Ali On The Run Show

"We are obviously a business and we need to sell running shoes to make money, but I feel a very big obligation to be that hub of the community and be that leader and driver to connect people and to help out others."   Steph Blozy is the owner of Fleet Feet Sports in West Hartford, one of the leading run specialty stores in the country. Steph is so much more than a running store owner, though: She's truly a community builder and leader, and on this episode, she talks about how she's built such a strong, supportive community in Connecticut. (Her "special sprinkle of magic," she calls it.) Steph's road to running store ownership wasn't a straight one: She got her start as a meteorologist! Click here to hear more from Steph and about how she's adapted during the pandemic both personally and on the job.   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!   Follow Ali:

"What opportunities does this open up that didn't exist before? How can I adapt my leadership style and how I show up to adapt to that opportunity? Rather than cringing and thinking about the worst case, think about the upside and opportunity that comes with this change."   If I could hire any human on this planet to be in charge of my life and make all my decisions for me, that person would, without a single doubt, be Katie Burke. Katie is the Chief People Officer at HubSpot, and is a returning favorite guest on the Ali on the Run Show. (Check out her first two episodes here and here.) On this episode, Katie offers advice for anyone who is thinking about life going "back to normal" — or finding a new normal — and might be struggling to figure out what comes next. Katie talks about how to find your passion, and what to do when you're faced with the overwhelming sense of wanting to change your life and change the world, but you're not sure where to start. Where do work and passion intersect? How can you stay i

"People have to start looking at what’s going on globally, but also locally. What does your running club look like? Who do the people you run with look like? What are the books you read? Who are they by? These individual decisions and choices that we make all come together and change the landscape."   You probably know Courtney Carter by her Instagram moniker: EatPrayRunDC. Both on- and offline, Courtney's work has a major impact on the world. The 10-time marathoner is a former practicing lawyer who now leads diversity initiatives at a large law firm in Washington, DC, and she was recently named Oiselle's Advisor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. On this episode, Courtney talks about what that means, what her vision is for both Oiselle and the running community at large, and shares her own running story and goals.   Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off all wireless headphones.   What you’ll get on this episode: Why it was a good day for Co

"Music literally changes peoples’ lives. It really has the ability to uplift people, especially during today’s times. That’s a really powerful thing, and that, to me, is success. Beyond the sales and the accolades and the awards — being able to create positive change through music."   As Senior Vice President of Marketing at Atlantic Records, Grace Kim James works pretty much 24/7. On this episode, she talks about breaking into the music business, and what it's really like working for the number one label in the U.S. She talks about working closely with artists including Lizzo and Missy Elliott, and recalls that fateful day in the dining hall at NYU where it all started. There's glitz, glamour, and long, late nights on set or "at the club" — and somehow in between all that, Grace has trained for and run eight marathons.   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 p

"Now more than ever is the time to learn how to be a leader for ourselves, and to learn how to handle a pivot — and thrive."   Welcome to the second episode in a four-part series called Feel-Good Fridays. (Be sure to check out the first episode, too, with therapists Jor-El Caraballo and Rachel Gersten.) These short episodes are intended to leave you feeling lighter, better, more optimistic — whether temporarily or for the rest of your life. These conversations with experts are meant to be uplifting without being fluffy or delusional. Today, running coach and 3:13 marathoner Jess Movold is here to talk about how to find meaning, purpose, and motivation on the run right now. She talks about how to connect to your "why" as a runner, and offers up some fun workouts to add to your routine. (Warning: death by burpees!)   Feel-Good Fridays on the Ali on the Run Show are brought to you by UCAN. Click here and use code ONTHERUN25 for 25% off your first UCAN order. Returning UCAN fans can use code ONTHERUN for 15% off

I was honored when UCAN asked me to host a conversation with five running industry leaders and experts called "The Next Step Forward: The Future of Running." This conversation is about how we get back on our feet and on the run in a post-pandemic world, and you'll hear some really eye-opening insights about what's happening now in the running community, and where we go from here. Enjoy hearing from Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray, renowned running coach Greg McMillan, super-agent Hawi Keflezighi, professional runner Sarah Sellers, and Steph Blozy, owner of Fleet Feet West Hartford.   This conversation is brought to you by UCAN. Click here and use code ONTHERUN25 for 25% off your first UCAN order. Returning UCAN fans can use code ONTHERUN for 15% off.   Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Like the Facebook page Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Blog Strava   Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play   SUPPORT the Al

