Abby Lokits is the sister-in-law of Alyssa Lokits, a beloved advocate whose unwavering love for others, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to progress left a lasting impact. Tragically, her life was taken in a senseless act of violence while she was simply out for a run, a place where she felt safe and free.

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

• Where she currently lives in beautiful Colorado and growing up in Missouri

• What it really means to be a librarian

• Getting into running for her mental health after having her first kid young

• Family adventures in Colorado with three kids - including a family 14er

• Meeting the Lokits family, Alyssa’s family

• Losing Alyssa

• Who Alyssa was - a runner, a PHD, a world traveler…someone who showed up for everyone

• Free to Move, the organization started in Alyssa’s honor

  
  

  DONATE TO FREE TO MOVE

JANUARY CATCHING UP WITH COACH

NEW SERIES ALERT! The first Wednesday of every month this year I'm going to bring you a conversation between me and my running coach, Rachel Sinders, of Rachel Michelle Running.

We'll talk about my training and running journey while celebrating other members of Team RMR. You don't have to work with Rachel to enjoy these conversations, but if you're looking for a running coach - look no further!

Thank you, Rachel, for supporting me and my podcast.

Hallie Patel and I met via Instagram. She's local to the Indianapolis area, where I'm from, so we got to sit down in-person for this interview.

During this episode, sponsored by Foot Levelers, we talk about:

• Our marathon medals you have to watch the video to see

• The New York City Marathon - Hallie’s first marathon ever in 2025

• Why she decided to run her first marathon

• Her first half marathon at the 500 Festival Indy Mini

• How getting cut from the high school volleyball team is what got her into running (and how she ended up meeting her husband, Suketu)

• Their videography business and quitting corporate America to follow their dreams

• Their podcast, Half Past Chai

• The biggest challenge she had to overcome in her multicultural marriage

• Goals heading into the LA Marathon in March

• Fueling and race day outfits

  
  

  Sponsor Details:

  - Foot Levelers - Visit their website to find a provider near you

  
  

  Welcome The Mother Runners podcast to the SandyBoy Productions podcast network!

Michelle Pillepich and I were connected by Paige Foote (EP 129) and she was so much fun to talk to. This episode is a fun, easy listen to end the year.

During this episode, sponsored by Noogs and Foot Levelers, we talk about:

• How we got connected through Paige Foote of Noogs

• Trying all of the sports as a kid and really loving field hockey (she’s from New Jersey)

• Getting into running to stay in shape for field hockey

• Going to school in Virginia and what got her interested in dietetics

• Being diagnosed with SIBO, small intestine bacterial overgrowth

• Her first half marathon that she didn’t know was a trail race

• Coaching with Girls on the Run

• Signing up to run the New York City Marathon in 2021 and 2023

• Her spectating strategy

• How she ended up in dietetics and having her own practice, Michelle Pillepich Nutrition

• The content side of what she does

• Her advice specifically for runners

  
  

  Sponsor Details:

  - Noogs - Use code ALLYB15 for 15% off

  - Foot Levelers - Visit their website to find a provider near you

  
  

  This is a SandyBoy Productions podcast.

David Wilkerson and I were introduced by previous guest Whitney Bevins (EP 4) at the Indy Monumental expo. She brought him over to me and said, "You have to have David on your podcast." And so I did. And his story is incredible.

During this episode, sponsored by Previnex and Cure Hydration, we talk about:

• The small Indy running community and how he runs with Johanna Kitchell (episode 114) and Matt Ebersole of PBT (episode 89)

• How David and I were connected by Whitney Bevins (episode 4) at the Indy Monumental Expo

• When David started running because his mom wouldn’t let him play football

• Getting into coaching at Warren Central while he had a job and young family

• The time he trained for the Flying Pig but only made it to mile 10 of the race

• How he discovered he had heart problems and getting a pacemaker at age 37

• The day all hell broke loose - February 10th, 2022

• Getting a new heart a week before his birthday

• How he did a 5K less than six months after finishing cardiac rehab

• Getting connected to his donor’s family and meeting them for the first time

• Beating one of his heart doctors when he ran the Indy Mini after his transplant

• Between him and his wife they have 8 kids

• Our shared love of out-and-back courses or runs

• The Transplant Games

• Joining PBT Personal Best Training with Matt Ebersole

  
  

  Become an organ donor

  
  

  Sponsor Details:

  - Previnex - Use ALLY15 for 15% off your first order

  - Cure Hydration - Use ALLYB for 20% off your first order

Hillary Burgess and I finally got to meet in person at this year's CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon in November. She's just as amazing in person.

During this episode, sponsored by Amazfit and Foot Levelers, we talk about:

• How she’d never been to Indiana on purpose except for this year’s Monumental Marathon

• The Brooks Running Collective and how she came to be part of it

• Her experience at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon with BRC - first time doing a shakeout run, first time wearing glitter, first time with her name on her shirt, and a half marathon PR!

• Run/walking and how that strategy works for her

• Running Every Woman’s Marathon in Arizona the week after Monumental

• Her upbringing - growing up in Arizona, having her dad as her cross country coach

• How she ran her first ever marathon without knowing she had COVID

• The four of six World Major Marathons she’s completed so far and how she’s committed to running all of them for charity

• Following in her dad’s footsteps and becoming a running coach

• Starting her podcast, Today in Running History

  
  

  Sponsor Details:

  - Amazfit - Use ALLYB for 10% off your order

  - Foot Levelers - Visit their website to find a provider near you

  
  

  This is a SandyBoy Productions podcast.

Caroline Barlow and I met through St. Jude of Indiana, where her late brother, David, was treated for cancer and where she now works.

Donate to Team David for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon

During this episode, sponsored by Noogs, Amazfit and Previnex, we talk about:

• Representing St. Jude of Indiana at the CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

• Having her dad as her coach in middle school and high school

• Why she ended up at Alabama for college and running in college

• Her brother David and his cancer diagnosis they received her freshman year

• The St. Jude Memphis Marathon

• Meeting her husband, Oliver, on the track team at Alabama

• How she ended up getting a job at St. Jude and the work she does for them

• Coaching cross country at Brebeuf High School

  
  

  Sponsor Details:

  - Noogs⁠ - Use code ALLYB15 for 15% off

  - Amazfit⁠ - Use code ALLYB for 10% off

  - ⁠Previnex⁠ - Use code ALLY15 for 15% off

  
  

  This is a SandyBoy Productions podcast.

  
  

Matt May and I met through the 2025 Marine Corps Marathon team for Ainsley's Angels. Matt has been lending his legs to AA for four years.

During this episode, sponsored by Amazfit and Foot Levelers, we talk about:

• His tattoos because the day we recorded he had a three hour sleeve session

• How he’s been a runner off and on since high school

• How his coworker got him to do three 70.3 Ironman triathlons (Matt is a man of his word)

• Four years running with Ainsley’s Angels for marathons, half marathons, 10Ks, 5Ks, trail races, Spartan obstacle races and triathlons

• Running his first ever marathon at the Louisiana Marathon while pushing for Ainsley’s Angels

• Winning his first ever ultra marathon and the beautiful prize he won

• The Marine Corps Marathon experience with his family and with Ainsley’s Angels

• Having Matt come up to Indy for the 50th Indy Mini in May and me going to Lake Charles, LA for the Sunset 5K in July

• His “outdoorsy-ness” - becoming an Eagle Scout and what he does now

• Losing his mom to Alzheimer’s

  
  

  Sponsor Details:

  - Amazfit - Use ALLYB for 10% off your order

  - Foot Levelers - Visit their website to find a provider near you

  
  

  This is a SandyBoy Productions podcast.