Behind the Bib

On this week's episode, I sat down with Kent Criswell, a NASA engineer helping return astronauts to the Moon, who also manages to stay in top shape. You won't believe how he got his start and how the Racin' the Station Duathlon was born. Stay tuned for Huntsville's very own Ted Lasso. Sign up for Racin the Station: https://www.trisignup.com/Race/AL/Huntsville/RacintheStation Additional race inform...

Sometimes the biggest thing holding us back isn't a lack of time... it's the pursuit of perfection. This week, I'm getting honest about how trying to make every episode "perfect" nearly kept me from showing up at all. Along the way, I realized I'd been doing the same thing in my marathon training—chasing perfect workouts instead of consistent progress. We'll also spot...

This week on Behind the Bib, an absolute icon joins me for a conversation that's equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. We recap the funny moments from this week's training run, talk about the reality of preparing for our upcoming Madison 50K in Montana, and reflect on some of the bigger lessons that come from chasing goals that scare you a little. From laughter to deeper conversations, this...

This week on Behind the Bib, I'm taking you to Rainsville, Alabama, for the Freedom Run 10K and 5K. Not only did I get to experience a fantastic local race and an incredible running community, but I also walked away with a prize check. That's right—for one glorious day, I became a paid professional runner. Okay, maybe "professional" is a stretch, but when someone hands you $150 f...

EPISODE 65: Southern Running Collective What if running spaces were built on connection instead of comparison? In Episode 65 of Behind the Bib, I sit down with Danielle Southern, founder of Southern Running Collective, to talk about building a community where middle and back-of-the-pack runners feel supported, empowered, and seen. We discuss pace inclusion, body respect, confidence, and why every...

This week on Behind the Bib, we’re diving into the mental side of running inspired by the book The Brave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion. Why does our brain try to convince us to quit things we actually want? What’s the difference between a legit quit and a “shit quit?” And why does every run suddenly feel impossible halfway through? We’re talking discomfort, excuses, accounta...

Memorial Day hits different at the Cotton Row Run. This week on Behind the Bib, I’m joined by two race directors, one who led the race for five years and one helping guide it today, plus two runners on opposite ends of the journey: one who’s been running it for years and one taking it on for the very first time. We get into what it takes to put on a race like this, what keeps people coming back, a...

This week, I’m joined by Sam Korsmoe, the race director behind the Greater Yellowstone Adventure Series… and let me tell you, these ain’t no pansy ass city races. We’re talking high-altitude miles, rugged Montana terrain, and races built around adventure, not convenience. Sam shares how the series came to life, what makes these races so uniquely challenging, and why runners keep coming back for mo...

In this episode of Behind the Bib, I sit down with Meagan Doyle and Ashley to talk about something every runner thinks about but doesn’t always talk about -- safety. From talking about real-life experiences to tools we can use, we dive into what it looks like to feel more prepared on your runs. Because every runner deserves to feel safe out there.

This episode is about slowing down when you didn’t plan to. After a weekend of celebrating family and finding my new favorite place at the 74 Ranch, I came home and got hit hard with the flu. What followed was a forced pause... and an unexpected lesson from a horse about taking the pressure off. Hope you enjoy!

In this episode of Behind the Bib , I recap two race experiences that tested me in different ways: Dueling Banjos and the Crazies Trifecta . I talk about muddy trails, a few race-day mistakes (including wearing the wrong shoes), and what it felt like to finish DFL at Dueling Banjos. Then I dive into the three-day Crazies Trifecta through the mountains of northeast Alabama -- what I learned, where...

February may be Heart Health Month, but we’re not leaving that conversation behind when the calendar flips. In this episode, I sit down with local clinical pharmacist and runner, Mina Willis, to talk about women’s heart health—what we miss, what we downplay, and why “I’m fine” isn’t a medical diagnosis. We connect the dots between February’s focus on heart health and March’s celebration of Interna...

This week, I stepped into the lab at Return to Sport for VO₂ max testing — and let me tell you, it was equal parts humbling and empowering. We broke down what VO₂ max actually means, why heart rate variability matters, and how understanding your data can help you train smarter (not just harder). If you’ve ever wondered what your numbers say about your fitness, your recovery, or your long-term hear...

