Finish Lines & Milestones: Episode 106: Lauren Gaudion - Running a Hal

This is a Sandy Boy Productions podcast.

Welcome to Finish Lines and Milestones.

0:18

I'm your host, Ali Brettnacher, and if you run, you're a runner, and every runner has a story.

Join me each week as I celebrate all different kinds of runners and celebrate Finish Lines and

0:29

Milestones.

And this milestone week?

0:32

Was.

Me getting ready for my very first Indie Mini Expo.

0:38

So the Indie Mini is a race in Indianapolis that has a 5K and a half marathon and I've run it 16

times.

0:44

This will be my 17th time.

Either that or I've done it 17, I don't know.

0:48

Anyway, I'll have to look at my spreadsheet, but I've done it a lot.

It's a rite of passage here in Indianapolis.

0:54

And so today was the first day at the booth and I loved meeting people who listen to this.

So if you were one of them, I love you.

1:02

I'm so glad I got to meet you in person.

And especially people too, who I've been following on Instagram or chatted with on Instagram and now

1:10

got to meet in real life.

It's so nice and it gives me so much energy and I need that for tomorrow and Saturday.

1:18

So tomorrow I'll be at the Expo all day.

That is actually today.

1:21

If you're listening when this podcast episode comes out on May 2nd, I'll be at the Expo all day and

then I'm Co hosting an event with Lindsay Hyne, who's the host of the I'll have another podcast with

1:32

Lindsay Hyne and also the founder of Sandy Boy productions, which is the podcast network that finish

lines and milestones is now a part of.

1:41

So we're doing a live podcast.

Lindsay will be interviewing Kim Conley, a two time Olympian and Cameron Balzer, who's a Hoosier and

1:49

he ran around the perimeter of the United States last year.

So two really amazing people to help energize people for the many.

1:57

And we've got over 100 people coming and I'm nervous and I'm excited and I don't want it to be over.

But I also can't wait till it's over.

2:05

I feel like running the mini on Saturday ironically is going to be my break from what has been a

crazy week and weekend.

2:13

But again, something that I live for and love so much.

So no complaining here.

2:17

I get to do this.

So before I tell you about this week's episode, I do want to make sure that I let you know that the

2:24

event is brought to you by Brooks Running.

Brooks Running came in as our title sponsor, all thanks to Athletic Annex.

2:32

Our local run speciality store also has an online presence, so if you're not local, check them out.

And then Athlete Bouquets, which is my business, which is the booth that I have at the Mini,

2:43

probably should tell you that Bitch sticks, Bottle works hotel where I'm sitting right now, Preven X

Project, Lean Nation, Transcend Training and Performance and Stress Lab.

2:54

Thank you so much to all of our incredible sponsors for making this event happen, getting Lindsay in

town.

3:01

I'm so excited and I'm really hoping that this is an event perhaps we can do year after year, but

perhaps we can do something similar around the Monumental Marathon in November.

3:11

Who knows?

But this has been really fun getting a chance to plan an event like this alongside something that I

3:18

love so much.

Now for this week's episode, I have Lauren Gaudian.

3:24

Lauren ran the Indie Mini last year with Tony Kanaan, who is an IndyCar driver now retired.

But if you don't know who Tony is, you should if you're local.

3:33

If you're not local, he's a famous IndyCar driver.

Google him.

3:37

Tony has been a fan favorite for so long, and to see him running the Indie Mini was so cool.

He's done it before, but last year I just happened to be pushing for Ainsley's Angels for the very

3:48

first time.

And I look over and there's Tony Kanaan and there's a woman running with him.

3:54

And we crossed the finish line close to them and I have a video, a picture of it.

They're in our finish line photos, which I'll definitely link for you.

4:02

But it was really funny.

And then afterwards, I thought, you know what, that would be a really cool story.

4:08

And so I tracked her down and here we are.

Lauren was a collegiate pole vaulter, which is super cool.

4:14

I don't think I've ever met a pole vaulter to be honest.

And.

4:17

She's also a runner and has been for for a time, and she runs without a watch, which I find

absolutely fascinating.

4:25

And I just find her life and career really fascinating.

So I know that you're really going to love this conversation with my new friend Lauren Gaudian.

4:36

Lauren Gaudian, welcome.

It's so nice to meet you.

4:39

Thank you you as well, been looking forward to this.

Oh my gosh, yeah, we get to talk about running.

4:43

It's the best.

Easy enough.

4:45

And you are have such a fascinating life I feel like.

Well, you're too kind.

4:49

Well.

I can't wait to just dig in.

4:51

So first of all, we have to talk to people about how creepy I am and how I found you originally.

Fair enough.

4:57

OK.

Thank you for not making me feel creepy.

5:00

You were like oh wow I can't believe you found me.

Probably like what in the world?

5:04

So last year I ran the mini marathon with Ainsley's Angels and I should have brought or I should

show you pictures because you're in my finish line photos too, to make it a level creepier.

5:15

But you ran the Indie Mini with Tony Kannan, right?

Which I feel like most people listening to this who are local should know that name.

5:21

If they don't, shame on you people who aren't local.

Tony Kannan is a very famous race car driver.

5:28

He's won the Indie 500 two or three times.

One time.

5:31

One time, only one.

Time in 2013?

5:33

Yeah, Isn't that wild.

You'd think for as much prominence as he has, he would have won it a few times.

5:37

But he won the IndyCar championship in 2004, Indy 500 in 2000. 15 maybe you guys can get that sorry

Tony he.

5:45

Wishes.

He wishes.

5:46

I feel like he should.

Yeah.

5:48

So.

So anyway, yeah.

5:49

So you ran with Tony Kannan.

And I remember you guys finished, like, right as we were finishing because I could hear people,

5:55

like, yelling.

And then I think the announcer said something.

5:58

And then I look over.

I'm like, Oh my gosh, yeah.

6:01

There's there's Tony Kannan.

And then there's a woman running with him.

6:03

And I was like, I wonder who that is?

So yeah, I looked up your bib number, found you on Instagram.

6:11

That's.

So funny.

6:12

That's amazing.

I mean, I'm impressed to your dedication to find out who I was, because that's hilarious to.

6:17

Me, well, I just thought I'm like, well, I think people would love to hear about how you ended up

running a half marathon with Tony Kanan.

6:24

Like how crazy is that?

Yeah.

6:26

So actually I started working for Errol McLaren the year that he was retiring, OK?

So he came on as a driver to Errol McLaren and I had just started a few months before and so I was

6:37

his press officer through the month of May and we got to know each other really well and low.

Does that mean press officer?

6:44

So basically throughout the month, they have different media opportunities and every time that

they're on track, there is media and sideline reporters that are coming by to understand kind of

6:52

what's going on in the car to the engineering stand.

And then my job is to kind of report that back, but also coordinate all of his media throughout the

7:00

month, so.

That's a big job.

7:02

For him, it was yes, yeah, because, I mean, he's huge and it was his last year.

He'd been, I think it was his 23rd Indy 500.

7:09

So the number of stories from NBC to ESPN, I mean, just media was latching on to this.

So it ended up being a very full month for him, but then also for me tagging along the.

7:20

Journey and like you're two months in when he joined.

Yes, yeah, yeah.

7:25

OK, I loved, I listened to the industrious podcast that you were on.

Oh, yeah.

7:28

And so when you go through the interview process to be part of Arrow McLaren and they're like, what

do you know about IndyCar?

7:34

And you're like, I know nothing.

Correct.

7:36

Yes.

I mean, how does that work?

7:38

So like.

How did you do this?

7:40

I mean, I think honestly as a media relations professional, that's kind of the environment that

you're always in that makes sense is you if you especially if you want to switch industries that you

7:51

have to ask a lot of questions because that's how you get to know the media India and what they're

trying to learn from you or your company.

7:57

Yeah, it makes sense.

So for me, it's just studying up what I need to then become a quasi expert on.

8:03

But also the brilliance behind being a media relations professional is that you never have to be the

expert.

8:08

You just have to know who has the answer.

You just have to be.

8:10

Able to find to the expert and be like this is the person you need to talk about this, correct yes

yeah, that makes sense.

8:16

And now you have to be a race fan.

Oh my gosh, being just immersed in the environment.

8:22

Yes, yeah, I pretty much dove into it that, you know, I've got like the checker flag earrings and

different things like that, that you just kind of get soaked into it.

8:29

But then also the McLaren brand, if you are a car fanatic or racing fanatic, it's a fun brand to be

involved in because you may not know anything about IndyCar, but a lot of people have seen a McLaren

8:41

or know the brand that it's fun to represent that as well.

Yeah, it's a really cool brand, and I told you when I saw you this morning that I thought you'd be

8:47

wearing Papaya.

Why is the name of the color Papaya?

8:50

That's so funny.

So we as a brand, I mean, you think of sports teams that have mascots and they make up a mascot that

8:58

then takes on this personality.

Well, rather than a mascot, we've taken on a color color.

9:03

So it is orange.

But to McLaren, it is papaya.

9:07

So everything that we do and where, I mean, I won't look like a traffic cone whenever I'm, you know,

walking up to the track because we're literally neon orange.

9:15

Yeah.

So do you know the minion song?

9:17

The papaya song?

Yes.

9:19

I figured with a kid.

And then you'd probably just had to have heard it anyway if you're all things papaya.

9:24

Yes, I would say I'm surprised that we haven't, you know, like really honed into that to like make

that hours because.

9:31

You don't want to because you don't want to go crazy.

That's.

9:33

Why?

Fair enough.

9:34

Yeah, that's a good.

Point because my kids love that song.

9:35

I swear I was listening to it yesterday and I was like Oh my gosh this now makes me think of Lauren

and Papaya for McLaren Arrow.

9:42

McLaren has been a team for how long?

So actually we are a pretty recent team.

9:46

McLaren bought into Sam Schmidt Peterson Racing, which was around since the early 2000s I believe.

OK, but they bought in in 2021 officially.

9:54

So then kind of came all the resources of the McLaren brand.

So it started out of like a 30 person racing team and now we're like 120.

10:02

Geez.

So a lot of growth in the four or five years.

10:06

Yeah.

And how many years have you been there now?

10:08

I started midway through 2022, so about 2 1/2 years now.

OK.

10:12

So cool.

It's been fun.

10:14

It's been a fun job.

Yes, I'm lucky because I don't sit in an office.

10:18

I I travel a lot for racing, which can be a blessing and a curse.

But yeah, I have to pinch myself when, you know, I start to get stressed out by just like the

10:26

day-to-day things that come up and I'm like, we're we're sending cars around a racetrack.

We're not saving lives.

10:31

I can tone it down a bit.

Oh yeah?

10:35

Well, you know, at a software job I had, we, you know, sold software that was not life changing.

And we always joked like, well, we got mouths to feed, right?

10:43

You know, we're all like just trying to feed our families here.

So we might not be saving lives, but we're doing something.

10:49

It puts things into perspective for sure.

Yeah.

10:51

So where do you get to travel this year?

Is this full schedules out by now?

10:55

Yes, yeah, I don't.

And I don't follow IndyCar super closely.

10:59

I think I told you via e-mail that I've actually been to an IndyCar race in Brazil.

Right, which I was going to ask you about that because.

11:04

Yeah, so we can talk about that some way, but yeah, it's so random.

So I like for a hot second was was interested and into it a little bit.

11:11

I would work for the city, but yeah, otherwise like don't really know a ton.

So yeah, so the schedule is out and so you just get the schedule and you get to travel all over the

11:19

world there.

How many international?

11:21

I wish it was a little bit more international.

So right now there's one in Toronto, OK, but used to be that it would be like in Tokyo and Brazil

11:28

and Canada all over the place.

But since, well, I can't even say how long.

11:33

So This is why I'm like, I'm not a real race car fan.

I don't know anything.

11:36

About anybody listening to this probably doesn't know anyway.

I mean, there are some people.

11:40

I could have looked like a real expert there, but.

I, I don't know how long it's been since they've kind of gotten this new North America centralized

11:47

schedule, but we had our first race 2 weeks ago in Saint Petersburg.

So it's nice to get out of Indiana in the cold to get down to some warmer weather.

11:55

And then this coming week and we'll be in Thermal Club in Palm Springs, CA.

See, that's yeah, that's not so bad either.

12:01

No SO.

It's so far for, you know, having a young kid.

12:04

But we we get a good amount of travel throughout the US and then up into Toronto.

And so really now through the beginning of September, we're traveling nearly every or every other

12:16

weekend for a race.

And you came to talk to me, Lauren, that's so nice of you.

12:19

It's like your crazy time.

Well, it's a nice breakaway from cars racing.

12:24

Yeah, you're like, I can talk about running, racing and running around tracks, which you told me

that you do like places you go, so tell people about that.

12:33

That's really cool.

Yeah.

12:34

So the weekend for any IndyCar racer F-12, they start with a track walk, which is time allocated

where there are no cars on track.

12:44

But it's for drivers to walk the track or go around like on a golf cart with their engineering team

to like understand the apexes.

12:53

Interesting.

And really get to know like where there are some concerns with the track that they need to be able

12:58

to like engineer back toward for the driver.

But I've actually used that since I started as a time where I get to run the track.

13:05

I saw Willpower do it, actually, before I started working racing.

I was like, that would be so cool if I ever worked in IndyCar, definitely take advantage of that.

13:14

And so I did.

And I was thinking there's going to be a few people that do it.

13:19

No, I was going to ask you.

I was like, OK, who else do you have like a running club now?

13:23

I wish I could say that people thought that I was that cool that they followed along, but they will.

Every once in a while there's maybe two or three other people that join, but usually it's me running

13:32

around the track.

And if I can, the tracks are anywhere from like 2 miles to four.

13:37

So usually they're pretty flat, but some of them do have a little bit of elevation.

And if I've got enough time to the schedule that I can run the track twice, I'll try to do that to

13:47

really make it worth it.

13:48

While right, yeah, like 2 miles.

Yes.

13:52

So I feel bad because whenever I go to a track and I don't have time to run it, people are like,

hey, when are you going to put your tennis shoes on?

13:58

You ready to run the track?

I'm like, not today, actually, but I'll be out there next time, yeah.

14:02

Oh my gosh.

See, that's a it's a fun part of the job and and one that I've kind of become known in the paddock

14:08

as like the runner.

The runner girl.

14:10

Yeah, yeah.

Well, and for people listening who have run the indie Mini in Indianapolis that runs around the

14:16

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, well, at least I feel this way.

It's the hardest part of the race.

14:21

Completely yes, that 2 1/2 miles that it's just you're you're baking on yeah, basically a parking

lot it's.

14:28

Like running around a skillet.

Yeah, it's like you're it's and especially, yeah, obviously if it's warm, it's the first Saturday in

14:33

May every year.

And it is so hard, but it's so cool at the same time, especially for people who are local to

14:40

Indianapolis, who are race fans and even not.

It's just this like it's an amazing place to run.

14:47

It's pretty iconic because, you know, that's the first week in MA and then so it really kicks off

this huge month in Indianapolis.

14:55

Yes, everyone has bought into this racing culture.

And they mean come June 1, they probably don't think about it again.

15:00

Yeah, But then at the end of the month, on the last Sunday of the month, 350,000 people go to that

same track and you're like, I just ran this and I had a miserable time.

15:11

And it took me forever.

And these cards are like just zipping around.

15:15

Yeah, I think about that when I'm on there.

I'm like, okay, so like it would just be a couple seconds, right?

15:19

Yes, yeah.

How nice would that be?

15:21

Yeah, no, that'd be really nice right about now.

So how did you end up running last year with Tony?

15:27

Yes, so Tony was, I mean, he's been a runner, so he's done Iron Man's in Hawaii and so forth.

But someone from 500 Festival reached out to me just you basically get Tony involved for more of a

15:40

PR aspect.

Yeah.

15:42

And so he was like, sure, I mean, I can fit that in.

I'll, I would love to run it, but will I be able to have someone that can come along to coordinate

15:50

the interviews?

Because we're going to start the morning with some interviews.

15:53

He didn't think someone actually like, run the full thing with him, but like, start the race, drive

out to the track where they're going to be some more interviews and then let him go finish it.

16:02

And so I was like, all right, I'll do it with you.

And he's like, OK, thinking like I'll see you at.

16:08

The right I'll just like, zip around and like, be where you need me to be.

So as it got closer, he was like, I was talking about my training.

16:14

He's like, oh, you're like really going to run it with me.

I was like, yeah, I mean, how fast are you going to run it?

16:18

If I can't, like, keep up with you, I'll figure it out, Right.

I'm not going to just wake up that early morning, go down and see all these runners and not join it

16:25

myself.

Yeah.

16:26

So at the time at work, so he after he retired from racing, he actually became part of our team as

like a team principal now, but he's had like 7 different positions 2023.

16:39

So he was now my Co worker and we had we had a lot of things that were we're kind of like building

into the month of May.

16:46

So there's just a lot to talk about.

We ended up using the 13.1 miles as a meeting, so for the entire I think we've finished right around

16:55

2 hours.

We were talking about work the.

16:58

Entire.

Time outside of his interviews.

17:01

OK, that's way less fun than I imagine.

Lauren, you should tell people no like we were.

17:05

I don't know what else but.

Well, it would get interrupted every once a while when you hear these like, you know, fans.

17:09

Erupt.

Of course, Tony.

17:11

Yeah.

Tony cannot, which was which was a blast too, but he, yeah, we, we just chatted the entire time and

17:18

it was super productive.

We're like, all right, this is going to be our Saturday morning routine.

17:22

Let's go out, run 13 miles, right?

And we'll take care of the world's issues and we're good.

17:25

See, my problem is I forget everything we talked about because like, there was a little bit of that,

yeah, like need to take notes somehow and like while I'm running.

17:32

So I don't forget because when I'm on the run and I have great ideas, that sucks because I usually

forget what they were.

17:37

Same.

Yes, yeah, I've always thought about that of like, can I just have like someone follow me so I can

17:42

be like, write this down?

Exactly.

17:43

Yeah.

You just need a third person to be like, OK, you listen and you like just type and run, you know?

17:48

Exactly.

Yeah, You guys were just.

17:50

It must have been just under 2 hours, around 2 hours because we finished just under two hours and I

was like super proud because I was pushing for the first time ever with anxious angels.

17:59

You are amazing.

Thank you.

18:00

It was a blast.

You probably won't ever get a chance to do it now that you're in racing, but if you ever do, I mean,

18:06

well, you could at a different race, but not necessarily any mini.

But yeah, wow.

18:11

So yeah, seeing you, I actually do think I spotted Tony before they said his name and like kind of

did a double take and then they said.

18:17

And then I was like, no, that really is so wild.

