Time for Brunch

2+ hr. Long Run Workout featuring guests with inspiring goals and finding community through running

January 07, 2023 Season 1 Episode 44
Time for Brunch
2+ hr. Long Run Workout featuring guests with inspiring goals and finding community through running
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Show Notes Transcript Chapter Markers

Hey, friend,

THIS IS IT! We decided that for the first OFFICIAL long bRUNch of the new year that also coincides with runDisney Marathon Weekend, we would go big or go home. 

Go ahead, get laced up, and join us; it's Time for bRUNch!
 
Game of the week: Share your 2023 G-B-O-G-H Goal! 

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Today's workout will be structured as follows - 
2 min dynamic stretches:
5 min walking warm-up

30 min endurance conversation pace with Patricia Carbone and being consistent while embracing change to become Perfectly Dopey.
2 min pace change

30 min endurance conversation pace with Brian Johnson and leveling up as a Double Agent for Half Fanatics & Marathon Maniacs.
2 min pace change

30 min endurance conversation pace with Becky Wesolowski on how to tackle the 50 states and run streaking on your terms.
2 min pace

20 min endurance conversation pace with Skip Sher on finding fun, friends, and community with the Disney Day Drinker's Running Club.
2 min fast finish

5 min cool-down walk

Find the links to stay in touch, join along on the fun, and follow all of our guests at the blog here >>

Join the bRUNch crew on Facebook or follow us on Instagram!

Curious about how to set big audacious goals that can help you uplevel your life?
Check out the Goal-Digger Workshop here >> or download your FREE Runcation Packing Checklist here >>

We want to hear from you! Have questions or feedback? Drop us a line at info@timeforbrunch.com

Do you want to have coffee with the coaches? Call us a ring at 347-9BRUNCH or 347-927-8624 or use the form and submit it here >>

Please consult a physician before starting any new exercise routine.

Thanks for listening! 

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Shelby Schmidt:

Hey friends, Coach Shelby and coach Christine welcoming you in and letting you know it's time for brunch, where there is always open table, a hot cup of coffee and endless running fun to keep you moving and grooving. So let's lace up those shoes, put a smile on your face and log some miles. Gotta kick it off here with our dynamic stretches, bringing it down to the basics with some jumping jacks. Going to start off in three, two, and one, you know the drill, we're going to make that big X with our body, going to bring our arms up, reach for the sky, those legs, nice and wide stance, bringing them back together when those feet kiss and touch. Make sure you squeeze those glutes and just give it a little extra engagement if you will. Gonna keep doing that for just a few more seconds back and forth. And then we're going to transition into our next stretch was going to be sumo squats in three, two, and one gonna be a little bit more than shoulder width apart playing those toes outward. Kind of like you are either a sumo wrestler or maybe a ballerina. I think ballerinas do this. Anyway, which way or do don't, it's all good. But do your best to to drop it low as you can. Again, making sure to keep that weight distributed into your heels and gradually bring back up. No big exaggerated movements here. Just nice and slow and in control. Going to get your last one here and then bring it in for calf raises in three, two and one feet just a little bit apart standing tall, tall like a scarecrow. Going to get up on those tippy tippy toes which I do know ballerinas do do. There you go my ballerina knowledge. Gonna stay up on your tippy toes and gradually bring those heels down. If they are plopping mindfully. Check in with yourself. Bring those toes on the tippy, tippy toes and gently bring those heels down. With that, let's shake it all out and start getting into our walk and warm up in three. Two, and one coach Christine, are you feeling like a beautiful ballerina today or you feel like a sumo wrestler and rageous tackle the world both.

Christine Hetzel:

I'm feeling like both I'm feeling both totally jazz ready to take on the world. And maybe a little extra graceful while I'm doing it. Because this is our first long brunch of the new year. And Coach Shelby, I think that we jam packed this one so much, that I'm not even sure what we were thinking when we did it. Except that we want people to walk away from this particular episode, energized, motivated, and just really excited to tackle whatever brings them joy as part of their running journey. So that's exactly what we have coming on up. What are you most excited about? During I just

Shelby Schmidt:

have to laugh at us. We are not good at saying like if this is this is where it's good. We are continuously and and and I think it might be our favorite word next to I love that.

Christine Hetzel:

Yeah, read joiner it's because there's so much like this literally is the end episode. So friends, while we're going to have a few more minutes here in our warmup, we are going to then take you into endurance blocks. But today's gonna be a little different than most of our other episodes are actually all of our previous episodes. And that while we will have we're not just gonna have one guest we decided to make this a full on brunch party, we're gonna have multiple guests from all sorts of different aspects of the running world who have tackled some incredible goals, journeys, pathways, whatever you want to say and have met and taken on new endeavors along with met new people along the way, because that's the big takeaway that I hear everyone saying is how they've been able to kind of find a community or enhance or nurture a new community and it just it brings me so much joy, so I can't wait to really get into it with everyone.

Shelby Schmidt:

I think inadvertently because we've been putting the finishing touches on the gold digger workshop. I feel like we're like, how many different people can we get? How many different goals can we hear about learn about see take form. So I think subliminally we're just like, we're in goal mode, and we're gonna see where it goes. But do you have specific goals this year? Or are you kinda it's so funny coach,

Christine Hetzel:

because literally as I was at my run last night, I was thinking, what are my big goals? We, we've shared already that yes, I'm tackling Tokyo. You know, of course barring something because we never know. But I am training for Tokyo. So I have a very specific goal for Tokyo. But that is over March, beginning of March. So I want to figure out a goal that can take me through the rest of the year. I'm not really sure what that looks like for me at this point just yet, because for me, it is really important to do some really introspective work before I figure out a name, Michael. So that is something that I feel like is also a great takeaway from today, because we're hearing so many different goals, so many different opportunities, that it's super inspiring to see what what maybe resonates the most with me as to what I decide is my next big step. How about you?

Shelby Schmidt:

I'm kind of in the same boat in a in a weird way. I'm kind of looking at this year as like, maybe it's my year of no goals, to we're not that I'm not going to do anything because I mean, hello, if you've even met me or heard five seconds of this podcast, you obviously know, that's not my jam. But I'm thinking of not having hard and fast, specific goals and more of just going for things, letting the year kind of evolve and grow and just see, see what comes about and work hard throw things out there if they stick great. If not, that's okay, too. But yeah, I don't know. I feel like that's a non committal goal of goals.

Christine Hetzel:

Well, you know, what's beautiful about this, and what we heard from a couple of our focus as well as goals can evolve. So while you may not have a specific goal, right, this very instant, you may find midway through the year, something else resonates with you. And you may decide to chart a course for that as well. So I am looking forward to hearing what you decide to explore. But friends, you're gonna now get the opportunity to explore with our very first guests out of the gate. And we cannot wait again, we're going to have multiple people here today to chat with you about different things that maybe you might want to take on as part of your next evolution of your running journey. So with that, let's go ahead and get nice and tall. I'm doing a little shoulder shimmy, because I'm so stoked. Bring those shoulders now down and back, open up that chest, big smile on your face. And let's take it into our first endurance block in three, two, and one. All right, friends, as we're taking you into that first endurance block of this segment, we want to bring on in and welcome to the brunch table. Someone that I got to be in have run with a few times I always say that it's running with the fast girls whenever I get to run with her though. But we have Patricia Carbone joining us today. Hey, Patricia.

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

Hi, I'm happy to be here.

Christine Hetzel:

We're so excited to have you here. So this all came about rather recently and coach Shelby and I were chit chatting a little bit with one of our groups. And we were talking about perfectly Dopey and coach Shelby's minds look like the emoji where it looked like it was actually an explosive brain. She was like, what is that? And how do I learn all about it? And I'm like, well, let's go ahead and get a perfectly dopey friend on the brunch table. But before we get into all of that, because there's so much we want to talk to you. Let's learn a little bit more about you. How did you get into running?

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

I got into running, probably, I would say I always say goes back to like, around 2009. I was at Disney World with my friends. And we saw the marathon happening. And it was just really exciting moment, you know, we were a little bit confused. We heard all the roads were gonna be closed, we couldn't get to the park. But then we saw all the runners going through magic kingdom. And then we thought everybody walking around with their metal. And we said it was so cool. We want to do this. So we signed up for the 5k the next year and was so hard I had to train for 5k like I probably ran, you know, a mile on the treadmill before that, like then had to train for a 5k I was running around Gainesville trying to just like get around the block. And the first five games did. We had a great time, like the I have a couple of pictures from back then but not many. And it was like after that experience. I was hooked and then wanted to do more. More races from there.

Shelby Schmidt:

That's really interesting that you saw them at Disney. And that's what was the catalyst of like, Hey, let me do this. And I mean, I always have to ask not to skip forward. But so you started about training for the 5k Did you even like imagine there was something like the dopey challenge, or were you thinking like, oh, no, the five K's cool. Like this is what I'm going to stay with.

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

Well, I'm originally from Massachusetts, so I always knew You have, like Boston Marathon, it was a big deal every year and I had a couple of friends who had run it in high school. So I knew people did it. I didn't know how exclusive marathon could be. And I just thought, Okay, well, this is something I'll probably never do. But, you know, I'll run a mile here or there. And then the 5k. I was like, okay, yeah, this is good. Maybe I want to do a half marathon. And then I think it was around the same time. That was like, I signed up for the princess half marathon. And then run Disney came out with the Dumbo challenge in California at Disneyland. And so I tried that one. And I thought, Okay, well, I can do this 510 K and Half Marathon challenge. And then they came out with the dopey challenge. And I was like, oh, okay, I guess I'll take this one on do. And yeah, rest. Just history.

Christine Hetzel:

So is it always intrinsic? Like you're always like, yeah, kind of like the idea of a challenge? Or is it all about that external motivator? Those really incredible metals? Where's the little peer pressure? What makes you make these choices to go for them?

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

Probably a combination of everything. You know, there's definitely the element of the peer pressure. There were some friends along the way, who would say, Oh, I'm finding out for this reason I'm signing up for that race, and you don't want to miss out on it. So it's like, okay, yeah, let's do it. Or the travel aspect if, like, I had never been to Disneyland. So when I heard about that race, I thought, Okay, well, this is a great chance for me to go to Disneyland. And go to California, I think that was the first time I've been to California. So I was happy to take advantage of it. And just, you know, there's, there's so many motivators that you can really keep going, and you find the one that works best for you.

Shelby Schmidt:

So basically, put the word challenge in front of anything or behind anything and perches in. So I feel like cookie challenge. It was a little bit of peer pressure just for some healthy balance. So it's interesting how it kind of came about and you started doing the dopey challenges. At what point were you like, hey, there's a whole other challenge of doing even more dopiness. Let me do this, like, did you just one day? Or was it kind of like a slow roll of hearing rumbles and deciding to hop on the what is it the train? That's the ride the vine train the mind?

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

Well, I think, you know, after I did, the first year, I thought, is kind of that same feeling, probably like most marathoners have, like, Oh, I'm one and done. This is enough for me. And then you're finished, and you're like, Oh, well, now I really want to do another race, or I want to do another marathon. So I forget how I ended up just signing up the second time. But I did sign up to do it the second year. And I remember thinking during the races, well, I've already done this before. So of course I can do it again, which was a good internal motivation. It was like, Okay, I know I can do it. I'm going to do it again. Because especially in the first couple of years, there had never really been a training plan designed for doing that type of challenge. I know Randy's knee came out with one that they recommended, but I think in the early years, that was the only one. So, you know, I tried to follow it the best I could but work life gets in the way. And you know, he kind of have to just keep pushing yourself through the actual race. And I said, Well, yeah, you already did it before before you can do it again. And and then I guess, I just kept signing up. And I heard like, fifth anniversary, is usually when Disney starts to recognize people who have done it every year. And they'll put the little perfect label on their bid and give them some kind of recognition. So in our case, we got an extra lanyard to go with the metal.

Christine Hetzel:

So I'm gonna take it back just a little bit for the people who are rolling through here and maybe aren't in Central Florida and they're like, why Do you guys what is even dopey what is

Shelby Schmidt:

I realized that like we gave him some context, we're just like, we're just gonna dork out and everybody can catch up.

