Katie Hawley came to Chico to run for the Wildcats.

That was the plan, anyway. What she found was a place that slowly, almost quietly, became hers.

A team became family. A park became home turf. A college town became home.

And somewhere between workouts in Bidwell, long conversations, fun little adventures, hard seasons, good people and a whole lot of showing up, Katie became part of Chico in a way that feels almost impossible to separate now.

She is one of those rare people who makes a place feel more alive simply by caring about it out loud.

She’s smart enough to understand the complicated stuff, funny enough to make it human, awkward enough to make it charming, and sincere enough that none of it ever feels like an act.

She can talk about roads, housing, parks and public policy - and then film herself lying on the pavement, standing in a creek, running through town or doing something just weird enough to make you actually pay attention.

And, it works. Because Katie Hawley doesn’t just represent Chico. She loves Chico.

You can hear it when she talks about Bidwell Park. You can see it in the way she talks about people. You can feel it in the way she has chosen to spend her time, her energy and a very public part of her life trying to make this place a little better.

In this episode of Pod on the Run, we talk about the runner she was, the person Chico helped her become, the strange road from collegiate athletics to City Council, the people who shaped her, the years that challenged her, and what it means to keep running when the finish line keeps changing.

We also get appropriately ridiculous.

There’s Good News Monday. There’s a Chico Draft. There are questionable civic-communication ideas involving potholes, snorkeling gear, waterfalls and beer miles. There are rapid-fire questions. There is almost certainly some wonderfully Katie-level awkwardness.

But underneath all of it is something much bigger.

It’s a story about finding your place.

About arriving somewhere because of one thing and staying because it gave you a hundred others.

About realizing that community isn’t just where you live. It’s something you participate in. Something you protect. Something you laugh with. Something you give yourself to.

Katie came to Chico to run.

Then Chico gave her people to run with, places to run through, reasons to stay, and eventually something worth running for.

And Chico is better because she did.

Katie Hawley is running for Chico.

Episode 26 goes long. Before Ross and Petar sit down with today’s guest, they check in on training, Chico summer heat, good miles, fresh pavement, and a running community that continues to absolutely crush.

BRC, CRC, Fleet Feet, Union Run Club, Colby Mountain TrailFest - the local scene is rolling.

There are some huge performances to celebrate, too. Nimei drops a 2:47 at the San Francisco Marathon. Logan Slack goes sub-five at the brutally steep Rodeo Valley 50K, finishing sixth overall and third in his age group. Maddy and California Travis battle through the Point Mariah Trail Marathon, and Beth puts together a strong day at the Napa to Sonoma Half.

Then the main event: Todd Ziegenmeyer - Tahoe Rim Trail 100 finisher, Canyons 100 finisher, mountain racer, real estate professional, gear obsessive, creator of Flow State apparel, and now a 25th-place finisher at the 2026 Tahoe 200, covering more than 200 miles in 68 hours, 30 minutes.

In this episode, Ross and Petar dive into Todd’s story from growing up in Sutter and his relationship with brother Logan to discovering ultrarunning, moving to Chico, and quietly building an impressive race résumé.

Then they go deep on Tahoe.

Todd breaks down why he chose 200 miles, what scared him going in, the heat, sleep deprivation, nutrition, hallucinations, dark miles, and the mental battles that come with spending nearly three straight days in the mountains. He also shares how his crew - including Mitch, Peter Hansen, Joey Skaggs, Matt Henderson, Logan Slack, Frank Rebelo, family, friends, and Whisky the dog - helped carry him through the toughest moments.

Todd is also the creator behind Flow State, an apparel project built around tear-off tank tops designed specifically with runners in mind. We dig into where the idea came from, the problem Todd wanted to solve, what “Flow State” means to him, and how his experience as a runner shapes the way he thinks about design. We also talk about the unofficial official ambassadors already rocking the tanks, whether he sees the brand staying local or growing into something bigger, and what’s next as Flow State moves from prototypes toward a wider launch.

Then court is officially in session with the debut of Trail Court, where Todd rules on Bluetooth speakers, shirtless running, walking climbs, zero-drop shoes, cold plunges, trail etiquette, and other alleged running crimes.

From Sutter to Chico, 100 miles to 200, real estate to Flow State — Episode 26 is the story of Todd Ziegenmeyer continuing to find out just how far he can go.

Episode 25 brings the heat. Before Ross and Petar sit down with today’s guest, they run through a stacked lineup of summer shoutouts because the Chico running community has been absolutely cooking. Tahoe 200, Dipsea, Broken Arrow, Headwaters, Lemurian, CRC, BRC, Fleet Feet — the whole region is buzzing, thriving, and leveling up.

Then the main event: Damian Garcia, one of the most complete runners to ever come through Chico State. A West Region champion, multi‑time CCAA champion, national finalist, and owner of one of the fastest 1500-meter times in Division II history. He’s run the equivalent of a sub‑four mile, shattered school records, and keeps finding new gears every season.

But Damian is more than the accolades. He’s the team barber. A pizza and burrito connoisseur. A fisherman. A Rubik’s Cube wizard. A grounded, humble athlete whose rise from Turlock to national prominence is one of the best stories in Wildcat history.

In this episode, Ross and Petar dive into Damian’s origin story — from growing up in Turlock and discovering his engine to finding home at Chico State and stepping into the national spotlight. They unpack the breakthrough races that changed everything, including his historic 3:35 at Azusa, the school‑record 800, and the West Region 10K title. Damian opens up about the mental game, the role his mom has played in his journey, and what keeps him coming back to the sport. The conversation explores the Chico State system, the teammates and coaches who shaped him, and the culture that makes the Wildcats different. They break down tactical mile scenarios, talk barber life, pizza missions, fishing stories, and Rubik’s Cube speed, and dig into the gear he trusts.

Damian reflects on his connection to the Chico running community, his preparation for the USA Championships, his long‑term dreams, and the future of his running career. He even delivers his entire running philosophy in exactly ten words before taking on the Pod on the Run Rubik’s Cube Challenge and Petar’s secret lightning round.

The episode closes with a look at who Damian Garcia is becoming and the legacy he hopes to leave.