Ali On The Run Show

This is the first of several post-U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials episodes coming your way this week. It was such an honor to co-host a live show after the race alongside Carrie Tollefson and Meb Keflezighi — in front of a 400-person audience! After an inspiring opening speech by UCAN President and CEO Shoba Murali and a few remarks from Meb, we recapped the race with Carrie (who was the official race announcer) and Meb (the official race starter). Then, we welcomed seven UCAN athletes — Sarah Sellers, Taylor Ward, Dawn Grunnagle, Tyler Pennel, Andrea Toppin, Anita Perez, and Jocelyn Todd — who shared their stories from the day. Some had breakthrough races (a PR for Sarah Sellers!), while others had challenging days on the course. All of their stories were honest, uplifting, and relatable, and I'm so grateful for everything they shared.   Thank you to 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, ch

Welcome to the second edition of a new monthly series on the Ali on the Run Show: Ramblings on the Run with Ali & Matt. Every month, Matt Chittim — host of the Rambling Runner podcast and the Road to the Olympic Trials show — and I will come together to talk about running industry news, our own running, and things we’re loving right now, and to answer listener questions about running and podcasting. It’s something new we’re trying, so let us know what you think and what you want more (or less!) of. On this episode, it's all about Trials talk. We share our excitement for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, talk about our predictions about what might happen while admitting none of us really have any idea, and answer listener questions about podcasting.   What we mention on this episode: Superhero Muffins Publix Atlanta 5K Peter Bromka on Road to the Olympic Trials Lou Serafini on Road to the Olympic Trials Sarah Ibbetson @runningbcba on Instagram (2:45.01 series) "In Celebrating Local Olympic Hopefuls, W

"The only reason this was my goal is because it was her goal. I only have this dream because she was crazy enough to dream it first." —Veronica Jackson   Veronica Jackson and Alex Bernardi are among the 500+ women who will be running the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon this weekend in Atlanta, GA. They're longtime training partners, and on this episode, they talk about the power of running friendships, and the effects your best running friends can have on your goals. Today, Alex and Veronica live in separate cities — Veronica in Boston where she's an attorney at the Partners Healthcare Hospital System, and Alex in New York City, where she's a research associate at a nonprofit — but we got together in person to record this episode (after they finished their 20-miler, of course).   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 Alex and Veronica were feeling two weeks ou

"It’s a pretty misunderstood lifestyle. Unless you’re in it, you don’t really have a clue what it’s like to do it or why you would do it, because it’s so much work. But the people who have a passion for it would never change that."   Earlier this month, Elle Purrier won the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games in New York City. In the process, she set a new American record in the indoor mile (4:16.85), broke a 37-year-old record, ran an 8-second personal best time, and ran the second fastest indoor mile in history. On this episode, Elle, who runs for New Balance, talks about that day, and reflects on her indoor season before she begins training for outdoor season — and the 2020 Olympic Track & Field Trials. She also talks about growing up on a dairy farm in Vermont, and how that impacted her work ethic.   Thank you to the Atlanta Track Club for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! Go to atlantatrackclub.org to sign up for this weekend's Publix Atlanta 5K, where you can finish in the same sp

"I’m an open book. I have no shame about anything I have gone through or felt."   Andrea Barber — perhaps best known as Kimmy Gibbler on Full House and the Netflix revival Fuller House — is back on the Ali on the Run Show! And this time, she's a published author! Andrea's first book, Full Circle: From Hollywood to Real Life and Back Again, came out late last year, and it's a hit. (I'm not just saying this because Andrea is a friend: This book is fantastic.) Full Circle isn't a salacious Hollywood memoir or tell-all. It's real and it's honest, and in it, Andrea shares her story in a raw, visceral way. On this episode, Andrea and I catch up on what's new in her life — including why her home is filled with thousands of boxes of Girl Scout Cookies, what it was like wrapping the fifth and final season of Fuller House, and where she's at with running right now — and we talk about some of my favorite parts of the book, including her uncensored stories about depression, anxiety, and divorce.   Thank you to AfterShokz

