Finish Lines & Milestones: Episode 177: Alyssa Eichholtz - You've Done Harder Things

Finish Lines & Milestones: Episode 177: Alyssa Eichholtz - You've Done Harder Things

Here's how people can enjoy this episode:

Guest: Alyssa Eichholtz @alyssachase_ | Pennsy Run Club @pennsyrunclub

Show Notes:

Alyssa Eichholtz, founder of Pennsy Run Club, and I first connected through one of her women's-only runs. She was 36 weeks pregnant when we recorded, which makes her the first pregnant guest I've interviewed.

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

  • [3:00] How to say "Eichholtz" (think Indianapolis Colts)
  • [4:00] Her due date, a baby boy on the way, and why being pregnant and active can feel so isolating
  • [6:00] Not finding out she was pregnant until almost her second trimester
  • [12:00] The Carmel Marathon being postponed six weeks, and running it at five months pregnant
  • [17:00] My own pregnant races at the Austin Half and the Indy Mini
  • [18:00] Why mile 26 at Carmel was the first time a marathon made her emotional
  • [20:00] Growing up a figure skater and theater kid in Tinley Park, Illinois
  • [21:00] A move to Greenfield, a new job and COVID all at once, and how the Peloton bike pulled her out of a mental funk
  • [25:00] Depression, loneliness, and choosing a full marathon as a way out
  • [29:00] Training alone for her first marathon at Monumental in 2024
  • [33:00] Going from bartending at Ike & Jonesy's to 911 dispatch, thanks to the IMPD officers who were regulars
  • [37:00] Delivering a baby over the phone, and why dispatchers ask so many questions
  • [40:00] How running helps her handle a job where "no one calls 911 on a good day"
  • [45:00] Discovering the running community at Monumental, and driving 40 minutes to run with Abby Prentice and Indy Social Run Club
  • [49:00] Getting stuck in 465 traffic, deciding "there's gotta be a better way," and starting Pennsy Run Club on February 1
  • [52:00] Growing from 93 members to ~120, with Tuesday night and Saturday morning runs
  • [59:00] Special Olympians in the club, and how they handle different paces
  • [1:01:00] Why Pennsy Run Club stays free, running a 501(c)(3) on donations, and local support from NineStar
  • [1:04:00] Her vision for the club, and how pregnancy changed her perspective
  • [1:07:00] Her dream of a point-to-point race once the Pennsy Trail connects
  • [1:09:00] How bartending trained her to remember everyone's name
  • [1:13:00] Whether she'll make it to the Indiana Women's Running Festival at 38 weeks
  • [1:20:00] Becoming an Indiana Women's Running Festival ambassador
  • [1:22:00] Back Your Badge, and Luke's first marathon
  • [1:23:00] The ultra bug, Prairie on Fire, and Pennsy Run Club's growing ultra crew
  • [1:25:00] Her mantra, "you've done harder things," and the Monster Mash
  • [1:28:00] Her next finish lines: having a baby, and running the Monumental full next year

Previous Guests Mentioned

Sponsor Details

  • Huug - Use ALLYB for 15% off (combinable with Buy 3 Get 1 Free)

Other Links

This is a SandyBoy Productions podcast.

Episode Transcript

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

Alyssa Eichholtz: It's like if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen exactly when it needs to, and I'm starting it now. And so February 1st, , we had our first Pennsy Run Club meetup.

Ally Brettnacher: Welcome to Finish Lines and Milestones, a podcast for everyday runners. I'm your host, Ally Brettnacher, also allytbrett_runs on Instagram. 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

Before I get into this week's episode, I did wanna shout out several people I know running the Chicago Marathon this weekend. My first marathon was at Chicago on 10/10/10. I've done it four times, and I'm just having so much FOMO for everybody who is going to be there over this weekend, whether you're cheering, working, spectating, running.

I am cheering for all of you and will be missing out. I'm also checking the weather like I'm running, even though I'm not. But my coach, Rachel Sinders, is gonna be there running, Abby Prentice, Steve Gilbert, Abby Anderson, Lena Cohen, Hillary [00:01:00] Burgess, and others I know that I'm missing, which drives me crazy 'cause I know I'm gonna leave somebody out. Was telling one of my previous guests, Mary Pittman, who lives here local to Indianapolis, She has a schedule of, of runs that are taking place month by month, and I'm like, "We need to have a list of people from our running community that are doing each marathon so that we know who we're cheering for e- even if we're not gonna be there."

So anyway, random thought, but I need to do a better job of keeping track as I talk to people or follow people on the internet, figure out who's gonna be there, but I'm cheering for absolutely every single one of you.

Now for this week's episode, I have Alyssa Eichholz. She was 36 weeks pregnant when I interviewed her. I think the first woman I've had on my podcast that was pregnant at the time, so it was super fun. She trained for her first marathon all by herself. It was a few years after a move, a new job. COVID left her feeling really isolated, and she found her way out of a dark season of life one Peloton ride at a time, and then one run at a time on the Pennsy Trail here in Indianapolis.

And fast-forward, now today she is the founder of Pennsy Run Club, which is a free [00:02:00] donation-funded nonprofit on Indy's east side that has grown to about 120 members. She is also a 911 dispatcher, and she once delivered a baby over the phone. We talked about that. And when we recorded, We talk about how she was actually pregnant when she ran the Carmel Marathon in May of this year, since it was postponed, and I was cheering her on, and she talked about how she wanted to share but hadn't told anybody yet, but she ran a marathon while pregnant. And then we talk about going from being a bartender to a 911 dispatcher.

How does one get into that field? We talked about building a club where everybody feels welcome, everybody knows your name. And she also has become an Indiana Women's Running Festival ambassador, and that race is here in Carmel, Indiana, on October 17th. So this episode will come out before that.

If you haven't registered, there is a code you can use in the show notes to give Alyssa credit for that and for a discount

And I really cannot wait to continue to cheer Alyssa on, but also watch her become a mom to a sweet baby boy here soon. So I [00:03:00] hope you really enjoy this conversation with Alyssa

And then I need to know how to say your last name.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Okay. Eichholz.

Ally Brettnacher: Eichholz.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So my mother-in-law- So basically what's the- ... was a second grade teacher, and she taught her students I, and then we are in the Indianapolis Colts.

Ally Brettnacher: Eichholz. Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Like the

Ally Brettnacher: football team. Well, that's a great way to start actually because I feel like people in this community need to know- Yeah

how to say your last name.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. It's, uh- Eichholz. Eichholz. Perfect. And yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Go Colts.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Right. Go Colts.

Ally Brettnacher: There we go. That's just fun. Um, so okay. You currently are pregnant, and you are- Yes, very

Alyssa Eichholtz: pregnant ... I think the

Ally Brettnacher: only pregnant woman I have interviewed- I was- ... on this podcast Yes.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And I was gonna ask you, and I'm like, Ally is waiting really long to get me on here.

I was like, she is-

Ally Brettnacher: Uh, yeah ... this is- Right till the mi- Please don't go into labor here. Um, that would be- I mean- ... terrifying. How many weeks are you?

Alyssa Eichholtz: But also that would be great for views.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Great for clicks.

Ally Brettnacher: It'd be great, great content.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, I am 36 weeks and four days.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, so real close.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So I, well, I won't, ugh, we won't go down that rabbit hole-

[00:04:00] because you don't need that in your life. Yeah. The negativity that I would bring.

Alyssa Eichholtz: But I was curious about that, if you had had any.

Ally Brettnacher: No. '

Alyssa Eichholtz: Cause I've watched and listened to a ton of your podcasts, and I was like- Oh, thank you ... "I don't think so." You've had a lot of mother runners.

Ally Brettnacher: Tons of mother runners.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And you are as well.

Yeah. Um, and so, but I was like, I don't know if anyone's ever been pregnant.

Ally Brettnacher: Nope. And I was like, man, it's my cha- I better get her on the show- ... before she has a baby.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yep,

Ally Brettnacher: yep. 'Cause then, you know, then it would have to wait a little longer,

Alyssa Eichholtz: so. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So do you know, you don't know the gender?

Alyssa Eichholtz: I do. It's a boy.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, it's a boy.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And I- I forgot ... when I, no, it's all good. When I announced, I put like me and my husband, we were both wearing blue, and I put a blue heart. And I thought that would make it known, and so many people still- Still asked ... to this day are just like, "Oh, are you keeping it a secret?" I was like, "I feel like I've been telling people."

Yeah. But I

Ally Brettnacher: feel like it's on the internet, but okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, it's all good. Yeah. Oh. But yeah, so it's a little boy.

Ally Brettnacher: Yay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and it's our first. Yeah. And, um- So exciting ... yeah, it is really exciting,

Ally Brettnacher: so. Ugh, well, I cannot wait. What's your actual due date?

Alyssa Eichholtz: October 25th.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, Sunday, October 25th. Ugh. So I'm hoping [00:05:00] he stays around that time.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: But we'll see. He's very, very active- That's great ... especially when I'm not active, which is- Of course ... yeah. When you

Ally Brettnacher: try to sleep.

Alyssa Eichholtz: All the time. Yeah, which is what I've heard more and more. Um, and going back to, you know, stating that, like you've had a lot of mother runners but maybe no one pregnant on the podcast before, um, it's a very interesting- position to be in, being, like, pregnant and being active, um, because, like- Yes

even though I know so many women have done this before, I feel sometimes so isolated- Yeah ... and so solo because, like, even though there are so many women that go through the same journey, at this moment, at this exact moment in time- ... I'm, like, the only one. So it's like you kinda- Yeah ... feel very alone sometimes in that.

Um, or you just don't see it a lot and things like that. So it's very cool. Um, but yeah, our first little, our first- Little

Ally Brettnacher: boy. Yeah. Hey, you've been really active. How has it been for you?

Alyssa Eichholtz: It's been amazing. I feel very, very, very grateful. Yeah. I'm very blessed. So amazing. [00:06:00] Um, yeah, I haven't had any issues whatsoever.

Um, and haven't really talked about this a lot. I've been thinking about maybe be- tomorrow will be October 1st, so it'll be my actual, like, due month-

Ally Brettnacher: Mm ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: um, talking about it a little bit more online, but I actually didn't find out until a little bit later, almost into my second trimester- Okay ... because I was so active, and I think that I didn't have any symptoms and I was really, really lucky, and have just been able to maintain kind of everything I've done before.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So it's been very interesting.

Ally Brettnacher: That is, that is so interesting, and maybe a lot of, uh, I'm sure women listening are, are jealous of- ... the no symptoms thing. That's how, that's how I was- Yeah ... too, thankfully. But yeah, it... That has to be so crazy to find out. So what, at what point were you like, "Okay, I should take a pregnancy test"?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Uh, when my husband asked.

Ally Brettnacher: There you go.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Okay. So, like, probably one of the only women in the world whose husbands was like, "Hey, I think we should test this." [00:07:00]

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, because I was training for Carmel, and I was going for sub-four. Yeah. So it was gonna be my, my biggest block.

Ally Brettnacher: Your...

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Um, and so pr- like, and I mean, really that's how- In a weird way, a lot of pregnancy symptoms and a lot of, like, runner, female runner symptoms kind of- Yeah, fatigue

coincide. Uh-huh. And so I think a lot of the things, like, I just was so intensely in this block that, like, I... N- nothing else matters sometimes. Like, and I really got into this, like, very focused head space with my running, um, that, like, I kind of forgot that, like, other things in the world exist sometimes.

Might be happening,

Ally Brettnacher: yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And, um, so like, yeah, fatigue, but I was running. It was, again, my biggest block to date it would be... This... Carmel was, I ran pregnant, um, my third marathon, so I was training for my third and I did, I think, two or [00:08:00] three, like, 40, 50 mile weeks, which was, like, in a row. You know what I mean?

Of course I was tired.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. You're

Alyssa Eichholtz: like- Of course I had fatigue. Mm-hmm. I tried new gels. Of course my stomach was upset. You kind of know what I mean? Like, little things like that. Right.

Ally Brettnacher: Looking back you're like, "Oh."

Alyssa Eichholtz: Looking back I was like, "Oh, I guess it could've been that too." But, like, you know, along those same lines, like, I just didn't really put two and two together.

Um, and then, yeah, found out thankfully.

Ally Brettnacher: So is it

Alyssa Eichholtz: safe to make

Ally Brettnacher: the assumption... And your husband is Luke? Is that his name?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Luke.

