Elizabeth German - "Quick like a Bunny, Sting like a Bee"

Allison Gaillard of Run Your Story Podcast interviews runner and mom Elizabeth German, a longtime athlete from South Louisiana whose running began with a family rite of passage at age 13 in the Crescent City Classic, progressed to half and full marathons, and continued through teaching and dyslexia therapy work.

Elizabeth discusses balancing running with parenting, lessons of perseverance and community, favorite races (Crescent City Classic and the 2024 Marine Corps Marathon), a mental challenge with the Louisiana Half’s lake turns, her routines, music, shoe “relationships,” fueling with gels, goals for upcoming races, and her mantra: “Quick like a bunny, sting like a bee.”

Elizabeth German - https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.pool.180


Races Mentioned
Crescent City Classic
Louisiana Marathon
Northshore Marathon
Marine Corps Marathon
Every Woman's Marathon
Battleship 12k

Shout Outs
Stefan Clayton
Ainsley's Angels
John German

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:15

Hi, Runner Story family. This is Allison Gilliard with Runner Story. Every story needs to be heard. And fueling our run stories this month are our friends from Rocket City Marathon with a special message.

SPEAKER_05 0:27

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SPEAKER_02 1:10

We cannot wait to cross the finish line of Rocket City Marathon. We can't wait for Podcast Alley. We cannot wait for the Expo. We are beyond excited, and it's gonna be quite a weekend, so make sure to join us at Rocket City Marathon. You can even join the Run Your Story Podcast team. We are we are beyond excited about this. So see your Rocket City Marathon in December. I have waited quite a little while to share this story, my dear friend Elizabeth Sherman. Woo! You guys are about to have so much fun learning all about her. I absolutely just fell in love with her during our interview. We've become friends through social media, so we haven't quite met every person yet, but it's gonna be gonna be a big party for Elizabeth. Love her, adore her, you guys are gonna be flown away by her story, and just the mom that she is incorporating running the way that she has. And the way that she looks at running, it's all about lessons. That you're always gonna learn something about yourself at every run. Over she says she's in a relationship with her running shoes. Yes, Queen, I totally agree with that. And her right of passage. You guys are gonna hear all about that and that race that just as touches us can be. And quick like a bunny, stay like a baby. I get you guys, all I can say is prepare to laugh, prepare to learn, and prepare to leave your mark as Elizabeth shares. With that being said, lace up those running cheese and go run with my friend Elizabeth and her run story. Welcome, Elizabeth, to Run Your Story Podcast. So excited to have you. This is a uh, I'm sorry, couldn't be in Louisiana in person to interview you. That's all right. That's all right. So excited because you are one of the most encouraging and just authentic and just all around. I'm just I know you don't want to be told this because I don't like being told this, but you're absolutely adorable. I would just an adorable human being. And again, as somebody who's also been told that all you're adorable, it's kind of like you genuinely are. You have just this presence about you, and we've only met through social media through Fresh Drunky Ambassador, and you gotten to meet Stefan, and he was like, Hey, we've gotta have Elizabeth on this podcast. And I was like, dude, trust you, let's go. I only follow her on social media, but I'm like, I would love to get to know her in person. So I am so pumped about this podcast because I only know from what you've posted. So I have no idea your story, but I do want to pause for a second. I do want people to go follow you because you are a mom, you are a runner, and again, you are just all around positive pol. I don't know, I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 4:06

It's just like I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_02 4:07

You're one of those people that I'm like, I feel like I already know her. And it's not this, oh, I know through social media. It's like, I feel like I know you.

SPEAKER_04 4:13

I appreciate it. Yeah, I know. Yeah, yeah, I know. And I think it's like one of those things where you don't realize the reach and the impact and those kinds of things that you do have. So I appreciate, I truly do appreciate because sometimes I'm like, nobody's seeing this, nobody cares. No, you're saying nobody cares that my, you know, my toddler threw it down right before we're about to walk out the door for a run. But I appreciate because that's real life. Like that is truly clean. That's real life, and that's where we're at in this season of life of trying to work full-time and be a wife and be a mom and still run at the same time because it's a necessity for me to run and to go. So anyway, so I really appreciate that. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02 4:59

Absolutely. So, how did we get here? Elizabeth, how does your run story begin?

SPEAKER_04 5:04

So I have always been an athlete, grew up playing soccer and softball, grew up watching, you know, my parents always worked out. They would do 5Ks and 10K's and things like that. A rite of passage for us growing up. I have two older brothers, and so a rite of passage for us growing up was to, when we turned 13, was that we did the Crescent City Classic. And so seriously. Yeah. So like, because I'm from South Louisiana. I was born and raised right in the on the North Shore. And so we would, my mom, we would turn 13. And that year that we turned 13, my mom would train with us and we would do the Crescent City Classic. And so that was our first time doing uh 10K. So that was my first 10K that I ever did. And then I played sports through high school. I stayed active in college. My older brothers did a lot of half marathons and triathlons and ironmans and half iron man and those kinds of things. And so my brothers are significantly one's nine years older than I am, one is five years older than I am. So I would be at their races. Like we would go to their races. And so it just kind of, once I got out of college, I'd still doing the 5K, still doing the 10Ks. And then it just kind of started going and getting longer. And then eventually was like, okay, I'm gonna do a half. And so famous last words. Oh, half's good. Like I'm never gonna do a whole marathon. Famous last words, right? And then I ended up doing a whole marathon. And so it just kept going, right? Because it's like, and you know, it's like you do one distance and you're like, ah, I can do more. And then you just kind of keep going, and you're like, okay, I want to add a little bit more. I want to challenge myself in a different way. So just kind of that's how we got there. And so obviously I've run. I mean, I started getting into the longer distances after I finished college. So my first year was in the classroom teaching. Now I do dyslexia therapy. And so it was like coming out of college, and I still just kept running. And so I always say, like before kids, because I did it for so long before kids. And then I had my girls and I had them back to back. And so now it's like a whole nother avenue of still doing this and still making the time for myself and still doing those things after kids and what that looks like. And it does change and it does not look the same every single day. So yeah, that's how it started and kept going. And I keep adding races.

SPEAKER_02 7:37

And then you became a fresh junky ambassador.

SPEAKER_04 7:39

It was like the same. Then I became a fresh junky ambassador, and it was like, you know, I remember seeing it come out, and I was like, well, you know, I mean, kind of that that doubt of like, well, I'm not killer fast. I've got my pace and it works really well, and I love it. And then I was like, uh, well, I could do an ambassador, like I could do this. And so I just applied and just kind of went from there and rolled with it. And it's been fun. I keep signing up for all these races, it's fine.

unknown 8:07

I love that.

SPEAKER_03 8:09

Absolutely. I think I think like some of these races I keep signing up for, and I'm like, I don't really know how we're gonna do the logistics for this, but we're gonna figure it out. It'll be fine. I'm gonna sign up. Let's go.

