Episode 55: Ashley Schwab - Inclusion Beyond Limits

Episodes

May 10

Listener note: This episode briefly mentions addiction and postpartum anxiety.

My friend of 15 years, Ashley Schwab, and I pushed a nine-year-old named Hope through the Indy Mini with Ainsley's Angels. It was the first finish line that wasn't about us.

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About this episode

Ashley Schwab has been one of my closest friends for more than a decade. She grew up on the water in Monticello, Indiana, where her family runs the town marina, cheered at the University of Southern Indiana, built a career in radio and software sales, and is now a stay-at-home mom of four. She caught the running bug watching Monumental Marathon runners pass her now-husband Lance's house in Broad Ripple, ran one mile that day, and has since run Monumental, Chicago, Big Cottonwood, New York and a 3:43 PR at Carmel.

Days before we recorded in my closet, Ashley and I pushed Hope, a nine-year-old girl, through the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon with Ainsley's Angels. We talk about that race, how we really met on a boat at Geist, getting faster after kids, our Boston dreams, saving our New York Marathon trip from a bed bug hotel, and Ashley's volunteer work with Heart Change, which serves women in generational poverty.

In this episode, we discuss

Pushing Hope, a nine-year-old runner angel, through the Indy Mini with Ainsley's Angels
Fat Bottom Girls by Queen playing right as Team Hope crossed the finish line
Why we plan to push with Ainsley's Angels every year from now on
A night away at the Bottleworks Hotel and memories of working downtown
Ashley's horseback riding scholarship and landing on her head at USI cheer tryouts
Her quiet but fierce competitive streak
How we first met on Lance's boat at Geist and the story of the bottle of red wine
Growing up at her family's marinas in Monticello, Indiana
Pivoting from radio news to radio sales, then medical device and software sales
Choosing to become a stay-at-home mom of four and bringing her kids along
Watching the Monumental Marathon from Broad Ripple and running her first mile that day
Her first marathon at Monumental in 2013, Chicago in 2014 and a PR at Big Cottonwood
Running through postpartum anxiety and getting faster after kids
Running the New York City Marathon for Alex's Lemonade Stand and dodging a bed bug hotel
Volunteering with her kids at Heart Change and her mantra, "I can do anything for one mile"

Chapters

Intro
Pushing Hope at the Indy Mini
Ainsley's Angels and the finish line song
A night at the Bottleworks Hotel
College cheer and a scary tryout
How we really met
Growing up at the marina
From radio to sales
Four kids and staying home
Catching the marathon bug
Getting faster after kids and Boston dreams
New York, bed bugs and getting to the start
Heart Change and giving back
Mantras, music and next finish lines

Mentioned in this episode

Races: 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, Monumental Marathon, Chicago Marathon, New York City Marathon, Big Cottonwood Marathon, Carmel Marathon, Geist Half Marathon, Drumstick Dash, Indianapolis Marathon at Fort Ben, Full Mo 50K, Savannah Women's Marathon, Tallahassee Turkey Trot
Organizations and charities: Ainsley's Angels, Heart Change, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, University of Southern Indiana, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Clear Channel Media, Bottleworks Hotel
Other: Tony Kanaan, Des Linden, "Fat Bottom Girls" by Queen, "Till I Collapse" by Eminem, "Eye of the Tiger", "Wake Me Up" by Avicii, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"

Previous guests mentioned

Related episodes

Frequently asked

What is Ainsley's Angels?

Ainsley's Angels is an organization that pairs runners with athletes who can't run a race on their own, and in 2024 Ashley Schwab helped push nine-year-old Hope through the Indy Mini in one of its racing chariots as part of Team Hope.

How did Ashley Schwab start running?

Ashley Schwab started running after watching Monumental Marathon runners pass her now-husband's house in Broad Ripple, learning they were going 26.2 miles, and going out to run her first mile that same day.

What is Ashley Schwab's marathon PR?

Ashley Schwab ran a 3:43 at the 2019 Carmel Marathon, a PR over her 3:49 at the New York City Marathon, and she is working toward a Boston qualifier.

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Transcript

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

Welcome to Finish Lines and Milestones with Ali Bretnocker. Incredible stories and tales of triumphs with everyday people achieving their goals and fitness. This podcast brought to you by Athlete Bouquets. Celebrate finish lines and milestones of the people that you love by visiting athletebouquets.com. Hello and welcome to episode 55. This is Ali Brettnocker. Even though I sound like a completely different person, this week I was delaying recording this intro, thinking maybe my voice will get better, but it has not. So here we are. I guess I just screamed a lot at the Mini. I don't know. We also celebrated my mom's birthday this weekend. So happy birthday, mom.

I know you're listening. Thank you. I love you. So the Mini was absolutely incredible. It was my 16th or 17th time running, and this time I did something a little different and I ran with Ainsley's Angels, which is an organization who pairs runners with runner angels who sit in these beautiful racing Chariots and you are able to provide them with the experience of a race. So my friend Ashley Schwab and I had the opportunity to push a young girl named Hope. She's nine years old and it was just so magical and special. We had nice weather, albeit a little warm, but the amount of support we got out on course for Hope was just awesome and we decided this is what we're going to do every year moving forward.

So let's go support them. Whether it's with donations or whether you are interested in running a race with them, feel free to reach out to me, let me know and I can get you the information that you need to get registered for next year. So we do talk a lot about our Indy Mini experience. And when I say our, I'm saying at my friend Ashley Schwab and I. So Ashley is this week's guest. She has been a friend of mine for over a decade and I'm so happy I got a chance to sit down with her. We don't often get the chance just to be with each other and so this weekend was really special.

To have the chance to stay downtown at Bottle Works just with her, and then have the opportunity to run with her. It was really, really fun. And I want to also thank Irina, who is from the Ukraine. Ashley and her husband did business over there for a number a number of years. And when the war started, it was horrible for their family. They had to. Essentially, they were talking to a lot of their employees, trying to figure out how to get them out. And we don't talk a lot about that experience just given the fact that we didn't have a ton of time. But Irina came straight from vacation, got off her flight and came straight to Ashley's house to allow for her to record with me.

So thank you Irina. And you know, thank you Ashley and Lance, her husband, for what they've done for the Ukraine and this specifically for Irina and her husband and helping give them a place to live during this really, really horrible time for them. So Ashley and I again go way back. So we talk about our experience this weekend, but we talk about Ashley's kind of upbringing and how we're excited as moms to be, you know, racing again and gaining speed. We talk about the first time we met, which is hilarious for the number of time we've or the amount of time that we've been friends.

I never knew part of the story. And so I uncover that during this interview. And we talk about some racing stories. We talk about how she first got into sales when she started out her career in radio. She literally was looking at cars in the work parking lot and was like, what do those people do? That's what I want to do. And I just thought that was really cool and just shows her, you know, grit and determination of being like, oh, I want that, I'm going to go get it. That's just kind of who Ashley is and why we're friends. So we talk about becoming a stay at home mom, which she is, She's the mom of four and I also and also we share how Ashley gives back to the community and I just respect her so much just as a mom but also as a faithful Christian woman.

She just is so inspiring to me personally and I can't wait till we qualify for Boston together and get to go together. Hopefully that will happen for us someday. So I really hope that you enjoy this conversation with Ashley and hopefully next week my voice will not sound like this anymore. Hello, my voice is so bad. Oh, hello, Allie. Yeah, I don't know. I don't think I was yelling at the Mini, was I? Forget, I think you were running, not yelling. Not yelling. So I don't know. I don't know. I have a little bit of a cough. Too. What about your mom's birthday? Were you yelling there?

No, not really. No. So I don't know what's going on, but my voice sounds really sexy. Really sexy. Hey, it's really weird. I haven't been talking a lot these last few days trying to save it. It's not getting any better, so I don't know what to do. But we're in our my closet, so this is fun. Yeah, it's nice. I like it in here. The I don't know if they can see the shoe boxes at the mics on, but that's my favorite part. Yeah, I should take a. Picture They're all running shoes, so. Yeah, so it's it's the vibe of the podcast. I like it.

Running. I can't imagine the library being any better than this. It's. Yeah. It's really not. So thank you for doing this with me. You snuck away from two of your four children. Yes. In order to be here. Yes. So thank you, it's. Nearly impossible. I'll give a shout out to my Ukrainian friend Irina, who you know, but her and her husband are here with us from Ukraine now, living in Zionsville, and she usually works a double shift some days, but literally got off an airplane from her vacation and came over. I know. I felt really bad. When you're like, oh, her plane's delayed and then she's coming to my house.

