Beta

Explore every episode of Ali on the Run Show

Dive into the complete episode list for Ali on the Run Show. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

Rows per page:

1–50 of 803

Pub. DateTitleDuration
21 Dec 2022597. Anoush Arakelian, 3:07 Marathoner01:16:22

"I went all-in. So if I failed, I could say I tried everything."

Anoush Arakelian is a full-time director of product marketing, a running coach, and a coach at MYSTRYDE in her hometown of Boston, MA. And as of a few weeks ago, she's a 3:07 marathoner. ("I think I’m still processing that that’s my new time," she says.) Anoush ran a four-minute personal best at the California International Marathon earlier this month. Her first marathon, in 2014, was a 3:55. Now, 13 marathons later, she's learned a bit about running 26.2 miles. In this conversation, Anoush talks about what it has taken to slowly chip away at her marathon time, reflecting on the personal bests and personal worsts along the way. (Reminder: The road to that oh-so-rewarding finish line isn't always linear!)

SPONSORS:

  • UCAN: Click here and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.
  • Publix Atlanta Marathon WeekendRegister today for the marathon, half marathon, 5K, and youth races, taking place February 25–26, 2023. Use code ONTHERUN for 10% off your race registration!

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Anoush is feeling post-CIM (2:20)
  • What Anoush’s first marathon experience was like (4:15)
  • How Anoush’s relationship with running data has evolved over the years, and what her first experience working with a coach was like (13:20)
  • Why Anoush decided to run CIM, and how she was feeling heading into training (19:10)
  • How Anoush was feeling a few weeks out from race day (29:15)
  • How Anoush has changed as a runner since her previous attempts at going sub-3:10 (34:30)
  • All about Anoush’s experience running the 2022 California International Marathon (47:15)
  • The moment when Anoush knew her goal was within reach (57:00)
  • What’s next for Anoush? (1:06:00)
  • Anoush’s coaching advice for aspiring spring marathoners (1:07:30)
  • Anoush’s highlight — and lowlight — reel from 2022 (1:09:25)

For more from Anoush, check out her previous appearances on the Ali on the Run Show:

Follow Anoush:

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

06 May 2021369. Devon Pass Talks Travel, Running, Copywriting, Motherhood, & More01:36:24

“So, there is hope. I am still an optimist about this, and I’m doing as much as I can to keep myself healthy. If this is my destiny or whatever and there’s nothing I can do to stop it, that’s fine. But I’m gonna live my life to the fullest in the meantime, because nothing is guaranteed. So I’ll keep challenging myself to do things while my mind and my body are able.”

I have been following Devon Pass since before she was Devon Pass. Devon was one of the OG bloggers in the early 2010s, and I loved following her travel adventures on Tumblr. (She was Devon Mills at the time.) Today, Devon is married to her husband, Aaron, and they live in Washington with their five-year-old daughter, Evie. Devon is a copywriter for Nordstrom (cool!), and is a six-time marathoner. We cover a lot of ground in this episode — it really was just catching up with an old friend. Devon talks about how she learned to save money in her twenties, and how she was able to support herself while she traveled the world. She talks about the moments that made her stronger along the way, and talks about how she met her now husband. She shares her running story, and talks about what she's doing right now to get faster and stronger. She talks candidly about new motherhood, and what it was like being the first in her friend group to have a baby. And she talks about her mom, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in her sixties. (Tissue warning for this part of the conversation.) It's a well-rounded conversation that perfectly showcases this well-rounded woman.

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How was your run today? (5:30)
  • Devon shares her running story, and talks about a recent unsettling encounter on the run (9:00)
  • On having a goal-oriented mentality, and where that came from (22:50)
  • Devon looks back on her time traveling the world alone in her early twenties (28:30)
  • Reflecting on new motherhood (40:00)
  • What Devon’s days are like as a copywriter for Nordstrom (49:20)
  • Why Devon says her marriage has been “stronger and happier than ever” during the pandemic (54:20)
  • Devon talks about her mother’s Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis (1:03:30)

What we mention on this episode:

Down Dog app

@trackclubbabe

@charihawkins

American Glutton podcast

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

The Art of Non-Conformity

"Puzzle Pieces," Devon’s post about being a new mom

Keep Sharp by Sanjay Gupta

Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor

Follow Devon:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

27 Aug 2020275. Rolanda Bell, Elite Runner01:18:16

“You know when you’re not done yet. There were goals I wanted to accomplish, and I knew they were still in me. I just needed to keep going and see what I could do.”

 

In 2015, Rolanda Bell was living the dream. She had graduated from the University of Tennessee, where she was a member of the historic 2009 Women’s 4x1500m relay team alongside Chanelle Price, Phoebe Wright, and Sarah Bowman. Together, they broke the existing Penn Relays, National Collegiate, American, and world records — several of which still stand, 11 years later. She went on to run professionally representing Panama — a lifelong dream. But at the 2015 World Athletics Championship in Beijing, Rolanda was competing in the 3000m steeplechase when she went over the water barrier, and landed face-first on the way down. On this episode, Rolanda, who works in marketing for Hoka One One, talks about falling in love with running, going pro, and getting back up and finishing that race in Beijing. She talks about bouncing back, training with the NorCal Distance Project, and why, even after a career as a professional middle-distance athlete, she felt pressure to run a marathon. (Rolanda runs a 4:38 indoor mile, a 1:16 half marathon, and ran a 2:49 in her marathon debut.) She also talks about her experiences with racism living in New York City.

 

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! Go to ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Why Rolanda felt “pressure” to run a marathon (5:45)
  • How Rolanda got started on the run (9:15)
  • Why Rolanda decided to keep running after college (22:15)
  • Rolanda reflects on that “traumatizing” race at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing (26:00)
  • What life as a pro athlete with NorCal Distance looked like, and why Rolanda decided to move back to New York (41:00)
  • On finding “balance” when you work in the running industry (49:00)
  • On attending the “All Crews One Run” in NYC earlier this summer, and Roland shares her own experiences with racism (56:00)

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

29 May 2019145. Leigh Anne Sharek, Co-Founder of Brooklyn Track Club00:57:24

"It took a while — a lot of runs, a lot of soul searching — to have this confidence now to just show up and say, 'I've earned this. I deserve to be here. I've put in the work to be in this spot.'"

Leigh Anne Sharek is the co-founder of the Brooklyn Track Club, which started as an idea a few years ago and has since grown to nearly 250 members. She's the co-host of the Runners of NYC podcast, she's a sub-five-minute miler, and she's a forensic scientist for New York City's chief medical examiner. (So cool!) On this episode, Leigh Anne talks about going from a 4-hour marathon to a 2:41 marathon, and nabbing an Olympic Trials qualifying time. She talks about running with faster people and what it's like when you realize you're fast, and she shares some oh-so-relatable feelings about showing up to her first group run. Leigh Anne, a former gymnast, has become a well-known face on the NYC running scene, and was named one of New York Road Runners' Runners of the Year last year. So what's it like moving up to the front of the pack and racing alongside the pros? Leigh Anne lets us know, and talks about the great state of the women's running community in New York City right now.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • On going from a 4-hour marathon to a 2:41 Olympic Trials Qualifier (4:20)
  • Leigh Anne’s take on having a chill approach to running and racing, and on finding her place at the front of the pack (13:25)
  • Where the pressure to run well comes from (20:45)
  • The birth and growth of Brooklyn Track Club (22:30)
  • What it was like qualifying for the Olympic Trials (35:45)
  • Leigh Anne’s hopes and dreams for Brooklyn Track Club (43:00)
  • All about life as a forensic scientist, including how Leigh Anne got into the field (44:30)
  • Leigh Anne’s advice for conquering big goals (51:10)

What we mention on this episode:

Leigh Anne Sharek on Episode 129 of the Ali on the Run Show

Pace University

New York Road Runners

NYCRUNS

Nike Run Club

Sarah Cummings on Episode 112 of the Ali on the Run Show

NYRR New York Mini 10K

Steve Finley

Follow Leigh Anne:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

19 Jun 2023651. Motherhood Mondays with Aleia Hobbs, Professional Sprinter & Olympic Medalist00:43:39

"We knew the answer was yes. But it was so sudden. We didn’t have those nine months to get prepared. It was instant."

Aleia Hobbs is a three-time global medalist and an Olympic silver medalist, and she's the North American indoor record holder for the 60 meters. One year ago, Aleia earned another title: mom. In this conversation, the adidas-sponsored professional sprinter talks about the call that changed her life last year, and about what the first year of motherhood has been like for her and her partner. She talks about the adoption process, about continuing to train on very little sleep, and about her big dreams for the future. Follow Aleia on Instagram @aleiabitofthis.

SPONSOR:

  • adidas: Click here to check out the adiClub membership benefits, including 15% off and free shipping.

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

02 Sep 2021418. Abbey Cooper, Professional Runner for New Balance01:20:44

Photo by Jason Suarez, @notafraid2fail

“It’s not who I am. It’s something that happened to me.”

Abbey Cooper was the talk of this year's U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials. She may not have ultimately made Team USA, but Abbey, who is sponsored by New Balance, threw down not one but two of the most inspiring, gutsy performances at Hayward Field. First, in the 5K prelims, when she broke away from the field and ran the majority of the race solo in pursuit of the Olympic Standard (and she hit it, with a few seconds to spare!). Then, in the 5K final, when she was with the lead pack until the final moments, when she ultimately finished fourth, just one and a half seconds off the podium. Abbey is perhaps best known for her performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics, when she fell during the 5K prelims. But people don't talk about the fall — they talk about how Abbey got right back up and helped her fellow competitor to the finish. On this episode, Abbey talks about how Rio has — and hasn't — defined her, and she reflects on the highs (like her recent 5K personal best at the Prefontaine Classic!) and those just-missed moments on the track.

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Abbey reflects on her 5K PR at the Pre Classic, and why she feels like she’s been “running on house money” this year (4:50)
  • On working with a sports psychologist: Abbey’s husband  (9:40)
  • What it means to be “relationally healthy” (11:00)
  • What it was like watching friend Molly Seidel win bronze at the Olympic marathon (18:30)
  • On entering the off season (22:00)
  • Reflecting on this year’s Olympic Track & Field Trials (25:45)
  • On all those just-missed moments along the way (40:35)
  • On being defined — or not — by Rio 2016 (44:20)
  • More thoughts on just-missed moments and the lessons that come with them (55:00)
  • On “trusting the process with both commitment and surrender” (1:00:45)
  • What does “Running with Heart” mean right now? (1:05:15)

Follow Abbey:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

06 Jun 2023647. A Life Update From Ali01:14:14

It's been a bit since we've really caught up. Here's what's been going on in my world lately.

SPONSORS:

  • Vacation RacesUse code ONTHERUN200 for $200 off any Global Adventures trip, or code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon registration.
  • goodr: Use code ONTHERUN for free shipping on your entire order

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

12 Aug 2021409. Ashley Paulson, iFit Coach, 91-Time Marathoner, & Professional Triathlete01:11:08

“Build those relationships. Have those adventures. Create those memories. That’s what’s worth living for, right there.”

Ashley Paulson never stops moving. She's a professional triathlete, ultramarathoner, 91-time marathoner, U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier and runner, iFit coach, and mom of four with hot pink hair. On this episode, Ashley talks about her recent win at the Deseret News Marathon, and about the sweet story that inspired her to run the race in honor of her father, wearing the T-shirt he got after running the race in the 80s. She reflects on the toughest times in her career, both at the races (in Kona, specifically) and off (when she was served a six-month suspension from triathlon after testing positive for a banned substance in a contaminated supplement). She shares the highs (traveling the country in an RV for two years with her husband and all four kids!), and the lows (her history with disordered eating). Ashley is a ball of energy — don't be surprised if you find yourself picking up the pace along the way.

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Ashley celebrated her 40th birthday! (5:00)
  • All about Ashley’s hot pink hair (6:30)
  • Ashley reflects on her recent win at the Deseret News Marathon (10:15)
  • Ashley recalls her toughest moments on the run (17:45)
  • A day in the life of Ashley Paulson (22:30)
  • How Ashley and her husband prioritize their marriage (26:00)
  • On traveling around the country in an RV for two years  (32:00)
  • Ashley reflects on serving a six-month suspension from triathlon (39:30)
  • The pressure of being a public figure (47:20)
  • Ashley’s relationship with food and her body, and her past with disordered eating (49:00)
  • On qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, and what’s next for Ashley (56:45)

Follow Ashley:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

11 Dec 2019193. Jenny & Judi Donnelly BONUS EPISODE!00:59:27

"We are both a bit stubborn — especially about our goals." —Jenny Donnelly

It was a big, exciting weekend at the 2019 California International Marathon! It was especially exciting for the Donnelly family: 28-year-old Jenny qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials, finishing in 2:44.31, and her mom, 62-year-old Judi celebrating 25 years of being breast-cancer-free, ran a lifetime personal best, finishing in a Boston Marathon qualifying time of 3:56. On this episode, Jenny and Judi reflect on their exciting weekend at CIM, and talk about why this sport and this community are so special. Jenny opens up about her history with race anxiety, and Judi talks about navigating parenting a child who is dealing with running-related panic attacks. It's a fun episode that proves why running is so magical.

Thank you to Generation UCAN for sponsoring this episode of Ali on the Run Show! Click here and use code ONTHERUN for 20 percent off your order, plus free shipping. (First-time buyers, check out the UCAN Run Starter Pack here, and get 50 percent off.)

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Jenny breaks down her race at CIM (3:55)
  • Judi talks about running a 3:56 at CIM — a lifetime personal best! (10:45)
  • Jenny talks about her history for race anxiety (14:50)
  • Judi talks about what it was like running the New York City Marathon in the 80s! (25:40)
  • What it’s like getting panic attacks on the run (29:00)
  • Judi talks about being 25 years cancer-free, and talks about raising high-achieving daughters (36:30)

 

What we mention on this episode:

Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team

Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor

 

Follow Jenny: 

Follow Judi: 

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

27 Sep 2020283. What's New With You with Beatie Deutsch00:36:49

“When I ran that 2:32 in January, it really made me realize that ‘dream big’ is not just dream big, it’s dream huge, because you have no idea of what you’re capable of.”

 

Speedy Beatie is back on the Ali on the Run Show this week! Beatie Deutsch is a 2:32 marathoner and mother of five who made her Ali on the Run Show debut on Episode 158. This time around, we’re catching up with Israel’s National Marathon Champion to find out how she shaved 10 minutes off her marathon time, and to learn more about her calls to the International Olympic Committee to change the date of the 2021 Olympic Marathon so it doesn’t fall on the Sabbath. She offers an update on her goal to represent Israel in the Olympics, and talks about what the pandemic has been like in Israel.

 

Thank you to UCAN for sponsoring the What’s New With You series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to ucan.co/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN for 20% off your order!

 

Follow Beatie:

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

20 Oct 2023673. Run Your Way with Emily Sisson and Shane Quinn01:09:41

"Pressure comes when things are going well."

The American Record Holder and the Irishman return! Today on the Ali on the Run Show, Emily Sisson and Shane Quinn are here to talk about their respective experiences at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, where Emily ran a 2:22:09, finished seventh, and was the top American woman of the day — and Shane ate omelettes. While this didn't end up being the race Emily trained, hoped, and planned for — that darn side stitch! — both Emily and Shane agree that this was ultimately a good day. They share their top moments and memories from the weekend (spoiler: Rivers), talk about what's next (vacation, and then the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials!), and offer their thoughts on American distance women vs. the world. (For more LOLs, make sure you listen to this episode with Shane and Tony D'Amato.)

SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

22 Oct 2021435. Ask Ali!00:37:24

“I think being sensitive can be a strength in many ways. It’s OK to be sensitive. It’s OK to be emotional. It’s OK to have feelings. It’s OK to care.”

Welcome to Ask Ali, a twice-a-month series where I answer all of your questions. This time around, we’ve got listener questions about Center Stage (best movie ever), my ideal desserts, recent impulse purchases, finding a running coach, dealing with difficult people, and more. Thanks to everyone who called in for this one. Enjoy!

If you want to be part of a future “Ask Ali” episode (yay!), call 917-947-9699 — introduce yourself, and ask whatever’s on your mind! I can’t wait to hear from you!

SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off your entire goodr order!

You asked:

  • Will I ever come run CIM? (4:30)
  • Which character from Center Stage would I love to hang out with? (7:35)
  • My ideal dessert bracket (10:55)
  • My best recent impulse buy (15:05)
  • How to find a running coach (19:45)
  • How to deal with unkind people (23:20)
  • What to know about running the Manchester City Marathon (31:30)

Check out:

High-rise flare jeans!

Chunky boots!

Mary Johnson on Episode 195 of the Ali on the Run Show

Kaitlin Goodman on Episode 160 of the Ali on the Run Show

Manchester City Marathon

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

15 Oct 2024755. Phoebe Robinson, Comedian, Author, Writer, Producer, Marathoner01:17:05

"Now that I’m free of that relationship, who am I now? I needed to know this new version of myself. So I started doing things I’ve always been like, 'Huh, maybe I want to try this, maybe I want to do that.' I was like, 'Why don’t I just give running a go?' I'd always see people in Prospect Park doing the loop, and I was always like, 'I want to be one of those people who’s doing that!'"

Phoebe Robinson knows fun. She's a stand-up comedian, writer, producer, actress, and host and star of Two Dope Queens (the podcast and the show). She's the author of the best-selling You Can't Touch My Hair and Everything's Trash. And she moderated Michelle Obama's Becoming book tour in five different cities. So what's fun for Phoebe right now? Running, of course! In this episode, Phoebe talks about how and why she became a runner just one year ago. Phoebe ran her first marathon, the Boston Marathon, earlier this year, and is currently training for the New York City Marathon. Plus: Phoebe's takes on turning 40, her friendship with Bono, and Sex and the City

FOLLOW PHOEBE @dopequeenpheebs

SPONSORS:

  • The Eugene Marathon: Register for the Eugene Marathon (April 27, 2025) and save $10 with code ONTHERUN.
  • Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (Emma Bates and I are both Otters!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your order.

In this episode:

  • How it feels to be a marathoner (2:30)
  • How it feels to have just turned 40 (4:00)
  • What Phoebe is watching right now (16:00)
  • What Phoebe used to want to be when she grew up (19:55)
  • What hasn’t Phoebe done? (23:45)
  • What it was like moderating Michelle Obama’s Becoming book tour (28:15)
  • Phoebe talks running! (32:55)
  • Phoebe looks back on her first half marathon (45:45)
  • How becoming a marathoner has changed Phoebe’s life (51:05)]
  • How running has worked its way into Phoebe’s work (57:15)
  • Phoebe’s goals for the 2024 New York City Marathon (59:30)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

26 Dec 2023685. Ask Ali, Cancer Edition01:50:03

"I felt like I was constantly treading water and barely staying afloat. It felt like I was stuck, as everything else just raged on. Time doesn’t stop and the world doesn’t stop. Everything doesn’t stop just because you’re having a hard time. There were days where I’d be at the grocery store, standing in line, and I wanted to scream, 'Don’t you all know that I have cancer? Don’t you know this is the hardest day of my life, and it’s a normal day in your life?' It’s the ultimate reminder that you never know what someone’s going through. So be kind."

At long last: the big, long, TMI-filled cancer episode. After being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, I've wanted to do regular check-ins on the podcast, but it's been a little daunting. One day last week, I finally felt up for chatting a bit. So in this episode, I'm talking about what life has looked like on the health front over the past seven months. I walk through my timeline from first lump (April 27) to mammogram and ultrasound (May 12) to biopsy (May 16) to diagnosis (May 19), followed by surgeries (double mastectomy July 3, reconstruction surgery August 30), chemotherapy (September 26, October 17, November 7, and November 27), and "now what?" Plus, answering listener questions and offering thoughts on how to support a loved one going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!)

