Health
838. Meghan Howard, On Running the Berlin Marathon with Harry Styles
In this episode of the Alley on the Run Show, Megan Howard shares her exhilarating experience running the Berlin Marathon alongside Harry Styles. As an 11-time marathoner and educator, Megan discusses...
838. Meghan Howard, On Running the Berlin Marathon with Harry Styles
Health •
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Interactive Transcript
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Welcome to the Alley on the Run Show.
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I'm your host Allie Feller and this is where I talk with people who are doing exciting
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things on the run and beyond.
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From professional athletes and celebrity runners to the everyday amateur and back of the
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pack runner, we are here to celebrate everyone and anyone who enjoys a life on the run.
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So whether you're running toward something big or away from something that has been holding
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you back, I am here to hold your hand and help you pick up the pace.
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I just finished recording this conversation and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much so.
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Get excited.
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My guest today is Megan Howard.
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Megan is an 11-time marathoner who lives outside Toronto.
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She's an educator and I loved hearing about the work she does with 7th through 12th graders.
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Megan ran her first race at half marathon in 2019.
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Her goal then was to run sub two and she finished in one hour and 57 minutes so she didn't.
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Then Megan moved right to the marathon where she had pretty immediate success running some
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seriously fast times.
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Last year, Megan achieved her goal of running sub three at the Chicago Marathon.
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Now, Megan is fresh off running the Berlin Marathon.
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She went into the day with big goals hoping to run around 255.
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But the day was hot and was not without drama, including two nasty falls that almost took
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Megan out of the race.
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She may not have hit her time goal but all was not lost because guess what else happened
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that day in Berlin?
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Megan ran with Harry Styles.
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All about that and so much more in this conversation like she really ran with Harry Styles.
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She talks all about it sparing no detail so please join me in welcoming Megan Howard to
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the Alley on the run show.
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All right, I am so excited.
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Megan Howard, welcome to the Alley on the run show.
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Fresh off the Berlin Marathon, which we are going to talk all about.
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You have some great stories from the day.
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Welcome to the show.
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How are you doing?
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Awesome.
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Thank you so much.
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I'm doing great.
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How are you doing?
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I'm doing well.
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Thank you.
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Are you feeling recovered?
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How are you feeling?
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I'm feeling.
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Honestly, as we'll probably get into how the race kind of went, but I'm feeling great.
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Body felt pretty good after the race.
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I'll go a little more in detail when we get talking about the race.
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But other than my knee, I had a little tender knee situation happen, which we'll dig into
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a little bit more.
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Other than that, my body felt really good.
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I felt I recovered pretty quickly, which was nice.
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Honestly, the next day, I was like, I could get going again.
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I was ready to go.
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Once you're in that mindset of the race, you're like, wait, it's a run out.
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I wasn't fully ready to cove my marathon, but obviously, too, it's important to take
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that time off, even if your body doesn't feel like it.
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So we took off a week and honestly, I'm ready to get back.
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Do you know what's, and I hate asking this question to be like, what's next?
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Like you just ran this.
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Let's bask in it for a while.
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But I know that you run a lot of races, including a lot of marathons.
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Do you already know what your next marathon will be?
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I do.
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So actually on the Friday, when I was in Germany for Berlin, the lottery draw for Tokyo
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went out.
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First year actually applying for it.
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And like as everyone knows, next to London, it's like impossible to freaking get in.
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And the lottery, like more and more people because running has become so popular.
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It's more and more applications, more people applying.
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And so then on Friday, in Germany, I ended up getting the email that I actually got selected.
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So yeah, so that will be my next marathon.
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So that will be March 1st.
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So yeah, I'll be heading to Tokyo, which is really crazy.
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I've never, I've never been.
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And this will finally be like, this will be my fifth world major.
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So we're almost at those six stars after that.
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So it was, it was very exciting to get, to get that email for sure.
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Yay.
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And that's nice.
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You've got some time before that.
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Like that's a good little break, break over the holidays, you know, and then,
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and then get right back into it, which we know you will.
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What is something that's making you happy today?
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Something that's making me happy today.
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That's a great question, actually.
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I would honestly say as much as it's not connected to running, I would say my job
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today actually made me very happy.
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One of my students, which we can talk more about to you, I work in school board.
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And one of my students came in today and we deal a lot with mental health and
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the social emotional work with our kids in my program.
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And he was just not feeling quite at a time today.
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But he came in and he was willing to kind of chat about it, debrief about it.
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And we kind of just work together today and kind of discuss some of his challenges
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that he was facing.
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And at the end of the day, he left with like a smile on his face.
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And we were able to kind of come together as a team to figure out what works best for him.
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So anyone where like my school day ends on a high note is a good day,
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especially given kind of the whole, like how our whole program is run and who it serves
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in the school board.
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So that was that's probably what's making me happy today.
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That's a great day.
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And I love that answer.
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Let's get right into the job stuff.
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Can you explain what it is that you do for a living?
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Sure.
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So a lot of people don't know kind of what our program is about.
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And sometimes it has a negative connection to it because it is a suspension and expulsion program.
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So I work with kids from grade seven to grade 12 who have been suspended or expelled from their school
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for a variety of reasons.
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And it can be from a one day suspension all the way up to 20 days.
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And it can be actually as extreme as being expelled from the entire school board as a whole.
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So those kids don't stay kind of fall off track.
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I should say with their academics that she come to my program and myself and a teacher.
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We work with them to keep them up on their academics.
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We'll also kind of backpedal in any work that they haven't gotten in.
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We will actually work on that get it submitted.
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And then while we're all doing this, we'll also have that social emotional work where we'll be working on their mental health
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and assisting them learn teaching them skills to help them where they won't end up in this situation again.
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So whatever the events were that led them to our program again, variety of reasons.
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We like to unpack that and kind of get to the deeper route as to what got them to that point where they ended up getting suspended or expelled.
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So it's definitely a different day every day.
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A variety of challenges, but I've been doing it now for a couple of years.
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So it's definitely rewarding.
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And a lot of us kind of I know when I was in high school, you just thought any of the kids that got suspended or expelled, they just kind of stayed home and all of a sudden, then they were back.
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So it's nice to know that our programs out there to kind of help these kids that were not just shoving them in a corner and labeling them the bad kids, if you will.
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So yeah, so that's like my job and an a bit of a nutshell.
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That's amazing work. And that's so important.
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And I appreciate you sharing all that.
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It's so nice to know that programs like that exists and that there's good people doing good work.
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How did you end up in this field doing what you do?
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Oh, wow.
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So it started honestly, it started in high school, which is hilarious because that feels like years ago now.
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So when I was in high school, I always wanted to work at a custody facility.
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So there was one near where I live.
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And that was like my dream job at the time.
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I was so obsessed with getting in at this place.
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So I started volunteering at a youth custody facility when I was in grade 12.
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So I did that for a couple of years, got some kind of stuff on my resume.
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And then from there, I went to university.
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I studied a lot of programs like Young offenders, crime and criminal policy and things like that.
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And but I knew I kind of would have had to do more to kind of become a little bit more specialized.
