608. Susie Chan, Ultra Runner & Peloton Instructor

I've had Crohn's disease for 25 years, and there have been lots of ups, downs, and in betweens during that time. So while I'm no doctor, expert, or attending on Grey's Anatomy, I have figured out a few things that work for me and my particular illness. In this episode, I'm answering listener-submitted questions about my life with Crohn's, and I'm touching on everything from running, traveling, and dating with Crohn's disease to what happens when you just can't get to a bathroom in time. It may not be glamorous, but this is real life, people!

30 Touko 201738min

Dan Nevins is a yoga instructor and motivational speaker. He's also a double amputee: Dan lost both his legs in an explosion while serving overseas in the Iraq War. In this episode, Dan talks about his time in the United States Army and the National Guard, shares the story of the explosion that took his legs, and opens up about his experience with post-traumatic stress disorder. He discusses what it was like going from being a competitive runner and athlete to adjusting to a life without legs, and he shares how yoga quite literally saved his life. His story is emotional and inspiring, and is a good reminder of the power of perseverance. Want to take class with Dan? He'll be in New York City teaching a two-hour master class at Lyons Den Power Yoga on June 3 to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. Go sign up! Stuff We Mention on the Show: Lyons Den Power Yoga: http://lyonsdenpoweryoga.com/ Baptiste Yoga: https://www.baptisteyoga.com/ Brian's First Yoga Class: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2015/09/15/hey-whats-up-hello/ Yoga in Bryant Park: http://bryantpark.org/programs/yoga?/plan-your-visit/yoga.html Army National Guard: https://www.nationalguard.com/ Sonoma State University: http://www.sonoma.edu/ Walter Reed Army Medical Center: http://www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/SitePages/home.aspx Wounded Warrior Project: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Being of Power by Baron Baptiste: https://www.amazon.com/Being-Power-Practices-Ignite-Empowered-ebook/dp/B009L5BQVM The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319 Follow Dan: Instagram @dannevins: https://www.instagram.com/dannevins/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nevinsd Twitter @dannevins: https://twitter.com/dannevins Website: http://dannevins.com/ Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aliontherun/ Twitter @aliontherun1: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

25 Touko 20171h 6min

I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when I was 7 years old. It was a scary, confusing time in my life, and while I'd love to say I've figured it all out since then, the truth is that this disease constantly keeps me on my toes. I'm someone who loves to live life according to plan, but living with a chronic, incurable illness makes that pretty tough — and has forced me to adjust to a life of uncertainty. I'm going through a Crohn's flare right now (boo!), so on this episode I'm sharing exactly what that feels like, why I think it happens, and why I keep running — bathroom stops and all. (There's a lot of bathroom talk in this one. Get excited!) Stuff I Mention on this Episode: Episode 2 of the Ali on the Run Show: Being Married to Someone With Crohn's Disease: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2017/03/01/episode-2-brian-cristiano-married-someone-crohns-disease/ Crohn's & Colitis Awareness Week: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2016/12/01/crohns-colitis-awareness-week/ A Plea From a Girl With Crohn's: Please Let Me Use Your Bathroom: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2016/12/02/plea-girl-crohns-please-let-use-bathroom/ What Your Friends With Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis Want You to Know: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2016/12/12/friends-crohns-disease-ulcerative-colitis-want-know/ Things That Make Having Crohn's Easier (And a Few Things That Make It Worse): http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2016/10/13/things-make-crohns-easier-things-make-worse/ What to Know Before Enrolling in a Clinical Trial: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2015/01/16/a-crohns-update-things-to-know-about-enrolling-in-a-clinical-trial/ When the Person You Love Has Crohn's Disease: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2015/12/02/when-the-person-you-love-has-crohns-disease-a-guest-post-by-brian/ When Your Kid Has Crohn's: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2015/12/03/when-your-kid-has-crohns-a-guest-post-from-my-dad/ The Mental & Emotional Side of Crohn's Disease: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2015/12/04/the-mental-emotional-side-of-crohns-disease/ Life After a Clinical Trial: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2016/04/26/a-crohns-update/ Running With Crohn's Disease: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2016/09/09/running-crohns-disease/ What Crohn's Disease Feels Like: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2016/10/03/crohns-disease-feels-like/ Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter @aliontherun1: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aliontherun/ Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