I was, oh. I offered to make pizza or DoorDash and food but they said no and I said welcome home. Yeah, wow. I want to talk about this weekend because it was the best ever. The best. Oh, my medal. I brought it. OK, but it's OK. But you should know that I would have my medal on because now is the chance to wear my medal. That's true. It would have been a good opportunity. But. Yeah, how many times have you run the Mini? Is it on the OK? You've run it several times. Several times. But like back in the day when our friend group would do the trifecta of Carmel Geist Indy Mini, I think it was in that order.

It's not anymore. I know that, but it was. I did it a couple of times with like our crew and then I don't think I've done it again since. Yeah, yeah. I feel like it's been a while since you've done the Mini. Yeah, because we did before kids. Do you think it's been before kids? Yes. And Jules is 8. Yeah, so, yeah, at least. Eight years. I'm so glad you said yes when I asked you to do with me. I know. What a good excuse. I'm so glad I did too. I I don't know. It just, it's a busy race. Like it's like the most fun half marathon probably in Indiana that you could do.

But it is like logistically like it's a little bit of a thing. So I didn't haven't thought about doing it recently, but then when you ask to push, I thought 100% yes. Yeah, a few people I told that I was pushing got really confused. So tell people what we did. OK. So Ally and I had the opportunity to push together. So you can do it separate, like as a one person pusher or a two person pusher. And we did it with an organization called Ainsley's Angels, which I think my favorite thing that they say is like inclusion without limits, you know. So it's kind of like who you're thinking about, Well, who will I be pushing?

It could be just anyone who is not able to run the Mini like from either a disability, like a physical disability or a mental disability, doesn't really matter. But yeah, we got to push a racing chariot, which is an amazing. I mean, I thought it was easier than my double stroller and I have a nice 1, so it's like an amazing race ready wheelchair. Yeah, and we got a new one. Ours was new. Yeah, I wonder if they were all that nice. It was very nice. Bring a new first time out. Yeah, I think. So and we didn't break. It, yeah. But yeah, any of like, they basically just connect runners with somebody that would like to experience a race that can't run it themselves.

And we all do it together. Yeah, it was. And now you and I decided that we're going to do it every year. Yeah, I don't. I never want to do the many differently. Than me either. And also, we didn't even tell your running coach that. And she said the exact. Same thing, yeah. We got to the end. She was like, I'm, I don't know how you could do this any other way. And we're like. Exactly, Yeah. It's exactly what we said. And you had just said that. Yeah, it was amazing. So now we're going to recruit other people to do it, yeah. 'Cause I wonder you have to do it.

There were nearly 40. I think there were 44 teams. I saw 44 teams. OK, so yeah, anybody that wants to see that can go to like the Ainsley's Angels, like Facebook or Instagram or whatever, because she got like a group picture. But there were at least 44 and I just, I was also like, I don't know, I feel like as we tell people about it, why would you not want to do it? And I was like, I wonder how many they can have. I don't even know how many. Chariots are available, right? I think it would probably depend on the number of Chariots they have, yeah.

Yeah. Which makes me remember too that I should make a donation as well 'cause that's what Ainsley's Angels does, is my understanding. Yeah, that you can donate. Or like families can, you know, start a GoFundMe for their own family, for people to donate to help them raise money to have a chair. I don't know if that means that they then own it, But anyway, I don't know. But it's a great 'cause to donate money too. Because, yeah, like you said, if if they can't afford one, it helps connect a family with a chair so that they have an opportunity to raise. And it was just, yeah, it was so special to give somebody that opportunity.

Yeah. I don't know. I wonder if anybody like listening is wondering like why what they want, They're like family member or whoever they're supporting to race. But like, I just feel like you and I can like really speak to that right now of just like hearing the entire race course out there cheering for Hope, which is a beautiful 9 year old girl that we got to push. Like I don't know, you were so gracious to make sure it's with her name on it and I'm so glad it said team Hope. So everyone knew like that wasn't you or me like that we were pushing her and just like encouraging her throughout the whole course.

Like I knew they, I know they were doing that for every runner. Yeah, I mean it was. I can't even really put words to it. Yeah, I did. You cry at all? I cried at the finish line when the song came on. You can explain what's this song? So Julie, Hope's mom told us that Fat Bottom Girls by Queen was Hope's favorite song. I feel so bad that my voice sounds like this, but we played it for her before we ran, like when we were walking over to the start line and she went nuts. And so Hope is nonverbal, but she can, like, move her arms and hands and she can definitely smile and she was and make sound.

And so she was like, all about it. And she liked to sing so her singing would be her making sound. And she just, it was so cool to see how excited. I don't know why that's her favorite song, but it cracks me up. I was like, oh, OK And then yeah, it played right after we finished on the loud speakers, not just on our speaker it. Played. I mean yeah, that's undeniable. Like we could have crossed it anytime and we crossed and it played and she was sadly asleep. We did try to wake her so that she could like experience the finish line because like we said, yeah, she's non verbal and non mobile for like as far as like walking and stuff.

But she definitely knows what's going on and her smile is something. So we knew she would have loved it, especially with the music and noise and all that, but she didn't wake up to hear it. But. But that's all right. We can tell her she, her mom, her parents, Julie and Jerry, told us that if she slept, that was good, like she was comfortable. We did our job like she likes the wind in her face, like. And so she did. Probably what? Mile Two? Like she was out and she slept the whole time. Yeah, Which I remember telling you, I'm like, we did a good job.

We did a good job. Well, as like moms who have run with strollers, you're like, yes, if your child falls asleep, you are winning. Yeah. I know we were Mom and out there. We were a good choice for her because we were both making sure she wasn't too hot with her blanket on and. Yep, and we did the glitter. Yeah, we did. We had glitter on our faces. And then, yeah, Julie was so sweet. She's like, of course, like, yeah, I mean, at first it's a little uncomfortable because we're like so excited. But we just want to do like whatever's right for their. Families and whatever's respectful.

I remember asking like, can I touch her? Like, I didn't want to, you know. I didn't know how to how to treat her and they were so sweet, her parents. Yeah, yeah. So for anyone who's kind of considering but also is maybe a little nervous, just know that, I mean, of all the teams I saw how to treat them as just like a best friend, like, it's so fun. You basically get a brand new teammate that we're hoping to get every year. So, Lord willing, like maybe it'll be the three of us for a while. I know that would be so much fun. Well, I put, and I didn't show you before you walked in here, but up on my office wall, I put the sign that has her name on it up on my wall because they put like, so we mentioned the shirts.

You can put like Team Hope on a shirt. And then they also have like attached to the chariot or the chair. They have like a sign that says Team Hope with her picture on it. And so her mom gave us those to take. And I was like, perfect, I'm going to put it on my wall. And then I thought, oh, how cool would it be if I, like, got to collect one every year? Of, you know, yeah, that's really. Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, I was excited to take one home too. My kids were like, so thrilled. So it's great, really great. Yeah, I mean, I couldn't be a bigger advocate now and and somebody actually Timmy who was last week's guest told me before he's like, this is going to be your favorite finish line ever.

And I think he was right. I mean because it was one of the first or if not the only finish line that really wasn't for me. That's such a good point. I told you I cried when we crossed, so yeah. Yeah, yeah, I got teared up, like coming down the last kind of stretch when you get all the spectators. And you know, we got overshadowed by Tony Canon because he finished right before we did. And so they were all excited about announcing him. And I was kind of like man, like what about team Hope? Like she, you know, she should get all the love. But it is May and Indy and if you don't know, Tony Kanan is a an IndyCar driver.

So that was a big deal. I had to look him up because I didn't know, but then I saw he won in 20. 13 No, he's legit. So now I'm yeah, really appreciative that he ran. I think that's so cool, by the way, to run with IndyCar driver. And I mean, it makes the race even that much more special like so. I hope they got someone though, from Ainsley's Angels like the credit as a cross so the the crowd could like at least hear. I'm sure. And what was cool, I noticed along the race course there would be people wearing Ainsley's Angel shirts. Yeah, that were there to support everybody or maybe a specific team, but they would always like yell for you like hey, go angels.

And so there's just, yeah, the amount of support that you get on course is really cool. It's really cool. So cool. I feel like I probably told it felt like 100 people thank you, 'cause like everyone that encouraged us. I'm not used to being encouraged that much and like everyone that did. I often do that when I'm out on the course and I never know if they like it or don't like it. So I wanted to let them know we love it. Thank. You like? Yeah, please, please cheer for us. I mean, yeah, it was so great, especially when we needed it. It was really hot out there this weekend.

Yeah, it was a really hard race for me and so like, you kept me going, but also like everyone else, like the crowd. It's what a good race. If you need one with a good crowd and motivation, it's the best. Yeah, yeah, it's it's really fun. And then you and I also got to spend the night downtown on Friday night, which was super special because like, rarely do you and I get time. Just us. I know, yeah, we left the next morning. I was like, does it have to end right? So we continued it on. We tried to continue it on later at my house, but it just wasn't the same.