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • “Notecard thoughts” from the past few months, including Annie as my anchor, and ruminations on being called a “fighter” and “warrior” (2:40)
  • My timeline: from first lump to diagnosis, surgeries, chemotherapy, and beyond (12:10)
  • On the treatment front: Now what? (1:01:00)
  • Answering listener questions about all things cancer (1:08:50)

LINKS:

Pre-order To the Gorge, by Emily Halnon

Ali vs. Breast Cancer GoFundMe

Penguin Cold Caps

ChappyWrap

Minky Couture blanket

Oofos slippers

Stanley hand-held water bottle

Nordstrom pajamas

Zip-front bras

Athleta zip-front bra

The one-shoulder bodysuit (on major sale!)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

22 Apr 2024716. LIVE at the 2024 Boston Marathon with Meb Keflezighi01:02:26

"Whatever you need, I hope you got at least a little of it here today."

What an honor and a treat it was to get to host a live show the day before the 2024 Boston Marathon with 2014 champion Meb Keflezighi. In this conversation — recorded live at the New Balance headquarters — Meb talked about how he was feeling the day before running the race again, 10 years after his historic win the year after the bombings. He talked about officially becoming a New Balance athlete (!!!), about his hopes to run sub-3:00 (he finished in 3:08), and the impact his 2014 win had on him, his family, the city of Boston, and the running community.

SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite daily shoe. Meb ran the Boston Marathon in the SC Elite v4!)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

14 Oct 2022573. Ask Ali!00:36:33

"I get overwhelmed, I get stressed, I put a lot of pressure on myself. I have high expectations for myself. But my 'why' is wanting to do my best. My why is wanting to be a good example for Annie. If I’m going to spend any time working and away from my daughter, I want it to be for a good reason."

Welcome to Ask Ali, the series where I answer all of your questions. This time around, I’m flying through 26 listener questions, sent in via Instagram Stories (I’m @aliontherun1), about podcast, running, motherhood, Halloween, purple M&Ms, laundry detergent (?), and so much more.

SPONSOR: 

  • goodr. Click here for free shipping on your next goodr order!

You asked:

  • How excited were you to get Wordle on the first try? (3:05)
  • What is Annie going to be for Halloween? (3:50)
  • Will we see you at the New England Half? (4:25)
  • What’s your favorite 90s trend that has come back? (6:15)
  • What’s your favorite song to let loose and dance to? (7:50)
  • Any chance there will be more tickets to the live show with Keira D’Amato? (8:45)
  • Thoughts on the new purple M&M? (9:15)
  • What is the relationship between podcasters? Friends? Enemies? Competitors? (9:50)
  • Running the NYC Marathon for the first time — what’s your best advice? (12:00)
  • Has a guest ever said something so offensive or off the wall that you had to edit it out? (13:25)
  • Do you ever forget why you are doing something or who you’re trying to impress? (16:00)
  • Grinding: love it or hate it? (18:00)
  • When will you know if you’ll be back at the Boston Marathon in any capacity? (20:15)
  • What would you change or redo about your wedding? (20:25)
  • If you had to start a fantasy running team, who would your five starters be? (22:30)
  • Do you have a running coach? (24:00)
  • Do you have any future plans to run another marathon? (25:30)
  • How many home offers did you make? (27:00)
  • Favorite Halloween costume you ever wore (28:15)
  • How’s Ellie? (29:50)
  • Will you ever announce a race in the south? (30:25)
  • Boyfriend has ulcerative colitis. What are some date night ideas for us? (30:45)
  • What is the all-time most-listened-to episode of your podcast? (31:30)
  • What detergent do you use on your running clothes? (32:45)
  • Looking to commit to my first marathon — which one should it be? (33:00)
  • Are you ever in a bad mood when it’s time to start the podcast? (34:15)

Check out:

The New England Half: Use code ONTHRUNNE for 15% off your race registration

The Clearwater Marathon & Running Festival: Use code ONTHERUN for 20% off your race registration

"Molly Seidel Still Struggles," by Sarah Lorge Butler for Runner's World

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

20 Apr 2023632. LIVE at the Boston Marathon with Sara Hall, Aliphine Tuliamuk, & Sara Vaughn00:55:05

Let the Boston Marathon recaps begin! First up: We went live! I hosted a live show at the Boston Marathon Expo on Friday, April 14, in front of a massive, awesome, standing-ovation-ready crowd. The topic: marathons and motherhood. The guests: three women who know it well. Welcome returning favorites — all three of whom went on to race Boston three days later — Sara Hall, Sara Vaughn, and Aliphine Tuliamuk.

SPONSORS:

  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI23 for 20% off your next UCAN order.
  • Vacation Races: Use code ONTHERUN200 for $200 off any Global Adventures trip, or code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon registration.

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

28 Jun 2024727. Dakotah Lindwurm & Annie Frisbie, Minnesota Distance Elite Teammates & Best Friends01:14:37

"You get your medal outfit fitted for you, so when you are ideally on the stage, it looks perfect. And when I had it on and they were taking it in a little bit, I was like, 'I could do this. I could need this outfit.' And I really hope that I do."

Dakotah Lindwurm and Annie Frisbie are training partners, teammates, and best friends. And so far, 2024 has been good to Dakotah and Annie on the run. The Puma-sponsored Minnesota Distance Elite athletes are fresh off personal bests in both the 10K (at the New York Mini 10K) and the half marathon. In this conversation, we hear about their respective races (including Annie's win) at the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon. Annie shares what her racing calendar looks like for the rest of 2024, and Dakotah talks about how her training is going in preparation for the Paris Olympics later this summer, where she will represent Team USA in the marathon. Plus, how life has changed for Dakotah since finishing third at the Olympic Marathon Trials earlier this year, and what she's doing to set herself up for maximum success in Paris.

SPONSOR: 

  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN training essentials pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Dakotah is getting her workouts in — at the airport (3:00)
  • What’s next for Annie on the run, and which races Annie and Dakotah are still thinking about after the first few days of the Track and Field Trials (8:00)
  • All about Dakotah’s experience in Eugene for team processing (11:00)
  • Dakotah and Annie recap their races at the New York Mini 10K (16:30)
  • How Dakotah’s life has changed since making Team USA in February (24:55)
  • Annie and Dakotah talk about their respective races and personal bests  and Annie’s win! — at the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon (27:30)
  • All about Annie’s real marathon debut (34:55)
  • Dakotah’s approach to racing during her Paris build, and how she’s setting herself up for maximum success at the Olympics (41:10)
  • On Annie and Dakotah’s “other” jobs (55:00)
  • What Dakotah and Annie are excited about right now (58:50)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

03 Oct 2019178. Ladia Albertson-Junkans, Ultra Runner & Best Friend to Gabe Grunewald01:16:57

"Gabe was all about trying her best, whereas I was more about striving for perfection. And thankfully, I had Gabe in my life to show me what that really meant — trying your best — and why that was so much better than striving for perfection."

Ladia Albertson-Junkans is a collegiate cross-country runner turned ultramarathoner. Most recently, Ladia ran the Western States 100, and followed that up by running the Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the Timberline Trail around Mount Hood. Ladia is also well known in the running community as Gabe Grunewald's best friend. On this poignant episode, Ladia beautifully shares stories about Gabe, who passed away this summer. She talks about their friendship, including the sweet story of how they met, and opens up about being by Gabe's side during her final days. She talks about what it means to be brave, the role running played in her grieving process, and about learning how to say goodbye. Ladia also talks about how important it was to Gabe to make sure the Brave Like Gabe Foundation kept running and inspiring fellow cancer patients.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • On running the Fastest Known Time on the Timberline Trail around Mount Hood, including how Ladia felt Gabe’s presence before and during the run (6:00)
  • On running Western States in June (19:40)
  • When does Ladia fit running into her busy life? (26:20)
  • How Ladia and Gabe met, and why Gabe wouldn’t let Ladia quit running after college (27:30)
  • Ladia opens up about what Gabe’s last few weeks were like, and shares a few stories about Gabe that speak to her remarkable character (33:45)
  • Ladia talks about that visit from Chip and Joanna Gaines (41:30)
  • Did Gabe know the impact she had on the world? (46:00)
  • What does it mean to live #BraveLikeGabe? (55:30)

What we mention on this episode:

Gabe Grunewald on Episode 62 of the Ali on the Run Show

Brave Like Gabe Foundation

Follow Ladia:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

24 Aug 2020274. Ali & the Experts with Kaitlin Goodman, Running Coach01:03:56

“Running isn’t canceled! You can still be improving during this time.”

 

Kaitlin Goodman is a 2:32 marathoner and four-time Olympic Trials qualifier who runs professionally for the Boston Athletic Association and adidas. Kaitlin — a frequent Ali on the Run Show guest and fan favorite — is incredibly versatile on the run. She has qualified for the Olympic Trials four times — in three different distances! (The 5K, 10K, and marathon.) And she’s a running coach with a master’s in public health. Kaitlin is the founder of Running Joyfully, where she coaches runners of all abilities. She’s also the founder of Safe on the Road, a nonprofit education and advocacy organization that promotes pedestrian and cyclist safety.

 

Thank you to Athletic Greens for sponsoring this series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to athleticgreens.com/ontherun to get a year’s supply of Vitamin D with your first Athletic Greens purchase!

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

10 Nov 2022584. LIVE with Emma Coburn in New York City01:10:55

"You can call me Bog Girl if you want."

The best way to kick off TCS New York City Marathon week? A live show at the 1 Hotel Central Park South with special guest Emma Coburn, presented by New Balance. Emma has been on the show six (six!) times now, so our goal with this one was simple: "What haven't we talked about yet?" And mission accomplished, as we talked about Bosshard Bogs, got some Team Boss updates, and discussed the pressure that comes with being Emma Coburn. Plus: tattoo talk, Presidential Physical Fitness trauma, and so much more.

SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to learn all about the conversations New Balance is having to promote mental wellness.

Follow Emma:

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

16 Jul 2024733. Juliette Whittaker's 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials Recap01:03:59

"When I crossed the line, I was in so much shock. I kept having to check the board to make sure I was reading it right!"

Juliette Whittaker is a college student who just finished third in the Women's 800m race at the Olympic Track and Field Trials, and will be going to Paris later this summer to represent Team USA at the Olympics. A college student. Going to the Olympics. In this conversation, the Stanford University junior (who has an NIL deal with On) returns to the Ali on the Run Show to talk about what it took to make Team USA in a very dramatic final.

SPONSOR: 

  • Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (Emma Bates and I are both Otters!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your order.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • When Juliette started dreaming about becoming an Olympian (2:55)
  • What it’s like becoming an Olympian alongside Juliette’s sister, Isabella, and what life has been like since the Trials (6:00)
  • How Juliette is feeling now (16:00)
  • What it was like arriving in Eugene before the Trials, and all about the first round of the Women’s 800m (19:45)
  • All about the Semi-Final, where Juliette finished fourth (24:20)
  • How Juliette prepared for the 800m Final (32:00)
  • Juliette breaks down the 800m Final (38:50)
  • The aftermath (52:50)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

19 Jul 2021399. What's New With You with Kate Grace01:07:44

“Nothing is guaranteed. And because of that, it enabled me to be so present and so thankful and aware of how special the whole thing was.”

 

Welcome to Season 3 of the What's New With You series, where we catch up with past guests on the Ali on the Run Show. And we're kicking off this season with professional middle-distance runner Kate Grace! The last time Kate was on the show, in December 2017, she had just left her sponsor, Oiselle, to sign with Nike and join the Bowerman Track Club. Now, three and a half years later, Kate has left BTC and is now a member of Team Boss, training under coach Joe Bosshard. (And she's moving! Kate is in the process of relocating from Portland, OR, to Boulder, CO, to train full-time with the team.) On this episode, Kate talks about her decision to change teams, and talks about how training is different with Coach Joe. Plus, she recaps her races at this year's Olympic Track & Field Trials, where she hoped to make her second Olympic team in the 800m, but ultimately fell short of that goal. But Kate isn't sitting around sulking: She is, in her words, "living her best life" right now, and is fresh off a European revenge tour, where she raced four times (in four different countries) in 10 days, earning two wins and three personal bests in the process. (Her new 800m PR is 1:57.2, which she ran in Monaco.)

 

THE LAST TIME KATE WAS ON THE SHOW: Kate Grace on Episode 53 of the Ali on the Run Show

 

SPONSOR: UCAN. Click here and use code ALI for 20% off your entire UCAN order!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Kate’s moving! (3:30)
  • How Kate’s feeling after a whirlwind 10 days of racing (4:25)
  • Kate’s decision to leave Bowerman Track Club (8:00)
  • On the move to Team Boss (10:30)
  • How Kate’s training is different now that she’s coached by Joe Bosshard (25:30)
  • How Kate was feeling in the weeks leading up to the Olympic Trials (38:00)
  • Reflecting on this year’s 800m races at the Olympic Trials (41:20)
  • All about the Kate Grace Revenge Tour (47:00)
  • Kate’s “white shorts” story (1:04:05)

 

Follow Kate:

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

04 May 2023637. My Eugene Marathon Recap, with Guest Host Keira D’Amato02:11:52

"I am so accustomed to thinking about what could go wrong, and how do I prepare for that? Which I don’t think is bad… But very rarely do I let myself be open to the possibility of something great or something magical, or a perfect day. And I tried — start to finish. I kept that in my mind: Be open to the possibility of a perfect day."

Last weekend, I ran the Eugene Marathon. It was my seventh marathon. My first marathon in seven years. And my first marathon since becoming a mom. I finished in 3:41:10 — a 10-minute personal best. And in this conversation — guest hosted by Keira D'Amato — I'm recounting all of it. The highs (Annie on the sidelines!), the lows (roughly miles 18–26), and everything in between.

ANNOUNCEMENT! We're hitting the road! Join Keira and me for a half marathon and live show in Richmond, VA, on March 9, 2024. This is going to be big! It's going to be fun! And we would love for you to join us. Get your tickets HERE.

SPONSORS:

  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI23 for 20% off your next UCAN order.
  • Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Why did the results say I’m from West New York, NJ? (4:25)
  • Am I proud? And did I have fun? (7:15)
  • Why? (9:05)
  • What happened next? (13:30)
  • All about fueling (17:30)
  • Taper time! (21:50)
  • On the decision to bring the whole family to Eugene (26:40)
  • The days leading up to race day (34:00)
  • The Duck Dash! (43:30)
  • All about the live show with Shalane Flanagan (49:00)
  • How we spent the rest of the day Saturday (51:30)
  • Race morning! (55:00)
  • The start line (1:02:30)
  • “What was your pacing strategy and how did you nail it?” (1:08:10)
  • Cole Hocker, baby geese, and other sights and sounds from the Eugene Marathon course (1:10:10)
  • What I listened to during the race (1:12:50)
  • On the race going from great to…less great! (1:20:30)
  • On feeling pressure to perform well (1:29:30)
  • On getting through the tough miles and to the finish line (1:31:30)
  • That finish line feeling (1:38:50)
  • The after-party (1:48:10)
  • Listener Q&A (1:50:25)
  • Announcement! (2:03:00)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

29 Aug 201894. Ellen Latham, Creator of Orangetheory Fitness00:51:42

I finally thought, ‘Why not me? Why not give it a shot?’” —Ellen Latham

Ellen Latham is the creator and co-founder of Orangetheory Fitness. Orangetheory is the fastest-growing fitness franchise in the world: It's currently in 18 countries, it brought in more than $700 million in sales last year, and Ellen and her team recently celebrated the opening of the brand's 1000th studio. Of course, the road to super success hasn't been simple for Ellen. Before she was the founder of Orangetheory, she was a single mom who had just gotten fired from her job and had to figure out what to do next. On this episode, Ellen, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL, reflects on those challenges, how she decided to become an entrepreneur, and what makes OTF special. She also talks about her greatest successes and scariest failures and growing pains.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Ellen made her way into the fitness industry (1:50)
  • How being a single mom who got fired from her job led Ellen to create Orangetheory, and how she bounced back from extreme discomfort (2:40)
  • Whether Ellen always knew she would be a huge success, and how she learned to be an entrepreneur (8:45)
  • What Ellen says are the most important decisions she’s made to grow Orangetheory to become the fastest-growing fitness franchise in the world (16:00)
  • Why Orangetheory’s motto is “More Life,” and what that means to Ellen (22:30)
  • What a day in the life of Ellen Latham is like (26:00)
  • Ellen shares her future goals for Orangetheory (28:00)
  • Ellen’s advice for first-time Orangetheory-goers and for women who want to pursue careers in the fitness industry (30:45)
  • What keeps Ellen up at night (33:45)

What we mention on this episode:

Orangetheory Fitness

Ellen’s Ultimate Workout

Massage Envy

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

16 Jan 2024689. Everything You Need to Know About the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials00:51:33

"This is the race they’re going to tell their grandkids about — that they took part in the race to pick the marathon team for the Olympics."

We are just three weeks away from the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon! On Saturday, February 3, the fastest distance runners in the country will line up in Orlando in pursuit of their Olympic dreams. To qualify for the Trials, women had to run a sub-2:37 marathon or a sub-1:12 half marathon, and men had to run a sub-2:18 marathon or a sub-1:03 half. The top three men and top three women will earn spots on Team USA.

To answer all of your questions about the Trials — like what's the deal with the men having to unlock spots, and how are the roommates assigned? — we have media director for the local organizing committee Jay Holder (who was the press chief for the 2020 Trials in Atlanta).

The men start at 10:10 AM ET, and the women start at 10:20 AM. The marathon will stream live on Peacock starting at 10 AM ET, and the taped broadcast airs on NBC at 12 PM ET. For more information (and to read all the athlete bios!), check out the official Trials website.

SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

15 Feb 201860. Emma Coburn00:58:33

“The narrative that I couldn’t do things never entered my life.”

Emma Coburn is a professional middle-distance runner for New Balance. She’s a world champion in the steeplechase, and competed at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic games. On this episode, the Crested Butte, CO, native (and newlywed!) talks about being coached by her husband, Joe Bosshard, explains the unintentional way she got into the steeplechase, and talks about what it was like breaking her own American record in the 3000-meter steeplechase in London in 2017. Plus, she opens up about body image, posing nude for the ESPN Bodies Issue, and what inspires her.

This episode is brought to you by Strava, the leading social network for athletes. Click here to join today!

Listen on Apple Podcasts I SoundCloud I Overcast I Stitcher I Google Play

Here’s what you’ll get in this episode:

  • Emma explains what exactly the steeplechase is, how she became a professional steeplechaser, and why it’s such an awesome event (1:30)
  • Why Emma had no interest in running in college (6:25)
  • Emma’s decision to go pro (9:45)
  • How Emma found her mental strength (11:20)
  • Emma’s most recent record-breaking performance — at 7,000 feet! (14:30)
  • What it’s like breaking your own world record (18:00)
  • How Emma met her now-husband — and coach! — Joe Bosshard (22:20)
  • Why Emma wanted to gain 10 pounds for her wedding (23:25)
  • What Emma’s relationship with her body is like (28:10)
  • Emma’s advice for improving your confidence and body image (31:30)
  • What it was like posing nude for the ESPN Bodies Issue (33:45)
  • What’s going through Emma’s head when she’s on the starting line (40:05)
  • What it was like medaling at the Rio Olympics in 2016 — and becoming the first American woman to medal in the steeplechase at the Olympics (41:00)
  • How Emma stood her ground against Rule 40 (44:15)
  • What inspires Emma every day (46:10)
  • Emma’s advice for how to make running fun (48:35)

What we mention on this episode:

New Balance

Western State Colorado University

Trent Sanderson

Joe Bosshard

University of Colorado

Aisha Praught Leer

Gracie Coburn’s viral video

IAAF

Kaela Edwards

Orangetheory Fitness

Jenny Simpson

Secret Stash Pizza

Do You Believe in Miracles documentary

The Plaza Hotel

Follow Emma:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

20 Nov 2020308. Feel-Good Friday, Funniest Hits Edition00:41:39

"I need to laugh. I need to smile. I need to feel silly."

