Synopsis
At 16, I had it all figured out. By 25, I had my dream job as editor in chief of a teen dance magazine. But now, at 32, Im not really sure who I am, what Im doing, or what I want to be when I grow up. I know one thing, though: I love running and I love talking to people. So on the Ali on the Run Show, I talk to everyday runners, professional athletes, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders I find interesting and inspiring, and I get inside their heads to figure out how their decisions, successes, failures, and missteps can help guide my own. Whether youre on the run toward something great or away from something thats holding you back, join me on this never-ending adventure, and lets all pick up the pace together.
Episodes
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722. Run Your Way with Emma Coburn, LIVE in Brooklyn
30/05/2024 Duration: 01h23min"I am scared of outer space, submarines, and remote research laboratories." We're live with Emma Coburn for the fourth time, making this her eighth appearance on the Ali on the Run Show! In this conversation, recorded in front of a live audience at Smack Mellon in Brooklyn, NY, the day before the RBC Brooklyn Half, we cover Emma's ick factors, her season-ending injury and her outlook about being sidelined during an Olympic year, and her "Team Boss Superlatives." SPONSOR: New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter 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!
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721. LIVE from the RBC Brooklyn Half Finish Line with Becs Gentry & Zac Clark
23/05/2024 Duration: 01h06min"I feel like life should be back to normal. And it’s not!" Welcome to the 2024 RBC Brooklyn Half finish line! I was delighted to be one of the guests for a live recording of the Set the Pace podcast with host Becs Gentry. In this episode, I reflect a bit on my history with the Brooklyn Half, including why I wasn't able to run this year's race (more on that here), and then share the recording from the show with Becs and Release Recovery Foundation's Zac Clark. SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. goodr: Click here and use code ALI for free shipping. What you’ll get on this episode: Reflecting on the weekend in NYC, and my history with the Brooklyn Half (2:25) Set the Pace LIVE with Becs Gentry and Zac Clark (24:20) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT the Ali on the Run S
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720. It's Been a Year...
16/05/2024 Duration: 01h16min"I remember being acutely aware that it was the worst day of my life up to that point, and the world was still going. People were out for runs in Central Park. People were going to the office. People were picking their kids up from school. It felt like everyone else’s world kept turning and I was in purgatory." It's been one year since I was diagnosed with stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma with DCIS. Breast cancer. A diagnosis that rocked my world and changed my life. In this solo episode, I'm reflecting on the past year, including revisiting some of my notes and thoughts from one year ago, and sharing what happens next. SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. What you’ll get on this episode: A look back at some of my thoughts from one year ago (1:45) Listener Q&A (28:55) Follow Ali: Instagram @alionthe
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719. Anne Keane, 3-Time Marathoner Living with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer
09/05/2024 Duration: 01h03min"It’s processing all of these emotions that you have with things that you’re anticipating you are not going to be able to see. Like my daughter is a year and a half at this point. Am I going to see her go to elementary school? And then of course you’re Googling the results. It is awful." One year after giving birth to her daughter, Anne Keane decided it was time to get back into a workout routine. On her quest to get active again, she felt a tightness in her sternum. What she hoped was nothing serious was stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. In this conversation, Anne talks about receiving and living with a scary diagnosis for which there is treatment, but no cure. She talks about finding running, and about becoming a three-time Boston Marathoner as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team. Anne is the SVP of client services at an agency where she "does really cool events with really cool people," she's a jewelry designer, and she's an absolute force. FOLLOW ANNE @adjewelry SPONSOR: UCAN: Click here t
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718. LIVE at the Eugene Marathon with Emily Halnon, Author of To the Gorge
02/05/2024 Duration: 01h19min"One of my favorite things to do when it gets hard is I ask myself the question, 'Is this the story you want to tell today?' I like that question because you can’t hide from that question. You can finish a run and tell your friends, 'Oh my stomach was upset,' or, 'The weather or whatever.' But you can’t lie to yourself. You know who you’re choosing to be in those moments. And I like asking myself, 'Who do you want to be in those moments?' And I find that usually I want to be someone who pushes through hard stuff." Emily Halnon is no stranger to the Ali on the Run Show. She was the show's very first guest, and she returned for her seventh appearance on the show with a very special conversation recorded in front of a live audience at the 2024 Eugene Marathon race expo, one week before her debut memoir, To the Gorge, is released to the world. (Get your copy here!) We talked about the book, about exploring grief through running, about pushing back on the praised notion of fearlessness, about how to make the most
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717. My 2024 Boston Marathon Experience
25/04/2024 Duration: 01h52min"To have Long Live playing while I was standing on this stage feeling really proud of a show I had just done, and hugging so many of you, and feeling like we’re in this together… Those moments are really magical to me, and they are the memories that I hope I have forever." There’s nowhere I’d rather be on the third Monday in April than at the Boston Marathon finish line! This year, I was honored to be asked back to perform a variety of roles in Boston. I was one of the start and finish line announcers at the Boston 5K and invitational miles, I hosted three live shows, I was one of the race announcers at the finish on Marathon Monday, and I was the finish line reporter for the world feed broadcast. It was a fun, rewarding weekend that included quality time with my favorite people, one of my all-time favorite live events, a million finish line hugs, an interview with Rob Gronkowski, and so much more. SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping)
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716. LIVE at the 2024 Boston Marathon with Meb Keflezighi
22/04/2024 Duration: 01h02min"Whatever you need, I hope you got at least a little of it here today." What an honor and a treat it was to get to host a live show the day before the 2024 Boston Marathon with 2014 champion Meb Keflezighi. In this conversation — recorded live at the New Balance headquarters — Meb talked about how he was feeling the day before running the race again, 10 years after his historic win the year after the bombings. He talked about officially becoming a New Balance athlete (!!!), about his hopes to run sub-3:00 (he finished in 3:08), and the impact his 2014 win had on him, his family, the city of Boston, and the running community. SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite daily shoe. Meb ran the Boston Marathon in the SC Elite v4!) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subsc
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715. LIVE at the 2024 Boston Marathon with Emma Bates & Jenny Simpson
18/04/2024 Duration: 58min"It was dark there for a while!" What a treat to get to sit down with Emma Bates and Jenny Simpson three days before the 2024 Boston Marathon. Emma talked about coming back from injury and lining up in Boston with the same confidence she had in 2023 (where she finished fifth), and Jenny talked about making another attempt at a marathon debut after having to drop out of the Olympic Marathon Trials. (Spoiler: Jenny Simpson is officially a marathoner now!) Plus: getting to know each other, discussing our deepest fears, some very easy trivia, and an ode to Des Linden. SPONSORS: Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (Emma Bates and I are both Otters!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your order, and get a free travel bag with your purchase. Tracksmith: New customers, use code ALINEW for $15 off your first Tracksmith order over $75. Returning customers, use code ALIGIVE for free shipping, plus a portion of the proceeds from your order will be donated to
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714. LIVE at the Boston Marathon with Oofos and Project Pink
17/04/2024 Duration: 59min"If I have to wash and return your Tupperware, I am now super stressed. I am so worried about the Tupperware." Let the Boston Marathon episodes begin! First up: a panel I moderated at the Oofos pop-up on Boylston Street called "Project Pink: Recover with Purpose." This panel was about running, about cancer, about hard stuff, and about resilience. We heard from Anne Keane, who is living with metastatic breast cancer, and was about to run her third Boston Marathon as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team. Dr. Nancy Lin, the associate chief of breast oncology at Dana-Farber, talked about whether runners are the best or worst patients, and talked about where fundraising dollars actually go. Maureen Key, the senior manager of performance design at Exos, talked about the importance of recovery and mindfulness. And Christine St. Pierre, who has been doing the Pan-Mass Challenge for 18 years now as the captain of Team Duncan, was on hand to convince all of us that we can — and should — do whatever we set ou
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713. A Pre-Race Pep Talk from Coach Chris Bennett
11/04/2024 Duration: 01h15min"The best way to relax at the starting line is to take a deep breath, and say, 'This is fun as hell.' Doesn’t mean it’s not scary! Doesn’t mean it’s gonna be easy! It’s just fun as hell. And then go have some fun!" Everyone's favorite "Ted Lasso of Running" returns to the Ali on the Run Show today for a pre-race pep talk! Coach Chris Bennett is Nike Running's Global Head Coach, and he's here to give it to you straight. He has advice on dealing with a bad race, tips for staying sane during the final days of taper, and a message for all of the soon-to-be marathoners. Whether you're making your 26.2-mile debut this spring, or you're chasing a big personal best, Coach wants you to celebrate, he wants you to race well, and, most importantly, he wants you to have an awesome time out there. A haiku: Coach Bennett is wise. Listen and you'll run your best. You are doing GREAT! SPONSORS: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!) UC