"Change always takes time, and the battles that Adam and I have chosen to fight have just taken time. We’ve learned to be patient and to think less about ourselves and more about the future."   Happy Valentine’s Day! We're celebrating here on the Ali on the Run Show with the fifth and final episode of Love on the Run Week — and we're wrapping things up with the Gouchers! Kara and Adam Goucher have been married for 19 years. On this episode, we have an open and honest conversation about their struggles with infertility and how it affected their marriage, Kara's time as a Nike-sponsored athlete who was suspended without pay during her pregnancy and postpartum period, and why they've decided to be outspoken activists in the industry. They talk about developing thicker skin, how speaking out has impacted their relationship, and about why they're so passionate about clean sport.   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 yo

"It showed Pat my worst side, and what I’m like when I’m not my happy self."   Gwen Jorgensen won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in the triathlon, and then decided she wanted to trade in the bike and the swim for a while to see how she could fare as a professional distance runner. Today, Gwen trains with the Bowerman Track Club, and is gearing up to compete at the 2020 Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 5K and 10K. And her husband, Pat Lemieux, will be by her side every step of the way. Pat was a professional cyclist, but he decided to put his career aside so he could fully support Gwen in hers. On this episode, they talk about that decision, and what it looked like then vs. now. Gwen and Pat live in Portland, OR, with their son, Stanley.   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 ge

"He doesn’t do these grand gestures — he just shows up for me every single day."   Love on the Run Week continues! From the Leers to the Lindens — to the Bruces! Today, professional marathon runners Steph and Ben Bruce are here to talk about what makes them Team Bruce. They talk about what it's like when Ben is pacing Steph on the run, like at the 2019 Chicago Marathon, and open up about the impact having their two sons (Riley and Hudson) has had on their careers and their marriage. Steph and Ben live in Flagstaff, AZ, where he is an assistant coach and she competes for NAZ Elite.   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: How Steph and Ben met (2:45) How Ben proposed to Steph (12:00) What makes Steph and Ben a great team (17:15) On resentment (25:00) Reflecting on r

“It’s competitive…in a healthy way!”   It's Love on the Run Week on the Ali on the Run Show! First we heard from Aisha Praught and Will Leer, and today it's the Linden's turn. On this episode, we hear from 2018 Boston Marathon champion Desiree Linden and her Ironman and entrepreneur husband, Ryan.   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: How Des and Ryan met (2:15) How important is running in their relationship? (8:30) Des and Ryan reflect on some of the biggest moments in their careers and how they affected their relationship (15:50) How Ryan and Des support each other and celebrate their wins (21:30) Who’s the better spectator? (29:55) When one person’s career is thriving and the other’s isn’t (34:00) How Des is feeling leading up to the Olympic Trials (38:20) Th

"When talking about running, it’s where we have to be the most delicate with each other."   We're celebrating love all week long on the Ali on the Run Show: Welcome to Love on the Run Week! Today, we're kicking things off with professional middle-distance runners Aisha Praught and Will Leer, who live and train in Boulder, CO.   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: How Aisha and Will met (3:15) How Will proposed (7:30) On Aisha and Will’s competitive sides (11:30) Why Aisha and Will moved from Oregon to Boulder, and how they made the decision (15:30) Why Will and Aisha don’t do workouts together (21:30) How Will and Aisha set goals individually and together (30:40) The impact Gabe Grunewald’s passing has had on both Will and Aisha (41:00)   What we mention on thi

"There was an incredible amount of pressure that I acknowledged and then just kind of wanted to tuck away in the back of my mind and not pay attention to, because if I let that take over, I would’ve been scrutinizing it, and it would’ve gotten in my head, and I wouldn’t have been able to do what I did."   Rick Powell was the official 2:45 pacer at the 2020 Houston Marathon, who led a group of several dozen women hoping to qualify for the Olympic Trials. On this episode, Rick — a former Marine and current attorney who was fresh off a 2:31 finish at the Steamtown Marathon — reflects on his experience in Houston.   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: Why Rick wanted to be the OTQ pacer in Houston (5:55) On the magnitude of the day for the women (14:30) On getting advice from the CIM pacers before the race (21:00) What it was like being the only pacer for the 2:4

