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Reimagine Running | Interview with Amy Bollwinkel S1E12 · Reimagine Running

• Coach Ryan Head: Running is a strange thing. Some people find it on the sidewalk at sunrise. Some find it deep in the mountains chasing daylight. And some of us find it when life feels heavy and running is the only thing that makes sense. For some, starts with the 5k. For others, it's a marathon. And for a few, it's a hundred miles that changes everything. But somewhere between the first step and the finish line, something happens. Running stops being about pace or distance or medals. It becomes about purpose. I'm your host Ryan Head. All right everybody, welcome back to Reimagine Running, the podcast dedicated to why you run. ⁓ excited today. I have someone on here who is a fantastic runner She is someone have known for quite a while now. I've been able to get to know her pretty well. We're pretty much neighbors more or less, but it's been fun to get to know my guest today. Hey runner, thanks for hanging out with me today on Reimagine Running. I'm grateful you're here and a part of this great podcast. I just want to remind you, if you ever feel stuck and unsure or just want someone in your corner, I do offer coaching for runners at any distance, whether you're starting out with the 5K or you're chasing some crazy big goals and dreams like the marathon or the 100 miler, I'd love to help you. Please reach out and I'd be happy to set up a time to go over options and plans and goals with you. Well, until next time. in a lot of different ways because well, I'm very good friends with a lot of her family members and I've known them for almost 10 years now. Kind of fun fact with all this is one of my previous guests ⁓ is her brother, which is awesome. So Nate Allred, ⁓ who I on, is my guest's brother today. But I'm excited to have Amy Bullwinkle join us today on this episode. And this is Reimagine Running, the podcast dedicated to talking about why we run. Each episode, we'll sit down with runners from every background, trail runners, road runners, beginners, veterans, and talk about their journey. Not just where they've run, but why they run. Because for many of us, running didn't just change our fitness. It helped us find clarity, healing, discipline, hope, and sometimes even ourselves. Whether your why was born on a short loop around the block or somewhere deep inside a long, lonely mile. Take care of yourself, trust the process, stay disciplined and keep chasing that Y. One of the really cool things, one of the reasons why I have just been so excited to have Amy join us today. Amy has truly just crushed it as a runner. know, kind of give you, you know, the intro to who she is. So Amy, grew up, you know, here in Utah, whatever, but she has just been ⁓ one of the best runners that I of. Because not only does she like run, This podcast is for you. Welcome to re-imagine running. and is Boston qualifying and is just incredibly fast, but she's also a mom. She juggles being, you know, a spouse, tries to handle it all. And I know all this just because I worked with her for the past couple of months as we prepared her for the Mount Charleston Marathon where she absolutely destroyed it. You know, again, she is from the Northern Utah, from the Davis County area, has a wonderful family, family that I just love. They're great people. wonderful people, hard workers. the one thing I would say about her family is it does not matter what you put front of them. They're gonna accomplish it. They're go-getters. ⁓ And that's just trait that I love to work with. That's the type of trait I love to have ⁓ on this podcast. it is exciting. It is awesome for me to have someone like her on. So Amy, welcome to the podcast. Amy Bollwinkel: Thanks so much, Ryan. That was a very, very generous introduction. That was really nice of you. Coach Ryan Head: Yeah, you're very welcome. Well, all of it's true just because I think you are truly just a fantastic runner. I know I've publicly called you out on that a few times. I probably embarrassed you. Hopefully not too much, but ⁓ it's been awesome. Yeah, well, I really do. I do think that about you. You're so, you're a great runner and I think you're a great example to so many people in this area. Amy Bollwinkel: No, no, it was very nice, yeah. Thank you, yeah. It's fun to be here. Coach Ryan Head: I know we're gonna get into all that with you today, which gets me so excited. So before we jump into talking with Amy for a moment, I do wanna throw our plugin for Fleetfeet, who is our premier sponsor for this podcast. If you have any questions, any needs with shoes, ⁓ nutrition, go see those guys over there. They're gonna get you taken care of. They're located in both Layton and Ogden. They are the ⁓ place to for any of your needs for any of your races, whether it's trails or roads. ⁓ get over there, see the people at Fleet Feet, they'll get you taken care of. So, awesome Amy. Well, I'm gonna throw a curve ball at ya, cause I'm gonna throw question at you that I did not to ya to start off, but it's more of a fun one. ⁓ started doing this with more of my guests. Last couple of episodes I've had this, which just been kinda fun. So before we get into anything running with you, tell me just something about you. And it can be anything. non-running related. So something you like to do on the side, something interesting about you that not many people know. I don't care what it is. What's just something fun about you? One of my guests I recently had on, we started talking about Star Wars. We spent like 10 minutes talking about Star Wars, which is kind of fun. So, because I'm a big nerd like that. But what's something just unique about you that no one knows, not running related? We don't have to talk about running for a few minutes. Amy Bollwinkel: Thanks. Okay, I am really into like plants and flowers and have spent way too much money on yard ⁓ ⁓ like seeds. Sometimes they don't grow, sometimes they do, like all sorts of plants. So ⁓ I kind of a passion for flowers. Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome, that's super cool. because we're neighbors, I know where she lives and she does have a beautiful yard ⁓ it's amazing. I know you and my wife would get along really, really well in that regard. Jess loves her dahlias and doing all the stuff with the dahlias. So ⁓ anyway, so that's ⁓ super cool. Amy Bollwinkel: Yes. Yeah, that's right. I need to talk to her. I need to talk to her about that. Yeah, I heard she likes them too. Coach Ryan Head: You should, you should. yeah, yeah, she's, you know, the funny thing about Jess, I never knew this. Sorry, again, this is where we're, this is the non-running part of our podcast episode, so feel free to fast forward for a few minutes, but anyways, I never saw this side of her when we were getting married, because I grew up kinda like you guys, I kinda grew up on a quasi-farm, if you will, and my parents grew a lot of plants, and we always had, ⁓ tomatoes, corn, and cucumbers, those were always kind of the big things for us. And I swore when I got married, I was like, I'm never doing that again. Cause I spent my whole childhood out digging ditches and weeding the plants. And we grew up on a couple of acres and I was like, I'm never doing that again. My summers were just littered with doing that ⁓ all, all day long. ⁓ anyways, I probably should it again. It's probably healthy for you. Well, it is healthy for you, but. ⁓ Anyways, but it's been cool because also now Jess does this she's like obsessed with it and I'm like, this is super cool So it's been fun and I've helped her a little bit. I can't say I've helped a ton but a little bit so but well cool well awesome. know it's ⁓ fun to hear something just different From of my ⁓ guests on here. So okay. Well the first question same question. I start with every Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah, that's awesome. Coach Ryan Head: ⁓ every guest I've had on. So when did running become what running is for you now? Like, and guess maybe there's stages to it and maybe it was when you were very young, maybe it was when you were, you know, in your adult years, but like when did running kind of first into your life, when it kind of come like what you love about it now? Because obviously I don't think you would do what you just did over, you know, about 10 weeks or so. you didn't like it to some, I maybe you just like, like, I'm a glutton for punishment, but ⁓ yeah, mean, what, what, what, what's got you to this point so far in life? Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah. So mine started really young. I'm the youngest of seven. And ⁓ I grew like competing with siblings in sports, like playing basketball in the driveway my older brothers. And one of my older sisters was, athletic and she liked running and at Layton Elementary. Well first of all I don't I was remembering that they they had us run the mile like really little like first grade and now I'm like that seems like a long way for a first grader to run so maybe it wasn't a full mile but Coach Ryan Head: Exactly. Yeah. Amy Bollwinkel: But I remember running like the whole class would race around and do whatever distance that was ⁓ ⁓ had to win. ⁓ it was always between me and this other boy in my ⁓ my class and ⁓ I would get so nervous to have those days in ⁓ PE and ⁓ super competitive and then my my older sister ⁓ she the record for the mile in like sixth grade at Layton and ⁓ I just to that record. So ⁓ went after that ended up beating her record and then it just that's kind of where it started and I was like ⁓ I think I might be kind of good at this and ⁓ so I was I'm ⁓ definitely gonna do in junior high and ⁓ So that's where it started for me. think just a natural ⁓ then just siblings ⁓ getting into it. Coach Ryan Head: That's super cool. hearing when you're like your siblings are the reason why. And let ⁓ just say, cause I know a lot of Amy's siblings. ran with, I think almost every one of them. I think there's only one or two brothers I haven't run with, but I've ran with one of your sisters and two of your brothers. And so I know quite a few of your family. And... ⁓ These guys, so I just have to tell this story. Hopefully I don't embarrass you, Amy, but couple years back, Nate on, I don't know if it was really Nate or if it was just the whole family, but they did this 4th of July 5K race and it was so heated. I was at like how heated, how competitive it was and. I was like, Nate was like, hey, I'd love for you to come and do it with us. was like, heck yeah, I'll come over. And it was just kind of just for fun, whatever. But my heck, these three take off. ⁓ ⁓ like, we're gonna see who wins. And I'm there with my older brother who has his wife there, ⁓ his wife's just walking in. So we're kind of like, you're kind of just having a good old day, whatever. And I'm like, ⁓ my gosh, they're taking it so serious. ⁓ I just have to ask, who won that 5k? Because I know who did, who won it? Amy Bollwinkel: Okay, well, I don't remember. We've done that a few times. We kind of stopped doing the city 5K just because we didn't want to pay the money. so usually, okay, I think Nate has won once, ⁓ has won a couple of times. I've won maybe once or twice. Like ⁓ switches off. That's why it's so competitive. You never know who's going to win. So, but yeah, it's serious. It's... ⁓ Coach Ryan Head: Well, the year I was there, ⁓ it totally is, it totally is. The year I was there, Amy won. I remember being like, holy cow, she is flying and hauling down the path. So ⁓ it cool to see. ⁓ I like, and this was before Amy was one of my neighbors. She was not living here at the time here in Davis County. Amy Bollwinkel: We're not messing around. Coach Ryan Head: I only knew Nate what Nate had told me and he's just like, yeah, one of my siblings ran collegiately and we'll get to all that here in a second. But he's like, yeah, she's really fast. And so my goal is to beat her. And I'm like, okay, cool, dude. Like, this will be good. This will be good to see what happens. Anyways, it was just awesome. It was super cool to see you. And that was kind of, think one of the first times I ever met you. Over there because we did like a breakfast afterwards and it was kind of fun like, you know Your whole family does that and it's just a cool event But I remember being like holy cow. She's fast. Like that was that was pretty amazing So ⁓ had to throw that story in there is one of those first introductions I had to you Amy and realizing ⁓ yeah, she's she's incredibly fast. So Okay, we'll take us through like I mean obviously you talked about your childhood, which is awesome what happened in junior high, high school and maybe college? What did running do for you there? Amy Bollwinkel: So high, started ⁓ doing track and ⁓ at first I was probably kind of average. don't think I did ⁓ anything crazy and the end of this my seventh year, ⁓ I started to really do well. I would cut my time down every time. The mile was my main event and. So I ended up, I don't remember what I placed at district. I mean, it doesn't matter. It was forever ago. But next year I was like, okay, like this is something I really want to work hard at. And my older sister, Sharla, again, she was in college at the time and she was running a half marathon with her at the time. And she was like, hey, do you want to do this with me? And And I was, let's see, so I was probably like around 12 years old I was like, sure, I'll do it. So ⁓ remember we just to Ellison Park where it's like a one mile loop and for our training, we just ran around that park like 12 times or something. It was just so ⁓ painful just go around that park and not go on the roads, I ended up doing that with her and then I think that really helped me that season and I ended up breaking the district record for the mile that year and then the next year it just kind of continued. I just fell in love with setting goals and then... and then working hard to accomplish them. so junior high was a really positive experience for me with running. then I ⁓ to high school and our high school had a really ⁓ a great program ⁓ track and cross country. And I just kind of stayed I didn't get a lot faster in high school. And it was disappointing because I really, I was like, I really wanted to like Do really well and I also had a few injuries and health problems and so I ended up not getting a scholarship or anything and I ⁓ still felt like I just could do more like I just I just had this like I had this untapped potential I'm like, I know I could do I could do better I have more in me and so I walked to the ⁓ track team well, I guess it was cross-country at Utah State for a while and and then it just got busy I ended up to get a job and so I just stopped doing that ⁓ then I just kind of kept running up as a hobby and and just doing like I think I did a few half marathons in college and then towards let's see ⁓ I I did one marathon in college and then That's kind of where I'm at today. just of occasionally ⁓ for marathon half here or there. Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. That's super cool. Yeah, no, I mean, ⁓ walking on at a university, regardless of, know, or not, like that's impressive, because I don't most of us are gonna get to at least walk on and ⁓ try you do running, right, to whatever extent. So that's super cool. I love to hear that ⁓ and. You know, I remember, you know, Nate, Nate has shared a lot of those types of stories with me about kind of like what your, you know, how fast you were and how quick you were just sitting, you know, record after record. And it's cool. It's so cool to see like the love and how much you guys just are always supporting each other, even though you're super competitive with each other. it's so cool to see just how much you guys are like, you have each other's backs. And I'm like, man, that's. That's been one those cool things that I've experienced in my life with my brothers, a couple of them with running and just how much they, we all like to support each other the sport, but we support each other outside of running. mean, there's other things that we care about each other with, but it's just been super cool to see. So that's awesome. I love hearing you say that. well, you know, another question I like to ask everybody. So what was your first full marathon? Amy Bollwinkel: Okay, yeah, this was a fun one. did the, the Provo marathon. ⁓ And ⁓ it was kind of I know what to expect. I just did it all by myself. And... Coach Ryan Head: ⁓ nice, yeah. Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah, was my older sister had done a marathon and so she gave me some pointers, but basically she was like, it's really hard and like, you're gonna be really, it's gonna really hurt. I was nervous and yeah, I remember she told me, ⁓ was like, ⁓ something that really helped me. is finding somebody to run with, like to talk to on your run. And this is like, when was this? I don't know, like 2011, 2012. And so... I didn't even have an iPhone to listen to something back then. just, it was just like, wouldn't bring my iPod. I ⁓ just run in the silence. so I found, ⁓ was running along and I wanted to qualify for Boston. ⁓ I just kind of found the I can't remember what it was back then. It was probably like 3.30, 3.35. And I just kind of found that pacer and I was just kind of hanging out, hanging out by him for, for the, for like the first few miles of the race. And then I found this girl, I started running by this girl and I just like struck up a conversation with her and we ended up running together till like, I don't know, mile 20, 22, something like that. And we just talked the whole time and And it made it go so much faster. she had actually, she was probably a few years older than me, and she had done a bunch of marathons. her time was little bit slower than the pace we were running at, quite a bit slower than our pace. And then she ended up getting like a massive PR. I talked to her at the end of the race and she ended up getting a huge PR and I ended up getting a good time. And it was just like really helpful to have someone ⁓ run with. So I have good memories of that race. Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome that your first marathon was a good race. mean, I'm not gonna lie. My very first marathon awful. I like, I mean, said it so many times on each episode, but mile 22 was like, I think I'm gonna die. Literally, like I you know me, I've done hundreds, I've done back to back hundreds, I've done a lot of things. I've never felt that awful in my whole life. And I was like, Amy Bollwinkel: you Coach Ryan Head: aid station ladies like you need to come here and I'm like, mm-hmm. She's like, come on I need you to come here and I was like, mmm she's like I need and she's like you don't look good and I'm like I'm fine and it's ⁓ you again I know I've said this so many times so far but on each on many of the episodes But please dial in your nutrition. nutrition and hydration Please talk to that have done a marathon before ask questions, people want to share a lot of good information. be careful. And I know it's kind of a, you got to find the right people to talk to as well. But I some dumb idea that I was like, you know, when you run your first marathon, you need to do it like the Olympians did in like Rome or whatever. And I was like, no water and no nutrition. ⁓ And almost killed me. Like it was scary. I was like, I got ⁓ to 22 and I had done. Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah. Coach Ryan Head: I done with any of without any of it and I was like, okay, there's no more and I remember picking up water and eating like a gel or something and it was so dumb. ⁓ so so dumb. Anyway, so I'm glad your experience was really good. Yeah, that's so cool that you're I love when people say that their first marathon was good. Amy Bollwinkel: That's crazy. What, Mary? sorry, what marathon did you run for your first one? Coach Ryan Head: It was Ogden. It was the Ogden Marathon. ⁓ just not smart. It was a hot day too. And I just was like, I know. I wasn't thinking straight. ⁓ And trained in heat. Like I had actually done a lot of the heat training, but ⁓ man, just ⁓ not good experience. But anyways, about me, this is about you. So we'll come back to you. Provo Marathon. Amy Bollwinkel: Okay. Coach Ryan Head: So was it the Utah Valley or was there a Provo Marathon? Amy Bollwinkel: I think it was the Provo marathon. don't think as far as I remember and I guess they don't have one of those anymore. I don't know. But yeah, it wasn't Utah Valley. So I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm not remembering right. Coach Ryan Head: Hmm. Well, that's awesome. So, okay, because No, no, I trust you, because I've heard people say that before, that there was a Provo marathon, but it doesn't exist any longer. So, totally getcha. So the same question I ask everybody, and again, let me reiterate, time doesn't matter unless you're really trying to be Q or whatever. ⁓ everybody's time is unique to them. What was your time on your first marathon? I am ⁓ so curious to know this answer. Amy Bollwinkel: I think it was 331. So as far as I remember, the Boston qualifying for my age was 335 back then. So I don't know, I don't even know what it is anymore. I feel like they keep moving it. But yeah, so I Boston qualified for that race. But. Yeah, just kind of so I was used to like fast stuff like like 5ks and one miles and so like thinking about just Staying at like an 830 pace for the whole marathon. I was like, ⁓ I can do that and it was harder than I thought it was gonna be but I think Somehow I did it so Coach Ryan Head: Nice. That's awesome. No, that's super cool. Well, congrats, Amy Bollwinkel: Now I need to know what your first marathon time was. Coach Ryan Head: Mine was really bad. It was a 434, I think. You wanna know the best part to all of this? Amy Bollwinkel: That's fine, that's great. Coach Ryan Head: It is, and honestly it is, it was disappointing I've shared this, think, I don't know if I've shared this before on the podcast yet, but this will tell you how bad I bonked. So ⁓ I got ⁓ the halfway the half marathon start. I got there in an hour and 35 minutes. So I got there an hour 35 minutes. Amy Bollwinkel: Mm-hmm. ⁓ my gosh. ⁓ my gosh. Coach Ryan Head: Yeah, it took me almost three hours. Yeah, to finish the last 13. It was just such a bad, bad, yeah, I know what I was up against, right? you know, and as you know, and you you've trained, you know, ⁓ in college high school and stuff. I never like hired a running coach. I was like, ⁓ I'll figure this out. I'll be fine. And I'd ran. Amy Bollwinkel: That's crazy. Coach Ryan Head: quite a few half marathons leading up to this. And I remember thinking to myself, like, I've been able to bust out a 140 easily. You know, if I just crank up my speed just a little bit more, I'm gonna be close to Boston qualifying and I can do another half marathon back to back, dude. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I mean, I was redlining the whole time. I mean, I'm like 175 heart rate, right? It was so bad, Amy. I just... Amy Bollwinkel: Thank Coach Ryan Head: I didn't know what I was doing. Let me put it that way. So I got what I deserved and it shook me for a long time. I'm be honest with you. Like I was scared to feel like that ever again. I was like, I never want to hurt that bad ever again in my life. And maybe you know that feeling after Mount Charleston. We'll get there. We'll get there. ⁓ cool. I it's so cool to hear your story. Your first marathon. So yeah, I Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Coach Ryan Head: take us through kind of life since that first marathon to now. Like I know you said it's kind of running's kind of been in and out, in and out. Any races, any moments that kind of stick out to you that you've experienced, you know, since that time, did you run? And again, feel free to add anything you like, but did you run Boston after you qualified that? Cause I know, I don't want to put the carpet before the horse, but did you run Boston after that or were you just like, eh, not yet, Amy Bollwinkel: Okay, that we were, so I was like, I can't remember if I was newly married at that point or I got married shortly after. ⁓ we ⁓ just too poor. We couldn't afford to go to Boston and run the marathon. ⁓ I... And then I ended up getting pregnant with my first baby and had him, I don't remember if it would have been around that same time that Boston was or not, but his name is actually Boston. So that's another fun little tidbit there. But yeah, so I didn't run Boston that time, which I always was kind of like. disappointed about that and I had grown up, my mom bought me a subscription to the Runners World magazine and so growing up like in junior high and high school I would read those like monthly just read all sorts of stories about ⁓ Boston Marathon and it was just always something I was like ⁓ like I'm gonna do that so So I kind of tucked that away and thought I'm going to come back to come back to that someday. I ended up having ⁓ four moved to Texas for a while for my job. I didn't I wasn't like I didn't really sign up for any. big races no Marathons, I might have done like a half here there. I think in between babies I signed up for a couple halves and and so that was fun, but nothing nothing crazy and then I After my fourth baby, I was like, okay, we had moved back to Utah and I was like, okay I think that we might be done having kids and I was like now now's the time to go for that and qualifying again and so... I signed up for St. George Marathon ⁓ I trained through the summer for that and ran George and it was just such a good ⁓ experience. love the St. George Marathon. ⁓ It almost like this spiritual experience. Like at one point when you're coming down and just like ⁓ when you can see Snow Canyon and it's just really pretty and I just a little emotional and I was like, ⁓ this is just so awesome that I do ⁓ And just really strong. And I ended up qualifying for Boston at marathon. So a few years later. ⁓ Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. What was your time at St. George? And what year was that again? And maybe you don't remember, but do you remember what year that was and what your time was? Amy Bollwinkel: So that would have been 2022. And I think that you actually ran that race. I remember talking to you and Nate and Claire at the starting line of that race. Well, am I remembering that wrong? I don't know. Did you run it in 2022? Coach Ryan Head: Mm-hmm. Yep. Nope, you were right. Yep, I did. I did, I was there with you. Yep, I remember that. Coincidentally, that's the last time I ran St. George because since then, I've always done the Wasatch 100 or Bear 100 and it's in September and I'm not recovered in time, so. ⁓ Amy Bollwinkel: Kate, yeah. Yeah. That's right. That's right. Coach Ryan Head: Hmm. That's awesome. Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah, that's a fun, I love St. George. Coach Ryan Head: That's cool. Do you remember what your time was there? Amy Bollwinkel: Oh, yeah, it was 313. So that's the amazing thing after having four kids and how much older was I, like a decade over a decade older. ⁓ And I didn't have a coach or anything. I just kind of found a training plan online. And so that was the amazing thing to me because I was like, ⁓ it's gonna be so hard for me to qualify after having all these kids and my life is busier and I'm older and it's just amazing. Our bodies are amazing that ⁓ can ⁓ that much. Just, Coach Ryan Head: Mm-hmm. That's so cool. I think that's amazing that you that you went that fast and and you just crushed it. I George such a fun race. I'm with you. I really love it. I think it is so fun It's definitely you know, ⁓ I people ask what I like more st George or Ogden and kind of I feel like those are the one and two races in the state You know, I think they both have really good things. I know everyone's like, oh, St. George is so beautiful. It's more beautiful than Ogden. like, you know, the first 13 miles of St. George's desert. I'm like, I ran in desert. I'm good on desert. I don't know, me personally. But you're right. When you get to Snow Canyon, like pristine, like that color, that red, the oranges, like it is amazing. And I 100 % agree with you. And the course is just, you know, one, especially when you hit like the halfway point. The course is so favorable. And so I love it. ⁓ think you're ⁓ on when you're like, it was just such a fun race, such a good time. And I think that's amazing. So I love where you've kind of set us up. You've kind of told us your back history. You've kind of been like, you know, giving us a good idea of who you are. Before get into what you've done this year, and I want to purposely hold an off on all of that fun stuff. Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah. Coach Ryan Head: What I'd love for you to kind of give us a better idea is kind of tell us your why behind why you do all this in the first place. Because kind of like I let off with from the get go, as you guys can tell, and this is for everybody, right? It's not so much whether you're fast or you're slower or whatever it is, but to achieve the times that Amy's hitting Boston Qualifier, regardless is not easy. So it is quite the accomplishment you put yourself through a lot of stress, your body through a lot of stress. I'm sure other aspects of your life are stressful too, but you put yourself through a lot of the stress. Why do you do it? Why is it something that you're like, just, I wanna getting after it. I wanna do this. Yeah, what's ⁓ your why behind this? Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah, that's a good question. I think there's several parts to why I love running. I think running has been, this is fun for me to talk about it because it's a huge part of my life. It's been a part of my life for so long ⁓ been really formative to me, but I don't talk about it a lot. It's just kind of there in the background. So this is fun to talk about it, but. ⁓ I think one of the big things for me, it's an emotional ⁓ to me. It's my anxiety medication, my natural anxiety medication. I remember even in junior high school, on a Saturday waking up and kind of anxious and understanding why really. And then I go for run and then feel so much better. so I think... that has been helpful for me throughout my life. That it's kind of like a stress relief and just kind of helps me to stabilize my emotions. That it's kind of like a stress relief and just kind of helps me to stabilize my The other thing is it's really like confidence building for me to set goals and then work really hard to achieve those. And even if nobody knows what I do or if nobody sees that I ran this race or sees my time, like I know and it just feels good to work hard for something and then accomplish it. The other thing is it's really like confidence building for me to set goals and then work really hard to achieve those. And even if nobody knows what I do or if nobody sees that I ran this race or sees my time, like I know and it just feels good to work hard for something and then accomplish it. So there's that and then yeah, I also feel like it's something that like a privilege for me more than like a burden. So like I get to go on my morning run. Like if I wake up early enough, like I can go, I can fit my run in, ⁓ but if not, may not happen. So ⁓ it's almost like little treat for me every day. Coach Ryan Head: love it. That is awesome Wow, like So direction different directions we can go there One thing and I know you didn't explicitly say this but one thing that you kind of said earlier and You know for listeners and I promise we won't get too religious for anybody but you know me and me and Amy share the same faith and To me it is such a spiritual journey as well at times. brings me closer to God. ⁓ what I tell so many people. When I'm out ⁓ the middle of the forest at mile 60 and tired, hurting, I don't want to do this anymore. I'm just like, okay, ⁓ I'm kind putting my, I'm kind of like, I've given all got. Heavenly Father, putting this in your hands. I say, if I can affect someone's life in a positive way, I'm hoping that I can do that. And that's kind of how I've looked at it. I kind of try to go by what it says in the Bible about magnifying your talents. And I'm like, you're giving me this talent. I don't know why I it. And I'm like, I'm going to try to... tried to do that and I bring that up just because I feel like so many ways you're that way too because you kind of just alluded to it when you were like, even if no one else notices and I never even to talk to anybody else about it, for me, it's a changer. But ⁓ so many people do notice what you do and you do have such a positive impact. on so many people's lives. the other thing that I always say is I always hope that my daughters what I do and I'm an example to them. And I guarantee that not only are you an example to your kids, but you're also an example to others in area that just see someone who is just amazing. You're amazing, especially given you've had kids. you're trying to balance so many different things. just really quick, gotta share another funny story about Amy. I was running down to the bird refuge ⁓ and I remember her taking off and one of her kids is out on the like with her blanket and she's yelling, mom, here's something like that. ⁓ And the other one is like on the, it was Amy Bollwinkel: you Coach Ryan Head: her son was on the bike and he's trying his best to keep up with mom ⁓ and I'm like, dude, that ⁓ would pull at my heartstrings so bad and I'm ⁓ she's doing it. And then think back to her training this year and there was this one time we were both running past each other instead of Amy being like, hey, I'm gonna go out and just get five easy miles on my own. Now Amy's pushing her kids, going like seven minute pace, pushing a stroller. And I'm just like, man, I need to pick up my pace. I think I was doing like a 9.30 that day, it was like my easy day. And I was like, I need to pick up my pace a little bit. I'm not looking good. Amy Bollwinkel: than ever. No, I'm sure, I'm sure I was running like 10 minute pace. I can't run fast with that stroller. Coach Ryan Head: love it But I think that's what's so cool about it is that you're setting such a good example For your family you're setting a good example for others You know, okay. I don't want to put the carpet for the horse about what you did this year but we'll talk about it here in just a moment, but I I just remember where I was at when you did Mount Charleston and I remember just talking to my daughters about you and they were just like So in awe, just like this is amazing that someone here is just crushing it in just, you know, not exactly the best of circumstances this race. And again, we'll get into that here in a moment, but you did phenomenal. You did amazing given the situation. And I think that's what's so cool about it. The last thing I'll share just about your why that I just love ⁓ is love that you're like, this is a privilege and and that you get to do this. And that's the thing like, I always tell people is I'm like, when you can embrace training and you embrace like how, what this can do for your life. I think the game completely changes. That's just me personally, at least that's what I've seen. And I always tell people, I'm like, you know, when you think of this as like, oh, it's like borderline punishment. Like a lot of us thought of like in elementary or junior high or whatever, or for whatever sport you played. And you're like, this is, this is punishment. Yeah, no wonder running's not fun. Of course you're not gonna like it, but when you embrace it as like a privilege or something you're like, dude, I get to do this and it's gonna make me feel better. It's gonna, just impact so many aspects of my life. I think that's where running just changes completely. So thank you for sharing that. I think that's