Ali On The Run Show

"Some of my closest friendships are with women I compete against. So when I see them do the things that they’re doing, it truly makes me believe even more in myself in terms of what’s possible for me." Welcome to Friendship Fest, Season 2! This seven-week series is all about celebrating friendship on the run. We'll hear from some of our favorite running buddies — from the pros to the everyday runners — about how they met, the role running plays in their friendship, and what big goals and dreams they share for the future. We're kicking off Season 2 of this series with Boulder-based besties and professional marathoners Laura Thweatt and Emma Bates. They share the story of their first meeting in 2019 ("I decided then and there that Emma Bates was my girl crush," recalls Laura), they talk about how their friendship progressed, and they talk about their time training together as members of Team Boss (which Laura has since left — with Emma's support, of course). Lots of laughter, lots of awwwwws, and lots of i

"I’ve tried to get better at knowing that I can’t be everything to everyone. But I do want this to be a place where anyone who feels like they are a part of the running community can find something that they enjoy or that inspires them or motivates them or makes them feel good or teaches them something." Welcome to Ask Ali, a twice-a-month series where I answer all of your questions. This time around, I'm flying through 37 randomly selected listener questions, sent in via Instagram Stories (I'm @aliontherun1), about everything from house hunting, podcast guest selection, and getting recognized on the run, to staying focused and what a day in the life is like. SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off your entire goodr order! You asked: Do you get recognized when you’re out and about? (3:00) How do you stay focused when you’re a multi-passionate person? (5:10) Was it hard switching from HOKA to New Balance? (8:45) Has the man from the TED Talk apologized about the Annie situation

"It’s been hard to swallow that there is no miracle. It’s going to take time." It's been nearly one year since Kara Goucher came on the Ali on the Run Show to talk about what it was like being a part of the NBC Sports broadcast team during the Tokyo Olympics. Today, Kara returns with all kinds of updates. In this fun, wide-ranging conversation, Kara talks about how she has gotten more comfortable in her role as an NBC Sports Distance Analyst, and shares her broadcast plans for the summer. She talks about how she's honed her skills, and shares whether she still gets nervous to go live on air. Kara talks candidly about her recent Runner's Dystonia diagnosis, and what that means for her health, her running, and her family. Plus: parenting during difficult times, going through life as a highly sensitive person (same), and the possibility of a Kara Goucher and Des Linden podcast. SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ali and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. What you’ll get on this episode: What’s m

"I really felt strongly that sharing online would not only help hold me accountable to sticking with my goals and my values, but also would help other people to see that it’s really normal to struggle, and it’s OK to seek treatment, it’s OK to seek help. And that even people who have had success don’t necessarily have everything figured out." The past year hasn't been easy for professional runner Allie Ostrander. After a career that started out with a series of highs — like signing with Brooks, making her first world championships team, and getting to represent Team USA in Doha in 2019 — life lately has been challenging. In this candid conversation, Allie talks about the tough times and how she has gotten through them. She talks about living and dealing with an eating disorder, and about pursuing a treatment program last year before returning to competition at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, where she made it to the 3000m steeplechase final and ran a personal best. She talks about what life in t

"There’s a lot of bumps on the way up. And a lot of people see that final moment, the excitement, the emotion that took place. And it was such a genuine and real moment. But it’s all because of the things leading up to that moment." Tara Davis is an Olympic long jumper. Hunter Woodhall is a Paralympic medalist. With their powers combined, they are the ultimate track and field power couple. And this week, Tara and Hunter announced their new lululemon partnership: The engaged duo are now sponsored by lululemon as Global Ambassadors for the brand. In this conversation, we hear all about how the lululemon deal came to be, and about why this was the perfect fit for Tara and Hunter. The social media savvy couple also talks about what it's like sharing so much of their lives online: Collectively, they have more than 3 million followers on TikTok, 667,000 Instagram followers, and 421,000 YouTube subscribers. Plus, what a day in the life is like for two professional athletes, their love story, wedding planning upda

"What do I love most? I want to fricken win. And I want to hurt. And I want to see how fast I can go." What a treat to get to host a live show with the legendary Des Linden this weekend at the Chateau Chantal winery as part of the Bayshore Marathon festivities in Traverse City, MI. Des has been on the show a lot — six times, to be exact — so the goal with this show was to try and learn something new about everyone's favorite runner. And? Mission accomplished. We played an opening game of Would You Rather. We got to know Little Kid Des, Teen Des, College Des (and Beer Mile Des), AOL Instant Messenger Des, and the Des who lives with a chip on her shoulder. We talked about how Des got into broadcasting, and what her TV plans look like for 2022, and talked about her racing plans, including the upcoming B.A.A. 10K and what she's eyeing for the fall. She shared her Boston Marathon 2022 takeaways, talked about dealing with a sports hernia injury, and reflected on her first-ever marathon (the good, bad, and ugly).

"It felt important to me. And so I sent the email. I took my own advice, and I sent the email." On Monday, I had the honor of giving a TED talk. In this episode, I'm talking all about my experience speaking at TEDxBoston's "Epic Strides" event, celebrating women in sport and the 50-year anniversary of the passing of Title IX. I share how I got this opportunity, my hesitations, and how it went. Plus, I share the talk itself. SPONSOR: New Balance — Go to newbalance.com/beyondtherun to learn more about how New Balance is supporting the conversations around mental wellness in running. (And check out my current favorite pullover, crop top, half-zip top, quilted pullover, and jacket.) What you’ll get on this episode: How I got the opportunity to be a TEDx speaker (2:00) On figuring out what to talk about (11:00) The rehearsal and preparation process (15:00) The week of TEDxBoston (23:00) Why I got really stressed the night before the event (38:00) My TED talk! (53:20) For more, check out: Emily Saul

"From the start, it was like, I’m gonna deal with this, but I’m not going to let this take over. I’m not going to let it take my life away. I’m not going to let it take my happiness away. So I do it, and I deal with it, and some days are really tough, but I still want to live my life." In January, 13-time marathoner Saila Consalvi was told she'd be lucky if she could watch this year's Boston Marathon, let alone run it. And yet, four months later, she defied expectation: She completed the 2022 Boston Marathon. In this conversation, Saila talks about what it took to complete her third Boston Marathon, and about her road to the start line, which hasn't been easy. In 2017, Saila was 35 years old and had just completed her ninth marathon and her first Ironman. She was in the best shape of her life. But soon, things just felt...off. Then, she was diagnosed with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. Today, Saila — who is from Finland — lives in Denver, CO, with her husband and their four-month-old son, Enzo. SPO

"Let’s just go out with a bang." Steph Bruce finished 12th at this year's Boston Marathon. The professional runner for HOKA NAZ Elite ran a 2:28, and while it wasn't her fastest time at the 26.2-mile distance, Steph says Boston 2022 ranks up there as one of her best and favorite marathons. And this year's race was unique for Steph: It's her last year competing as a professional athlete. Last year, Steph was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition, and that discovery forced her to start making some tough choices. She decided that 2022 would be her last year running professionally — and that she would go out with a celebration. Steph is calling this year her "Grit Finale," and she's taking fans along for the ride. (Check out her Boston recap on YouTube here.) In this conversation, Steph talks all about that life-changing diagnosis, about her Boston training, about race day, and about her thoughts on life after professional running. As always, an open, honest, candid conversation with one of the sport's m

"It takes a lot to get to a start line. I never take that for granted." Shalane Flanagan has run the Boston Marathon six times: four times as a professional athlete; once as a retired pro, the day after racing the Chicago Marathon; and now, as a guide. Shalane is a four-time Olympian, an Olympic silver medalist, and the 2017 New York City Marathon champion. She is a coach, a New York Times best-selling cookbook author, and a mom to two-year-old Jack. After racing the Boston Marathon in the fall as part of Project Eclipse, Shalane returned to Boston this year — and it was different than any other time she had run the race. Because this time, Shalane's race wasn't about the pursuit of a podium or a personal best. She ran the race as Adrianne Haslet's coach and guide in the para athletics division. In this conversation, Shalane talks about coaching Adrianne, about her own training for this race, and about her goals as Adrianne's guide. She shares her favorite memories from the course, and talks about what's n

"We know you can push through. We know you’re capable of that. A sign of your mental toughness isn’t pushing through — it’s can I hold back?" On March 5, I went out for a 13.1-mile run. A few miles into the run, my lower left leg started to hurt. I cut the run short and limped home. By that night, I could barely walk. I was dealing with my first real running injury. Two months later, I'm back on the run — but I never received an official diagnosis, I'm a bit trepidatious about running again, and I'm overwhelmed trying to remember how I even fit running into my life pre-injury. I thought I would be itching to get back on the run, but I'm...not? Enter Carrie Jackson. Carrie is a certified mental performance consultant with a Master's degree in sports psychology. She's the author of On Top of Your Game: Mental Skills to Maximize Your Athletic Performance, and co-author of Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries. She and Rebound co-author Cindy Kuzma also host The Injured Athl

"She said, ‘This is how it was supposed to be. This is how it was supposed to feel.’ And at that moment, I realized the magnitude of what we gave to each other." Fan favorite Jess Sims is back — and this time, she returns to the Ali on the Run Show as a marathoner! On April 18, the beloved Peloton instructor surprised the world by showing up at the start (and finish!) line of the Boston Marathon. And she had a good reason for keeping her marathon debut on the down-low. In this very special conversation, Jess talks about receiving a fateful message from Boston Marathon bombing survivor Michele Blackburn last December — a message that ultimately guided Jess every step of the way toward that finish line on Boylston Street. Jess talks about her training, about how she felt on the start line, and about why she still feels marathon imposter syndrome, even after earning that blue and yellow medal. (You'll want tissues on hand 17 minutes into this one. You've been warned.) SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ali and u

"It was the fear of the unknown — but that was what I loved also. I don’t want to do something I know I could finish or know I could do. I want to do this thing that’s going to be really hard… and there was no stopping me." At 14 years old, Lottie Bildirici — a lifelong New Yorker — went from being a happy-go-lucky high schooler to a cancer patient. A lump on her neck turned out to be Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and Lottie immediately began chemotherapy treatments. She was the sick kid. But as she recovered physically (and was given a cancer-free diagnosis!), Lottie realized she had lost her identity. Who was she without cancer? And it was running that helped her redefine herself. Lottie completed a half-marathon at Disney World, and a passion for the sport was immediately ignited. She started learning more about health and nutrition — but soon lost her way. In this conversation, Lottie talks about growing up in the kitchen, and about how a love for food led her down a scary path with orthorexia and recurring stre

“I can close my eyes still and remember every sign and every person’s face and every dog. I can remember all of it. It was a true unicorn of a day.” Adrianne Haslet went through hell to get to the start line of the 2022 Boston Marathon. But she got there. And then, she started in Hopkinton and ran 26.2 miles — with guide Shalane Flanagan by her side every step of the way — to cross the finish line on Boylston Street. Adrianne and Shalane finished the race in 5:18:14, coming in fourth place in the para athletics division. Today, Adrianne returns to the Ali on the Run Show to share every detail of what she calls the best day of her life. ("It sounded like a Rocky movie the whole way," she says.) Plus, Adrianne's favorite moments from the course, all about that finish line feeling, and what "Boston Strong" means to her. SPONSOR: Shokz — Use code OTR15 for 15% off wireless headphones. What you’ll get on this episode: Adrianne’s Boston Marathon expectations — and how reality compared (3:00) How Adrianne

"This is the time in my life where I’m trying to do whatever I can to be the fastest I can and get the furthest in running that I can. So anything that is not working toward that goal just doesn’t make any sense." For the second year in row, professional marathoner Nell Rojas had a big day in Boston. She finished 10th overall at the 126th Boston Marathon, running a personal best (2:25:57), and finishing as the top U.S. woman in the field. In this conversation, Nell talks Boston beyond the numbers. She talks about the pre-race press conference and about breaking some big news before the race: After signing with adidas earlier this year, Nell recently ended that partnership in favor of racing in shoes that she felt better suited her body. She talks about that difficult decision, and about how it weighed on her during her Boston build-up. Plus, she talks about her pre-race routine, about how the race played out, and about what's next. SPONSOR: The WineShine Half Marathon — Register today for the inaugural e

