"I wouldn’t say I’m a favorite in a lot of peoples’ eyes. But it’s the Trials. We’re here to select a team. So I’m going to go for it and see what happens." Happy Olympic Trials Week! This Saturday, the fastest distance runners in the U.S. will line up in Orlando, FL, racing for their chance to represent Team USA in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Among those runners will be Fiona O'Keeffe, making her debut at the distance. Fiona runs professionally for Puma, and trains with the Pu...
Jan 30, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 693
"Put yourself in a position to get a yes, otherwise it’s automatically a no." Need a little pep talk? A little boost? A gentle nudge, or some tough love? I've got all that and more today, with a roundup of the best advice listeners of the Ali on the Run Show have ever received. Plus, a short story about a time very recently when I took my own advice and "sent the email" — and it didn't work out the way I'd hoped. (It's OK!) SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (yo...
Jan 25, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 692
"You take what you have and make the most of it." Gabi Rooker was an anti-running competitive gymnast growing up. After college, she began working full-time as an internal medicine physician's assistant. Now, she's headed to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon as the eighth-fastest woman in the field. In this conversation, Gabi talks about her unconventional road to becoming a 2:24 marathoner. Gabi ran her first marathon in 2021 — a 2:56 finish at Grandma's Marathon in her home state of Minnes...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 691
Chris Chavez has made a living out of being track and field's biggest fan and hype person . And when he's not obsessively covering the sport for Citius Mag , Chris is pursuing his own running goals. For the past several years, it's been no secret that Chris wanted to run a sub-3:00 marathon. This past weekend, that dream came true at the Houston Marathon, where Chris crossed the finish line in 2 hours 59 minutes and 12 seconds. This is his official race recap. SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a...
Jan 18, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 690
"This is the race they’re going to tell their grandkids about — that they took part in the race to pick the marathon team for the Olympics." We are just three weeks away from the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon! On Saturday, February 3, the fastest distance runners in the country will line up in Orlando in pursuit of their Olympic dreams. To qualify for the Trials, women had to run a sub-2:37 marathon or a sub-1:12 half marathon, and men had to run a sub-2:18 marathon or a sub-1:03 half. ...
Jan 16, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 689
"I am not wired to do something halfway or to do something for fun. I don’t know what that means. Fun for me is going as hard as possible." After nearly two highly-decorated decades of racing the 1500m and the mile, Jenny Simpson is upping the ante and the mileage. In just a few weeks, Jenny will make her marathon debut at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in Orlando, FL. In this conversation, Jenny talks about her decision to have a go at 26.2 miles, what she thinks of marathon training the...
Jan 11, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 688
"I survived!" It’s a tradition! Here on the Ali on the Run Show , we kick off every year with the annual State of the Show episode — a look at the past, present, and future of the podcast. In 2023, the Ali on the Run Show surpassed 21 million downloads, and released 87 episodes with 75 different guests (34 first-timers, and 40 returning and recurring guests). So, what did we learn from 2023, and what's in store for 2024? Time to assess! SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sa...
Jan 04, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 687
"If you have that heart of a lion, you will get back there. You just have to have patience." It was a big year for Kara Goucher! Her book, The Longest Race , debuted and became a New York Times best-seller. She and Des Linden launched their podcast, Nobody Asked Us with Des and Kara . She called dozens of exciting races as a distance analyst for NBC's track and field and marathon broadcasts. She continued navigating life on the run with runner's dystonia. And today, she's here to recap all of it...
Dec 28, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 686
"I felt like I was constantly treading water and barely staying afloat. It felt like I was stuck, as everything else just raged on. Time doesn’t stop and the world doesn’t stop. Everything doesn’t stop just because you’re having a hard time. There were days where I’d be at the grocery store, standing in line, and I wanted to scream, 'Don’t you all know that I have cancer? Don’t you know this is the hardest day of my life, and it’s a normal day in your life?' It’s the ultimate reminder that you n...
Dec 26, 2023•1 hr 50 min•Season 1Ep. 685
"It’s not easy to talk about the disappointments. It’s not easy to talk about the times that you fall short. Nobody wants to brag about those. It’s been hard. There were lots of tears shed in private. And just really accepting the fact that I wanted something so badly, and it didn’t happen." Emilee Risteen has raced six marathons in the past 12 months, each in pursuit of one very specific goal. For the past year, Emilee has been trying to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials, which would mean...
