Episode 31: Trena Roudebush - Crazy Little Badass

Episodes
Written By Ally Brettnacher

Trena Roudebush walked and jogged her first Indy Mini on two weeks of training. Twenty years later she has 73 marathons, 115 half marathons and a Boston qualifier.

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About this episode

If you run races around Indianapolis, you have probably seen Trena Roudebush, known as The Mrs. Roudy. She ran her first Indy Mini in 2003 after training for two weeks, ran about 80 half marathons before her first full, and was days away from her 74th marathon in Charlotte when we recorded. She is on the board of Indy Runners, paces races, and has volunteered at everything from the Super Bowl to the Olympic Swim Trials.

We talk about her first marathon at Chicago in 2013 and qualifying for Boston by 17 seconds at the Monumental a few weeks later. We get into the women's running group Team Shorts, her Sunday date runs with her husband Bob, her favorite pacing stories, and what she has learned about race-day fueling after so many starts. We also talk about why every runner should volunteer at least once a year.

In this episode, we discuss

  • Running 73 marathons, 115 half marathons and about a dozen ultras, all tracked in a spreadsheet
  • Training two weeks for her first Indy Mini in 2003 and coming back the next year
  • Working in Butler University sports marketing and occasionally being Hank the mascot
  • What Indy Runners does and its Run the Monon long run from Carmel to downtown
  • Volunteering 70 hours at the Indianapolis Super Bowl and with Indiana Sports Corp
  • Practicing saying no
  • Sunday date runs with her husband Bob, a 100-mile finisher
  • Running her first marathon at Chicago in 2013 and qualifying for Boston by 17 seconds at the Monumental weeks later
  • How a renamed group chat became Team Shorts and the girl-winning logo
  • Training with Personal Best Training
  • Pacing a 13-year-old boy to the finish at the Kentucky Derby Half Marathon
  • Finishing second and setting her half marathon PR at the Bedford Half
  • Why every runner should volunteer at a race once a year
  • New Shoe Day and its focus on movement, connection and mental health
  • Her pre-race rice and beans, peanut butter sandwiches and favorite gel flavors

Chapters

  • 00:00 · Intro
  • 03:00 · 73 marathons and 115 half marathons
  • 05:00 · A first Indy Mini on two weeks of training
  • 10:00 · Butler sports marketing and Hank the mascot
  • 12:00 · Indy Runners
  • 16:00 · Volunteering at the Super Bowl and beyond
  • 19:00 · Date runs with Bob
  • 23:00 · Chicago and a 17-second Boston qualifier
  • 26:00 · Boston and Team Shorts
  • 31:00 · Pacing stories
  • 39:00 · Second place at the Bedford Half
  • 42:00 · Why every runner should volunteer
  • 46:00 · New Shoe Day
  • 48:00 · Race-day routines and fueling
  • 53:00 · Learning open water swimming
  • 55:00 · Mantra and next finish line

Where to find Trena

Mentioned in this episode

  • Races: Indy Mini-Marathon, CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Boston Marathon, Charlotte Marathon, New York City Marathon, Carmel Marathon, Indy Women's Half Marathon, Kentucky Derby Festival Half Marathon, Bedford Half Marathon, Bulldog Jog, Full Mo 50K, Zionsville Half Marathon, Geist Half Marathon, Indiana Trail 100
  • Organizations and charities: Indy Runners, Butler University, Humane Society, Indiana Sports Corp, Personal Best Training, Team Shorts, New Shoe Day, Beyond Monumental, Ainsley's Angels, U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, Team RMR
  • Other: Monon Trail, Hank the Butler mascot

Previous guests mentioned

Related episodes

Frequently asked

How many marathons has Trena Roudebush run?

When she recorded this episode in fall 2023, Trena Roudebush of Indianapolis had run 73 marathons and 115 half marathons, plus about a dozen ultras from 50K to 50 miles.

How did Trena Roudebush qualify for Boston?

Trena Roudebush ran her first marathon at Chicago in October 2013 and then qualified for Boston by 17 seconds at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon a few weeks later, running Boston in 2015.

What is Team Shorts?

Team Shorts is a group of Indianapolis women runners that started when Trena Roudebush renamed their Boston training group chat after the shorts they all loved, and it has stayed together for about eight or nine years.

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Sign up for my weekly newsletter, and follow along on Instagram at @allytbrett_runs.

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. Ally Brettnacher: Hello and welcome to episode 31. This is Ally Brettnacher, and I am still riding the high of a half marathon pr. It feels really good to say that out loud. I am still so proud and somewhat shocked, frankly, I just wasn't sure going into it that I really could do it. But special thanks to my coach, Rachel Senders, from Rachel Michelle, running Team RMR, and Ashley Haynes, who paced me the first half.

That was a huge help and she went on to run a three 30 marathon. I ran 1 43 14, which was just over a minute faster than my previous pr, which was seven years ago before kids and down a mountain. The more I said that, the more, it just seemed impossible that I could run faster than that, but I did. And I am in the midst of writing a race recap, mainly 'cause I wanna remember all of it. It was such an incredible experience and one that I certainly won't, won't forget. So thank you to Indy monumental and our team for such. A world class event.

I absolutely loved it and already looking forward to next year. So without further ado, this week I have Trina Rata Busch on the podcast and Trina. If you're local to Indy, you probably know her and if you're not local, you'll soon get to know her. But Trina is a force she has run. 115 half marathons this weekend in Charlotte, she will run her 74th full marathon and during this episode we talk about how she got into running in the first place. We talk about the community of running. So Indie runners an organization she's been a part of for quite some time. We talk about her husband Bob, who she is now committed to be a guest on this podcast and how they have a date run.

Every week, which I love. We talk about as many race memories as we can cram into this time, which certainly was not enough, but still some really great stories from Trina. We talk about team shorts, which you'll hear what that is in the episode. We also talk a lot about giving back to the sport and how Trina has done that in many capacities, and not just for running, but we talk about her pacing marathons. And other ways she's volunteered. And then we also talk about her race day routines and food she likes because I feel like it's so interesting to talk to somebody who's done so many races to figure out kind of what they've dialed in.

So I hope you love this conversation with Trina. Alright, Trina. Trena Roudebush: Here we go. Ally Brettnacher: We're doing it. We're doing Trena Roudebush: it. We're doing it. We're doing it. Ally Brettnacher: And we only have 59 minutes to do it. Trena Roudebush: It's okay. Ally Brettnacher: How are we gonna do that? Trena Roudebush: Oh my gosh. Let's go for a run. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, let's go for a run. All right. How much of Trina's running career can we fit into? 59, 58 minutes. Trena Roudebush: Not that exciting. Ally Brettnacher: Shut up. I, you know, when I posted that you were gonna be my next guest, I got at least a half a dozen messages.

Trena Roudebush: Oh my gosh. Ally Brettnacher: Trina is the best. Oh my gosh. I love her. So, Trena Roudebush: Aw, Ally Brettnacher: so you gotta stop being so humble. Trena Roudebush: I'm a Hoosier. That's Ally Brettnacher: what we Trena Roudebush: do. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, that's fair. That's fair. Uh, so I have Trina Row, Busch today at Mrs. Rowdy. Trena Roudebush: Yep. Ally Brettnacher: The Mrs. Rowdy. Trena Roudebush: The Mrs. Rowdy on Instagram. Mrs. Rowdy, Mrs. Rowdy everywhere. All. Ally Brettnacher: Okay, so how many races have you run? Trena Roudebush: So monumental last weekend was my 74th. 73rd, sorry. Marathon 74 is coming up this weekend.

Ally Brettnacher: Jesus Christ. Okay. Trena Roudebush: And a mere 115 halves. Ally Brettnacher: Just about, you're knocking on like 200 total. Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Oh gosh. Ally Brettnacher: But that doesn't count your 50 milers. You've done some ultras too, right? Trena Roudebush: Yeah, probably a dozen. 50 K to 50 mile. I haven't gone above 50 mile. Ally Brettnacher: This makes me just laugh thinking about the fact that you're not sure, but when you have run that many races, Trena Roudebush: I have a spreadsheet. Ally Brettnacher: You do? Trena Roudebush: I have to. Good. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I have a spreadsheet. I have to as well.