awesome. I think so many people will, can and will relate with, you know, kind of your why behind, you know, why you do all this because it is impressive. that you just consistently can boss and qualify. And that's no small feat. Like anybody listening to this, they're a stranger that's ever met you before or if it's someone in our neighborhood, it's impressive that she does this. This is not easy to do. Like I need to reemphasize this over and over. What she does is not easy. It is very, very hard. ⁓ It takes lot of dedication. It takes a lot of work. Many days when you don't want to do it, but you get up and you get it done because it's what you do. So anyways, I just think it's impressive, Amy. I think it's so cool that you're willing to put that work in and get that done. So, okay, let's do it. Let's go to this year. Let's talk about what you did here in 2026. You know, I've been excited to have this conversation because I know this is a big thing for you and kind of what you went after. So yeah. Why don't you tell us what you did here in 2026, what marathon you did. Amy Bollwinkel: Okay, well first of all, thank you for saying all that. That's really nice of you. And I could also say the same about you because I know you're out there running like 10 to 20 miles a day and none of us can hold a candle to your mileage. So just had to throw that in there. Coach Ryan Head: Thank you. Amy Bollwinkel: And yeah, and also I agree what you said about the spiritual aspect a lot of times it's also like It almost feels like ⁓ a meditation in the morning I don't like meditate but I feel like it's kind of a time to connect with God ⁓ with nature kind ⁓ there's about ⁓ Getting and moving your body and being in nature. That is really healing to like the mind and the spirit and So yeah, I agree with that. And then, okay, this year, 2026. ⁓ beginning of the year rolls around and I had just had ⁓ fifth baby so ⁓ ran the Boston Marathon and then I was like, ⁓ I'm not quite done I'm gonna have one more baby and so had her and having a baby is like a two year ⁓ ordeal me at least because I get really sick at the beginning ⁓ and as soon as the sickness goes away you start to get big and uncomfortable and then and it's just a little harder to run. And then you have the baby and then you're feeding the baby for like the whole first year. And like when I am nursing a baby, like I kept getting these calf strains I was like, why, ⁓ why is my body not come to find out later that like dehydration causes, can cause injuries that. And so anyways. Finally, I'm done feeding the baby and I'm in the clear and I'm like, okay, I had seen several influencers, YouTube influencers posting about their races and they had gotten sub three hour marathons. And I was like. Oh man, I can do that. Like there's my competitiveness coming out again. I'm like, if they can do it, like why can't I do it? so I thought I'm getting a little older and I may not have a lot more time to like make this happen. And my brother Nate, I was on a run with him one day and he was like, oh, you should, you should talk to Ryan about Coach Ryan Head: Thank Amy Bollwinkel: about helping you, about coaching you, because you're Nate's coach too. And so I was like, OK, I'm going to do it. so, yeah, I decided I signed up. I knew that Mount Charleston is downhill, like the whole race. It levels out just slightly at the end. But basically, it's completely downhill. And I had heard a lot of people who got really fast times on that race. And so. That was the one, so it was ⁓ the beginning of January and then the race was the end of March. So that was what we were working with. I can't remember how many weeks it was, like 10 maybe? And ⁓ so yeah, I just went for it it was ⁓ super helpful to have. someone coaching me like I I had never I guess since I mean I had never really had a great coach I guess in college I had a good coach but ⁓ high school I had a couple coaches that were pretty good but ⁓ But yeah, it was really helpful to have like a set training plan and like the exact split times I should be getting those tempo runs. I remember that first tempo run you had me do. I, it was so hard. I was like, I, I'm not going to be able to do this. And I felt like I was going to die at the end of that tempo run. But then like week by week, I started being like, Oh, like I can do this. Like this is, I can hit these, these paces. But yeah, those first couple of runs, they just killed me. So it was a really great experience. Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. I love it. It's funny that you bring this up because I being like, I know she's good and I'm going to push her. And you like I've always said, like I'll take any athlete wherever they're at. Like to me, I get it. Some coaches are like, Hey, I want you here. I want you to work with me for 20 weeks where you're committed for six months, whatever it is. There's coaches like that. I'm good on them. know, fortunately I have a my regular daytime job and ⁓ I'm grateful for ⁓ So I do coaching ⁓ because I love and I love helping people accomplish their dreams. And so, you know, when you were like, hey, I'm like 10 weeks out, you know, what do you think? Do think I can do this? And I'm like, and I'll never squash someone's dreams. I'm like, let's do it, man. Like I would love to push you. We're gonna ride that line of soreness to injury and we're going to try everything we can never to cross that threshold. And I know there was times you were not feeling the best. You're like, something not right and there's some, you know, whatnot, but it was really cool just to talk through it with you. And, know, I have ⁓ very, know, I've been fortunate to coach some great athletes. I do think probably ⁓ on the end of the athletes I've ever got to coach. I know I've told you that personally. ⁓ that, know, you were, you're probably one of the more skilled, pace wise. And so was an honor to work with you and just be like, see, you just get after it. But it was so cool to see in 10 weeks to see you go from, you know, ⁓ you you, you're kind of out of a little bit, but you were, you were still doing a little bit of running here on the side, but to see you go from that to 10 weeks later and just see you dominate this race. was like, holy cow. Like. You're fantastic. And again, let me rewind and say again, she did this after five kids and trying to be a mom, trying to balance everything, having to get up super early every morning to get her runs in before everybody's awake so then she has to play mom, get kids to school, take care of babies, so on and so forth. Like, just wow, just amazing, like so, so cool. And that's why, again, that's why I do this podcast is, you I love to hear people's whys, but there's people like you others need to hear this story because there's people out there, someone's gonna hear this podcast and they're gonna say, I can't, I just can't. Because like, how is it even possible? But someone like you is proving it can be done. And that's kind of been my mantra, if you will, or my slogan, whatever you wanna call it. ⁓ with like my hundreds, I'm like, if I can do it, so can anyone else. Because if this guy with the knee issues and the surgeries and the reconstruction and yada, yada, yada, if I can do it, so can anyone else. So it's just so cool to see what you've accomplished in 10 weeks and really see you just get after it. And I appreciate you trusting me first and foremost, that meant a lot to me. But more than anything, it was cool to just see you just take what I gave you. and run with it. And I know the temples weren't fun. I know that the repeats weren't fun. I know a lot of that just worked you to death. But take us to race day. What happened with race day? And if you don't tell me about the heat, I will. And I know you will. But I drove through Vegas that weekend. The day before the race, I drove through. And as I drove through Vegas, again, this is March. And my thermometer said it was 97 degrees. as we drove through and I was like, man, Amy's in for it tomorrow. But tell us about the race, Amy, how did it go? Amy Bollwinkel: Okay, yeah, it was, so it had been a really stressful couple months leading up to the race. My husband was traveling a little more for work and so I was home with the kids and... So I think that I was kind of just feeling like the buildup was kind of a lot. And then yeah, there was just this huge heat wave that was blowing through. was northern Utah, but then it was down in Las Vegas too. So it was hot, but I thought, like the race starts at 6 a.m. and... My goal is to be done before 9 so like I should be fine. It shouldn't be that hot before 9 And I started and it was it was not bad in the in the beginning around like mile 16 the Sun was was up and it was starting to get quite a bit more hot and So yeah that I think that that did affect me. I think I had this in when I ran Boston a few years ago, was kind of the same story. I had trained all winter long in like the freezing cold where I had to just