Finish Lines & Milestones: Episode 175: Lauren (Kort) Starek - An American and a Canadian

Finish Lines & Milestones: Episode 175: Lauren (Kort) Starek - An American and a Canadian

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Guest: Lauren (Kort) Starek @lauren.starek

Show Notes:

Lauren (Kort) Starek and I met through my husband, Zach, at F45 in Carmel — and this year we finally got to run a race together, running the Indy Mini with Ainsley's Angels.

During this episode, sponsored by Huug, we talk about:

  • [1:00] How Lauren and I met through Zach at F45
  • [3:00] Running her 5th New York City Marathon, including the 2012 Superstorm Sandy cancellation and the view from the top vs. the bottom of the Verrazzano Bridge
  • [9:00] Growing up in Colorado Springs, her parents' Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon tradition, and finding her competitive stride on the high school swim team after hating running as a kid
  • [15:00] The extra-credit campus 5K that got her hooked, and signing up for her first half marathon on "maybe I could just do a marathon in six weeks" logic
  • [19:00] Studying nutrition at the University of Dayton, and how dramatically sports fueling has changed since 2007–2008 (25 grams of carbs an hour was the goal back then)
  • [25:00] Being the first of her siblings to run a marathon — and her brother's all-treadmill training plan for his first
  • [27:00] Her second marathon, Chicago 2008, run as a Boston qualifier — working with a coach and her dad meeting her at mile 25
  • [35:00] Running Boston anyway after getting injured 10 days out, with her mom meeting her at mile 15
  • [39:00] Her parents' continued athletic life — her mom's move into cycling and triathlon, her dad's Pacific Crest Trail hikes
  • [40:00] Learning to love open water swimming in San Diego — the Alcatraz swim, the current-assisted 10K Bridge to Bridge swim, and her surprisingly casual relationship with sharks
  • [51:00] How she met her husband, Greg, on a dating app and three years of long distance while both worked remote during the pandemic
  • [56:00] Greg's career jump from the 49ers to the Colts, and deciding to move to Indianapolis on days' notice
  • [1:04:00] Her two-year wait for Canadian dual citizenship, and finding out it finally came through via an email she opened at Costco
  • [1:07:00] Taking seven or eight years off from marathons after getting a puppy, then coming back to New York with a coach and a hard-won understanding of her own training limits
  • [1:09:00] Running the Indy Mini as part of an Ainsley's Angels team and meeting Angel rider Laney and her family, who traveled from Louisiana
  • [1:16:00] An honest conversation about mental health — losing her uncle and her cousin to suicide
  • [1:20:00] Deciding to have a full wedding and her wedding-morning run wearing her mom's veil
  • [1:23:00] Getting married the same weekend as Taylor Swift — down to the same signature drink
  • [1:26:00] Adjusting to her new last name, and keeping "Kort" on as her new middle name
  • [1:28:00] Her go-to mantra, "no stress pace," and her next finish line: the 2026 New York City Marathon
  • [1:30:00] The reveal at the very end that she's also quietly run a trail 50K

Previous Guests Mentioned

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This is a SandyBoy Productions podcast.

Episode Transcript

[00:00:00] This is a Sandy Boy Productions podcast

 

Lauren Starek: And she was like, kinda like, "I think I might do this." Oh, my gosh.

So I got peer pressured by my mom to do an Ironman.

 

Ally Brettnacher: Welcome to Finish Lines and Milestones, a podcast for everyday runners. I'm your host, Ally Brettnacher, and if you run, you're a runner. I'm your host, Ally Brettnacher, and if you run, you're a runner, and every runner has a story. Join me each week as I share these stories and we celebrate finish lines and milestones together.

This week's episode is brought to you by Huug, H-U-U-G. More on them in a second. Lauren , who is now Lauren Starek, and I met through my husband, Zach. Lauren works out at F45 in West Carmel, and we met at the pool party last year or maybe the year before that.

and in this conversation, I finally got to know Lauren better. We've hung out before. We did a whole race weekend together at the Indy Mini this year. She ran with Ainsley's Angels with me. And so during this episode, we talk all about Lauren's running [00:01:00] journey.

We talk about how she has dual citizenship, the USA and Canada, and the story about how that came together. We also have an honest conversation about mental health. Lauren has lost two of her family members to suicide, We also get into the wedding, 'cause we have to talk about that, her Hawaiian honeymoon, and then her next finish line is going to be at the 2026 New York City Marathon. Oh, and then at the end she just drops in that she's an ultra-marathoner, which I did not know. So if you're on a run, this will inspire you, or wherever you're listening, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Lauren Starick.

Okay, Lauren, welcome.

Lauren Starek: Thank you, Ally.

Ally Brettnacher: This is so exciting.

Lauren Starek: It is so exciting.

Ally Brettnacher: I feel like I've known you forever, but we really haven't known each other for that long.

Lauren Starek: Same. I was trying to think of the first time we officially met. I think it was probably the F45 pool party. I think

Ally Brettnacher: that's right, which was la- like, the last year.

Lauren Starek: Yeah, maybe, like, a year and a half- Yeah ... or two, two years ago?

Ally Brettnacher: Two years?

Lauren Starek: Maybe a year ago.

Ally Brettnacher: Maybe. Well, 'cause, yeah, maybe you were at the one the year be- I, I can't remember.

Lauren Starek: I just [00:02:00] remember Zach was one of my first friends at F45. I think we started around the same time, and I don't know how long it took for him to be like, "Oh, yeah, my wife's a big runner."

And I was like, "Okay, cool, cool." And then he said something about, like, the world marathon majors, and it kind of was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Yeah. Okay, so she's like... So

Ally Brettnacher: she's like, she, like, runs. Yeah. She's

Lauren Starek: into this

Ally Brettnacher: stuff. Yeah, she's really into it. That's so funny. Yeah. For anybody who doesn't know, Zach is my husband, and he does F45, like, every day.

Lauren Starek: I know. I think he's almost hitting, like, 500 classes or something. I

Ally Brettnacher: think he already did-

Lauren Starek: It's amazing ...

Ally Brettnacher: which is nuts. So I'm so glad you guys met 'cause then I got to meet you.

Lauren Starek: I know, same.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Same.

Ally Brettnacher: And I should try F45 at some point 'cause I know that I would love it. But I wish they had childcare or classes that were- that Zach could go to a little later, which he probably- they probably do, but he's a, he, like, goes at 5:00 or 6:00.

Lauren Starek: I know.

Ally Brettnacher: Ugh.

Lauren Starek: I know.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Well, if you ever wanna give it a try-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I know.

Lauren Starek: Who to- ... definitely. But also, I know you got your strength training thing going on too. Right.

Ally Brettnacher: However

Lauren Starek: you can

Ally Brettnacher: get it in. Trying. Trying. So I love that you're wearing your New York City Marathon-

Lauren Starek: Yes ... logo too. [00:03:00] Wanted to wear something to mark something special.

Ally Brettnacher: Right? How many, how many New Yorks will this be for you this year?

Lauren Starek: This will be my fifth New York City Marathon.

Ally Brettnacher: That's crazy.

Lauren Starek: It is crazy.

Ally Brettnacher: Is it all, I forget, all in a row?

Lauren Starek: I have

Ally Brettnacher: been- Has it been all in a row? I

Lauren Starek: actually ran it in 2013.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: And I was signed up for 2012, but that was when Superstorm Sandy hit.

Oh. So the race was actually canceled.

Ally Brettnacher: Ah, yeah.

Lauren Starek: And then I have run it in the last, this'll be my fourth year in a row now.

Ally Brettnacher: That's so cool.

Lauren Starek: It is. I just, every year I get the chance to do it, it's, you just can't say no to it. I know. I love that race so much. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: I recently said, I think in my most r- well, recent episode maybe or sometime, I said that I think I'm one and done for New York-

Lauren Starek: Mm

Ally Brettnacher: because of the logistics side of it.

Lauren Starek: Mm.

Ally Brettnacher: Because it is so much.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: But New York is so magical.

Lauren Starek: It is so special. I love it. I think it's my absolute favorite. I don't want to say I won't do any other ones, 'cause I'm sure I will. But I'm [00:04:00] such of a, I'm such a New York City Marathon fan right now that I just love it.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. What-

Lauren Starek: Yeah ...

Ally Brettnacher: what initially drew you to New York? How did you end up running it for the first time?

Lauren Starek: Yeah, well, the first time that I ran it, I had actually a time qualifier. It used to be so much easier. Now there's no way. Yeah. And I remember thinking, oh, that would be kind of a cool one. You know, I had done Chicago, and I think I had done Boston at that point, and I was like, "You know, I like these big city races."

Wow. So I was able to get in that way. And then the second time I got in, I actually got in with the lottery.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow. You're like the second person I've met that's gotten in via the lottery.

Lauren Starek: I think I just applied every single year.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And I always would send out this group text to my family to be like, "All right, everybody, like, just consider, like, putting your name in the lottery for the New York City Marathon," 'cause a lot of people in my family like to run.

And my brother got in with the lottery last year.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Lauren Starek: So it [00:05:00] can

Ally Brettnacher: happen. Lucky family. It is real.

Lauren Starek: It can happen.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And so, um, every year I've had good weather there. I've always just had so much fun. Yeah. I think you feel... It's like your chance to feel like a rock star. You know, we're just like everyday runners-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah

Lauren Starek: and you go to the New York City Marathon, and it just feels like you're part of something so big-

Ally Brettnacher: So big ... which I love. Yeah. Yeah. How did the first year that you were all trained up and ready to go and then it got canceled, like, tell that story. Oh my goodness.

Lauren Starek: That's awful. Well, I feel bad saying this. It worked out okay because I was all trained and then I got injured about maybe three or four weeks before the race.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh. So

Lauren Starek: I'd kind of decided maybe I just sit this one out. My time would work for the next year.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Lauren Starek: So I kinda like lucked out on that one. Right. But I did meet a girl the next year on the bus. You know, you

Ally Brettnacher: just-

Lauren Starek: Love it. Yeah ... make all these friends from the race. Right. I think we're still Instagram friends actually.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And she was also signed up for that year, 'cause they gave you the [00:06:00] option to either, I think you could get your money back or you could have an entry for the next year, but you had to, like, re-pay for it, which I think is the option most people did. Yeah. And she said she had just gotten into town and was, like, getting dinner when she found out it was canceled.

Ugh. So I mean, clearly it was the right decision to make, but-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Lauren Starek: to have, like, such a big event canceled was pretty unheard of.

Ally Brettnacher: Right.

Lauren Starek: So.

Ally Brettnacher: Absolutely insane.

Lauren Starek: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, that year actually Quincy Sauer, who's been on this podcast, um, she Was, uh, part of the board for Monumental that year, and so when the race was canceled in New York, everybody wanted to come to Indianapolis.

Yeah. And so to the point where, like, we ran out of safety pins, and she, like- ... told a story about how she, like, went to these dry cleaners, like- ... frantically trying to find pins- ... 'cause they didn't have enough. So it's just so interesting how those stories interconnect, but-

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm ...

Ally Brettnacher: yeah, I, I ran New York in 2018-

Lauren Starek: Okay

Ally Brettnacher: for, um, Alex's Lemonade Stand. Oh, cute. Because my friend, Ashley, who I don't know if you've met yet. Wait, did- Oh, yeah ... you

Lauren Starek: run,

Ally Brettnacher: um- Ainsley's Angels ... the Mini [00:07:00] with her? Yes. Yeah. Um, which we'll talk about for sure. But yeah, so Ashley was going, and I'm like, "Well, if she's gonna go, I should go." And so I ended up doing it that year with her, and it was, well, with her, but then she took off and- Okay

crushed it, but yeah. It, it, it is really special. Did you alwa- have you always been on top of the bridge?

Lauren Starek: No. Um, I didn't-

Ally Brettnacher: Have you ever been on top of the

Lauren Starek: bridge? ... know that you could be on the bottom, so- Me

Ally Brettnacher: either ...

Lauren Starek: in, I guess, 2023, I kind of realized, oh, I'm underneath the bridge. But I hadn't run a marathon in, like, seven or eight years at that point, so- Yeah

it was still pretty cool. But I didn't even know that it was, like, a possibility. I, I,

Ally Brettnacher: you see, every video you see, every picture you see of the start is on top of the Verrazzano. I know. And I forget when I found out that I was on the bottom. I, I don't know that it was race day. It might've been before that, but I was like, "What the heck?"

I did not n- I really did not know that that was a thing.

Lauren Starek: And I kinda missed, like, the helicopters. Like, you're just like, [00:08:00] "Whoa, oh

Ally Brettnacher: my gosh." Right, and you can see everything up there. Like, I'm a part of something. And, like, when you're underneath- Yeah ... you can't see anything really. I mean, you can, like, kinda look through the, the side of the bridge, but they tell you not to go too far to the side because you'll get peed on.

Lauren Starek: Oh, yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Because no matter what, like, even though they're like, "Make sure you use the port-" You know, there's men peeing off the side of the bridge, and so I was, like, in the middle. I just remember being like, "Well, this isn't what I pictured, but here we are."

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: So maybe I'll have to go back and, like, just find a way to be guaranteed that I'm on top of the bridge.

I

Lauren Starek: totally

Ally Brettnacher: think you should go back. I don't know. So have you been on top, or just- I have ... okay.

Lauren Starek: So that was- That's good ... the only time.

Ally Brettnacher: So you only- But

Lauren Starek: I think-

Ally Brettnacher: That's good ...

Lauren Starek: I guess of the four times that I've done it now, only one of them I was underneath the bridge.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Yeah. Maybe it was just for the first timer.

I don't know. It was, like, so sad. Yeah.

Lauren Starek: I love the start, though. It just-

Ally Brettnacher: Ugh, yeah ...

Lauren Starek: it's pretty amazing.

Ally Brettnacher: It is. And they, it trades back and forth, I think, with London for being the biggest marathon in the world.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: It's-

Lauren Starek: I'd love to do that one someday too.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, me too. That would be so amazing. So I also, I love how you took so much time off between [00:09:00] marathons.

Mm-hmm. So we have to talk about that. But first, I wanna just talk about how you ended up finding running and how you got into running in the first place.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. Well, I, probably like most people, I hated running growing up.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Both my parents were really good runners, though. I mean, growing up, we... I spent most of my childhood in Colorado Springs.

