Ali On The Run Show

“We’re distance runners. We know how to dig in with hard stuff and persevere.” Sara and Ryan Hall are one of the best-known couples in the running industry. Ryan is a retired professional runner: He holds the American record in both the half marathon (59:43) and marathon (2:04:58), and represented the United States at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic games. Today, he's a coach, he's spending a ton of time bulking up in the gym, and he just published his latest book, Run the Mile You're In. Sara is a professional middle-distance-turned-long-distance runner, who holds a 2:26 marathon PR and has her eyes set on the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. On this episode, Sara and Ryan talk candidly about their marriage, what they fight about, and what it's like being coached by your spouse. Ryan is Sara's coach, and they were very honest about what it's like for each of them when Sara doesn't have a good race or workout. They also talk about adopting their four daughters from Ethiopia, and take a trip down memory lane shari

“Women are dying of causes that should not kill them in 2019.” Dr. Taraneh Shirazian is a board-certified OB/GYN and surgeon practicing at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, where she's also the Director of Global Women's Health at NYU's College of Global Public Health. In 2009, Dr. Shirazian created the Saving Mothers nonprofit organization, whose goal is to lower the global rate of maternal deaths. Currently, 350,000 women worldwide die due to pregnancy and childbirth complications. That's one mother dying every two minutes. On this episode, we talk about the important work Saving Mothers is doing to further women's empowerment and patient advocacy during pregnancy and childbirth, and we discuss why, exactly, so many women are dying this way, particularly women of color. Dr. Shirazian, a mom of two, also talks about her newest venture, Mommy Matters, which directly supports Saving Mothers. Thank you to Sweaty Betty for sponsoring Motherhood Mondays on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to sweatybetty.com

"You really can do anything. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy and that doesn’t mean it’s not going to be without sacrifice. It also doesn’t mean you’re going to be a rockstar at it. But you can do anything if you’re willing to put yourself out there and really risk failing in a huge way." Last month, Jen Ator was hired as the new editor in chief of Women's Running. Before joining WR, Jen was the longtime fitness director at Women's Health. On this episode, Jen talks about her decision to leave one dream job for another, and shares her hopes, dreams, and big plans for Women's Running. She shares her running story, including the heartbreaking knee injury that sidelined her just as she was hitting her running groove. Plus, she shares her advice for getting through some "really tough days." Jen also talks about the opportunity of a lifetime: getting to race Ironman Kona with training partner and Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno. She talks about her friendship with Deena Kastor, how her approach to exercise

"I tried to float somewhere between hopeful and hopeless." Colleen Lubin's story is one of a tremendous amount of loss — and, ultimately, one of resiliency and strength. All her life, Colleen dreamed of becoming a mom. But, like the 6.1 million women in the United States who struggle with infertility, the road to having a baby wasn't easy for Colleen, who created the blog "Not Quite Knocked Up" to document her journey. (It's a must-read for those trying to conceive and those in the throes of new motherhood.) In the span of three years, Colleen suffered five miscarriages (including both a chemical pregnancy and an ectopic pregnancy) and two failed IVF treatments. The sixth time she found out she was pregnant — the one that would stick — was the day after her dad died unexpectedly. Today, Colleen is mom to nine-month-old Liam, and she's been open, honest, and very candid about her road to pregnancy, what pregnancy after loss is like, and what it was like going into labor six weeks early, six hours away from hom

"Take assessment of who you feel more comfortable making eye contact with." Carolyn Su is the creator of the @diversewerun Instagram account, where she shares inspiring stories from runners from all backgrounds. Carolyn, who is a Taiwanese-American daughter of immigrant parents and was born and raised in Texas, is a strong voice advocating for more diversity and representation within the running community. On this episode, Carolyn — who is a mom of two living with her husband and kids in Boston, MA — talks about her foray into running and how having an eating disorder in high school and college factored into her running journey. She also talks about how we can all advocate for more diversity and inclusion within the running community. A must-listen! Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!   What you’ll get on this episode: How Carolyn became a runner — and how an eating disorder factored in (7:10) Carolyn

