Ali on the Run Show

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166. Rachel Wyman, Owner of Montclair Bread Company & Founder of Fueled by Doughnuts Run Club Aug 28, 2019

Show notes

"I was in survival mode. What can I do to pay our rent? What can I do to put food on the table?"

When Rachel Wyman was five months postpartum with her third child, she opened her first bakery: Montclair Bread Company. Then, when the bakery hit 4,000 Facebook likes, Rachel decided she should do something to celebrate the social media milestone. Despite not being a runner and never having run a race herself, she hosted a low-key 4K race that has since grown to become New Jersey's hardest-to-get-into annual 5K. And Rachel, of course, has become a runner and triathlete along the way. Today, Montclair Bread Company is the town's go-to destination for runners, and is home to the 2,000-member Fueled by Doughnuts run club. On this episode, Rachel, a mom of three, talks about what it was like working 80-hour weeks while getting her MBA and being the sole income provider for her family of five. (Her final project for her master's degree was a business plan for a bakery — which she then made into a reality. A+ for Rachel!) She talks about the accident that shattered her pelvis and changed her life, the power of community, and the importance of following your passions and being open to where life takes you.

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!

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What you'll get on this episode:

The story behind the Fueled by Doughnuts 5K, and how it grew to something huge and amazing (4:45)
How Rachel started the Fueled by Doughnuts run club, and grew it to more than 2,000 members (18:50)
On being naturally business-minded (31:10)
What it feels like walking into her bakery every day (52:50)
What it was like being on — and winning! — Food Network's Doughnut Showdown (55:00)
The accident that shattered Rachel's pelvis and changed her life (57:50)

What we mention on this episode:

Fueled by Doughnuts 5K

Fueled by Doughnuts Run Club

Sleepy Hollow Half Marathon

Wineglass Marathon

Bread Alone

"Meet the Club that Runs for Doughnuts" via Runner's World

Ironman Lake Placid

Mohawk Hudson Marathon

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165. You Can Run a Marathon with Chirine Njeim Aug 26, 2019

Show notes

"I never picture myself at the start or during the race or what I'm doing during the race. I just picture myself finishing. That's all I can see."

Chirine Njeim is a four-time Olympian — but the four times she's represented her home country of Lebanon haven't all been on the run. Chirine is a former alpine ski racer turned marathon runner. She competed at the Winter Olympics three times, and in 2016 made her Summer Olympics debut in the marathon. Today, Chirine is a 12-time marathoner who has taken her time from 3:07 to 2:39. Chirine lives in Chicago, where she works full-time and trains with the Second City Track Club. On this episode, she shares how a fun run at the Shamrock Shuffle 8K changed her life, and what her training looks like right now as she gears up for the 2019 Chicago Marathon.

Thank you to Generation UCAN for sponsoring the You Can Run a Marathon series on the 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:

How Chirine got into skiing and running (2:15)
How Chirine got faster (9:30)
What Chirine's marathon training looks like (13:50)
What Chirine's diet is like (21:30)
A look at what a typical race week is like for Chirine (26:45)
Chirine's rough races (34:30)

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164. Carrie Kreiswirth, Breast Cancer Survivor & Marathoner Aug 21, 2019

Show notes

"I was letting life pass me by. I had just gone through all of this insanity, and I wasn't really a participant in my own life. How could I let that happen?"

I first met Carrie Kreiswirth in 2011, when a marketing campaign for a local running store brought us together. Several years later, I saw a photo of Carrie on Facebook. She was bald. What had I missed? In the time since we met, Carrie had tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation — the one that raises the probability of developing breast and ovarian cancer — and was diagnosed with stage one triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma. Breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and breast reconstruction surgery. She went through the process of having her eggs frozen. And then, the self-proclaimed "non-runner" ran the New York City Marathon. This is a powerful, emotional, and inspirational episode.

