Jessie and Eric join the podcast to share their experience at the Big Beach Marathon weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama. They completed the challenge, one as a long-time runner and the other as a first-time half-marathoner.
Big Beach Marathon Weekend Links
Eric and Jessie referenced our pre-race weekend breakdown in RED Episode 293 with Nikki Popovich from Junction 311 Endurance Sports:https://www.runeatdrink.net/podcast/2024/9/9/red-episode-293-featuring-a-runcation-destination-the-big-beach-marathon-in-gulf-shores-alabama?rq=big%20beach
2026 Big Beach Marathon Weekend
https://www.bigbeachmarathon.com/
The Lodge at Gulf State Park
Rotolos
Flora-Bama
Bad Ass Coffee
https://locations.badasscoffee.com/list/al/orange-beach/
Connect with Jessie
at https://www.instagram.com/harleyruningal/
Connect with Eric
at https://www.instagram.com/eric.million.223/
THAT’S A WRAP!
Thank you for listening! Because of your support, we are in our eighth year of the podcast! Don’t forget to follow us and tell us where to find you next on our website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Also, check out our store on the website and get some swag, thanks to Pure Creative Apparel. Thanks to www.PodcastMusic.com for providing the music for this episode, too!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Miss Brooklyn .
Hi Brooklyn.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
It's nice to meet you , my friend Amy.
Have you ever been on a podcastbefore?
No, no, you are now.
Do you want to say welcomeRuncation Nation?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Runcation Nation.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Welcome Runcation Nation.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Run Kitchen Nation.
Welcome to Run Eat DrinkPodcast.
We feature destination racesfrom across the country and
after the race, we take you on atour of the best local food and
beverage to celebrate.
So, whether you are an eliterunner or a back of the packer
like us, you'll know the bestplaces to accomplish, explore
(00:49):
and indulge on your nextruncation.
Hey, welcome to episode 301 ofthe Runny Drink Podcast.
I'm your host, amy, flying solowhile Dana's out of town, and I
have a great show.
It's a Runcation recap fromRuncation Nation members Jesse
(01:13):
and Eric, and it was so big thatwe have divided it into two
episodes.
So this week and next week weare going to recap a weekend
that we were looking forward tobut could not attend.
So Jesse and Eric are here tofill all of you in from a
(01:37):
participant perspective, both alongtime runner, jesse, and a
first-time half marathoner, eric.
So, without further ado, thisis part one of their Runcation
Recap.
It's time for another RuncationRecap and with us today we
welcome two members one I cancall a classic, an OG of the
(02:04):
Runcation Nation, jessie.
Jessica Lynn O'Keefe we alwayssay her entire name, I don't
know why, it's just always beenthat way, but we welcome Jessie
and a new member of theRuncation Nation, eric to the
show for a Runcation Recap.
Welcome Welcome, miss Amy, andthank you so much for coming on
(02:25):
the show for a Runcation Recap.
Welcome Welcome, miss Amy, andthank you so much for coming on
the show because, as you know, Iwas very I had a lot of FOMO, I
would tell Dana, when it cameto the Big Beach Marathon
weekend, we had Nikki Popovichon and I was so excited to come
and meet up with everybody fromthe Runcation Nation there.
(02:47):
So I've decided, you know I hadto reach out to you all and
live vicariously through you andyour Runcation Recap.
So thank you for taking time tobe on the show.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Well, thank you for inviting us and we missed you so
much.
But we understood completely.
So you were in our prayers andI listened to that episode prior
to Big Beach and it was a greatepisode that was full of
information for the new peoplecoming to Big Beach and what to
expect For those that werecoming that haven't done it
before.
It was very informative.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
And we'll link to it in the show notes for this
episode so you can have themaximum amount of knowledge for
what you can expect at Big Beachfrom an organizer and also from
participants.
Yes, so you've done it threetimes, but, eric, this was your
(03:40):
first Big Beach.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
And his first half marathon period okay, okay.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
So for the members of the run nation who may be new
or are catching up and don'tknow the two of you haven't been
to a meetup or a race.
Where you have been can youtake take time to introduce
yourselves?
Tell us a little bit about yourlife outside of running?
(04:10):
And also, while we're havingthis conversation, in this
Runcation Recap, what are youdrinking?
Who are you?
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Where are you?
Speaker 2 (04:20):
from what are you drinking?
Speaker 1 (04:22):
So we have from Three Daughters Brew, three daughters
brewing, which is local, as youknow.
Saint pete, yeah, yep, it is aflorida orange ipa oh and I
figured it had the littlealligator on there.
Look at that.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Oh for, for patrons who have the video, we have the
little gator on there on thatipa can from three dollars.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
It's very light.
You can taste the orange verypredominantly, but it's not
overbearing.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
It's really smooth and we are drinking it in our
pint glass okay so you'redrinking a florida beer, an ipa,
a citrusy ipa, would you say.
Because of the orange notes youmentioned.
Not too bad citrusy.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
No, it's not heavy.
Not heavy.
More orange, more on the orangeside, because IPAs can be more
on the grapefruit side.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Or they can be really piney.
I'm not going to lie.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
And it's not bitter.
It's very light and refreshingactually.
So I'm a bit of an IPA.
It's a hit or miss.
I either like it or I don't.
And it's so smooth it'sdefinitely would be a rebuy.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Shout out to three daughters.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Yeah.
So now to go back to the firstpart.
My name is Jessica Lynn O'Keefe, as Miss Amy said, my Instagram
Harley Running Gal.
I started running back in 2016.
I was walking and then dabblinginto running.
(05:52):
I had committed to doing avirtual 5k every month.
I would go on Run Motivators,virtual Strides or one of the
virtual running platforms andpick a charity that meant
something to me.
Every run that I did, it waseither important to me or
something that one of my familywas a part of, or just something
that touched my heart.
So, every medal.
I look at it and it's not justbecause I'm like, oh yeah, I'm
(06:13):
just going to run.
So it was very heart warmingfor me, the ones that I chose,
and then I was just like with myfriends here's a crazy idea,
let's do an inflatable 5k.
Here's a crazy idea.
Let's do a mud run.
Here's a crazy idea, let's do achallenge.
Here's a crazy idea.
Let's do a half marathon.
Oh wait, here's a crazy idea.
(06:33):
We should do the challenge thathas the five, 10 and the half
and then oh wait here's a crazyidea let's do a marathon.
So it literally just keptprogressing into a.
Let's just keep challengingourselves.
So I've done four half marathonor four marathons.
Now it's been a couple of yearsand I'm looking forward to
doing another one soon.
(06:54):
So then, in my journey ofrunning and in my journey of
life, I have a son, andthroughout it was during a work
day that I met this handsomegentleman next to me.
He did some work at my office,and it took him about three
times asking me out before Ifinally said yes.
And then we started enjoying alot of things together, and he
(07:17):
went with me to my firsttriathlon.
It was pouring down rain and,god bless him, he was in the
rain with me, having my runninggear ready, my bike gear ready,
my swim gear ready.
He was a true Sherpa.
And then after that, he sayswell, I want to do more to
support you.
How about I run with you?
So then it started and I lethim take over from there, okay.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
So my name is Eric Millian.
I'm born and raised here, yep,and so we started our.
We did our first run.
My first 5K was the JC Park.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah, it was a Bucy 5K Addiction.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
And that also means a lot to me too, because of
family that I have that hasthose types of issues or
problems, family that I havethat has those types of issues
or problems.
So things that we run for we dorun for from the heart.
It's something that meanssomething to us whether it's
good causes, breast cancerawareness, so on and so forth,
military law enforcement, allthe above.
(08:22):
So I just was committed to onlydoing five Ks.
I told her no half marathonshenanigans, no full marathon
shenanigans.
I can do the 5K and I'll dothose.
And then, all of a sudden,she's saying something about the
big beach and I'm like, yeah,I'll do that with you.
And it was just the 7K is all Iwas signed up for, was supposed
to sign up for.
Then I said no, I'm going to goabove and beyond that.
(08:43):
I'm supposed to sign up for it.
Then I said no, I'm going to goabove and beyond that.
I'm going to do the challengewith you.
I'm going to do the 7K and ahalf marathon that I've never
even ran six miles, let alone13.1 miles.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
He's never run ever, and I never ran.
You jumped straight from the 5Kto let's do a challenge.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Yes, you did.
I did one 10K.
Oh, you did Two weeks beforethe race.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Two weeks before the race.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yes, I did a 10K.
We did a 10K down in Naples forthe boot challenge.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Yeah, the traveler time traveler.
Okay, it was an article race soit was a little low attended.
There's a lot of races thatweekend, so it was the perfect
10K setting for him and he didamazing, Like a good training
run yeah he did amazing, like agood training run yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Looks like a good training run.
It's like when, oh gosh, whatis that documentary?
There's the spirit of themarathon and they chronicle
everybody's training for amarathon and there are elite
athletes that are running to win, that are sponsored by big shoe
companies and that kind ofthing, and then there are just
like your everyday average Joepeople who are running for
(09:45):
charity, that kind of thing.
They it's how you catch the bug, and then it's have you seen it
?
Have you seen it?
I have not.
Oh, so, spirit of the marathon.
There are two documentaries.
One of them is the Chicagomarathon and then one of them
chronicles people who arecompleting it's.
I believe it's the Athens orthe Rome marathon.
(10:06):
So yeah, so it's.
I thought he was just gonna sayhe's going to do the 7k, he's
not gonna do the challenge, he'snot gonna step up to the 10k or
anything like that, he's justgonna do the gear.
But no, he Eric, new member ofthe Runcation Nation says I'm
going to train for a challenge a7k and a half on back to back
(10:31):
days, and then I'm going to do a10k as a just a training run
two weeks before the whole thing, yeah, and in those
documentaries they say you dohalf the distance, about like
maybe six or eight weeks beforeyou do the full, whatever the
race distance is.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
And.
But yeah, I'm just going togive you a push up the high dive
in the deep end.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
If you're going to be a bear, be a grizzly, or I
don't know, yeah, or I don'tknow, yeah or sore.
But I bet the post-race mealand beverage were so much more
enjoyable after having achievedthe accomplishment, though right
yes, just a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
And I was proud of him because, in looking at him,
I hadn't done even a half in along time and I've been running
for a while'm like 2016 you'regoing on 10 years and then he's
over there, he's just like yepI'm good like he just looks.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
So it's that first time glow breathing and I'm just
like she says I do that atevery run, oh, oh, really, it's
a natural.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Okay, but now you've caught the.
It sounds like you caught therunning bug and then you gave
the running bug to Eric Jesse.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Yes, yeah, she definitely did, because now I
own three pairs of running shoes.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
They say that running is a cheap sport.
You can just get out there andrun, but really you can't.
Just there.
We've made every mistake in thebook and not having the right
shoes.
That's the very first mistakewe ever made when we started
(12:21):
running Dana and I did, and Ithink not being properly fitted
with the blisters and not havingthe right support, because
everybody's different.
And number two is not havingmore than one pair, because if
you're running in weather,having more than one pair,
(12:43):
because if you're running inweather, like you endured jesse
at the donna, and you haveanother race the next day, let's
say then oh so you're a smartman you're a smart man is what
I'm saying to you he bought, soit started with he did
Speaker 3 (12:55):
was it the second race?
Their third race?
Speaker 1 (12:57):
third race no, second race, sorry we did, and he went
over to fleet feet.
Oh, fleet, yeah, so he went togo pick up race packets and then
, while he's there, he wentperusing.
So he did the right thing.
They looked at his feet andeverything.
And then so I come to visit andhe's.
So I did a thing.
I'm like what to do?
(13:17):
I might have bought myself agood pair of running shoes.
I'm like, yeah, you so runningthe 5K.
And when he committed to the 7Kand the half, I put us on a
training plan and as we got thelonger miles, my feet are
starting to hurt a little bit.
My socks Did you get a blister?
