Welcome Back And Weather Talk

Casey Koza 0:32

Thank you for joining this episode of the Hobby Jogger. I am the co-host, Casey Coza, once again joined by my co-host, Mr. Rob Myers. Rob, how you doing today?

SPEAKER_00 0:44

I'm doing well. The sun is out. Looks like uh the weather's turned. I'm actually getting out there, putting some miles, at least down here. I don't know what it is for you guys.

Casey Koza 0:52

Uh it's 75 and sunny right now. It's gonna be 32 degrees and snowing in the morning.

SPEAKER_02 0:57

So uh oh no, some bipolar weather.

Casey Koza 1:00

Yeah, yeah. Not not fun. Um, really hurts the sinuses. Um, but yeah, so uh gonna do what I can to get out there and run. We'll see. I'm sick of the cold. But uh, that is our guest this week. Back for her second episode. We thank her very much, Abby Herring. Abby, how you doing?

SPEAKER_02 1:18

I'm doing well. Thank you for having me back.

Casey Koza 1:21

Yeah, absolutely. You uh I get a lot of questions about you, so it's just easier, I guess, to have an episode than people can get the questions answered. Um, yeah, you have a lot of fans out there. Uh my my girlfriend included, she was like thrilled that you followed her on Strabo. She was like, Oh my god, Abby Herring's following me. I was like, good for you, honey. Good for you.

SPEAKER_02 1:42

I love I love giving kudos. I love getting getting kudos. It's like a it's a nice exchange. Yeah.

West Virginia Movie Detour

Casey Koza 1:47

It's a great exchange. Rob doesn't give me much kudos. I always try and give it to him. We're working on that in our relationship. So every once in a while. I mean, you have to do something first, right? Yeah, true, true. Um, first thing I want to ask you, Abby. You know, you are a resident, former resident of one of my favorite states to visit, West Virginia. Um, this uh Christmas season, we watched a movie, Feast of the Seven Seas. Have you watched that Christmas movie? It's a it's a rom-com set in West Virginia, I want to say in the 80s. Got it. Yeah. Caleb, Caleb Bowen, uh, also had not watched it. I was a little bit taken back by that that none of my West Virginia people have watched the movie. It was really good. I liked it. Uh, Rob, have you seen it?

SPEAKER_00 2:42

No, no, but it's on the list now. I'm not surprised. I don't think Abby was born when that movie came out.

Casey Koza 2:47

So no, it just that was set in the 80s. It was briefly came out. Yeah. Gotcha. Gotcha.

SPEAKER_00 2:54

That makes more sense.

Casey Koza 2:55

Yeah, it's an Italian family in a small town in West Virginia, a lot of similarities to Pittsburgh. And I guess this is not going to be a movie review episode, so that's good. The people that care about running and stuff will be happy with that. Swinging a miss for me, Rob. Who would have guessed?

SPEAKER_00 3:13

Get right into it then.

Casey Koza 3:15

But back to running. And uh, first thing I wanted to cover with you, Abby, is last year's trip to Boston. Uh, you know, you were coming off the Columbus marathon where you qualified. We'll say you qualified there, um and ran Boston. What are some learning experiences you got from that trip to Boston that you're gonna take back with you this year?

SPEAKER_02 3:42

Yeah, I think so. Trip to Boston last year, um, training was a little bit funky. Um, I wasn't necessarily doing any sort of like structured plan. I was kind of just like hopping in some workouts with my roommate at the time, who was still like she's still on track um eligibility at Marshall. So I did some of her workouts. It was honestly just like a lot of like mileage with no, I guess, set speed plans. Um, and so I didn't really have any sort of time goal expectation. I just wanted to go in, soak up the Boston energy. You know, you always hear everyone talking about how exciting the crowds are and just running 26 miles into the city and like how surreal it is. Um, so I didn't really go in with much expectations. I had gotten tips from different runners who had gone there before. Um, one of them being like, don't freak out if you're boxed in. Like it's gonna be like that for miles, but like you're fine. Like, don't try and weave out of people um because that's just gonna wear you out. And so um I started, I can't remember exactly what wave I was in. Um, but I was in like, or sorry, I couldn't remember what crowd was I was in, but I was in that first wave, the red wave. And um, I just stuck with the the group of people I was I was in fact boxed in for several miles. But um, I kind of just stuck where I was at and then um stayed kind of conservative. Um I went based off feel, not based off of time. I tried not to look at my watch. Um, but I went out a lot faster than I had anticipated that I was going to. Um, and I never really hit a wall, which I was expecting to hit one pretty hard, especially around like, you know, mile 16 through 20, where the series of hills creeps up on you. But um yeah, I think training also in West Virginia and just having like the hills, I definitely hit a lot of hills last um last fall or spring. So um the heartbreak series, like, you know, those series of hills leading up to heartbreak um wasn't as bad as I thought. Now living in a new area with not as many hills, we'll see how that goes this year. But um yeah, I was able to take a lot of uh experiences and just like tips from that. Um, even fueling too. It was something I kind of struggled to um to walk in until Boston. So yeah, definitely going in this year. I'm able to spread the knowledge and um yeah, I'm I'm excited to go back.