Welcome to Feel-Good Fridays, Season 3! This time around, honestly, I'm just feeling like keeping it light. Because we all know that 2020 has been a year. So for the next four weeks, my goal — my mission, should you choose to accept it — is to bring you something every Friday that will make you laugh, smile, or somehow feel lighter. I think we could all use a little levity right now. Today, we kick things off with a compilation episode: revisiting four of the Ali on the Run Show's happiest, funniest, laugh-out-loud-iest moments and conversations. Whether you're hearing these stories for the first time or revisiting them after a few years, I hope they bring you a giggle.

SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN for $10 off!

Want to listen to the full episodes from the clips on this episode? Check 'em out:

  1. Episode 12: Thoughts We Had During our First Half Marathons
  2. Episode 77: Ali on the Run Show LIVE! featuring Meb Keflezighi, Andrea Barber, Chris Heuisler, and Des Linden
  3. Episode 44: Chris Heuisler's Most Embarrassing Running Moment
  4. Episode 116: Jen Lada, ESPN Reporter

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

25 Jan 2024692. The Best Advice We've Ever Received00:49:33

"Put yourself in a position to get a yes, otherwise it’s automatically a no."

Need a little pep talk? A little boost? A gentle nudge, or some tough love? I've got all that and more today, with a roundup of the best advice listeners of the Ali on the Run Show have ever received. Plus, a short story about a time very recently when I took my own advice and "sent the email" — and it didn't work out the way I'd hoped. (It's OK!)

SPONSORS:

  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.
  • goodr: Click here and use code ALI for free shipping.

Pre-order To the Gorge, by Emily Halnon, here.

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

10 Oct 2018101. Jeannie Klisiewicz of The Ellen DeGeneres Show01:07:30

"You can have success and you can have money and you can have the best job in the world, but you’re only going to sleep well at night if you’re happy with who you are." —Jeannie Klisiewicz

You probably know Jeannie Klisiewicz as the bubbly, always super excited receptionist and often-on-camera star of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. (She even has her own show now: Life's First-Evers with Jeannie!) Jeannie just may be the happiest person on the planet, and she's on the Ali on the Run Show today sharing the amazing (and gutsy!) story of how she got her job working with Ellen, and how her role has evolved over the past 10 years. Jeannie, who grew up outside Chicago, talks about confidence and the power of staying true to yourself and, of course, about how she got into running and what it's done for her physically and mentally. Warning: This episode will make you smile so hard your cheeks hurt.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Jeannie got her job on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (3:00)
  • Why Jeannie says that, in spite of going out and asking Ellen DeGeneres for a job live on air, she’s actually not confident (14:15)
  • How Jeannie — a small-town girl from outside Chicago — has adapted to life in Los Angeles, and a lifestyle that has her up-close-and-personal with celebrities every day (19:30)
  • What Jeannie’s job was like when she started working with Ellen, and how it’s evolved over the past decade (22:00)
  • Whether being put on camera changed Jeannie’s relationship with her body and appearance (27:00)
  • What Jeannie’s new show, Life’s First Evers, entails (37:00)
  • What Jeannie’s relationship with Ellen is like off-camera (40:15)
  • Jeannie’s advice for people who want to get into the TV industry (49:30)
  • How Jeannie got into running, and how she fits it into her busy schedule (52:00)
  • What’s next for Jeannie? (58:00)

What we mention on this episode:

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Ellen surprising Jeannie

Life’s First-Evers with Jeannie

“Dennis Quaid is here!”

Adele at Jamba Juice

Ellen’s New York to L.A. 

Follow Jeannie:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

11 Mar 2022492. Beyond the Run with Stephanie Roth Goldberg, LCSW, CEDS01:08:01

"I found myself when I found running."

Stephanie Roth Goldberg is a psychotherapist, licensed clinical social worker, and certified eating disorder specialist in New York City. And when she offers a listening ear and advice for her clients, she's able to do that as both a trained professional and as someone who personally has been through it. In this conversation, Stephanie shares her experiences with substance abuse and addiction and disordered eating as a teen and young adult. She talks about going to rehab for the first time at 14 years old, and about how she ultimately found recovery. And she talks about finding running — and finding herself in the process. In addition to sharing her story on this episode, Stephanie — who is an an Ironman and mom of two living in Montclair, NJ — offers advice about developing a healthy relationship with exercise, dealing with anxiety, and building a mental wellness toolbox (or Caboodle).

SPONSOR: New Balance — Go to newbalance.com/beyondtherun to learn more about how New Balance is supporting the conversations around mental wellness in running. (And check out my current favorite jacketjoggers, and long-sleeve shirts.)

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • What Stephanie was like as a teenager, and her experiences with substance abuse and an eating disorder (6:00)
  • How Stephanie found running (24:00)
  • How Stephanie’s relationship with running has evolved, and whether that relationship has always been healthy (31:30)
  • How do you know if your relationship with running is healthy? (35:45)
  • On triggers (40:30)
  • Intuitive eating 101 (41:45)
  • How Stephanie became an Ironman (44:10)
  • What running looks like for Stephanie right now (50:30)
  • How to deal when “something’s gotta give” (55:00)
  • Stephanie’s favorite form of self-care (1:01:30)

For more, check out:

Rachel Wyman on Episode 281 of the Ali on the Run Show

Rachel Wyman on Episode 166 of the Ali on the Run Show

Follow Stephanie:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

10 Jun 2021384. Sarah Lesko, Oiselle's Leader of Corporate Development01:20:03

“Sometimes you just need an advocate to kick you in the pants.”

Sarah Lesko just might be one of the most-loved women in the running industry. As the leader of corporate development for Oiselle, Sarah — or "Lesko," as most call her — is beloved by her colleagues, by Oiselle's elite athletes, and by the hundreds of members of the Volée team. So what is about Lesko that makes people so drawn to her? After hearing about Oiselle from countless women on this show — Lauren Fleshman, Sally Bergesen, Alison Mariella Désir, Rebecca Mehra, Kara Goucher, Courtney Carter — it's time to hear from Lesko herself! On this episode, Sarah talks about growing up on a commune, going to (and running for) Yale, and becoming a doctor. She talks about the health issue that forced her to take an 18-year break from running, and explains what drew her back in and got her on the run again. She talks about having kids (she's a mom to three boys) while in her medical residency, and about life as a mom and family medicine doctor. And she talks about her decision to leave the medical industry in 2015 to work for Oiselle. Today, Sarah manages Oiselle's philanthropic efforts, its Bras For Girls program, and the elite team. In this conversation, she reflects on helping grow the brand, including the initiatives she's proudest of, and the missteps along the way. Plus, she talks about why, at 52, she's proud to be "faster as a master."

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

EMBED EPISODE HERE

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How was your run today? (4:40)
  • What’s dominating your brain right now? (5:55)
  • What Sarah’s childhood was like as a self-proclaimed “child of hippies” (9:30)
  • On med school, raising children during med school, and becoming a family medicine doctor (14:20)
  • Meeting Sally Bergesen, and the road to Oiselle (22:25)
  • Why Sarah took 18 years off of running (25:21)
  • Reflecting on where Oiselle was at when Lesko entered the picture (29:50)
  • On leaning in to internet culture, engaging with influencers in the running space, and starting to sign and sponsor professional athletes (34:35)
  • What, exactly, Lesko does all day, and all about Bras for Girls (42:45)
  • On being so loved (48:45)
  • How Oiselle has evolved over the years (52:00)
  • On hiring Alison Mariella Désir, and the brand’s goals for DEI work (58:45)
  • The role running plays in Sarah’s life right now (1:05:25)

What we mention on this episode:

Sally Bergesen on Episode 48 of the Ali on the Run Show

Lauren Fleshman on Episode 103 of the Ali on the Run Show

Bras For Girls

Oiselle Light Luxe Fabric

Alison Mariella Désir on Episode 292 of the Ali on the Run Show

Kara Goucher on Episode 86 of the Ali on the Run Show

Running Industry Diversity Coalition

Follow Sarah:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

16 Sep 2019173. You Can Run a Marathon with Dawn Grunnagle00:46:15

At about mile 9, I was in the porta-potty, wishing and praying that somebody would pick it up. I was like, ‘If I stay here long enough, somebody will pick up the porta-potty. I just want to disappear in here.’ That’s how terrible I felt.""

At 41 years old, Dawn Grunnagle is proof that you can, in fact, keep getting faster with age. Dawn is a Nike-sponsored professional 1500-meter runner turned master's marathoner. (Before going pro, she spent 10 years teaching third and fourth graders. Aw!) She has qualified for the Olympic Trials three times: first in 2012 in the 1500, and then in 2016 and 2020 in the marathon. Last year, she ran a 2:34 personal best time — but the road to OTQ glory hasn't been easy or pretty for Dawn. On this episode, she talks about her earliest marathon days, which involved a lot of porta-potties and puking. (Relatable!) She talks about how she chipped away at her time over the years, going from a 2:49 to a 2:34, and talks about her adventures in fueling. (Key takeaway: Just because it works for someone you admire doesn't mean it will work for you!) Dawn is currently training for the 2019 Berlin Marathon.

Thank you to Generation UCAN for sponsoring the You Can Run a Marathon series on the Ali on the Run Show! Click here and use code ONTHERUN for 20 percent off your order, plus free shipping. (First-time buyers, check out the UCAN Run Starter Pack here, and get 50 percent off.)

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Dawn got into the marathon distance — and why she stuck with it despite getting off to a rough start (2:00)
  • What Dawn considers her breakthrough race (17:50)
  • How Dawn went from a 2:49 marathon to a 2:34, and what her marathon training looks like (19:00)
  • What Dawn’s recovery looks like (26:50)
  • What race week is like for Dawn (33:00)
  • What Dawn’s goals are for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials (39:30)

Follow Dawn:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

08 May 2021371. Motherhood LIVE, with Lauren Fleshman, Alysia Montaño, Stephanie Bruce, & Dawn Harper-Nelson01:32:17

Happy Mother's Day! Earlier this week, I had the honor and privilege of hosting a virtual live show with four inspiring, iconic women: Lauren Fleshman, Alysia Montaño, Stephanie Bruce, and Dawn Harper-Nelson. It was an open, honest, totally unfiltered conversation about the realities of motherhood — the good, the bad, the messy, the 4 AM feedings, and the pressure we put on ourselves to, sigh, "do it all." We talked about asking for help, and why that can be more complicated than it seems, and talked about what mothers need — like really need — to thrive in society today. (And we raised more than $5,000 for &Mother — Alysia's organization that is dedicated to breaking down barriers that limit a woman's choice to pursue and thrive in both career and motherhood — in the process!)

And on a personal note: Whatever stage of motherhood you are in, please know that I see you, and you are not alone. If you're an aspiring mom, if you are trying to conceive, if you are basking in new motherhood, if you are struggling in new motherhood, if you're a seasoned mom, if you have a complicated relationship with your own mother, whatever stage or phase you are in right now, know that I see you. I see how hard you are working, how hard you are trying, how you are showing up every day, doing your best. And if no one has told you yet today: You're doing great. Truly.

Mother's Day can bring up a lot of emotions for a lot of people, and I want you to protect your heart, today and always. I hope this conversation will help some people feel seen or less alone, but I also know that spending 90 minutes hearing about motherhood may not serve a lot of people right now, so please do what is best for you. [Hug.]

SPONSOR: Picky Bars — Visit pickybars.com/ontherun, where code ONTHERUN gets you 20% off. (Join the Picky Club and get an extra 20% off.)

For more:

Lauren Fleshman on Episode 103 of the Ali on the Run Show

Lauren Fleshman & Jesse Thomas on Episode 161 of the Ali on the Run Show

Alysia Montaño on Episode 259 of the Ali on the Run Show

Steph Bruce on Episode 104 of the Ali on the Run Show

Steph & Ben Bruce on Episode 206 of the Ali on the Run Show

Steph Bruce on Episode 354 of the Ali on the Run Show

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe, and leave a rating and review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. And, as always, spread the run love by sharing this episode with your friends, family members, running buddies, or favorite internet strangers!

20 Jun 2024726. Nikki Hiltz & Emma Gee, Olympic Trials Power Couple01:21:49

"It was like, 'What if the worst thing happens and I don’t make the team?' And then it happened, and my life was fine. And then on the other end of it, last year I won the whole thing, which was really unexpected and cool…and my life also didn’t change. So I know that no matter what happens, I have a great life outside of this thing."

Nikki Hiltz and Emma Gee return to the Ali on the Run Show as they both prepare to compete at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials in Eugene, OR. Nikki is hoping to make their first Olympic team in the 1500m, while Emma achieved her longtime goal to make it to the starting line of the 3000m steeplechase, and now has a new goal for the event. They talk about their coach/athlete/partner relationship, about how they're each feeling heading into the Trials, and about what they do to set themselves up for success on race day.

SPONSORS: 

  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN training essentials pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.
  • goodr: Click here and use code ALI for free shipping on your entire order.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Nikki and Emma are each feeling heading into the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials (2:45)
  • What Nikki and Emma are packing for Eugene (7:30)
  • Nikki’s approach to the Trials and the pressure that comes with competing when you’re at the top of your game (10:25)
  • All about Emma’s goal to qualify for the 2024 Trials (15:10)
  • Nikki and Emma talk about their coach/athlete/partner dynamic (24:35)
  • How Nikki and Emma set themselves up for success on race day (27:40)
  • What it’s been like being followed by a documentary crew (36:20)
  • How Emma has approached her training (51:35)
  • How Nikki approaches each round of competition (54:00)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

05 Dec 2024770. Meghann Featherstun's 2024 in Review00:59:53

"We all have fears in life. We all have things that hold us back from doing some really cool stuff. But I kept reminding myself, 'Meghann, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. You can hear those fears, but you’re going to push them aside and you’re going to figure this out.'"

Fan favorite sports dietitian Meghann Featherstun returns to the Ali on the Run Show today for her 2024 in review, including the highs (London!), the lows (none come to mind!), the group runs (O-H-I-O!), and the completion of her Abbott Six-Star journey. 

FOLLOW MEGHANN @featherstonenutrition

SPONSOR: 

  • New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season.

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

17 Jun 2021386. Elise Cranny, Professional Runner for the Bowerman Track Club01:15:56

“I feel so lucky that running has made me feel empowered and given me a lot of confidence. Finding that throughout high school was something that was really life-changing for me. I really want the younger generation to have that opportunity and to see the power of sport and the power they can find in themselves and in their team, and in connecting with others who have similar goals and passions. I really want to inspire that younger generation and see all the great things that they can do.”

 

Welcome to U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials Week! The Trials officially kick off tomorrow, June 18, at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, OR, and today's guest, Elise Cranny, is definitely one to watch. Elise runs professionally for Nike and the Bowerman Track Club, and she will be competing in both the 5K (June 18) and 10K (June 26). Elise comes into the Trials with the fastest qualifying time in the 10K, and the third-fastest time in the 5K (behind her BTC teammates Shelby Houlihan and Karissa Schweizer), and she is fit, both physically and mentally. Just a few weeks ago, Elise won the 1500m event at the Portland Track Festival, running a 4:02 and earning both a personal best and an Olympic qualifying time (though she won't be going for the 1500m at the Trials). Before going pro, Elise was a standout runner at Stanford University. She was a 12-time All-American, and finished second at NCAA Championships four times. On this episode, Elise talks about her path to the Trials, her dreams for making her first Olympic team, her history with RED-S, and her experience as a Voice in Sport mentor. Keep your eyes on Elise this week!

 

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Elise talks about her 1500m win at the Portland Track Festival (3:50)
  • Elise confirms which events she’ll be competing in at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials (7:20)
  • On training at altitude in Park City, UT (11:50)
  • Comparing the 1500, 5K, and 10K (14:30)
  • What it’s like working with Coach Shalane Flanagan (17:50)
  • The workouts Elise loves — and the ones she loves a little bit less (22:00)
  • On getting dropped at practice (25:40)
  • How Elise has built her mental toughness and confidence (29:00)
  • What Elise says her strengths and weaknesses are on the run (31:00)
  • What Bowerman Track Club practice is like (35:00)
  • Elise shares her running story (37:00)
  • Elise’s experience with RED-S in college (42:10)
  • On the decision to go pro (46:30)
  • Elise looks back on her first practice with Bowerman Track Club (50:00)
  • Elise shares her pre-race rituals (1:01:20)
  • Elise’s biggest hopes, dreams, and goals both on and off the track (1:06:00)

 

What we mention on this episode:

Sinclaire Johnson on Episode 373 of the Ali on the Run Show

Gabriela DeBues-Stafford on Episode 353 of the Ali on the Run Show

Shelby Houlihan & Karissa Schweizer on Episode 357 of the Ali on the Run Show

Shalane Flanagan on Episode 242 of the Ali on the Run Show

Voice in Sport

Sterling K. Brown’s 2018 Stanford University commencement address

 

Follow Elise:

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

15 Jul 2022541. Beyond the Run with Emily Saul, Marathon Mentality Q&A Part I01:06:02

"Check in on why you’re doing this. It doesn’t have to feel like the biggest 'why' statement of the whole world, like, 'What’s the purpose of life?' But it really does help you to say, 'What’s meaningful about this for me, right now?'"

Ali on the Run Show favorite Emily Saul is back! Emily is a licensed mental health counselor, sport psychology coach, and founder of E Saul Movement. She's a former Division-1 collegiate rower, she's a lifelong athlete, she's a many-time marathoner, and she's a TEDxBoston speaker. This conversation kicks off the first of a three-part series within the Beyond the Run series, where we talk about the connection between running and mental wellness. Today, Emily is answering listener questions about the mental side of marathon training. If you're training for a fall marathon, it's likely you started training this month. (Exciting!) So, Emily is here to hold your hand throughout the process. These questions are all about getting into the right headspace to start training. Emily is addressing comebacks, comparison traps, burnout, and all the things that are top of mind at the beginning of a training cycle. (She'll return to the show in August for training-related questions, and in September to help get you psyched and mentally ready for race day.)

SPONSOR: New Balance — Click here to learn more about how New Balance is supporting conversations around mental wellness in running. (And check out my current favorite brapullover, and crop top.)

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Emily’s first words to fall marathoners (6:40)
  • On getting past a motivational rut (10:45)
  • Dealing with burnout (19:05)
  • Navigating the comparison trap (24:40)
  • Emily’s advice for dealing with mom guilt (34:15)
  • Returning to training after a tough race or setback (42:00)
  • How to redefine expectations (47:30)
  • “Help! I can’t stop talking about running!” (54:00)

For more, check out:

Emily Saul on Episode 510 of the Ali on the Run Show

Emily Saul on Episode 574 of the Ali on the Run Show

Emily Saul on Episode 59 of the Ali on the Run Show

Emily Saul’s TEDxBoston talk

Follow Emily:

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

29 Oct 2020299. Feel-Good Friday with Jenny Gaither, SoulCycle Instructor00:42:05

"Someone’s either a drain or a fountain. Start focusing on your fountains."

Need a confidence boost? Not sure where to start? Perfect: You're in the right place! That's what Jenny Gaither does for a living. She's a confidence coach, founder of The Movemeant Foundation, creator of the Dare to Bare event, and a longtime SoulCycle instructor. On this episode, Jenny talks about learning to feel vulnerable when she's teaching, she advises on how to deal with toxic relationships (drains vs. fountains!), and she explains how to get started on your own journey to self-confidence.

SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN for $10 off!

Follow Jenny:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

11 Aug 2021408. Wyomia Tyus, 1964 & 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist01:28:03

“You always have to stay in the fight.”