Speaker 3 (13:33):
No, I never got blistered.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
You lucky duck.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
The cotton socks that I was using.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
I know, but you wanted to seek out the proper
socks which is also important toshoes, mind you.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Essential.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Yes.
So then he posted out in thedifferent running platforms a
bunch of the different Facebookplatforms and Instagram
platforms.
Hey, so I'm a new runner.
I know it's custom to your foot, but what are people using that
are proper?
So then he got a lot of ideasand suggestions and such.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
And then Santa Claus might have brought him a few
different brands to try Eric asa new runner.
Are you a brand loyalist now ordo you have a couple of
different brands that work?
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, when it comes to a brand, I'm going to stick
with the ones that I know isgoing to work for me, after
having the first pair of shoesand then running the longer
miles in that training witheverything that was happening
because of the shoe, the onepair, one pair of shoes brooks
glycerins.
Yeah, he's got the glycerin maxokay and those for a long
(14:37):
distance run, I will swear bybecause they are 100%.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
You find what works.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
So I went throughout his research.
He bought a pair of featureswhere he got features and
salchonies and his favorite outof the three so far are the
features.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Oh, Dana loves those too yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Also when I could wear the short socks, but now I
have to wear the longcompression socks.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
So that's the brand that you use, but you're a
features guy through and through.
You and Dana have a lot incommon.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Different races with all three different brands.
The features seem to have won.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Won the race for you or will continue to support the
accomplishment of racing?
For you let me ask you this,since you're both on the show
before we get to, because you'vetalked about how you found
running both of you but what Iwant to ask you is have you
found that running together hasstrengthened your relationship?
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Oh yeah 100%.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
In what ways would you say Both, two ways?
Speaker 1 (15:50):
It's time alone, without outer interference, and
I don't mean that in a bad way.
But when you're career driven,you're a parent, you are a
codependent, helping familymembers, when you have so much
other outside stuff which areall very important and you enjoy
(16:11):
them and you like them, havingthat time together where you
don't have your phone, you don'tthe phone's not ringing and
nobody's asking for you, you'renot tasked with something,
you're just doing somethingwhere it's just you're on the
open road or you're in nature orwherever it is that you're
running, you can collect yourthoughts individually and you
can have conversationcollectively, just being there.
(16:34):
It's very mind clearing.
So we might not talk for alittle bit and listen to our,
our music, and then we might getinto a conversation that we
needed to have to just talkthings through, and then we
might just start giggling andlaughing and just point out
stuff in the trees or the carsor the whatever.
It's.
Just, it's light-hearted it'srelaxing, so like you're tired
(16:57):
and you're using the muscles andyou're out of breath, but in
the same part it's relaxing andwe're connecting a whole new
level and I imagine that you allI feel it with Dana.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
We push each other.
When he is well and we arerunning or walking together,
Then it is.
If I'm having an off day, Ifind that he can encourage me
and be there to push me througha tough run.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
He does that to me because he'll see like my
breathing gets a little laboredand he'll be, like all right,
don't listen to your watch,cause you know me, I always have
my intervals on.
Don't listen to the watch.
We're going to that tree andyou got this.
He does that to me all the timeand I'm like I'm the one who's
running and he's the one that's.
You got this, babe.
But there'll be times where wecan't run together due to our
crazy schedules, and he'll knowI'm running and he'll text me
(17:44):
like all right, honey, I'm goingto go out for a run, I got this
many miles.
And then he knows about what Ican do, when and right.
It's always seems like it's atthe right, opportune moment that
my phone goes off and I look atmy watch and it's him, babe,
you got this, keep going.
Keep going, I know there's atree coming up, so you better be
running past it.
Yeah, so even when we're nottogether, we're encouraging each
other on our runs.
When you think you can't do itand you've got your partner next
(18:07):
to you saying, no, you can doit, forget about the week you
got this.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
You can let go of whatever is outside of that
training run and you can connectand encourage each other and
find a new freedom, somethingthat is that de-escalates the
stress, that releases worries,and then you come back to
regular life and I find youmight be exhausted but you're
also reinvigorated to be abetter parent, a better for me,
(18:36):
a better wife For Dana.
He says it helps him in hiscareer.
That can be so stressful in lawenforcement.
And I also think that when youcross the finish line like you
two are talking about how youstarted running for a cause that
it is when you cross, when youput all the training together
and you cross the finish linefor a cause.
(18:58):
I think that, whoever is thehigher side, whether it be a
friend or a family member or theruncation nation, it's
something that bonds youtogether, even though you may
have known each other maybe 20years, five years, two years or
two hours.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
There are some races where we like go see what you
got in the tank and believe itor not.
He still smokes me.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
And then he comes back and he cheers me on for the
the ending part of my run.
And then you do the same, missy, you do the same for people.
You have done that for meplenty of times at jc park at
turkey trots.
So I I'm telling you, I justthink that it's true, either
virtually or in person, thatmembers of the Runcation Nation
or the Will Run For podcast orthe Rise and Run podcast, or
(19:48):
even people that you meet atraces are just some of the best
people that you meet and get toknow in the community, the
friendships that.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
I have made through my local community are just
unparalleled.
It's amazing.
And then, of course, who I'vemet through my local community
are just unparalleled it'samazing.
And then, of course, who I'vemet through Runcation Nation at
Big Beach.
We had JoJo, susie, dawn andthen Darlene.
Rest in peace.
We would have had Darlene andwe would have had you guys she
was with you.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
I know we all were.
That Big Beach run meant a lotto everybody, including me.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
In Big Beach we decided that it was a race that
we were going to stick together.
So there's certain races wherewe're like see what you got, and
then there's certain races thatthey just mean something
different and you just sticktogether, and that's what we did
.
We stuck together in Big Beach.
And then my favorite picture ison my cover page right now on
my Facebook profile of the twoof us going through the finish
line holding hands hands and wehave our hands up in the air and
(20:40):
we're like we did it andthere's nothing like that
feeling and it's, I think, thatit brings you together in
celebration.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
It brings you together in even in the saddest
and the worst of times.
Running can be something thatjust is.
It's so supportive of youremotional, physical and mental
well-being in the communityaround it Is that absolutely so,
(21:10):
and you all are that for me andfor Dana.
You have talked about your kindof, your history in running and
what it means to you, and youmake a good point about sticking
together in the Big Beach race.
If anybody hasn't guessed yet,that's listening or watching we
are recapping the Big Beach 2025edition that happens at the end
(21:35):
of January in Gulf Shores,alabama.
Let me ask you this then whyBig Beach for you?
And let me ask Eric first.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Why Big?
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Beach.
You're a smart man.
You're a smart man.
You could even stop therebecause she's in charge.
She picked it and then we'reoff and running, unless you want
to add to that.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Unless you want to.
I say I'm running and she signsup all right, I'll have him
along a little bit.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Okay, like I'm going to alabama, who's with me?
What do y'all think of thisrace?
And I said to him I've done therace twice already.
It is so incredibly organized,it is a beautiful course and the
after hangout party is just somuch fun.
It's full of energy oh I see myfriends from rendication nation
are going.
(22:25):
So I'm going, I says.
But I haven't did the challengeyet.
So he committed at first to the7k and I was doing a challenge.
He was going to be cheering usall along for the half and then,
as I talked about it more he's.
You know what he says.
It sounds like a reallybeautiful course.
I want to enjoy what you'vebasically described with me
personally oh that's when Isigned up and I said okay, I'm
(22:47):
signed up.
I says I'm about ready to signup for the 7k for you and he
goes sign me up for thechallenge.
I'm like are you sure?
And he's yes and I'm like, allright, I'm gonna give you till
tonight because the priceincreases tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
So yeah, what was it like hours or oh?
Speaker 1 (23:01):
yeah, because Cause it was the morning so I'm like
okay, so by the end of theworkday I need to know, cause by
midnight the price goes up, soI need to know by 1155.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Budgeting.
You're budgeting and giving hima countdown.
I was budgeting.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Cause I didn't want to pay the extra.
Not that it was that much, butand he's like no, he says I'm in
, yeah.
I want to see what you'redescribing to me.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
So it sounds like you're a good salesperson.
And, eric, what were you goingto say?
Speaker 3 (23:27):
I also told her that I was going to not only do a
challenge, but do the challengeto challenge myself.
Because, along with doing ourruns for training, as we started
getting longer distances, itwas like, yeah, you did nine
miles.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
I can definitely be 13, so I said no sign up yeah
and when you got to race day,did you regret making that
decision?
No, he was calling us acucumber good, because some
people are standing at the startand they're like this seemed
like a good idea six months agoor like 16 weeks ago or whenever
(24:05):
.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
It is that you started training side by side
with my honey enjoying all theviews and scenery and doing a
challenge together yeah, seeingher first challenge of the big
beach race and my first half andchallenge so.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
So, yes, what were you going to say, jesse?
Speaker 1 (24:24):
No.
So when I went to do my firstmarathon, I spoke to a couple of
friends of mine that were eliterunners and I said what was
your favorite marathon that youjust enjoyed thoroughly?
I got a few different names andthen one person that I really
respected said that she reallyenjoyed Fort Lauderdale and that
(24:46):
was her first.
That's a good race.
So we did the Fort LauderdaleA1A.
Sorry, bentley, see somebodyoutside the window there.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
That's okay.
You hear Buck and Danny on thepodcast all the time.
Our babies, our puppies youhear it all the time.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
So, this being me being fresh into oh my goodness,
I'm about to sign up for 26miles what am I thinking?
I'm like, what training did youdo?
And I know a lot of my Disneyfriends do Galloway and they
absolutely love it.
But, she said to me I did theHal Higdon training because I've
seen what she has done, I'mlike okay, then I'm doing Hal
Higdon.
So I did that from.
(25:22):
That was a training plan Ichose for my marathon.
So when he committed.
I said, all right, then I'mdownloading, because we have to
do a training program.
We need somebody to say youneed to run this many miles this
day, you need to run this long,you need to go up and up.
So I downloaded the app, hedownloaded the app and so Hal
would be on our watches goingyou have X amount of miles today
(25:42):
.
Oh, hal talks to you in his app.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
He sends us notes on yeah, he messages us, which we
get on our watches too and he'slike so how was your run today?
Did you complete the full run?
And then when we would do lessor we would do more, because
sometimes, due to scheduling, wecouldn't do it on Saturday and
(26:06):
we'd have to do it on Sunday,and then we would do a little
bit more.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
You're a little bit of an overachiever today.
Maybe you should dial it back alittle bit, like literally,
Rest is important too.
I can't do any kind of accentsor like I can't.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
My point to all that is, no matter who you choose or
what plane you choose, theimportance of if you're amping
up your mileage, especially forrace and is it incredibly
important to find a runningprogram whether it be just a
printing out something or some,an app that will tell you you
(26:33):
know what your program is, howimportant that is because it
keeps you on schedule.
Um, and I told him.
I says if you have a day whereyou're working late and it says
you got to do eight miles, thenthen you can't do it, but
tomorrow, if you can kick outfour, you're at least doing
something.
The one thing I learned wasnever try to make up the miles,
but try to do something and thenthe next day kick back into
(26:54):
plan what it says.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
And if you find the plan, it gives you the structure
, but it's not like you are, Idon't know chained to the plan.
There can be flexibilitybecause there is life, there are
families, there are kids, thereare dogs.
There is life.
So it's and I think Hal Higdonand Jeff Galloway, america's
(27:19):
coach and my coach, so shout outto both of them, it's amazing.
It's amazing, amazing.
They both provide structureCorrect and you can also do make
modifications and still get itdone and still show up at race
day feeling strong and if youbasically follow the plan and
(27:41):
not overdo it because rest, likeyou said, like when Hal says
you've overdone it, maybe youshould dial it back.
There are ways to be flexiblewith both the run walk run with
Jeff Galloway and then HalHigdon.
They're both very, they'rerevered, they're research-based,
they're excellent, they're bothexcellent.
Now based.
(28:03):
They're excellent.
They're both excellent.
