What does it really mean to call yourself a runner? In this episode, Mike sits down with Avelyn Castillo — known online as it's.aveline — for an honest, funny, and deeply motivating conversation about identity, belonging, and the long road to the start line.

Avelyn shares how she went from hating gym class and avoiding exercise altogether to training for and finishing marathons — all while managing asthma, navigating body image, and fully embracing life as a slow runner and run-walker. She opens up about the identity shift that comes with becoming a runner, the power of representation for plus-size athletes, and why transparency and inclusivity matter so much in running spaces.

Together, Mike and Avelyn dig into the role community plays in keeping us going: the friends, run clubs, and training partners who carried her through Boston, New York, and beyond. From charity running and the six-star dream to the mental health benefits of marathon training, Avelyn's story is a powerful reminder that progress is never linear — and that every mile counts.

If you've ever felt too slow, too late, or like you're not the "right" kind of runner, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and ready to keep going at your own pace.

Kaitlin started out as a swimmer. These days, she's an Ironman finisher—but the road between those two points is where the real story lives.

In this episode, Kaitlin walks us through her journey across all three disciplines: swimming, biking, and running, and what it actually takes to put them together over an Ironman distance. We talk about the training and the discipline the sport demands, but also about the quieter stuff—the humility that keeps you grounded, the mental resilience that carries you when your legs won't, and the lessons that only show up after you've raced more than once.

What comes through most is how personal the whole thing is. Kaitlin's path is her own, shaped by consistency, small wins that added up, and the community that pushed her along the way. It's a conversation for endurance athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and anyone who needs a reminder that growth tends to come one steady step at a time.

Most runners just want to finish. Kristina wanted to do something bigger.

After learning she carried a genetic cancer risk and undergoing a mastectomy and hysterectomy, she didn't slow down—she ran straight at it. Kristina went on to complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors and raised over $150,000 for cancer research along the way.

In this episode, she shares how she got from a high-risk diagnosis to the finish line of six of the world's biggest marathons. We talk about the mental side of it—how she kept going, why she ran for her dad's life, and what it meant to cross the London Marathon finish line with her family cheering her on. We also get into charity running, and why she believes telling your story can be the thing that gets you through the hard parts.

It's an honest conversation about turning pain into purpose, and about how running became her way of healing and building something that lasts. If you're a runner, a survivor, or just someone who needs a reminder that setbacks can turn into comebacks, this one's for you.

You can follow Kristina's work @kristinacoccoluto on Instagram and support her mission to fund cancer research.