From the Love to Run 5K to a Galentine’s recovery night and a quiet five miles on the treadmill, this episode is about what we don’t always see when we look around the running world. Behind every pace, every sweaty shirt pull, and every nervous glance in the mirror is a story — and sometimes a heart that’s healing, growing stronger, or simply trying to keep going. This week, I’m sharing updates fr...

E55: Love at First Stride This episode of Behind the Bib is all about love and long runs. I’m sitting down in person with two of Huntsville’s favorite running couples to talk about what happens when your relationship includes race mornings, different paces, and a whole lot of sweat. It’s honest, funny, and very real — because running together builds more than miles. UPCOMING LOCAL RACES Fleet Feet...

Running is better when you don’t have to do it alone. In this episode, I’m joined by Ryan Donovan to talk about Fleet Feet's Run Club and why it’s such a powerful (and free!) resource for runners in our community. We cover what makes the club special — inclusive group runs, training programs, strength sessions, and a welcoming, no-pressure vibe that truly supports runners of all paces and expe...

On this episode of Behind the Bib , I’m hanging out with David Whitehead from Rocket City Runners, one of Huntsville’s most welcoming, no-ego, all-are-welcome run clubs. We talk about how Rocket City Runners grew into the community it is today, what makes their crew feel more like a family than a fitness group, and why showing up matters just as much as how fast you go. We also dig into their upco...

On this episode of Behind the Bib, I’m joined by Jeff and Geri Plain, the organizers behind the Huntsville Pub Run, as they celebrate 10 years of building one of Huntsville’s most welcoming run communities. We talk about how Pub Run began, the legendary inflatable run, and why this group has never been about pace or performance — it’s about showing up. Walkers, runners, first-timers, back-of-the-p...

On this episode of Behind the Bib , I kick things off by pulling the curtain back on my big 2026 announcements —including my Over 30 / Under 30 goals and an exciting collaboration with Fleet Feet Huntsville coming next year. Then I sit down with Doc Porter of Functional Chiropractic for a grounded, runner-focused conversation about recovery, mobility, and how to keep showing up when your body star...

On this episode of Behind the Bib , I sit down with Jerry Clifton to talk about one of Alabama’s most wonderfully unhinged traditions: the Crazies Trifecta — three half marathons in three days across three DeKalb County towns. No frills, no fuss, just grit, community, and questionable decision-making. We also weave in the Rainsville Freedom Run , a small-town race that shows how big heart, strong...

2025 Year-End Recap: What This Year Taught Me About Running (and Us) This week on Behind the Bib , I’m closing out 2025 with a reflection — not a highlight reel or a stats dump, but an honest look at the stories that mattered most this year. We talk about why hometown races, real conversations, and showing up imperfectly resonated more than performance ever could. From the episodes you returned to...

E48: Running Up that Hillary at Every Woman’s Marathon On this marathon-length episode of Behind the Bib — yes, we’re going a full 1 hour and 21 minutes — I’m joined by Hillary Burgess , the runner behind Running Up That Hillary , to talk about the strategy that finally moved the needle for her: intentional run/walk intervals . Then we get into the real talk from the Every Woman’s Marathon in Scot...

EPISODE 47: PARKRUN, ROCKET CITY RUNNERS, KRAMPUS & AMY GOEN-THE-MILES  We kick things off with parkrun, where the community always shows up, then roll into the Rocket City Runners collaboration with Hibbett Sports—group miles, fresh gear, good energy. We wrap the local recap with the Krampus Run: costumes, chaos, laughs, and just enough mischief to make it memorable. Then I sit down with Amy...

Episode 47: The F-Word We Don’t Talk About Enough This week on Behind the Bib, we’re getting real about the one thing every runner, creator, and human on this spinning rock deals with: failure. And not the glamorous, “I learned so much” kind we tie up with a bow on Instagram — I’m talking the messy, spiraling, four-fails-in-four-days variety that leaves you questioning everything from your packing...

In this episode, I’m talking about the Turkey Trots that bring our communities together — the laughter, the families, the walkers, the people trying something new for the very first time. I also open up about the Every Woman’s Marathon, a race that stretched me, humbled me, and reminded me why I love this sport: the courage to keep moving, even when it’s hard. And at the end, I share a quiet littl...