725. Amanda Vestri, Top American at the 2024 New York Mini 10K

"There’s this sense of all these people, they came out to watch you do this weird, crazy thing. And you’re running toward the thing you’ve been working toward for many months, and all of these people are behind you, and people beside you trying to do the same thing. It’s very special." First, Emily Oster started running. Then she started running fast. Then she ran a marathon: the California International Marathon in 2023, where she finished in a Boston Qualifying time of 3:17:39. Now, Emily is officially a Boston Marathoner, having completed this year's race in a personal best time of 3:14:53. In this episode, the economist and best-selling author breaks it all down, including what her training was like this time around, what the energy in the city felt like for a first-time Boston Marathoner, and why she briefly considered calling it quits at mile 23. SPONSOR:  UCAN's MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SALE: Click here to get a FREE UCAN training sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 30% off your UCAN order from now until May 26! In this episode: Emily’s snapshot moment from the 2025 Boston Marathon (3:30) How Emily has been feeling since Boston (5:00) Emily’s road to the Boston Marathon, via CIM (6:00) Emily’s impression of Boston (10:15) On hard work, genetics, and human limits (12:30) Emily’s experience training through an icy New England winter, and how this training cycle was different from CIM 2023 (17:30) Emily’s relationship with coach Kaitlin Goodman (20:20) The race plan (23:45) Emily’s Boston Marathon weekend plans (24:25) How Emily was feeling on race morning, and the journey to the start line (35:20) The start line energy (38:35) Emily’s “very specific chunking plan” (40:55) What it was like starting to run the Boston Marathon (44:00) Emily’s take on the Newton hills (50:20) “That was the moment where I was like, I am not feeling good, I can’t believe there are more miles” (53:00) Right on Hereford, left on Boylston (56:25) Now what? (1:00:45) What’s dominating Emily’s inbox these days? (1:04:55) Follow: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT: If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

23 Touko 1h 10min

"For two years, I have been sad. Not all the time. But it got pretty bad and pretty dark and pretty scary for a long time. And over these past few weeks, I’ve seen the light. And I feel like I get to be the light. And it’s been really fun to genuinely be enjoying my life." If you follow me on Instagram (I'm @aliontherun1), I'm sure you're sick of my 40th birthday posts. But I had so much fun that this warranted an audio version of the weekend. So we brought in the big guns: Cousin Jackie, here to guest host this week's episode! Best spring ever? Best spring ever.  SPONSOR:  Shokz: Use code ALI for $10 off your next purchase. Code valid in the U.S. and Canada. 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 next Lagoon order. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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!

16 Touko 1h 8min

"It's just this phase of life I'm in right now where I just can't get enough of going out and having fun. Within reason. In sweatpants." I had the absolute privilege of getting to attend the London Marathon with New Balance (a sponsor of the race). I attended a New Balance Women's Summit, hosted a panel the night before the race, and spent a ton of time exploring as much of London as I could. On race day, I was at the finish line cheering for the runners as they made their way from Buckingham Palace down the chute. (Congratulations, runners! Not an easy day out there!) The entire experience was incredible. I loved the city of London, the people, the architecture, the pub scene (!!!). I already can't wait to go back.  SPONSORS:  New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. 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 next Lagoon order. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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!

9 Touko 1h 22min

"We don’t do things the easy way." Ten years ago, Darcy Budworth was feeling burned out on running and racing in New York City. The interior designer felt a pull toward something beyond the classic weekend morning road races in Central Park. Enter Take the Bridge: an unsanctioned urban race through city streets and over bridges, navigating traffic, pedestrians, and bike messengers, all at night, in the dark. In this conversation, Darcy talks about building the thing she thought was missing from the running community. She talks about how Take the Bridge has grown and expanded beyond NYC to 27 cities and nine countries. She talks about how they've stayed true to TTB's roots, fostering community, connection, and exciting racing — and about what they're doing to celebrate the event's 10th anniversary this summer. (Register now to be a part of it on July 25, 2025!) FOLLOW DARCY @darcybud SPONSORS:  Oofos: The best in recovery footwear! Check out Oofos's new limited edition Boston Marathon collection — before it sells out! UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. In this episode: Have you run today? (2:25) What Darcy is looking for on the run right now (4:20) All about Darcy’s job as an interior designer (7:00) How Darcy found running (12:15) What running looked like for Darcy in the mid-2010s in New York City — and how Take the Bridge was born (16:45) What it’s like participating in an unsanctioned race (23:40) What it’s like running Take the Bridge (32:15) When Darcy knew she was building something special (41:50) How Darcy has stayed focus on her original mission as Take the Bridge has expanded to 27 cities and 9 countries (43:40) How a Take the Bridge race actually works (49:15) How Darcy has seen the NYC running scene and community evolve since the mid-2010s (53:15) The best bridges: which ones Darcy has loved the most (58:15) How Take the Bridge will celebrate its 10th birthday this summer (1:08:40) Darcy’s advice to anyone afraid of taking a big risk (1:15:30) Follow: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT: If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

