Finish Lines & Milestones: Episode 176: Sasha Wolff - Still I Run

Finish Lines & Milestones: Episode 176: Sasha Wolff - Still I Run

Here's how people can enjoy this episode:

Guest: Sasha Wolff @stillirun

Show Notes:

Sasha Wolff, founder of Still I Run, and I were connected through my friend, Lindsey Hein, of I'll Have Another. This episode comes out right before National Run for Mental Health Week and Still I Run's 10-year anniversary on October 10.

During this episode, we talk about:

  • [1:00] How much Still I Run has changed since Sasha was on Lindsey's podcast
  • [3:00] Being hospitalized for depression and anxiety in 2011, and the conversation in a Best Buy parking lot that got her there
  • [6:00] Building a "mental health toolkit," choosing running, and the first run home from the hospital
  • [7:00] What a week inside a mental health hospital is actually like
  • [10:00] Digging into the science behind running and mental health, and searching for a group that didn't exist
  • [13:00] Finding out we both have daughters named Sloane (Ferris Bueller fans unite)
  • [16:00] Her husband's promise to get her to run a marathon, the Dopey Challenge, and how Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise" became a tattoo and then Still I Run
  • [17:00] Pitching local TV and turning "a girl and her Facebook group" into something bigger
  • [18:00] Selling hand-stamped jewelry in church basements and donating every dollar back to the hospital that helped save her life
  • [21:00] Being one of those "nerdy running couples"
  • [22:00] Running through three pregnancies, and what going off her medication cold turkey taught her
  • [25:00] Trying to run a race every month of her first pregnancy, and her daughter arriving early on race day
  • [26:00] Meeting the first Still I Run member in person, the first World Mental Health Day 5K, and the Still I Run tattoo that told her this was really something
  • [30:00] The Starting Line Scholarship (now Mental Health Runner), and why it has always been free
  • [32:00] Why running is therapeutic, but it is not therapy
  • [36:00] Becoming a New York City Marathon charity partner in 2022, and leaving the corporate world to go all in
  • [39:00] Year 10: a new mission and brand, and why everybody has mental health
  • [43:00] 380+ ambassadors, run chapters across the country, and the "pace protectors" who promise to be last in a group run
  • [45:00] Cold emailing Women's Running, and keeping reminders of the good around you
  • [47:00] The lululemon grant that put Still I Run alongside organizations from Chicago and Minneapolis
  • [51:00] Running 30 races in 2016, the Dopey Challenge explained, and realizing running had swayed into addiction
  • [57:00] Her Hyland's Boston Marathon team spot, the 2020 virtual Boston, and "the one that got away"
  • [1:00:00] How charity applications for Boston and New York work, and why charity runners aren't being greedy
  • [1:02:00] Bayshore, and running the New York City Marathon two days before her 40th birthday
  • [1:03:00] My Alex's Lemonade Stand regret, and her advice for charity runners in their final weeks of training
  • [1:05:00] Her fourth Hood to Coast, a 7:30 opening mile downhill, and the van magnets
  • [1:12:00] National Run for Mental Health Week, the Strava challenge, Kara Goucher, and the World Mental Health Day 5K
  • [1:17:00] "Forward is a pace"

Previous Guests Mentioned

Other Links

This is a SandyBoy Productions podcast.

Episode Transcript

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

Sasha Wolff: running is not therapy. It is therapeutic, but it is not therapy. .

Yes.

Ally Brettnacher: I feel like people who say that running is therapy have actually never been to therapy.

 

Ally Brettnacher: Welcome to Finish Lines and Milestones, a podcast for everyday runners. I am 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. I'm so excited for this week's guest. 10 years ago, Sasha Wolff started a Facebook group with a name borrowed from a tattoo she has, Still I Run.

And today, Still I Run is the first nonprofit dedicated to running and mental health, with more than 380 ambassadors and Run chapters all across the country. Sasha takes us back to where it all started, a week in a mental health hospital in 2011, and her first run afterwards, that she says you could barely call a run, but it counts.

And we talk about [00:01:00] selling hand-stamped jewelry in church basements, leaving her corporate job to go all in, taking on the Dopey Challenge just months after her first marathon, the Boston Marathon that got away, and her fourth Hood to Coast. And then we talk about why we both feel very strongly that running is therapeutic, but it is not therapy.

and the timing for this is perfect because it comes out right before Mental Illness Awareness Week, which Still I Run is having a national Run for Mental Health Week to coincide with that. And October 10th is World Mental Health Day. So it goes from October 4th to the 10th. There is a Strava challenge.

Gonna link that in the show notes. You'll see all those details there. So stick around, see how you can help support them and join in, And I'm really excited for you to meet Sasha. So thank you, Lindsay Hein, for connecting us. Enjoy this conversation. All right, welcome Sasha Wolff to the podcast.

Sasha Wolff: Thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here.

Ally Brettnacher: I'm so happy that you're here, and that Lindsey Hein connected us.

Sasha Wolff: I know. How cool is that? Like, what a small world sometimes. [00:02:00]

Ally Brettnacher: Absolutely, yeah. And you were on her podcast, what, like years ago now?

Sasha Wolff: Oh, man. It was li- I think it was during COVID, and that just feels like a lifetime ago in and of itself.

It does.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I, I'll have to link that episode in the show notes, too- Yeah ... for people to listen if they want, 'cause a lot's changed. Oh my gosh, you're gonna celebrate 10 years of Still

Sasha Wolff: I Run.

Ally Brettnacher: I

Sasha Wolff: know, I know. It has. And I just like, uh, just a shout-out to Lindsey for even having me on the podcast back then, because thinking about Still I Run then and now, it's like a complete 180.

So I'm thankful to Lindsey for taking a chance on me and this little thing called Still I Run, and then for you, too, for taking a chance on, on who we are now today.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. It's my honor. I'm so excited to introduce everybody who may not know who you guys are- Yes, yes ... to, to you, and then obviously get people to know you and your story as well.

Yeah, yeah. So 10 years. So I'm trying to figure out where to start- ... because I [00:03:00] wanna know you and I wanna know all about Still I Run. Um, so maybe we just ta- we just go to the, the starting point of- Yeah ... Still I Run and the year that- 2011. It feels like an aggressive start to an interview. However, I feel like that's, a lot of us can relate so much to how this got started.

So let's just start there.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Talk about 2011.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, and I also ... I mean, it is a, a very aggressive start, but, like, life isn't all puppy dogs and rainbows, right? Yeah. Like, sometimes you gotta talk about the hard stuff, but in the hard stuff, sometimes beautiful things arise. So that's, that's how I like to think of the, the story, if you will, of Still I Run.

Um, it was in 2011 that I was actually hospitalized for depression and anxiety, and that's not something that a lot of people talk about. Like, h- the stigma behind mental health is big, let alone the one where you actually, uh, have to be hospitalized for it.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. How old were you at that time?

Sasha Wolff: Oh, I was in my 20s.

I was, like, mid-20s. [00:04:00]

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, okay.

Sasha Wolff: So-

Ally Brettnacher: And how did you ... Like, who took, like, who was like, "You need help"?

Sasha Wolff: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Your parents? Your friends?

Sasha Wolff: No, I was actually married at the time. My ex-husband at the time, um, I mean, thank God- Mm-hmm ... he said something. He knew that something wasn't right, that I was having a very hard time.

I remember we were in the parking lot of a Best Buy. Like, you know, just those few things get really cemented in your mind. Yeah. So it was the parking lot of a Best Buy in his SUV. I, like, so crystal clear on some things. Um, and he's like, "Sasha, I think you need to check yourself into Pine Rest," which is a mental health hospital here in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

And it took a little bit of convincing, but I'm so glad I said yes. I am glad he suggested it. I am glad that I went. Uh, it's, you know, hands down one of the scariest things I've done, but also, I like to look at the also, it's also one of the bravest things that I've ever done.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. At, at that age, to be

Yeah, to not go, like, [00:05:00] because you absolutely had to, but

Sasha Wolff: yeah. Life had just gotten so heavy, and I was actually diagnosed with depression and anxiety in college. I'm sure if you would ask- Okay ... my mother, she would say it happened a lot earlier, but you know, you're a teenager. You don't wanna listen to your parents.

Um. Yeah. It was actually an old, an old high school boyfriend who in college, he was like, "Sasha, I think you might need to say, see someone."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, yeah. Sometimes it does, it takes that.

Sasha Wolff: I know. I know, and I've got kids now, and I'm like, "Yes, I know you don't wanna listen to me, but sometimes, you know, you've got good friends in your life that, that will speak up for you, so-" I feel like by the time I was in my mid-20s, the depression medication I was on, it wasn't enough for, for my mental health and the things that were going on in my life.

So I, I agreed to, to check into the mental health hospital, and it was, you know, an entire week there learning about a mental health toolkit, that if you have a diagnosis, you can do things in your life to help with it. There's [00:06:00] medication, there's therapy. There can also be, you know, reading, writing, painting, just something else that you can do that makes you happy.

Um- Mm-hmm ... and for me, I was like, "Oh, well, I'll do running." My parents are runners. They modeled that behavior to me growing up, and at the time I was like, "It's cheap and easy," which, which I know better. LOL. I know, right? Um, but I, I think the, the interesting thing is, like, I got home from being hospitalized, and I went out for that very first run.

Like, I did not wanna get out there, and you could barely call it a run. It was more like a, a waddle, jog, just I need to do something. I need to get outdoors, breathe in the fresh air. And I came back from that very short distance, slow, don't even know what I did, um, and I, I felt proud of myself. I felt accomplished.

Um, I'd literally just been hospitalized, and here I was, I, I did it. I did [00:07:00] something. I put on shoes, I got dressed, I went outside.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. How long were you hospitalized too, by the way?

Sasha Wolff: Uh, a week, and it was- A week, okay ... so, uh, it was voluntary, but once you check yourself in, they only let you go when they feel you are ready to go, and it, it's- Okay

kind of like a, a joint decision. And so after a week there, like, meeting with a case manager, a social worker, a psychologist, a therapist, all of the things, like a whole care team, it was, um, like, six days in there that they- Right ... decided, "All right, you're, you're ready to go. You're ready to fly, little birdie."

Ally Brettnacher: Do you meet other people there?