That had to be fun the whole time getting cheers.

18:22

I felt it in a different way because I was Team Hope and I put it on the back of our shirts so that

people knew the name like as they because you put it on the chair too, on the it's not a stroller

18:33

and it's not like a wheelchair.

I don't never know what to call it like a chariot on the chariot.

18:36

That's perfect name for it.

On the chariot.

18:39

There's the name, but I was like, no, I want to put it on the back so people know that idea.

But that had to be so much fun that you're like, you're running with this celebrity, especially in

18:47

Indianapolis.

Like kicking off May.

18:49

Yes.

And that's honestly, I mean, for those who know Tony, I mean, he's gotten this reputation in

18:54

Indianapolis for just being such a fan favorite and always willing to give us time.

And that's so true.

19:00

I mean, even running we'd have, that's why it took us two hours was because he like stop and like

give high fives and chitchat with people as they were, you know, cheering them on.

19:08

So it was neat because also in that race, there's this lull where it seems like there's no fans from

like a mild 10 through 12.

19:16

Yeah, that's a tough part.

And even for that, while they're a little bit less condensed, yeah, you still have like everyone

19:21

cheering toe now.

And I was like, well, I'm just going to take those cheers on as my own right motivation.

19:26

Right.

You're like, well, I'm just, I'm here.

19:28

I mean, it's kind of cool though, because you're like, I'm the one like running with him.

I think that would be just so cool.

19:34

It was something.

But you stopped halfway at the track and did interview stuff.

19:39

Yes, yeah.

So he had an interview with, I think it was WTHR something with Dave Calabro and then also ate a

19:45

doughnut and then finished.

Of course the doughnut's there.

19:47

I've never actually eaten one there, but I probably should sometime.

I don't think I could do it.

19:51

I mean, I guess I was just going to do like a walk, run the rest of the way, but otherwise I'd just

be destroyed.

19:56

Yeah, no, I've eaten a doughnut hole once.

It was like a mile 23 or something of a marathon.

20:01

I ate a doughnut hole and I was like, this is either like the best idea or the worst, But it sounds,

it sounded really good.

20:07

So that's just like, had to happen.

Yeah.

20:09

So that's so fun.

So like in the middle, you're doing work and then you're just having a work meeting, hanging out.

20:14

Now.

Was it your first time doing the indie mini?

20:16

No, I had done it three times before.

OK, so you're like, oh, I'm a pro too.

20:20

And how long?

How many times had Tony done it?

20:23

Because he's done it about many years.

OK.

20:25

Yes, Yeah.

I think this was the first time he's done it, that he wasn't racing.

20:29

OK, so he's done it and then you know.

Do you know what his PR is?

20:33

That's a great question.

I don't expect it just under 2.

20:36

Hours, OK.

I feel like he could run house on that.

20:38

Yeah, yeah.

It depends on the day he likes more of the endurance runs.

20:43

Yeah, so.

Being an Iron Man.

20:44

My God.

Yeah, that's crazy to me.

20:46

Yeah, totally crazy.

And you I could talk about this forever, like, and we'll make come back to the indie mini stuff too.

20:53

But you were a collegiate athlete.

Yes, yeah.

20:57

And not a runner, not a but tell the people.

Tell the people.

21:00

So I was a pole vaulter in college, so crazy, but always loved running.

In fact, my coach would tell me, like, you need to stop running distance for your workout because

21:09

like, you know, we go home for summer breaks or winter breaks.

And I would do that instead of, you know, the gymnastics or the strength training.

21:16

And she's like, no, no, no.

Like get keep on your regimen.

21:18

Stop your yeah, stop running mile runs.

They'll be they'll be waiting for you after college.

21:23

Wow, that's funny.

So you're from where Saint Louis area or I'm?

21:26

From Saint Louis on the Illinois side, OK and then moved to Indianapolis 10 years ago.

OK.

21:31

So I went to school in Southeast Missouri State University called Cape Girardeau is the town.

OK, sounds super cool.

21:39

It was fine.

There's a reason a lot of people haven't know about it.

21:44

I mean, if it does, it sounds really cool.

Gone Girl, have you seen that?

21:48

You read the book?

OK, Yeah.

21:49

So that was set in Cape Girardeau.

Cool see it is cool it.

21:52

Was kind of neat, my last year living there they were filming the movie.

I was not spotted as like an extra or anything so I have no cool stories other than seen like oh

22:02

gosh.

I don't know her.

22:03

Name Ben Affleck, I think.

Was Oh yeah, he was the husband, yeah.

22:06

Yeah, so I saw him.

That's cool.

22:07

So.

Yeah, so I went to tangent.

22:09

I went to Miami of Ohio and they filmed a movie with Ryan Gosling and George Clooney after I

graduated.

22:15

I was very disappointed and I actually still haven't watched that movie, so I forget which one it is

too.

22:19

So, you know, but I was like, well, I'm not there, so it's not as cool.

So you did you get a scholarship for pole vaulting too, Right to go.

22:28

I did, yeah.

So I actually, it was all by my dad's design.

22:31

OK.

I was a mid distance runner in high school and I worked with the strength and conditioning coach and

22:38

one day the track was closed.

So he was trying to like think of a different workout that I can do.

22:43

And instead the pole vault runway was open.

So he was going to have me just do Sprint drills on the runway.

22:48

My dad was like, I mean, if she's interested in trying pole vault, why don't you like just switch

the workout to do that today because there's more scholarships that she could get because it's.

23:00

More of an obscure sport than not, yeah?

And especially back in like 2005 when this was all happening.

23:05

And so I did some pole vault drills that day, fell in love with it, and switched from being a mid

distance runner to a pole vaulter.

23:12

So crazy.

Tell people what pole vaulting is, because I hear the word vault and I'm like, OK, that's not

23:16

obviously not the gymnastics vault, but it's where you like go over a bar.

Tell.

23:21

Tell us what it is.

So you have a like call it 10 to 14 foot depending on how good you are at the time, fiberglass pole

23:30

that you Sprint as fast as you can.

You have to accelerate the entire every step and you plant the pole at a diagonal angle into this

23:40

basically box and it will bend and basically repel you up and over.

And you have to kind of turn your body upside down to flip over the bar, which is for beginners

23:53

start out called 7-8 feet, but all the way to the world record now, which is what, like 22?

23 All I think about is the guy in the Olympics.

23:59

I'm sure.

Yeah, with the yeah, insane.

24:03

So I was not that.

But yeah, like going that high, I mean, God, OK, but you're like flinging yourself into the air.

24:11

Yes, yeah, you that's.

Crazy.

24:13

And like everything about it is just trying to push whatever step you are to the limit.

So you're trying to run faster, you're trying to plant harder, you're trying to get further upside

24:22

down, and then you're trying to like push off the pole to get over.

Well, there's like a technique like probably as you're flying over so that none of your body parts

24:30

like hit it and knock it over.

Yes, exactly.

24:33

Yeah.

So it's very technical.

24:35

Also kind of like messes with your mind because you're like running until all of a sudden you're

like immediately stop when the.

24:41

Oh, right.

When the pole hits the box.

24:43

But then you have to keep that momentum going in a different direction.

That is wild, Lauren.

24:47

It was pretty insane.

And the thing about it is like people are like, Oh my gosh, like, do you miss it?

24:51

It's like, yeah, you do, but you're not just going to pick up a pole and like go outside today.

You.

24:56

Should you should?

Well, I mean, you should go to a track where there is one and just be like, OK, I just want to

25:01

dabble here.

Just show them what's going on.

25:03

Then I'd be no longer the runner girl, but the.

Crazy girl, The crazy girl who's just like, pole vaulting everywhere.

25:08

What do you land on?

It's a huge mat, so like think of like big Styrofoam block.

25:13

Yeah, yeah.

OK.

25:14

Actually I should know that I did high jump for like a hot 2nd.

So it's kind of it's like kind of like high jump in a in a way like except you're I mean, it's a lot

25:23

more impressive in my opinion.

But I like yeah, I remember having to do the technical like of the steps, like how you had to kind

25:30

of count almost like a dance.

And then I can't really imagine running as fast as I possibly can and then like stopping and

25:38

launching myself in the air.

How is the box have like sand in it or something that like absorbs that?

25:42

I just.

That's the thing, it's metal.

25:44

It's a metal box that you just like, clunk just.

Kind of flings around in there, it's weird.

25:49

Do you miss the box?

Do you ever miss it?

25:52

Like with the pole every once in a while, like you could go right above it and so then you're

basically your pole will go into the mat.

25:58

So I mean, you're not, it's not good, but it's also not going to kill you.

OK, Yeah.

26:02

Oh my gosh, that's so wild.

Yeah, so wild.

26:06

It was fun.

So I mean, yeah, that's really cool.

26:09

And what were the highlights of your collegiate career as a pole vaulter?

So I was not so great though.

26:16

The problem was I went to Simo.

They had a great coach that recruited me and over the summer between my senior year of high school,

26:23

my freshman year, he left.

And so then they just had me working with Mike, me and my teammates working with a long jump coach

26:30

who did not know anything about pole vault.

She just knew like to run fast and jump.

26:34

So they're, I mean, from a performance standpoint, there were not a lot of highlights because I

basically peaked in high school.

26:40

And then I was like, just getting by.

Yeah.

26:42

But being part of a team.

And I mean, you get that in running, too, whenever you've got a group that you're running with.

26:47

Yeah.

Morning.

26:47

It's just like the stories, the unexpected, like relationships that you build.

Those were always just so fun.

26:53

And getting to travel a lot for races at that point.

Yeah.

26:55

So I went to a smaller school in Missouri.

It was still D1, but got to, you know, compete at IU, got to compete at Purdue, compete at

27:03

University of Missouri and down an Ole Miss.

So those types of things were like.

27:07

Pretty cool.

I don't deserve this.

27:09

Like how am I competed at this level?

Yeah.

27:12

I mean, yeah, being a D1 college athlete, that's, I mean, who cares?

You got there and did that.

27:17

I mean, talking to people on this podcast can be different because some, you know, I've talked to

some collegiate runners who like were super talented, but for the most part, this is a crew of just

27:27

like average people who like to run.

And so from where I'm sitting, like that is really freaking cool and so impressive.

27:33

Well, I like I said, I was never felt like I was like at the caliber of AD one athlete, but I did it

made it all through the four years and now my parents just really loved that they didn't have to pay

27:43

for my right.

That's a huge bonus, yeah.

27:45

And what did you study in college?

I studied mass communications in Spanish.

27:49

OK.

Oh and Spanish OK that's cool I need I just broke my Duolingo streak not that long ago.

27:54

That was over 400 days and it made me very sad.

That's impressive.

27:58

I mean you, you should be proud of what you got to, but get back on it.

I know I'm on day like 20.

28:03

I did start again once the whole social media with Duolingo.

I am a sucker for good marketing, as I'm sure you are as well.

28:10

And so I was like, fine, I'll restart my Duolingo streak because I they did for you.

Yeah, they did.

28:15

That's why.

Yeah.

28:16

So anyway, I digress.

OK.

28:18

And So what was your first job out of school?

I stayed actually after I graduated, and that's the only reason I got to see the Gone Girl.

28:25

It was actually after I graduated, but I stayed and worked as an admissions counselor.

OK, so basically recruiting high school students to the university and focused on athletes?

28:35

OK, so that's cool.

The football coach, basketball coach, track coach would work with me as they were talking to the

28:40

athletes that they wanted to recruit to and yeah, recruited them for two years.

And that kind of then obviously, you know, launch the rest of your journey and really like the

28:49

sports world pretty much, right, because you went to the NCAA after that.

Right.

28:53

Yep.

Yeah, so.

28:54

That's what got you here.

To work for the NCAA, they have an awesome postgraduate internship program, OK, a year long that I

29:01

did and really fell in love with the city.

So at that point I was like, all right, I can either work in college athletics, hopefully here in

29:09

Indy, or stay in Indy and find something else.

Yeah.

29:12

So I stayed in Indy and worked for Republic Airways.

That's right.

29:17

And so did almost the exact same thing.

As an admissions counselor, I recruited pilots at college campuses for the airline.

29:23

Yeah, yeah.

And you were at Republic for a long time, so that was kind of your foray, like out of sports.

29:28

But still like, that's a really unique industry to work in, too.

Yes, yeah, it's, it's something that like as a kid, it's like, OK, if I want to work in the

29:36

airlines, I guess I'll become a pilot.

Well, that was not going to happen for me.

29:39

I just don't have the mind for it.

But to work for an airline in Indianapolis is super unexpected, but also a really fun career because

29:46

I love to travel.

I got to stay kind of united with the college campuses if I wasn't going to work there in athletics

29:53

and get to travel for free as well with their flight benefits.

So yeah.

29:57

Because they work with major airlines and so you get to travel with through those partnerships.

Yeah, exactly.

30:04

So they're like a code share partner for American, Delta and United.

OK.

30:07

So yeah, it's a pretty good park.

That's really cool.

30:10

And have you ever flown like an airplane, like piloted a plane?

Yes, through.

30:14

Well, so Republic started a flight school, but also as I was recruiting every once in a while, like

the flight instructors would, you know, have extra flight blocks available and so I'd go up with

30:23

them.

OK, I'm going to take a few lessons.

30:25

So I think technically I've got like 14 hours in my logbook.

Oh, there you go.

30:30

But. 14 hours more than I have.

You know, it's probably not going to help me at any point because I still would not land the plane

30:37

or anything else.

They just have to tell me exactly the button that I have to push, like, OK, red button, push that

30:42

now.

Yeah, OK, I can do that.

30:43

You're like, I don't really know what why, but I can do.

I can follow those instructions.

30:47

Yeah, exactly.

Yeah, that's really cool.

30:50

And then how did this opportunity with Arrow McLaren come about?

So talk about the power of networking and kind of reaching out to people on social media.

30:58

Hey, there we go.

Way to bring it back.

31:01

That worked for me too.

So take your shot.

31:03

Yeah, Jody Scott, she actually was the lead recruiter at Republic, call it 10 years ago.

She hired me at Republic and then she was then head of HR Arrow McLaren.

31:15

And so I saw that she posted about it on LinkedIn.

I was like, oh, that's kind of cool.

31:19

I should just, you know, say hello to her and see how her job's going.

So I did that and we're just like also, you know, I've just had my daughter at that point who is 6

31:28

months old and working for the airline at that point in crisis comes was overwhelming my world

because every time I'd get home from work, there would be some sort of issue that I'd have to, you

31:39

know, log back on and address with the media.

So I was kind of itching to get out of that at that point.

31:45

And Jody said, hey, I don't know if you'd be looking for a job, but we have one coming up that will

be open in a month if you're interested in staying in touch.

31:55

And so like absolutely, that sounds good.

I don't know if you know, but I don't know anything about Motorsports.

32:01

However, like, let's chat.

But I'm teachable, yeah.

32:05

Yeah, yeah.

And so two months later start had my first day at Aaron McLaren and show goes on.

32:11

Yeah.

Guess it's it's been a wild 2 1/2 years and working for a race team is, like I said, not something

32:17

that I ever had my like sights set on.

But it's a really fun job.

32:21

It got me back into sports, to a different type of sports than I ever expected.

But yeah.

32:25

Yeah, but still able to like, weave in, Yeah, your love of running again, back to like running

around the track, which I just still think is so cool.

32:32

And the marketing side of it, like I've seen now that I follow you on Instagram, I've seen some of

the video footage of these, like events and stuff you do for the brand and the team.

32:42

And so could you talk a little bit about that and like how you come up with these ideas and pull

them off?

32:48

It's so cool.

Yes, yeah.

32:50

So like I said, the McLaren brand is so powerful because it's a global brand, whether you like the

racing or you like the sports cars.

32:57

So we have a lot of brand power that we get to kind of like use in ways to pull off big events, but

also get other people bought into what our ideas are and help them, whether it's funding or whether

33:09

it's, you know, opening their spaces to us to be able to use.

We actually a fun one that we just did.

33:14

I've got a team that of 14 that are range from social media to communications to events and

experiences and we just did our car launch.

33:23

So basically every race season you have a new design on your car and you know, we wanted to expose

that in a big way.

33:32

So we took over the pier in Saint Pete and we, it was beautiful, like golden glow of the sunset and

had Tony Kanaan as the MC of it.

33:42

Our drivers were there and we had her three race cars like basically propped on this terrace in

front of this Immaculate restaurant at the end of the pier and did an unveil event for maybe 200

33:55

guests ranging from partners to media to fans.

And it was just so awesome to see an idea that we had of like, OK, can we get this to come to life?

34:03

And it, and it really did.

And we had footage of it.

34:06

We had Fox that kind of covered the event as well.

So really fun way to start the season, but also bring our brand to places that people don't expect

34:15

it.

And in marketing, that's everything that you want to do is you want to make people see your brand in

34:21

places that they don't expect it to come alive.

Cool.

34:24

Yeah.

So that's just one example of the different things that we can do with the brand and our drivers

34:30

personalities, Tony being one of them.

They come to life in the most unexpected ways.

34:36

Actually a fun one that I got to work on, which was not because of me by any means, but we had one

of our drivers putto award in a Super Bowl commercial this year.

34:45

And that was like a once in a life opportunity that I still have to like pinch myself to say I had

the smallest part in writing the script for it.

34:56

Fox wrote it.

They sent it to us to be able to say, what do you think?

34:59

And we got to contribute back to it.

So that was amazing.

35:02

And I will certainly put that on my resume.

Yeah, as you should.

35:06

You tried telling me you don't have a cool life.

I don't understand.

35:08

So yeah, that is so amazing.

It was pretty neat.

35:12

Yeah.

Wow.

35:14

OK.

Wait, what brand was that commercial for?

35:16

It was for IndyCar, OK, For IndyCar, Yeah, to promote the season as well as the Indy 500.

And Fox is now the new broadcaster for the series.

35:24

So you can watch out the races on Fox.

Is the plug for IndyCar.

35:27

You're welcome.

OK, I do remember seeing that.

35:29

I think I told you I saw.

I was like, wow, the yeah, the look at us getting some huge, I mean, that's a huge stage.

35:34

The biggest?

Really.

35:35

It was amazing exposure and just to see that, you know, as it's not just here in India, I mean it is

nationwide people 127,000,000 viewers are seeing this commercial of one of our drivers and our

35:48

brand, yeah.

That's huge.

35:51

And who are your other drivers?

How many 3?

35:54

Three drivers and we've got Pato Award, who is kind of the the guy in IndyCar has been with us for

five years.

36:03

So he's a veteran, but also only 25 years old, which is crazy.

And then Christian Lungard is new to our team.

36:11

He's 23.

And then we've got Nolan Siegel.

36:13

He started the season with us midway through the season last year and he's 20.

So I feel like I'm like their grandma.

36:19

I know.

Yeah, because it sounds like we're a similar age.

36:22

If you were O 5 college, what year did you graduate from high school?

Graduated from high school in O 7.

36:28

OK, I was O 4 so ha.

Look who you're calling grandma now.

36:34

I'm just kidding.

But yeah, I would feel like that around 20 year olds for sure.

36:38

Yes.

Wow.

36:39

And Pato, is that how you say his name?

Yeah.

36:41

OK.

So what country is he from?

36:43

What?

Mexico.

36:43

OK, Mexico.

So do you speak fluent Spanish since you studied it?

36:48

I can, but it's like riding a bike, you know?

Well, it's not like riding a bike.

36:51

Actually.

I kind of lose a little bit of the fluent jargon, but I can speak it if I need to.

36:59

Yeah, so I can.

I can understand what he says, but sometimes I'm slow at the responses.

37:02

Yeah, yeah.

I feel like I can understand quite a bit of Spanish because I have a decent vocabulary, but the

37:09

speed at which they speak, I'm just like, OK, I caught one word of that right, and that's not going

to help me.

37:17

So yeah.

And then trying to formulate, give me like 5 minutes to form a sentence in my head.

37:22

Yeah.

But that's pretty cool that you have that and that that he's on the team and that, I mean, that has

37:26

to help with your relationship with him.

Absolutely.

37:29

So do you work?

Obviously you work for Erin McLaren as a whole as Vice President of Marketing Communications.

37:35

What is that?

How do you work with the individual drivers?

37:38

Do they each have their own like media person then designated to them as well like you did for Tony?

Yeah, they do.

37:44

And so since I started my role in that, I was started as Director of Communication.

So it was designed the drivers and their media relations, but then since got the promotion to now

37:55

the whole commercial department.

But I've retained one role during the race weekend of basically being their press officer.

38:01

So now I work with Christian Lungard as he's getting on board into the team is to make sure that he

kind of understands their talking points, how we want our brand reflected etcetera.

38:09

So.

And where's the word?

38:11

Where?

What's Arrow?

38:12

Part of the team.

Arrow Electronics, OK, so they're a electronics company that really is kind of like the IoT, so the

38:19

Internet of Things for technology.

So they'll find a company that needs a technology solution that links them to another company.

38:28

So they're really big in AB2B, just connecting one tech company to another and finding like the best

solution.

38:33

And they are based out of Denver, but they're our title partner.

OK.

38:37

Yeah.

And they have they been the title partner since the inception of the team or does it change names?

38:42

It would then change names based on the title partner.

It would yes, but they've been a long time partner so since 2021.

38:48

OK.

Yeah, yeah, that's cool.

38:50

What are you most excited about this year for the season?

I mean, the Indy 500 is great because I get to 1 sleep in my own bed not traveling for a month.

38:59

Yeah.

But also, I think we've got a strong team going into it, and it's just fun to know that, like my

39:06

friends who are here in Indy, like, they care about it for that month.

Yeah, after May, they're like, OK, well, what do you do the rest?

39:12

I'm like, we still have our full season.

This is just one little part of this whole big season.

39:17

Yeah, that is pretty cool because for that weekend you are like, yeah, you are.

In it, yes.

39:23

Yes.

So walk us through what Memorial Day weekend is like for you working in IndyCar.

39:29

Yeah.

So really the full month my daughter mentioned she's 3 so I drop her off in my you know, safety cone

39:38

outfit to daycare and then I will see her the next morning whenever she wakes up.

So I'm really at the track every day from for the month of May.

39:46

But then it starts with carb day.

So that is the last day that the cars are on track before the big race.

39:51

And it is like really like this concert cars on track.

So kind of a party out at the racetrack.

39:58

And then Saturday there's a lot of partners that come into town.

So we do kind of this like blow out cocktail hour with them where they can meet the drivers, get to

40:07

like really like experience Indianapolis because they're coming in from out of town through that

full day.

40:13

And then early to bed or as early as I can because at like 2:30 I'll wake up on Sunday morning

drive.

40:21

Ended the track by 3:00 and basically all to beat traffic.

So then I sit there and I just kind of like make sure that I'm reading the news coverage for the

40:29

day, getting myself prep for what the drivers will need to do for their interviews.

But then like slowly but surely, like you see more and more people, more and more traffic coming to

40:38

the track. 6:00 AM.

This cannon goes off and people will like, run to their campsites and everything like that because

40:46

the track officially opens.

And from there on out, I mean, it's all hands on deck.

40:51

So you're running from one place to another with a driver, you're working with partners, making sure

that they're set up in the suite and enjoying themselves.

40:59

And then the fanfare starts with the national anthem, the driver introductions, the fighter jets

flying overboard.

41:07

And I mean, I get the like, the nerves whenever I run a race.

And so like, you know, the goosebumps and everything, like the shortness of breath before I start a

41:15

race, I feel that same thing.

And I'm like, I don't have anything to do with, I'm just here.

41:20

But it's that same like adrenaline because it's such a big deal and there's 350,000 fans around you

and they're watching.

41:27

What, like you do it every day for your job?

Right.

41:30

It's so wild.

So where do you?

41:32

Where are you in the?

Are you in the pits?

41:34

I'm in the pits.

There with everybody.

41:37

Yeah.

So I wear a headset like this and I'm in the pits listening to our driver communications to the

41:41

engineers and basically there for any support from media and what they need to know as they're

pushing the broadcast out.

41:49

So it's kind of fun, except whenever they crash and then I'm running over to emergency care center

to make sure that our drivers like walking and yeah, nothing's life critical or anything like that.

42:01

What's the worst you've seen for your team?

In racing, nothing beyond a broken bone last year.

42:08

That's crazy.

Yes, Alexander Rossi broke his thumb.

42:10

So that was more like, we didn't think that it was that bad.

He, you know, hit the wall and we're like, oh, that's, you know, he's going to go to the Medical

42:17

Center, but he'll be back in the car tomorrow.

Yeah.

42:19

And then he was out for six weeks.

So yeah.

42:22

So oh, wow.

You just never know what's going to happen.

42:26

Truly, yes.

Yeah, it's so wild, so exciting.

42:29

Yeah, it gets me fired up, even though I might see.

Trackside in May.

42:33

Exactly.

Well, at least at the mini and I want to circle back.

42:37

Well, look at that and circle back to like how you ended up running a half marathon in the first

place.

42:43

Like how your relationship with running started, obviously as a middle distance runner when you were

young, but like now back, you know, being an adult, how did you end up getting back into running

42:53

half marathons?

Have you run a marathon?

42:55

Like what are I want to know more about that.

So after I graduated from college, I wanted to figure out what my next step was to either stay in

43:04

shape or just stay busy.

So running was definitely one of them.

43:07

And then I kind of dabbled in golf, although that's not really worth talking about, But I had a

great running community in the two years that I lived in Cape Girardeau after graduation, where each

43:19

morning at 5:00 AM we would meet at the park.

It was like 1/2 mile from my apartment and we would run anywhere from 5 to 7 miles in the morning

43:28

and it was an awesome running community.

I wish I could say that I found like that strong of a group that was that consistent here in India.

43:35

I just haven't put the effort myself into it.

I know that they're out there, but it was an amazing transition for me from having a coach that

43:42

dictated my workouts to them, me having a group that held me accountable just to show up in the

morning.

43:48

And so did that and signed up for my first half marathon a year after I graduated.

Did that down in Oxford, Ms. and fell in love with the thought of running long distance.

44:01

So, you know, running more than just like 5 to 7 miles.

So I will say I've never been like a really consistent racer because for me running is such an

44:10

enjoyment.

I don't want to feel that I'm stressed to, you know, hit a time.

44:14

I did that long enough competing in college that now like I want to run because I felt good that

morning and just want to get out there and enjoy the weather really.

44:23

So I have not done many half marathons.

I've maybe done definitely under 10, probably around like 7 to 10, but every once in I'll get like

44:31

the itch and I'll be like, all right, what's out there?

What's a nice place to run?

44:35

Nice weather.

So I've done half marathons kind of like sporadically, but a lot here in India or Carmel.

44:41

And OK, when I moved to Indianapolis, I signed up for the Mini or the Monumental marathon, OK.

I can't remember what year the first one was.

44:51

It probably was like 2015, OK.

And I did all the training by myself.

44:56

I was like, I'm just, I don't want to set expectations for myself.

I just want to go out there and run it, run it.

45:00

I think my time was 234, OK.

So I just hit like the mark of the Boston qualifier, but it was the year or two after like the

45:09

bombing.

So the time, even though you hit the time for the qualifying, you didn't actually qualify.

45:14

Yeah, OK.

And wait back up.

45:16

So you did the full, you did the full monumental.

Yes, yeah, yeah.

45:20

And you ran it in 2:30.

Sorry, 3:30 Well, I was like.

45:24

OK, Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh my God.

45:25

Because my brain was like does not compute but still 334. 334.

Yeah, is that is cooking.

45:32

Like I had no expectation.

I didn't know what I was going to do because I was just running.

45:36

What did you?

What?

45:37

You did it yourself, right?

You're training.

45:39

So like, what did you do?

Like Google, you'd use Hal Higdon.

45:42

Like what?

How did you?

45:43

I wish I could get there that scientific.

I was just like, all right, if I know I'm going to run 26 miles, I probably need to get up to like

45:50

22 miles or so.

So every weekend I would just go out and add another mile.

45:56

And I didn't tie myself, so OK.

This is another thing we need to discuss.

46:01

Yeah.

The watch.

46:02

This gives me anxiety, Lauren.

No watches, but yeah, I, I until I got to like mile 18I wore, I did not wear a watch, But then I

46:10

just wanted to wear a watch because I was like, I don't know, like I want to tie myself because like

I want to get home.

46:16

I don't want to be out here all day.

So let me like just make sure I know what time it is.

46:19

But I was basically like calculating my run on like Strava or whatever beforehand, routing it out

and then just go and then just going and doing it.

46:25

That's crazy.

Yes, yeah, I.

46:29

Having no idea what your splits were.

Nope, I had no idea other than like OK I started at 7 AMI got home at 9:00.

46:36

That sounds good.

How freeing does that sound?

46:38

It's actually, it just really makes me crazy.

But like the idea of just running to run, the concept is hard and I'm not competitive with anybody

46:48

besides myself really, right?

But still, I'm competitive with myself.

46:51

Like I can't imagine not wearing my watch for a run, but I also feel like it would be a good

exercise for me to just like, do that.

46:59

I did make myself stickers to put over the face of my watch.

Oh, that's a good idea.

47:03

So that like on easy runs, I don't have to like I just don't look at it.

And I've gotten better now where I just don't even, I don't need to look at it like it used to be,

47:11

like, OK, how you know?

And you don't listen to music either.

47:14

I don't listen to music, I purely just go out there to run and enjoy it.

But also I run in the morning, so I don't want to like, not be able to hear something from safety,

47:25

whatever.

So yeah, absolutely, yeah.

47:27

OK, so I kind of like cut you off because I just was like, what the hell?

Because you had mentioned that you qualified for Boston, but they added time.

47:35

Go back and say that again.

Yeah, so sorry, I'm not that good of a runner.

47:39

I was not 2:30.

Four.

47:40

Well, I mean I was 334.

It was the full and.

47:44

Yeah, so that that marathon came about just because I was like, oh, let me try it, I'll go out and

do it.

47:50

But ran 334.

So I qualified by the time, but they had so many runners that had met the qualifying time that ended

47:58

up being like 331 or whatever that you actually did.

So didn't qualify for that.

48:04

But then a few years later, Oh yeah, I was like, really mad.

Well, because I feel like, you know, you're just like, OK, I'm going to run a marathon, a plan, not

48:12

going to wear a watch.

And then but you're like, no, but I would have loved to run Boston.

48:16

Yes.

So then I was like, OK, if I run Boston, then I will train.

48:19

Like actually wear a watch.

Did you know going into the full marathon that there was a Boston qualifying time you could hit?

48:25

Yes, because by like my old my runs at like 18 onward, I was like, oh, I mean, I guess doing the

math I could be close, but it wasn't like that's my goal.

48:35

It was just like, that'd be cool.

Yeah.

48:37

So then Fast forward a few years, 2019, I ran the monumental again and that time I was like, all

right, I do want to qualify and I think I can at least hit because I had the extra 5 minutes because

48:52

I was in the next age, right?

So qualified in 2019 with sorry, 329, wow.

49:01

And hit the qualifying time but then COVID hit.

This episode is brought to you by Previnex.

49:08

Previnex provides clinically effective supplements that promote longevity, performance, and everyday

health.

49:14

So when I packed for this staycation for the Indie Mini, I packed all my Previnex stuff, but I

forgot my microphone.

49:21

So if you were wondering why I sound like I'm in an echo chamber.

Anyway, the important things, right?

49:26

So if you're going to be at our event for the Indie Mini, the founder and CEO of Previnex, David

Block, will be in attendance.

49:34

So make sure you meet him because when you do, his passion for Previnex is so apparent and

contagious, frankly.

49:42

And I'm lucky that I got introduced to him and these products because I love the gut and greens.

I take it every day.

49:48

That's why I brought it with me.

It helps give me natural energy that I know that I need and I need it to make it through this

49:56

weekend too.

If you want to try the products and you're not coming to our event where you will get both flavors

50:00

of their Nerfi protein powder and a blender bottle, you can visit their website at previnex.com,

which is Prev inex.com and you can use code alley ALO Y15 for 15% off your first order for 15% off

50:19

your first order.

Thank you so much to David and Previnex for supporting this podcast and supporting our event.

50:26

So qualified in 2019 with sorry 329.

Wow.

50:34

And hit the qualifying time, but then COVID hit and.

Son of a gun.

50:39

So they postponed it and then there was something going on, I can't remember whenever you finally

got to run it again, but they, oh, they shrunk the sides.

50:50

That's right.

Yeah.

50:50

Yeah.

50:50

So then again it went below my qualifying time by who could actually run it.

So have qualified technically twice but haven't done it so I have to do it again.

51:01

Yeah, I mean.

But I'm kind of like, man, it's the running, the marathon is not the bad part.

51:07

It's the training.

But you know.

51:08

Yeah, you're talking, you're talking to the right person there with young kids.

Well, and for you having a very demanding job where you like, need to be places like you got to you

51:16

got to travel or you're you know, you're at events like you've got to be there versus like people

with flexible jobs like me.

51:23

I can run whenever I want and need to, right.

What a blessing.

51:26

But this just, yeah, the idea of throw in some marathon training in the mix.

But you know, could you do that in the offseason?

51:35

Yes.

And then run in the spring and then that.

51:37

But I guess you're gearing up for the season, so that's also probably pretty busy time.

Although at least I'm home.

51:42

But the problem is, is the offseason is, let's see here, August, September through March.

OK, so most of the offseason is like crappy weather.

51:52

Here you'd have to run in the winter, which I've not.

I have not done a spring marathon for that reason.

51:58

Yeah, because I feel like training in the winter is really hardcore.

It's not fun.

52:04

Yeah.

I mean, because anything like, OK, even if I can run in the cold, the day that you're going to do

52:09

your long run, it's like probably going to ice that probably and then you're going to break your

ankle so.

52:13

Right.

So yeah, I mean, I've done long runs on my treadmill for this reason, because I just kind of get,

52:19

I'm like, Oh well, I'll just run inside and watch a movie.

Yeah, I cannot run on treadmill, no way.

52:24

Yeah, a lot of people are like that.

I just can.

52:26

Thank that.

I'm amazed.

52:27

By that, yeah, it's not.

I mean, I wouldn't necessarily choose it for anything over 10 miles because it's brutal.

52:34

Like does get a little boring.

But yeah, it's how I get in all my garbage TV.

52:39

Oh, that's a good point, yeah.

So OK, so you qualified for Boston twice.

52:44

Have you done any other full marathons besides Monumental?

So those are the 2 fundamental.

52:48

Yeah, that's really cool.

Yeah.

52:50

Then I joined the board, not 2020, the year after.

So like, no.

52:54

Did I join in?

No, it would have been 21.

52:55

It was 21 because I left my job at the end of 2020 because the pandemic year.

And then, yeah, 21, I joined the board.

53:03

So yeah, you're going to have to come back and do monumental at some point.

But like, how?

53:07

How?

I'll get there at some point.

53:09

You know, got time and I feel like what's crazy is you can get faster as a as a mom.

It's to me I have always thought like oh before kids was my peak but it's just not the case.

53:20

Women are amazing.

Amazing.

53:23

Blows my mind how many women get faster as they age and I don't know if if it's your body makeup or

you're just tougher because you've.

53:31

I think that's part of it, yeah.

You know your threshold is more than what you thought it was beforehand.

53:35

Totally.

It's wild.

53:37

Yeah, absolutely.

And so, OK, so Margo just turned 3.

53:41

So you became a mom in 22.

Yes.

53:45

Yep.

Yeah, All right.

53:47

And so in between then you'd run half marathons.

Which ones have you done locally here?

53:53

Eventually.

Caramel, have you done?

53:54

Caramel.

I've done the caramel, I've done the monumental, I've done actually those, OK.

53:59

I've just like split between both of those.

And then out of state, the Mississippi one.

54:04

Done Mississippi.

I've done like of the Ozarks.

54:07

Cool one in Saint Louis and Cape Girardeau as well.

OK, so yeah, random all like Midwest dish.

54:14

Yeah.

OK.

54:15

So Mississippi, was that really hot?

It was in February, so.

54:19

Perfect is nice.

That would be cool.

54:20

And then look at the Ozarks.

That'd be fun.

54:23

Yeah.

Is it?

54:24

Is it hilly?

Honestly not so bad because you run a lot over like the reservoir so you're running across the dam

54:31

and back.

Okay, yeah.

54:34

So there's a little bit of an incline, but not bad.

OK, yeah, that's cool.

54:37

I feel like I love the show Ozark too, and I've been there since then and it's just like, wow, this

is a wild place, really.

54:44

Yes.

And the terrain, yeah, for a runner, I mean, you're getting some hills.

54:48

Yeah, yeah.

So qualifying for Boston at some point would be cool.

54:54

Yes, Yeah.

Are there other races like that you really want to do?

54:59

You know, yes, but it's like I even for the mini I haven't registered yet.

Like I'll register whenever I see the like notification.

55:07

You'll run this year.

Yeah, I think so.

55:09

Come push.

Oh my gosh, come on.

55:13

I don't.

I don't know if I'm strong enough for that.

55:14

Oh, get out of here, you just said.

You know you are.

55:17

You are a mom.

I mean it would be amazing but when I run with my 20 LB daughter I'm like Oh my.

55:23

God, yeah, OK, so you stroller run.

Oh man.

55:26

Yeah, that is it is a whole nother level.

And I feel like people think that it's really hard to push somebody, but it's the, the, the Chariots

55:34

are like really lightweight.

Like they make them really efficient, right?

55:37

Like it's not as bad as you think, right?

It's, it's easier than you would think.

55:42

I, I feel like except for that one hill going into the Speedway that's Oh yeah.

I just my my strategy was just to Sprint up as fast.

55:48

As I could.

To just get it over with, I was like, this is the hardest part.

55:52

Just go.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

55:54

See, this is how every time I sign up for a race goes, it's like I have no plans and then all of a

sudden something like just do this, do this with me.

56:00

I'm like, OK, sure.

Sounds great.

56:01

One of the I like them.

I like people who are just like, yeah, OK, sign me up.

56:06

That's how I've done pretty much every race.

Yeah.

56:08

Next thing you'll see me with the chariot in May.

Excellent.

56:12

You'll be like right next to me, like yay got her to do it Yeah, because, well, there's a race that

weekend for IndyCar.

56:18

Yes.

Do you so do you travel for every race or you don't have to travel for every race?

56:23

Travel for most, however, that one we have low presence from media as well as partners.

56:28

OK so I don't need to go but also Rev is that evening.

Right.

56:34

Oh, I'd like to ask you about Rev. Yeah.

And I'm on the board for that.

56:36

OK.

So there's some presentation that I have to have for my team at Rev. Gotcha.

56:40

So that makes sense.

Do you go to that event every year then?

56:44

I've gone for the past five or six years.

OK, Yeah.

56:47

Yeah, it's an event I've never been to here.

I used to go to Zoo Bolation every year, which is non locals.

56:52

It's a zoo fundraiser.

That's a black tie.

56:54

That's like the event of the year.

And I feel like Rev is like the other one, yes.

56:59

Like if you're, I mean, there's 2 events.

Those are probably the two biggest events like that in our community.

57:04

But Rev is actually at the Speedway, Yes.

And it's the night after the mini because I feel like my running coach goes to Rev every year and

57:11

I'm always just like, man, you know, that's a double whammy, you know, get up, run 1/2 marathon.

Yes, have a late night.

57:18

Have a late night.

Yeah, no, it's, it's a fun like whole day because it really does kick off the month of May.

57:25

But then Rev also features some of the best chefs in Indianapolis.

So combining, you know, running and then.

57:32

Eating the.

Best the best food.

57:33

It's a great day.

What else is could you possibly want right?

57:38

And So what is?

What's the setup of Rev?

57:40

So it's all through the pagoda, which is kind of like the Plaza leading into the track, but they've

got different chalets that they've got chefs set up all throughout those.

57:51

But then also there's, I mean, it's basically like one big weaving dance floor because all the way

through the gates into the track, there's more food and drink.

58:01

And then there's a DJ in the like where the they wave the flag, right?

OK, there's a DJ up there.

58:08

The dance floor on the track.

By the time it gets to that point of the night, I'm usually like, all right, my feet are sore, but

58:15

I'm going.

Home.

58:16

I'm out.

But it is really neat.

58:17

It's it's a great for a great 'cause benefits IU Health and kind of the trauma center, but then also

gives chefs this platform to market new dishes or market themselves.

58:28

They're, you know, kind of a startup restaurant to some of the city's most influential.

People, right?

58:32

Yeah, that makes sense.

That's cool.

58:34

Is the dance floor on the track by the bricks?

Yeah, on the On the Art of Bricks.

58:37

That's cool.

Just yeah.

58:39

So there you go.

Yeah, put it on your bucket list.

58:41

You got to go.

It would be nice.

58:43

It would be really nice.

I think I have a 40th birthday party to attend that evening this year, which I'm also like, OK.

58:50

So yes, find a nap at some point.

Please can I take a nap?

58:54

It's hard because, you know, I mean, asking, you know, when you have a spouse and you're like

balancing all the things, it's like, yes, one more thing.

59:01

But then he could benefit from that.

That as well, right?

59:04

Yeah.

It's a fun event, yes.

59:05

So what does your husband do and how did you meet?

He works for PNC, so he's in finance, which is great because his job is very much nine to five.

59:13

Yeah.

And so he's busy, but also he is stable, whereas like I'm traveling and mine is very much not nine

59:18

to five.

Yeah.

59:19

We met technically via Tinder.

Oh this is so fun.

59:23

I love these stories too.

We're a Tinder match, but we our first date was at Ralston's.

59:29

I've never been there.

Oh, it's a fun place to like, watch sporting events.

59:33

I've got like shuffleboard and stuff.

But we met there but found out like, we lived very close to each other.

59:38

My good friend from work at the time was his neighbor.

So we had a lot of like, different grieving ways.

59:44

And yeah, Tinder worked.

Thanks, Tinder.

59:48

Yeah, a plug for them as well.

Yeah, that's so.

59:51

That's so wild, but Indy is such a small big town.

Like it's.

59:55

It really is like the 2° of separation I think is relevant.

Yeah, is wild.

59:59

Yeah, that's really cool.

And then Margo is your daughter's name.

1:00:02

I don't know if we've said we've, I think we've said Margo at some point during this conversation,

but I just love that name.

1:00:07

How did you pick the name Margo?

We wanted one that was not a traditional name at this point, but turns out she has three Margot's in

1:00:17

her preschool class.

So yes.

1:00:19

So it's not so original like we thought it would be, but we did kind of like a bracket, like an NCAA

bracket with names for boys and girls.

1:00:27

We didn't find out her gender and it came down to, I think Margot and I want to say like Penelope or

something.

1:00:35

It was too very out-of-the-box.

Well, we thought out-of-the-box names and Margot won.

1:00:39

That's fun.

That's really cool.

1:00:41

So we breezed over this part of your story where you got an MBA during the pandemic.

Yes, yeah.

1:00:49

So worked for Republic Airways during the pandemic, which, like I mentioned to you, is like a story

in itself of just the chaos.

1:00:57

I mean, you talk about people wanting to still get where they needed to go, but also not be close to

people whenever they're flying in these, you know, metal tubes.

1:01:07

And so the amount of like just stories that got blown out of proportion.

I don't know if you recall, there was like a story on the Today show a few years ago where there was

1:01:16

like the seat back, the guy was shaking the seat in front of him and they ended up like getting

kicked off the plane.

1:01:22

That was one of our flights.

But I mean, people are they either like travel really well or they absolutely lose their mind

1:01:28

whenever they're in an airport.

So I had plenty of those fun stories.

1:01:32

But I mean, COVID was all consuming for everyone, whether no matter what your job or just what your

life was at home.

1:01:39

Yes.

And so mine was all consuming with like work.

1:01:43

I didn't really have an outlet other than crazy stories from the airline.

So I decided to like, I want to do something for me, something that's not necessarily for work.

1:01:52

And it was getting an MBA at that point.

What I didn't anticipate was getting pregnant with my daughter, but that did happen during about

1:02:01

halfway through my master's program.

Wow, yeah.

1:02:04

And so it was mostly online, but we did have like fully interactive classes each night.

And then I had two semesters left to go when Margot was born and so finished that, but then also

1:02:14

change jobs from Republic to Errol McLaren with six months to go left in in the program.

So yeah, it was it was chaotic.

1:02:23

My poor husband.

I mean, thank God that he is the most patient man in the world because I was losing my mind.

1:02:29

I mean I would have.

I don't understand.

1:02:31

He was like our rock.

So we all made it through.

1:02:34

We're stronger for it.

But yeah, I graduated from Purdue with my MBA in 2022 at the end of the year.

1:02:41

Wow.

So.

1:02:42

Yeah, that's wild, switching and adding like the switching jobs in there too.

Yes, yeah, it was, it was a lot going on.

1:02:50

And so like sometimes I'm like, I don't know what I really learned other than survival from my DBA

program.

1:02:55

I mean, which is pretty great lesson to be able to apply to life so that you can just survive.

So she's a mom, a working mom, one that travels a lot.

1:03:05

That's, I mean, yeah.

And talk about like, running being a source of like, therapy.

1:03:10

Yes.

I mean, I didn't run very many long runs during that period, but anytime I could run, I was just so

1:03:16

thankful for the time that I could get out, breathe, be in my own thoughts for a minute.

And it was truly my therapy at that point.

1:03:24

Yeah, absolutely.

And So what is your running routine like these days?

1:03:29

So I've realized that I'm a better runner if I'm able to balance it out with some sort of cross

training, whether it's hot room yoga.

1:03:37

That's good.

This is good for you and good for people listening who need to do more cross training probably.

1:03:41

Yes, yes, I when I was doing both marathons or actually when I did my first marathon, I just ran

every day, ran, got my miles in the second one.

1:03:49

I did more yoga through it, but now I do yoga.

I've done Pirbar for a year.

1:03:56

That is so hard.

It is hard.

1:03:58

It's it's weird because my husband laughs at me because I don't sweat in Pirbar and he's like, I

thought you said you were going to go workout.

1:04:05

I was like, well I did.

Yeah, do you see my legs still shaking?

1:04:09

Just like the smallest, most awkward motion that like you're working muscles that you're not when

you're running.

1:04:15

And so it's it's a good workout, but I do like now like judge myself.

I'm like, yeah, I like to sweat when I work out too.

1:04:21

But yeah, you get humbled by bar real quick.

I just, I'm saying this because I did my first bar class in a long time and via Peloton, so like in

1:04:29

the comfort of my own home, but it was still like destroyed me.

And a friend of mine, Ashley Haynes, who listens to this and has been on this podcast, she teaches

1:04:37

bar and I'm, I'm just like, and runs like 100 miles, no big deal.

But I'm just like in awe and like, how do you do that?

1:04:44

I don't.

The the run after you take a bar class is the worst because you're like my body is sore in places

1:04:51

that I never thought I'd be sore.

Yeah, yeah.

1:04:53

And where do you do hot yoga?

There's a hot yoga studio downtown and then also Uptown called the Hot Room.

1:04:59

OK, Yeah.

And that's a great spot.

1:05:01

And they're, they're super runner friendly.

Even on like monumental days.

1:05:05

They like bring in your bib for a free class.

That's smart.

1:05:08

Yeah.

They they have really like catered to my running routine of like asking what mile I'm on.

1:05:14

And then they give me like a few like stretches and things to do running as.

Well, yeah, yeah, yeah.

1:05:17

So so you mix it up a lot with cross training these days.

You run how often?

1:05:22

So I try to run two or three times a week.

Right now it's more like 2, but once the weather gets nicer, yeah, I'll get out there.

1:05:29

Yeah, and you live in the Butler area, so like broader bullish, where is your running route?

So I like to run on Butler's campus a lot because like I said, I run in the morning, so I want to

1:05:40

make sure that I'm running where I feel like there's some like security buttons or even like

security driving around.

1:05:47

So that puts my husband's.

Right yeah, out there.

1:05:49

Exactly.

Well, it is like, I mean sadly real thing, right Yeah yes, but at least two on a college campus

1:05:55

there's for like cameras too as well and you can just.

Yeah, exactly.

1:05:58

Yeah and then so you usually run solo too.

Solo.

1:06:03

No watch, no music, no just like.

Alone in my thoughts.

1:06:08

Yeah, I'm giving you anxiety.

You are like, but it's, you know, it's really good anxiety because it's like when I started this

1:06:15

podcast, I was just, you know, all of people who could run without music.

I was like, I, I could never.

1:06:20

And then last year I did my first full marathon without headphones.

Really.

1:06:25

How was it?

Was it freeing?

1:06:27

It was.

Fine, Yeah.

1:06:28

I just realized that I like it kind of almost like a crutch.

Like it's like, I need that to pump me up.

1:06:32

It's like, I don't actually.

Yeah, you know, the environment being more present.

1:06:37

I mean, all of those things, being able to listen to my body better.

Even so, I still I I use headphones and I'll listen to like podcasts or audio books when I run.

1:06:46

Sometimes times I'll do music but you know, on shorter easier runs.

Like I just realized I don't need it.

1:06:52

Yeah.

It is pretty freeing.

1:06:54

It is nice, but the.

Whole no watch thing I don't think I could do because of Strava.

1:06:57

It's like, well, people need to know, nobody cares, but people need to know that I ran today.

Yes, so silly.

1:07:05

I, I have not done Strava for that reason because then I'm like, I think it goes back to me feeling

like I was coached for so long that now running is not like a pressure that I have.

1:07:16

I've got enough pressures with every mom and everything.

So this is my out and I don't judge myself as harshly because I if I set out to do a five mile run

1:07:25

and only get 4, it's like I may not even know.

And I'm like, oh, and I run back and forth in front of my house to have even numbers.

1:07:35

You know what, I have given that up.

I'm so proud to say like for the most part, like if I have a workout that's, you know, 6 miles,

1:07:42

I'll, I'll finish the Six Mile workout.

And it might be like, you know, a little more than that or not.

1:07:47

But like on other times where it's a workout, I don't run to complete the even number anymore, which

is it's a big win for me.

1:07:54

That's where I got into dangerous territory when I was marathon training is because like as I'm so

those later training runs, it was like, no, I've got to end on zero.

1:08:04

I have to.

And so I'd be like running a half a block, oh, a half block longer and just trying to get to that

1:08:11

zero because I've already ran, you know, 21 miles at this point.

But if I don't get to 22, I will not finish the marathon in my mind.

1:08:18

Like we're psychotic.

We are, yeah.

1:08:20

So you have a little bit of that in there, but you know how to keep it away by doing all the things

that we've talked about, which is just it's good.

1:08:27

People need to know that that's possible, even though it sounds so silly to say.

Because it's like, of course you can run without your watch.

1:08:33

Of course you can run without music.

Like yes, I mean, of course you don't have to hit a pace.

1:08:37

Like nobody cares what how fast you're.

Running.

1:08:40

But if you're measuring it, you know you do.

I know.

1:08:43

It's so hard.

It's like, well, if we're being honest here, yes, you know, it's but it's always good to kind of

1:08:49

check yourself.

And I find too that for me, like this year, I told my coach I was like, you know what?

1:08:55

This year is not the year of PRS for me.

I PR the full marathon last year put in a lot of hard work.

1:09:00

I still want to put in hard work in my training, but take the pressure off and just enjoy.

So that's why like pushing with Angies Angels and having that experience and like I'll do some

1:09:09

pacing I'm sure this year and like just finding other ways to enjoy the race experience besides like

staring at my watch and trying to see if I can PR.

1:09:18

Yes, setting your own milestone.

Right.

1:09:20

Exactly, exactly.

That's so perfect.

1:09:23

Thank you.

You are a brilliant marketer.

1:09:25

So I probably have to ask you the end of the podcast questions now.

All right, let's dive into them.

1:09:30

Yeah, Which?

Is glad.

1:09:32

I just want to keep talking to you forever.

First is what is your favorite mantra and or song?

1:09:39

Which song?

Since you don't listen to music, it could be like one that comes on that's like your pump up song.

1:09:42

I don't know.

So I'm a big like one more block.

1:09:46

So I city runner run by blocks.

So as I'm finishing up, I like just basically count backwards of how many blocks that I have.

1:09:54

And so I will out loud tell myself, all right, Lauren, five more blocks, four more blocks.

You got this.

1:09:59

And so that's my mantras.

That's what one of my.

1:10:02

OK.

And then your next finish line or milestone.

1:10:06

It sounds like you might be at the indie mini.

Yeah, maybe pushing.

1:10:09

Maybe pushing the nasal angels, I don't know.

I think realistically that will be my next race.

1:10:14

But now I'm kind of like, this talk's coming, itching for like, something.

Yeah, you gotta be careful.

1:10:19

Probably go online tonight and try to figure out what is like the next place I'm traveling to that I

can fit a race in or something like that.

1:10:25

Yeah, that would be really cool if somehow like around a travel race that you're like, oh, if

there's like 1/2 marathon or even like a 10K or something out, you know, it's a great way to see

1:10:34

where you are.

Yes, which I still think it's so cool to like run around.

1:10:37

Do you like keep track of which ones?

Which speedways you've run around like which tracks you've done?

1:10:42

Yes, I tried to do all of them.

I didn't get, but like I said, the schedule sometimes puts it back, but I think I've got like two

1:10:48

more tracks on our calendar that I haven't run yet.

So goal is to hit those this year.

1:10:53

Yeah, just to say that I've done the entire season right then of the of the race.

Which is so cool.

1:10:58

I feel like there's there could be such a cool thing with like doing running events on tracks.

Oh, absolutely tied with the you know, but that would be gosh, your brain.

1:11:07

You're just like, no, no more events you.

Know well, Speaking of, we're actually trying to work with Portland to do one of those because

1:11:15

that's where HOKA is located and our team sponsored by HOKA.

So we want to partner with Hoka to do a run on the track there.

1:11:21

Dude that would be so cool.

It would be amazing.

1:11:24

That's got to happen.

That'd be really, really cool.

1:11:25

When it and when would that be?

What type?

1:11:27

Of year that will be middle of August.

OK.

1:11:30

So that could happen this year, Yeah.

We're working on it, hopefully we can make.

1:11:35

KBD yeah, that's really exciting.

Cool.

1:11:38

And then yeah, any, anything else coming up this year like big milestones?

I mean, I think that's it.

1:11:43

But if I can sign up for a race that will be a milestone, I probably won't hit monumental this year.

But I mean, honestly, if I can just get into a half marathon and do it, probably do it without a

1:11:56

watch.

OK, what is your half marathon PR?

1:11:59

So I was trying to look it up before but I couldn't find my second most recent mini but I think it's

142.

1:12:08

OK, I think somewhere in there.

That's awesome.

1:12:11

Well, thank you so much for doing this with me today.

It was so much fun.

1:12:14

I'm glad I got a chance to meet you after stalking you.

And now we can be real friends.

1:12:19

Yeah.

And thank you to everybody who has listened to this.

1:12:22

And.

Happy, hopefully you heard most of it.

1:12:23

Hopefully you heard most of it.

We'll find out.

1:12:26

Dear Lord, please.

So much for being lucky on Saint Patrick's Day.

1:12:31

Right, right.

We did something to mess up the leprechaun.

1:12:33

Yeah, If you enjoyed this episode of Finish Lines and Milestones from Sandy Boyd Productions, please

share rate review.

1:12:43

Again, I'll be at the Indie Mini Expo all day today if you listen to this on May 2nd.

So please come say hello.

1:12:49

And if you are running the Indie Mini on Saturday, good luck.

I hope I see you out there and happy running.

1:12:56

Enjoy every mile.

I'll see you next week.