6 Touko 1h 33min

"All those moments led to this. All the hard work really, truly pays off." In 2022, Sharon Lokedi made her marathon debut at the TCS New York City Marathon. It went pretty well for a first-timer: She won. Since then, Sharon has raced often and well, usually finding herself on a podium just behind frequent competitor and friend Hellen Obiri. Sharon finished second to Hellen in Boston last year, and finished just off the podium in fourth at last summer's Paris Olympics — again, just behind Hellen. So this year, Sharon lined up in Boston ready to see if she could overtake the two-time defending champion — and the rest of the field. You know how it played out: Sharon won the 2025 Boston Marathon in a personal best time of 2:17:22. In this conversation, the Kenyan-born, Flagstaff-based Under Armour Dark Sky Distance athlete talks about what it took to break the tape that Monday in Boston. She talks her childhood as the oldest of four kids being raised by a single mom, and about the adjustment when she came to the United States for college. And, of course, she breaks down race day in Boston, including how she felt that morning, whether she had a feeling it was going to be her day, and how she celebrated afterward (hello, new Gucci bag!).  FOLLOW SHARON @shazrine SPONSOR:  goodr: Click here and use code ALI for $5 off your next order. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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!

1 Touko 1h 18min

"I’ve tried to take on that mindset for the last few years at these races, of, 'How do I show up as authentically as possible, as the Ali I know I am and want to be, while having fun, while being professional… What does that look like?' And I feel like I kind of nailed it this time around." 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 announcers at the Boston 5K, I hosted two panels and one live show, 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, my biggest live event ever, a million finish line hugs, a few too many after-parties, and so much more. SPONSORS:  THE AJC PEACHTREE ROAD RACE: The lottery for this year's most famous Fourth of July 10K is now open. Enter today for your chance to run Atlanta's iconic race. 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 next Lagoon order. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. In this episode: Friday: the press conference, the Emma & Jess live show, the Shokz show, dinner at Saltie Girl (get the lobster roll!), a finish line dance party, and a New Balance party at Sweeney’s (1:50) Saturday: the 5K, the New Balance show with Heather MacLean, and the marathon relay at The Track (22:30) Sunday: a windy long run, bottle decorating, a Newbury Street stroll, sound check, and a broadcast meeting (41:40) Marathon Monday: all the stories from the finish line, including friends’ finishes, pro finishes, Paul Revere, Des’s final Boston, and the after parties (54:20) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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!

29 Huhti 1h 55min

"How can I not have success when I have this many people coming and supporting me?" On the Friday before the Boston Marathon, I hosted a panel at the race expo featuring three of Shokz-sponsored athletes: Hellen Obiri, Conner Mantz, and Dakotah Popehn. Hellen entered the race at the two-time defending champion, and she went on to finish second in 2:17:41, a significant personal best in a fast, gritty race. Conner, one of the best professional marathoners the United States has ever seen, ran hard and with heart, finishing fourth in 2:05:08, just seconds off the podium. And Dakotah, the smiley, speedy Paris Olympian, finished 16th in 2:26:09. In this conversation, these three runners talked about what success in Boston would look like for each of them and, of course, talked about what they like to listen to on the run, and shared their favorite sights and sounds of the Boston Marathon.  SPONSOR:  Shokz: Use code ALI for $10 off your next purchase. Code valid in the U.S. and Canada. (Check out the limited edition Boston Marathon OpenRun Pro2!) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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!

25 Huhti 48min

"You ran with some kahunas!" Every year, I host a panel at the Boston Marathon Expo featuring some of the top American women in the professional field. This year, that meant getting to chat with Jess McClain and Emma Bates on the Friday before the 2025 Boston Marathon. Jess went on to become the top American woman in Boston, finishing seventh overall in 2:22:43 (a more than three-second personal best!). Emma was the third American woman to finish, crossing the line in 13th place in a time of 2:25:10. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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!

24 Huhti 53min