Ali on the Run Show

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386. Elise Cranny, Professional Runner for the Bowerman Track Club Jun 17, 2021

Show notes

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

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

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

What you'll get on this episode:

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

What we mention on this episode:

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

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

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

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

Voice in Sport

Sterling K. Brown's 2018 Stanford University commencement address

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Instagram @elise.cranny

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385. On the Job with Emily Kikta, New York City Ballet Dancer Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

"The whole day revolved around dance. And that, to me, was the dream."

"When I'm onstage," Emily Kikta says, "no one can stop me." Emily is living every aspiring ballerina's dream: She's a corps de ballet member at New York City Ballet, where she has been a member of the company for 10 years. On this episode, Emily talks about her road to a Center Stage-like life. She grew up competing with her local dance studio, and went on to attend the School of American Ballet, which is the feeder school for NYCB. She talks about getting a job in the company, about her first performance onstage, and about how she keeps the magic alive onstage every night. She also talks about the pandemic's impact on the arts industry, and about how she and her fiancé (fellow NYCB member Peter Walker) turned to choreographing, directing, and producing during their forced time offstage. Plus, Emily talks about body image in the dance community, what a day in the life is like, and how she got into running during the pandemic.

SPONSOR: Tracksmith — Use code ONTHEJOB for free shipping, plus five percent of your purchase will be donated to the Brave Like Gabe Foundation.

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384. Sarah Lesko, Oiselle's Leader of Corporate Development Jun 10, 2021

Show notes

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

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

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

EMBED EPISODE HERE

What you'll get on this episode:

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

What we mention on this episode:

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

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

Bras For Girls

Oiselle Light Luxe Fabric

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

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

Running Industry Diversity Coalition

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383. On the Job with Joelle Tomlinson, Morning News Host Jun 08, 2021

Show notes

"I always felt a special thrill with anchoring, but I had zero idea if I was any good at it! But there was potential there."

Joelle Tomlinson wakes up at 3:02 AM — precisely — every day in pursuit of her dream job as a CTV Calgary morning news host. On this episode, Joelle talks about what it's like anchoring the news, and what her road to the news desk was like. (It involved a stopover as a weather girl!) She busts some common misperceptions about being a face on TV, talks about the pressure to look or dress a certain way, and shares the types of stories she loves covering, the ones that still give her butterflies, and the ones that have had the greatest impact on her. She talks about how she's learned to put her emotions aside when covering difficult stories, and about why, sometimes, it's OK to cry on live TV. Plus, she talks about her morning routine, dealing with criticism from viewers, and all the unseen parts of the job. When Joelle isn't live on televisions across Canada, she's most likely getting sweaty: She's an ultramarathoner and spin instructor who signed up for her next ultra within an hour of us finishing this recording!

SPONSOR: Tracksmith — Use code ONTHEJOB for free shipping, plus five percent of your purchase will be donated to the Brave Like Gabe Foundation.

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382. Ask Ali! Jun 04, 2021

Show notes

"It's not easy, but I'm at a point now of knowing I can handle it. It's not always fun — but I can handle it. And I know you can, too."

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 why I (mostly) stopped drinking, how to practice getting comfortable saying no, wishing for a new body, what life could be like without running and podcasting, 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:

Why aren't you drinking anymore? (2:30)
How do you get more comfortable saying no? (7:20)
What is my strength training routine? (14:05)
Do you have any advice for mentally getting back into running when you've been sidelined for a while? (17:35)
Do I ever wish for a new body? (26:35)
What is my favorite race that I've announced? (33:00)
What would my life be like if I didn't start podcasting and running? (38:00)
What's the process of choosing guests for the Ali on the Run Show? (40:00)
Tips for running in the heat (45:45)

What I mention on this episode:

Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries

The Injured Athletes Club podcast

Clearwater Running Festival 2022

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381. Charlie Lawrence, Des Linden's 50K Pacer Jun 03, 2021

Show notes

"This is a definite compliment from Des. She was like, 'I like you enough where I can hang out with you for three hours!'"