Fueling Practice And Race Execution

Casey Koza 6:06

Yeah, and I'm excited. Hopefully, I get to see you up there. Um, I I will be in attendance and did not get into the Boston 5K. Apparently that's very difficult to do, a lottery, uh, but I did not did not win. Um, but oh well, but yeah, I remember I actually looked back and your last 5k there at Boston was very impressive. I don't know. Um, so you you you must have I I think you had a fueling issue maybe in Columbus that you clearly got worked out, got the you know the uh pains of that, so to speak, uh uh worked out. So what changes did you make with that going into Boston, the fueling aspect?

SPEAKER_02 6:44

Yeah, so I trained a lot with um like trying out different gels and just like honestly seeing like what sat well with my you know stomach and um even even doing just like seven or eight mile runs, I had never like taken nutrition on those types of runs before. Um, but anytime it was a run like over six miles, like I was like taking any sort of like fuel like uh gels to just trying to like train my body to like get used to it. So like even if it is uncomfortable, like, okay, like you have to take this. Cause in Columbus, I think it was like mile, like 15 or 16, I just kind of stopped. I was like, you know, gels don't sound great anymore. So I'm just not gonna take them. And I definitely pay the price at the end. Um so I just I I practiced a lot on runs and just kind of like forced myself to stick with the plan. Um, but that last 5k in Boston, I know you brought up, um, I think I was definitely like because I fueled early on, I didn't have like that same positive splits, you know, towards the end. It was it was a nice downhill into the city. And I was like, okay, I'm just gonna take in the crowds and kind of go for it. Um, so yeah.

Casey Koza 7:56

Yeah. And and Rob, when I say it was fast, I I think it was like 608 a mile. Um, to put it in perspective for us, that's like yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:04

That's very make us feel slow. And you said you took off fast from the starting line. Like, what was the first three miles like? What was your pace?

SPEAKER_02 8:14

Oh, of the of the whole marathon, maybe like I wish I had my switch put up right now. Maybe like 630s.

Casey Koza 8:23

Yeah, I did have it pulled up earlier. I forgot, uh, because I, you know, I do do some research for this show, Rob. As you can tell. Uh, but yeah, it was it was it was a very fast last 5k. I was saying I had it like 605, 608. I average it in my head, so math might be a little bit off there, but yeah, very impressive last 5k. So congrats to you for that, Abby. That was that was fun to watch. Uh well, I didn't watch you, I watched the results come in of a lot of people we knew up there. So and what was your heart rate? What was your heart rate, like 140?

SPEAKER_02 8:55

Oh, I guarantee. I feel like my heart rate naturally is so high. I think like after Boston, I looked and it was like max 210. So like I was definitely feeling it, but I was able to push through.

SPEAKER_00 9:08

I'd be on the ground with a 210 heartbeat.

Casey Koza 9:10

They'd have to revive me.

SPEAKER_02 9:12

Yeah.

Casey Koza 9:13

And that's uh the the boxed in is weird. You know, I've I've played sports my whole life, you know, soccer, rugby, whatever. And I've never had a sport where I was. I had like one in front of me, two on the side. I just when I was trying to run the 130 up in the Cleveland half rub. And I person behind me, and you do, you're like, right, Abby, you feel like you're gonna step on someone or someone's gonna step on you, and it's and that was what, six or seven miles of that for you in Boston?

SPEAKER_02 9:42

Yeah, it was definitely the first like chunk of the race was Boxton. Um, luckily, like coming from a track background, like you know, where I've started on the line with like several other runners, we're like up to like 25 girls, you know, running a 5k at once. Um, I was kind of used to that feeling. Um, but it, you know, it had never lasted longer than you know, two laps on the track. So definitely a transition into the marathon for sure.