Now my question for you in thetraining plan for the challenge,
which is the 7K family andsafari run on Saturday of the
Big Beach weekend and then thehalf marathon, is what you did
on Sunday, although there was amarathon as well.
Okay, and some people sign upfor the marathon and the 7k or
the shark challenge and then thehalf and the 7k is the dolphin
(28:28):
Okay, so I would run ifsomething was named after
Flipper.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
I know I do most of my runs for charity, but I would
be lying if I didn't say, Ooh,that's a pretty medal.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Bring up an excellent point it's bling driven.
You're bling driven like Dana,then what I'm is Eric bling
driven also.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
No, I think my honey just likes running with me.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
So you're not bling driven, but you're also very
passionate about causes is whatI hear when Eric talks about why
he even started running.
Yes, To support to.
It's a bonus.
It's a bonus, yeah.
So we've talked a lot about whyyou decided to run big beach
and it sounds like the bling,the course, the challenges, the
(29:13):
meetups are all.
What about the destinationitself?
Speaker 1 (29:18):
It's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
The beaches are gorgeous.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Yeah, so the host hotel is the lodge, which is a
Hilton property nation itself.
It's beautiful.
The beaches are gorgeous.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Yeah, so the host hotel is the lodge, which is a
Hilton property.
Yes, shout out to the Hiltonpeople.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
Not a sponsor, hilton members, hilton members, but
they could be.
Oh yeah, they did it.
It was supposed to be four ofus girls going to get our
Alabama state.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
And then, cause you're part of a 50 state group,
like you're part of the 50state half marathon crew.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
So that was, it was the four of us to get our
Alabama state.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
And then Kelly had, I think, her husband had a work
thing, or she had a work thing.
Something conflicted and shedidn't realize she double booked
herself.
So she had to defer.
So she had to defer.
And so the next year camearound and she was like, all
right, I'm going to drive up toAlabama and do this race, cause
I deferred.
I'm like I'm not gonna let youdrive alone.
(30:11):
Clearly you can, you're verycapable, but I'll go with you
again.
So I went up again and we didthe half.
So that's why this time I waslike oh, you know what, I've
done a half twice.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
Why not just do the challenge so?
Speaker 1 (30:18):
anyway.
So the lodge is the host hoteland in those two trips with the
girls we budget, we still stayedat the lodge.
We planned in a room.
We got the cheapest room butthis being my honey's first half
marathon and it was a greatroom, don't get me wrong.
The accommodations are amazing.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
But you were just trying to.
It's a great hotel and even theleast expensive room at a great
hotel is going to be a greatstay.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Yes, it was Absolutely One hundred percent.
But being his first halfmarathon and our first really
vacation together, I splurged alittle.
Why not A water view balcony?
Even with that, the organizershave a discount, so it was very
reasonable.
(30:59):
So when you sign up, when theysend you all the information
with the host hotel andeverything it will, if you click
on their link, it will theyprovide a nice discount code,
which was gracious.
Beautiful, the property isbeautiful, the beach is
beautiful, the food was amazingso your room was a view of the
ocean.
Yes, on the beach oh, with snowmind you of the ocean, yes, on
(31:26):
the beach, oh, with snow mindyou.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Oh yes, I'm sorry with snow.
Yes, because all that snow upthe northern floor.
Oh, we're going to talk aboutthe weather.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
Yes, a little bit of snow on the beach yes we have
that gorgeous view.
Those are the estate of thelodge.
On the back side of theproperty, when you look down, is
the pool, and then that's wherethe ocean view is we had a
beautiful view of their nicepool area and the ocean and the
pier.
Oh okay, beautiful sunset.
We had a little table, a couplechairs out there here in the
(31:51):
water was so calming oh, itsounds beautiful.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
It sounds like the perfect hotel, the perfect
location and so let me just goback to the weather just for a
second, because you have runthat weekend, some race at that
weekend, three years in a row.
Is that correct?
Speaker 1 (32:12):
I missed the years 2022, 2023, and then 2025.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Okay, so the weather at each one same different.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
So 2022 was freezing.
We had ice on our windshields.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
It was really cold the beginning part of the race,
tolerable towards the end.
So like I had a three quarterzip long sleeve jacket on and it
was a matter of the zip was thevent, depending on where you
were in the park, because itgoes through a beautiful state
park and there's some boardwalkareas with some foliage, and
then there are areas where it'sopen, like prairie, if you will,
(32:50):
so you've got full sun.
And then, of course, the lastpart, from when you cross over
the bridge the wind.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
We get extra points for what you call it wind
resistance if you're runninginto the wind against the wind,
we get extra points for what youcall it wind resistance if
you're running into the windagainst the wind yes, so it was
a matter of I didn't shed thejacket, but the zipper was the
temperature control, kelly and Idid it in 2023.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
We stripped down to our tank tops.
It was brisk, but then we shedthe jacket.
We were down to our tank topslike quarter of the way through
the race and it was gorgeousbecause it just warmed up yeah,
and it was perfect.
It was absolutely perfectrunning weather.
It's still brisk, but it wasperfect running weather.
Eric and I ran.
We were in 7k, we were in ourmitts, we had our caps, we had
(33:35):
three layers on.
There was still ice.
There were ice on some of theboardwalks.
Even so, we had to single piloton some of the boardwalks.
Even so, we had to single fileit through some of the
boardwalks and there was pilesof snow still here and there.
It was frigid, which is why wehad to do single file.
And then for the half marathonrace Sunday, they shoveled some
of those pathways more and thesun obviously had melted more.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
It was better.
Speaker 2 (33:59):
So let me ask you.
At least yeah, I wouldn't saywarm, but either frigid or brisk
is about what you're gonna getwell, because run the runcation
nation needs tips because, likeyou and don have talked about on
social media, packing can be achallenge for a race.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
I had my big suitcase yeah, I wasn't.
Yeah, I could pack whatever Iwanted, so I had pretty much
anything and everything.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
Now why could you pack for?
Tell everybody why.
You could pack whatever youwanted, because we drove,
because you drove, so you canfly to this destination, like
Nikki was talking about when wedid the overview before the
weekend happened, but you alldecided to drive.
Tell me why, why not?
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Why not?
It was we took the day off ofwork and it was a nice road trip
and it was what 10 hours.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
Right around 10 hours .
It was fun.
It made it the road trip, justmade it fun.
I had a little Dole Whip withme and we had our snack bag.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
Now, who is Dole Whip For people who don't know, like
, what is happening there?
Can you talk that up a littlebit?
Speaker 1 (35:07):
So when I injured my foot and injured my knee, it was
right around the same time thatmy dad had passed and my
amazing friends, extended family, because I call my Runcation
Nation Peeps my family.
Y'all put together thisbeautiful basket that you and
Dana so graciously delivered tomy home from things that were
(35:32):
very personally picked from someof the Runcation Nation peeps,
and one of the items in that wasDole Whip, because a lot of the
Runcation Nation are hugeDisney fans and if you go to
Disney you know all about DoleWhip.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
You got to have a Dole Whip with rum.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
in my opinion, so this was a stuffy Dole Whip and
it had a bean bag that insertsin the back that you could
either freeze or warm so that itwould, I could put it on my
knee.
So after I did my physicaltherapy with the therapist, oh,
love it.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
Shout out to the therapist we miss Kristen.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
Oh my gosh, she's amazing.
So you would put that on so Icould use it.
But so because it came fromRuncation Nation, then it became
my little.
Does everybody remember FlatStanley?
Yes, so it was so for thosethat don't know, it's I'm sure
at some point about paper dolls.
Yes, flat Stanley was somethingthat you would put if you
printed it out on piece of paper, on a stick, and if you went on
(36:30):
vacation, flat Stanley's by theocean, flat Stanley's by the
beach, flat Stanley's having amargarita.
It became my flat Stanley.
Dol Whip has to go on everysingle Runcation Nation event so
he's with me.
So when we went to Little Rockfor that race, kelly and I got
lucky that we had a seat inbetween us, so Dol Whip got
(36:51):
strapped in to his own seat onthe plane got strapped in to his
own seat on the plane.
That is adorable.
I love how you have theruncation nation mascot that
goes with you everywhere.
Yes, and dole whip has asidekick now oh because when we
did gasparilla, which was mylast race with darlene, with my
(37:11):
runcation Nation peeps, you guysand JoJo put together the cute
little bags.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
Oh, hers were adorable, freaking adorable I
know Both the little octopi.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
So the octopi, because he has a pirate patch,
because we were Gasparilla withthe whole pirate theme.
So I have sewed a little loopon the octopi so that he can be
attached to Dole Whip.
So now the two of them go withme everywhere, so Darlene is
always with us.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
She was my twin.
We had almost the exact sameoutfit at Gasparilla, so I can't
.
Yeah, it's good that you havethose things, that that you can
take with you so that you haveother runners who have inspired
you, because she certainlyinspired me in her 50 state
challenge.
So you're and it will bewonderful to hear I think
(38:03):
Susie's going to finish inHawaii, which is where Darlene
finished.
And I think it's perfect, I'm acaboose on that 50 state train.
I'm not even on the train.
Are you getting him on thetrain, Eric?
Are you doing the 50 statechallenge or what is the
situation with you?
Speaker 1 (38:21):
I don't know, he's got Alabama and he'll probably
have Florida, because I thinkI'm hooking him into an.
April race in Bradenton.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Oh, if you don't get it in April, then you can always
get it in February 2026 atDonna.
I'm just saying there areoptions for you to consider.
Speaker 3 (38:38):
She's talking about the Donna which I think I'm
already committed to it thereyou go, there you go.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
So you're saying that the drive for you up there to
Gulf shores, if you live in aneighboring state, is a good
thing to do because you don'treally have to adhere to the
packing challenge?
Although there were two of you,so was it all your luggage,
(39:03):
jess, and just like one piecefor him, or how did that go?
Speaker 3 (39:08):
oh no, I bought a whole nother bag just for my
running gear and another bag forjust my regular everyday
clothes.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
The fun part about driving is I can carry whatever
size luggage I want withwhatever size bottles.
I want with a cooler withwhatever I want in it.
A snack bag with this pack,because I want to pack it.
This one was like okay, so ifwe're stranded for a month,
we're probably good.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
Oh yeah, you can never tell if things go wrong
and you have to call roadsideassistance.
We were there for anything andeverything.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
So that was the fun part, but also again with the
running together, it's mindclearing.
We're looking at the snow,we're looking at the houses,
we're talking about the cars,we're talking about the people.
It's just fun and it'slighthearted and you're not
thinking about work you're notthinking about all the other
stresses that you do day to day.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
So it was just fun that's how we felt about the
keys going in the completelyopposite direction when we went
to go to key west to do a half.
Dana and I, we just to take theday and make the drive is so
good.
Now, I mean, if you can't,obviously, if you can't get
there driving, then I.
(40:20):
Then you should listen to theepisode where Nikki talks about
the neighboring airports and thecar rental, because we were
originally going to fly intoPensacola.
Speaker 1 (40:32):
That's what Susie did .
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Is that what Susie did?
Speaker 1 (40:35):
She flew into Pensacola and had a rental car
and drove over.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
And she had, as far as I know, from what I've seen
and what we spoke about, she hada good experience.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
A smooth experience.
It seemed like it was going tobe a smooth experience and
that's a good tip from Nikki inher episode, like to your point,
jesse.
So let me ask it's not an expoand packet pickup it's an.
It's a packet pickup, palooza.
It's a packet pickup, palooza.
(41:03):
So how was your first ever halfmarathon slash challenge?
Packet pickup, palooza, eric.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
It was crazy.
There was a lot crazy.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
There's a lot of people a lot of people want
stuff yeah you fell into thetrap water bottle, but he bought
things that he's seen me useand obviously things that are
essential.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
So they had one vendor there that had quite a
plethora of variety of things,from headbands to the skin caps.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:41):
To the different types of fueling to the little
disposal raincoats and theMylars.
Speaker 2 (41:48):
All like ponchos and things.