It is an honor and a privilege to get to share this very special conversation with the legendary Wyomia Tyus today! Wyomia Tyus, now 75, is a two-time Olympian and four-time medalist (three gold, one silver). She competed in the 1964 Games in Tokyo at 19 years old (just like Athing Mu!), and again at the 1968 Games in Mexico City, where she became the first person to ever win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the 100 meters. On this episode, Wyomia tells her life story, reflecting on growing up as the youngest of four kids in the Jim Crow South, and dealing with racism and segregation at a young age. She shares the story of her house burning down when she was 14 and, one year later, the death of her father. She talks about meeting coach Ed Temple, who took her under his wing and coached her to all four Olympic medals while also filling the void left by her father's passing. Plus, she talks about her role in the 1968 Olympic protests, and what it was like being in Mexico City during a time of so much political and social unrest. (If you love Wyomia's story — which I think you will! — you can hear more from her in her book, Tigerbelle: The Wyomia Tyus Story.)

SPONSOR: Oiselle Use code ONTHERUN for 15% off.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Wyomia talks about what it’s been like watching this year’s Olympics in Tokyo (4:50)
  • What Wyomia’s childhood was like, growing up in Georgia (8:30)
  • Reflecting on the year when Wyomia’s house burned down and, later, her dad died (14:30)
  • On meeting and being trained by the legendary coach Ed Temple at Tennessee State University (18:30)
  • How Wyomia developed confidence on the run (27:45)
  • Wyomia’s experience competing at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo (36:00)
  • On returning home after the Games (55:15)
  • What it was like going to the Olympics in Mexico City to defend her title in the 100m (57:40)
  • How Wyomia felt when she heard a broadcaster say Carl Lewis was the first person to run back-to-back 100m races — when it was actually Wyomia who had done that (1:05:00)
  • Being a part of the protests at the 1968 Olympic Games (1:06:30)
  • Dancing the “Tighten Up!” (1:13:45)
  • Wyomia’s decision to step away from competing after the 1968 Games (1:16:00)
  • What it was like being at the opening of Wyomia Tyus Olympic Park (1:18:00)
  • Wyomia’s message to this year’s Olympic athletes (1:25:10)

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

29 Feb 2024701. Rachel Schneider Smith, Olympian, Professional Runner, & Mom01:07:03

"Hands down, the most courageous thing I’ve ever done is walk into trying to get pregnant and walking through pregnancy after loss."

Rachel Schneider Smith just might be the most-loved woman in the professional running world. Everyone adores her — and in this episode, it's easy to see why. Rachel is a HOKA-sponsored professional runner who competes in everything from the 1500m on the track to the half marathon on the roads. (Girl's got range!) She lives in Flagstaff, AZ, where she is coached by her husband, Mike Smith. In this conversation, Rachel talks about pregnancy after loss, and about the role running played during her grieving process in the wake of a miscarriage. She talks about returning to running and racing, and about how she's feeling heading into the USATF 15K Championships this weekend in Florida.

FOLLOW RACHEL @rachschneid18

SPONSORS: 

  • Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I’m an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your order.
  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • All about Rachel’s run today, and how her body feels returning to running after having a baby (2:25)
  • Where Rachel finds her flow state (5:00)
  • Rachel reflects on her performances at USA Indoor National Championships last weekend (6:00)
  • On running with teammates in Flagstaff, and running with nose strips at USAs (11:45)
  • Rachel’s New Hampshire roots (14:20)
  • What Rachel’s return to racing has been like (16:40)
  • Navigating life as a professional runner and mom (22:45)
  • The sisterhood of professional runner moms (27:40)
  • Rachel’s experience with loss, and the role running played in her grieving process (30:25)
  • Rachel’s bout with skin cancer (38:00)
  • What Rachel was like as a kid (45:30)
  • Rachel’s goals for the USATF 15K Championships (50:15)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

10 Jan 2023601. Run Your Way with Lauren Fleshman01:02:53

"It shouldn’t be this tough. It doesn’t need to be this tough. You shouldn’t need that much toughness to succeed. Of course you need to have drive and need to work hard and all those things. That’s not the kind of toughness I’m talking about. I’m talking about dealing with the unnecessary obstacles that a lot of female athletes are faced with."

Welcome to the new "Run Your Way" series on the Ali on the Run Show. If I've learned anything (and I have, I swear!) from 600 episodes of this show, it's that yes, there are best practices and there is plenty of good running-related advice to go around. Ultimately, though, the best way to run is your way, however that looks. This series will explore what it means to run your way.

First up: former professional athlete and all-around force to be reckoned with, Lauren Fleshman, whose book, Good For a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World, is out today. In this conversation, Lauren dives into some of the key themes of the book, and talks about what it was like pouring her heart into these pages, and doing so during a deep depressive time in her life. She shares the most pivotal moments and decisions she faced both during and after her professional career, and explains how she found her way on the run and off. Plus, her best advice for sending the email, her take on the state of the sport in 2023, and so much more.

SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!)

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • On dealing with imposter syndrome (3:35)
  • The part of the book that made me gasp (5:30)
  • What it means to be called “tough” (8:15)
  • How Lauren wrote a book during a major depressive episode, and why writing this book “kicked her ass” (9:40)
  • What Lauren’s relationship with running is like now (15:10)
  • How Lauren talked to her kids about depression (16:00)
  • How writing a book changed Lauren’s relationship with writing (17:30)
  • Who has read Lauren’s book? (21:40)
  • On getting vulnerable in the book, and the stories knew had to be in the book (26:00)
  • Did life ever feel easy for Lauren? (34:45)
  • Lauren talks “sending the email” (38:00)
  • Lauren’s message to people raising young girls (45:15)
  • How Lauren sees the state of the sport today (49:00)

Lauren's previous appearances on the Ali on the Run Show:

"Motherhood LIVE," with Alysia Montaño, Steph Bruce, and Dawn Harper-Nelson, May 2021

"Why It's An Exciting Time for Women's Running," LIVE at the NYRR RunCenter, November 2019

Lauren Fleshman & Jesse Thomas, August 2019

Meet Lauren Fleshman, October 2018

Follow Lauren:

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

25 Jul 201884. Career Q&A with Katie Burke00:57:01

It’s never too late to do what you wanted to do growing up. But it’s not going to come easy, and no one’s going to hand it to you.” —Katie Burke

Katie Burke is the Chief People Officer at HubSpot, a marketing software company in Boston that employs more than 2,300 people worldwide. Of those 2,300, Katie was the company’s first female to land a spot in the c-suite. (Today, 45 percent of the company’s vice presidents are women.) And on this episode, Katie is answering all of your career-related questions! From negotiating raises and promotions to navigating tricky bosses, office politics, and big career changes, Katie has brilliant advice for all of it. You’re going to want to take notes for this one!

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Katie talks about her upcoming sabbatical and how she plans to spend it (1:30)
  • Katie’s best advice for building and strengthening confidence (3:10)
  • Katie’s take on “being nice” (5:00)
  • What to know about making a career change (9:00)
  • What are the top three things that make a resume stand out? (13:00)
  • Do you really need to know someone to get a job at a company? (14:00)
  • What should an awesome cover letter look like? (15:00)
  • Applying for more than one job or role at a company: Yay or nay? (16:00)
  • How to explain a gap in employment to be a stay-at-home parent (16:30)
  • How do I know what I’m worth? (18:20)
  • How to negotiate your salary (21:25)
  • Everything to know about raises (25:15)
  • Maternity leave: When to tell your boss and how to negotiate the terms (28:00)
  • How not to get talked over or disrespected during meetings (34:20)
  • How to handle an unresponsive, disengaged boss (36:25)
  • What to do when you and your friend are both up for the same job or promotion (38:00)
  • What to do when you love your job and field, but everyone around you is miserable (39:30)
  • How to apply for a different role within your current company, and when to tell your manager (42:10)
  • How to be a standout employee during your first 30–90 days at a new job (44:15)
  • How to deal with insecurity at a new job (46:30)
  • How do I figure out what I actually want to do with my life? (48:00)

What we mention on this episode:

Katie Burke on Episode 70 of the Ali on the Run Show

HubSpot

Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations with Marianne Williamson

Kim Scott’s Radical Candor

Werk

Glassdoor

Jeni’s Ice Cream

Follow Katie:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

09 Jun 2022525. Catching Up with Kara Goucher01:21:53

"It’s been hard to swallow that there is no miracle. It’s going to take time."

It's been nearly one year since Kara Goucher came on the Ali on the Run Show to talk about what it was like being a part of the NBC Sports broadcast team during the Tokyo Olympics. Today, Kara returns with all kinds of updates. In this fun, wide-ranging conversation, Kara talks about how she has gotten more comfortable in her role as an NBC Sports Distance Analyst, and shares her broadcast plans for the summer. She talks about how she's honed her skills, and shares whether she still gets nervous to go live on air. Kara talks candidly about her recent Runner's Dystonia diagnosis, and what that means for her health, her running, and her family. Plus: parenting during difficult times, going through life as a highly sensitive person (same), and the possibility of a Kara Goucher and Des Linden podcast.

SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ali and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • What’s making Kara happy today (3:30)
  • How Kara’s confidence has grown as a commentator, and how she’s balancing TV jobs and motherhood (4:15)
  • All about calling the Boston Marathon (18:00)
  • Are Kara and Des Linden launching a podcast?! (22:10)
  • An update on Kara’s runners dystonia diagnosis, and what treatment she’s trying now (26:25)
  • All things motherhood and parenting during difficult times (42:30)

For more, check out:

Kara Goucher on Episode 411 of the Ali on the Run Show

Kara Goucher on Episode 43 of the Ali on the Run Show

Kara Goucher on Episode 86 of the Ali on the Run Show

Kara and Adam Goucher on Episode 208 of the Ali on the Run Show

What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan

Follow Kara: 

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

26 Aug 2021416. Courtney Frerichs, Olympic Silver Medalist01:23:03

“He said, ‘I want you to feel like you can take over this race. And take over early.’ And I was like, ‘Wait, what?!’”

This girl is on fire! Courtney Frerichs is a two-time Olympian for Team USA who just returned from Tokyo as a silver medalist! Courtney, who trains with Nike's Bowerman Track Club, competed in the 3000m steeplechase at the Tokyo Olympics, and made the final an exciting one when she made her move and took the lead with four laps to go. (A move she attributes both to coach Jerry Schumacher's plan and to her own quiet confidence and instinct taking over mid-race.) Courtney went into the Games as the American record holder in the 3000m steeplechase and as a world silver medalist, and just a week after returning from Tokyo, she competed at the Prefontaine Classic where she became the first American woman to go sub-9:00 in the steeplechase. On this episode, Courtney talks about the hard work she's done on her mental game leading up to this year's Olympic Track & Field Trials and, ultimately, the Olympics. She talks about what it was like being in Tokyo, gives a behind-the-scenes look at life in the athlete village (where she roomed with Team USA's 1500m runner Elle Purrier St. Pierre), and shares the mantras that helped her through it all.

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Where is Courtney keeping her silver medal? (3:30)
  • Courtney’s plans and goals for the Pre Classic, and whether she feels pressure going into the race (5:40)
  • All about Courtney’s decision to prioritize her mental health recently (9:30)
  • Courtney’s first impressions when she got to Tokyo (23:15)
  • How Courtney was feeling before the racing started at the Games (32:00)
  • What running was like in Tokyo (40:45)
  • Courtney recaps the Prelims (43:30)
  • Courtney shares her pre-race routine (47:00)
  • All about Courtney’s race plan and that “big move” (53:50)
  • What it felt like to cross the line and earn an Olympic silver medal (1:02:50)
  • How Courtney is feeling now (1:08:30)
  • On going back to school for nutrition (1:10:15)

Follow Courtney:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

15 Apr 2022509. Ask Ali with Guest Host Laura Green00:57:45

“The people who read my blog and supported me — whether we met in real life or from afar — they saved my life on my worst days.”

Laura Green is a runner, a mom to two boys, and a dear friend — and today, she’s a podcast host! On this edition of Ask Ali, returning Ali on the Run Show guest Laura is here to do all the question asking, reading your questions from Instagram (and coming up with a few of her own). We do a chronological Ali deep dive, from the college days, to the pre-podcast blogging days, to life today with a 3.5-year-old.

SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off your entire goodr order!

Laura asks:

  • The warm-up round (3:30)
  • “Pre-podcast Ali” questions (10:40)
  • Podcast-related questions (27:00)
  • Parenting questions (42:00)

For more, check out:

Laura Green on Episode 157 of the Ali on the Run Show

Hotel Lobby Spa Candle

lululemon Wunder Train Bra

lululemon Enlite Bra

Tracksmith Allston Bra

Follow Laura:

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

30 Jun 2022534. Courtney Wayment Smith, Professional Runner for On00:58:56

"I’m excited to just put myself in it and be a part of it and give myself a chance. I think incredible things happen when you believe in yourself and stay in the here and now and give yourself the chance."

On June 11, 2022, Brigham Young University graduate Courtney Wayment Smith made NCAA history. Competing at NCAA Championships, she ran the 3000m steeplechase in 9:16 — not only taking a commanding win, but breaking the collegiate national record (previously held by now-Olympian Courtney Frerichs) in the process. That time also put her at #5 on the all-time U.S. women's steeplechase list, behind Frerichs, Emma Coburn, Colleen Quigley, and Jenny Simpson.

To celebrate, Courtney signed with an agent (Ray Flynn) and signed her first professional contract with On! The icing on the cake: Courtney competed at USATF Outdoor Championships this past weekend, where she finished second in the 3000m steeplechase, earning her a spot on Team USA heading into next month's World Athletics Championships. Needless to say, it's been an exciting summer for Courtney, who lives in Provo, UT, and will continue training with her BYU coach Diljeet Taylor.

SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ali and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • On getting used to saying “I’m a professional runner” (3:10)
  • How the pandemic impacted Courtney’s college experience and her budding professional career (7:00)
  • Why Courtney loves the steeplechase (9:00)
  • On graduating from college, and celebrating accordingly (13:00)
  • Recapping NCAAs, USAs, and the celebrations in between (14:20)
  • What it felt like lining up at USATF Outdoor Championships, and all about the process of going pro (18:55)
  • All about the 3000m steeplechase final at USAs (27:25)
  • On navigating post-race interviews, mixed zones, media, and more (32:25)
  • Courtney’s special bond with Coach Diljeet Taylor (41:00)
  • All about Courtney’s signature hairstyle and those extra-long lashes (44:35)
  • Where Courtney’s at mentally as she prepares for World Athletics Championships (46:50)

Follow Courtney:

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

05 Mar 2020214. Veronica Jackson & Alex Bernardi Recap the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials00:50:49

"This showed me I can make more dreams — because apparently they come true!" —Veronica Jackson

 

Last week, we heard from U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon qualifiers, friends, and former training partners Veronica Jackson and Alex Bernardi. This week, they're back to recap their respective races in Atlanta. (Spoiler: Veronica finished 63rd and Alex ran a personal best!)

 

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Veronica and Alex were feeling three days after running the Trials (2:30)
  • Breaking down the early miles of the race (7:25)
  • On the crowds and the spectators (13:45)
  • Alex and Veronica talk about what it was like seeing each other during the race (20:10)
  • Veronica talks about experiencing pre-race anxiety the day before the race (24:00)
  • What it was really like being in Atlanta (32:25)

 

What we mention on this episode:

Veronica on Alex on Episode 211 of the Ali on the Run Show

Atlanta Track Club

Kaitlin Goodman on Episode 160 of the Ali on the Run Show

 

Follow Alex:

 

Follow Veronica:

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

18 May 2021375. The Everyday Runner, Melissa Cummings01:09:11

“I’m very proud that I have managed to, in less than a year, do four half marathons. It’s not something I ever could have dreamed of doing. And I’m just proud I have really stuck it out. Because it’s hard. It’s not easy to try to work yourself back from a poor health standard, or to bring yourself out of that mental hole that people can fall into. I’m very proud that I have stood up and said, ‘I need help, and I need to make a change.’ That’s a huge step for anybody to take. The fact that I’ve taken that step and I keep moving forward… That means a lot to me.”

Welcome to the final episode of the newest series on the Ali on the Run Show: The Everyday Runner. For the past four weeks, we’ve been hearing from runners who are just like you and me. Not professional athletes — these runners have jobs, families, and responsibilities beyond this sport we all love so much.

Today, we wrap things up with Melissa Cummings, a runner — or “walker with purpose,” as she likes to say — from Manchester, NH. On this episode, Melissa shares the story of wanting to take back control of her life, and how she found running, racing, and a welcoming running club along the way. She talks about that title, “runner,” and shares her thoughts on whether or not she — as a four-time half-marathoner — has embraced it yet. She talks about what it was like joining the Millennium Running Club, and what it was like being named 2020’s Club Member of the Year. And she talks about her experience with depression, and how running has helped.

SPONSOR: Picky Bars — Visit pickybars.com/ontherun, where code ONTHERUN gets you 20% off. (Join the Picky Club and get an extra 20% off.)

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • What Melissa’s childhood was like as the youngest of five children (6:45)
  • How Melissa found running (11:00)
  • How one race became a year of races (18:45)
  • On joining a running club (23:30)
  • Melissa’s quest to “take back her life” (33:30)
  • On becoming a half-marathoner! (35:45)
  • On being named Millennium Running’s Club Member of the Year (45:15)
  • What got Melissa to sign up for a marathon (50:40)
  • On owning the title, “runner” (54:00)

Follow Melissa:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe, and leave a rating and review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. And, as always, spread the run love by sharing this episode with your friends, family members, running buddies, or favorite internet strangers!

30 Jul 2024737. Ask Ali!00:52:38

"I live in constant duality now."

We're taking a break from the Trials recaps and Olympics episodes to catch up. Welcome to Ask Ali, where I answer all of your questions submitted on Instagram (where I'm @aliontherun1).

SPONSOR: 

  • goodr: Click here and use code ALI for free shipping on your entire order.

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

30 Jan 2025781. Chris Heuisler, Family Feud Contestant!01:38:39

"It feels like I’m tapping into what I’ve always believed I should be doing."

Chris Heuisler is back! Chris made his Ali on the Run Show debut on Episode 6, back in 2017. He's an actor turned National Run Concierge for Westin Hotels and Resorts turned actor again, and in this episode, the marathoner and dad of two is catching us all up on life since this episode in 2020. In addition to offering a running update, a work update, and an update on his sobriety journey, Chris is also here to do what Chris does best: talk about how he and his four siblings have been celebrating their respective 40th birthdays! Ever wondered what it's like to be a contestant on Family Feud? Chris has you covered.

*Watch Chris and his siblings on Family Feud on Tuesday, February 11!*

SPONSORS: 

  • Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I'm an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for $25 off your next Lagoon order.
  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

In this episode:

  • How Chris has been since the last time he was on the show (4:45)
  • How Chris has navigated the changes in his career over the past few years, and what he’s up to now (8:50)
  • The role running plays in Chris’s life right now (16:25)
  • Why the Heuisler siblings go big for their 40th birthday celebrations (21:00)
  • The big plan for Chris’s sister’s 40th (30:15)
  • The Family Feud experience (47:20)
  • What’s next? (1:03:10)
  • Chris’s message for anyone going through a hard time right now (1:16:45)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

30 May 2024722. Run Your Way with Emma Coburn, LIVE in Brooklyn01:23:21

"I am scared of outer space, submarines, and remote research laboratories."

We're live with Emma Coburn for the fourth time, making this her eighth appearance on the Ali on the Run Show! In this conversation, recorded in front of a live audience at Smack Mellon in Brooklyn, NY, the day before the RBC Brooklyn Half, we cover Emma's ick factors, her season-ending injury and her outlook about being sidelined during an Olympic year, and her "Team Boss Superlatives."

SPONSOR: 

  • New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season.