SPEAKER_02 8:19

It's gonna be fine. Everything's gonna be fine, typical basket of five.

SPEAKER_03 8:22

Five, it's fine.

SPEAKER_02 8:23

I don't know, I want to point out something just in case your brothers are listening, and that is that you call them significantly older than you. So I just love that. I was like, that's such a little sister thing. They're significantly older than me.

SPEAKER_04 8:37

Right, it is because and they are. I mean, my oldest brother's nine years older than I am, so when he got into doing all the races, I was in high school. So it's like I said, I mean, I grew up going and watching them race and being there and shirpay as the key phrase is now, and doing all those things.

SPEAKER_02 8:59

The other thing I want to point out is that you with a stroller is still gonna pass me with no strollers. So I just also want to point that out as well. Kudos to all the moms and dads who run with a stroller, that is so impressive. I just it it's uh it's something I marvel every time I see it. I'm like, that's a normal thing.

SPEAKER_04 9:21

But you push the, and you know, y'all push the the chariots for eight. It is not the same.

SPEAKER_02 9:26

No, ma'am. It is not, no, no. Having had listen, I have been on enough runs with friends that have littles. It is not the same because you can't just cut it off because your kid is there in the stroller, they want snacks, they want to throw their iPad, they want we got we got snackle boxes.

SPEAKER_04 9:44

Like, I mean, we got there's sometimes we pull up to these races, and these my girls have their snackle box, and everybody around us as we're waiting to start, is like, I want to be them. There's dyno nuggets, there's marshmallows, there's donut holes.

SPEAKER_02 10:01

They got their blanket, they got their music blairing. I mean, I mean, for real. I love it. I mean, I love it. That's what I'm saying. It's I have so much respect for parents that stroll with their kids because I'm just like, my mind just can't work like that. I would have been like not able to do that. So it's I love it. I love it so much. So, Elizabeth, what are some lessons that you've learned from running?

SPEAKER_04 10:25

Ugh, I was thinking about this one. And there's so many, but I definitely think one of my biggest ones that I always when I talk to people about running, or a lot of people say, I want to run, but I can't run like you, and I'm like, just do it, just make the jump, you know, it's not gonna look like me, and that's okay. And what is some other people when I've listened to the podcast and a lot of the trail runners that you've had on, and they're like the 250 miles, and I'm like, Oh, that's not that that's not my jam, and and that's okay, right? Yeah, yeah. And so it's always I think don't be afraid to make that jump. The scariest part is right before the jump, but you're not gonna regret the jump once you do it. You are going to push through and you are gonna learn so many things about yourself and what you are capable of doing. And so I just think that like that's my that's what I always like try and talk to people or preach to people is like just go, go to the run group, just walk. If it is that you are just walking, and not just walking, but if it is that you are walking, there is nothing wrong with that. You are moving your body, you are doing something that makes you feel good and that you can be proud of yourself for. And those lessons, I think you learn so many things from running, just yes, endurance-wise, but also consistency and perseverance and all those words and characteristics that go into making a person a whole person. And so, not just that, yes, we can run, how X, Y, and Z and all that kind of stuff, but it makes you this really good, well-rounded person because you're gonna take all those lessons and you're gonna apply it in different parts of your life. Like when I think of my girls and what I don't know if they're gonna run, I don't know if they're gonna play sports, I don't know what they're gonna do. But they're watching me and my husband be consistent and persevere and commit to something. And those are things that they will take on for the rest of their lives, no matter what they do. So, yeah, I think that's my biggest thing. And races, you always have those peaks and you always have those valleys. So enjoying the peaks when you have them and using those peaks when you hit the valleys and working through and to keep the positive self-talk that you're giving yourself. So I think that's my biggest advice or things that I have learned.

SPEAKER_02 12:56

Yeah, it's really good. Yeah, and I like how you talk about how what we learn in running, it follows us, not just on the pavement, but into life. And it's so true. So many people we've talked to have been like, well, just like in running, this is what I've learned. And you're just like, wow, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 13:11

So yeah, and even when things outside of running have happened, like after you just have a baby and you're trying to figure out all these things, and I'm like, You read a marathon, you can figure out how to breastfeed. Like, come on.

SPEAKER_03 13:23

Because those are two comparable things. We like you can do hard things like you can do this anyway. But you know, like you've done this, you can do this other thing.

SPEAKER_02 13:36

I'm putting that on a shirt right there. You've read a marathon, you can breastfeed.

SPEAKER_04 13:40

You can breastfeed, it's fine. Everything's fine. Anyway, we did not do that, that did not end up working out for us, and that's okay.

SPEAKER_03 13:50

That's just such a great analogy. But really, I would. I would tell myself that.

SPEAKER_04 13:56

I'm like, you did all these other things, like you've done hard things, like you can do you know, whatever egg it is, whatever it is for parenting, whatever it is, you know, work-wise or things like that.

SPEAKER_03 14:08

So anyway, that's always like my like you can do this.

SPEAKER_02 14:12

So you just you saying that analogy, there was the ultra marathoner who stopped during her race and breastfed her baby, and I'm just like, how in the world? I that I'm women are in general are just amazing human beings. Things that they think of and do, it's wild.

SPEAKER_04 14:30

It is, it is. It's like, yeah, I mean, like, and just like your body, and going back up to the lessons you learned too. Sorry, I'm kind of all over the place, but your body is a machine, like you are so much more capable than what you think you're capable of. Oh, yeah. And so going and learning all these things and doing it, and like you said, I mean, the ultra marathon who breastfed in the middle of it. It's like, wow, good for you.

SPEAKER_02 14:56

No, right, man, that's awesome. How many more calories did she have to intake just to be able to keep up that image? Right. I was like fascinating.

SPEAKER_04 15:06

Yeah, yeah. Like the whole, like, just yeah, that's all that's a rabbit hole, but yeah, right. It's just crazy. Like, how do you calculate that? Like, right. I have a hard time calculating how much I'm supposed to eat for a 5k, let alone ultra marathon, and you're trying to feed another human being. Like, right. How do you how do you do that?

SPEAKER_02 15:26

It's wild. I'm not the person to ask that question, Alyssa, to answer that.

SPEAKER_04 15:31

I'm not either, because like it didn't work out for us either. Like, I'm like, we're good, we're done. We're done.

SPEAKER_02 15:38

I'll go run the marathon.

SPEAKER_04 15:39

I'll go run the marathon, here's a bottle.

SPEAKER_02 15:43

Again, that's such a great analogy. That's great. Okay. So with all the races that you've done, been doing. Do you have a favorite race?

SPEAKER_04 15:54

Okay, so I was like, I'm gonna have to do pre-baby and post-baby, I think. Sure, absolutely. So okay, so we think pre pre-babies, right? So I mean, number one is and always will be, just for the nostalgic of it, is the Crescent City Classic. That is like we have done that race, that has been a part of my family.

SPEAKER_02 16:14

Or it's your rite of passage race.