Speaker 1 (41:50):
Right, and your magnets and your stickers and
your pens.
It was a small booth packedfull of a lot of things.
Yes, it was.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
So if you forgot anything, then most likely you
would Pretty much.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
essentially, unless you didn't have shoes, then
you're in trouble Because therewere no shoe vendors or anything
.
So it's not like going to FortLauderdale A1A or Madonna.
You've got some of the biggerexpos, but what they had there
was essentials and it was areally nice variety.
Yeah, and the local brewerythere had some of their brews so
(42:22):
that you could taste what youwould be getting at the end of
the race.
So that was nice and fun.
And then they had a blow-upshark and a blow-up dolphin and
a blow up dolphin they'rewalking around being silly, you
know, with these cute signs in abackdrop where you have your
pictures taken, and music.
And so it was fun and very wellorganized.
(42:43):
Oh, it's very clear If you'rejust doing a 7K, if you're doing
any one of the challenges, youget your bibs, you go behind.
They had everything laid outnice.
Oh, they're like at a discountedprice if you who's not going to
buy a really nice textured forfive dollars?
Speaker 2 (42:59):
you're going to use it in training so we did.
Speaker 1 (43:01):
We bought last year's shirt.
We both did because theirshirts are soft and they're cool
looking.
So if you saw my my picturefrom swamp cabbage festival, he
actually has the 2024 big beachshirt on.
Speaker 2 (43:14):
Oh, okay, all right.
So the expo was full of thingsthat you might need, and I also
have to say shout out toeverybody in the Runcation
Nation that participated in BigBeach that actually signed I
don't know what that was, was ita backdrop or a banner?
Yep, that they signed for usbecause we couldn't be there.
(43:37):
And I can't thank Nikki enough,for it would have been the
first time that the RuncationNation and the Running Drink
Podcast had ever had a booth ata packet pickup palooza slash
expo experience and I hope thatwe have the opportunity to go
back and do it in 2026.
Nikki and everybody in herorganization is just top notch
(44:02):
in terms of organization forexpo.
Pack.
A pickup Sounds like a smoothand a fun way to kick off the
weekend.
Speaker 1 (44:11):
And it's at the lodge .
So when you pull up into thelodge there's a big conference
room area.
So it's right there, veryeasily accessible.
You walk in and get your stuff,then you can just walk right
over to the main part of thehotel.
So it was really nicely set upand organized and fun and full
of energy.
Speaker 2 (44:31):
So they've got their niche, they've got their
processes and they're doing itSolid expo experience and we
talked about the pricing and howit's really a reasonable,
reasonably priced race weekend.
Speaker 1 (44:46):
It is actually so.
I already looked up the datesfor next year.
Speaker 2 (44:50):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Registration is open.
2026.
2026, it's January 24th and25th.
Okay, and the marathon priceright now, until july 28th, is
90, oh so you got a good stretchof months to pay the lowest
price yeah, yeah.
So after july it goes up to 145oh.
Speaker 2 (45:13):
Oh see, that's not hey.
So we're telling people theycan consider it and they'll have
plenty of time to train.
Speaker 1 (45:21):
Oh, absolutely.
And the half marathon is $70.
5k is $35.
Okay, but then if you do thechallenge like the half marathon
is $70.
If you do the dolphin challenge, with the half and the 5K, it's
$95.
Nice, so it's because a lot oftimes in marathons they're 50
and up, depending on where.
Speaker 2 (45:42):
Right.
Speaker 1 (45:43):
Certain venues, but this one, the marathon's, only
90 and the shark challenge is120.
So and say you can't go to BigBeach but you want to still
participate there.
They do have virtual optionsalso, but their their
registration is currently open.
Speaker 2 (45:59):
There you go.
So we're giving people ajumpstart to get the lowest cost
when they register for a funrace weekend that has a
fantastic expo and it's right atthe hotel, so you don't have to
travel across town to get it,you because?
I don't know, eric, did youdon't seem like a guy that would
(46:21):
, but I'm going to ask it anywayDo you have a lot of nerves?
Did you have a lot of pre-racenerves because it was your first
challenge, your first halfmarathon?
But and you all talked aboutlike Jesse talked about doing
the half marathon, like the halfmarathon or the challenge
training plan from Hal Higdon.
So let me ask you this what wasthe longest training run prior
(46:47):
to the race weekend that you hadto complete?
Speaker 3 (46:52):
5K.
No we did the 10K.
Speaker 2 (47:05):
Sorry.
Yes, the 10K that was nine.
No, we did nine, 'm sorry.
Nine miles was the longest,okay, so it was just shy like
four miles, shy of the distancethen.
Yes, and how did you feel?
How did you feel going into theweekend after having completed
that 10k kind of test run ofhalf the distance and then
having completed the longesttraining run of nine miles?
How did you feel, eric, I feltpretty good.
Speaker 3 (47:23):
Yeah, considering the 10K, because I did a full
three-mile run, I didn't stopfor the first three miles, I
just ran straight through thethree and then walked only about
three times on the three milesback on the 10k.
Speaker 2 (47:36):
So it sounds like you all don't do intervals as part
of that hellhidden training planfor you.
Speaker 1 (47:42):
He stuck with the intervals with me and right now,
since I had been out of runningfor a couple of years really, I
do a minute on and 30 secondsoff.
So 30 seconds is like a powerwalk.
And that's basically it gets mybreathing going again, because
I'm not a very good breatherit's like a two to one ratio.
Really, it's 30 seconds ofwalking, yeah so my pr that I
(48:04):
have with my half marathon insaint pete, which is another
amazing race tell me about.
Speaker 2 (48:10):
I want to go to that and you can get the three
daughters anyway.
Yeah, that's what I'm saying,eric it's not like we're trying
to that and you can get thethree daughters anyway.
That's what I'm saying, Eric.
It's not like we're trying topeer pressure you, but go ahead.
Speaker 3 (48:20):
I do it for the beer.
Speaker 1 (48:24):
So when I was in my peak and I was getting my PRS, I
was doing two minutes on 30seconds off.
So I have to get to that again.
But when we trained together hewould stick with me at the
intervals.
If we were at a race that wewere do your own thing, I said
to the 10K I said go see whatyou got.
And so his goal was to see canI run three miles solid?
(48:46):
Then he popped into his owninterval and just did what he
could.
So I think he just wanted to seewhat he could do.
Speaker 3 (48:52):
And it's amazing.
There are just some races likethat she does a minute on, then
she does the 30 seconds off.
I'm more visual.
I see a target, I say I'm goingto run that, and if it's a mile
away I'm running solid throughit.
Speaker 2 (49:04):
So you're doing intervals, but it's not like a
set time.
It's more like you're lookingto maybe pass a certain like a
power pole or a house or like aoh, here we'll run to the water,
stop, because we can see it.
And you feel like that.
You're just using walking whenyou need to recover, but
listening to your body andrunning most of the time yes,
(49:29):
he's learning what works for him.
Speaker 1 (49:31):
For me, I have to have that little break because I
just like, I chew gum and a lotof people like how can you chew
gum around?
But I do, and the weird thingis because it, believe it or not
, it helps me breathe betterbecause and it doesn't dry me
out, okay.
So I, when I come to a if it'sa race and I come to a water
stop or something, I carry mywater but I'll pitch my gum out
(49:53):
in the trash, can take my glueand then, as I get started, I'll
pop another piece of gum in mymouth.
If I'm training, I'll eat mygoo and then I wrap my gum up in
my goo package and stick it inmy pocket.
Speaker 2 (50:05):
You carry with you gum and it sounds like goo is
the fuel of choice.
Speaker 1 (50:13):
No, I say goo because people know that as a reference
oh okay, what I like is glucose.
Okay, they have a nice liquidone and that's the name of the
company.
Yeah, yes, and you both use thisyes okay, I'm introducing
certain things to him to seewhat works with him, because
some people's systems aredifferent gastrointestinal
(50:33):
issues you don't want to have ona race day like half of mine,
so we could see on a trainingrun, yeah and actually glue has
a liquid one now.
I don't like the thick becauseit's too like icing type for me.
Speaker 2 (50:47):
Oh, I see, yeah, the ones that are like chocolate,
like frosting, like really superthick, correct?
Speaker 1 (50:52):
but they knew I have a.
They have another line nowthat's a liquid form, amy.
They have a coffee one.
It's really yummy.
So glucose has the watermelonone and a fruit punch that are
really goo has a liquid form onenow also, and there's an orange
and a coffee.
There's a cola that basicallytastes like a flat coke and it's
liquid consistency, like you'rejust drinking something oh,
(51:15):
like back in the day.
Speaker 2 (51:17):
Or shout out to Jeff Galloway, who would have a flat
bottle of Coke, that we actuallysaw him on the Donna course
with no, kidding no kidding, butnow apparently you don't have
to have it because you can getit from.
You don't have to flatten theCoke yourself to take it out on
the course, you can just have itfrom goo brand and I'll send
(51:37):
you pictures.
Speaker 1 (51:38):
Okay, yeah, um tablets and it's like like salt
tablets or no?
It is like eating your goo.
If you will, your gel, yourelectrolyte, yeah, but it's like
eating a pixie stick back inthe day, but in a tablet form oh
, okay, and it dissolves in yourtongue, so nice like.
(51:58):
It's not over sugary, it's notover salty, it's like the
perfect softness of eating yourelectrolyte, your carbon and
everything, but in a tabletinstead of a liquid pixie sticks
.
Speaker 2 (52:11):
Okay, I was a fun dip person myself back in the day
for people who have little whitestick and then you can like
yeah yeah.
Okay, but so I?
But I get it.
Speaker 1 (52:22):
I get the visual.
And the reason why I like thosetwo is because I'll put them in
a little snack baggie fit in myhandheld, so I'll have like.
I like the Mentos gum because Igot the hard shell.
Speaker 2 (52:35):
So it doesn't, yeah, it doesn't get sticky in your
pocket.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (52:38):
And then I have my Salt Lake tablets also.
Speaker 2 (52:41):
Those are fantastic.
Speaker 1 (52:43):
I love them and they've got some new flavors
which are amazing, and then myglucose tablets and of course, I
always got Apple.
So that's what my little snackbag is.
Speaker 2 (52:52):
So you actually carry everything in a snack bag and
then you have a handheld waterbottle, jesse, that's what you
do and then I have my gels in mypocket too.
Speaker 1 (53:00):
So I like to have I don't just do the liquid gel or
a salt tablet.
I like to have variations.
Speaker 3 (53:08):
So you don't get sick of things or there's not,
depending on how she's feeling.
Speaker 2 (53:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (53:13):
I'll run without drinking water, which she parts
on me for that.
Speaker 2 (53:16):
But my body is very touchy.
Heat sickness is no joke.
Or like to be dehydrated.
We have been through that.
It's not good.
So it's good to have a reminderto drink when you need to, not
overly much.
Speaker 3 (53:29):
So that's why she's been introducing the gels and
whatnot to me too and, at thesame token, a lot of these times
when we have run and it hasbeen fairly humid and or hot.
Oh yeah, her bottle and we justtake it.
I take a little sip off.
Speaker 2 (53:42):
Dan and I'll do the same thing.
Speaker 3 (53:44):
That's where big beach had the perfect bottle for
me, cause I get fatigued handsvery badly Due to my line of
work, which flooring, by the way, due to my line of work, which
is flooring, by the way.
Okay, I bought a bottle that Icould squeeze, because my hand
will clench out of nowhere forno reason.
And it's a collapsible bottle Acollapsible bottle and it won't
pop, it won't hurt the bottleand I still have my liquid.
Speaker 1 (54:06):
So it's not a hardcore plastic one.
Now what?
Speaker 2 (54:08):
brand is that Was that.
Do you know I?
Speaker 1 (54:11):
think it was Nathan.
I think it was Nathan.
Speaker 2 (54:12):
Nathan makes a lot of great stuff.
Speaker 3 (54:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (54:16):
That was my first running belt and they're pretty
solid and very widely availabletoo.