"There are a lot of people who put a lot of pressure on themselves — maybe you, maybe me — to do it all. So if you do have problems postpartum, we can treat that at seven months, we can treat that at three years, we can treat it when you're ready. I want to treat my moms when they're ready — not when they're feeling overwhelmed." Dr. Abigail Bales is the founder of Reform Physical Therapy in New York City, where she specializes in pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation, primarily focused on pelvic floor health. In this episode, Abby, who is a board-certified licensed physical therapist, breaks down everything you need to know about the pelvic floor in an easy to understand way. She talks about exercise modifications during and after pregnancy, and explains why peeing yourself after giving birth is "common, not normal." Abby, who is a mom of two (Henry, 5, and Caitlyn, almost 2), also talks about mothering with a chronic illness (ulcerative colitis), her experience with postpartum depression, what her marriag

"I was smiling the whole time — even when it hurt really bad. I was so happy and thankful to be out there." Lindsey Hein, host of I'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein, is a returning guest on the Ali on the Run Show. Last month, Lindsey and I — along with fellow podcast hosts Carrie Tollefson and Tina Muir — did a live show during Boston Marathon weekend. But we wanted to keep the fun going! So Lindsey and I reconvened this week to talk about how Lindsey's Boston Marathon went (her first postpartum race since having baby number four!), what her training leading up to Boston looked like, and what's next on her race calendar. Then, we talk all things podcasting, including our most-downloaded episodes, biggest surprises, and rejections. Thank you to the New York Road Runners Virtual Dog Jog 5K for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE to register (it’s free!) and complete your run today. Everybody’s doing it!   What you’ll get on this episode: Lindsey reflects on the 2019 Boston Marathon

"I was like, really?! I just launched a podcast, I have a live show coming up, I grew my blog, I’m killing myself to kill it in my career — and you’re going to congratulate me on this? On being out at a bar with a cute guy? Do not congratulate me for having a boyfriend!" Grace Atwood is the creator of the wildly popular blog The Stripe and the co-host of the Bad on Paper podcast. With more than 110,000 followers on Instagram, it's safe to say Grace, who is also a multiple-time marathoner, has made it as a successful full-time blogger and influencer — but that was never the goal or the plan, and when she first dove head-first into full-time blogging, Grace was embarrassed to own the title. But now, not only does she own it, she's also vocal about the hard work that goes into this lifestyle. (Turns out, it's not all glamorous photo shoots and exotic press trips.) On this episode, Grace talks about shifting her career from marketing at P&G to late nights at BaubleBar to a Gossip Girl-inspired DIY site that e

"We talk so much about the physical changes — but I wish we talked more about the emotional pieces in pregnancy." Welcome to the first episode in a 10-part Motherhood Mondays series on the Ali on the Run Show. The minute I found out I was pregnant in February 2018, my brain was consumed with all things pregnancy, childbirth, and Buy Buy Baby coupons. But once I gave birth, my world was rocked. I'd prepared for pregnancy, but had no idea what I was in for when it came to new motherhood. The breastfeeding, the hormones, the hair loss, the sleep deprivation — all things people had told me about, but that I don't think I ever could have fully prepared for. And so I struggled — hard. I've been at this new mom thing for six months now, and while I'm no expert, many of the guests on this series are. This series is all about new motherhood: the struggles, the intensity, the big wins, and little victories. It's a judgment-free, no-such-thing-as-TMI look at survival mode, thriving mode, and everything in between.  Firs

"I’m in a position where I can help make decisions that put images out there of diverse people. That’s very special, and it’s an important job." Rozalynn "Roz" Frazier is the senior health editor at Health magazine, where she's worked for the past decade. On this episode, Roz talks about breaking into the publishing industry (and that time she interviewed a mostly unknown-at-the-time Alicia Keys while working at Essence), and everything that comes with being a fitness editor. She talks about the state of the fitness industry, and her mission to get more women of varying shapes, sizes, and colors represented. And she shares her running story: how she got started, what her road to becoming a ten-time marathoner has looked like, and what's up with everyone's obsession with time goals. Finally, Roz — a self-proclaimed sneakerhead — shares her favorite gear picks, from sports bras to shorts to her favorite shoes for every distance. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLI

"This community brought me back to life." I was thrilled to share the Generation UCAN stage during Boston Marathon weekend alongside fellow running podcast hosts Lindsey Hein of I'll Have Another, Tina Muir of Running For Real, and Carrie Tollefson of C Tolle Run. We sold out more than 600 tickets to this show in just a few days — a true testament to this amazing and supportive community. We had so much fun together and loved meeting everyone in the audience. Thank you to everyone who joined us in person, congratulations to everyone who ran Boston (including Lindsey and Tina!), and YAY for another live show in the books. Enjoy! Thank you to Generation UCAN for sponsoring this episode and our live show in Boston! Click here and use code ONTHERUN25 for 25 percent off your first UCAN order. Then, when you realize how much you love this stuff, go back and order more! Code ONTHERUN gets you 15 percent off for life!   Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava Listen & Sub

"If there could be a dining critic, a theater critic…why couldn’t there be a wellness critic?" —Melisse Gelula Melisse Gelula is the co-founder of the health and fitness mega-brand Well+Good. On this episode, she talks about starting — and growing — something you believe in, and how Well+Good went from an idea to fill a hole in the publishing industry to a brand reaching more than 12 million readers every month. She talks about Well+Good's focus, and why it's more than green juice and SoulCycle but isn't weight loss or looking a certain way, and talks passionately about why wellness should be taken seriously.  Big congratulations to Melisse and the Well+Good team for the launch of the Well+Good Cookbook. Head to my Instagram — @aliontherun1 — for your chance to win a copy! Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!   What you’ll get on this episode: Was Melisse’s plan always to be a journalist? Plus how Well

"I had never been driven by my own desire to get help. It was always other people pushing me to do it. Once I decided on my own and hit that rock bottom, everything got better very quickly." —Kate Landau Kate Landau is a 42-year-old single mom and physician's assistant living in Florida with her daughter, Grace. She's also a 2:33 marathoner. But the road to becoming an elite-level runner in her forties hasn't been easy for Kate, who is set to run the Boston Marathon this Monday (and is gunning for a "2:30-ish" time). Kate started running competitively as a young age, and was a star athlete at her high school. She competed in the Junior Olympics and graduated as valedictorian of her class. But, not wanting her running progress to be halted by puberty, Kate dove headfirst into an aggressive eating disorder, which became a mainstay in her life for nearly 20 years. She endured more than 25 stress fractures in seven years, and battled serious exercise addiction. It wasn't until after having Grace that Kate started

"I wanted to hug my former self. I wanted to tell her, 'It's OK! It's going to be OK. It won't be easy, but you will survive this.'" A few months ago, I recorded a solo episode talking about navigating "The Fourth Trimester." I was having a tough time — that was obvious. But then I learned: There's a "Fifth Trimester!" And that's the stage I'm in now, as I navigate life with a baby beyond the first 12 weeks and settle into a routine, a work life, and, well, some fun. On this episode, I'm talking about how parenthood has gone from terrifying to fun in the past month — and how getting to music class was a major catalyst in that crucial shift. Annie is five and a half months old now, and I can officially say we're having a blast. It's still hard sometimes, but being a mom to the coolest kid I know is pretty awesome. I'm also reflecting on loneliness, and the guilt associated with feeling lonely when, in theory, I had everything I needed. Plus, thoughts on the comparison trap, being a work-from-home mom, and the

"Numbers don’t mean anything when it comes to success." —Sadie Lincoln Sadie Lincoln is the co-founder and CEO of Barre3, the mega-popular boutique fitness brand that has more than 130 studios in the United States. On this episode, Sadie talks about being a "former hippie kid," the unconventional way she was raised, and how that shaped her as a student and, eventually, an entrepreneur. She shares the story of how she discovered fitness in college, and how she went on to realize she was working out for all the wrong reasons, leading to burnout and a much-needed change of scenery. She shares her stories of resilience and grit, confidence and failure, and loneliness, connection, and community. She talks about what stresses her out, about why, despite having trained Madonna, she's "not a celebrity trainer," and her husband's grand plan to sell everything they own and move to Portland, OR, with their two toddlers to "start fresh." Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLIC

"Start stuff. If you believe in something, just start it." —Mary Wittenberg It was an honor to host this live show at New York Road Runners the day before the United Airlines NYC Half. I was joined by four exemplary leaders in the running community: Mary Wittenberg, former NYRR and Virgin Sport president and CEO; Christine Burke, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Runner Products at NYRR; Leigh Anne Sharek, co-founder of Brooklyn Track Club; and Carly Gill, a 2:47 marathoner and one of the women behind Runner Braids. These women candidly shared their stories of success, failure, and what it's like to feel shaken to your core or rattled with insecurity. They talked about starting movements, social media, FOMO, and dealing with injury, and we talked about how to make running more inclusive. We wrapped it all up with a very special audience-participation-required edition of the Sprint to the Finish. Thanks to New York Road Runners for sponsoring and hosting this live show, which took place at the NYRR RUNCENTER Fe

"Be honest, be real, be vulnerable. That's how you find your mental toughness." —Dr. Nicole Detling This episode will change your life on the run. It's a bold statement, I know, but Dr. Nicole Detling, the founder of Headstrong Consulting in Utah, is here to help us all improve our mental game. Dr. Detling is a mental performance coach for teams and athletes including the US Ski and Snowboard Association, Ballet West, tons of Olympians, and members of the PGA, MLB, NBA, NHL, and more. On this episode, she talks about building mental strength, getting through tough workouts and races, motivation, "chunking," tapping into your "why," coming back from a break, and the importance of rest days — both physical and mental. She also talks a lot about failure — why we fear it, what it actually means, and how social media factors into that fear of failure. We wrap up the episode by talking about exercise abuse. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one mo

"Hear my voice in your head when you start trying to dig out the cysts on your face." —Dr. Rachel Nazarian Dr. Rachel Nazarian is a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in New York City, and is an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai. On this episode, she dishes some real talk about skin, including everything she wants women to know about acne, cysts, and beauty influencers.  Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription.   What you’ll get on this episode: General skincare and product Q&A (2:15) All things acne (16:45) Body stuff, like nipple hair, chin hair, and stretch marks (30:00) Myth-busting (43:15) What we mention on this episode: Dove Beauty Bar Cetaphil Cleanser BioClarity Treatment System VaniCream Revision Skincare Intellishade SPF Heliocare capsules Vanish spot treatment Mario Badescu skincare Follow Dr. Nazarian: Instagram @drrachelnazarian Follow Ali: Inst

"Physical fitness and financial fitness are both simple. To get physically fit, we need to eat less and work out more, and to get financially fit, we need to spend less and make more. It sounds really simple, but if it were that simple, we’d have a bunch of skinny millionaires running around! There are a lot of emotions around both." —Shannon McLay If you want to run a marathon, you hire a running coach or personal trainer. If you want to get your finances whipped into shape, you hire Shannon McLay, founder and CEO of The Financial Gym and host of the Martinis and Your Money podcast. Shannon is a former Merrill Lynch financial advisor who created The Financial Gym to help people "kick their assets into shape and their bad money habits to the curb." Her goal is to help men and women, primarily of the millennial generation, to get financially healthy. Shannon and her team at The Financial Gym have coached more than 1,400 clients and helped them turn their bank accounts, credit scores, and investments around — a

"It’s important to have the tough conversations." —Dr. Logan Levkoff Dr. Logan Levkoff is an expert on sexuality and relationships, and she's all about promoting honest conversations surrounding both. In addition to being a sexuality educator, Dr. Levkoff is also a television regular, appearing regularly on Good Morning America, the Today show, CNN, and the first three seasons of Married at First Sight. She has worked with major brands like Dove, Pfizer, Starbucks, and Trojan, and has authored and contributed to several books on sexuality. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription.   What you’ll get on this episode: All things love and relationships (3:30) Advice on sex (30:00) What we mention on this episode: The 5 Love Languages Follow Dr. Levkoff: Instagram @loganlevkoff Twitter @loganlevkoff Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava List