Ali on the Run Show

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236. Izzy Seidel, Tracksmith Marketing & Communications Associate May 07, 2020

Show notes

"I always knew Molly was going to qualify for the Olympics at some point. It was just a matter of when."

During the last weekend in February, everyone was talking about one race: the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. But there was another race that same day, in that same city: Take the Bridge, which Izzy Seidel won. And if that last name sounds familiar — particularly in the context of having a great race in Atlanta on February 29 — that's because Izzy's sister is Molly Seidel, who finished second at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials that same day, solidifying her spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. On this episode, Izzy recaps that day in Atlanta from her perspective. What is it like when your sister (and roommate!) runs the Trials and lands a spot on the U.S. team? Izzy, who lives in Boston and works for Tracksmith, talks about watching the race, going on to win Take the Bridge, and then taking selfies with adoring fans — who thought she was Molly!

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off wireless headphones. (My favorite is the Aeropex!)

What you'll get on this episode:

What's making Izzy happy right now, and what her running looks like these days (3:10)
Recapping the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials from Izzy's perspective (9:30)
On going on to run — and win — Take the Bridge later that night (33:30)
What Izzy and Molly's relationship was like growing up (38:10)
All about Izzy's job at Tracksmith (43:50)

What we mention on this episode:

Jay Holder on Episode 231 of the Ali on the Run Show

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Instagram @isabelseidel

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235. On the Job with Kaitie Brown, Walt Disney World Talent Casting Coordinator May 04, 2020

Show notes

"I just remember looking down and seeing that five year old little girl, dressed in her favorite princess dress, looking up at me with the biggest smile on her face — and I just see myself in her. It is so magical."

Kaitie Brown knew from a young age that her dream was to one day perform at Walt Disney World — and that's exactly what she went on to do. After three years and 12 auditions, Kaitie was hired as a cast member, where she would perform several times a day, dancing up and down Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom. Today, Kaitie is one of Disney World's talent casting coordinators, and on this episode, she talks about what it takes to get hired, why auditions are — she swears — actually really fun, and what it's really like to dance at Disney. Plus, as a four-time marathoner, she talks about how being a runner has made her a better performer.

Thank you to Tracksmith for sponsoring the On the Job series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to tracksmith.com/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN15 at checkout for 15% off your first Tracksmith purchase!

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234. Emily Sisson Recaps the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Apr 30, 2020

Show notes

"I think after a certain point you just realize you're not running to impress other people."

Emily Sisson was one of the top-seeded women competing at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. She's a 2:23 marathoner and professional runner for New Balance, and she went into the Trials after a huge year on the run in 2019. Emily made her marathon debut at the 2019 London Marathon, where she finished sixth and became the seventh-fastest woman ever at the marathon distance. It was also the second fastest debut by an American woman. Emily then went on to compete in the 10,000 meters at USATF Nationals, where she earned a spot to represent the U.S. at Worlds in Doha. Emily's race in Atlanta didn't quite go as she'd hoped, and she ended up pulling out of the race with four miles to go. On this episode, she talks about what went down during the race, whether being a top pick added pressure to her day, and what it was like stepping off the course. She also talks about the emotional aftermath from the race — and getting a second dog!

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off wireless headphones. (My favorite is the Aeropex!)

What you'll get on this episode:

On the decision to get a second dog! (3:10)
How Emily's life has changed over the past six weeks (11:10)
Recapping the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials (16:30)
What it was like dropping out of the Trials (35:30)
On the emotional recovery from the race (40:30)
Emily's advice for dealing with disappointment (47:30)

What we mention on this episode:

Emily Sisson on Episode 169 of the Ali on the Run Show

Emma Coburn on Episode 224 of the Ali on the Run Show

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233. On the Job with Amanda LaVergne, Broadway Performer Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

"I've trained for Boston... I've done a 20-miler before doing two shows of A Chorus Line, which is two hours of standing on your feet and kicking. I've done 20-milers before a five-show day at Radio City."

Amanda LaVergne is a Broadway actress, singer, and dancer. She has performed in Annie and Grease, among many others, and spent a decade performing as Mrs. Claus in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Offstage, Amanda is a 3:07 marathoner, a 1:24 half marathoner, and a running coach. So how do you train for the Boston Marathon while also doing five shows a day at Radio City? How do you run the New York City Marathon fast enough to make it to the theater before a 3 PM curtain? On this episode, Amanda talks about the realities of making it on Broadway and beyond, having thick skin, what auditions are really like, and what it feels like to make your Broadway debut.

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232. Ramblings on the Run with Ali & Matt Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

Welcome to the April edition of Ramblings on the Run with Ali & Matt. Every month, Matt Chittim — host of the Rambling Runner podcast and the Road to the Olympic Trials show — and I will come together to talk about running industry news, our own running, and things we're loving right now, and to answer listener questions about running and podcasting. But this time around, instead of listener Q&A, we created the Quarantine Decathlon. Give it a try — and let us know how you fare! We recorded this episode on Marathon Monday — the should-be day for the Boston Marathon — and had fun talking about how the running community celebrated running on a day that wasn't what anyone had planned for.

What we mention on this episode:

Peloton app

Bota Box wine

Sarah Cummings on Episode 215 of the Ali on the Run Show

Sarah Cummings on Episode 112 of the Ali on the Run Show

"The Third Monday in April," by Erin Strout for Women's Running

"To Run My Best Marathon at Age 44, I Had to Outrun My Past," by Nicholas Thompson for Wired

McKirdy Mile Race Series

Laura Thweatt on Episode 228 of the Ali on the Run Show

Nell Rojas on Episode 229 of the Ali on the Run Show

Try the Quarantine Decathlon!