Otherwise I would not remember anything. Trena Roudebush: No. Ally Brettnacher: Oh my gosh. So how, how did you get started running? Trena Roudebush: Um, like most things, it was a bad decision. Ally Brettnacher: Hardly. I love that. Trena Roudebush: So I knew about this mini marathon thing. Every May. People did it. It was crazy. I got to run around the track and decided one year I was gonna sign up for that. I was gonna get in shape and I was gonna lose weight and. So come, you know, mid-April I get the two week out email, get hyped up, all of that. Decide be I should start training Ally Brettnacher: shit two weeks out.

What year was this? Trena Roudebush: Oh gosh, 20 some years ago. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Let's see. 2003, according to my research on the internet. Trena Roudebush: Thank you. Ally Brettnacher: You're welcome. Trena Roudebush: See, I get smarter just hanging out with you. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So like 20 years ago. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. We might have like a milestone to celebrate. Ally Brettnacher: Geez, Trena Roudebush: I'll gonna go figure this out. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: So anyway, got on the StairMaster or treadmill or something? Did you know? A couple of miles and then suffered through the many. Probably ran like six of it. Walk, ran, got passed by Walkers.

It was. Ally Brettnacher: But you didn't get picked up by the bus. Trena Roudebush: I did not. Ally Brettnacher: So there you go. Trena Roudebush: It was a victory. I got my medal, I got my banana. We moved on, couldn't walk for a week, so I decided I was gonna do better next year. Signed up for the mini when it was on sale, same thing to week out, email. All of that start training finally got smarter and it still took me a long time to love running. And I don't know what happened, what clicked, but I finally did. And. Ally Brettnacher: And here and here we're Trena Roudebush: here we're, Ally Brettnacher: you know, a normal person might run that first half marathon and be like, this isn't for me.

I didn't like that. Trena Roudebush: Uh, Ally Brettnacher: I couldn't walk for a week. I'm never doing that again. Yeah. But you're like, oh. Trena Roudebush: But there were such fun people out there and great conversations and cool experiences and things to see, and so I came back for the next, this is the story of my life. I just show up for interesting things. Ally Brettnacher: I like that a lot though. Yeah, it's interesting. I'll be there. Yeah. 74 this weekend. What's this weekend? Trena Roudebush: Charlotte, North Carolina. Ally Brettnacher: Charlotte. Cool. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Not New York, obviously. Is it the same day as New York or is it Saturday?

Trena Roudebush: It's Saturday. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: So I'm gonna be on my couch on Sunday watching some friends do New York. Excellent. And Ally Brettnacher: recovering from your marathon? Trena Roudebush: Yes. Thankful I'm not, uh, climbing bridges. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Oh my goodness. Yeah. So is Charlotte pretty flat? Trena Roudebush: There's a few hills, especially late that, uh, lot along the rail. Yeah, they're light rail line. Ally Brettnacher: Wow. Cool. Trena Roudebush: Yeah, Ally Brettnacher: so I just, you guys, every time I do a race locally, I see Trina like every single time she's basically, she's done, I think every, you have to have done every single local like Indianapolis area race.

Is that fair? Or like every race in the state. Trena Roudebush: If it's a half her full, probably yes. If not, let me know. Okay. Let me know what I'm missing out on. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. If anybody listening to this is a race that Trina has not done in Indiana, so what percentage would you say of your races are here versus that you actually like traveled to? Trena Roudebush: I think most are Indiana or close by. I traveled for just a few as a destination. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: Race. But if it's convenient for work or if I'm in the area for something, it's way too tempting.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, Trena Roudebush: which is how Charlotte happened. Ally Brettnacher: Happened. Are you going out there for work? Trena Roudebush: Yeah. I leave tomorrow morning for a couple of days of work and I was like, I'm just gonna stay and check this on. Ally Brettnacher: That is so fun. I love that. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Wow. I don't know what to expect. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, that's really cool. So you'll be by yourself? Trena Roudebush: A couple coworkers are gonna do it with me. They'll do the half. And Ally Brettnacher: so did you rope them into running, like in general, like working with them? Trena Roudebush: No, they all ran and we.

Wound up tuck each other into like early morning runs when we happened to be in the same cities. And so this, this came about, we did the caramel marathon relay together last spring. I did the full, that's really, I paced the full and then rope four folks in to, to do the relay and we're like, we have to do this again. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I mean, I could see just being around you, like working with you, just being around you. If you're not a runner, it's just kind of like. Well, you make it look so easy and so fun. Trena Roudebush: Well, and Runner Ally Brettnacher: does a marathon every weekend.

Trena Roudebush: Runner only talk about running, right? Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. It's the best. That's why I do this. I can just talk about running. So you started with a half distance? Trena Roudebush: Yeah, Ally Brettnacher: 20 years ago. We've now figured out. And so when was your first full after that? Like when did you get into the full distance? Trena Roudebush: Just crossed the 10 year line. Ally Brettnacher: 10 years. So Trena Roudebush: Chicago, October of 2013. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Well, my only claim over you would be that I did my first marathon in 2010. So I've been running. You're Trena Roudebush: a Ally Brettnacher: trail Trena Roudebush: pleaser.

Ally Brettnacher: I've, I've been running marathons longer than Trina. That's all I, that's all I've got though Trena Roudebush: on you. You have so much. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Oh my gosh. Cool. So 10 years. So how many halves do you think you did before you did a full, if you had to guess? Trena Roudebush: Probably 80. The Hals went way down. Whoa. While the fulls came up. Ally Brettnacher: Came up. Geez. Trena Roudebush: More bang for Ally Brettnacher: your buck. I would left. I wanna like. Take your spreadsheet and make some charts. Trena Roudebush: Ah, would you I'll send it, Ally Brettnacher: yeah. Trena Roudebush: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Like look at that data and be like, you know, I just, I feel like it would be really interesting to dig into that. And like speeds. And I mean I wanna do that with my own, even though it's not, well, it's a lot. It's still a lot. But Trena Roudebush: you have a lot to update a lot. It'll tell you some stories. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. That's super interesting. Oh wow. So were you athletic at all as a kid or you just kind of thought, oh, the mini everybody does that, I'll just give it a go to lose weight or, Trena Roudebush: yes. I remember growing up, you know, little league baseball and soccer and.

The day that they put me as the goalie in soccer, the ball state, at the other end of the field the whole time. Except for once it came my way and I did that duck and cover drill, like we did it for tornadoes in elementary school. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I would've done that. Trena Roudebush: Never had played Ally Brettnacher: bully again. Hated. I hated being bully. Hated it. So, yeah. Trena Roudebush: Uh, I did run in junior high a little bit. Didn't like it. I think it was growing pains, but I was like, oh, my knee hurt. So I'm not doing that. But I found that I loved being around athletics and sports and just events in general.

Mm-hmm. And created a job with the athletic department and. So I worked with the wrestling team and the swim team. Track and cross country. Ally Brettnacher: And while you were in school? Trena Roudebush: Yeah. In high school. Wow. And then, uh, when I went to Butler, they had sports marketing office. Mm-hmm. And uh, I was able to tuck my way into a job there and got to sit, you know, court side at Butler basketball games, run promotions. I was Hank occasionally. Ally Brettnacher: What Trena Roudebush: Hank the mascot for Butler. Ally Brettnacher: Oh, I didn't know that was the name of the. Trena Roudebush: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Not Blue the Bulldog? Trena Roudebush: No, he, he's the live mascot. Okay. But the suited character. Ally Brettnacher: Oh, I didn't know that was a, had a different name. I guess I sh That makes sense. Trena Roudebush: Why would you know? Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Well, 'cause I live in Indiana. I feel like Butler. I mean, I know the name of the, the live Bulldog. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Well, everybody knows Blue, the live Ally Brettnacher: one. Yeah. But not Trena Roudebush: kink because he's just so cute Ally Brettnacher: after Hinkle. Fieldhouse. Trena Roudebush: Yes. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Okay. Trena Roudebush: So that's funny. So yeah, anything to be around sports and that energy, and I think that's what sucked me back into doing races.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Like I love, you know, the music before the race and the cheering fans and even like the quiet sections where like you just take it all in. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: And then, yeah, just the event production of it all, everything that goes into it. It's fascinating. Ally Brettnacher: So, oh my gosh, I just have so many questions. My brain is like, where do I start with this? Did you always run by yourself? Because now you're involved, you're on the board. Are you still on the board of Indie Runners? Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Okay. Still on board there. Ally Brettnacher: So tell us what Indie runners is.

A lot of people listening may know if they're local, but Trena Roudebush: yeah, it's a local running club. It's been around almost 50 years in indie. The EL in the state we provide. You know, social coaching in a loose form, you know, training runs, group runs, um, and really just try to make the running and walking community accessible to everyone. The tagline is a place for every pace. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. That's cool. How and how long have you been involved in Indie runners? Did you get involved early on in your running? Trena Roudebush: I don't know. When I joined, I joined for a few years before I ever turned out to anything.

I knew that it was important to have a running club and a run healthy running community. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. But Trena Roudebush: I didn't need it for me, so I joined 'cause I wanted to make sure it was there for the people that needed it. And then I got talked into coming out and volunteering one day and running with a group. And I was like, where has this been all my life? Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: And. So I jumped full in. You know, it's so much fun. We recently did run the Monon where folks could hop on a school bus and we'd take 'em up to Carmel or Yep.

Into Broadfield. They'd run back downtown as their long run before Ally Brettnacher: monumental. I loved that. I did that when, um, I don't remember if you were there that year or not in 2018. I did run the Monon when I was training for New York. Trena Roudebush: Nice. Ally Brettnacher: It was an awesome event. So Trena Roudebush: yeah, it is crazy to run from Carmel to downtown Indy. Ally Brettnacher: It is, and it's the monon again, for those who aren't local, it's a rail trail that's paved super nice. It go. They've continued building onto it, so it goes like all the way up north in the suburbs all the way smack dab downtown Indie.

Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: So I love that. Trena Roudebush: And there's that Ally Brettnacher: training run is, Trena Roudebush: there's a 50 K in June that I have not done. I should probably do. Ally Brettnacher: You should probably think about Trena Roudebush: that. The runs end. End. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. The full mo. Trena Roudebush: The full mo, Ally Brettnacher: the full mo, the Bulldog jog, is that through Indie Runners as well? Trena Roudebush: It is. About five years ago, indie runners partnered with Butler and they've been putting it on for 35, 40 years to help amplify it. And we wanted, you know, a hand in really driving some fundraising back to places that, that we spend a lot of our time.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Uh, and that has been a tremendous partnership. Butler's really embraced having extra hands, having extra ideas. Yeah. Um, it helps fund a scholarship for their health and wellness students and do runners benefits as well as the Humane Society. Mm-hmm. They benefit from our dog walk. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Um, I was just telling this story the other day. My friend and I did the, the dog walk years ago now. I was pregnant, really pregnant at the time, so we brought our dogs and we literally found a stray dog afterwards. Oh, and I forget, we were like on a time crunch for something.

I don't know why, but I'm like, what do we do with this dog? And I was like, well, the Humane Society booth is still at the race. And so we literally brought this dog and gave it to the Humane Society. People we're like, we don't know what to do. So anyway, I just thought that was a random funny story, but Trena Roudebush: I thought you were gonna say you picked it up and just ran with it. Ally Brettnacher: And then I was like, this is my dog now. It's funny that that has been going on that long, because I would've assumed Trina that you started that given your love of running in Butler.

Oh, thanks. Yeah. So I assumed that was the case, just so you know. I was like, Trina probably started that race because it would make sense. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: But it does make sense that you help with it. So Trena Roudebush: yes, anytime I can connect dots mm-hmm. And connect people and resources totally up my alley. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. And what do you call it? You say you call yourself connector, communicator. Enabler. Trena Roudebush: Yes. Ally Brettnacher: I like that a lot. It's very, it makes a lot of sense. Connector communicator. Enabler. Enabler. I can see that for sure. Especially in all the best Trena Roudebush: ways, especially Ally Brettnacher: when it comes to running.

Well, you also transitioned from being a runner to volunteering, but it's almost seems like you've been volunteering almost the whole time you've been running. Is that true? Trena Roudebush: Yeah, so I. Sort of grew up with the culture of volunteerism. So cool. And that paired with my nosiness, like I love being in the middle of the action. I love getting behind the scenes of anything. If you tell me fun facts, like you were speaking my love language. So volunteering was the best way to do that. To do good and to like just feed my soul. And so whether it was. You know, doing that at local races, volunteering through Sports Corps at, you know, uh, football games.

Um, we just hosted the National Championship year or two ago, working on the Olympic trials for swimming right now. Worked on March Madness. It's just been such a fun experience. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Did you do Super Bowl stuff? Trena Roudebush: I did. Uh, that was really how I came into, you know, large scale local events or national events produced locally for Super Bowl. It was. Yeah, over about 10 days I volunteered about 70 hours. In addition to, to working. I feel like I lived in the convention center. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Uh, on game night there was a small TV that somebody got from somebody's office and we were all sitting on the floor on this.

S crazy patterned carpet watching the game in one of the now empty halls, Ally Brettnacher: so glamorous at that point. Trena Roudebush: It is so glamorous on that side of sports. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, that's so fascinating. Trena Roudebush: It was so cool. And just the connections that I made there, it's way more efficient to, you know, talk to fellow volunteers than to do a bunch of one-off coffees, which is also a hobby of mine. I love having coffee with strangers. Ally Brettnacher: Hmm. So if you're listening to this and you wanna have coffee with Trina. Trena Roudebush: Send me a calendar. Ally Brettnacher: Although you did say to me before this that you were working on saying No, Trena Roudebush: I am practicing saying no.

That's right. Thank you for reminding me. Ally Brettnacher: You're welcome. You did a bad job for this, but I'm glad you did a bad job. 'cause I am so happy that you're here today. Trena Roudebush: I'm selective. You made the, Ally Brettnacher: yeah. Thank you. I appreciate that. It's that saying no is is really hard. Trena Roudebush: It's so hard. Ally Brettnacher: It's really hard for me. I'm a people pleaser. I, I just wanna say yes to everything. I'm also a chronic over scheduler. Trena Roudebush: Ah, Ally Brettnacher: I like to be busy though. Yes. So I just say yes. Yes. I've, I've gotten better now, but Trena Roudebush: I'll take any tips you have.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. It's just the whole, yeah. Say no. Just be like, no, I cannot do that. Trena Roudebush: Yes. Who was it that, um, I can't remember if it was a runner, if it might have been Glenda Doyle. If you wouldn't say yes to it now don't say yes to the, like, future ask, like, can you do this thing in two months? If you. Wouldn't say yes to it happening right now. Don't say yes to this future opportunity. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Let it come. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So I do. Yeah, I, I have a problem with saying yes, which is why I'm running another half marathon before the year's over, but you make me look really good.

'cause you run a marathon like every weekend. So Trena Roudebush: I don't have any more big ones after this weekend. Oh, Ally Brettnacher: perfect. Well, come run Zionsville half marathon. Trena Roudebush: Done. Oh, I mean, no, Ally Brettnacher: no, no. No. Maybe practice the, no. No way. Can't do it. I know I got suckered into that. A couple, well, a couple of my girlfriends are doing it and I've never done it, so I was like, all right, sounds good. So my much to my husband's dismay, he thought I was done after this weekend. I was like, sorry, Trena Roudebush: surprise. Ally Brettnacher: Does your husband run at all?