Boston Logistics And Sunscreen Tip

Casey Koza 10:10

Yeah. And um, so any other like things for people coming into town that you should know for Boston, specifically me, since I'm going up there and have not planned anything at all yet?

SPEAKER_02 10:22

Um, I'd be prepared to walk a lot the days before the race. I'm the type of person who I mean, the day like the two days leading up to the race, like I it would be ideal, you know, if you had some time to like rest and recover and do like some like light walking around the city, but I was personally not prepared for how much movement and like steps you're gonna get like the days before. Um so yeah, also sunscreen. I was blistered at the end of Austin last year.

Casey Koza 10:52

Oh, that's I've never heard that. That's a new one, Rob. We got sunscreen. Sunscreen's important, very important.

SPEAKER_02 10:59

They have like little, you know, those hand sanitizer pumps um that you can put your hand underneath, like at, I don't know, restaurant, bathrooms. They have those at the start line with um sunscreen in them. And so as the runners are going to the start line, like you can like put your hand underneath it and get some some sunscreen. And I was like, put some SPF on my face this morning, I'll be good. But I should, I should have been lathering because I was absolutely burnt to a crisp at the end of the marathon.

Casey Koza 11:28

That's I I because it's April in Boston. I wouldn't think, you know, sunscreen.

SPEAKER_02 11:35

I I didn't either, but this year I'm I'm ready.

Casey Koza 11:38

Sunscreen, pack sunscreen.

SPEAKER_00 11:41

So Abby, did you go to the uh oyster house?

SPEAKER_02 11:45

No. Is that a is that a famous restaurant down in the house?

SPEAKER_00 11:48

Yeah, it's the oldest restaurant in the United States in Boston. So if you like seafood, you gotta go.

SPEAKER_02 11:54

Yeah, I'll add that to the list.

Pacing Javelina And Ultra Culture

Casey Koza 11:56

Rob, us us Appalachians only eat uh freshwater oysters. So exceptions are made. Right. Yeah, we don't trust those ocean dwelling oysters. I don't anyway. If you want to fit in. Yeah, if you want to fit in, you gotta go, gotta eat the oysters in in Boston. Now, the the sunscreen, Abby, brings me to my next question for you. You did some pacing over in well the fall, uh for friend of the show, Caleb Bowen. Is he is he part of the Bargain Boys media? I think I should know that.

SPEAKER_02 12:28

Yes, he is part of the bargain boys.

Casey Koza 12:30

Yeah, I thought so. I just didn't want to say it if he wasn't, but I was pretty sure he was. So you went out there and you paced Caleb for for a lap around the the Javelina course.

SPEAKER_02 12:40

I did. So it was honestly kind of last minute. Um maybe just like a two or three weeks, like up into like up until the race. Um it's kind of like whenever we solidified that I was gonna fly out there and help pace. Um, but I had taken just like a little bit of time off of running uh shortly before then. And so when I found out it was 20 miles, I was like, I d I don't know if I'm gonna be able to run 20 miles. Like the last time I ran 20 was in Boston, um, which was you know April. And um now it's October. And um yeah, but I made it through. I made through the 20 um pacing and was honestly so fun on the crewing side. Um, we got done with the 20 mile loop and I was like, I think I could go for 10 more. But um yeah, trail running is definitely a different breed. Um, I think it was like maybe mile eight. Um Caleb and I were running and I just like absolutely ate it. I finished, I finished the race with like scraped and bloody knees. Um but actually I don't I don't know if you know this or not, but um I signed up for the Havelina 100K this upcoming October after pacing Caleb. Oh, sweet. Awesome. Yeah, had a lot of fun out there. I don't think I'm ready for the 100 miler, but um 100k is uh on the on the books for this year.

Casey Koza 14:08

Yeah, that's that's awesome. Breaking news here, Rob.

SPEAKER_02 14:12

Yeah.

Casey Koza 14:13

Oh yeah, we love it. So that you've run the biggest marathon in US because that that would be Boston. I mean, I I imagine it is. I don't I didn't look it up or anything. And now you went out to Javelina and saw that crowd, which I would say is probably one of the bigger ultra races in the United States. What are some differences you noticed maybe about we'll say the people or the culture or the atmosphere? Uh a little bit different, I I imagine, correct?