Okay. So we were, like, right at the base of Pikes Peak, and growing up, my parents would do this race called the Pikes Peak Ascent, which is a half marathon up Pikes Peak.

Ally Brettnacher: Cool. Yeah, that sounds very difficult.

Lauren Starek: And then, um, every five years on their birthdays, like on their significant milestone birthdays- Oh

so like 45, 50, 55, then the next day they would run the Pikes Peak Marathon. So you run up and down, which is just a whole, they call it the- So in a row? In a row. So- Jesus ... Saturday they would do the half up the mountain, and Sunday they would do the full up and down. Um, I know.

Ally Brettnacher: That's insane.

Lauren Starek: I- I've

Ally Brettnacher: never heard of [00:10:00] that

Lauren Starek: it, it's pretty amazing. Does it still exist? And it's such... It does. Wow. I think my dad did it, I wanna say the last time he did the double was, like, maybe five years ago. Geez. I think he's kind of, like, decided that a fall isn't worth it at this point. Yeah. And the race also, I mean, a lot of it's on a single-track trail, so they really are dealing with what a lot of races are probably dealing with.

Mm-hmm. It's just so much interest in a race, but, like, how do you limit it so- Yeah ... 'cause you can't really pass people. I don't know. It's, like- Right ... quite an event. I've never done it. I think training would be challenging at this point in life here in Indiana- Yeah ... at

Ally Brettnacher: that altitude.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. But, um, 'cause it ends at over 14,000 feet.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow. Um- Has your brother done it?

Lauren Starek: My brother hasn't, but my sister did.

Ally Brettnacher: Your sister did?

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. How many siblings do you have? Just the

Lauren Starek: two? I have a brother and a sister. Okay, that's right. And they're both married. Um, both of them, I, like, love their spouses, and both- Oh, that's nice ... of them have, like, young kids, so we've all kind of scattered, though.

We all grew up in Colorado, and I think we all love Colorado, but my parents very much raised us to be like, "Go do your thing."

Ally Brettnacher: Mm.

Lauren Starek: And so my brother [00:11:00] lives in the Dallas area with his wife and kids, and my sister and brother-in-law live in Portland, Oregon right now. Okay. Um, but when I was in San Diego, I lived there for about nine years, and I convinced both of them to move out there for some point.

So I've lived- So good ... in San Diego with all of my siblings at some point- That's awesome ... which was pretty amazing.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow. And so where are you in the birth order, remind me?

Lauren Starek: Oldest.

Ally Brettnacher: Oldest. Yeah. Okay. My sister- So your sister is how much younger?

Lauren Starek: 18 months, so we're really- Okay. Oh, you're like- ... close in age.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So we did a lot of similar things growing up, which kind of leads a little bit into the running. So I think I remember, like, track day in elementary school, you know, when the big goal is, like, how much candy can you get from the concession stand? Oh, my

Ally Brettnacher: gosh, yeah.

Lauren Starek: Totally. I just think those Airheads were, like, really popular at the time.

Ooh,

Ally Brettnacher: still, still they have those at the- Still got the white flavors? ... concession stands. Yep. Yeah. Agreed.

Lauren Starek: Um, and I think that I did whatever the distance race was for that. I don't know if maybe it was an 800 or maybe a 400 or something. And I remember my mom out there. I think I was, like, in last place, and my [00:12:00] mom was like, "You can do it, yeah.

You can do it," you know? Aw. And I just... And then in middle school, I did track for a season or two.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: And I just remember, like, hating it just because I felt so slow, and my sister and brother were really good.

Ally Brettnacher: That's... Yeah, that would be hard, especially as the oldest, too. You're like-

Lauren Starek: Yes ... "What is, what's-" And I always knew that, like, the distance events seemed to be, like, more of my thing.

But I remember my sister and brother, I don't know if they, like, won city or something, but anyways, they were, like, doing pretty well. Yeah. Whereas I was, like, just trying not to get, like, last place. And of course there is, like, some selection and, like, who actually signs up for track and does it. Yeah. But I just was like, "Yeah, this is just not something I'm really good at."

And just, like, athletics in general

Ally Brettnacher: It's just

Lauren Starek: so funny. I'm not great at. Remember, I'm so tall. You know, I'm 5'10".

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And I never... I definitely was not competitive enough to do basketball. I think I, like, thought about trying out in fifth grade, but there was some, you know, fifth grade friend drama or something and I didn't end [00:13:00] trying out.

And you're like, "Do I wanna do it?" So that was the end- Yeah ... of any basketball option. And then, I think my sophomore or junior year, I decided to try volleyball. And you know, sports these days are insane, so most people have been playing club since they were in middle school or something. Yeah. So needless to say, I was horrible, to the point where my mom...

Actually, my sister was pretty good at volleyball, even though she's a little bit shorter than me, so I think she, like, wanted to help me out, so we booked this, like, private lesson, and my sister came and was trying to, like, pump me up or something. Aw. So I did this, like, one season of, like, kind of like rec volleyball.

Yeah. Um, but it just was, like, never really my thing. But I did end up joining the swim team, and that was something that I really enjoyed. Like, I loved, like, the work ethic component of it. I think you don't recognize that when you're in high school necessarily. Yeah. But I think I kind of enjoyed that aspect of it.

And that was the first time where I realized, like, oh, I can do better at these, like, endurance types of things. Hmm. Like, the events, like the, the 500 was, like, the event at the time that was kind of the [00:14:00] distance event. Um, I'm like, "You know, I can actually kind of do this, and I like this- Wow ... and I seem to get stronger, like, the longer I do things."

So I think I always knew I had it in me, but I just had no interest in doing it, especially because my family was so good.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Right. That would be really hard.

Lauren Starek: I think the summer before I went to college, there's this race called the Bolder Boulder 10K.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I've heard of that one.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm. It's really fun.

People, like, wear costumes, and I remember my family asking me if I wanted to do it, and I seriously was like, "That is, like, the most ridiculous question." Like, of course I don't want to do it. Yeah. Why would-

Ally Brettnacher: You want me to hang out?

Lauren Starek: Yeah, you- ... people do that for fun? Like- Yeah ... this is insane. And then once I went to college, I wasn't swimming anymore.

Where I went to school at Dayton, they didn't have a swim team, and honestly, I probably wouldn't have been good enough anyways. I maybe could have walked on, but- Yeah ... that was kind of, like, that was, like, something in the past. And so I was looking for a way just to kind of stay fit, and I enjoyed going to the gym, but the weather is so nice in the fall in the Midwest.

Ugh,

Ally Brettnacher: yes.

Lauren Starek: And one of the classes I was taking, I was a physical therapy major at the time, [00:15:00] was essentially, like, a PE class or, like, conditioning or something. And the teacher was like, "I'll give you extra credit if you run, like, the campus 5K." It was, like, an event in a couple of weekends. Oh, that's cool. And my sister and mom were coming out, and I was like, "Well, they like running.

Like, this would be something nice for us to do." Yeah. You know? And I think they were pretty thrilled but surprised. And I remember my mom saying, "You know, we can just, like, walk. Just whatever sounds good," you know? And I, I think I made it through the whole race running, and we all ran together. And I'm like, "You know what?

That wasn't so bad." And I was studying nutrition, or I started physical therapy and then switched to nutrition, so a lot of people in that, like, field and in those majors were, like, really active.

Ally Brettnacher: Hmm.

Lauren Starek: That makes sense. And I saw, um, a friend do a marathon. I think it was our freshman year or maybe our sophomore year.

Wow. And just being like, "Wow," like, "that is so cool." Like, "Maybe I want to try to do that." So I signed up for a half-marathon my sophomore [00:16:00] year, and I did, you know, train during the summer. And my dad was so nice and, like, flew out. It was in Chicago. And my sister ended up, she was, she came out, too, and she ran it also.

And I remember being like, "This is pretty cool." So I did the next logical thing, which was like, "Oh, well, I wonder if I could just do a marathon in six weeks." Like, I'm, like, halfway there. Oh, my

Ally Brettnacher: God.

Lauren Starek: So

Ally Brettnacher: that's what I did. Whereas most people would be like, "I could never, ever turn around and do it again," you're like, "Yeah, I can totally do that."

Lauren Starek: So- Wow ... definitely what I did. Um-

Ally Brettnacher: Stop it ...

Lauren Starek: so I I think like I had a little bit of insight into training but I remember going out, I knew you had to do like a 20 mile run and I was also all into like soft surfaces at the time because I grew up in Colorado and you know- Oh right, it's so different ... shoes and what they were.

Yeah. So I was like-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, interesting ...

Lauren Starek: so I had found this field that was maybe like two or three miles or something and I remember doing that run and I was like, you know, I actually feel like pretty good, like maybe I'll just keep going. Like, well of course more miles would be better or something. So I think I told my mom [00:17:00] after and she was like, "Well, really great job but like I don't think that that's really what you're supposed like maybe don't do that next time."

Ally Brettnacher: How far did you go? I

Lauren Starek: think I went like 22 or- Yeah ... 23 or something and yeah. And it's so fun because everything is like so new at that point.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So I did end up doing the Columbus Marathon that year.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm.

Lauren Starek: You know, six weeks or whatever after I'd done that half. Wow. 'Cause I think it was the one that was like close enough and that was still open and, um, I ended up finishing.

I think I walked quite a bit at the end, but, um, it was all good. And then- That's

Ally Brettnacher: amazing ...

Lauren Starek: that was, um, actually about 19 years ago and I just turned 38, so- I've officially been running marathons half my life now.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, that's pretty cool.

Lauren Starek: So it is pretty cool. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: I think about that a lot. I've been running half marathons for half my life, not quite to the marathons for half my life yet, but- You're probably

Lauren Starek: pretty close, though,

Ally Brettnacher: at that, right?

10/10/10 was my first marathon. Chicago? So 16 years, yeah.

Lauren Starek: I ran that one near that, too.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, there we were. I mean- Yeah ... that's one of the really cool things about this, is talking to people [00:18:00] about what years they did races and realizing, oh, my gosh, we were all out there together- Mm-hmm ... and didn't know. It's just kinda cool-

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm

Ally Brettnacher: to think about.

Lauren Starek: And I think we're unique 'cause we started running marathons, like, on the younger side. I mean, I did my- Right ... first one my sophomore year of college.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So I'm grateful for that experience, and I'm really grateful to still be out here doing this crazy sport. Like- ... I kind of can't believe it, that I still am.

Yeah. Um, but also, we don't have that, like, newness of, oh my gosh, these best times. Like- Oh,

Ally Brettnacher: yeah ... this is all so exciting. Right? Where everything's new, and, like, yeah, um, ignorance is bliss- Yeah ... in a lot of cases 'cause you're like- Mm-hmm ... "Oh, I didn't even know that I was supposed to, like..." I don't know. Yeah, I, I guess from a nutrition major standpoint, you did know some of how you were supposed to fuel.

Was that, like, a component of your nutrition degree, was, like, f- fueling for sport? Was that- It was. Okay.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. We- That's

Ally Brettnacher: helpful. ...

Lauren Starek: didn't spend, like, a ton of time on sports nutrition, but there were a few people in my program, like two of my best friends from college, um, Conlon and Manda, they were really into sports nutrition and, like, [00:19:00] triathlons, and so I think we kinda took a little bit more of an interest in it- Mm-hmm

over that time. But it's also amazing how much things have changed. I think back in that day, this, you know, like, 2007, 2008, I feel like about 25 grams of carbs per hour was kind of, like, what you would shoot for, like maybe 50 if you wanna be crazy. Yeah. So I think for a marathon, you would pack, like, four gels.

I think I would just, like, pin them, like, in my shorts, and now if I did that, my shorts would, like, fall down because I'd have- Right, you would- ... like 20 gels ...

Ally Brettnacher: have like 20... Oh, yeah. It's become harder.

Lauren Starek: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Um, so it was such a different time, but it really did, I think, help in, like, recovery nutrition. And then I- After college, I worked in collegiate sports nutrition.

Mm. So I went to UNC Chapel Hill for grad school thinking I wanted to do public health and, like, global nutrition, but got a side job in sports nutrition and just fell in love with it.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm.

Lauren Starek: So I was mostly working with, like, football and women's basketball, so I mean, very different [00:20:00] sports.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: But it's just such a unique thing because you're like, "Salt everything, have all the sugar.

Do you want some candy?" Right. "Perfect."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So-

Ally Brettnacher: So diff- it's so weird.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. Yeah. It's so different than, like, more, like, regular nutrition, which is kind of what I'm doing now- Yeah ... where it's like, okay, maybe be a little bit more careful. But I think what's interesting about nutrition and being a dietician is almost the more I learned, the more flexibility I realize that you can have in your nutrition.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm.

Lauren Starek: I used to think that, like, if you were a nutrition major or if you were, like, a dietician or someone who really cared about nutrition, you would only eat, like, really simple foods and everything would be, like, all organic- Clean ... no salt in everything. Yeah, yeah. And it's kind of like the opposite actually.

Like, the more you learn, the more you're like, oh, you gotta work with, like, what's available to you and, like- Yeah ... what you have. And so I do think that's been really helpful, especially with training, because sometimes people look at us, like, eating as we're fueling for marathons like, "What are you doing?"

Yeah. "Like, you're eating [00:21:00] candy. You're, like, having all this food." Right. Like, what is going on?

Ally Brettnacher: You're eating, like, four Pop-Tarts in a day- Mm-hmm ... or, like, I don't know, whatever I do for, like, carb loading is- Exactly ... insane.

Lauren Starek: Exactly. And it's also been really helpful too because- I think being a dietician and even though I'm not working in sports right now, you still just kind of hear how things change.

Mm. And I didn't do that marathons for like seven, eight years, and when I came back, I remember being like, "Whoa, now people are getting 60 grams an hour, 70, 80, 90?" Like-

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm ...

Lauren Starek: what happened? And I think if I wouldn't have had that background, I would've been like, "Well, but back in my day- "... and when I was faster- Right

this is what I did." Yeah, it's fine. "So I'm just gonna do that."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So it is pretty cool, I think, now how people are fueling so much better. Even for my patients right now, I work in weight management, just kinda helping people make that connection that, like, what you eat before you exercise or run, like, can really affect how you feel and- Yes

your performance and your [00:22:00] recovery 'cause a lot of my patients are like, "I'm exercising to try to lose weight. I don't wanna add in more before." Oh, right.

