In this episode, Rachael and Erin introduce the “Runner 101”; based on their shared experiences both running and volunteering. They discuss their own personal experiences with their introduction to running and you won’t believe how different they are! With humor and anecdotes, they emphasize that everyone starts somewhere and learning from experiences is key to becoming a better runner. The conversation covers practical advice on what to wear on race day, fueling strategies, and the significance of understanding race logistics.

And yes, you can always take a pin.

Sound Bites

• “Everyone has to start somewhere”

• “It's important to remember that every race could be someone's first.”

• “Don't wear anything new on race day; stick to what you've trained in.”

• “Fueling strategies should be practiced during training, not just on race day.”

• “Asking questions ahead of time can alleviate race day stress.”

• "You can foster a community online."

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Lol, sometimes this show is just feast for famine.

We go weeks between episodes then I hit you all with three big ones all in a row.

Marty and I sat down to discuss our intermediate milestones; the term coined by my guest, Ray Einig. While I do discuss mine, you'll have to wait until next month as I deferred.

But this is Marty's weekend to go for his 3rd PR in a while at the 13.1 distance on the paths along the lake. He look so happy in that 2024 race photo in his shorts and short sleeves. Marty won't have that weather come this Saturday but that just serves to remind all of us. You may play in the arena, but Mother Nature is your landlord, and this year she's bringing some crazy!

Thank you for your support of Start Lines and Swag Bags. If you would consider supporting The Flying Pig Project through merchandise or memberships, please see our page at ko-fi.com/theflyingpigproject.

This episode, Sophia and Joel Feinberg join me on the pod!

This past June, Sophia crushed her first Ironman 70.3 along side her father. She talks about her journey from sprint, to olympic, to 70.3!

So many sound bites from this episode that I can't name a favorite. If pushed, I love our conversation about how a 70.3 is not a half Ironman. It's a 70.3. From now on, there are no half marathons, there's 13.1! No more going into the office saying you did a half marathon to have people say, oh, it's not like you did the full! No more of that!

Please enjoy!

Wow. This episode.

When was the last time you ran a race just to experience it with someone else? When was the last time you ran a race and, upon crossing the finish line, the focus wasn't on your time but the celebration of completing another adventure?

This mother/daughter powerhouse duo tells their honest story about how their journey began. LaLa and Kellie go on to discuss the ups and downs along the way, and the undeniable impact it's had not only on their relationship, but the family as a whole.

This episode reopened my eyes and helped me to adjust my own expectations about upcoming goals. Let them remind us all the joy is not just in the doing, but the journey and the people along the way. Whether they are family, or become family, running may be a solo sport by design, but there is nothing better than the people who show up along the way.

Marty and I end the year catching up with each other only to find that neither really hit our goals for the month.

Life, family, weather, health issues; whether one or all, can derail even the best laid plans. What matters is the need, willingness, and desire to crawl your way back because you've got big goals to hit!

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You have to listen to this episode. We discuss the benefits of shopping local for running shoes, pilates, and Frank the Goose.

Probably one of my top 5 favorites; and that says a lot.

As always, be sure to "embrace the crazy to unlock a world of possibilities" and thank you for your support of the flying pig project. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share with a friend.

Marty and Rachael give their monthly status about their training plans and also welcome Justin to discuss Rachael's PT journey.

Little glitch with Justin's video but a stupendous episode nonetheless!

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It doesn't matter what you are training for; there is a takeaway in this episode for everyone.

We took about how everyone's journey looks different and the challenges but vital importance of prioritizing your time to set yourself up for success no matter the goal.

The biggest lesson I took away is the importance of being patience with yourself and your journey. There's a reason people design 16, 24, even 40 week training plans. Big goals do not happen overnight. So whether you are playing long ball, prepared to stay the course, here for the long run, or in it until the end, Ray's story embodies all of those.

Naturally I left in the parts where he complimented me both at the beginning and end - this host needed that confidence boost.