Ali on the Run Show

702. Run Your Way with Jackie Gaughan

"I think about when I was a kid and I would just go out and run hard and not worry about the result or what was the worst thing that could happen. I run my best when I run with the same mindset I had when I was 12."

Jackie Gaughan qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials in her very first marathon. At 24 years old, she was the 18th-fastest qualifier in the field. (Her PR is a 2:27 from the 2023 Berlin Marathon.) In this conversation, Jackie talks about going from being an anxiety-riddled runner at Notre Dame to a four-time marathoner who finished 25th at the Trials. She talks about how running fits into her life as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs, about her oldest daughter tendencies (she's the oldest of four), and about racing with a Jackie Mindset.

FOLLOW JACKIE @jackie_gaughan

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:

All about Jackie’s run today (1:45)
Jackie’s decision not to run this year’s Boston Marathon (2:45)
What Jackie’s job entails, and how she fits running in (5:00)
How it felt going into the Trials as the 18^th-fastest qualifier (7:00)
What it means to run with a Jackie Mindset (8:00)
How and why Jackie became a runner (9:35)
On dealing with race-related and running-related anxiety (14:15)
Why Jackie decided to move up to the marathon after college (16:10)
What Jackie’s Trials training was like (18:05)
What it was like in Orlando leading up to the Trials (23:25)
On making the decision to walk during the race (28:00)
How Jackie got through the toughest parts of the race, and what the finish line experience was like (34:00)
What running looks like for Jackie right now (38:00)
What it means to run the Jackie Gaughan way (41:00)

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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!

enMarch 05, 2024

701. Rachel Schneider Smith, Olympian, Professional Runner, & Mom

"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!

enFebruary 29, 2024

700. Jess McClain's 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Recap

"I had the time of my life out there. I soaked it all in."

So often, the fourth-place finisher at any given Olympic Trials is the most devastated of the day. The person who came closest to the podium, and was the first not to make the team. But at this year's U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, Jess McClain changed the narrative. The self-coached, unsponsored, agent-less runner shocked fans with her fourth-place finish and four-minute personal best, finishing in 2:25:46. In this conversation, Jess — who is the executive director of the Love Up Foundation and is a freelance marketing consultant — talks about how she made it happen.

FOLLOW JESS @jesstonn

SPONSORS:

goodr: Click here and use code ALI for free shipping.
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What you’ll get on this episode:

Jess’s emotions a few days post-Trials (2:55)
On Jess’s approach to the Trials (4:45)
Does Jess want a coach, an agent, a sponsor? (7:20)
Jess’s snapshot moment from the day (11:30)
How the race played out (22:15)
When Jess knew she was in fourth place (29:00)
What it means to be the official Team USA alternate (30:40)
How Jess trained for the Trials (36:20)
On Jess’s work with the Love Up Foundation (38:55)
What Jess decided to wear on race day (44:15)
How Jess found the confidence to go for it (50:35)

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!

enFebruary 22, 2024

699. Sara Hall's 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Recap

"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!

enFebruary 20, 2024

698. Makenna Myler's 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Recap

"Going into this race, I was like, 'Top 10, that sounds like a really good goal. I can do that. Top 10.' And then when that race started, I was like, 'Holy crap, Top 10 is going to be so hard. This is the most talented group of women I have ever been surrounded by.' Everywhere I looked, I was like, 'You’re amazing, you’re amazing, you’re incredible…' I felt honored to be among those women. I just look up to all these women around me."

"Have kids and dreams." It's Makenna Myler's mantra (surely you've seen her post-race video that quickly went viral), and it's exactly what she's doing. The mom of two (10 months and 3 years old) just finished seventh at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, where she ran a personal best time of 2:26:14. Makenna went into the Trials hoping for a Top 10 finish, and wanting "to be a factor." In this episode, she talks about how she made it happen, about being coached by Ryan Hall, about doing workouts alongside Sara Hall, and about what it was like pumping with fellow Trials-running moms before the race.