SPEAKER_02 14:42

Yeah, honestly, completely different. Um say being in Boston, you know, you look to your left and your right, and everyone's super serious. They have on their like pit viper sunglasses and their alpha flies, and no one's really chatting at the start line. Everyone's just like very locked in and serious. I feel like that's kind of typical for roadrunners, especially people who are at Boston. Um and then complete opposite end of the spectrum. Um, down in Habalina, I mean, it's like a full-on party. Like if you've ever been down there, like seen the videos, like there's girls twirling fire. There's like people walking on stilts, people are eating hot dogs and taking naps and taking fireball shots. And it's like completely different um atmosphere. And like I respect and I enjoy being a part of both of them. Um, it's just so interesting to see both sides of the running, running community.

SPEAKER_00 16:00

What do you always say you say uh road running is like the orchestra, trail running is like a fish concert?

Casey Koza 16:05

Yeah, so true. Yeah, it's you know, it's pretty accurate, you know. Uh yeah, that that's that's awesome. I I do need to make it out to Javelina to see it. Like it's a it's a cool event. Uh went to Black Canyon last year, not nearly as cool, I don't think, as is the Havelina. Uh I know it's around um Halloween, I I think, correct?

SPEAKER_02 16:26

Yeah, yeah. I I think that's right too. Um yeah, Havelena was just a whole experience. So I don't I don't know how Black Canyon is. I know I think Dan Um and Caleb have done that one before.

Casey Koza 16:39

Yeah. I I want to say Dan, I want to say I saw Dan in actually in uh out over in France. I know he ran CCC.

SPEAKER_02 16:46

Uh yeah.

Casey Koza 16:48

Yeah. I saw him finish. He finished right in front of me. Um I yelled at him, hey, go West Virginia guy or something. He was like, someone someone's someone's here. Wow, that's awesome. Um, but yeah, the the Habalina scene, I need to see it. And and you crewed Caleb as well. That I I think I just need to go experience it because I think it's pretty much chaos in the the whole crew area the for just hours of the day, correct?

SPEAKER_02 17:15

It is yeah, I will say it is chaos. Um, I also didn't realize how much planning went into it. Um so Caleb had, you know, his whole crew, and um, I mean, they were doing math trying to calculate how much, you know, sodium and caffeine and hydration and just like all the math that literally goes into these races is insane, and just the planning and like careful um consideration of every factor. And so um, I really didn't realize like how much went into that until like I was a part of it. But it is mega chaos, um, especially whenever Caleb comes in. So whenever he came in, you know, we had people who were um putting ice and water on him and stuffing his hat and his arm sleeves, but then you also have people who were um like taking the nutrition bottles like off of him and then refilling and putting new ones on and seeing, you know, what he needed. And so it was like mass chaos for maybe like 90 seconds. And then whenever he left, it was like dead silent for like you know an hour and a half, two hours until he returns.

Casey Koza 18:23

Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, I need to Rob, we need to go out there and see it in in person, I think. Yeah, it's on the list. I'd like to. Yeah, it's definitely, definitely on the list. Uh yeah, and and I'll be rooting for you out there, Abby, if I don't make it out. That's awesome. You know, just you had so much fun out there. You're like, yeah, put my name on the on the 100k start list, huh?

SPEAKER_02 18:44

Yes, yeah. My um one of my college teammates, Kylie Maston, um, her and I signed up together. So we're gonna go um, I I guess just run an alter marathon in the middle of Arizona on Halloween.

SPEAKER_00 18:57

So, Abby, is this the beginning? Is this the beginning? Like five years from now, are you gonna be on and we're gonna talk about you in the top 10 UTMB?

SPEAKER_02 19:05

Ooh, we'll see. We'll see. I I've got I've got to nail down the technicality of trail running. I I made it eight miles on a pretty like stable course. So we'll see after uh Havelena 100K.

Casey Koza 19:18

I bet you'll get the bug. Yeah, yeah. So so now will you and Kylie be wearing uh Halloween costumes for this?

SPEAKER_02 19:27

Absolutely. We haven't decided what we're gonna wear yet, but um, we're definitely doing this for the fun experience.

Casey Koza 19:36

Yeah, I I feel like you kind of need to, you gotta do, you know, be in the spirit of the event. Uh would be would be you know good thing to do out there, I feel, you know, stick with the culture.

SPEAKER_02 19:47

For sure.

Winning Charlotte Half With Run Clubs

Casey Koza 19:50

So that's awesome. Yeah, we're gonna look forward to that, uh, Abby. See how you do it. It is yeah, it is one of the less technical courses, I guess. I don't know. I've never run out there, but you apparently ate it. So it's not to be I I've done, I mean, I I did it on a sidewalk here. So yeah, nothing to be embarrassed of.

SPEAKER_02 20:08

Happens to the best of us.

Casey Koza 20:10

Yep, happens to the best of us. Um, so the next thing I wanted to talk to you about, uh, your performance at the Charlotte Half Marathon, where you now reside in Charlotte. Yes. Um, so your your hometown marathon, uh, you you won the half. You won the the the women's half there down in Charlotte. So congratulations.

SPEAKER_02 20:30

Oh, thank you.

Casey Koza 20:31

Yeah, for that. That's awesome. That was sweet. I yeah, I was you know scrolling through uh Strava as someone does on a Saturday morning, and I was like, oh wow, that's that's really fast. I was like, I'll I'll bet she won. So I pull up the results, sure enough, yeah. Abby, Abby has won the Charlotte half. Um one and I liked it. There was like, I don't know, someone was sponsored or something. And you're just morning run club.

unknown 20:55

Yeah.

Casey Koza 20:56

So what is the morning run club? Let's not bury the lead here.

SPEAKER_02 21:00

Yeah. So uh moving down to Charlotte, I of course, you know, wanted to make some friends who had some common interests. And so um, run clubs are huge down here. Um there's one on Thursday morning called Morning Miles, and um several, you know, of friends of mine who were in the run club, uh, they just put down Morning Miles was our team. And so I said, What the heck? I'll do it too.

Casey Koza 21:27

Got it. So it's a very official team. I like it. That's my kind of team. Um very unofficial, official. Yeah, yeah. That's that's that's our kind of team, right, Rob? Oh yeah. You don't have to sign on the die to the line, right? Just pick a name, move forward. So that's that's very much in the hobby jogger spirit, Abby. So we like that. Uh yes. So you went intoficial. Yeah, yeah, unofficial, official. So you just ran, you just signed up basically with your friends from the the run club?

SPEAKER_02 21:56

Yeah, pretty much. So I actually got a free bib into the um half marathon from uh my work. And so I really wasn't training for it at the time, I guess you could say. I was kind of just running for fun. And like I said, I joined like a bunch of run clubs uh moving down here. And so I was just kind of dilly-dallying and, you know, going to run club here, run club there. Um, and then I started doing like a little bit of speed work with a few of my friends, but again, like nothing structured. And so going into the half, um, I wasn't necessarily planning on running fast, but I think like the in the back of my mind, like I come from a uh past of, you know, athletics, um, like running in college. So there was like a sort of like competitiveness within me. Yeah. Um, so I started at the back of the corral and then kind of like, you know, moved my way forward. And then I was like, oh, you know, I'm I'm here. I may as well try and raise it. And so um Um yeah, the Charlotte half was it was a lot of fun. Um course is a lot hillier than I thought. Um, definitely on the back end. But um I had like I met up with a friend on the course and we kind of ran together. So that uh definitely helped.

Casey Koza 23:11

Sweet. That's awesome. What was Monday morning like at work when you just get a free bib from work and when people were people like, hey, how'd you do, Abby? Did you finish?

SPEAKER_02 23:20

Yeah. Yeah, I actually, so the race was on a Saturday or yeah, I think I think it was the Saturday race, but I had to work after, unfortunately. And at the time I was working for, yeah, I was working for um a running company down here, and we had helped put on the Charlotte half and full marathon. And so it was like a lot of getting stuff from the expo, taking it out. So they were all so excited for me, but it was also like a labor-intensive day at work.

Houston Marathon PR And 100-Mile Week

Casey Koza 23:54

So yeah, that's tough. That's tough. And Rob, that was a 546 pace uh half marathon, just in case you were wondering. Yeah. Yeah, I think I quit running. I'm done. So that's awesome. Yeah, you just moved down to to Charlotte, decide to get a free entry into uh into the local half marathon and go out and win, Abby. That's yeah, you've got some you've got some competitive drive, I think. I yeah, I think I see how this Havelina 100K is gonna go, maybe. I don't know. But we'll see.

SPEAKER_02 24:25

We'll see.

Casey Koza 24:26

Yeah, we'll see. It's a long way to go, 62 miles in the desert. But so you you ran the Charlotte half, and then recently I saw you were down in Houston for for a full marathon, correct?