Nope, They have the same. And you have, yeah, all the children. The vibe had changed completely, but the bottle works. Hotel is like I told my husband, what a vacation in your own city. Like we've got to do that. Yeah, so. Right. I mean, it's just, it is I truly like that area of the Bottleworks district is it feels like you're on vacation. I think, 'cause, I mean, I just haven't been there a ton. And so downtown for us is like 3035 minutes from where we live. So it's not that far, but we really don't. I I don't really go downtown much, so especially since, I mean, you and I both used to work downtown, which seems just like another lifetime ago.

I know. I think that's for me why I don't go down as much because I loved it so much. When we were working downtown and we had parking, we knew where to go in our buildings. And then we were just like, it was so easy and I took it. I don't know, maybe I didn't take it for granted because I really did love it. I feel like we didn't take it for granted because we would even run in the mornings down there. We made the most of it. We did. We did When we lived there, for sure. Or when we worked there. Yeah. Did you ever live downtown?

I didn't. I really wanted to. When I first moved to Indianapolis, I was coming from Evansville because I went to college down there and I remember my boss that recruited me to come up. I was working for Clear Channel Media at the time and radio, so my boss mentioned that I should move to Riley Towers. Do you remember those big, like Tower apartments downtown? They're still there, There's two of them. But I really wanted to live there. But then my mom and dad helped me out, which is so nice and like by looking at everything. And they're like, we think we're going to put you in Castleton.

It's closer to the office and it just seems like it's nice and safe over here. So I I miss my opportunity. Yeah, so did I. Same, I never lived downtown. Yeah, I I definitely missed that opportunity because now there's, I mean, yeah, I won't ever live downtown. Yeah, well, I tried to get my husband to moved downtown after we got married. You know, like I suggested we should do it just for a couple years, try it out, you know, like. But yeah, no, he's like, he wasn't for that. He's like let even before we got married a few months before. He is like, why don't you go look at this house with me?

I think it would be a good spot. Yeah, which house is? That the one we're in now in Zionsville. There you go. Well, yeah. So you went to school in southern Indiana? Yes. Evansville. Yes. And did you cheer in college? I did cheer in college, yes. So I was supposed to this funny story go to Saint Mary of the Woods in Terra Haute, Indiana, which is quite different. I had a riding horseback riding scholarship. You had a scholarship for horseback riding. I did. I. Didn't know that. And they have a really great program there, one of the best in the state. So I was closer to Purdue, but their program is so good.

So I was really, really excited about that. But they didn't have anything I wanted to major in. So then, and when I transferred to USI, which is University of Southern Indiana, I still wanted to be in a sport. And it was the only thing I was good enough to try out for cheerleading. Have you ever cheered? I cheered in high school, but let me just say I didn't know what I was getting myself into. In southern Indiana, they've got a Southern twang. I remember showing up and they were like, USI. And I was like, oh wow, I don't think I fit in here. And then I saw him start to practice and I was like, I definitely don't fit in here.

They are the real deal. They do competitive cheer down there, and just way more than I got into, way more than I knew I was. How'd you How'd you get on the team? Well, I practiced like I went back to where I did gymnastics as a little girl in my hometown. And I was like, can you rein in my tumbling a little bit? Because I'm going to try out for this because you had to be able to do I know this for sure, like a back tuck, a standing back tuck, and then you had to be able to do some other things. But specifically, when I tried out for college, I was really nervous because like I said, I was way out of my league and my first standing back tuck, I landed on my head.

Oh my God. At tryouts. That would have gone if if there would have been social media, that would have been a video all over the Internet. You poor thing. That had to hurt. What is the standing back tuck? It's like you jump up as high as you can and then you just flip backwards. From when you're standing. Yeah, when you're standing, so a back handspring, your hands are on the ground but a back tuck, you're just in the. Yeah, you're in. You're allegedly in the air. But I wasn't in the air very long on that one, but. Oh God, you're lucky you didn't break your neck.

Yeah, well, I'd. Have been a really horrible way to go. That's so true. That's. So sad. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. And so you, even even though you landed on your head, you made it. Yeah, they let me try again. I have a lot of grit. You do. That's one of the things I actually put in my notes. I wanted to talk about how competitive you are, because you are. I would describe you as like, silent but deadly. Like you're not an obnoxious, competitive person like I am, where I'm like, hard to play games with. You're like this quiet confidence that people may not know. Even people who know you may not know, like, truly, how incredibly competitive you are.

Yeah, like, for example, I might have come home from our first pushing experience at the Indie Mini and secretly told my husband I think we can win next year to win to its follow up, is it a race and. You're like, I don't know what it is now. I'm like, I don't think it is, but I was like, I think if I train, I think we've got this. I was really holding Ally back this time and I really think, I really think we've got it. I mean, I felt I just was like full of adrenaline, so excited. And as I told you, I'm in really good shape, so it's not fair.

You have four children now, and Prem is So what? Just over 1? Yeah, I I've asked you that every time. I say, yeah, no she is. I can't cuz she should. Still be a baby, but she is just over 1. Yeah, So it's like you're you're getting back, You're like getting your legs back under you. Well, I and your knees been hurting, so you didn't hold me back. It's nice, whatever. And it's the only time you have, so usually it's the other way around. No, Yeah, no, I was. That's kind of cool too. I was thinking, like, so I don't know how long we've been friends, but I told someone at the race.

I thought about it real quick in my head. And I just was like, at least 15 years. OK, so we've been married 10. And then I went backwards from there and I'm like, OK, at least that. Yeah, time. And so then I was just thinking, like, yeah, 'cause you said, like, I or I was like, oh, he'll do a advice for split. It's nice to run it with someone who, like, we didn't even talk about it. Like, we didn't. I mean, we didn't make this plan of you push mile, I push mile, you push mile, I push mile. We just like started trading off like that and then when I was tired at mile 10, I just stopped pushing all together and it was never mentioned.

Like it was just like. It's no problem. Like you knew you were carrying me home and I just followed by. I remember I asked you when it was like one mile to go or maybe no, it was like 2. At mile 11, I was like, what do you got? And you're like what I'm giving you or something like like it was like to you're like, no, this is I have what I'm giving right now. Just we're going like and then because you said at the beginning you are used to like going out faster and then and then slowing kind of slowing down. And when I, since I've been using a running coach, I've been training to do the opposite, where I like save it and then like, let her rip at the end.

And so yeah, I was ready to just drag your ass with me and and you did. I mean, we did pick it up at the last mile. To your credit, we turned on to like collapse. Yes, yeah, yeah. Night Song can get me through a lot. I noticed. Like, yeah, I don't know. I think that I do want to work on that. I want to work on going out at a more steady pace so that I could, for once in my life, feel like what you feel and that I would have anything left to give at the finish line. That would be fun. That would be a fun way for me to end, because it doesn't matter if I'm running like 8 miles, 13 miles or 26 miles, the last mile I am like shot.

Yeah, yeah, it's really interesting. I've never really thought that I could. It's, you know, negative split, as they say. But yeah, now I'm able to do that. And it's it's it's fun. Yeah, I could see that being fun. Because then and then at the end, like, I don't feel like I'm dead. I feel like I gave it my all and I'm tired, but I'm not like wanting to die. Yeah, which is what I've been like at many finish lines, let me tell you. Yeah, that's, yeah, almost all of them. I didn't. I haven't felt as bad as I felt at this race in a long time.

Like I'm trying to think of a race. We ran Zionsville most recently together and that would have been fall of last year. OK. So after that it felt great. And honestly for me, yeah, having just had Primnot, I was still nursing and things like for me it was fast, like yes, but I crushed. It felt great. Yeah, I probably could have more. I didn't realize I'm so you're so on track alley. And so I just follow whatever you do when we just go out on runs. But for me, I was like, we hit that, that park. I didn't realize that's where it ended. I don't know.

I thought it ended where it started. And I was like, oh man, I just don't have this. And then it was like, boom, you're at the finish line. I'm like, oh, I did actually have a little bit more. Yeah. Well, I got confused. Well, 'cause you, your kids were there and Jules and was a jet that came out running with you. Yeah. And so, like, I tried to slow down. I did slow down for a little bit. And then you guys were having a moment. So I'm like, OK, like, I'll just. I didn't like Sprint, Yeah, but I wanted to make sure you knew that I was like open to finishing together.

Yeah, instead of trying to beat you, cuz we finished second and third in our age groups and we got mugs. Yeah, I stopped in. Thanks for you for picking it up for me, cuz I never realized to wait around on something like that. Who would have thought? I know. Who would have thought we could do that now? It's kind of fun. So, OK, so yeah, we've been friends for 15 years. I want to tell the story about when we first met, and I would love to hear it from your perspective, because I don't know if I've ever heard it from your perspective. You've heard it from mine because I've jokingly told the story in front of you before.