23 Touko 201721min

Meredith Kennedy is the Marketing Operations Manager at BuzzFeed, and is the brand's former Editorial Chief of Staff. Before that, she made the rounds in the television industry: She was a Booking Producer at the Today Show, was Katie Couric's assistant, and has worked for all the major TV networks, including NBC, ABC, and CBS. She's a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and offers up some great advice in this episode for people who want to get into media, publishing, and the ever-changing digital space. She's also a speedy runner! Meredith is a 3:18 marathoner who runs for the Central Park Track Club in New York City. On this episode, Meredith shares what it was like working with Katie Couric, and how she survived those super early mornings—while marathon training!—during her time at Today. She discusses the news stories that most impacted her career in television, and explains what it's like to be the person who has to call family members after tragic situations and ask them if they'll come on the show. ("It's pretty much the worst phone call you have to make," she says.) Plus, Meredith talks about how what it's like working at BuzzFeed (and what to do if you want to get hired there), shares her take on "don't read the comments," and talks about her favorite recent BuzzFeed quiz. Stuff We Mention on the Show: Hamilton College: https://www.hamilton.edu/ Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism: https://www.hamilton.edu/ Broadway Bodies: http://broadwaybodies.com/ Today Show: http://www.today.com/ CBS Evening News: http://www.cbsnews.com/evening-news/ The time I was on the Today Show with Celine Dion: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2016/07/22/the-day-i-met-celine-dion/ Today's Puppy With a Purpose program: http://www.today.com/pets/today-puppy BuzzFeed: https://www.buzzfeed.com/ Rockefeller State Park: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/59/details.aspx New York Road Runners: http://www.nyrr.org/ Central Park Track Club: http://www.centralparktc.org/ Airbnb Brooklyn Half: http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2017/airbnb-brooklyn-half Bank of America Chicago Marathon: https://www.chicagomarathon.com/ Boilermaker 15K: http://www.boilermaker.com/ Kara Goucher: https://twitter.com/karagoucher Meb Keflezighi: https://marathonmeb.com/ "Do You Actually Know the Right Way to Eat Sushi?" quiz: https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahloewentheil/do-you-actually-know-the-right-way-to-eat-sushi?utm_term=.vhN8MdQWZ#.veoPaVybg Follow Meredith: Instagram @meremat: https://www.instagram.com/meremat/ Twitter @meremat: https://twitter.com/meremat Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter @aliontherun1: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

18 Touko 201758min

I love running! That's no secret. I love doing it, I love talking about it, I love racing, and I love training. I love the easy runs, the hard workouts, and the long runs. But sometimes it just feels good to vent, so that's what I'm up to today. From shorts without pockets to angry runners in Central Park at 6 AM to GPS watches not finding satellites within eight seconds, here are a few of my running-related gripes. (Also: porta-potty lines at races, bathroom etiquette, and injury-related praise.) Stuff I Mention on this Episode: Runner's World porta-potty story: http://www.runnersworld.com/racing/answers-to-your-biggest-porta-potty-questions My 2016 New York City Marathon recap: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2016/11/07/new-york-city-marathon-2016-recap/ @restdaybrags on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restdaybrags/ Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter @aliontherun1: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