Ally Brettnacher: You're try- I mean, you're trying to restrict. Exactly. Like, "I can't possibly... I don't wanna eat more calories before I... You know, I'm trying to burn as many as I can."

Mm-hmm. Yeah, totally.

Lauren Starek: So it's really cool, like, pulling that, that in, and just seeing how much the recommendations have changed. And who knows, maybe in 10 years they'll be totally different. Yeah, right. But it was such a different time. Yeah. I mean, I think I, yeah, would pack, like, four Goos.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. I was gonna ask you what you-

if you remembered what you fueled with initially. Yes. I think Goo was, like, the only-

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm ...

Ally Brettnacher: Goo at the time. Oh.

Lauren Starek: Did you ever try those Sport Beans?

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, I absolutely- The Jelly Belly Sport Beans ... love those. Those still exist.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Shot Bloks.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And then just, like, good old-fashioned Gatorade. Yeah. I remember the first time I ran six miles, or, like, probably an hour or whatever that would be, I remember feeling like I had just run a marathon.

I was like, "Whoa." Like, I went to, like, the school cafeteria and was like, "Get me some Gatorade." Yeah. Like, "I need to, like, re-fuel myself after this." Yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: yeah.

Lauren Starek: So it's cool, like, breaking those kinda barriers as you, like, build up your running and your [00:23:00] endurance.

Ally Brettnacher: On campus training- Mm-hmm ... did you ever train with somebody else?

Good

Lauren Starek: question.

Ally Brettnacher: Or did

Lauren Starek: you always run by yourself? I would occasionally train with other people, but I mostly ran by myself.

Ally Brettnacher: Which now you think about and you're like, the safety aspect of that- Well ... like running in a field for hours- Exactly ... seems like And

Lauren Starek: I definitely remember especially, I would do a lot of fall marathons, and so you're training in the kind of the heat of the summer, and I never had air conditioning in any of the places that I- Oh

lived in college. And so I just remember just being so hot. And I was from Colorado. I wasn't used to humidity. So I remember- Yeah ... there were some mornings where I would be going out for like my long run at, I don't know, 5:30 or 6:00- Sh- ... and people would be coming back from the bars.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. Oh my gosh. Yeah.

That is really funny.

Lauren Starek: So yeah. I did most of them alone, and I still do most of my runs alone. Like, I want to build more running community because I think it is such a special time you get with people, and especially as life gets busier-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Lauren Starek: it's just like so great to like have other people. But part of the reason I think I love running is [00:24:00] just the simplicity of it.

It's like- Yeah ... you just go out the door at whatever time works, and so, um-

Ally Brettnacher: Right. You don't have to think about anything. Mm-hmm. You just- Mm ... yeah, worry about yourself, and- Mm-hmm ... yeah.

Lauren Starek: But I had a wonderful group of friends from college that were all really into like running and triathlons, and I feel like-

we really like fed on each other.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And, um, so s- some of the years I lived with them. Other years I had roommates that weren't as into running. Ironically, now probably most of them have done at least a half marathon.

Ally Brettnacher: That's so funny. Yeah. You're like, "See? I told you."

Lauren Starek: But I just remember being so into it.

Yeah. Like that documentary, like Spirit of the Marathon came out, and I was like- Oh,

Ally Brettnacher: I don't think I've ever seen that.

Lauren Starek: Oh my gosh, Ally. It's so good.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: I still have the soundtrack on my-

Ally Brettnacher: Put it on my list ... iPod. Thanks for watching my treadmill.

Lauren Starek: Um, and I just remember it was just so exciting, and it felt like so much of my identity, which was really cool because, like I said, I never felt like I was really like an athletic person.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Lauren Starek: And, you know, that was fine with me. It just never really felt like my thing.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And then all of a sudden, I'm like running marathons [00:25:00] and really like making some progress there, which was pretty exciting,

Ally Brettnacher: so. Were you the first of your siblings to run a marathon?

Lauren Starek: I was.

Ally Brettnacher: There you go. I was.

Lauren Starek: You're like, "

Ally Brettnacher: You guys can run fast, but-

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm

Ally Brettnacher: look at me run far." Yeah. And then right after you did it, how did they react? Were they like, "Sign me up for the next one"? I think

Lauren Starek: they were like, "This is so cool." And my sister went to school in, or went to college in Michigan, so- Okay ... she got to come out and watch, like when I did Chicago in 2008, she was in school, so she got to come out and watch that.

And she's since done, um, a marathon and a couple Half Ironmans and a full Ironman.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Lauren Starek: And my brother did a marathon maybe like seven or eight years ago. And you know boys. He did most of his training like on a treadmill 'cause he traveled a lot for his work. And kinda like my mom and I flew out to go watch his first marathon, and he kinda was like, "Yeah, this is my race strategy.

I'm just gonna kinda like go out pretty fast and just like kinda keep up the pace." And both of us were like, "That's just like such a ter- you know, maybe you should like kinda rethink that. You know, you really [00:26:00] gotta go slow, like pace yourself. Like I don't know how much the treadmill really translates."

And you know what? We were so wrong.

Ally Brettnacher: Stop it ...

Lauren Starek: he went out there, he rocked it. I think he ran, like, a 3:22 or something insane- Jesus ... for his first marathon. Never hit the wall. I mean, so very wrong. Um-

Ally Brettnacher: But, hey, PSA, like, usually that's not wrong at all. Yes, exactly. That's such a s- I imagine you telling me, like, "Yeah, and so then he was, like, crying at mile 20 and, like, wanted to quit- I mean-

but instead he's just flying by."

Lauren Starek: It was so amazing. And he did New York last year and, you know, trained really hard. I think when he got in it was kinda mixed emotions. Like- It's a film ... one of those, like, wow, but also, okay, well, this means that I kinda have my work cut out with me- Yeah ... for the next, you know, six to eight months kinda getting ready- Mm-hmm

for it.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Lauren Starek: So, and we ran the first, like, little bit together and then he ended up going ahead of me. Um, but I think he overall had a good experience. I don't know if he's, like, itching to do another one anytime soon, but-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Lauren Starek: it was cool.

Ally Brettnacher: And then when did you get to [00:27:00] Boston and how?

Lauren Starek: Yeah, so my second marathon, I did my first one in Columbus.

Ally Brettnacher: Yep.

Lauren Starek: And, I mean, it was a great experience, but obviously it was a little bit last minute. Um, my body was just, like, adjusting to running marathons. Mm-hmm. We were having some, like, shin splints, you know- Mm-hmm ... the compression sleeves were, like, a thing there. Yeah. So I was, like, wearing those. Um, and then in 2008 I had signed up for Chicago because especially in the Midwest that was, like, such a thing.

Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: And that was before the lottery.

Lauren Starek: Pre-lottery- Yeah ... you just sign up whenever you felt like it. Right. It was different world. Wild

Ally Brettnacher: to think about, yeah.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. And, um, so I signed up for Chicago and I remember doing a pretty ambitious training plan. I think I trained for, like, six or seven months 'cause this was all still pretty new to me.

And I actually have, um, I call him my great uncle, but he's my dad's uncle, so maybe great uncle, who did a lot of h- really cool high school running, coaching. Oh. He actually coached Ethan Ritzenhein for a while- Wow ... in high school.

Ally Brettnacher: And so- I have no idea who that is, but it sounds- He ... it sounds good.

Lauren Starek: Yeah.

Cool guy. Um, he [00:28:00] wrote me out this training plan and I did a half marathon. I think I did it in, like, 1:40 or something, and my uncle was like, "You know, like, you could probably qualify for Boston." So he kinda helped me, like, hash out- Wow ... this plan. And just in my head to go from somebody who was, like, just, you know, fine to being like, I could actually qualify for Boston, and I had a friend from college who had done it, was pretty cool.

So I worked so hard that summer.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm.

Lauren Starek: But I was so into it. Like, it wasn't just this, like, "I have to do this." I would get up so early. I would go to sleep so early. Like, I was training so, so, so hard. And I remember everything was kinda coming together pretty well and this was when you would just kinda run fast all the time or, you know-

Ally Brettnacher: Right, before you knew how to do- Yeah

workouts that, like, easy days- Exactly ... and zone two and all the things now that- Exactly ... people

Lauren Starek: do. Yeah. And I think that's where so many runners get things wrong is they just go fast all the time, but-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Lauren Starek: anyways, I I remember being like, "I think I can actually do this," and like practicing the paces, [00:29:00] and I put so much pressure on myself, but it was like in a good way at that point- Mm-hmm

because I was like, "I've worked so hard," and like, "This is my chance to do it. You can't just do marathons every six months or..." You know, you qual- Yeah ... like, this is it. And it was like so much of my, like world. And we get to Chicago, my dad and my sister had come out for it- Aww ... which was great, and it was so hot that weekend.

Ugh.

Ally Brettnacher: Like- It can be, yeah. Yes. It's...

Lauren Starek: I'm not a heat girlie- Me either ... so I was like, "This is gonna be tough." And I think the day before my dad was like- Oh, no ... "I think you should run a couple laps around the parking lot and just kinda like see how you feel." And I just was like, "Okay, like I'm, I'm like going to do this."

I had did so much visualization, like- Mm ... I had just like seen myself like qualifying for Boston, like making it happen. What did

Ally Brettnacher: that look like?

Lauren Starek: The time was 3:40.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: So I just remember like at the end of my long runs, I would, you know, have my like wired AirPod or like [00:30:00] air- Yeah ... whatever you call them- The headphones

the headphones

Ally Brettnacher: in there. They just, yeah, they didn't even have a special name. I don't even

Lauren Starek: remember what they're called anymore.

Ally Brettnacher: Did they have a special name back then?

Lauren Starek: Probably just- Earbuds. I don't know

Ally Brettnacher: Ear- Earphones ...

Lauren Starek: ear- Ear headphones. I don't know ... ear

Ally Brettnacher: bud phones. No idea. Cool.

Lauren Starek: And I just would like, at the end of my runs, I would just like put myself in that moment of being like, "Okay, like you're at mile 25, you're mile 26, you're gonna be crossing the finish line, you're gonna get your Boston qual- qualifier."

Yeah Like, "This is all gonna work." And I think that really went such a long way because it was such good pressure. That morning, um, of the race, I had stayed at a friend's house the night before, and I just remember waking up just like shaking. Like, I think I was just like shaking for the entire two or three hours before the race.

Yeah. I was like, "Okay, like, it's here, like I'm gonna do it." Um- Oh my

Ally Brettnacher: gosh ...

Lauren Starek: and it was just when like the text messaging systems would like text out your friends and family, like your 10K split and your- Yeah ... half marathon split. So I remember every time like crossing those being like, "Wow, like everybody's gonna see me, like hit this big goal."

Yeah. And it was just [00:31:00] so exciting. And everything went really well. I mean, it was so hot that day. I just was soaked the whole time, but I just like was, "Don't shut the race down. Like, make it before they shut the race down."

Ally Brettnacher: Gosh.

Lauren Starek: And, um, I remember my sister would jump in and run with me 'cause this was like pre-

Ally Brettnacher: Right

before they got- Then nobody cared Yeah. You could totally do that.

Lauren Starek: And I remember getting to mile like 24 and being like, "Okay, like I, I think I'm gonna do this."

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Lauren Starek: And one of like the top five moments of like, I think my whole life, and especially with running, was I saw my dad at mile 25, and he was like in the crowd, and it was like, you know, kinda crowded at that point, and he was like running with his backpack, and he was like, "You're gonna do it."

Aw. "You're gonna do it." And it just was like so special-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Lauren Starek: to realize that like you could go through and make that happen.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So that will forever be like a top 10 day of my life. It was really awesome.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow, with the heat. That's so incredible.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. Yeah, it's pretty [00:32:00] cool.

Ally Brettnacher: So was that the year, it was the year right after?

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm. So-

Ally Brettnacher: So 2014?

Lauren Starek: It actually it was 2009. Oh, sorry. So in 2008- Okay ... they shut down the ra- or wait, in 2007, they shut down the race.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: In 2008, the temperatures were looking pretty similar, so I was like, "Oh, gosh," but if you can, they, get out early enough, and I think they were a little bit better prepared with like water and like- Mm-hmm

sprinklers and everything. Um, so I had like some bad luck with weather there for a while, but now I feel like it's gotten a lot better.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I know, yeah. I think last year was like the most picture perfect day- Yeah ... or it was really hot. I can't remember. It's like I feel like it's one or the other sometimes.

But I remember when I, I don't remember which year or which Chicago. I've done Chicago four times. Um, I think three of the four were before the lottery and I think I got in via the lottery once, which is amazing.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: And I remem- I'll never forget a popsicle I had on that course. Yeah. Red popsicle. I was like, "This is the best thing I've ever eaten in my entire life," 'cause it was so hot and it was just...

Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: The [00:33:00] spectators there are so special though. I'm sure- Mm-hmm ... compared to Columbus, Columbus has gotten a lot bigger now over the years, but I'm sure it was just so cool to be in that environment.

Lauren Starek: It was, it was so amazing.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow. Also something to note is the difference in times- Yes

between those two marathons. So at Columbus and then, and Columbus is pretty flat too, right?

Lauren Starek: Yeah, it was pretty

Ally Brettnacher: flat. And then at Chicago- It was- ... you took like- I kind of- ... four, over 45 minutes off your time ... I

Lauren Starek: think I took like 47 minutes off my time.

Ally Brettnacher: Which is, yeah. I mean, it just goes to show, like, when you have, you know, a plan and you work really hard-

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm

Ally Brettnacher: how much of a difference you can make. Mm-hmm. I mean, I see that all over the internet now. Mm. But you never really see the work behind that, how, you know, you can-

Lauren Starek: And I think there's something special about marathons too, because you do feel like this is kinda your, like, one chance to do it. Yeah. And now with, like, shoe tech and recovery and nutrition, I feel like people can crank out a little bit more marathons.

But especially in the era that we started [00:34:00] running, like- It would be very uncommon to do two marathons a year.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I feel like- And- ... that is true.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. And so I think that, like, mental head space of being like, "This is my chance." And I think if I wouldn't have prepared that much, and I wouldn't have wanted it so bad, and sometimes you can prepare and want everything so bad and it just still doesn't work

Ally Brettnacher: out.