But you we were out on Geist, which is a lake. Essentially. It's a reservoir in Indiana that's fairly close to where we live. And what was it? Whose boat was it, Lance? Was it Lance's boat? So, Lance, you're now husband had a boat. We were going out on the boat and he's bringing his new girlfriend and we're like, OK, who's there? Jared was there. Zach was there. I don't know, like, it's just smattering of us. And you show up and you look gorgeous, like you've got your hair curled, you have makeup on and you have a bottle of wine. And I just remember, we look at you, we're like, oh, it's like, oh, this girl showed up with a bottle of wine and her hair curled.

Like, this isn't going to work out. I remember thinking like, OK, Lance, you know, I mean, Lance is also gorgeous. And you guys are just, you know, we're just like, OK, whatever. But, like, I don't know. I don't think I really talked to you much then Maybe just like we didn't. I don't think we really. I don't remember you really on the boat, which is funny, but I remember so my first. Cool, actually. My first movie of you is my Is the Best is your birthday party at Lance's house with Zach, 'cause it was like it was the cutest birthday party ever. It was so fun.

But I must have like, we must have hung out a little before, 'cause I remember I brought Selena to that birthday party, 'cause I didn't really know that many people. And it was really fun. I don't know, but like, that's my. I mean, yeah, that's my, like, first memory of being like, oh, I really like her. Yeah, I I'm trying to remember when I realized that I really liked you and it probably is around that same time. You told me it took you a while. It did take me a minute. And it it's not because you're not a nice person, because you are a nice person.

But I was intimidated by how pretty you were, and you're very quiet. I am. Before people get to know you. And that's where I think that, like, quiet confidence comes in. Like, it's not, you're not being rude at all, you're so sweet and so kind. But like, people who don't know you might not know that. They might just think you're quiet because you're, like, being mean. I'm not going to say any mean words because for family purposes. Yeah, well, no, that's completely fair. Lance didn't like me in high school because of that, because he would like ask me to like play like games or something at parties.

And I would just we were never, we were never at very many of those together because my parents were really strict, so I wasn't allowed to hang out much. But if I did see him, he'd be like, do you want to play this? And I'd be like, no thank you, I don't like to do like things I don't like to do like that. I don't know. But anyway, so the boat. I'm good. I do remember going on the boat though, because I remember my friend I was with, a friend from Evansville. I don't remember her name now. I know I would love to tell you I actually like, have a great opinion of her and like her a lot, but I have a really bad memory.

So do I, yeah. And so anyway, I don't know. I really like her. But we were friends in college and she was visiting me and so she just came with me and I remember her stopping to get like, we got some food and like drink steak on the boat and that's what she picked up was a bottle. Or oh, she picked it. Not even you. I know. You're just carrying it on her behalf. I know to be nice kid. I just she's. So hard for. I know, but you know, I don't know. The funniest part is like, you always tell this story and I never even really speak up.

Not it. But I'm just like, it's just so funny of like no one knows how to boat as well as I know how to boat, not even Lance. Like it's in my DNA. Like, I grew up and I just like a whole my whole family, except for my mom who is a school teacher for 40 years, middle school PE worked at the Marina and so I spent all my summers like at the Marina. Like my dad never let me work because he always said you have your whole life to work. But I would sometimes go and just cover the boats at the end of the day just to get time with them or I loved pumping gas.

And as a little kid I love just going there and eating all the candy at the marinas. But my dad, there's a Marina on each lake in my hometown. So we're a destination spot from Monticello IN and our population double S in the summer. And it's quite the place to be. So my dad, I always was so proud of it and his family had, and they owned a Marina on each lake, which is now the only Marina in our town. We've got a monopoly on that place. So I grew up in and on water and doing all the water sports and I remember like tubing with my neighbor friends and we thought we were Team USA, as if tubing was some sort of USA Olympic sport.

I mean it should. Be considered sport? So yeah, I definitely knew that red wine. But you would know me well enough to know, too, that I didn't have the hard to tell her. Yeah. I don't think that she, like, drank it either, though, for the record. So that was really good. Like it's just like something. To be on a boat like with red wine. And also I don't know. It just doesn't make any sense. But yeah, that's so funny. Another fun fact is I didn't even drink wine yet. So. Little did I know that you were like an expert boater. But not a wine. Kind of.

I am now, though I I I like to think because I've, I've been to Italy, you know, So then you learn something. And you and Zach both now, Because Zach, I remember, used to be like, oh, because being around my family, we really like red wine. And he would just, you know, oblige and not really know. And now he's like, now he's really into it. I always use a tip that you taught me from your family. Which is actually Zach's tip. Oh, I always thought for some reason it was your dad's tip. But I always use Zack's tip then, and I've taught a lot of my friends that tip, and it makes me like the favorite at the party.

But for anyone out there listening, it's a it's really the alcohol content in the red wine. It being high, that makes the red wine taste better. It's good, you know. Why? No. OK, I don't really know why, but it just tends to be that better bottles have a higher alcohol percentage. So like a 14-5 and above, it tends to be better. And so that's kind of the rule of thumb. It's like we don't really want to go below 14-5. I don't buy one anymore. That's not I. Mean. And that's not like a super expensive, like there's bottles for like 20 bucks. 15 bucks? Yeah, that that meet that criteria.

But it's just funny if you start to pay attention to it. Lord knows Boone's farms probably like 8%. It's like juice. If even. And it's like 46 grams of sugar, yeah. Gosh, yeah. So I didn't really realize. I'm sure I did know this, but that you and Lance went to high school together. Did you play sports? We. Went to neighboring. Oh, neighboring. But you know, our little hometowns are so small that like, I went to the only high school in Monticello and he went to the only high school in his town. Our communities are small enough that you knew people. You know almost everyone at the neighboring high school.

So we first sure knew each other. My one of my best friends still to this day was friends with Lansing High School and College, and she's the one that, like, hooked us up when I moved to Indy. Yeah, so yeah, but we didn't hang out as much. But I would see him. I knew who he was. So when you hooked back up in Indy, like, did you guys went out to dinner like on a date? Yes. Wow. To dinner? He asked me a few times. Maybe that's why you think I'm not. It was, like, not very nice. Because I shouldn't be so shy. I should, like, be like, yeah, I should.

I'll try. Why did I not want to try dinner? I don't know. Who knows what? Did you say just like no thanks, How did he ask you? Like on Facebook or like via text or, I said. Remember when I said yes, We were on the phone like an old fashioned phone call and that? Weird. Why were you on a phone call if you weren't dating? That's weird. I don't know. He called me. That's so weird. I don't know. And he's like, would you like to go to dinner? And he's like, yeah, I guess. I think the first times he texted me, I just made-up something nice.

I would never just be like no. No, no, thank you. Yeah, yeah. And it's not that I didn't want to go on a date with him. I just, I had gotten out of a relationship a while before and then moved to a new city. So I thought, oh, it'd be fun to just. I just wanted to be a business woman and do my own thing. I was happy. Yeah, a business woman and oh man, now look at. Us. Yeah. And you can, like, make girlfriends easy. Like at your first job, you have all the time in the world, right? And so I was just like, I don't know.

Yeah. And so when you moved here, you were in radio first, Yeah. And then how'd you get into software? OK. I should be more specific. I was in radio sales. Right now, well, you know, you're not like, doing your radio voice. So I think people probably realized that you were like, yeah, on the radio. I was. I really, really, really wanted to be a news reporter in college. So I specifically studied radio and television, and I thought I was going to be a news reporter or I was fine even being like a producer and writing the stories I love to write. And but even as a news reporter, most of that is writing your own stories or telling a story.

And I quickly realized at my first job I was still in college when I had it that the hours are terrible and that you hardly get paid. Maybe it's different now. No, I don't think so. But back then I thought I was going to be fine with that. But then I started like, I It's key to me was even the cars in the parking lot where I was working. I'm like, if I'm going to work this hard, I'm like, what are they doing? Somebody told me that they like the people they could afford things were doing sales. I thought, I can do that. That's funny.

And so I, like, pivoted pretty quickly before college was even out. I was like, I'm going to sell. I can do that. I know I can do that. Seen it done at my dad's Marina, boat sales and stuff. And I went, I always wanted to do that. My dad just wouldn't let me work at the Marina. So I thought, no, I'm and so I went to like the National Sales Institute. I got a scholarship like my senior year of college and I went to Texas and I did this huge program for like 2 weeks. And then they line you up with jobs and specifically for media sales, but it could be print.