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

26 Jul 2020266. On the Record with Mario Fraioli, Host of The Morning Shakeout01:15:42

"I won’t use my voice unless I can back up whatever argument I’m trying to make. But I’ve gotten increasingly more comfortable putting myself in those situations and taking a stance on something and then being able to back it up, whether it’s systemic racism, whether it’s diversity in the sport, whether it’s how we should be handling the pandemic right now as runners. We all have thoughts on those things. A lot of us are afraid to share those thoughts. Not all of us have platforms where we can share those thoughts and have it have an impact, and I am very cognizant of the fact that I do, and I want to make sure I’m using my platform for good in those ways and spurring up healthy conversation and debate."

 

Today, we wrap up the On the Record series with Mario Fraioli, host of The Morning Shakeout podcast and creator of The Morning Shakeout newsletter. Mario comes to podcasting with a background in journalism: He's a longtime sports writer and was the editor of Competitor magazine. On this episode, Mario talks about taking that journalistic approach when it comes to having conversations with running's top athletes, and opens up about getting comfortable taking a stance and using his voice. And he explains why sometimes, you have to let the silence do the work.

 

Thank you to Gatorade Endurance for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! Go to gatoradeendurance.com and use code ONTHERUN20 for 20% off your order.

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How and why Mario got into podcasting (11:00)
  • How Mario prepares for his interviews (18:40)
  • What’s on Mario’s mind right now? (29:00)
  • On choosing guests for The Morning Shakeout (35:50)
  • Mario shares his dream-come-true moments (43:00)
  • On speaking out (53:50)

 

What we mention on this episode:

Ali Feller on The Morning Shakeout

Subscribe to The Morning Shakeout newsletter

Tommy Rivers Puzey GoFundMe

"Interview: Mebrahtom Keflezighi," by Mario Fraioli for mensracing.com

"Retraction Reaction," by Mario Fraioli

Erin Strout on Episode 73 of the Ali on the Run Show

 

Follow Mario:

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

01 Aug 2024738. Katie Stilo, Today Show Food Stylist & Culinary Producer01:24:35

"The energy is just so palpable. Even though it’s the crack of dawn, we are all abuzz and going. You have to be able to get it going."

The next time you're watching the Today Show and you see the anchors eating or drinking something delicious, that's the work of Katie Stilo. As Today's food stylist and culinary producer, it's Katie's job to prepare segments, write scripts based on guest-submitted recipes, cook those recipes (often from world-renowned chefs), and artfully arrange all the food and tablescapes on screen. Plus, she's often on camera, whipping up masterpieces for Savannah, Hoda, Al, Craig, Carson, and the crew. In this conversation, Katie talks about her Emmy Award-winning career, and about the road to landing her dream job. She also talks about becoming a runner two years ago. Katie's goal to see if she could finish a 10K turned into seeing if she could finish a half marathon, which turned into seeing if she could go sub-2:00 in the half marathon. (Spoiler: She did, running a 39-minute half-marathon personal best at this year's Brooklyn Half.) Katie is currently training for this year's TCS New York City Marathon.

FOLLOW KATIE @katie.stilo

SPONSOR: 

  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN training essentials pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • On *not* being in Paris for the Olympics with the Today team (2:30)
  • What, exactly, Katie’s job entails (8:00)
  • On cooking for the Today anchors and feeding their preferences (15:45)
  • Katie’s most memorable live television bloopers and mishaps (17:50)
  • How Katie got her dream job (27:00)
  • How Katie became on-air talent for Today (43:45)
  • Katie’s favorite Today guests (49:00)
  • What it was like being a food stylist for M&Ms (51:45)
  • How, when, and why Katie became a runner (53:25)
  • How Katie is feeling at the start of New York City Marathon training (1:01:10)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

21 Jun 201879. Kayla Itsines00:45:01

I’ve been doing this for three years now and I’m still not used to it. I still get nervous. I worry, am I saying the right thing? Do they like me? Am I funny enough?” —Kayla Itsines

With nearly 10 million followers on Instagram, and 22 million on Facebook, Kayla Itsines is arguably the world’s most famous fitness personality and trainer right now. She’s the co-creator of the Bikini Body Guides (BBG) workouts (those 28-minute, deceptively tough workouts everyone’s posting about on Instagram) and the brains behind the Sweat app, and she is a bona-fide global sensation. But Kayla, who is from Adelaide, Australia, doesn’t think of herself as famous — and that was definitely never the plan. She just wanted to be a personal trainer and to help women, and along the way she built a multi-million dollar business, a massive reputation, a super supportive community, and a team of 100 employees.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $30 off your wireless headphone purchase!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Whether being today’s most popular and influential trainer and fitness personality was the future young Kayla Itsines saw for herself, and how she turned her lifestyle into a business (2:25)
  • Whether Kayla enjoys being an entrepreneur (5:15)
  • The a-ha moment that made Kayla realize she had found her place (7:15)
  • Why Kayla gets nervous before her boot camps (8:15)
  • What Kayla’s family thinks of their Insta-famous relative (10:20)
  • Why Kayla decided to call her workouts Bikini Body Guides, and what that means to her (11:00)
  • How Kayla and her fiancé, Tobi, met (11:45)
  • How Kayla hires, manages, and oversees a 100-person team, and what a day in the life looks like for her (15:25)
  • Why Kayla doesn’t want someone taking over her Instagram (17:30)
  • How Kayla created the BBG workouts (18:00)
  • Whether there’s pressure that comes with having a massive following, and whether Kayla likes being famous (20:45)
  • Kayla opens up about what her relationship with her body is like (27:25)
  • Kayla shares what her diet is like (29:50)
  • Kayla’s tips for building body confidence (31:10)
  • Whether Kayla is bothered by negative comments (32:50)
  • Kayla’s best Instagram advice (35:20)

What we mention on this episode:

Kayla’s E-Books

Eataly

Nobu

Tobi Pearce

Follow Kayla:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

14 May 2020238. Sasha Wolff, Founder of Still I Run00:49:31

"I didn’t want people to think fun, happy Sasha really has depression and anxiety."

 

Sasha Wolff is the founder of Still I Run, a non-profit organization and online community for runners, whose mission is to raise awareness around mental health. On this episode — in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month — Sasha, a mom of two who lives in Michigan, talks openly about her own experiences with depression and anxiety. She opens up about her decision to admit herself to an inpatient facility for treatment, talks about what that was like, and explains what's in her "mental health care kit." She also shares the story of how she found running, and why she's so passionate about running for her own mental health.

 

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off wireless headphones.

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • What Mental Health Awareness Month means to Sasha (4:30)
  • Sasha shares her mental health story (7:40)
  • On the decision to check into a mental health hospital (14:30)
  • What’s in Sasha’s “Mental Health Care Kit?” (21:00)
  • How running has played a role in Sasha’s mental health journey (30:20)

 

What we mention on this episode:

Andrea Barber on Episode 209 of the Ali on the Run Show

Andrea Barber on Episode 45 of the Ali on the Run Show

Full Circle: From Hollywood to Real Life and Back Again, by Andrea Barber

Koala Clip

 

Follow Sasha:

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

05 Sep 2024745. Juliette Whittaker's 2024 Paris Olympic Games Recap01:09:00

"I’m an Olympian, and will forever be an Olympian, no matter what I do in years to come. It’s a very fulfilling thing. To be able to achieve it this early — it takes a lot of pressure off for years to come."

Two years ago, Juliette Whittaker became one of the fastest high school girls in American history, and only the second girl to break two minutes in the 800 meters. Now, in the summer between her sophomore and junior years at Stanford University, Juliette is an Olympian. (An Olympic finalist, to be exact. Juliette finished 7th in the 800m Final.) Juliette was on the Ali on the Run Show a few weeks ago, after she earned her spot on Team USA by finishing third in the women's 800m at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials. Now, she's back, talking all things Paris Olympics, including what it was like staying in the athlete village, what the highest and lowest points were from the races and beyond, and where she decided to get her Olympic rings tattoo. 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Juliette is feeling after the Olympics, and how she processes her races (1:55)
  • Juliette’s favorite memory from the Paris Olympics (5:30)
  • The ever-present dissatisfaction of being a professional athlete (11:45)
  • Juliette’s Olympic rings tattoo (13:35)
  • On being back at Stanford for the school year — as an Olympian (17:00)
  • Juliette’s low point from Paris (24:30)
  • What it was like getting to experience the Olympics with Juliette’s sister, Bella (26:50)
  • Juliette’s Olympics expectations (31:20)
  • Juliette recaps each round of the 800m at the Olympics (33:15)
  • On being the only member of Team USA to advance to the 800m Final (50:30)
  • All about the 800m Final and the Closing Ceremonies (56:30)

FOLLOW JULIETTE @jwhittaker22

SPONSORS: 

  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN training essentials pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.
  • Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase.

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

11 May 2021372. The Everyday Runner, Dr. Margi Johnson01:17:48

"At times in my life when I’ve struggled or when I’ve maybe been less than my best self, my mom always asks, 'When was the last time you went for a run?'"

Welcome to the newest series on the Ali on the Run Show: The Everyday Runner. On this series, we’re hearing from runners who are just like you and me. Not professional athletes — these runners have jobs, families, and responsibilities beyond this sport we all love so much.

Today, meet Dr. Margi Johnson. Margi is a family medicine physician and mom of three with big goals and dreams on the run. (Hint: She wants to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials someday, which would mean running a sub-2:45 marathon!) On this episode, Margi shares her story of being an "airlift baby," born in Vietnam and brought to the United States, where she was adopted and raised. She talks about being athletic as a child, but admits that running was never her first love. (She chose to be a jumper, because she wanted the sport that involved the least amount of running! The irony!) It wasn't until Margi was in her surgical residency — with two kids and a third to come — that she rediscovered and truly fell in love with running. Margi talks about what the past year has been like for frontline workers, shares her story of getting Covid a whopping three times, and explains her family's decision to relocate from New Jersey to Georgia.

SPONSOR: Picky Bars — Visit pickybars.com/ontherun, where code ONTHERUN gets you 20% off. (Join the Picky Club and get an extra 20% off.)

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Margi shares her adoption story, and what it meant to be an “airlift baby” (6:15)
  • How Margi became a runner — and a jumper! (14:00)
  • The road to becoming a doctor (21:20)
  • On rediscovering running as an adult, a resident, and a mother (29:30)
  • When Margi finally started calling herself a runner (41:45)
  • When Margi finds time to run, and what this past year has been like for her (50:10)
  • Adjusting to life in Georgia (59:45)

Follow Margi:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe, and leave a rating and review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. And, as always, spread the run love by sharing this episode with your friends, family members, running buddies, or favorite internet strangers!

04 Jul 2024728. Keira D'Amato's 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials Recap01:06:01

"It was a lot of firsts. I'll be 40 in a couple months, and it's not too often that you get firsts to that degree. It was a really cool experience to feel that."

Let the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials recaps begin! First up: Keira D'Amato, who just competed at her first Track Trials and finished 10th in the 10,000m. In this episode, Keira tells all, including where her mind and body were at heading into the race, how it all played out, and the fun people she saw along the way. She talks about her pre-race conversation with Parker Valby, shares some exciting updates about what's next, and talks about what it was like racing at Hayward Field for the first time.

SPONSOR: 

  • Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (Emma Bates and I are both Otters!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your order.

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

05 Nov 2024762. LIVE in NYC with Gabby Thomas, Presented by New Balance01:05:53

"I had to trick myself into believing that I could win a gold medal."

Career highlight. Life highlight. Welcome to Ali on the Run Show LIVE with Gabby Thomas, presented by New Balance, held at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, two days before the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. (What a big sentence!) 

Gabby Thomas is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, and an Olympic silver and bronze medalist. She's a 200m specialist with a Harvard University degree in Neurobiology and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Texas. She is one of the starts of the Netflix documentary Sprint, and Sprint Season 2, out next week. Gabby was the grand marshal at this year's New York City Marathon, and, allegedly, she makes a great salad.

Biggest THANK YOU to the New Balance team (Kristen, James, Sean, Summer, and so many more), the Mirror team, and the team at Carnegie Hall.

This live podcast audio was recorded by Noriko Okabe. The pre-show musicians (enjoy the opening rendition of "Shake It Off!") were Mikhail Romanov and Galina Romanova.

FOLLOW GABBY @gabbythomas

SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite daily shoe, and I race in the SC Elite v4!)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

22 Jun 2020253. On the Job with Steph Blozy, Owner of Fleet Feet Sports West Hartford01:07:48

"We are obviously a business and we need to sell running shoes to make money, but I feel a very big obligation to be that hub of the community and be that leader and driver to connect people and to help out others."

 

Steph Blozy is the owner of Fleet Feet Sports in West Hartford, one of the leading run specialty stores in the country. Steph is so much more than a running store owner, though: She's truly a community builder and leader, and on this episode, she talks about how she's built such a strong, supportive community in Connecticut. (Her "special sprinkle of magic," she calls it.) Steph's road to running store ownership wasn't a straight one: She got her start as a meteorologist! Click here to hear more from Steph and about how she's adapted during the pandemic both personally and on the job.

 

Thank you to Tracksmith for sponsoring the On the Job series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to tracksmith.com/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN15 at checkout for 15% off your first Tracksmith purchase!

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

21 Oct 2020294. Nikki Hiltz01:03:49

“I used to think being vulnerable or authentic was weakness. Like, ‘Oh, don’t show that, don’t share your weaknesses.’ And then it’s like, wait a second, it’s the opposite. It takes great strength and bravery to live an authentic life.”

 

Nikki Hiltz returns to the Ali on the Run Show! This time around, Nikki — a professional 1500m runner for adidas — talks about her decision to prioritize her mental health this year instead of focusing on the track, and talks about what it means to her to be authentic. She reflects on her hugely successful Golden Coast Track Club Virtual Pride 5K, and talks about the impact of watching members of the LGBTQ+ community using that race to come out to their loved ones. Plus, Nikki explains her decision to leave Golden Coast Track Club, offers an update on her new coach, and tells us all about her girlfriend, fellow runner Emma Gee.

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Nikki shares an update on her team affiliation and her coaching (3:25)
  • Nikki’s decision to prioritize her mental health this year (6:30)
  • Why Nikki loves the person she is becoming (17:15)
  • On authenticity (19:45)
  • Reflecting on the Golden Coast Track Club 5K (22:00)
  • All about Emma Gee, Nikki’s girlfriend (30:00)
  • Why Nikki is so passionate about getting people registered to vote (36:30)
  • How will Nikki know when it’s time to step back on the track? (38:30)

 

What we mention on this episode:

Nikki on Episode 188 of the Ali on the Run Show

Nikki on Episode 170 of the Ali on the Run Show

Ten Percent Happier

The Trevor Project

Myers-Briggs test (I’m ESFJ — The Consul!)

The 5 Love Languages (I’m words of affirmation!)

 

Follow Nikki:

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SPONSOR: AfterShokz

 
24 Dec 2020318. Calum Neff on Pacing Sara Hall at The Marathon Project01:04:02

“I was just like, my three girls are at home cheering for us, yours are right here. There’s so much love for us right now. We’ve just gotta go. Let’s do it for them.”

Last weekend, Calum Neff became known as "Green Shorts Guy" at The Marathon Project in Arizona. Calum was one of several pacers assigned to help Sara Hall run a 2:19 marathon in hopes of setting a new American record. And Calum more than earned the very important role: He's a lifelong runner with four Guinness World Records to his name, three of which are stroller running records that he's earned with each of his three daughters in tow. (A 2:31 marathon with his oldest daughter, a 1:11 half with his middle, and a 31:43 10K with his youngest.) On this episode, Calum passionately talks about his love for this sport, about how he trained (with 102-mile weeks!) and mentally prepared for his duties at The Marathon Project, and what it's like balancing running with family life and a full-time job at an energy technology company. Next up for Calum: attempting the Canadian national 50K record.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Calum’s best piece of stroller running advice (5:15)
  • Was running The Marathon Project about the training journey or about race day? (10:00)
  • How Calum got the job as a pacer, and what his training was like leading up to race day (12:50)
  • On imposter syndrome and the mental side of training and racing (24:15)
  • On meeting Sara Hall for the first time (27:30)
  • On communication during the race (38:00)
  • What’s next for Calum? (48:50)
  • Calum’s post-race recap (55:45)
  • “The art of pacing” (1:00:20)

What we mention on this episode:

The CIM Olympic Trials Qualifying Time Pacers on Episode 196 of the Ali on the Run Show

Thule Glide Performance Jogging Stroller

Thule Urban Glide II Jogging Stroller

Sara Hall on Episode 300 of the Ali on the Run Show

Sara and Ryan Hall on Episode 144 of the Ali on the Run Show

Keira D’Amato on Episode 305 of the Ali on the Run Show

Michael Gervais' "Finding Mastery" podcast

Follow Calum:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

07 Sep 2021421. A Pep Talk from Jesse Itzler00:48:27

“You hear the thing, ‘Are you glass half full or glass half empty?’ I’m so damn glad I have a glass!”

Jesse Itzler is all about "building your life resume." He's a wildly successful entrepreneur, rapper, owner of the Atlanta Hawks, 60-time marathoner, ultramarathoner, best-selling author, creator of events including the 29029 Everesting challenge and Hell on the Hill, dad of four, and husband to Spanx founder Sara Blakely (talk about a power couple). I've been a fan of Jesse's since I read his book Living with a SEAL (and, later, Living with the Monks), and was psyched when I met him at the finish line of this year's Clearwater Marathon — which he has since called his most memorable marathon. (Not because he met me at the finish, but because his four kids ran the last six miles with him, and they all crossed the finish line together.) In this rapid-fire conversation, Jesse and I cover a range of topics, including how he lives in constant pursuit of fun, and the importance of making time for ourselves. Plus, fruit, muffins, and so much more.

SPONSOR: Millennium Running's Clearwater Running Festival — Join us in Florida in January 2022, and use code ONTHERUN for 20% off your race registration.

Check it out:

Fit for Life by Harvey Diamond

Brent and Kyle Pease on Episode 389 of the Ali on the Run Show

Ashley Paulson on Episode 409 of the Ali on the Run Show

Follow Jesse:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

28 Feb 2023616. Ask Ali!00:52:36

"I’m not here to do gotcha journalism. I’m not trying to get the scoop, I’m not trying to break news. I’m just trying to offer a platform to showcase the stories of these athletes, professional or otherwise, to share their stories, and for them to have fun. I want this to be fun for them. And I hope you enjoy it along the way!"

Welcome to the first Ask Ali episode of 2023! These episodes will hit the podcast once a month, sometimes with a guest host, sometimes responding to listener voicemails, and sometimes just flying solo. That's what today is: a solo-sode (is that a thing? can it be?) answering questions about running, podcasting, and more.

CALL IN: 617-446-3966

SPONSOR:

  • Tracksmith: New customers, use code ALINEW for $15 off your first Tracksmith order over $75. Returning customers, use code ALIGIVE for free shipping, plus a portion of the proceeds from your order will be donated to Moms Demand Action.

Running-Related Questions

  • 2:00: What is your favorite post-race meal?
  • 2:40: Tips for treadmill runs
  • 4:40: What are your favorite Peloton workouts? (Use #FriendsofAliOTR for your workouts so we can high-five each other!)
  • 8:15: What will your costume be for the Eugene Marathon? (Register and save with code ONTHERUNEUGENE!)
  • 9:05: Who do you want to interview you for your post-marathon recap podcast?
  • 9:50: What is the running video or clip that you return to most for inspiration or joy?
  • 10:45: Do you stop the Strava app for bathroom breaks on your runs?
  • 11:10: Are you enjoying marathon training?
  • 13:50: Do you feel race performance pressure knowing people follow your running?