Christine Hetzel:

Well, that's okay for it. That's exactly how I feel. Whenever I run with Trisha. It's like, I'm gonna just catch up eventually, I promise. She's like, totally smoking past me. Okay, so friends, the dopey challenge, here is a runDisney event, which is during marathon weekend, January, traditionally held here in Disney World, and it's the 5k on third Patricia feel free to correct me if I'm incorrect, any of these five can Thursday, followed by the 10k. On Friday, Saturday is the half marathon and Sunday is a full marathon equaling to something like what 39 point, what's the total mileage 48.6 48.6. And if that's not enough, as far as I'm concerned, like that's an ultra. But if that's not enough, because you're doing this consecutively, you're also getting up usually around two o'clock in the morning, because you have to get there at the start time for your crop pretty early. So there's a lot to this perfectly dopey there is a challenge beyond the fact that you're just doing miles consecutively. There's a lot of lack of sleep, sometimes you're here at Disney, you've traveled out of town, you're still trying to hit the parks. So there's a lot of training that goes into it. It's very interesting to hear how people approach this challenge, because I've heard some people train for it a bit more. Seriously, I would consider you part of that camp where you kind of try to do a lot of dopey simulations during your training. And then there's other people who don't tackle it quite as seriously. So I'm curious, how have you found because now you've had 10 years of consistently training? Have you found that you've been able to tweak things along the way to get stronger each year? Or have you had training seasons that aren't as good? How has that worked for you in the past 10 years of doing this?

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

I think I've just tried to find the training that works best for me, which is, you know what I would recommend to everybody, like I think in the beginning, I started with the galley Dobby plan because that was the only one I knew. And it was a good start, because I wasn't really training for BQ I wasn't a consistent runner. So it got me in the groove. You know, I tried to do the run walk and it worked at that point. And then somewhere along the line, I think it was like 2018 I decided I wanted to improve my marathon time. And then I did some research, I found how Higdon Dobby plan. And that one was a little bit different. It didn't have run walk recommendations. And then it also I don't, I don't remember if it incorporated like speed training. But I felt like it had a little bit higher mileage. And I ended up really liking that plan. So I tried to stick close to that in the past couple of years. But then I also got more Delphi and added in more marathons in the training cycle. So I like to say this year I went, I did dopey training via Berlin and New York City Marathon, which may not have been an ideal strategy, it was just the best way of fitting in everything. So try to allow for some recovery. The travel time was obviously time. That was difficult, but you know, still modifying the plan so I could get from other goals accomplished one way.

Shelby Schmidt:

I find it so interesting that they made it a 10 years to get to the perfect dopey because my Disney brain goes well they're seven dwarfs. And then they have Snow White. So why didn't they do it? Eight years like you have to do seven years to get the dwarfs and then the eighth year is Snow White. I don't know like I get 10 Like it's a nice round number us runners we like like 10k is 10 milers, but I don't know do you get a special medal for doing the 10 years are they do you think they're just gonna give you another lanyard? What's What's the swag look like? What I want to know?

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

I'd really like to know that too. There's been a lot of, you know, predictions or guesses. So at five years, they start recognizing the perfect status and they give you the lanyard. So we got the lanyard was this six, seven, I guess. The 2021 was the virtual year so they didn't send it out. And then last year they gave a lanyard. There's been some comparison to the perfect Goofy's and in that challenge I Then, at 10 years, we might forget if it was the movies or the perfect marathoners, someone said there was a little plaque that people receive. I think maybe one year the perfect disease, got a t shirt. I don't know if there was visually through runDisney. But, you know, so there's been a lot of guesses what could be coming? I'm hoping it's more than a lanyard. I try not to do the math on what I invested in this over the years. Hope that after 10 years is a little bit more than a lanyard. If it's not, you know, I have seen other swag vailable for either my friend made me a mug one year, last year. So you know, my just make my own will?

Christine Hetzel:

Definitely, do you get VIP status to any of the Porta Potty lines.

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

I wish you know that would that would be really good. These are all great suggestions. The only VIP status we get is that they do send you a special registration link in your email. So okay, so you can register before it sells, right. And so the past couple of years we've gotten that link and especially as last year, when the computers kind of overloaded and people got stuck. hours long registration skew, is really nice to know that your registration is guaranteed and that you can sign up at your leisure.

Shelby Schmidt:

Speaking of crunching the numbers all I'm thinking is like you basically they sent you an email Fastpass to spend more money to go get that lanyard. I know fast passes are nothing but that's my that's my old age Disney showing. Bring back the fast passes.

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

Yeah, this sounds about right. Like oh, here, you've already invested in this before. Comes you do it again.

Christine Hetzel:

A couple of questions. I want to know some of your most fond memories of tackling perfect dopey over 10 years consecutively being there every year, or do you have some favorite character stops or stories along the way.

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

I really love the characters. Just overall, I think that's one of the best things about running at Disney is that you can really have fun with it, whether you want to dress in a costume or not for the pictures. I know, sometimes the lines are really long at the character stops. So you know, I've told myself like, okay, if I'm doing the marathon, it goes through all four parts. I'll try and stop with at least one character in each part. And then I know, I've gotten a few. And I remember, when I've done costumes, it's always fun to try to stop for the characters who are representing with the costume that you have, like, one year I did the costume for vanilla be from WreckIt Ralph. And I think it was during the 10k. So that was on a Friday and I had to go to work after but I said the characters are here. I'm going to stop for the photo and wait in the line anyway, because it's my costume. And you know, it was a sacrifice that you have to make.

Christine Hetzel:

Yeah, absolutely. I mean work is always gonna be there. But this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get your Disney run Disney bounding kind of outfit opportunity photo op. Okay, so there's lots of fun characters and that's that was one of the trade offs I think for for investing in such a not a modest registration fee. Let's put it that way trying to be careful because we love you run Disney we do. We're just saying. You're not exactly inexpensive. But so there's that great part of it. Do you also love those photo opportunities afterwards with your metals? Because I'm wondering, are you going to try to bust out 10 years worth of metals at like Cinderella's castle. How do you do that?

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

No, I I forget when I started just bringing the Dhobi metal so much event a few years I have my husband bring the metal to the finish. So then I could take the photo with the characters with all the metal and I started just having him bring all of the dope bees. So then I could take a picture with Dobby with like 6789 metals and I think that's kind I noticed working the best because even when I tried to put them all around my neck, like it's sort of strangling you at that point, having 10 metals, it's more as an added workout. But I have seen different ways of holding them. You know, people put their arms out airplane and put them on one on each arm in a row, or maybe trying this is already planning, trying to strategize how to do this, you know, holding five in one hand holding five and the other and kind of the lineup. So I think that's the best strategy, especially being local to the area. You know, it's much easier for me to put 10 metals in a bag. I don't I have seen photos of people who tried to bring many many years and take those photos around the castle, but it's, it's very heavy. And then you don't want to scratch them out.

Christine Hetzel:

Yeah, those metal protector sellers on Etsy friends. So if you're planning on traveling with your metals, definitely check out those, those Etsy sellers that fit, they've got your back. So I have a couple more questions before we transition into some of the other things that you tackle as well, Patricia, and one of the questions that comes to mind is you already said it, you said, finding the training that works best for you. But what would you suggest to people as they are tackling maybe their own coming up with their own bucket list? And after hearing you that, like I'm definitely adding this to my list of things that I want to do? How would you suggest that people tackle these kind of really big goals that require a lot of consistency year after year?

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

Yeah, but I think that really is the point like you know, what worked for me isn't going to necessarily work for someone else. And what works for me now may not work for me a year from now. So it is important to think, start with your goal. You know, if your goal is dopey next year, then you have to think like okay, well, how do I want to do gob? Do I want to walk it? Do I want to run walk it? Do I want to do it for fun? Do I want to do it? For Speed? Have I ever done a marathon? You know, there's just a lot that goes into it. And especially if people haven't done a marathon before. I at least like work into it with a couple half marathons I think I had done maybe like three or four half marathons in the year leading up to it. And at least you know, you've at that point, you have the first three days kind of taken care of you can do 5k 10k calf and then build up to the marathon. But really finding what works for you, you know, I've had different jobs where my schedule has been really difficult to fit in runs. Or you know, maybe you're traveling a lot, I travel a lot now. For work, though I'm running in different places, sometimes on the treadmill, sometimes outside. But and then you have to think about like, how many days a week are you going to run if you're new to running, you probably don't want to jump in with a plan that's six days a week, just because it's putting all kinds of strain on your body, just mileage wise, time wise, you know, that's probably not a good starting point. But

Shelby Schmidt:

we agree maybe

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

it's right, maybe three days is too little. Maybe you want four, you know, so look at the options. See what's going to work? Are you an early morning or evening, I started as an evening runner. And then now I'm early morning, enough. People started at like, five 5am 515 530. So if you asked me 10 years ago and said, Oh yeah, will you be running at five in the morning? I said no way. And then

Christine Hetzel:

I still relay that every single time I see you guys posting your 5am Ron's going nowhere. But no, actually that is. So we talk a lot about that here at brunch, where it's about honoring the season of where you're at. Of course, we're in taking into mind where you want to go. But not necessarily trying to compare against other runners or even compare where you were maybe five, six months ago, even years ago, because as you said, it evolves as we get through our training and having different aspects of our lives and different requirements. So that brings us to the next thing I've already heard you mentioned, New York and Berlin, and I know you've got Chicago coming up. So tell me are you tackling the World Marathon majors as well?

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

I am that's kind of part of the evolution of things that, you know, you see over the years, it's like okay, well I've been doing Dobby You know, I really liked doing Disney races, I like the fun of it, the the friendships that have come from it. And January, pretty much reserved as like the dopey month. But I do want to get around and experience other races. So the World Marathon majors is just another amazing challenge to be able to do all six of them. And I haven't, I have an idea of how I would like to get through all of them. But you know, it's certainly not an easy process there to it's going to either take a lottery for some of them for fundraising for just really, really training and trying to get those qualifying times where, like, a couple of us like to say, older, further faster, we keep training. And I think of that with the Boston Marathon qualifying times. If I can just get the right intersection of older further faster, then I can get the qualifying time. Oh, I

Christine Hetzel:

love that. That sounds like a great mantra and goal as well. So friends, we are going to include here in Episode notes. The fundraiser for Patricia for Chicago marathon. She is fundraising for Team cars, which is a wonderful organization. And I'm curious why did you select team cars? Is it near and dear to your heart? Or how did that come to play?

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

Yeah, I think it was selected because I love animals. You know, I grew up having cats and then grew into will allergies for cats, so couldn't continue with them. But now I have a dog. And he's my fur baby. So when I was looking at the Chicago charity, I focused in on the ones for pets, and I really, you know, kind of bonded with Team paws, I saw their mission to help the homeless pets in Chicago. And you know, it's really great just to see tents being rescued and given a good home and they do a lot to help. So any charity that's helping animals, you know, you really have to feel for them because doing such

Shelby Schmidt:

great work. So because this is to perfect Heigh Ho Heigh Ho off to Chicago you go

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

I know and I had to enter the lottery before COVID for Chicago, I didn't get it then and then I didn't get through the lottery this year. But my friend and I made a pact that if one got in, she got into a lottery and then I didn't and so I was like well let me find the right charity so I can finally get there.

Christine Hetzel:

So friends you can also keep track of Patricia here with perfectly dopey on Instagram. So at perfectly dopey again, these notes will these will all be an episode notes that you can keep track you can see how she tackles this perfect dopey post race picture because I'm curious and again, donating it to Team paws and incredible organization as a thank you for all of the information and inspiration that she may have provided. If you have a couple more minutes Trisha, we're going to ask you some French questions because we love food here. Okay, isn't that why running is such a beautiful sport. It gives us an opportunity to like consume some delicious food along the way. So here coach Shelby and I have a full on battle. She is captain of Team savory so she's all about oh, savory brunch foods like omelets. And I don't know what do you guys have over on your team coach Shelby

Shelby Schmidt:

amazingness. We have leashes? We have bagel sandwiches. We have all the goodness. I'm just saying

Christine Hetzel:

I'm Team sweet. So I'm all about pancakes, French toast and little delicious breakfast pastries like almond croissants. If you have to choose a team. Which one are you going to?

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

I even though I had pancakes this morning, I would probably go with savory does because the bagel sandwich can't be beat especially. Right? Yeah, bacon egg and cheese on a bagel is like one of my favorite post run meals. And that was probably the highlight of going to New York City for the marathon was getting the New York bagel with the bacon egg and cheese. I think I ate that twice in one weekend. So

Shelby Schmidt:

well. We welcome you to the team and we will try to get more than a lanyard as our team swag. No promises, but I will try.

Christine Hetzel:

For the record shall be I'm so sad that the holidays are over just for the simple fact that for one little period of time, about three weeks, I had everybody on Team suite and you know, everybody's heading back to teams daybreak. Okay. It may be a little lonely island over here, but it's still my island and I like it

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

today, so you did. It's a good balance of eating both. And

Christine Hetzel:

I feel like put Shelby got your heart, though at that bagel sandwich right out of the gate. Like she must have no, she

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

can't eat it.

Christine Hetzel:

And then our last Brunchy type question is how do you take your coffee if you are a coffee drinker?

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

I love coffee. So I drink it all day, not just at brunch. But I I just like to put in a little bit of milk. I have, you know, I haven't gotten completely black coffee. But I try to limit the sugar intake and just go with my Lactaid milk.

Christine Hetzel:

It definitely sounds like you're on the right team with team with Coach Shelby, because that's very similar to how she takes her just black and as often as you can throughout the day. Oh, yes. Patricia, thank you, again, so much for hanging out with us for this endurance segment and for really inspiring so many people and providing so much great information because I think that it is it's a big tackle that you've undertaken, and we can't wait to cheer you on actually, as folks are running through this this very moment. Cheer on Patricia send her some love on Instagram because she is in the middle of her perfect Dobby. This very weekend as this episode gets released. So we can't wait to see that. That post finish and send you lots of good wishes for a strong race races.

Patricia Carbone - Perfectly Dopey:

Me too. Thank you both. It was great being here. And I'm super excited for this weekend. I think it's going to be a fantastic magical time.

Shelby Schmidt:

As always, yes. Yes, have fun. Let's go ahead and bring it back into a pace change now in three, two and one. Since this is a longer workout. I think both Christine and I are gonna say to maybe pull back a little bit you know, just go into a walk, maybe take a walk. It's it's a marathon, not a sprint. I know. It's not really as funny when we all understand marathons. But no, it

Christine Hetzel:

really is. This is definitely a really long episode. So if you're following along with the structure or you're out hitting those double digit miles, maybe you're just out there for a little bit more time on your feet. This is a great time to just kind of pull back, reassess. How's your hydration going? How's your nutrition going? Do you need to check in? I know that I've been tweaking my nutrition in preparation for my race. I am definitely loving the you can strawberry banana Gu gels, things they're not You're not new or gel. So I don't know how to describe them. It's like a starchy liquid is the best way I can describe it. I know that sounds horrible.

Shelby Schmidt:

You know what? Why is their marketing department not calling you Christine? You could just call her a starchy liquid guys, she'll sell

Christine Hetzel:

I was actually in one of their test audiences as they were rebranding back in the day a long, long time ago. Clearly, they did not take anything that I suggested into account because no starchy liquid is not going to sell. But it is.

Shelby Schmidt:

Obviously I feel like this goes without saying this is not an ad because I'm pretty sure we would suck it back.

Christine Hetzel:

I have said I do love their strawberry banana, especially popping it into the refrigerator. It's a little cooler when I get to it. Because you know, it's been a little warmer here in Florida. But friends checking in with whatever is working for you. This is a great time if you're in a training season to be experimenting, or if you're out on race day. Maybe you're tackling run Disney marathon weekend, just make sure that you're hitting up those hydration scans and you're refueling as we take it back into our next big endurance block and keep on rolling with a few more guests along the way. Let's do it in three, two, and one.

Shelby Schmidt:

All right, another guest on deck ready to go ready to get you through this next endurance block. We have Brian Johnson, the man the myth, the legend, the James Bond behind the keyboard. We have Brian from half fanatics, marathons, maniacs, the double agent running the blog. I mean, I've asked a lot of people this but do you sleep or do you just are you just evolved beyond sleep by Now Brian?

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

Wow, that's my garden bed and coffee.

Shelby Schmidt:

We wholeheartedly agree with that. So It's right there.

Christine Hetzel:

We absolutely agree. I feel like way there's a quote that Benjamin Franklin has that fear is proof that God loves us. I feel like that's actually the case when it comes to coffee. Yes. Well, Brian, we are so excited to have you here at the brunch table because we decided that we wanted folks as they endeavor on kicking off a new year to think about goals for themselves to evolve in their running that don't necessarily have to do with the traditional metric focus or performance metric focus with sometimes getting faster, we can get a little bit too much in our heads with going further or adding in a lot of maybe Boston qualifications, all worthy goals. But sometimes we can get a little bit past like forgetting the joy. So we've had quite a few guests talk about how they pursue their running, how they have their joy. And one thing that I took away from my brief stint and half phonetics that you guys know how to party. So it felt like we could have, we could not have this kind of an episode without one of you being here to represent. So can you tell us how you got involved with running.

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

Um, I got involved with running. Actually, I picked it up about 10 years ago, during the last bit of my time in the service, I was overweight, out of shape. And my boss at the time in the military very politely said either get in shape or get out. So that was seen Senate enough to get started. So I started more with a lot of walking or like ruck walking, but basically just carrying a weighted backpack and a weighted vest and just speed logging, and then eventually trying to run little bits here. And there. I picked up a whole lot of blisters along the way. But I did. I mean, I started that in June by August, I said, you know, I want to do my very first half marathon and I did absolutely no structured training. I just said, I'm just gonna do it. Oh, I did it. I think my longest run was maybe six miles I paid for it. I paid for it dearly, but I did it. And then I said, Okay, well, anybody can do capture lightning in a bottle. Let me try it a second time. So I tried it again, a couple months later. And then that was December, January of the following year. I said, Okay, I want to earn my little 26.2 magnet for the back of my car. So I can say that I've done that. So that took me 10 months again, with no formal training groups or no running with friends or anything like that, just kind of doing it. In in, you know, still still in the service still, you know, trying to make sure that I was passing all their qualifications. I eventually passed that. Did my first marathon. This is October 2013. And then a week later, went to military school. And then while I was there, I do because I was on the East Coast. I said hey, you know this is kind of fun. Let me see if I can go find another one. So I said my first marathon was the Columbus marathon in October 2013. Four weeks later, I had done the Philadelphia marathon and three weeks after that I was doing the Rehoboth Beach marathon and in each time it was well that I liked that here. Let me see if I can try this again. So it wasn't until I was at Rehoboth Beach when I had seen the marathon maniacs shirts for the first time, I was like, huh, this is interesting. So I started researching it and figured it out. And, you know, I applied to join. So the initial the requirements were either you do two marathons in 16 days or three marathons. 90, I had done three in about 46 days. And that started my overachiever. Yep, that started my path. next couple of years, it was just like two marathons or three marathons or even upwards of five, depending on you know, what had happened. COVID COVID, slowed me down a bit. Breaking my wrist slowed me down a bit. And then last year, I did a lot of things. So and then, you know, this year, this year, I've got at least six on the docket. So

Shelby Schmidt:

you're so cavalier about it. But before we go, first of all, thank you for your service very much. Appreciate that. But yeah, I love it. You're just so cavalier like yeah, no, I did like three or four. Just like you're so chill about it. So I feel like the first natural question is, do you go in with just the love for the distance and the love for trying to do the distance back to back Do you Do you ever think about time are you just like, hey, I'm here. I just like metals.

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

Yes, yes, you asked multiple questions. So, um, so no, my very first, whatever. And when I got into it at first I was like, you know, I really want to try to work towards the Boston qualifier like, you know, a lot of understeer, somewhere in there, my goal changed. And I just said, you know, I kind of, I just realized I wasn't necessarily going to get that fast. So my goal change, and I just had said, you know, I just want to try doing it just for the sake of doing it, you just kind of do it a little bit more for the love. And then eventually, for years, you know, it'd be now four years ago, I said, you know, I would really like to do 50 marathons or better before I turned 50. So at the time, I had 25. So I said, Okay, well, let's see if we can move, you know, not tremendously hard. Goal, my own, why not. And then COVID, COVID hits, everything shut down. And he actually did get to do two to three races that year, one, two weeks before COVID. Meant to I did my first stage race in September 2013. Did that in a marathon at the same time, as 110 miles. But that's a different story. And then just kind of eventually picked it all back up. And yeah, although it hasn't been without problems like as the only living proof of why one runs around obstacles on on the trail, as opposed to jumping over them. I was running with a friend tried to jump over an obstacle, which was just random to before on the trail, I misjudged it, and went down hard, and ended up breaking my wrist. The funny part, though, well, so the bad part and the funny part, the bad part was, in many of the newer watches, I run with a Garmin has an emergency feature on it. So when I fell that trip to the emergency feature, so I hear chirping, and my friend that was with me, I told her, you've got to you're gonna have to take my phone and call my wife right now, because she's about to get an emergency notification saying that I've had a problem. So anyway, go through the doctor, all of that. They say congratulations, you broke your arm. But they still cleared me to be able to it was like the best possible break. So they still they cleared been around, though. So 11 days after I broken my wrist, I was up doing an ultra marathon in Northeast Ohio. You know, my wrist was hurting partway through it. So I ended up walking 29 hills that day. There's a 31 minute 31 mile minimum I ran to before you know, my wrist hurt about four. I said, Okay, I'm off to the next 29 miles. It took me 11 hours.

Christine Hetzel:

Wow. So resiliency, it comes to mind because I think at some point along the way, I'd be like, do I really need to do

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

it eventually gets to a point though, where for me now it's become more about find it find the ways for a different challenge. So like last year, like sure there's a Boston qualifiers. But then it's the point behind marathon Maniacs and you have fanatics is can you do races frequent power frequently needed is really it's the Word Frequency more than anything else is would be the word that comes to mind. It's people who love to do marathons and half marathons and do them frequently in a very short interval of time. Between them so like for me, having the love of it. This this last year, I tried the slightly more interesting one of I tried to do six marathons in six days and six days. I finished five they finished by falls in one half. And the only reason why I did the half was because it was raining, it was cold, it was a knee and I was starting to get hypothermic where it just said, ya know?

Shelby Schmidt:

So he has limits, folks, let's just point that out at this minute mark. He has limits shall be

Christine Hetzel:

that was my takeaway too. I was like, Wait, hold on.

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

But the other part of it too, though it is learning what your limits are like for me it was learning about what my limits were and then pushing past the limits and then trying to establish a new limit. And then once you've established the new limit, then go through and see if you can push past that limit and then try to establish another limit and then just kind of keep pushing the limits out and see what you can ultimately find where your outward limit is.

Christine Hetzel:

Yes, and it feels like that plays right into From what I understand of that marathon Maniacs and half fanatics, it's all about leveling up, like all of the times that I would see people talking about, it's like, you've reached this level. And that's wonderful. But how do you level up to the next level, and that's where the running the consecutive marathons or races comes into play, and you're able to kind of, it never ends, It honestly feels like code Shelby, you're gonna be so proud of me, I'm going to have another movie reference. So it'll make two for this episode, it feels like matrix, it's like, take the red pill, how far does the rabbit hole kind of go, it feels like on this because you could essentially join in with their qualifying level, and be very happy at that specific level. And just call it at that and pay your membership dues, and, you know, get to hang out and go to some of the exclusive events with the club. Or you can get really involved with it and kind of just continuing to see where do I level up? What's my next adventure? So is that it sounds like that kind of organically happened to you? Do you feel now that? Is there another level that you're looking forward to attaining?

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

Ah, as much as I would like, cuz, as far as for levels for marathon maniacs, I have five star level. You know, but for me, what I love to get to the 10 star, yes. Am I going to eat? No, I don't really? Well, I'm good. I don't really want to do you know, 52 marathons over 52 weeks? You know, I'm crazy. But I know, I know. I know what my limit is. I know, I can't do that. Why?

Shelby Schmidt:

It goes to the old adage that we always hear like, we're crazy. But we're only half crazy, because you'd be like the half. But now in the group itself, if you're at liberty to say, because I don't know how I don't know if it's like Fight Club, like we don't talk about, like what happens.

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

But we're sure. fanatics you don't talk about?

Shelby Schmidt:

Well, off the record on the podcast. Are there a lot of people who choose to do the multi continent type of approach? Or is that kind of not a thing?

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

Oh, you're talking like there's 777? Yeah, so seven marathons, seven, seven marathons, seven continents seven days. It's it is very much a thing. There are very much people that do a it's very much an adventure. I've researched it. But it's something where the wait there terror companies that will do it, but the weightless to do it. Like if you said today you wanted to do it, it would take three years before you could actually get into with the tour company that we'd be able to or that weird, you know, take you through the southern countries, or those seven continents?

Shelby Schmidt:

Do you just become like the owner of these pages? If you do that? Or is there like even a star level for that? I want to know I want to know if I can do it.

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

I actually have it open in a different window. So I apologize, you can probably give me 10 seconds. But

Christine Hetzel:

it is a pretty small club in comparison to some of the other clubs as to the amount of members just because financially, it's also a really big undertaking. Like when we talk about limits, my bank account has that limit for sure there is I am not a high roller like that quite yet.

Shelby Schmidt:

The reoccurring theme of this episode is going to change your goals on the go. And our bank accounts hate us. That was the biggest two takeaways, I think from all of our guests.

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

Oddly enough, the seven continents will only give you eight stars.

Christine Hetzel:

Interesting.

Shelby Schmidt:

Okay. I think I want to still go for the 10 I'll just do 52 marathons. Yes.

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

So the 10 is 52 marathons within, you know, 365 days 30 marathons in 30 Different states, countries or provinces within a year or 20 countries within 365 days.

Christine Hetzel:

So friends, we're going to include all of this in Episode notes and in our blog post because there are so many wonderful things for you all to research we know that you're out there on the run right now and maybe some of these are peeking your interest and you kind of want to take your own little rabbit hole adventure and see what where you end up with with your goals after you're done here. So don't worry about it. You don't have to commit any of this to memory will have those links for you to find Brian find the membership to get involved with any of these endeavors and clubs. So now you do run the blog and that seems like a huge undertaking as well because it looks like you're pretty much having to update it with all of the members and what they tackle over the weekend. How do you do that? I can't even keep track of middle Monday.

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

Um, time management good glass of red wine I'm so now it's so like I work my day I work the day job, I'll I'll get home probably about 630, I'll probably start working at 730. And it's just I it's like yesterday was the end of this was the start of year three of doing this. So it's just a lot of trial and error. And I a lot of skimming the Facebook pages or skimming the pages or skimming the information just to see, okay, what's interesting, and then it's really not that hard because it's just a lot of copy and paste. So like it when I tell a personal story. I'm not telling the story of from the point of view of me, like, you know, me doing the interview or something like that. It's, I've taken, like, what they are sharing and cross posting into the blog and getting in there and giving people credit, you know, the credit for their photo, their story along the way. And but it's just a thing of, you know, telling their stories. So it's probably I don't invest more than like, five or six hours on it.

Christine Hetzel:

Wow,

Shelby Schmidt:

that's impressive. Yeah, I mean, I guess I'm not a great self editor. I'm like, no new paragraph added here. But, but that's still that's really impressive. And I like how you seem to at least approach it kind of like training. Like, I'm going to spend this chunk of time, that chunk of time, and you've crafted over that three years, or coming into the third year. Ways to Make it doable. I mean, we always say there's a lot of parallels between life and running. But I mean, case point hit blog post sent right there.

Christine Hetzel:

Now, I want to bring it back a little bit to all of your adventures, do you have maybe some favorite races that you've encountered? Some that you've been there done that we'll never do again? Or, again, we're asking multi multi phase questions, or maybe a couple that you have that are on your wish list that you definitely must do.

Shelby Schmidt:

We need questions fanatics.

Christine Hetzel:

Goodness, I am serious. I knew this was gonna be so hard because there's just so much to unpack with these two incredible clubs and then obviously the double agent aspect of it.

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

Now I'll I'll go back a step and then go back forward. The two goals that I have now for when I do any one of the runs i or for any one of the races I just decided I've got two goals, finish don't die. So obviously I can do those are good. So it's like, last summer, it was the trips through New England up doing 66 Different states in six different days. It was just a tremendous, fun, wonderful experience. Just being able to do that. My bank account took a great by April was a lot of fun. It was you know, I'm originally from South Dakota. And so the idea of being able to go through all of New England which you know, a kid from the flatlands and South Dakota has never done before is like Sure why not? You know and it currently I live in Ohio but I've done New York City twice which you have to do in New York it's if you go to New York, you don't necessarily go there expecting to do a Boston qualifier not seeking can't but it's more of you do it for the experience. Like for me this last time out. It was humid as all heck the source November this past year. You know, just going along, you know, you hit some of the areas it's like it's like 26 miles a party somewhere in miles 17 Somebody offered me a big cup of white wine so I drink that quarter mile later, somebody offered me a big thing of summer and draft beer have no idea what it was. Drank, drank that one. I walked the next three miles into the Bronx but it was very much worth it. So I enjoyed it. So ones though that I would recommend like my third one, Rehoboth Beach, I love to help with beach but more freely after party more than anything else. Oh my god, that was so wonderful after you know and maybe just a baby here on earth the time it was like, Okay, this is how it is. I'll take you to the Marine Corps Marathon. I did that that was a lot of fun. Do you see is deceivingly hilly, but it's when you're at the right at the end you're thinking like okay, I see the end but then we have to go this big, very how to go up this hills. Like, why but then you get through and then they're giving you your medal right in front of the end. chamber Memorial, which is just the absolute coolest thing. The hardest, you know, the cool hard marathon is Hatfield McCoy is it's right at the border between Kentucky and West Virginia. It's in Hatfield McCoy country, you actually go past some of the old homesteads, like, you'll see signs that say, you know, Ken is only allowed in like on a third, third Saturday of September, and you have to be able to prove, you have to be able to prove it, I mean, it's interesting. It's also one of the hardest races that you'll do, because like your first two miles, you're going downhill and then you're at the bottom of the mountain, then you spend the next four and a half miles working way up the mountain is about six and a half is when you finally start working your way back down. The very first time I did that race, I had pulled some something or spring something whatever. So he ran the first six miles and ended up walking like the next 19 and a half. It took me all of nine, nine hours and five minutes to do that phrase, what made it worse was it was one of the years where it was like 95 degrees or 90% humidity or something along that line. So the problem is other which is why I don't like doing there in the summer is your body sweats this certain a certain amount that your body you can also only take in a certain amount your body will spit out more water than you will take it or that you can take in so there's eventually can be no which it goes to one of the running things as a coach, I always tell people hydration, hydration, hydration and start early because there will come a point you will run a deficit and when you get too far into a deficit, you have a really bad day to finish that story to move on to the other part of the question you'd asked is I still remember coming in and finish line and you know the one of the people asked me hey, do we need anything like water Gatorade? I said how about it? And the guy just looked at me and he's like you stop sweating

Christine Hetzel:

Oh no, no,

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

no they stopped being down and tried getting cooled off I'm still sitting there I'm generally semi sarcastic person so I'm just sitting there doing sarcastic fits around that I and I told them I said all I need is just get them annex over ID to ID bags I'll be fine. Well, you know they insist on taking us in hospital with Fast forward four hours since you know how many IV bags I had. Yep, um, Chicago was I did Chicago, which was a lot of fun. The only disappointing part about Chicago is you know, you always hear so much about Wrigley Field and you know, the Cubs and everything and that Reese brings you within a mile of Route leave it like brings you into Wrigleyville and within a mile of stadium but you never want to see Wrigley Field. It was like the most disappointing part of that race.

Shelby Schmidt:

It's like when everybody finds out the marathons are 26.2 It's like 26 is bad enough, but then you got to point to it's like we're gonna bring you right up to the field and then just snatched away.

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

Yep. Last summer, I got to do a hometown race and in South Dakota Sioux Falls, South Dakota found that was fun in you know, growing up you always think I always thought, Oh, the tongue is really flat. No, it's fully in. Yeah. Oh, it was very hilly. And yeah, again, my hit summer races. But the coolest one, though. Well, New Orleans was fine, but they don't do the New Orleans marathon at the moment. So I would actually recommend to a person do the Louisiana marathon instead. But the coolest one for me was I did the Black Hills endurance March and then did the marathon as part of that on the last day. It was we did the entire length of the Black Hills of South Dakota. It's 110 miles and I did it over four days. So it was 32 miles the first day 20 miles the second day, which puts you into dead weight and the third day was the only non marathon distance day at 23 miles. And then the last day you did like a true marathon I double slotted myself with the marathon. So that was, you know, races 27 and 28. For my overall total. You know, having gotten the entire length of the Black Hills. The coolest part though was it was right at the same weekend the lease returning. So one day they believe they're green By day three, the leaves are turning like yellows and oranges and reds. So I'm trapped. Oh yeah, it was cool. Garmin, but Garmin was in the land of pause fully elite. That one? Yes. I highly encourage that. For the half marathon for the full marathon. It's a smaller races. So it's if you're a slower marathoner, like I'm a six and a half hour marathon or they it's, you know, if you're a 55555 and a half hour marathon, it's a wonderful race. If you're six and a half hour seminar marathoner AEI, you might find yourself alone for a while.

Christine Hetzel:

So, friends, this is why when I had my opportunity to join the half fanatics, I felt so in love with this particular community, because I was new to running at that time, and I was able to learn from so many people who like what we just heard from you, you've been there, you've done that you've got some really great practical advice. You've got some really wonderful tips as to how to tackle these different races, which distances to tackle or which ones are better or worth your time or money. So if you are interested in joining a running community that can kind of shepherd you through the best practices of tackling these type of endeavors. I definitely, definitely want to recommend that you guys check out half fanatics and marathon maniacs, and maybe you too, will be a double agent, with your own status and number and I think talking for your level, what Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Rainier all the different ways to level up. But of course, it wouldn't be brunch without us talking about food. So Brian, we heard you talk about your hydration a little bit we know you're a fan of coffee. Welcome, welcome. What we have here there was a little rivalry between coach Shelby and i She captains team savory so she's tell us all about the favorite dishes that you have at your brunch table. Coach Shelby.

Shelby Schmidt:

I'm still pushing the quiche because I feel like it's such an underrated brunch option. Even Brian's give me that look like I don't know. No. quiches are like, they're like a taco of the brunch world. Like you just throw anything in there and it's good. Okay. I feel like I'm really losing Brian because if you guys could see the look he's giving me he's like, girl, you had me until you started talking.

Christine Hetzel:

So by the way, like I would have gotten like a breakfast burrito over a quiche but neither here nor there. I Captain team sweets. I'm all about waffles and French toast and maybe some croissants like almond and chocolate croissants. What team are you hanging out with Brian?

Brian Johnson - Double Agent:

I'm gonna have to start with Coach Christina on this one. But you also forget, you're also forgetting the stones. Especially if you can find a really good like chocolate chip stone. Oh,

Shelby Schmidt:

yeah, do a cheddar Apple scone do I? Do I get any? Like you want to come over you sure I have row?

Christine Hetzel:

If you're gonna do anything over there shall be you should definitely leave it like a candied bacon. Like, I'll bring people vegetarian. I'm just saying, oh, scones are so good with some really good jams. Oh, you're right, Brian. So I've now I'm going to add that to my to my buffet table list. Again, thank you so very much, we're gonna have plenty of ways for people to find the clubs to find the blog that you put a lot of time love and energy into. Really, there's so many great resources on these websites between both half fanatics and marathon maniacs. Just even just the race calendar alone. So definitely check it out if you haven't heard of either. And I cannot stress enough how much fun these groups are specifically, I know that some of my best race opportunities and adventures and memories come from my time with half fanatics. Thank you again, Brian. And we are excited to bring everybody into that next pace change in three, two, and one.

Shelby Schmidt:

I feel like we have to address the elephant in the room. The common theme is one this is why runners are not very, you know, savings oriented because we spend all of our money going to races or as we've fondly said, Ron cations, which I mean after talking with Brian, how do you not classify that entire endeavor as a run? patien?

Christine Hetzel:

Absolutely. And I think right you guys, we heard it. So with Patricia and you guys are going to hear with our next guests as well. All about the renovation, which if you haven't already checked out our renovation checklist, our renovation packing checklist, head over to the blog, because we do have a little downloadable kit to kind of remind you of all those things that you need before you head out the door. Now I know that probably the double agents have their own version of their packing checklist but for the rest of us mere mortals. We this is a great place for you to start off with before you do head out on those vacations. I also love that it's such a great way to get your non running significant others or family on board

Shelby Schmidt:

talking about secret Agent there,

Christine Hetzel:

right? It's not a runDisney race weekend. It's a trip to Disney or it's not a trip to New York City Marathon, you get to see the Statue of Liberty and maybe the Met Museum. That's right is how we're selling it to people. That's how I'm selling it.

Shelby Schmidt:

I feel like that works for them. Maybe the first like three raises and then after a while your spouse or significant others will look at you and be like, Yeah, okay. What else? Like where are you burying the lede here?

Christine Hetzel:

Well, we'll have to see if our next guest maybe can illuminate us a little bit on this topic as well. Because friends, we're gonna take it into our next endurance blocks. This is a great time to shake it out a little bit, do a little shoulder shimmy. I'm doing right here, as we get ready to move in groove into our next segment in three, two, and one left groove.

Shelby Schmidt:

Alright, everybody, as we pull up as another seat to our brunch table, we are welcoming Becky West Loski here to our table today. Becky, how are you?

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

I'm fantastic. Happy New Year, ladies.

Shelby Schmidt:

Happy New Year.

Christine Hetzel:

We are so excited to have you here.

Shelby Schmidt:

So my line? Yeah, well.

Christine Hetzel:

We're probably gonna say that quite a bit during this episode. But specifically because we had the privilege the honor to actually coach with you already. We got the opportunity to share a microphone for Girls on the Run of Central Florida. And both coach I think actually we weren't even 100% done recording and Coach always like, we have to have you on brunch.

Shelby Schmidt:

I was no time I like everything fast. My paces my coffee, my food. My question. Let's go people.

Christine Hetzel:

Yes. So friends, while you're rocking and rolling through this endurance segment, we promise you that it's all about finding ways to get some extra joy in the new year with your running goals. And literally, when we talked to Coach becky here, who is a local Girls on the Run, coach, all we took away from that conversation was how much joy she has in her expression of running. So Becky, we're not going to keep all of your joy to ourselves. We're going to share it with our folks that are in this long run right here. And now. So we want to know a little bit more about you what got you into running in the first place?

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

Awesome. Well, I wasn't a runner growing up, I this is going to shock you. But I was a cheerleader in high school. And I cheered through a company through college and things like that chick training, high school cheerleaders. So running was never my jam. And then I got married. And I was like, I need to do something with my life. Like because I really I had had kids yet. And I was working. And I was like, I need to find some like fun. So a girlfriend and I had heard about the Disney Princess half marathon. And we knew nothing about running. But we're like, oh, princesses that sounds right up our alley, we should totally just find a training plan and just figure this running thing out. So that's what we did. We like Google Pinterest. We're like, oh, this will be so much fun. We're gonna make outfits. And then we trained and it was like really hard. And then about a month before the big day I found out I was pregnant. So I didn't know what to do. I was like, oh, no, do I still run this race? Or do you know, like, I What does my body want to do? So my doctor gave me the okay to just listen to my body. So I went ahead did the Disney Princess half marathon. And then I did run again for three years because I continued to have more children. So um, in 2015, I was like, You know what, that was kind of fun, you know, having a goal and kept me focused. So I trained for the OUC half marathon. And after that, I just started setting goals for myself, because I was like, Hey, I'm trained up, I should try to like keep this going. So I was like, Maybe I should run, you know, 12 half marathons next year in 2016. One a month, but then I couldn't find one in August. And I was like, well, that's not fun to like back the goal up. So then I was like 16 and 16. So I ran 60 and half marathons. And that kind of started this, you know, finding new ways to make it creative and fun for me. And that's kind of what I love the most about running is it is not a one size fits all. You see everybody out there doing their own thing, finding what inspires them, whether it's their speed, whether it's their places, whether it's, you know, just getting out there and challenging themselves and everyone's out there just crushing it. And I love that you can totally make running your own thing.

Shelby Schmidt:

I freaking love the fact that you took your goal on the roll. And we're like, alright, plan eight and work like insert plan be like that is just, that's the epitome I think of what Coach Christine and I always say, it's like, it's great to have those goals. But sometimes you have to get thrown a curveball, they have to divert the plan a little bit. And it doesn't mean that you're making excuses. It doesn't mean that you're lazy. It doesn't mean this or that. It's just like okay, no, I'm being proactive that I know that this portion is not going to work. So how do I make it fun? Do I keep pushing myself? And a little birdie told me, aka my little birdie, Christine said that you have a 50 state something goal. So I want to want to tweet a little bit more about that.

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

Awesome. Well, this kind of started because I, you know, being a mom and a teacher and your wife, you know, it's hard to find time for you. So I found that running was a good excuse to go places by myself with my friends. So that's kind of how this started was oh, I started realizing well, I've collected a few states and you should do run 50. You know, some, again, everyone has different goals. People aren't, oh, it's got to be a marathon or it's got to be a half. I'm like, hey, if I collected a medal in your state, that's good enough for me, I'll take the 5k I just want to go. So my goal now is to get myself running in all 50 states. So my only rule is it has to be an official run. So like, I've been to Vegas a few times, I've run the strip, but I'm not counting that I need to take some metal, some bling home with me. So yeah, that's what I'm working on. And I currently hit my 16 state in Arizona this past November. So it was really fun. Last year, I collected eight states. And then I looked at my bank account, I was like, Man, I might have to slow that down this year. But it has been so fun. And I swear I don't even think my husband knows what's going on. He's like, I just keep telling him if it's on the calendar, he doesn't know what this calendar is I speak up. But every time I say I'm going on a trip, I just say it's on the calendar. And he just looks confused. Like he's supposed to know what's going on. And then we drop it. So it's kind of fun.

Christine Hetzel:

So you've got practical tips along with everything else here in this conversation friends. So maybe if your significant other is feeling a little clueless, go ahead and just say it's on the calendar. I mean, I'm gonna use that from this point forward, for sure. Right, like, like, it's

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

your fault, you don't know what's going on, it was on the calendar.

Shelby Schmidt:

That's 100% why I use a dry erase board because on a regular paper calendar calendar, you can either see the eraser marks or you have to like, you know, do that pen thing to where you're trying to hide what you said or what you wrote down. So I have a dry erase where it's like, oh, my elbow smudge this. Let me really erase it and rewrite it. No, I totally don't do that honey, at all.

Christine Hetzel:

Okay, so obviously, you're not sharing this episode with your other half. But we're gonna blacklist this one. Yep, absolutely. Now, Becky, I want to take it back a little bit more because, okay, super exciting to jump into running because I too can hear the sway of Princess and all of this sparkles. Girl, you are speaking my love language there. But are you telling us that basically your first race out of the gate was a half marathon? Or did you have other races during your training season?

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

Right I picked up some races during the training season. I had done a couple five K's I don't know that I had actually done a 10k until I was doing the training. Good. And that's kind of what sparked these little five K's where you're like, Oh, like that was hard. Because I'm not doing this regularly or consistently or really knowing the mechanics of it. I was just going out and doing it. And then you're like, Okay, people do more than this. But they learned the right ways to do it. So I think that's kind of what sparked it was like that, that accomplishment feel when you cross the finish line, the getting the bling, and be like, Man, that was hard, but I did it. And so that's what kind of spurred us to go, Well, maybe we could do that. For instance, one that sounds fun.

Shelby Schmidt:

I'm like how I didn't even pick up on that. I was just like, my whole brain after she said she was pregnant during it. I'm like, Oh my God. No, like, just

Christine Hetzel:

I want to talk about that as well. Because you took a little bit of a hiatus clearly because you know, being pregnant, raising children having newborns is gonna impact how you can get out through the runs. And you said that you came back to it because you missed it. You had that alone time that was kind of calling to you. Tell us more about if you can, if you feel comfortable talking about it, do you? Was it hard to come back for it? Or did you feel like it was like an old long lost friend?

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

Well, you know, because I hadn't been so deep into running that first time because it was just a we're going to do this. It was hard to come back. I don't think that it was necessarily calling me until I you know, I started working out and working on losing that baby weight. And that's when I realized I wanted a goal after my second kiddo. So that's when I really started doing that. Oh, you see, I've been setting the goals and that's when I really found my love of it. And since then, I have had a third child so you know, I did so I did Princess again pregnant. I know, right? Like I didn't learn the first time this time. It was more planned. I ran a couple Ragnaros while I was pregnant. So that was kind of fun. So I had learned so much more about my body and learned about you know, I had years of running under my belt at that time that it made it easier for me to find that mental toughness to know what I could and couldn't handle. You know, there is no shame in walking like you said changing the goal on the fly. I've got no problem changing the goal on the fly. That's that's something I can absolutely do. But I started run streaking back in 2017 it was like a Runner's World like summer challenge. I think it was from the Fourth of July or no memorial day to the Fourth of July. So 99 do is see if you can run a mile a day I did that I was like, Well, that was kind of fun. Well, then I started hanging on to it and going longer so but when I got pregnant, I was like, this isn't gonna work. So again, I had to stop it. I mean until, like 640 days. And I was like, nope, gotta give it up. But then people knew me for that. So the minute I had to have this baby, people are like, are you going to start running again? Are you going to run through the dead, so I got cleared. And the next day, I went out and ran a mile, it was so so hard, but I felt like people expected of that of me. So I went ahead and started running streaking. And I made it 50 days. And I said, You know what, this is not fun. My body is not ready for this. My mentally I'm not ready for this. I'm a nursing mom. So I've called it quits on my own. And I said, I was doing it because it was fun. And when it's not fun, and it doesn't bring you that joy, then it's not for me. So I went ahead and stopped. And I did later buying time, it was in the middle of COVID. First week back to school in August. And things were a little grim in the education world during that time. So I needed to find something for me. And I went out on a Wednesday night and ran a mile. And then the next day I went out and it wasn't intentional to be like, I'm gonna start around the street. And next thing you know, here I am, today will be day 874. So I have been running for 174 days straight, at least a mile a day, every day.

Shelby Schmidt:

Okay, I'm gonna drop a minor curse word day.

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

And if you want to put in your goals, and I'm like, you know, when it's not, I'm thinking that I want to go out on my terms. So when I when when it's not fun for me anymore, when I feel like I've put too much pressure on myself if I were to get injured. But I mean, I've had to run through some stuff, right? We've had COVID, we've had hurricanes, we've had, you know, you never know what's going to happen, I don't know what to try to sell. So I'm out there in thunderstorms and doing all kinds of crazy things. But I try to play it safe. But it definitely adds to that journey. And that that experience and what I'm made of, because I'm like, Really, I couldn't find 10 minutes today to get out there and get a mile and I can go do that I got 10 minutes for me. And that's kind of bully myself into it. But I encouraged myself to do it. Because I'm like, You owe yourself 10 minutes go get it girl.

Christine Hetzel:

Oh my God, there's so much here that I want to impact from the fact that you literally talked because I can't tell you how many times I've talked to my athletes, where a lot of us look externally for motivation. And that's great, like, Hey, I'm all about the bling. But you have to find your unique way of loving whatever it is that you're choosing to do, or you're just not gonna be able to stick with it. I love that you gave yourself permission to step away from this goal, and then came back at it, when it was something that called more to you so much is incredible here, not to mention the fact that you go out there and run in hurricanes, because I have been known to do that just once or twice, too. So we're not advocating friends to do that by any means. We're just simply stating that, you know, sometimes you have to figure out where to coach yourself through some of those excuses that come up. And other times encourage yourself and then also, when to nurture yourself, because it sounds like there are times where you have to know like, this is a day that I need to step away from this and whatever the case may be. So I love that. I also want to mention real quick we are talking to in Orange County Public School Board education specialists and winner of the year here. So thank you, Becky, for what you do with the educational system it is so we we have such high respect for for your contributions, not just as a Girls on the Run coach, but also to all the students that interact with you. Friends, can you tell why we were so excited to have her here? I mean, like, I literally want to stop the interview and go for a run right this very instant. So you've done all of these incredible fun things. Do you have a takeaway of maybe a top couple of memories like

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

hmm, you know, that's a very tough question because I feel like I'm a person that likes to try new things. So there are like a few local races that I will commit to every year. I'm always happy to arrange your run. I'm always at the lady track, check five key things that are near and dear to my heart that are local, but in the grand scheme of things, I like new things. So like I'm like I'll try anything once and at some of these races. I'm like yeah, that was definitely a one and done. I know the mount Dora half marathon is beautiful. But man the year I ran it, it was so hot. It was like by Mount Dora. I won't see you again. And then I was like, Why did they rent a place where there was like a mount in the Word. So I hope Bravo has been like Ragnar so I'm not sure if you ladies are familiar with this, but these are these 12 person relays where you basically leapfrog in vans or on trails, and you do about 200 ish miles. And those are really what have sparked my my joy. I've met so many wonderful people. I've been to so many great places. It started back in 2017 I did a Ragnar where we ran from Madison, Wisconsin, to Chicago. Tonight, and I knew one person out of the 12. And I made new friends. And it was just like, Whoo, that was fun. Where can we go next. So that was Chattanooga to Nashville. And we've done New England and we've done. We ran through Niagara Falls. And we've just done so many cool things. And it's sometimes the same few people, but we always are bringing new people in. And you just kind of find that those are the people that clicked with you. And as much as running can be a solo thing for me, running still is about rebuilding relationships. And, you know, being Becky, instead of being Mrs. Wessel being mom being all those other things. So that is kind of buy me time when I don't have to wear those other hat.

Shelby Schmidt:

I feel I feel like you and I are kindred spirits. I actually think I had wrote about this at one point. And saying like runnings, the one time like my personal running where I don't have to be something to somebody. And even though we can get in our head about paces, sometimes we're all human. It's one of those things to where my running doesn't expect anything from me, other than just to go in mu. It doesn't expect me to have dinner ready. It doesn't expect me to remember that there was an appointment that I was supposed to go to three days ago that still to this day, not sure why or happened on my calendar. So I really like that. I feel like yeah, just the elbows go on with drivers. But I really liked that. And I think that resonates with a lot of the runners who are listening right now, because we do wear so many hats. And obviously we've given your your abbreviated version of your resume. But there's a lot of balls in the air. There's a lot of hats to wear. I mean, I do love, though, that you took the 50 state challenge and again, made it your own, to where it's like you're not setting a distance that you have to hit. But it does lead me to one of the questions that I feel like all of us runners hate, but we all tend to ask each other. Okay, do you have a favorite distance?

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

I would have to say the half marathon. At first, it was just so hard. But now I think because I've done it frequently enough. And I've kind of kept myself at that maintenance, that it's still hard enough that I enjoy it. But I you know that I recently did a marathon I was at I did New York Marathon back in November. And it was tough, you know, and again, that's one of those ones where you had to change the goal on the fly. I was really hoping to finish in five hours. And it was not the weather I was expecting it was much warmer, much humid. I was really thinking November sounds Christmassy sounds like 50s, maybe the 40s I was thinking I might freeze. Nope, I was sick. So if that one was tough, I am going to rise to that challenge. I'm going to take on the Berlin half marathon full marathon in September. So I'm gonna give it another go. But I don't really think that that's going to be my jam, as far as the mileage so but I'm willing to give it another go, you know, and again, trying to get somewhere else because again, willing to try anything once. So it's good, but half marathon tends to be where I find my happy place.

Shelby Schmidt:

I'm always surprised. That's always the most popular. I don't know why, but it's the perfect voice. I think everybody goes from I feel like everybody goes from like a 5k right to the marathon. I feel like the 10k gets no love. Like no one loves the poor little 10

Christine Hetzel:

I think the 10k is competitive. It's another hard one five K's and 10 k's are hard because usually you're out there like like racing the clock, the half marathon. It's like, like to get better. But you know, I'll enjoy myself along the way. I don't know 10k feels more competitive to me for sure. I remember like the five kids and 10 K's for me have always been a bit more of a struggle. Becky, I'd love to know. How do you do it? How do you convince yourself to get out there you said that sometimes you kind of you don't bully yourself but you encourage yourself How do you like if we're struggling right now in the middle of a run? What do you say to yourself? How do you get yourself laced up tell us a little bit more about that inner dialogue that helps you stay consistent

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

you know I think a lot of it to it does come from all the other hats I wear too because you start to feel like you do kind of lose that Becky piece but at the same time I know that I am you know my three boys are watching what I do you know my my kids My Girls on the Run they're watching what I do they see those things too so you know wanting to set a good example and being able to show them that you know mental toughness and and just physical fit and those kinds of things. A lot I do a lot of my running at night because I am not a morning person I do like to sleep in mornings are a struggle, but I find that the night time was my me time anyway. So it's a lot easier for me to get kids in bed and then head out the door and not feel like again that somebody's waiting on me for dinner or somebody that I'm missing a chunk of my day because people be like, I got three kids. How do you do this? For me nighttime works for me. And I know that there are some early risers that find the 4am and they go for it. But for me, that's my time. I don't have to be backed by unsettled time. My husband can go to bed, he's fine. I you know, I wear the safety gear, I stay in my neighborhood that's well lit. Half the people out there know me as Mrs. West. So if they were to walk outside for their dog anyway, so I feel very safe. I tried to be smart about it. But for me, then it's there's really no reason why I can't go out there and find at least 10 minutes for myself, sometimes I'm out doing five K's, you know, at 11 o'clock at night. And it's, it's what works for me and I again, I think that's one of those things that I love so much about running is that you can find a way to make it work for you. That's what it's all about. Because some people be like, I would never do that. But then you see people get all jazzed about like, oh, Disney is gonna do a night run. And I was like, Yeah, I had been training for this my whole life, you know? I'm ready.

Shelby Schmidt:

So you're with Christine with the early morning Disney wake up? Sure. Like, can we not because I again, I always say Fastpass because that will forever be associated with Disney. And maybe can I fast past where like, we make these phrases just a little bit later. I'm not looking forward to that portion. Even though I'm not like an anti morning person. Still, I don't actively choose to get up and go with them.

Christine Hetzel:

I love mornings. I just don't love getting laced up and going out there at four o'clock in the morning. So

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

yeah. Well, that's the thing with these rad nerds that I run to you know, you they're continuous 24 hours until you get to, or, you know, 36 hours to get there. So there's always that middle of the night run, where I'm like, you've been training for this, but maybe not quite at 230 in the morning, I'm always sitting out there drinking my pre workout, like with this grim look on my face and shaking my head like I'm not ready to go. But then, you know, get out there. And you're just like, it's a whole other world out here in the middle of the night when things are quiet and the lights are off and the stars are shining. And the moon is bright. Like it's there's just something magical about night for me. So I enjoy it.

Shelby Schmidt:

So now I have to ask because this wasn't planned but of this or that. A sweaty Ragnar van with 12 other people or a sweaty van with your three boys, because I feel like those two could really rally. You know,

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

I'm gonna take the Ragnar van, don't tell my children. Because, listen, I, as a teacher, you know, I've got that. That wonderful, wonderful blessing of having the whole summer off. So I ride with my three kids up to Michigan every summer. I do it. It's not as fun as being in the Ragnar fans. I'll take all the smells to have all the laughs and you know, like, at least the people, the Ragnar band can get their own snacks, right? Like I'm not constantly passing the facts. So yeah, I'll take that.

Christine Hetzel:

I don't know sometimes they're really counting on you for those snacks too. I love to though Becky, one of the big takeaways that I have here from you is your sense of adventure when it comes to tackling these goals. So what I'm hearing is kind of a year of Yes. So friends as you're rolling through this long grind, maybe you're thinking through what is it that I want for this year, maybe you've already decided on a goal but it didn't make you as excited as you hear Becky is excited about her goals. So you're you're reconsidering it. I think what we're hearing though, as the biggest commonality of all of these things that you've tackled, is that you said yes to experiences that were maybe a little challenging, maybe a little foreign, but you were willing to put yourself out there in that situation to see if you even liked it or not. So I love that. And I for the record, I too love Ragnar which it defies my brain that I like it because I hate camping. I like to shower about three times a day, if it's up to me. I don't want to be in a band full of sweaty stinky runners. I like changing after I'm done with my all of it, for whatever reason, it just works. And it works. The fact that you get to go out with other people and they could be strangers. And by the end you have lifelong relationships and friendships that are made. So where are we continue going with this friends as you're rockin and rollin here. Now, Becky, I know you're in your endurance block. Becky, you you shared some great forum tips with the girls. What are your favorite form tips for people that kind of maybe need to do a little head to toe check in again.

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

Yes, I you know, I'm big on my head alignment because sometimes I feel the running in my shoulders and arms and I'm like, shouldn't my legs be feeling this, but I noticed a lot of times, you just start to get in your zone, you might be staring down at your feet, your feet know where to go, you should be looking ahead of you so that you see what's up ahead but keeping yourself in good alignment, release those shoulders down, they don't need to be up in your ears crunched up, your arm should be flowing nice naturally at your sides with we I like to say the potato chips. So your hands should be loose. There should be nothing that's really tight. So if picture holding, you know, a couple of handfuls of potato chip, you know, probably not the best snap while you're out there running but definitely will get your body in the right form. And then the pelvis tip you know thinking about getting it tip so that you're not super leaned in either direction and Keeping your legs under you. So hopefully those pasture tip will keep you feeling good because I know sometimes when you start thinking about things a lot of times running by myself at night is a review of the day or it's thinking about upcoming issues, you know, at work and things like that. And you can start to get tensed when you're trying to work through that in your brain. And you have to kind of refocus, and sometimes I realized when I take that good breath and kind of realign, you're like, Oh, I still got this. I'm ready to go. Because sometimes you get more sore because you just realize that your form has gotten sloppy. So keeping yourself in good form is going to get you power through for the longer run.

Shelby Schmidt:

I did it with my eyebrows. Even as you were talking, I realized I asked furrowing my brow. I'm like, Oh, wait, like relax your face. It's fine. It's not that serious.

Christine Hetzel:

Well, I don't know she is talking about potato chips. That is pretty serious to me. So we're going to go ahead and ask you a few questions about that, actually. So here at brunch, we have a big battle between coach Shelby and I, I don't know if it's a big battle but it is like to make

Shelby Schmidt:

it a big battle because I mean, we're runners we all have that

Christine Hetzel:

little competitive streak. And to be honest, Coach Shelby is definitely pulled ahead in this particular category about 300 days out of the year. So she, she's a team captain of Team savory for brunch foods, all about those omelets and bagel sandwiches is how she alerted other people to her table. And I Captain team sweet so I'm all about pancakes, waffles, croissants. Almond croissants speak to my heart or chocolate croissants. If you have to sit at one brunch table. Which one would you go to like, which what kind of brunch foods call to you the most

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

interesting you should ask because I'm about to head out with a girlfriend this in town down to do a five count like you'll love. And then we're gonna head over to the lake, you'll have wine company, we're going to sit down. Have a little bubbly and because

Shelby Schmidt:

Thank you, thank you, everybody. I usually make a quiche and have a little like a piece of it each day. But today I had a bagel sandwich. So I hope you enjoy your darn quiche because they are fantabulous. But I mean, you can still get a chocolate croissant after because they are really good to write you. I

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

feel like after a meal, I always want a little something sweet after but the meal itself. You know, it's I'm with.

Christine Hetzel:

I love how you guys are trying to give me a consolation prize.

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

You pristine, you're still coming to French. But we're going to enjoy that croissant with NAFTA.

Christine Hetzel:

I'll share I'll share a glass of bubbly with you for sure. Now, a couple of other questions that we have here with brunch and all those food related things is what do you usually eat afterwards like after a long grind? So for our friends that are rockin and rollin through this and they're looking forward to maybe their own celebration with brunch afterwards? What kind of recovery food do you tend to gravitate toward?

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

I'm usually you know like, this is so funny because everyone says you have so much work for free Banana Banana is my jam after a run. I am the bread right over there, get my blank and then take my banana. And that's we keep those in the house that is easy. For me. It's usually in the car with me in case you're like heaven forbid they run out of bananas like I couldn't do it without but then I'm also a big fan of a tall ice cold glass of chocolate milk. And we keep that in the house as well just because after a long run in the evening sometimes it's not time it's not going to their Chuck and belt but it just something about it and your muscle recovery started it feels so good. Because typically when you think you're hot, you don't go through dairy, but really the chocolate

Christine Hetzel:

I love this though because it gives people ideas of different things to try for sure. Because I know that I had been a long time actually since I had had chocolate milk as a recovery until we met and chatted with you before on this and I was like oh yeah, I remember that. And I love those actually. So ice cold chocolate milk is always pretty delicious. I'm a big fan of banana as well. Now coach Becky we love ourselves coffee here at brunch I mean clearly it's all about that's really what the whole purpose of this podcast is about as we could talk about our love of coffee. Do you drink coffee? And if you do how do you usually take it?

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

Oh, you're gonna laugh you know I'm five one and I don't want to stunt my growth anymore so I am not a coffee drinker I am big into my pre workout get that caffeine like my friends laugh at me because I'm like when the tingle starts in my fingers and lips I know I'm ready to run and they're like maybe you're having too much pre workout but I was like y'all had your coffee and I don't judge you like let me be so not a coffee drinker but you know it will do a nice hot chocolate you know on those like three cold days that we get in December that aren't I had my middle

Christine Hetzel:

aged for the year literally we had three cold days pi for the entire winter season. That's okay

Shelby Schmidt:

maybe I should stop drinking coffee like now I'm fine being sure I'll get a stepstool

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

like I keep thinking I might still grow but they're like he gets past that point for you. Drink the coffee I'm

Christine Hetzel:

like well Becky, we want to thank you so much for joining us friends you still have Have some a couple more endurance blocks to go. So keep rocking and rolling. Hopefully you have an extra pep in your step here as you got this extra dose of inspiration from Becky, before we let you go, do you have a mantra that you take into your new year or a focus word or Power Word or intention word?

Becky Wesolowski - 50 Stater:

You know, I like the word bloom. And I think it's important because, you know, I, I'm okay, I'm like trying to, like not get to philosophy here. But the, you know, bloom where you're planted, okay, like, you have your life. That's pretty sad. I've got my job, I've got my home I've been. So those things are set. So therefore, what I decided to do is I have to bloom where I'm planted, figure out how to make myself the best version of me by taking my surroundings and working with it. So Bloom is going to be my word for the year.

Christine Hetzel:

Oh, I love that. Well, friends, we're gonna give you that opportunity to bloom with a pace change here in three, two, and one.

Shelby Schmidt:

I just love Becky. Like, seriously, I could go have brunch with her. I'm seriously a little jealous that she's going to have French after that interview. But alas, she's on my team savory. And I can allow,

Christine Hetzel:

okay, okay, I know, I feel like I am not I'm going to be the losing team for like three quarters of this year. But that is okay, friends, because ultimately what it's all about is whether you're winning or losing, you are enjoying yourself along the way, as we heard from Becky, she definitely tackles her goals in a way that's meaningful for her has a little bit of a stretch goal and all of her goals, I mean, a run streak, that's definitely no joke, but still allows her to really have that sense of joy in every step that she takes, or at least a majority of them that she's willing to tell us anyway. And also what I love about Becky is her sense of community because our next guests, that's actually exactly how it all came to be was just an individual thinking, I really wish that I could have more people around whenever I go tackle some of the fun things that I have in my life. So hearing him say that basically what he's what he has is his biggest takeaway is like, if you're missing it, if you know that you need it, just go make it happen. And it's so exciting. So from all of the guests that we've had today, it's so inspiring to hear people tackle different aspects of finding ways to like really connect with both who they are, who they want to be, and with others around them.

Shelby Schmidt:

Yeah, exactly. I feel like that really is the common takeaway between all of these guests. Our next guest included, is find your people find your group, find your committee, and if there isn't one, well take a page out of these old books and

Christine Hetzel:

create one or join ours because we have it right there. We have our Facebook group community page open for all of you. But for here and now. Let's go ahead and uh, welcome on in the very next endurance block, and guests. Let's do it friends in three, two, and one. All right, friends, as you pull back up in to your next endurance block. Let's get ready, we are going to welcome one of my favorite people because it is officially one of the running clubs that I have deemed the happiest place on the internet. Friends welcome on in skip.

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

Thanks for letting me be part of your brunch.

Christine Hetzel:

Again, welcome on in Skiff. We are so excited to have you here. Because I can't really think of Brent without thinking of a little D three magic. And for our friends that are rocking and rolling through this long brunch, who maybe aren't familiar with d3, or the date drinkers running club? Can you share a little bit about it with us? I think started back in October of 2021. Is that correct?

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

Yeah, we started almost about a year ago, a little longer than that. And, you know, it's been exciting. I mean, I, you know, originally it was, you know, I go to Disney. And, you know, I didn't really know a lot of people. You know, I was a big Disney fan. And, you know, kind of started around COVID When, you know, Disney was finally opening back up. And so the exciting part was, you know, let me start a club to invent friends. And, you know, at first we had three friends and then there was 20. And then there was 400. And I was like, oh my God is so much fun. We got to do a bar crawl. And so I think about 400 people we did the bar off our first bar crawl and it was it was a disaster. I mean, it was you know, I didn't have an itinerary planned and so we were hitting on the places we got, you know, people want to go get drinks so we got lost each other and so we found each other at the trashcan in front of rose and crown. And I said this should be our Club mascot, and Binney is what we call it now. And now, it's turned out to be this phenomenon where, and one of the things I loved about the trashcan was, the trashcan will always be there. And it'd be a hidden secret of this is our official mascot. And it's turned out to be very popular. The other part is, is also if you've been to any of the festivals, there's no table, so people use trash cans. And so I thought, well, this would be perfect for that. But it's been so much fun. We got 52,000 members, as you said,

Christine Hetzel:

it's mind blowing, because inlet and literally a span of just over a year, you guys ballooned up to such a large group of people. But again, what my big takeaway is that it's such an incredibly positive place. And it's where I think people have connected to make friends, there's a shut up going on of, hey, I'm going to Disney does anybody want to meet up, and it's just a shared love. There's also, one of my favorite aspects of it is that there's such a huge respect for all of the wonderful cast members, and bartenders and servers that make it possible for us to be at Disney. So I know that that's, that's very important to you, and you kind of have started something to applaud and, and highlight some of the incredible bartenders, do you want to tell us a bit about that as well?

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

Yeah, we do a bartender of the month competition. And, you know, it's a great way to highlight our favorite bartenders, you know, it's, it's interesting, because, you know, you can go to any bar in your hometown, and you'll find a great bartender. But, you know, at Disney, it's usually an extra special element to it. Good example, was Chris from space 220, who, every time someone orders a drink, he has a kind of a speech any, and it goes into the depth of how he created the drink, or, you know, or how spacesuits when he created the drink and what it means. And he does that pretty much with everybody that comes in. And it's that little Disney magic that, you know, that happens, it makes it special, we all, you know, most people are on vacation when they're there, and everybody's unusually in a good mood. And it really helps whenever you have a bartender that really gets it like he does. And it adds to the excitement, he doesn't just hand you a beer, you can have a beer anywhere. But you know, there's a story behind it. And there's a lot of other bartenders that have that same type of attitude and the same type of spirit. And we all we always want to recognize those people that go above and beyond and make it even more extra special.

Christine Hetzel:

I love that. I love that. Because I feel like especially during COVID, so many of the cast members had, let's just say maybe more challenging times of having to figure out how to still bring in that magic, but being very respectful guidelines that are set forth. So what what a great way to highlight that. And, of course, as I said, I just love the community that you have created, because everyone is so respectful and responsible. And I kind of feel like Disney de drinkers, I actually just saw one on the course the other day, my hometown race, and we got to chit chat for a while while we were running through. And that brings us to the next thing because now you have the club d3 Running teams. So can you tell us a little bit about why did you decide to branch off and create the club d3 running team?

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

Yeah, well, as you probably know, running is fun. I love to run. And, you know, I ran track and cross country in high school and in college. And, you know, I've always been a runner, although you can, if you look at me say this guy's definitely not a runner. Because I've put on some pounds. But one of the things that I've always loved about road races is the, you know, hanging out after, and especially now that everybody gets a medal. I mean, when I started, when I was younger, they didn't not everybody got a medal just finished the race. But now we're gonna get some metal and it's something to celebrate. I mean, it's something to celebrate with friends. And, and it also helps, you know, get through those challenging preparation times, training and so forth to have great reward. Like, you know, hey, we've accomplished something together, especially when you're doing a marathon or something like that. And so and so, it's, I knew that we have a lot of runners in the club, and I thought it would be great for all of us to train and, and to, especially for the Disney events, to have something afterwards where we can all just gather together something special just for the runners that you can do with your metals and, and so forth. And I noticed that also, Disney doesn't really offer a whole lot to the after events. So I thought, well, let's create our own. And so that's why we developed the hospitality suite for the running club for marathon weekend and we'd like to do that for all of our all the Disney races to have something where the members can come hang out and grab a banana Grab a drink, Fireball shot if you wish. And especially after. So, a great a great meeting point for all of us to hang out. And so we've done that for this and also just, you know, to do some other events such as, you know, the training and, and really just get into the spirit of, you know, running Disney. And, you know, we've got some great moderators for that page, you know, Matthews doing a great job. He's also the guy that makes her challenge points and pins and stuff. Charlotte, who is she is a kind of, she was one of the first runners that would be famous for wearing costumes and road races. You know, she started doing it before it became really popular, especially for the non Disney runs. And she's done over 100 marathons. And she so she, she's, you know, she's, she's big into the running community. And Sara also is one of our great moderators. So I'm really proud of our running moderators, because, you know, they, they love the spirit of running and Disney and of course, having that fantastic beverage after you finish,

Christine Hetzel:

you should have seen my face when I discovered that you guys had started the Disney date drinkers running club, because to me, it was like, my mind was blown, I didn't know it's possible to have all of these beautiful things that I love, I love drinking. I love Disney, and then running. And I was like, what it's all in one place. And again, such an incredibly encouraging. I mean, I personally am partial to the reading community, I think that it's an incredibly encouraging place to start off with. But then because it's an offshoot of a place that you have already kind of laid the foundation of encouraging and motivating and connection. And I think that this is one of the things that I have taken away that I love of your Facebook groups. And friends, if you're rolling through and you're thinking I want in on this action, don't worry, all of this is an episode notes, we're going to make sure you have all of the links to the website, you can meet Vinnie, you can start thinking about your next photo shoot with Vinnie, because that's I think that now the most official place to get your photo taken in

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

there should be a photo past guy there

Christine Hetzel:

was there likely will be let's I mean, it's only been a year, give it a little bit more time. So you've got some great things going on, you have some wonderful ways of supporting the community, you touched a little on the events that you're also bringing to with like the hospitality suite. And between both of the groups in the clubs, I feel like you have something going on constantly, is the best way for people to stay looped in through your facebook group page, or do they sign up for a newsletter as well.

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

You know, we were definitely wanting to do newsletters right now we do have a blog that we have. One of the things that I'd love to start doing is, you know, whenever we do our, when we sell our merchandise like our team shirts and stuff like that, I want to start picking, you know, people that are doing team and training and things like that and use some of the proceeds to donate towards some of those type of charities, especially more geared towards running. And that would be for the running team. You know, for the main group, we do Give Kids the World Village, they facilitate the maker wish kids that come to Disney. And that's been really helpful. And, you know, characters like gi hot Bob, who performs at one of the resorts he performs for the kids on a weekly basis, which I think is fantastic. And we want to support, things like that. I mean, there's a lot of giving back that we would that we try to do. And you know, but you know, runners, as you just mentioned, you're putting notes into so that runners seem to be very efficient people. They're very proactive, and they do a great job. And that's one of the exciting things. And that's what I love about the spirit because we are very high energy people. And there are two types of runners that run in our in our group or club. They're ones that enjoy a drink after the race and there's some that enjoy drinks during the race. So the matter

Christine Hetzel:

can I be both? Yeah.

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

Maybe we should start women we should set up a fireball station. Maybe at mile 20

Christine Hetzel:

Can you tell me what time you want me to be there to man that station and I'm happy to bring to bring a little bit of extra sparkle and into your folks on I loved hearing during marathon weekend. It's one of my favorite things to do. So let's let's see if we can make that happen. Of course. Now friends I know you also have for folks that maybe aren't in Orlando and maybe not annual passholders but they'd still want in on some of this magical community fun. You also have a cruise coming. Is this an annual cruise that you've started as well?

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

Yeah, well We've got two cruises set up one in March, and also one in June. You know, unfortunately, I don't remember the actual cruise ships names, but no one's Royal Caribbean. And I'm not sure what the other one is we chose these instead of people say, Why aren't you doing Disney Christmas. And it's one for one simple reason they don't have crews, they don't have tricks. So, I think it's more important for, you know, for all of us to get together, and of course, it'd be more cost effective, especially with this crew to have an open bar package. So it's gonna be fun. And plus, you know, I, one of the things I'm very self conscious about, and I shared it with you before, the podcast was, you know, I want to make sure that, you know, not only do we have love to drink in moderation, and have a good time, but also I don't want to be, you know, crazy. I don't want us to get too crazy. Because it is, you know, it's Disney, it's a family park and the cruise ship, I think is, you know, there's a lot of kids on the cruise ships. So, you know, I think I think it's better suited for us. You know, that way, we don't have to be as, as mindful of that. And, you know, I'm very, I'm very attuned to making sure that we have a very positive group, but also that we're very respectful as well. And we encourage, you know, other people that are in the parks, that are not members of our club to be, you know, to be respectful that you are at Disney.

Christine Hetzel:

Absolutely. I mean, for a myriad of reasons for like you said, it is at the end of the day, it's a time in place, and it's it is a family establishment, and we want to make sure that we're setting a good example, but also because we don't want a few bad apples to spoil the fun. No, right. Yeah, let's make sure we can keep this going.