Yeah, so we've talked a littlebit about your gear.
We've talked about your socksand your shoes.
We've talked about now that youdressed in layers, because it
was something like 29 degrees.
That's a wrap for this week.
It was something like 29degrees.
(54:39):
That's a wrap for this week.
Stay tuned next week for theremainder of the awesome recap.
I can't thank Jesse and Ericenough for spending so much time
with me, giving so manyvaluable tips about the weekend
itself, but also about what theyhave discovered on their
running journey together.
So for now, I'm your host, amy.
(54:59):
Stay safe and well, and we willaccomplish, explore and indulge
with you really soon.
This is Miss Brooklyn .
Hi Brooklyn.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
It's nice to meet you , my friend Amy.
Have you ever been on a podcastbefore?
No, no, you are now.
Do you want to say welcomeRuncation Nation?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Runcation Nation.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Welcome Runcation Nation.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Run Kitchen Nation.
Welcome to Run Eat DrinkPodcast.
We feature destination racesfrom across the country and
after the race, we take you on atour of the best local food and
beverage to celebrate.
So, whether you are an eliterunner or a back of the packer
like us, you'll know the bestplaces to accomplish, explore
(00:49):
and indulge on your nextruncation.
Hey, welcome to episode 301 ofthe Runny Drink Podcast.
I'm your host, amy, flying solowhile Dana's out of town, and I
have a great show.
It's a Runcation recap fromRuncation Nation members Jesse
(01:13):
and Eric, and it was so big thatwe have divided it into two
episodes.
So this week and next week weare going to recap a weekend
that we were looking forward tobut could not attend.
So Jesse and Eric are here tofill all of you in from a
(01:37):
participant perspective, both alongtime runner, jesse, and a
first-time half marathoner, eric.
So, without further ado, thisis part one of their Runcation
Recap.
It's time for another RuncationRecap and with us today we
welcome two members one I cancall a classic, an OG of the
(02:04):
Runcation Nation, jessie.
Jessica Lynn O'Keefe we alwayssay her entire name, I don't
know why, it's just always beenthat way, but we welcome Jessie
and a new member of theRuncation Nation, eric to the
show for a Runcation Recap.
Welcome Welcome, miss Amy, andthank you so much for coming on
(02:25):
the show for a Runcation Recap.
Welcome Welcome, miss Amy, andthank you so much for coming on
the show because, as you know, Iwas very I had a lot of FOMO, I
would tell Dana, when it cameto the Big Beach Marathon
weekend, we had Nikki Popovichon and I was so excited to come
and meet up with everybody fromthe Runcation Nation there.
(02:47):
So I've decided, you know I hadto reach out to you all and
live vicariously through you andyour Runcation Recap.
So thank you for taking time tobe on the show.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Well, thank you for inviting us and we missed you so
much.
But we understood completely.
So you were in our prayers andI listened to that episode prior
to Big Beach and it was a greatepisode that was full of
information for the new peoplecoming to Big Beach and what to
expect For those that werecoming that haven't done it
before.
It was very informative.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
And we'll link to it in the show notes for this
episode so you can have themaximum amount of knowledge for
what you can expect at Big Beachfrom an organizer and also from
participants.
Yes, so you've done it threetimes, but, eric, this was your
(03:40):
first Big Beach.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
And his first half marathon period okay, okay.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
So for the members of the run nation who may be new
or are catching up and don'tknow the two of you haven't been
to a meetup or a race.
Where you have been can youtake take time to introduce
yourselves?
Tell us a little bit about yourlife outside of running?
(04:10):
And also, while we're havingthis conversation, in this
Runcation Recap, what are youdrinking?
Who are you?
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Where are you?
Speaker 2 (04:20):
from what are you drinking?
Speaker 1 (04:22):
So we have from Three Daughters Brew, three daughters
brewing, which is local, as youknow.
Saint pete, yeah, yep, it is aflorida orange ipa oh and I
figured it had the littlealligator on there.
Look at that.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Oh for, for patrons who have the video, we have the
little gator on there on thatipa can from three dollars.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
It's very light.
You can taste the orange verypredominantly, but it's not
overbearing.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
It's really smooth and we are drinking it in our
pint glass okay so you'redrinking a florida beer, an ipa,
a citrusy ipa, would you say.
Because of the orange notes youmentioned.
Not too bad citrusy.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
No, it's not heavy.
Not heavy.
More orange, more on the orangeside, because IPAs can be more
on the grapefruit side.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Or they can be really piney.
I'm not going to lie.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
And it's not bitter.
It's very light and refreshingactually.
So I'm a bit of an IPA.
It's a hit or miss.
I either like it or I don't.
And it's so smooth it'sdefinitely would be a rebuy.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Shout out to three daughters.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Yeah.
So now to go back to the firstpart.
My name is Jessica Lynn O'Keefe, as Miss Amy said, my Instagram
Harley Running Gal.
I started running back in 2016.
I was walking and then dabblinginto running.
(05:52):
I had committed to doing avirtual 5k every month.
I would go on Run Motivators,virtual Strides or one of the
virtual running platforms andpick a charity that meant
something to me.
Every run that I did, it waseither important to me or
something that one of my familywas a part of, or just something
that touched my heart.
So, every medal.
I look at it and it's not justbecause I'm like, oh yeah, I'm
(06:13):
just going to run.
So it was very heart warmingfor me, the ones that I chose,
and then I was just like with myfriends here's a crazy idea,
let's do an inflatable 5k.
Here's a crazy idea.
Let's do a mud run.
Here's a crazy idea, let's do achallenge.
Here's a crazy idea.
Let's do a half marathon.
Oh wait, here's a crazy idea.
(06:33):
We should do the challenge thathas the five, 10 and the half
and then oh wait here's a crazyidea let's do a marathon.
So it literally just keptprogressing into a.
Let's just keep challengingourselves.
So I've done four half marathonor four marathons.
Now it's been a couple of yearsand I'm looking forward to
doing another one soon.
(06:54):
So then, in my journey ofrunning and in my journey of
life, I have a son, andthroughout it was during a work
day that I met this handsomegentleman next to me.
He did some work at my office,and it took him about three
times asking me out before Ifinally said yes.
And then we started enjoying alot of things together, and he
(07:17):
went with me to my firsttriathlon.
It was pouring down rain and,god bless him, he was in the
rain with me, having my runninggear ready, my bike gear ready,
my swim gear ready.
He was a true Sherpa.
And then after that, he sayswell, I want to do more to
support you.
How about I run with you?
So then it started and I lethim take over from there, okay.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
So my name is Eric Millian.
I'm born and raised here, yep,and so we started our.
We did our first run.
My first 5K was the JC Park.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah, it was a Bucy 5K Addiction.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
And that also means a lot to me too, because of
family that I have that hasthose types of issues or
problems, family that I havethat has those types of issues
or problems.
So things that we run for we dorun for from the heart.
It's something that meanssomething to us whether it's
good causes, breast cancerawareness, so on and so forth,
military law enforcement, allthe above.
(08:22):
So I just was committed to onlydoing five Ks.
I told her no half marathonshenanigans, no full marathon
shenanigans.
I can do the 5K and I'll dothose.
And then, all of a sudden,she's saying something about the
big beach and I'm like, yeah,I'll do that with you.
And it was just the 7K is all Iwas signed up for, was supposed
to sign up for.
Then I said no, I'm going to goabove and beyond that.
(08:43):
I'm supposed to sign up for it.
Then I said no, I'm going to goabove and beyond that.
I'm going to do the challengewith you.
I'm going to do the 7K and ahalf marathon that I've never
even ran six miles, let alone13.1 miles.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
He's never run ever, and I never ran.
You jumped straight from the 5Kto let's do a challenge.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Yes, you did.
I did one 10K.
Oh, you did Two weeks beforethe race.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Two weeks before the race.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yes, I did a 10K.
We did a 10K down in Naples forthe boot challenge.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Yeah, the traveler time traveler.
Okay, it was an article race soit was a little low attended.
There's a lot of races thatweekend, so it was the perfect
10K setting for him and he didamazing, Like a good training
run yeah he did amazing, like agood training run yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Looks like a good training run.
It's like when, oh gosh, whatis that documentary?
There's the spirit of themarathon and they chronicle
everybody's training for amarathon and there are elite
athletes that are running to win, that are sponsored by big shoe
companies and that kind ofthing, and then there are just
like your everyday average Joepeople who are running for
(09:45):
charity, that kind of thing.
They it's how you catch the bug, and then it's have you seen it
?
Have you seen it?
I have not.
Oh, so, spirit of the marathon.
There are two documentaries.
One of them is the Chicagomarathon and then one of them
chronicles people who arecompleting it's.
I believe it's the Athens orthe Rome marathon.
(10:06):
So yeah, so it's.
I thought he was just gonna sayhe's going to do the 7k, he's
not gonna do the challenge, he'snot gonna step up to the 10k or
anything like that, he's justgonna do the gear.
But no, he Eric, new member ofthe Runcation Nation says I'm
going to train for a challenge a7k and a half on back to back
(10:31):
days, and then I'm going to do a10k as a just a training run
two weeks before the whole thing, yeah, and in those
documentaries they say you dohalf the distance, about like
maybe six or eight weeks beforeyou do the full, whatever the
race distance is.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
And.
But yeah, I'm just going togive you a push up the high dive
in the deep end.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
If you're going to be a bear, be a grizzly, or I
don't know, yeah, or I don'tknow, yeah or sore.
But I bet the post-race mealand beverage were so much more
enjoyable after having achievedthe accomplishment, though right
yes, just a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
And I was proud of him because, in looking at him,
I hadn't done even a half in along time and I've been running
for a while'm like 2016 you'regoing on 10 years and then he's
over there, he's just like yepI'm good like he just looks.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
So it's that first time glow breathing and I'm just
like she says I do that atevery run, oh, oh, really, it's
a natural.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Okay, but now you've caught the.
It sounds like you caught therunning bug and then you gave
the running bug to Eric Jesse.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Yes, yeah, she definitely did, because now I
own three pairs of running shoes.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
They say that running is a cheap sport.
You can just get out there andrun, but really you can't.
Just there.
We've made every mistake in thebook and not having the right
shoes.
That's the very first mistakewe ever made when we started
(12:21):
running Dana and I did, and Ithink not being properly fitted
with the blisters and not havingthe right support, because
everybody's different.
And number two is not havingmore than one pair, because if
you're running in weather,having more than one pair,
(12:43):
because if you're running inweather, like you endured jesse
at the donna, and you haveanother race the next day, let's
say then oh so you're a smartman you're a smart man is what
I'm saying to you he bought, soit started with he did
Speaker 3 (12:55):
was it the second race?
Their third race?
Speaker 1 (12:57):
third race no, second race, sorry we did, and he went
over to fleet feet.
Oh, fleet, yeah, so he went togo pick up race packets and then
, while he's there, he wentperusing.
So he did the right thing.
They looked at his feet andeverything.
And then so I come to visit andhe's.
So I did a thing.
I'm like what to do?
(13:17):
I might have bought myself agood pair of running shoes.
I'm like, yeah, you so runningthe 5K.
And when he committed to the 7Kand the half, I put us on a
training plan and as we got thelonger miles, my feet are
starting to hurt a little bit.
My socks Did you get a blister?
Speaker 3 (13:33):
No, I never got blistered.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
You lucky duck.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
The cotton socks that I was using.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
I know, but you wanted to seek out the proper
socks which is also important toshoes, mind you.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Essential.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Yes.
So then he posted out in thedifferent running platforms a
bunch of the different Facebookplatforms and Instagram
platforms.
Hey, so I'm a new runner.
I know it's custom to your foot, but what are people using that
are proper?
So then he got a lot of ideasand suggestions and such.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
And then Santa Claus might have brought him a few
different brands to try Eric asa new runner.
Are you a brand loyalist now ordo you have a couple of
different brands that work?