Right. But- I've talked to a lot of people who've experienced that. Exactly.

Lauren Starek: But I was like, "I am going to, like, go to my grave to get this qualifier and get this race in." Yeah. And just to have it work out was, was pretty special.

Ally Brettnacher: So cool. And so then that got you into Boston. Mm-hmm. Did you do Boston then that following year?

Lauren Starek: I did. Uh, let's

Ally Brettnacher: see. Or was it- Yes, I did do it-

Lauren Starek: Okay ... that year, I think, so six or seven months later.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So expectedly, what happened? I got super injured. So I tried to maintain- Oh ... a similar training plan, and I... And also with Boston, too, it wasn't this, like, time qualifier thing where you can get in but not be fast enough within getting in, so you just, like, had to get in.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, right.

Lauren Starek: If you hit a certain [00:35:00] time- It was very simple. Mm-hmm, I think. You

Ally Brettnacher: get this time, you're in.

Lauren Starek: You could even maybe use it for two years. I don't know. Anyways. Yeah. Things that are not the way it is now. And so about 10 days before Boston, I was doing one of my, like, tapering training runs, and I just felt this, like, bad pain in my foot.

Mm. And I was like, "Oh, no, this can't be good." But I'm like, "Well, let me just, like, hobble home, you know, take a nice bath-" Mm-hmm ... kinda see how it goes." And I think e- eight or nine days before the race, I think this was, like, 10 days before the race, I just was like, "This is, like, probably not looking good." So I can't remember, I may have even, like, gotten on crutches just to be like, "What can I do to, like, get off my foot?"

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And I remember just being distraught, 'cause I just... You know, this was, like, the second part of that dream- Ugh ... that was coming through. Yeah. And my poor roommates were like, "We don't really understand- ... why this is such a big deal, but, like, okay."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: You know? And I remember calling my mom, like, "I think we should just, like, not go and not do it."

And she was kinda like, "Well, you know, we already, like, have the hotel, we [00:36:00] already have the flights. Like, let's just go out there and just kinda see how you feel." So we did end up going out there, and again, the day before I did, like, a mile or two, and I was like, "I mean, it doesn't feel great, but, like, I can do it."

I felt like I could- Wow ... move forward. Mm. And so I started the race having no idea what was gonna happen. Like, the complete opposite of Chicago. Yeah. I was like- I don't know. My mom met me at mile 15 with, like, a heavy jacket and some, like, salt because I think she was like, "Maybe you'll exit the race at that point.

It'd be cold." Oh. Like, who knows? And so I got started, and I just took it, like, at a more moderate pace, which was honestly probably for the best anyways because so many people go there, I think, and get super excited and really crash and burn.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And I remember seeing my mom, and I was like, "I can't stop because I'm scared I'm not gonna get started again."

Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: I've, I've definitely felt that before.

Lauren Starek: So she ran with me for a little bit, and I ended up finishing the race. Wow. So I wouldn't say it was, like, a magical experience. But, um, I got through [00:37:00] it, and now reflecting back on it, I'm so glad that I did because now it's so crazy to get in.

Ally Brettnacher: I know. I hate it- Yeah

'cause I was like, "Man, if I would've known that I... it would've been, like, impo- feel... it feels impossible. I think it's... I know it's attainable with the right level of effort. It's just like- Mm-hmm ... am I willing to put in that level of effort for that?

Lauren Starek: I know.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And that's something I appreciate about you. I think actually the first time I met you, I was like, "Yeah, you know, my fast times are...

those are kinda, like, behind me." Yeah. "I don't wanna keep doing that anymore." And you're like, "Well, you... I mean, you could if you wanted to."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And I was like, "True. I guess I just don't want to."

Ally Brettnacher: Right. And you're like, "I guess I just don't want to," which is totally fine, too. Mm-hmm. In a world where everybody cares or seems to care so much about PRs and times, it's like- Yeah.

W- who does that matter to? Like- Mm-hmm ... you know, we're not getting paid to do this, and so yeah.

Lauren Starek: Exactly.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I feel so strongly about that. Mm-hmm. But that's why I'm like, I am conflicted a little bit because Boston is certainly a dream, but also, yeah, I'm just conflicted. I'm like, "Do I wanna do that?" And, uh, you know, hopefully I have time- Mm-hmm

to decide, [00:38:00] and I can get older.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm. Well, I mean, my mom came out to watch me run Boston, and my dad had run Boston like in the '80s when it was like- Cool ... small. Yeah. Like yeah, I think he like still has his T-shirt or something. Oh, I love it. And I think she was either pregnant with me or like it was somewhere kind of around that time.

Yeah. So she didn't end up running it and had never done it before. And so I think just kind of watching me, especially like me of all people, the one who like could hardly run and was- Right, the slow one ... gasping last at this thing- Yeah. ... it actually kind of inspired her. And so she worked super hard. Stop it.

Started running again and qualified for Boston in Chicago 2010 and ran it twice. Like, the... I think you could still get the two entries. Wow. And both times it was just these like transformative like amazing moments, and she was, I think, 55

Ally Brettnacher: or something. That's

Lauren Starek: so incredible. So-

Ally Brettnacher: That's so cool ...

Lauren Starek: you can do it.

Ally Brettnacher: I love that- Yeah ... so much. Yeah. Mm-hmm. I, I... And so does your dad still run? Um- Or do, does either of your parents still run?

Lauren Starek: Yeah. My mom doesn't really run much anymore. I think it just kind [00:39:00] of hurts her knees. Oh, yeah. She's gotten really into cycling and did some great triathlons. She still swims like a lot in the morning.

And my dad is so funny. He can't run like flat. He can only run like uphills in mountains.

Ally Brettnacher: Interesting. So that's

Lauren Starek: why he always does those- Like,

Ally Brettnacher: nobody here, everyone here who's from Indiana is like- I know ... what's that like? I

Lauren Starek: don't- Yeah. So like he always has injury issues. Mm. Um, and he really values like efficiency, so I don't think he's out there like, you know, stretching or strength training or- Yeah

I think he does do some strength training. But, um, so he loves like the power hiking. He did part of the... He's trying to make it through the Pacific Crest Trail through all of Washington- Wow ... cumulatively over the next few years- Geez ... with some of his buddies.

Ally Brettnacher: That's cool.

Lauren Starek: And then, um, my parents both hiked the whole Colorado Trail.

Um, I think they finished it last summer, but they took like a couple summers to do it, so-

Ally Brettnacher: That's cool ...

Lauren Starek: they're kind of into that level of activity,

Ally Brettnacher: you know? Yeah, still being very active.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So they still live out there in Colorado Springs? Mm-hmm. Okay. They do. Yeah. I don't know if I ever told you I was born in Aurora.

Lauren Starek: I n-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ... That's

Lauren Starek: so cool.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. I was only there [00:40:00] four years, so not long enough to like, I don't know, remember it at all, but I can say that I was bor- I mean, I was like, "I'm a native of Colorado," whereas like nobody else is, right? I know. It's pretty cool. You're like- A tiny- Yeah, for sure. I wanna talk more about your swimming in- Mm-hmm

when you were in California.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. '

Ally Brettnacher: Cause you did some cool, at, at least one race I know of that's like- S- ... seems insane.

Lauren Starek: It was amazing. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: So have you ever done any triathlons either?

Lauren Starek: I have.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Yeah. I was gonna say, as a strong swimmer, I feel like you'd- Mm-hmm ... have to do a triathlon.

Lauren Starek: I did. I did like maybe one or two sprint triathlons.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: And cycling was like never something I was familiar with, like particularly good at, but it was kinda weird. I did like a half Ironman. I maybe did one sprint or something. Yeah. And I was like, "These sprints are, like, not for me. I'm not interested in this quick transition prep practice whatever thing."

Yeah. I'm like, "This is just dumb." So I did a half Ironman, and then I was like, well, the next logical thing would be to think about maybe doing an Ironman. Oh, my

Ally Brettnacher: gosh.

Lauren Starek: I had a friend from college [00:41:00] who did Ironman Louisville while I was in grad school, and I flew out to watch her, and it was just so inspiring.

I was like, "This is really cool. I don't know if this is for me, but, like, this is really cool."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And so I had told my mom, like, "We should maybe volunteer Ironman Boulder one of the summers." So we went and worked in aid station. That's

Ally Brettnacher: cool.

Lauren Starek: And she was like, kinda like, "I think I might do this." Oh, my gosh.

So I got peer pressured by my mom to do an Ironman. So

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Lauren Starek: Um, I did Ironman Boulder in, I think it was 2015. My mom- Wow ... did it, I did it, my sister and my brother-in-law all did it. And, you know, you have to train pretty hard. If you don't care about your time, the training is still a lot, but it's- Yeah ... not quite to the level that some people take it to.

And I just remember standing at the starting line and thinking like, "There's a good chance that one of us is gonna have, like, a really bad day- ... out here. And, like, hopefully we're all good." Yeah. Um, and we all ended up being, being good.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, thank goodness.

Lauren Starek: I am a terrible cyclist. I was, like, behind everyone else in my family [00:42:00] by, like, I think over an hour.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow, yeah.

Lauren Starek: Just not my jam. I'm scared of traffic, so the training was hard. Um, but part of that was swimming and swimming in the ocean. So I have a wonderful friend in San Diego, Gina, who was the reason I moved to San Diego. Um, she was my mom's best friend from grad school, and I call her my first friend 'cause when I was a baby she was, like, my first, like, my first friend.

Aw. And she actually was our officiant at our wedding. Oh, that's so special. And then, yeah. And so she lived in San Diego, and so growing up we'd go visit them. And I was like, "This is where I wanna be." And so she had taken me out on, like, a open water swim. But I'm like, "I don't know about, what if I'm swimming in the ocean?

Are there sharks?" Yeah. "Like, are there fish? Like, what's going on?" Yeah. So it was kind of a slow ramp-up, but to just have somebody who can, like, guide you into things-

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm ...

Lauren Starek: was really special. And so it kind of inspires me, like, maybe in the future I can do that for somebody with swimming or running. Yeah.

'Cause you just kinda need someone to, like, kinda guide you through it.

Ally Brettnacher: Especially open water swimming in the ocean. Mm-hmm. Like, that's a whole nother world. I- It is ... I mean, where do [00:43:00] you... Yeah. Where do you get in the water? I know. Like, where, where is it safe? What... Yeah, like.

Lauren Starek: She has this, like, wonderful swim group there.

And so during the pandemic especially, I was like, "You know what? This is, like, what I'm kinda gonna do." So most weekends, even year-round, we would- Wow ... go swim in the ocean. And, you know, the water is so cold, so you're wearing your wetsuits, you know, the double caps, the whole thing. But it was just such, like- Double

Ally Brettnacher: caps.

Oh, for your h- Mm-hmm ... your

Lauren Starek: swim- Just to stay warm.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. Um, and it just kinda became this, like, over those years, this kind of, like, true north of, like, I don't know what the week or the weekend is gonna bring, but, like, I know that I will be, like, out swimming in the ocean, like, most Saturday and Sunday mornings-

weather permitting, you know? Yeah. And it was, like, it was r- a really special, cool time. And I would wear fins, which would kinda help me, like, be able to keep up with the group, 'cause there's some really wonderful swimmers in that group, and they all ended up being just really great friends. So-

Ally Brettnacher: Ah ...

Lauren Starek: I have not found that, like, level of routine here in Indiana.

Yeah. But those were, like, very special times and... [00:44:00] So I did the Alcatraz swim, which I was like, "This is so cool."

Ally Brettnacher: So crazy. I cannot believe that. Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So I did that.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Tell... What is... So do you... Yeah. Yeah. Tell, what are the logistics of

Lauren Starek: that? So you get on, like, a boat.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: And you can't actually, like, jump off from Alcatraz because it's like a- Oh National Monument or I'm not sure exactly what it is Okay But anyways, so you get near Alcatraz

Ally Brettnacher: Okay

Lauren Starek: And then you kinda just like dive off the boat all together, and on the boat ride you're like, "This is interesting," and I'm used to San Diego water, which is in general like decently clear.

You know, it's not the Bahamas or anything- Right ... but it's decently clear, and kinda dive in, and you know it's gonna be colder. You can't see as well.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Um, I wanna say it was like maybe a mile or something, so often times I was swimming up to two miles most weekends, so I knew I could do the distance, but I wasn't sure- Wow

about the conditions.

Ally Brettnacher: Right.

Lauren Starek: And Greg, and my sister, and brother-in-law, and my dog Frisco were like all on the shore- Aw ... and so it was kinda cool like getting near them [00:45:00] and just kinda getting out of the water by the... You can see like the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge-

Ally Brettnacher: Uh. Yeah ...

Lauren Starek: behind you, and so I was like- It's like right there

that was like, that was pretty cool. And the best part is you're like, you know, in your wetsuit, like you've just swam from Alcatraz. You don't have like anything with you. R-

Ally Brettnacher: yeah, I guess that's a good point.

Lauren Starek: I like left some stuff with them, and there's this like restaurant or yacht club or something right there, and they're like, "Yeah, they'll be really nice to you if you like go in and say like, 'Hey, can I use your bathroom to change?'

Like just tell them you like swam from Alcatraz." Yeah. So I did that, and they were like, "Oh my gosh," like, "Of course- ... you can use the bathrooms and change. Whatever you need." Yeah. Um, so that was pretty cool, and then- Did

Ally Brettnacher: you get a medal for that?

Lauren Starek: I don't think we did actually. I'm not one that's, like, super sentimental with medals.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, well, you know how I feel. I know. That's why I'm like, "Did you get a medal?"

Lauren Starek: Yeah, exactly.

Ally Brettnacher: How cool is that medal? Yeah. I, I don't sign up for a race because of the medal- ... but I'm always, like, I do like my medals.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm. I loved hearing about that, like, medal for medal program- Oh, yeah ... that's in Indie- Yeah

someone you interviewed, 'cause I was like, that would be a great way

Ally Brettnacher: to, like- Oh my gosh, I can't...

Lauren Starek: I just- ... send some of my, like, medals that I- I can't

Ally Brettnacher: imagine ...