Stair Jump
House Races
Emergency Shuttle Run
Tower Ball
Hungry or Bored?
Kid Toy Push-Ups
The Quiet & Alone Hurdles
Letter PRs
The Coffee to Wine Relay
"Foam rolling?"

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231. Jay Holder, Director of Marketing & Communications at Atlanta Track Club Apr 22, 2020

Show notes

"Find a way to get people hooked on running. That's what we need."

Jay Holder just might love running — the sport itself, plus every single member of the running community — more than any guy I know. Jay is the Director of Marketing & Communications at Atlanta Track Club, which means this week, we're getting a behind-the-scenes look at what it took to host the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials! Jay talks about the bidding process leading up to the Trials, and shares what, exactly, Atlanta did to show USA Track & Field that they were worthy of hosting one of the greatest weekends in American distance racing. (It involved a 90-page proposal and plan!) Jay, a dad of two, shares stories from the course — which he ran several dozen times before race weekend — and explains what he says is "the best part of the job." We look back reminiscing about the Trials weekend, and look forward, with some trepidation: The Atlanta Track Club also hosts the Peachtree Road Race, which is the largest 10K in the world that takes place every year on the Fourth of July.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off wireless headphones. (My favorite is the Aeropex!)

What you'll get on this episode:

A bit of background on Jay's professional career, and what brought him to Atlanta Track Club (6:55)
The bidding process behind the Olympic Trials, and how Atlanta won the hosting gig (10:00)
What Jay says is the best part of his job (21:50)
What race weekend looked like for Jay (28:50)
What does the current state of the world mean for the 2020 Peachtree Road Race?

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230. On the Job with Christine Mousa, Family Specialist in the Division of Child Protection and Permanency Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

"I can sincerely say that when I leave work and go home, my heart feels really full — but sometimes it feels defeated... There's a lot of emotion at stake. It's hard."

Christine Mousa is a family specialist in New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency. Her job is to find safe and loving homes for children. It's important, emotional work, and on this episode, Christine talks about what the job entails, whether she ever feels afraid on the job, and what being "out in the field" means.

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Instagram @christineemilyy

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229. Nell Rojas, 2:28 Marathoner & 9th-Place Olympic Trials Finisher Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

"You have to believe in yourself. And you can say it a million times, but before this, I didn't actually believe I could run with these girls. And now I absolutely know that I can run with these girls, and I know that I can be competitive."

Nell Rojas finished ninth at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February. And that in its own is impressive — but it's especially impressive when you consider that it was only Nell's third ever marathon. Nell is a triathlete and obstacle course racer turned marathoner, and on this episode, she talks about running the Olympic A standard at her first marathon, winning her second marathon (a 2:28 at Grandma's Marathon in 2019), and running the Trials as her third marathon. She talks about her recovery from the Trials and what's next, and talks about the time she beat Des Linden at the Falmouth Road Race — and then immediately asked for her autograph. Plus: What Nell is like as a coach, why she decided to rescue a dog right before the Trials, and the advice she has for anyone who's ever been told they "don't look like a runner."

What you'll get on this episode:

Nell breaks down her post-Trials recovery, and explains what her training looks like right now (3:50)
Nell recaps her race at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials (6:20)
Nell's road to becoming a marathoner (24:50)
On winning Boulder Bolder 40 years after her dad won the race, and winning Grandma's Marathon in 2019 (32:00)
What is Nell like as a coach? (36:00)
What will Nell's training look like between now and the fall? (37:00)

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228. Laura Thweatt, 2:25 Marathoner & 5th-Place Olympic Trials Finisher Apr 15, 2020

Show notes

"I had to keep believing that my Olympic dream was still alive until the race was over."

Laura Thweatt ran a fast, fierce, gutsy race at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta — a hard effort that earned her a fifth-place finish. But fifth place at the Trials is a tough spot: When the first three finishers make the team and the fourth-place finisher is the alternate, fifth place is so close, but so far from being on the Olympic team. On this episode, Laura — a 2:25 marathoner who runs for Saucony and is coached by Joe Bosshard — recaps her race at the Trials, offers advice for runners dealing with injuries or setbacks, and talks about how the Covid-19 crisis has affected her training so far and her year ahead.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off wireless headphones. (My favorite is the Aeropex!)

What you'll get on this episode:

How Laura's doing during these "weird times" (3:45)
The story behind that Saucony #dontrushchallenge video (7:20)
What Laura's days look like right now (14:40)
How Laura got so strong leading up to the Trials (17:40)
Recapping the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials (24:05)
What Laura's post-Trials meeting with her sports psychologist was like (43:00)
Laura's advice for dealing with injuries or setbacks (51:00)
Did Laura always plan to be a professional runner? (53:30)

What we mention on this episode:

Saucony's #dontrushchallenge video

The "original" runner #dontrushchallenge video

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227. On the Job with Julia Harrington, Corporate Pilot Apr 13, 2020

Show notes

"Fear is not something you experience in an airplane. That's your comfort zone."

For many people, flying in an airplane is an anxiety-inducing adventure. But not for Julia Harrington. Julia is a corporate pilot and captain on two business jets, and on this On the Job episode, she talks about her adventures in the skies. Julia reminisces about her childhood dreams of becoming a pilot, and talks about the education required to get a pilot's license. She talks about her first flight, whether she's ever scared in the air, and what it's like being a badass woman in a very male-dominated industry. (Plus, she offers reassuring advice for all the anxious fliers out there!)

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