Sasha Wolff: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Is it like grou- 'cause I picture what I've seen maybe, like, on TV. I don't know where else I, like, can draw from, but I picture you all sitting in chairs in a circle and, like, talking about your problems. Is that, like, a somewhat of a reality or?

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. Yeah, it kind of is.

Like, everybody has their own separate room, and then they, they all lead out into, like, a common room, a common area. There's puzzles, there's games, there's books, there's a TV. [00:08:00] There's, like, a main desk where you go and get your, your medication. Um, but the rooms are, are, are odd, right? Like- There was no real mirror in there, and if you wanted to do your hair, you had to do it out in the open because there's cords on it.

Like, it- it's a very jarring experience. When I, when I had to get checked in, I brought drawstring pants, and they had to take the drawstring out. Like, just all these things that you- Right ... you don't think about. And then every day you have, like, a schedule, um, which I, I kinda still adopt today. Like, everything in my life is scheduled.

I, I live and die by my calendar. Um, it adds predictability. It adds accountability. And so, you know, there's some group sessions, and then there's, uh, you know, where you talk about cognitive behavioral therapy. Uh, there's a little bit of group projects, and not too much 'cause some people in there have social anxiety, and they obviously don't wanna force that.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. Yeah.

Sasha Wolff: But it is [00:09:00] so helpful to talk to other individuals who are going through the same thing. I remember there was, like, a CEO of a pretty big company in the area that was in there, alongside- Ah ... a, an 18-year-old girl who had tried taking a whole bottle of aspirin. So, like, it was a level playing field.

Life did not care who you were or what you were doing. Right. We were all just there together. So being able to talk to those individuals was really helpful, too. Um, and then there's like a little cafeteria where you get your food, and then everybody stands in line and gets their, their medication. So some of it is like what you see on TV.

But, you know, it's, it's a lot nicer than that. And the facilities- That's good ... you know, at least the one that I went to, they've gotten nicer over the years, I think because we're starting to invest more overall in mental health. Thank

Ally Brettnacher: goodness. Yeah.

Sasha Wolff: Like, we're not ... We're, we just have an illness. There's, there's nothing wrong with us at all.

It's just an [00:10:00] illness, and you can do all kinds of things to, to help with that, like medication, therapy, and whatever else you choose. But yeah, running, running definitely helped that first time. And then I, I love research. I love data. So I, I dug into the research and data behind running and what it's doing for your mental health, the serotonin, the extra happy chemicals in your brain, if you will.

Um, and I was like, "This is amazing. Okay, so this isn't just, like, me being proud of myself. There is actually something going on in my brain."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Sasha Wolff: And I was like, "I'm not stopping. I'm just gonna run for the rest of my life." Yeah. 'Cause it, it was so good for me. And it was, you know, getting outdoors, there's something beneficial to getting outdoors as well, um, and breathing in that fresh air and the sense of accomplishment- Yeah

from it all. Uh, I'm sure a lot of people listening, and even yourself, have experienced that, where you're just like, you feel better just getting outside of four walls. Oh,

Ally Brettnacher: yeah, 1000%. Yeah.

Sasha Wolff: So after- Yeah ... I, I started running, I [00:11:00] wanted to connect with other people that ran for mental health. Um, and I'm here in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Shout out anyone in Grand Rapids, Michigan, or West Michigan. Um, we've got a large running community here. So many run groups, so many races, and I was like, "Okay, this'll be super easy for me to find some buddies to run for mental health." But there, there was no such group that was centered around that intersection, which I thought was surprising because it is science-backed.

It is ... There is data out there that says running is beneficial for your mental health. So I, I kept looking. I kept hoping. I kept googling. thinking that there hopefully was gonna be an organization someday around running and mental health, and, and nothing ever came. So I was like, "Well, I guess I'll just start it myself."

It's, it's that, you know, if you build it, they will come sort of thing, and that's what I was hoping for.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, and here you are. So it first started, right, on Facebook. Yeah. How many year... Like, was it a year into your running j- Like, how [00:12:00] far into your running journey were you like, "Okay, I just need to s- I need this community."

Yeah. "I can't keep doing this, like, by myself."

Sasha Wolff: Well, I dragged my feet for a long time. So it was 2011 I started running, but it wasn't until 2016 I finally just did it. And part of it was I knew I would have to share my story, and I didn't wanna do that, and I knew it was gonna be a lot of work, so I was just hoping somebody else would do something.

Um, and then, then the other issue is I'm a marketing person, and I was like, "I need to have a catchy name for this," but I couldn't think of a catchy name. Honestly, I, I, I actually tossed around the idea of, like, Depressed Runners or Runners for Depression. And I was like, "Nobody wants to join that." I don't wanna bring people down with my- That's so funny.

Yeah ... my terrible naming conventions.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Sasha Wolff: So yeah, I read, uh, Brene Brown's book, Daring Greatly, about vulnerability in 2015, and that kinda sealed the deal for me. That was... That opened up me [00:13:00] wanting to share my story and getting vulnerable and hopefully doing a little good in this world. So yeah, it took a couple years before I was brave enough to even put anything out there on, on Facebook- Yeah

and start Still I Run.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. And so in that time, you mentioned your ex-husband. Mm-hmm. So you were married. You, you know, I'm assuming were married for a little while after that. Mm-hmm. When did you become a mom? Like, when did that-

Sasha Wolff: Yeah ...

Ally Brettnacher: where is that in the story?

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, so I started Still I Run in 2016. I'm with my current husband now.

We met in 2014. We got married in 2017, and then my daughter came, like- Eight months. She came a month early. She came eight months later.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, yeah.

Sasha Wolff: She wanted to start running right away, so she came early. Um, but yeah, Still I Run is, like, my oldest child, and then there's Sloane, my- Right ... my eight, almost nine-year-old, and then-

Ally Brettnacher: You have a Sloane?

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. Is

Ally Brettnacher: she the redhead?

Sasha Wolff: No, [00:14:00] that's Miles.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay, that's Miles, right. Okay. So Sloane is my youngest's name.

Sasha Wolff: Aw.

Ally Brettnacher: How did you- Yeah, from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Sasha Wolff: Yes. Oh my goodness, same.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Sasha Wolff: Such

Ally Brettnacher: a classic movie. I knew, yeah, we were just kindred spirits. Yeah. Yes, yeah.

Sasha Wolff: We truly are. I love that. Wait, how old is your Sloane, then?

Ally Brettnacher: My Sloane is in kindergarten. She's five.

Sasha Wolff: Aw.

Ally Brettnacher: And my oldest is Sydney, and she's nine.

Sasha Wolff: Okay, okay. Yeah. So yeah, our kids are, like, the same age, 'cause Quinn is my middle. She is six going on seven. And then Miles, the little redhead, uh, he, uh, he just turned five.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, that's so fun. Yeah. Oh my gosh. So this, okay, now-

I'm impressed with how well you know your, your years because sometimes for me, I have such a hard time. So with your hus- you got married in 2017. Mm-hmm. And so it's too much math for me now to do the- ... math backwards for my- Yeah, right ... kids' ages, but so did you com- become a mom before, uh, 'cause Still I Run you said was your oldest child, so it must have been before you became a mom you did this.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, yeah, I, 'cause it [00:15:00] was just something that was gonna be on the side. It was just like, "I'm gonna start this Facebook group. I'm gonna have a running group in Grand Rapids, Michigan." I didn't expect it to be anything more than that. I was like, "Oh, my parents and my cousins will join it, and yay." Um, so yeah, that's why I was just like, "I'll put it out on Facebook," and then, you know, three kids later, I've now got four because of Still I Run.

Um, so yeah, starting this and then having three kids, and COVID happening during a portion of it, it's just- I still look back and wonder how I survived, truly, especially with having depression and anxiety.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Truly. So the Facebook group, was it named Still I Run?

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. Yep. I- From the

Ally Brettnacher: beginning.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, I decided to- Wow

settle on that name, um, because my husband is actually a runner. Uh, and he's run [00:16:00] lots of marathons, and he's like... When we started dating, he said, "I'm gonna get you to run a marathon." And I said, "Oh, hell no. Nope. No one runs that for fun." And so he convinced me. We ended up, uh, doing the Dopey Challenge. Um- Okay,

Ally Brettnacher: so, like, not just a marathon either.

Sasha Wolff: No. We did that in 2016, but I didn't want my first marathon to be the Dopey Challenge, so I decided to do the Grand Rapids Marathon in October of 2015, so, like, a few months prior. Nice. And it was when I was training for that race, I h- was brainstorming ideas just for myself, 'cause I knew I wanted a tattoo to commemorate the whole entire thing.

Um, and I've always loved Maya Angelou's poem Still I Rise. Um, and so because this was for me, this was a tattoo for myself, I was like, "Oh, I'll turn it into Still I Run." Like, even though I have depression and anxiety, still I run. And then changing the I to a semicolon for the Semicolon Project and learning about never giving up and [00:17:00] continuing on with life.

I was very intentional. And then there, there used to be an arrow underneath our logo, too, because I really love the metaphor of archery. Like, when you're pulling back an arrow, you need to go backwards in life sometimes before you can go forward and hit your target. And so-

Ally Brettnacher: Ooh ...

Sasha Wolff: I was like, "This, this is my tattoo."

And then it led into, oh, my tattoo's actually a really good name for what I wanna do.

Ally Brettnacher: And how did you get the word out when you first set it up? 'Cause I, I mean, 10 years ago Facebook was- ... a very, very different place.

Sasha Wolff: It's true. Um, so I have a marketing and communications background. I used to work for the local television station here in Grand Rapids, so I still had a lot of my TV contacts and, like, a little bit of a PR background, and I pitched one of the local TV stations.

And I don't even... Looking back, I don't even know why they said yes, because it was literally just a girl and [00:18:00] her Facebook group. Um, but they took a chance on me. It, it's all about people saying "Yes," right? Yeah. People seeing something in you and what you're doing and saying "Yes." And so they said yes, and that went out to the local news, and then eventually people started reaching out, "I had no idea you had depression and anxiety," or, "Oh, I run for mental health too."