Dec 21, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 684
"Community is everything. People are everything. I want to stay surrounded by people that I love and that love me. I’m going to mess up in life. I’m not always going to get it right. But that’s what matters: showing up and being there and being together." Ask Ali returns! It's been a minute since we've done a classic Q&A-style episode. In this one: holiday traditions, what's next on the run, and so much more. SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the seas...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 683
"Whenever we do something that we really invest in and that’s hard — and that we’re not sure we can do — it’s a reminder of the ‘we can do hard things’ aspect. And I’ll always get to say that I did this." Emily Oster is an economist, a professor at Brown University, and a best-selling author of books including Expecting Better , Cribsheet , and The Family Firm . And she just made her marathon debut at the California International Marathon (CIM), where she finished in 3 hours 17 minutes and 39 se...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 682
"For the first time in my entire life, I was in awe of myself. I was in awe of what I’d accomplished. The marathon was a love letter to myself. For the first time, seeing myself the way other people see me. For the first time, truly recognizing my courage and my power." The first time Tunde Oyeneyin was on the Ali on the Run Show , she insisted she wasn't a runner . Now, three years and many miles later, the Peloton instructor, best-selling author , and Access Hollywood guest correspondent admit...
Dec 07, 2023•59 min•Season 1Ep. 681
"I am so grateful for the professional experiences that I’ve had, and so grateful for the incredible men in my life. But I feel like I’ve been the supporting character in my own life. I’m always 'Mark Zuckerberg's Sister' or 'Brent's Wife' or 'So-and-So’s Mom.' Every achievement — even though I’m proud of it — is qualified by someone else. The moment I got to break the tape at the half marathon was the first moment in my entire life where I felt like the main character." Randi Zuckerberg is a be...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 680
"I am not going up on that stage crying, but I don’t want to dismiss this moment! I want to take this all in and I want to feel this. It was an incredibly powerful thing." It was a New York City Marathon to remember. I had the privilege of getting to be a part of the international, ESPN, and ABC7 broadcasts on race day. I hosted a live show with Ellie Kemper . I ran the Dash to the Finish Line 5K. I was the race announcer at the TCS Run with Champions youth race. It was all the best. This is my ...
Nov 22, 2023•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 679
"So many people asked me if I was going to keep running. And it’s like, to me it’s just a ridiculous question. You have a kid, what, you have to give up your whole career? I just needed a little bit of time!" She's back! After giving birth to her first child, a son, Ivan, in March, Elle Purrier St. Pierre made her return to racing in September at the Fifth Avenue Mile. In this conversation, she talks about what postpartum running has looked like, about what's next for her, and about what life on...
Nov 09, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 678
You know her (from The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ). You love her (because she's funny and genuine). She's a marathoner . Ellie Kemper returns to the Ali on the Run Show — LIVE! We had the most fun recording this episode in front of a 600-person audience at Lavan in New York City. From marathon memories and running reflections to bathroom stories and spelling bee traumas, this one covered it all. We had the best time, and we hope you love it, too. Thank you to everyone who attended the...
Nov 07, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 677
"I'm already dreaming about the next one." Sara Vaughn had a good, great, wonderful day at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. She ran a 2:23:24 — that's a three-minute personal best, and it landed her a 10th-place finish in the women's field. In this conversation, Sara breaks down everything from before, during, and after the race. SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALIUCAN for 20% off your next UCAN order. Tracksmith...
Nov 03, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 676
"At a marathon finish line — especially this marathon finish line — you see the best of humanity." Every year on the first Sunday of November, more than 50,000 runners, 10,000 volunteers, and two million spectators will descend on the five boroughs for one reason: the TCS New York City Marathon. This episode is your unofficial guide to the iconic 26.2-mile race. Two and a half jam-packed hours of New York City Marathon-related information, just in time for the taper. And this episode isn’t just ...
Oct 26, 2023•2 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 675
"I love the chaos. That’s where I find the calm." After a year and a half filled with injuries, setbacks, and struggles, Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel made her grand return to the marathon — and crushed it. Molly ran the Chicago Marathon in a personal best time of 2:23:07, finishing eighth overall and as the second American woman of the day. In this episode, she talks about the comeback, about race day, about having something to prove, and about a major weight being lifted. (For more, che...
Oct 24, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 674
" Pressure comes when things are going well. " The American Record Holder and the Irishman return! Today on the Ali on the Run Show , Emily Sisson and Shane Quinn are here to talk about their respective experiences at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, where Emily ran a 2:22:09, finished seventh, and was the top American woman of the day — and Shane ate omelettes. While this didn't end up being the race Emily trained, hoped, and planned for — that darn side stitch! — both Emily and Shane agree that this...
Oct 20, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 673
"This is just fun to me. We put so much pressure on the outcome of these races. We want to prove ourselves, prove we can run a certain time, and I understand all those feelings. But I just think if you truly love running and love to train, the goal race is a celebration of that." Everyone's favorite graham cracker-loving sports dietitian returns to the Ali on the Run Show today — this time, as a 2:49 marathoner! In this conversation, Meghann Featherstun, owner of Featherstone Nutrition , talks a...
Oct 19, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 672
" So much can happen in those last few miles. " It was a good day in Chicago for Des Linden: Not only did she run 2:27:35 to break the American Masters Marathon Record (previously held by Deena Kastor) by 12 seconds, she also had her puppy, Rivers, there for all the action. In this conversation — Des's 10th appearance on the Ali on the Run Show ! — the 2018 Boston Marathon champion and two-time Olympian recaps her weekend at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, including the highs (Rivers), the lows (mara...
Oct 17, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 671
"This weekend brought me back to life in a way that I didn't even realize I needed so badly." By some kind of miracle, I made it to the 2023 Chicago Marathon ! Not to run it, though: I was in town (for the first time!) as one of the finish line announcers on race day. The whole weekend was a dream, from the first post-surgery run to the Abbott Chicago 5K (I ran it!) to the friendships and emotional moments to, of course, race day. SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample p...
Oct 12, 2023•1 hr 44 min•Season 1Ep. 670
It's almost time for the 45th running of the Chicago Marathon! The 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 8, and this episode is packed with all the information you need before you head to the start line. (And yes, you really should plan to get there two hours early. We'll explain why!) The elite fields are stacked (Sisson! Hassan! Linden! Bates! Seidel! Scaroni! Schär!), and they'll be followed by tens of thousands of runners en route to 26.2-mile glory. Get re...
Sep 29, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 669
"That was my overwhelming emotion: embarrassment." Charlie Watson is a UK-based registered dietitian, marathoner, blogger , and mom. In this conversation, she talks about being diagnosed with MRKH (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome), a rare disorder that affects the female reproductive syndrome, and about how it affected her both as a teenager and, more recently, as an aspiring mom. She talks about her journey to motherhood via surrogate, including the IVF and egg-freezing process, finding...
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 668
"I went in with zero expectations — let’s see what happens! — and totally surprised myself." Lindsay Flanagan just represented Team USA at the World Athletics Championship marathon in Budapest. She finished ninth, was the top American of the day, and is feeling psyched about how it all played out. In this conversation, the Asics-sponsored athlete and two-time member of Team USA recaps her experience at World Championships, including a lost luggage situation, what the crowds in Budapest were like...
Sep 14, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 667
" It’s gotta be a little bit more than running. " Courtney Wayment has been called one of the new "Steeple Queens" in the U.S. But is that a good thing? Does that add pressure? Expectation? Excitement? In this conversation, Courtney returns to the Ali on the Run Show to talk about making her second World Athletics Championships team in the 3000m steeplechase, and what it was like competing in Budapest this summer. She talks about making it to the final, and about what it feels like to have "a br...
Sep 12, 2023•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 666
"I bought a new house. And I also got a couple of goats." It's marathon training season, baby! And today, we get to hear from training partners, teammates, and professional runners Emma Bates (making her seventh appearance on the Ali on the Run Show !) and Dominique Scott (returning for the third time!) as they gear up for their fall marathons. They talk about how they're feeling, what their runs together are like, and how coach Joe Bosshard is approaching their training. Plus, Emma's decision t...
Sep 08, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 665
"A bald head can mean so many different things." Lindsay Walter is a 52-time marathoner, 4-time 100-mile finisher, and many-time 50K runner. Most recently, the 32-year-old running coach and freelance writer completed Six Days in the Dome: a multi-day, run-as-much-as-you-can event on an indoor track. (She ran 324 miles in the six-day span!) In this conversation, Lindsay recaps the race, and talks about what's next on the run. She also talks about living with alopecia universalis — a condition tha...
Aug 24, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 664