FOLLOW MAKENNA @benzmakenz

SPONSORS:

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

How Makenna processes her races (2:45)
What it was like nursing and pumping during race weekend (5:00)
All about Makenna’s viral “Have kids and dreams” video (10:00)
On imposter syndrome, being coached by Ryan Hall, and training with Sara Hall (13:10)
What the start of the race was like, and the race plan Ryan gave Makenna beforehand (23:55)
The last 10K (29:15)
What Makenna and Ryan talked about after the race (45:30)
Where Makenna plans to run next (51:00)
Why Makenna shaved her head in high school (55:30)

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!

enFebruary 15, 2024

697. Love on the Run with Best Running Friends Conner Mantz & Clayton Young

"For all the speculators out there, there was no splitting the prize money, no talk about that beforehand, no 'You go first, I go second.' No 'Conner let me win in New Haven, so I have to let him win at the Trials.' It really just happened. I want to make that 100 percent clear. I wouldn’t have it any other way. It was pure, raw emotion of enjoying the moment."

It was the marathon finish we all couldn't stop talking about. At the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, former Brigham Young University teammates and current training partners Conner Mantz and Clayton Young ran stride-for-stride every step of the way, until Conner broke the tape just ahead of Clayton. Together, they went 1-2 on the podium, securing their spots on Team USA for the Paris Olympic Games this summer. In this conversation, Conner and Clayton talk about the race, about training with coach Ed Eyestone, and about whether Clayton really "let" Conner win. It's Love on the Run meets Friendship Fest!

FOLLOW CONNER @connermantz

FOLLOW CLAYTON @_clayton_young_

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.

What you’ll get on this episode:

How Clayton, Conner, and Coach Eyestone wow feeling just a few days after the race (2:30)
All about that now-famous Olympic Trials finish (3:30)
The surge that got Conner to the finish (9:55)
What Meb Keflezighi said to Conner and Clayton before the race (15:30)
All about Conner and Clayton’s relationships with fellow professional runner Jared Ward (16:50)
How Conner and Clayton’s families feel about their race results (20:15)
On getting back on the run with the BYU crew (22:25)
Conner and Clayton break down the race — starting with Conner’s missed bottle (25:00)
The post-race conversations Clayton and Conner had with Zach Panning, who led most of the race (34:35)
The nerves of the Trials vs. the Olympics (40:50)
The mid-race high five seen around the country (45:35)
Clayton’s decision to wear sunglasses to the press conference (50:25)
How Conner and Clayton met (54:50)

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!

enFebruary 13, 2024

696. My 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon Weekend Recap

"Seeing how many people flew down to Florida on a random weekend in February to cheer for total strangers… How cool is that?!"

I had the best weekend in Orlando at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon — running around Lake Eola with friends, attending the elite athlete press conference, hosting a Best Running Friends meetup, going on shakeout runs, and, of course, cheering for all of the runners during Saturday's race. This is my recap from the weekend.

SPONSOR:

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:

Why I went to the Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando (1:00)
Friday: a morning run, wise words from Deena Kastor, the elite athlete press conference, an impromptu Best Running Friends meetup, a shakeout run, and a weird sushi dinner (9:00)
Saturday: race day! (34:10)
Final takeaways (51:50)

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!

enFebruary 08, 2024

695. Dakotah Lindwurm's 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Recap

"I knew months ago that was going to be my caption for that post!"

Let the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon recaps begin! First up: Dakotah Lindwurm! The 28-year-old Puma-sponsored athlete who trains with Minnesota Distance Elite finished third at the Trials, running 2:25:31 and fulfilling a lifelong dream of earning a spot on Team USA. In this conversation, recorded just two days after the race (while on vacation in the Dominican Republic!), Dakotah talks about her 130-mile training weeks leading up to the Trials while working full-time as a paralegal. She talks about developing an unwavering confidence and belief in herself, shares her original race plan, and breaks down the race itself. Plus, what it was like racing with teammate and best friend Annie Frisbie, what the spectators in Orlando were like, and the mid-race move that makes her feel "icky."