Lauren Starek: um, [00:46:00] so that was pretty cool. And then we did the Bridge to Bridge Swim the next year, which was actually a 10K swim. So that's- S- ... insane. I could... Like, current assisted, thank God.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: So the current- Wow ... pushes you. They have to time you. But that was one where I was like, "This will probably be okay, but this could be an interesting morning."

Ally Brettnacher: Can you fuel while you swim?

Lauren Starek: No.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I mean, I couldn't, can't picture- I mean- ... a way where that'd be possible ...

Lauren Starek: people, like, in longer races, I mean, that's, like, long, but it's current assisted, so, like, the current's pushing you, so it- Yeah

didn't take... I don't remember my time. I wanna say it took less than two hours, though.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh my gosh. Um- That's a long time ... but

Lauren Starek: that was pretty cool just to be, like, swimming all around San Francisco and looking- Yeah ... at the bridges and being like-

Ally Brettnacher: What's the other bridge called?

Lauren Starek: Uh, the Bay Bridge.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, right.

Lauren Starek: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: So you just kinda, like, end and get out there. So- Jeez ... those were, like, pretty cool events to work for. Yeah, those are really, really cool. Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: I'm a horrible swimmer, so. I remember doing, like, a sprint triathlon and thinking I was gonna die because- Yeah ... there are so many people. You're, like, getting kicked in the face.

And I'm just like, "This [00:47:00] is not my jam," but- No, and

Lauren Starek: swims and triathlons are, even as, like, a pretty strong swimmer, and now I'm, like, a pretty confident, like, open water swimmer-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Lauren Starek: triathlons are still crazy. I can't... Like, the start, I always start in the middle or the back 'cause I'm like- Yeah ... you people go- You go

kick each other and hit each other. Yeah. I will just swim behind.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. Yes. Do they have, like, boats, I'm sure, just, like, kind of traveling alongside of you and-

Lauren Starek: They- So- They do. Yeah. Yeah. They have, like, boats and kayaks. In San Diego, I always felt really safe and comfortable because there's so many swimmers.

It's, like, this designated area where a lot of people would swim.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And I didn't swim... That one I always swim with a group. There were a few times where I'd maybe turn around early, where I'd be alone, and it's, like, a little eerie. But it's not too bad.

Ally Brettnacher: And- Well, there's no sharks out there, right? So-

Lauren Starek: Oh, there's sharks.

I've seen some sharks.

Ally Brettnacher: What?

Lauren Starek: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: So- In San Francisco?

Lauren Starek: Yeah. In, in- Sharks ... San Diego. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, both? Both,

Lauren Starek: mm-hmm. Yeah. So- What? My mind is blown ... sometimes there's, like, some sharks in San [00:48:00] Francisco. Um-

Ally Brettnacher: What kind of sharks?

Lauren Starek: Not good ones.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: Um.

Ally Brettnacher: Weird. I always... I don't know.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. And then in San Diego, there's a lot of sharks, too.

Most of them are very harmless.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: So I think just kind of learning more about them and, like, the first time you see A shark. I know it sounds, like, insane. Um, like- Yeah ... I'm more scared of snakes than I am scared of sharks. Yeah. But the first time you see one, usually it, it's, like, very far below you.

It's, like, minding its own business. Oftentimes they're not really big. So you kinda get a few of those experiences, like, under your belt. Um- Yeah ... and you kind of are like, "Okay, we're, like, one with the sharks. They're kinda cool." You know, we're one with the sharks. Um, but that summer where I was training for those swims, we were in the water quite a bit, and there was one or two times where I remember my friend Patty and I were swimming, and- I kind of popped my head out and I was like, "Big shark."

And you just, 'cause you... It's kinda murky, so you just kinda like see something and you're like, "Was it? Was it not?" Um, but w- always a friend [00:49:00] of the sharks. It's all been good so far. Yeah, geez. So now I think they're kinda cool. Yeah. Um, but yeah, they're,

Ally Brettnacher: they're- That's crazy. I didn't know that ...

Lauren Starek: they're

Ally Brettnacher: out there.

Yeah. Mm-hmm. I've... I am a scuba diver, so I've seen a shark- Oh, neat ... underwater as well. But it was, um, in the Great Barrier Reef. Oh. Pretty amazing. But it was small, like you said. Mm-hmm. And it was almost just like seeing another fish. Mm-hmm. You're like, "But that's a shark. Okay." Mm-hmm. So I can say that I've seen one underwater- Yeah

but it wasn't, like, anything big and scary- Mm-hmm ... which would be tough. I, I, uh, John Stilley, who was on the board of Monumental with me, is gonna come on this podcast at some point. He was, like, headbutted by a shark once. Oh my gosh. Like, I'm like, "What?" Yeah. Crazy stories.

Lauren Starek: I mean, if one is- So- ... at surface level, I'm panicking.

That's not good. Okay, 'cause- Or, like, it's coming towards me, like, I'm panicking. If it's below me, it's okay.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And I also will kinda tell myself, and it is mostly true, that, like, most of them are, like, not at all interested in humans, and they have these, like, leopard sharks, where you might see, like, 20 of them at a time- Oh

swimming under you in, like, decently shallow water. What? So I think it's just, like, kind of building up that- Lauren ... tolerance of, like, okay, there's just [00:50:00] sharks around and, like, it's-

Ally Brettnacher: It's fine ... it's okay. Oh my gosh. Okay. What about dolphins in San Diego?

Lauren Starek: Oh, man. Pretty much everybody else in my swim group has, like, seen dolphins- Oh

or been, like, really near them. I'm still yet to have, like, a dolphin swim under me. Oh. But I've seen them from a distance. That's

Ally Brettnacher: so

Lauren Starek: cool. Um, but I've never, like, swam with one in the wild before.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. That'd be so cool.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm. It would be really cool.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Let's talk about Greg a little bit.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm. '

Ally Brettnacher: Cause I wanna know...

I, I'm sure you've told me the story of how you met, but I wanna hear how you met, and then we have to talk a little bit about the wedding at some point during this conversation- Absolutely ... because it looked incredible.

Lauren Starek: Yes. It was so cool. Well, Greg and I met in San Diego. We met online, so we are, like, an online success story.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay, which app?

Lauren Starek: Um, it was called The League, which I'm a little embarrassed to say because it's a little bit pretentious. Like, they had to, like, check your LinkedIn or something. Oh. Basically, they wanted you to be, like, a real person.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I ki- I like the sound of that, though- So- ... really ...

Lauren Starek: I don't know if it's still around.

But, um, and I'd done, like, a decent bit of online dating before. Not a ton, but you kinda would, [00:51:00] like, have to do it in phases 'cause it's just time-consuming and annoying, and I'm, like, not a night owl, so these, like, evening things- Right ... I'm like, "I just, I just wanna go to bed." Um, and so I met him, and he was, at the time, working, like, in data science for, like, a tech company, and six or seven months later, he found, like, a job on LinkedIn to work for the San Francisco Giants, which is, like, everybody's dream.

And so it's not that I, like, didn't believe in him by any means, but it just seems like the odds were just, like, nuts. But, so he applied for this, and then got an interview, and I was like, "Oh my gosh," like, "Whoa." And then he ended up getting the job. So he moved up to San Francisco- And we'd only been dating for maybe eight or nine months.

Ally Brettnacher: A quick break in my conversation with Lauren to talk about Huug, H-U-U-G, the world's first dryer-safe bras. So this one is for the ladies listening. Actually, after we stopped recording, Lauren turned to me and she's like, "Ugh, we didn't talk about Huug." She has [00:52:00] purchased multiple times from Huug when she heard about them from this show, and absolutely loves them, just like I do.

I own... I can't even tell you how many I own now. but I also really love their bra tanks. They are, made to go in the washer and dryer. They don't have any removable pads, so instead they have this patent-pending mesh liner that replaces those pads. There's no yellowing, shifting.

We all hate those pads, right? And they don't just have bras. They also have tank tops, shorts, socks, I'm not wearing a sports bra, I am wearing a Huug bra. Just am. Wearing one right now. So if you are interested in trying Huug, you should check out the link in the show notes so they know I sent you, and you should use code ALLYB, A-L-L-Y-B, for 15% off, which is combinable with the buy three, get one free offer that's on their site.

And then report back, because I know you're gonna love them. thank you, Lauren, so much for supporting this show and my sponsor. And now back to our conversation

Marker

Lauren Starek: So he moved up to San Francisco- And we'd only been dating for maybe eight or nine months.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, that's so hard.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. Yeah. [00:53:00] And so it was like, "Well, okay, we'll just, like, kinda see how things play out." Um, and then the pandemic hit So I was working fully in person, he was working fully in person, and then very abruptly we both worked fully remote, which for me was like pretty life-changing-

Ally Brettnacher: Mm ...

Lauren Starek: in a positive way.

Um, I was very lucky. I was working for, like, a really stable health system, UCSD, and so we had, like, great support and also a lot of wiggle room to be like, "I don't know, just figure it out." Like, I was leading these nutrition classes in person- Yeah ... and doing all in-person visits, and they were kind of like, "I don't know, like, just figure it out."

And I, like, loved, like, having to kind of get creative and, like, do things differently. And so, um, we ended up doing long distance. I stayed in San Diego and he stayed in the Bay Area. It's about an eight-hour drive or like an hour flight. I was gonna ask

Ally Brettnacher: how far. Okay.

Lauren Starek: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Hour flight, that's nice.

Lauren Starek: Um, and so we ended up doing long distance for probably three years over that time- Three

Ally Brettnacher: years?

Lauren Starek: which I would've never thought I would do, but we were both working fully remote, so- [00:54:00]

Ally Brettnacher: Geez, yeah ...

Lauren Starek: I could go up there for, you know, two weeks at a time. As long as I was wor- in the state of California, it was fine, as long as my patients- Oh, right, 'cause- ... were in California ... okay,

Ally Brettnacher: okay.

Lauren Starek: So we did long distance for a really long time, which if you would've told me I would've done that, I would've been like, "That just seems, like, insane."

But- Yeah ... COVID just was kind of a different time.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: He got this opportunity. Somebody was like, "Yeah, the 49ers are, like, looking for someone to do data science and injury risk stuff for them," and he always loved football, so he actually coached high school football when he was in college-

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, that's cool

Lauren Starek: and then coached flag football when I met him, so- Which was great. I thought that was so cool. And he's such a, like, nerd that he had made these, like, watches that would, like, ding the color of the play for, like, the little kids to, like, run through and everything.

Ally Brettnacher: My gosh.

Lauren Starek: And so when I first met him, one of the first things we did, like our, maybe our third or fourth date, was we went on this camping trip to Sonoma, Arizona.

Ally Brettnacher: That's a good way to figure out if you're compatible.

Lauren Starek: It is. And my friends were also like, "Are you kidding me?" Are you gonna get

Ally Brettnacher: murdered?

Lauren Starek: Like, "This is so ridiculous." And [00:55:00] I'm like, "No, he coaches, like, flag football. Like, he's flag football. Like, he's, like, a total nerd. Like, it'll be fine." And it was, obviously.

Ally Brettnacher: No, were your friends concerned for your safety? Yes. Is that okay? I was- They

Lauren Starek: were like- That was my first thought ... "This seems, like, a little-" I've watched this documentary. "Are you sure? Have you Googled him?" Yeah. And I was like, "I actually don't know if I know his last name." Um,

Ally Brettnacher: but- Oh. But it's gonna be

Lauren Starek: fine.

So it all ended up being fine. So we did long distance for a while there, and then he got this great opportunity to work for the 49ers- Mm ... and it was like he didn't have to move. Um, but that one was much different because it was very much in person.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm.

Lauren Starek: And my job was kind of starting to move a little bit more to, like, once a week coming back, so we were definitely starting to feel some of that strain of, of long distance a li- Yeah

it was harder than it was early in the pandemic. And I love a good road trip, like, I didn't mind driving, but I had to be in every Tuesday, so it was getting a little bit harder. And then we, we love California and, like, we do hope that someday we can go back. It's just, we took advantage of it, you know?

Yeah. If you're gonna live there, like, you gotta use [00:56:00] the ocean, you gotta hike, you gotta do all the things. Yeah. And, like, we really did. Um, but definitely the cost of living is hard. You can do it, it's just, like, a different expectation. Mm. And so there was this opportunity to work for the Colts. And again, I'm just, like, so proud of him for just, like, finding these things.

Like, it's not like he had, like, knew somebody in the field that, like, got him in. Like, he literally just applied like any other candidate- Yeah ... especially for, like, the Giants and everything. Everything with the Colts just kept getting sweeter and sweeter, the deal, so we were like-

Ally Brettnacher: Hmm ... "

Lauren Starek: I don't know, should we actually do this?"

Wow. And so, you know, I'd never really been to Indianapolis. I came, like- I was gonna

Ally Brettnacher: say, like- ...

Lauren Starek: briefly once through ...

Ally Brettnacher: what was your first thought about moving to Central Indiana? Yes. But you at least been spent time in Ohio at

Lauren Starek: that

Ally Brettnacher: point. Exactly.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. So, like, I was like Midwest. And part of the reason that I liked...

I don't know, I always kinda liked the Midwest. I didn't, like, love the weather when I was in college, but there's something that was very homey about it- Yeah ... which kinda made it, like, feel a little bit more comfortable. And h- how they have to make decisions in that field is totally different than, like, my job.

I [00:57:00] mean, you have, like, two or three days to decide. So I didn't have a chance to, like, come out and check it out, and I knew that traveling from San Diego to Indy would be pretty hard to-

Ally Brettnacher: Well- ...

Lauren Starek: do.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So we kinda, like, decided, "Okay, like, let's just do this." And that was, like, a big thing too of, like, okay, like, we're gonna, like, do this together.

So- Wow ... um, I came out for the first time the weekend that he, like, moved here. I think he had, like, a week to move or something, so we, like, frantically tried to, like, pack up his place. That's

Ally Brettnacher: nuts to think about.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. Yeah. It happened so fast. And the first weekend we came out here, I think our thought was, like, okay, like, you know, it'll probably be fine.

And we came out, and we, like, went on a bike ride on the Monon in Carmel. We, like, ate at that, like, nice steakhouse, Anthony's Downtown. Yeah. They were just, like, so nice to us. We went to downtown Zionsville. We, like, went to a Colts preseason game. And we're like- This is actually really great. So we decided, like, at worst it's gonna be great, it could be, like, really amazing.

Yeah. And now we've been here three years [00:58:00] and, like, bought a house. Like, we really love it. So, um ... And I was not a football fan, so, like, this has been, like, the surprise of my life. Um, but now I'm like- How does your

Ally Brettnacher: family react to it, too? They're like, "

Lauren Starek: Wait a minute." They're like, "This is so great." They, like, loved the Broncos and football growing up.

Oh, yeah. So I'm, like, still learning. It's, um, a much more complicated game, turns out, than I had expected. But, uh, it's been a lot of fun, and just to kind of, like ... I still don't fully understand it as well as I wish that I could, but it's a lot of fun to, like, go to the games and kind of be a part of that community.

Um, and just kind of get to see, like, Greg do his thing. Mm. Baseball is really, like, analytics focused.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And football was, like, pretty behind in that. So I think it's- Oh, interesting ... been kind of fun for him to, like, be able to build some things that are gonna be a little bit more- That is, that

Ally Brettnacher: is

Lauren Starek: really

Ally Brettnacher: cool.

Versus just, like, coming in where they have everything in place and you're just kind of like- Mm-hmm ... I don't know, finessing the numbers or whatever it is data people do.

Lauren Starek: So it's been, like, it's been really good to us. That's awesome. We, we really like it here, especially the fall. And I think that's why I keep coming back to these fall [00:59:00] marathons, 'cause I've accepted that I kind of like the training, you know?

Yeah. Here it's, like, so nice. It's a little hot when you get started.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And then you just like to have an excuse to be outside on the Monon, seeing the trees change, um, as every week when you're out there at the same time seeing it. It's, it's pretty cool.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So yeah, I don't want you to... Don't leave.

Lauren Starek: I know.

We really like it here.

Ally Brettnacher: But-

Lauren Starek: Yeah ...

Ally Brettnacher: yeah, that's, that's incredible that you came here without, like, sight unseen. Yes. I've heard stories like that, and you're just like, "How?" I

Lauren Starek: know.

Ally Brettnacher: And at that time, obviously you were... Well, were you engaged at that time?

Lauren Starek: No. Okay. We weren't engaged. That was something I was like- So was

Ally Brettnacher: there, like, a, "Hey"-

Lauren Starek: Oh, heck yes.

Okay. Yeah. I was like, all right, like, if I'm gonna be, like, leaving my job, which was, like, a great setup for me, and, like, I really liked, in this place where I have all these friends and this wonderful community, and swim on the weekends- Yeah ... like, it's, like, we need to make sure that we're, like, doing this together.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So it was... When the decision was made, it was a hard two days making the decision. I think I, like, cried all the days, just trying to- Well, that's

Ally Brettnacher: a short... Yeah, to your point- Yeah ... like, that's not a lot of time. Mm-hmm. Although it's kind of probably nice, [01:00:00] too, to also, like, in retrospect, like, to have to make the decision versus, like-

Lauren Starek: It...

I can have such a hard time making decisions. Yeah. And I think way too much about them.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Lauren Starek: And so I think it was, like, it was good.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And he was gonna be supportive, and, like, if I didn't wanna go, it, it was fine. Like, he wouldn't go. We would just make it work in California. But I was like, you know what?

I do think this may be, like, let's do it. Switch it up for a little bit. Yeah. And having no idea how much we would really like it here.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So.

Ally Brettnacher: No, I love it so much.

Lauren Starek: Yeah, it's been great.

Ally Brettnacher: Uh, do you go to every home game that's here?

Lauren Starek: Pretty much.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: I think I usually miss, like, one game a year for one reason or another.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Do you have a s- like, a seat that you're always in? Mm-hmm. Okay.

Lauren Starek: So same seats. Um, we love bringing, like, visitors and guests to kind of get- Yeah ... this experience. I

Ally Brettnacher: bet.

Lauren Starek: And now I'm just so spoiled because, um, if I ever go to, like, an away game, I'm like, "All right, let me buy my own ticket and sit up at the top."

You know, like, you just get this, like, VIP amazing experience. Yeah, that's so cool. So I try to go to most home games, and Greg works the games and also travels [01:01:00] with the team on the away weekend. Ugh. So fall is just, like, so routine. It's like I'm training for the marathon, Greg's working. Yeah. Like, we- Like, that's just how it goes

he's gone all the weekends.

Ally Brettnacher: See you later.

Lauren Starek: And then he gets, like, one weekend off, um, every fall for kind of their bye week. Okay. And then usually Labor Day weekend they're off too. Um, so that includes, like, Saturdays and Sundays. So, um, it's never aligned with, like, the New York City Marathon, so I'd love for him to, like, get to see it at some point.

Right. 'Cause, you know, part of this is- It is tricky ... like- Mm-hmm ... you know, I have to be comfortable doing a lot of travel on my own. I usually run New York. I have a wonderful friend who lives there, and her family is awesome. They're, like, taking me in and kind of cheering their- Oh, that is- ... own but-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Lauren Starek: I'd love for him to get to, like, see it and experience it.

Yes, see it. It just hasn't lined up with the schedule yet, so.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. Yeah. And I'm sure... Do you know, uh, Larra Overton?

Lauren Starek: Yes.

Ally Brettnacher: Of course. Yeah, she's been on this podcast I can't remember how long ago. That's so cool. But she still has her running streak going.

Lauren Starek: So amazing.

Ally Brettnacher: And I believe right now she's training for a marathon.

I forget which one.

Lauren Starek: Every time I see her she's just smiling and so happy.

Ally Brettnacher: Al- always. Well, I feel, like, the same way about you. Oh, thank you. Like, you're just... Yeah, so always [01:02:00] smiling. I've never seen you upset. I mean, I guess I haven't, we haven't run enough together.

Lauren Starek: We haven't. Yeah. I know. We need to do more

Ally Brettnacher: of that too.

Yeah. So yeah, she's just wonderful too, so that's such a cool environment. And you've also gotten to travel abroad because- Mm-hmm ... of the Colts.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. So last year I went to the Berlin game, which was- So crazy ... amazing because people... I forget that people are so fascinated by, like, American culture, which a lot of that is football.

And so- Yeah ... um, I went to the game and I was actually, like, sitting by myself. I had some friends and, like, Colts friends that were I'd gone that weekend, but I just was, like, sitting by myself for the game, and the people next to me were from Germany. They were wearing, like, Chief's jerseys. Like, everybody's wearing jerseys, but most of them are, like, not for the teams playing.

Oh, that's- And they're just- ...

Ally Brettnacher: wonderful ...

Lauren Starek: so happy to be there. That's so funny. They're so happy to see it. They're like, "Are these the real cheerleaders and stuff?" And it's like, "Yes. Like, these are, like, our cheerleaders. Like, this is our announcer." And it was probably the closest thing to, like, a Super Bowl experience that I've, like, had.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So it was really fun. [01:03:00] So this year- That's so fun ... I'm gonna go out for the London game.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, that's so... When will that be?

Lauren Starek: It's in about three weeks.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, gee. Oh, that's- Two- Okay ...

Lauren Starek: two weeks, three weeks, something like that, so.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. Yeah. No big deal getting your- Mm-hmm ... long run in over there.

Lauren Starek: I know. Well, yeah, hopefully can do it before, but we'll see.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. Yeah. I know, right? Um, yeah, we were just talking about how whirlwind trips to Europe are just, you know.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: They're, you know... It's good to go.

Lauren Starek: Three days is better than zero days,

Ally Brettnacher: so. Amen. I, I agree.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. I

Ally Brettnacher: also wanna talk about how you have dual citizenship. Yes. We haven't talked about that.

Lauren Starek: Yes.

Ally Brettnacher: I- So which, now do you have to get a new, you have to get a new passport now that you got married-

Lauren Starek: Well, I waited

to your...

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. That's

Lauren Starek: what I- I waited. So I was so thrilled. So my mom spent most of her childhood in Canada, and so it's always been a big part of her life. Like, especially growing up, we would go usually once a year. She's from, like, Winnipeg, so, like, the central part. Actually, one of your guests- I know, Carolyn Kaufman

was from Winnipeg, and I was-

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, that's so

Lauren Starek: cool ... like, let me listen to every minute of this because it just... It's, like, it's not a big city. You know- Yeah ... it's small enough. Um, and so yeah, she's from Winnipeg, and it always... I've, I've always felt, like, [01:04:00] s- a special connection with Canada. I just... I don't know. I just always thought it was really cool.

And so I thought that I might have the chance to be a dual citizenship, but the rules had kinda changed. Um, and it was a little bit murky on whether I'd be able to get it or not. And so I've had this application ready for actually almost two years.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Lauren Starek: But they kept changing the rules, and the thought was that it was better to wait because it, if the rules were gonna change again, it was gonna be even a little bit easier to- Yeah

get the dual citizenship. So I had just, like- That's good ... I'd, you know, called my grandma to figure out the exact dates that they moved from the US to Canada. I had, like, all this- Oh, yeah ... info ready to go. And so I submitted it in February, and they said, "You know, it'll probably be an eight to nine-month wait."

And I had actually just finished at F45 and was going to Costco and saw this, like, really official looking email. So I was like, "

Ally Brettnacher: Craig, I'm coming home." Oh. And I was like, "I think it might

Lauren Starek: be it." And so I was able to get it, um, my dual citizenship, and it only- Wow ... took about two or three months, so.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Lauren Starek: Yeah, so I have my certificate, and it's, like, an oath to, like- The [01:05:00] king of Toronto.

Yeah. Like, it's so different. I, yeah. So amazing. And so, um, now that I have a new last name, I wanted to wait to get my passport until then, so. That

Ally Brettnacher: makes a lot of sense because that would be, yeah, changing all your name stuff is already har- I bet it's easier now than it was when I got married, but s- Yeah.

It's- There's just so many places you have to

Lauren Starek: do it ... I'm taking it one step at a time. Yeah. You know? Yeah, so I'm, I'm really excited about the dual citizenship aspect. And, um, I don't know if like, my mom's whole family is actually in Canada still. She's the only one that left. So I don't know if I'll necessarily, like, live there anytime soon, but it's, like, nice to have the option and just a really cool way to, like, honor some of my roots.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. Yeah. That's so cool. I don't know if I know anybody else with a dual citizenship. I'm pretty sure I don't. Can you my new- So it's really cool ... like fun

Lauren Starek: fact?

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: You know, like the work icebreakers.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. I'm also... I've swam with sharks. I- Yeah, you got- Yeah, you got like some good ones. Yeah. For sure.

So-

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm ...

Ally Brettnacher: oh, it's really cool, and if you go to Win- Winnipeg now, you can meet up with Caroline. Mm-hmm. She's insane. I think she's gonna come to Monumental this year.

Lauren Starek: Oh, [01:06:00] amazing.

Ally Brettnacher: So maybe you'll get to meet her. But yeah, so what other races have you done that we haven't talked about that are ones you actually did and not the other Lauren Clark?

Lauren Starek: Yeah. So let's see. I did, um, the LA Marathon, and I did like a, um, another like local marathon in North Carolina when I was in grad school, and both of those were still in my era where I was, like, really having a hard time not getting injured. Mm. I think I was just trying to replicate what I used to do and run like- Was it a

Ally Brettnacher: stress fracture?

We never talked about what it actually

Lauren Starek: was. Yeah, it was in Boston. Okay. So it felt like... It was interesting. It felt like it was more in my, like, ankle, so I thought it was something with my ankle.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And maybe that tendon was a little bit off, but after I ran the race, you know, I, like, got it treated, and it...

Yeah, it was in my heel. A stress fracture in my heel. So I don't know if the pain- ... just kind of radiated differently.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So- Wild ... I ended up taking quite a bit of time off after that. Um, and yeah, just was kind of always in this injury cycle where I would get injured two or three months before the race.

Ugh. Kind of just do my long run and my long run only and then kind of make it through the race. And at some point, I was like, "This [01:07:00] is just, like, not as fun as it used to be, and I don't feel like this is really the way to do it anymore," but I wanted to be able to, like, replicate that- Yeah ... experience. Um, and then I got a puppy, which, like, wasn't an excuse, but I was like, "I don't know.

First of all, he's so cute. I'd rather just fun run with my dog." Oh my gosh. He's so cute. So I ended up just doing a lot of running with him and not ended up doing a marathon for like seven or eight years.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Um, and it wasn't, like, this like intentional thing. It just kind of was like, "Eh, I don't sound good."

And then I got in the lottery for New York, and I felt like I was bringing this, like, first-time marathoner energy, like all the hype videos, like all the gear. Yeah. Like, sign me up. You know, like crying at the start line, and, like, this is just so amazing. And I, like, hired a coach for that marathon. I'm like, I'm gonna, like, do this right.

And I think I've just learned, like, I'm not someone who runs over 40 miles a week, like ever- Yeah ... including in the long weeks. I'm not... Like, track workouts, love them. I just, like, get injured. So- Yeah, right ... and hills, you know? So I'm just kind of figured out, like, my, my groove, at least for now- Mm-hmm ...

Ally Brettnacher: um,

Lauren Starek: which I'm really grateful for.

And the strength training I [01:08:00] think also has really helped. Yeah. I mean, doing these four back to back, I had... I got really sick last year and missed a lot of training. Um- In my first year I did it, I had like a little kind of foot thing, but I've been able to pretty much do them injury-free while being older, so-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah

Lauren Starek: I'm pretty excited about that.

Ally Brettnacher: Good for you for knowing, like, I mean, even though it wasn't intentional-

Lauren Starek: Yeah ...

Ally Brettnacher: just like being like, "Yeah, it doesn't sound good." Mm-hmm. And then did you put your hat in the ring for New York every year at that point? I think I did. Okay. Yeah,

Lauren Starek: I just put it in every year.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: I do that for London still,

Ally Brettnacher: so.

That's kind of fun. I, I think I forgot to do it for Lo- I wanna do it for London and Berlin just because, okay, like if I get lucky, great. There's so many other places I wanna run- Mm ... just that aren't world majors necessarily, because now the world majors just seem so hard to get into. I know. So I just don't wanna like have to do that.

Okay, so- LA

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm. Um, again, like borderline

Ally Brettnacher: injured. But you were, what year was

Lauren Starek: that? I think it was maybe 2015 or 2016. Okay. And hot.

Ally Brettnacher: And so since you took a break-

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm ...

Ally Brettnacher: of that seven years- It's just been New York only ... it's just been New York. Okay. Yeah, only New York. Yeah. And then we haven't even talked [01:09:00] about how we ran a race together.

Lauren Starek: Yes. That was-

Ally Brettnacher: That we've, yeah, we've been talking- ... so great ... for a while and didn't even talk about that. You were such a champ. Tell the story about how- I mean, I know you had to do this. Like-

Lauren Starek: I had done, like, a couple races with Angie's Angels, just 5Ks. You know, I hadn't done the Mini. And I, like, thought I had submitted everything to sign up to run the Mini with them, but I just never heard back.

So I was like, "Okay, well, I know there's, like, a lot of interest. Like, maybe, um, maybe they don't need me." Or I was like, "Maybe I did so bad in the 5Ks ones, like- ... that they were like, 'Oh, let's not use her.'" Or something. Oh my gosh,

Ally Brettnacher: stop it.

Lauren Starek: And then I think you reached out to me, and you're like, "I'm so glad you're on our team."

And I was like, "Wait, this is news to me," and this was maybe a week before, 10 days before or something. I was like, thankfully I had trained 'cause I was gonna, like, run it- Oh my gosh ... anyways.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Um, and I'm so glad 'cause I was like, "Am I ready for this?" Like, I'd envisioned, like, training pushing a stroller, which turns out you don't need to do that.

Like, it's great if you can, and, like, you did your marathon where you, like, needed to train that. But like- Yeah ... when there's four, when there's four of us

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, [01:10:00] right. You're good. It's fine.

Lauren Starek: I can, like, I can handle it for, like- Yeah ... a mile two times during the race.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah,

Lauren Starek: yeah. Um, so I'm so- I'm so glad we did it, and I look back at that race just so fondly because first of all, it's, like, the ultimate kickoff to summer.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: I just remember, like, walking home from the expo that day and being like, "Wow, we have, like, six months of great weather ahead." And it was so fun to be at the event that you did, like, meeting all these people that I've heard of and, like, gotten to know some of them, like, heard on the podcast, like, seeing Lindsay, hearing these great athletes talk.

Mm-hmm. It was so much fun. Like, staying at Bottleworks- Ugh ... is just, like, such a dream. It's my favorite.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And you are the ultimate hype girl to run a race with because, I don't know, how many people said hi to you? Maybe 30, maybe 40. I mean- I- You just knew everybody ... it was so nice. And just to meet, like, Laney and her family.

Ally Brettnacher: Ugh, so good. I love her.

Lauren Starek: I just thought that we would have, like, a local, um, Angel rider, and so to be like, wow, they came from Louisiana for this race? Yeah. Like, I feel like both of us [01:11:00] felt this pressure of, like, we need to give her, like, a good Indiana, Indianapolis experience. Like, we're gonna- Yeah ... point out everything on the course, and just to have her be able to be so interactive with us and just to, like, give her that experience, and to also meet her family, um, was, was really amazing.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I'm trying to remember her mom's name off the top of my head. Tara. Tara, thank you. Mm-hmm. I knew it started with a T. Um, yeah, and it was the first time that I had an angel writer that I could actually interact with, uh, verbally. Mm-hmm. Right? So for anybody who's not familiar with Ainsley's Angels, they're all about inclusion without limits.

So they allow people who have different abilities than we do to be able to experience finish lines, and they do it now, like, for ultra-marathons too. It's crazy. I did it at Marine Corps. I thought you did it at Marine Corps.

Lauren Starek: No, I haven't done that one.

Ally Brettnacher: I made that up in my head.

Lauren Starek: I've done, um, two 5Ks, like local ones- Okay.

Yeah ... with, um, one in Kokomo and then one in downtown Indy.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, okay. And also, I should point out that, uh, Christy High, who's our local ambassador, was mortified when she realized- ... that she did not [01:12:00] communicate with you. No. 'Cause she was like, "Oh my gosh, I'm so embarrassed" ... and like, 'cause that- She's so sweet

is not normal.

Lauren Starek: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: And so I'm really glad we figured it out and that I, like, pressured you. Mm-hmm. I was like, "You can do it. It's fine." I

Lauren Starek: know.

Ally Brettnacher: Like, nobody cares about the time. We're just gonna have fun. Like, come on.

Lauren Starek: I mean, for not caring about the time I feel like I went pretty

Ally Brettnacher: fast. We, we cooked a little.

I know. Well, you know-

Lauren Starek: But we all did great ...

Ally Brettnacher: it was so fun.

Lauren Starek: And it like, it's amazing too when you can put yourself in those moments where it's not just about you and your time. Like, it's amazing what your body can do. Yeah. I was, like, decently trained, but I knew that, like, it was gonna be a little bit of a, little bit of a push.

Yeah. And we were all in it together, and- Yeah, it was so fun ... great team. It was so amazing. And

Ally Brettnacher: Laney, oh my gosh, she like, we made a playlist with her- Mm-hmm ... which I'm pretty sure we didn't make it, but she- Yeah, added a few

Lauren Starek: songs.

Ally Brettnacher: She, oh my gosh, it was, it was so great. We got her a donut. Mm-hmm. It was probably one of my favorite parts of that race.

Mm-hmm. And yeah, her mom was lovely, and her grandparents.

Lauren Starek: I know. Ugh. Everyone coming in. Yeah. I mean, it just was really special, and it makes you remember, like, how big of a deal these things are. I think sometimes when we get so into [01:13:00] this, like, race mode, it's-

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm ...

Lauren Starek: easy to forget that, like, a lot of people, this is, like, the race they've trained for.

Like, this was like, when I did Chicago, like, this is their, like, Chicago. Right. This is their thing. Right. Like, this is, or they've traveled a long way, like Laney- Yeah ... and her family had. It's, it's pretty cool.

Ally Brettnacher: It is really cool. I know it's easy to forget because we're just in this world, and it seems like everybody's doing marathons all the time.

Mm-hmm. And it's like, no, that is actually not even close to being the reality. And yeah, I love being able to share it with somebody who otherwise wouldn't be able to do it. It's like my favorite thing. Mm-hmm. So sign up to do it at the Indy Mini, people, next year. Yes. I think you can already... You can definitely already register for the Mini, but I think you can already sign up for it.

I should probably make sure I am.

Lauren Starek: Yeah, you can do it, and even on 10-day notice, you can do it, so. Right, even

Ally Brettnacher: on 10-day. I feel like it was even closer

Lauren Starek: than that. They'd be happy to have you. You know? And it's not like, it's not that technical. Like, you need to like, you know, make sure you know how to turn it, but I think- Yeah

I was really intimidated and so nervous the first 5K that I did, and like anybody can do it. Yeah. [01:14:00] Like, it doesn't matter your speed. Um, but it's just a wonderful, wonderful experience.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Hit the Bricks 5K is probably coming up.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm. I think it's October 3rd.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay, yeah, 'cause I did that 5K last year. And well, kind of like you're saying when you didn't ex- I mean, expect the speed to be like it was at the Mini, I didn't expect the speed to be like it was at this Hit the Bricks 5K.

Christy's like, "Oh, we put you with Shannon because she can run really fast, and you guys can win." And I was like- ... "Excuse me? Like, what?"

Lauren Starek: You'd probably done, like, a long training run the day before- I did ... and are like, "I'm sore."

Ally Brettnacher: I know. I felt so... I was like, "Oh, I just did a 20-miler." And then Shannon's like, "Well, I just ran the Air Force Marathon last weekend with Ainsley's Angels."

And I was like- It's true.

Lauren Starek: Okay, fine ... "

Ally Brettnacher: All right. Guess I'll suck it up." Yeah, so, oh my gosh, so good. I'm so glad you did it. That was well fun. Will you do it again?

Lauren Starek: I would definitely do it again. Okay.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. Then we'll, we'll consider it done. Mm-hmm.

Lauren Starek: Oh, it was so much fun. Yeah. I really enjoyed it. And like I said, it just was amazing to see, like, all this work you've put into the running community.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Lauren Starek: And to see how that... Like, everybody knows you, everyone's cheering for you. And I remember when we went through Speedway, you were just [01:15:00] like, "All right, everyone, we have Lainey here." Yeah. "Let's hear it." That was really fun. And that was... I mean, I was, like, pretty emotional just, like- Right ... going through.

Ally Brettnacher: I know. It was pretty cool. Thinking about that. Yeah. And then she used, um, the Rally app voice notes for race day. I just interviewed their founder yesterday. That's

Lauren Starek: so cool.

Ally Brettnacher: And she, like... It was, like, her dad every time. And the... watching her hear those messages, like, and how emotional she got, I was like, "Dude, I'm gonna, like, be sobbing by the end of this."

But it was really... It's just so special. So special. It was

Lauren Starek: really fun.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And great team and just... I... That was, like, a highlight of the summer-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Lauren Starek: for

Ally Brettnacher: me. Yeah. So great, and we had good weather, which is always nice.

Lauren Starek: We did.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: We did.

Ally Brettnacher: Um, you know, I don't know how to transition this based on what we were just talking about, but I do know that the topic of mental health is really important to you- Mm-hmm

and your family.

Lauren Starek: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: So before we wrap, I wanna talk about that, and then I also wanna talk about your running.

Lauren Starek: Okay. Absolutely. So, yeah. Yeah, I mean, I think especially... I'm so glad that mental health is getting a lot more talk and attention. Same. And, like, every time somebody is brave enough to put out that they're, like, [01:16:00] having a hard time, like, I just, like, really feel for them because I think a lot of us have, like, really been there.

And it's... It is, like, really brave to, like, put yourself out there. So, like, anyone going through something, like you or I or anyone- Yeah ... you know, it's like, it's, it's a big deal. Um, and I think- Now it's fantastic that mental health is having like a little bit more of a moment, but it's still sadly like such a, a big issue.

Yeah. And, um, I've lost like two family members to suicide, like pretty close family members. And one of them, um, happened about 10 years ago. It was actually about six weeks after I'd done the Ironman and I had seen my Uncle Joel at the Ironman. He was in massage therapy school, and so his like massage therapy program- Oh

was there doing like the post-race- Stop

Ally Brettnacher: it. That's

Lauren Starek: really cool ... massages. It was really cool. Yeah. And he had s- some like substance abuse issues, some like mental health issues, um, PTSD like specifically, and probably more that I didn't know about. Yeah. Um, and I just like did not... That was my first [01:17:00] ever experience with like having somebody like close to me that I know like die by suicide.

Yeah. And it was just shocking. And I still, like you never know what's going on in people's head, like you never do. Mm-hmm. But I think I just was like, "Oh, he probably just had like a really dark moment." And now I'm like, "Oh, no. Like this was like probably building for a long time- Yeah ... and it was like so challenging."

And so it really kind of forced me to like think more about just mental health in general. It's like, wow, like... 'Cause, you know, my family, a lot of them have like lived, moved to Colorado Springs at this point. Everyone kind of lived other places for a while. And we would get together like pretty much every Sunday.

So there was years where he was like more in the picture than others. Yeah. But it's like, wow, like I had no idea that it was like really, like that that was like something that he was feeling so intensely.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Um, so that was like really sad. And a year or two after that, I started to kind of feel like just a little bit more down than normal, and I think I was like both a little scared just because of like, I was like, "Wow, mental health like [01:18:00] is like a really big thing."

And so, um, you know, I started meeting with like a therapist regularly, which was awesome. I met with her for like probably seven years, which is- Yeah ... pretty unheard of, but awesome. She was amazing. I

Ally Brettnacher: have therapy right after this.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And like for a while, I even like took some like medications to like just kind of help with depression, and I think I would not have taken it seriously if like I hadn't had that experience with my uncle.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Um, and so And then about a year and a half ago, um, my cousin, who was like in his late 20s, died by suicide. And that one was just shocking. I mean, again, I had seen him like maybe six weeks before over Christmas. And, um, he, he was just so funny. I put together this like book of memories for my aunt, um, and the rest of the family after he passed away.

And just like reading people's stories, I mean, somebody at his wedding described him as like a walking good mood. And like that's always how I'll remember him. Like, he was just always laughing, always so funny, was not afraid to put on a crazy outfit or [01:19:00] a crazy costume or like embarrass himself or anyone else.

Like, he just was like so funny. And so I knew that he was like having a tougher time. Um, he was like, felt like kind of his health wasn't like fully right, and I think he was like kind of having a hard time getting answers. But clearly there was like a lot going on that like we never will really know. So it was just shocking.

And then to see him, like I don't know what he was going through, but he had like so many wonderful resources available. And so it just kind of shows that like this is like hard stuff. Yeah. Like this isn't like, "Oh, this happened in your life." Mm-hmm. It's just like, wow, I mean, we'll like never really understand.

So um, that was just like so tragic, and again, just like a really big like gut punch of like how serious this stuff is and like how challenging. And like you never really know what's going on behind the scenes for people.

Ally Brettnacher: Right.

Lauren Starek: Um, so yeah. So I think now I like try to take things a little bit more seriously.

But also it just is like so sad to think like that- [01:20:00] I don't know what was going on in him, but like, but that felt like his best option at that- Right ... time. So like you almost kind of have to come to peace with it. But it's just sad that like he was such a big part of our lives.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Lauren Starek: And now like those memories are just like, the memories will be there, but like there are no more new memories to make.

Like it's- Yeah ... just like, yeah. Um, so that's been like, yeah, just like pretty shocking for the family to go through, like again, and especially with like Kyle. His wife is so amazing, and I'm so glad I got to know her over, they met in 2020, um- Oh, geez ... in COVID. Yeah. I think he like saw her, her parents live next door to my grandma, and like saw her on the pad and was like, "Oh, dang, that girl's pretty."

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, my gosh.

Lauren Starek: That's so funny. Kyle and Kylie ended up finding an intro somehow. Wow. And, um, so she's really amazing. Her name's Ally, and she was actually one of the bridesmaids in my wedding. So- Oh ... for the wedding, um, it was just, yeah, it was an amazing experience. I wasn't sure I was always one that like needed a wedding.

Like, I love the idea of like [01:21:00] a dress and like photos and stuff, but I, it sounded like kind of a lot. Um- It is a lot of

Ally Brettnacher: work.