Hmm. And then those questions led to, "What kinds of programs do you have? What kinds of events? How do I get involved? How do I donate?" And I was like, "Oh. Oh, okay." And then I was like, "I need to somehow make money if I'm gonna turn this into a nonprofit." So I actually started off doing hand-stamped jewelry and, like, screen printing my own shirts and with, like, a Cricut machine- Oh my gosh.

Yep ... and selling them in church basements at, like, church bazaars and fairs.

Ally Brettnacher: So good.

Sasha Wolff: And I, I still [00:19:00] maintain this today. Every dollar that gets raised or donated to Still I Run, I wanna make sure every penny is spent to the best of our ability. So when I was bringing in funds for whatever this was that I had, I actually donated it all back to the mental health hospital that helped to save my life.

'Cause I, I didn't want the money to go wasted. I was like, "People are donating in good faith."

Ally Brettnacher: That had to feel so good, too. Your boyfriend at the time- Mm-hmm ... were you da- so you're still dating, so he convinced you to do the marathon.

Sasha Wolff: Yep, yep.

Ally Brettnacher: That's, that's so funny. I know people who've done Dopey as their first, and I find that just fasci- I'm like, "What?"

No, I- Did you do any other distance? Like- No ... did you sign up for other races before you met him, or were you literally just, like, running for yourself?

Sasha Wolff: I did a couple of, like, 5Ks and 10Ks. Um, I think I... Oh, I had done a half-marathon and a 25K. Okay. But it was all just- to run for my mental health. It wasn't to do anything more than that.

[00:20:00] Um, so when he suggested a marathon, I was like, "I don't need to run that far to get the mental health benefits." That's too long.

Ally Brettnacher: That's what you thought.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, exactly. I've done five marathons now. Right. So I, you know, he, he was right that I would eventually end up running a marathon. But yeah, having Dopey be your first, I think that, that's intense.

That's why I was like, "I'm gonna do the little Grand Rapids Marathon here in town first, and, you know, if I live, then I'll do Dopey."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Wow. How, what was the distance between those two? I forget what time of year Grand Rapids has their marathon.

Sasha Wolff: Grand Rapids is October, and- And then Dopey's

Ally Brettnacher: January, right?

Sasha Wolff: Dopey's January. So, like, uh, the Grand Rapids Marathon was kind of like a, just a very long training run with a medal at the end of it. Right. And chili. Yeah. They do chili at the end of that one, too.

Ally Brettnacher: Ooh. That sounds amazing. Yeah. Okay. So did your, did your husband, boyfriend, did he run the Grand Rapids with you, too, or was...

Okay.

Sasha Wolff: Yes, he did. I've got the-- I'm, like, [00:21:00] looking at it right now in my office. I've got the best photo of us going across the finish line. We're, like, totally in sync with our steps and our strides, and then we're both, like, fist pumping the air. It's, it's so, I... Like, it brings tears to my eyes every single time.

Oh, cool. Like, he trained me to do that, 'cause I had no idea what I was doing, how to fuel, how to run, how to breathe. Um-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Sasha Wolff: and, like, it just goes to show that finish line for us was the start of many finish lines together. Like, we still run together, 'cause we're one of those nerdy running couples that just- Ugh, I,

Ally Brettnacher: I, like-

loves it ... hate you in some sense. Mm-hmm. The nerdy running couples, I just can't get enough of. My husband and I did the Chicago Marathon together when we were dating. And so I was the one, I was the enabler. I was the one who's like, "Do you wanna run the Chicago Marathon with me?" And he had never run more than three miles in his life, like, ever.

Oh my goodness.

Sasha Wolff: How'd you

Ally Brettnacher: get him to say

Sasha Wolff: yes?

Ally Brettnacher: And he was like, "Okay." He wanted, he still, he wanted to put a ring on it, I guess. He was, like, still trying, you know, at that point.

Sasha Wolff: Well,

Ally Brettnacher: yep. And, uh, yeah. So he was just like, [00:22:00] "Sure." And so we just trained for the whole thing together and ran together, and we had matching shirts, and it was, like- Awe

one of the best things. But now running has become very much my thing. Mm. He's d- he's more into, like, the fitness stuff, like weights and- Yeah ... which, you know, I like, too, but I, I need running. So yeah, it's really cool that you guys are s- are that, that couple. I love it. I- I love that for you.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. And, and when I was pregnant with all three kids, like, I continued to run.

Wow. I ran up until, up until I had all of the kids. I think with Quinn, there was, like, a week in between me running and having her. But, like, I, I need to run. It is an integral part of my mental health, regardless if I- Yeah ... have an extra 40 pounds and a baby and or what, right?

Ally Brettnacher: Right. Yeah. What did pregnancy do to your mental health?

Sasha Wolff: That was a really, really, really rough one, especially because when I went to, uh, the doctor's office to, uh, with my first one, when I went to the doctor's office to confirm I was indeed [00:23:00] pregnant, the nurse there was like, "Oh, you don't need to take your depression medication anymore because with you being pregnant, that's gonna, you know, you're gonna have all the happy chemicals anyway."

And me being dumb, I was like, "Okay." So I went off of them cold turkey, and I had the worst depression. I was super confused because I was like, I thought my brain was supposed to make happy chemicals. Like, this is a baby. This is the happiest time of my life. And it got really bad to the point where I was just like, I couldn't get out of bed, I was sobbing, and my husband's like, "You need to, to call your psychiatrist and actually get-" Right

their- Yeah ... uh, take on it. And so, um, I was able to go on a, a low dose, and I felt completely better. Um, and I s- I stayed with that regimen for all, all three kids- Yeah ... because I, I think it's important for the mother to be at her best physically and mentally. I matter, too, in the pregnancy. It's not just all about the baby.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. Gosh.

Sasha Wolff: Well- So that, it, [00:24:00] it was rough. I, I'm not one of those women that enjoyed being pregnant by any means.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, me either. Well, I... Our oldest came early, a month early. She's our, our redhead came early, and she- Um, yeah. And, and I had a really rough birth experience to the point where, like, I almost lost my life.

Sasha Wolff: Mm.

Ally Brettnacher: And so then when we had... Like, we waited four years to have another kid- Yeah ... for a variety of reasons, that being one of them, that I was, like, terrified.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Um, but when I was pregnant with my second daughter, I, I had severe an- I had so much anxiety. Ugh. And I didn't even really recognize what it was until my husband said something.

We were with, with, like, a nurse practitioner at- Yeah ... something, and he's, he was like... She's like, "Are you experiencing any of that?" I'm like, "Oh, I think I'm okay," and my husband looks at me and he's like So I actually think, so it's, you know, that's why I say having somebody in your life that can- Yes ... see that change and who cares for you and wants you to, you know, be your best, that's, that's [00:25:00] helpful.

So yeah, pregnancy is just

Sasha Wolff: It was- Gee ... it was a trip. And, like, to k- help me through those pregnancies too, I also gave myself running challenges. So with my firstborn, Sloane, my goal was to run a race every month of pregnancy. And I, I did, but because she's always early, she's came a month early and on race day, um, which, which was a complete surprise.

Whoa. Um, so all the nurses, it's so funny, all the nurses were like, "Did you hear the woman in that room? She was gonna run a marathon." And I was like, "No, not a marathon. I was just gonna run a 5K." But still, like, a 5K pregnant is, is- Right ... no- Yeah ... freaking joke. Um, but I always say she was- Wow ... my, my little race medal from that race since I didn't- There you go

get to run it.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, yeah. Oh my gosh, I was picturing you saying, "Well, and so then I got to the start line- Oh my goodness ... and I

Sasha Wolff: started" No. No, no, no, no. "

Ally Brettnacher: My water broke," and you're like, "Oh, God," yeah.

Sasha Wolff: No, it was more like my water broke in the middle of the night after, [00:26:00] um, my husband's Christmas party. And so he had taken all of the drinks on my behalf.

And so when my water broke late that night after we had gone to bed, he was like, "No, no, no, honey. It's, it's not. You just peed yourself." And I was like, "Uh-uh. Nope, this is different." And it, it was. It was a baby.

Ally Brettnacher: I can tell, yeah, yeah. That's so funny. You just peed the bed. It's fine. Yeah,

Sasha Wolff: yep.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah, I mean, huh.

Yeah, so- I guess talk about now the f- the Facebook group you got- Mm-hmm ... and the media to get the word out. Mm. So then when was the first time you actually, like, met somebody else from that group in person? When did you start to do that?

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. It was actually, she lives here in Michigan. She's, like, 20 minutes away.

Um, her name is Megan, and completely amazing individual, and she's like, "Sacha, I really love what you're doing. I have my own story of running and mental health. Um, let's, let me help you." And so- Mm-hmm ... we [00:27:00] put together, uh, I think it was that second year, a World Mental Health Day 5K on October 10, which is coincidentally our birthday, and we did a, a free run for anybody that wanted to show up.

And it ended up being huge. Like, so many people turned out. And then she's like, "Okay, let me, uh, let me help you with an ambassador group." So she, she put together, like, a little ambassador program just as a volunteer. I was a, you know, a volunteer at the same time, too, but then more people started to come into just these few little events we did in Grand Rapids.

And then, uh, there was an individual in, like, across the state who had gotten a Still I Run tattoo. And that's when I was like, "This, this is something. This isn't just a, a little Facebook group anymore." Like, people are actually tattooing our designs and images on their bodies, and it was- That's so cool ... it was during, you know, like- Wow

that first year, year and a half where I started getting the inkling of an idea that maybe this could actually be something. And the people that [00:28:00] want to be a part of it are the coolest individuals.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. And meanwhile, so you're becoming a mom, but you also mentioned your previous life and career- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm

Sasha Wolff: in

Ally Brettnacher: more, like, in TV and more corporate job.

Sasha Wolff: Yes.

Ally Brettnacher: So, like, was that also still in the picture at that time, too, while you're start- I mean, that's a lot.

Sasha Wolff: It, it, it, like I said, when I look back, I don't know how I did all that stuff. I, um, I used to work at, uh, Herman Miller Furniture Company. Um, they're located- Okay

here in Zeeland, Michigan. Absolutely incredible. Loved working for them. Um, so that was my full-time paying gig, and then three kids, and Still I Run on the side. And, um, it was a lot, especially when COVID hit. Like, I mean, there's just all the things with COVID anyway, but as a internal communications person at Herman Miller, I was responsible for coming up with all of the emergency preparedness plans and how do we tackle this in [00:29:00] dealing with, like, our, our re- businesses and offices in London and, uh, all over the- Yeah

world, and it was just, I was so stressed. Like I, I still feel like I have a little PTSD from like this one- Yeah ... giant conference room they locked all of us in with the C-suite to figure out, how do we manage this? How do we-

Ally Brettnacher: I mean ...

Sasha Wolff: navigate?

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. My sister-in-law was in com- in, she still is in internal comms at a huge health network.

Sasha Wolff: Oh.

Ally Brettnacher: During CO- And I was just like, "I don't know how you're- Mm-mm ... surviving this," but- Mm-hmm ... yeah. I mean, crazy, crazy. So that's nuts.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. It was a- Wow ... really hard time of life. It, and coincidentally, 2020 was when everybody started finding us because people couldn't go to their gyms anymore, they couldn't hang out at coffee shops, they couldn't get together, so people needed to do something singular by themself- Mm-hmm

for their mental health, and I guess we- Just started popping up in Google results, and more and more people started reaching out, and I was [00:30:00] like, "Oh no, I- we- let's, let's do something. I need to help." Wow.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So did you have a website at that point?

Sasha Wolff: We had a website. I, I have a little bit of a, like, nerdy IT to me as well.

I do too. I love doing all the things when I can, and if I don't know how to do it, I figure it out. So I had created, like, a website on WordPress by myself, and, like, made my own graphics with Photoshop. Um, so we had a website, and people started finding that. And then one of the very first things we ended up spinning up rather quickly was something called the Starting Line Scholarship.

Um, the whole idea was giving people all the tools they needed to run for mental health. So, uh, we would purchase shoes, socks, shorts, watch, all the things needed. We would then pair them up with a certified run coach, that was someone in the Still I Run community, and then we would help them identify a virtual race, and then they would run that [00:31:00] race.

So it was, like, very bare bones, but it was at least giving people the things they needed to run, and it was completely free. Like, we've never... The program has now shifted to something called Mental Health Runner, but it's, it started off as free, and it always will be free, 'cause- That's really cool ... uh, money, money should not be a barrier in doing something positive for your mental health.

And-

Ally Brettnacher: Right, yeah ...

Sasha Wolff: going back to my earlier comment about running being cheap and easy. Yeah. It's neither of those things. Yeah, right. So that's, that's why I was like, "This needs to be free, and we need to have a coach so hopefully we can, you know, help people overcome that barrier, barrier of it's cheap and easy."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Right. Right. And then and, you know, now you're doing it the right way too- Yes ... because I feel like, you know, with, with mental health, especially if you're running from something or if you're, like, have all these emotions you're just trying to- Mm-hmm ... like, burn out, you can get burnout or injured or- Yeah

'cause you're just, you know, you can do that. And so having a coach with that is, that's pretty cool, so that somebody can do it the right way.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. And, like, even today our [00:32:00] coaches are very hyper-focused on the mental health and wellbeing aspect of it because you're right, that pendulum can swing too much into, um, like addiction and running away from problems, and that's- Yeah

running is not therapy. It is therapeutic, but it is not therapy. Yes. So all of our coaches are very much like- Sustainable mindfulness and not overdoing it because that's- Yeah ... that's not what our movement, our mission is about. It's doing this for your mental health.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I feel like you just need to say it again.

Say it again for people who did not fully internalize that because I see all this stuff on the internet, and I'm just like, "All right." So say it again. Say the sentence.

Sasha Wolff: Y- yeah. I- for us, running is not about the PRs and the performance or the hashtag fit check. It is something positive for your mental health and wellbeing, and that pendulum can swing too much in one [00:33:00] direction, so it is so, so, so important to be very mindful about the act of running.

Yeah. And remember your purpose and remember your why.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I, I mean, well, specifically what I was getting at, Sasha, is the it's not therapy.

Sasha Wolff: Yes.

Ally Brettnacher: It is not your therapy. Yep. It is therapeutic.

Sasha Wolff: Therapeutic.

Ally Brettnacher: It is a tool in that mental health toolbox. Mm-hmm. But you can't just go run, run around and assume that that's gonna help solve everything.

Sasha Wolff: Right. Yeah. And, and it's interesting because there's been a, like, a, a shift in me, if you will. So when I did start running for mental health, I was like, "Ooh, running is my therapy." I think I even had a shirt that said, "Running is my therapy." But then, like, as I've dug into it more, and I've been more educated in my own mental health journey, I'm like, okay, this is not

It does not replace therapy. It does not replace medication. It is a part of a well-rounded mental health toolkit. Yeah. And, you know, if people don't wanna [00:34:00] run, hike, bike. Like, still I hike, still I bike. It's just movement is good to put in your mental health toolkit- Yeah ... alongside the professional mental health resources.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I feel like people who say that running is therapy have actually never been to therapy.

Sasha Wolff: Probably. '

Ally Brettnacher: Cause you're like, if you had actually been to therapy, you would understand, yeah, there's so much more to therapy than, I don't know, just, like, having different chemicals in your brain. Yes. It's, like, working through things with somebody who sees you from the outside, not, you know, you looking at you.

Like, there's no way that you can consider running- Right ... the only source of therapy.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, 'cause one thing I've learned in therapy, it is, it is so helpful in breaking those predetermined rules you have in your head. That is something super important. My old therapist used to say, like, "When you were a child, you formed all of these rules in your head, bad, good, indifferent, whatever.

But when you become an [00:35:00] adult, you look back and go, 'Oh, why, why did I put that rule there? Is it because I was, I did this as a child, or I was treated like this as a child, or people in my childhood said this to me?'" And so therapy can help you break those rules, and running won't do that to you. That'll just get you stuck in your own head.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. It's just, like, the last thing I want is for my thoughts-

Sasha Wolff: Yes ...

Ally Brettnacher: to be my therapy.

Sasha Wolff: Yes, exactly. You need ... I don't care if you've got a mental health diagnosis or not, everyone can benefit from some therapy. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: I, I agree, and I'm so glad that it's now becoming less of a stigma.

Sasha Wolff: Yes.

Ally Brettnacher: People talk more openly about it, like, even on LinkedIn, right?

I know. Like, so you're like, okay, good. Thank you for, like, voicing that you struggle with this, and that it's okay to do this, and that's not, shouldn't be seen as a bad thing. If anything, it should be celebrated as doing- Mm-hmm ... something really smart for yourself. So I just love, I love that.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, I- Yeah

it's definitely gotten better over the [00:36:00] last 10 years. And one thing I always like to say about people in the Still I Run community, and anyone really that shares their mental health story, is, like, when we share our stories, we're getting rid of that stigmatizing narrative that has been placed on us. Um- Mm-hmm

and I think that's just super important to remember. Not everybody's ready to share their story or even wants to share their story, but it can be impactful. It c- it can help people.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Okay, so back to kind of the foundation or, like, when you were starting it, too. So you got a website. At what point did you leave the furniture company?

After, like, was it, like, after COVID, 'cause you had to kind of- Yeah ... leaving during that would've been kind of hard. But I'm sure you wanted to.

Sasha Wolff: I know. I definitely wanted to. Um, it wasn't until 2022, um, we were accepted as a charity partner to the New York City Marathon, and we had five bibs to the marathon and two additional [00:37:00] people that already had a bib and, and wanted to fundraise anyway.

And that's when we had our first big influx of revenue, and that's when I was like, "Oh my goodness. We can put this towards so many different shoes- Mm-hmm ... and, and programs." And then I was like, "But we need someone to take care of all this. I, it, it can't just be a volunteer gig anymore if, if we wanna grow this."

So I, I dipped my toes in the water to start. So in 2023 January '23, I was like, "Oh, I'll just go part-time." Like, uh, you know, "This will be fine." And Herman Miller, amazing as they are, they're like, "Yeah, we believe in what you're doing." Wow. Uh, they still support Still I Run today, which is incredible. Um, but they're like, "Yeah, we believe in this.

Drop down to part-time," which I think is so unheard of in the corporate world. I think it goes to show that just ask, and you don't know what the answer's gonna be. And I'm so glad they said yes, so I went part-time. But then, uh, you know, with the amount of work [00:38:00] I was able to put in part-time, the demand became more.

And then eventually- Oh, yeah ... I was doing like, you know, 40 hours a week of that, and then 20 hours at Herman Miller. And then my son was, 'cause he was born in '21, so he was, like, 14 months-ish. Mm. Um, and so finally in, uh, 2023, September of '23, so three years ago, I, I went all in. I left the corporate world for the first time in my career, which is...

It was an agonizing decision because it's nice to know that you've got a corporation behind you and a boss to answer to- Mm-hmm ... and a steady paycheck, um, one that, you know, it's made from a good being sold. Uh- Yeah ... so it was terrifying. But I knew that if I wanted Still I Run to be more and do the good it can do, that I, I needed to take that leap of faith.

And my husband was like, "Do it, baby. Go for it."

Ally Brettnacher: Go for it.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. I'm very, very fortunate. [00:39:00] Uh, he is my biggest cheerleader by far.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I mean, I feel like you ha- you have to have that. Yeah, I'm so lucky. My, my husband works in corporate America still, so that helps because then I can do what I love.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: And so, yeah.

Sasha Wolff: Well, and there's something- It's great ... about being able to pursue your passion and make a, a living doing it. Yeah. And I know that's, that's coming from a place of privilege for me. Not everybody has that option. Yep. But when you're able to, and you have the option to, it's, it's wonderful. I am so thankful that I get to do this, talk about running and mental health for a living, and help people discover that.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. So what does it look like now? What does the organization look like now?

Quick break in this episode with Sasha to tell you how you can support the Still I Run organization. Again, it's a national nonprofit organization for running and mental health awareness. There are four ways [00:40:00] to get involved. Number one, you can join Team Still I Run. You can run for the organization through one of their official partner races and fundraise for Still I Run.

You can make a financial contribution on their website and 100% of profits from purchasing official Still I Run merchandise funds their mission as well. You can become an ambassador. You can apply, to their ambassador program when, applications open to help share their mission, participate in campaigns, and build local community support, And of course, you can help spread awareness. You can participate in virtual and in-person events like the World Mental Health Day 5K or National Run for Mental Health Week, And they also, as I mentioned earlier, have a Strava challenge that is hopefully live by now that you should join if you are on Strava. Sadly, for anybody listening who is in my local community in the central Indiana area, our closest chapter is either Cincinnati or Chicago. So if this episode really resonates with you, there is a way to start a chapter here. So head to stillirun.org for more information And of course, follow them on their social media [00:41:00] channels as well. So now back to my conversation with Sasha

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So what does it look like now? What does the organization look like now?

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. It's, so it's year 10, and we, last year we were able to do some really cool strategic, uh, work with a, a, like a consultant. And they walked us through everything we've been doing, and helped us zero in, dial in on the things we were doing very well and can make the most impact based off of interviews they did with stakeholders and partners.

So we've got a new mission, vision, values. We have pared down our programs to just, like, the things we know we can do well and scale sustainably. We've got a new brand and look, a new way of talking about ourselves. So I really see now- As we're going from grassroots founder-led to just this legacy-built thing that will be around longer than I am, um, something that [00:42:00] persists through time because it's, it's so important, and it's more than just running for mental health.

It is trying to change the way people think about running in this country. It- Right ... like I said, it's, it's-

Ally Brettnacher: To your point, you said-

Sasha Wolff: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ... not all about going fast.

Sasha Wolff: Correct. Yeah. It's about mental health and wellbeing, and I think one of the important distinctions we've made is previously people are like, "Okay, to be a part of Still I Run, I need to have depression or anxiety or any other mental illness," but really, like broadening that umbrella in that everybody has mental health And running helps with that, whether you have a diagnosis or in a bad season of life, or just want to feel better and less stress.

So we're at a very interesting point. Yeah, that's a good distinction to make too. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. And we weren't doing that before. So now, now everything just has leveled up. Like, we, we deserve a seat at the table alongside other big organizations doing really important [00:43:00] and cool things in this world.

Ally Brettnacher: You know, you talked about how the ambassador program started when you were... And so how has that morphed over time, and, and is it chapters that you have, or like how does that, how does that work?

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. Our ambassador program started at about 20 people. It was just like a core group of individuals. We would elevate their stories.

We would have them, um, pay like a little membership fee, and they could get like a Still I Run T-shirt. And now we're at over 380 ambassadors.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Sasha Wolff: And the program is completely free. Um, they get discounts to, um, certain products and partners we have. They get early access to some of our merchandise, um, early access to some of the, the marathon bibs we have for some of the world majors.

We're doing challenges with them on a monthly basis. And so it's really gotten huge, and they are such a cool group of people, and just such a great organic way to share what we're doing. As opposed to spending money [00:44:00] on marketing, it's like, "Hey, these are real people with real stories." Yeah. Um, and then on top of that, we've got run chapters.

Okay. So I think by the end of this year we should have 24 different run chapters around the US. And, um, those are, are hyper-focused on mental health and wellbeing. Um, as a way to scale a little bit bigger and to help more people, we're also working on like a partner program with preexisting run groups.

So a run- That makes a lot of

Ally Brettnacher: sense ...

Sasha Wolff: a run group can become Still I Run certified, if you will, and be a part of our network. And what that looks like is you identify someone within your run group who wants to be that Still I Run representative or pace protector. That's what we're calling this individual.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, that's right. I love the pace protector. Yeah. We

Sasha Wolff: have to talk more about

Ally Brettnacher: that.

Sasha Wolff: Yep, and so that is the person that agrees to be the last one in that group run. 'Cause so many run groups in, uh, in h- the country are like, "Hey, every pace [00:45:00] can join." But if you're not a 10-minute pace, it's like- Cool. See you at the finish line.

Hope you can find your way back. And so this pace protector promises to be that last person. They've got a bright Still I Run shirt on. You can easily recognize them and see them. Um, and then the other cool thing is, like, we equip that person, that pace protector, with education and materials and, like, monthly themes and topics about mental health and running should that ever, you know, should that conversation happen at that running group.

But-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Sasha Wolff: that's, that's, we wanna, we wanna, like, integrate with as many run, preexisting run groups and have home-grown groups, if we will, um, and then- Yeah ... eventually get onto to college campuses because that's such a great group to be in front of as well.

Ally Brettnacher: And then there were a couple other things that have happened throughout that 10 years that I wanted to point out.

One, I found by googling is Women's Running recognized you- Yeah. ... in 2019 as- Thank you ... one of five courageous women who are running down mental health stigma. How did you find... That's really [00:46:00] freaking cool. How'd you find out about that?

Sasha Wolff: Um, I- I- I'm just very scrappy, and so I looked up a, an email address for someone at Women's Running, and I sent them a cold email.

Which, you know, I say that, but I also wanna say, like, for every cold email I've sent, I maybe get, like, ooh, you know, one response out of 100 cold emails. Yep, yep. So it's, like I, with my marketing and communications background, I just put Still I Run anywhere and everywhere, and they said yes. Um, I've actually got it, like, framed and in my office because I could- Cool

not believe it- Lovely ... that it was a- That's something. Yeah ... a print piece in, in Women's Running Magazine. Yeah. And I think that also helps out with our, our street cred as well because- You can always just ... You can say you're a thing, but it's not until other people come behind you- Sure ... where people are like, "Oh, okay, they're, they're doing something awesome and, and real."[00:47:00]

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. That's so cool. Good for you. Yeah. I've, I've gotten a couple, like, in my local newspaper, like I have framed. But you know what? I have said to myself, like, I wanna celebrate, you know, all the little milestones. Yeah. And, you know, there's just so many things that can happen along the way in a journey that's hard.

And so when you get those little, you know, not even little, like points of recognition that are- Yeah ... well deserved and hard-fought-

Sasha Wolff: Right ...

Ally Brettnacher: it's really cool.

Sasha Wolff: Well, and I think it's also good to keep them as permanent reminders, because my brain automatically wants to ignore all of the good and then focus on the one bad thing.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh. Hmm. Yeah. Um- Me too ...

Sasha Wolff: I'm like- So

Ally Brettnacher: annoying ...

Sasha Wolff: I'm like, "Sasha, dang it, like, you've done so much good. Like, you had one little thing go wrong," but, you know, irrational brain, that's what I like to call it, they like to- Mm-hmm ... zero in on that little thing. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So it's good to have those reminders around you to go, "Okay, you, you are doing important work.

You are worthy. You are a good person."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. And then Lululemon [00:48:00] gave you a grant.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. Lululemon was- When was

Ally Brettnacher: that?

Sasha Wolff: The ... So we applied for their wellbeing grant In 2023 for the 2024- Okay ... calendar year. Um, 'cause they, they open up applications, uh, for grants every single year. And, um, again, it was a matter of them saying yes, but I think the really, really cool thing about Lululemon is they're, they're focused on, uh, movement and mental health, and Still I Run fits right in that.

But it was so incredible because I think that first year applied, there was like a 1% chance of actually being chosen, because they, so many people apply, but only so many organizations get in. And so when they released the list of everybody that had gotten a grant for that year in 2024, it was like they had it broken up into regions around the world, and then there was, like, the Midwest, and it included three from Chicago, and then one [00:49:00] from Minneapolis, and then there's little Hudsonville, Michigan, Still I Run.

And I was like, "This is wild. This is the coolest thing." But Lululemon's just a great partner because they're more than just giving you money, like a transactional thing. Like, they, they work with you on a quarterly basis. Like, there's opportunities for you to improve yourself, your leadership capabilities, your organization.

Um, and I really enjoy that because it's, it's more than a giving of money. It's like an actual- Right ... relationship, so.

Ally Brettnacher: Which I would have assumed it was just money because they, you know, they're a huge company. So it's like how do they have the resources to do that? Yeah. That's incredible- Yep, it- ... that they make that a priority.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. Uh, we, we love them. We, uh, they, uh, gave us a grant again this year, and we're crossing our fingers we'll get one next year for the, the third and final year. But even afterwards, being a partner of theirs would just be phenomenal because I think a lot of [00:50:00] organizations say, "We support running and mental health," but there's very few out there that have it within their strategic plans.

Like, it is a part of their impact report, and they want to impact, you know, millions of people by 2030 through movement and mental health. It's just-

Ally Brettnacher: That's really cool.

Sasha Wolff: It's so cool. I love them. I can't stop fangirling about them.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. That's really... It's good for people- ... to know that. I didn't realize that's how, you know, strongly they feel about- helping.

That's so good to hear.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Wish more companies did that, but you know. I

Sasha Wolff: know, right?

Ally Brettnacher: One can dream. Right. Maybe someday. Oh.

Sasha Wolff: They're just gonna be the trendsetters in it. They're gonna start it all-

Ally Brettnacher: Right ... and

Sasha Wolff: then it'll cascade down. It's like,

Ally Brettnacher: hey, guys, like, look, I mean, just everybody's human, right?

It's like-

Sasha Wolff: I know, I

Ally Brettnacher: know ... just seems, yeah. Um, I wanna talk more about your, your running journey. So you mentioned, you mentioned the five marathons. You also recently, this year you did Hood to Coast.

Sasha Wolff: Oh my goodness.

Ally Brettnacher: Which I forgot to ask you about when we first talked. [00:51:00] Um, which is good, 'cause we can save it for now.

But yeah. Yeah. So you did the Grand Rapids, Dopey. Take us through kind of the rest of your big milestone races.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, so, uh, like- Me mentioning swinging the pendulum too far in one, uh, direction, 2016 was actually the year where I did that. So it, it kickstarted with Dopey, so that's four races, and then I think I did a total of 30 races that year.

Um, which is entirely way too much. Uh, one of them was, or two of them I should say, was the Dumbo Challenge in Disneyland. Okay. Out in

Ally Brettnacher: California?

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. Yeah. Because if you did Dopey and a Disney run in the same year, you got, like, an additional coast-to-coast medal and, like, I was- Yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: I did hear about that.

I remember

Sasha Wolff: that ... I was in it- Yeah ... for the bling. Um, so yeah, like 30 races that year. Um, I'm trying to think if there were any marathons that went in there.

Ally Brettnacher: Also, I feel like maybe you [00:52:00] should point out what Dopey is. I know what it is- ... 'cause I've talked to people who've done it. Uh, yes. But maybe, yeah, for people who don't have any idea what we're talking about.

Sasha Wolff: Ugh. The Dopey, uh, marathon weekend is, I think it's always, like, the first or second week of January at Disney World, and you run a 5K on Thursday, a 10K on Friday, a half marathon on Saturday, and a full marathon on Sunday. So it is- Yeah ... 48.6 miles total. Um, but it's a freaking blast. Um, you run through the parks for some of them.

Um, like the one where you're going through Animal Kingdom, uh, they have got, like, warthogs and snakes and all kinds of critters out that- Ugh ... you're running, and you can stop and take pictures with them. Um, and then there's character stops, so there's people out there- Mm ... dressed as, like, Buzz Lightyear and all kinds of your favorite Disney characters.

People are dressed up. It's a giant party. Yeah. Did you

Ally Brettnacher: wear costumes?

Sasha Wolff: Oh, heck yeah. I was like, "If I'm doing this-" Yeah ... I'm..." And they weren't, like, intense costumes at [00:53:00] all. It was, you know, one of them I was Minnie Mouse, so I got one of those really cool, like, Minnie Mouse sparkle athletic, um, skirts. Yeah. I

Ally Brettnacher: love

Sasha Wolff: that.

And then- That's so cool ... a black tank top, and then I had, like, a red bow in my hair. And then for Dopey, I, I did a green tank top. I sewed two giant buttons on the front of it, and then I wore, like, a purple sash and then had a green sparkle athletic skirt. So it was- There

Ally Brettnacher: you go ...

Sasha Wolff: it was very, like, runner-friendly.

There's some costumes out there where you're like, "I don't know how you're gonna run- Yeah ... 26.2 in it." But it's a frigging giant party and so much fun. I, I would love- Yeah ... to do it again, for sure.

Ally Brettnacher: I've, I would love to do a Disney race at some point. That's why. It's hard because now it's become, well, it's just become so incredibly popular, not just Disney- Right

but, like, running in general. And so then it's like you gotta know how to do it, like how to get in. Somebody's gotta know what time you gotta sit in front- Yeah ... of your computer and all of that, so.

Sasha Wolff: Well, even in 2016, [00:54:00] um, it was like you had to be there right when it opened. So my husband was on one computer, I was on another computer, and we're like, "Whoever gets in first, like, do the other- Does it

person's registration." Okay. So I can't even imagine what it's like 10 years later- Yeah ... to try and do one of those races. I,

Ally Brettnacher: right. I, I don't know. It's crazy. So 30 races in a year.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, it was a bit- Yeah ... too much. Uh, I had to reassess my goals and motivation and, and come to terms and realize that I, it had swayed over into the addiction, um, arena.

And it, after that, I took a little bit of a, of a break, especially because Sloane came in, you know, 2017, and I got married. It was... I had to be a little slower and then take like a- Yeah ... six-week break afterwards.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, yeah. That makes sense, for sure. Oh my gosh. Yeah, I mean, I've definitely been there too, though.

I mean, especially when your work and your passion is- Yeah ... running. Yeah. It's hard. I wanna do, uh, people tell me about races all the time. [00:55:00] They'll, like, invite me to stuff and I'm just like, "I, I wish I could do all the things, but I just cannot."

Sasha Wolff: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Um, so I've definitely had years like that, especially for pre-kids, I mean, 'cause-

Sasha Wolff: Oh, yeah

Ally Brettnacher: yeah.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, I'm very intentional about the races I do now, um, because the other thing too is when you have kids and you're training for a marathon, it's like, "All right. See ya, honey. Four hours later, you know, good luck with them."

Ally Brettnacher: Very hard.

Sasha Wolff: Um, but he's, like I've said, a great partner. It's just you still got that mom guilt, like, "Oh my goodness, I'm leaving my kids for this long so I can go out- Mm-hmm

and run a race that I paid for." Like-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Sasha Wolff: it's- Yeah ... it's a hard one.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I know, but it's like, man, you don't wanna see me if I don't.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: And also- Well, exactly ... also, I've started bringing my girls to spectate. Yes. So if I'm not gonna run a race- Same ... like, we'll go spectate or, like, volunteer. Mm-hmm. And so they really enjoy the environment, and I, I love that.

Like, my, uh, my oldest, we had a, um, an aid station that we set up at the Carmel Marathon, our, one of our local races here, and [00:56:00] she, it was like a lemonade stand for her. She, like, was, like, organizing all the stuff and refilling the cups- Love it ... and, like, it was just really fun. Yeah. So I think that there are ways, too, to, to get involved and do things, as you know, like, without actually running them.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Um, but I always have FOMO.

Sasha Wolff: I know. My, my kids love spectating as well. They assume every runner out there is a Stili runner. That's what they call them, a Stili runner. Oh. Um, and they're hilarious 'cause we, we spectate at races. We, we cheer. We say, "Good job." And then, like, people will be running in our neighborhood, and my kids will just shout, "Good job, runner."

Ally Brettnacher: Yep, mine do that. It's so great, and it always makes the person laugh if they hear it. It does. And they're like, "Oh my gosh, that's so nice."

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, the first time I didn't do it, my kids are like, "Why didn't you cheer them on?" And I was like, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't, I didn't know we were doing it in my neighborhood."

Ally Brettnacher: And so then maybe not a marathon in that year, but when was your next marathon, like, post having kids?

Sasha Wolff: It was, I th- I [00:57:00] slipped the Detroit Marathon in there somewhere. I was the ... I think it maybe it was in my year where I did Dopey. Um, my third marathon, it's, like, such a heartbreaker for me because what happened is, um, I had been nominated as part of Hyland's, like, Boston Marathon team.

Um, back in the day, Hyland's, who does, like, leg cramp cream, they did- Okay ... like, a special team of people every single year. So there was a team of nurses, a team of teachers, and then in my year I was chosen, it was a team of community builders. Um, so- That's cool ... for my work with Still I Run, I had gotten a free entry into the Boston Marathon, um, coaching, a bunch of swag, a hotel room, all of that stuff.

And, like, I found out when I was pregnant with Quinn, and then I started training for it when I was n- like, right back at running. [00:58:00] I did six weeks of rest after having her, and then, like, jumped right into marathon training. Um, unfortunately the year was 2020, and so I never got to run the race.

Ally Brettnacher: Sasha.

Sasha Wolff: I know.

That's, like, the one race I so want to run. Um, so they ... Like, it was, um, when April hit, they're like, "Yeah, we, we can't do the race. Uh, we're gonna reschedule the race until..." Or they were gonna reschedule it in September, 'cause, like, COVID. Yeah. We don't know what's happening. Right. So I'm continuing to train.

I'm like, "I'm gonna do this race," and then it ended up going virtual. So I did Boston, but, like, in my neighborhood- Stop. Oh ... um, during COVID. So, like, I had friends set up at different stations, and, like- That's

Ally Brettnacher: fun ...

Sasha Wolff: air high-five. So it was, like, a- Mm ... good experience, but that's, like, Boston Marathon's, like, the one that got away.

So that was my- Right ... third marathon.

Ally Brettnacher: That's so funny. I mean, not funny, but they sent you a medal too?

Sasha Wolff: They sent me a medal. They sent me a- the [00:59:00] jacket. We got this really- That's- ... cool, like, um, virtual Boston Marathon box. I still have it. Um- That's cool ... just 'cause it's, like, a sign of the times kinda deal. Um-

Ally Brettnacher: Totally

Sasha Wolff: but unfortunately because that race is so, like, hard to get into and you gotta roll right into the next year, they couldn't, like, defer anyone's bibs. So it was like that was n- that was my year. So hopefully, you know, maybe when I'm, like, 80 and I maintain- ... my speed- Walk ... I'll get back in.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. That's why I'm like, I just need to keep getting older.

Like- Yeah ... 40 helps, but I, I might need more. I don't know. We'll see.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, probably 80 for me. Um- Yeah ... I am determined to run it, it's just, you know, I- it's like Carol Burnett says, like, when people would ask her why, if she would get upset if she didn't get something, and she always just says, "Just wasn't my turn."

So, like- Just wasn't my turn then. Yeah. My turn will come eventually. And I-

Ally Brettnacher: I like that a

Sasha Wolff: lot ... cross my fingers it happens.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Well, you know, you got the New York bibs.

Sasha Wolff: Yep.

Ally Brettnacher: How, what is the difference between [01:00:00] New York and Boston for, like, the appl- application process? 'Cause I know even just becoming a charity runner- Yeah

for Boston, in some of those cases you have to go through interviews. Mm-hmm. Like, when you're the one fundraising, not necessarily with a team- Right ... like you had.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. With Boston, uh, you have to first submit a letter of intent, and then if they like your letter of intent, then you go on to the full application round.

Um, and so we've made it to the full application round three times, but haven't been able to, like, get past that. But I, you know, there's so many deserving charities that wanna get in, and there's only so many spots, and they even opened it up to new charities this year. Like, there's a lot of- Yeah

returning ones, and then I think there were, like, 22 new ones this year. Wow. Um, so it's just, it's competitive regardless if you're a charity or a charity runner.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. Yeah. Well, and then there's the people who, like, don't even like the charity runner side of Boston. I know. And those people just blow my mind, 'cause I'm like,

Sasha Wolff: what?

I, I, yeah. Like, a- [01:01:00] at, being on the charity side, it is so much more different, too, 'cause I think, I think what a lot of not, uh, maybe non-charities runners think, or maybe even charities, is, like, these, these, uh, nonprofits are being greedy. Like, they're asking for this much money for a bib. But what they don't understand is, like, us charities are actually monitored in how well we use the bibs.

Use them to the best of our ability, raise lots of money, we are rewarded with more bibs for our mission to do good in this world. So it's like- Yeah ... it's not a greed thing. It's a we have to prove ourselves to the marathon that we belong here. We can raise m- money and funds for our organization. So I-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah

Sasha Wolff: I love charity runners. Obviously, I am biased, but-

Ally Brettnacher: Yes. Yeah ...

Sasha Wolff: the amount of good that Still I Run has been able to do in the world because of charity runners is something that- Mm ... should not be overlooked. And same with all the other amazing charities out there raising funds. Like, we, we're doing good in the world, and this is one of the ways that we can afford to do it.[01:02:00]

Ally Brettnacher: Right. Yeah. I love it so much. Gosh, so Boston got away. Boston

Sasha Wolff: got away.