He Trena Roudebush: does. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. What's your husband's name? Trena Roudebush: Bob. Ally Brettnacher: Bob. Have I met Bob? Trena Roudebush: Maybe. Ally Brettnacher: Maybe. I don't remember. If I have, Trena Roudebush: I don't know. I usually do all the talking. Ally Brettnacher: Ah, Trena Roudebush: so he can't get a word in Ally Brettnacher: perfect match, Trena Roudebush: however much he wants to get a word in. He's just not. Yeah. So, yeah, when we met, I actually watched him run his first 5K training for his first mini, Ally Brettnacher: ah, Trena Roudebush: and gosh, like 15 years ago. And then he outpaced me. He has done, he just finished his most recent a hundred.

Uh, he's finished three Ally Brettnacher: miles. Trena Roudebush: Yes. All in one go. No napping. Ally Brettnacher: So did he do the, the Indiana Trail one day? He Trena Roudebush: did. Okay. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Wow. Trena Roudebush: Yeah, he's, he's amazing. Turn him loose in the woods and he will spend all day just moving forward. Ally Brettnacher: Maybe I need to have him on this podcast. Trena Roudebush: I think you do. Ally Brettnacher: Oh, okay. Trena Roudebush: I can tell you lots. Ally Brettnacher: Sorry, Bob. We said yes for you. Trena Roudebush: It's used to me committing him to Ally Brettnacher: things. Yeah. Yeah. That's, that's really cool.

So, so you don't really run together anymore, or do you Sometimes Trena Roudebush: Sundays we have, we have a date run. Ally Brettnacher: That's so sweet. Trena Roudebush: It is. Sometimes it's our only time to catch up. Ally Brettnacher: Wow, that's nice. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Uh, and we go for walks occasionally. Most nights, it's kinda our bedtime routine. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: But, um, yeah, we were at the point where he would finish a race, he'd get his banana and his water and take a nap and then come back and, you know, run me in for the last mile. And then it was, you know, he'd get his stuff and he'd be at the finish line.

And then one day I passed him and then now he's passing me again, which is totally fine. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: He can go way further than I can. Ally Brettnacher: That's, that's really funny. I I love that though, that you both enjoy the sport. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: That's nice. My husband claims one and done marathoner. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: He did Chicago with me when we were dating, so, Trena Roudebush: and he still married you? Ally Brettnacher: Yes. Trena Roudebush: This is not bad. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, it's not bad. He, he was still trying. I put air quotes, he's still trying at that point, you know, so he's trying to impress me, you know, by running a marathon, which with me, which it did, I was like, all right, this guy's a keeper.

Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: So, yeah, and here we are, Trena Roudebush: and it's so helpful to have a partner that knows the work that it takes and what you're putting in, and we kind of balance out, you know, the household chores and Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: And all of that. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: You know, and occasionally it will be the year of Bob. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: And good with that of Bob. Ally Brettnacher: It's your year, honey. Trena Roudebush: Yep. You go do your thing up, Ally Brettnacher: see what you can get done. And do you have children? Trena Roudebush: Uh, two Stepsons.

Ally Brettnacher: Stepsons. That's right. And how old are they? Trena Roudebush: 22, just graduated college. And then the youngest is a junior at iu. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. And did the older one go to IU as well? Trena Roudebush: Went to Trine. Ally Brettnacher: Rin, like in Angola. Where's Rine? Okay. Trena Roudebush: Angola. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Is that Michigan? Trena Roudebush: Uh, right on the border. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Right. Cool. Trena Roudebush: So pretty much Canada? Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, pretty much Canada, yes. Do they run at all Trena Roudebush: Recreationally. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Do they spectate or crew? Trena Roudebush: They'll come out with signs and cheer and they know it's a big part of our lives and Ally Brettnacher: mm-hmm.

Trena Roudebush: Like the family dynamic is so cool that like they're just, they're great kids. They're sup, super supportive, I think. Picked up the work ethic from Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Teaching Ally Brettnacher: you guys. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. How can you not? That's really cool that I think about that a lot actually. You know my ki my kids, even though they're young watching me, like setting that example for working hard for stuff. Trena Roudebush: Yeah, Ally Brettnacher: I think that's important. What are some of your most memorable race races? Race experiences? I know that's a huge loaded question 'cause the sisters's a lot, but walk me through the highlight reel.

Trena Roudebush: Yeah. I. How can you not, you know, remember like lining up at the start of a first marathon or a big race, something that you didn't really know if you could actually do? Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: Um, so I remember being in the crowd at Chicago in 2013. Bob had run it three years prior as his first marathon. So I had an idea of what was coming and kinda what the start and finish looked like. But that was all just a big unknown. And to be in a race that size. I think was also also unknown. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. That was my first as well.

Trena Roudebush: It was what, 35,000 people or something? It's a lot crazy. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: I remember, well, I guess it was two weeks later, three weeks later, ran monumental full, so another bad. Ally Brettnacher: Decision. Yeah. Gee, Trena Roudebush: uh, that got my Boston qualifier there. Uh, Ally Brettnacher: what, Trena Roudebush: by 17 seconds, like it was not a lot of cushion, but I dropped a few minutes and Ally Brettnacher: wait a minute. Okay. So your first marathon, Chicago, 2013 weeks later. Trena Roudebush: Yep. Ally Brettnacher: You go run monumental. Trena Roudebush: Yep. Ally Brettnacher: And you BQ by 17 seconds. Trena Roudebush: Yep.

Ally Brettnacher: Cool. That's awesome. That's so cool. Trina. Trena Roudebush: Thank you. I just remember the feeling of like rolling through the miles and it was exciting and. It was hard, but it was effortless kind of all at the same time and just going, I'm waiting to tank and it didn't happen. And then coming through close to the finish and there was, you know, folks cheering and hands up and the guy in front of me wanted to high five everybody. I was like out my way. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Outta here. Trena Roudebush: Got places to be. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I Trena Roudebush: just coming through the finish line and that feeling that I didn't think I was gonna accomplish that goal for a really long time, if ever.

And it was there. Ally Brettnacher: And it was there. And then you, did you already have monumental on the books or did you like sign up last minute? Were you able to at that time? Trena Roudebush: Uh, so I registered on New Year's Day. That's like the tradition. As soon as it opened. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, when they opened. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. But Chicago didn't open until February and at that point it was still first come, first serve. It was right before they did the lottery. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: I think that year is when we crashed the servers. Everybody was racing to get in.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: So I didn't know if I was gonna get into Chicago, so monumental was my fallback. Ally Brettnacher: Oh, I see. Okay. Trena Roudebush: And I decided, you know, depending how Chicago went, I could, you know, always downgrade. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: Monumental. Run the half. And I was like, yeah, we'll see how it goes. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: It went Ally Brettnacher: and you're like, well, yeah. Then it was great. I love how you're like, I know it's not much of a buffer. It was only 17 seconds that I'd be queued. I, and that's just, Trena Roudebush: it is a big deal though.

That's Ally Brettnacher: such a big freaking deal. That's so amazing. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: So did you then, were you able to then go run Boston Trena Roudebush: after that? I did. Trena Roudebush: Yep. Ran that in 2015 and it was. It was a really cool experience. I think anybody that has the opportunity to go, whether it's on a time qualifier or through a charity, I go experience that. Mm-hmm. It's like nothing else. Mm-hmm. I imagine New York is the same in very different ways. I. And then it was great training for Boston that year because I connected with some other ladies through personal best training and through Andy Runners that were all training for Boston that year.

: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: And so we had a support system. We had a similar training cycle, we had similar paces, and we'd kind of coordinated everything on Facebook Messenger. At that time we had a thread, and I didn't know that when you rename a thread, it renames it for everybody. And we had been talking about these socky bullet shorts that, Ally Brettnacher: okay, Trena Roudebush: everybody was like falling in love with, they had big pockets and they could carry all your gels and they were comfy and didn't move. And so I just relabeled this thing, team shorts and we started jokingly calling ourselves that. And now we have become a team that.

We've been together, what, eight, nine years now. And it's women that are like crushing it on the road and in life and really supporting each other. And if we knew it was gonna turn into anything, we would've thought harder about The name. Ally Brettnacher: The name. You just were like, yeah, these, we like these Shorts. Shorts. Trena Roudebush: These are my shorts people. So yeah, it Ally Brettnacher: reminds me of Anchorman. I love Lamp. Just perfect. At least shorts is running related. Not completely off the wall, but Trena Roudebush: yeah. Ally Brettnacher: That's cute. Do you have shirts or anything? Trena Roudebush: Oh, we have shirts.

Have jerseys. Ally Brettnacher: I have not seen this. Trena Roudebush: Oh, I'm gonna send you a picture tonight, Ally Brettnacher: please. Yes, I, yeah, I need to see that. 'cause that's really, really cool. Trena Roudebush: Yeah, the first jersey we put together. Because indie runners was kinda the common connection for everybody. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: We took the logo and it's basically the skyline of Indianapolis with a man running and then a woman running right behind her. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: But one of her very talented teammates flipped the logo, moved the woman out in front of the man. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: And so it is the girl winning logo is how we refer to it.

Ally Brettnacher: That's great. Perfect. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Ugh. Trena Roudebush: So that is on the back of the jersey. Ally Brettnacher: That's fun. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: And PBT personal best training. Are you still involved in PBT? Do you still use mat? Trena Roudebush: I do. Okay. Every year. Uh, it's a good reminder. The week after monumental, I always send him my, my annual. Dues Ally Brettnacher: or recap or, oh, dues money. The money Trena Roudebush: the money. Ally Brettnacher: Send Matt the money. Trena Roudebush: Send Matt the money. Ally Brettnacher: I thought you were gonna say, oh, I sent him a recap of like all my stuff and Yeah.

The money. Trena Roudebush: No, he just send me that little emoji with the monkey with his hands over his eyes, like, oh my God, what's happening I'm doing now. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: But now, the first time I had worked with Matt and with the, the group. There was a trial from July to monumental, and then you could, you know, pay for the year after that. Okay. And so every year at monumental, it reminds me I need to pay him. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, that's funny. Trena Roudebush: He has gotten me faster, he's gotten me more diligent. Ally Brettnacher: How many member, how many members are there of his.

Trena Roudebush: I have no idea. Ally Brettnacher: It seems like a lot, Trena Roudebush: at Ally Brettnacher: least outside looking in. Trena Roudebush: Yeah, there's a lot. And it's everything from Olympic Trail qualifiers down, you know, to 15 minute milers that are building endurance and Ally Brettnacher: yeah, Trena Roudebush: pace and. Like I love that about the running community. Is it? Is everybody, we were talking on a run this morning, new shoe date that Ally Brettnacher: Oh yeah. Renee said she saw you this morning. Renee was on this podcast as well. I don't know the episode number off the top of my head, but yeah, Trena Roudebush: she shot out of her car and like.

Full on Bear hugged me this morning in a dark parking lot before 5:30 AM It is So Renee. Ally Brettnacher: That is so Renee. Oh, Trena Roudebush: the only disappointment. She wasn't in, um, a metallic bodysuit. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. I would've been perfect there this morning. Very chilly. Trena Roudebush: Yes. You need a low coverage. I can't remember. Oh, Ally Brettnacher: weird. I, I was gonna say, I forgot too. I interrupted you. So you were on or run this morning? Trena Roudebush: Yeah. So we're recapping, monumental, Ally Brettnacher: yeah. Trena Roudebush: For everybody. And we were talking about all of the various people. We saw and how you just can't make assumptions about anybody out there like getting passed by somebody that looks like, you know, he should be walking his dog.

Yeah. Or like, it's just, it's amazing the energy and you know, various people in the backgrounds. Mm-hmm. And I can only imagine their stories. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Right. That's why I love this song. It's like, yeah, give me, I wanna know. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: That's why sometimes I introduce myself to random people and I'm like, I need to know more about what you're talking about. So will you please come on my podcast? I love that. So tell me about it. But it is, it's, that's one of the things I love is that you just. You just don't know. I volunteered at the expo this year 'cause I'm on the board for monumental, as you know.

And so, you know, this guy that was volunteering with me was telling me about this other guy he met. He's like, yeah, this guy's in town from another state. And he, this is his like hundred and sixth marathon and he's like almost 80 or something just crazy. And you're like, yeah, those are the people who just are also just normal people with normal jobs. You know, aren't professional runners but that just absolutely love the sport and keep doing it and yeah, I just, I really love that. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: So is being part of Matt's team at PBT, what got you into pacing marathons?

Trena Roudebush: Maybe. I don't remember how I see, like, I need to pay more attention as I go and not just say yes to everything and bumble through life, Ally Brettnacher: whatever. It's gotten you this far. It's amazing. Trena Roudebush: Pacing has been. It's so much fun. I think I get more nervous about doing that than like racing my race because there are people depending on me to not ruin theirs. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: But being able to, you know, tell stories and to get to know these people over several miles and to send them on ahead of me to the finish line and then like they're waiting there.

Uh, I think my favorite pacing moment. Was Kentucky Derby paced the half, several years ago, and there was a 13-year-old boy that was like glued to my hip. Ally Brettnacher: Aw. Trena Roudebush: Uh, and I'm pretty sure his parents said, just stay with the pacer, like generally. And he stayed with the pacer. And you know, we talked along the way and I'm sure somebody dropped a swear word and we told him that he could swear as well. And then, you know, I sent him ahead when we got close to 13 and I told him just Sprint. Sprint. Like you're, you know, eight years old and.

He was waiting on the other side of the finish line for me, and he took my hand and walked me to his parents. And the only mistake I made was, oh, so you're so and so, and that little girl is his sister, so and so, and the mom's face was like, what else did he tell you? Oh, Ally Brettnacher: did he say nice things? That's Trena Roudebush: funny. He said lovely things. Oh, that's special. But I was so, so excited for him. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: And that he had such pride in that moment. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: This is, I don't know.

That's the best part. Ally Brettnacher: Well, I feel like not only at every race, but I feel like every time I look at the pictures of all the pacers, there's, there's Trina. How many races do you think you've paced? Trena Roudebush: Probably a couple dozen. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. All marathon, or no, you just said that was a half. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Marathons and halfs Ally Brettnacher: and haves. Just whatever. I've never officially been a pacer, but at the Indiana Women's half. I ran with Christy D, who paced two 10 and she was the same. She was so nervous. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: She was all business like so worried about just giving the people a good experience, making sure she timed it right and it was great.

So I kind of got to shadow the pacer. Trena Roudebush: Yeah, Ally Brettnacher: so it was like a pacing experience without the pressure, which was kind of nice because it got me thinking. Huh. That was kind of fun. Trena Roudebush: It is. Ally Brettnacher: I could do that. Trena Roudebush: You should. Ally Brettnacher: I am kind of thinking about it now because, you know, you can't if, if you're doing a bunch of races like I tend to do in the fall. Yeah. Especially the local ones. You can't just race every one. You're gonna hurt yourself. So the idea of giving back and pacing as part of still being able to be involved in the event, I liked it.

Trena Roudebush: And you get the miles and you get the medal, Ally Brettnacher: you get the miles and the medal. That's, that's true. So for monumental this year you paced with Mark, who I know I met him during the monumental last year actually. 'cause I had met him on Instagram before that He was an ambassador for monumental. And so that's kind of how, you know, we got connected and he thought I was an ambassador. And I was like, no, no, I'm actually, I'm on the board. And I remember he paced four hours last year and it didn't go well for him. But I remember seeing him like at the beginning ish, maybe mile seven, like almost before the split of full in half.

And then I also saw him at the end on, on Meridian. He had. He had not had a good day. And I remember trying to figure out what the right things to say to somebody is at that point. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: I was like, come on, run. You know, I was trying to get him to run with me. He did for a little bit and then he is like, listen, I am, I'm, I'm good. I'm out. Trena Roudebush: You didn't say the Ally Brettnacher: right thing. Yeah, no, I didn't. I was like, I, I'm sorry. So, yeah. So he said he was your training partner this year for the four hours?

Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: And we agreed at the finish line, and he might've been delusional, but we said we'd be willing to do this again together. Ally Brettnacher: Oh, there you go. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Alright. Yeah. He said you were an amazing partner. Trena Roudebush: Oh, thanks. Which Ally Brettnacher: doesn't surprise me. Trena Roudebush: He lies. Ally Brettnacher: Do you usually, when you pace, do you usually have a partner or does it depend on the race? Trena Roudebush: It depends on the race. Uh, most of the time I've been solo, I've had. Partners a fair number of times. Some of those have gone better than others.

Mm-hmm. I will absolutely take Mark again. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: Um, Ally Brettnacher: oh yeah, so there's a story there. Trena Roudebush: I had one, and I won't name the races and I won't name the people, but we knew his sister was running the race somewhere and he partway through the race, probably 13, 14 miles in, decided to drop back and find her, and then finished an hour and a half behind the PACE group that we were supposed to be leading. Because he wanted to care for her rather than his group. Uh, Ally Brettnacher: okay. That doesn't, yeah. You're like, uh, Trena Roudebush: yeah.

We have to remember the priority of the day. It's not our race. It's not our sister's race. It's, Ally Brettnacher: yeah. Trena Roudebush: You know, these random strangers that choose to hang out with us for four hours. Yeah. Which is a lot to ask of any human. Ally Brettnacher: Hang out with me. That's a long time. Well, we'll see. I don't know. We've made it a few minutes so far today. 'cause I've never been in your PACE group, which I feel like would be so fun. Like, do you, what is your personality when pacing, are you a talker? Are you like saying words of encouragement?

What are some of your, like what do you do? Trena Roudebush: Um, I come with random stories that. We'll pop up at some point. They're in no particular order, but they're in my pocket depending on the group. Like some are really chatty and we'll just chat, like we're out for a run. Usually there's some point it gets quiet and just try to figure out like, do these people want to be talked to? Do they want stories? Do they want distraction? Am I annoying? Ally Brettnacher: Raise your hand if you think I'm annoying, like while you're running, Trena Roudebush: right? Usually I tell the story about, uh.

I, he was at Mill Race a few years ago. There was a guy in my group or running near us that had headphones in, which I'm fine with, you know, be able to hear stuff. He didn't realize he was singing out loud and we ran a few miles playing name that tune. Ally Brettnacher: That's kind of fun. Trena Roudebush: He had no idea. Ally Brettnacher: How do you, okay, well, fair enough. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. So I'm usually trying to be aware of, you know, who's around me when I tell that story. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: But, uh. Yeah, there's just, Ally Brettnacher: I don't like it when people listen to their music out loud.

Trena Roudebush: No. And he wasn't even out loud. Ally Brettnacher: Right. He's singing, but I wouldn't like that actually either. I mean, it's nice you make a game out of it. 'cause it's like, well instead of letting it irritate me, I'm gonna have it be funny. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: But yeah, when people have their phone out and they're playing music out loud, I'm like. No, I do not want Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: That to be forced on me. Trena Roudebush: Right. You, your playlist is not my playlist. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So anybody listening, who does that? Stop it. Trena Roudebush: I will buy you headphones.

Ally Brettnacher: Do not do that. It's not nice. People do not appreciate it. Yeah. So do you ever listen to music when you run? Trena Roudebush: I listen to podcasts. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: Uh, Ally Brettnacher: and you still haven't listened to mine. Cool. Cool. Trina, Trena Roudebush: I've listened to yours. I just didn't, last night Ally Brettnacher: I did. Just gave me a hard time. Well, you're gonna have to listen to your episode now, so Trena Roudebush: I know. Well, I'm gonna have four hours at, you know, Charlotte this weekend, so I'm gonna catch up on a few episodes. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So are you Ra you're racing this weekend?

Trena Roudebush: I'm gonna run it for me. Ally Brettnacher: For you. Trena Roudebush: I, I don't know if, what does that mean? Ally Brettnacher: It's Trena Roudebush: gonna race it, but I'm just going to roll however it wants to come. Okay. Like, no expectations. These are my miles. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. So you don't get a plan for Matt then, or does he give you something if you want it? Trena Roudebush: If I want it. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: Yep. This one being the fourth marathon, this fall, the seventh race. Like, I don't know, you know what's gonna happen? Ally Brettnacher: That's a good point.

Trena Roudebush: Uh, I feel really good. Like I'm expecting a strong race, but like, whatever happens, happens. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. What is strong for you? What is your personal best? Trena Roudebush: My personal best? 3 25 and some change. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: Never gonna get close to that again. Ally Brettnacher: What, what, uh, pace is that? Trena Roudebush: Seven 30. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: I don't know. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. I don't know either, so I Trena Roudebush: don't do Ally Brettnacher: math. Sounds good. Yeah, me either. Sorry. Running math, any kind of math. Not, not off the top of our heads. And then what about for the half?

Trena Roudebush: 1 36. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: And that one, uh, is the Bedford half, I don't know if it Ally Brettnacher: Bedford, Trena Roudebush: still happens. Uh, south of Bloomington. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: So really hilly, didn't go out with any expectations. Went out pretty fast, but felt good. Mm-hmm. And then I realized there was a bike next to me. And I was like, oh, like it's a real bike and I'm in some sort of place. Ally Brettnacher: Oh, shoot. Trena Roudebush: So I was like, well, I cannot like not be in this place. Ally Brettnacher: Whoa. Trena Roudebush: And so I kept quite like, I'm gonna push another telephone pole.

I'm gonna push another quarter mile. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: We passed the next bike. And I was like, I think I'm moving from third to second. If she like, you know, pushes, I can't answer. And we rolled right by her and I was like, oh, this is good. I'm gonna see if I can like stay here. And in passing her, my only fear was I had like, I was likely to switch bikes, 'cause bikes usually stay with for second, third. Ally Brettnacher: Oh, Trena Roudebush: okay. I was like, but I like my bike. I like my person. You know, she really hadn't talked to me.

She's not pacing me, but like, I feel bonded to her. Ally Brettnacher: That's funny. Trena Roudebush: And I was like, do I stay in third so I can keep my bike? And I was like, that's dumb. Ally Brettnacher: No, Trina. No, you do not. You just, Trena Roudebush: no. So I moved up and uh, I heard my bike and the second place bike talk and she's like, I need to stay with my runner. And so they switched positions and sort of like hug her at the end and thank her and she thanked me and it was just, it was such a cool. Thing and to, so Ally Brettnacher: you finished in second?

Trena Roudebush: I finished in second. Got my pretty cool, my prs and it was like just you were asking before about memories and that's one of 'em. That's Ally Brettnacher: a cool one. Trena Roudebush: I don't know that I would've pulled out. Ally Brettnacher: Did you speak to her at all during the race? At any moment? Trena Roudebush: No, Ally Brettnacher: that's, you know. Okay. So this year at Geist that happened to me where I ran with this girl, I don't know how long it was. It felt like more than a mile, but it could have just been a mile. But we ran side by side for over a mile, let's say.

Just no words were exchanged. And there's like, you know, it's a pretty, it's small race, right? So it's pretty spread out. We just were Trena Roudebush: just Ally Brettnacher: taken away. No, no words. And then after the race, I actually saw her and I, you know, I said, Hey, you know, thank you so much for that. And she's like, oh my gosh, thank you. You know, you just don't, you have no idea if I'm helping her. She was helping me. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: But it was just kind of funny. It's funny how those kinds of things, you can just sense it. Trena Roudebush: Yeah.

And that's just, that's so emblematic of our community. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Like you're there for somebody in a way that you have no idea. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Ugh. Now, when you volunteer at races, have you done other volunteer activities? I'm sure like water stations, anything else? Trena Roudebush: Um, water stations, um, start and finish is always the most fun. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Like Trena Roudebush: you get all of the energy of that. I did work for. Handful of years, uh, for Todd Oliver with Carmel Marathon. Okay. Indie Women's Half. Um, doing a lot of their social media and runner engagement. Um, coordinated their, their pace team, uh, and to like be on site in the hub of it and be one of the first people there in the morning and just watch the sun come up, watch the music come up, watch the crowd come in, and just that whole like time lapse of a day.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Uh, Trena Roudebush: that's pretty special. One of my favorite memories from college and working, uh, for Butler Athletics was coming in before the basketball games and Henkel Field House is cold and quiet and, you know, people start trickling in the staff and then the fans and you know, the game happens and then, you know, it sort of cdo out at the end of it. And it's the same experience at a race. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Like Trena Roudebush: it's, Ally Brettnacher: it takes so much work too. I'm just in awe, you know, before I joined the board at, at Monumental, I had never volunteered for a race ever, which I, I wonder what percentage of runners do.

Probably not a lot. Trena Roudebush: I think everybody should, and Ally Brettnacher: I agree. Trena Roudebush: Once a year. Ally Brettnacher: Yes. Trena Roudebush: Get your karma. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: And then go race your tail off Ally Brettnacher: because you gotta think about how much you appreciate the volunteer or maybe you just don't think about it. Yeah. But you know, if you start to think about it, you'll realize how much effort. Yeah, it takes, um, I did my first water station at the Monumental Kids 5K at the end, and it was just, it was hard work holding that picture and filling stuff up and being fast and spilling everywhere and, and I just thought, man, like at these major marathons Trena Roudebush: Yeah, Ally Brettnacher: like being in charge of these water.

I mean, you've gotta. It is an important job and it is a hard job and it's a thankless job at times. Yeah. 'cause people don't really, I don't know. They Trena Roudebush: just expect it. Ally Brettnacher: They expect it. Yeah. Everybody needs to volunteer. Trena Roudebush: Yes. And if not for your own sport. For another sport, Ally Brettnacher: yeah. For something. Yeah. Something else. Trena Roudebush: Like go work, a swim meet. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: It's great. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Or just volunteer in general. Give back. Give back. I also am intrigued by ainsley's angels. Trena Roudebush: That seems so hard. Ally Brettnacher: Have, have you done?

Trena Roudebush: No. Have you Ally Brettnacher: pushed. Before? Trena Roudebush: No, I tried it like for a hot minute on the Monon one day. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. I Trena Roudebush: think Joseph Maley was out doing some training runs and you know, we were chatting and I got to take one. They're hard. I can't imagine doing miles. Ally Brettnacher: Oh, I think you should do it. Okay. Trena Roudebush: So Ally Brettnacher: I, I would be like, Hey, do it with me. But I already recruited my friend who actually just. Had her fourth child, Trena Roudebush: oh my gosh. Ally Brettnacher: To do with me. And I didn't think of this strategy before, but she's been running with the double stroller.

So I feel like I've got a good partner Yes. Who has been like really in shape for that. But for the, oh shoot, I'm gonna forget what year it is for the mini, it's like the 45th mini, let's just say. And it's, they wanna have 45 teams or something like that. So I'm trying to recruit more people to do it, but I think the Mini's a great place to do that because for people. Who are trying to race the mini is just, it's pretty crowded. It's a hard race to try to race. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: It's really just a fun experience and so I am excited to, to do that hopefully this, this coming year as a way to give back and give somebody else the experience of racing that I love so much.

You know? Trena Roudebush: Oh, that's such a good idea. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So, Trena Roudebush: okay, I'm gonna try not to say, no, Ally Brettnacher: no. Maybe, maybe Trena Roudebush: Ask me again. Ally Brettnacher: Ask me again later. Oh, that's funny. Yeah. Now I can't ask you things 'cause I'm just making it. Yeah. I'm not helping Trena Roudebush: for you. You get yeses. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Thank you. Well, for giving back you, you mentioned New Shoe Day. Yeah. That you were running with them this morning. I've tried to get Casey to come on this podcast. Trena Roudebush: Oh. Ally Brettnacher: And I don't know if he's shy or if he, Trena Roudebush: he's not shy.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, he, he, I just need to keep emailing him. I think Trena Roudebush: I'm just gonna tell him I said yes for him as well. Ally Brettnacher: Perfect. Trena Roudebush: We're just Ally Brettnacher: looking Trena Roudebush: to people. Ally Brettnacher: So, Renee, so I was like, Renee, what, what, why want, 'cause I wanna know more. I don't know much about New Shoe Day. So maybe can you give us a taste of what New Shoe Day is and like, do you run once a week with them? What, yeah, Trena Roudebush: I can give you kind of the unpolished version. Yeah. So it started out.

They were doing a hundred days of running, I think 10 miles a day, and whoever wanted to come and do bits and pieces, and they'd run through different neighborhoods in Indy and had gift cards. And just as they encountered folks, you know, they would give 'em a gift card and, you know, talk to 'em and get their story. And they just saw like how it, how a human connection. Ally Brettnacher: Like under like homeless or like underprivileged or just random strangers. Trena Roudebush: Random strangers. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: Yeah, I'm sure they approach folks that seemed like they had some sort of need or might just need a pick me up.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: But they saw like how just human interaction changes somebody's demeanor and might, you know, lift your spirits and Yeah. I think Casey really started thinking about the mental health benefits of, uh, movement, but also human connection. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: And that is sort of how it was born out and where the name comes from is like that joy of. When you get a new pair of shoes. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. So Trena Roudebush: you know your new shoe day. Ah, but they started running Wednesday mornings at five 30. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: Broad Ripple, six, seven miles, whatever somebody wanted, they could turn back.

Um, now we have a pickup at 6:00 AM so you could we'll do 15 minutes out the back. Oh, Ally Brettnacher: okay. And then Trena Roudebush: pick up additional folks or drop off. And then they work with Beyond Monumental. Mm-hmm. And, uh, some local youth serving organizations to provide actual pairs of shoes. Yeah. Shoes, but also mental health curriculum. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, and they continue to see how that, uh, works hand in hand. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Um, hopefully we'll make a dent in the mental health crisis that's going on. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Uh, build some human connections, build self-esteem, leave people feeling empowered.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. There's nothing like. Accomplishing something you didn't think you could do. Mm-hmm. Whether it's running a mile, running a lap around a track to, to give you that boost. It's wild. Like how you call back on those memories later. Yeah. Go, well I did this hard thing. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: I can do this other hard thing. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Okay. Yeah, I love that. I want to know more about that. I'm gonna get, I'm gonna, Casey, Trena Roudebush: he is way better at telling the story than I'm, Ally Brettnacher: well, whatever. No, that makes a ton of sense.

Well, in the interest of, we've got what, 11 minutes. Yeah. Okay. In the interest of time, I want to talk a little bit about details and logistics around your racing, because for somebody who's done so many races, do you have a routine like dialed in where you're like, this is what I do ever race? Trena Roudebush: Oh gosh. Some of it is not overthinking. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. That teach me that. Trena Roudebush: I'm not good at this. Uh, earlier this season I cleaned and reorganized my office, like, you know, that I go to not just my home office. Uh, 'cause I just like that pre-race anxiety and I didn't know what actually was coming out.

It Ally Brettnacher: just, you Trena Roudebush: know's Ally Brettnacher: like nesting, but for a marathon. Trena Roudebush: Yes. Like the taper crazies. Ally Brettnacher: Right. Taper crazies. Trena Roudebush: But I wasn't really tapering. I don't know what was happening. Yeah. Um. But yeah, I usually just try to think about it as, you know, the long run. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: And, you know, go through the same routines before, you know, a 20 miler. So that race day is not that different. Yeah. Um, the night before a marathon, I'll eat white rice, like steamed white rice and can be black beans sometimes, you know, tortilla or whatever.

It's like the cheapest meal. But it's really filling and it gets me through. Um. I'll make sure I've got plenty of gels in my pocket, uh, goo or cliff. Uh, usually I'll think through which flavor I might want. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: Like that is the excitement of what I get to do. Ally Brettnacher: I, well, I, you know, I like certain flavors, so it's like, okay. Ooh. Yeah. Yeah. Trena Roudebush: I tried pineapple for the first time last weekend. Ally Brettnacher: Interesting. Okay. I buy it. Maybe I, the overly sweet is tough, but I also, I do salted caramel. And salted watermelon are my two favorites.

Trena Roudebush: I like the salted watermelon. And then is it salted lime that tastes like a margarita? Ally Brettnacher: Oh, I haven't had that one either. Trena Roudebush: Oh, that one's lovely. Ally Brettnacher: Mm, that sounds good. Trena Roudebush: Uh, and then Goo made a special one with like, for IPA, it was like hops flavored. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. That sounds disgusting. I love beer. So how was it? Did you try it? Trena Roudebush: I've not been daring enough to try it while running. Okay. But I did eat one standing around. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Just because I wanted to know what it taste like.

It was pretty good. Ally Brettnacher: Interesting. Oh, so I did take a shot at PBR during the monumental. Trena Roudebush: Nice. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: How was it? Ally Brettnacher: It was great. At first I was kind of like, why? Did I do that? Trena Roudebush: Is that what drove you to your pr? Ally Brettnacher: Yep. Without a doubt. Trena Roudebush: Pr, PBRP. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Yeah. I, we need t-shirts, I need it. Yeah. But I have encountered PBR in several races and yeah, once in Chicago, like right before the end I remember was pouring, like somebody gave me a ca I, you know, now you almost wonder, is that safe?

Probably not. I don't know. I just drank whatever they gave me. Trena Roudebush: Didn't kill you, Ally Brettnacher: didn't kill me. Made me stronger. Okay. So what about breakfast in the morning before? Trena Roudebush: Uh, either a peanut butter sandwich. Yeah. Okay. And just kinda nipple on that. On the way to the start or Ally Brettnacher: not toasted. Just like bread. Trena Roudebush: Yeah, just bread and peanut butter. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: It's filling in calories. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. Trena Roudebush: It's easy. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Um, or Pop-Tarts. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I did the carb loading thing, like a three day thing for the first time.

Trena Roudebush: How was that? Ally Brettnacher: It was really hard. Trena Roudebush: Too much food. Ally Brettnacher: One of the days I ate four Poptarts for breakfast. Trena Roudebush: Congratulations. Ally Brettnacher: Thanks. It was hard, but I think it paid off. Trena Roudebush: Yeah, Ally Brettnacher: I'd like to think it paid off. Trena Roudebush: Obviously it paid off. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. And then what is your, like, post-race? Like what do you like after a run or a race? Trena Roudebush: Uh, usually the day of the race, I'm not hungry. Like I don't want food. Mm. The next day. Like gimme all the food. All the Ally Brettnacher: food.

Trena Roudebush: Yep. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Uh, it just kind of depends. Like something will catch my eye and, and I'll want it, you know, french fries, salt is always Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, salt for sure. Trena Roudebush: That's always a good one. And then I just wanna like. Weirdly enough, like during the race, I think about like the grass that I'm gonna lay in and the sunshine on me. And like I can take a nap once I get to the finish line. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: But then once I get there, like I just, I need to keep moving. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: And just like stay loose.

I don't bend well as a human. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Neither. Trena Roudebush: So sitting down, I never get back up. Ally Brettnacher: I know, I, it's bad 'cause that's, yeah, that's tough. Trena Roudebush: Uh, but yeah, just like standing and wiggling and I. I do think like going for walks or easy runs after helps recovery so much. Because as much as you don't want to. Yeah. Like those first steps are hard. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. Do you do anything else for like any cryotherapy or anything like cold plunge? Any like the, I feel like it's not new, but it to, I don't know, kind of new.

It's kind of new. Like I feel like they now have places to do that, which they didn't really before, but, Trena Roudebush: uh, so not intentionally. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Trena Roudebush: But I, last summer I did take up, uh, open water swimming and so, Ally Brettnacher: okay. Trena Roudebush: The last couple of weekends, those have been our little cryo plunge. Unintentionally Ally Brettnacher: over at Eagle Creek Trena Roudebush: at a friend's townhouse. She has a lives on a lake over by Walmart on Keystone. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: I probably shouldn't disclose the lake. Ally Brettnacher: That's Trena Roudebush: fine. A friend's townhouse lake. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Trena Roudebush: Yeah. That's been a journey too, of learning to open water, swim and not like freak out. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. That's a whole nother. It's a whole nother thing. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. That one also started with a bad offhanded comment. Uh, so I'm on the local organizing committee for Olympic Trail Swimming. Ally Brettnacher: Oh, right. Trena Roudebush: It's happening in Lucas Oil Stadium next summer. And, and we started working like about two years out and I looked around the room of like these 30 or 40 core people and realized that I probably the only non-swimmer in the bunch. Mm. And made offhand a comment to Ryan Vaughan.

Uh, who was head of sports court at the time and kind of fearful that he would actually take me up on it. But I was, I said, I wanna swim across the Olympic pool or the trials pool, you know, at some point. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: And I was like, I will fully embarrass myself in front of all of these swimmers. And so I talked to a friend that's a triathlete. I was like, I just wanna learn how to swim, like, you know, across this room. And so she invited me out to do these open waters and just like, I kinda like that too, but I don't, and she's asked, you know, if I wanna compete in something.

Mm-hmm. You know, a friend, uh, rose Gove swim around Macaw Island. Uh, Ally Brettnacher: she did. Wow. Like Trena Roudebush: eight miles. Ally Brettnacher: No, I can't, I suck. Not swimming. Trena Roudebush: No. Nice. That there's no sharks up there. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yes. Trena Roudebush: That would've made me swim faster. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: But, uh, you know, friends ask like, do you wanna do something like that? And I was like, swimming on Sundays as part of this group is wonderful 'cause there is no expectation. Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Trena Roudebush: I'm not training for anything. I don't have to go any pace. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Just Trena Roudebush: like, I'm just gonna go out for a swim. Ally Brettnacher: That's cool. Interesting things, just learning how to Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Do something new. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: So, okay. Two questions quickly and then I'll let you get to your call, Trena Roudebush: whatever Ally Brettnacher: stupid work. Um, so mantra or song. Favorite mantra or favorite song? Trena Roudebush: Ooh. So when things get hard, I hear Leslie Tusk's voice in my head telling me one of two things that I'm a crazy little badass, or that I want this more than. Other people. Ally Brettnacher: Okay. I like both of those.

And then next finish line is Trena Roudebush: Charlotte. Ally Brettnacher: This weekend? Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: Saturday. Charlotte. How's the weather looking? Trena Roudebush: Looks really good. Ally Brettnacher: Good. Trena Roudebush: Like fifties. Ally Brettnacher: Okay, nice. So not too warm. No. Yeah. New York looks maybe a touch warm on Sunday. Mm-hmm. But not my, I think kind of similar to what monumental was last weekend. Trena Roudebush: Oh, okay. Ally Brettnacher: Where it ended up not really being that warm. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: So Trena Roudebush: the sun stay hopefully stays, uh, behind the clouds are good. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. Oh, well have so much fun.

Trena Roudebush: Thank you. In Ally Brettnacher: Charlotte. That's so cool. Trena Roudebush: Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: And I just Oh, thank you for doing this, Trina. I feel like Trena Roudebush: thanks for having me. Yeah. Ally Brettnacher: But we didn't, we've not done the justice You deserve. Thanks to your work because I have, I just wanna know more. So hopefully we can do this again sometime. Trena Roudebush: Yes. Ally Brettnacher: And at the very least, we should do coffee again soon 'cause it's been too long since we've done that. Trena Roudebush: True, yes. Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Trena Roudebush: Put something on my calendar. Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Trena Roudebush: I will say yes to you. Always. Yes to you. Ally Brettnacher: Thank you. You're the best. And thank you to everybody who's listened. Appreciate it so much. Hope you have a great weekend and happy running.

Ally Brettnacher