Ali On The Run Show

"I thought I was leaving my grief behind. I truly thought I had finished grieving. When Rivs got sick, that narrative was cracked wide open. And I learned that you never finish grieving, and that’s OK. Healing is a continuous journey, and the grief kind of comes along with us and becomes a part of us. And that’s a beautiful thing." It's hard to find suitable words to do justice for Steph Catudal's words. Her New York Times best-selling memoir, Everything All at Once, is heart-wrenching, gripping, evocative, and emotional. It's the story of Steph's childhood — of losing her dad to lung cancer when she was just 14, and the turmoil, rebellion, and upheaval that filled the following years. It's simultaneously the story of her adulthood — of nearly losing her husband, Tommy Rivers Puzey, to lung cancer, and of his 84-day medically induced coma. It's the story of grief, survival, strength, caregiving, motherhood, and so much more. And it's about running, but it's not about running at all. SPONSORS: UCAN: Cl

"You really have to want it. It takes the discipline of the training, the discipline of honing in on your nutrition and hydration, and understanding what that means. And the day to day practice of really, really wanting to make this thing happen. It’s all the little pieces that you have to tie together perfectly. And then you have to have a great day! Everything has to come together on the day. It’s a lot." Meaghan Murray-Neuberger is a 2:47 marathoner. But before you think, "Whoa, 2:47 marathoner — I can't relate to that," consider the possibility that you can, in fact, relate. Meaghan wasn't born a 2:47 marathoner. She spent more than five years and ran more than 10 marathons in her attempts to break three hours. Once she did that, things started to click. She dialed in her nutrition (shout-out to Meghann Featherstun!), learned about hydration, and started doing all of the "little things" that make a big difference. In this conversation, Meaghan talks about the major mental unlock that happened when she

"We knew the answer was yes. But it was so sudden. We didn’t have those nine months to get prepared. It was instant." Aleia Hobbs is a three-time global medalist and an Olympic silver medalist, and she's the North American indoor record holder for the 60 meters. One year ago, Aleia earned another title: mom. In this conversation, the adidas-sponsored professional sprinter talks about the call that changed her life last year, and about what the first year of motherhood has been like for her and her partner. She talks about the adoption process, about continuing to train on very little sleep, and about her big dreams for the future. Follow Aleia on Instagram @aleiabitofthis. SPONSOR: adidas: Click here to check out the adiClub membership benefits, including 15% off and free shipping. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe a

"I’m really confident in myself and I believe I can do it. But it’s not gonna be easy. That’s why I love this sport. I love racing." What a treat to get to catch up with fan-favorite Nikki Hiltz in the middle of their first-ever European racing circuit and ongoing hot streak. We talked the day before Nikki made their Diamond League debut at a meet in Oslo. (In case you missed it, Nikki finished fourth in the mile, running 4:18, a personal best!) In this conversation, Nikki talks about what's fueling their racing these days — including how they stay mentally strong when feeling physically terrible during a race. Nikki is a lululemon-sponsored professional athlete who identifies as transgender nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns. Nikki also talks about what Pride Month means to them, what it's like coaching girlfriend Emma Gee, and so much more. SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!) What you’ll get on this epi

"All of those, I ended the race smiling and happy and saying, 'I want to do that again.' For me, running is about that." Mariana Fernández was born in Mexico and grew up in San Diego, where she dreamed of one day being onstage with her name in lights. Today, she's doing just that — in a slightly different way than she ever imagined. Mariana is a Peloton Tread, Yoga, and Meditation instructor who teaches classes in both English and Spanish. In this conversation, she talks about the role movement has always played in her life. (Growing up with a marathon-running mom — who is still running marathons in her 70s — will get you moving!) Mariana ran the New York Mini 10K last weekend, and soon she'll begin training for her next marathon: the 2023 New York City Marathon SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI23 for 20% off your next UCAN order. Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. Follow Ali: Instagram @alio