Lauren Starek: Yeah, exactly. But especially after like Kyle passed away, it was kind of like, you know what, like there are so few occasions in life to really get people together and just to really celebrate.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Like, I don't think we like celebrate things enough. Agreed. So I was like, "All right- Yeah ... let's do this." And at the beginning, I like resented the planning process, but it actually really grew on me over time. I was like, "This is gonna be awesome." And people are so nice to you. I mean, you know, you'd go, I went to like DSW to get some new shoes, and I was telling them like, "Yeah, I'm looking for shoes for my wedding," and they were just like, "Oh my gosh, here's a coupon," like, "How can we help you?"

Aw. Like, "Congratulations," and just like everyone has just been so nice about it. So that was really wonderful. And so for my bridesmaids, I had my sister, um, my sister-in-law, my other sister-in-law, and then Ally as my bridesmaids. Aw. And we decided to get married in San Diego. Uh, with the football season, there's pretty much like one week in April that you can get married, which is like a little dicey, or like six weeks in the summer.

So again, [01:22:00] I hate making decisions.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. So it made it really easy. Like, thank you for helping me with that.

Lauren Starek: Just like, what venues are available at this time? Perfect. And- Yeah ... San Diego is such a big part of our story and our life, and since it was gonna be this summer, it's such a nice time there that we're like, "Let's just do it."

So yeah, we ended up getting married in San Diego, and I'd gotten a lot of advice. I feel like maybe even you had told me this too, that like it goes really fast, so just like make sure you take in- Yeah ... a lot of moments. And- I built in so many time buffers that I actually felt like the day was really smooth and actually like kind of calm before.

Ugh,

Ally Brettnacher: that's so good.

Lauren Starek: I have like really vivid memories from like a lot of things during that day- Ugh ... which was awesome.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Yeah, it was truly just so magical, and I thought that I would be like f- frazzled and just like tired and kinda have to like put on a good face for parts of it- Right ... or like pull myself together, and it was just like not that experience at all.

That's so great. It was just so amazing. Yeah. And I did a wedding morning run, which is kind of a tradition with my grad school friends. Oh my gosh, that's the best. So, uh, I think we made it a little over a mile, but I [01:23:00] wore my mom's veil from my parents' wedding. Did

Ally Brettnacher: you put pictures of that somewhere? I did.

Did

Lauren Starek: I see that? I'll just send you one. Would you send me one? Yes. I'll just send you one. Yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: yeah.

Lauren Starek: It was amazing. People thought it was my bachelorette party. I'm like, "No, I'm getting married in like seven hours." That's funny.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. We did that with my friend Selena, who's from Austin, Texas, and she had like a 5K the day of, the morning of her wedding and it was- Mm-hmm.

Yeah, I wish that I would've done that. It was fun. Like it wasn't really a thing, I guess, then. I'm sure some people perhaps did, but running wasn't as big at that moment in my life, but so cool that you did that. Yeah, it was really fun. Enjoy it. Love it.

Lauren Starek: So.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, and when did you find out that you were getting married the same weekend as Taylor Swift?

Oh,

Lauren Starek: I know. That was so crazy.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: I feel like I al- definitely already had, like, our date planned. Turns out you need to plan weddings, like, two years in advance now. Sure. So I kind of, like, missed the ball on that. So the options were a little limited. Thankfully, we had a great venue. It turned out fine.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: But, um, I think she got engaged, like, even after that. Oh, you had already... Yeah. So they planned [01:24:00] things, like, super quickly.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: And then when I found out we were getting married on the s- same weekend, I was like, "Well, this is kind of cool." And I've heard... I, I, I don't know if it's true, but, um, that we had, like, the same, like, signature drink.

So- Oh

Ally Brettnacher: yeah, I saw you share that.

Lauren Starek: I mean, I, I liked it- That's so funny. What was your signature drink? ... it was like... So I did, like, a lavender lemonade. Yeah, nice. 'Cause I wanted something that would be, like, refreshing, could also be, like, a mocktail. Yeah. 'Cause, like, I was like, "I know it's gonna be hot. It's, like, a Sunday."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Um, and, like, I mean, I'm, like, a Taylor Swift fan. Like, I like Taylor Swift. Yeah. I'm not, like, crazy, but- ... um, but it was pretty cool.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, it's just funny. You're like, "Oh yeah, we-"

Lauren Starek: I know,

Ally Brettnacher: but- Was it the same day?

Lauren Starek: Um, she got married on a Friday. I got married on a Sunday.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. All right. Yeah. So. But still- Same weekend

it's so cool. I know. Same weekend. Yeah. And then did you... You didn't honeymoon right after, did you? We did. You did. Where'd you go?

Lauren Starek: Yes. We went to Hawaii. It was so amazing. I know not everybody has the chance to, like, go on a honeymoon or, like, go right after the wedding. Yeah. But with Greg's schedule-

Ally Brettnacher: Right, you had to get it

Lauren Starek: in

it was kind of the time to do it. Yeah. And also, being in California, you're, like, halfway there to Hawaii anyways.

Ally Brettnacher: Right.

Lauren Starek: So-

Ally Brettnacher: [01:25:00] Ugh ...

Lauren Starek: it made sense, and it was just magical. 'Cause with your wedding, you're just, like, in this, like, lovely bubble, and then to just be able to, like, continue that. Yeah. And again, everybody is so nice.

Like, the flight attendants were, like, writing us notes. Like- Yeah ... I'm like, man, like- This is the best ... turns out having a wedding is just really

Ally Brettnacher: amazing. Great,

Lauren Starek: yeah. Um, and so we had such a great time out there, and yeah, it just, like... Everything has felt, felt really special and, like, really right and really special, so I'm very grateful for that.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: It was awesome.

Ally Brettnacher: How's it feel to be a Mrs.? Mrs. Derrick? Oh my gosh. Is that how she does it? Yes. Yeah.

Lauren Starek: Um, it feels... I didn't think it would feel that different, but, like, it does somehow. I'm like, "My husband," you know? It's just different-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ... to kind of say it. Here's my... Right, at the beginning, you're just like, "Oh yeah, my, my husband, Greg- Yeah.

works for the Colts," and, uh- Exactly ... yeah. So crazy. So fun. I love it.

Lauren Starek: And, um, I think changing my name, I think if I was younger, I would've, like, been like, "I don't... I don't know." It's- Yeah ... it's unfortunately very patriarchal, which is, like, annoying, but, [01:26:00] um- Yeah ... I also was like, "I know it'll make things easier," and, like, I like his last name.

Like, it's, it's all good. I had a great run with Court, so I, like, am using that as my middle name now. No, that's

Ally Brettnacher: cool.

Lauren Starek: Yeah. So it's been, like, a little bit of a process to get things changed, but hasn't been too bad. What

Ally Brettnacher: was your old middle name?

Lauren Starek: Jeanette.

Ally Brettnacher: Jeanette. Mm-hmm. That's a pretty middle name though.

It is,

Lauren Starek: yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So shout out to Jeanette Ray, 'cause I just had- I know. ... a brain fart. Yeah,

Lauren Starek: yeah. Another amazing S.

Ally Brettnacher: It's a beautiful name. Yeah. Um, yeah, I, I, I don't know why. It's weird how you go back from being, like You know, F the patriarchy to being like, I really was looking forward to taking my husband's last name.

Mm-hmm. I, like my whole life I thought, you know, yeah, I'm gonna do that. Mm-hmm. I always thought it was kind of fun. Like but now you, it is kind of funny, the traditions. Mm-hmm. I, I have a hard time with thinking through traditions Because you're like, "Who decided that we have to do this?"

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: Like talk about a wed- you know, it's like- Mm-hmm

why do I have to have a show- why do I have to do all these things that like nobody wants to really do? Mm-hmm. And like why do we have to do it? So.

Lauren Starek: Well, and one thing that I'm like really proud of us for, um, and I mean, I got married when I was like 37. [01:27:00]

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Lauren Starek: So I didn't do a bachelorette weekend. I didn't even do like a wedding shower.

Like m- Gina- Good. Yeah ... my grandmother really wanted to like put something together, so we kind of like did like a barbecue, but we were like- Yeah ... no gifts, like no games. Yeah, like- Like, you know ... it's just- Um, yeah, I never... We like had some girls together for wine like two nights before. Yeah. It ended up being this like co-ed all age thing.

Yeah. So I guess that was my bachelorette party. Like, I don't know, which is nice. You know, it was like, I can do this on my own terms now. Yeah. Right. So I did appreciate that.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Good for you. I know. I just feel like more people should feel empowered to do that. Yeah. Because at the end of the day, it's for y- it's for you.

Mm-hmm. You don't have to do stuff for what other people want or- Mm-hmm ... wish they did for their own wedding or... Yeah. Yeah. I mean, thankfully, I don't really ex- I didn't... I mean, mine was fine. Everything was great, but yeah- Mm-hmm ... I just think about that sometimes, so. Mm-hmm. Um, okay, I'm gonna ask you the end of the podcast questions now.

Okay. Mm-hmm. Oh my gosh. Um, so you know these now, so thanks for being an actual listener- Mm-hmm ... of this podcast. I love it so much. Um, I appreciate you. But the first question I ask everyone is, what is your favorite running mantra [01:28:00] and/or song?

Lauren Starek: My favorite running mantra is no stress pace.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh.

Lauren Starek: I think sometimes when you're out there, especially if you are trying to hit a certain pace in your training or you feel this pressure to be running a certain thing, like I said, pressure can sometimes be a good thing, but sometimes it can be so overwhelming- Yeah

and you get like in your head. So if I'm out there running and I start getting a little panicky or like, I don't know if I can maintain this, or this feels so hard-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Lauren Starek: no stress pace. Yeah. Just keep this pace, and if it starts stressing you out, slow down. Or just slow down right now. Yeah. It's all good.

And I think sometimes when I give myself that permission to just feel that way, I can actually maintain that pace longer than I otherwise would.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I

Lauren Starek: love that. So that's kinda my new thing.

Ally Brettnacher: That's great.

Lauren Starek: No stress pace.

Ally Brettnacher: No stress pace. Do you listen to music when you run?

Lauren Starek: I do.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So do you have any favorite songs?

Ah,

Lauren Starek: I have so many favorites. I know

Ally Brettnacher: it's hard.

Lauren Starek: Um, right now this is like a very niche thing, but my favorite pump up song is, um, this remix of Run This Town by Jay-Z and Rihanna.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Lauren Starek: And like the NFL like theme music, so it's very like cinematic, like [01:29:00] dramatic. Ooh. It's called like Run This Town/like Post Humo Zone, I think is what it's called.

Okay, cool. It's like the NFL music. I don't

Ally Brettnacher: know if I've ever heard it.

Lauren Starek: And yeah. And then also randomly, um- Yeah ... Gimme Gimme Gimme by ABBA is another one- Oh ... that always kinda like gets me like going a little bit. But I do love listening to music. Yeah. And I think it can really kinda help you like get pumped up-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah

Lauren Starek: for what's to come. For

Ally Brettnacher: sure. Oh my gosh, I love it. And then we know your next finish line.

Lauren Starek: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: New York.

Lauren Starek: 2026 New York City Marathon.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. How many days do you know from today?

Lauren Starek: Um, I think it's about s- six or seven weeks.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. It's- It's coming. It's coming. 10 minute. And then, yeah, your mile, like in any other milestones, I mean, when did you move to the city?

Lauren Starek: Um, I officially moved in November. Okay, so it's

Ally Brettnacher: coming up

Lauren Starek: on- So I guess two months will be my three years in New York ... three years. You moved out a little bit, a little bit earlier.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. So. So cool. Yeah. Well, we're so, I'm s- we're so lucky to have you here. Yeah. Are you fundraising for New York?

Lauren Starek: I don't need to this time.

Okay. All right. Yes. I have in the past. Um, but I don't need to this time.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, good. Well, go support my other [01:30:00] friend. S- uh, Tammy Mills is- Yes ... currently fundraising for New York right now, so.

Lauren Starek: And Hallie. There's so many great-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah,

Lauren Starek: actually, yeah, I know ... there's so many great, like, charities and amazing race

Ally Brettnacher: Absolutely.

out there. Oh my gosh, I'm gonna be cheering for you- Thank you ... so hard.

Lauren Starek: Can't wait.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, and then you'll have to come celebrate in, at Monumental just to hang out. Oh, yes. You don't have to run. Yeah. You know, it's gonna be great. Your events

Lauren Starek: are always so much

Ally Brettnacher: fun. Oh, and I forgot to say thank you for spectating at the Full Mo too, by the way.

Lauren Starek: Oh,

Ally Brettnacher: yes. I loved having you there.

Lauren Starek: That was amazing. It's, you're such a great friend. You guys are all incredible for doing that.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah, so.

Lauren Starek: Yeah, I did a 50K once, and- What? It was... Yeah, I forgot to mention that. Um, it was like a trail 50K in, uh, Washington, and I did most of my training at- Whoa ... like Mission Bay in San Diego on flat.

Um, it was like I did not have the time of my life out there, but- I did it,

Ally Brettnacher: so. But you did it. Oh my gosh, you're amazing. Yeah. Iron Man. Yeah. Ultra marathoner. Gosh, awesome. That's so funny. All right, well, I'm cheering for you. Thanks so much for doing this. Of

Lauren Starek: course.

Ally Brettnacher: And thanks to everybody who's listened, and happy running.

Lauren Starek: Happy running. Yay.

Ally Brettnacher: We did it. Thank you Huug for supporting this episode of the podcast. A lot of exciting stuff coming up [01:31:00] this fall. If you are local to Indianapolis or if you're coming in town for the Monumental Marathon on November 7th, we have a couple of events we're cooking up, and by we, I mean me and Lindsey Hein.

This will be our second year doing an event at Monumental. It'll be a celebration event on race day, so after your race.. You can use code FLAMS, F-L-A-M-S, for $10 off of your ticket. We are also doing a free shakeout run on Friday morning at the Bottleworks Hotel. So keep your eye out if you're local or if you're coming in town.

Would love to have you, would love to meet you. And good luck to Lauren through the rest of her training. And for all of you who are wrapping up training for the fall marathons. Thank goodness the fall weather is here. And as you perhaps listen to this, I'm in Vermont really soaking in all of the fall.

So I will be back again next week, and in the meantime, happy running. Thanks again. Bye.

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