550. Ask Ali!

"I'm Chinese American. My parents emigrated here from Hong Kong for college. And stereotypical as it may be, it was like, you could be a doctor, you could be a lawyer, maybe you could go into business. That was my conception of what the possibilities were for your career, for most of my life growing up. Writing never entered into my mind." Christine Yu is an award-winning freelance journalist who covers sports, science, and women's health. She's a leading voice in the industry, and is a regular contributor for Runner's World, Women's Running, Outside Magazine, The Washington Post, Well+Good, Women's Health, and more. And soon, she'll officially be a published book author! Christine signed a book deal earlier this year, and is now hard at work on her book about the science behind women in sports, which will be out next year. On this episode, Christine talks about her writing process and about why she's passionate about diving into "taboo topics" instead of avoiding them. Christine lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! Go to ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones! What you'll get on this episode: All about Christine's new book! (5:00) How Christine got her start as a journalist (21:30) Christine shares her running story (48:25) Stuff we mention on this episode: "The Biggest Wave Surfed This Year" via The New York Times "Women Deserve to Run Without Fear," by Christine Yu for Runner's World Follow Christine: Instagram @cyu888 Twitter @cyu888 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

14 Loka 20201h 6min

"I am a believer in opportunity." It's been a tough year for so many brands, individuals, and industries, and within the running industry, race companies have been hit particularly hard. On this episode, Michelle La Sala, president and founder of Blistering Pace Race Management, talks about her road to race directing, and explains how the pandemic has affected her business, which specializes in managing large-scale mass participation running events. Michelle's clients include the New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Big Sur International Marathon, and Napa Valley Marathon. Previously, she was race director for the California International Marathon (CIM) and was the volunteer coordinator for the L.A. Marathon. Michelle, a 31-time marathoner with a 2:59 personal best time, talks about what she's doing to stay afloat right now, and offers her take on how we can all support our favorite races right now. 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 Michelle: Instagram @lasala916 Twitter @lasala916 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!

12 Loka 20201h 18min

"Doing the right thing is always the right thing." Episode 13 of the Ali on the Run Show had a massive impact — one that hasn't slowed in the more than three years since that must-listen episode aired. Today, Episode 13's Chris Mosier, the transgender Hall of Fame triathlete and duathlete whom The BBC and New York Magazine called "the man who changed the Olympics," returns to the show to catch up on what he's been up to since we recorded that conversation. Chris talks about the progress we've made regarding transgender rights, and addresses the steps we've taken in the wrong direction. He also talks about his foray into race-walking, and shares what it was like competing at the race-walking Olympic Trials earlier this year. Thank you to UCAN for sponsoring the What's New With You series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to ucan.co/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN for 20% off your order! What we mention on this episode: Chris Mosier on the Rich Roll Podcast Follow Chris: Instagram Facebook Twitter Strava 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

11 Loka 202051min

"I ran out of anger. I ran because cancer was trying to stop me." In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, today's guest is Sue Fortier: an Ali on the Run Show listener, a mom of two, and a breast cancer survivor. On this episode, Sue shares her cancer story, which began when she was 37 and was training for two fall marathons. She felt some pain in her breast, which turned out to be breast cancer. Her life was immediately and forever changed. Sue, who works as a visiting nurse, underwent 16 weeks of chemotherapy treatment, followed by 25 rounds of radiation — a time she refers to as the most traumatic of her life. She talks about how and why she kept running through her treatment, and explains how her relationship with running and with her body have changed since her diagnosis. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! Go to ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones! 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

7 Loka 202054min

"I think everybody needs a good happily ever after." Welcome to Season 3 of the On the Job series! We're kicking things off this season with some love, lust, and intrigue: with USA Today best-selling romance novelist Kimberly Kincaid! In this conversation, Kimberly offers a peek at what it's like working in the billion-dollar romantic fiction industry. She talks about where she gets her inspiration (beware if you're in line in front of her at Starbucks!), about getting more than 100 rejections on the road to getting published, and about why scripting strong heroines is a must in her novels. And of course, she talks about what it's like writing steamy scenes and scintillating love stories for a living. Kimberly is currently working on her 32nd book. 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 Kimberly: Instagram @kimberlykincaidauthor Twitter @kimberlykincaid Facebook Website 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!

5 Loka 20201h 5min

"Real change is going to take time." Carolyn Su — the creator of @diversewerun — returns to the Ali on the Run Show today for the What's New With You series. Carolyn first appeared on Episode 140 of the show, to talk about her own running story and to share why she created Diverse We Run. Today, she's back with updates on how the account is grown, and on how she's used her own voice over the past year. Carolyn is doing important work to help further the conversation about race within the running community, and she has deservedly been featured in Runner's World and on several other running podcasts. Thank you to UCAN for sponsoring the What's New With You series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to ucan.co/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN for 20% off your order! Follow Carolyn: Instagram @irunfortheglory and @diversewerun 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

5 Loka 20201h

"There's an excitement to each of the races for sure, and it's great to see your times and know you've run your fastest 800 or mile, and that's huge. That always feels good… But I definitely don't feel the same pride. It's different." Cory McGee is a professional runner for New Balance. She specializes in the 1500m distance, and lives in Boulder, CO, where she trains with "Team Boss," under the coaching of Joe Bosshard and alongside powerhouse women including Emma Coburn, Aisha Praught Leer, and Laura Thweatt. Despite 2020 playing out in a way no one intended or planned for, Cory is still having a fast year on the run. In a series of intra-squad competitions and small meets, she has run personal bests and broken records. But on this episode, she gets honest about whether those races carry the same weight and the same amount of pride as "regular" races. She also talks about her earliest days as a runner (including fun stories from her time living in Athens during the 2004 Olympics, when her dad was working security with the FBI), and talks about last year's disqualification at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! Go to ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones! What you'll get on this episode: Cory talks about being at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and how that impacted her life and career (3:40) Running for fun vs. the desire to win (12:15) Focusing on the present vs. the future (20:50) On getting sponsored by New Balance (23:30) Why Cory decided to move to Boulder and to join Team Boss (31:00) Cory talks about getting disqualified at last year's USATF Outdoor Championships (44:20) All about racing in 2020 (51:30) "Cory Ann, the woman with the plan," talks about what's next (1:03.00) Follow Cory: Instagram @corymcgeeruns Twitter @corymcgeeruns 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

30 Syys 20201h 9min

"When I ran that 2:32 in January, it really made me realize that 'dream big' is not just dream big, it's dream huge, because you have no idea of what you're capable of." Speedy Beatie is back on the Ali on the Run Show this week! Beatie Deutsch is a 2:32 marathoner and mother of five who made her Ali on the Run Show debut on Episode 158. This time around, we're catching up with Israel's National Marathon Champion to find out how she shaved 10 minutes off her marathon time, and to learn more about her calls to the International Olympic Committee to change the date of the 2021 Olympic Marathon so it doesn't fall on the Sabbath. She offers an update on her goal to represent Israel in the Olympics, and talks about what the pandemic has been like in Israel. Thank you to UCAN for sponsoring the What's New With You series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to ucan.co/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN for 20% off your order! Follow Beatie: Instagram @marathonmother Twitter @marathonmother1 Facebook 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

27 Syys 202036min