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712. Abeo Powder, TrailblazHers Run Co. Co-Founder
09/04/2024 Duration: 01h05min"We’re leading alongside our community. The three of us made this happen, but there is so much wisdom, so much leadership, so much brilliance within our community. And so we always want to make it known that we want to continue to uplift that and really just show up and show out." Abeo Powder has a magnetic energy. She's one of those people you'll meet and just want to be around every day. Abeo is the co-founder of the TrailblazHers Run Co., an all-female run crew in Boston, with a mission to empower and uplift women — especially BIPOC women — in the community. Emphasis on community: That's what Abeo is all about. In this conversation, Abeo talks about her lifelong relationship with running, and how it's evolved over the years. Today, in addition to her work with the TrailblazHers, she's the founder of Holistic with Hotfoot, where she takes a personalized approach to coaching. You're not just getting training plans with Abeo: You're getting guided meditations, playlists, and so much more. FOLLOW ABEO @hotf
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711. Motherhood Mondays with Laurie & Elly Henes
08/04/2024 Duration: 01h16min"Use all of your resources. If people are willing to help, let them help." What's it like when you're one of the best coaches in the NCAA, and your daughter joins the team? And what's it like to be a high school senior vetting potential college running programs — and to have to decide whether or not to be a part of the program your mom is leading? In this Motherhood Mondays conversation, we're hearing all about the mom-daughter-coach-athlete dynamic, courtesy of NC State Head Women's Cross-Country Coach Laurie Henes and daughter and NC State alum Elly Henes. Laurie talks about how she approached coaching Elly, and Elly talks about the perks and challenges of being coached by her mom. Today, Elly is a professional adidas-sponsored runner who lives in Flagstaff, AZ, is coached by Mike Smith, and trains with Rachel Schneider Smith and Nikki Hiltz. SPONSOR: adidas: Click here to check out the adiClub membership benefits, including 15% off and free shipping. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Faceboo
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710. Catching Up with Molly Seidel
05/04/2024 Duration: 01h03min"I really, truly, in the bottom of my heart want to keep doing this. But I need to figure out what my 'why' is in a more sustainable way rather than just ‘I want to win another medal because everyone tells me I need to win another medal.’" In 2020, Molly Seidel ran her debut marathon at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, finished second, and earned a spot on Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics. In 2021, she became an Olympic Bronze Medalist. The next few years included some highs — like running an American course record at the New York City Marathon — and a lot of lows, including injuries and mental health struggles. Last fall, Molly was on the upswing. She ran a personal best at the Chicago Marathon, which felt promising and encouraging heading into the 2024 Olympic Trials Marathon. Then: a shattered kneecap. Molly had to withdraw from the Trials, which was a devastating blow for her and for fans alike. In this unfiltered episode, Molly talks about how she's doing now, and how she's been doing over the pa
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709. Everything You Need to Know About the 2024 Boston Marathon
04/04/2024 Duration: 02h56min"Right on Hereford, left on Boylston. It is the place to be. It’s special every time." We are less than two weeks away from the 128th running of the world’s oldest marathon. This year’s Boston Marathon takes place, as always, on the third Monday of April — this year, that’s April 15. In this mega-episode, I (along with a team of experts and insiders) am attempting to answer all of your questions about all things Boston. Katie Hawkes and Lauren Proshan from the Boston Athletic Association are here to talk logistics (take some deep breaths — the journey to the start line is doable, and you won’t be waiting around for too long once you get there!), past champions Des Linden and Meb Keflezighi join to talk course strategy and to break down what it takes to succeed (and run a PR!) in Boston, and sports dietitian Meghann Featherstun is here to give you some last-minute fueling advice. Get excited: Whether you’re running, volunteering, cheering, or watching from home, it’ll be a Boston to remember. SPONSORS: UCAN:
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708. Elizabeth Smart, Child Safety Activist and Marathoner
