Houston runner, coffee-roaster owner, and music lover Alan Ortega joins the show to share the story behind his first-ever marathon build.

Alan began running in 2017 alongside the woman who is now his wife. What started as a shared hobby steadily became a meaningful part of his life — taking him through years of progress, consistency, and a near-sub-1:40 half marathon in 2025. Now, he is training for the Chicago Marathon with an even deeper motivation behind every long run.

Alan is running for BandWith Chicago, a nonprofit that helps connect young people with opportunities to learn, create, and participate in music programs. From band and drumline to jazz, hip-hop, guitar, vocals, and community ensembles, BandWith Chicago works to make music accessible to more kids.

In this conversation, Alan talks about:

• How he and his wife found running together in 2017
• The gradual progression that led him close to a 1:40 half marathon
• What has surprised him most during his first marathon-training cycle
• Balancing running, family life, music, and operating Fermata Coffee Roasters
• Why running for BandWith Chicago has strengthened his "why"
• How he feels sharing his journey on Instagram can help other runners see what is possible (a big credit to his wife for the stunning cinematography

This is a conversation about patience, purpose, community, and embracing the long road toward a big goal.

Follow Alan on Instagram: @ortegaontherun
Follow Fermata Coffee Roasters on Instagram: @fermatacoffeeroasters
Learn more about BandWith Chicago: @bandwith_chicago