"When our smartphones are at 10 percent, we panic. We freak out… When our bodies are running on 10 percent, when our headspace is running on 10 percent, why don’t we have that same sense of urgency to look for an outlet, to recharge? We keep going. We allow ourselves to fully deplete before we ask to borrow a charger." Peloton instructor — and newly published author — Tunde Oyeneyin returns to the Ali on the Run Show today. In this conversation, Tunde reflects on how her life has changed since she was last on the show in December 2020. Her Peloton classes are now taken by hundreds of thousands of people. She has amassed more than 520,000 followers on Instagram. She's the face of Revlon, and the host of the Fitness Flipped podcast. And her first book, Speak, comes out next month. Today, Tunde talks about her running journey: why she runs, when she craves a run, and what keeps her running. Plus, she offers advice on boundary setting, saying no ("Every time I say no to someone, I feel myself getting my power

“This weekend I was like, ‘I just want to be me, and see where I can go with that. I don’t want to conform. I don’t want to turn off who I am to fit into the existing landscape.’” After 1,099 days, the Boston Marathon was back on Patriots Day! And I was there! On this episode, I'm talking (for a very long time) all about my weekend in Boston, where I hosted a live show with Tracksmith (listen to it here), was the post-race on-camera interviewer for the world feed broadcast (!!!), and made my Boston Marathon finish line announcing debut. It was a nonstop weekend filled with great people, exciting events, and a big leap out of my comfort zone and onto live (global!) television. So before we get into the interviews with people who ran the race (Nell Rojas and Adrianne Haslet, coming next week!), here's my recap of the 2022 Boston Marathon from the sidelines, the media trucks, the finish line, and the photo bridge. SPONSOR: Shokz — Use code OTR15 for 15% off wireless headphones. What you’ll get on this epi

Boston is BACK! It was such a privilege to get to host a live recording of the Ali on the Run Show at the Tracksmith Trackhouse during the 2022 Boston Marathon weekend, with the ever-delightful recent podcast guests Anoush Arakelian and Emily Saul. This conversation was filled with great advice, hilarious stories, and — because why not? — dating talk. Thank you to Tracksmith for hosting us; thank you to Emily and Anoush for the wit, wisdom, and laughter; and thank you to everyone who joined and was part of the fun! SPONSOR: Tracksmith. Click here and use code ALI22 for free shipping, plus 5% of the proceeds from your order will be donated to the Brave Like Gabe Foundation! Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 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 Podcas

“The people who read my blog and supported me — whether we met in real life or from afar — they saved my life on my worst days.” Laura Green is a runner, a mom to two boys, and a dear friend — and today, she’s a podcast host! On this edition of Ask Ali, returning Ali on the Run Show guest Laura is here to do all the question asking, reading your questions from Instagram (and coming up with a few of her own). We do a chronological Ali deep dive, from the college days, to the pre-podcast blogging days, to life today with a 3.5-year-old. SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off your entire goodr order! Laura asks: The warm-up round (3:30) “Pre-podcast Ali” questions (10:40) Podcast-related questions (27:00) Parenting questions (42:00) For more, check out: Laura Green on Episode 157 of the Ali on the Run Show Hotel Lobby Spa Candle lululemon Wunder Train Bra lululemon Enlite Bra Tracksmith Allston Bra Follow Laura: Instagram @lauramcgreen Follow Ali: Instagr

"Doctors said when I was born that I would be the last one to sit up, the last one to crawl, the last one to stand and walk. Well, I was the first to do all those things." Jenna Fesemyer was born with a birth defect called proximal femoral focal deficiency, where one leg is shorter than the other. At one year old, she had her foot amputated. And she immediately defied her doctors' expectations. As a teenager, she discovered wheelchair racing, and now, she's a Paralympian who represented Team USA in Tokyo last summer. (The Paralympic marathon was just the beginning of Jenna's fall marathon season: She then raced the London, Chicago, Boston, and New York City Marathons.) This weekend, Jenna heads to Boston where she will race in the professional women's wheelchair division in both the B.A.A. 5K on Saturday and the Boston Marathon on Monday. Jenna is sponsored by Oiselle, and she is currently studying education policy at the University of Illinois (and she'll begin her doctorate program in the fall!). SPONS