Ali on the Run Show

662. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About World Championships

"Not all rectangles are squares. That’s how I dissect who’s self-conscious and not in the short-shorts vs. tights debates."

Welcome back to “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know!” I’ve worked in the running industry in some capacity for roughly a decade now, and as much as I’ve immersed myself, there’s still so much I don’t know or understand. So if I, a relative industry insider, am still confused about things like shoe contracts, waterfall starts on the track, and world rankings (seriously, what's up with world rankings?), surely I’m not alone. And since the 2023 World Athletics Championships competition kicks off this weekend in Budapest, it felt urgent to get the inside scoop.

So today, former professional runner and founder of The Lap Count (and track and field’s biggest fan and hype guy) Kyle Merber returns to answer all of your (and some of my) questions about the World Championships. Big Qs and Little Qs and world stage paydays and the Media 800, and more!

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: Click here and use code ONTHERUN200 for $200 off any Global Adventures trip, or code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon registration.
Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase.

For more, check out:

Everything You Need to Know About Track & Field

Everything You Need to Know About the Business of Running

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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!

enAugust 17, 2023

661. Shane Quinn & Tony D'Amato, American Record-Holding Husbands

"We were like, what if Emily and Keira tied? What if they cross the line together and they tied? And we said, well what if we had a cage match? Like it was a tie, and then it came down to a cage match?"

Their wives are the fastest distance runners in the country. Today, we turn the spotlight to the sidelines to hear from the husbands. Shane Quinn is married to American record holder in the marathon and former American record holder in the half marathon, Emily Sisson. Tony D'Amato is married to American record holder in the half-marathon and former American record holder in the marathon, Keira D'Amato. And while their wives have been breaking — and trading — records, Shane and Tony have been bonding behind the scenes. In this wildly fun episode, Shane and Tony D. talk about what it's like being married to professional runners at the top of their game, about how they've learned to show up and show their support, about how to be a supportive partner without sacrificing their own goals and dreams, and about...cage matches. A surprising amount of talk about cage matches. (Your move, Ryan Hall.)

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.
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.
goodr: Use code ONTHERUN for free shipping on your entire order.

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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!

enJuly 27, 2023

660. Run Your Way with Courtney Dauwalter, 2023 Western States & Hardrock 100 Champion

"I want to make sure I can be doing this for many years to come and not overdo it. So I’m trying to be smart. It’s less fun being smart."

First, she won the Western States Endurance Run 100-mile race, and set a course record in the process. And then, just three weeks later, Courtney Dauwalter ran, won, and set a course record at the Hardrock 100. In this conversation, Courtney returns to the Ali on the Run Show to talk about her back-to-back wins, and about why — she swears — it's not about the clock, the wins, or the records.

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:

How Courtney is feeling after back-to-back 100-milers (2:40)
How Courtney processes her races — and what’s next (3:50)
How Courtney manages all of her sponsorships, brand deals, partnerships, and emails (7:00)
How Courtney approached the recovery period between Western States and Hardrock (9:20)
Courtney shares how she dealt when this year’s Hardrock 100 felt hard from the start (14:05)
What it’s like being Courtney Dauwalter (16:30)
Courtney’s Hardrock 100 recap (18:45)
On aid station energy, and whether the signature Courtney smiles are ever forced (25:20)
What life looked like after Courtney crossed the Hardrock finish line (30:55)
Courtney’s mid-race detour, and the “dark and twisty” places she went during the race (33:30)
Courtney answers listener questions! (38:50)
What does it mean to run the Courtney Dauwalter way? (57:00)

FOLLOW COURTNEY @courtneydauwalter

Courtney Dauwalter, 2021 UTMB Winner

Courtney Dauwalter, Professional Ultra Runner

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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!

enJuly 25, 2023

659. Emily Halnon's 2023 Hardrock 100 Recap

"I went into it with no expectations and a lot of gratitude."