layer up and I was training early in the morning when it was still dark. And then race day comes and it's like with Boston, you start the race like later in the day. I think I started at like noon or maybe 11 and it was like a warm day. so, I just had a hard time in that heat. just wasn't prepared for it. And then I think it was the same thing with this race. I remember when I finished, it was only like, I can't remember. think the people in the medical tent had to go in the medical tent at the end of the race, but they were like, oh, it's like 80, 85, which doesn't seem that hot, but. but it was like a big difference from what I had trained in. And so I think that the heat really affected me and I was wishing that I had done a little bit more heat training for that. yeah, I started out the race. and I felt good. I didn't feel like I was it too hard. The downhill just kind of carried me down. until about mile 16 and then I kind of hit a wall. I was taking my Martins every, what was it, every 30 minutes. so I was due for a Martin and I was getting the Martin down and I just all of a sudden. just started gagging, which usually I don't struggle with with Martins. They're usually easy for me to get down. I just had to go by the side of the road and I was just dry heaving and just telling myself, ⁓ I can't throw up because I'm already dehydrated. And ⁓ like I may not finish this race if I if I throw up right now. And so I able to hold it in somehow. And ⁓ I water and Gatorade at every age station. But I think it just it just wasn't enough and my my pace from mile Well, yeah, maybe like mile 18 at my pace kind of started falling off a little bit and then I ended up bonking so hard at the end, but I still came out with a PR and so I think that I I just have to feel good about my effort and what I did and just take it and learn learn from that and I think that next time I'll do few things different with my training like ⁓ you like more weeks in training and ⁓ the weekly mileage then also I would want to incorporate some heat training because the heat has got me ⁓ a couple times now. Coach Ryan Head: Yeah, no, I get you on the heat and ⁓ know, here's the thing, you know, first off, Amy, you did fantastic. You really did do amazing. I remember I was at Disneyland with my daughters. We were tracking you ⁓ my phone ⁓ it was so fun being like, ⁓ crush, did? I was like telling my wife, I was telling my daughters. We were just following along and I'm just like she is just crushing it and and it was a warm day like you guys are saying and like again 80 to 85 degrees doesn't sound hot maybe for most people but when you're burning that many calories and you're moving that fast and you're exerting that much effort it'll up to you it'll get you ⁓ over and I just being like ⁓ she is just putting herself through the gauntlet right now because of how hot it is and I was ⁓ You know as you me and you've kind of chatted about it since you know the thing that I would tell you know and I've said this to you and I'll say it now is you know you really did do Amazing for the hand that you had or that was dealt to you, right? Like, you know, yeah I would love if you were like Ryan give me you know work with me for 20 weeks and you're like and I can do all the downhill training you want me to do I can drive out to big Cottonwood Canyon and run down that a million times and I can run down from the start of Ogden and practice that course so that I can get the equivalent. can go run in the middle of the day on a Saturday and you do all the heat training you want. the reality is you can't because you're trying to balance 10,000 different things. And so for what you accomplish, given your circumstances, it's And ⁓ it's like, It's awe-inspiring and how many of us out there don't even have a fraction of what you deal with and what you do and you're trying to juggle ⁓ we don't even come close right? That's what's just so cool. I think it's so cool that you've done all this. ⁓ Your body's been ⁓ five children and call it what it is. Your body's gonna change a lot if that happens and you did something so, so special. and you got a PR, right? And like you said, mean, we had a little faster of a goal, but given the circumstances ⁓ ⁓ you powered through to the finish line and you made it there, you made it there, which was awesome that survived and got through the finish line and ⁓ whatnot. can share that if you want, you don't have to, but I think that part's just super, super cool. Amy Bollwinkel: yeah. Coach Ryan Head: Yeah, please, if you want, please share the finish line. I'd love for people to like, only if you feel comfortable sharing it. Amy Bollwinkel: Okay. Yeah, yeah, I will. So, well, thank you. First of all, that's very nice of you to say. So what happened was, I don't know, I've never, I'd never experienced this at the end of a marathon, but I was just dragging myself. I was almost being like, man, I think I'm gonna call, I think I'm gonna have to call my husband and take the DNF. I had never experienced that, but I think it was like, Every mile I was like, okay, okay, three and a half miles. Like, okay, three miles, just two miles left. Like, I can do this. And I was just dragging myself to that finish line at like mile 25 or 26. I had to stop and walk at one point, which is like, no, like I have never done that in a marathon. So I coming up to the finish line ⁓ and I was think I was so dehydrated and Like ⁓ not not with because I was just so focused on just finishing and So I was kind of walking and stumbling. At one point I like ran into the railing on the side and their finish is weird because they have you go and then you like turn around. So I was like, why are they making me do this? I was like, why can't they just have the finish line be right in front of you? So anyways, I was walking around that. I ran into the railing and my kids told me afterward that my husband saw me and he was like, oh, that poor girl. And then they're like, dad, that's That's mom. And he was like, ⁓ and my son was filming it. My son was filming it with the camera. It was kind of shaky, but ⁓ got that footage. And then ⁓ crossed the finish line. Coach Ryan Head: You Amy Bollwinkel: And the, like, I don't even remember how I got from the finish line to the medical tent, but I think some guys kind of helped me there. And I, yeah, I just laid down on that bed and I, I have never felt that bad after a race. It was actually, it was actually kind of scary. At one point I was like, I think something's wrong. like called for the lady to come over and help me and they checked my vitals and my blood pressure was super low probably because I was just really dehydrated and so I couldn't sit up or else I would pass out. or would feel like I was going to pass out and I just couldn't, I couldn't do it. I'd never felt so bad after a race and so they ended up giving me an IV of fluids and after like 20 minutes I was able to get up and go but yeah it was crazy and then my muscles were cramping super hard and It was just, it was just wild. I think that my body was just pushed to the max and so that made me be like, okay, next time I need to change some things so that that doesn't happen again, need to train for longer or whatever it is. yeah, after race, right after, I thought like, okay, I'm not doing this again, it's not worth it. Like, I think that... I almost killed myself, literally. Like, I pushed myself to almost death. I literally thought I was about to die. it was my son's birthday, and I was like, great. Like, I'm gonna die on his birthday and ruin his birthday forever. But I was fine. It was just very dramatic. ⁓ so... So after that I was like I don't think I can ever do this again and then the days after the couple days after I just Couldn't even walk. I was like this is not healthy. ⁓ lost like three toenails I this massive blood blister on my toe because it was downhill for all of it and so my toes just got hammered and So, but then like a week later, two weeks later, I'm like, ⁓ I gotta go for that sub three one more time. So we'll see. Coach Ryan Head: Yeah, let's go, I love it. Yeah, I love it. I love it, I love that you're like, I'm not giving up on it. I know, it was funny because I don't know if it was Nate. I think it was Nate had told me, he's like, yeah, Amy is swearing she's never gonna do it again. And I was like, no, come on, I don't buy that for a second. I'm not believing that. I'm like, whatever. Trust I say it every time on 100, ⁓ just driving me home from like. one of the 100 races and I'll say to her every time, I'm like, I'm never doing that again. Like, that was so bad. And I'm like, nothing is worse than the night after a race. As you know, especially where you go as hard as you do, that night after is just like, you lay in bed and you have like these, I don't know if other people do, but I have these really lucid dreams. And who was I telling this to just the other day? This is really bad, this is really funny. But it was so bad that I felt like, Amy