Yeah, still, that's. Radio or yeah. So I was like gung ho. So that led me to what you mentioned software sales, which is where like it's not How I Met you obviously, but also we connected on that and you were so kind and helping me get into like the software role because no one wanted me because I had only sold at that point radio and medical device. Oh yeah. So I forgot about that, Yeah. Yeah, I feel like no one in tech was like interested in my skill set. But you got me into like this little startup at the time, and it I stayed forever.

Crushed it. And I followed my boss around because I, like, loved it so much. Yeah, so I still love it, for the record. But but a different season of life now. Yeah. So how old are all your kids? OK, so my oldest is 8 and then I've got 6-3 years old and one year old, yeah? Oh my God, four children. Yeah, it's amazing. I still am just in awe of you. Me too. Oh yeah, 'cause just, I don't know, the whole concept of like, figuring out how to get back into running and doing things. And like, one of the things I admire so much about you is that you just kind of like just ship like you you want to go somewhere, you just bring them like, oh, I wanna go do this.

Like you're coming along and I gotta do this. You're coming with me. And it just seems like, I mean, I guess being somebody who's not a true, like stay at home mom. I mean, I'm assuming that's just like how you operate if you wanna continue doing things that you wanna do aside from just being with, you know, at home all day, literally. But it's just this amazing to me. Yeah, well, for me, I wanted to be a stay at home mom. I ask. Like, I brought it up with my husband and he wasn't, you know, quite so sure for a while. So we kept doing what we were doing.

I said I don't want to sell anymore. I am competitive, even though I don't come across that way. And I thought I was just seeing myself, not having as much time as I once did. I would often, I mean, we've all done it, right? But I would come home and then continue working. And it was really hard with the kids to do that. And I didn't want to be #2. I wanted to be #1. So I was, I'm gonna go in a different route. So I became an executive assistant to someone which that can go a lot of different ways. Some people are maybe just admins in that role, and that's wonderful.

But I got a really unique role when I took that where I got to help with the rebranding of our company and opening up new office spaces and just he really treated me as a member of the. Like a Chief of staff versus. And so it was an amazing opportunity. So I was comfortable then staying for a couple more years working like because I kept bringing it up with my husband. Like I I do feel called or I really want to be with my kids more. So I'd like to stay home. But we made that work and then eventually it was just time. When when it was time for like my second to go to what would be like daycare or nanny or whatever, it is that wonderful working moms choose.

We felt that and that it was time that I could stay home, so I wanted to be with them. So instead of just like getting a sitter whenever I want to do like something I'm dreaming of, I just been bringing them with me. I'm kind of natural because I I mentioned this, but for a while we had a connection to Ukraine, and that was that. My husband was working in Ukraine, so I was already used to toting them over to Ukraine and working out of a hotel room with them. And I saw they really adapt pretty quickly. So yeah, I take them to things like when I get to help you at the Expo.

Right. That was so nice of you. I mean, yeah, yeah, it's, I think it's wonderful. Yeah. You're such a great man. Best of both? Worlds. Yeah, You're such a great man. So what year was it that you ran? Was the monumental marathon your first marathon? What year was that? I don't remember the year. I wish I would have looked it up for you. I did look up a couple of my running things in case you ask. Yeah, I have a couple of them. I didn't. Get bad memory. But monumental was first. I think it was in 2013, I think I. Looked it up. Thank you.

It was either that or before that, but somewhere around there because 2014 we did Chicago together. That was the year we both got married. Then sorry, it would be 2013. That is correct. Yeah. And that's my first marathon. I oh, did you? Do any other races before that? Yeah, well, like I had done that, what I call the trifecta of spring races in. Indiana. Oh, right. Yeah, OK. You done? But they were half marathons. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And that's the most I had done, which is also kind of crazy. I was thinking about that on the way over. I was like, oh, she's gonna ask me all these race questions.

And like, I love races, but like, I can't remember. But then you showed me that website where I can like see, So now I'm like, hi, yeah, I'm like, yeah, that's where I'm at. But yeah, that was my first full. And you want to hear a funny story about, Yeah, OK. So I remember when I, this is before I had run any races and I was in Broad Ripple, you know where I was at Lance's house visiting him, the one with the pool where I mentioned that you had your birthday party that I loved and I was over there one day it was in the fall because I know we're going to a Halloween get together that evening, OK.

And but it wasn't Halloween. But all of a sudden I like I'm going over there to meet up with him. And I even I took workout clothes. So I used to we do blade runs. I would rollerblade beside him while he would run because I didn't even know running was an option to me. But I like to have a good time. So I'm like, sure I'll go like. You would rollerblade next to Lance. On the moon, on trail, like so much so that we would call blade runs and we would commonly do that while he was training for stuff like 'cause he loved to do tries and stuff.

Yeah, well, and I looked, I like, scrolled back on your Facebook, 'cause you're not really into the social media like other people, which is not helpful when I'm trying to research 'cause I have a bad memory. But I saw, I forgot that Lance ran the Indy the Indianapolis Marathon, which is now just the Indy half out at Fort Bend. He ran that full when they still had a fall. Oh, they don't have that fall. Anymore. No, it's just a half marathon. Felt so bad that year. He ran that because he was helping train with me and I had to have a surgery. So I was out for a while on training with you and our friend Selena.

And so I got so far behind I couldn't, like, I wouldn't be able to, like, jump in on your long runs. So he was so sweet to be like, it's OK you've still got this, like, I'll do them with you. And I'm like, really? He's like, yeah. And he can go out and run anything at any time. Yeah. But by that point, he was so trained from training me to run the Chicago that I said you got to do one right. It's the only one we could find. And I had just ran Chicago, which is amazing. Yes. The spectators, the different districts I mean, and just staying in a beautiful place the night before and Oh yeah.

What was that, the year we got to stay in Kim's? Yeah, it was your uncles or aunts. OK, guys. So anybody who knows Chicago will know what Navy Pier is. And there's a black building on Navy Pier and it's the only, like, residential building that's like on a pier. It's it's incredible. Didn't Oprah have an apartment there? Something crazy, but we got to stay there. It was massive. I almost. Forgot about that. I thought it was so dreamy and we had like this. It was like a time capsule. It was like decorated for the 60s. It was incredible. It was incredible it. Was so cool.

It's so close. Yeah, it was so fun. So we had that amazing experience. And then here's my husband, Lance. And I was like, you've got to do it, man. You're all trained up. You got to do it. And he agreed. And that's all we found. And it's, it's no problem. No offense to that marathon, but. Well, it's slightly, slightly different than Chicago, yeah. He was running circles around the park. I felt so bad for him and he like he got an amazing time and like did great. I was standing out there with my little sign. I probably saw him 50 times. Oh, Lance. Yeah. That's so that's good for him for actually, like doing it.

Why didn't he do monumental? I mean, I guess he would have had to stay in shape for yet another month. Yeah, that makes sense. Because he could probably just go out and wing it knowing Lance, but he does. I mean, I mean, he really does need to train a little, obviously for a marathon, but OK, so back to hit. We're at his house and I show up that day for I think it was for a blade run and all this see all these people running by his house and I get in there and I'm like, what's going on? Like, I was just thinking, like I was been watching it for a couple minutes and I was thinking like, how far could these people possibly be running that they would need a porta potty?

Because there was a there were porta potties set up right in that area of Broad Ripple. And I was like, I saw people like going into them, you know, like, I was just thinking, like, what could this possibly be? And I asked LAN said, he's like, it is the monumental marathon today. Like I was, yeah, an idiot. And I was thinking, huh. And I remember just watching a little longer and I'm like, so how far if you were running a monumental marathon, would you say those people are gonna? Run today and. He was like 26 miles, like 26.2 and I was like, oh that is incredible.

And the wheels in my head were just spinning and like I caught the fever that day. Like I was like, this is, this is incredible. I was watching out the window of his house. I should have even just stepped on this. Yeah, so people could sleep. There's no like. There's really not a lot of spectators up there. No, I didn't see any spectators. I just see these people and the bathroom and find out they're now running 26 miles. And yeah, and I I that day said if they can run 26, I can run one. And I went out and ran my first mile that day.

Instead of putting my blades on, I put running shoes on and I ran one mile and I could barely run it. I'm sure I ran, walked it like whatever, Which sounds crazy now, but like, I'm not. I'm not even kidding. Like I actually had to walk like in. I don't know. There's probably not a lot of runners listening to this that have experienced this. But I wasn't a runner. And so like when I first started running, like my chest would tighten and like, it just felt so different. And I don't know, I thought I was going to, like, lose all my air. But I remember thinking if they can do that, I can do this.

And then never stopped. And did you did you do it the next year or did it take? No, it was like a couple of years or so that would have. Been before. You did the half marathons. Yeah. OK Yep. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. That's so funny. But I didn't, thanks. My first race was a Turkey trot in Broad Ripple. They have like that drumstick, drumstick. Actually, it's. Incredible. Yeah, it's huge now too. And that was a hard distance for me. I did that as my first race. I'm trying to think it would maybe have been the following year then because of how late the monumental is.