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So from there, after four years in Guelph, I went and did a accelerated child and youth worker program.
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So I did that in Toronto.
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And then in that I actually, my dream job, the custody facility, was one of the programs that we were able to do internships with.
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So I ended up doing an internship with them and I got hired on.
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So then from there, it was like, oh, my dream job, like so excited.
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And I was like, I wonder though, like, if there's more than this.
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So I spent it was about five years I worked in the youth custody facility.
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And I did love it, but I knew it wasn't long term.
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I knew that I would find, had to find something a little bit more stable and the school board, as most people know,
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was a great stable job.
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And so there was a program, which was a program that I worked for.
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And my goal was just to get into the school board and kind of work my way up to that program.
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And after two years in my position with the board at another school, that was just a behavior resource classroom for elementary students.
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The position ended up opening up.
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So as soon as I saw the positioning that I'm in now open up, I was like, this, this is kind of the moment I need to move on this.
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So I ended up moving on it and I ended up getting it.
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And now here we are.
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So it was definitely a few years to get to, but I, it's all I ever wanted.
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So I'm very happy to be where I am now.
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It sounds like you have always been someone who's a helper and who is wants to be there for people who need some sort of support.
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Is that accurate?
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What was it that made?
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You know that first job you talked about.
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What made that your dream job?
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Why were you so drawn to that?
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I think I was drawn to it long story short.
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As I grew up, we had, we had some struggles in my family, like our family dealt a lot with substance abuse, physical abuse, things like that, domestic violence and things like that.
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So when I think as I grew up, having witnessed and experienced that myself,
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I think part of me wanted to help people in similar situations either avoid them entirely or help work with them through this situation.
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Or if we can kind of get to that point where we can all kind of work together with family as well, which is a great part of my position is, we kind of do that wrap around care where it's not just the student we're working with.
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We're working with the families as well.
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So I think my childhood and my experiences and how I grew up impacted for sure what I wanted to do when I when I got bigger when I grew up.
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So I think that played a role.
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I don't, I'm not super outward about my, my childhood in my past, but I do find with the students I work with.
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When I'm able to relate to them on some of the things they deal with as well, I think that that opens up a bigger line of communication and trust and relationship building without kind of crossing that that boundary.
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And it's definitely helped helped me help support them as much as I could.
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So I think for sure that has influenced what what I wanted to do. So yeah, that's amazing.
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And it's so, it's so inspiring to hear when you've been through something hard, channeling that into being the good and finding a way to give back.
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I think that's sure that's really incredible.
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And it would have probably been easy to do the opposite of that and, and, you know, leave all of that in the past or compartmentalize.
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Absolutely.
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But wait, everything that you just said is so beautiful and really powerful.
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Thank you.
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What kind of kid were you?
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And I asked that because I want to know how running and sport came into your life.
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I see your success in running. And of course in my head, I'm like, oh, she was born with it.
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I'm sure you grew up and you're active and you were fast, but you tell me what kind of kid were you and when and how did running become part of your life.
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Oh my gosh, that it's so funny because you think about that. I'm like, I was a kid so long ago now.
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Oh, how it started.
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Honestly, like I grew up playing soccer.
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I grew up doing a little bit of gymnastics here and there in high school.
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I did field hockey and rugby.
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So for sure, definitely a lot of running involved.
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But I never did any long distance running.
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It was honestly, anytime our coach was like, go run in three laps.
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You're like, oh, punishment.
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Yeah, I'm like, why would I do that?
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What have I done to deserve this?
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Yeah, I'm like, this is torture. This is the worst sport ever.
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Like, what are we doing?
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So then I don't honestly, as a kid, I loved sports.
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I loved being active.
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My parents definitely tried to keep us as active as possible.
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Brother played a lot of hockey.
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So I was kind of like the ring cradis, if you will, where I followed him there.
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But it was always encouraged to do sports.
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And just just be active.
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Just just get your bed outside.
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We didn't have iPads when I was little.
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So like, now it's such a weird concept to me.
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How things work now.
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So but nothing, nothing too serious, I would say.
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And then I went all through high school, just kind of playing that.
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And then college and university, I honestly,
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I wasn't playing any actual organized sports anymore.
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I was just kind of getting into the fitness world, trying to get active that way.
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And kind of more working on strength and conditioning versus
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an actual sport.
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So as I was doing that, I learned a lot about fitness.
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And that's part of like, I do personal training on the side as well.
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And then I don't know what happened.
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But I think because I just kind of had, I got everything I needed out of the fitness world.
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And then I was like, but I want more.
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There's something missing.
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There's there's something that's just I need, I need.
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And I couldn't quite figure out what it was.
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And for some crazy reason, I was like, running a half marathon has got to be the answer.
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Went right to the half.
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Yeah, I was like, no, no, five K, no 10 K, like let's just go to the half.
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Did I know anything about running?
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Absolutely not.
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I knew nothing.
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Like if you look back on those photos and you look at what I'm wearing,
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like, did I have any fuel on me?
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No, because why would you need fuel running a half marathon?
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Like it just, it was, I gotta look back on it now.
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And I'm like, I cringe because I'm like, what?
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Like what were you thinking?
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But this girl did it.
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She signed up.
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I signed up in, I think it was 20, yeah, I was 2019 was my first race ever.
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And it was the half marathon in Toronto.
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So not that long ago, not that long ago.
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And my one goal was just run it under two hours.
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I was like, just, you can run it under two hours.
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And did I know what that meant?
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No, I had no idea.
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Just picked a number.
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And so I went and I ran a 157.
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And I said, okay, like that's not bad.
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But like, I felt like I needed more even from that.
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I was like, still not enough.
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So again, genius idea.
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So let's turn it into a full marathon.
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Why not?
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So I ended up signing up for the Mississauga marathon.
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It was in, it was set to be 2020.
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And then COVID, of course, our good old COVID.
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So that put a stop to it real fast.
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And unfortunately, they tried to do like a virtual version.
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And like, I ran it, but it was like, I just kind of just was mosing along the street.
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Like, never really considered it much of anything.
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And then they ended up in 2022, luckily for us,
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they ended up opening it up again.
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So in 2022, I was finally able to run like my first official marathon.
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And I really didn't have a goal because I had no idea.
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Like, I didn't know what was that fast.
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Like, what was fast?
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What was slow?
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And I was like, I'm also not like, I don't know what my abilities are.
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I again, brought no gels with me.
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I brought no nutrition on the course.
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I had absolutely nothing.
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I was just like, I don't know.
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Here we go.
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So and at the time, I just was like, okay, like let's wing it.
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Let's see what happens.
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And I ended up running that one in 2022.
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And I ended up running at 329.
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Whoa.
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I qualified for Boston.
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And I was like, okay.
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So like, we're doing this.
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Yeah.
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So that's kind of how like, how I built my way up to it.
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And now it's all I do.
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Yeah.
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That's, I mean, that's a wild trajectory.
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And that does tell me that you just have a lot of like,
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obviously you're a hard worker.
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And we see that now and how you train for these,
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which is a little bit different than how you got started.
