Ali on the Run Show

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196. The CIM Olympic Trials Qualifying Time Pacers Dec 25, 2019

Show notes

"We put ourselves on the line to help other people accomplish their dreams, and that was pretty freaking awesome."

At the California International Marathon (CIM) earlier this month, 72 women ran faster than 2 hours 45 minutes, officially qualifying to run the Olympic Trials in the marathon. Leading several dozen of those women were Menso de Jong, Chris Stehula, and Ken Rakestraw — the official sub-2:45 pace group leaders. None of them had ever run a 2:45 marathon before. This is their story.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!

What you'll get on this episode:

How Menso, Chris, and Ken got the job as pacers (3:40)
How Menso, Chris, and Ken trained for the race (16:30)
The plan for race day! (26:25)
What the energy at the CIM start line was like (32:20)
On the rules of pacing (49:00)
What the finish was like (53:20)
Menso, Chris, and Ken share their messages for all the women who went for OTQ times at CIM this year (1:03.50)

What we mention on this episode:

Jenny & Judi Donnelly on Episode 193 of the Ali on the Run Show

"The Marathon Protagonists" by Menso de Jong

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195. Mary Johnson, Founder of Lift, Run, Perform, on Postpartum Life and Running Dec 19, 2019

Show notes

"I'm just winging it."

Mary Johnson (perhaps best known as @itsamarython on Instagram) is the owner of Lift, Run, Perform. She's a running coach and a strength coach who also works at Ranfone Training Systems. And she just had a baby! Mary's first child, Eli, is five months old, and on this episode, Mary very honestly talks about what the past five months have looked like for her. She talks about the highs and lows of new motherhood, explains her strategy for getting work done as a work-from-home mom, and opens up about her expectations vs. the reality of returning to running postpartum.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!

What you'll get on this episode:

Mary talks about how she's feeling at 20 weeks postpartum, and shares her take on expectation vs. reality (3:00)
On seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist (12:10)
On finding, develoing, and harnessing new-mom confidence (15:00)
Mary talks about having to get a D&C after giving birth (17:45)
On being a work-from-home entrepreneur mom, and getting back to work after baby (26:00)
Mary talks about coaching a group of women to run sub-3:00 marathons this fall (42:50)

What we mention on this episode:

Mary Johnson on Episode 122 of the Ali on the Run Show

Postpartum return-to-exercise recommendations

Abby Bales on Episode 49 of the Ali on the Run Show

Abby Bales on Episode 139 of the Ali on the Run Show

Reform Physical Therapy

Superhero Muffins

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194. Sarah Grooms, Rockette Turned Marathoner Dec 12, 2019

Show notes

"In dance, you're kind of always told what to do, how to do it, how perfect it has to be. Running has been a way for me to let all of that go."

Sarah Grooms spent 13 years doing hundreds of eye-high kicks a day as a Radio City Rockette. On this episode, she talks about everything you've ever wanted to know about performing at one of the world's most famous venues (including how Radio City's famous camels get their exercise between shows!), and explains why she decided to hang up her heels last year in favor of running shoes. Today, Sarah is a certified personal trainer, and is a fitness instructor at Precision Run in New York City and obé Fitness online — and she's a marathoner!

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!

What you'll get on this episode:

Sarah reflects on her 13-year tenure as a Radio City Rockette (5:50)
On getting — and then losing — the dream job (12:50)
What it's like performing at Radio City Music Hall (16:40)
What don't audiences see from the Radio City Rockettes? (20:00)
The physical demands of being a Rockette (33:15)
Why Sarah decided to retire from the Rockettes — and how she became a runner (38:00)
What's next for Sarah? (46:40)

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193. Jenny & Judi Donnelly BONUS EPISODE! Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

"We are both a bit stubborn — especially about our goals." —Jenny Donnelly

It was a big, exciting weekend at the 2019 California International Marathon! It was especially exciting for the Donnelly family: 28-year-old Jenny qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials, finishing in 2:44.31, and her mom, 62-year-old Judi celebrating 25 years of being breast-cancer-free, ran a lifetime personal best, finishing in a Boston Marathon qualifying time of 3:56. On this episode, Jenny and Judi reflect on their exciting weekend at CIM, and talk about why this sport and this community are so special. Jenny opens up about her history with race anxiety, and Judi talks about navigating parenting a child who is dealing with running-related panic attacks. It's a fun episode that proves why running is so magical.

