680. Randi Zuckerberg, Marathoner & Ultramarathoner

"If you have that heart of a lion, you will get back there. You just have to have patience." It was a big year for Kara Goucher! Her book, The Longest Race, debuted and became a New York Times best-seller. She and Des Linden launched their podcast, Nobody Asked Us with Des and Kara. She called dozens of exciting races as a distance analyst for NBC's track and field and marathon broadcasts. She continued navigating life on the run with runner's dystonia. And today, she's here to recap all of it with us. Plus, we take a look at some of the year's highlights in professional running. FOLLOW KARA @karagoucher SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALIUCAN for 20% off your next UCAN order. Sidekick: Click here to get 15% off any recovery tool. 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. What you'll get on this episode: Kara attempts to sum up 2023 in one word (2:10) Kara looks back at the success of her book, The Longest Race (2:50) Kara's year on the run (9:00) Kara's year on the mic: Kara talks about becoming a podcast host, and what it's been like co-hosting "Nobody Asked Us with Des and Kara" with Des Linden (16:15) Kara's year on TV, and which races she enjoyed broadcasting the most (19:45) 2023 on the run, professionally: recapping the highlights from the year in professional running (26:45) The one rule Kara would love to implement in professional running (53:30) Kara's predictions for 2024 (1:04:40) 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!

28 Joulu 20231h 9min

"I felt like I was constantly treading water and barely staying afloat. It felt like I was stuck, as everything else just raged on. Time doesn't stop and the world doesn't stop. Everything doesn't stop just because you're having a hard time. There were days where I'd be at the grocery store, standing in line, and I wanted to scream, 'Don't you all know that I have cancer? Don't you know this is the hardest day of my life, and it's a normal day in your life?' It's the ultimate reminder that you never know what someone's going through. So be kind." At long last: the big, long, TMI-filled cancer episode. After being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, I've wanted to do regular check-ins on the podcast, but it's been a little daunting. One day last week, I finally felt up for chatting a bit. So in this episode, I'm talking about what life has looked like on the health front over the past seven months. I walk through my timeline from first lump (April 27) to mammogram and ultrasound (May 12) to biopsy (May 16) to diagnosis (May 19), followed by surgeries (double mastectomy July 3, reconstruction surgery August 30), chemotherapy (September 26, October 17, November 7, and November 27), and "now what?" Plus, answering listener questions and offering thoughts on how to support a loved one going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment. SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!) What you'll get on this episode: "Notecard thoughts" from the past few months, including Annie as my anchor, and ruminations on being called a "fighter" and "warrior" (2:40) My timeline: from first lump to diagnosis, surgeries, chemotherapy, and beyond (12:10) On the treatment front: Now what? (1:01:00) Answering listener questions about all things cancer (1:08:50) LINKS: Pre-order To the Gorge, by Emily Halnon Ali vs. Breast Cancer GoFundMe Penguin Cold Caps ChappyWrap Minky Couture blanket Oofos slippers Stanley hand-held water bottle Nordstrom pajamas Zip-front bras Athleta zip-front bra The one-shoulder bodysuit (on major sale!) 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!

26 Joulu 20231h 50min

"It's not easy to talk about the disappointments. It's not easy to talk about the times that you fall short. Nobody wants to brag about those. It's been hard. There were lots of tears shed in private. And just really accepting the fact that I wanted something so badly, and it didn't happen." Emilee Risteen has raced six marathons in the past 12 months, each in pursuit of one very specific goal. For the past year, Emilee has been trying to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials, which would mean running 26.2 miles in 2:37 or faster. She ran CIM in 2:43, Houston in 2:48, Boston in 2:41, Grandma's in 2:38 (a personal best and so close to that 2:37!), the McKirdy Micro in 2:41, and CIM one more time in 2:44. In this conversation, Emilee — who ran her first marathon in 4:03 and has taken nearly 90 minutes off her time in less than three years — talks about chasing her big goals, and about what happens when you don't quite get there. Plus, she talks about how going for sub-2:37 was initially about the time and the OTQ, but ultimately became about so much more. FOLLOW EMILEE @emristeen SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALIUCAN 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. What you'll get on this episode: How Emilee is feeling post-CIM (3:20) How Emilee is processing this past year on the run (4:30) On "getting back out there" (8:10) Why Emilee loves the process, and what this year of running was really about (11:45) What the women's OTQ community is like at marathons in the U.S. (19:30) Emilee's relationship with the time 2:37 (23:50) Emilee shares her running origin story (27:10) What Emilee's first marathon was like, and how she's gone from being a 4:03 marathoner to a 2:38 marathoner in less than three years (33:50) How running fits into Emilee's life (45:20) How Emilee ran six marathons in 12 months without getting injured (47:35) Emilee shares her 2024 running plans (51:40) 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!