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Or sorry.
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Yeah.
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But I mean, the natural talent to be there is really impressive.
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For that first half that you ran,
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yes.
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Did you train for it?
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Like, did you do long runs leading up to it?
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I did.
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I would be so curious to see like what my stats,
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like what, how much mileage I was doing a week is probably not great.
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But I remember training for it.
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But again, I just kind of trained like I trained myself.
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And I didn't know what I was doing.
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I just knew like, okay, I guess you're going to have to run a lot.
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So try and run a lot.
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I would probably say at the time,
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I would be close like 30 to 40 kilometers a week,
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like, which is an all a lot.
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But at that point, I had no idea.
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So I just kind of was hoping for the best.
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At one point, I remember I had ran 18K during that training.
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I was like, okay, if I can run 18K, I can run 21.
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And then I remember when I ran that race,
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I was amazed at that race adrenaline.
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Like how your easy pace, you're like, oh, my race pace,
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there's no way I can hit that.
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There's no way.
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And then you're running.
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You're like, oh, this is actually like kind of easy.
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I didn't even run at this pace when I was training.
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So it's kind of amazing what the body can do
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in kind of that race mindset.
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And just how everyone, the crowds are around and everything like that
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can just kind of push you through.
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So I trained for it.
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But I would say it definitely wasn't anything extraordinary
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at the time if I had to guess.
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It was all just luck.
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Just luck.
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So yeah, what about the running community at the time,
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both training for that first half and then, you know,
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post COVID or getting to the post COVID area when you ran the marathon.
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Did you know about like run clubs or running groups
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or had you dabbled in any of the community side of running?
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No, I would.
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I would.
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I never did.
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I, and some people frown upon it.
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And some people don't get it.
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But I've always been a lover of training alone.
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Oh, I love that.
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I love it.
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And this is a judgment-free zone.
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Yes, this is, we do what works for us here.
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Yeah, it's I, like my friend, John and I, he's very much so the same.
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And we bond over our little secluded running schedules.
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I don't know.
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I just, it's, I definitely, I'm sure if I ran with people faster than me,
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I would probably obviously I'm sure work my butt off a lot harder.
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But I'm always can kind of say like I give myself credit for how much I can push myself
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when I'm by myself.
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I'm always surprised at how much I'm like, okay, no, keep going, like, keep going or like,
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okay, you got to pick up the pace, pick up the pace, things like that.
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Like I've, I've always been very open.
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Like a lot of the time during a race, like I actually talked to myself out loud to be like,
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okay, you've got like five K laughs.
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Like you cannot lose this pace.
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If people saw me on the course, they'd be like, this girl's
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certifiably insane.
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But so it's, it's definitely my favorite to train alone.
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But then again, I can, can't really say which way I would prefer because I've never really
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trained with a group either.
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So I'm sure there's benefits of both.
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But my preference, at least right now, as I sit here, is to train so well, to be honest.
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So with the job that you just described and with all of this running you're doing and you're now
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running a much higher volume and you're getting in many more miles a week, when are you doing all
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of this running? And what are your hours like for work?
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So my hours for work are 830 to 430 every day.
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And the personal training has definitely taken kind of like a sideline, which is totally fine by me.
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Just again, too much going on and traveling for races and things like that.
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It just doesn't work as much.
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So 830 to 430 is like my average work day.
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And most of the time I just go from 430.
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I throw all my running shoes and I'll do my run.
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And if I have like some sort of strength workout, I'll literally do my run, change,
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go to the gym, do that workout.
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And if I do it right, right after work, it will get done.
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I'm definitely someone that if it's in the program for that day, it's happening.
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Like, it's very cliche and we've all heard it.
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It's like, if it matters to you, you'll make time for it.
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And I'm definitely that person.
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And running to me, it's meant the world to me.
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It's changed like how I definitely see myself and my own confidence, even just outside of running.
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So I think that that's been a huge thing for me.
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So yeah, no, it's just, I squeeze it in wherever I can.
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It's and I've got a great great group of friends and family that they support it so much.
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So if I'm away on like a bachelor at, if I'm like, sorry guys, like I got 16K to run,
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they're like, okay, we'll see you in your back.
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So if I am very lucky that way.
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But I also try to still maintain that balance of if I'm going away,
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I'll be like, okay, can we shift my runs around so that I may be running an 11K on that day versus
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like my long 30K run.
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So I definitely try to balance it out, but it does get hard.
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It does get hard.
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I'm lucky.
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I don't have any, well, I say lucky with quotes because I don't have any kids.
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So that also takes away any of those kind of struggles of trying to balance kids and work
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and everything like that.
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So I've got it easy, easy in that way.
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But yeah, it's hard, but I definitely, I love it enough to make it work for sure.
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I want to hear more about the confidence piece that you just alluded to a bit about running,
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doing wonders for your confidence.
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When did that happen?
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Is that when did you notice that maybe you were, I don't want to say a different person,
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but when did you notice that change in yourself with running and with the confidence that it gave you?
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I think because when I was in high school, I definitely was someone that I was always afraid to stick
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to things because I was always afraid of failing them.
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So if someone was like, oh, we have a like university rugby tryouts for you to go to,
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because it's that next level up, I go, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
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So I self-sabotaged really quickly because I was like, well, if I fail, that's embarrassing.
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But then I'm like, but now you're not trying.
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So then you just give it up completely.
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And that was, that was what I did with everything, absolutely everything, except for running.
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When I started running, when I did my first marathon, when I crossed that finish line,
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and I realized I had qualified for Boston, I was like, that was kind of the like moment where
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it clicked where I was like, okay, maybe I can be good at this. Like maybe I'm actually good at
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something and I was like, I need to see this through. And I think because it came somewhat
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naturally, like I worked my butt off for the 329, but I was like, but it came so naturally where
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some people, they're first, it's like four or five hours to complete a marathon. I was like,
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for me to be able to do this running like 50 or 60 kilometers a week, there's got to be something
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to it. So I think by feeling that confidence of like, hey, you tried, you didn't fail.
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And it was worth it in the end. Mind you, I've definitely had many failures since then in running.
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And the old me would have been like, hey, forget it, I'm done running them.
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Whereas like the me now, because I love the sport so much, and it means so much to me,
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and has changed that perspective for me. Now I'm like, okay, that sucked, but like, let's get
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rolling again. Like what do we need to change? And so I think that that's been a huge shift for me.
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And I think without that, I probably would have given up running a long time ago. So I think that
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that's massive for me. And I think now when I go into the sport or when I lace up for another
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marathon block, I'm confident, I'm ready, I'm good to go. And I'm like, I will work my butt off.
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And I think that's why again, like I said, I just find the time to do it because it's worth it to me.
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So now with your relationship with running, is there such a thing as failure in running for you?
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And I know that we can say, and there's, you know, this to me, there's something bad about failure.
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If we say we want to run sub three and we run three 20, well, we didn't hit our goal. That is,
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by definition, can be a failure. It doesn't mean it's a terrible thing and the world is over.