FOLLOW DAKOTAH @dakotahlindwurm

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!

enFebruary 06, 2024

694. Weini Kelati, American Record Holder in the Half Marathon

"As runners, we all deserve to be at the start line — and at the finish line, winning races."

Last month, Weini Kelati broke the American record in the half marathon, running 1:06:25 in Houston in her debut at the distance. Just a few days later, she ran — and won — the USATF cross-country championships. Weini's plan was never to be a record-breaking runner, though. Growing up in Eritrea, Weini was accustomed to walking — sometimes running — two hours to get to school each day, six days a week. Running on top of that? No thank you, she told her P.E. teacher. But somehow, she ended up on the school's track team, and at 17 years old, she was chosen to represent Eritrea at the Junior World Championships in Eugene, OR. The rest, as they say, is history. Weini intentionally missed her flight back home in favor of seeking asylum to stay in the U.S. and pursue a running career. She attended the University of New Mexico, where she became the most-decorated track and field athlete in the program's history, and she's been breaking records ever since. Weini lives in Flagstaff, AZ, where she is sponsored by Under Armour and trains with the Dark Sky Distance group.

FOLLOW WEINI @weini_kelati

SPONSOR:

Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase.

What you’ll get on this episode:

What’s next on Weini’s racing calendar? (3:40)
All about Weini’s childhood (4:30)
When — and why — Weini started running in elementary school (10:00)
The trip to the U.S. that changed Weini’s life forever (19:00)
On acclimating to life in the U.S. (25:45)
What it was like for Weini to go eight years without seeing her mother (30:00)
Weini’s college experience at the University of New Mexico (41:00)
How Weini became a professional runner (45:00)
Why Weini wanted to move up to the half-marathon distance (49:00)
Weini’s advice for first-time half-marathoners (55:35)

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!

enFebruary 01, 2024

693. Fiona O'Keeffe, 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials Competitor

"I wouldn’t say I’m a favorite in a lot of peoples’ eyes. But it’s the Trials. We’re here to select a team. So I’m going to go for it and see what happens."

Happy Olympic Trials Week! This Saturday, the fastest distance runners in the U.S. will line up in Orlando, FL, racing for their chance to represent Team USA in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Among those runners will be Fiona O'Keeffe, making her debut at the distance. Fiona runs professionally for Puma, and trains with the Puma Elite coaches Amy and Alistair Cragg. Fiona qualified for the Trials by running a 1:11 half marathon, and now she's ready to see what she can do over the course of 26.2 miles. In this episode, Fiona talks about her training, about the advice Amy Cragg (who won the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials) has given her, and about her recovery from a staph infection in her ankle last summer.

FOLLOW FIONA @fiona_okeeffe

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:

Race week! Fiona shares how she’s feeling just days away from the Trials (1:50)
Was Fiona’s plan to debut in the marathon at the Trials? (5:10)
What Fiona’s Trials training looked like, including her favorite and least favorite workouts (10:00)
On pressure — internal and external (17:20)
The ankle injury that sidelined Fiona last summer (18:45)
Fiona’s visualization plans, and what the week before the Trials entails (27:25)
Why Fiona chose to train with Amy and Alistair Cragg (31:10)
Noise vs. hype (34:20)
All about the runners in Fiona’s family (36:30)
What it might look like to continue competing on both the track and the roads (41:50)
Fiona’s pre-race must-dos (44:50)

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!

enJanuary 30, 2024

692. The Best Advice We've Ever Received

"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!

enJanuary 25, 2024

691. Gabi Rooker, 2:24 Marathoner

"You take what you have and make the most of it."

Gabi Rooker was an anti-running competitive gymnast growing up. After college, she began working full-time as an internal medicine physician's assistant. Now, she's headed to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon as the eighth-fastest woman in the field. In this conversation, Gabi talks about her unconventional road to becoming a 2:24 marathoner. Gabi ran her first marathon in 2021 — a 2:56 finish at Grandma's Marathon in her home state of Minnesota — and in just two years progressed to a 2:24 finish at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Gabi is coached by her husband, Alex, and she just signed her first major sponsorship deal with Nike at age 36. The Trials are just 11 days away, and Gabi's name is one you should know.

FOLLOW GABI @gabirooker

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 being “one to watch” at this year’s Olympic Marathon Trials, and what live has been like lately for Gabi (2:45)
On the pressure and stakes of this year’s Trials (6:00)
How Gabi’s life changed after the 2023 Chicago Marathon, and her thoughts on experience vs. newness (7:20)
How Gabi feels about being the 8^th-fastest woman lining up at the Trials (10:50)
Gabi shares her goals for the 2024 Marathon Trials (12:20)
Growing up Gabi: the life of a competitive gymnast (14:55)
Gabi’s introduction to running (23:00)
How Gabi’s husband, Alex, became her coach (29:30)
All about Gabi’s work as a physician’s assistant (32:15)
Why Gabi wanted to run a marathon (39:45)
On signing with Nike, and moving to part-time PA work leading up to the Trials (48:30)
The magic of the Mill City Running community (54:10)
How Gabi is feeling a few weeks out from the Trials (57:00)

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!

enJanuary 23, 2024

690. Chris Chavez, 2:59 Marathoner & Founder of Citius Mag

Chris Chavez has made a living out of being track and field's biggest fan and hype person. And when he's not obsessively covering the sport for Citius Mag, Chris is pursuing his own running goals. For the past several years, it's been no secret that Chris wanted to run a sub-3:00 marathon. This past weekend, that dream came true at the Houston Marathon, where Chris crossed the finish line in 2 hours 59 minutes and 12 seconds. This is his official race recap.

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.
Sidekick: Click here to get 15% off any recovery tool.

FOLLOW CHRIS @chris_j_chavez

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!

enJanuary 18, 2024

689. Everything You Need to Know About the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials

"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!

enJanuary 16, 2024

688. Jenny Simpson, Soon-to-be-Marathoner

"I am not wired to do something halfway or to do something for fun. I don’t know what that means. Fun for me is going as hard as possible."

After nearly two highly-decorated decades of racing the 1500m and the mile, Jenny Simpson is upping the ante and the mileage. In just a few weeks, Jenny will make her marathon debut at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in Orlando, FL. In this conversation, Jenny talks about her decision to have a go at 26.2 miles, what she thinks of marathon training these days, how she's handling fueling, and whether or not she hopes the race comes down to a kick.

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.
Quin D'Amato! Click here to buy Girl Scout Cookies from Keira D'Amato's daughter!

What you’ll get on this episode:

All about Jenny’s run today, and how she feels about returning to the track for workouts (2:35)
Meet Barkley: Jenny’s second dog! (5:55)
On New Year’s Resolutions and looking at life after competitive running (7:20)
Jenny’s high and low moments from 2023 (13:00)
How Jenny’s body is feeling during marathon training, and how she feels about training right now (17:00)
On being a contender at the Trials (26:25)
"Do you love marathon training?" (34:10)
The important stuff: how Jenny plans to wear her hair for her marathon debut (42:50)
How Jenny is approaching and handling fueling for marathon training and racing (45:15)
"It's so top of mind to me: You are responsible for everything that goes in your body" (53:35)
What Jenny doesn't want to happen on race day, and where she sees her strengths (57:25)
How Jenny anticipates measuring success on race day (1:09:00)

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!

enJanuary 11, 2024

687. The 2024 State of the Ali on the Run Show

"I survived!"

It’s a tradition! Here on the Ali on the Run Show, we kick off every year with the annual State of the Show episode — a look at the past, present, and future of the podcast. In 2023, the Ali on the Run Show surpassed 21 million downloads, and released 87 episodes with 75 different guests (34 first-timers, and 40 returning and recurring guests). So, what did we learn from 2023, and what's in store for 2024? Time to assess!