"There is nothing we will not do for this team."   Mary Kate Shea — or "MK," as she's known to the fastest marathoners in the world — is the senior director of endurance marketing for John Hancock, the title sponsor of the Boston Marathon. Every year, it's Mary Kate's job to woo, recruit, and get the best distance runners to come run the historic Boston Marathon. On this episode — which we recorded at the beginning of May, before the 2020 race had been officially canceled — Mary Kate talks about how, exactly, she puts together the 50-person pro field every year. She talks about the first thing she said to Desiree Linden after Des won the 2018 race, explains what she says is the most stressful part of her job and her entire year, and shares lots of stories about everyone's favorite elites. But don't think Mary Kate is just watching this race from the media center: She says the fastest way from Hopkinton back to Boston is by foot, which is why, after she checks the elites in and gets them on their way, she join

"I grew up riding around in a cargo van filled with bologna sandwiches and handing them out under bridges and in parks."   Ross Altenbaugh is the executive director at Flagstaff Shelter Services, the largest emergency shelter in Northern Arizona. Since 2014, Flagstaff Shelter Services has permanently housed more than 500 individuals and families, which Ross says is the goal — to find permanent housing for those who need it most. Ross is a remarkable human, an in addition to the important work she does at the shelter, she's also a mom to two boys and, of course, is a runner. On this episode, she talks about how her own childhood — and her mom's — led her to this line of work, and talks about the emotional component of working in shelter services.   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!   Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Like the Facebook page Join

"It's not so much what you're doing — it's why are you doing it?"   Welcome to the first episode in a four-part series called Feel-Good Fridays. These short episodes are intended to leave you feeling lighter, better, more optimistic — whether temporarily or for the rest of your life. These conversations with experts are meant to be uplifting without being fluffy or delusional. We're kicking things off with Rachel Gersten and Jor-El Caraballo, licensed therapists and co-founders of Viva Wellness, a private therapy practice in New York City. In just 20 minutes, Rachel and Jor-El will help us all breathe a little easier. They bust some common self-care myths, and offer tangible advice on how we can all take better care of ourselves right now. (And, if nothing else, "eat some pie.")   A great, and I think very relevant quote to take away from this episode: "This isn't the Feelings Olympics. Your feelings are valid. They're real. They mean something to you. Perspective is important, but don't let that stop you fr

"I had all these supporters that were from the Black running community that were there to cheer me on because I was their representation in the race. That’s really big and pretty heavy, I think. And not heavy in a bad way. But it weighs on my mind a lot, especially now."   At just 24 years old — and with only two marathons under her belt so far — Peyton Thomas is already making a name for herself on the long-distance running scene. After running track and cross-country in high school and college, Peyton graduated from Baylor University and decided to run a marathon (with a 40-mile ultramarathon thrown in the mix). She made her 26.2-mile debut at the 2019 California International Marathon (CIM) and ran a 2:42.57, qualifying for the Olympic Trials on her first try. She went on to run the Trials in February in Atlanta, where she ran a three-second personal best time on a day that included big hills, wild wind, and a handful of calf cramp-induced walk breaks. (Imagine: 2:42.54 on a tough day!) Peyton was the only

"We just wish that science was faster sometimes!"   Amy Diallo always knew she wanted to be a scientist. Growing up in France, her plan was always to move to the United States and study infectious diseases. And perhaps never has Amy's career as a postdoctoral researcher at University of California, San Francisco, been more relevant than today, as she's spending long hours in the lab doing Covid-19 research. Every day, Amy and her team are hard at work studying proteins to eventually develop medication that will treat the novel coronavirus. On this episode, she talks about why she wanted to work in infectious diseases, what it's like being an essential worker right now, and what it's really like being a scientist in the cutthroat biochemistry lab world. She talks about the pressure to work fast, what she wants everyone to know about where we're at right now with this pandemic, and how running fits into her busy life.   Follow Amy: Instagram @dreaming_amy   Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Like the Facebo