So I'm thinking it must have taken me like a while to work up to that. And then after that, my first race was the caramel half, so that always has a special place in my heart. I remember like going to the Expo and getting your bid for the first time and I drove myself to the. I'm glad it was small. Then I drove myself and parked and remember being like, OK, just walk up there. Was I there? Probably. I don't know. Maybe not. Maybe we were. I would run with you at least. I remember we would run a couple times in the morning with like a crew that we.

Loved. Yep. Yep. So Sue Sue listens to this. OK, perfect. Hi, Sue. I wish that we could still run together in the mornings. Those were the best days. I didn't even know it. Right. Yeah, thinking I was so busy getting ready for work after. Yeah, so. Busy, this is. Funny, yeah. Yeah. And so you ran monumental whistle with our friend Selena, right? And that was her first marathon. It was both of our first marathons. I remember cheering, actually dictating. It's kind of impressive that we stayed together the whole time. It is actually. Yeah, we must have trained together enough that we were at the same level, 'cause I don't remember like, her pulling me through the finish or and obviously I wasn't pulling her, so yeah.

Yeah, pretty cool. And then Chicago. And then I can't remember what order this. No, it would have been then. Big Cottonwood. We did in in Utah, Yeah, which was incredible. Yeah, you and I stayed together that whole race. Yeah, that was easy for us. It's except at the end, you remember that I was like, I how I always am. I'm like, I don't have this. You're like literally it's five more steps to the finish line. Like, come on. Like it's right there, Ashley. I'm like, how can you be sure? Anyway, I remember that, yeah. That was a fun trip. That was a really fun trip.

I've talked about this on I I forget which episode it would have been. I've heard you talk about it, so I won't bore anyone with the details, but it did love it. And was it your PR too? Is it both of our Yeah, 'cause we have a picture of us with the PR sign? Yeah. And I never thought that I would run faster than that. Did you have? You have. No, but The funny thing is my next half PR, which I don't know the running world, will have to tell me if this counts. Wasn't a marathon, right? So there is a. Debate. There is a debate on that front.

I think it counts like whatever, who, who's in charge of the PRS? Like you are. Like if it's APR for you, it's APR. Celebrate it. You know, in a in a marathon, I feel like that's even more impressive than in a race as a standalone because yeah, you really gained a lot of speed. Yeah, you were getting really fast there to a point where when we when you signed up to do New York, yeah. And I wanted to do New York Cuz you were doing it. I remember you were just running so much faster than I was and I was like, shit, shoot. Pull the trigger.

Yeah, I was running a lot at that time, so probably other moms listening have maybe experienced this. I'm certainly not the only one, but I remember after I had my second, I felt a lot of, like, postpartum anxiety. And I I'm not against, like, going to the doctor and getting help or anything. I did actually talk to the doctor, but I realized before I like started in medicine or anything like that, that running was really helping me. So I thought, I'm just going to keep trying this because it's really feeling good. And so I was running all the time and it really did like it was such a help for me, but it made me well.

And at that time I started doing, because I was running so much, I was like, I get bored of just like running my same pace the whole time. So I did start trying some speed training and things like that and realized that I don't want to say I'm fast, but for me I was. I was like, oh. Who knew, right? Well, that's how I feel now 'cause. I had never run. I just explained that, right? I was so confused watching people run the monumental, you know, So this is new to me. And I was like, wow, I had no idea. Yeah, well, and I don't know if you felt this too, but, like, I felt like after having kids, like, there's no way I could be faster than before I had kids.

That doesn't make sense. Like, but in fact, it is true. I mean, yeah, as I've experienced in the last couple years, I'm getting faster and faster. I'm kind of like, oh, OK, I didn't know that I could win an age group award. That's pretty cool, right? I mean, it's just kind of funny how surprise yourself. And in 2019, you ran the Carmel Full Marathon to attempt to be Q, and you crushed your marathon PRI. Did I actually looked up? Yeah. So, Caramel, I was ended up at 343. In New York, I was 349. Yeah. And so New York just blew me out of the water.

I didn't have an expectation when I went in there. I know that you always do. And sometimes I you think I'm trying to like hold it back from yours. And I'm like, I have no idea, but I don't want to go as fast as I can. Tell me. What you're going to run, actually, I know. I'm like, I have no idea, but I so I had no idea. And I was like, I was like, that was amazing for me. I was so happy. And so I really, as I've always done this, I always think I can do things I can't. And I was all of a sudden like, I think I can qualify for Boston.

And now that's like my dream. And so I wanted to try another time. That was close. And so I did. Carmel and I didn't even come close to qualifying for Boston. The weather that day was absolutely horrible. That's. Horrible. That's my mojo is like thinking I can do things I can't so but I still PR. So I was. Really. You Did you still crush that? But that's like an 830 pace and I need to be down to about an 8 minute pace. So I still have a ton of work to do, but I still want to do it. Yeah, we will. Both of us are going to do it because we both are competitive and driven enough and have enough grit to just get after it.

I'm going to be patient. Like that's I think what you really need, especially if you don't want to get injured. It's just to have the patience to put in the work. Yeah, over time and especially as we get older, it gets easier because you get more time to do it. So I know you're a little younger than me, but yeah, I'm hoping that at 40 I can with the extra time. That's what I'm thinking. Do I don't feel like a rush, Yeah, to do it. I mean, I don't want to wait like forever, but. Right. I don't feel a rush to do it, but I really do want it.

I really would like to run Boston. Yeah. And New York was incredible. Our experience there was really good. But I wanted you to tell the story. OK, So New York was an incredible experience. So good. We ran for Alex's lemonade stand because you signed up for charity to get in. And I was like, I'm going to do that too, because I want to run. If this is the year you're going, I want to go. Our friends Kim and Selena deferred. I think Selena was injured, right? And Kim was pregnant. Is that right? Or I forget? Well, I know at least Selena was injured, but now I'm not sure if they were both injured or if Kim was pregnant with one of her kids.

I feel like she maybe she's pregnant. OK, right, 'cause it was the year it was the first full I did after having two kids, right? In my head. Monumental. God, I can't. Think she doesn't look pregnant there, but she's so fit and like that's true. I don't. Know. Sorry. I don't know. Sorry. Kim I can't remember when you've had your kids either. Can barely remember when I've had my own children in related. Like, really. All I know is now you talking about them. Makes me really wanna go running with them, right? I know. I miss both of them. We need to, we need to plan a race.

We've been saying that for like, how many years? So, So in New York, my one of my first memories of us like going to New York was we're sitting, we're in the airport and we're getting ready to board our plane to go to New York and we're looking up where our hotel is. Do you remember this? I. Know what you're going to say. And we're like looking at it. And then the first review is like not very long ago, maybe like less than a month, maybe a couple weeks, I don't know is, oh, this, they had bed bugs at the hotel. And I'm looking at this like what the heck, we cannot go sleep at a hotel that has bed bugs, that we know has bed bugs right before our marathon.

This is not going to happen. So we start freaking out. We'd like call Kim and Fast forward we're like get to New York or in the cab and you go into like full on like problem solving like sales sales mode, sales mode. Will not take no for an answer. Yeah. Hey, we got something. Tell the people what you did. I don't remember. OK, well you were on the phone for I swear it was the whole time we were in a cab. It had to be like 45 minutes. OK, I remember being on the phone, but I don't remember what I said that was so. Iconic.

I don't either. But you, you, like, were insistent on talking to somebody else, Like you'd be like, OK, well, I need to talk to your manager. And you were like, full on. Oh no, that makes me sound like I've got. You were Karen. You were Karen. You were. But you needed to be a Karen to get this done for us. Yeah. And I just remember sitting there being like, thank God Ashley is my friend because I wouldn't be able to get this done. And yeah, you just, you got it done. We somehow by a miracle. Yeah, that's. Got into a different hotel and not only that, it was like in the same we stayed in Long Island City and it was like in the same vicinity and it was this cute like.

I mean, it wasn't fancy, but it's just this like nice, like clean place to sleep. And I remember being like the same location, It's like, I mean anybody who has run New York is going to be like very well done because that city is full at that time. Yeah, the fact that we got a room and it was, and then they didn't charge us. I don't think they charge us extra. I think it was just the same, like they cancelled our other reservation, then we got a new reservation. Yeah, it was a miracle. Yeah, it was perfect. It was awesome and we didn't have bed bugs.

Thank Lord the Lord but. Yeah, so then we went from Long Island, so we went to like a train station. Do you remember the lady that the his her husband was? Like I can still picture her clear. Me too. I wish I could. You know what now I bet we could go look at pictures and if her bib numbers there, we could find her. But she didn't speak English. She was from Venezuela maybe, or like somewhere Spanish speaking. I didn't speak enough Spanish to like, try to talk to. Her, her husband being. So brave. He was like, will you take my wife to the start?

And we were like, absolutely we will. We didn't leave her. We got her all the way there, made sure she was in the. And then we all hugged and we're like, good luck and like it was so crazy to think about that, isn't it? Like it was crazy. Like the Marathon of New York was getting to the race. It was. Amen. Yeah, Amen to that. It took me less time to run the race and you less time to run the race than it took for us to get to the start and like cross that start line. I didn't. I do not know how people are so brave to do that by themselves.

Like, she found us. I'm so glad. So if anyone's out there and they see someone by themselves at a big race like that, just take them with you, yeah? Take them under your wing. Be like, especially one that doesn't speak the language. I felt really bad because she just, but yeah, she she made it. You know what, I was thinking about that at the race last weekend, like I was just, I haven't run, I haven't ran very many races recently. I had no way I mentioned that one, but before that it wasn't that many. And I've been feeling like news is heavy right now, like, and especially like we've mentioned a couple times, but like with wars going on or just things like that or even just all the conflict in America.

And I'm not getting into politics right now, but like, it's heavy. And you see like sometimes people are bad, like there is sin in the world, like it can be dark And some that's kind of been weighing on me, especially like at some of the places I serve seeing like what people are going through and just like praying for them And just it's been wearing on me, if I'm being honest. But the race really renewed me this weekend. Like if you are feeling down, if you have doubts about humanity, right, America or the world. Yeah, Let Will you remind me to go sign up for a race.

Right. Or just like go spectate, I feel like. Spectate's fine. Watching. I mean seeing. People. Yeah, right. Like what is selfless way to serve? Volunteering. Other people go spectate, go volunteer. If you like to run, go run. But you will be so renewed. Like I feel like a new woman. Like I feel so hopeful. I saw the best of humanity out there. You would think, like, the people that were encouraging us were maybe like older, because their people are always complaining about the youth, right? But how many young men? Oh, a lot of high. School or like college were just running past us to moms with our wedding rings on pushing the stroller saying good job they went out of their way to like weave their way into us and encourage us.

Like it's just, I don't know, I was just I've been thinking about that all week is like so renewed. I don't. I don't sound renewed, but I feel the same way. I sound like, real bad, but I feel good, sort of. Yeah. I I couldn't agree more. And you do. I wanted to be sure to talk about, like, your faith and your giving back to the community cause again. As I said, you, like, take your kids with you and you volunteer at a local organization called Heart Change. Yeah. And it's an organization that serves expectant mothers, new mothers, like women who are just not sure, like, how to get back on the right path.

And they're trying to Could you explain a little bit more about what you do with them, 'cause I think it tied into, really, I mean, we found out Hope story is that her show. So we met Julie and Jerry or her adoptive parents. They adopted her out of foster care. And she was in foster care because her mom was a heroin addict and went into labor and didn't. And her water broke and she didn't go to the hospital. So I don't even know how Hope is alive. But you're like, yeah, it reminds you of like, some of the mothers that you help when you volunteer at Hope or Heart Change.

Yeah. I mean, for me, like, only by the grace of God is the answer to that. Like, it is truly a miracle. She's a miracle. She was meant for this world. She's still living her life. Like, if she can do that, I can run a mile, you know, like in So we. One thing that Hope's dad said to us that I just, I don't think I'll probably ever forget was Hope didn't deserve this. Yeah, that was really. And I thought about that a lot since he said that. And I thought, you know, she didn't. She deserved better. And so I I do love giving my time at heart change.

We serve all the moms you mentioned. Plus even just women. Even if you're not a mom, it's OK. But we serve women that are in generational poverty and it could happen to you or I. But we were so fortunate to have lives where we didn't grow up in generational poverty. So we learned how to serve these women and make true heart changes that make a lasting impact. Like, it's not just changing. We're not just giving and and please don't take this the wrong way. Like it's wonderful to like donate clothes or things like that, but we're not just giving them something for today. We like give them something for tomorrow.

It's really long term in that sense. You come in to the organization and learn even just how to take care of your family. We cover people. Don't people think people know that that heart change, that we cover the heart issue which we believe is knowing your Savior and we believe that savior is Jesus. So we teach them about that, but we also teach them things like stewardship how to manage their money. The my mentee this semester, she's going to speak tomorrow at Heart Change graduation. In her speech, I got to hear a preview, but she said she loved going to 55 and below or whatever it's called, you know, And she's so honest about.

She was like, it felt so good to spend my money. I spend my money there. But in stewardship we started tracking like where her money is going. She started tracking not us, where her money is going and what she wants. She really wants to save for a car. And so we she started putting all the numbers together and it just starts clicking and like if she teaches her son that and then he it just makes such a great impact. Yeah. So it's not just like like the Christian aspect that people see, it's life skills as well and yeah. That's so cool. How long have you been doing that?

Oh, at least a handful of years now. But the other cool part is they offer free preschool for those women, so it gives their kids a head start. Because what are we doing up here in the suburbs? Yeah. We, you know, it's wonderful. And so now they can also have that preschool education getting ahead before their kids get in school. And they like for our volunteer kids. So my kids to be there with them because they're all the kids, all love each other. They can all learn from each. Other Yeah. I think it's really cool that you're exposing your kids to that because, you know, I think about that a lot.

And I've talked to other my mom friends about just being like trying to give back with my kids, like showing my kids how to give back. And you know, I was explaining to my older daughter Sydney that you know about Hope. And yeah, Hope, you know, can't talk and she can't walk. And you know, Sydney's like, what? You know, she just couldn't really understand that. You know, how does she do this? How does she do? I'm like you're asking great questions, but it's, you know, I want her to know that, you know, not everybody is so lucky like we are and we've started doing like chores and allowance and trying to teach teach about that.

But it's also like, you know, you got to know that it she just can't even understand that people don't have food or people don't have all the toys they want and. It's so important even for us just to show our kids. Like, what if Sidney doesn't have both of her legs? One day like life goes on like and we still have to keep finding a way we can't put our. Sadly, I can't put my purpose in running because I might not be able to run forever. Right, that's yeah. But we're showing her all the options out there, and same for my kids had the exact same question.

It's really hard to answer, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. Oh my gosh, the crazy questions. That's why I was like, you got to go to Sunday school because I need somebody more faithful or like, more knowledgeable, I should say to like, help you understand. And what I've realized is that doesn't necessarily exist. They're just really hard questions. Yeah, I well, I love that you're doing that and I love that now we've found a way to give back kind of through through running. I think that's really cool. I'm like my mind is spinning on. I was like, who else can we get to do this? We got to get everybody to do it.

Like, are they even going to be able to handle all the people that I want to get to, to come with us next year? Because. If anyone is feeling down on life, like yeah, just you should think about getting into running as a spectator or whatever you want to do. Because even just you mentioned Alex's lemonade stand earlier, that we raised money for unlimited opportunities for raising money for these charities out there. Yeah, I just want to do it all. I know. So do I. That's the hard part, yeah. I want to do all the races, help all the good causes, yeah. Push all the people who would like to be pushed.

Yep. Yep. So yeah. Gosh. OK, I did want to ask you a very random question. OK. Did you do the Tallahassee Turkey Trot? I know why you're asking me, because where you showed me this magical place, I can see what? I I know I went there. She's not. I was like, I'm glad she's not super slow. That would make me look bad so. It's not you, it's. Not me. Because I was like, wait a minute, where do you go in Florida? Hey. Yeah, it's says well I got married and then my name changed and now it's common. That's why I'm ashley.schwab6@gmail.com. I'm not the only Ashley Schwab in the world.

Yeah, the world. Doesn't I'm not the only Ally Brettnacher, Can you believe that? I can't actually believe that. Yeah, Zach's aunt smelled the same way Zach's aunt. No. OK, she's Allison. But still Ali. Brettnacher, His aunt I was. Like I even knew that, and I still would have thought you were the only. Because it's like such a crazy last name. But I yeah, that's fine because she's cool. So thankfully. Yeah, that's not me. Yeah. OK. So I'm gonna ask you the end of the podcast questions, because we have to, because you have to get back to your kids. Because otherwise, I feel like I've learned so much about you in this conversation, which is so fun.

And it's like, why don't? Well, I know why actually, because when we have our kids around, they're just screaming. They always need us and we can't actually talk. So what is your favorite running mantra or song and song 'cause I know you have. Both. I do both, but I love, OK, so love athlete bouquets. So I love your tattoos that say run the mile you're in, but that's new to me. OK, so that's one now because I even thought about that on our last run just I was seeing you can see in the Speedway the really elite runners crossing. Already. Oh yeah, the finish line.