Man.

Ally Brettnacher: Yep.

Sasha Wolff: She'll come back someday.

Ally Brettnacher: Someday it'll be your turn. Someday. Yes. Yep. Okay. And so that was 2020.

Sasha Wolff: Yep.

Ally Brettnacher: And then, okay, so then what was after that-

Sasha Wolff: Uh ...

Ally Brettnacher: marathon-wise?

Sasha Wolff: I did, uh, the Bay Shore Marathon-

Ally Brettnacher: Okay ...

Sasha Wolff: which is here in Michigan. And then my last- Yeah, Lindsey

Ally Brettnacher: MCs that every year, I think.

Sasha Wolff: Yes. It's such a great race. I prefer the- It's good ... the half-marathon. Um, but then my last marathon was actually New York, so I did get to do the New York City Marathon.

Ally Brettnacher: That's awesome. What year was that?

Sasha Wolff: That was 2024. Um- Cool.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay ...

Sasha Wolff: a- and the race was two days before my 40th birthday, so I was like, "I made it my birthday race."

The whole weekend was just a big giant celebration of like- That's

Ally Brettnacher: so great ...

Sasha Wolff: being 40 and being a badass woman.

Ally Brettnacher: [01:03:00] Yeah. Okay. So then did you make a shirt that said like, "I'm f- turning 40" or something like

Sasha Wolff: that? No, I should have. I, I just- Yeah ... wore one of our Team Still I Run singlets. Well- We've got these really bright amazing singlets.

I should have at least worn a birthday hat or something.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, or you can like put a sign on your back that said, "It's my birthday."

Sasha Wolff: You know- I

Ally Brettnacher: don't know ...

Sasha Wolff: maybe, maybe I'll get Boston when I'm 50, and then I'll just wear it.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. "I'm 50 now." Yeah. Well, at least you- You know, if you go back to New York, it's your birthday weekend usually then, so.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. Yeah, it is. Yeah. I love marathon weekend. It is my favorite. I, I will be there again this year cheering on our runners. We've got 11 or 12 this year. Um- Oh, amazing ... and it's, it's my favorite thing to, to cheer them on, 'cause raising money and running a marathon, not easy. Ooh.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I, the reason I r- I ran New York for Alex's Lemonade Stand.

Oh, yeah. Um, because my friend got in with them, and so I was like, "Well, she's gonna do it. I should do it this year, too." So then I ended up doing it for them, too. Um, and, and we didn't really understand what it meant to [01:04:00] be a charity runner. Like, this makes me sound bad, but you know, we ra- I g- gave the money, but, but it was like a means to do the race, right?

"Hey, I got a bib." Well, what I regret is not, like, going to all their stuff.

Sasha Wolff: Mm.

Ally Brettnacher: Like, I, I just was like- Yeah ... you know? And I, I think now that I know, and I've been a charity runner in other environments, or, like, I've worked with other charities, it's like, no, like, it's all about the community that comes along-

Sasha Wolff: Yeah

Ally Brettnacher: with that opportunity to run the race. It's not just your ticket in. Yep. Which I just really didn't understand at that time, which is unfortunate. But, um, yeah, it, it's just so nice. Hindsight's

Sasha Wolff: 20/20.

Ally Brettnacher: It is. It is. Um, and so what would you tell people who are getting, like, they're in their final training weeks and month for the New York City Marathon, what advice-- Do you have any words of wisdom?

Sasha Wolff: Uh, I think my words of wisdom would be, you know, from the fundraising side, like, now is the best time to fundraise for your charity [01:05:00] or your nonprofit of choice. Um, you are about to finish that, that race. You're coming to the finish line for both the race and the charity at the same time. Um, so elevate those stories.

Bring that charity up to the forefront of why you're doing this. And then the other part, too, is just, like, give yourself some grace. I say that anyway because race day, so many different things can go wrong, but remember your why. Like, to your point, it is more than just a ticket to a marathon. It's you're running on behalf of, of someone or something.

So don't forget that why.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Well, that did definitely did help me going into the race. I was like, "Okay, there's kids with cancer. I can run- Yeah ... 26.2 miles." Like- Yep ... that does help when you're thinking about that, um, for sure. So then how did Hood to Coast happen? What roped you into that?

Sasha Wolff: Um, my, uh, uh, chapter captain in Portland, Oregon, uh, she, she, her name's Shoshana.

She's been a part of Still I Run forever. [01:06:00] Started off as an ambassador, um, and then helped actually start our Run Chapter program up for a little bit. Now she's a Run Chapter captain, and she lives in Portland, so she, like, when you have to send in your hand-stamped envelope, it has to be postmarked by a certain day.

Like, because she lives there, it, there's like a higher chance of, of getting in. So she's had a team the last couple years, and she just, because she loves Still I Run so much, she makes it a Still I Run team. So we- That's so cool ... we go every year. We've done, we've done this four years now.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, so this wasn't even your first Hood to Coast.

Sasha Wolff: No, no. This is, this is number four. Oh. But by far the best- Wow ... because the weather was perfect.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, that's good to hear. Um- Will you tell people what Hood to Coast is?

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. Oh my goodness. They call it the mother of all relays, and I agree, 'cause I've done Ragnar races, which is, is also a relay race. But, like, Hood to Coast is so many teams.

It is nuts when you go there. If you see a giant, um, one of those vans, the white vans, and there's like [01:07:00] paint and stuff on the side of it, you know it's a part of Hood to Coast. So what it is is you have a team of 12, two different vans. Um, one van starts at the top of Mount Hood, and then the six runners do a different leg and then pass the baton to the next van.

So while they're going, you're resting. They're doing their six legs and then another pass off. So it's like close to 200 miles. Um, you know, the, the fast teams do it in like 14 to 16 hours. But then like the, the party pace people like us, we go more like 34 hours. Um- But it's just so cool 'cause everybody's in the, in the same, like, zone.

You're all doing something really hard. You're running in the middle of the night. You're a little delirious because you're tired. Everybody's dirty and stinky, but everybody's cheering each other on, and I just freaking love that race and that experience. Yeah, that's so cool. It is the best.

Ally Brettnacher: So cool. And [01:08:00] there's like the topography out there.

Ugh. Like so it's like where- describe the environment that it's in.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, so you start at the top of Mount Hood, and it's, like even though it's in August, sometimes it'll be like 30, 40 degrees up there because you're starting at the top. And so I had leg one this year, and it was mainly all downhill.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm.

Sasha Wolff: Um, and I got a little too big for my britches, and I was like, "Man, I am cooking."

So I did, I think I opened up my, it was a six-mile leg downhill. My opening mile was like a 7:30, and I am not a 7:30 runner. I am like a 9:30 runner, but the downhill momentum, um, I pretty much burned my quads out, uh, because- Ugh,

Ally Brettnacher: yeah ...

Sasha Wolff: but I was cooking. Um, so like there's a lot of downhill, but then because you're not just going, you know, top to bottom, you're going through, there's a lot of like rolling hills- Mm.

Yeah ... and, you know. The other interesting thing is the, it's not a closed course, so sometimes you're running on the edge [01:09:00] while like a big tanker truck comes by. So it's just like- Yeah ... there's a lot going on, but it's one of the more fun experiences. I, I love it. And you go through some cities. You go through some, like, forests.

There's a little bit of trail to it. Um, it's a little bit of everything, and you never know what the, the weather's gonna be. Mm-hmm. Some years it's, it's rainy and cold. Or like last year was 110 degrees. You just, you get prepared for all the things.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Man. Yeah, I've done a, I did my Ragnar. I've done a Ragnar Relay.

That's the only one I've done, and it was up in, uh, it started in Traverse City and went to Muskegon.

Sasha Wolff: Yes, I've done that one. So

Ally Brettnacher: yeah. It was the road one, 'cause they have a trail one too. Yep. And that was my, my first one and hopefully not my last. I really enjoyed the experience with a bunch of women.

Isn't it fun? You're like, yeah, we could be going to a beach somewhere, but instead...

Sasha Wolff: I know. Well, and just like you get really close with your van mates.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, it's so great. Because you're- I mean, we still have a group chat-

Sasha Wolff: Yes ...

Ally Brettnacher: from like, what is it? [01:10:00] Two Septembers ago.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: same. We still get together sometimes.

Mm-hmm. So it's just, yeah, it's Really special

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, I- That's so cool ... I love it. Uh, like if, if anyone's looking for a team next year, I'm sure Still I Run will have another team. Follow us on socials and we'll- ... we'll let people know, 'cause it's, it's a- Oh, yeah. That's- ... it's a blast.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, that's so awesome. Well, congrats on your fourth one.

Yeah.

Sasha Wolff: My goodness. Thank you. I, every year I'm like, "This will be my last one. This will be my last one." And then every year I just... 'Cause, you know, I, I feel guilty going away from my family for, you know, a running vacation, but it's just- Yeah ... so much fun.

Ally Brettnacher: It's just, and you know what? You gotta, yeah, you gotta do some stuff for you and-

Sasha Wolff: Yes.

Yep ...

Ally Brettnacher: oh- Absolutely ... what really fills you up, and what better way, like, to, and especially get close with the people who are in your community. Like-

Sasha Wolff: Yeah ...

Ally Brettnacher: outstanding.

Sasha Wolff: Well, and promote what we're doing too. Like, we, it says Still I Run on our vans, and then there's like a part of the Hood to Coast culture, and Ragnar too, is like tagging [01:11:00] people's vans and vehicles with magnets.

Yeah. Yes. And so we, we tag- I have so

Ally Brettnacher: many in my office.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. We, we tag all the magnets on all the vehicles, um, just, just talk about Still I Run, and-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Sasha Wolff: uh, we always say we're spreading mental health from hood to coast, like ha ha. Um, but it works, right? So

Ally Brettnacher: good. Yeah, it's perfect. I love the, I love looking at the mag- I was so irritated with my friend who, like, got me into this.

She didn't, she didn't really remember about the magnets. Oh, no. And she was one of the only ones who had done it. So we get there, and people are tagging us with the magnets. I'm like, "Uh, Lisa- You're like, "What the?" ... I could've, I could've made us the funniest magnets." So next time I'll be prepared-

Sasha Wolff: Yes ...

Ally Brettnacher: for the magnets.

Sasha Wolff: The more magnets- Yeah ... the better. I absolutely- Yeah ... love it. We s- we always split them up at the end like, "Oh, I really need that one. That one's funny," or, "Oh, my kids would really like this one 'cause there's- Yeah ... like a random raccoon on it." It's just you never know what you're gonna get when you do those races.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. S- that's so funny. Oh, man. Okay. Well, in the time we have left, [01:12:00] Sasha, I wanna talk about the upcoming week. So this episode's gonna come out- Yes ... on October 2nd, leading into- Mm-hmm ... a really important week for Still I Run, Mental Health Week. Yep. Will you talk about how you're celebrating that?

Sasha Wolff: Yeah. So because it's our 10-year anniversary, we're going into this new decade, we wanted to bring a new running moment to everybody.

Like, there's Global Run Day in June, and we were thinking and brainstorming, "Why can't we do something about mental health and running around mental health?" So there's already this preexisting, uh, day called World Mental Health Day that everybody celebrates on October 10, and we thought, "Let's do an awesome lead-up into it and call it National Run for Mental Health Week."

So it's always going to be the 10 days leading into October 10. You can officially join it on our website, and every day of, uh, National Run for Mental Health Week you'll get, uh, stories from us, some education about running and mental health, and then a really cool partner activation. We've got some really cool partners [01:13:00] lined up every single day where you can purchase gear from them, and there will be a give back component back to Still I Run, um, or a special collaboration with an organization.

Um, and then to kinda, like, make it even bigger, we decided to do a Strava challenge. So- So exciting ... starting right now, when people hear this, you can find the Strava challenge for Still I Run under that challenges tab and officially join it. And the whole goal is to get people moving for their mental health and wellbeing.

And when you, um, do the official challenge on Strava, it's, um, moving for 15 minutes at least three times, so that is recorded on Strava. You then get to claim your reward, um, which is a commemorative, like, National Run for Mental Health Week T-shirt and hat. Um, and it's w- there's a discounted price on it for completing the challenge.

Um, but then you also get entered into, like, a prize pack, uh, worth $500. It includes running shoes from Lems. It [01:14:00] includes gift cards to Recover brands and HeadSweats, um, stuff from Running Warehouse. But everybody who, like, completes the challenge and claims the reward gets entered into that, uh-

Ally Brettnacher: That's cool

Sasha Wolff: that little prize drawing, which we're super excited about. I, as a runner myself- Yeah ... I'm like, "Ugh, I wanna win it."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. That's so, that's so cool. And I didn't, what I didn't realize, when you and I first talked, we talked about how kind of difficult and how big of a deal doing a Strava challenge is. Yeah.

It's not just, you don't just s- make one on Strava and send it out. It's like you have to, you have to pay to do it, right? Yep. Isn't that what you told me? Yep. You have to pay to do it. It's like a- Yep ... actual event that's on their platform then.

Sasha Wolff: Yep, it's an actual event on there. Um, and then this year, um, we got so lucky.

Kara Goucher's actually gonna be one of our ambassadors for it, um, and she'll be our featured athlete for National Run for Mental Health Month or h- Mental Health Week. Um, and she'll be sharing about it on, on her socials. But, like, honestly, the, uh- That's so exciting ... I, we're really excited. Um, and I think it just, it helps to get the word out.

[01:15:00] We're, we're just trying to get more people moving for mental health, and we figured doing a Strava challenge would be the best way to do it because- Right ... that's where the runners are at. And, and like I've, I've been saying all along, like, we're more than just a- A nonprofit. We're really just trying to start a movement here.

Like- Mm-hmm ... you can use this tool.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. No pun intended on

Sasha Wolff: movement. Yeah, exactly. I get it. Yep. Yeah, it's so true. Um- Too good. Well, the other thing I forgot to add is, like, we're also doing an, um, um, World Mental Health Day 5K as well. That happens- Oh, yeah ... on October 10. It's the culmination of the entire week, and so there's a virtual component where anyone can- Okay

sign up virtually- I'll have to do that ... and they get some fun, um, Still I Run swag. I've got some of it. It's, like, a commemorative patch, a neck gaiter, uh, a really cool luggage tag, but everybody gets that. And then we've partnered up with a few Fleet Feet stores, and they're holding in-person events at their Fleet Feet stores.

Um, but all that information is- Nice ... on our website, so you can sign up for, uh, Fleet Feet near you, um, or join virtual, and then [01:16:00] all the proceeds go back to helping Still I Run with their- That's so great ... free programming.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Um, back to Kara Goucher real quick, though, too.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: How did you get in touch with Kara?

Sasha Wolff: Um, our team Still I Run manager, that's the individual that, uh, manages all of our charity teams, they know each other from, like, the Wausau days, back in the day.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh,

Sasha Wolff: cool. Um, and again, uh, it's a, it's just someone that is saying yes or someone that is saying y- you should be introduced to this person. Um, I can't say enough how thankful I am for- people saying yes.

Ally Brettnacher: That's so great. Uh, and there was also a in-person event if people are local to the Grand Rapids area. Yep. Is that something that you wanna mention-

Sasha Wolff: Yeah ...

Ally Brettnacher: if they can support you still?

Sasha Wolff: Yep. So the, what we've done with the, the, uh, World Mental Health Day 5K is we- it's virtual. We've got the Fleet Feet stores.

That's all on our website. But then we're activating our run chapters across the US to host an informal [01:17:00] event on, on that day as well. So, um, if you go to our website, stillirun.org, you can find our run chapters, and then find a run chapter near you, and they'll be doing a run. So like in Grand Rapids we'll be doing one on October 10, um, at Riverside Park, and the chapter will be there.

People from the community will be there. Um, and it's just gonna be a big giant party of people moving for their mental health. Yeah. And like, uh, people shouldn't feel discouraged to go because one of the big things about us, our ethos really, is forward is a pace. So it doesn't matter how fast- Yeah ... or slow you go.

Um- Mm-hmm ... so come join us on October 10, whether with a chapter virtually or with a Fleet Feet store. Um, come enjoy National Run for Mental Health Week through the Strava challenge. It's just, it's gonna be a blast.

Ally Brettnacher: It's gonna be awesome. Yeah. What's so crazy, my very first marathon was on 10/10/10.

Sasha Wolff: Really?

What race was it?

Ally Brettnacher: Little did I know, Chicago.

Sasha Wolff: Ugh. I mean, what a great first race.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, yeah. [01:18:00] I mean, I had no idea the how good of a- Yeah, right ... I had it. Yeah. Oh

Sasha Wolff: my God. 'Cause that was before the lotto system, wasn't it?

Ally Brettnacher: Yep. Mm-hmm.

Sasha Wolff: Ah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. That's awesome. You just sign up, like, you know, what- What? What is this?

how weird is that to think about now? I know. Gosh. Oh, well, I, I'm so excited to be able to share your story and get people rallied around you. I mean, it's just such a wonderful thing that you've built, um- Thank you ... and will continue to build. So I'm happy now to know you and, and be a small part of it. And so now I'm probably gonna ask you the end of the podcast questions.

Okay. Let's do it. This is the fastest... I mean, it's just so easy to talk to you. Okay. So I ask everybody two questions, and the first one I ask is, what is your favorite running mantra-

Sasha Wolff: Mm-hmm ...

Ally Brettnacher: and/or song?

Sasha Wolff: Um, I've got two favorite mantras. One is still I run, because still I run. Um, and then the other is through peaks and valleys.

Like, life is a series of peaks and valleys, and you, you just have to go through them. So [01:19:00] I... That, that helps me out a lot because when you're running too, there's a lot of peaks and valleys.

Ally Brettnacher: It's so true. Yeah. That is very accurate. And do you listen to music while you run?

Sasha Wolff: I listen to podcasts now. Okay.

Yeah. I've gotten to the age where I'm like, "Let me listen to Good Hang or Smartless- Love it. Yeah ... or IMO with Michelle Obama." Like

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Sasha Wolff: I'm one of those people now.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I, I do that too. I, like... I'll do audiobooks even as well. Oh. Sometimes I still do music, but...

Sasha Wolff: I... If I do music, I, uh, listen to Mumford & Sons.

I just saw them in concert last night, and I'm, like- Oh ... in... I love them. And they've got- Great ... a song called, uh, Run Together, and that is, like, a good running theme song these days.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Oh, perfect. And then, um, well, we know your next finish line or milestone, we know about your big milestone coming up- Mm-hmm

which is celebrating 10 years. Mm-hmm. What is the next race that you are signed up for?

Sasha Wolff: Do you know what? The... I [01:20:00] don't have a race on my calendar right now, which- Look

Ally Brettnacher: at that ...

Sasha Wolff: feels like a weird thing. I am- ... contemplating running London or Chicago next year, though. Um- Yeah ... but I like to give myself some grace and, uh, contemplate these things.

Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Good for you. Good for you.

Sasha Wolff: Gotta take care of my mental health. Oh.

Ally Brettnacher: Right, I know. It's like the things you learn, too. Again- Uh-huh ... back to therapy. Yep. It's like you can say no to stuff. You don't have to do stuff. You can. It's great. What... Who'da thought? I know. Oh my gosh. Well, Sasha, thank you so much for doing this, uh-

Sasha Wolff: Thank

Ally Brettnacher: you

for me. I, I really enjoyed meeting you. And thanks to everybody who has listened, and happy running.

Sasha Wolff: Yeah, thanks.

Ally Brettnacher: Appreciate you taking the time to listen to this episode. If you enjoyed it, head to the show notes, sign up for my weekly Finish Lines and Milestones emails, or of course, share this with a friend you think would enjoy it as well. I am hopefully gonna be at the Indy Half at Fort Ben tomorrow here locally in [01:21:00] Indianapolis, Congratulations to everybody who ran the Berlin Marathon, the Chicago Half. I love that race season is now underway. Oh yeah, Boulderthon. So there's a lot happening and I love cheering everyone on. Good luck to everybody running the Indy Half in Fort Bend this weekend, and I will talk to you again next week.

Thanks again. Bye.

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