"If that’s my legacy, that’s a good one."   Shalane Flanagan has many titles: former professional runner, four-time Olympian, Olympic silver medalist, Bowerman Track Club coach, 2017 New York City Marathon champion, American record holder, two-time New York Times best-selling author, race broadcaster — and, her newest title, mom. Last month, Shalane and her husband, Steven Edwards, became parents to their son, Jack Dean Edwards, and on this episode, Shalane talks candidly about new motherhood. She talks about what it was like being at the top of her professional game and constantly fielding questions about when she planned to have children, and explains why she and Steven chose to adopt, and what that process looked like for them. She talks about her decision to retire from professional running in 2019, about why coaching was her next dream, and her third cookbook with co-author Elyse Kopecky, and about the pressure women often feel to "do it all."   Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the

"I’m 100 percent emotionally involved with the families I serve."   Welcome to Season 2 of the On the Job series on the Ali on the Run Show! This season, we're kicking things off with JoMarie Flores, a funeral director in Houston, TX. But don't worry: This episode isn't all death, doom, and gloom. JoMarie is so passionate about her work, and you'll quickly see why families love and appreciate her so much. On this episode, JoMarie talks about the education required to become an embalmer and funeral director, and addresses the common misperceptions about her line of work. She opens up about the emotional component of the work, shares why it's important to find laughter during hard times, and offers advice for people who are uncomfortable with death and addressing our own mortality. When she's not on the job as a "last responder," JoMarie is a marathoner, triathlete, and mom to a five-year-old boy.   Thank you to Tracksmith for sponsoring the On the Job series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to tracksmith.com/ont

"The best thing that can happen to you is to have all your plans get blown up because then you learn how you react to that."   Last week, Tracksmith announced it was adding two members to its team: professional athletes Mary Cain and Nick Willis. But Nick and Mary aren't just figureheads for the brand or sponsored athletes. They're full-time, salaried employees. On this episode, Lee Glandorf, head of communications at Tracksmith, shares the behind-the-scenes making of those deals, and talks about what hiring Nick and Mary means for both them and for the brand. She also explains why now — in the midst of a global pandemic — was the right time to make these moves. Lee is a former Yale University rower turned runner, who also shares her running story and talks about how, as someone who thrives on lists and plans, she's adjusting to life right now and finding ways to connect with the community.   What you’ll get on this episode: How Lee is handling this time as a self-proclaimed “control freak” (6:00) How Tracks

"I was at the cross-section of a couple different identities that people didn’t quite understand."   Dinée Dorame is a citizen of the Navajo Nation, Water's Edge clan. She's a lifelong runner who grew up in Albuquerque, NM, moved to the east coast to attend and later work in admissions at Yale University, and has since returned to Albuquerque, where she is the Associate Director of College Horizons. On this episode, Dinée talks passionately about the role of running in Native culture, and the role her culture plays in her life on and off the run. She talks about setbacks she's experienced related to Accessory Navicular Syndrome, and how she has dealt with chronic pain, and offers advice for how and why runners can and should better connect with the land around them.   Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off wireless headphones.   What you’ll get on this episode: Was Dinée’s plan always to return home to New Mexico after attending Yale? (4:30) Wha

"I didn’t want people to think fun, happy Sasha really has depression and anxiety."   Sasha Wolff is the founder of Still I Run, a non-profit organization and online community for runners, whose mission is to raise awareness around mental health. On this episode — in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month — Sasha, a mom of two who lives in Michigan, talks openly about her own experiences with depression and anxiety. She opens up about her decision to admit herself to an inpatient facility for treatment, talks about what that was like, and explains what's in her "mental health care kit." She also shares the story of how she found running, and why she's so passionate about running for her own mental health.   Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off wireless headphones.   What you’ll get on this episode: What Mental Health Awareness Month means to Sasha (4:30) Sasha shares her mental health story (7:40) On the decision to check into a mental health

"With this platform comes a responsibility."   This episode is a message from me to every listener of the Ali on the Run Show. It's a promise to do better. To showcase more voices on the show and during live events. To listen more. To do the work.   Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Like the Facebook page Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Blog Strava   Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play   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!

"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

"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 fo

"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 getti