We're like, oh. Look, as you're 6-7 miles in, OK, And so I I had to check myself for a second and think, 'cause I thought, oh, I'm not even close. And then I thought, but I am on mile 7 and I'm running mile 7 right now. Yeah, So I do love that. But before I knew about that, I really, it's not like anything fancy to say, but I love, I can do anything for one mile. I say that to myself all the time. And then I just change it as I need to, right. So like if I'm running 26 miles and there's three miles left, I'll think I can do anything for three miles.

Just. Three. But I even think about it at cycle class, like when it gets really for me, sometimes in cycle I go all out as if I'm competing against the person next to me that doesn't. That doesn't know. I'm even watching them. I know. I do that. Too, 'cause I'm kind of really winded and I'll think, oh man, if I can, I can do anything for one mile. I'm not even running in there. Yeah, who knows how many miles that is? Yeah. So I love that. I have a lot of songs I like, but. Till I collapse has to be one of them because. I was like till I called you.

And you're like. Till I collapse, Yeah, it sounds better in my head because it is slightly inappropriate. So it's a little nerve wracking to play it for the whole crowd, dude. We, I really, I really miss. I really miss that the chance to like make playlists, which I have so many different playlists, but I have weird songs on my playlist that I like that I know, like, not the everybody running around me is going to like, so I didn't want to just turn on my running playlist because I'm like, well, that's going to be embarrassing. So at first it was like Hope's playlist because we just started with Fat Bottom Girls, and then I just kind of let it go.

And it was a lot of like, you know, that kind of music, which is fine, but it's not like my like, gets me like really riled up. Yeah. But then when you and I tried to start playing other stuff I like, I played, We played Eminem. It was it was bad. Because it was. Uncensored. It was uncensored. And I'm just kind of like, like too tired really at that point to keep like, trying to change. I just wanted to stop messing with my phone and just have good music playing. And it just was hard. And so people, hopefully nobody complained about us. Poor, poor, poor.

Hope is sleeping. Thank goodness because I'm like, well, she can't hear this, really. Hopefully she's not taking all this to heart and like. Yeah, well, OK, so till I collapse, I think if somebody needs an end of marathon thought and song, I really like that. If it's if it's for you only and not busting out to everyone. But I heard it going into Central Park in New York and I was, I felt so good after the race. But you know that I told you the last mile is always hard for me. And it came on by chance on my playlist and it's like left, right, left.

And it keeps you going. And then literally they're saying until I collapse. And I was just like, I love thinking about that. Like, are you really going to collapse? What's the worst thing that happens? Well, you know what? Somebody did collapse on the race. I saw them. I prayed for them as we ran by. And guess what? Someone helped them. Yeah, so. And I saw my favorite new running sign. It's maybe not new to you. I haven't been at many races, but it said if you collapse, I'll pause your garment. And I was like, that's what I'm talking about. That gets me going. Thank you.

Yeah, that's so funny. Well, a previous guest on this podcast, Colleen, who came up to us after we finished she she actually passed out at the at the mini. Sorry. Colleen So it doesn't happen. So it does happen. Thank you for giving your full effort Colleen. Clearly, I haven't given mine. Right, well, and I've come close to puking recently, which is weird. Remember after we did the holiday trail run? And the one before that, you fell nauseous. At you. I thought I was going to puke, which is funny. So weird. The holiday trail run was nothing compared to like the last couple halves that. I know.

I don't. It doesn't really was. I don't know it was weird. But anyway, yeah. So those are good. Those are good mantras. Good song. OK. I have other songs that like remind me like Eye of the Tigers, my New York song. Because Eye of the Tiger was playing as I was walking up the Verrazano bridge getting ready to start. And then I told you that Avicii, I forget the name of that song. Oh brother. No, no. That's not right. That's a good one. Wake me up. Yeah. Wake me up. Thank you. That's what it's called. Beautiful. I. Can't Sing, I Can't Sing right now, that's for sure.

Yeah, it reminds me of a time we were training and we were on the moon on together and that song came on and it was just, it was new at the time and I just loved it and I just remember like feeling so lucky. I can see exactly where we were running. Yeah, we were like, right past the moon on center. I felt sad when he passed away. I felt that connection. With him. His music is if anyone's looking for songs added are great. Yeah, 'cause they're just nice, like the beat, kind of. You can just kind of let it ride. You know, a song I don't like that is a good running song.

What sweet dreams are made of these? I don't know that, but have you heard it? Of course. OK, it is the beat or something. Like, I always keep it on my playlist like it's like a good. And you don't like it and you're like. I mean, I don't like necess, like sweet dreams are made of these, like. I don't know. I don't know that was even the words. I I think so. My sister, I think, says sweet dreams are made of cheese. But that's another story. Yeah, I could. Yeah, probably is, for all I know. Yeah, I don't know. OK. And then what is your next finish line or milestone?

Well, I was invited to a new finish line. On the November 16th. Yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm thinking about that. I'm thinking about that too. We gotta get. I gotta figure out. But one I know that. I mean, I the what I want one to be in my life. I told you, is Boston eventually. But they'll take finish lines to qualify, Yeah. We got to get some more finish lines for. That plus, I'm definitely going to do the Indy mini next year with you. And I already registered. Oh, why? Just I just had to. I was like, I'm just going to register. Then then one needs to text Ashley.

And say OK, go register. Register. I need to register, so I don't know what my next one is. Whatever I can do, I would like to do everything in the world. I know, yeah. Well, and now it's kind of hard because like spring is, races are over pretty much. Honestly too, I'm loving like the community. I listen to your podcast, so I like hear all these amazing guests, but I didn't know that I was going to get the opportunity to meet like half of mine. I mean it wasn't half, but I loved it at and like, I don't know. I just feel like sometimes they're inviting you to things and then you'll invite me.

And I'm like, I mean, I can't tell you what it's going to be because I don't know what you're going to ask right. I don't know what you're and I really enjoy that. Like it's amazing. The. Yeah, there's an ultra marathon coming up that I would have, I would love to do someday. It's called The Full MO. It's in June. I can't remember the June 1st, maybe this year, but maybe I don't think I'm gonna run. But if maybe I might volunteer or maybe for some of it. Or we could just take the kids and go cheer. Yeah, yeah 'cause I know quite a few people that are doing it.

So maybe someday we'll do an Ultra. I I think I'd like to at some point do one. We'll see. Your new running community up in the lines and milestones. They're gonna make me do it. Somehow they will, like, persuade you and then you might invite me, or I might hear something from one of them and change my mind on something. So I don't know. Yeah, I so November 16th, I don't think I said is it's an inaugural women's marathon in Savannah, GA and my friend Eileen is going with my friend Leslie. Both of them have been on the podcast 17 and 18 other episodes. And Eileen's like, you should come.

And I'm like, huh, I've been thinking about doing a fall marathon, and it's right after the monumental, So yeah. You mentioned, like I went to the website and checked it out and it looks so geared towards like women and like just anything that you could want to have fun at a race. Like it looks great. And then you mentioned too that Des Linden's going to be, I'm a big fan, so I mean, to me, I'm just like, that's really cool. Yeah, so. So we'll see. We'll see. So, OK, well, we got to get you back to your kids. I'm sure after this I'm going to be like, I didn't talk about all these things.

I don't know. Oh, I wanted to tell. OK, Can we tell one more story? OK, we have two minutes, one more story. So you and I, we did the guys staff, you know what story I'm going to tell? Can I tell? Oh, I can't tell it. Yeah. Can I tell it? Was it bad? No, I peed where we both peed our pants. Yeah, it's fine. OK, That's a safe story. So we get, we do the guys half. It's so hot and I get done. And I don't know that I told everybody this, but I remember going to Ashley and I was like Ashley. I peed my pants.

And she goes, me too. And I just, I'll I'll never forget the like, the solidarity I felt in that moment because I was so embarrassed. Like, I mean, my body didn't give me a choice, so it just was what it was. But I felt so gross. And then you're like, no. Me too, and. We're like drinking beers and we're just like, well, yeah, Hooray for being runners. That's that's just who we are. I guess. I've only done it one time since, but. You know, I've also done it since and I don't even think anything like that wouldn't even bother me. I I don't know that's even that's not even the worst.

Right. Happened to me after having kids and running at this point, so we're good. It's. A safe space. It's a safe space Runners. Runners can talk about anything. Well, thank you everybody who's listened. Thank you, Ashley, for coming and sitting in my closet for an hour. I hope it was a nice break. It's kind of fun. It's a wonderful break. I feel like I'm on vacation and here and it's nice and quiet and calm. And thank you for having the podcast because it gives us so much to listen to during long runs and car rides, so I love it. Well, thank you and happy running to everyone.

OK. Bye.

Ally Brettnacher