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For sure. But for you now, are there, you know, quote, failures in running? And how do you approach
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them and deal with them? I think now, like my perspective is less like, I definitely trip on the
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word fail sometimes. I'll say it. And I'm like, no, you didn't fail. It's like, it was kind of like
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a bump in the road or something to learn from versus a failure. So even I, again, many times I've
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had many time goals and I haven't hit them since my current PB from 2024. I haven't, I haven't
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hit them. Any of the races I ran this year, I did not hit any of the time goals I wanted.
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And I don't see it as failure. I see it as like, I take a second to reflect back on the race and go,
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what went wrong? What or like what mistake did I make? Or maybe I need to change this in my
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programming? Or maybe I need to add more fuel here or there. So I think I've kind of been able to
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shift my mindset to it wasn't a failure. It was just kind of like a whoopsie.
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A whoopsie? A whoopsie. What that on a t-shirt? It was just a whoopsie.
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So I, because I think you go into thinking everything's just a failure, then it's like,
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kill them. Why would you want to do it again? Like, there's nothing positive about the word failure.
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So I've definitely tried to shift my mindset to just kind of like a learning curve, a whoopsie,
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just what can you do to reflect on it to do better? And again, and I've done that for many races
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this past year. And even doing that, I still didn't hit my goal on the next run. And that's okay,
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where like the Meg from a few years ago would have been balling her eyes out at the finish line
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being like, oh my god, this is the worst experience ever. Like, I hate everything about running,
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running sucks. I could never want to put all my running shoes ever again. But it's like,
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it's just that's not where my mind is anymore. I've definitely matured as a runner.
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And just I think again, that reflects back on like my confidence, because I'm like, I know,
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I know I can do it. It's just maybe just not now. So were you ever worried that you weren't going to
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get to that point that you were always going to be someone who might cry at the finish line or
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never want to put her running shoes on again? 100%. 100%. After Chicago 2023, I went into that race,
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long story short, I went into that race, fully trained and prepped to run my first sub three.
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That was the goal. I had just run a three hour and 11 second marathon a couple months before that.
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So I was like, okay, like you, you're fine. Like it's happening. And I was, I had so many injuries.
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Like, I, there was no reason for me to run that race. Like, I should have pulled the plug. I
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should have never ran it. And it was when I looked back on it and now I was like, that was a failure.
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You were dumb enough to run that race. And you failed yourself by putting yourself in that position.
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And I regretted to this day because I was in so much pain finishing that race physically.
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And that race was actually the race that almost took me out of running. Because I was like,
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I didn't, I couldn't quite chalk it up to the injury. It was like, no, you suck. You're too slow.
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You're not good enough. And all these things. But it's like, even my physio was like, no, like
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let me literally show you everything that's wrong with your body right now. Post race that led to
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what happened. And there were like planter faciitis. My Achilles was literally about to pop. Like
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there was so many things, but I'm too, I was too stubborn. And at that end of that race, my,
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my parents didn't call me because they knew I was going to be just a wreck. And I texted them late
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that night before I went to bed. And I was like, I know you guys didn't text me because you know
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that I'm very unhappy. I'm fine. It is what it is. But I was like this, like literally a
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hair away from being like, I never want to do a race again. And a couple of weeks went by. And
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I signed up for Chicago 2024 as you do as a, as a racer. And I was like, that's going to be my
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redemption run. And then 2024 season came around. And I had fantastic marathons in the spring time
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that weren't like, I had no sub three goals for them. But they were, they were great races. They
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were like again, three hours in change. And but Chicago 2024 was my redemption run. I was like,
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this is it. This is happening. And it was the healthiest I had ever been physically. And I went
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into that race. I was like, I know I have this. Like I could feel it in every build, every run,
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every mile I put on my body, every strength work that I did. I was like, I got this. We're good.
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We're in so then 2024 Chicago hit. And I got my first sub three. And I was like, see,
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see, you just needed to like figure out your injuries. You needed to change your strength training.
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You needed to be smart. So then that was the best race of my life as of right now. So yeah, so it was
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you live and you learned for sure. But the the old me would have definitely
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I questioned whether I'd ever get to that point. And Chicago 2024 made me realize like, I'm not
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that girl anymore. I'm not that runner anymore. So I definitely look at things very differently now.
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So yeah, what an awesome. That was a little bit of a babble. Oh, but did you see I was like hanging
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on every word. I'm like, keep going. My hand and my way too long there.
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This episode of the Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by Lagoon. It has been very fun
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Well now we get to talk about all things Berlin. Like we said earlier, you are a couple weeks out
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now from Berlin. If you were to sum up the training for Berlin before we even get to the race,
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we're going to slow build this one. Let's talk about your training. What was different about
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this training block? You were working with a new coach for this one, is that right? Yeah, so I had
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actually never had a coach until Berlin. So all my other stuff was just my crazy brain coming up
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with whatever it could come up with to race. And after Chicago 2024 and I ran my sub three,
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I was like, okay, I need a little extra something. I mean, a little extra boost. So I started working
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with Jeff Cunningham. He's a bit of a big name. And so I was nervous. I was like, oh boy,
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like, I was like, this is going to be a whole other ball game. And so we started working together
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for Berlin. And he had me doing paces like I could not even imagine doing on any, any given day.
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I was like, getting these workouts as like, this is nuts. Like, I don't know who you think I am,
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but like it ain't this. And so we started working together slowly building up my lunch. We had a
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lot of big workouts. And the training itself, like it went really, really well. The whole block went
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really well. I managed to kind of stay injury free for the most part. Like sure there were a couple
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like physio appointments just for some tweaks, but like stayed healthy throughout the build. It was
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a really awesome build. I learned so much from him. He's incredibly like he's incredible. He has
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so much knowledge. It's insane. His resume is stacked with so many incredible runners that like
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I was following and like looked up to before I even worked with him. And so he's, he knows what he's
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doing. And so I was super excited to work with him. And I could feel myself getting more fit as we
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would go week by week. So the prep for sure it was there. It was definitely there. And we were,
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we were on the ballpark to hit a 255 marathon. And that was the goal. That was the initial A goal.
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And then as Berlin heated up over those two days, we pivoted. And even that one unfortunately,
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I ended up missing that goal. We ended up pivoting to like a 257. Him and I would both agree that
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my level of fitness was definitely able to hit a 257 even a 255. It was just not the day to do it.
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And we were staying very cautious of the heat there in in Berlin. So
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but the build itself was fun. It was fun, scary, but successful. I would say.
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You and you've posted about this a little bit, but that during this training block, you dealt with a
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pretty significant loss. The loss of your dad. What role did running play as you navigated the,
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you know, the very non-linear line that is grief. How did running fit in initially? It didn't. So
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Jeff was one of the first people I had actually reached out to. And as you do, like, I knew
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reaching out to him, he wasn't going to be like, what do you mean you're not hitting your runs this
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week? Like I knew obviously that. But the person I am is the person that like if it's on the
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schedule is happening. And so he was like, no, no, no, no, no, take time. Take the time to do what you
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need to do. And be there for your family. So and for yourself. So we ended up taking some time.