SPEAKER_02 24:39

Yes.

Casey Koza 24:39

Um fairly recent.

SPEAKER_02 24:41

I yeah, it was uh January, maybe like the second weekend in January. Um, so about three months ago.

Casey Koza 24:51

What made you decide to just you just wanted you were building up with the morning run club, right? And you decided that, well, let's just go hop into a full marathon now, right? Did you have any goals or ambitions going into this one?

SPEAKER_02 25:03

So again, similar to the Charlotte half. Um, well, I guess I didn't get a free bib into this one, of course, but um one of my coworkers, um, her name is Jenny, and she had told me that she really wanted to run the Houston half marathon. Um, and so one day at work, I had heard that and I was like, well, let's just do it. Let's just sign up and we can go and make a girls' trip out of it. And so in that moment, we got out our laptops and she signed up for the half, and I signed up for the full, and we decided we were we were going down to Houston. It was a very impulsive decision. Um, but yeah, I'm honestly so glad that I did it. Uh, but similar to the Charlotte half, I really didn't have any expectations going into it. I had run 249 in Boston, but I was also running a lot more miles than I was before Houston. I was probably I think before Boston um last year, I was averaging around like 65 to 80 miles. Um, kind of just fun runs, no workouts. But before Houston, it was around like 45. And so going into it, um, I was hoping to maybe go around 255, maybe 250, and kind of just see like what my body could do. Um but yeah, I ended up PRing by I think like nine minutes um down in Houston, which was very exciting.

SPEAKER_00 26:31

Yeah, those last minute races sometimes are the best. You just sign up and you're gonna do pressure. Well, you need a measuring stick, right? Like, let's sign up, see where I'm at, got the big race in three, four months, whatever it may be. It's nice to just sign up and not care just to see where the body's at.

SPEAKER_02 26:48

Exactly.

Casey Koza 26:49

Takes takes a lot of pressure off, that's for sure. So yeah, you go in with just a 250 goal and and end up PRing. That's that's not a bad weekend. And and I imagine you and your friend had a a nice time down there in Houston.

SPEAKER_02 27:02

Yeah, yeah. We um we had a whole whole girls' trip. It was it was a lot of fun down there. And she had a PR too. And um, so yeah, definitely something to celebrate.

Casey Koza 27:14

Yeah, for sure. I've I've I'm celebrating for you. Now uh I I did see you posted on Strava that you uh ran your first hundred mile week. So you have like what 248 to catch Andrew Glaze, so not much.

SPEAKER_02 27:30

Almost there.

Casey Koza 27:31

Yeah, almost to catch an Andrew Glaze at a hundred mile a week. So you're you're certainly ramping up the volume going into this year's Boston marathon, it seems, correct?

SPEAKER_02 27:41

Yes. So I've definitely hitting like the highest mileage um I've ever done. Um I have a lot of flexibility right now with my current job. And so my body's healthy. Um, also running is a social thing for me too. And so a lot of my friends are like, oh, we're, you know, going out for a run this morning and this evening. And I'm like, okay, say less. And so um I wasn't anticipating on hitting 100 miles, but it kind of just worked out that way. And, you know, crossing off the bucket list. Um, but taper is starting now, so I think my legs are definitely happy about that.

Casey Koza 28:18

Nice. Nice, yeah. 100 mile week. Now haven't done that yet. Rob, you you hit 100 yet? No, not even close. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, not not for me. But yeah, good to hear that you're healthy and feeling good going into this. What you know, I know we talked about the previous Boston and things you've learned there. And to wear sunscreen, for sure you're gonna wear sunscreen. I'm gonna wear sunscreen now. Um, but what are you anticipating doing a little bit different, I guess, coming into this Boston, this being your second Boston marathon?

SPEAKER_02 28:52

Yeah, I don't know what I'm gonna do different other than wearing sunscreen. Um I I have switched up like I guess what I wear when I run. Um so I switched, I think I raced in the Nike Next Percents, which are more of honestly like a speedier like 10K shoe, maybe like half marathon 10K, 10K shoe. Um, I switched over to the Alpha Flies um for the Houston marathon, and I really liked those. Um less foot fatigue, I feel like, especially towards the end of the race. Um and then I ran with a um a running belt um in Boston this past year, and it was so overstimulating. And so now I started getting tops and bottoms that have the pockets for the gels. Um, but I mean, racing strategies, I don't know if I'm gonna necessarily change anything. I feel like I'm in a good corral and a good way where I can kind of just like settle in and then see how I feel and go from there.

