relate to the idea of not having it. I, it's like my crutch. I can't, my headphones have to be charged now though. I've started deviating and listening to podcasts or audio books, which has been nice. And I think a lot of times during a race, especially, like I don't necessarily notice the music, it kind of blends into the background.

So I don't know, like the idea of trying it without is, you know, the way you describe it. A little intriguing. I don't know though. I don't know if I could do it. It's my me time, it's my peaceful time. I have people talking at me all day long, every day and to just have that quietness. Mm-hmm. And it, you know, it is a safety thing, especially running in the dark.

But uh, on the weekends when I'm not running in the dark, I still don't want it 20 miles, whatever. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, I just found peace in not needing it. Yeah. Well, and I al I, one of the other topics I wanted to touch on with you was being a stepmom. Mm-hmm. So we chatted briefly about that and how you feel like it's important to, you know, set the example you do for them.

But could you talk just a little bit about that? So, um, I've already mentioned my husband, Rob, being so supportive and everything. Um, but his daughters Mar and Mia, um, are incredibly supportive of me and my dreams as well. And I, um, I hope that. They are learning something from watching me as one of the adult figures in their lives.

Mm-hmm. Um, you know, they both texted me before the race and like, you know. And then congratulations afterwards and things like that. But I just really hope that they can see that no dream is too big. I want them to know that they can push hard and work hard, and it will pay off no matter how long it takes.

I really hope that they can see that good things are worth waiting for. I mean, and. Society that we're in now is like immediate gratification and through running, that's, you know, an ultimate metaphor for, you know, good things are worth working for and waiting for. I always say also to be one of the few and not one of the many.

Hmm. So what you could do to set yourself apart, um, achieve big things even if other people around you aren't doing that. Yeah. Perseverance and just commitment and unwavering pursuit of dreams. Is is huge. I know that they will both be extremely successful in their lives. I think they have a lot of potential that they could channel that.

Mm-hmm. Um, and put in the effort. You know, failure happens 100% of the time that you do not try. Amen to that. And it's okay to miss a goal even when you do try. Yeah. Uh, but you know, you can learn something from it, and that's huge. You always gotta find the silver lining and whatever you. Might think was your failure.

There's something great to be taken from it. I want to encourage the girls and. Others around me to give themselves permission to live out their passions. Mm-hmm. And just don't underestimate your own potential girls with a fire under their ass. Mm-hmm. Can do big things. Yeah, they can. And I've seen that in the women that I look up to in all aspects of my life and the friends that I surround myself with.

It's kind of like. Don't be the smartest one in the room and mm-hmm. I don't wanna be the fastest one at the track. I don't wanna be, you know, I want to surround myself with people that are going to inspire me to dream bigger and work harder, and, you know. We are our own limits. You have to remove your own limitations.

And it kind of like brings me to what like Kipchoge says. Yeah. When he is like, no human is limited and does that mean we're all gonna run a two hour marathon? Absolutely not. But you have to remove the limitations that you are putting on yourself to reach your own full potential. Yeah. Wow. So good. And so that's kind of where I'm at with like how deep this like running thing goes for me.

All right, I'll drive you to the tattoo parlor right after this. Oh my gosh. You like how many of those words of wisdom can we fit on our arms? That was so good. Oh my gosh. What? So well said. I'm so lucky to have you on here and I'm so lucky to know you, you, I wanna like open that door and just go find the monan right now and just run to like run till I can't.

Can't anymore. Gosh, thank you. So you've given, I feel like that was a lot of mantras woven into how you feel about your, your girls, but do you have any other specific things like that you say to yourself while you're running and then what's, and then also what's next? What's your next race? One thing that stuck with me, and I couldn't recall, uh, which exact monumental marathon that I saw this at, but.

Someone was standing on the side of the road with a poster and it said, relentless forward progress. Ooh. And I have looked back on that. I can see the picture. I think it was a good, you know, green poster board. You know, I can just like picture it. Yeah. And that moment when I read those words, it hit me and you just like, you have to go forward no matter what.