Thank you to Generation UCAN for sponsoring this episode of Ali on the Run Show! Click here and use code ONTHERUN for 20 percent off your order, plus free shipping. (First-time buyers, check out the UCAN Run Starter Pack here, and get 50 percent off.)

What you'll get on this episode:

Jenny breaks down her race at CIM (3:55)
Judi talks about running a 3:56 at CIM — a lifetime personal best! (10:45)
Jenny talks about her history for race anxiety (14:50)
Judi talks about what it was like running the New York City Marathon in the 80s! (25:40)
What it's like getting panic attacks on the run (29:00)
Judi talks about being 25 years cancer-free, and talks about raising high-achieving daughters (36:30)

What we mention on this episode:

Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team

Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor

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Instagram @jenny_donn

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Instagram @judidonnelly

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192. Adrianne Haslet, Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

"I really hope that people seeing amputees in line at the grocery store don't think, 'Oh, you poor thing,' they wonder, 'Oh, are you a marathoner?'"

In April 2013, Adrianne Haslet was living her dream as a professional ballroom dancer. On Marathon Monday, she found herself near the Boston Marathon finish line, watching the runners finish the iconic race. But then, so many lives were forever changed that day. When the two bombs went off near the finish, the second blast took Adrianne's foot. On this episode, she recounts that day in Boston, and talks about rebuilding and moving forward. She talks about learning to wear, walk, and run with a prosthetic leg, and beautifully talks about the importance of being defined not as a victim, but as a survivor. Despite being at the center of tragedy that day, Adrianne has become an inspiration — and a Boston Marathoner herself.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!

What you'll get on this episode:

What brought Adrianne to the 2013 Boston Marathon finish line (3:00)
What, exactly, she remembers after the blast went off (6:00)
How Adrianne's "rebuilding" process went, and what it was like putting on her prosthetic for the first time (17:30)
Adrianne talks about how her relationship with her body has changed since the bombings, and how she became a runner (26:00)
Adrianne talks about post-traumatic stress disorder, and how therapy has helped with her recovery (36:15)
How Adrianne became a Boston Marathon finisher (40:30)
The car accident that thwarted Adrianne's 2019 Boston Marathon dreams (44:15)
Why the 2020 Boston Marathon will be extra special for Adrianne (47:15)

What we mention on this episode:

Heartbreak Hill Running Company

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191. The Great Turkey Trot of 2014 Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

"It was in that moment I realized that I wasn't running. I also realized I wasn't jogging. I was barely walking. I looked down, and the tops of my shoes are scraping the ground — one slow movement after the next slow movement."

It's an Ali on the Run Show Thanksgiving tradition! Four years ago, my now-husband, Brian, and I lined up at the start of two very different Turkey Trots. Though both races were five miles, the outcomes were vastly dissimilar. I ran the Prospect Park Track Club Turkey Trot in Brooklyn, NY, in a respectable 38:41 — a 7:44 minute-per-mile pace. Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, Brian was racing the Newport Pie Run. Here's a dramatic retelling of how his race went. This is forever my favorite story, and I love re-sharing it every year. Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy LOL-ing!

What we mention on this episode:

Newport Pie Run

Prospect Park Track Club Turkey Trot

Meet Brian

Our engagement story

Mystery Science Theater 3000

Ugg slippers

Orangetheory Fitness

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190. Sarah True, Olympian & Ironman Triathlete Nov 21, 2019

Show notes

"One of the hardest conversations I ever had was to admit that I'd been struggling. And I no longer wanted to be alive."

Sarah True is a professional triathlete and Olympian. On this episode, she honestly and vulnerably shares her story of competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, hitting rock bottom, and the intense emotional recovery that followed. She opens up about her history with mood disorders and depression, and talks about how stress affects her body and her performance. She also talks about the past two years competing at the Ironman distance, including a very good year followed by a challenging one.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!