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:

Carrie shares her breast cancer story, starting from diagnosis (4:50)
What chemotherapy — and losing her hair — was like, and the aftermath (23:40)
How Carrie took back control of her life (32:40)
How Carrie celebrated five years since her cancer diagnosis (42:45)
Carrie's message to women facing a scary diagnosis or life change (55:45)

What we mention on this episode:

Run for the Rabbit

Care+Wear

Center for Restorative Breast Surgery

First Descents

Coach Cane

The Breasties

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163. You Can Run a Marathon with Alexi Pappas Aug 20, 2019

Show notes

"I realized, no one on the sidelines is judging me as harshly as I'm judging myself."

Welcome to the first episode in the seven-part "You Can Run a Marathon" series, all about getting you through training and to the start line of your first or next 26.2-mile race. Whether you're training for your first, your fastest, or your funnest, we're here to help you reach your goals. Who's "we?" On this series, I'll be talking with runners about their training and races, as well as experts who can answer all of your questions about training, fueling, and just how many 20-mile runs you should be doing before you start to taper.

The series kicks off with Olympian Alexi Pappas. Alexi is a middle-distance runner turned marathoner. She made her 26.2-mile debut at the 2018 Chicago Marathon, and on this episode, she's honest about how humbling this distance is for runners of all levels. She talks about her own fueling strategies, what she'll do differently leading up to her next race, and what advice she's received from the legendary Deena Kastor.

What you'll get on this episode:

Why Alexi wanted to give the marathon a shot, and how she feels about owning the "marathoner" title (2:20)
What made Alexi's first marathon "harder than it looks" (5:50)
Goal setting as a first-time marathoner (9:30)
On running and racing with Deena Kastor (14:30)
How Alexi felt when she finished her first marathon (17:30)
How and when Alexi decided to run a marathon (20:20)
What goes into Alexi's marathon training plan (24:20)
On fueling and nutrition (33:25)
What is Alexi thinking about when she's racing? (40:50)

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162. Allie Ostrander, Professional Runner for Brooks Running Aug 14, 2019

Show notes

"It's still really unreal to me that I get paid to run. Running is something that I would do anyway. It's not a job, it's just a good time!"

It's been a big summer for Allie Ostrander. The Alaska native graduated from Boise State University, signed her first professional running contract with Brooks Running, and made her pro debut at USA Track & Field Nationals, where she finished fourth in the 3000m steeplechase, landing her a spot on the U.S. team headed to world championships in Doha next month. On this episode, Allie talks about the process of going pro, how she became a steeplechaser, what her first pro race was like, and what's next.

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

What you'll get on this episode:

Allie recaps her fourth-place finish at USATF Nationals (3:00)
What Allie's training will look like between now and the world championships in Doha in September (7:30)
Allie's decision to go pro, and why she chose to sign with Brooks Running (9:20)
Allie talks about her life on the trails (17:00)
What the transition from college to pro life has been like so far, and what Allie is most looking forward to with her new pro lifestyle (19:20)
Allie reflects on her road to going pro (26:00)
On that viral Instagram post (29:40)
Why the steeplechase? (38:00)

What we mention on this episode:

Emma Coburn on Episode 60 of the Ali on the Run Show

Pan American Games

NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile

Allie's viral Instagram post

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161. Lauren Fleshman & Jesse Thomas Aug 07, 2019

Show notes

"As an entrepreneur, just like an athlete, you have to be almost psychotically optimistic. You have to believe, 'We can do this, we can make it back.' You have to have that belief because there's so much headwind."

Husband-and-wife team Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas are the co-founders of Picky Bars and hosts of the Work, Play, Love podcast. Lauren is a former professional middle-distance and marathon runner who spent 13 years competing and is now a coach for Little Wing Athletics, and Jesse is a professional triathlete. On this episode, they get "really real" about parenthood (they have two children, Jude and Zadie) and the realities of trying to grow a business and a family simultaneously. They talk about resentment, balance, entrepreneurship, work challenges, and "the dark days."

And hey, Picky Bars are awesome! Click here and use code ONTHERUN for 30 percent off your order, plus an extra 30 percent off your first delivery of the Picky Club!

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

What you'll get on this episode:

Why Jesse is having an identity crisis right now (4:30)
On being able to laugh through the hard moments of parenting (12:40)
On resentment (20:00)
Lauren and Jesse share their take on the idea of balance (22:50)
On bringing home work stress when you're an entrepreneur (28:40)
What Jesse remembers about the earliest weeks and months after becoming a dad (39:45)
On deciding to have a second child, and how Lauren and Jesse's marriage changed after having children (48:00)
Lauren and Jesse answer a few listener questions (1:05:35)

What we mention on this episode:

Lauren on Episode 103 of the Ali on the Run Show

Challenge Roth

Range by David Epstein

Car Talk

Dear Sugars

Mel Lawrence

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160. Kaitlin Goodman, Professional Runner for the Boston Athletic Association Jul 31, 2019

Show notes

"I didn't really have the credentials to back up what I wanted to do. I just had a dream and a lot of passion and determination."

If you don't already know it, remember the name Kaitlin Goodman. Kaitlin is a professional runner for the Boston Athletic Association and a run coach with a master's degree in public health. She's fast — and multifaceted. Kaitlin, who lives in Providence, RI, and trains in Boston, is a four-time Olympic Trials qualifier: She's qualified in the 5,000 meters, the 10,000 meters, and the marathon. (She runs a 2:32 marathon.) And although it's been a lifelong dream to become a professional runner, it hasn't all been smooth sailing and speedy running along the way. Kaitlin suffered a brutal injury while training for last year's New York City Marathon, and she eagerly opens up about what that physical and mental recovery process looked like. She talks about making goals, and what happens when you don't hit them, and she shares how she rebounds and grows from disappointing experiences. Kaitlin breaks down what, exactly, it means to be a professional runner, and talks about training alongside Molly Huddle and Emily Sisson.

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

What you'll get on this episode:

Kaitlin talks about what it takes to be successful at a medley of distances, including the 5,000 meters, the 10,000 meters, and the marathon (4:15)
Was being a professional runner always the plan? Plus, the good, bad, and ugly of having a dad as a running coach (5:30)
What does it mean to try and go pro as a runner? (10:50, and again at 37:00)
The road to the 2016 Trials, and how race day went for Kaitlin (18:40)
How Kaitlin ended up in New England (31:20)
The brutal injury that sidelined Kaitlin while training for the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon (43:00)
What does it mean to run joyfully? (56:00)

What we mention on this episode:

Sara Hall on Episode 144 of the Ali on the Run Show

Peninsula Distance Club

Dena Evans

Steph Bruce on Episode 104 of the Ali on the Run Show

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

Falmouth Road Race

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159. Mirinda Carfrae, 3-Time Ironman World Champion Jul 24, 2019

Show notes

"When you focus on yourself, you get the best results."

Mirinda "Rinny" Carfrae is a professional triathlete and three-time Ironman World Champion. On this episode, Rinny talks about her road to swim-bike-run domination, and how she went from a scrappy basketball player to the fastest woman in Kona. Rinny — who is from Brisbane, Australia, but now lives and trains in Boulder, CO — is a podium staple at both the Ironman and the Half-Ironman distance. She's also a mom to two-year-old Isabelle, and she's very candid about what it's like deciding to have a baby as a professional athlete. She talks about how her sponsors reacted — and what their support looked like — when she announced her pregnancy, and shares how she managed to train for an Ironman while breastfeeding. She talks about pre-race nerves, whether she'd ever ditch the swim and the bike to race a road marathon, and the time she overcame a 14-minute deficit off the bike to land the win in Kona. And of course, Rinny shares her big goals for 2019.