Ally Brettnacher: Luke.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: So is it safe to make the assumption that you guys weren't trying and tracking then? No. Because- No, no ... you know, some people when they get into it if they have any sort of difficulty they are paying close attention.

Yeah. Right? Like tracking when th- you know, all the things-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Everything happens ... need to happen and- Yeah, so yeah, my husband and I have, um, been married for eight years.

Ally Brettnacher: Eight years.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. So there have been points in our relationship where we were like, "No, we're not trying," and there have been points where we've been like, "We're trying."

And I would say in the past, like, handful of years it's been like, "Okay. Well, whatever happens happens." Yeah. And when you really do have that mindset and something never happens, I think you [00:09:00] just kind of assume it's not going to. So again, the symptoms- Mm ... and other things just, like, it was obvious that it was runner fatigue.

It was runner, like, nausea and things like that. You know what I mean? Yeah. Um, I never thought of anything else because it had been a couple of years of us like, "Oh, I guess it's just not, not gonna be our thing."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. Wow. That's incredible. And then I guess describe w- how you felt when you found out you were pregnant in the middle of a marathon training block.

Alyssa Eichholtz: In the middle of a marathon training block. Yeah. Um, and p- again, pretty late in-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, how

Alyssa Eichholtz: was the- ... in pregnancy ... yeah, the timing

Ally Brettnacher: of

Alyssa Eichholtz: that So, um, and again, I am... Uh, we talked about this before, but I'm iron deficient as well, so some of those symptoms are also very similar. And I was just like, when he kind of mentioned like, "Maybe you should take a pregnancy test," I was like, "Hmm, now that you say that, but I'm sure it's just my iron."

Yeah. "I'm sure just my iron's low." So he was gone. I don't know if he was at work or whatever. I took a pregnancy test, an expired pregnancy [00:10:00] test that was, like, had the clearance sticker on it. So it was like expired clearance, like, whatever. Yeah. It was, like, something that was at the back of my, like, vanity.

Yep. Um, and it came up positive and I still wasn't, like, super Sure. Uh, so I went on an eight-mile run. And, um-

Ally Brettnacher: As one, as one does.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, and I was just kind of like, "I'll process this." Um, told him, and then went and got blood work done, because I was like, "That's the only way I'll know for sure."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: That came back, you know, "Hey, you're pregnant."

I was like, "Oh, okay, cool, cool." Is that

Ally Brettnacher: an instant thing that they can tell with a blood test? Mm-hmm. Or do you have to wait? Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Um, I mean, yeah, they were able to tell right away, at least the facility that I went to. Um, and so like, "Yeah, you're pregnant." And I, me and my husband I don't think talked about it for a week.

Not, not out of like- Just

Ally Brettnacher: pure shock ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: just, like, pure shock,

Ally Brettnacher: yeah. Because, and then of course you found out, oh, you're this far along, too.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Well, we assumed.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Like, so by the blood work, at least where I went, they did not give me, like, a timeline. Oh, okay. So I ended up, like, [00:11:00] we did some of the math ourselves.

Um, but I thought, "There's just no way that that's the case." So my first ultrasound I was already 13 weeks. So I was already basically- That is- ... in my second trimester ...

Ally Brettnacher: wild.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: And so awesome.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And so far along in my- Right ... marathon block.

Ally Brettnacher: But also,

Alyssa Eichholtz: yeah. Yeah, so like-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: so I was, like, already, like, pretty far along, so going back to that it was like, "Well, I guess I just keep going."

Like, I guess I just keep doing it. Well, if you were feeling good,

Ally Brettnacher: that's great.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, I felt great, and I always, like, I, the, why stop, I guess? Like, there was no complications. There was no issues. I felt really good. So, like, why stop? If I needed to, I would, but like- Yeah ... at that point, um, I really wanted to, like, prove that to myself, you know, that I could continue to do it.

Like, running's been so important to me and, um, you know, in my life and my mental health and all that kind of stuff. Like, why would I let pregnancy stop-

Ally Brettnacher: Right ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: me from running?

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and so yeah. So I would, [00:12:00] it... Again, I- I- I took a little bit of, I might have taken, like, a week, again. I was just kind of like, "Okay, this, does this change things?

Am I supposed to let this change things?" Right. Like, maybe I should stop. But then I just kept going.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah. And so what was also interesting about this experience for you is that Carmel, the marathon that you- Mm-hmm ... were running-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm ...

Ally Brettnacher: got postponed by, what was it? Like six weeks. Six weeks. Six weeks.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Which, okay, as a preg- as being pregnant- How did that feel?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And it was also very- Oof ... close to when I found out I was pregnant.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, geez.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So-

Ally Brettnacher: Okay, yeah. Tell- Yeah ... when did you find out you were pregnant, then, like, Apr- April? Mid-April?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, I would say late March.

Ally Brettnacher: Late March, okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um- So

Ally Brettnacher: pretty close to, yeah

Alyssa Eichholtz: or, yeah, whenever the... I'm trying to even remember. It might have been February, 'cause w- the original marathon-

Ally Brettnacher: Was

Alyssa Eichholtz: April

Ally Brettnacher: 18th ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: was April 18th. So I thou- found out in, like, March. Six weeks p- in pregnancy land- Right ... it's [00:13:00] v- extremely longer than six weeks in, like- Yes ... normal running land, right? Right. And so, like, that was a huge thing.

I remember recording a story for Instagram and being like, "So the postponement happened, like, and it's six weeks. I don't really know what I'm gonna do yet," because I, that was a, that's a whole nother month of pregnancy. Right. Like, so I ran Carmel at five months.

Ally Brettnacher: Geez.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Which, like, again, I had this thought and idea that I was gonna do it, but you just don't know what's gonna happen.

And I think that a lot of people, when it got postponed, were shocked and, you know, upset-

Ally Brettnacher: Right ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: whatever. Um, but then the six weeks, for a lot of runners, that's an entirely different training block now. Yeah. Like, that is very difficult, whether, like, you're-

Ally Brettnacher: Mm ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: pregnant or not. Yeah, mentally- Six weeks is a long time

just, yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: rough.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and just like, what do you do now? Do you go through another peak week? You know what I mean? Like, do you- Yeah ... do you [00:14:00] just stay, like, kind of stagnant? I don't, I don't have a coach. Yeah. So I didn't have anyone to really bounce that off of. And even if I did, like- Yeah ... my body's adjusting and changing so much, so, like, is that even gonna be relative to what I'm able to do?

Um, so the six weeks postponement definitely made me, like, took me back a little bit as terms of, okay, can I still do this? It definitely adjusted my goals, I'll say that. Yeah. I think when I, with the original Carmel date, I still in my heart of hearts think I could have gone very close to four hours. Um, 4:02 is my PR right now for Carmel.

Okay. Um, so I think I could have very, gone close. As those weeks continued, that became less and less of a reality.

Ally Brettnacher: Right.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And it wasn't so much that my running itself- took a step back. Um, but things like the weather, like it got hotter.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: You know what I mean? And I started experiencing like just feeling [00:15:00] warmer on runs- Mm-hmm

and sweating more. And your blood volume increases. Um, rest and recovery got like a little bit like more wonky for me. And little things like that where it wasn't so much that, 'cause my, when I ended up running Carmel, um, the first half I stayed in a sub-four pace.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And so like I ran a great first half and I think it wasn't just me though.

At least a lot of the other runners that had run it, I know there was, you know, there's others who had amazing races- Right ... but after that first half it got very hot. Yes, it was so warm. That's when the hills kind of start, things like that. And it just like, at that point I was like, "I'm just gonna finish."

Yeah. Like I was cool with that.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: An accomplishment in and of itself.

Ally Brettnacher: Huge accomplishment.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So I was like very happy just to like have done a really great first half and continue. And it wasn't even my slowest marathon and I've only run three.

Ally Brettnacher: So great.

Alyssa Eichholtz: You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So like it was still like a great run and [00:16:00] everything like that for me.

Um, pace-wise definitely started, I mean, you saw me at mile 20.

Ally Brettnacher: I did.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Right? And you were so happy. Um, I was- You looked,

Ally Brettnacher: or you, you know-

Alyssa Eichholtz: I was super happy ... faked it really well. And you know what part of me too is I saw you and all the girls and I really wanted to be like tell you then. Yeah. I really wanted to be like, "By the way, like I'm pregnant."

Just-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: like whatever. But I was also so unsure because then I'd also have to be like, "But don't put anything online, Ally." You know what I mean? Like-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. But like don't, don't share that. It's a secret.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Like don't share that with anyone else yet because like my family doesn't even know. Oh

Ally Brettnacher: my gosh.

Alyssa Eichholtz: You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah. So like nobody knew at this point. Oh. My run club knew, but my family didn't know. Um- That's so funny ... so like little things like that. Right. So I was like that's just too much to get in at mile 20 like. Yeah. Um, but yeah, so I like continued. Um- training, like, to the best of my ability through those six weeks and ended up running it the six weeks later.

But it definitely took a different mental and physical toll after. Yeah. Yeah. 'Cause like I said, I, I s- ran that marathon at month five.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So. Which with my first pregnancy, I didn't run [00:17:00] any races with my, in my second preg- pregnancy. They were just different.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: And but my first one I did two half marathons.

Mm-hmm. I did the Indy Mini with my husband.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Okay.

Ally Brettnacher: And, um, before that I did, uh, the Austin, Texas, Half Marathon.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Okay.

Ally Brettnacher: That I was, like, 18 weeks. And then so whatever the math is between those, like February and May. I was visibly pretty pregnant for the Mini. Yeah. I don't know how many months along I was though.

Yeah. But I just remember, like, feeling s- like such a badass.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yes.

Ally Brettnacher: I'm like, look at me. Yes. I am pregnant and I am- Yep ... running. Like, you think you can't run, like, try doing it. Like, the, it was really f- it was really-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah ... a

Ally Brettnacher: great experience. Yeah. And one, like, you know, similar to how you've expressed. It's like I wanted to prove to myself- Mm-hmm

that I am still strong and capable. Mm-hmm. It's something that I already loved doing. And so yeah. But then, uh, yeah, then with my second I biked more, like, on my Peloton than I ran.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: So.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Um, and I was biking after Carmel pretty consistently until I started [00:18:00] getting bigger. Yeah. Like, my stomach just, like, kind of...

But I use a road bike, so, like, you're hunched over a little bit more.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, yeah, which makes

Alyssa Eichholtz: it

Ally Brettnacher: even harder.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And so I've stopped doing that, but I really do love cycling as well, so that was really fun. Yeah. But yeah. You

Ally Brettnacher: are amazing. Well, thank you. Congratulations.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yay. Thank you.

Ally Brettnacher: What a huge finish line.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: And, like, to be able to be like- It was amazing ... yeah, tell your kid, "Oh, well, I ran a marathon when I was five months pregnant." Yeah. Like, that's crazy.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And it was the first marathon where I feel like I actually got, like, emotional. Like, my first one- Mm-hmm ... it's emotional in a very, um, I don't know if self-centered's really the right word, but, like, your first one you- It's a huge breakthrough- Yeah

in what you've accomplished, and you just feel so grateful for being able to finish that. And then with, like, running pregnant and finishing a marathon, like, it was ... I, I remember mile, like, 26, like every single step- Mm-hmm ... of just being like, "Holy mo-" [00:19:00] Like, I- Yeah ... like, like, wow. Like, this really ... Like, I did that.

I set my mind out to do that. I really wanted to do that. I wanted to prove to myself, to prove to other women, like, to show, like, my future son- Mm-hmm ... to, like, all those things. Like, I was able to do that. Like, I got r- I mean, I didn't c- I didn't cry. Yeah. Um, but, like, I did. Yeah. I got kind of emotional about it- Yeah

which was really, really cool.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Like, different.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So, mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, well, I'm so excited for you.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Thank you.

Ally Brettnacher: Are you still running?

Alyssa Eichholtz: I am, yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I thought so. Yeah. 'Cause I feel like every time I see your beautiful face pop up on my Instagram- Thanks. ... you're just, like, running and looking great, and-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah ...

Ally Brettnacher: you know, I'm so glad.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I'm still running. Um, mileage has definitely decreased. Um, but I think in terms of, like, what I'm able to do is still, I still feel really, really good.