16 Touko 201723min

Meggie Smith is a chief resident in OB-GYN at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, and is working to be a reproductive endocrinologist and reproductive specialist. ("I want to help women have babies," she says.) We met when Meggie was in medical school, and now she delivers babies and performs risky surgeries as part of her job. On this episode, Meggie — a former tennis player and run-hater-turned-marathoner — talks about what it was like working at NYU when Hurricane Sandy hit, shares why she chose NYU (hint: it involves the Olsen twins), and talks about how she managed to run a Boston Qualifying marathon time while working 80-hour weeks. She opens up about "going into survival mode" at work, the first time she delivered a baby, and the very tragic — but very real — parts of her job. This summer, Meggie is headed west! Cheer her on as she finishes up her residency and heads to the University of Southern California to start a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Stuff We Mention on the Show: 16 Handles: http://16handles.com/ Birch Coffee: http://birchcoffee.com/ NYU Langone Medical Center: http://nyulangone.org/ Bellevue: https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/bellevue/ UAE Healthy Kidney 10K: http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2017/uae-healthy-kidney-10k NYRR New York Mini 10K: http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2017/nyrr-new-york-mini-10k Shape Women's Half-Marathon: http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2017/shape-womens-half-marathon Eugene Marathon: http://www.eugenemarathon.com/ Picky Bars: https://pickybars.com/ Oiselle: http://www.oiselle.com/ Ask Lauren Fleshman: http://asklaurenfleshman.com/ Follow Lauren Fleshman @fleshmanflyer: https://www.instagram.com/fleshmanflyer/ Stephanie Rothstein Bruce: http://www.stephandbenbruce.com/ Philadelphia Half Marathon: https://philadelphiamarathon.com/ New York City Marathon: http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/ Insight Timer app: https://insighttimer.com/ Follow Meggie: Instagram @mbsthinks: https://www.instagram.com/mbsthinks/ Twitter @mbsthinks: https://twitter.com/mbsthinks Blog: https://thethinksicanthink.wordpress.com/ Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter @aliontherun1: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

11 Touko 20171h 3min

I never expected to be a runner — and I certainly never expected running to be something I actually enjoy. On this episode, I take a run back in time (too cheesy?) to share how I found, hated, dabbled in, hated again, tried for real, and eventually learned to love running. It all started with a fifth grade Ali trying to escape the timed mile in gym class, followed by an Ali who was motivated to run to fit into the biggest size jeans they sold at Abercrombie, and then to the Ali who moved to New York City and wanted to get strong for herself. I may have hated running as a kid, but as an adult, it didn't take long for me to get hooked. I've been motivated by different things over the years — trying to fit into my work clothes, wanting to get shiny medals like the ones my roommate had hanging on her walls, raising money for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, or running out my post-breakup angst and aggression — but the one thing that's remained is that I'm forever grateful for every run I get to enjoy. Running has been one of the greatest gifts in my life — and this is how it all began.

9 Touko 201734min

Bethany Lyons is the owner, founder, and CEO of Lyons Den Power Yoga in New York City. Before opening the Baptiste yoga-style studio, she was the first-ever hired instructor at SoulCycle, and was a regional manager in charge of the group fitness programs at Crunch Fitness — which is where we met! (We share the story of our first interaction in the episode — it involves Bethany being the spin class sub and me being pissed.) Bethany has been a fitness instructor for more than a decade, and before that she was a professional dancer, singer, and actress. Today, Bethany is all about showing up, doing the work, and "being a yes." On this episode, she shares the story of how she accidentally learned to love yoga (happens to all of us that way, doesn't it?), how and why she decided to open her own studio — in the most expensive neighborhood in the most expensive city in the world — and whether or not she was worried no one would show up the day the studio opened. Bethany is a game-changer — enjoy! Stuff We Mention on the Show: How I met Bethany Lyons: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2017/02/27/bethany-lyons-soulcycle/ Crunch Fitness: https://www.crunch.com/ SoulCycle: https://www.soul-cycle.com/ Syracuse University: https://www.syracuse.edu/ Baptiste yoga: https://www.baptisteyoga.com/ Flywheel Sports: https://www.flywheelsports.com/ Baron Baptiste: https://www.baptisteyoga.com/pages/baron-baptiste Atlas Shrugged: https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Shrugged-Ayn-Rand/dp/0451191145 Tedi Sarah on Instagram @tedisarah: https://www.instagram.com/tedisarah/ ChiliPad: https://www.chilitechnology.com/products/chilipad-cube-single-zone-single-split-queen Animal Haven on Instagram @animalhaven: https://www.instagram.com/animalhaven/ The Dodo on Instagram @thedodo: https://www.instagram.com/thedododo/ Follow Bethany: Instagram @bethanyalyons: https://www.instagram.com/bethanyalyons/ Twitter @balmnyc: https://twitter.com/balmnyc Follow Lyons Den Power Yoga: Website: http://lyonsdenpoweryoga.com/ Instagram @lyonsdenpy: https://www.instagram.com/lyonsdenpy/ Twitter @lyonsdenpy: https://twitter.com/LyonsDenPY Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LYONS-DEN-POWER-YOGA-560303797369023/ Follow Ali: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

4 Touko 20171h 12min