26/03/2024 Duration: 01h07min"It’s OK to prioritize time for happiness. Hard times will come. It’s really important to know what happiness feels like to you so that when you’re in those dark times, you know that happiness is real, you have hope for the future, and you can hold onto that — that you’ll be happy again." Her story captivated the nation: Elizabeth Smart was 14 years old when she was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City and held captive for nine months. During that time, she was repeatedly raped and abused by her captors. Remarkably, Elizabeth has gone on to live a happy, healthy life. She's a mom of three, and she's a child safety activist and commentator for ABC News. She's also a four-time marathoner. In this conversation, Elizabeth talks about how she found running, the role it plays in her life today, and what the marathon means to her. FOLLOW ELIZABETH @elizabeth_smart_official SPONSORS: Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I’m an Otter!) Use code ALI at
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707. Ask Ali, NYC Half Edition
21/03/2024 Duration: 01h13min"I will always show up and do my best, and try to maintain my integrity in the process. I don’t always get it right. But I always try." I ran the New York City Half. I had the best time. And today, I'm here to talk all about running my first 13.1-mile race since my breast cancer diagnosis in May 2023. Plus, answering listener questions about running, podcasting, and more. SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. goodr: Click here and use code ALI for free shipping. What you’ll get on this episode: My 2024 NYC Half recap (1:00) Running-related questions (43:30) Podcast-related questions (56:20) Cancer-related questions (1:02:00) Life questions (1:04:10) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rati
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706. Emily Sisson, LIVE in New York City
19/03/2024 Duration: 01h07min"Des is the coolest one out of all of us, and she organized it. So of course if Des organizes a dog party, we're going to go to it... And I think if you went to the dog party, you had a good race." She's the American Record Holder in the marathon, she just made her second Olympic team, and this weekend, she was in New York City for a live show all about doggy play dates, missing dogs, the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, potential Olympic tattoo spots, being Emily in Paris, and so much more. Welcome Emily Sisson back to the Ali on the Run Show! FOLLOW EMILY @em_sisson_ SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite daily shoe, and I ran the NYC Half in the SC Elite v4!) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on
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705. Emma Coburn on Life Lately
15/03/2024 Duration: 01h06min"I have yet to meet a marg that is too spicy for me." Emma Coburn is an Olympic bronze medalist, a World Champion, a world silver medalist, a 10-time U.S. champion, and a three-time Olympian. The New Balance-sponsored professional athlete returns to the Ali on the Run Show for the seventh time today to catch us up on how life has been since tearing her hamstring at World Championships last summer. (Spoiler: She's fit!) FOLLOW EMMA @emmacoburn SPONSORS: Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I’m an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your order. Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter 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 yo
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704. LIVE in Richmond with Keira D'Amato
13/03/2024 Duration: 01h40min"I hope I can normalize not hitting goals and being OK." We took our finest feathers and poppiest pink outfits to Richmond, VA. Welcome to Ali on the Run Show LIVE with Keira D'Amato! We played games — Never Have I Ever, Truth or Dare Jenga, and the classic Skeirragories — we laughed, we squatted, we chugged water, and we had an honest conversation about Keira's experience at the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials. Come for the community. Stay for the Meat Thing clip. (OK, maybe don't stay for the Meat Thing clip...) SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. Tracksmith: New customers, use code ALINEW for $15 off your first Tracksmith order over $75. Returning customers, use code ALIGIVE for free shipping, plus a portion of the proceeds from your order will be donated to Moms Demand Action. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support o
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703. Nikki Hiltz, World Silver Medalist
07/03/2024 Duration: 01h14min"Records are always going to be broken, but medals are forever." Nikki Hiltz returns to the Ali on the Run Show for the seventh time — and for the first time as a world championship medalist! Last weekend, Nikki took home the silver medal in the 1500m at World Indoor Championships, and today, we get to hear all about it. Plus a very special (and oh so wholesome) guest to kick off the episode. FOLLOW NIKKI @nikkihiltz SPONSORS: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!) UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. LISTEN HERE: EMBED What you’ll get on this episode: Welcome Liz Hiltz to the Ali on the Run Show! (1:45) How it feels to be a World Indoor Silver Medalist (11:35) “This is my whole personality now” (14:10) The 1500m community, and what makes it so special right now (18:35) Nikki’s reaction to