Casey Koza 29:52

Is is your corral moved up this year?

SPEAKER_02 29:54

Yes. Yes.

Casey Koza 29:57

I imagine they take your qualifying time into consideration. And do they take into consideration like your Houston marathon time for the corrals?

Shoes Gels And Final Wrap

SPEAKER_02 30:06

I don't believe so. I think I might have been able to submit that time, but I wasn't proactive enough in doing that. But last year I went in with like a two, maybe like 53, um, ended up running a 249. And so they took the 249 um and applied it to this year. So um well, definitely be moved up a little bit, but um yeah, I'll be I'll be happy with where I'm at. I think I'm the type of person who needs to start off a little bit conservative, um, you know, not going out from the gun and killing myself. So it'll be nice to have like a little group to hold me back.

Casey Koza 30:42

I'm I'm you didn't like the running belt. See, I recently switched that. I mean, I I run in the woods a little bit different. Um, but I like and I know what you mean. Like it just feels like I I don't know, like I don't like it pre like I don't know. It's it is a weird feeling. It took a lot of to get used to. Um I certainly I think I would like the pockets like you know a little bit better. But yeah, that's a big that's a big thing. That's a big thing to change. And the shoes, the so you're gonna wear the alpha flies for Boston?

SPEAKER_02 31:11

Yes, yes.

Casey Koza 31:12

Got it. Okay. Wearing alpha flies. Yeah, I don't I don't know much about road shoes. I do know that the the what was it?

SPEAKER_02 31:21

The alpha flies and the the vapor flies, the next percents is what I wore last year.

Casey Koza 31:27

Okay. That's their that's Nike's big super shoe.

SPEAKER_02 31:31

Yes, yeah. And that's what they had given us whenever I was running at Marshalls. So I had, you know, a few pairs that I was still cycling through. Um, but I mean they have they have reached the end of their lifespan. And so I thought about trying something new, something a little bit more marathon, um, you know, something better for like the longer distances. And um, I definitely feel like towards the end of the race, uh, when I was wearing the vapor flies, my foot was just, I mean, it was smacking the pavement so hard. But in the alpha flies, there's a little bit more cushion.

Casey Koza 32:01

Yeah. Yeah. That's yeah, I know what you mean. And then the foot fatigue certainly plays plays a role um in that. What what just curious, you know, I know you you you changed your nutrition a little bit. Um, did you take anything from your crewing experience in the trail world with Caleb and and running out there into Boston, or not Boston, but into your road running?

SPEAKER_02 32:28

I have not um it has opened my eyes to some things, I will say, like the um like the powder mix that you put in drinks and stuff, I'm gonna start using after Boston to try and gear up for Havelena and just like slowly incorporate that. Um but I think I'm gonna wait until after this uh next marathon to start really like locking in that type of feeling. Um, because that's a whole nother beast. I feel like I've just now worked up the courage to take so many gels for a marathon. Now it's like, how do I feel for the 60 plus miles? But luckily I have Caleb who is, I'm sure, more than willing to share some tips and tricks there.

SPEAKER_00 33:10

What's your go-to gel?

SPEAKER_02 33:12

Um, the Morton gels. I'll switch off between like the calf and the non-calf.

Casey Koza 33:19

Yeah. I I tried them once. I couldn't get over the the consistent people either really, really like them or just doesn't agree with their uh palate, I guess, or gag reflex or something. Um it's like I don't know how they make it. It works. It's very good. And if you you know, if you like it, but yeah, uh some people like it, some people people don't, which is true with just about everything.

SPEAKER_02 33:45

So yeah, I think the thing I like most about the Mortons is there's no real flavor in a sense, it's just like slightly sweet. I've tried all the goose, like the chocolate gels and some of like the Huma strawberry ones. And after a while, you know, you're like 17 miles into a race. It's like I have other things to worry about. I don't I don't know if I can take any crazy flavors right now.

SPEAKER_00 34:09

So I think that's my like have you tried the never second flavorless?

SPEAKER_02 34:14

You know what? I actually tried one of those for the first time last weekend. Um, I do like those. I think the the consistency is better than the Mortons because you can have to chew the Mortons a little bit where they're like jelly like um I think that's what it is for me. Easy to get down.