Ally Brettnacher: Good.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and I think- Having a run club, not just like the fact that like I- it's, quote, my run club- Mm-hmm ... but the fact that I'm a part of a club-

Ally Brettnacher: Yes

Alyssa Eichholtz: holds you accountable in so many ways. Mm. Like, it makes me want [00:20:00] to go. I wanna be able to keep up with my friends- Mm-hmm ... and like do cool things with them, and, um, so that's just like part of the community, like kind of- Yes ... keeps you going, even if it's a mile or two, whatever. But- Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: I'm still at, like, anywhere between 15 and 25 miles a week.

Ally Brettnacher: Amazing.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: So before we talk about all things the club- Yeah ... I wanna go back. You were a theater kid growing up. Mm-hmm. And where did you grow up? Are you from around here?

Alyssa Eichholtz: No, I'm from, um, the south side of Chicago.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Chicago suburbs, Tinley Park specifically.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay, for anybody in Chicago listening.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: So at what point in your life, then, did you consider yourself a runner, an athlete? Did you, were you an athlete growing up too?

Alyssa Eichholtz: No. No. Not even a little bit. Um, I figure skated. Which is

Ally Brettnacher: cool.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And, um, but, like, you don't really do that in high school. There's no, at least where I was at. Mm-hmm. I don't know any high schools that have, like, a figure skating team.

Um-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: so I did that and went into theater and student council in [00:21:00] high school, didn't do anything sport-related in college, and didn't get into any sort of running until COVID.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And actually, and I don't know if we've- No ... ever talked about this before either, the reason I even got into running is because I'm a Peloton girl, and I don't know if you know that.

Ally Brettnacher: No.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So I started when I-

Ally Brettnacher: I don't know if I did know that ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: I doubt it, 'cause I

Ally Brettnacher: don't- I don't know if I've, if we're friends on the Peloton app.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Probably not. Yeah. Um, I've... The bike. I have a Peloton bike.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, so my husband and I moved to Greenfield, Indiana from Indianapolis. We lived in Irvington. I changed jobs and COVID hit.

So- Oof ... three pretty big, like- God ... life things happened.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, we also moved into a complete- gut of a house. Like, we're, like we remodeled, we had, like it was- Yeah ... a lot of work. So like we [00:22:00] move into a house that has to be completely remodeled. Um, I changed jobs. I stayed in 911 dispatch. Mm-hmm. Um, but I went from IMPD with Marion County to Hancock County, and COVID hit.

That was a lot. And, um, I didn't even have to convince my husband. I was just like, "I think like the Peloton could be a really good way for me to kind of like work out and like kind of get out of this mental funk." He, I'd never really expressed to him like some of the maybe like depression and anxiety that I was feeling- Yeah

through like those couple of years. But I started with Peloton biking, and it completely changed my life.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And through that, I then found running. Um- Okay ... but Peloton was a really big part of kind of my fitness journey. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: I did not know that.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, and I love it, and I still love it. Yes. I'm not on it nearly in, as much as I used to be.

I mean, I used to bike for at least an hour a day almost.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow. Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and I still use a lot of the strength programs, especially like they are very, [00:23:00] um, pro-pregnancy. A lot of their- That helps. Yeah ... a lot of their coaches have like pregnancy-type programs. I'm excited for postpartum with like that whole- Mm-hmm

outlet. Um, but once I found running and then started the club and things like that- Biking and Peloton kind of like- Yeah ... went a l- a little bit on the back burner. Um, but yeah, so I would say about three, four, four years ago at this point.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. And how specifically did you discover running? Like, what was your f- Mm-hmm.

How did your first run happen?

Alyssa Eichholtz: I, I wish I could remember my first run, you know?

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I don't know. Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and I had- Never mind ... dabbled in a couple of runs prior to this, like, COVID, like, getting out of a funk era. Um, I had done maybe two halves and a couple of 5Ks just to do them, I guess. Um, it wasn't anything I ever took, like, super seriously.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow, well, still, you did half-marathons before that. That's-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah ...

Ally Brettnacher: which ones?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, I had done the Monumental [00:24:00] Half.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Not even knowing that that was, like, also a full mari- Mm-hmm ... like, I had no idea. Yeah. Like, I think my husband just, like, sign- I don't even remember. Um, he's a pretty athletic dude, and, like, has done a lot of these things, and I just kind of am always along for the ride.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and so I guess I didn't, like, get into my journey though, but, like, seriously until about, like, four years ago. Um, but yeah, I had dabbled in running a little bit, and I wish I could remember that first run that, like, changed my life.

Ally Brettnacher: Well, was it, like, did you go, did you start using Peloton outside programming?

I think so. Did you have access to a treadmill where you started doing classes that way? Or-

Alyssa Eichholtz: So I live right off the Pennsy Trail. Okay. So the Pennsy Trail is basically a straight shot from my house. I have a German shepherd dog. And I do remember, like, this being, like, part of it, is, like, um, dealing with some anxiety and some depression and taking my dog out for walks.

And just being out in nature- Mm-hmm ... and doing that really, like, giving me a sense of [00:25:00] relief and making me just feel better.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And I think that just, like, slowly turned into running. I do think I used some of the Peloton outdoor programming, and I signed up for the Mini I think. I, I really wish I could remember, like, what really got me there, but I Signed up for the Mini and trained for that knowing that I wanted to run a full marathon.

Um-

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So I have mentioned I was dealing with some, because of this move and change of jobs and COVID, I was feeling very, very lonely and very, very isolated.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and depression kind of got the worst of me. I was never clinically diagnosed and I'll, like, put that very much on the forefront. Mm-hmm. But I know what that's like.

I've been struggling with those things in the past, high school, college, but I'm an adult now, right? Like, I'm a big girl. I've got a big girl job and I'm married and I own a home. Like, I don't get depressed, I guess. [00:26:00] Like, that was just not something that was like a re- like, could be a reality. And so finding, like, exercise as an outlet, I think maybe that's why I don't have a pinpoint for some of these, like, things.

Mm-hmm. Is because it just became what I needed to do-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: to get out of that. Thinking about a full marathon became just something that I was like... And it, I don't want it to sound unhealthy, that, like, you can use running as a form of therapy- Yeah ... or like a way out of that. But I had dealt with this, like, issues like this in the past.

And I knew that, like, something like a full marathon could really help me.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and it did help me. And so, like, that's where my goal was, was like, "I'm gonna do this again." Not as, I'm not a runner. I, like, didn't do sport in high school or college or anything like that. So I really wanted to do something that, like, totally took me out of [00:27:00] myself-

Ally Brettnacher: Hmm

Alyssa Eichholtz: and was very different and, um, something that I knew, like, I would feel a sense of accomplishment with. So that's just what it ended up being, was like, it's gonna be a full marathon. Um, and I know that I ran the Mini the year prior as, like, a test. Let's see if I could stick to a schedule. Let's see if I can, um, get mileage where I need it to be kind of weekly- Mm-hmm

to accomplish this goal. So, like, no one really knew the full was, like, on the radar. And I wasn't running with people. I didn't... Like, the community was not a part of my life at this point.

Ally Brettnacher: But did you run on the trail at that point though, I'm assuming?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yes. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. The, me and the Pennsy, locked in.

Hmm. Hmm. Um, it's the only place I've really ever run. Yeah. I mean, I've gone now to, like, the Monon and other places like that, but it's so close, I can't even explain how... Like, I could walk out my front door and, like, the Pennsy is right there.

Ally Brettnacher: That's so nice.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, it's amazing. Yeah. And it just, like, brought...

[00:28:00] Well, I also, I should say it's the Buck Creek Trail, and then it connects to the Pennsy, but- Yeah. Um- It

Ally Brettnacher: sounds like you said, I don't know, all I, I heard but. Buck. Bud- Buck ... Buck Creek.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yes. Yeah. Buck Creek Trail. Um, and so I spent a lot of time, yeah, running alone on the Pennsy. And- I also run at very weird times of day.

Actually, I think you're kind of similar.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I run at

Alyssa Eichholtz: weird times. I run at, like, 10:00 AM. Hmm. 10 or 11:00 AM.

Ally Brettnacher: Yep.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Which is not a lot of people my age or around our age. Um, I'm usually out there with, you know, more of the elderly community- Right ... walking their dogs and-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: getting their steps in and stuff like that.

Um, so that was part of the mini, was, like, my, like, can I get myself out the door- Hmm ... to do this, to accomplish the 13.1? And again, I'd had done maybe two or three halves at that prior, but never seriously.

Ally Brettnacher: Right.

Alyssa Eichholtz: I don't even... I do remember talking about this before. I mean, when I was [00:29:00] running halves before, like, I didn't even fuel.

Like, there was no- Right. I, I was running in, like, Reebok, like, walking shoes. Yeah. You know what I mean? Right. Like, there was no sense of, like, th- there was no runner in those prior halves. I went to an expo and got my clothes. Do you know what I mean? For the- That's so great, yeah ...

Ally Brettnacher: like,

Alyssa Eichholtz: for that- Yeah

monumental half. Yeah. Like, that's where I was in my running journey. Wow. Um, so then that whole transition to trying to, like, get out of this, like, funk is kind of where, like, we're taking this seriously. Hmm. And I started to learn a lot, did all my mileage alone, and ran the full marathon.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow, okay. And that was 2024, right?

Your first marathon? Yes. 2024. And so Monumental's in November. The Indy Mini is in May. Mm-hmm. It's our local half marath- one of our local half marathons- Yeah ... for anybody who might not know that. And so did you do any other races between that time? Did you just kinda use the mini as a jumping-off [00:30:00] point then to just start training?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Um, probably some 5Ks, but no other halves I don't think, not at that point, no. Yeah. I just, a c- maybe a couple of 5Ks. Um, and then, yeah, just used the mini- All by yourself ... as, like, the jumping-off point for the Monumental full.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. And so you train all by yourself.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: What is race day like for you?

Are you literally alone, like, by yourself?

Alyssa Eichholtz: My husband came, um, and so did my in-laws and- Oh, that's so sweet ... my brother and sister-in-law and a group of, uh, family friends were all there for my first full marathon just to support and cheer, but not at the start line.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: That was just me and my husband. Well, just me.

Uh, he just held my stuff and, you know- That's

Ally Brettnacher: so sweet, yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: took a picture. Um, and so yeah, I was by myself, and my family surprised me, uh, right at the, the turn, um, where the Why do I wanna [00:31:00] say Fieldhouse?

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, New Fields.

Alyssa Eichholtz: No.

Ally Brettnacher: No.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um-

Ally Brettnacher: Fieldhouse ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: where the state fair is.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, okay. Yeah, Pepsi Coliseum?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yes.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Whatever.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Whatever that is.

Ally Brettnacher: The State Fairgrounds. The

Alyssa Eichholtz: State

Ally Brettnacher: Fairgrounds. Yeah. Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So, like, whatever that building is. Yeah. There's kind of like a turn into there. They all surprised me there. Um, so I got to see them, and then they tracked me at two or three other spots along the course. That's

Ally Brettnacher: so

Alyssa Eichholtz: cool. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow. That had to feel so cool.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And Luke, my husband, he, I don't remember if he had his bike this year or the first year that I ran it. Um, but he showed up at multiple, multiple spots throughout the course, and now he's big on, he takes his just, like, 10-speed bike. If you ever see a cyclist out on any of, like, race courses, big dude, red hair-

it's Luke Eichels. Um, and that's his, like, h- claim, is, like, he loves, he loves biking a marathon course alongside. He's not on the course.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: He'll make sure. He's very cognizant of that. But he tracks everybody, all of my runners in run club, anyone he knows. Oh, that's so fun. He knows everybody, and [00:32:00] waits, and he, 'cause he could zip-zap around town.

Sometimes he gets more miles than 26 just, like, going around. Right.

Ally Brettnacher: Well, I always say spectating's a sport-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah ... '

Ally Brettnacher: cause it really is.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. He's one of the best.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay, so I wanna talk a little bit more about your work too- Mm ... alongside this, 'cause you mentioned the timing of your runs is weird- Yes ... which, you know, I- Yeah

I relate to. Um, so what kind of hours do you work- Mm-hmm ... as, uh, a 911 dispatcher? Are you working nights, or...?

Alyssa Eichholtz: So my schedule is 2:30 PM to 10:30 PM.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So it's a 24-hour center, 'cause 911 doesn't stop. Um, and my center works eight-hour shifts. There are a variety of different, like, layouts to how that works. In Hancock County, um, we work eight-hour shifts, and I'm the shift supervisor on seconds or middles.

Okay. So I work 2:30 to 10:30 PM.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. And how many people are on your sh- are you responsible for?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, an- on the floor- Yeah ... anywhere from four to five at a time.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. [00:33:00] Yeah, interesting. Mm-hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Well, I should say three to four at a time. I still work- Yeah ... a console typically, but-

Ally Brettnacher: How did you g- how did you get into that?

What made you-

Alyssa Eichholtz: 911 ...

Ally Brettnacher: become a 911 dispatcher?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, so previously I had been working as a, well, my whole life I worked as a bartender.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, so I don't know if you would be familiar with Ike and Jonesy's? Oh

Ally Brettnacher: yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Okay.

Ally Brettnacher: Is it, it's closed now.

Alyssa Eichholtz: It is closed.

Ally Brettnacher: My father-in-law got kicked out of there our wedding night.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Okay. It's a great story. So Ike Holts, Ike and Jonesy's.

Ally Brettnacher: Stop it.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So yeah Okay, so-

Ally Brettnacher: Oh ... but

Alyssa Eichholtz: again, not me. That's not my maiden name, but it's my husband, my family's bar.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yes.

Ally Brettnacher: Wait, so they did close it, right?

Alyssa Eichholtz: They did.

Ally Brettnacher: That's so sad.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And they closed right before

Ally Brettnacher: COVID. Oh.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So again, so-

Ally Brettnacher: Oh gosh, all this stuff.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Well, but in like the funniest way.

Yeah. So how I got into it is, so I was bartending at Ike and Jonesy's, downtown Indianapolis, which if you're familiar with Ike's, where Ike's was, the location was [00:34:00] right next door to IMPD's downtown-

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, I didn't even realize that ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: PD. We also, the establishment that Ike and Jonesy's was, we had a lot of, uh, police officers that would come in, either for like lunch-

Ally Brettnacher: Oh

Alyssa Eichholtz: or we would have them just like hanging out to like not have to be at Tiki Bob's at the time. If that makes any sense. Right. Like, their patrolling was like, "We'll go to Ike's so like- Yeah ... we don't have to go somewhere else until we need to."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and I got to know a lot of the police officers there, and when I was like, "Okay, like, it's time for a big girl job.

Like, I guess like I'm married now." "Like, I shouldn't be bartending my whole life," although I loved it. They were like, "Well, if you could bartend, you could probably be a 911 dispatcher. You should look into that. Like, get into that, do that."

Ally Brettnacher: And you're like, "Wait, w- what was your reaction to that?"

Alyssa Eichholtz: I was like, "Cool, yeah, that makes sense, I guess."

Like, I didn't know- Wow ... anything about 911. Um, I don't think a lot of people do. I mean, I [00:35:00] know a lot of people don't

Ally Brettnacher: know. Well, I think I feel like I think I do because I watch television, but I know that's-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah ... I mean. And like, but like as a profession-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: I think a lot of it requires either a high school diploma or GED-

Ally Brettnacher: Okay

Alyssa Eichholtz: to like get into the door, right? So there's no, um, college class on 911 or anything like that. Yeah. It's still a relatively new profession. I mean, 911 is, hasn't been around forever. Um- Mm ... so the police that like I had gotten close with, um, were like, "If you're looking for a job, like look at 911." So I did, and I got the job and just like started doing that.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow,

Alyssa Eichholtz: that's so- Yeah ... good for you ... and so I originally started working for, um, Marion County, but which was IMPD. Um, originally started 911 call taking, and then got promoted to what they call a control officer.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So I worked primarily IMPD East District, um, as like the radio voice, the voice on the radio that like the officers [00:36:00] talk with.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and then-

Ally Brettnacher: So you weren't fielding phone calls at that point. You were just help, trying to help communicate where people needed to be?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Correct.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And IMPD does it that way, um, just because it's so big. Yeah. So they have like, and fire is its own separate room. Okay. Police dispatching is its own separate room, and call taking is its own separate like room.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and I mean, I took phone calls for a, a couple of months . Um, and got promoted fairly quickly. Um, and then when- My husband got a job at Greenfield Fire 'cause he was also working at the bar That's how we met. Um- That's

Ally Brettnacher: how you met.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Okay. He hired me, and then I took his job.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. So we met at the bar, but, um, so then he got onto the fire department in Greenfield, and after about three years was like, "This is home.

This is where I wanna stay." So then I was like, "Well, then I'll just see if I can get a job dispatching in Hancock County."

Ally Brettnacher: Mm, mm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and I [00:37:00] did, and then that's when we decided to move. And so yeah, that's kind of how I got into 911.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow,

Alyssa Eichholtz: that's really fascinating. Which, and a lot of people do. The journey into the 911 space for most people is very just, like, random, and, or you know somebody who's in it, or it's...

Uh- Yeah ... but not a lot of people, like, grow up and think, like, "I wanna be a 911- That's what I'm gonna do ... dispatcher."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: It's just not really well known, and I mean, like, part of that is, like, we're not on the streets, you know? Like, you think police officer, you think firefighter- Right, right ... like, but who's doing the other stuff?

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um...

Ally Brettnacher: What's the weirdest call you've ever taken?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Well, I delivered a baby over the phone.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, and I don't know if that would be considered weird, but- Yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: I think so.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, so I delivered a baby over the phone- Crazy ... um, which actually, I delivered a baby October 21st- Weird ... of two years ago, so, like, very close to my due date, which is very interesting.

Weird. Yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: that is super interesting.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and so that was pretty cool, but, uh, had the father on the phone, and he's like, "My wife, like, is actively in [00:38:00] labor," guided him through that. The cord was wrapped around the baby's neck.

Ally Brettnacher: Um- So do you have, like, a playbook for that? Like,

Alyssa Eichholtz: how do you- Essentially, yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. So I'm not certified in any sort of, like, uh... I, I, I haven't gone to paramedic school, like, and, like- Right, you're not a doctor, so. Right, exactly. Uh, so we essentially have, like, a l- a... It's online. It's on the computer, but, um, a set of, like, card decks of- Wow ... and so, like, based on questions that we ask and the answers that we receive, kind of guide you as to- Yeah

what your next question or response needs to be. Yeah. So when 911 dispatchers are asking you questions, I promise you that it is for a very important reason. Yeah. We're trying to get you to the next step. Um, a lot of people who call 911 get sometimes very annoyed because we're asking very specific questions, and they're- Yeah

it's very much like the, "Just get help here." I promise help's already been sent, but, like, in order then to help you further, we're asking, like, a very specific set of questions. Yeah. So, like, delivering that baby is a great example of that [00:39:00] 'cause there was a lot going on before. I could press dispatch immediately and get EMS started- Yeah

but a lot's going on before they're entering there. Yeah. So I heard the baby's first cries- That is- ... over the phone.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And I got to meet him. The mom and dad brought him in, so I could meet him.

Ally Brettnacher: That's really cool.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And so, but it- Wow ... that's, like, one of the, in 911 land- Yeah ... delivering a baby over the phone is a very big deal, so that's-

Ally Brettnacher: Well, yeah.

Uh- That's insane. Yeah. That's not what I expected you to say.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: I don't know what I expected you to say. Like, somebody called for... I've heard people call 911 when, like, Facebook's down.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Oh, we get stuff like that all the time- Yeah ... or their fast food order is wrong, or traffic's backed up, or-

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Mm-hmm. Their fast food order's wrong? Yeah. It's a weird place-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah ...

Ally Brettnacher: this planet. Oh,

Alyssa Eichholtz: man. COVID was particularly hard. Yeah, I bet. And especially for a lot of, like, people, um, elderly, um, or even like- Mm-hmm ... teenagers and stuff like that. Like, changed the 911 landscape quite a bit a- as to the types of calls that we field and respond to.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: [00:40:00] Um, but yeah. I mean, the shutdown itself, like, we'd get calls on conspiracy theories, I guess you could almost say- Oh, yeah, yeah ... as to that. Makes sense. It's, like, not, not really w- I can't help you- Yeah ... but I can have, I can, you know, do the best that I can.

Ally Brettnacher: Do you think some of your training and, like, what you've perhaps fielded or the way that you have to remain professional and calm, do you tie that into your running at all?

Like, that mental capability to kind of, you know, something really terrible is happening, like, separate yourself from that, or is there any correlation, you feel like, to your profession and running?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, hmm. That's a really good question. I think that where I see it more is how running has helped me in my profession.

Ally Brettnacher: Hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So I'm able to, I think, kind of navigate what's hard for me. I think you could also say, like, calmer. Like, as you con- like, continue to run, and runs get harder, or you [00:41:00] deal with, like, those things- Mm-hmm ... you still have to maintain, like, g- the goal-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: of getting, like, what you're trying to accomplish done, and sometimes in really difficult phone calls it's very similar.

Yeah. I guess would be the best way for me to answer that is there's still, like, a task at hand. And so, like, being able to not get, like, overwhelmed or overworked- Mm-hmm ... or, um, just being able to, like, stay steady-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: during some of those more difficult calls. Um, because, like, obviously, like I mentioned, like, the fast food or delivering a baby is a very, like, joyous moment.

Right. But there's some very hard calls- Yeah ... we deal with as well, right? And being able to just be able to stay calm and stay steady through all of that. Mm-hmm. Um, but it has definitely, running on the opposite aspect of that, has helped me a ton with... When I get a run in and then I go into work, I feel so much better.

Yeah. Especially because, again, I go in on this later shift. Mm-hmm. So I'm running beforehand. Um, and so being able to just, [00:42:00] like, have something for myself before I go in, 'cause something, like, I always say is, "No one calls 911 on a good day," right? So my eight-hour shift is dealing with-

Ally Brettnacher: Everybody's wor- bad day

Alyssa Eichholtz: everyone's bad day.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: It's like, whew. So for eight hours, like, your 911 dispatchers are having that for eight hours, like, ev- for five days a week, right? Um, so, like, every single day, like, I go into someone's worst day.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Uh, call after call after call. Um, so being able to have something for myself prior to going into shift- Mm-hmm

is really important to me, something that I'm able to find joy with- Yes ... and, like, clarity with, and be able to just, like, have a moment to myself to center myself, to kind of get myself in the correct, like, mindset- Mm-hmm ... brain space. Mm-hmm. All that kind of stuff is really important. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Geez. So why do you, do you en- I'm imagining you enjoy your job because you s- you know, you went and took it at another [00:43:00] location.

Mm-hmm. But what makes you do that as a profession? Like, you obviously tried it, now you've been doing it for a while. Yeah. What calls you to that? Because that is a really freaking hard job.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um-

Ally Brettnacher: I can't imagine that.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Um, I don't really know if I have so much of, like... I don't know if I necessarily feel a calling to it in a very dramatic sense.

However- When you start doing it for a little while, like you do see the impact that you make.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and it- Right ... kind of does become this like really tight-knit community of other people that like you're working alongside- Mm-hmm ... and with that like I enjoy it because of the perspective that I'm able to have on my life, I guess.

Yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um- Makes sense ... something that, you know, ugh, I could think I have a problem.

Ally Brettnacher: Tell me about it.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And- Yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: it's like first world problems.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Uh-huh.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And then I go into work- Mm ... and it's not merely like [00:44:00] my life is so wonderful and so great, and I think sometimes like that's a big part of it.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and being able to help people has always been really important to me. But I think part of that is like everyone wants to help people, um, or maybe not.

Ally Brettnacher: But I think- I was like there's some really mean people out there.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. But I think that like for me personally is again, like having gone through some like, just like personal darkness, let's say, knowing that like I am giving back because I feel like I've been able to get myself into a really good place, like-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah

Alyssa Eichholtz: mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and able to like help others, has really like given me that perspective of like my life is so good and it makes me so grateful- Mm ... and makes me so happy for like who I am and the people I'm surrounded by and the life that I'm living. Um, and so [00:45:00] like if I can give that back in any way, like that's what I wanna do because I know what it's like for life to feel like hell.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: You know? And so like with other aspects as well, like where do you... Once you're able to like claw yourself out of that, now what? Like you, it's so selfish just to live your life- reaping those benefits-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: I guess. Yeah. So, like, if I'm able to give back in any sort of way, so like my job helps me do that for sure.