Fresh off her seventh 100-miler finish — and second finish at the Hardrock 100 — Emily Halnon returns to the Ali on the Run Show for the sixth time. In this conversation, Emily talks about getting a call 19 hours before the race start saying she'd gotten off the waitlist. Should she want it, a bib for the esteemed 102.5-mile race in Colorado was hers. She wanted it. So, she wrangled her crew (and an extra pair of socks), and went on to finish this year's race nearly two hours faster than in 2022. She finished in 36 hours and 47 minutes — the ninth woman and 33rd finisher overall. Today, we get to hear all about it, including why this race means so much to Emily, what it's like racing alongside Courtney Dauwalter, and what happened when Emily hit her lowest point of the race. Plus, all about her forthcoming book, which she finished and submitted to her publisher the day before lining up at the Hardrock start line.

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 Emily:

Instagram @emilysweats

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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!

enJuly 20, 2023

658. Motherhood Mondays with Laura Green & Julia Berteletti

"It’s just this gut feeling that we’re not done, and I’m not done. But I’m also a realist."

By popular demand, four years later: Laura Green and Julia Berteletti return to the Motherhood Mondays series on the Ali on the Run Show! Like any group text, this episode takes the long, winding, scenic route. We talk parenting: Julia has a 4.5-year-old son, Max, and Laura has 4.5-year-old Jack and 2-year-old Julian. We talk about the role running is playing in each of their lives right now. We talk about Julia's hope for a second child, and the losses she's endured along the way. We talk about what life looks like for Laura as a mom of two. We talk about the easy, the hard, and everything in between.

SPONSOR:

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

Follow Julia @griffeletti

Follow Laura @lauramcgreen

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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!

enJuly 17, 2023

657. Kate Grace, Olympian & New Mom

"I am just so thrilled for what’s to come. I don’t know what that is. But I have faith that it’s working out as it should."

We're long overdue for a catch-up session with professional runner and Olympian Kate Grace! The last time Kate was on the Ali on the Run Show was two years ago, after she had just competed at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials, where she had hoped to make her second Olympic team in the 800m. Kate fell just short, finishing fourth in the final. But remember what happened next? Kate went on to have the best Revenge Summer ever! She went to Europe where she ran four races in four different countries in a 10-day span, and her time overseas earned her two wins and three personal bests. She had just moved to Boulder, CO, to train with Team Boss and coach Joe Bosshard. She was living the dream, and excited about her upcoming season — which, as we learn in this episode, Kate had planned to be her last.

In this episode, Kate talks about going from the highest highs to the most devastating lows. She talks about getting Long Covid, about deciding how and when to retire from the sport, and, ultimately, about her decision to have a baby. Kate's son, River, is now four months old, and Kate is back on the run and "itching to go fast!"

SPONSOR:

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.

What you’ll get on this episode:

How Kate’s doing these days (2:30)
On learning to live without a routine or schedule (3:45)
When River met Team Boss (6:30)
Adventures in “leaving the house with a baby” (9:30)
The powers of pelvic floor physical therapy, and how Kate approached her return to running (12:00)
Kate’s experience running during pregnancy (16:00)
On life since the Kate Grace Revenge Summer, and the decision to have a baby (18:15)
How Kate shared the news of her pregnancy (28:15)
Pregnancy: expectation vs. reality (32:45)
Kate’s experience with preeclampsia, and all about River’s birthday (38:25)
Kate shares her new-mom fears (47:00)
On the pressure to return to running and racing (48:45)
Kate talks about the conversations she's had with her mom about pregnancy and fitness (55:20)

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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!

enJuly 13, 2023

656. Erica Stanley-Dottin, 2:52 Marathoner & Tracksmith Community Manager

"You can get humbled in this sport quickly. You’re playing the long game the whole time. I’ve learned that I’m down with that. I’m into that. That part of it is what keeps me going. I thrive in the unknowns — getting out there and figuring it out."

Erica Stanley-Dottin started running young, and was a sprinter in college. But turns out, her fastest days are now, as a 49-year-old full-time working mom of two living in Brooklyn, NY. In this episode, Erica talks about her road to becoming a 2:52 marathoner. She talks about how she's gotten so fast, and about the significance of becoming a part of The List: a small group of American-born Black women who have run sub-3:00 marathons. (Erica joined when she ran 2:52:05 at the Berlin Marathon last year.) Plus, Erica talks about what's next on her racing calendar — and whether she plans to return to the track.

SPONSORS:

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.
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:

Why Erica decided to get back to the track recently (3:30)
What’s next on Erica’s racing calendar? (10:25)
Erica’s keys to getting faster as she’s getting older (12:55)
How Erica became a runner (18:30)
Why Erica ran her first marathon (24:00)
How Erica became a 3:15 marathoner after having her two sons (30:55)
On joining Black Roses, and how that changed the game for Erica (32:20)
“The heartbreaker,” and the race that taught Erica there are no guarantees in the marathon (35:45)
The significance of running a sub-3:00 marathon and becoming a part of “The List” (39:45)
On life since Berlin (51:20)
What Erica has learned about herself through marathoning (53:50)
All about Erica’s job as Tracksmith’s NYC Community Manager (55:00)

Follow Erica:

Instagram @estanleydott

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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!

enJuly 11, 2023

655. Kara Goucher, Author of "The Longest Race"

"I feel really, really free."

Kara's back! In the year since her last appearance on the Ali on the Run Show, Kara Goucher has become a New York Times best-selling author and co-host of the fan-favorite podcast, Nobody Asked Us with Des and Kara. This week, Kara heads to Eugene, OR, where she'll be on the NBC broadcast calling the men's and women's distance events at the USATF Outdoor National Championships. (Here's how to watch.) In this episode, we're talking about some of the standout storylines to watch at this year's races. Plus, what life has been like since Kara's book, The Longest Race, came out earlier this year, chatter about the fun things professional athletes don't know about (how much race photos cost!), an update on Kara's running (Boston 2024?!), and so much more.

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:

What it’s like being Kara Goucher in downtown Duluth, MN (2:45)
All about Kara’s role at this year’s USATF Outdoor National Championships on CNBC (4:30)
What to know about this year’s distance races at USAs (11:00)
How Kara feels about heading back to Eugene, OR — and where’s the hype? (22:40)
An update on Kara’s running, and the latest on her life with runner’s dystonia (34:25)
On race photos, and professional photographers, Venmo, and more (40:30)
What’s next for Kara Goucher, distance analyst, and her thoughts on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando (47:45)
What’s next for Kara Goucher, co-host of Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara (55:00)
On life since the release of Kara’s book, The Longest Race (58:30)

For more, check out:

Kara Goucher on Episode 525 of the Ali on the Run Show

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

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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!

enJuly 06, 2023

654. The Pre-Surgery Check-In

"I spent my whole childhood obsessing over really wanting boobs. And now, at 38, these two things that I’ve had a pretty tumultuous relationship with... Once we finally learned to get along, we find ourselves back on shaky ground, and dare I say, breaking up for good?"

It's been about a month since we last caught up. Now, I'm back, walking [messily] through my emotions as I get ready for my double mastectomy surgery on Monday, July 3. I have some updates since that last chat, including the surprising results of my genetic testing (BRCA2 positive, which brought up a whole bunch of feelings), my hopes and plans for the Ali on the Run Show while I'm recovering, and what I'm afraid of right now (everything?).

And from the bottom of my very full, very grateful, very overwhelmed heart, thank youfor the support and kindness. I've been completely floored by the contributions to the GoFundMe, and I will spend the rest of my entire life in gratitude. We've got this.

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

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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!

enJune 30, 2023

653. Steph Catudal, Author of Everything All at Once

"I thought I was leaving my grief behind. I truly thought I had finished grieving. When Rivs got sick, that narrative was cracked wide open. And I learned that you never finish grieving, and that’s OK. Healing is a continuous journey, and the grief kind of comes along with us and becomes a part of us. And that’s a beautiful thing."

It's hard to find suitable words to do justice for Steph Catudal's words. Her New York Times best-selling memoir, Everything All at Once, is heart-wrenching, gripping, evocative, and emotional. It's the story of Steph's childhood — of losing her dad to lung cancer when she was just 14, and the turmoil, rebellion, and upheaval that filled the following years. It's simultaneously the story of her adulthood — of nearly losing her husband, Tommy Rivers Puzey, to lung cancer, and of his 84-day medically induced coma. It's the story of grief, survival, strength, caregiving, motherhood, and so much more. And it's about running, but it's not about running at all.

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.
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:

What life is like now that Steph’s story is out in the world (2:45)
On perception vs. reality (5:35)
Steph’s original plan for a book — and what it ended up being (8:50)
How Steph was able to recall such vivid details from the hardest days of her life (16:00)
The times when Steph felt scared (23:20)
How Steph learned — and allowed herself — to be vulnerable as a mother (26:15)
Is the rebellious girl somewhere inside Steph? (34:25)
“I see your heart and it is good.” (37:45)
On fear and the possibility of Rivs dying (41:10)
What Steph’s relationship with running is like (43:30)
What it was like when Rivs returned to the marathon, completing the 2021 New York City Marathon (50:30)
On marriage (55:55)

Follow Steph:

Instagram @steph_outside

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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!

enJune 29, 2023

652. Meaghan Murray-Neuberger, Managing Partner of Believe in the Run

"You really have to want it. It takes the discipline of the training, the discipline of honing in on your nutrition and hydration, and understanding what that means. And the day to day practice of really, really wanting to make this thing happen. It’s all the little pieces that you have to tie together perfectly. And then you have to have a great day! Everything has to come together on the day. It’s a lot."

Meaghan Murray-Neuberger is a 2:47 marathoner. But before you think, "Whoa, 2:47 marathoner — I can't relate to that," consider the possibility that you can, in fact, relate. Meaghan wasn't born a 2:47 marathoner. She spent more than five years and ran more than 10 marathons in her attempts to break three hours. Once she did that, things started to click. She dialed in her nutrition (shout-out to Meghann Featherstun!), learned about hydration, and started doing all of the "little things" that make a big difference. In this conversation, Meaghan talks about the major mental unlock that happened when she broke 3:00 for the first time. She talks about racing under pressure, and about learning to run her own race. Plus, all about what it's like being the managing partner of Believe in the Run. This weekend, Meaghan will make her 10K debut at the B.A.A. 10K! (Still time to sign up! Click here before registration is totally full!)

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 Meaghan:

Instagram @meaghanjmurray

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!

enJune 22, 2023

651. Motherhood Mondays with Aleia Hobbs, Professional Sprinter & Olympic Medalist

"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!

enJune 19, 2023

650. Run Your Way with Nikki Hiltz

"I’m really confident in myself and I believe I can do it. But it’s not gonna be easy. That’s why I love this sport. I love racing."

What a treat to get to catch up with fan-favorite Nikki Hiltz in the middle of their first-ever European racing circuit and ongoing hot streak. We talked the day before Nikki made their Diamond League debut at a meet in Oslo. (In case you missed it, Nikki finished fourth in the mile, running 4:18, a personal best!) In this conversation, Nikki talks about what's fueling their racing these days — including how they stay mentally strong when feeling physically terrible during a race. Nikki is a lululemon-sponsored professional athlete who identifies as transgender nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns. Nikki also talks about what Pride Month means to them, what it's like coaching girlfriend Emma Gee, 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:

Why it’s a big deal for Nikki to be racing in Europe for the first time (2:00)
On being on a hot streak (6:10)
How Nikki handles racing when it all feels terrible (8:15)
Broadcasts, pronouns, and how it all affects Nikki’s racing (10:20)
On LGBTQ+ representation in professional running (16:00)
What Pride Month means to Nikki (19:00)
What Nikki’s partnership is like with lululemon, one year into their sponsorship — and which shoes Nikki is racing in these days (24:30)
Nikki’s decision to donate their prize money at the USATF Road Mile Championships to the Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund (32:00)
What it’s been like coaching girlfriend Emma Gee in the steeplechase (35:00)
How Nikki is feeling about the 1500m talent pool in the U.S. right now (38:15)
What does it mean to run the Nikki Hiltz way? (42:20)

For more, check out:

Nikki Hiltz, lululemon Athlete, May 2022

Love on the Run with Nikki Hiltz & Emma Gee, February 2022

The Latest From Nikki Hiltz, October 2020

Catching Up With Nikki Hiltz, November 2019

LIVE at RunnerCon with Nikki Hiltz & Allie Ostrander, September 2019

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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!

enJune 16, 2023

649. Mariana Fernández, Peloton Instructor & Marathoner

"All of those, I ended the race smiling and happy and saying, 'I want to do that again.' For me, running is about that."

Mariana Fernández was born in Mexico and grew up in San Diego, where she dreamed of one day being onstage with her name in lights. Today, she's doing just that — in a slightly different way than she ever imagined. Mariana is a Peloton Tread, Yoga, and Meditation instructor who teaches classes in both English and Spanish. In this conversation, she talks about the role movement has always played in her life. (Growing up with a marathon-running mom — who is still running marathons in her 70s — will get you moving!) Mariana ran the New York Mini 10K last weekend, and soon she'll begin training for her next marathon: the 2023 New York City Marathon

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.

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!

enJune 15, 2023

648. Mary Kate Shea, Director of Professional Athletes and Technical Support/Events at the B.A.A.

"The marathon is so humbling. Anything can happen, and it usually does — even for the best in the world."

We're going back to Boston today, with returning Ali on the Run Show guest Mary Kate Shea. The fastest runners in the world call her "MK," and she's the director of professional athletes and technical support/events at the Boston Athletic Association. Every year, MK is responsible for bringing more than 300 professional athletes to Boston for races including the Boston Marathon, the B.A.A. 5K, the B.A.A. 10K, and more. And the big question everyone was asking this year: How did she get Eliud Kipchoge to finally come and run the Boston Marathon? In this conversation, MK answers that, and shares her favorite stories and memories from Boston 2023. Plus, she talks about what it was like reading good friend Des Linden's book, Choosing to Run, and about who's still on her Boston Marathon wish list. (Listen all the way to the end for a cute Annie cameo!)

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.
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:

MK explains what her job entails, and how she’s learned to be so good at it (3:00)
How MK got Eliud Kipchoge to come and run the 2023 Boston Marathon (8:35)
What it was actually like having Kipchoge in the city of Boston (17:00)
How MK made sure every pro athlete felt supported in Boston this year (20:10)
What it’s like being at the Boston Marathon finish line with MK (22:50)
How MK was able to get eventual winner Hellen Obiri into the 2023 Boston field (26:45)
Who’s still on MK’s Boston Marathon wish list? (33:00)
MK’s stories from the 2023 start line — including a worm or two (35:40)
Life after 25 consecutive Boston Marathons (41:30)
MK’s most memorable moment from Boston 2023 (43:35)
MK talks about her — and Boston’s — special relationship with Des Linden (48:30)
What to expect at the 2023 B.A.A. 10K next weekend (58:15)

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!

enJune 13, 2023

647. A Life Update From Ali

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

SPONSORS:

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.
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!

enJune 06, 2023

646. Run Your Way with Ashley Desanno

"If you really in your bones know you can meet some goal? Don’t quit until you do it."

Ashley Desanno grew up playing soccer, took a break from sports during college (partying > fitness), and then, with encouragement from her now-husband, decided to go for a run one day. One run turned into two, which turned into registering for her first race. Now, she's a 2:58 marathoner who is best known online as @lotsamiles. (Surely you've seen her wildly popular, LOL-worthy, likely-to-go-viral videos, like the one where her son gave his class an oh-so-honest recap of her most recent race.) In this conversation, Ashley, who lives in Portland, OR, with her husband and their two sons, talks about what it has taken to become a 2:58 marathoner. (Spoiler: It took 10 years and eight attempts to get there.) She talks about what it means to "fail forward," about the power of persistence, and about the role running is playing as she grieves the recent loss of her father. Plus, how she chooses to show up online, how she deals with potential backlash, 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:

All about Young Ashley (3:35)
What Ashley’s running looks like in the wake of losing her father, and the role running is playing in the grieving process (4:40)
Ashley’s approach to running and racing right now (9:15)
How, when, and why Ashley became a runner (11:10)
What it took to run a sub-3:00 marathoner after 10 years and eight tries — and why Ashley never gave up (16:30)
The day Ashley ran a 2:58 marathon — and the aftermath (24:30)
On toxic positivity, and how it shows up in running and motherhood (29:00)
All about becoming “lotsamiles,” what it’s like going viral, and addressing "political" topics on social media (34:20)
Ashley shares her biggest hopes, dreams, and goals on the run (44:15)
Ashley's advice for building running confidence (48:25)
What it means to run the Ashley Desanno way (56:55)

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!

enJune 02, 2023

645. Emma Bates, LIVE at the Bayshore Marathon

"That’s the only reason I still do this today, and I’m able to reach new heights in my performance — it’s because of the people that I’m around."

We heard from Emma Bates here on the Ali on the Run Show right after she ran that 2:22:10 personal best and finished fifth at this year's Boston Marathon. Now, just a few weeks later, she's back and she's live! This episode was recorded in front of a live, 170-person, Disney Channel Original Movie-loving audience at the City Opera House in Traverse City, MI, during the Bayshore Marathon weekend. We caught up, got some life (and dating) updates, and played a few rousing rounds of new-to-the-show games, including Bates Rates, Bates Debates & Hot Takes, and Bates Hates! (Key takeaway from it all: Run hard. Have fun. I love you.)

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.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race: Register TODAY (before the price increase on April 12!) for the world’s largest and most iconic 10K road race, taking place in Atlanta, GA, on July 4, 2023.

What you’ll get on this episode:

All about Emma’s very detailed race recaps on Instagram, and how she breaks down the race afterward with Coach Joe Bosshard (5:05)
How Emma’s physical and mental recovery have been since the 2023 Boston Marathon (9:10)
What life has been like since the Boston Marathon (13:25)
Why Emma doesn’t race as often as her competitors and peers, and her decision about whether or not to race World Championships in Budapest this summer (17:05)
Emma’s advice for how to strengthen your confidence muscle (21:40)
“We’ve had a soft launch, an al dente launch — that was the hard launch!” (23:50)
Emma’s favorite beauty products (Check out Thrive Causemetics founder Karissa Bodnar on the Ali on the Run Show!) (28:15)
Bates Rates, Bates Debates & Hot Takes, & Bates Hates! (29:30)

For more from Emma, check out:

Emma Bates on Episode 633 of the Ali on the Run Show

Emma Bates on Episode 547 of the Ali on the Run Show

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 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!

enJune 01, 2023

644. Gabe Grunewald (February 2018 Re-Run)

“It’s OK to struggle, but it’s not OK to give up.” —Gabe Grunewald

Gabriele “Gabe” Grunewald was a professional middle-distance runner from Minneapolis, MN. She was first diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma when she was in college and undoubtedly in the best shape of her life. Instead of finishing her college running career on a high note — or, better yet, a podium — Gabe was faced with a difficult and scary diagnosis. She underwent several surgeries, including having more than half of her liver removed after the third time the cancer came back.

Gabe passed away on June 11, 2019. Today, we are revisiting her conversation on the Ali on the Run Show, recorded in February 2018. In this conversation, Gabe talked about the difference between fighting and giving up, and explained what it means to be “brave like Gabe.”

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!

enMay 25, 2023

643. Ask Ali!

"I am not interested in hurting today. I am not interested in suffering. I am not interested in working that hard. I just wanted to run and smile and see friends and wave to people. As soon as it started feeling hard, I said I needed to slow down. and I have no shame in that. We enjoyed the run, and that was all I wanted."

Welcome to Ask Ali! These episodes come to 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 the Brooklyn Half this past weekend, taking a Cody Rigsby class at Peloton Studios New York, how to avoid running burnout, and so much more. (Plus: a cute special guest at the end!)

SPONSORS:

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.
Sidekick: Use code ONTHERUN for 15% off your next order.

Check out:

Ali on The Drop

The RBC Brooklyn Half Pre-Party Video

My favorite cheese!

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!

enMay 23, 2023