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 her stride — mentally and physically.

From balancing work and family life to setting sights on international races and the Abbott World Marathon Majors, Vavra's story is about chasing bold goals with grace, grit and a whole lot of vibes.

Her mantra? “This is hard, but I’m harder.” Tune in to hear why that mindset might just carry her all the way to the finish line on race day.

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 line.

Travis talks about what sparked the journey, how running became his lifeline and why helping others now fuels his fire. If you’re looking for motivation, grit or just a reminder that it is not too late to change — this episode is it.

Plus, you’ll hear about his favorite races, what keeps him grounded and the story behind his Instagram name: @whatkeepsmerunning.

Use his code TRAVIS66 to get $10 off your Route 66 Marathon registration.

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 multiple knee surgeries to tackling her first half marathon at Route 66, Katy’s story is one of raw honesty, relentless grit and the power of a supportive running community. We talk about food, fitness, music that gets her moving and what it really means to become a runner — even if you don’t think you look like one.

Tune in to hear how Katy lost over 100 lbs, found purpose on the pavement and learned that every finish line starts with just one step.