What you'll get on this episode:

On diversity, inclusivity, privilege, and bias in sport (3:00)
Sarah reflects on her racing year (8:30)
Sarah talks about competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and the emotional aftermath that followed (24:45)
Sarah talks about managing her depression, and what that looks like today (36:00)
How Sarah met her now-husband, fellow professional athlete Ben True (46:00)
What Sarah says are the universal struggles in sport (51:00)

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189. Running Industry Hot Takes with Phoebe Wright Nov 15, 2019

Show notes

"When you're in a powerless position and the rest of your career is totally dependent on what you do, you aren't going to burn bridges. You don't have many bridges to walk across."

Phoebe Wright is a former professional middle-distance runner who spent six years competing as a Nike-sponsored athlete. Phoebe, an 800-meter specialist from Tennessee, became a five-time national champion before retiring after the 2016 Olympics. On this episode, she reflects on her time with Nike and talks about some of the big stories in running right now, including #DreamMaternity and Mary Cain. She also talks about confidence, overtraining, and being an advocate for the running industry and its athletes.

Thank you to the New York Road Runners Virtual Turkey Trot 5K for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE to register (it's free!) and complete your Turkey Trot anytime between November 23 and December 1. Everybody's doing it!

What you'll get on this episode:

Phoebe reflects on her six years as a Nike athlete (4:45)
Phoebe's take on the #DreamMaternity coverage (13:10)
Phoebe discusses the recent Mary Cain story about Mary's time working with Alberto Salazar and Nike (18:40)
Phoebe talks about training with Brooks (21:50)
On being an advocate, confidence, and having thick skin (27:45)
Phoebe talks about her experience with overtraining (30:45)
All about being a pharmacist! (35:30)

What we mention on this episode:

"Nike Told Me to Dream Crazy, Until I Wanted a Baby," via The New York Times

"Allyson Felix: My Own Nike Pregnancy Story," via The New York Times

"I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike," via The New York Times

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188. Nikki Hiltz & Therese Haiss Nov 14, 2019

Show notes

"I'm kind of labeled as the gay runner. But those are two things I'm really proud of. I'm proud to be gay and I'm proud of my running." —Nikki Hiltz

Nikki Hiltz and Therese Haiss are professional runners for adidas. They live in San Diego where they train with the Mission Athletics Club, and on this episode, they talk about how they met — and how their immediate friendship evolved into something more. They talk about coming out to each other, and to their loved ones, and talk about society's obsession with labels. They share their insecurities, and talk about how living authentically has made them better runners. Nikki and Therese are one of my favorite pro runner couples, and they promised that nothing was off-limits for this conversation, which we had after they had just settled in Mammoth for four weeks of high-altitude training camp.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!

What you'll get on this episode:

What altitude training looks like for Therese and Nikki, and what sacrifices they have to make as professional runners (2:30)
Nikki and Therese reflect on their trip to Doha for world championships (8:20)
How Nikki and Therese met, the evolution of their relationship, and what it was like coming out to friends and family — and to each other (21:20)
How coming out affected Nikki's running (31:30)
Reflecting on that now-famous adidas Pride photo, plus their take on authenticity and whether there's pressure to be a role model (36:15)
What's coming up for Nikki and Therese? And what's it like competing against each other in races? (49:00)

What we mention on this episode:

Nikki Hiltz on Episode 170 of the Ali on the Run Show

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187. I'm a New York City Marathon Race Announcer! Nov 07, 2019

Show notes

"I want to know that every person that crosses that finish line is celebrated. I don't care what the time on the clock says. I want everyone's hard work and dreams to be celebrated."

Last Sunday, I became an official TCS New York City Marathon finish line announcer. I always said my dream was to "stand at a finish line and cheer for all the runners." And I got to do that on the world's largest stage. I need about a month to sit and process the magic of this past week. What I got to do. The opportunities. The people I met. The conversations I had. The finishes and emotions I witnessed. The tears. The victories. The arms up in the air, in moments of pure awe and celebration. The chills I got, over and over. On this episode, I attempt to recap it all.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!

What you'll get on this episode:

Recapping my 2019 TCS New York City Marathon week (1:30)
Answering listener questions all about announcing at the TCS New York City Marathon finish line (32:40)

What we mention on this episode:

TCS New York City Marathon

Mile High Run Club

Amelia Boone on Episode 80 of the Ali on the Run Show

Altra Solstice

Team For Kids

The Izzo Brothers

NYRR Run with Champions

NYRR Night of Champions

Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K

2017 Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K Recap

Ali on the Run Show Live: Why It's An Exciting Time for Women's Running