Casey Koza 34:32

Yeah, I think that's what it is. It's like almost I should be chewing this.

SPEAKER_02 34:36

Yeah.

Casey Koza 34:37

And I'm not sure, and my mouth isn't sure. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 34:41

So true. But the never seconds, the packaging is just so big. Um, so I appreciate that about the Mortons, but I like the texture of the Never Seconds better. So Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:53

Yeah. Never seconds tastes like it's more water-based. Like it's just easier to get down. It's not as stiffy.

SPEAKER_02 34:59

Yeah, you don't feel like you have to drink water right after. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:02

Exactly. Yeah.

Casey Koza 35:03

I I do agree with you on the packaging though. It's it's just like bulk. I'm gonna say bulk, maybe okay. It's bulky, yeah. And it's just I don't always rip it off right. And then I'm like, with my teeth, yeah. You know, maybe maybe we'll send Bill Armstrong a an email, Rob, and recommend we change that. Yeah, we should. Sweet. So yeah, we we covered what you you've got coming up. I actually didn't know that you were running Havelina, so yeah, looking forward to that. And I, you know, we we certainly appreciate the update. Have you been on the Bargain Boys uh podcast yet?

SPEAKER_02 35:39

I have not. I have not been invited to be a guest.

Casey Koza 35:43

They didn't invite you to be a guest yet?

SPEAKER_02 35:45

Not yet. I'm waiting for my time.

Casey Koza 35:47

I'm finally who who runs that down there? Um, I know I know Caleb's a part of it.

SPEAKER_02 35:52

Yeah, and I think Caleb, Dan, Logan Kirby, um Jack Pennington, maybe Ryan Ramsby. Um, there's a just a group of Huntington guys.

Casey Koza 36:08

Got it. Okay. So all the all the Huntington guys. I I know Ryan, he had the um, I think I have a shirt from there. He had a clothing company.

SPEAKER_02 36:16

Roman Run, yeah.

Casey Koza 36:17

Roman Run, yeah. That was that was Ryan. I met him out in California. Super nice guy, yeah. So I I'm I'm rooting for them uh to do well. I need to start to catch up on my bargain boys podcast. So give it a listen if if uh if you listen to this, listen to to Caleb and uh and the the crew down there, the West Virginia crew, who I really like because uh Caleb's one of the nicest people I've ever met. So uh yeah, but uh Abby, that that's about all I got. That was a a lot of a lot of information that we covered there. Uh I'm certainly gonna be rooting for you and uh Kylie out there at Havelina, and I'll be looking forward to some some good costuming out there as well.

SPEAKER_02 36:58

Yes, we will we will definitely uh come up with something. It's on Halloween this year, so we have to.

Casey Koza 37:05

Oh, is it on is it on actual Halloween this year?

SPEAKER_02 37:07

Yeah, I think it's on October 31st.

Casey Koza 37:10

That's awesome. That's perfect timing.

SPEAKER_02 37:12

Um, there's no getting out of a costume.

Casey Koza 37:14

Rob, what do you think? Should we should we should we go out there and yeah?

SPEAKER_00 37:19

I mean, I have a uh a duff beer costume that you know I need a place to wear it, so that would be perfect there.

Casey Koza 37:25

Yeah, I don't know that I'll be wearing my hockey sweater out in the desert, but yeah. We'll have to come up with costumes first and looking forward to uh hopefully I'll be able to see you in Boston out there. I know it's I'm sure a techtic, and I gotta see what Will and the family are doing. So I'll be yeah, absolutely. Yep, and uh shout out to uh my cousin Amy, who's um running Boston. Um I'm not gonna say her age. She's in an older age bracket than I am, but she is qualified for Boston. So going out there to see cousin Amy as well. So yeah, yeah, looking forward to it, Abby. And um looking forward to watching your career. I mean, it's it's awesome. You're you're very humble, uh, very talented, and and you definitely like to compete. So yeah, we're we here at the Hobby Jogger are looking forward to to watching you.

SPEAKER_02 38:15

Oh well, thank you. I appreciate that.

Casey Koza 38:17

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 38:18

Rob, what do you got for me? Not much. Sounds like a wrap, but before we let you go, Abby, where can our listeners find you?

SPEAKER_02 38:26

Oh, you can find me on Strava, of course. Um, first name Abby, last name Herring, and then Instagram Abby dot herring.

SPEAKER_00 38:36

Thanks, Abby.