Ali on the Run Show

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416. Courtney Frerichs, Olympic Silver Medalist Aug 26, 2021

Show notes

"He said, 'I want you to feel like you can take over this race. And take over early.' And I was like, 'Wait, what?!'"

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

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

What you'll get on this episode:

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

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Instagram @courtneyfrerichs

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415. Aisha Praught Leer, Two-Time Olympian for Team Jamaica Aug 25, 2021

Show notes

"I couldn't hear. I couldn't think. He was very matter of fact. He said, 'You have a complete medial meniscus root tear. That means your meniscus tore off the bone. You need surgery — not today, but in the next couple days. Tokyo isn't an option.'"

Professional Puma-sponsored runner Aisha Praught Leer was living every athlete's dream this summer. She'd secured her spot on Jamaica's Olympic team, and was training in St. Moritz with her Team Boss teammates Emma Coburn and Cory McGee. She was feeling fit. Fast. Ready to race the 1500 in Tokyo. But then, just a few days before boarding the plane to Japan, Aisha was warming up before a track workout when she felt a pop in her knee. That pop turned out to be a torn meniscus. ("Like meniscus fully dangling off the bone," Aisha explains.) In this conversation, Aisha reflects on that day at the track in Chiavenna, and talks about what it's like when all of your dreams are ripped away from you in an instant. She talks about her decision to race anyway, and talks about what she says was the hardest part of this injury. (It wasn't the race. It was calling her loved ones.) Plus, Aisha — who is now two weeks post-op — discusses her surgery, her recovery, and her big dreams for what's next.

SPONSOR: Oiselle — Use code ONTHERUN for 15% off.

What you'll get on this episode:

How Aisha made Jamaica's Olympic team this year (11:40)
How Aisha's training was going leading up to the Olympics (19:30)
The day Aisha heard that "pop" at practice, and the aftermath (22:30)
The journey to Tokyo, and what Aisha says was the hardest part of the injury (49:00)
What it was like racing the 1500 on a torn meniscus in Tokyo (1:05:20)
Aisha's goals for the future (1:17:45)
What Aisha's watching right now (1:19:00)

What we mention on this episode:

Aisha Praught & Will Leer on Episode 204 of the Ali on the Run Show

Aisha Praught Leer on Episode 197 of the Ali on the Run Show

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414. What's New With You with Keira D'Amato Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

"I feel like nothing and everything changed."

Keira D'Amato is many things: a full-time realtor, a mom of two, a Nike-sponsored professional runner, and — her newest title — a world record holder. Last year, Keira had arguably the best running year of her life. She ran a personal best at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials (2:34), ran a 5K on the track in 15:04 (beating her lifetime best by a full minute), won the Michigan Pro Half Marathon (and ran a 64-second personal best), ran a 2:22 at the Marathon Project (a 12-minute PR), and broke the 10-mile women's only American record at a race she created called the Up Dawg 10-Miler. Turns out, that race wasn't just an American record — it was also good enough for a just-ratified world record! At the peak of it all, Keira signed with a sponsor (Nike) for the first time at age 36. Unfortunately, since then, Keira has dealt with injury stuff and health stuff, and had to scratch from the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, where she'd hoped to run the 10K. Still, her perspective is as inspiring ever, and she's one of the funnest, funniest women in running. Always a good time with Keira on the Ali on the Run Show!

THE LAST TIME KEIRA WAS ON THE SHOW: Episode 305

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What you'll get on this episode:

What's making Keira happy right now? (6:00)
Keira's advice for raising confident kids (10:00)
All about D'Amato family food challenges (13:50)
Reflecting on running the Up Dawg 10-Miler and setting both an American Record and a World Record (20:00)
On becoming a sponsored runner and signing with Nike (26:20)
How a kind compliment from Molly Seidel changed so much for Keira (35:00)
On the decision to scratch from the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials (40:00)
All about Keira's recent 5K vs. her husband — where he got a big advantage! — and their Vegas wedding (49:50)
Keira's biggest hopes, dreams, and goals on the run and beyond (1:01:00)

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413. Ask Ali! Aug 20, 2021

Show notes

"It just feels like too much."

Welcome to Ask Ali, a twice-a-month series where I answer all of your questions. This time around, we've got listener questions about preparing for parenthood, podcast planning, first marathons, and so much more. Thanks to everyone who called in for this one. Enjoy!

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

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

You asked:

What can I do to prepare for pregnancy and motherhood? (6:00)
The Ali on the Run Show recording and releasing timeline (12:00)
All about the Ali on the Run Show theme music (18:40)
My favorite places in New England (24:30)
The best half marathons on the east coast (31:45)
Advice for a first-time marathoner (33:50)

I mentioned:

36 Hours in Bar Harbor, Maine

New England Half Marathon Recap

Manchester City Half Marathon Recap

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412. Jay Holder, Olympic Stadium Deputy Venue Media Manager Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

"I had never done this before. I mean, I've done press conferences before, but at this level, this was a whole other ballgame… I mean, there were several moments where I was like, 'This is the Olympics, so I better do this right, and I better not screw this up, and I better look like I know what I'm talking about even if I don't. Because this is the Olympics!'"

Jay Holder knows his way around a press conference. As the director of marketing and communications for the Atlanta Track Club (remember this episode?) and as a former journalist himself (he has worked for ABC and with New York Road Runners at the New York City Marathon), Jay is the guy you want running your communications operations if you're putting on a race. And Jay just got to work his biggest gig yet: as the deputy venue media manager for Olympic Stadium at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Jay spent nine weeks in Tokyo running all communications-related matters inside the stadium, including managing the press tribunes and moderating and facilitating 53 press conferences in a 10-day span! This is a fascinating conversation about all that goes on behind the scenes at the Olympics.

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

What you'll get on this episode:

What is a press tribune? (5:15)
Where Jay was during most of the races (7:40)
Jay explains his role for the press conferences (10:00)
What makes a great press conference question? (17:30)
Is Jay's role stressful? (21:30)
How Jay measured success in his role at the Olympics (24:20)
How Jay got this job (26:40)
All about Jay's quarantine once he got to Japan (40:00)
What it was like getting ready for the Opening Ceremonies (53:40)
What was the best part of it all? (59:30)
What's next? (1:06:45)

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411. Kara Goucher, NBC Olympics Distance Analyst Aug 18, 2021

Show notes

"When you compete at that level, there's this high that comes with that. And I've missed that. And nothing has replaced it, really… And I got little bit of that feeling calling some of those races. I started to feel that little high again that I used to get when I raced."

Last month, Kara Goucher joined the Ali on the Run Show to talk about her experience being part of the NBC broadcast team at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene, OR. Today, Kara's back — and this time, she's here to talk about what it was like commentating at the Tokyo Olympic Games! Kara just returned from Tokyo, where she served as an NBC Olympics Distance Analyst, calling the men's and women's races from the 1500m up to the marathon. She talks about how this experience compared to the Trials, and breaks down her studying process for each race, including what she did to make sure she pronounced every name of every athlete correctly. She shares the one thing she said on air that kept her up at night, reflects on getting choked up when Molly Seidel went for the bronze in the marathon, and explains why she wasn't allowed to cry on air. She talks about having to keep it together when one of her closest friends, Emma Coburn, was having a tough race in the steeplechase final, and talks about what it was like calling the men's marathon after having a complicated history with former teammate and Team USA competitor Galen Rupp. Finally, Kara, a two-time Olympian herself, answers listener questions about her time in Tokyo and what's next.

SPONSOR: Oiselle — Use code ONTHERUN for 15% off.

What you'll get on this episode:

Kara explains what her role was at the Tokyo Olympics, and when she could be heard commentating (3:55)
How Kara was feeling confidence-wise heading into the Olympics broadcast (16:45)
How Kara studied and prepped for the races she'd be calling (22:00)
How Kara decompressed each night after working the races (27:45)
The races Kara was most excited to call, and how to find the line between excitement and emotion (30:00)
How Kara recalls her own experiences on the run during these races — without talking about herself too much (43:00)
How Kara and her team called the men's and women's marathons (44:30)
Does Kara feel respected in this role? (50:20)
What's next for Kara on the commentating front and beyond? (51:30)
How being at the Games this year gave Kara a different perspective on her own time competing (56:15)
Kara answers listener questions from the Ali on the Run Show Facebook Group (1:03:30)

What we mention on this episode:

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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410. What's New With You with Yosef Herzog Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

"The best part of going to the Olympics, for me, is being able to attend events when I'm not working, and then watching athletes win and medal an event, and then knowing they're going to come on the show and I'm going to get to work with them up close and meet them. That's the coolest thing about my job, and what makes it unique at the Olympics."

Yosef Herzog is the stage manager for NBC's Today show, which means part of his job is getting to go to the Olympics! On this episode, Yosef talks about what it was like being at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. (These were Yosef's fifth Olympic Games with NBC!) He talks about being on set with the country's best athletes, including Simone Biles and Allyson Felix, and talks about what it was like being inside the Olympic Stadium and getting to attend track and field events. He also talks about the challenges and perks of working a morning broadcast at 8 PM local time. (The biggest upside, Yosef says: not having to set an alarm in the morning for a change!) Yosef recently underwent surgery for a torn meniscus, so he was wearing a leg brace in Tokyo — something he says nearly every athlete commented on! He offers an update on how his recovery is going, reflects on getting Covid last year, and shares his big marathon goals for when he's able to get back on the run.

THE LAST TIME YOSEF WAS ON THE SHOW: Episode 111

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

What you'll get on this episode:

How was Tokyo?! (3:10)
Yosef talks about what his role entails at the Olympics (5:15)
The things that are stressful about live television (14:15)
How many athletes at the Games asked Yosef about his leg brace? (18:15)
The athletes Yosef was most excited to have on set (21:00)
Which events Yosef got to watch in person (28:00)
All about Yosef's meniscus surgery and recovery, and what his Covid experience was like (35:45)
Yosef's thoughts on returning to "normal" on the Plaza (41:15)

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Instagram @yosefherzog

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409. Ashley Paulson, iFit Coach, 91-Time Marathoner, & Professional Triathlete Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

"Build those relationships. Have those adventures. Create those memories. That's what's worth living for, right there."

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

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

What you'll get on this episode:

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

Follow Ashley:

Instagram @ashkickn

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408. Wyomia Tyus, 1964 & 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist Aug 11, 2021

Show notes

"You always have to stay in the fight."

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

SPONSOR: Oiselle — Use code ONTHERUN for 15% off.

What you'll get on this episode:

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

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407. What's New With You with Neely Spence Gracey Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

"Why can't I do it all? Why can't I be a mom, a really good mom, be the mom that I want to be, and also be an athlete, a really good athlete, the athlete I want to be?"

The last time professional runner and coach Neely Spence Gracey was on the Ali on the Run Show, she had just run her first postpartum marathon after having her son, Athens. She ran a 2:44 at the Houston Marathon and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in the process. A year and a half later, a lot has happened in Neely's life — including another baby! On this episode, Neely offers updates about what it was like running the Marathon Trials last year and what life for her family was like during the pandemic. She talks about getting pregnant, in spite of having an IUD at the time, while she was training for The Marathon Project, and talks honestly about what that surprise was like. Neely talks about her pregnancy run streak, about giving birth to Rome on June 14, and about what postpartum life as a mom of two has been like so far.

THE LAST TIME NEELY WAS ON THE SHOW:

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

What you'll get on this episode:

On the transition from one to two kids (5:15)
All about the names Athens and Rome (7:00)
On getting pregnant with an IUD (9:30)
What Neely's pregnancy was like (16:55)
How Neely recovered from running the Houston Marathon and prepared to run the Olympic Marathon Trials in 2020 (20:30)
What the pandemic was like for Neely's family (28:00)
What running was like during Neely's pregnancy with Rome (33:50)
What labor and delivery was like with Rome (38:00)
On experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety (46:45)
On returning to running after having Rome (51:45)
What's next for Neely? (58:00)

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