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Yeah, when it comes to a brand, I'm going to stick
with the ones that I know isgoing to work for me, after
having the first pair of shoesand then running the longer
miles in that training witheverything that was happening
because of the shoe, the onepair, one pair of shoes brooks
glycerins.
Yeah, he's got the glycerin maxokay and those for a long
(14:37):
distance run, I will swear bybecause they are 100%.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
You find what works.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
So I went throughout his research.
He bought a pair of featureswhere he got features and
salchonies and his favorite outof the three so far are the
features.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Oh, Dana loves those too yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Also when I could wear the short socks, but now I
have to wear the longcompression socks.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
So that's the brand that you use, but you're a
features guy through and through.
You and Dana have a lot incommon.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Different races with all three different brands.
The features seem to have won.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Won the race for you or will continue to support the
accomplishment of racing?
For you let me ask you this,since you're both on the show
before we get to, because you'vetalked about how you found
running both of you but what Iwant to ask you is have you
found that running together hasstrengthened your relationship?
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Oh yeah 100%.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
In what ways would you say Both, two ways?
Speaker 1 (15:50):
It's time alone, without outer interference, and
I don't mean that in a bad way.
But when you're career driven,you're a parent, you are a
codependent, helping familymembers, when you have so much
other outside stuff which areall very important and you enjoy
(16:11):
them and you like them, havingthat time together where you
don't have your phone, you don'tthe phone's not ringing and
nobody's asking for you, you'renot tasked with something,
you're just doing somethingwhere it's just you're on the
open road or you're in nature orwherever it is that you're
running, you can collect yourthoughts individually and you
can have conversationcollectively, just being there.
(16:34):
It's very mind clearing.
So we might not talk for alittle bit and listen to our,
our music, and then we might getinto a conversation that we
needed to have to just talkthings through, and then we
might just start giggling andlaughing and just point out
stuff in the trees or the carsor the whatever.
It's.
Just, it's light-hearted it'srelaxing, so like you're tired
(16:57):
and you're using the muscles andyou're out of breath, but in
the same part it's relaxing andwe're connecting a whole new
level and I imagine that you allI feel it with Dana.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
We push each other.
When he is well and we arerunning or walking together,
Then it is.
If I'm having an off day, Ifind that he can encourage me
and be there to push me througha tough run.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
He does that to me because he'll see like my
breathing gets a little laboredand he'll be, like all right,
don't listen to your watch,cause you know me, I always have
my intervals on.
Don't listen to the watch.
We're going to that tree andyou got this.
He does that to me all the timeand I'm like I'm the one who's
running and he's the one that's.
You got this, babe.
But there'll be times where wecan't run together due to our
crazy schedules, and he'll knowI'm running and he'll text me
(17:44):
like all right, honey, I'm goingto go out for a run, I got this
many miles.
And then he knows about what Ican do, when and right.
It's always seems like it's atthe right, opportune moment that
my phone goes off and I look atmy watch and it's him, babe,
you got this, keep going.
Keep going, I know there's atree coming up, so you better be
running past it.
Yeah, so even when we're nottogether, we're encouraging each
other on our runs.
When you think you can't do itand you've got your partner next
(18:07):
to you saying, no, you can doit, forget about the week you
got this.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
You can let go of whatever is outside of that
training run and you can connectand encourage each other and
find a new freedom, somethingthat is that de-escalates the
stress, that releases worries,and then you come back to
regular life and I find youmight be exhausted but you're
also reinvigorated to be abetter parent, a better for me,
(18:36):
a better wife For Dana.
He says it helps him in hiscareer.
That can be so stressful in lawenforcement.
And I also think that when youcross the finish line like you
two are talking about how youstarted running for a cause that
it is when you cross, when youput all the training together
and you cross the finish linefor a cause.
(18:58):
I think that, whoever is thehigher side, whether it be a
friend or a family member or theruncation nation, it's
something that bonds youtogether, even though you may
have known each other maybe 20years, five years, two years or
two hours.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
There are some races where we like go see what you
got in the tank and believe itor not.
He still smokes me.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
And then he comes back and he cheers me on for the
the ending part of my run.
And then you do the same, missy, you do the same for people.
You have done that for meplenty of times at jc park at
turkey trots.
So I I'm telling you, I justthink that it's true, either
virtually or in person, thatmembers of the Runcation Nation
or the Will Run For podcast orthe Rise and Run podcast, or
(19:48):
even people that you meet atraces are just some of the best
people that you meet and get toknow in the community, the
friendships that.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
I have made through my local community are just
unparalleled.
It's amazing.
And then, of course, who I'vemet through my local community
are just unparalleled it'samazing.
And then, of course, who I'vemet through Runcation Nation at
Big Beach.
We had JoJo, susie, dawn andthen Darlene.
Rest in peace.
We would have had Darlene andwe would have had you guys she
was with you.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
I know we all were.
That Big Beach run meant a lotto everybody, including me.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
In Big Beach we decided that it was a race that
we were going to stick together.
So there's certain races wherewe're like see what you got, and
then there's certain races thatthey just mean something
different and you just sticktogether, and that's what we did
.
We stuck together in Big Beach.
And then my favorite picture ison my cover page right now on
my Facebook profile of the twoof us going through the finish
line holding hands hands and wehave our hands up in the air and
(20:40):
we're like we did it andthere's nothing like that
feeling and it's, I think, thatit brings you together in
celebration.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
It brings you together in even in the saddest
and the worst of times.
Running can be something thatjust is.
It's so supportive of youremotional, physical and mental
well-being in the communityaround it Is that absolutely so,
(21:10):
and you all are that for me andfor Dana.
You have talked about your kindof, your history in running and
what it means to you, and youmake a good point about sticking
together in the Big Beach race.
If anybody hasn't guessed yet,that's listening or watching we
are recapping the Big Beach 2025edition that happens at the end
(21:35):
of January in Gulf Shores,alabama.
Let me ask you this then whyBig Beach for you?
And let me ask Eric first.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Why Big?
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Beach.
You're a smart man.
You're a smart man.
You could even stop therebecause she's in charge.
She picked it and then we'reoff and running, unless you want
to add to that.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Unless you want to.
I say I'm running and she signsup all right, I'll have him
along a little bit.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Okay, like I'm going to alabama, who's with me?
What do y'all think of thisrace?
And I said to him I've done therace twice already.
It is so incredibly organized,it is a beautiful course and the
after hangout party is just somuch fun.
It's full of energy oh I see myfriends from rendication nation
are going.
(22:25):
So I'm going, I says.
But I haven't did the challengeyet.
So he committed at first to the7k and I was doing a challenge.
He was going to be cheering usall along for the half and then,
as I talked about it more he's.
You know what he says.
It sounds like a reallybeautiful course.
I want to enjoy what you'vebasically described with me
personally oh that's when Isigned up and I said okay, I'm
(22:47):
signed up.
I says I'm about ready to signup for the 7k for you and he
goes sign me up for thechallenge.
I'm like are you sure?
And he's yes and I'm like, allright, I'm gonna give you till
tonight because the priceincreases tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
So yeah, what was it like hours or oh?
Speaker 1 (23:01):
yeah, because Cause it was the morning so I'm like
okay, so by the end of theworkday I need to know, cause by
midnight the price goes up, soI need to know by 1155.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Budgeting.
You're budgeting and giving hima countdown.
I was budgeting.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Cause I didn't want to pay the extra.
Not that it was that much, butand he's like no, he says I'm in
, yeah.
I want to see what you'redescribing to me.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
So it sounds like you're a good salesperson.
And, eric, what were you goingto say?
Speaker 3 (23:27):
I also told her that I was going to not only do a
challenge, but do the challengeto challenge myself.
Because, along with doing ourruns for training, as we started
getting longer distances, itwas like, yeah, you did nine
miles.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
I can definitely be 13, so I said no sign up yeah
and when you got to race day,did you regret making that
decision?
No, he was calling us acucumber good, because some
people are standing at the startand they're like this seemed
like a good idea six months agoor like 16 weeks ago or whenever
(24:05):
.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
It is that you started training side by side
with my honey enjoying all theviews and scenery and doing a
challenge together yeah, seeingher first challenge of the big
beach race and my first half andchallenge so.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
So, yes, what were you going to say, jesse?
Speaker 1 (24:24):
No.
So when I went to do my firstmarathon, I spoke to a couple of
friends of mine that were eliterunners and I said what was
your favorite marathon that youjust enjoyed thoroughly?
I got a few different names andthen one person that I really
respected said that she reallyenjoyed Fort Lauderdale and that
(24:46):
was her first.
That's a good race.
So we did the Fort LauderdaleA1A.
Sorry, bentley, see somebodyoutside the window there.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
That's okay.
You hear Buck and Danny on thepodcast all the time.
Our babies, our puppies youhear it all the time.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
So, this being me being fresh into oh my goodness,
I'm about to sign up for 26miles what am I thinking?
I'm like, what training did youdo?
And I know a lot of my Disneyfriends do Galloway and they
absolutely love it.
But, she said to me I did theHal Higdon training because I've
seen what she has done, I'mlike okay, then I'm doing Hal
Higdon.
So I did that from.
(25:22):
That was a training plan Ichose for my marathon.
So when he committed.
I said, all right, then I'mdownloading, because we have to
do a training program.
We need somebody to say youneed to run this many miles this
day, you need to run this long,you need to go up and up.
So I downloaded the app, hedownloaded the app and so Hal
would be on our watches goingyou have X amount of miles today
(25:42):
.
Oh, hal talks to you in his app.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
He sends us notes on yeah, he messages us, which we
get on our watches too and he'slike so how was your run today?
Did you complete the full run?
And then when we would do lessor we would do more, because
sometimes, due to scheduling, wecouldn't do it on Saturday and
(26:06):
we'd have to do it on Sunday,and then we would do a little
bit more.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
You're a little bit of an overachiever today.
Maybe you should dial it back alittle bit, like literally,
Rest is important too.
I can't do any kind of accentsor like I can't.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
My point to all that is, no matter who you choose or
what plane you choose, theimportance of if you're amping
up your mileage, especially forrace and is it incredibly
important to find a runningprogram whether it be just a
printing out something or some,an app that will tell you you
(26:33):
know what your program is, howimportant that is because it
keeps you on schedule.
Um, and I told him.
I says if you have a day whereyou're working late and it says
you got to do eight miles, thenthen you can't do it, but
tomorrow, if you can kick outfour, you're at least doing
something.
The one thing I learned wasnever try to make up the miles,
but try to do something and thenthe next day kick back into
(26:54):
plan what it says.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
And if you find the plan, it gives you the structure
, but it's not like you are, Idon't know chained to the plan.
There can be flexibilitybecause there is life, there are
families, there are kids, thereare dogs.
There is life.
So it's and I think Hal Higdonand Jeff Galloway, america's
(27:19):
coach and my coach, so shout outto both of them, it's amazing.
It's amazing, amazing.
They both provide structureCorrect and you can also do make
modifications and still get itdone and still show up at race
day feeling strong and if youbasically follow the plan and
(27:41):
not overdo it because rest, likeyou said, like when Hal says
you've overdone it, maybe youshould dial it back.
There are ways to be flexiblewith both the run walk run with
Jeff Galloway and then HalHigdon.
They're both very, they'rerevered, they're research-based,
they're excellent, they're bothexcellent.
Now based.
(28:03):
They're excellent.
They're both excellent.
Now my question for you in thetraining plan for the challenge,
which is the 7K family andsafari run on Saturday of the
Big Beach weekend and then thehalf marathon, is what you did
on Sunday, although there was amarathon as well.
Okay, and some people sign upfor the marathon and the 7k or
the shark challenge and then thehalf and the 7k is the dolphin
(28:28):
Okay, so I would run ifsomething was named after
Flipper.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
I know I do most of my runs for charity, but I would
be lying if I didn't say, Ooh,that's a pretty medal.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Bring up an excellent point it's bling driven.
You're bling driven like Dana,then what I'm is Eric bling
driven also.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
No, I think my honey just likes running with me.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
So you're not bling driven, but you're also very
passionate about causes is whatI hear when Eric talks about why
he even started running.