Podcast-Related Questions

  • 20:00: Are you still looking to hire someone to help you this year? I’d love to apply!
  • 21:50: Would you ever announce or run the Pittsburgh Marathon?
  • 23:30: What is your personal favorite episode that you’ve done on the podcast to date?
  • 24:20: When was the moment when you really thought to yourself, I’ve made it?
  • 28:55: Personally or professionally, what were the top three turning points in your life?
  • 29:20: Is there ever a conflict between what companies sponsor your episodes and who the athlete is sponsored by?
  • 31:25: What is something you learned about contracts with brands that you didn’t know starting off?
  • 32:50: Was there anything about Chelsea Clinton’s race day that you weren’t allowed to ask?
  • 35:15: Do your guests have any idea what you might ask them?
  • 36:25: How much is pre-prepared before an interview, and how much is natural conversation flow?

Life/Parenting Questions

  • 38:00: What are your favorite recharging activities?
  • 39:10: Would you ever write a book?
  • 41:15: I’m turning 28 this week. Any advice for this strange time of life? Married, no kids, career is eh.
  • 43:35: How do you balance exposing but not pushing Annie into activities like dance and running?
  • 48:00: If you had a kid-free day to yourself, what would you do?

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

24 Sep 2024749. Lauren Peterson, Political Speechwriter & Author01:34:45

"It felt like the riskiest choice I could make, but it changed the whole trajectory of my life and I feel so grateful."

Lauren Peterson's list of professional contacts is wildly impressive. As a political speechwriter and strategist, she has worked for and with President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and President Biden. She's the New York Times best-selling co-author of Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Leadwith former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, and is currently working on her next book, This Will All Be Worth It, about LGBTQ+ family building. In this conversation, Lauren shares her most memorable stories from the campaign trails and Air Force One, to her encounters and interviews with Barack, Michelle, and more. And, of course, Lauren is a runner and marathoner. She talks about running through the best of times, the worst of times, and the most stressful times. Lauren lives in New York City with her wife and their son, Remy. 

FOLLOW LAUREN @lcollinsp

SPONSOR: 

  • New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season.

In this episode:

  • How Lauren describes her job (5:30)
  • On “ego” in speechwriting (7:50)
  • How Lauren got into politics (10:30)
  • What it was like meeting — and working with — the Obamas (22:40)
  • What it was like flying on Air Force One (28:40)
  • How Lauren became a speechwriter (31:15)
  • The first time Lauren heard one of her speeches being delivered (38:00)
  • The speeches Lauren most loves to write (48:00)
  • Why Lauren started running (55:10)
  • How running changed Lauren’s relationship with food and her body (1:02:00)
  • Running around the time of the 2016 election (1:04:50)
  • Lauren’s decision to have a baby, and what that meant for running and her career (1:09:00)
  • What Lauren’s days look like right now (1:21:45)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

05 Sep 2019168. Dr. Shelby Harris, Clinical Psychologist & Sleep Expert01:09:34

“When I started running, people laughed at me. But it was a challenge I needed to do for myself.”

Dr. Shelby Harris is a clinical psychologist and clinical associate professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the neurology and psychiatry departments. She specializes in anxiety, depression, and treating sleep disorders, and is the author of The Women's Guide to Overcoming Insomnia. What does that have to do with running? On this episode, Dr. Harris shares how treating her insomnia-and-sleep-apnea-riddled patients led her to marathon running. She's now a 13-time marathoner who has taken her time from 5:19 to 3:45, and she's currently training for the 2019 Chicago Marathon, where she hopes to run a Boston Qualifying time. Dr. Harris shares her story of being seconds away from crossing the Boston Marathon finish line in 2013 when the second bomb went off, and talks about losing hearing in her left ear as a result of the blast. She also talks about using exposure therapy as a way to get back to running and racing. Plus, she answers your sleep questions! We received more than 200 questions from listeners (wow!), and Dr. Harris dishes out loads of advice, from how to deal with insomnia to how sleep impacts running and so much more.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Shelby got into the sleep field — and found running along the way (5:10)
  • How much sleep should we all be getting, realistically? (8:50)
  • On having phones in the bedroom (14:00)
  • How sleep impacts running (19:35)
  • How Shelby shaved nearly 90 minutes off her marathon time (21:50)
  • Shelby’s 2013 Boston Marathon story (24:10)
  • Shelby answers listener questions about sleep (34:00)

What we mention on this episode:

Montefiore Sleep Disorders Center

Team in Training

Jen Bigham on Episode 151 of the Ali on the Run Show

Jack Daniels Run S.M.A.R.T. Program

Wake Up Narcolepsy

New York Road Runners

Newport Marathon

Follow Shelby:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

10 Feb 2023611. Run Your Way with Colleen Quigley01:10:40

"I’m not the type of athlete who likes to go to the track, come home, and watch Netflix or play video games until the next run, and then rinse and repeat. I will go crazy trying to do that. A lot of people enjoy that and think they have to do that in order to get the success that they are working toward — that they have to give up every other part of their life that isn’t running related. And I’ve always pushed back on that. I don’t think it’s this either/or situation. I think there’s an 'and.' You just have to figure out the right 'and' blend."

Colleen Quigley is affectionately known as "Steeple Squigs" — a play on her last name, combined with what has always been her greatest passion: competing in the steeplechase. The Florida State University alum rose to fame within the professional track and field ranks by becoming a Nike-sponsored Olympian who trained with the Bowerman Track Club. At the end of 2020, Colleen announced her departure from both Nike and BTC, and in May 2021, she signed with new sponsor lululemon. Now, she's continuing to do things her way, which means slightly less conventional training methods and goals for a track athlete: She's going multisport! Colleen has spent the past several months embracing the swim-bike-run life, and this weekend, she'll compete in her first triathlon in hopes of earning her pro card. So why triathlon? And is she done on the track? All that and more in this conversation.

SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!)

LISTEN HERE:

EMBED

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • What’s making Colleen happy today, and how she has adjusted to life in California (2:50)
  • Where Colleen falls on the introvert vs. extrovert scale, and finding the balance between fun and training (9:50)
  • On making the transition to triathlon training and races (16:20)
  • On the release of expectation and pressure (20:30)
  • Colleen shares her triathlon goals, hopes, and dreams (28:30)
  • The status of Colleen’s 2023 racing calendar (45:50)
  • How Colleen sees the running industry now (49:30)
  • What kind of potato product would Colleen be? (1:00:50)
  • Does Colleen have any road or track races on the calendar? (1:03:10)
  • What does it mean to run the Colleen Quigley way? (1:05:30)

Follow Colleen:

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

21 Apr 2021362. Just Missed with Chanelle Price00:59:24

“I think you can almost want something too bad. Because I just wanted it so bad. I wasn’t relaxed. It wasn’t fun anymore. It was just tunnel vision on winning — and I wasn’t winning! I wanted it so bad and it wasn’t happening. It was very draining.”

What happens when you set big, dreamy, lofty goals — but when it counts the most, you fall short? That’s what this series, “Just Missed,” is about. These conversations are about dealing with disappointment. They are reminders that progress is never linear, and that it’s not always the big wins or the losses that define us, but the moments in between.

So far on this series, we’ve heard from Julia Lucas and HOKA NAZ Elite athlete Kellyn Taylor. Today, Oregon Track Club’s Chanelle Price is here.

Chanelle was a standout athlete in high school. She was named Gatorade’s Athlete of the Year, and became addicted to winning.

But when she went away to college at the University of Tennessee, she was no longer “high school Chanelle.” She wasn’t winning. She wasn’t the fastest on the team. And she struggled. She had a goal of becoming an NCAA 800m champion, but missed that goal, finishing second at both indoors and outdoors.

From there, Chanelle’s running career saw high highs and challenging lows. She decided to compete at the professional level, but struggled to find a sponsor early on. In 2014, Chanelle had a breakthrough: She won gold in the 800m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, and became the only American woman to ever win a gold medal there. She signed with Nike. She won gold — three times — as a member of Team USA’s 4x800m relay at World Athletics Championships. She ran a personal best in the 800m: 1:59.10.

Then, in 2017, it all came crashing down. The hits came in rapid succession: a foot fracture, a pulmonary embolism that led to blood clots in her lungs, and, ultimately, a bout with mononucleosis. All of that led to her losing her sponsor. It all could’ve been career-ending, but Chanelle wouldn’t let that happen. She mounted a comeback — and last year, dealt with another foot fracture.

Today, Chanelle is up and running (up, literally, at altitude), gearing up for the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials. This is her story.

SPONSOR: Gatorade Endurance — Shop gatoradeendurance.com and use code ONTHERUN20 for 20% off your next Gatorade Endurance order.

What we mention on this episode:

Athletes in Action

Follow Chanelle:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

31 Jan 2019117. Julie Brazitis, Google Brand & Creative Lead00:59:03

"Stay true to yourself. It gets really good on the other side, when you’re a good person and you follow your gut on who you want to be around and what you want to do with your life." —Julie Brazitis

Julie Brazitis just might be the loveliest, kindest, most positive person you'll ever meet. She's a brand and creative lead at Google, a yoga instructor, a top-honors-earning graduate of Syracuse University, and a recovering perfectionist. On this episode, Julie talks about what it's like when you realize you're living the dream — but that it's someone else's dream. She talks about what it was like growing up as a competitive gymnast, and what happened when a severe spinal cord injury derailed her high-flying aspirations. She opens up about battling alopecia in high school and ulcerative colitis in college — and the mean girls she encountered along the way. Plus, she shares her running story: how she found running, why she loved running, and how she ultimately developed an unhealthy relationship with running.

Julie has had a lovely life — something she's happy to acknowledge — but that doesn't mean it's been easy. This is a thought-provoking episode that'll get you thinking about why we make certain choices, what to do about internal conflicts, and how to embrace or combat the ever-present hustle culture in today's Instagram-inspired society.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Julie recounts her early days as a competitive gymnast, and the back-breaking injury that ended it all (2:45)
  • Dealing with alopecia — and mean girls — during high school (6:30)
  • Julie opens up about her high aspirations, the “inner conflict” she struggled with in her twenties, and choosing between her dream job and the safe route (13:30)
  • How Julie started running — and how her relationship with running quickly turned problematic (29:30)
  • Julie’s battle with ulcerative colitis, and what it was like getting diagnosed in college (32:40)
  • On being our own worst critic (44:45)
  • What it’s actually like working at Google (47:30)

What we mention on this episode:

Syracuse University

NBC Universal Page Program

Yosef Herzog on Episode 111 of the Ali on the Run Show

Follow Julie:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

25 Mar 2022500. Beyond the Run with Elle Purrier St. Pierre01:08:57

“It was pretty tough, I’m not gonna lie. I walked off the track pretty mad. I didn’t want to talk to any cameras, so I walked past the camera people because I knew they were just going to drill me with a bunch of questions that I didn’t want to talk about. And I hadn’t even had time to digest it myself. So I was about to say something I probably shouldn’t have on camera. So I said, ‘I’m making this boundary for myself,’ and I kept walking.”

Elle Purrier St. Pierre is one of the fastest women in the country. The professional New Balance athlete just capped off her indoor season by earning a silver medal in the 3K at World Indoor Championships in Serbia. In 2020, she broke the American record in the indoor mile. Then, last summer, she won the 1500m event at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials (and set a Trials record for that event), solidifying her spot on Team USA and achieving a lifelong dream of becoming an Olympian. Elle — widely known as a small-town farm girl from Vermont — is living the professional runner dream, right? On this episode, Elle talks about the tough times. She talks about getting shoved off the track just seconds into that 1500 final at the Trials, and about how she rallied to win the race. She talks about handling disappointment on the track, like when she finished third in the 1500 at USAs a few weeks ago, a race she was heavily favored to win. And she talks about that — about being "heavily favored," and what that pressure feels like. Plus, reflections on competing in Tokyo, dealing with the post-Olympics blues, and pre-race bad moods. Welcome to Episode 500 of the Ali on the Run Show!

SPONSOR: New Balance — Go to newbalance.com/beyondtherun to learn more about how New Balance is supporting the conversations around mental wellness in running. (And check out my current favorite pullover, crop top, half-zip top, quilted pullover, and jacket.)

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • All about Elle’s run today, and what it’s like being a local celebrity in Vermont (3:50)
  • Where Elle’s keeping her silver medal, and what her goals were for the 3K at World Indoor Championships (8:45)
  • How Elle stays tough when the racing gets hard, and what she’s like before the race starts (11:20)
  • On getting shoved off the track at last summer’s Olympic Track & Field Trials 1500m final (16:00)
  • Dealing with high stakes (22:00)
  • How Elle navigated an injury heading into the Olympics (29:30)
  • What Elle remembers most from the Tokyo Olympics (35:00)
  • On dealing with the post-Olympics blues (40:30)
  • What farm life is like for Elle (42:45)
  • How Elle prepares and re-sets for a new racing season, and what it’s like going into each race as “the favorite” (45:15)
  • On dealing with disappointment after finishing third at USA Indoors and missing out on Team USA for that distance — and coming back to win the 3K (49:00)
  • On being asked “What’s next?” all the time (59:30)
  • The most fun Elle has ever had on the run (1:02:15)

For more, check out:

Elle Purrier on Episode 210 of the Ali on the Run Show

Follow Elle:

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

11 Mar 2021344. Olivia Amato, Peloton Instructor01:07:44

“The only person who can make you feel good about yourself is yourself. You really have to feel confident in who you are and what you bring to the table, and know that you’re enough. That’s your foundation.”

Ask any Peloton devotee about instructor Olivia Amato, and you'll probably hear the same phrase over and over: "She's a real-life Energizer Bunny." Olivia is one of the few Peloton instructors who can "do it all" — she teaches on both the bike and the treadmill, and teaches strength classes. (Her core classes will leave your entire body quivering.) But Peloton wasn't always the plan for Olivia. Though she was super sporty growing up, a guidance counselor suggested she pursue a career in finance. So when Olivia graduated high school, that's exactly what she did: went to college and then went on to Wall Street, where she worked in sales and trading. Though she thrived in the fast-paced, high-stress environment, she hated it. It wasn't her passion. She loved fitness, and as soon as she had her "a-ha" moment, that's where she headed. She got certified, got hired at a spin studio and a boxing studio, and was suddenly teaching 30 classes a week. Today, though, Olivia has found happiness, true joy, and balance as a Peloton instructor. On this episode, she talks about dealing with burnout, what to do when you realize you're not happy and need to pivot, and how she's built her confidence over the years. ("And I'm still working on it," she assures.)

Peloton friends, join the fun — add the #FriendsofAliOTR tag to your profile so we can cheer each other on and swap high fives!

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Olivia’s take on being a “real-life energizer bunny” (4:50)
  • Getting to know Young Olivia (9:00)
  • On pursuing a career in finance (12:45)
  • How Olivia broke into the fitness industry, and how she got the job at Peloton (18:25)
  • All about Olivia’s Breakthrough Runs, and a behind-the-scenes look at the programming at Peloton (29:00)
  • On teaching in an empty room during the pandemic (40:40)
  • What don’t we know about Olivia Amato? (45:15)
  • On the evolution of Olivia (49:00)
  • Is there pressure to look a certain way in the fitness industry? (54:00)

What we mention on this episode:

Jess Sims on Episode 261 of the Ali on the Run Show

Tunde Oyeneyin on Episode 311 of the Ali on the Run Show

M61 Skincare

Follow Olivia:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

13 Mar 2020218. Anita Perez, 2:39 Marathoner, Single Mom, & Special Education Teacher00:56:48

"It’s almost like I was running away from what had happened."

 

Anita Perez just might be one of the most inspiring, hardworking, dedicated women you'll ever meet. She's a 2:39 marathoner (who also runs a 1:17 half marathon), a single mom to two kids, and a middle school special education teacher. She's kind and caring, and she works her butt off in every facet of her life (including waking up at 3 AM to get her workouts in). On this episode, she talks about what it was like running at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials last month, compares that to her experience running the 2016 Trials, and opens up about the years in between. She talks about her mom passing away after a short and devastating bout with cancer, and opens up about how that affected her running. It's a powerful, poignant episode.

 

Thank you to the Atlanta Track Club for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! The Atlanta Track Club is proud to host the AJC Peachtree Road Race — the largest 10K in the world! — every year on the Fourth of July. The lottery for this year's race opens on March 15, so head to ajc.com/peachtree to enter!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Anita recaps her race at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials (3:40)
  • Reflecting on running through grief (14:45)
  • On the goal to run an Olympic Trials qualifying time (25:00)
  • What Anita’s typical day looks like (37:30)
  • Why Anita loves her work as a middle school special education teacher (43:45)

 

What we mention on this episode:

LIVE at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with Carrie Tollefson, Meb Keflezighi, & UCAN

MyCookieDealer on Instagram

 

Follow Anita:

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

06 Aug 2020269. Ali & the Experts with Laura Parrott, Career Coach01:04:00

"Looking for technical solutions to people problems doesn’t work."

 

Welcome to the Ali & the Experts series! For the next six weeks, I'll be talking with six different experts who will be answering all of your questions. We're kicking things off today with a major career pep talk, courtesy of Laura Parrott. Laura, who lives in Detroit, MI, is currently the Head of People at Floyd. Before that, she spent eight years leading recruiting work at McKinsey, seven years working in people management and leadership development at Google, and, most recently, she was the lead for manager development programming at Hubspot. Laura is also a fitness instructor and is the founder of her own coaching company. On this episode, she answers questions about people challenges at work, including dealing with a difficult boss, networking during a pandemic, being laid off, and getting back into the workforce after taking time off to have children. A must-listen!

 

Thank you to Athletic Greens for sponsoring this series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to athleticgreens.com/ontherun to get a year’s supply of Vitamin D with your first Athletic Greens purchase!

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

09 Apr 2024712. Abeo Powder, TrailblazHers Run Co. Co-Founder01:05:01

"We’re leading alongside our community. The three of us made this happen, but there is so much wisdom, so much leadership, so much brilliance within our community. And so we always want to make it known that we want to continue to uplift that and really just show up and show out."

Abeo Powder has a magnetic energy. She's one of those people you'll meet and just want to be around every day. Abeo is the co-founder of the TrailblazHers Run Co., an all-female run crew in Boston, with a mission to empower and uplift women — especially BIPOC women — in the community. Emphasis on community: That's what Abeo is all about. In this conversation, Abeo talks about her lifelong relationship with running, and how it's evolved over the years. Today, in addition to her work with the TrailblazHers, she's the founder of Holistic with Hotfoot, where she takes a personalized approach to coaching. You're not just getting training plans with Abeo: You're getting guided meditations, playlists, and so much more.

FOLLOW ABEO @hotfoot___

SPONSORS: 

  • Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I’m an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your order.
  • Tracksmith: New customers, use code ALINEW for $15 off your first Tracksmith order over $75. Returning customers, use code ALIGIVE for free shipping, plus a portion of the proceeds from your order will be donated to Moms Demand Action.

What you'll get on this episode:

  • Abeo’s run today, and her decision to put a pause on marathon training (3:00)
  • All about Abeo’s childhood, and how she found running (7:30)
  • How Abeo’s relationship with running has evolved over the years (14:30)
  • Abeo’s take on group run anxiety and intimidation, and why TrailblazHers Run Co. was born (20:00)
  • The growth of the TrailblazHers community (28:30)
  • What to expect at a TrailblazHers event (34:30)
  • What to know about the 26.True marathon, taking place this weekend in Boston (37:55)
  • Coach Abeo, and what she’s all about (45:40)
  • Abeo’s message to nervous marathoners (52:10)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

09 Mar 2021343. On the Job with Liz Lemon, Night Shift ER Nurse01:02:19

"I used to be a morning person. I’m not a morning person anymore!"

Liz Lemon was always destined to do two things: run and help people. Liz (and yes, she gets a lot of 30 Rock references thanks to her name) comes from a family that runs and practices medicine, so it's no surprise that Liz would do the same. She's a night shift nurse in the emergency room at a hospital in California (though she's currently on leave on account of a broken hand), while also pursuing her master's degree in nursing education. When she's not in the ER, Liz is on the run: She's a 3:44 marathoner, 1:29 half-marathoner, and 17:54 5K runner. On this episode, Liz talks about what it's really like working the front lines in a hospital (and she insists that despite what we see on Grey's Anatomy, "people aren't really hooking up in the break rooms"), explains what her days and nights really look like, and shares some of her most memorable stories from the hospital.

SPONSOR: Tracksmith — Go to tracksmith.com/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN for $15 off your first Tracksmith order of $75 or more.

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

19 Oct 2020293. On the Job with Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, Covid-19 Rehabilitation Doctor00:53:40

"It was important for me to pursue this dream and make it happen. I have this belief of, you can’t be what you can’t see. So if other young girls are not seeing women as leaders and women as physicians and women in high positions and important jobs, they may not think they can be there. That made it extra important for me to continue to pursue this dream."

 

Every day, we are bombarded with news about the Covid-19 pandemic. But an important part of that conversation that is often missing is, "What happens after I get Covid?" Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez is here to answer that critical question. Dr. Verduzco-Gutierrez is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, and she has developed a post-Covid recovery clinic to aid in the rehabilitative recovery of patients who have functional, mobility, and cognitive deficits after getting infected with the coronavirus. On this episode, Dr. Verduzco-Gutierrez — who is a two-time Boston Marathoner and mom of two — talks about her lifelong passion for medicine and for taking care of people. She discusses the very small number of Hispanic women in medicine, and explains what it means to her to be a role model in the field.

 

Thank you to Tracksmith for sponsoring the On the Job series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to tracksmith.com/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN15 at checkout for 15% off your first Tracksmith purchase!

 

Follow Dr. Verduzco-Gutierrez:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

13 Sep 201897. Amy Cragg00:47:07

I’m the one who just puts my head down and works really hard. That’s my thing.” —Amy Cragg

In February, Amy Cragg — who runs for the Bowerman Track Club — ran an incredible five-minute personal best at the Tokyo Marathon. She finished third overall, and solidified her spot among the greats, officially becoming the fifth fastest female American marathoner. Now, Amy is gearing up to run the Chicago Marathon in October. On this episode, she shares her goals (she's in it to win it!), how her training has been going, what it's like training with Jerry Schumacher, and how she handles pressure. Plus, she reflects on the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Trials, talks about her relationship with her Olympian husband, and shares her dreams of starting a guitar band with former college roommate and friend Des Linden.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle!

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Amy reflects on the 2018 Tokyo Marathon, her five-minute PR, and what her goals were for that race (1:45)
  • Amy’s take on the power of persistence, and whether a personal record matters when you’re a professional runner (4:20)
  • Why Amy decided to run the Chicago Marathon this year, and how her training has been going (7:20)
  • What it’s like when Amy races her teammates (11:35)
  • Amy describes what it’s like to train with the Bowerman Track Club (12:50)
  • Whether Amy and Des Linden — who were roommates in college — always knew they were destined for greatness (15:50)
  • Amy looks back on the 2012 Olympic Trials, when she came in fourth, and then reflects on the 2016 Trials, which she won! (19:30)
  • Amy compares the pressure of competing at the Olympics to the pressure of competing at the Trials — plus how she handles pressure (26:30)
  • Amy talks about her relationship with her husband, Alistair (29:30)
  • Amy shares the biggest challenge about being a professional athlete (33:00)
  • Amy’s advice for anyone running the Chicago Marathon (38:30)

What we mention on this episode:

Tokyo Marathon

Chicago Marathon

Bowerman Track Club

Gwen Jorgensen

Molly Huddle

Desiree Linden

Kate Grace

Mammoth Track Club

KIMbia Athletics

Follow Amy:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

16 Apr 2020229. Nell Rojas, 2:28 Marathoner & 9th-Place Olympic Trials Finisher00:51:38

"You have to believe in yourself. And you can say it a million times, but before this, I didn’t actually believe I could run with these girls. And now I absolutely know that I can run with these girls, and I know that I can be competitive."

 

Nell Rojas finished ninth at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February. And that in its own is impressive — but it's especially impressive when you consider that it was only Nell's third ever marathon. Nell is a triathlete and obstacle course racer turned marathoner, and on this episode, she talks about running the Olympic A standard at her first marathon, winning her second marathon (a 2:28 at Grandma's Marathon in 2019), and running the Trials as her third marathon. She talks about her recovery from the Trials and what's next, and talks about the time she beat Des Linden at the Falmouth Road Race — and then immediately asked for her autograph. Plus: What Nell is like as a coach, why she decided to rescue a dog right before the Trials, and the advice she has for anyone who's ever been told they "don't look like a runner."

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Nell breaks down her post-Trials recovery, and explains what her training looks like right now (3:50)
  • Nell recaps her race at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials (6:20)
  • Nell’s road to becoming a marathoner (24:50)
  • On winning Boulder Bolder 40 years after her dad won the race, and winning Grandma’s Marathon in 2019 (32:00)
  • What is Nell like as a coach? (36:00)
  • What will Nell’s training look like between now and the fall? (37:00)

 

Follow Nell:

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

04 Aug 2022547. Emma Bates, Team USA Marathoner01:07:42

"That’s what I want — that’s the only thing that drives me as much as it does. I just want to inspire the next generation. And I feel like we did that. You would’ve sworn we won the entire race. You would’ve sworn we swept the podium! But, you know, fifth, seventh, eighth, and for people to be that proud and excited for us? It doesn’t get any better than that."

The World Athletics Championships conversations continue! Last week, we heard from Team USA's Keira D'Amato, and today, fellow Team USA marathoner Emma Bates is up! Emma says the World Athletics Championships marathon was the most fun she has ever had running a race, and in this episode, she talks about why it tops her list. Emma finished seventh (in the world!) in that race, running 2:23:18 and taking more than a minute off her personal best time. And here, we're breaking it all down. Emma talks about getting Covid in December, and talks about how that impacted and derailed her training. She talks about the comeback, about how she was feeling heading into the biggest race of her life, and about the pre-race pep talk from her coach, Joe Bosshard. Plus, all about the race itself: the party in the hotel lobby at 3 AM, the quiet bus ride to the start, the questionable warm-up routine, and the unexpected offer from teammate Sara Hall. Emma talks about how she stayed tough when her legs started to hurt, she explains what the crowds felt like along the way, and she breaks down that magical finish line moment. (Also, a LOL-worthy story about Ryan Hall and...Emma's urine.)

SPONSOR:

  • UCAN: Click here and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Emma recovers from a race like World Championships (2:50)
  • What it was like getting Covid in December, and how it derailed Emma’s training (6:00)
  • How Emma found out she made Team USA (10:40)
  • How Emma celebrated her 30th birthday before leaving for Eugene (16:10)
  • Red vs. white: How Emma decided which Team USA kit to wear for the marathon (18:00)
  • What race morning was like (19:50)
  • How the race played out (29:00)
  • What the crowds and fans were like along the course (34:00)
  • When it started to hurt (36:45)
  • That finish line feeling (42:00)
  • Emma’s post-race drug testing story (48:50)
  • All about Emma’s Instagram race recaps (54:45)
  • How Emma spent the rest of her time in Eugene (59:40)
  • Emma’s advice to fellow marathoners (1:03:30)

For more, check out:

Emma Bates on Episode 527 of the Ali on the Run Show

Emma Bates on Episode 490 of the Ali on the Run Show

Emma Bates on Episode 444 of the Ali on the Run Show

Follow Emma:

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

16 May 2024720. It's Been a Year...01:16:30

"I remember being acutely aware that it was the worst day of my life up to that point, and the world was still going. People were out for runs in Central Park. People were going to the office. People were picking their kids up from school. It felt like everyone else’s world kept turning and I was in purgatory."

It's been one year since I was diagnosed with stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma with DCIS. Breast cancer. A diagnosis that rocked my world and changed my life. In this solo episode, I'm reflecting on the past year, including revisiting some of my notes and thoughts from one year ago, and sharing what happens next.

SPONSORS: 

  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.
  • New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • A look back at some of my thoughts from one year ago (1:45)
  • Listener Q&A (28:55)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

09 Nov 2020304. On the Job with Theresa Bradford, Hoka One One Sports Marketing Associate Manager00:52:51

"What makes this my dream job is realizing that I can make a difference just by showing up, just by being a woman and a woman of color, and showing up in this space and holding this space and being proud of the work that I’m doing — knowing that we stand for something more than just running, and that we’re showing that as an athlete and as a running brand, you can stand for more than just the sport you do."

Theresa Bradford just might have every runner's dream job: She's a sports marketing associate manager for Hoka One One, where she works with Hoka's 150 sponsored elite athletes. (Aliphine Tuliamuk! Steph Bruce! Kellyn Taylor!) On this episode, Theresa talks about getting her start working in Hoka's customer service department, and working her way up to her current position. (Pro tip: Ask for what you want!) She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what it's really like working in the running industry, and talks about the important work she's doing as part of Hoka's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team.

Thank you to Tracksmith for sponsoring the On the Job series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to tracksmith.com/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN15 at checkout for 15% off your first Tracksmith purchase!

Follow Theresa:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

28 Apr 2022514. Adrianne Haslet, 2022 Boston Marathon Recap01:21:55

“I can close my eyes still and remember every sign and every person’s face and every dog. I can remember all of it. It was a true unicorn of a day.”

Adrianne Haslet went through hell to get to the start line of the 2022 Boston Marathon. But she got there. And then, she started in Hopkinton and ran 26.2 miles — with guide Shalane Flanagan by her side every step of the way — to cross the finish line on Boylston Street. Adrianne and Shalane finished the race in 5:18:14, coming in fourth place in the para athletics division. Today, Adrianne returns to the Ali on the Run Show to share every detail of what she calls the best day of her life. ("It sounded like a Rocky movie the whole way," she says.) Plus, Adrianne's favorite moments from the course, all about that finish line feeling, and what "Boston Strong" means to her.

SPONSOR: Shokz — Use code OTR15 for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Adrianne’s Boston Marathon expectations — and how reality compared (3:00)
  • How Adrianne is recovering after Boston, and who’s in her village (6:15)
  • How Adrianne spent her weekend leading up to Marathon Monday (13:50)
  • All about race morning (27:40)
  • Adrianne’s stories from the church in Hopkinton (34:50)
  • Adrianne and Shalane’s race plan (44:30)
  • The start line and the early miles (46:30)
  • All about the support along the way (53:05)
  • On making it to the Boston Marathon finish line (1:04:10)
  • What does Boston Strong mean to Adrianne? (1:07:00)

For more, check out:

Adrianne Haslet on Episode 506 of the Ali on the Run Show

Adrianne Haslet on Episode 192 of the Ali on the Run Show

Adrianne Haslet in the Washington Post

Cortney White on Episode 447 of the Ali on the Run Show

Follow Adrianne:

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

25 Nov 2020310. The Great Turkey Trot of 201400:42:08

"You can do it, buddy!"

It’s an Ali on the Run Show Thanksgiving tradition! Six years ago, my now-husband, Brian, and I lined up at the start of two very different Turkey Trots. Though both races were five miles, the outcomes were vastly dissimilar. I ran the Prospect Park Track Club Turkey Trot in Brooklyn, NY, in a respectable 38:41 — a 7:44 minute-per-mile pace. Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, Brian was racing the Newport Pie Run. He had big dreams and big goals. Here’s a dramatic retelling of how his race went. Happy Thanksgiving!

SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN for $10 off!

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

14 Jul 2022540. Yuki Chorney, “The Running Unicorn”01:10:25

"All of a sudden, I was over here, alone, living in a small apartment the size of a dorm room, not having a lot of friends, I didn’t have anything to do. I didn’t have any future that I was looking forward to. I didn’t know what to do with myself except to put on my running shoes and go out and start running."

Yuki Chorney is a 39-time marathoner with a 3:15 personal best. She has run 21 ultramarathons, including 100 milers. And she does it all — whether it's a 5K or an all-day event — decked out in glitter, sparkles, and rhinestones. Yuki Chorney is a self-proclaimed "running unicorn," and if you've ever seen her on the run, you know it's hard not to smile when she passes you (which she probably will, with a joyful, genuine smile). At 50 years old, Yuki is finding joy in running more than ever before. In this conversation, she talks about growing up in Japan, moving to the United States, and finding running — and herself — in the process. Today, Yuki lives in Mont Vernon, NH, with her husband, two teenage daughters, two dogs, three cats, two goats, five chickens, and guinea pig. She works as a human resources professional for a financial services company, and she really wants you to try running in a tutu. ("Just once," she says, "and see what you think!")

SPONSORS:

  • UCAN: Click here and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.
  • Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • What’s making Yuki happy right now, and what she’s currently training for (3:30)
  • What Yuki’s childhood was like (6:30)
  • What life looked like after college (10:15)
  • How Yuki found running (12:00)
  • Yuki’s fondest Boston Marathon memories (18:35)
  • Yuki’s introduction to the running community (21:15)
  • All about Yuki’s iconic running costumes! (26:10)
  • The most fun Yuki has ever had running a race (41:45)
  • Why Yuki started running ultramarathons (45:00)
  • What Yuki’s daughters think of her running in costume, and how Yuki’s relationship with running has evolved throughout parenthood (49:30)
  • Yuki’s approach to training and racing (57:00)

For more, check out:

Millennium Running

Gate City Striders

Girls on the Run

Yuki’s 2019 Boston Marathon interview on WBZ

Follow Yuki:

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

12 May 2021373. Sinclaire Johnson, Professional Runner for the Bowerman Track Club01:02:26

“I feel like I’m in a good position to have a real crack at making the team.”

With the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials coming up, now's a great time to get to know as many of the competitors as possible! Today (bonus episode day!), Bowerman Track Club's Sinclaire Johnson is here. Sinclaire is BTC's resident rookie: She joined the team last year, and made her official debut as a Bowerman member in February, where she ran and won the 800m at the Prickly Pear Invitational. (Not bad for the new kid!) On this episode, Sinclaire confirms that she will be competing in the 1500m at the Trials (her personal best is a 4:03.72, officially making her one to watch). She talks about running at Oklahoma State University, where she was the 2019 NCAA 1500m champion, and explains her decision to forgo her fifth-year eligibility in favor of going pro. She talks about signing with Nike, and about why she wanted to join Bowerman Track Club. (It has a little something to do with Shelby Houlihan.) Sinclaire and the team are training at altitude in Park City right now, though she otherwise calls Portland, OR, home.

SPONSOR: Ranger Ready Repellents — Use code ONTHERUN10 for 10% off your purchase.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • What life is like training at altitude in Park City (3:55)
  • Sinclaire talks about her Bowerman Track Club racing debut — and win! (12:30)
  • How Sinclaire is feeling looking forward to the Track & Field Trials (17:45)
  • What Sinclaire’s childhood was like, and when running entered the picture (21:45)
  • On winning NCAA Championships in the 1500m in 2019 (31:30)
  • The decision to go pro (37:45)
  • Why Bowerman Track Club? (43:45)
  • All about Craig (55:00)

What we mention on this episode:

Shelby Houlihan on Episode 357 of the Ali on the Run Show

Emma Abrahamson’s “A Day in the Life of Sinclaire Johnson” video

Emma Abrahamson on Episode 319 of the Ali on the Run Show

Follow Sinclaire:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe, and leave a rating and review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. And, as always, spread the run love by sharing this episode with your friends, family members, running buddies, or favorite internet strangers!

18 Jul 2024734. Emily Mackay’s 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials Recap01:08:42

"That’s always my goal: to win. And I always think I can. I have the belief."

Emily Mackay is a World Indoor Championships bronze medalist. She's a 3:55.90 1500m runner. And she's going to the Olympics! Emily just raced the 1500m at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials, where she finished second, ran a huge personal best, and earned her spot on Team USA for this summer's Olympic Games in Paris. In this episode, the New Balance Boston athlete returns to the Ali on the Run Show to talk about how the rounds played out, how she finished so strong in that final, and what life has been like since.

SPONSORS: 

  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN training essentials pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.
  • New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Emily is feeling on the Trials, what it’s like being a 3:55 1500m runner, and how making the Olympic team compares to making the World Indoor team (1:40)
  • What it was like rewatching the 1500m Final (9:55)
  • On running 3:55 to make Team USA (15:10)
  • The race plan, and how Emily stays calm when the plan doesn’t go accordingly (21:40)
  • What happened after the Final (30:40)
  • How Emily was feeling heading into the rounds (33:45)
  • All about that Semi-Final (37:10)
  • Emily breaks down the day of the 1500m Final (42:00)
  • What’s next for Emily (1:04:00)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

23 Sep 2021426. Sam Grotewold, Director of Professional Athletes at New York Road Runners01:23:41

“Everybody who has ever run a marathon in the history of ever has run a first marathon. And I guarantee you that some of the concerns and doubts and fears that you or I had in our first marathon have crept into the minds of someone like Shalane Flanagan or Meb Keflezighi in the weeks and days and hours before they ran their first marathon.”

Every year at races like the New York City Marathon and the Fifth Avenue Mile, dozens of professional runners assemble for their shot at glory. And in New York City, Sam Grotewold is the guy who brings them all together. As the director of professional athletes for New York Road Runners, it’s Sam’s job to recruit the professional fields at major events like the TCS New York City Marathon, the New York City Half, the Mini 10K, and the New Balance Fifth Avenue Mile. And on this episode, the self-proclaimed “running and track nerd” explains how he makes that happen. With more than 20 years of experience, Sam knows the wooing process well. Here, he shares his goals for the recruitment process, how he measures success in his role, and how this year’s New York City Marathon field (which features professional runners from 25 countries and territories) came together. Plus, he shares some of his best stories from his time with the pros, and tells which athlete he reached out to first as he was assembling this year’s NYCM field.

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • All about Sam’s role in the New Balance Fifth Avenue Mile (5:30)
  • On getting the athletes to the start line (19:00)
  • How Sam got his job (21:30)
  • How Sam assembles the fields of professional athletes (29:40)
  • The narrative for this year’s TCS New York City Marathon (33:45)
  • Sam’s process for recruiting athletes (39:00)
  • Sam’s favorite thing about New York City Marathon week (46:15)
  • What goes into the contracts for professional athletes (48:50)
  • On schmoozing, socializing, and spreadsheets (51:20)
  • What New York City Marathon day is like for Sam — plus some of his best race day stories! (56:00)
  • Reflecting on the past year and a half at New York Road Runners (1:08:00)

Follow Sam:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

09 Sep 2021422. Deirdre Keane, As Seen on Humans of New York01:15:43

“I took down all facades. I just could not hold up this fake exterior of everything was OK when I felt like I could barely get out of bed every day. I would just get up, go to work, and the only thing else that was consistent was running. I would run every day, despite how bad I felt. And it was such a sense of refuge at points. I would feel like I would be OK. And that’s when I would start planning for the future. I was like, ‘Deirdre, this is transient. This is going to get better. You are going to get better. Dad’s looking out for you. Don’t give up. Just keep going. Get through today. Tomorrow will hopefully be a better day. And if it’s not, that’s OK, too. We will get there.’ Running reinforced that resiliency that I truly thought I’d lost.”

Deirdre Keane normally flies pretty under the radar. But last month, the 33-time marathoner (whose personal best time is 3:14) became a face seen by millions when she was featured on Humans of New York. Suddenly, 11.3 million people on Instagram and 17 million more on Facebook knew Deirdre's story. In the post, Deirdre shared the story of her dad, who was an avid (and fast!) marathoner. She talked about how he ran his final New York City Marathon the day before what turned out to be his final surgery to help treat his melanoma. Deirdre talked about how her dad so badly wanted his kids to be runners when they were growing up, but they weren't interested — until after his passing, when Deidre decided to run her first marathon on what would've been her dad's birthday. Then, Deirdre talked about going through a tough time last year, and how running became her constant — it was what she did to remember who she was, and who she is. On this episode, Deirdre talks about the rest of her story. She talks about waking up at 4 AM to run 10 miles to work from her home in the Bronx to the Upper East Side, where she's a nurse practitioner in the pediatric ICU at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She talks about working through the pandemic in New York City, about leaning into running after her brother was in a near-fatal car accident, and about her big plans for her next year on the run (starting with three fall marathons: Boston, New York City, and Dallas). When she's not working or on the run, Deirdre is pursuing her MBA at New York University, where she is also the editor-in-chief of the school's graduate newspaper.

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • On running through wet cement! (6:10)
  • All about being featured on Humans of New York (11:00)
  • Deirdre talks about her dad and his love for running (24:00)
  • How Deirdre got into marathoning (28:35)
  • How Deirdre has added more meaning to her running over the past year and a half (39:25)
  • On being a “helper” (48:00)
  • The role running has served for Deirdre over the past year (50:10)
  • How training (for the Boston, New York City, and Dallas Marathons) is going, and what’s next for Deirdre (1:00:00)

Check out:

Achilles International

Manchester City Marathon

2020 Manchester City Half Marathon Recap

From 4:13 To 3:51: My Manchester City Marathon Recap

Follow Deirdre:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

19 Nov 2020307. Natalie Mitchell, "Nat Runs Far"01:09:26

“It’s gonna take a lot of work. It’s gonna take a lot of discipline and a lot of patience and a lot of throwing spaghetti at the wall and it not sticking at all.”

Natalie Mitchell just might be the most joyful runner on the planet. The always-smiling running coach, mom of three, and 12-time marathoner is perhaps best known by her Instagram moniker: “Nat Runs Far.” On this episode, she talks about how she has shaved an hour off her marathon time (from a 4:06 debut to a 3:05), and shares her dreams to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials. She talks about setting goals, managing expectations, and taking necessary time off. And Natalie talks about her experiences as a Black woman runner, shares her secrets to a happy marriage, and talks about her latest endeavor with her husband Jerold, the launch of the Suite Run podcast.

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Is Natalie happy and smiley all the time? (4:15)
  • Natalie talks about her recent knee surgery and how recovery is going (5:45)
  • How Natalie became a runner (11:45)
  • On the transition from collegiate runner to real-life runner (18:30)
  • How Natalie has chipped away at her marathon time, going from a 4:06 to a 3:05 (22:30)
  • Natalie’s next running goal (28:45)
  • All about Coach Natalie (34:20)
  • Natalie is a busy mom of three — when does she run? (37:40)
  • Natalie’s tips for a long, happy, joyful marriage (44:45)
  • Natalie talks about her experience as a Black woman runner (49:45)
  • All about the Suite Run podcast (59:30)

Follow Natalie:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

20 Feb 2025786. Sinclaire Johnson, Professional Middle-Distance Runner01:10:57

"I needed to have the year I had to really give me the push to make the changes I made."

In 2022, Sinclaire Johnson cemented her spot as a middle-distance rising star when she broke the women's 1500m tape at the U.S. National Championships. Since then, the Nike-sponsored athlete has made a lot of changes on the run. She transitioned from Jerry Schumacher's Bowerman Track Club to Union Athletics Club, where she was coached by Pete Julian. Last year — a year when she finished fourth in the 1500m at the Olympic Track & Field Trials — Sinclaire knew it was time to change it up again, this time opting to forgo a team environment and be coached by her fiancé, Craig Nowak. Now, with a fresh 3:56 1500m PR from the 2024 Trials, Sinclaire is in the middle of her indoor season. She ran a personal best in the mile (4:23.58) at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, where she finished third, and then finished sixth in the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games in New York City. This weekend, Sinclaire will race at U.S. Indoor Nationals. 

FOLLOW SINCLAIRE @sinclairejohnson

SPONSORS: 

  • St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll NashvilleRegister for the marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, 1 mile, KiDSROCK, or Doggie Dash, all taking place April 26–27, 2025 in Music City, USA! Use code ONTHERUN at checkout for $10 off your Saturday race registration. 
  • Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I'm an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for $25 off your next Lagoon order.

In this episode:

  • Where in the world is Sinclaire Johnson? (2:10)
  • How Sinclaire and her Nike-sponsored friends have navigated change over the past few years — and what it’s meant for their relationships (6:00)
  • Sinclaire reflects on her third-place finish and personal best at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (8:00)
  • How Sinclaire was feeling heading into the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games in New York City (12:35)
  • Sinclaire looks back on her pro racing debut (15:20)
  • How Sinclaire processed last year’s U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials, where she finished fourth in the 1500m (20:40)
  • How Sinclaire has navigated some big recent changes, including a team change and a coaching change (27:45)
  • What Sinclaire’s training looks like right now (42:00)
  • How Craig proposed to Sinclaire (47:30)
  • What’s on Sinclaire’s 2025 racing calendar — including a distance debut later this year (53:20)
  • Sinclaire's advice for anyone feeling stuck right now (59:20)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

 

19 May 2022520. Saila Consalvi, 13-Time Marathoner with Lung Cancer01:17:10

"From the start, it was like, I’m gonna deal with this, but I’m not going to let this take over. I’m not going to let it take my life away. I’m not going to let it take my happiness away. So I do it, and I deal with it, and some days are really tough, but I still want to live my life."

In January, 13-time marathoner Saila Consalvi was told she'd be lucky if she could watch this year's Boston Marathon, let alone run it. And yet, four months later, she defied expectation: She completed the 2022 Boston Marathon. In this conversation, Saila talks about what it took to complete her third Boston Marathon, and about her road to the start line, which hasn't been easy. In 2017, Saila was 35 years old and had just completed her ninth marathon and her first Ironman. She was in the best shape of her life. But soon, things just felt...off. Then, she was diagnosed with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. Today, Saila — who is from Finland — lives in Denver, CO, with her husband and their four-month-old son, Enzo.

SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ali and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Why Saila ran Boston with “Sally” on her shirt (3:40)
  • Saila’s story about running Boston with Peloton instructor Jess Sims (6:00)
  • Saila’s Boston Marathon recap (8:00)
  • Saila’s advice for runners who are raising money for charity (14:20)
  • How Saila got into running (16:35)
  • Saila’s lung cancer diagnosis (24:00)
  • On fear, and adjusting to life with cancer (37:30)
  • How Saila remains optimistic in the face of so much bad news (52:00)
  • How Saila found the strength to get to the Boston Marathon start line (56:50)

For more, check out:

Jess Sims on Episode 516 of the Ali on the Run Show

"My Beauty Uniform: Saila Hanninen," via Cup of Jo

Follow Saila:

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

03 Aug 201887. What's New With You Week with Michele Gonzalez00:38:25

"I felt relieved. I knew mentally and physically, I was not ready to be on that starting line." —Michele Gonzalez

The last time Michele Gonzalez (AKA "NYC Running Mama") was on the show, she was gearing up to run the 2017 Boston Marathon. During that episode, Michele and I joked about someday being pregnant at the same time — and now here we are, both expecting babies this fall! Michele is a full-time working mom of two, and her third child is due in November. On this episode, she talks about her pregnancy, what her running looked like over the past year, and whether she has any postpartum running goals. She also shares her secrets for snapping those gorgeous sunrise running photos!

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring What's New With You Week on the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle!

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • Michele shares all the exciting news about her pregnancy (1:45)
  • How Michele’s recent running goals factored into her decision to have a baby right now (8:30)
  • How Michele dealt with and got through a tough running year in 2017 (11:45)
  • Whether Michele has any big postpartum running goals, and the pressure she felt in the past to return to running and racing soon after having a baby (16:00)
  • Michele opens up about whether she’s worried to take time off from work post-baby (21:00)
  • Michele’s best advice for getting back into the workforce after taking time off to raise a family (28:45)
  • Michele shares her secret to getting those gorgeous sunrise running shots (31:30)

What we mention on this episode:

Michele Gonzalez on Episode 19 of the Ali on the Run Show

Mary Johnson, Michele's coach

Follow Michele:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

18 Mar 2025792. Parker Valby, Professional New Balance Athlete & Olympian (With Special Guest Vernon Norwood)01:23:46

"There are so many ways to get to the start line. There is not one way to do it. You just have to find what works best for you."

Parker Valby was a collegiate phenom. At the University of Florida, Parker set multiple collegiate records in the 5000m and the 10,000m. She earned six NCAA and SEC titles, including five NCAA titles in one year alone. She wrapped up her career as a Gator by competing at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials, earning a spot on Team USA, and competing at the Paris Olympics, where she finished 11th in the 10,000m final and was the youngest runner in the top 15.

Now, 22-year-old Parker has officially gone pro. She signed with New Balance and joined Team New Balance Boston, where she trains alongside teammates — and fellow Olympians — including Elle Purrier St. Pierre, Heather MacLean, and Emily Mackay. 

This conversation was recorded at The TRACK at New Balance during the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet. Enjoy as NB Olympian Vernon Norwood drops in mid-chat and takes over hosting duties!

FOLLOW PARKER @parkervalby

FOLLOW VERNON @vernon400m

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Does Boston feel like home? (2:40)
  • Can Parker still do a split? (4:00)
  • On adjusting to life as a professional athlete (6:30)
  • Parker’s experience joining Team New Balance Boston (7:30)
  • What Parker was like growing up, and how her dad became her agent (10:35)
  • Parker’s “going pro” support network (16:45)
  • Is it hard to be the best? (18:20)
  • What it was like winning the Bowerman Award — and just how much it weighs (23:55)
  • What it was like making her pro debut at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (26:00)
  • All about Team New Balance Boston and coach Mark Coogan (31:10)
  • Parker’s preferred methods of cross training (39:45)
  • What it’s like getting recognized on the run in Boston (48:00)
  • Vernon Norwood takes over hosting duties (59:00)

SPONSOR: 

  • New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season.

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

19 Mar 2019129. LIVE at the United Airlines NYC Half01:09:31

"Start stuff. If you believe in something, just start it." —Mary Wittenberg

It was an honor to host this live show at New York Road Runners the day before the United Airlines NYC Half. I was joined by four exemplary leaders in the running community: Mary Wittenberg, former NYRR and Virgin Sport president and CEO; Christine Burke, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Runner Products at NYRR; Leigh Anne Sharek, co-founder of Brooklyn Track Club; and Carly Gill, a 2:47 marathoner and one of the women behind Runner Braids. These women candidly shared their stories of success, failure, and what it's like to feel shaken to your core or rattled with insecurity. They talked about starting movements, social media, FOMO, and dealing with injury, and we talked about how to make running more inclusive. We wrapped it all up with a very special audience-participation-required edition of the Sprint to the Finish.

Thanks to New York Road Runners for sponsoring and hosting this live show, which took place at the NYRR RUNCENTER Featuring the New Balance Run Hub. Go to nyrr.org/runcenter for a full calendar of FREE events like the Ali on the Run Show LIVE event, plus group fitness classes, themed group runs, course strategy sessions, and book signings.

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • The significant moments in women’s running that have most inspired the women on the panel (4:00)
  • On getting into running at a young age, and whether it was discouraged or encouraged (7:30)
  • Running as an individual pursuit vs. team sport (11:00)
  • On pink at women’s races (14:00)
  • How do we make running more diverse and inclusive? (21:00)
  • On insecurities and failures (28:30)
  • Reflecting on the running industry and ourselves as runners (36:00)
  • What do we wish men understood about being a female runner? (46:00)
  • The downsides of social media in the running world, and falling into the comparison trap (49:10)
  • What’s next for everyone? (54:00)
  • A very special Sprint to the Finish (56:45)

Stuff we mention on this episode: 

United Airlines NYC Half

NYRR New York Mini 10K

Shape Half Marathon

Alison Desir & Harlem Run

Brooklyn Track Club

TCS New York City Marathon

Strava (use code ONTHERUN for a FREE month of Strava Summit!)

Follow Mary:

Follow Christine:

Follow Leigh Anne:

Follow Carly

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

14 Feb 2022481. Love on the Run with Josette Norris & Robby Andrews01:37:03
"Moral of the story is if a girl is gonna stick around you when you’re sleeping until 12:30 in the afternoon, she probably likes you. Marry her."

Happy Valentine's Day! Welcome to the seventh and final episode in this year's Love on the Run Week series. Today, Jersey is in the house! Professional runners Josette Norris and Robby Andrews join the show to talk about the first time they met, the actual first time they met, and what they're each like on the sidelines when the other is racing (spoiler: loud!). Josette signed with Reebok in 2020, and is fresh off a breakout year where everyone was talking about "Josette Norris from New Jersey." And 2022 is already off to a solid start for her, with personal bests in the 1500m and the 3000m. Robby is in his tenth year competing as a professional athlete. He is sponsored by adidas, and is a 2016 Olympian: He competed in the 1500m in Rio. In this conversation, Josette and Robby (who got engaged in 2020) keep it fun talking about Robby meeting Barack and Michelle Obama and about how wedding planning is going. But they also talk about dealing with tough stuff, like Robby's experiences with Lyme disease, injuries, and surgeries, and Josette's experience being thrust into the running spotlight last year, and how she handled that. Robby offers an epic answer to the "What food would you make for Josette?" question in the Sprint, and they talk about what's on tap for 2022.

SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ali and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

Follow Josette:

Follow Robby:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

20 Feb 2024699. Sara Hall's 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Recap00:57:50

"This was the happy ending to it all, to all the struggle. But that’s life, right? It wasn’t how the story ended. But believing it was kept me in it."

Sara Hall just competed at her eighth Olympic Trials event. She went all-in for this one, hoping to make her first Olympic team. At the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in Orlando, FL, Sara ultimately finished fifth — two spots short of earning a spot on Team USA. Her 2:26:06 finish broke the American Masters Marathon Record, and as she processes what it all means for her and her journey, Sara shares in this episode that there's so much to be proud of and grateful for. (And, after her eighth Trials, it's fitting that this is Sara's eighth appearance on the Ali on the Run Show!)

FOLLOW SARA @sarahall3

SPONSORS: 

  • Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I'm an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your order.
  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • On Sara’s recent car trouble, and how her body is feeling post-Trials (2:10)
  • What Aliphine and Sara talked about on the start line (3:50)
  • How serious was Sara’s injury when she scratched from the Houston Half? (4:45)
  • All about Sara’s pre-race warm-up (7:15)
  • Why Sara took off and threw her watch at mile 17 (9:30)
  • Sara shares her proudest racing moments (12:20)
  • On dealing with mid-race cramping (15:20)
  • What’s next? (22:00)
  • Sara’s first workout after the Trials (27:00)
  • On breaking the Master’s Record at the Trials (28:40)
  • Sara’s snapshot moment from the day (31:45)
  • The race plan (40:35)
  • How Sara processed and grieved this race with her family (40:20)
  • On making the final turn toward the finish line (48:40)
  • What it was like seeing training partner Makenna Myler at the finish (52:00)
  • On never giving up on your dreams (53:45)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

19 Mar 2021348. Ask Ali!01:00:47

"Having a baby is not the end of your running goals and dreams."

Welcome back to Ask Ali, a monthly series where I answer all of your questions. This time around, we've got listener questions about running after having a baby, podcasting behind-the-scenes, getting into freelance writing, stroller recommendations, and my real thoughts on Taylor Swift's folklore vs. evermore. Enjoy!

If you want to be part of a future “Ask Ali” episode (yay!), call 917-947-9699 — introduce yourself, and ask whatever’s on your mind! I can’t wait to hear from you!

SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN for $10 off!

What I mention on this episode:

Episode 174: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Ali on the Run Show

Emilia Benton on Episode 340 of the Ali on the Run Show

Molly & Izzy Seidel on Episode 341 of the Ali on the Run Show

Uppababy Vista stroller

Thule Urban Glide II jogging stroller

Colugo Compact stroller

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

12 Jul 2020262. On the Record with Chris Chavez, Host of the Citius Mag and Runners of NYC Podcasts01:04:56

"Once you have enough of these uncomfortable conversations, you do start to pick up on new ways of going about it and asking different questions. It’s never going to end. Being uncomfortable is just part of it, and you welcome it, and do it over and over and over again to get better."

 

Welcome to the second episode in the four-part "On the Record" series, talking with fellow running podcasters about their work, their takes on the state of the running industry, and their roles within it. We kicked things off last week with Alysia Montaño, Molly Huddle, and Roisin McGettigan-Dumas — the hosts off Keeping Track — and this week, Chris Chavez is here! In addition to being a full-time writer for Sports Illustrated, Chris is also the host of the Citius Mag podcast, and co-host of the Runners of NYC podcast (alongside former Ali on the Run Show guest Leigh Anne Sharek). He's an important, well-respected voice in the running community, and on this episode, Chris talks about what it means to be an influencer in the running space, explains how he decides who to feature on his shows, and reflects on what the future of the running industry and community might look like.

 

Thank you to Gatorade Endurance for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! Go to gatoradeendurance.com and use code ONTHERUN20 for 20% off your order.

 

What you’ll get on this episode:

  • How Chris decides what to cover where (3:45)
  • Why podcasting? (11:30)
  • What does it mean to be an influencer in the running space? (16:00)
  • On deciding who to feature on the podcast (28:00)
  • Chris talks about his recent “Black Off the Track” piece for Sports Illustrated (37:00)
  • The future of the running industry and community (46:45)

 

What we mention on this episode:

The Sports Gene by David Epstein

Humans of New York

Henna Rustami on the Citius Mag podcast

“Black Off the Track," by Chris Chavez for Sports Illustrated

"Mary Cain Speaks Out Against Nike and Coach Alberto Salazar Over Emotional, Physical Abuse," by Chris Chavez for Sports Illustrated

 

Follow Chris:

 

Follow Ali:

 

Listen & Subscribe:

 

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

29 Aug 2024744. Clayton & Ashley Young's 2024 Paris Olympic Games Recap01:29:17

"I have zero expectations. I'm ranked 60-plus. But I think I have a good shot at being top 10 in the world, and maybe even having a shot at a medal. Those were my own expectations and my own pressure. Good expectations, and good pressure. It started as, 'We made it, we checked the box, we got to the Olympics!' But it quickly transitioned to, 'Oh, let's see what we can do. Let's swing for the fences.'

When Clayton Young lined up at the start of the Paris Olympic Marathon, he had thousands of fans cheering him on. Sure, he had his friends and family — including his wife, Ashley — in Paris. But because Clayton and Ashley so meticulously documented the build from the Trials to Paris in a docu-series, they gained legions of new fans and followers along the way. 

Clayton earned his spot on Team USA by finishing second at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February, just seconds behind teammate Conner Mantz. In Paris, they did it again, finishing seconds apart at the Olympic Marathon on that grueling, hilly, scenic tour of the city. Conner finished eighth, and Clayton ran 2:08:44, landing him in ninth place. And somewhere around those hills, we saw the mid-race low five between teammates, garnering a collective "awwww" from the viewers at home. 

An even cuter duo than the training partners: Clayton and his wife Ashley, who is known on Instagram as "Feed Your Runner," and is tasked with fueling Clayton's 120-mile training weeks. In this episode, we get to hear about how Ashley and Clayton support each other, and about what it looks like to be in a partnership where you're chasing big dreams and making choices and sacrifices in pursuit of greatness. 

Clayton and Ashley have two daughters, they live in Utah, and their next big [family] trip will be to New York this fall, when Clayton will race his third marathon of the year at the TCS New York City Marathon.

FOLLOW CLAYTON @_clayton_young_

FOLLOW ASHLEY @feedyourrunner

SPONSOR: 

  • UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN training essentials pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

Enhance your understanding of Ali on the Run Show with My Podcast Data

At My Podcast Data, we strive to provide in-depth, data-driven insights into the world of podcasts. Whether you're an avid listener, a podcast creator, or a researcher, the detailed statistics and analyses we offer can help you better understand the performance and trends of Ali on the Run Show. From episode frequency and shared links to RSS feed health, our goal is to empower you with the knowledge you need to stay informed and make the most of your podcasting experience. Explore more shows and discover the data that drives the podcast industry.
© My Podcast Data