This episode is a big one — Episode 50! 🎉

And not only that… the podcast just hit 1,000 downloads! It may be a small number in the big podcasting world, but it means a lot to me. Thank you for tuning in, for sharing the show, and for being part of this growing community of strong, goal-chasing women.

🏃‍♀️ In This Episode:

I’m bringing you along for my Grandma’s Marathon race recap — my 7th full marathon, my 1st out-of-state race, and a milestone moment as we checked off state #44 as a family. In this episode, you’ll hear:

• 🎯 Why Grandma’s Marathon has been on my bucket list for years

• 💻 The wild registration process (4-hour wait in a virtual queue!)

• 🏨 How we navigated the tricky hotel situation — and ended up scoring big

• 🏃‍♀️ My full training breakdown — solo miles, strength sessions, injury setbacks, and all the sweat, tears, and joy

• 🌡 Race day details — from the delayed start and 90% humidity to mile-by-mile struggles and triumphs

• 💕 The emotional moment I saw my family at mile 22 — and how it changed everything

• 🥇 How I finished with a new over-40 PR, and why this race reminded me I can still chase big goals

✈️ Plus:

• Travel tips if you’re planning to run Grandma’s in the future (including must-visit spots like Mall of America and Pickwick’s)

• Logistics advice on where to stay, when to register, and how to make the most of the weekend

• Why Duluth is a surprisingly awesome race destination — even with unpredictable weather

💬 Key Takeaways:

• The training is the marathon — race day is the celebration.

• Don’t count yourself out based on age, pace, or past performances.

• Support from your family, community, and coaches matters more than you think.

• You can do hard things. And there’s still more joy, growth, and strength ahead.

Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or just starting your running journey, I hope this story inspires you to keep showing up, keep dreaming big, and believe in your ability to grow, change, and surprise yourself — no matter your age or pace.

📱 Let’s Connect!

https://www.instagram.com/filluptospillout?igsh=MTRxcmdmaW14OWVteA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love it if you’d share it with a fellow runner, rate the show, or leave a review. It means the world and helps more women like us find this space.

Keep filling your cup so you can spill out.

— Allison

It’s officially race week for me, and in this episode, I’m bringing you along for the ride with my best travel tips for summer, races, and beyond—whether you’re heading out for a destination race like Grandma’s Marathon (where I’ll be as this drops!) or taking a family vacation.

Over the past decade, my family and I have been on a mission to visit all 50 states (state 44, here we come!), and we’ve learned a lot along the way. From canceled flights and lost luggage to bucket list adventures and bonding memories, this episode is packed with practical tips, pro hacks, and lessons learned for smoother, more meaningful travel.

In this episode, I cover:

• ✅ Why patience and grace matter more than perfection

• 💳 How to travel smarter (hello, airline miles and hotel points!)

• ✈️ What to know about TSA PreCheck and packing like a pro

• 📱 Must-have apps and digital travel tricks

• 🧳 Carry-on essentials and how to avoid luggage drama

• 🌍 How to research your destination (and why locals are your best guides)

• 🏃‍♀️ What to pack and plan for a successful destination race

• 💡 Backpack must-haves and organization hacks for flying

• ❤️ Encouragement to be adventurous—even if your travel goals look different than mine

As you listen, I’ll be gearing up to run marathon #7 at Grandma’s Marathon along Lake Superior—celebrating my 45th year and combining two of my greatest joys: running and travel. Whether you’re racing or relaxing this summer, I hope this episode helps you travel easier, run stronger, and make some special memories.

Links & Mentions:

• Lovevook Laptop Backpack: [Amazon]

• Hilton Honors Program, United & American Airlines mileage programs

• TSA PreCheck: tsa.gov/precheck

• Grandma’s Marathon: grandmasmarathon.com

📩 Loved this episode? Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow travel-loving runner!

Until next week—fill your cup and go run your race. 💖

– Allison

As we know, running has lots of seasons or training cycles as we like to call them when we are runners who don’t just run for fitness, but train for longer races and goals. There is a time to focus on strength training, muscle gain and fat loss, base building, peek training for races, and then recovery. Since summer is usually hot, especially down here in the south, it is often a great time to focus on other things like more strength training to improve body composition, nutrition and weight loss if desired, as well as mobility and mindset. So, today, we're diving into the things that you you can focus on to be a stronger runner.

Remember that summer isn’t just for slowing down, it can be your secret weapon to have your strongest fall running and fitness season yet!

And if you’re looking for a free facebook community to be a part of that is filled with women like you who are positive and focused on their health and fitness and running goals in this middle season of life, who will help to hold you accountable and cheer you on this summer and fall, then fill out this form, and I’ll be sure to send you an invite!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc74TcoQhCJL58jZKz2VOjtYzr7eJaIXNxCSAL17sJ8A05gFA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Thank you SO much for listening!

~Allison