SPEAKER_04 16:16

It's a my right of passage, you know, it's your right, yeah, exactly. It's the right of passage race. Even like this, like now, like we still do. It's my husband and I's like one of our favorite days of the year is the Crescent City Classic Day. And it's because we enjoy it and we love it, and it's the energy and it's our family, and the girls are all part of it. So that, yes, I think pre-baby also would be in 2019. I had a ton of PRs, and so I did a bunch of races, I PR to quite a few of them, and so I think hitting those goals was huge, and especially because my husband and I were also going through infertility at that point. And so going and being able to still have that outlet and know that I could do that and had that outlet, and it was my release, and it was how I got back to being grounded, and all those kinds of things when we were in that was huge. And so that year I did Louisiana Marathon and I got a two-hour half marathon. I got my first poster in the Crescent City Classic, and then I got a sub two-hour marathon at North Shore that year. And the funny part is that I got that PR for North Shore, and then I found out I was pregnant two days later. Wow, yeah, right? Wow, you can do hard things, you can do hard things. I couldn't figure out why my hips were hurting so bad during that race, and that's why. No biggie, no biggie. So, anyway, those races that year, you know, because it's like two things can be true at the same time. It was a really hard season, and I felt really successful and confident because I was meeting those goals. And then I think post-kids, I did the Marine Corps marathon back in 2024. That's a dream race race for me. Oh my god, it was a dream race. Like that was a bucket list race for me. And it was like I and it and race day was amazing, but what else was amazing was that whole training cycle. And it was like I would text my sister-in-law, and she ended up bringing it texted a friend who, and it was like the three of us would do the long runs, and then she would also text other friends of hers and be like, hey, Elizabeth has a three-hour run. We're starting at this time at the trailhead. Let me know who wants to cut. And so it would be like we literally make circles around Mandeville, picking up people, dropping people back off. And so it was that community aspect of it. Absolutely. It made the training so much more fun and not just redundant, pounding the miles out, listening to music. But it just made that training fun and it made it go by quick, even on the really hard days. And then just the race, that race itself was it was the atmosphere, the energy. You've run Crescent City before, haven't you?

SPEAKER_00 19:07

I have.

SPEAKER_04 19:08

Okay. Don't sound too excited over there.

SPEAKER_03 19:12

I don't want to listen, I don't want to ruin your story, okay? So it's okay, it's fine. So the good you and Louisiana races are just not their friends. We gotta do something.

SPEAKER_04 19:24

Okay, so but I just like the best way I explained it, it's like Crystal City, you're like pretty packed in, but it that's how it was for 26.2 miles of just like the people in the crowd, and there's a lot of people. The mile that you run, where it's the people who were killed in service. I mean, that was incredibly powerful. And then it's like you come out of that mile and you hit the mall. In the mall, it's like two or three people deep in the crowds, and so you're zigzagging and the crowds are going crazy. So, and John and the girls were there, so it was just a lot of fun. You know, speaking of mom life, literally, I saw them at mile two because John got our hotel room. Our hotel was right on the course, and so it was mile two, and so I saw them at mile two, threw him my jacket, gave them quick hugs, and went on my way. And then I didn't see them again until mile nine. And John looks at me and goes, Can you please hold Amelia for a second?

SPEAKER_03 20:25

Because she was really upset that you didn't hold her the last time. Oh, yeah, yep, yep, yep, it's no big deal. I'm just trying to run a marathon, but you know what? It's your world. I'm limited. I got it. Come here. Oh, that's so precious. So I held her, and then of course, my oldest was like, I want you to hold me.

SPEAKER_04 20:47

I was like, Okay, all right, yep, it's fine, no big deal. Anyway, but I think pre-post baby, those are probably my favorite races.

SPEAKER_02 20:55

So yeah, that's amazing. Oh, I love that. And I love that your girls they're like, we really don't care that mom's running 26.2 right now. We just want mom.

SPEAKER_04 21:05

Like, that's what that's all I mean. They're like, can we come? I'm like, no, I'm not on this one, guys.

SPEAKER_02 21:14

Okay. I I kind of already know how you're gonna answer this question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway. Do you have a race that you're like, I either want to go and try to redo, or that you're like, not really my favorite. I don't really have a desire to go back and do it again.

SPEAKER_04 21:30

Uh, I do. And my husband was like, You're really gonna tell him this race? I was like, Yeah, yeah. Okay, so it's actually the Louisiana half marathon.

SPEAKER_03 21:38

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 21:39

Because, because, and it's a me thing, it's not a race thing. I get psyched out. I somehow, you know how when you come off of LSU's campus and then you hit that neighborhood and you hit the lakes, and you are ever winding around the lakes. And well, the first time I did it, I was not expecting. Expecting it to be like that. And so, anyway, so then the next two times after that, I was like, all right, Elizabeth, you're gonna wind around the lakes a lot. Do not think that you're almost done because you're not. You're gonna have hills and there's gonna be, I mean, hills in Baton Rouge, but there's gonna be inclines and you're gonna wind, and the wind's gonna be blowing off the lakes. So don't psych yourself out. And I psych myself out every single time. Because I'm like, oh, this is the last turn. This is it. I don't have any more turns after this. And then there's another turn, and then there's another one. So I keep going back, and I am gonna be like one of these days where it's not gonna be like I'm winding around the lakes going, is this ever going to end? It's not a race thing, it's a me thing. It's just that mentality of you're never gonna stop winding around these lakes.

SPEAKER_02 22:50

That's fair. And in your defense, it is a really big lake out there, too. And you're just like, Can we be done now? No, I get that. I actually thought you were gonna be positive, Polly, and you're gonna be like, I love all the races and everything's fine. So I'm just I'm just glad that you gave an answer. That's all.

SPEAKER_04 23:12

I did, I did, and that was, I mean, because I literally, it's every single time I've done that race. And I'm like, and then tell myself after when I finally make it around the lake, I'm like, Elizabeth, you knew that this was how it was gonna be.

SPEAKER_00 23:25

It did not move.

SPEAKER_04 23:26

The lake did not move, it did not get bigger. It's like, or I always I'm like, because you know, there's that really big white house that has all the people right in front of it, and it's really loud, and so it's towards the end of the lake. And so I always think I'm about to turn and find the house that's really loud and it's never there, and then I turn again and it's still not anyway. It's fine.

SPEAKER_02 23:48

Everything just grows, it just keeps growing, it just keeps getting so I so I signed up for the Louisiana half for 2027.

SPEAKER_03 23:55

So we're gonna try to be like, it's those lakes and curves are not gonna get me this time.

SPEAKER_02 24:01

We'll see. Oh, that is great. I'll be there too. Okay, I've signed up for it. Whether or not we make it, who knows? That's up to the state of Louisiana.

SPEAKER_03 24:10

So Oh my gosh. At this point, we'll just have to send the caravan out to get you.

SPEAKER_04 24:16

And just be like, they can take your fat head that they made for it at the 10K.

SPEAKER_02 24:21

We're not talking about that. That we are not talking about that. We're here. Moving off. Moving on. Oh done. That was so rude that you even brought this up, Elizabeth. Rude. I'm sorry, sorry. Rude. It's totally fine. It's fine. It's your story. It's your story, but rude.

SPEAKER_03 24:36

It's about you, but really.

SPEAKER_02 24:39

Okay. So let's shift a little bit to routine. Do you have a pre-race routine?

SPEAKER_04 24:44

Yeah, so I will get up in the morning and I take a shower.

SPEAKER_00 24:49

They're just now you're laughing at it.

SPEAKER_04 24:51

I'm like, so I take a shower. I don't wash my hair though. So normally I wash my hair every morning, but I don't wash my hair on race days because I'm about to go get sweaty. So why am I gonna wash my hair? Absolutely. Sweaty. So I usually take a shower. It also helps wake me up. And so I chug some coffee and I'm working on it's like the ever-evolving thing of like what do you eat and all those kinds of things. So I've really enjoyed my past couple of races. I've done oatmeal and a banana. And so I get up early enough where I can do the oatmeal and it's fine because I need an hour to get ready and prep myself and all those kinds of things. So that's normally about it. And then we just we go or I go, just depending on the race and where the race is. Because typically we have to be out there. I like to get out there early. Sure. Cause I have to go use the restroom 50,000 times.

SPEAKER_02 25:47

And preach, preach.

SPEAKER_04 25:50

And so I will get out of one bathroom and get right back in the line for it again. And so it's like, okay, that's just I need to not have a full bladder when I start racing. And so that's kind of it. I mean, nothing else stretched beforehand. Normally go find a tent of either the Tangie Reddit Club or the Embed Acidors or those kinds of things. And just kind of hang out and mostly just go to the bathroom 50,000 times. It's fine.

SPEAKER_02 26:20

I completely agree with that. Okay. So you cross the finish line, you've seen your girls, you've seen your husband. What do you do next? How do you celebrate that post-race?

SPEAKER_04 26:30

Usually we go find a bounce house if they have the bounce houses.

SPEAKER_02 26:34

Top priority.

SPEAKER_04 26:36

Top priority. Yeah, no, normally we go find something for them to do. If it's if Fresh Junkies great with their races because they normally have the bounce houses, which is awesome. Because usually the girls have had an early morning, they've been in the stroller, they've been kind of totted around everywhere. And so we tend to try to either go find if there's a playground, we'll go find that. My stomach is usually about three miles behind me finishing. So I will do a protein shake immediately.

SPEAKER_00 27:05

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 27:06

And just drink and do a protein shake because at that point that's all my stomach can really handle. And so I tend to go light on what I eat after that, just because it is pretty full of whatever I've fueled with during the race.

SPEAKER_00 27:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 27:21

And just kind of hang out, enjoy the music, and just feel the girls out. The races in Baton Rouge, if we have the girls, we'll actually go to the children's museum after that's such a and let them play. Yeah. Yeah, it's so cool. So kind of just hang out. We normally have a lot of friends who have done races. My family has done some races. So we normally go and find them and hang out and enjoy it, especially if the weather's beautiful and the girls are having a great time. My kids love wide open spaces. So races they thrive at because it's a wide open space. They can just run and have a great time and those kinds of things. My husband did Half Iron Man, did Iron Man 70.3 in Texas in March. And so where it was at is in Little Elm, so around Dallas. And so they had like a lake that was had a beach and they had all these playgrounds. And so it was like legit. Yeah. So they're like, can we go play in the sand? I'm like, yeah, have a great time. And so we hung there. And so races, they love races. Like they do so well with races because it is wide open spaces. So when they can just, as long as they're good and hanging out and having a great time, then we just kind of hang out and enjoy being around our people.

SPEAKER_02 28:35

I love that. And what a community for them to grow up in to see people of not only their parents and not only their uncles and their grandparents, but to also see people of all different backgrounds, all different body types to be around that. And that just becomes their norm. One day they're not even going to think twice about it. They're just like, Oh yeah, I grew up going to races. Woo-hoo.

unknown 28:55

Right.

SPEAKER_04 28:55

Right. It's that's or you know. And my other thing too is that because we do do so many races, but that Ainsleys are a part of, they'll say, Hey, it's the pink people. And so I love it. So it's like, we do have like, and they will ask. My kids ask a lot of questions. Like they're very curious. And so it's what are they doing? Why are they doing that? And so it just provides those opportunities for those conversations for them to know it. This is everyday life. This is a part of our lives. You're limitless in what you can do. And there are no boundaries, right? That you put whatever boundaries in place that you want to, but you are capable of anything and you can be a part of anything. So yeah, it is. It's like, and that's that's another reason why we just love it so much because it does give them that opportunity and that perspective and experiences, and just the travel, traveling too. When we go, when we did Marine Corp and we went, I took them a couple days early to DC and we did DC for a couple of days. So they are getting all those experiences too. So it's just a fun community.

SPEAKER_02 30:03

I want to know how do I become one of your adopted girls? That just sounds absolutely I'm like, adopt me. Let's do this. Come on. Wow, that is so cool. And I again, I love that you guys are like, no, we're taking our kids with us. Where and there's nothing wrong with it. Some kids just don't, they don't, it's like we said, your kids thrive in that environment. But there are some that are like, oh, this is not really my jam, and that's totally fine. Right, absolutely. But for those that it is thriving, you guys are carrying your kids with you, and they're seeing one of my favorite memories is when my kids saw me cross the finish line. It was not an Iron Man, but it was a very small sprint try. But it was one of the hardest ones I had done because it was like in a trail, and I just was not ready. And knowing that my kids were there cheering me on is just right, and they've grown up in this community and they've grown up watching their parents do things, and I'm like, I don't want you to ever think that you can't do something. And that wasn't intentional either. It was just if they see that I can do this, imagine what they think they can do. My mom can do that, then duh.

SPEAKER_04 31:02

Right, right. I can do, and that's just and and they don't know anything different because they have literally grown up in this. For for us, it was like I tell people all the time, my kids I got I would get cleared at six weeks, six weeks in one day. My kids were in a running stroller because I was like, I gotta run, like it's time to go, and so they don't know a different way of living. Like to them, to them, long runs and stroller and snackle boxes and how long are we going? Those are all their like vocabulary. I love that. I mean, they will. And now they're older, right? I mean, my oldest is about to turn six, my youngest is almost four and a half, so they're older, so they are like, is it a long run? Is it not a long run? How long do we have to go? Right?

SPEAKER_02 31:52

Like, and it's how many snack of boxes do I take? That's how I know how long I'm gonna be here, right?

SPEAKER_04 31:59

How long do we have to go? And they are, we didn't just get in. I think the longest I've taken them for is 70 minutes in the stroller. I think that's the longest I've done with them, but we didn't start there, right? Like we started 20 minutes and 30 minutes and 40 minutes, and it's building on it and going with them off of their needs, also. Like, I mean, look, a couple months ago we went to a park because that's my other kind of clutch, is I I'll start and end at parks around here. And so go start you start and you end at the park. And so a couple months ago, we were like pulled up to the park and they got out the car. I helped them get out the car, and the park is gated. And so I was like, Oh, y'all can go play, and I'll just get everything out the car. And so they sat and played while I got everything out the car, and I was like, What is this like? Like, oh like, wow.

SPEAKER_02 32:55

And then when it was time to go, you're like, let's go for a run. And they're like, Okay.

SPEAKER_04 33:00

Yeah, basically. And then it was like 10 minutes left in the run, and they're like, I'm bored, I'm tired. I was like, okay, I was like, let's go get stuff out of the car. Like, let's go back, we'll go run. I was like, we got 10 minutes. I need y'all to give me 10 minutes, right? And so, and it was just like it was that. And then even like a couple weeks ago, I went to another park around here and ran. And then it was like where it's like the equivalent, it has like playgrounds, but it also has like soccer fields and baseball fields, and it's like where everybody goes to do all the sports things. And so I was like, all right, we're gonna go to this playground. I was like, we got three laps to do around, and then the last little bit, I'll run around the soccer field and I'll complain on the playground. So it was it was just, and that was they knew, okay, three laps, and then they would get out and get to play. And so that's what we did. And I and again, it's they're older, so I am able to do it. But yeah, it's just ever evolving, I think, doing it with kids, and it does not look the same every single day. And so just working with them and working through what they need and how to make it work has been kind of like the biggest thing. And some days they are at each other's throats, and somebody's put their leg on the other person's side of the stroller, and they're tapping, and it's like, she's touching me. And like, and my poor kids, right? Like they have long legs, like I and so they're like all pretzeled up and with their long legs, and I'm like, girls, stop. It was pretty awesome the first time I ever got to say. They were like, I was doing a speed workout, and I'm pushing them, and it was like one of the first really hot days. It was a couple years ago, and I'm fun. They were like arguing back and forth, and I'm like, figure it out. Like, like you're old enough now, figure it out.

SPEAKER_03 34:45

I cannot figure this out for you. I'm trying to hit like an 830 mile right now, pushing y'all, and it's 90 degrees outside. Anyway, it's fine.

SPEAKER_02 34:54

You're like, I'm trying to breathe here.

SPEAKER_03 34:56

Like, I'm trying to breathe, and y'all can figure this out. I think they did figure it out eventually.

SPEAKER_02 35:01

I I as I'm listening to you, all I can think about is imagine when they go to math as they get older and they're like trying to figure out math problems, and your daughters are like, This many laps around is this time, and they're like, How do you know that? I have grown up around it. Like my mom pushed me to stroller once.

SPEAKER_04 35:18

Right? There was like saying some of the races, it's like, I'm like, oh, what number? I mean, it's great teaching opportunities.

SPEAKER_02 35:24

Absolutely, yeah. Math.

SPEAKER_04 35:26

What number do you see right now?

SPEAKER_03 35:28

And they're like, one. I was like, yeah. So we have 2.1 miles left.

SPEAKER_02 35:35

I absolutely love that. Oh my goodness, that's precious. Okay. So what is besides your girls, what is a favorite running item that you cannot go run without?

SPEAKER_04 35:46

Probably my head music. I normally run with music. So headphones. I think that's, I mean, besides clothes and shoes, I think my music would be next for sure. Okay. So headphones. What music, what's your playlist like? Well, it depends if I have kids or not. Sure. Okay. And it's a very fair point.

SPEAKER_02 36:08

Okay. So non-kids.

SPEAKER_04 36:10

Shall we go? So non-kids is a mixture between all for Jesus music and drop it like it's hot. So it's like anywhere in between. Well, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 36:21

She loves Jesus, but she got a little bit of gangsta and all.

SPEAKER_04 36:25

I mean, you know. So anyway, but yeah, it depends on where we're at. Like it depends on where I'm at. And then it changes. Because I mean, I've got an ADHD, so I get really bored sometimes, especially when you're running and you're training and you're into training a lot.

SPEAKER_02 36:40

And you're listening core.

SPEAKER_04 36:42

Listening to those same songs. I was like, all right, I'm done. I'm bored. And so anyway, so it just it's a wide range of stuff. Now, if we have kids, then of course, let it go. You know, show yourself. We love some Elsa. K-pop demon hunters yet. Okay, we have Golden. Yes. We have Golden. And I mean we jam out to Golden. Because they have their own playlist. Like it's like run in with the Little Ladies is their playlist.

SPEAKER_02 37:09

That's adorable.

SPEAKER_04 37:11

Oh my god. We have Snoop Dogg's affirmation song. That one's a good one. I'm trying to look what else. Oh, the Shakira songs from Zootopia, both the Try Everything and Zoo. Anyway, so that's their playlist. And then, like I said, mine a wide range of things depending on what sounds good at the moment.

SPEAKER_02 37:31

I get that. I get that. Do they ever hear a song and they're like, oh, mom, add that to our playlist?

SPEAKER_04 37:36

Yeah, sometimes. Or if it's repeated several times, then I just go ahead and add it. Or if they like it and I'm like, oh, this is a good one to run to, then I just then I add. Okay. And don't even ask. I don't even ask for suggestions. I'm like, we're just adding this.

SPEAKER_02 37:52

Okay. You did mention this. So what do you run in? What are your favorite running shoes?

SPEAKER_04 37:58

So I, you so you know how we break up and with a long distance relationship and you're just in this meandering phase of like your analogies are killing me.

SPEAKER_03 38:08

It's hilarious. You're killing me smalls. You're killing me.

SPEAKER_04 38:14

So I I ran in Newton's for a 10 years. Like I ran in Newton Newton dis. Okay, let me back up even more. I am not, I'm a I when I get a run-in shoe, I'm in a committed relationship. And so I am not a have run in a person.

SPEAKER_03 38:32

Because the pun that I'm thinking of is like, I don't step out on my shoes.

SPEAKER_04 38:38

I finally got a shoe. Like I have tried to be the let me have multiple pairs of shoes person, and it's just not my jam. And so I get a shoe, and then we are with that shoe. And so I ran in Newton's for 10 years. And so then I started trying to like, okay, I needed something with a little bit more. I found needed something with more support almost. And so I've been trying different things out. I've been like speed dating shoes. And so we right now I've been writing in New Balances, and I really like those. My brother works at the varsity sports in Maineville. And so he's like, yeah, and so he was telling me he's been running in the Adidas, and he's like, they're awesome. So I think I'm gonna probably go try those. So right now we're in New Balances, but like I said, I'm speed dating shoes until I find the one that we're gonna get into a committed relationship with.

SPEAKER_03 39:28

I'm literally crying or something like that.

SPEAKER_04 39:32

It just said like because it is. Like I know like a lot of people like to have multiple shoes, and and that's awesome, but it's just like I just do better with one shoe.

SPEAKER_02 39:45

I've never thought about my shoes as like being in a relationship with them. But you are cannot see it. I just I'm like, oh, we're going for a long run today, so we need the long run shoes. Oh, we're going for a speed work, okay. We're going for heel work, okay. So different shoes.

SPEAKER_04 40:03

But you are like you're like our friends, like we're together for like a long time. Like we like think of like next to your husband and and your kids, like it's like your running shoes are another piece that you spend a lot of time with, and you need them to be supportive in multiple ways.

SPEAKER_02 40:19

Like okay.

SPEAKER_03 40:21

That's a far as Elizabeth's eye of the It's fine, it's how my brain works, it's good.

SPEAKER_02 40:30

I love it, I love it. It's awesome. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 40:34

You good over there?

SPEAKER_02 40:35

No, absolutely not. I'm teary-eyed, laughing so hard. Okay, so do you feel the same way about fuel for your long runs?

SPEAKER_04 40:47

Okay, so I guess yes and no. Fueling has we've had a love-hey relationship with fuel. Okay, so I have come. If you had asked me, we had podcasted five years ago, I would have not been the right person to ask this question too. But we have gotten better. And so I typically do I do go's. The espresso love goos are my favorite. They have that kick of caffeine in them. I also love salted watermelon, it's another favorite flavor of mine. So I just do the goose. And what I do is about every three, I guess every either 30 minutes or every three miles, I take a goo. And that tends to be what works the best. I tried to do Pop Tarts or like I just can't chew stuff when I'm running. Like that whole chewing thing just doesn't work out very well. I just need to drink it. And so I've tried a couple other gels, but the goose are end up being my favorite. Okay. And so they settle fine on my stomach. No matter what I do for fuel, it's still my stomach's three miles behind me. So yeah, that's the yeah.

SPEAKER_02 41:51

So goose. Okay, awesome. So you've already talked a lot about how important Christmas City Classic is because of family and just all the nostalgia and ironment, like all these things. But do you have a running memory that when you think about it, you're like, oh, that's such a great running memory? Or when you think about it, you just start giggling because you're like, that's such a great running memory. Do you have one of those memories?

SPEAKER_04 42:14

I don't know if there's like one. Like I think it's just I think it's still just the being around the community of it all, right? And just enjoying that and watching, I mean, being around it myself and growing up around it, and then now watching my kids around it, I think is really awesome too. Well, let me take hold on. Now I'm taking now I'm backpedaling. So I do think I it's for me, running started as a me thing, and so like, I mean, I ran before I met John, I ran before I had kids. Like, this is something that has always been a part of my life, and so it's gone from a me thing to a we thing. Oh, and so now it is that my husband runs, you know. My husband, he was not, I don't sound terrible, but he's not, he was not athletic, right? He did not run, he did not bike, he did not swim. And so now to see him embracing it also, and it's just part of our lives and not just my life. Oh, I love it. And he'd always been supportive. Like, I mean, he knew that this was like, I mean, if you get me, you get running and everything that comes with that. And so he'd always been super supportive, but it's gone from a me thing to a we thing. And so I think just seeing that and seeing that transformation is just incredible. It's not easy to marry into a family that's full of runners and marathonners and triathletes and and all these things, and that's not what you're used to. And so I think just seeing him embrace it and seeing him accomplish a ton of goals, also, has been truly it's just been really amazing and. Fun and all those kinds of things. It's absolutely beautiful.

SPEAKER_02 44:03

Oh, I love that. Let's switch a little bit to recovery. Do you have a favorite recovery tool? I mean, if I have time, I'll help on the phone roller. Okay. We're not in a committed relationship. Got it.

SPEAKER_04 44:17

We are not in the we are not in a committed relationship. Yeah, it's just it's like some of these things are so tough because I finish running and it's immediately I'm in mom mode.

SPEAKER_06 44:28

Sure.

SPEAKER_04 44:29

And so that kind of stuff often gets put on the back burner. And even I've tried to be better with stretching before I run because sometimes literally I'm like, oh, I have 30 minutes, I have to go now. And so it's just I think the foam roller, I think, would be my first thing that I always use. My kids like playing with it too.

SPEAKER_02 44:50

Who doesn't?

SPEAKER_04 44:51

Who doesn't, right? Um so anyway, so yeah, probably the foam roller.

SPEAKER_02 44:56

Do you have a favorite cross-training activity?

SPEAKER_04 44:59

I've been trying to be better about strength training because I mean, getting older, all the benefits that go into cross-training and using the strength and that kind of stuff. So I've been working on doing those kinds of things. We have a stationary bike. I don't love the bike. I've done triathlons, like I did a half Iron Man before I had kids. And so I but and it's really funny because my husband loves the bike. Like he loves the bike and hates running. I love running and hate the bike. So it's fine. And so but I do enjoy it. And then I mean I like getting on the bike when I do. It's okay. And swimming would be another one I throw out there every now and then, but nothing consistent. I guess. Well, it's it's too hard.

SPEAKER_02 45:42

I mean, well, also is what you said. As soon as you get done, you're in mom mode. So ma mode is your recovery. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 45:48

Rum, right. Like, I will go walk with the girls. Like, I do enjoy walking. They just got bikes at Christ or just, but at Christmas they got bikes. So, like, I do enjoy going and walking with them while they're riding their bike and just kind of as a way to stretch it out, get that all that blood flowing after races and those kinds of things. So, like, after I do a long run and they're like, we're still not like my next like big mom flex is gonna be to get them to ride their bike while I ride.

SPEAKER_06 46:16

We're not there yet.

SPEAKER_04 46:17

Okay, we're not there yet. We're still trying to stop and pick flowers. And if I'm on a training run, like I can't.

SPEAKER_02 46:24

Now you know they're trying to pick those flowers for you, mama.

SPEAKER_04 46:27

So I know they are. They are, they are, and it's so sweet. And also, my timer's going, and I gotta go. Like, we gotta this is this is affected by like priorities, guys.

SPEAKER_03 46:38

Priorities.

SPEAKER_04 46:40

That is so sweet of you, but I gotta say that this pace, like a pace.

SPEAKER_00 46:46

My word. Okay, poor babies.

SPEAKER_04 46:53

So we go after. I don't know, so we go after. So if they're like, we want to ride our bikes. I'm like, so I'm like, okay, let me go ride and then I'll come back, and then we can go for a bike ride after. So that's what we're gonna do.

SPEAKER_02 47:03

And then they pick in flowers, and right, and everybody is happy.

SPEAKER_04 47:08

They can pick flowers, they can decide that they don't want to do it anymore, and we can turn back around. Like, it's fine. Like, everybody, we're good. But like I said, next the next mom flex is to get them riding their bikes water. Because my poor oldest is literally like I'm cramming her in that stroller. It's fine.

SPEAKER_02 47:26

She's like, mom, we don't need to talk.

SPEAKER_04 47:29

She's like, mom, I'm so squished. I'm like, okay, well, sit up straighter. Let's move your water bottle.

