Ali On The Run Show

"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

"I’ve trained for Boston... I’ve done a 20-miler before doing two shows of A Chorus Line, which is two hours of standing on your feet and kicking. I’ve done 20-milers before a five-show day at Radio City."   Amanda LaVergne is a Broadway actress, singer, and dancer. She has performed in Annie and Grease, among many others, and spent a decade performing as Mrs. Claus in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Offstage, Amanda is a 3:07 marathoner, a 1:24 half marathoner, and a running coach. So how do you train for the Boston Marathon while also doing five shows a day at Radio City? How do you run the New York City Marathon fast enough to make it to the theater before a 3 PM curtain? On this episode, Amanda talks about the realities of making it on Broadway and beyond, having thick skin, what auditions are really like, and what it feels like to make your Broadway debut.   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

Welcome to the April edition of 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. But this time around, instead of listener Q&A, we created the Quarantine Decathlon. Give it a try — and let us know how you fare! We recorded this episode on Marathon Monday — the should-be day for the Boston Marathon — and had fun talking about how the running community celebrated running on a day that wasn't what anyone had planned for.   What we mention on this episode: Peloton app Bota Box wine Sarah Cummings on Episode 215 of the Ali on the Run Show Sarah Cummings on Episode 112 of the Ali on the Run Show "The Third Monday in April," by Erin Strout for Women's Running "To Run My Best Marathon at Age 44, I Had to Outrun My Past," by Nicholas Thompson

“Find a way to get people hooked on running. That’s what we need.”   Jay Holder just might love running — the sport itself, plus every single member of the running community — more than any guy I know. Jay is the Director of Marketing & Communications at Atlanta Track Club, which means this week, we're getting a behind-the-scenes look at what it took to host the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials! Jay talks about the bidding process leading up to the Trials, and shares what, exactly, Atlanta did to show USA Track & Field that they were worthy of hosting one of the greatest weekends in American distance racing. (It involved a 90-page proposal and plan!) Jay, a dad of two, shares stories from the course — which he ran several dozen times before race weekend — and explains what he says is "the best part of the job." We look back reminiscing about the Trials weekend, and look forward, with some trepidation: The Atlanta Track Club also hosts the Peachtree Road Race, which is the largest 10K in the world tha

"I can sincerely say that when I leave work and go home, my heart feels really full — but sometimes it feels defeated... There's a lot of emotion at stake. It's hard."   Christine Mousa is a family specialist in New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency. Her job is to find safe and loving homes for children. It's important, emotional work, and on this episode, Christine talks about what the job entails, whether she ever feels afraid on the job, and what being "out in the field" means.   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 Christine: Instagram @christineemilyy   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 have to believe in yourself. And you can say it a million times, but before this, I didn’t actually believe I could run with these girls. And now I absolutely know that I can run with these girls, and I know that I can be competitive."   Nell Rojas finished ninth at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February. And that in its own is impressive — but it's especially impressive when you consider that it was only Nell's third ever marathon. Nell is a triathlete and obstacle course racer turned marathoner, and on this episode, she talks about running the Olympic A standard at her first marathon, winning her second marathon (a 2:28 at Grandma's Marathon in 2019), and running the Trials as her third marathon. She talks about her recovery from the Trials and what's next, and talks about the time she beat Des Linden at the Falmouth Road Race — and then immediately asked for her autograph. Plus: What Nell is like as a coach, why she decided to rescue a dog right before the Trials, and the advice she has for anyo

"I had to keep believing that my Olympic dream was still alive until the race was over."   Laura Thweatt ran a fast, fierce, gutsy race at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta — a hard effort that earned her a fifth-place finish. But fifth place at the Trials is a tough spot: When the first three finishers make the team and the fourth-place finisher is the alternate, fifth place is so close, but so far from being on the Olympic team. On this episode, Laura — a 2:25 marathoner who runs for Saucony and is coached by Joe Bosshard — recaps her race at the Trials, offers advice for runners dealing with injuries or setbacks, and talks about how the Covid-19 crisis has affected her training so far and her year ahead.   Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off wireless headphones. (My favorite is the Aeropex!)   What you’ll get on this episode: How Laura’s doing during these “weird times” (3:45) The story behind that Saucony #dontrushchallenge vide

"Fear is not something you experience in an airplane. That’s your comfort zone."   For many people, flying in an airplane is an anxiety-inducing adventure. But not for Julia Harrington. Julia is a corporate pilot and captain on two business jets, and on this On the Job episode, she talks about her adventures in the skies. Julia reminisces about her childhood dreams of becoming a pilot, and talks about the education required to get a pilot's license. She talks about her first flight, whether she's ever scared in the air, and what it's like being a badass woman in a very male-dominated industry. (Plus, she offers reassuring advice for all the anxious fliers out there!)   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 Julia: Instagram @pilotjulia   Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Like the Facebook page Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1

"Without races on the schedule, you’re figuring out why you run in the first place. I think this is a really good reminder that we do it because we love it — not because we’re constantly chasing a goal or trying to prove something."   Caitlyn Tateishi has run — long, and fast — all over the world. On this episode, the 2:43 marathoner talks about growing up in Hawaii and discovering life on the run, and going on to run an unofficial ultramarathon during her time in the Peace Corps in Africa. Caitlyn explains why she took a long break from running, and talks about rediscovering her passion for the sport. Plus, she breaks down how, exactly, she shaved 50 minutes off her marathon time, going from wanting to qualify for the Boston Marathon to running at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials earlier this year. It's a powerful, relatable conversation about identifying as a runner, dealing with failure, and getting to that "I belong" moment.   Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run

"I was just like, ‘Oh my god, I’m in Hollywood! This was meant to be!'"   Taylor Ritzel has quite the resumé: She was a collegiate rower at Yale University who went on to win Olympic gold in rowing at the 2012 games. Today, though, Taylor has traded her oars for the Hollywood life. She works at Netflix, in nonfiction series content acquisition. On this episode, she talks about what, exactly, that means, and what it's like working on shows including Cheer, Queer Eye, and Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.   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 Taylor:  Instagram @taritzel   Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Like the Facebook page Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 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, pl