"The marathon is so humbling. Anything can happen, and it usually does — even for the best in the world." We're going back to Boston today, with returning Ali on the Run Show guest Mary Kate Shea. The fastest runners in the world call her "MK," and she's the director of professional athletes and technical support/events at the Boston Athletic Association. Every year, MK is responsible for bringing more than 300 professional athletes to Boston for races including the Boston Marathon, the B.A.A. 5K, the B.A.A. 10K, and more. And the big question everyone was asking this year: How did she get Eliud Kipchoge to finally come and run the Boston Marathon? In this conversation, MK answers that, and shares her favorite stories and memories from Boston 2023. Plus, she talks about what it was like reading good friend Des Linden's book, Choosing to Run, and about who's still on her Boston Marathon wish list. (Listen all the way to the end for a cute Annie cameo!) SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge samp

It's been a bit since we've really caught up. Here's what's been going on in my world lately. SPONSORS: Vacation Races: Use code ONTHERUN200 for $200 off any Global Adventures trip, or code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon registration. goodr: Use code ONTHERUN for free shipping on your entire order Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

"If you really in your bones know you can meet some goal? Don’t quit until you do it." Ashley Desanno grew up playing soccer, took a break from sports during college (partying > fitness), and then, with encouragement from her now-husband, decided to go for a run one day. One run turned into two, which turned into registering for her first race. Now, she's a 2:58 marathoner who is best known online as @lotsamiles. (Surely you've seen her wildly popular, LOL-worthy, likely-to-go-viral videos, like the one where her son gave his class an oh-so-honest recap of her most recent race.) In this conversation, Ashley, who lives in Portland, OR, with her husband and their two sons, talks about what it has taken to become a 2:58 marathoner. (Spoiler: It took 10 years and eight attempts to get there.) She talks about what it means to "fail forward," about the power of persistence, and about the role running is playing as she grieves the recent loss of her father. Plus, how she chooses to show up online, how she deals w

"That’s the only reason I still do this today, and I’m able to reach new heights in my performance — it’s because of the people that I’m around." We heard from Emma Bates here on the Ali on the Run Show right after she ran that 2:22:10 personal best and finished fifth at this year's Boston Marathon. Now, just a few weeks later, she's back and she's live! This episode was recorded in front of a live, 170-person, Disney Channel Original Movie-loving audience at the City Opera House in Traverse City, MI, during the Bayshore Marathon weekend. We caught up, got some life (and dating) updates, and played a few rousing rounds of new-to-the-show games, including Bates Rates, Bates Debates & Hot Takes, and Bates Hates! (Key takeaway from it all: Run hard. Have fun. I love you.) SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI23 for 20% off your next UCAN order. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race: Register TODAY (before the

“It’s OK to struggle, but it’s not OK to give up.” —Gabe Grunewald Gabriele “Gabe” Grunewald was a professional middle-distance runner from Minneapolis, MN. She was first diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma when she was in college and undoubtedly in the best shape of her life. Instead of finishing her college running career on a high note — or, better yet, a podium — Gabe was faced with a difficult and scary diagnosis. She underwent several surgeries, including having more than half of her liver removed after the third time the cancer came back. Gabe passed away on June 11, 2019. Today, we are revisiting her conversation on the Ali on the Run Show, recorded in February 2018. In this conversation, Gabe talked about the difference between fighting and giving up, and explained what it means to be “brave like Gabe.” SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI23 for 20% off your next UCAN order. Vacation Races: Use code ONTHERUN2

"I am not interested in hurting today. I am not interested in suffering. I am not interested in working that hard. I just wanted to run and smile and see friends and wave to people. As soon as it started feeling hard, I said I needed to slow down. and I have no shame in that. We enjoyed the run, and that was all I wanted." Welcome to Ask Ali! These episodes come to the podcast once a month, sometimes with a guest host, sometimes responding to listener voicemails, and sometimes just flying solo. That’s what today is: a solo-sode (is that a thing? can it be?) answering questions about running the Brooklyn Half this past weekend, taking a Cody Rigsby class at Peloton Studios New York, how to avoid running burnout, and so much more. (Plus: a cute special guest at the end!) SPONSORS: Tracksmith: New customers, use code ALINEW for $15 off your first Tracksmith order over $75. Returning customers, use code ALIGIVE for free shipping, plus a portion of the proceeds from your order will be donated to Moms Deman

