Finish Lines and Milestones

Carolyn Coffin and I met through the SandyBoy Productions podcast network — she hosts the Inspired Soles podcast and just celebrated her 300th episode.During this episode, sponsored by Kila and Huug, we talk about:[01:32] Learning to embrace milestones without ever feeling like she "knows what she's doing"[06:00] Life in Winnipeg, Manitoba[13:00] Growing up "dabbling" in running and hating a childhood 5K her parents made her run every spring[15:00] The wild story of how her mom found out she was having twins from an X-ray days before Carolyn and her twin brother arrived[24:00] Her brutal, untrained 4:17 debut at the 2000 Marine Corps Marathon — and why it sent her underground on marathons for 15 years[28:00] Getting coached by her brother in her 30s and dropping from a 48-minute 10K to sub-40 almost overnight[30:00] Her path from physiotherapy to health coaching to becoming a run coach, and why that background still shapes how she coaches today[37:00] Meeting her Inspired Soles co-host Kim Sankey and building the podcast from a list of just 50 potential guests[49:00] Coming back in 2015 to run a 3:21 PR at the Vermont City Marathon[51:00] Turning 42 and launching "42 at 42" — the ongoing quest to run her fastest-ever marathon at her current age[52:00] Raising money for a 2020 Chicago Marathon that got cancelled at the last second[54:00] Getting pulled off the course at the halfway point of the 2022 Manitoba Marathon because of extreme heat[59:00] A near-perfectly paced 3:23 at CIM that reignited her belief a sub-3:21 was still possible[60:00] Hiring a two-time Canadian Olympic marathoner as her coach[63:00] The 2024 Chicago Marathon bathroom emergency that cost her a PR by about three minutes[65:00] Winning the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas 10K outright — and wearing the finish tape out on the town that night[70:00] Discovering The Marathon Project — the pandemic-born race in Arizona — and DNF'ing it despite a great training block[81:00] Coaching 15 women toward a sub-1:40 half marathon and a client chasing a sub-44 10K this September[82:00] Her rhythm and fight mantras, including the one she saves for the finish: "it's go time"Previous Guests MentionedWhitney Heins - Episode 163Lindsey Hein - Episode 100Sponsor DetailsKila - Use ALLYB for $50 off your first orderHuug - Use ALLYB for 15% off your order (combinable with buy 3, get 1 free)Other LinksFollow me on Instagram @allytbrett_runsSubscribe to Finish Lines & Milestones weekly newsletterThis is a SandyBoy Productions podcast.

Bri Qualizza and I have been internet friends for quite a while, probably crossing paths at a lot of local races, but this was the first time we actually got to meet in person.During this episode, sponsored by Athlete Bouquets, we talk about:[2:00] Growing up a competitive dancer since age three, plus a self-described "not good" stint on her middle and high school track team[4:00] How that dance background led to five years cheering for the Indianapolis Colts, including a calendar shoot in Mexico and missing the Super Bowl the year of Deflategate[7:00] Meeting her husband, Ryan, at Howl at the Moon in downtown Indianapolis[9:00] 15 years at Riley Children's Health — from student tech to the sedation team to earning her doctorate this year (yes, you can call her Dr. Qualizza)[12:00] Running her first half marathon, the Indy Mini, in 2013 — and driving straight home afterward without realizing what a big deal it was[14:00] Becoming a Geist Half Marathon ambassador and getting certified as a run coach[15:00] Losing her first pregnancy, Charlie, at the height of the pandemic in 2020, and fighting to get Ryan into the hospital for her surgery[19:00] Coaching group fitness at CycleBar to stay active postpartum, before her daughter Eva was born[20:00] Running the 49th Indy Mini as her first race back after Eva — and the first time Ryan was able to cheer her on at the finish line[25:00] Launching her own run coaching business, Pace and Purpose, after a friend asked her to help train for her first half marathon[31:00] Training for her "redemption marathon" at Carmel — and getting sidelined by two shin stress fractures just weeks before race day[39:00] Her return-to-running plan with coach Sara Farney, starting a run club at Riley Hospital, and her fall race calendar: Geist Half, Indianapolis Monumental, a Disney Princess race, and a return to Carmel[44:00] Supporting her husband Ryan's own Boston Qualifier goal, and her go-to running song ("Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin) and mantra — "You get to"Previous Guests MentionedChristina Cook – Episode 65Abby Prentice – Episode 168Gabby Behr – Episode 85Sara Farney – Episode 30Sponsor DetailsAthlete Bouquets - Use PODCAST for 10% off your orderOther LinksPace and Purpose - Bri's run coaching businessGeist Half Marathon - Use BRI10 for 10% off registrationTHAT 5K – Tori's Hike for Another Tomorrow - happening Saturday, August 15thFollow me on Instagram @allytbrett_runsSubscribe to Finish Lines & Milestones weekly newsletterThis is a SandyBoy Productions podcast.

Abby Prentice and I met years ago at Monumental's very first Indianapolis 5K, when I saw her running the Monumental Community Mile with her mom.During this episode, sponsored by HUUG and Goodr, we talk about:How the Community Mile has become a family tradition Getting her brother Ryan hooked on running, from spectating her races to signing up for Monumental this fallThe trail fall at Avon Town Hall Park that left her covered in bloodFundraising for Team Chicago Run, and how a friend's foundation unexpectedly landed her a New York City Marathon bibGrowing up in the small town of Covington, IndianaBeing a sprinter and high jumper in high school, and specializing in high jump at Indiana State, including getting to run Division I cross countryMeeting her husband, Deshaun, on the high jump squad in collegeHer first marathon (Chicago, 2023), trained completely solo, versus how much easier her second (Monumental, 2024) feltFounding Indy Social Run Club — weekly run club based out of Athletic AnnexBecoming a brand ambassador for Indy Monumental, the Indiana Women's Running Festival, and Lululemon Keystone, and how she got into content creationRunning the aid station — a "tiki bar" themed pit stop — at the Full Mo ultramarathon, and just how much work goes into itHer go-to fuel (Tailwind, Never Second, Huma) and current shoe rotation (ASICS Superblast and Novablast, New Balance SC Elite, Nike Vomero+)Her running mantra ("You can do hard things") and go-to running music (Big Booty Mixes)What's next: Fort Ben 5K, Chicago Marathon, New York City Marathon, and the Monumental 5KPrevious Guests MentionedRachel Sinders - Episode 8Himanshu Varandani - Episode 28Gordon Strain - Episode 43TJ Dailey - Episode 68Kelvin Quang - Episode 167Sponsor DetailsHUUG - Use ALLYB for 15% off, combinable with their buy 3, get 1 free promoGoodr - Use ALLYB for $10 off your first orderOther LinksLittle Five extras signup (Aug 2nd)Abby's Chicago Marathon FundraiserIndiana Women's Running Festival - Use code ABBYVIP for a discountCNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon - Use code ABBY26 for a discountIndy Half Marathon at Fort Ben 5K - Use code ABBY26 for a discountFollow Abby on Instagram @abby__prenticeFollow Indy Social Run Club on InstagramFollow me on Instagram @allytbrett_runsSubscribe to Finish Lines & Milestones weekly newsletterThis is a SandyBoy Productions podcast.