SPEAKER_03 47:38

Like, we don't have another choice. You've got to get into the stroller.

SPEAKER_02 47:43

Okay. Elizabeth, let's say that somebody's listening to you, and as you mentioned, if you hit your six-week postpartum and you're back on the pavement, or let's say that somebody is coming back from an injury, or they're brand new to running, they have no idea where to start. What is a key piece of advice you'd give to somebody who wants to start running or get back into running?

SPEAKER_04 48:05

Start small. Start small and go from there. And go back to don't be afraid to jump and don't be afraid to make that jump. Like you're not gonna regret it, and start small. You know, I think that's been a super hard thing that I've had to learn is that my body completely is not the same as it was before I had kids. And that's okay. And I will get there and I will get back to it. It's just not the same. And so I've had to start small and I've had to be okay with that. It's not gonna be exactly what the training plan says some days, and that's okay too. And so I think just start small, and you are capable of much more than what you think you are capable of, and that you can do these hard things, and so I think that would be my biggest, my biggest advice. And then the fact that there's so much running community now in terms of friend groups and those kinds of things that you can lean on and lean into because the run groups and the run family, and I mean, that's the big thing now, is just all these run groups everywhere, and even around where we're at, there's so many opportunities and that they will welcome you with open arms. No matter what it is and how you start, they will welcome you with open arms and they will be your biggest supporters. They will take your sweaty clothes on a route, and they will also be there to support you when you don't quite meet the goals like you thought you were.

SPEAKER_02 49:30

That's so good. That's really, really good. Yeah, do you have a goal now for running?

SPEAKER_04 49:37

Yeah, I've about to happen to a pretty big training block. So I signed up for every women's in New Orleans for February. However, leading up to that, I've also signed up for the Louisiana half, the North Shore half, and the North Shore 5K because I mean, why not get more medals? And then I need it's on my list to sign up for, but another bucket list one, which I know is one of your favorites too, is Battleship.

SPEAKER_02 49:59

Yes, that'd be so much fun. We would have a blast.

SPEAKER_04 50:03

That is yes, it's like it has literally been on my list to it's been on my bucket list. That's like one of those races where I'm just like I'm just gonna have to sign up to it for it, and then I'll figure out logistics like three days before. It's fine. So, you know, ultimately my goals are to number one is that's a lot of races in a block. I'm ending with the everywomen, so it's all these races are leading up to that distance in terms of the marathon distance, but to finish it and finish it strong, I tend to have some IT band stuff going on. So just I would like to finish it and not be where my IT bands are strumming like a guitar. That's fair. That's very fair. It would be would be to finish it and and finish it feeling very strong. You know, half marathon. I would love to get back under a two-hour. So I'm at like 210 right now. So we'll see what happens with that. I'm hoping I will, I should hit under 210 at some point in one of those, but we'll see, right? You never know what's gonna happen. We know running's all mental. We know the Louisiana marathon, you never know what the weather's gonna be like.

SPEAKER_02 51:16

So I wish I could say that you know, Battleship 12K, I can tell you exactly what the weather will be like, but the past two years have been crazy hot. I do not understand. I love when it's nice and cool and cold and because there's no shade on that one. You're out in the open, there's no trees, there's no shade. And I love that race. It's such a great one. And I'm just like, where is I love it when it's been cold every year. I do so much better with that. Yeah, no, you are 100% accurate that we live in the south and it's hot and it's humid. And why do we do this?

SPEAKER_04 51:48

Right, like what, like where yeah, right now I'm like, uh, I'm like, we are officially in the summer miles equal fall smile. What is it? Yeah, okay. I'm like, all of a sudden, I like said it and I was like, no, that doesn't sound like that. Yeah, but we are there, like we are there, and it's like we went ran. I ran with the girls a couple like last week or the week before, and I went way too late. And it was like eight o'clock or eight thirty when we went. And I was like, Oh, we went too late.

SPEAKER_00 52:15

Like it's stupid. It's but here we are. Here we are. Here we are.

SPEAKER_04 52:20

We're just gonna sweat and we're gonna keep drinking a lot of water.

SPEAKER_02 52:25

Okay, I gotta know. Do you have a mantra? Is there something that you tell yourself when you're like, this is stupid, I wanna give up?

SPEAKER_04 52:32

Quick like a bunny, sting like a bee.

SPEAKER_02 52:34

Okay, whoa, what? Quick like Okay, quick like a bunny.

SPEAKER_04 52:38

Sting like a bee. My family and I came up with it. I don't even know. We just started saying it to each other right before races when we would right before we would say goodbye, and everybody would go to their corrals. It was I don't even remember how we started, but quick like a bunny, sting like a bee. And so I think it's just being as quick as you can be, whatever that looks like. And then just to me, the sting like a bee is just leave your mark, right? What does that mark look like? And what is it? I don't know, but leave your mark. Now, if I'm doing a race and there's a lot of hills, I'll start singing, I love hills, yes, I do. I love hills. How about you?

SPEAKER_02 53:17

Everyone else is like, no, that's a no from a dog.

SPEAKER_04 53:24

When I did, when I did the Iron Man 70.3, I did it and it was in Austin. And I mean it was these hills, and I was like, I love hills, yes. Fine.

SPEAKER_03 53:34

Because I'm barely getting my pedal over the whatever.

SPEAKER_01 53:39

Anyway, okay.

SPEAKER_04 53:41

So those are my two big ones. But yeah, no, quick like a bunny, sting like a bee. I always we that's what we tell each other. My girls, when I make them when we do race shirts, their back will always say, quick like a bunny, sting like a bee. And then it's funny because when I was teaching, one year I said something to one of my kids to hurry up, and I'm like, quick like a bunny. And then one of my other kids, and the line goes, sting like a bee. And I was like, Wow, that's amazing.

SPEAKER_02 54:04

Okay. Wow. I love that.

SPEAKER_03 54:13

It was like a little proud move. It was like, forget the math and the reading. I taught you something. I'm so glad.

SPEAKER_02 54:20

You're gonna go far in life, kid.

SPEAKER_04 54:23

You are so gonna go far.

SPEAKER_02 54:26

Oh man. Uh Elizabeth, what is your favorite length to run, whether it's race day or it is training day? Do you have a favorite mileage?

SPEAKER_04 54:35

Yeah, I think if I'm just running to run, just a long run, I think 60 to 90 minutes is probably that happy medium. And then length race-wise would be a 10k or a half. It's like that nice little length that it just feels good, right?

SPEAKER_02 54:50

I I agree with that. When you're not running and you're not hanging with your girls or hanging with your family, what do you like to do? What fuels your soul?

SPEAKER_04 54:58

I think so. I love my job. I love I work with kids, I work with kids that have dyslexia, and I love my job. I mean, I enjoy teaching and helping them to be as successful as they can, to be successful and to read.

SPEAKER_06 55:12

Sure.

SPEAKER_04 55:13

We know that you have to be able to read. And so giving them those tools and being able to read, which is something they have to be able to do, it's awesome. And they are such a cool population of kids, and they're so smart. And so I just, like I said, I love my job. I knew I was gonna be a teacher at a very young age. So that would be something that fuels my fire, besides obviously running and my kids and my family and those things.

SPEAKER_02 55:39

Oh Elizabeth, this has been a blast. I have learned so much. I will look at my running shoes a completely different way now, and I don't even know what to new scandal. I don't know. It's gonna be weird, but you're they're gonna be upset when they're like you're gonna have to have a conversation. I feel like, especially when you bring a new period. Hey guys, I'm the one for the real taisha I'm here.

SPEAKER_03 56:00

Can you almost get this picture of that's what I was just thinking? They're having a conversation about me now. They're like, who's she gonna pick? Is she going distance?

SPEAKER_02 56:10

They're all like is this girl gonna get any faster? Are we just gonna um we just gonna let this happen? She's just gonna stay slow.

SPEAKER_03 56:15

That's no, stop.

SPEAKER_02 56:18

Elizabeth, this has been a blast. I just wanna do you have thank you for having me. Any final words of wisdom to share with everyone.

SPEAKER_04 56:25

I think just get out there and go. Like just put one foot in front of the other and don't doubt yourself in terms of what you're capable of doing. You truly are capable of doing whatever you put your mind to.

SPEAKER_02 56:38

You have just been just again, I just knew it was gonna be such a great one. I didn't realize how much I was gonna laugh and cry. Oh my shoes, my poor shoes, is all I gotta say. So I will never be fully committed. Just to everyone that's listening. We are rotation of shoes.

SPEAKER_04 56:57

We are team rotation. You should do that. That should be like a poll on your social media.

SPEAKER_02 57:03

Is our are you team rotation or team one pair of shoes? Team one pair. Oh, Elizabeth, this is amazing. I am so thankful to know you. I cannot wait to meet you officially, like in person. It's good. Can you imagine what's gonna happen? It's gonna be great. I don't even know. It'll be great. This has been so much.

SPEAKER_04 57:23

Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it. I love writing and I love talking about it. So to talk to somebody else who likes to talk about it is always and to learn new things.

SPEAKER_02 57:31

I've learned so much today. It's been amazing. Elizabeth, you are incredible. I cannot wait to see what you and your family does. I cannot thank you enough for being on the podcast.

SPEAKER_04 57:41

Well, thank you so much again for having me.

SPEAKER_02 57:52

How much did you love Elizabeth? So fun. And I have to say, Elizabeth and I, we had to reschedule. And so thank you, Elizabeth, for always being patient with runner story and taking the time so I can hear your story. And thank you for Stefan for making sure we had that connection and keeping us both on target because you did a great job there. And again, I am so thankful for Fresh Junkie Racing, for creating the Ambassador program, because that's where I met Elizabeth. And again, I feel like I already know her because we post with each other and stuff, but I cannot wait to party with her in person. Just an absolute doll of a human. And again, just the incredible mindset of leave your mark and to be quick like a bunny and to stain like a bee. And going from that mindset of I'm the runner to we are the running community. I think it's crucial. So thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing your story, for sharing your love of shoes, for sharing all the things. I adore you. And again, it's gonna be partying when we meet. I'm so excited about that. Thank you, Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing your story, for sharing the running world with your children. I think that is so crucial to all parents who have little, or no matter what age they are, that your kids are exposed to running community because they're gonna meet totally different people from so many different backgrounds. And that's the village. Right there is the running community. Thank you, Elizabeth, for what you're doing and for pouring into others, especially your children. And again, thank you to our friends from Rocket City Marathon. Guys, if you've not registered for this race, please come register. It's the 50th for the marathon. So excited. I cannot believe we start training for this race. It's beyond real. And I am so excited. I can't wait to be there with friends. I can't wait to be there with Podcast Alley. I can't wait to be there to meet people that I've met already through the podcast and just to meet up in person. It's gonna be such an epic weekend, and I am so honored to be a part of this. Run your story is honored to be a part of this. So thank you to Connor Gritty and Rocket City Marathon for including Run Your Story, and we are excited to be able to cover that whole weekend and just have some fun. It's gonna be a blast. And we're gonna curl the finish lines. And I did say finished lines. Make sure you sign with Rocket City Marathon. Make sure you join the Run Your Story team. We'd absolutely love to have you. And make sure you come and say hi. Make sure you stop at the expo and tell us that you listened to it. That you joined our team, we would love to meet you. We'd love to be a part of your story. And who knows who we're gonna be. That's the fun part of it. So very, very excited. So Rocket City Marathon, see you in December. Thank you for fueling this month's podcast. And thank you to Stefan for making sure that Elizabeth and I got connected. Scott and Stefan do such an extraordinary job of booking and scheduling and meeting all sorts of people. Guys, they dream big about reaching for the stars, about who should be on the podcast. And it means the world to me because one, they're part of Runner's Story, but they're also Patreon family members, which also means that they pay to be part of this podcast. And so Not only are they Patreon family members, but they also are part of the Runner Story team, as is David. He's also a Patreon family member and writes vlogs. So we love our Patreon family members. We love the Runner Story team. We're incredibly grateful and indebted to each and every one of them. So thank you guys. If you haven't read Dave's vlog, make sure you go and read it. The vlog is amazing. He does such a great job, and I am eternally grateful for his mindset and reviews and all the things. Sometimes I'm looking at a shoe, I'll go back and I'm like, what did Dave say about the shoe again? So I pull it up. Speaking of, if you've not downloaded the brand new app that Gileard Tech Services created, guys, go do that right now. It's on Apple, it's on Android. It is Run Your Story Podcast. It's absolutely amazing. And you guys are gonna love this app. It's so user-friendly. It looks great. Huge thank you and shout out to Gilead Tech Services. I tell you guys week after week that we loved runner's story. We just took it to a whole nother level because, as runners, we don't want to go search the web, but now we have an app. It's crazy, but it looks so good, it's amazing, and so that it's all because of Runner's Story, of our editor and creator and all the things that he does with Runner's Story. We would not be where we are without Greg Goliard. So if you need a website, if you need an app, go check him out at Getar at Tech Services. Thank you to everybody who listens, thank you to everybody who shares the story, how they get heard, how they go out there, and people get to learn about each other. The greatest compliment that I've ever been given has been hey, I met this person by listening to the story, I just reached out to them. I love that. That's what Runner Story is about, is that we just connect each other, that we're one big running family. No matter if you run in Louisiana, Mississippi, Vermont, California, North Carolina, Ohio, it doesn't matter. We're all in this together because we all hit the pavement and it just looks a little different each time. So I'm incredibly grateful and honored that you entrust us with your stories, that you listen to these stories, and that you reach out to one another and you say, Hey man, I heard your story. And that's the greatest compliment that we'll ever hear. And we are very honored by that. So, with that being said, go run your story because every story needs to be heard.