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Only a couple days because I was like, I don't know what's worse for me. I don't know if sitting at
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home thinking about it is the right move for me. Because I've used running as most of us call it
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or my therapy rate. I've used it on those days for your side, your mad. I've used it on days where
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I'm happy. Like I've used it for so many different reasons and and just fitness as a whole. And so
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I was actually quite eager to get back to it because I knew I knew that's what my dad would want.
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And I knew that he would not want me sitting there being like
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sitting there crying and putting my dreams on hold. I knew that because he's a type of guy and
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most parents I'm sure feel the same is like my dreams are his dreams.
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So
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while I worked through that, Jeff was great and he just kept encouraging me to do what I felt was
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right. And so I gave myself a couple days and I got a right back to it because I knew that that
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was what was right for me and like my mental health. It never gets easier to talk about.
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So once we kind of pivoted from that, we kind of just jumped right back into it. But he definitely
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Jeff was definitely keeping me in check. He was making sure that I was eating properly still and
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I was sleeping properly because what's the point of doing all this if I'm not taking my care of
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myself entirely. So running was huge for me. It's it means so much to me and it definitely is my
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outlet for the good and the bad and everything in between. So getting back to it was hard and I felt
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a little bit guilty almost, but I knew the longer I waited the worse it probably was going to be.
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So pushing myself to get up, get my shoes on, go out the door was tough, but once I did it and
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was out there, I was I was okay and we were good. So yeah, so it definitely was not easy, but I knew
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it was best for me in that moment. So yeah. I'm so sorry for you and your family's loss and I
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appreciate what you just said about feeling that guilt of like feeling like you should just be
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staying home and being sad. Like what am I doing being out running, but anyone who's been through
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any type of grief or something hard and I think maybe runners, we just get each other and you
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know like you need that you need that outlet and that release and to feel that connection to yourself
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or whatever whatever it gives you and so yeah. Thank you for for sharing all that. I think all the
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runners listening, you know, we all have different lives and experiences, but I think we can all relate
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to that almost complicated relationship with running of like this is who this is what makes me who I am.
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I need to get back to this and and feeling pulled in different directions. So I apologize for all my
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hesitation and my ums on that one. You're trying to keep myself together. You're perfect and that
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that stuff is never easy to talk about. So thank you for thank you for sharing. Let's go to Berlin.
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Let's talk about Berlin. There were there were highs, there were lows, there were in between.
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If you were to sum up, oh, 2025 Berlin marathon. Is there like a sentence or a couple words you
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could put on it? Okay, let's think about this one. I'm sure there's some words that I probably can't
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use. We have a bleep button. It's fine. Whatever you want. I would say, oh boy, a shit show.
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Perfect. Perfect. Let's go there. Okay. Got and I say that respectfully. Kind of.
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Yeah, I don't even know where to begin to be honest. Great trip there and but the race, I'm sure
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lots of people have seen. There's a few videos circulating online and everything was great
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until it wasn't. So obviously temperatures were hot, which is extremely unusual for Germany at
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this time of year, but they also had an unusually hot summer as well from a couple of people I've
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spoken to who live in Germany and the first two days I was there, it was cool temperatures,
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it was overcast, it was fall, it was fall. Perfect race day weather. I know. I know. So it was fantastic
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and I was like, okay, this is great, but the temperature on Sunday kept changing to hotter and hotter.
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And I was like, I looked at this a week ago and it said it was 18 and overcast and now we're at
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like 25 and climbing. So the first on the Saturday, it was already, I think Saturday was 28.
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It was so hot, so hot. And so that's when Jeff called me and was like, I know we worked for a 255,
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but it's not going to happen in these. And I was more than happy. I was I was okay with that.
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I was like, that's fine. I know, I know my body can run at 255, but I'm not willing to risk dehydration
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or fainting or getting sick or anything like this. So I was okay with pivoting to be honest.
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Again, the old me would have been like devastated over this and protesting against Jeff like,
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no way, what are you talking about? But it it was the right thing to do. And so we ended up pivoting and
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I started the race. And honestly, I think like 4K and I was already dripping from like my forehead.
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And I knew how I was like, if I'm already this hot and I took cups from the water station throwing
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it over my head, throwing it down my shirt, everything I could possibly do. I've never ran with
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hydration before and I had had a water bottle with me in my hands. So I was doing everything I
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possibly could. And it just it never and never relaxed. It never got like to a comfy temperature.
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So that was like I said, a shit show in itself. And then those infamous water stations, I've never
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seen anything like that in my life. I knew that Berlin. So Berlin does the plastic cups, not the
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paper ones that most of us are used to where you can pinch them and all that stuff. And when you
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throw them on the ground, when you step on them, you don't even notice them because they're paper,
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they just basically flattened. These plastic cups were everywhere, everywhere. When you hit a
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water station, all you heard was the plastic cups clinking and rolling by they were slippery, they
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were piling up all along the side of the roads. People were taking like three or four cups at a time,
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and they had tables, but like most people were stopping at the first table. So then it would create
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this like crowd of people and just congest. So it's like, you're either not getting your water,
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which everybody needs right now. Or you're trying to get one at another table, but you basically
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almost have to come to a full stop to get it from the table. So it was just it was chaos. It was
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honestly chaos. And I've never had to slow out a water station like that ever. I like, I shouldn't
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have to come to a complete almost walk. It was insane, but people were like, it's not as crazy,
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but it's like people were fighting for their lives to get water. And which leads me into the next
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kind of disaster that I think faster didn't mean most, to be honest. So at the water stations,
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obviously everyone's freaking out trying to get water. And all of a sudden I feel two hands
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on the back of my shoulders. And I just get shoved. And I'm I'm five three. I'm a little lady. Like
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it's I'm a little lady. And there's men out there. There's women out there. I'm like,
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why? And it was this man who was like six foot tall. Like and he launched me like I don't think
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he meant to push me as hard as he did. But in all like his momentum of him trying to run out of
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the water with his hands and then pushing me, I flew. So I'm not falling on all fours. And when I
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fell down, I was trying to stop myself as much as I could. And I just kind of felt like a little
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bit of like a weird kind of twist in my in my left knee. And I knew it wasn't I get like I knew I
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wasn't done. But it didn't feel great. I can tell you that much. And so I kind of I got up and
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I may have exchanged a couple words. I don't know if there's fleeps in the cover that one.
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And then I went on my way. But at that point, I was like, am I going to finish this race alive?
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Like, am I going to get out of this and actually complete this race? Because it was just it was
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like barbaric almost the way that some people were we're fighting for their lives. I'm like, we
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all want water. We all want to finish this race. I'm sure all of us or at least a lot of us want a
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PR on this race like Berlin's meant to be fast. But let's not get physical with people like let's
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not shove people out of the way so that you can get back on to your run. So that was I know I'm
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saying a lot of negative things about the race. They'll get to the good things. Yeah, well, get to the
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good. They I think that's probably the worst part is those hydration stations. They were extremely
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poorly managed. I've ran 11 marathons. I've seen races in Europe. I've seen them in America. I've
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seen them in Canada. I've never seen anything like that in my life. And so that was kind of like a
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weird awakening that I was like, this is how this race is going to go. And so that was around like
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the 1718 K mark. And then I was I think it was like 2425. I can't remember. And all this is also
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while it's blisteringly hot out. And I get to the next station and low and beholds, I get absolutely
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tripped onto my face again. This time I was able to kind of catch myself a little bit. But I was
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I'm done. I'm done. I was like, this has knocked me off any sort of pace plan. I was running I think
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after the first fall, like my next split was like a 440 because it just I was trying to focus on like
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mentally getting back into it. But I also was worried that my knee wasn't going to be good. And
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I running I don't have an off season. Let's put it that way. So it's like when one race ends,
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I have another race planned. So I didn't want to be and I didn't want to risk an injury for my
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next one. When I already had a feeling this one was not going to work out for me. And so
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after the second fall, it was honestly survival. I was like, try and dump as much water as you can on
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your head. If you can get to a water station, drink as much as you can if there's the option,
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keep feeling and just kind of get to the finish, which was not how I saw this race going.
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At all. And Jeff and I were very disappointed in that more than anything. And so that was super
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unfortunate. And you'd be very surprised at the amount of people that have messaged me since I
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posted that saying they experienced the same thing. Why? Like why? There's no, sorry, but none of us
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are winning the Berlin Marathon. So there's no reason you need to treat other people that way.
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The elites were already done and like having pizza at the finish line while we were at this water
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station. So it's like, it's just not worth it. And so unfortunately the day didn't go as we had hoped.
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But when I finished at the finish line, I was like, this is beautiful view. Like I'm running through
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the brand number gate, getting my fifth star. And sorry, fourth star. And I know that my
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family is waiting for a text, a video and all that stuff. They've been tracking me friends,
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family. So I honestly, I wasn't worried. I wasn't upset. I was more frustrated at the people
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and the water stations and that kind of how how things like that were managed. But by no means was I
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at that point of like, I'm done running. And that was the slowest I ran in probably two years.
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So I think that speaks a lot to the race. But yeah, it's unfortunate that that's my first experience
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because I've heard a lot of fantastic things about Berlin. But I think I think it's a one and done
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for me for Berlin, to be honest. Yeah, a lot of a lot of trauma there. Yeah. I mean, I'm just
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picturing like the Stampede from the Lion King. Like you don't want to go down because the race
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is not stopping behind you to be for you to get up. And that can be really disorienting. I mean,
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falling is disorienting. Falling is hairy. So I hate that that happened to you more than once.
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Yeah, it was crazy. Can we talk about the cool part of Berlin? Oh, yeah, which I wonder what that
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consists of. In short, one direction music here. Okay. How did you end up running a good majority
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of this race with Mr. Harry Styles? Honestly, I still wonder how it was like the wildest thing ever.
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I'm just doing my thing in the Star Carouse as everyone does where you're just lounging around.
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And I'm standing there and I'll keep the story as short as possible. No, no, no, I want every detail.
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Do not hold out on me. I'm standing there and I'm looking over and I'm like,
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that's not Harry Styles. I was like, there's no way. Because I didn't know the whole hot gossip that
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he was in Berlin, potentially running it. I guess I missed that. And so I was like,
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I don't think that's him, but I kind of think it is him. And so I looked away and then I went
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out. I was like, no, that's Harry Styles. I was like, this girl's love for one direction when she was
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younger was massive. She knows Harry Styles when she sees him. So I was like, play it cool though,
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play it cool. Because you're going to be the person that freaks out and then security comes out
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of nowhere and like, attacks you. So I'm like, okay, like, what do you do? What do you do? And mind
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you, like, I am an adult now, but like, I still love like his solo stuff and everything like that.
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And I mean, it's Harry Styles. I love him. So I'm standing there and somehow our washing lines
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end up kind of merging. I don't know how, but you know, the bathroom. Wait, he was in line for
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the porta-punny. Yeah, he was in line. He's just like a normal person. Yeah, he was just in line
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standing there. And like, so worse, I'm saying, and somehow I still don't know how I told, I
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for sure, but it hit him. But like, our lines ended up merging and somehow I was like kind of in
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front of him, but like beside him. And so I just, I was like, just do it. What's what are you going to
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lose? Just kiss something. Yeah, just, just, just, just not what you did. Just proposed to him, not
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already. So I look over and like, very quietly. Because I was like, I get it. You're just trying to
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do your thing. I was like, Oh, like, Hey, I really like your work. Do you mind if we take a photo?
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And he's like in his glorious accent was like, Oh, like, do you mind if we actually don't? And
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I was like, no problem because he didn't want like, crowd, and I get it. Totally get it. So I was
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like, Oh, yeah, like, no problem. And I just kind of played it cool. I even thought it was secretly
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hardbroken. I was like, no problem. Like, have a great race. Like, good luck. Bub, bub, bub, bub,
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and then I go to turn away and he puts his hand out and he is like, what's your name? And I was
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like, Oh my god, I don't even remember what my name is. Why? I was like, I just blocked out. So he,
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I shake his hand and I'm like, Oh, like, I'm Megan. And he's to go nice to me. And he is like,
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Oh, like, is this your first race? I was like, No, this is like my 11th. But so we were just talking
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and I asked him because I knew he had done Tokyo. So it's a goal. Like, how did you like Tokyo?
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And we were chatting about that. And we just kind of like, wrapped up the conversation. So I went
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and like, I turned around and again, I was like, Oh, like, have a great race. Whatever. So I turn
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around and I'm standing there again, waiting for the the bathroom. And I feel like a top all my
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shoulder. And I was like, I'm thinking at someone being like, get out of the line or like,
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something like that. So I turn around and it's him. And he's like, I feel I know it's basically
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soulmate status. So he is, I was like, turn around. And he's like, I really like your shoes. And I
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was just wearing like my Nike vapor five threes. And when he was pointing out is on the heels,
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I wrote four dad Berlin 2025. And he is like, I like what you wrote. And which was really,
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honestly, like melted my heart not just because it's Harry Styles. But I was like, the fact that he
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acknowledged that was like super sweet. So I said to him, I was like, Oh, like, thank you so much.
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I was like, my dad passed away just in May. So this is kind of a race dedicated to him. And he was
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like, he's like, Oh, like I'm really sorry to hear about your loss. Like, that's beautiful. And I
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just go like, thank you. And that was kind of like the conversation. And we left it. We left it there.
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And but he had kind of an entourage, but not really. Like, I think I don't know who they were.
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One was for sure a security guard. He looks like one. He looked like he would be anybody up.
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But he was like, they were all very casual. And then there was two other people with him. And his
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friend, Nikolai, who was pacing him. And so we're all there. And I go to like go to the bathroom. And
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one of his like, I don't know who I guess is like manager or entourage. I don't know.
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Was like, Oh, like do you want me to hold your things while you go to the bathroom? I was like,
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I'm sorry, are we best friends? Are we best friends? I think you're engaged.
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And we're I was gonna say the wedding is next week. Just just you got the hot scoop now.
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So I was like, Okay, like we're we're we're doing this. So I give it to him whatever. And I come
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back out and here he goes into the washroom. And as I go like have great race guys, like I'm
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gonna go hop into the carol. So I jump into the carol and I hopped the fudge because it was
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easier than going around. And I'm standing there. And then all of a sudden him and Nikolai are right
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beside me. And Nikolai is like, we're gonna follow you. Do you mind? And I was like, because we had
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very similar time goals. And I was like, in my head, I was like, it's hairy styles. Why are you even
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asking me if this is okay? Like you know the answer. So I was like, of course, like I'm playing it
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so cool. And in my head, I was like, what is happening? Like this is hairy styles right beside
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me. And he's asking to run with me. Like I don't I my brain cannot compute. So we're all saying
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they're the crowd long story short. We're chatting and the start line goes off and we start running.
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And you know how start lines aren't it's crazy. It's chaos. And so we're all kind of scooting
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around going around and all of a sudden I like I feel hairy like on my side. And I took my my
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my like my air pot out because that first I didn't know it was him. And then I was like, oh, like
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hello. So I took it out. And he's like, um, Nikolai had to drop out. And this was after like, I
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don't know, I think like maybe two K. He's like, he had to drop out. He's like, do you mind if I run
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with you? And I was like, again, in my head, I was like, why are you asking such a silly question,
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Harry? Like you can do anything to me. Take that how you well, runners. Oh, I mentioned how I
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mentioned. I literally asked you for a photo. Do you think I like why would I ever say no to this?
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So I was like, Oh, yeah, like, absolutely. You could run with me. And so it's it's insane. And I
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think it speaks to him though, how fast he made it feel like I was just running with another runner.
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Which was really crazy when I think back to saying that now because I'm like, it was hairy styles.
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It that's not normal. And we were just running and like he was so he was awesome. Like he was such a
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great partner to run with. Like if he got two water cups, like he would hand me one for me. And
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it we were it honestly felt like I was just running with like my friend. It was it was really great.
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It was awesome. And then I did tell him because he was worried. He was like, oh, but like if I
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can't run like I don't want to mess up your race though. And I was like, then I know like it's fine.
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But I was race now. Yeah, I was like, you are the race. And you are everything right now.
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And so I said to him though, I was like, if anything happens though, we're like, you feel like any like
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I'm lagging or whenever I was like, go, just go. Like I know you have a time, but don't like don't
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worry about me or anything like that. So we were scooting along. And when I fell the first time,
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he was a little bit ahead of me because he went to go get water from like an additional table.
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And I don't even like, I mean, I'm pretty positive. He didn't see me fall because anytime we would
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kind of like separate a little, he would always like, if I was in front of him, I'd look back and
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kind of like find a way to get him up with me and like vice versa. So I think he just didn't see
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me fall. And I mean, even if he had come, I'd been like, no, like go, go, go, go, go. So obviously he
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kept going. He definitely didn't see me fall. And so our love story ended at about 1718K.
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But then he went on to get a sub three. So like, that's pretty freaking cool. So yeah.
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Was there any discussion about him worrying along sleep shirt on such a hot day?
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Well, I did mention the heat. And he was like, yeah, people have me very worried. And I remember
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looking at him, I'm like, you're in a long sleeve. Like, what do you mean? Black long sleeve.
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So, but yeah, I know he ran the whole race in that long sleeve. I should have taken it off.
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Well, your eye was like sweating like a pig at like 3k. And this man's just like, oh,
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can I have my long sleeve? I was like, your hairy styles, I guess it fits.
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So were people either in the race or spectators? And obviously he didn't have his name on his bib.
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He ran under an alias. Yes, he did. Were people recognizing him?
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When I was with him, not one person came up to him. So when we were in the washroom line,
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not one person came up while I was talking to him. And when we were in the crowd, and we were in
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the crowd, we're probably good. Because like, we're in the crowd together when the wheelchairs
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went off, which is significantly earlier than we did. And not one person came and was like, oh,
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hey, like are you hairy? Like, no one. And I couldn't believe it. Because I was like, as soon as I
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pulled up to that port of party line, I was like, that's hairy styles. That's that's him. And then I was
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like talking myself out of it that it was in. Because it's like, it's really early. Maybe you've
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just like have not got on to the time zone and your brain is mush. But then as soon as like, I
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was like, no, that's hairy styles. So I don't know if people just like, we're not
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observing or not. Yeah, everyone's so focused on themselves. Yeah, we're all gonna be looking for
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members of one direction guys. I was like, screw myself. I forget why I was like, this is hairy style.
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But, uh, God, no, it was, it was very surreal. And even to this day, like when I look at the photos
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from the race and the videos on like Twitter that other people took, I'm like, that's me. I'm like,
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that's like, that was a real thing. And like on TikTok, I posted some stuff and people were like,
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I think it's at like almost like just short of a million views. Like people went crazy for this. And
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that's why I was like, I find it so funny when I'm like, I don't even realize like it was
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like, he felt like such a normal person while we were running. And then I then in those moments when
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I'm like, I've literally had like three TikTok followers in my life. And now I have like almost a
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million views on one. And like, I don't even know how many comments and blah, blah, blah. And I'm like,
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that's not those are the moments where I'm like, no, no, like that was hairy styles. Like that's crazy.
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So it was, it was a really cool experience. And outside of everything, like that plus running through
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just beautiful Berlin. And completing my four star and getting to see a bunch of people that
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haven't seen that are all over the country. It's there was some awesome things about the race and
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about the day itself. Of course, I do have those initial complaints. That's okay. Yeah. But it is
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what it is. And we finished the race. And now we're we're moving on from here. So onto the next.
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I love that. Yeah. I mean, I love that whole story so much. Obviously, I'm like beaming over here
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because it's just so fun to hear about. But what I love the most is that and maybe this is me being
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very sunshine and rainbows of how I go through life. But like, isn't that the beautiful thing about
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running is that on the day, yes, he's hairy styles. But he was a guy who trained for this, who had a
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goal, who was out running a marathon. Yeah. Exactly. He was doing what tens of thousands of other
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runners that day were doing. And like, he's one of us. Exactly. And I think that's too why, like,
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when he was like, do you mind if we don't? Yeah. I was like, absolutely. Like, and that was kind of why,
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like, I, it was a barrier. I didn't very like low key because I, I knew if we caught, like, if I
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caused to see, like, if I was one of those people, that was like, oh my god, oh my god, it's hairy styles.
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Then it would have been just craziness at the start line. And like you said, I would be
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whether I'm a celebrity or not, it's like, you change your butt off. And now you just want to be
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a quote unquote normal person and do something for you. And so I was like, it's not my place to
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kind of corrupt that and ruin your experience because I'm a fan and I want to photo. So it was,
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it was cool to have that normal sea. And now it's closer look back on that's not normal.
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It was definitely like a once in a lifetime. Like, I got very lucky being in that situation. But,
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yeah, it was super cool. Well, there was obviously something about you too, about your,
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you know, whether it was your energy or your shoes or just that you were respectful and it wasn't,
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you know, you didn't freak out in Fangirl. Like, there was obviously something about you that him
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and his, his crew felt safe around, which is really cool. So yeah, I love this story. And I know
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that there was so much about Berlin that didn't go your way. And a lot of ways that it wasn't the best
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day. But this will forever be the time that you ran a marathon with hairy styles. And you may not have
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gotten a selfie in the line for the bathroom. But you now have all these race photos and videos,
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which I think that's way cooler. 100%. And it's so funny because that was when the pictures all came
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out. I was like, I got my photo anyways. So yeah, I add to cart. Yeah. I'm gonna order a frame. I'm
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gonna get this until like a snow globe. Yeah, everything. Okay. But do you know what I love? Is
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saying your race photos are ready? And because he's just like us, he looked at them. And I'm just
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waiting for someone on his team to look and see your bib number and reach out and be like,
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Hey, you just wanted to thank you. And here's to his next show. Yeah, I wish I would die inside of
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that ever happened because I'm like, I'm just, I'm just me and I'm glad I got to run with him. And
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I'm glad we had a bit of like a partner in that heat for those first 17 kilometers. So, but
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you know what, it will be a story I forever have no matter what. And I did very like low key. I
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sense not like he'll ever see it. But I sent a message me like, Hey, you got your like sub three
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congratulations. And I just kind of left it at that. But I was like, maybe he'll see it one day,
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maybe he won't. But I was like, when you hit a sub three, you deserve all the congrats, whether
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your Harry Styles, not. So yeah, we'll see we'll see if he ever gets that message. But otherwise,
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I will forever tell this story until the day I die. And you know, now that he's done two of the
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majors, he's probably going to start doing all of them. And we're going to see him in, you know,
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Boston, Chicago, New York, London, like, you never know. Pads may cross again. So you always got to
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be looking. Before I let you go, I always end every episode of the alley on the run show with our
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sprint to the finish round. Okay. I put you through our rapid fire questions. I promised no one
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is going to push you, shove you or knock you down. Perfect. Last trauma, the better. Okay. All right.
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What would your last meal on earth be? Pizza. Favorite movie.
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Stepbrothers. Oh, nice. So favorite TV show.
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Gilmore, girls. Oh, good answer. Best. What food reminds you of your childhood?
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Oh, you know what? My dad's salmon burgers. Oh, nice answer. Yeah. Who would you want to play
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you in a movie? Oh, gosh. Will Ferrell just because I love him. Okay. Wait, you'll appreciate this.
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I went to see Hamilton on Broadway. And this was like in the first weeks it had opened. Okay.
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And so it was like all the celebrities were going to Hamilton. Oh, cool. Will Ferrell at the time.
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We'll say favorite actor. And I say, we'll. Okay. So I see Will Ferrell in the lobby. And I go up to him
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and I'm like, Hey, I'm a huge fan. I was like, all of your movies are my favorite movie. Oh, my
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God. And I just wanted to say hi. And he was like, hi. And I go, would it be okay if we took a
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picture together? And he goes, I'd rather not. And I was like, no worries. All good. Are you kidding?
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Yeah. Okay. But Harry Styles also said, no, which is why I was like, you'll appreciate this story.
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So he's like, no, thank you. I think he just didn't want to draw attention to himself. Like,
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again, knew that then people would see him notice him. And he was just doing his thing. So I'm like,
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sure, no problem. I was there for work at the time. I worked in that industry. So I used to get
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really good seats to these shows. So of course, I go into the theater. And who do you think I am
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seated directly behind? No, I have this in there for two and a half hours as the girl who asked and
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it got rejected for a selfie. And you're like, now here, I'll stare at the back of your head.
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I was like, now I look like a stalker. But like, I swear, these are my seats. Like, I'm that is so
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funny. This is, this is your hairstyle story. But you know what? I've always said, I do appreciate
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this because I've said the day I meet Will Ferrell is a day that I can die a happy woman.
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Oh my gosh. Well, don't ask for a photo. Make sure you do that.
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Make sure you do that. That's the way for everyone. Yeah. I'm so jealous. Oh my god.
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I'm jealous of you. So you know, in in another life, we can swap stories. So there you go.
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That's my my Will Ferrell story for you. I love it. He'll play you in a movie. What is your favorite
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pasta shape? I love, you know what? Let's go.
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Penny classic. What was your very first job?
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Oh gosh. Works as a cashier at Canadian Tire. Oh, nice. That was my very first job. Did you smell
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like tires when you would get home at night? Honestly, I hope not. That's a strong smell.
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That's a rough go. Like, like, tire rubber. Oh. Okay. When you were very little, what did you
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want to be when you grew up? A marine biologist. Same classic. We all did because we met like,
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playing with dolphins all day. And then I realized I was too dumb. Yeah, you have to like,
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go to science school for that. Yeah. I was like, I'm a little bored now. That tells you my
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math skills are not not great. I host a podcast about running. So yeah, even farther away from
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math. Favorite ice cream flavor. Oh, peanut butter chocolate. Biggest pet peeve. When people chew
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with their mouths open. Classic. If you could take a class in anything, what would it be? Oh, boy.
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A class in anything. I would say a class in anything. Let's say painting. Ooh. If you could go for a run
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with anyone who would it be? Safan Hassan. Oh, that's that would be fun. That would be
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She's like, you're incredible.
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I was terrible idea.
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I love it.
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In one word, how does running make you feel?
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Powerful.
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Ooh, I love that.
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Last thing I need,
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give everyone listening a reason to go for a run.
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It'll bring you confidence
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that you've probably never experienced before.
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I love that answer.
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I have loved this conversation.
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I mean, I feel like my cheeks hurt
spk_0
because I just smiled the whole time.
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I know.
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Thank you so much for doing this.
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I'm so glad we were able to make it happen.
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Yeah.
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Congratulations on all of your success in running
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and we'll be following along and cheering you on
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as you continue on your exciting marathoning journey.
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Thank you so much for doing this.
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Awesome. Thank you so much.
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You're so fun.
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Thank you so much for being here for this episode
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of the Alley on the Run Show with my guest,
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Megan Howard.
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So many amazing takeaways from this conversation.
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I feel like Megan hit on so many different things,
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so many different emotions.
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And it was nice to end it with a big ol' smile
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hearing about all things Harry Styles in Berlin.
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So Megan, thank you for coming on the show.
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I loved getting to know you.
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Thank you all for choosing to listen to this show.
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There are millions of podcasts for you to choose from
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every day.
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So the fact that you are here listening to this one
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means so very much to me.
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If you're loving it,
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make sure you subscribe to the Alley on the Run Show
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and the podcast listening app of your choice.
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You can rate and review the show, share it,
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post about it, send it to Harry Styles.
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Whatever feels right to you.
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I appreciate you.
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Thank you, of course, to Lagoon for supporting this episode.
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You know where to get the codes.
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The links, all of that is in the show notes
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for this episode.
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Check them out.
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Support Lagoon.
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I sleep on the Otter Pillow and I sleep great.
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So check them out.
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Until next time, you've got this.
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You're doing great.
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And thank you for joining me on the run.