In April, Des Linden made history by making her ultramarathon debut and, in the process, breaking the world record in the 50K (2:59:54) and becoming the first woman to run a 50K in under three hours. And while Des may hold the new record, she didn't go it alone: She was joined by Charlie Lawrence. Charlie ran at the University of Minnesota, and made his marathon debut at the California International Marathon in 2018, where he ran a 2:16 and earned himself an Olympic Trials qualifying time. On this episode, Charlie talks about what it was like pacing Des that day in Oregon, including what their pre-race conversation was like, what he remembers most from the race, and what he thought about his first "Shoey." And go give Charlie some love: He'll be racing the 50K road championships next weekend!

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

What you'll get on this episode:

How Charlie got the job as Des's pacer (4:20)
How Des and Charlie met (7:45)
What 2021 was looking like for Charlie on the run (9:50)
How Charlie trained and prepared for the 50K (13:30)
What Des and Charlie's pre-race talk was like (17:30)
What the race was like (27:30)
Highlights from race day (32:40)
What the finish line and post-race celebrations were like (36:15)
What's next for Charlie? (43:20)
Is this the life Young Charlie imagined? (47:55)

What we mention on this episode:

Des Linden on Episode 363 of the Ali on the Run Show

Billy Yang on YouTube

Calum Neff on Episode 318 of the Ali on the Run Show

The CIM Pacers on Episode 196 of the Ali on the Run Show

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380. On the Job with Rikki Gimelstob, Casting Director Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

"As much as this is your job and this is serious, there's a lot of fun and joy in the process."

Welcome to Season 5 of the On the Job series on the Ali on the Run Show! On this series, we hear from women who have cool, unique, interesting careers — and who also happen to be runners.

We're kicking off this season with Rikki Gimelstob, a casting director who works on films, television shows, commercials, and theater productions. (Most recently, Rikki worked on the upcoming Dear Evan Hansen film, and the new AMC show Kevin Can F**k Himself, starring Annie Murphy of Schitt's Creek fame!) On this episode, Rikki explains what, exactly, a casting director does. She explains how she got into the industry (it involves the opera!), and addresses whether or not what she does is actually like what we've all seen on Entourage. Plus, she talks about some of the craziest dressing room requests she's seen, and shares her thoughts on diversity in the industry. (When you're done listening, go watch this — the greatest video ever on YouTube, or anywhere.)

SPONSOR: Tracksmith — Use code ONTHEJOB for free shipping, plus five percent of your purchase will be donated to the Brave Like Gabe Foundation.

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379. Becs Gentry, Peloton Tread & Strength Instructor May 27, 2021

Show notes

"You give yourself your own life raft, and it feels so great to come up for air and think, jeez, that was a close call! But I'm here. And it's given me strength to go further and deeper than that next time."

Becs Gentry is a Peloton Tread and Strength instructor, and in March, she added another very impressive title to her fitness resume: 2:32 marathoner and Olympic Marathon Trials competitor for Team Great Britain. On this episode, Becs — who is from the UK but has lived in New York City since she took the Peloton job in 2019 — talks about what it was like being invited to compete for Team GB, and about what it took to finish fourth that day and to run a nearly five-minute personal best time. She talks about her training and how she prepared for race day, including how she balances her own training with teaching and how she survived a 22-mile run on a treadmill one day. She talks about the dark days and the tough runs, and how she got through them, and shares her own struggles with confidence both on and off the roads and treadmill. Plus, she talks about privacy and why she didn't tell her parents she was auditioning to be a Peloton instructor, and why she didn't tell people she was training for the Trials until shortly before race day. Finally, Becs talks about how she's learned to deal with the pressure of racing, whether it's an unplanned 5K (she did it once and says "never again") or an ultramarathon (of which she's done several).