Bollwinkel: ⁓ Yeah. Coach Ryan Head: I had found and I was having these like really bright images and like shapes and weird stuff after the bear 100 this year that I felt like because of that, I had found the cure for the common cold. so I woke up thinking that, yeah, ⁓ know it was pure craziness, but I woke up thinking I had found the cure for it. And so I got up out of my bed, stumbled as best I can to go down my stairs and I'm like, I've got to write this down. And by the time I'd gotten downstairs, I'm like, what are you doing? I'm like, this was all a dream. Like, you gotta go back to bed. But I believed it. I was 100 % like, ⁓ I figured it out. Like, it's these shapes and colors. Anyways, it was trippy. It made no sense. I know, sounds like I was on drugs, but yeah. Amy Bollwinkel: Okay. Okay, okay, you know what? I've never had anything like that. So it sounds like you're pushing yourself way harder than I ever have because that's pretty intense. I've never experienced that. Coach Ryan Head: It was so weird. I'm like, my gosh, what is wrong with me? anyways, night, ⁓ as knows, when you push yourself hard, that night is just a nightmare. Anyway, I, ⁓ know, I think in the end, like it was so cool to see that you push yourself hard, so hard. I think it's so cool that you're like, I gotta still go back and get that, you know, that three hour or sub three hour finish. You know, I know you'll do it. because you're you're a grinder, you're like, I'm gonna make it happen. And I love your competitive spirit. I think it's just, it's cool to see just who you are and you're like, okay, I'm gonna make this happen because I really, really want it that bad. And I think that's what's so cool about the whole situation. And I mean, the best thing about it is like, can take the one side of like, I never wanna do this again, it was awful, or you can be like, hey, this is what I've learned from it, and I'm gonna implement some changes and make it happen. And I love when I hear people say that, so I think that's super cool that ⁓ you are about that and that you're like, hey, I've gotta go back. Amy Bollwinkel: I think another thing I learned just training for this marathon that consistency, like consistent training can have like a really huge Like to see ⁓ where I felt, to see how felt. ⁓ when I first started training to how I felt at the end. And so I'm like, okay, if I can just keep that going, I think that that's where a lot of the results can come in, shocking results. Like our bodies are and can achieve things that ⁓ we even think they can. And I think that a lot of that is just consistency, Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. That's cool. No, I love it. I love that you say that because I agree with you. The consistency is king. I always say that to everybody. I'm like, if you want to be good at this, just be consistent. If you can be consistent stay after it, like you'll do great things. ⁓ So I love that. Well, ⁓ quick question I want to throw at you. What is something? What is something you haven't mentioned? that you learned about yourself through all this. You've done this now multiple times. What's something new that you learned? I mean, I guess you just said consistency, but what's something else that you learned about yourself? What's something that you're like, you know, I didn't know this about me and I figured this out by doing all of this. Amy Bollwinkel: Well, I would say, I learned ⁓ that we're, we are probably ⁓ more we think we are. just through, like I said, like consistency. If we put in the work, even if it's just simple, when I'm not training, when I'm not on a set training plan, there are days that, like this morning, I was like, oh man, I just like, don't feel like doing a long run. It was cold outside. I was like, I just, I don't know if I just, if I want to get out this morning, but I was just like, okay, I'm just going to go out for like a half a mile and see how I feel. And so I just got out the door and I ran, I ended up running like one mile some people like compared to what you're running ⁓ man if I post that on Strava are gonna be like what the heck that's a stupid run but I think that that that does a lot for us just getting out there ⁓ and and just like even if it's a mile even if it's around the block like just getting out the door and and making it happen. so, and a lot of times if I do that, if I just force myself to get out, I end up just getting into my groove and I'm able to do more than ⁓ thought I could. Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. I love it. No, thank you for sharing that. And I agree with you. funny because my training has been a lot different this spring as well. ⁓ And I've been much of a person who's taken a recovery day or followed true kind of route. And again, I know you're like, aren't you a running coach? I know. I don't even practice what I preach to all of you. So ⁓ it's really good. It's really dumb, actually. But I have been like no this year you're gonna do it you're gonna take one day off a week at a bare minimum sometimes you'll take two ⁓ and gonna do three hard weeks one easy week three hard weeks one easy week and it's a game changer I've been able to say pretty healthy. I've gotten faster. I feel strong and It's been really good. But like you said it is tough on those days when I'm like Okay, today is only a five mile run for me. And again, running is relative to each person. So like you said, you're like one mile for you. There's like five miles for me. Like I don't even want to post when I run just a five mile, because I'm like, everyone expects me to run 10 plus every day. Like, which is so stupid. Like, and that's in my head. Like I don't know what it really thinks this, but I think it personally, and I'm like, if I put a five, they're going to be like, dude, what are you doing? Are you taking a day off? Like ⁓ is this? ⁓ I'm like, I can't believe I'm doing this to myself. Amy Bollwinkel: my gosh. Coach Ryan Head: But I'm like, this is not like you gotta keep the perspective. Like run today, this training run on a random Tuesday is not big picture. The big picture is what you're doing down the road when you're putting all the pieces together, you've built this now it's time send it. ⁓ And so I love that you're like, consistency is king, stay after it. Even one little mile, that's gonna be the game changers. And it is, I 100 % agree with you. Thank you for sharing that. So, well, awesome, Amy. This has been really awesome to have you on. I want to ⁓ It's called the lightning round. ⁓ And I ask the same questions to every single and they're kind of fun. You can respond with a word answer, ⁓ or you can elaborate whatever works for you. And I'm totally, cool with that. So, you ready for the lightning round? Amy Bollwinkel: Okay. Yes, ready. Coach Ryan Head: Okay, awesome. What is your favorite race distance? Amy Bollwinkel: Man that's up. I'm gonna say one mile Coach Ryan Head: Nice, nice, okay cool. That's awesome, you're the first person to say the mile, so I love that, that's awesome. Most people say the half mar, yeah, no that's awesome, I love it. Most people say the half marathon, most people are like, ⁓ I love the half marathon, so that's cool, no I love it. ⁓ That's cool. Amy Bollwinkel: Really? ⁓ yeah, I do love halves too. Coach Ryan Head: Mm-hmm. the miles awesome. I I run the mile in high school too or junior high and it was so fun Loved it. So ⁓ That's so cool. Okay next question ⁓ rotor Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah. man, if I had the time to run on trails, I would be on those every single day. ⁓ will come a day in my life when I drop my kids off at school and I go and the trails for hours, but that day is not gonna come for a long time. So ⁓ right it's roads for me. Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. That's cool. I know I, I know, think I've said this to you before and the offer still stands. The day you do an ultra, which will be epic by the way, ⁓ will destroy. Like the day that it happens, she's gonna destroy whatever 50 miler, ⁓ 50k, 100 milers she does. I already know I'm just saying it. Amy Bollwinkel: Thank Coach Ryan Head: Beware people, like when she does it, it's gonna be chaos. I know I'm putting a lot of stress on your pressure on you, she's she's really good and I think she'll do a great job at it. So it'll be really cool to see you do that one day. Amy Bollwinkel: ⁓ That's nice of you to say. gonna be hardcore enough to do that, but we'll see. Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. That's awesome. Okay. Next lightning run question, morning or evening runs. Amy Bollwinkel: a morning girl. If ⁓ don't get it done first thing in the day, it's just everything out, everything crowds it out and it doesn't happen for me. And also I to just set my day up with that. I am like the happiest person ever in the morning when I get home from my run. So just like a good way to start my day. And I know that's not for everyone. A lot of people ⁓ doing it in the evenings or whenever. And ⁓ think it's just whenever works for you. But I just like the mornings personally. Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. Your brother hates morning runs. it's, give him, he seriously gets so angry at me. He's like, when are you going to stop doing this? And I'm like, dude, I'm never going to stop doing this. So I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You don't like it. It's never going to stop. So is an ongoing battle with me and him. but. Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah. you He just needs to... He just needs to quit staying up so late watching TV or whatever so he can wake up earlier. Coach Ryan Head: He always, his excuse to me is, wait until your kids are teenagers, you wait, you just wait. And I'm like, my kids are becoming teenagers and I still tell them they gotta go to bed. And then I'm like, well, I'm going to bed, see you guys later. Don't get in trouble. If you guys get in trouble, it's gonna be, it won't go well for you. So it's funny. that's our argument. ⁓ lightning run question for you. Favorite post race or post run meal? Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah. There you go. There you go. Okay, I After races my stomach is like so upset I don't know if this is a normal thing like if if lots of people have this but like I can't eat anything for hours and hours after a race, I don't know if it's the gels or what but but once I recover I would say like a nice burger and fries is really good. ⁓ Coach Ryan Head: Heck yeah. Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah, or maybe like after after like a long Saturday run like a nice avocado toast with with egg That's a good one too for me Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. Yeah, I think I'd say probably 90 to 95 % of my guests so far have said the exact same thing, a hamburger and fries. I'll tell you, and the funny thing is, is I'm actually with you. I do not want to eat anything after a race. ⁓ My is upset so bad that I'm like, nothing sounds good. The only thing that ever sounds good ⁓ is a chocolate protein shake. Amy Bollwinkel: No way. Coach Ryan Head: just because it's cold and it kinda cools my body down that's all I wanna do. I'm like, I can't eat anything hot or solid, but either that night or the next day, ooh, watch out, it's like, I'm gonna eat so much food, ⁓ really bad. ⁓ pig so bad, so that's cool. It's cool to see that from you as well. Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah. ⁓ Well, you've earned it, so it's okay. Coach Ryan Head: Yeah, exactly. That's exactly. I'm like, I think I've heard this. So Okay. Last lightning round question I'll throw at you, but it could be a two parter. So we'll see on your run ⁓ music, or silence. Amy Bollwinkel: I'm a podcast audio audiobook person ⁓ on runs. The exception to that is sometimes if it's like a really really hard run, ⁓ like too on the running and so I have to I can't focus on the book so I have to either turn it off or turn on some or whatever like in in this past marathon I tried to listen to a book like ⁓ need to go back and re listen to that whole thing because I Was just so in the zone. I don't think I caught much of it. So Yeah, but usually usually podcasts or audiobooks Coach Ryan Head: That's awesome. That's awesome. Okay, well the two-parter to this is what book or books have you listened to recently that you were like I would recommend anyone to listen to? Amy Bollwinkel: Okay, so I've read or I've listened to a couple of books written by comedians that I like recently and they were so good. First one, Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze. So good. And then I don't know if people have heard of Leanne Morgan, but she's like hilarious. She's this lady in her sixties and she just became famous like a few years ago and her book is called What in the World? And it's so good. She has this thick southern accent and she reads it herself and it's really good. The other one I read recently called Strangers by Bell Burden and one was was a really interesting one that I don't know if women will like that more than men but that was a good one. Currently I'm to Project Hail Mary which ⁓ that's a one too. Coach Ryan Head: Let's go. go. Everyone's talking about it. So that's awesome. Well, definitely took some notes there. I love a good book recommendation. And so I love when are like, ⁓ this is what I've been listening to. It's really good. Well, I have two last questions for you and then we will wrap it up. Amy Bollwinkel: Yeah, they are. Coach Ryan Head: Again, thank you so much for your time. I appreciate it. But my second to last question I'll throw at you let's say someone's listening to this right now and they've lost their Y to running and they're just like, I'm done. I don't know if I want to continue to do this. ⁓ I just kind of beat up on this whole thing. What would you say to them about them just losing their Y and what would you say to them about running and? whether to get back at it or whatever, you tell me what would you say to someone like that? Amy Bollwinkel: Well, I think... That kind of depends on, think that if they feel like running has served its purpose for them and they are wanting, it just doesn't fit in their life anymore, I think that's actually okay. I think people should find what it is that helps them feel alive and helps them to feel healthy. if that's walking in the morning, that's great too. That's healthy. If that's lifting weights or doing some other form of exercise, that's great too. But if you want to run, if it's something you want to do and you're just searching for ⁓ motivation, I I would say something that would help me is ⁓ to just a goal ⁓ that you're about. ⁓ Set a like maybe a goal ⁓ that you is out of reach, that you can't achieve. just go for it. And I think that is what is really addictive about running to me is just the pursuit and the striving that, and heard you talk ⁓ about a little bit where it ⁓ kind is like faith. Like you can't see the end result of what you're gonna achieve. But you just go for it anyways. You put in the work day by day and that's what's addictive is just achieving. Even if you don't reach your goal like me, I didn't reach my goal, but I'm gonna go for it again, ⁓ probably. I think just ⁓ having a and yeah, ⁓ sign up a fun race. Find a way make it enjoyable. Go ⁓ join a running or something. Coach Ryan Head: I love ⁓ kind of what you brought up, and ⁓ I know I've said that a few times, I'd love to hear you say too, is like when I always talk about my 100 milers, there's never a guarantee. I'm ever gonna finish it. I wish I could guarantee someone that it'll happen But there are so many factors when you're out there for a hundred miles You never know for sure it could easily come to an end For a myriad of reasons a lot of them out of your control. So you like you said it's really a faith thing and What a great for life like there's so many things like we all started on this journey in life and we all thought okay it's gonna be one way and You know, me and you are 30, 40 mile, 30, 40 miles, 30, 40 years into this, into this path. And you're kind of like, was this what I thought it would be? And you just say, okay, well, I'm going to continue to ride the faith train and continue to push and keep going forward and see what happens. And so I love that you bring that up because I do think that that's so true. And I, there's so many great analogies for running and, you know, in life, and that's one of my favorite things to, to, you know, to always touch on. So. Thank you for sharing that, that's amazing. So awesome, well cool. Well Amy, if you're open to it, ⁓ if anyone wants to you ⁓ like social media or are you open to them following you like on Strava or anything like that? I don't know if you're much on social media, but yeah, are you open to that of someone following you on Strava? Amy Bollwinkel: Yes. yeah, totally. Yeah, look me up. I'm not on ⁓ or Instagram, but I'm on Strava, so yeah, that'd be fun. Coach Ryan Head: Awesome. Well, I will put in the show notes, I'll put your hyperlink to her profile in Strava and let people kind of follow and watch her journey. Again, I'm just telling you, if you want to see someone who is amazing, who just does just ⁓ great ⁓ and has to just balance it all to make it happen, definitely give a follow. You're just going learn a lot. you're gonna see someone who just gets after it and just crushes it. So awesome, Amy. Well, thank you so much for being on today. I really appreciate it. It's just been a blast having you on here and I appreciate the dialogue. anyways, thanks Amy. Amy Bollwinkel: Thanks, Ryan, and I appreciate you doing this. This is really cool that you're highlighting people. And yeah, thanks for your kind words, and it's been fun to talk about this. Coach Ryan Head: Awesome. Thanks, Amy. Appreciate it. Okay, everybody. Thank you for listening to this episode and stay tuned for our next one coming out here shortly.