"You know in your head who you are. You just have to be brave enough to listen." When Julia Brownell was little, she had a dream and a plan: to be a writer. She played sports, she loved to run, and she loved writing scripts and stories in her free time. And turns out, dreams come true. Today, Julia is a 3:16 marathoner, a mom of two, and a writer, producer, and playwright in Hollywood. She has been a writer and producer on shows including This Is Us, Parenthood, Smash, and more. (See? Living the dream!) In this conversation, Julia explains how a TV show is made, breaks down her favorite parts of that process, talks about what it was like getting her big break, and talks about what life has been like during the ongoing writer's strike. Plus, she talks about how she's gotten faster as a master and as a mom, taking more than 45 minutes off her marathon PR. Julia will race the Mountains to Beach half marathon this weekend, and she's looking to go sub-1:30. SPONSORS: Bandit Running: Use code ONTHERUN15 to

"You just have to survive." Welcome to the return of the Motherhood Mondays series! Once a month, I'll be joined by a fellow mom — including professional runners, everyday runners, experts, and more — to speak candidly about motherhood and all that it entails. Today, I'm joined by Veronica Graziano, a 2:41 marathoner (she ran the Olympic Marathon Trials in 2020, and recapped that experience here and here) and twin mom. Her daughters, Kennedy and Quinn, turn two next week. In this conversation, Veronica talks about what the past two years have been like, including her road to motherhood, a challenging pregnancy, and her postpartum return to running and racing. Veronica works full-time for Mass General Brigham, and lives in Falmouth, ME, with her husband and their daughters. Find her on Instagram @vjaxs. SPONSOR: adidas: Click here to check out the adiClub membership benefits, including 15% off and free shipping. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun

"There was a lot of anticipation for this race, and I hope it lived up to everyone’s standards!" Josette Norris is on a hot streak on the track! The On-sponsored Jersey girl (who now lives in Boulder, CO) just won the 5000m race at On Track Fest (and ran a personal best of 14:43), and won the 1500m race at Penn Relays the weekend prior. In this conversation, Josette talks about what life is like as an On Athletics Club athlete, where she is coached by Dathan Ritzenhein. (Listen to Josette's previous appearance on the Ali on the Run Show — with now-husband and fellow pro Robby Andrews — here.) SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI23 for 20% off your next UCAN order. Vacation Races: Use code ONTHERUN200 for $200 off any Global Adventures trip, or code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon registration. What you’ll get on this episode: How Josette essentially paid her own prize money this weekend, and

"I don’t regret anything. I did my best, all the way until the end. I did what I could on the day." You heard the live show with Shalane Flanagan. You got the full race recap with Keira D'Amato. Now, I'm wrapping up all things Eugene Marathon 2023 by answering listener questions about my training, my race experience, and what's next. SPONSOR: Tracksmith: New customers, use code ALINEW for $15 off your first Tracksmith order over $75. Returning customers, use code ALIGIVE for free shipping, plus a portion of the proceeds from your order will be donated to Moms Demand Action. What you’ll get on this episode: All the pre-race details (2:15) Breaking down race day (31:40) The aftermath (50:50) What I wore: Sports bra Hot pink tank Fuel belt Hot pink socks Shoes My race-day playlist Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, pl