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

What you'll get on this episode:

How the opportunity to run the Olympic Trials came about, and when it first became a dream for Becs (6:45)
Where Becs was at with running when she found out she would be competing in the Trials (17:00)
How Becs trained for the Trials (21:00)
On confidence (24:15)
That time Becs ran 22 miles on a treadmill (30:20)
How Becs balances teaching at Peloton with her own training (34:20)
What race day was like (47:00)
On dealing with tough moments during races — and getting past them (1:03:10)
How Becs recovered, physically and emotionally, from the Trials and from the 2019 New York City Marathon (1:05:10)
Did Becs have any idea how big Peloton would be, and how well-known she would be? (1:13:00)
Why Becs didn't tell her parents she auditioned for the Peloton job (1:16:30)

What we mention on this episode:

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

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

Olivia Amato on Episode 344 of the Ali on the Run Show

Matty Maggiacomo on Episode 350 of the Ali on the Run Show

Follow Becs:

Instagram @becsgentry

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378. Ask Ali! May 21, 2021

Show notes

"You don't know everything. I share a lot, and that still is only a fraction of my life, of my thoughts, of my opinions, of my day."

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 the mental component of Crohn's disease, my Enneagram type (3w2!), my thoughts on raising a daughter in the era of Instagram filters, getting back into running after a long break, Outback Steakhouse, "parasocial relationships," and more. Thanks to everyone who called in for this one. Enjoy!

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

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

You asked:

How to carry things on the run (2:29)
The mental component of Crohn's disease + how often I use my Peloton Tread (9:27)
What is my Enneagram type? (19:59)
My thoughts on raising a daughter in the time of Instagram filters and Kardashians (25:22)
Advice for getting back into running after a long break (33:00)
My pre-race dinner, running the Falmouth Road Race, and sounding "smooth" on the microphone (40:30)
On "parasocial relationships" (46:20)

What I mention on this episode:

SPIBelt

FlipBelt

Koala Clip

lululemon Far and Free Jacket

Danielle Cemprola on Episode 41 of the Ali on the Run Show

Audio-Technica AT2020 microphone

RINGR

Audacity

Be There in Five podcast

Clearwater Running Festival 2022

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377. Colleen Quigley, lululemon Athlete May 20, 2021

Show notes

"I'm the quarterback of my life. All these different people play supporting roles, and I need all of them for sure. You can't be a team with only a quarterback. But I get to be the one in charge, making the plays. And that feels super empowering and very exciting."

Colleen Quigley is arguably one of the most influential track and field athletes today. She's a professional athlete who primarily competes in the Steeplechase, and she's a Team USA Olympian, a Florida State University alum, an NCAA champion, a model, and a mental health advocate. Colleen spent the first five years of her professional career sponsored by Nike and competing with the Bowerman Track Club in Portland, OR. But at the end of 2020, Colleen announced she was making a change: She was no longer sponsored by Nike, and was leaving the Bowerman Track Club. Now, after many months of anticipation and much speculation, Colleen announced yesterday that she has signed with lululemon, and is officially a lululemon-sponsored athlete. On this episode, Colleen talks all about her decision to leave Nike and BTC, and about what this lululemon partnership looks like. She talks about what it's like navigating sponsorships in the running industry today (with the help of Allyson Felix's brother, Wes), and about why a less-traditional model works for her right now. Plus, she shares that she'll be moving to Los Angeles with her boyfriend this fall, and talks about how she's feeling heading into this summer's U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials.

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

What you'll get on this episode:

All about Colleen's new sponsorship deal, including why she left Nike and Bowerman Track Club (4:30)
What Colleen's lululemon sponsorship (or partnership!) entails (13:30)
What shoes will Colleen be racing in? (23:15)
What Colleen has learned about the professional running scene (26:35)
Is a Peloton partnership in the works? (34:15)
On speaking up, standing up, getting loud — and reading the comments (37:00)
Why Colleen is passionate about mental health (46:00)
How has Colleen's life been different than what she imagined? (56:00)
How Colleen is feeling — physically and mentally — heading into the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials (58:15)

What we mention on this episode:

Jasmine Blocker

Coffey

Running to Protest

Colleen's "Open Letter to the Bowerman Track Club"

Armchair Expert with Prince Harry

Cheat Code

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