Yes, To support to.
It's a bonus.
It's a bonus, yeah.
So we've talked a lot about whyyou decided to run big beach
and it sounds like the bling,the course, the challenges, the
(29:13):
meetups are all.
What about the destinationitself?
Speaker 1 (29:18):
It's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
The beaches are gorgeous.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Yeah, so the host hotel is the lodge, which is a
Hilton property nation itself.
It's beautiful.
The beaches are gorgeous.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Yeah, so the host hotel is the lodge, which is a
Hilton property.
Yes, shout out to the Hiltonpeople.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
Not a sponsor, hilton members, hilton members, but
they could be.
Oh yeah, they did it.
It was supposed to be four ofus girls going to get our
Alabama state.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
And then, cause you're part of a 50 state group,
like you're part of the 50state half marathon crew.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
So that was, it was the four of us to get our
Alabama state.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
And then Kelly had, I think, her husband had a work
thing, or she had a work thing.
Something conflicted and shedidn't realize she double booked
herself.
So she had to defer.
So she had to defer.
And so the next year camearound and she was like, all
right, I'm going to drive up toAlabama and do this race, cause
I deferred.
I'm like I'm not gonna let youdrive alone.
(30:11):
Clearly you can, you're verycapable, but I'll go with you
again.
So I went up again and we didthe half.
So that's why this time I waslike oh, you know what, I've
done a half twice.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
Why not just do the challenge so?
Speaker 1 (30:18):
anyway.
So the lodge is the host hoteland in those two trips with the
girls we budget, we still stayedat the lodge.
We planned in a room.
We got the cheapest room butthis being my honey's first half
marathon and it was a greatroom, don't get me wrong.
The accommodations are amazing.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
But you were just trying to.
It's a great hotel and even theleast expensive room at a great
hotel is going to be a greatstay.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Yes, it was Absolutely One hundred percent.
But being his first halfmarathon and our first really
vacation together, I splurged alittle.
Why not A water view balcony?
Even with that, the organizershave a discount, so it was very
reasonable.
(30:59):
So when you sign up, when theysend you all the information
with the host hotel andeverything it will, if you click
on their link, it will theyprovide a nice discount code,
which was gracious.
Beautiful, the property isbeautiful, the beach is
beautiful, the food was amazingso your room was a view of the
ocean.
Yes, on the beach oh, with snowmind you of the ocean, yes, on
(31:26):
the beach, oh, with snow mindyou.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Oh yes, I'm sorry with snow.
Yes, because all that snow upthe northern floor.
Oh, we're going to talk aboutthe weather.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
Yes, a little bit of snow on the beach yes we have
that gorgeous view.
Those are the estate of thelodge.
On the back side of theproperty, when you look down, is
the pool, and then that's wherethe ocean view is we had a
beautiful view of their nicepool area and the ocean and the
pier.
Oh okay, beautiful sunset.
We had a little table, a couplechairs out there here in the
(31:51):
water was so calming oh, itsounds beautiful.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
It sounds like the perfect hotel, the perfect
location and so let me just goback to the weather just for a
second, because you have runthat weekend, some race at that
weekend, three years in a row.
Is that correct?
Speaker 1 (32:12):
I missed the years 2022, 2023, and then 2025.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Okay, so the weather at each one same different.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
So 2022 was freezing.
We had ice on our windshields.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
It was really cold the beginning part of the race,
tolerable towards the end.
So like I had a three quarterzip long sleeve jacket on and it
was a matter of the zip was thevent, depending on where you
were in the park, because itgoes through a beautiful state
park and there's some boardwalkareas with some foliage, and
then there are areas where it'sopen, like prairie, if you will,
(32:50):
so you've got full sun.
And then, of course, the lastpart, from when you cross over
the bridge the wind.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
We get extra points for what you call it wind
resistance if you're runninginto the wind against the wind,
we get extra points for what youcall it wind resistance if
you're running into the windagainst the wind yes, so it was
a matter of I didn't shed thejacket, but the zipper was the
temperature control, kelly and Idid it in 2023.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
We stripped down to our tank tops.
It was brisk, but then we shedthe jacket.
We were down to our tank topslike quarter of the way through
the race and it was gorgeousbecause it just warmed up yeah,
and it was perfect.
It was absolutely perfectrunning weather.
It's still brisk, but it wasperfect running weather.
Eric and I ran.
We were in 7k, we were in ourmitts, we had our caps, we had
(33:35):
three layers on.
There was still ice.
There were ice on some of theboardwalks.
Even so, we had to single piloton some of the boardwalks.
Even so, we had to single fileit through some of the
boardwalks and there was pilesof snow still here and there.
It was frigid, which is why wehad to do single file.
And then for the half marathonrace Sunday, they shoveled some
of those pathways more and thesun obviously had melted more.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
It was better.
Speaker 2 (33:59):
So let me ask you.
At least yeah, I wouldn't saywarm, but either frigid or brisk
is about what you're gonna getwell, because run the runcation
nation needs tips because, likeyou and don have talked about on
social media, packing can be achallenge for a race.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
I had my big suitcase yeah, I wasn't.
Yeah, I could pack whatever Iwanted, so I had pretty much
anything and everything.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
Now why could you pack for?
Tell everybody why.
You could pack whatever youwanted, because we drove,
because you drove, so you canfly to this destination, like
Nikki was talking about when wedid the overview before the
weekend happened, but you alldecided to drive.
Tell me why, why not?
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Why not?
It was we took the day off ofwork and it was a nice road trip
and it was what 10 hours.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
Right around 10 hours .
It was fun.
It made it the road trip, justmade it fun.
I had a little Dole Whip withme and we had our snack bag.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
Now, who is Dole Whip For people who don't know, like
, what is happening there?
Can you talk that up a littlebit?
Speaker 1 (35:07):
So when I injured my foot and injured my knee, it was
right around the same time thatmy dad had passed and my
amazing friends, extended family, because I call my Runcation
Nation Peeps my family.
Y'all put together thisbeautiful basket that you and
Dana so graciously delivered tomy home from things that were
(35:32):
very personally picked from someof the Runcation Nation peeps,
and one of the items in that wasDole Whip, because a lot of the
Runcation Nation are hugeDisney fans and if you go to
Disney you know all about DoleWhip.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
You got to have a Dole Whip with rum.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
in my opinion, so this was a stuffy Dole Whip and
it had a bean bag that insertsin the back that you could
either freeze or warm so that itwould, I could put it on my
knee.
So after I did my physicaltherapy with the therapist, oh,
love it.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
Shout out to the therapist we miss Kristen.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
Oh my gosh, she's amazing.
So you would put that on so Icould use it.
But so because it came fromRuncation Nation, then it became
my little.
Does everybody remember FlatStanley?
Yes, so it was so for thosethat don't know, it's I'm sure
at some point about paper dolls.
Yes, flat Stanley was somethingthat you would put if you
printed it out on piece of paper, on a stick, and if you went on
(36:30):
vacation, flat Stanley's by theocean, flat Stanley's by the
beach, flat Stanley's having amargarita.
It became my flat Stanley.
Dol Whip has to go on everysingle Runcation Nation event so
he's with me.
So when we went to Little Rockfor that race, kelly and I got
lucky that we had a seat inbetween us, so Dol Whip got
(36:51):
strapped in to his own seat onthe plane got strapped in to his
own seat on the plane.
That is adorable.
I love how you have theruncation nation mascot that
goes with you everywhere.
Yes, and dole whip has asidekick now oh because when we
did gasparilla, which was mylast race with darlene, with my
(37:11):
runcation Nation peeps, you guysand JoJo put together the cute
little bags.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
Oh, hers were adorable, freaking adorable I
know Both the little octopi.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
So the octopi, because he has a pirate patch,
because we were Gasparilla withthe whole pirate theme.
So I have sewed a little loopon the octopi so that he can be
attached to Dole Whip.
So now the two of them go withme everywhere, so Darlene is
always with us.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
She was my twin.
We had almost the exact sameoutfit at Gasparilla, so I can't
.
Yeah, it's good that you havethose things, that that you can
take with you so that you haveother runners who have inspired
you, because she certainlyinspired me in her 50 state
challenge.
So you're and it will bewonderful to hear I think
(38:03):
Susie's going to finish inHawaii, which is where Darlene
finished.
And I think it's perfect, I'm acaboose on that 50 state train.
I'm not even on the train.
Are you getting him on thetrain, Eric?
Are you doing the 50 statechallenge or what is the
situation with you?
Speaker 1 (38:21):
I don't know, he's got Alabama and he'll probably
have Florida, because I thinkI'm hooking him into an.
April race in Bradenton.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Oh, if you don't get it in April, then you can always
get it in February 2026 atDonna.
I'm just saying there areoptions for you to consider.
Speaker 3 (38:38):
She's talking about the Donna which I think I'm
already committed to it thereyou go, there you go.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
So you're saying that the drive for you up there to
Gulf shores, if you live in aneighboring state, is a good
thing to do because you don'treally have to adhere to the
packing challenge?
Although there were two of you,so was it all your luggage,
(39:03):
jess, and just like one piecefor him, or how did that go?
Speaker 3 (39:08):
oh no, I bought a whole nother bag just for my
running gear and another bag forjust my regular everyday
clothes.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
The fun part about driving is I can carry whatever
size luggage I want withwhatever size bottles.
I want with a cooler withwhatever I want in it.
A snack bag with this pack,because I want to pack it.
This one was like okay, so ifwe're stranded for a month,
we're probably good.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
Oh yeah, you can never tell if things go wrong
and you have to call roadsideassistance.
We were there for anything andeverything.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
So that was the fun part, but also again with the
running together, it's mindclearing.
We're looking at the snow,we're looking at the houses,
we're talking about the cars,we're talking about the people.
It's just fun and it'slighthearted and you're not
thinking about work you're notthinking about all the other
stresses that you do day to day.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
So it was just fun that's how we felt about the
keys going in the completelyopposite direction when we went
to go to key west to do a half.
Dana and I, we just to take theday and make the drive is so
good.
Now, I mean, if you can't,obviously, if you can't get
there driving, then I.
(40:20):
Then you should listen to theepisode where Nikki talks about
the neighboring airports and thecar rental, because we were
originally going to fly intoPensacola.
Speaker 1 (40:32):
That's what Susie did .
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Is that what Susie did?
Speaker 1 (40:35):
She flew into Pensacola and had a rental car
and drove over.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
And she had, as far as I know, from what I've seen
and what we spoke about, she hada good experience.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
A smooth experience.
It seemed like it was going tobe a smooth experience and
that's a good tip from Nikki inher episode, like to your point,
jesse.
So let me ask it's not an expoand packet pickup it's an.
It's a packet pickup, palooza.
It's a packet pickup, palooza.
(41:03):
So how was your first ever halfmarathon slash challenge?
Packet pickup, palooza, eric.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
It was crazy.
There was a lot crazy.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
There's a lot of people a lot of people want
stuff yeah you fell into thetrap water bottle, but he bought
things that he's seen me useand obviously things that are
essential.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
So they had one vendor there that had quite a
plethora of variety of things,from headbands to the skin caps.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:41):
To the different types of fueling to the little
disposal raincoats and theMylars.
Speaker 2 (41:48):
All like ponchos and things.
Speaker 1 (41:50):
Right, and your magnets and your stickers and
your pens.
It was a small booth packedfull of a lot of things.
Yes, it was.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
So if you forgot anything, then most likely you
would Pretty much.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
essentially, unless you didn't have shoes, then
you're in trouble Because therewere no shoe vendors or anything
.
So it's not like going to FortLauderdale A1A or Madonna.
You've got some of the biggerexpos, but what they had there
was essentials and it was areally nice variety.
Yeah, and the local brewerythere had some of their brews so
(42:22):
that you could taste what youwould be getting at the end of
the race.
So that was nice and fun.
