Route 66 Marathon Podcast

After a near-fatal car accident left her with a fractured spine and a cervical fusion, Jackie Helm refused to let her story end in the wreckage. In this powerful Route 66 Marathon Podcast episode, Jackie walks us through her remarkable comeback — from relearning how to move post-surgery, to training for her first Route 66 Half Marathon, to rebuilding her strength and identity after a devastating u...

First-time marathoner Amanda Vavra joins the show to share her inspiring journey from 5K starter to Route 66 Marathon finisher in the making. A Tulsa native with deep family roots in the community, Vavra opens up about reclaiming her body and her voice after years focused on motherhood and career. She talks about training with her husband (who tracks the splits), raising a young runner and finding...

In this episode of the Route 66 Marathon Podcast, we sit down with Travis McCullar, a guy who stared down the scale at 380 pounds and ran his way into a completely different life. Through shutdowns, setbacks and shoeless marathons, Travis never quit. He kept showing up, and that consistency paid off with more than 200 pounds lost, 40+ mile training weeks and a heart for pacing others to the finish...

After her boyfriend John's diabetes diagnosis turned their world upside down, Katy Cook made a life-changing decision: they were going to get healthy together. In this episode, Route 66 Marathon Ambassador Katy shares how swapping soda for sweat led to more than just weight loss, it sparked a transformation that reshaped her mental health, physical strength and relationship. From 300+ lbs and...

In this episode of the Route 66 Marathon Podcast, host Kevin Green chats with Sonnie Simons — ambassador for Route 66 Marathon and Tulsa run — about her journey from hesitant runner to sub-4 marathoner, all while balancing college life and a future in law school. Sonnie opens up about the injury that sidelined her in early 2024, what it taught her about rest and resilience and how running became h...

This week on the Route 66 Marathon Podcast, we’re joined by first-time marathoner and Route 66 Ambassador Summer Jowers, whose transformation — both in running and lifestyle — is as inspiring as they come. Summer shares how she shifted from a high-calorie, fast-food lifestyle to a 90% plant-based diet, drastically improving her health, recovery and performance. She opens up about training with Jef...

To kick off Season 2 and celebrate the 20th running of the Route 66 Marathon we’re joined by none other than Dean Karnazes — ultramarathon icon and global ambassador of endurance. Dean ran in the very first Route 66 Marathon back in 2006, and in this episode, he shares his memories from that inaugural event, how the Tulsa course compares to some of the world’s most extreme races and what keeps him...

This week on the Route 66 Marathon Ambassadors Podcast, Kevin Green sits down with Stephanie McCrary, a PE teacher, runner and dedicated Route 66 Marathon ambassador. Recorded after the 5K race during Route 66 Marathon weekend, Stephanie shares her strategy for balancing fun and training, her goals for the half marathon and the St. Jude Marathon and how she inspires the next generation through her...

Join us in this episode of the Route 66 Marathon Ambassadors Podcast as Kevin Green sits down with Lindsey Leppert, an experienced runner who has found joy, community and personal growth through running. Lindsey opens up about her journey from initially running as a way to stay fit to completing longer races, all while juggling the challenges of training and life. We discuss her favorite moments f...

In this episode of the Route 66 Marathon Ambassadors Podcast, Kevin Green sits down with Misty Cooper, a dedicated Route 66 Marathon ambassador who has completed the race 10 times and is preparing for her next big goal: a PR under 4:40. Misty shares insights from her running journey, including the benefits of training on hills, the importance of balancing hard work with enjoyment and how podcasts...

In this episode of the Route 66 Marathon Ambassadors Podcast, Kevin Green sits down with Eric Brumbalow, an experienced ultramarathoner and proud Route 66 ambassador. Eric takes us through his remarkable running journey, which began in 2012 as preparation for basic training in the Air National Guard and has since grown to include 12 100-mile races. He shares memorable stories from the Route 66 Mar...

In this episode of the Route 66 Marathon Ambassadors Podcast, Kevin Green sits down with Chris Lee, known in the running community as "Asian on the Run."  Chris shares his inspiring running journey, starting from Disney races with his brother to conquering three of the six World Marathon Majors, all while navigating the challenges of hip surgery and recovery. He talks about the power of community,...

In this episode, Kevin Green sits down with Karen Carlton, a Route 66 Marathon ambassador who has completed an impressive 58 half marathons and 11 full marathons.  Karen shares how her running journey began in 2004, the importance of the run-walk method and how she balances her passion for running with family life. She talks about her favorite race experiences, her goals for the upcoming Route 66...

In this episode, Kevin Green sits down with Craig Halverson, a Route 66 Marathon ambassador and accomplished runner, to discuss his journey from starting running in his mid-30s to qualifying for the Boston Marathon.  Craig shares stories from his racing experiences, including how a missed turn in his first race led him to run a half marathon, his love for the Route 66 Marathon event and the role h...

In this episode, Kevin Green sits down with Pete Coser, a Route 66 Marathon ambassador and tribal nonprofit director, to discuss his inspiring journey from high school football to becoming a 10-time marathoner. Pete shares how running transformed his life, helping him lose over 60 pounds and improve his mental health. We dive into his experience training for the New York City and Route 66 Marathon...

In this episode, Kevin Green sits down with Heather Puckett, a dedicated runner, coach and mental health advocate.  Heather shares her incredible journey from casually running 5Ks to tackling ultra-marathons, including the life-changing moment that inspired her to sign up for her first half marathon at the Route 66 Marathon. We dive into her passion for helping others achieve their running goals,...

In this episode of the Route 66 Marathon Ambassadors Podcast, Kevin Green sits down with April Gray, a passionate runner and dedicated coach whose journey is nothing short of inspiring. Starting her running career in 2018, April faced numerous challenges, including injuries and the trials of balancing running with her family and work life. Despite these setbacks, she has not only become a Route 66...

In this episode of the Route 66 Marathon Ambassadors Podcast, Kevin Green sits down with Natalie Passmore, a seasoned runner whose journey spans nearly two decades. Starting with her very first 5K in Oklahoma City, Passmore has since progressed to running half marathons and marathons and is now gearing up for the Route 66 Marathon. Passmore shares her inspiring story, from the challenges of improv...

Welcome to the first episode of the Route 66 Marathon Ambassadors Podcast! In this episode, we turn the spotlight on our host, Kevin Green.  Kevin, a dedicated runner with nearly 4.5 years of experience and an impressive list of race PRs, shares his running journey, personal stories and what it means to be a Route 66 Marathon ambassador.  But instead of going it alone, Kevin invites his good frien...