Ally Brettnacher: That's really cool.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: Well, thanks. It's such an important job I feel like often goes overlooked too.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Sometimes. I almost feel like I'm like, "Thanks for your service," even though you're not- ... like serving in the military. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But like it's such a service that I think people probably take for granted all the time.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Um, or don't use seriously. That's probably- Mm-hmm ... what you deal with a lot. Mm. So you do your first marathon all by yourself.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I mean you're struggling too mentally and running is helping with that, but you don't have, you know, a c- a community of people. Mm-hmm. So at what point, tell the story behind-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Pennsy?

Ally Brettnacher: [00:46:00] where you're like sitting in traffic and you're like, "There's gotta be a better way." Yes. Yeah. Like how did it come together?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. So, um, we both know Abby Prentice with, uh- Yes. Love Abby ... Indy Social Run Club. So I ran Indy Monumental. I ran my first marathon. Trained alone, ran essentially alone. Um, but it was the coolest experience because for the first time I saw the running community.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And I was so taken aback and I was so surprised that this existed and I had, like I said, I had done like halves and some 5Ks and stuff, but I don't know why I didn't see it before. But just like, you know, divine intervention or whatever- Right ... you wanna call it, like I noticed it during the full and immediately was just, "I g- I have to learn more about what this is."

Mm. "Who these people are. Like how do they all know each other? Like what is, what is a run club?" [00:47:00] I did not know what a- Yeah ... the, what a run club was. Like that was news to me.

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Alyssa Eichholtz: Like what is, what is a run club?" I did not know what a- Yeah ... the, what a run club was. Like that was news to me.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: and going back to Abby, I don't remember if I reached out to her or she reached out to me, but I think maybe she, I don't know if she ran the full that year or the half.

We started following each other on Instagram and she had a run club and I was like, "Okay, cool. I'm gonna go run with this run club." I lived in Greenfield at this point. Her run club was up in Nora.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, so it would be about a 40-minute drive for me which, again, I'm from the south side of Chicago so like that- Right.

That's kind of a big deal ... when I tell people in Indy that I drove 40 minutes- No ... to run club, oh, I mean I would go there and people would be like, "What?" [00:49:00] Like they were taken aback.

Ally Brettnacher: That's funny. Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, but this was like very soon after, uh, Monumental so like we're talking like November, December I was running with Indy Social.

Um, and I would take 465 up to Nora and two weeks in a row they ran on Monday nights. Um, I got stuck in traffic and couldn't make it to the run club. Uh, was stuck in traffic for well over a half an hour so-

Ally Brettnacher: Ugh. Woof ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: I mean you're talking again 40 minutes just to get there, but now I'm stuck in traffic for 30 minutes.

Yeah. Can't even run with the club. Still have to come back.

Ally Brettnacher: Do you have Mondays off for work?

Alyssa Eichholtz: My schedule changes every week.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, it does?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yes.

Ally Brettnacher: Inter- that's interesting. That's a whole nother thing.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, 'cause I was like, "Wait,

Alyssa Eichholtz: Monday nights-" So my weekends fluctuate.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and so it just so happened that, like, whenever I was going, that was, like, two or three weeks in a row where I had Monday nights off.

And so two weeks in a row I got stuck in just, like, horrible 465 traffic, [00:50:00] and I was... No fault to anybody. Do you know what I mean? But I was like, "Come on. Like, I can't, I can't keep doing this. Like, this is taking three to four hours out of my day- Yeah ... on my day off." You know what I mean? Right. Yes. Like, what have you.

And so I started looking at other clubs. I was like, "Okay, there's gotta be a better way." Mm-hmm. Like, what's around me? Like, I live, Greenfield's a pretty bigger... Like, it's a big area. There's gotta be a Greenfield club. Well, there's not a Greenfield club. I live kind of close to McCordsville.

Ally Brettnacher: Hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: There's no McCordsville club.

There's no New Palestine club.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: There's no Cumberland club.

Ally Brettnacher: How, how about Fishers Run Club? Was that-

Alyssa Eichholtz: They're close-ish. Ish, yeah. But I also wasn't really sure if I was a runner yet, and Fishers... And

Ally Brettnacher: I- They, they are very, they're runners.

Alyssa Eichholtz: They're v- runners.

Ally Brettnacher: They're so welcoming and supportive. Yes. But I see what you mean.

When you look at that club you're like, "Oh, all of these people-"

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yes ... like really run. Where Indy Social just had a different vibe.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And I've gotten to know so many of the Fishers runners, and I've completely, that perspective that I had- Right ... is very false- Yes, yes ... to your point. Yeah. But looking at them [00:51:00] initially, I was very like-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah

Alyssa Eichholtz: "Oh, okay." Like- Oof ...

Ally Brettnacher: I, like, no.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And it's still kind of far. Like, again- Right ... I'm in Greenfield. Well, I'm in Cumberland, so it's still, it was like still gonna be 30 minutes.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So it still was just like, "There's gotta be something around here," and there just wasn't. And I was so confused by that. Um, and I just, I'm one of those people, when- I decide I'm gonna do something, like there is no stopping me.

Like, it's just like that's what's happening now.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and I kind of had this inkling of an idea that I need to start a run club on the east side of Indy, 'cause essentially that's where we're at. And I had all of the support in the world, but I worked really hard at like making that dream a reality.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And it came together, and now we are two years later.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And it's like incredible.

Ally Brettnacher: Yes, it is. Yeah. It is [00:52:00] incredible.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, 93 members as of April, so how, where are you at now? We're

Alyssa Eichholtz: at like 120.

Ally Brettnacher: That's so great.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Wow. And not, and y- that's, we have two runs a week, and so s- you're, I don't think we've ever had a club where there's 120 members present.

Sure. Um, but yeah, 120-ish in total.

Ally Brettnacher: Which nights do you or which days do you run?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Mm-hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Nice.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And then we have like random runs throughout the week sometimes, or specialty runs, long runs, girls runs, trail runs- Yeah ... things like that. We kind of try to do all of it.

Ally Brettnacher: So good.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, but yeah, so I decided to start my own club, uh, because I just, I knew it needed to happen is kind of like the- Yeah ... like only way to put that. Like, I knew it needed to happen. There wasn't anything that existed in my area, or at least not that I could find, and it ended up being true. And so I was like, "I'm gonna do this."

Like, and I originally was going to start my club in January. Okay. And it was like the worst, one [00:53:00] of the worst snow years, and I was like- Mm ... "Okay, I guess I gotta postpone this a little bit." So I started in February. Yeah. Which is still just like not ideal. Yeah. But like part of that was, like again, if I'm going to do something, it's happening, and I just couldn't wait.

Like, I was not about- Right ... to wait until the weather got nice. I was not about to wait until the perfect time. Like- Right ... that doesn't like, that is not how I operate. I relate to that,

yeah.

It's like if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen exactly when it needs to, and I'm starting it now. And so February 1st, um, we had our first Pennsy Run Club meetup.

And it's just blown up, honestly, for our area and where we're at, and what the club in and of itself is still able to do and accomplish-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: is pretty incredible.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Well, and to your point, y- you know, like you said, it's your club. You started it, but you've now built this incredible community that's behind you that can- Oh, my

Alyssa Eichholtz: gosh

Ally Brettnacher: operate so that you can enjoy your baby, right? Like, you take-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah ...

Ally Brettnacher: take some, a little bit of time or-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah ...

Ally Brettnacher: or not, or whatever you want. Yeah. But just having built... That's [00:54:00] in- that's a lot of people that you've brought together.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And yeah, and people that are pa- so passionate for- Yeah ... the club, too.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, I have a board of directors now who have, in the past couple months especially, um, just, like, really gone above and beyond to, like you said, take over a lot of, like, aspects- Mm-hmm ... and really step up to the plate. And I mean, even early on, 'cause I work nights.

Ally Brettnacher: Right.

Alyssa Eichholtz: We wanted... I was like, "We need to have a week night run."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: I was like, "We need to," 'cause Saturdays at 10:00 AM, that works for me. Yeah. I get that's not gonna work for everybody. Right. Um, and Aaron stepped up to the plate immediately, and he's our Tuesday night host. I'm barely ever... I'm ner- never there on Tuesdays. Like, I'm never there on Tuesdays. Like, so it's not my club.

Right. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like, in that respect, like, we host, you know, we have club twice a week, and one of those days, like, I'm never there.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Like, it's completely run by somebody else. Um, and I have people that are [00:55:00] constantly wanting to do more and help out more, and it... Even if they don't want to, they show up.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And that's the biggest, like- I mean, what more could you ask for? Right. People that show up every week. Yeah. Every week.

Ally Brettnacher: What

Alyssa Eichholtz: are- Or when they can.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: People's lives are busy. These are adults.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. You know? It's ... What are a couple of, and I know it's so hard because, you know, if you're like me you don't wanna like leave anybody out.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: But if you had a couple of stories to share-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm ...

Ally Brettnacher: from, I don't know, moments you've supported somebody or somebody supported you, or like just, I don't know, things that make you feel really good about like, "Yes, this is why the club is here." Oh.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Goodness. That's such ... I mean, yeah. There are so many. Um, and I d- yeah, to that point, don't wanna pinpoint anything, but something especially, I don't know when this is gonna air, but-

Ally Brettnacher: Uh, I forget.

Alyssa Eichholtz: It's all good. Soon. But something, um, that I'm especially proud of is [00:56:00] in light of stuff that's going around on the news right now with, uh, let's say female safety.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, let's say that. Oof.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Okay.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, the men that come to Pennsy Run Club, I am so proud of being a female founder of this club to have such great support by like the men that show up and continue to support-

Ally Brettnacher: Mm

Alyssa Eichholtz: women running. And there's a couple of like special points to that is, so I do host every other month a women's only run.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh yeah, I rem- I think that's how we originally got connected.

Alyssa Eichholtz: That is how we originally- Yeah ... yes, originally got connected. I host a women's only run, and I have since found out that there are guys that run on those same days, and they s- specifically go to a very separate part of the trail so that they don't- interact with us.

And not that, it's a public trail. Right, yeah. Anyone can [00:57:00] come and run- Yeah, yeah ... and interact with us in that way, but they respect the fact that we're trying to have a women's only gathering- Yeah ... of sorts. Um, and not that that needs to be, not that that needs to happen. We are very, like we all run together sort of thing.

Yeah. But I think that the amount of respect that we have of a lot of the men in our group is super, super special being a female. Mm. Being a younger female who's about to have a baby- Mm-hmm ... and stuff like that, I think trail safety is extremely important. Um, and I think that there's, you know, a lot of females can fe- feel, I personally thankfully have never felt unsafe.

Never? But I do know... Mm-mm. But-

Ally Brettnacher: Wow ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: I also run at 11:00 AM. I don't

Ally Brettnacher: know. Yeah, but still, I've run like on the Monon around like 86th, like between 86 and 96th Street.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: And there's just been s- a couple times in the middle of the day- Yeah ... where I like take my phone and call my sister because I'm like, in case this guy, like this- Yeah

weird looking guy. I [00:58:00] don't know. There's just been, there's definitely been times still in the middle of the day.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. No, I have been very, very lucky, um, n- never to experience that. Though, my husband will probably say it's because I have no situational awareness. Right? So like maybe- Well- ... that's on me. Like maybe I should be more cautious.

Yeah. But like I run with open e- you know, ear-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: headphones and stuff like that. But like I personally have never felt unsafe on the trail. Um, but my story is not my, that would be atypical.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. I would say that that is not the norm sadly.

Alyssa Eichholtz: That's not the norm.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and so I very much respect a lot, I've had conversations with men in our run club that are like, "When I see a female, should I make eye contact?

Do I wave? Do I just ignore her?" Like they ask these questions.

Ally Brettnacher: Great, great questions.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Like they ask these questions. And like how valuable is that input? Right. What is your answer to that? How valuable is that conversation? Um, I kind of say, like typically I'll be like, like I would let the female initiate that, [00:59:00] if that makes any sense.

Ally Brettnacher: That's a good answer. 'Cause I'm trying to think what I would, what advice I would give.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: I, 'cause do you find a guy m- more or less creepy if they make eye contact? I mean, I don't know. Yeah. Maybe that m- gives off the wrong, I think it kinda depends too, but.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, I think it depends and I think it's gonna depend on the female, right?