Yeah. And that is so very true. And um. Running race, but still very true in life, which kind of is like Right, what I've already described here a little bit. Mm-hmm. And then the other thing is perseverance. Uh, the greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it. Mm-hmm. I have that, it's like a little plaque that I have, um, on a bookshelf in my home and back in the day, like probably.

15 years ago, my best friend gave me that, and I think it was like right before one of my first races. So the perseverance thing is huge to me. Yeah. Running in the marathon are metaphors for life. Yeah. And there's so much to be gained from digging deep and looking inside of see what you can learn. So good.

And I do have a couple, you know, um, I'm the type of person that would've gone like, into deep depression, like hitting this big goal and not having my next, you know, thing. Right? You're like, okay, did that Now what? Yeah. So, um, I've, I've been dreaming big. My long-term goal here, I guess for, for running is to finish out the seven continents.

So, oh my, my gosh. Christie majors. Um, I've hit three of those, so I've got four to go. Four to go. Yeah. So seven, um, continents and ba the basic plan is to do one every other year ending with Antarctica. Yeah. The year that I turn 50. Holy crap. Oh my gosh. So I'm saying this out loud for all of your followers.

So I have to, like, the year I turn 50, run in Antarctica. See how that goes. Oh my gosh. You're gonna get on that boat. Mm-hmm. That is the part about the seven continents that I'm just like, could I get on that boat? To go to Antarctica? I don't know. I don't know. I actually think they fly there now from, yeah.

Oh, from like Chile or something? I don't know. It might be worse for me. I don't like flying either, so. But it's probably like a puddle jumper. Yeah, right. Exactly. It might be better off in a, in a boat. Yeah. That's so cool. All right, well we'll be cheering you on for that Huge, yeah, huge goal. And that's like long term, you know, like in every other year things.

So again, just. Like reach past the immediate gratification. It's gonna take a long time to get through all of that. But so more like short term, I've been really committed to finding ways that my running is able to give back to the endurance sports community. And what I mean by that is it's given me so much and I've had these like personal goals that now I want to be able to use some of that ability or training that I've put in to.

You know, of course, like I've talked about, volunteer for the FOMO and Prayer and Fire. But, um, for the Indie Mini, which is in two weeks, I'm running for Ainsley's Angels. You are? Yeah. Oh, that's so cool. For the first time, I'm a little bit nervous about that, but it's gonna be. Really fun. The, the vision of Ainsley's Angels aligns with what I truly feel.

It's inclusion without limits, and it's kind of like a finish line is for everybody. Yeah. So I will be pushing someone who's unable to run for themselves to hopefully have them experience part of that gratification and achievement that can be reached upon a finish line. Wow. So I'm doing that. Next October, I am running with a friend, Pacey and a friend of mine to run his first marathon in Chicago.

And then shortly after that I'm going to pace the two 10 group for the Indiana Women's Half Marathon. Oh, that's right. I'm interested in joining you for that. Yeah, that'd be fun. That would be so fun. Yeah. Yeah. I would love to just to hang out, make a party like, yeah. 13.1, just like two 10 party. Yeah. Gosh.

So I'm, I'm looking for these ways to. And small, tiny, little increments be able to help others feel even half is what I feel, you know, going through a race or hitting a finish line. Yeah. Well, shit, if you're not inspired by this conversation with Christie, then I don't know what else to give you because if you're running right now, I'm sure you've like.

Yeah, I, I mean I, if I was on a run right now, I would be all amped up just hearing about not what you've already accomplished, but the dreams and goals you've set for yourself certainly inspires me to continue dreaming even bigger than I already do. And I just admire you saying it out loud too. 'cause that is hard because it's like, okay, now that I've said it, I gotta do it.

I know, right. Well thank you so much for doing this, Christy. Thank you. And congrats again. Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. Thank you. This is absolutely, this is a huge honor and pleasure to be invited to. Speak with you today. Thank you. All right, everyone. Hope you enjoy your weekend and happy running.

Ally Brettnacher