Welcome to a new monthly series on the Ali on the Run Show: Ramblings on the Run with Ali & Matt. Every month, Matt Chittim — host of the Rambling Runner podcast and the Road to the Olympic Trials show — and I will come together to talk about running industry news, our own running, and things we're loving right now, and to answer listener questions about running and podcasting. It's something new we're trying, so let us know what you think and what you want more (or less!) of. On this episode, we talk about each of our recent interviews with professional runner Neely Spence Gracey, the hype surrounding the upcoming Olympic Trials marathon, and what podcasting is like behind the microphone.   What we mention on this episode: Neely Spence Gracey on Episode 201 of the Ali on the Run Show Neely Spence Gracey on Episode 40 of Road to the Olympic Trials "Amy Cragg Is Very Much Still in It, Thank You for Asking," by Sarah Lorge Butler for Runner's World   Follow Matt:  Instagram @rambling_runner Rambling Runner

"I wasn’t ready to run a marathon to my standards, and I did it anyway, and I was able to meet that goal, I was able to check off a goal, and I haven’t been able to do that in a long time."   Neely Spence Gracey just ran her first postpartum race since having her son, Athens, in 2018. She ran the Houston Marathon — and qualified for the Olympic Trials by running a 2:44. Not a bad return to the races! But Neely's journey to the OTQ hasn't been easy. On this episode, she talks about her pregnancy and postpartum running expectations vs. her reality, which included a series of injuries and other issues that kept her sidelined despite her best efforts to remain strong and healthy. She also talks about new motherhood, rest day-related anxiety, and why she stopped weighing 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: How Neely is feeling post-Houston Marathon, and

"I dropped so many F-bombs the last 10K! I just kept saying, 'It’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen!' I was just so hyped up."   This past weekend, Starla Garcia ran the Chevron Houston Marathon in 2 hours and 43 minutes — officially qualifying to run the 2020 Olympic Trials. On this episode — the 200th episode of the Ali on the Run Show! — Starla talks about her road to the OTQ, including missing the cutoff by just two minutes at last year's Grandma's Marathon, and a DNF at CIM. She talks about developing an eating disorder in high school, and finding recovery as a division-1 athlete in college. Today, Starla is a registered dietitian living in Houston, TX.   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: Where Starla’s OTQ dream came from (3:10) On bouncing back from disappointment (8:45) What Starla’s pre-Houston training was like (14:45) What it felt like to cross th

"I can’t sit around waiting for things to happen."   New year, excited me! On this short-ish solo episode, I'm sharing my 2020 vision — an Ali on the Run Show State of the Union of sorts. I talk about my personal and professional goals for this year, and reflect on my lululemon goal setting process. (Speaking of new: Come join the Ali on the Run Facebook group! We're having fun in there!)   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: Looking back on 2019 (2:15) On becoming a lululemon ambassador (4:45) My goals, plans, hopes, and dreams for 2020 (15:30)   What I mention on this episode: Today Show Modern Motherhood Series "I'm a New York City Marathon Race Announcer" 2019 United Airlines NYC Half Recap 2019 Popular Brooklyn Half Recap Garden State Plaza lululemon Align Pants   Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Like the Facebook page Join the Facebook group Twi

"The goal isn’t to stop feeling anxious or to judge yourself for it. That’s like saying, 'Oh, it shouldn’t be raining.' But it is. So now what?"   Rachel Gersten is a New York City-based licensed therapist, and is the co-founder of Viva Wellness. On this episode — perfect for the new year! — she dishes out advice about dealing with burnout, anxiety, and what to do when you realize you have no idea what you want to do with the rest of your life. She also talks about her lifelong battle with chronic pain, and how running more than 150 races, including marathons, has actually helped her cope with the pain.   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 does it actually mean to be a wellness coach? (2:30) Why are most people going to therapy these days? (10:30) What to do when you realize you’re not sure what you want to be when you grow up (18:00) What do appointmen

"Most people would describe me as kind and warm. But I have this other part of my personality: I am insatiably competitive." Aisha Praught Leer is a professional middle-distance runner for Under Armour, a national record holder in the 5000 meters, a 2016 Olympian (she competed in the 3000-meter steeplechase), and a gold medal winner at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. On this episode, Aisha talks about her progression as a professional athlete, her decision to race for and represent Jamaica (she's a Jamaican-American dual citizen), and her dedication for giving back and helping inspire the next generation of runners. She talks about what it's like being married to fellow professional runner Will Leer, and opens up about her decision to leave Eugene, OR, where she trained with the Oregon Track Club Elite, and move to Colorado to train alongside Emma Coburn, under the direction of coach Joe Bosshard. She also shares her thoughts on imposter syndrome, working with a sports psychologist, and building mental strength.

"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

"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

"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