And then they had a blow-upshark and a blow-up dolphin and
a blow up dolphin they'rewalking around being silly, you
know, with these cute signs in abackdrop where you have your
pictures taken, and music.
And so it was fun and very wellorganized.
(42:43):
Oh, it's very clear If you'rejust doing a 7K, if you're doing
any one of the challenges, youget your bibs, you go behind.
They had everything laid outnice.
Oh, they're like at a discountedprice if you who's not going to
buy a really nice textured forfive dollars?
Speaker 2 (42:59):
you're going to use it in training so we did.
Speaker 1 (43:01):
We bought last year's shirt.
We both did because theirshirts are soft and they're cool
looking.
So if you saw my my picturefrom swamp cabbage festival, he
actually has the 2024 big beachshirt on.
Speaker 2 (43:14):
Oh, okay, all right.
So the expo was full of thingsthat you might need, and I also
have to say shout out toeverybody in the Runcation
Nation that participated in BigBeach that actually signed I
don't know what that was, was ita backdrop or a banner?
Yep, that they signed for usbecause we couldn't be there.
(43:37):
And I can't thank Nikki enough,for it would have been the
first time that the RuncationNation and the Running Drink
Podcast had ever had a booth ata packet pickup palooza slash
expo experience and I hope thatwe have the opportunity to go
back and do it in 2026.
Nikki and everybody in herorganization is just top notch
(44:02):
in terms of organization forexpo.
Pack.
A pickup Sounds like a smoothand a fun way to kick off the
weekend.
Speaker 1 (44:11):
And it's at the lodge .
So when you pull up into thelodge there's a big conference
room area.
So it's right there, veryeasily accessible.
You walk in and get your stuff,then you can just walk right
over to the main part of thehotel.
So it was really nicely set upand organized and fun and full
of energy.
Speaker 2 (44:31):
So they've got their niche, they've got their
processes and they're doing itSolid expo experience and we
talked about the pricing and howit's really a reasonable,
reasonably priced race weekend.
Speaker 1 (44:46):
It is actually so.
I already looked up the datesfor next year.
Speaker 2 (44:50):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Registration is open.
2026.
2026, it's January 24th and25th.
Okay, and the marathon priceright now, until july 28th, is
90, oh so you got a good stretchof months to pay the lowest
price yeah, yeah.
So after july it goes up to 145oh.
Speaker 2 (45:13):
Oh see, that's not hey.
So we're telling people theycan consider it and they'll have
plenty of time to train.
Speaker 1 (45:21):
Oh, absolutely.
And the half marathon is $70.
5k is $35.
Okay, but then if you do thechallenge like the half marathon
is $70.
If you do the dolphin challenge, with the half and the 5K, it's
$95.
Nice, so it's because a lot oftimes in marathons they're 50
and up, depending on where.
Speaker 2 (45:42):
Right.
Speaker 1 (45:43):
Certain venues, but this one, the marathon's, only
90 and the shark challenge is120.
So and say you can't go to BigBeach but you want to still
participate there.
They do have virtual optionsalso, but their their
registration is currently open.
Speaker 2 (45:59):
There you go.
So we're giving people ajumpstart to get the lowest cost
when they register for a funrace weekend that has a
fantastic expo and it's right atthe hotel, so you don't have to
travel across town to get it,you because?
I don't know, eric, did youdon't seem like a guy that would
(46:21):
, but I'm going to ask it anywayDo you have a lot of nerves?
Did you have a lot of pre-racenerves because it was your first
challenge, your first halfmarathon?
But and you all talked aboutlike Jesse talked about doing
the half marathon, like the halfmarathon or the challenge
training plan from Hal Higdon.
So let me ask you this what wasthe longest training run prior
(46:47):
to the race weekend that you hadto complete?
Speaker 3 (46:52):
5K.
No we did the 10K.
Speaker 2 (47:05):
Sorry.
Yes, the 10K that was nine.
No, we did nine, 'm sorry.
Nine miles was the longest,okay, so it was just shy like
four miles, shy of the distancethen.
Yes, and how did you feel?
How did you feel going into theweekend after having completed
that 10k kind of test run ofhalf the distance and then
having completed the longesttraining run of nine miles?
How did you feel, eric, I feltpretty good.
Speaker 3 (47:23):
Yeah, considering the 10K, because I did a full
three-mile run, I didn't stopfor the first three miles, I
just ran straight through thethree and then walked only about
three times on the three milesback on the 10k.
Speaker 2 (47:36):
So it sounds like you all don't do intervals as part
of that hellhidden training planfor you.
Speaker 1 (47:42):
He stuck with the intervals with me and right now,
since I had been out of runningfor a couple of years really, I
do a minute on and 30 secondsoff.
So 30 seconds is like a powerwalk.
And that's basically it gets mybreathing going again, because
I'm not a very good breatherit's like a two to one ratio.
Really, it's 30 seconds ofwalking, yeah so my pr that I
(48:04):
have with my half marathon insaint pete, which is another
amazing race tell me about.
Speaker 2 (48:10):
I want to go to that and you can get the three
daughters anyway.
Yeah, that's what I'm saying,eric it's not like we're trying
to that and you can get thethree daughters anyway.
That's what I'm saying, Eric.
It's not like we're trying topeer pressure you, but go ahead.
Speaker 3 (48:20):
I do it for the beer.
Speaker 1 (48:24):
So when I was in my peak and I was getting my PRS, I
was doing two minutes on 30seconds off.
So I have to get to that again.
But when we trained together hewould stick with me at the
intervals.
If we were at a race that wewere do your own thing, I said
to the 10K I said go see whatyou got.
And so his goal was to see canI run three miles solid?
(48:46):
Then he popped into his owninterval and just did what he
could.
So I think he just wanted to seewhat he could do.
Speaker 3 (48:52):
And it's amazing.
There are just some races likethat she does a minute on, then
she does the 30 seconds off.
I'm more visual.
I see a target, I say I'm goingto run that, and if it's a mile
away I'm running solid throughit.
Speaker 2 (49:04):
So you're doing intervals, but it's not like a
set time.
It's more like you're lookingto maybe pass a certain like a
power pole or a house or like aoh, here we'll run to the water,
stop, because we can see it.
And you feel like that.
You're just using walking whenyou need to recover, but
listening to your body andrunning most of the time yes,
(49:29):
he's learning what works for him.
Speaker 1 (49:31):
For me, I have to have that little break because I
just like, I chew gum and a lotof people like how can you chew
gum around?
But I do, and the weird thingis because it, believe it or not
, it helps me breathe betterbecause and it doesn't dry me
out, okay.
So I, when I come to a if it'sa race and I come to a water
stop or something, I carry mywater but I'll pitch my gum out
(49:53):
in the trash, can take my glueand then, as I get started, I'll
pop another piece of gum in mymouth.
If I'm training, I'll eat mygoo and then I wrap my gum up in
my goo package and stick it inmy pocket.
Speaker 2 (50:05):
You carry with you gum and it sounds like goo is
the fuel of choice.
Speaker 1 (50:13):
No, I say goo because people know that as a reference
oh okay, what I like is glucose.
Okay, they have a nice liquidone and that's the name of the
company.
Yeah, yes, and you both use thisyes okay, I'm introducing
certain things to him to seewhat works with him, because
some people's systems aredifferent gastrointestinal
(50:33):
issues you don't want to have ona race day like half of mine,
so we could see on a trainingrun, yeah and actually glue has
a liquid one now.
I don't like the thick becauseit's too like icing type for me.
Speaker 2 (50:47):
Oh, I see, yeah, the ones that are like chocolate,
like frosting, like really superthick, correct?
Speaker 1 (50:52):
but they knew I have a.
They have another line nowthat's a liquid form, amy.
They have a coffee one.
It's really yummy.
So glucose has the watermelonone and a fruit punch that are
really goo has a liquid form onenow also, and there's an orange
and a coffee.
There's a cola that basicallytastes like a flat coke and it's
liquid consistency, like you'rejust drinking something oh,
(51:15):
like back in the day.
Speaker 2 (51:17):
Or shout out to Jeff Galloway, who would have a flat
bottle of Coke, that we actuallysaw him on the Donna course
with no, kidding no kidding, butnow apparently you don't have
to have it because you can getit from.
You don't have to flatten theCoke yourself to take it out on
the course, you can just have itfrom goo brand and I'll send
(51:37):
you pictures.
Speaker 1 (51:38):
Okay, yeah, um tablets and it's like like salt
tablets or no?
It is like eating your goo.
If you will, your gel, yourelectrolyte, yeah, but it's like
eating a pixie stick back inthe day, but in a tablet form oh
, okay, and it dissolves in yourtongue, so nice like.
(51:58):
It's not over sugary, it's notover salty, it's like the
perfect softness of eating yourelectrolyte, your carbon and
everything, but in a tabletinstead of a liquid pixie sticks
.
Speaker 2 (52:11):
Okay, I was a fun dip person myself back in the day
for people who have little whitestick and then you can like
yeah yeah.
Okay, but so I?
But I get it.
Speaker 1 (52:22):
I get the visual.
And the reason why I like thosetwo is because I'll put them in
a little snack baggie fit in myhandheld, so I'll have like.
I like the Mentos gum because Igot the hard shell.
Speaker 2 (52:35):
So it doesn't, yeah, it doesn't get sticky in your
pocket.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (52:38):
And then I have my Salt Lake tablets also.
Speaker 2 (52:41):
Those are fantastic.
Speaker 1 (52:43):
I love them and they've got some new flavors
which are amazing, and then myglucose tablets and of course, I
always got Apple.
So that's what my little snackbag is.
Speaker 2 (52:52):
So you actually carry everything in a snack bag and
then you have a handheld waterbottle, jesse, that's what you
do and then I have my gels in mypocket too.
Speaker 1 (53:00):
So I like to have I don't just do the liquid gel or
a salt tablet.
I like to have variations.
Speaker 3 (53:08):
So you don't get sick of things or there's not,
depending on how she's feeling.
Speaker 2 (53:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (53:13):
I'll run without drinking water, which she parts
on me for that.
Speaker 2 (53:16):
But my body is very touchy.
Heat sickness is no joke.
Or like to be dehydrated.
We have been through that.
It's not good.
So it's good to have a reminderto drink when you need to, not
overly much.
Speaker 3 (53:29):
So that's why she's been introducing the gels and
whatnot to me too and, at thesame token, a lot of these times
when we have run and it hasbeen fairly humid and or hot.
Oh yeah, her bottle and we justtake it.
I take a little sip off.
Speaker 2 (53:42):
Dan and I'll do the same thing.
Speaker 3 (53:44):
That's where big beach had the perfect bottle for
me, cause I get fatigued handsvery badly Due to my line of
work, which flooring, by the way, due to my line of work, which
is flooring, by the way.
Okay, I bought a bottle that Icould squeeze, because my hand
will clench out of nowhere forno reason.
And it's a collapsible bottle Acollapsible bottle and it won't
pop, it won't hurt the bottleand I still have my liquid.
Speaker 1 (54:06):
So it's not a hardcore plastic one.
Now what?
Speaker 2 (54:08):
brand is that Was that.
Do you know I?
Speaker 1 (54:11):
think it was Nathan.
I think it was Nathan.
Speaker 2 (54:12):
Nathan makes a lot of great stuff.
Speaker 3 (54:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (54:16):
That was my first running belt and they're pretty
solid and very widely availabletoo.
Yeah, so we've talked a littlebit about your gear.
We've talked about your socksand your shoes.
We've talked about now that youdressed in layers, because it
was something like 29 degrees.
That's a wrap for this week.
It was something like 29degrees.
(54:39):
That's a wrap for this week.
Stay tuned next week for theremainder of the awesome recap.
I can't thank Jesse and Ericenough for spending so much time
with me, giving so manyvaluable tips about the weekend
itself, but also about what theyhave discovered on their
running journey together.
So for now, I'm your host, amy.
(54:59):
Stay safe and well, and we willaccomplish, explore and indulge
with you really soon.
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com