"It took a lot of work, realizing that the running community is made up of so many different people, so many different paces, so many different body types. And just accepting that — accepting that you don’t have to run a certain pace or look a certain way to be considered a runner... I finally accepted that truth." Molly Hernandez grew up in Texas with big dreams of being a Disney Channel star. Running? A big "no thank you." Fast-forward to today, and Molly is a 10-time marathoner, two-time ultramarathoner, freelance copywriter, and content creator living in Austin, TX. She's best known on the internet as "Your Running BFF," and she's on a mission to make runners — especially new runners — feel less alone and less overwhelmed. In this conversation, Molly talks about going from non-runner to marathoner in the span of six months, and how her relationship with running has grown and evolved since then. SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Train

"I am so accustomed to thinking about what could go wrong, and how do I prepare for that? Which I don’t think is bad… But very rarely do I let myself be open to the possibility of something great or something magical, or a perfect day. And I tried — start to finish. I kept that in my mind: Be open to the possibility of a perfect day." Last weekend, I ran the Eugene Marathon. It was my seventh marathon. My first marathon in seven years. And my first marathon since becoming a mom. I finished in 3:41:10 — a 10-minute personal best. And in this conversation — guest hosted by Keira D'Amato — I'm recounting all of it. The highs (Annie on the sidelines!), the lows (roughly miles 18–26), and everything in between. ANNOUNCEMENT! We're hitting the road! Join Keira and me for a half marathon and live show in Richmond, VA, on March 9, 2024. This is going to be big! It's going to be fun! And we would love for you to join us. Get your tickets HERE. SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge sample pack (you’ll

"I would describe this past year as 'drinking from a fire hose.'" It was the day before the Eugene Marathon, and the goal was to get everyone in the audience feeling less "baaaaah!" and more "aaaaaah." Enter: Olympic silver medalist, 2017 New York City Marathon champion, assistant coach for the Bowerman Track Club and University of Oregon cross country team, and best-selling cookbook author Shalane Flanagan. We talked marathons, we talked motherhood, and we got a quote-worthy pep talk to close it all out. Thank you to the Eugene Marathon for having us, and thank you to the hundreds of people who filled the room with the very best energy. (Registration is now open for the 2024 Eugene Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K! Use code ONTHERUNEUGENE to save on registration.) SPONSORS:  goodr: Use code ONTHERUN for free shipping on your entire order The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race: Register TODAY (before the price increase on April 12!) for the world’s largest and most iconic 10K road race,

"We learned from other mentors. We both believe wholeheartedly that it’s a responsibility to then mentor other people and be transparent." Fact: Only 1% of creative agencies are owned by women. Photographer Aisha McAdams (@ai.shoots) and graphic designer Katherine Burgess (@katherine_kart) are here to up that number. They are the founders of Rhoam Creative Studio, a creative design and production studio for sports and lifestyle brands. They have worked with brands including Puma, Tracksmith, Bandit Running, On Running, Maurten, Strava, Brooks, Hoka, Ciele, and more. They are passionate, they are talented, and they are here to help brands share their stories while also helping elevate women in the space. SPONSORS: Bandit Running: Use code ONTHERUN15 to get 15% off your entire Bandit order. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI23 for 20% off your next UCAN order. What you’ll get on this episode: How Katherine and Aisha met (13:40)

"It felt like, I’m figuring out what these things look like for me. Not, what’s everyone doing or what should I be doing or what’s expected of me?" There's nowhere I'd rather be on the third Monday in April than at the Boston Marathon finish line! This year, I was honored to be asked back to perform a variety of roles in Boston. I was one of the start and finish line announcers at the B.A.A. 5K and invitational miles, I hosted a live show with Keira D'Amato at Glossier's new store on Newbury Street, I was one of the race announcers at the finish on Marathon Monday, and I was the finish line reporter for the world feed broadcast. (Big Papi!!!) It was a fun, rewarding weekend that included run-ins with Eliud Kipchoge (and his content team), a hair-braiding party with one of the best milers in the country, and so much more. SPONSORS: Tracksmith: New customers, use code ALINEW for $15 off your first Tracksmith order over $75. Returning customers, use code ALIGIVE for free shipping, plus a portion of the p