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.
Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase.

What you’ll get on this episode:

The Ali on the Run Show by the numbers (2:30)
My 2023 personal and professional highlights (15:40)
Revisiting my 2023 goals (30:40)
Looking forward on the Ali on the Run Show (35:00)
The 2024 Ali on the Run Show mission statement (43:20)
My 2024 goals (46:30)

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!

enJanuary 04, 2024

686. 2023 in Review with Kara Goucher

"If you have that heart of a lion, you will get back there. You just have to have patience."

It was a big year for Kara Goucher! Her book, The Longest Race, debuted and became a New York Times best-seller. She and Des Linden launched their podcast, Nobody Asked Us with Des and Kara. She called dozens of exciting races as a distance analyst for NBC's track and field and marathon broadcasts. She continued navigating life on the run with runner's dystonia. And today, she's here to recap all of it with us. Plus, we take a look at some of the year's highlights in professional running.

FOLLOW KARA @karagoucher

SPONSORS:

UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALIUCAN for 20% off your next UCAN order.
Sidekick: Click here to get 15% off any recovery tool.
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:

Kara attempts to sum up 2023 in one word (2:10)
Kara looks back at the success of her book, The Longest Race (2:50)
Kara’s year on the run (9:00)
Kara’s year on the mic: Kara talks about becoming a podcast host, and what it’s been like co-hosting “Nobody Asked Us with Des and Kara” with Des Linden (16:15)
Kara’s year on TV, and which races she enjoyed broadcasting the most (19:45)
2023 on the run, professionally: recapping the highlights from the year in professional running (26:45)
The one rule Kara would love to implement in professional running (53:30)
Kara’s predictions for 2024 (1:04:40)

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!

enDecember 28, 2023

685. Ask Ali, Cancer Edition

"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!

enDecember 26, 2023

684. Emilee Risteen, On Chasing 2:37

"It’s not easy to talk about the disappointments. It’s not easy to talk about the times that you fall short. Nobody wants to brag about those. It’s been hard. There were lots of tears shed in private. And just really accepting the fact that I wanted something so badly, and it didn’t happen."

Emilee Risteen has raced six marathons in the past 12 months, each in pursuit of one very specific goal. For the past year, Emilee has been trying to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials, which would mean running 26.2 miles in 2:37 or faster. She ran CIM in 2:43, Houston in 2:48, Boston in 2:41, Grandma's in 2:38 (a personal best and so close to that 2:37!), the McKirdy Micro in 2:41, and CIM one more time in 2:44. In this conversation, Emilee — who ran her first marathon in 4:03 and has taken nearly 90 minutes off her time in less than three years — talks about chasing her big goals, and about what happens when you don't quite get there. Plus, she talks about how going for sub-2:37 was initially about the time and the OTQ, but ultimately became about so much more.

FOLLOW EMILEE @emristeen

SPONSORS:

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

How Emilee is feeling post-CIM (3:20)
How Emilee is processing this past year on the run (4:30)
On “getting back out there” (8:10)
Why Emilee loves the process, and what this year of running was really about (11:45)
What the women’s OTQ community is like at marathons in the U.S. (19:30)
Emilee’s relationship with the time 2:37 (23:50)
Emilee shares her running origin story (27:10)
What Emilee’s first marathon was like, and how she’s gone from being a 4:03 marathoner to a 2:38 marathoner in less than three years (33:50)
How running fits into Emilee’s life (45:20)
How Emilee ran six marathons in 12 months without getting injured (47:35)
Emilee shares her 2024 running plans (51:40)

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!

enDecember 21, 2023

683. Ask Ali!

"Community is everything. People are everything. I want to stay surrounded by people that I love and that love me. I’m going to mess up in life. I’m not always going to get it right. But that’s what matters: showing up and being there and being together."

Ask Ali returns! It's been a minute since we've done a classic Q&A-style episode. In this one: holiday traditions, what's next on the run, 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!)

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!

enDecember 19, 2023