'This is hard, but I'm harder': Amanda Vavra's road to 26.2

Jackie Helm: From broken spine to marathon starting line

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 ulcerative colitis diagnosis. Now a nutrition coach, athlete and Route 66 Marathon ambassador, Jackie shares how proper fueling, intentional recovery and unwavering faith helped her regain control of her life. If you’ve struggled, lost momentum or felt stuck this training cycle, Jackie’s story is exactly what you need: a reminder that setbacks don’t define you — your response does. Get ready for a raw, uplifting and deeply inspiring conversation that brings race-week energy back to the podcast.

'This is hard, but I'm harder': Amanda Vavra's road to 26.2

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.

Travis McCullar: Running with purpose & transforming from 380 pounds to marathon machine

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.

Katy Cook: Swapping soda for sweat — 100 lbs down & half marathon bound

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.

Sonnie Simons: From broken ribs to a sub-4 marathon

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 her outlet during emotionally heavy seasons, like saying goodbye to undergrad and preparing for what’s next. She also shares her love for Tulsa’s running scene, her involvement in building a collegiate run club at OSU and why she believes anyone can fall in love with running if they give it a chance. Follow Sonnie on Instagram at @sonnielolo, and use her ambassador codes sonnie10 (Tulsa Run) and sonnie66 (Route 66) to save $10 on both races.