I’m coming to you with a bonus episode recorded live in Indianapolis during an incredible weekend at the 500 Festival Indy Mini Marathon and the USATF 5K Championships. I had the opportunity to announce the 5K and witness a high-stakes race where the top two finishers were competing for a spot on the world championship team, which made the energy in the city so special.

The day before the race, I hosted a live podcast at the beautiful Bottleworks Hotel alongside my friend Ally Brettnacher from Finish Lines and Milestones. These Indy weekends have become such a fun tradition for us, bringing the running community together in a meaningful way.

We were joined by an amazing panel: Emma Grace Hurley, Drew Hunter, and Courtney Frerichs. Emma Grace is in the middle of a breakout season, recently breaking an American record and continuing to stack impressive performances. Drew just won the USATF 5K Championship race that weekend and shared insights from his journey as both a professional athlete and a dad. Courtney, an Olympic and world silver medalist, opened up about her return to racing after navigating major injuries and surgeries over the past couple of years.

And in true live-event fashion, we had a surprise moment when Jenny Simpson jumped on the mic for a quick cameo, which made the night even more special.

This event came together with the help of some incredible local partners, and the atmosphere was just so much fun. We had great food, a shoe decorating station, and a packed room of people who love this sport.

Quick note on the audio: since this was recorded live with wireless mics, it may not be as crisp as a typical episode, but the conversation and energy more than make up for it.

If you enjoy this episode, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review, and if you’re ever in Indy for these race weekends in May or November, come join us live.