Yeah. And I think that it's, even with, I could run next, like alongside a, or opposite of a female who's never gonna make eye contact with me-

Ally Brettnacher: Right,

Alyssa Eichholtz: yeah ... as another female, right? Um, but so I've had- Yeah, it's interesting. Yeah. I've had like men ask me that or guys in my club ask me that or, and I think like that's really, really fricking special.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, especially, you know- With everything going on in the world and, uh, as continues to-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: unfortunately. Um, I also, we have a couple of runners in our group that are Special Olympians. And I think that that's really an amazing group- Yeah ... that gets to, that feels comfortable to run with us. We're- Yeah

pride ourselves on being super inclusive. Um-

Ally Brettnacher: How do you, uh, [01:00:00] how do you deal with... Or not deal with, that's not the right phrase. Mm-hmm. But, like, paces, like, how do, how do you tackle that in your run club?

Alyssa Eichholtz: I would say, I don't wanna say it's a struggle, but it's something, the conversation comes up quite a bit.

Um, we don't have pace groups yet. I don't think we're quite large enough on the day-to-day running-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: uh, for us to really have that. We used to do a three mile route, so a mile and a half out, a mile and a half back, and we've since switched that.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Switched that pretty recently to 15 minutes out, 15 minutes back, which helps a little bit keep people a little bit more together.

Um, one nice thing about the Pennsy is that it's a straight shot. Yeah. So you can very much see- You can still see everybody ... like, where-

Ally Brettnacher: That's nice ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: where you're at and who you're with. Um, I have a pretty good sense of all of my runners and where their paces are. So when I see someone new, I'm very much like, "Oh," like, maybe- You should run with-

go with this group. This guy, yeah. Or, [01:01:00] like, you might be, like, better off, like, go o- over here. Right. What have you. Yeah. But it kind of just happens naturally. Yeah. Um, so we don't really have any pace groups or issues with it. We've talked about it, though, like, if that would be of a benefit. Uh, but right now it still happens pretty naturally, which is really good.

Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Well, I think as long as you've thought about it- Yeah ... I mean, that's- Yeah, yeah ... kind of, you know, step number one. Yeah. I feel like some maybe haven't taken that into consideration or handled that with, with care or, like- Mm-hmm ... attention, because I just think now as more and more people are interested in the sport- Yes

and getting into the sport- Mm-hmm ... it's like, okay, how can we make it so that it feels approachable?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: And again, no, no disrespect to Fishers 'cause I love the Fishers Run Club. Mm-hmm. But it's like, yeah, you might feel really intimidated by the size of the group. Mm-hmm. The, you know- Yeah ... oh, all these people run all the time.

It's like, so how do you get the message across it's like anybody, like, you're cool? So, I mean- And you're also a free club- We are- ... which I didn't mention earlier ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: free. Yeah. Yeah, which is really important to me because I wanna be as inclusive [01:02:00] as possible, and I just know that that's, some price points, even if it's $5, is just not feasible for some people, and some clubs are much more expensive than that.

But it's really important for me, and for the members of my board have all agreed that, like, we wanna keep it free. So we run on donations alone, um, which is amazing that we've been able to do that 'cause we are- Yeah ... a 501[c][3] nonprofit.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, that's

Alyssa Eichholtz: right. Yeah. So we hold insurance, and we provide water and electrolytes and, uh, fuel and stuff like that on all of our runs, and, um, but yeah, we've been able to do that with donations alone.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, that's great.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. I

Ally Brettnacher: know I talked to Kelvin from, uh, 3Run7, and it's like, he's like- Amazing ... "Well, basically I like pay to have run club." It's like I c- Yeah ... I feel that. Yeah. 'Cause like sometimes or for a while I was paying to have a podcast- Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: which is silly, but- And that's what it was kind of definitely in the beginning.

Yeah. Um, it was like that, and a lot of members, uh, of especially now the board, but before we had a board, were pretty big contributors- That's great ... to, like, the donation fund. Right, to

Ally Brettnacher: [01:03:00] see, like, hey, you sh- you, you might, yeah. Yeah. I, can I help

Alyssa Eichholtz: with this? Help, yeah. Yeah. Um, but it's very organically just, like, been able to maintain itself- Yeah

just through donations. Um, and we don't really need a lot of money-

Ally Brettnacher: Right ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: to do it. I mean, insurance does start to get a little bit pricey, especially as the club grows. Mm-hmm. Your insurance, like, price increases. But sometimes it's like if we want to do more-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: if we want more things- Right ... like if stuff like that, so, uh, we luckily, one of our, you know, one of the best things is that we are in Hancock County, and we're in Greenfield, and we're the only ones.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So, like, we got a very generous donation for our tent from Nine Star, which is like-

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, that's cool.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: With what, your local

Alyssa Eichholtz: shop that does that. The utility companies. That's cool. Yeah, so, like- Yeah ... a lot of the, we've been very, like, lucky in that way that we're- Mm-hmm ... kind of the only group.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So we get donations in that way as well.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Or maybe people are able to reach out to where they work or [01:04:00] things like that- Yeah ... um, which has helped or- You know, along those lines.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Well, I mean s- like, a few hundred bucks for a company is way different than, like, a few hundred bucks from, like, for a person, right? Uh, exactly. So that's, like- Yeah, yeah

really great that you've been able to tap into that- Mm-hmm ... locally. Do you have a vision for it? Is it, is it something, like, you can see what it's gonna become or what you would like it to become? Or is it something where you're like, "This is gonna do its thing. Like, I've started it, but it's gonna do its thing," or

Alyssa Eichholtz: It's more it's gonna do its thing.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, when I first started the club, all I wanted was people to run with.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Like, all I- That's so great ... that's all I wanted.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And it's turned into something that's even bigger and greater than that. And I will say my perspective on it's changed as well since getting pregnant, um, because my life is gonna be...

Priorities are gonna change a little bit.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: For a l- I mean, for a good amount of time, like, I mean, my husband [01:05:00] will joke. He's like, "Pennsy Run Club's here, I'm here." You know what I mean? Because, like ...

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. If my husband does that with running, it's, yeah, he's like- He, yep ... "Where's your fa- like, where are you?"

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. I'm like, "Mm." Like, he's always like, "No, I know where your priorities lie." Yeah. You know, I am about to have a kid.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And so, you know, I think that my perspective of, like, all of these things that maybe, like, goals I had or visions that I had, I, I don't wanna say have taken a back burner. They've just, like, changed.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And it's cool too, because, like, I've never had an issue with, like, letting people contribute in any way. Like, I love- Yeah, good

Ally Brettnacher: for you. Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: I love that. But, like, even more so now, I'm very articulate of, like, you're doing it, if that makes any sense. Yeah, that's

Ally Brettnacher: great. And, like,

Alyssa Eichholtz: s- and, like, let's see what happens.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, where, like, maybe before I would have tried to have a little bit more, like, skin in the game- Right ... or, like, a little bit more control.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I'm a very big control freak- Um ... which is hard.

Alyssa Eichholtz: See, and I have [01:06:00] more... I am a people pleaser.

Ally Brettnacher: Well, I'm, you know what's hard is I'm both. Ooh. Which then doesn't help, 'cause then I want to control it, but I can't 'cause I gotta give it up to make- Yeah

the people happy.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: yeah, yeah. And then

Alyssa Eichholtz: you're like, "Ugh." And so I have a hard time when it's like one person suggests that they want this from the club, so I wanna make that happen, and make that happen, and make that happen- Yeah. I, I

Ally Brettnacher: see what you're saying

Alyssa Eichholtz: there ... because, like, all these people kind of, like, have their own visions and identity- Mm-hmm

like, what they want from it. Mm-hmm. So I wanna make sure everyone's happy.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And I've kind of now been like, "Okay, if you wanna do that, go for it."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. '

Alyssa Eichholtz: Cause we're a free club- Cool ... and I'm not, I don't have sole ownership over this. Yeah. And it might have been, like, my footwork that kind of got it going, but, like, it's been incredible to just see- When I let it happen and people do their own thing and take it to where they want it to go-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah

Alyssa Eichholtz: what's been able to happen- Yeah ... with that, right? And so, like, that is just even more motivation for me just to like... I post on Facebook and Instagram, you know? Yeah. [01:07:00] Like, that's kind of the extent of it. And I mean, like, I do a lot of work. Like, I don't wanna like-

Ally Brettnacher: Right. I was like, "Don't sell yourself short- I yeah

with the

Alyssa Eichholtz: content

Ally Brettnacher: stuff 'cause Lord knows-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah ... that

Ally Brettnacher: is

Alyssa Eichholtz: not easy." But like, you know, and even on just like a lot of opera- from an operational standpoint and logistics and strategics and all of that kind of stuff, like, there's a lot that goes into it, but when it comes to like the idea generator-

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: um, I kind of try to like let people kind of take it to where they want it to go.

Um, really I would love... 'Cause the Pennsy's not fully connected yet, so when it-

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, right ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: does connect, we have a mile and a half before it connects fully. So right now between Cumberland and Greenfield, there's a half-mile gap. Um, when that connects, I would love to have a race. I would love to have a point-to-point race.

Yeah. And I've... Poor TJ- ... who doesn't know me at all.

Ally Brettnacher: TJ, TJ Daily. Yes. People probably, if they're local, they know him.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, but he had a team at Royal Beast, and Pennsy Run Club has [01:08:00] had teams at Royal Beast for the past two years. I didn't know

Ally Brettnacher: what that was until yesterday literally. Somebody sent me a race shirt picture from it.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um-

Ally Brettnacher: What is that? What's Royal Beast?

Alyssa Eichholtz: It's a 12-hour relay. What? So it's simil- a eight-hour dream but 12 hours. I've never

Ally Brettnacher: heard of it until yesterday.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So it's in, uh, at, um, Southeastway Park, so... Okay.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah,

Alyssa Eichholtz: I don't know. Yeah. I, I'm- So, yeah ... I'm a Northsider. Yeah, I know. Um, and it's... I'm gonna say my people say- It's, yeah, my geography of- Yeah

Ally Brettnacher: yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And, um, so it's a 12-hour relay.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And he had a team present, and I know TJ and his races. And so poor guy, I mean, I ran the 12 hours too, like I also participated in the relay, but my energy levels with that are, I don't stop. Yeah. Um, and so like, and he's also, and his team, demolished- Yeah ... in terms of pacing and stuff, so he's probably just like in a whole nother world.

And I'm like, "So I'd love to talk to you about a point to po-", this is after the 12 hours. Yeah. I'm like, "I'd love to talk to you about a point to point marathon, 'cause when the Pennsy connects that's what I wanna do." [01:09:00] Yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: and he, I'm sure he said, "Heck yeah."

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And so like that would be something I think would be really, really cool- Yeah

because the Pennsy means a lot to me.

Ally Brettnacher: Have you talked to running coach Chris? You know Chris? Yeah. Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, he's come out actually to, 'cause he's doing- To the club ... Big O.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. Exactly. Yes. Yeah. So I was thinking like, okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Uh, he's actually come out to club-

Ally Brettnacher: Good ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: uh, before and so yeah. Um, but I gotta wait till it connects.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: A- and I mean like do I have to? No. No. But logistically it would be a nightmare because you'd be running on either US 40, which is Washington Street- ... which is like a major-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: highway, or you'd be running on country roads, which also poses a very- Yeah ... difficult-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: risk. Not,

Ally Brettnacher: not ideal.

Alyssa Eichholtz: It's not ideal.

Yeah. So I would wanna wait until it connects anyways. Yeah. But that's like my one big dream-

Ally Brettnacher: That's cool. Yeah. That's really cool ... is to have

Alyssa Eichholtz: a race.

Ally Brettnacher: And you've mentioned I, I th- I can't remember if it was on the podcast or somewhere else that you like to learn people's names- Mm-hmm ... at your club. Yeah. Do you have any tricks or advice for how you do that?

Bartend

Alyssa Eichholtz: for your entire [01:10:00] life. Oh. And

Ally Brettnacher: then, yeah. Bartending. I forgot about the bartending.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Yeah, and not that I knew names by bartending, but like your memory from just like knowing people- Seeing the same per- ... and knowing like their drinks. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Honestly- Right. Oh,

Ally Brettnacher: yeah, cranberry vodka,

Alyssa Eichholtz: got you. Yep, 100%.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, especially at a place like Ike's, which wasn't- Which was nuts ... which was the, a crazy bar. Crazy busy. Like an absolute crazy bar. Absolutely.

Ally Brettnacher: So much fun.

Alyssa Eichholtz: I loved it there. And so like, um, have that experience and then start a run club and you can remember everyone's name. But, uh, no, no real tricks.

Um, social media helps. Strava- Right ... helps-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: um, with like seeing people's names more frequently. Right, or being able to

Ally Brettnacher: double check. I do that a lot, like-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. But I mean, I think I talked about this a little bit on, uh, Joe's podcast as well, but-

You know, knowing everyone's name is not something that, like, I think about consciously. It's just, like, I h- I have to, I guess. Yeah. [01:11:00] Like, again, especially from an early standpoint, is, like, these people that were coming to this run club that I started all on... Like, it was scary to do that. Yeah. You know what I mean?

And, like, it took a lot and still takes a lot of work. Like, the fact that people show up- Yeah ... means so much to me that, like, of- like, of course I'm gonna know your name. Yeah. Like, of course I'm gonna do that. Like, you are taking time out of your day. You're contributing to, like, what this community is and has become.

Like, that's so important to me. The least I can give back-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: at this point is, like- Ugh ... doing, giving, like, the respect of knowing someone's name. No, I

Ally Brettnacher: suck at it. I'm, like, I really h- feel I have to think about it. Yeah. And, like, for me, I have to make a solid effort. I joked with Larry Koblenz from Athletic Annex.

Yeah. I was like, "I'm gonna create flashcards."

Alyssa Eichholtz: Uh, there are people in club, they want, uh, us to create a yearbook.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: For, like, kind of- Or,

Ally Brettnacher: like, playing cards. Yeah. [01:12:00] Can you imagine, like, we had runner playing

Alyssa Eichholtz: cards- Yes ... like pass them around. Yeah, that'd be amazing. But just, like- But yeah, they want, like, something of that sort because they're just like- A

Ally Brettnacher: directory.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, a directory.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, that'd be great.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. But yeah. I mean, there's a lot there, but-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, right. Never mind, yeah ... there's a lot that

Alyssa Eichholtz: can, uh-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, go wrong, or who knows?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Who knows? I don't know. Or just, like, I, I always have this, again, being a people pleaser, I always have this fear of forgetting somebody.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah,

Alyssa Eichholtz: oh, I'm the same. Or-

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, I hate it ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: or, like, not- Ugh ... like, if you didn't sign up on the platform, like, would you make it into the yearbook? Like, will I remember? 'Cause we have a group chat, and, um, I try to post, like, people's accomplishments, their medals- Yeah, right ... their races.

Ally Brettnacher: I think about that a lot.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and something I've been very conscious about, even from the beginning, was, like, and someone, people have asked before, like, "When I tag Pennsy Run Club, like, why don't you repost to the story?"

Because I'm so scared that, like, I'm just going to forget-

Ally Brettnacher: To do somebody

Alyssa Eichholtz: else's ... somebody else's- Oh ... and they're gonna see every- And I know-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, I see that, but-

Alyssa Eichholtz: I know, and it's like, but it's kind of the same way, like, you know, [01:13:00] when a race photographer has all these amazing pictures and not one of you.

You know what I mean? And you're just like-

Ally Brettnacher: Timmy ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: well, yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Where you at? I'm just kidding. But,

Alyssa Eichholtz: like, you know- But we both- Or like, you know, it's just like all these amazing photos, like you see my leg in this shot and it's this big. Like, what the heck, you know? And everyone gets to post all these amazing photos- Oh, yeah

or whatever, and it's like, I-

Ally Brettnacher: That's so

Alyssa Eichholtz: funny. Yeah ... I, I don't care, but, like, I would feel so bad if someone felt that way. Yeah. And I just, like, want to make sure. So I, like, don't post anyone's tagged stuff unless they're, like, ordered merch.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Because- So, yeah. Is, so is Timmy taking pictures at the Indiana Women's Running Festival?

Alyssa Eichholtz: I don't know. '

Ally Brettnacher: Cause he has in the past.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Maybe.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah, we'll just... Now you're gonna have, like, so many photos of yourself from that day. Uh, you're probably... Are you running?

Alyssa Eichholtz: If I make it.

Ally Brettnacher: Right.

Alyssa Eichholtz: I, that's where I'm at right now is if.

Ally Brettnacher: When is, when is... Okay, let's talk about that. So I'll be 38

Alyssa Eichholtz: weeks. 38 weeks, I mean, well- What dist- what distances are there?

So- Don't they have a 10K too, or? They have a 5K,

Ally Brettnacher: 10K, and half. Five and a half, okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So my [01:14:00] plan, I haven't actually looked at the course map. I am an ambassador, but I am-

Ally Brettnacher: Well, I don't know. I don't look at maps. I couldn't- Right ... draw the map of Monumental.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Sorry, Monumental.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Wow.

Ally Brettnacher: Couldn't. No idea. I'd rather not know where I am.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. But my goal is to run the half.

But I'm sure there's a point where it's like, "10K go this way." You know what I mean? Right. Half go this way. Right. So if I'm feeling some type of way- Yeah ... maybe I'll just like, "The 5K is looking nice." Right. Like, I don't know. At

Ally Brettnacher: 38 weeks, like you're out there. I mean, shoot.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Even waddling a 5K would be awesome.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. So we'll see. Yeah. Um, but yeah, if... We'll see if Timmy's there. Yeah. I mean, he takes great photos. Yeah. All of, all of the Indy locals do, for

Ally Brettnacher: sure. Well, I'm just giving... I, I totally get what you're saying. Um, I just, you know, you have to become friends with Timmy, 'cause I remember- Yeah ... man, when I became friends with Timmy, then it was like, yeah, I felt so lucky to have all these great photos.

Yes. Yeah, yeah. Or not, because he takes pictures when I eat, too. He does. So you also get that. I see a lot of that,

Alyssa Eichholtz: yeah, you.

Ally Brettnacher: Um, yeah, I wanna talk a little bit more about content and how you got involved in the Indiana Women's Running Festival.

Alyssa Eichholtz: [01:15:00] Yeah. So the content story to me is so funny because it kind of exploded without me realizing it.

Um, because I started making content because I started a run club and the run club needed content. So like Alyssa Eichholz, her Instagram had monthly posts. So I did monthly recaps. And that was the extent of it. Girl never opened CapCut.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Girl never took a video.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: But I had seen what worked at other clubs and then after Monumental, seeing that like people posted this and that's kind of how they got people coming to stuff.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: I was like, I wanna start this run club. I need to start making videos and posting content and doing this kind of stuff. However, I wasn't about to learn with Pennsy Run Club because I wanted this to be not necessarily professional, but like I wanted it to be correct. Yeah. So I just started like making [01:16:00] personal content to learn how to do it.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And before I knew it, I mean the Indiana running community, right, like all of a sudden it was just like, like a- Yeah ... I was like a part of this now.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and even today like I feel so bad. I mean you know this. I'm like, I, I'm, I don't, I'm never on Instagram. Like I don't scroll. I'm never, I-

Ally Brettnacher: Well good for you.

Alyssa Eichholtz: I have-

Ally Brettnacher: My phone is bricked at the moment, if you know what a brick is.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yes, I've seen it. It's like you can turn

Ally Brettnacher: all your social media off, so.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. Um, but I always, like I've said this kind of when I started getting more serious about content, um, is like you're either consuming or you're creating. And so- Yeah

like if I'm gonna be spending my time on my phone, I'm gonna be creating. Yeah. It's an outlet for me. I've discovered it. Like, I have so much fun creating content. So

Ally Brettnacher: do I.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, like, like that's why I do it now. Like, I... Likes, views, whatever, like I d- it doesn't really matter that much to me. But it's such, I was like, again, I was like a theater girl and like student council.

Like-

Ally Brettnacher: [01:17:00] Right ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: I, like, I always had a creative outlet. And like running doesn't necessarily give me that creative outlet.

Ally Brettnacher: Sure.

Alyssa Eichholtz: You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Like, it's a different aspect. So like when I discovered content and social media, like I get to like be creative and do cool things and edit videos and all this kind of stuff.

And it's just like unfortunate sometimes, like I'm the only person that's around me all the time. You know what I mean? So

Ally Brettnacher: it's always- Girl, you and I ... it's always just like- Like fucking spirits here. Yeah. I'm always just like me and at my house.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yep.

Ally Brettnacher: In my basement-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah ... or

Ally Brettnacher: my office.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And like- Yeah ... again, like I, uh, yeah, so the Pennsy, um, has been like a great way for me to like try and get more people.

And now like- Mm-hmm ... my club just knows it's happening.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: I remember in the beginning it was like, "Will you be in the video?" Like, "Will you..." Like, "Can I take a-" Right ... "Can I..." Now it's like it's, it's-

Ally Brettnacher: That's the same way with the girls I run with on Fridays. Yeah. They just know and they know that I-

Alyssa Eichholtz: It's in my liability waiver now.

That's funny. Yeah. The liability waiver is like if you're in club, like your photo or video will be.

Ally Brettnacher: Yes.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And I do ask [01:18:00] when there's kids. Like I always- Yeah ... ask moms or dads- Right ... whoever bring their kids, like, "Hey, we're gonna take a photo or video." Yeah. Like, "Is it okay?"

Ally Brettnacher: That's nice.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, but yeah. So now, like they're always a part of it and I love it.

And I wish I could do more, um, on that aspect of like with like some fun Pennsy Run Club content, but it's very time consuming. It is.

Ally Brettnacher: Well, and there's so many things you can do. Yeah. So it just gets a little overwhelming.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And it's like I have so much going on with club and other aspects. Do

Ally Brettnacher: you know what I mean?

Adding, you know, becoming a mom for the first time.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And just like a lot of other like making sure that I'm like conscious of like runner safety and like that we're abiding by trail rules, and that like people are picking up their trash, and like things like that where it's like content when I'm at club is like initially it's kind of while we're running and then I'm like my creative outlet is very put to the side.

I'm more focused on like the club in and of itself.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And the members and you know what I mean.

Ally Brettnacher: Right.

Alyssa Eichholtz: But all of my favorite photos of other people when they're taking [01:19:00] photos, it's always me like wrangling the cats. Yeah. That's what everyone calls them. Like, all the photos of me are always like me, there's a tripod, there's my phone.

Yeah. You know what I mean? Yep. I'm always like herding people- Yep. Yep ... to like, "We gotta get our group shot." Yeah. You know what I mean? All this kind of stuff. Group

Ally Brettnacher: photo- Yeah ... or it did not happen, people. Yeah. Get in there. Um- And like Abby does with her watch picks or some-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yes ...

Ally Brettnacher: yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And that was something, you know, why I wanted to do that was from seeing these other clubs and things like that was like in order- For someone to discover us, what are they gonna see?

How are they, how will Pennsy Run Club be represented?

Ally Brettnacher: Yes.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and so it was like I wanted to make sure that, like, the group photo existed and content existed so that, like, if you were looking at Pennsy Run Club online, do I fit in?

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Do I see someone like me? Do I get a little bit of a

Ally Brettnacher: sense, yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

And then that's kind of why, like, I wanted to, like, make my content or, you know, a little bit too. It's like, this girl who runs this club- Yeah ... is she a serious runner? Right. Like, does [01:20:00] she know what she's doing? Like, is she this, that or the other? Yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, so like they kind of like played off each other.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And then from that I was approached by, um, Christie, who, who has worked with Todd with Indiana Women's Running Festival- Mm-hmm ... before. And he was, uh, wanted to start kind of an ambassador program. And so just because of my like online social media presence, I guess, was like, "I think you'd be like a great fit."

Yeah,

Ally Brettnacher: absolutely.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And like, "If you wanna like make some content with us, and we'll like give you a, a brand code. It's gonna be our first run of this, so Abby and I are doing that together." Yeah. That's

Ally Brettnacher: so cool.

Alyssa Eichholtz: It's really fun. Love it. Yeah. You guys are perfect for that. And I didn't... Yeah. And then I was like, a couple months into that I was like, "Hey, by the way, pregnant."

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So- I'm pregnant, so

Alyssa Eichholtz: we'll

Ally Brettnacher: see- We'll- ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: if I can make it

Ally Brettnacher: there ... yeah, but I'll keep making

Alyssa Eichholtz: content for you- Right. Yeah ... but we'll see what happens.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. One of the things I love about Indiana Women's is the, the fact that it is for women. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. [01:21:00] And there are little details that are unique, like the butterfly, like a rose at the finish line.

Yeah. They used to have mimosas and screwdrivers and, um, yeah, it was j- it's just such a cool environment.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Girly and fun. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. So that's my two cents for anybody who wants to hear it, which maybe, maybe nobody, nobody cares. But I'm bummed not to do it, uh, this year. I- I

Alyssa Eichholtz: am

Ally Brettnacher: too ... have a hard time in the fall.

I just have- Yeah ... a hard time. I wanna do, I'm not even running Fort Ben this year- Okay ... which I've done the last five years. Yeah. Just because I'm trying to pick and choose, I guess, my battles- Yeah ... you know? When, as you get, you know, i- into having a family and- Mm-hmm ... prioritizing stuff, it just sucks. Yeah.

'Cause, doesn't, it's great. But it also, you know.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah, it's a balance. It's a different balance for sure. It is a different balance. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yes.

Alyssa Eichholtz: I'm-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: we'll see.

Ally Brettnacher: You'll see. You'll understand. We'll see. But it's, I mean, it's, I, I will hope to be there, but, you know- Mm-hmm ... soccer tournaments, like.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: And parent-teacher conferences are in May, the week, the day before the Mini- Oh

and the two days before the Monumental. I'm like, "Can you guys move the teacher-parent conferences, please?" Yeah. Um, so. Can we do this [01:22:00] virtually? Right. Can we do this virtually? Ugh, so okay. Um, what was your second marathon, by the way? I don't know if you ever told me.

Alyssa Eichholtz: It was Monumental. Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: It was Monumental.

Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So I've run Monumental twice and then Carmel.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay. Have you done Back Your Badge? You've done the half there?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yes. Okay. The half.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: I did the half when my husband ran the full.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, cool.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So it was his first full marathon.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow. When was that?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Two... He might have done that in 2021.

Ally Brettnacher: Okay.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. He would've done that in tw- so COVID times.

So you watched

Ally Brettnacher: him do it before you did it?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Cool.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. And so he's very much, like I said, sometimes he just like signs up for things and I end up like following suit. Um, but he was an athlete like his whole life. Played hockey, played football.

Ally Brettnacher: Gotcha.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and is always- needs sport in a lot of ways just to like for, you know, his own personal reasons.

Yeah. And I always like just kind of tagged along and whatnot. And so when I ran Back Your Badge, I wanna say like, [01:23:00] yeah, I trained, but like I don't-

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: I don't remember. I n- like, it wasn't my race. I was there to support him. It was just like, I'm gonna be there early anyways, I might as well- Might

Ally Brettnacher: as well just-

Alyssa Eichholtz: run- ...

Ally Brettnacher: add in a few miles ...

Alyssa Eichholtz: run 13 miles. Right.

Ally Brettnacher: Like- I know, that's how you think. Yeah. It's hard to think. Yeah. It's dangerous. Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: So.

Ally Brettnacher: Well, and speaking of that, too, like ultra. You've said no, you've said not yet. I know. Well, now you're about to have a baby, so that's unfair to even ask, but I feel like you would like

Alyssa Eichholtz: that.

Ugh, I know. And I went to Prairie this year.

Ally Brettnacher: Right. That's the mistake you make, and you're like, "I wanna do that."

Alyssa Eichholtz: Well, man, ugh. And that was just so inspiring and incredible. One of our runners, a Pennsy Run Club, uh, member, Luther, went very far, um, and wasn't so inspiring and incredible and now we've got like a whole subset of Pennsy Run Club.

Like I was, I was thinking about this the other day. I was like, "I might have to like create three different Pennsy Run Club Instagram accounts." Like Pennsy Run Club that's just like our Tuesdays and Saturdays. Yeah. A Pennsy Run Club Ultra. Yeah. Because we've got probably six people now doing [01:24:00] ultras.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Like that's their, that's their game now.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And I'm like, "Oh my goodness." Um, and I don't know. I, I like the idea of it, and I hate the idea of it.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: But you're doing it.

Ally Brettnacher: I did it. So I'm like, well, if I can do it, then. But

Alyssa Eichholtz: you're gonna do Prairie is what I heard. I know. Well, that's what I saw in the group chat.

Ally Brettnacher: That's what I wanna do. I really wanna do it. I just wanna see.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. I don't know.

Ally Brettnacher: We'll see. We'll s-

Alyssa Eichholtz: And I know, like I mean, Mary, Average Athlete Mary- Ugh ... she ran- She

Ally Brettnacher: really inspired me. She ran over 50 miles and I was like, "Oh my goodness."

Alyssa Eichholtz: And I had coffee with her like a couple weeks prior. Yeah. I mean, that, she was just, that was incredible and inspiring.

Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Absolutely.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Doesn't, with a smile on her face the whole time. And, um, Gracie Bell.

Ally Brettnacher: Yes.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Uh, she just moved to Greenfield.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. I'm gonna get her on the pod- I finally- Yay ... have her email address. I'm going to get it scheduled.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah. So she, her and I got connected 'cause she moved to where- That's so cool ... the club's at.

Yeah. And she's a mother runner, and she's run postpartum and has run pregnant.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: She put a very big fear into my head, though. Which I had [01:25:00] joked about this being like I've run so much with this baby in my belly that he- is only active when I'm not moving. And so she messaged me one day and she was just like, "Just so you know, you're gonna have to keep this kid constantly moving or he's going to, like, throw a fit."

She's like, her kids wake up from naps when she turns off the sound of her treadmill, and sometimes she just leaves it running- That's hilarious. Oh ... so she can shower. And I was like, "Oh, no. What have I done?"

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: What have I done?

Ally Brettnacher: Interesting. Well, as everyone will tell you, all kids are different. Yeah. You never know, so we'll see.

We'll see. I'm so excited to see- Yeah ... how your little man is. Okay, I'm gonna ask you the end of the podcast questions now. Mm-hmm. Um, there's two. You know this. Mm-hmm. Um, what is your favorite running mantra and/or song?

Alyssa Eichholtz: My running mantra as of late, I do feel like it changes- Yes ... um, is you've done harder things.

And I feel like that's [01:26:00] come across more recently, um, that I tell myself that when, like, I start wanting to quit on a run, especially being now eight and a half months pregnant. Um, but I'm just telling myself, like, "You've done harder things." And I kind of attribute that to that whole mental health aspect again.

Yeah

It's just running. Like, and I know that running's hard, and I know that, like, you know, for some people a mile is harder than a 5 or whatever, like- Yeah ... whatever the case may be. But there's nothing more difficult for, from my perspective, than having to, like, dig yourself out of that hole. Like- Yeah ... you have done harder things.

Yeah. You can get through this run. Like, it is just physical pain. Or it is just, it is just shortness of breath. Yeah. Like, you have done harder things. Yeah. Um, so that's kind of- That's a good one ... where my mantra is at right now.

Ally Brettnacher: Mm-hmm.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, and running song [01:27:00] is-

Ally Brettnacher: And you have a club playlist, don't you? Or did I make that up?

Alyssa Eichholtz: We do monthly club playlists.

Ally Brettnacher: Wow.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And a f- guy named Phil, he organizes that on Spotify. Love that. Like, again, took it upon himself. He's like, "Here's the Pennsy Run Club." Like- I

Ally Brettnacher: have a playlist, 'cause I ask everybody what their favorite running song is. Oh. And I- But I kinda got off that train-

Alyssa Eichholtz: And I- ... for

Ally Brettnacher: a while

Alyssa Eichholtz: downloaded it at one point- Yeah ... for one of my races. That's pretty good. 'Cause I had put it online.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Of like, I need songs. Yeah. 'Cause I try every race to have people give me songs, 'cause I love that. Mm-hmm,

Ally Brettnacher: agreed.

Alyssa Eichholtz: It's like, to be running a race and to have a song come on, and be like, "Oh, this is the person that suggested that."

Me. And then I remember memories with them, and it takes my mind away- Mm-hmm ... from, like, what I'm doing.

Ally Brettnacher: Yes.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Um, so I love asking for song suggestions for a race. I wanna say a very funny one, and I don't wanna say that this is, like, my favorite running song, because it's not really a running song by any means.

But something that's on my running playlist is the Monster Mash.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, that's funny.

Alyssa Eichholtz: And I love that song- Yeah ... so much. And I don't know why, but it comes on, and I don't even listen the full way through. But, like, it's [01:28:00] one of those songs where, like, I just get, like, the first, like, little bit of it, and it's, like, a good reset for me.

Yeah. And it's so funny. But yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah.

Alyssa Eichholtz: I like it.

Ally Brettnacher: I've,

Alyssa Eichholtz: like, I've made sure the Monster Mash is on every single one of my playlists.

Ally Brettnacher: I w- unexpected. Yeah. That's why I love, I love that. And then next finish line or milestone, well, obviously, having a child.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Having a baby, yeah. And then I am very determined to do Monumental full.

Ally Brettnacher: Next year?

Alyssa Eichholtz: Next year, mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. Next year. Uh, in three weeks or whatever, yeah. Yeah,

Alyssa Eichholtz: yeah. Two weeks after I give birth. But, uh- I mean, yeah ... yeah, for next year I'm very determined. Um, me and my h- like, m- I won't even say I- My husband might even be more determined for me to do that- Yeah ... than I am. But it has, like, held such a special place in my heart.

Um, I love... I haven't, I mean, I guess I've only run in Indy, and I know that there's, like, so many more races and runs for me to, like, go out and do, but Indy's so special to me. Yeah. Um, and, like, this running community means so much to me that I just, like, love that [01:29:00] race so much. So I would love to be able to do that.

I think timeline works out really well. Like, it's- Yeah ... basically a year out, you know, from, like, having a baby. Mm-hmm. And I think it would just be a really good accomplishment, whatever the timing would be- Yeah ... or can be. Uh, I got a running stroller. We're ready to go. Yay. Yeah, so.

Ally Brettnacher: Oh, and he's gonna love that, too.

Alyssa Eichholtz: I'm hoping.

Ally Brettnacher: I am hoping. Along with the moving, right? I mean-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. And the first fa- the first marathon finish line after you've had a baby-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm ...

Ally Brettnacher: feels really different. Yeah. 'Cause you're just like, "Whoa." Like, I'm still... I had a kid. I'm a mom. Yeah. But I'm still me.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Mm-hmm.

Ally Brettnacher: And capable.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Yeah.

Ally Brettnacher: It's really special.

you know I'm cheering for you.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Thank

Ally Brettnacher: you. Always. So-

Alyssa Eichholtz: Thank you ...

Ally Brettnacher: thank you so much for doing this with me. I appreciate it. Yay. It was so fun. It went by so fast.

Alyssa Eichholtz: I know.

Ally Brettnacher: Yeah. And so thanks to everybody who listened, and happy running.

Alyssa Eichholtz: Happy running.

Ally Brettnacher: Yay.

Hey, you made it to the finish line of this episode. Thanks so much for listening. Thank you to Huug for supporting this podcast, and thank you to Alyssa for coming on while so [01:30:00] pregnant. I am really, really excited to have marathon season underway for the fall. Really can't wait to cheer on everybody who's chasing big things.

my next race is going to be on November 7th at the CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on November 7th. I'm going for a half-marathon PR. Also hosting two events that weekend with my partner in crime, Lindsey Hein, who is the founder of SandyBoy Productions.

We're doing a shakeout run the morning of Friday, November 6th at 8:30 AM at Bottleworks Hotel. It is getting bigger and bigger, so if you wanna join us there, make sure you're registered. We're probably gonna have to cap the event. We're working with several other female-owned brands, and we're gonna have a giveaway, and it's gonna be the perfect way to start your weekend.

Then on Saturday after the race, we are hosting a post-race party together with The Athletic Annex and Brooks Running That is at Brothers downtown from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. That'll include appetizers, drinks. First 100 people are gonna get a goodie bag, and there's gonna be a live podcast there as well, And of course, it's the perfect place to wear your finisher [01:31:00] medal. even if you're not racing, you're welcome to come to either of those events. Tickets are $40 for the celebration event, and if you want $10 off, you can use code FLAMS for Finish Lines and Milestones. That's F-L-A-M-S. And I am gonna be catching up with my coach next Friday, October 16th.

So look for the episode with my coach that following Wednesday we'll be talking all things Chicago as she goes to tackle that. So good luck everybody in the end of your training and your finish lines. You have worked so hard for this.

Trust the training. I'm telling that to myself. All right, see you soon. Bye.

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