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

What you'll get on this episode:

Rinny recaps her very successful month of 70.3 racing (2:40)
Rinny's road to success, from basketball to Kona domination (8:20)
What it was like competing in Kona for the first time (15:45)
Why Rinny says having a baby helped her become a better cyclist (23:20)
All about Rinny's at-home "Pain Cave" — including how it helped her breastfeed while training (24:15)
On making up time on the run during an Ironman or Half Ironman — including the time Rinny overcame a 14-minute deficit to snag the win in Kona (28:00)
What being a triathlete really consists of (36:00)
Would Rinny ever ditch the swim and the bike in favor of a road marathon? (40:00)
How Rinny ended up in Boulder (42:00)
How Rinny met her husband, Tim (45:00)
Rinny opens up about her decision to have a baby — plus how her sponsors reacted to the news (52:30)
On returning to training and competition after having Isabelle (58:00)

What we mention on this episode:

Siri Lindley

Technogym

Gwen Jorgensen on Episode 90 of the Ali on the Run Show

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158. Beatie Deutsch, National Marathon Champion of Israel Jul 17, 2019

Show notes

"I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and discovered this tremendous strength that I had. It made me realize that so many of us have amazing gifts within us, but we're sometimes scared to take that leap — so we don't even realize what we're capable of." —Beatie Deutsch

Beatie Deutsch is a 29-year-old Orthodox Jewish mom of five living in Israel, by way of New Jersey. And she's earned the nickname "Speedy Beatie" for a reason: Despite only picking up running a few years ago, Beatie runs a 2:42 marathon and a 1:17 half marathon. On this episode, she talks about what it's like being the National Marathon Champion of Israel, and breaks down her monumental Tiberias Marathon win, where she not only ran a 2:42, she ran a 27-minute personal best time in the process, negative splitting the race by six minutes. She talks about being an Orthodox Jewish woman and runner in 2019, explaining her race attire (she runs with her elbows, knees, and hair covered), her values, and what it's like looking different from other women on the starting line. Beatie is sponsored by Nike, and her current goal is to qualify to represent Israel in the 2020 Olympic Games in the marathon.

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

What you'll get on this episode:

How Beatie became "Speedy Beatie" (3:25)
On winning the Tiberias Marathon and running a 27-minute marathon PR in the process (4:15)
How Beatie became a runner (12:00)
How Beatie went from a 3:25 marathon to a 2:42 (22:00)
What it's like to be an Orthodox Jewish runner in 2019 (29:00)
What it means to be sponsored by Nike (38:00)
Busting common misconceptions about the Orthodox Jewish community (40:20)
Beatie's message to runners who think they don't look like everyone else (46:00)

What we mention on this episode:

Tiberias Marathon

Jerusalem Marathon

Nike Vaporfly 4%

Hamburg Half Marathon

Free Solo

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157. Motherhood Mondays with Julia Berteletti and Laura Green Jul 14, 2019

Show notes

"I'm wearing these massive pads that are like six inches deep and waddling around the house. I think I thought the first week would be rough. But it was a month out and I'm still rocking these massive pads. I was never told about that."

Every week on these Motherhood Mondays episodes, I've asked my guests, "Who's in your village?" I feel so lucky to be able to say that the two women on today's show — Laura Green and Julia Berteletti — are in my village. Laura lives in Boston, and is mom to 10-month-old Jack. She's a part-time physical therapist and the "community boss" for November Project, and is "very creative" about how she gets her work hours in while Jack does a part-time nanny share. Julia lives in Denver, CO, is mom to 8-month-old Max, and works full-time in an office while Max is in daycare. On this episode, we talk like we do every day, sharing perhaps too much about everything from breastfeeding, identity loss, and body image, to giving birth, relationships, emotional labor, and that first postpartum poop. We also talk about schedule-related anxiety, postpartum running, and guilt.

Thank you to Sweaty Betty for sponsoring Motherhood Mondays on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to sweatybetty.com and use code ONTHERUN for 20 percent off your purchase.

What you'll get on this episode: