Episode 161: Chikage Windler - Chasing Tornadoes and Marathon PRs

⁠Chikage Windler⁠ and I were connected by mutual friend Rob Rueff. Previously based out of Indy, Chikage is now an award-winning TV meteorologist based in Austin, Texas.During this episode, sponsored by ⁠HUUG⁠ and ⁠Batch⁠, we talk about:Running the canals in Indianapolis on her lunch breaks when she worked at WTHR from 2011–2013How she got into running after moving to Austin — starting with a jogging stroller and a newborn, and showing up to the Cap 10K dressed as the sun 🌞Her 18 marathons to date, most of them in Texas, and the "marathon she loves to hate" — the Austin MarathonFinally cracking the sub-four barrier at the Louisiana Marathon in Baton Rouge on her sixteenth try 🎉Being the Austin Marathon charity chaser in 2017 — running the race from the very back for Camp KesemWhat it's like being a meteorologist who also runs races — knowing too much about the forecast, consulting with race directors, and the Cap 10K this past April where she tracked storms overnight then ran the race on zero sleepHer go-to weather app recommendation (RadarScope) and why your phone's generic weather app isn't cutting itThe collarbone she broke getting out of her car after a 13-mile training run, the surgery that followed, and the 200+ miles she walked in a single month because she couldn't runFalling at a trail race on New Year's, falling at mile 25 of the Oklahoma City Marathon, and somehow still worrying about blood on her shoes 👟Her 80-year-old mom running her first half marathon in 35 years at OKC — and hitting a 15:32 pace right in the middle of her goal windowHer breast cancer diagnosis in 2022 — keeping it almost entirely private while continuing to work on-air every day, and how running was the one thing that made her feel like herself againRunning a 5K with a mandatory dozen donuts mid-race (and the strategy of smashing them into four stacks 🍩)Her mantra: "I love hills" (borrowed from friend Bill Schroeder — she does not actually love hills)What's ahead: her first Spartan race, the Moonlight Margarita Run, and the Chicago Marathon in October 🌬️Sponsor Details⁠HUUG⁠ - Use ALLYB for 15% off⁠Batch⁠ - Use FINISH for 30% off sitewideOther LinksFollow Chikage on Instagram ⁠@chikageweather⁠Follow me on Instagram ⁠@allytbrett_runs⁠⁠Subscribe to Finish Lines & Milestones weekly newsletter⁠This is a ⁠SandyBoy Productions⁠ podcast.