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

Yeah, and, you know, we do bar crawls and things like that, especially and then you were mentioning, some people don't have the annual passes, we do them at the resorts sometimes, or at Disney Springs, which are open to the public, you don't have to have a ticket to get in there. But, you know, we've had to, we've had to cut some people off and say, Hey, listen, don't serve this guy, or, you know, or we'll have to pull them aside or something like that saying, Hey, is, you know, we want to, you know, we want it to be fun and fun for everyone. And not just for the members, but also for the other guests that are in the parks too. So I think it's important for and, and I will say that to you, it's very, very rare that we ever have to, to deal with that or see that. You know, so I'm we're very lucky. And also, when you talk about the positivity of the group, very rare that we have to, you know, focus on that as well, because everyone kind of gets it. You know, it's,

Christine Hetzel:

it's the biggest takeaway, especially during the pandemic, where I think a lot of people, let's be honest, there has been some changes from prior to what we may have experienced at the parks, or running and in every capacity our lives have have changed in one way or the other. And there takes in a bit of an adjustment period. But that's something that what I found within the group pages that you have is that most people understand these changes may be here to stay or they are here what they are what they are right now let's just go make it with, you know, make as best as we can of the situation show our appreciation and for others. And I love like there's a common reoccurring theme. And all the things that you said was, it's almost like if it doesn't exist, let's just make it happen. So you said like, you come in to Disney, and you wanted more friends. So you joined you know, you got this club together, it's grown to now you have over 52,000 Friends, say you wanted to make the bar calls happen, you just you, you have that sense of let's if it doesn't exist, and I know that it's something there's a need or a want out there. So now what you're basically saying is let's just protect it by by being mindful, being respectable, and, of course, having as much fun, responsibly as possible as we're out there. And, of course, there's always as great opportunities as photo op opportunities as well. So we want to keep rolling through to to make people smile when they're maybe not at Disney.

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

Yeah, absolutely. And you're 100% right about that, you know, you know, a lot of that was a changes and things like that, there's nothing I can do about the changes, you know, they're gonna happen regardless, you know, and sometimes you're it's business decisions, sometimes it's just logistics, or maybe it's a staffing shortage. There's all kinds of reasons for it, there's nothing that we can do to change it, we have to just roll with it and make the best of it. And, you know, that's why we try to keep that data element out of it. Because it's, you know, let's let's talk about the positive things that are happening in the park. Let's talk about the positive things that that, you know, it is a happy place and, you know, it's my happy place just like it's probably yours as well. And I want to keep it happy.

Christine Hetzel:

Absolutely. And along those lines, let's get back to it. I know you already touched on this, but I want to I just kind of want to point I didn't reiterate it, that you have this phenomenal merch, which I love because it was, again, running my local hometown half marathon on the course just kind of enjoying myself and getting to see that there was another d3 Running Club member out there. And immediately having that, being able to talk about conversation, what's coming up, are you coming events. So we're going to include that also in the Episode Notes and show notes for people to check out. But I love like you said that it's giving back because a portion of your merch sales does go to give kids the world. So it's, it's a way of still really making a positive contribution. And treating yourselves a little bit to having some extra fun, because you've got some great shirts from either just the original d3 or the new running club. The coins are so incredibly special. I mean, they're just awesome. And for anybody who has ever considered drinking around the world, I think getting that d3 challenge coin is a must. To commemorate that's

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

been so popular. I you know, when Matthew approached me with, you know, I didn't know that much about challenge coins. And, and I and I didn't realize that it was a drinking game. As well as as if you're in the military, it's also an honor to receive one from a friend. But it's, I've had to buy some drinks because I didn't have my challenge coin with me. So I've decided that I will always keep my challenge coin with me and you are always welcome to challenge me, if you see me in the parks or on property. Music grocery store, but it's, you know, it's it's, you know, and the way it works, just for some of your listeners that may not know, a challenge coin is a military thing where, you know, you're they're given to each other as an honor. And people collect them, there's different kinds, but also they use it when they're at the bars. If you if you place your challenge coin on the bar with around your friends. If everyone has their challenge coin, they put it on the bar and if someone didn't bring their challenge coin, then they have to buy the drinks. But if everybody brought their challenge coin, the person that initiated it has to buy the drinks. So I I've been called a couple of times not with the with the coin, but I look forward to challenge people in the in the parks.

Christine Hetzel:

That sounds like a lot of fun. A bit of a costly reminder to definitely always bring your challenge, right.

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

It was a very hard lesson. But I decided that I'm going to always keep it with me that way. I'm always on the recipient end of the drinks hospitality

Christine Hetzel:

from fellow friends. We'll skip we're gonna probably go ahead and wrap up this workout here soon. But there's a couple questions that we typically have for our guests here at brunch and again, thank you so much and one of the first and foremost is that we have a little bit of a battle of a team suite in a team savory when it comes to all things brunch and or Disney food. Do you have a preference on do you prefer maybe like the deep like the Disney ice cream cones or are you more of the turkey leg kind of guy?

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

I'm definitely 100% turkey leg.

Christine Hetzel:

Okay. Seems favorite. Okay.

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

And so a lot of people try to duplicate the turkey leg. Only Disney has the best. And as you know it's a great delicious meal. And you can hold it while you're walking, which is great. You can do it while you're driving. But turkey legs are my favorite. You know my favorite restaurant is ohaneze at the park, man, there's my classic but they don't have turkey legs but the turkey leg. It's fantastic. I I've been eating it as a kid. And it's delicious.

Christine Hetzel:

Well as an homage to the d3 Club. I'm going to ask you what is your favorite French beverage of choice.

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

It's gonna be a Bloody Mary just because it's it's a meal and it's a drink.

Christine Hetzel:

It's a meal and drink at least some of the places on Disney property.

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

Yeah, so I mean sometimes that's just that's all you need to order right there is is that my second would be a mimosa were poinsettia, which is champion

Christine Hetzel:

with the cranberry juice. Yes. Now the officially you guys have let's before we wrap up we have a couple of mottos. Let's talk about the d3 running club motto which I believe is we may not come in first vote will be first to the bar is that correct?

Skip Sher - D3 Running Club:

That's that's a true statement. You know, maybe back in college in high school I would come in at first but not any longer so I'll definitely be first to the bar.

Christine Hetzel:

Well friends as you are wrapping up this endurance block and maybe you are making your fast finish all the way to the bar. We want to thank you so much skip for joining on in at our brunch table. And of course friends as you are thinking about 2023 maybe joining in on the Get adventures with the d3 running club is in your run Genda. So friends, let's keep moving and groovin.

Shelby Schmidt:

Alright, so I say because that was our last guest of this jam packed, long run, we're gonna have a fast finish. So let's put the pedal to the metal and get those feet. Turn it over in three, two and one, add some spice. Let the wheels fall off. Christine, come on, you're spiraling spicy with me, right? I'm like pumping you up as we go. How

Christine Hetzel:

can we not feel spicy, we've heard from so many incredible people. And the common theme all the way around was just really honing in on what brings you joy, and what's unique to you. So again, this isn't you're not competing against anyone else, except yourself, friends. So using these final 90 seconds, go ahead and pull up on that pace. We know you've been with us for quite some time chasing after those miles. But I guarantee that this little extra pep in your step will put a big ol smile on your face. So keep on pushing Coach, what do you do and right here and now to convince yourself that you've got what it takes for the final seconds. And so that cooldown comes in. So you can have a strong fast finish.

Shelby Schmidt:

I always just embrace the fact that I'm done. Like that's the end of my run, I don't have to conserve energy for the last mile. I don't necessarily have to be on the conservative side, I can just go and run. And that's one of my favorite things to do is just run without having to worry about PACE, mileage, whatever it brings you back to like you're a kid and you're trying to run around the yard just as fast as you can not saying that you have to be going Mach 10 here, but I guess the thing is you have the ability to if you're feeling it, like just let it all hang out. That's the best part about the fast finishes is there's no expectations. You just get to go and not worry. I don't know maybe it's like don't worry about a thing. Again, every song reference I can throw out

Christine Hetzel:

and movies and movies for sure. See, I bring it back to a little bit of a mind game where i i actually envision myself crossing a finish line. So friends with 15 seconds here you're approaching your finish line looking tall, looking strong looking around, and hopefully feeling extremely proud of yourselves for getting this run in. So we are counting it down to our cooldown in three, two. And one. phenomenal job. Friends. Here we are.

Shelby Schmidt:

Every time you talk about putting your arms up I used to think of rocky or I think of Judd Nelson at the end of Breakfast Club. I hope you get both of those references. I have rocky

Christine Hetzel:

I don't know if I remember the Breakfast Club. I did see it but that was a long, long time ago, girl. Man Come on. That was back in the late 1900s. I don't remember that far. But

Shelby Schmidt:

I wasn't even alive.

Christine Hetzel:

So yeah, no, I, I can't say that one that's like comes to mind. But Rocky is classic. We all get it for sure. So friends, if you want to go ahead and embrace your inner rocky right here right now feeling victorious, because you have tackled the first big long run of the new year. And I know this one was JAM PACKED indefinitely, you went the distance with us. Now I have to say, coach, we started the conversation with kind of what we were going to have as our goals. And we got so many great ideas throughout today's conversation. I'm still now I feel like more inspired than ever before. And I can't wait to do a little bit of journaling, digging a little deeper as to what I want to do because we've got I mean, literally we ran the gamut from tackling perfect Dobby to be a double agent with the half marathon fanatics and the marathon maniacs. Which double agent makes me laugh. I always think of James Bond. It sounds so sounds so cool.

Shelby Schmidt:

And there's a movie you got one? Yeah.

Christine Hetzel:

I would hope one. But yeah, there's just so many great and you know, from finding your new community with d3 Running Club, or of course, the brunch community, we're always available if you haven't joined us yet join in on our facebook group page, because of course, we're ready to welcome you on in and with Coach westoe letting us know about some extra little pepsin her steps. It's so funny because before talking to her, I've never really loved the idea of a run streak. You've heard me actually say that I'm not a big run streak fan and I've tackled them myself, but didn't love them. I think what I loved about hearing her talk about it was making it unique to herself, just like the 50 states endeavor is making it unique to what her roles are now what other people's roles are. So it kind of is very freeing to see making your goals according to what works for you.

Shelby Schmidt:

Right and I think what is cool about all of the guests is they all have similarities, but the application of those similarities are different. And it highlights what we've talked about before and I believe a couple of our guests mentioned that you No two runners are the same. No two goals are the same. I do have to say I think after listening and talking with everybody, I think I'm just going to embrace my year of like, goal is no goal and just like make it kind of like that. Yes, you're we were talking about and just leaning into it. Like, why not? Let me let me just do it. So

Christine Hetzel:

you're gonna have a year of yes, because we talked about in our previous app, our quick bite episode from this past week was all about what we would leave behind in 2022. So 2023, what I'm hearing you say is that you're going to just explore new adventures as they come your way.

Shelby Schmidt:

Yeah, and I think even like when I was doing my own prep for the gold digger workshop is I'm going to make a plan of how to keep myself accountable to say yes, oh,

Christine Hetzel:

yes, I let go. Yes, I love that. So Coach, what I'm hearing is that basically, this was a good long two hour episode for me just to be able to convince you that you're gonna run Ragnar trail with me this year. Yes,

Shelby Schmidt:

me. I'm gonna play hard to get with the yeses. We're friends.

Christine Hetzel:

Stay tuned on that. But we are so excited to have had you here. It was an absolutely incredible opportunity to chit chat with so many wonderful people. Of course, we'll have all of the ways that you can reach out stay in touch with every single one of our guests in Episode notes. And we welcome you to join our newsletter if you are not yet on our newsletter, it goes out every Friday before the long run. And I think you guys will enjoy it because we we incorporate a lot of jam packed fun in there as well. Of course, joining our Facebook group community page, you can see that as well. On our episode notes, and friends, we will thank you so much for joining in. Give yourself a pat on the back. Of course rehydrate and refuel with something delicious and nutritious. We welcome you to listen on in again for quick bites. It's a light movement focused episode about 2030 minutes in length, which comes out on Wednesdays and of course, we're here every Saturday for a long brunch addition because no matter where or when it's always time for brunch where we're going to be serving up more miles with a

Shelby Schmidt:

side of smiles

Welcome & Intro
Warm-up: Jumping Jacks
Warm-up: Sumo Squats
Warm-up: Calf Raises
Warm-up Walk 5-minutes
Pace Change
Pace Change
Pace Change
Fast Finish
Walking Cool-Down