Ali on the Run Show

Latest Episodes:

616. Ask Ali! Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

"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?

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615. Run Your Way with Kaitlin Goodman and Meghann Featherstun Feb 24, 2023

Show notes

"I really believe that if you do a good job with the process, the outcome is gonna take care of itself. The time is gonna take care of itself."

I'm running the Eugene Marathon on April 30. I've run six marathons, but my most recent one was nearly seven years ago. So, it's been a while! And while, sure, muscle memory is a thing, I wanted to enlist some help with the process this time around. Enter Coach Kaitlin Goodman, founder of Running Joyfully, and sports dietitian Meghann Featherstun. Together, they're not just helping me get to the start line healthy and the finish line happy — they're teaching me a lot along the way, and ensuring I'm enjoying the process (which I really, really am!). In this conversation, you'll get to hear all about what it means to run my way right now, including what's going great, what's still a mystery, and where I feel I'm falling a little short.

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:

Coach Kaitlin Goodman talks about how my marathon training is going, from her perspective (2:25)
What "Running Joyfully" means to Kaitlin, and all about her approach to coaching (6:00)
What working with a running coach is actually like (8:20)
All about my strengths and weaknesses as a runner, and what my goals are for the Eugene Marathon (11:00)
The GPS watch debate (19:30)
Kaitlin's advice for dealing with pre-workout nerves (26:15)
Meghann Featherstun talks about her role as my sports dietitian slash therapist (38:00)
On dealing with feelings of shame or embarrassment around eating and nutrition (41:30)
Meghann's early concerns and notes from our first call together (43:30)
Addressing my struggles navigating performance nutrition (49:30)
I have a plan, which is what I wanted — so why am I not following it? (58:00)
On figuring out the ideal pre-run meal (and is it sushi?) (1:06:00)

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614. Alicia Monson, 3000m American Record Holder & Pro Runner with On Athletics Club Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

"I always have to remind myself that a race is gonna be really hard!"

Surely when Alicia Keys sang "this girl is on fire," she was referring (preemptively) to On Athletics Club's Alicia Monson. In 2021, Alicia became an Olympian in the 10K. In 2022, she represented Team USA at World Championships, again in the 10K. And just two months into 2023, the unstoppable streak continues: Alicia just broke the indoor 3000m American Record at the Millrose Games in New York City. Alicia lives and trains in Boulder, CO, where she is coached by Dathan Ritzenhein. In this conversation, she talks about training with OAC, about the team culture, and about why seemingly every member of the team is killing it right now. She also talks about how she has learned to stay focused, stay relaxed, and stay energized during races and hard workouts. (Check out this video for a perfect example.) And if you've ever thought you can't relate to the pros, rest assured, Alicia is one of us: Her on-the-run music of choice is The Greatest Showman soundtrack.

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:

All about Alicia's workout today (2:00)
How Alicia feels about performance pressure and expectations, and what grounds her (6:00)
How Alicia was feeling heading into the Millrose Games (8:40)
What was going through Alicia's head on the starting line, and how she handles pre-race nerves (12:45)
The women Alicia loves racing with and against, and the advice she would give younger athletes (15:30)
How Alicia stays relaxed during races (18:00)
On staying motivated during a long season (23:20)
Looking back on the 2021 Olympic Track & Field Trials, where Alicia finished second, became an Olympian — and went straight to the hospital (27:00)
All about On Athletics Club, and why the team is excelling right now (32:15)
How Alicia has built her mental strength over the years (40:35)
What Alicia was like as a kid (42:00)
Alicia shares her biggest hopes, dreams, and goals (47:00)

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613. Deirdre Keane, 2023 World Marathon Challenge Women's Champion Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

"They said, 'Deirdre, think of where you were when you signed up for this, and where you are now. And just enjoy this moment.' And so I turned off the music, and I just enjoyed the serenity of running at night, thinking of my dad next to me, thinking of the person I was when I signed up for this, and who I am now. And I crossed that finish line and absolutely fell apart in the best way possible. It's something I'll never, ever forget."

You probably remember Deirdre Keane: the pediatric ICU nurse from New York City who was featured on Humans of New York, talking about how losing her dad (an avid runner) to cancer inspired her to become a marathon runner. Today, Deirdre returns to the Ali on the Run Show to talk about her latest, most intense challenge to date: completing the World Marathon Challenge. Earlier this month, Deirdre ran seven marathons in seven days on seven different continents — and was the fastest woman to do so. In this conversation (perfect for your next long run!), she talks about everything this challenge entailed, including how she got involved, how she trained, and how she packed. Then, we break down all the details from each 26.2-mile race on each continent. She ran a marathon in Antarctica in -25 degree temperatures, and ran one in Australia on a 95-degree day. She ran a 32-loop course in Europe, and hit a low point somewhere between Europe and South America. And in true Deirdre form, she did it all for a good cause: to raise money for Vibrant Emotional Health, an organization that addresses mental health needs in New York City and across the nation.

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 Deirdre is feeling, three days post-adventure (3:00)
Why Deirdre wanted to complete the World Marathon Challenge (4:45)
How Deirdre prepared for this challenge — physically and mentally — and how she packed for the trip (8:30)
Deirdre's fueling strategy for each marathon (17:00)
The biggest mistake Deirdre made along the way (20:20)
All about the bathroom situation for the trip (23:30)
Why Deirdre was running to raise money for Vibrant Emotional Health (27:00)
What the bond among participants was like (28:15)
All about Antarctica (31:00)
All about Africa (38:50)
All about Australia (48:00)
All about Asia (56:20)
All about Europe (1:00:50)
All about South America (1:07:10)
All about the final marathon: North America (1:18:50)
What happened once all of the races were complete (1:24:00)

Follow Deirdre:

Instagram @deirdremkeane

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612. Love on the Run with Emily Infeld & Max Randolph Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

"I was mortified! Like, I've literally told everyone he's my boyfriend, and he hasn't told his friends about me! They don't know who I am!"

Happy Valentine's Day! We're celebrating as we always do on the Ali on the Run Show: with a whole lot of love! This year, it's Emily Infeld and Max Randolph's time to shine. Emily is a Nike-sponsored professional athlete and member of Team Boss, coached by Joe Bosshard. Max is a longtime Nike-employee and self-described "Professional Wife Supporter," making his podcast debut! In this conversation, we hear about Emily and Max's first meeting (fittingly, they met at a cross-country meet), and the long road to their first real date. Plus, how Max proposed, Emily and Max's advice for making a long-distance relationship work (this applies to all kinds of relationships), what Max is like when Emily is racing, and what's next on Emily's racing calendar.

And hey, whether you celebrate today or not, know that one thing is for sure: I love you.

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:

Max and Emily introduce each other (2:25)
The story of how Max and Emily met, and the long road to their first date (4:35)
On the "rules" of dating when you're on a professional running team (35:00)
When Emily and Max finally got to be in the same place at the same time — six years after meeting! (40:25)
How Max and Emily adjusted to living together for the first time, and how Max proposed (47:55)
Max and Emily's advice for people in long-distance relationships (58:45)
What Max is like when Emily's racing (1:00:00)
Emily offers updates on her running (1:03:30)
Max and Emily share the moments when they felt proudest of each other (1:08:30)

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611. Run Your Way with Colleen Quigley Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

"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!)

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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)

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610. Chelsea Clinton, 2-Time Marathoner, Author, & Former First Daughter Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

"I have this memory of someone saying to me, 'Oh you're a runner.' And I was like, 'Oh, I'm not a runner!' 'But you run a lot!' 'Oh! Yeah! I guess I am a runner. I guess that has happened! That's a part of who I am!'"

She's a two-time marathoner. A mom of three. A humanitarian and global health advocate. An author. A New Yorker. And she's a former First Daughter of the United States of America. Chelsea Clinton is here! Today on the Ali on the Run Show, Chelsea shares the story of how — and why — she started running. She talks about what she thought of her dad's running habit during their time in the White House, when he would famously go for runs accompanied by the Secret Service. She talks about becoming a runner while attending Stanford University, and about her relationship with the word "runner." And she talks about becoming a marathoner at the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon, including what her training was like (she used a training plan she found online!), how she felt about those weekend long runs, and what happened when she fell off a treadmill six weeks before race day. Plus, why she wanted to do it all over again (her second and most recent marathon was the 2022 New York City Marathon), her most memorable race-day moments, and what's next on the run.

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.

Follow Chelsea:

Twitter @ChelseaClinton

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609. The Everyday Runner, Adina Crawford Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

"It was like the bell went off at that moment. And while I wasn't the fastest or the most physical, I started. I put my foot down, and I started."

Adina Crawford is a civilian supervisor for the Montgomery County Police Department. (A very intense, emotional job.) She's a yoga instructor. And she's a two-time marathoner who lives and breathes running. But that wasn't always the case! Growing up, Adina was more of a "sit on the sidelines in gym class" kind of girl. It wasn't until she was in her forties that she had a wakeup call, in the form of a tough-love conversation with her husband. She started running and, well, you know how the story goes. Now, at 58 years old, Adina has found her voice, her passion, and her purpose. This is her story.

SPONSOR:

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

What you'll get on this episode:

What's making Adina happy right now (4:10)
What Adina's childhood was like (7:00)
What life looked like before Adina started running (10:45)
How — and why — Adina started running (13:00)
On adopting the "Runner" title, and moving up to the half-marathon (18:40)
On being a mentor for new runners (23:00)
Why Adina wanted to run a marathon, and what that experience was like (24:15)
How running has changed Adina's life (33:50)
All about Adina's job (35:35)
Why Adina started practicing yoga, and what her classes are like (39:20)
All about Adina Crawford Day! (46:20)
What's next for Adina? (51:00)

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608. Susie Chan, Ultra Runner & Peloton Instructor Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

"Never forget where you started. Nobody is born running a mile. We all have to work for it. So never forget those first few steps. Keep up the faith. And then one day, you'll go out and you'll feel like you're flying."

In her mid-thirties, Susie Chan was a cigarette-smoking single mom working as an exhibitions coordinator for art galleries and museums. The word "running" was definitely not a part of her vocabulary. But then, when her brother convinced her to run a half marathon with him, everything changed. Susie ran her first half marathon at 35, and she was hooked. Now, at 47, Susie is one of the best-known runners (and ultra runners!) in the UK. She has run some of the most grueling races in the world, including the 230K Jungle Ultra through the Amazon Rainforest, and the six-day Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara Desert. She's an Abbott World Marathon Majors six-star finisher, and in 2016, she broke the world record for most miles run on a treadmill in a 12-hour period (68.54 miles!). Today, Susie is most widely known for being a Peloton Tread instructor. In this conversation, we talk about all those highs — and the lows, including Susie's cancer diagnosis in 2017, and her ongoing experience with perimenopause. Next up for Susie: Badwater Salton Sea in April.

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's making Susie happy today, and what she's training for right now (4:05)
Susie's take on the running community (8:35)
How Susie became a runner (10:15)
How Susie deals with the dark times during races (21:50)
What Susie's training is like, and how she balances her own training and her Peloton classes (27:00)
All about that treadmill world record (29:00)
What Susie is proudest of (37:00)
Susie's thyroid cancer diagnosis (39:00)
How Susie got the Peloton job (48:00)
How Susie prepared to interview Dina Asher-Smith, Eilish McColgan, Sally McRae, and more at the National Running Show (52:00)
Susie's experience with perimenopause (57:00)
On motivation (1:00:25)
Susie's best mid-ultra hallucination stories, and her advice for the "ultra-curious" (1:03:50)

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607. Run Your Way with Emily Sisson Jan 27, 2023

Show notes

"I never think that in a race. I never think, 'I've got this.' For better or for worse, I don't ever feel like something's done until it's done."

She's done it again! Earlier this month, Emily Sisson broke her own American record in the half marathon, running 1:06:52 at the Houston Half Marathon. She became the first U.S. woman to run under 67 minutes in the half marathon on a record-eligible course, and Emily now owns four out of six of the fastest half marathon times run by an American woman. (She is also the American record holder in the marathon!) In this conversation, Emily talks about the mental side of staying so strong during training and on race day. She shares how she avoids the comparison trap, and how she stays focused on what she can do vs. what her competition is capable of. Plus, what it was like racing alongside longtime training partner Molly Huddle, the secret to that finishing kick, and what the finish line media frenzy is really like.

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 Emily has been feeling since Houston, and what it's like being one of the greats in U.S. distance running (3:15)
What the Houston Half finish line was like (9:00)
When Emily decided she'd try to break her record in Houston (12:00)
Why Emily is already thinking about running faster (17:50)
How Emily was feeling the morning of the Houston Half (20:15)
All about the newest addition to Emily's family! (24:45)
Emily explains the use of pacers during races — and why she didn't want them for Houston (30:50)
Emily's choice of racing shoe: the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Pacer (33:30)
Emily walks us through her race at the Houston Half Marathon (36:20)
How Emily finishes her races so strong (43:15)
How Emily spent the rest of her day in Houston, and how she's feeling heading into her spring marathon (45:30)
On being clued into the competition vs. focusing inward (50:20)
What it means to run the Emily Sisson way (53:15)