21 Joulu 20231h 7min

"Community is everything. People are everything. I want to stay surrounded by people that I love and that love me. I'm going to mess up in life. I'm not always going to get it right. But that's what matters: showing up and being there and being together." Ask Ali returns! It's been a minute since we've done a classic Q&A-style episode. In this one: holiday traditions, what's next on the run, and so much more. SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!) 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!

19 Joulu 20231h 6min

"Whenever we do something that we really invest in and that's hard — and that we're not sure we can do — it's a reminder of the 'we can do hard things' aspect. And I'll always get to say that I did this." Emily Oster is an economist, a professor at Brown University, and a best-selling author of books including Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm. And she just made her marathon debut at the California International Marathon (CIM), where she finished in 3 hours 17 minutes and 39 seconds. In this conversation, Emily talks about her decision to run 26.2 miles (which she twice swore she would never do, during her first and second appearances on the Ali on the Run Show), about working with coach Kaitlin Goodman and sports dietitian Meghann Featherstun, and about her race-day experience. FOLLOW EMILY: @ProfEmilyOster SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALIUCAN 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. The Eugene Marathon: Register for the Eugene Marathon (April 28, 2024) and save $10 with code ONTHERUN. What you'll get on this episode: Emily's evolution as a runner, and why she made the decision to run a marathon this year (2:00) Why Emily decided to start working with coach Kaitlin Goodman, and why they chose the California International Marathon (4:40) On choosing a "fast" race course (18:00) What Emily learned from working with sports dietitian Meghann Featherstun (21:10) What Emily's CIM training was like (25:40) On pre-race nervous, training stressors, and race goals (37:30) The road to the start line (45:00) Emily's highs and lows from CIM 2023 (48:45) What it was like becoming a marathoner for the first time (1:01:05) 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!

14 Joulu 20231h 9min

"For the first time in my entire life, I was in awe of myself. I was in awe of what I'd accomplished. The marathon was a love letter to myself. For the first time, seeing myself the way other people see me. For the first time, truly recognizing my courage and my power." The first time Tunde Oyeneyin was on the Ali on the Run Show, she insisted she wasn't a runner. Now, three years and many miles later, the Peloton instructor, best-selling author, and Access Hollywood guest correspondent admits she has fully embraced the runner life. And as of last month, she's officially a marathoner. In this conversation, Tunde talks about her decision and motivation to run this year's New York City Marathon, and about why she chose to keep her goal a secret. She shares stories from race day, talks about how those 26.2 miles changed her life and the way she coaches her Peloton classes, and explains the impact the finish line has had on her and how she sees herself. FOLLOW TUNDE @tune2tunde SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALIUCAN for 20% off your next UCAN order. Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. The Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon, & 10K: Click here to register for the 2024 races, taking place May 25, 2024. What you'll get on this episode: How Tunde feels about becoming a marathoner (1:45) "Do you get it now or are marathons overhyped?" (5:30) Will Tunde run another marathon? (9:40) When and why Tunde decided to run the New York City Marathon (10:30) How —after keeping it a secret — the world found out Tunde was running the marathon (13:50) Tunde's approach to marathon training (17:45) What Tunde remembers most about race morning (24:50) How the marathon changed how Tunde sees herself (32:30) Tunde breaks down the last few miles of the marathon (38:45) How a woman named Mandy saved the day (47:15) What surprised Tunde the most about this experience (50:30) What Tunde's excited for right now (55:00) 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!

7 Joulu 202359min

"I am not going up on that stage crying, but I don't want to dismiss this moment! I want to take this all in and I want to feel this. It was an incredibly powerful thing." It was a New York City Marathon to remember. I had the privilege of getting to be a part of the international, ESPN, and ABC7 broadcasts on race day. I hosted a live show with Ellie Kemper. I ran the Dash to the Finish Line 5K. I was the race announcer at the TCS Run with Champions youth race. It was all the best. This is my exhaustive recap of every step. SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALIUCAN for 20% off your next UCAN order. Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. The Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon, & 10K: Click here to register for the 2024 races, taking place May 25, 2024. Registration opens December 1 at 9 AM ET. What you'll get on this episode: All about my roles at the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon (2:05) Wednesday: the drive to NYC and the phone calls we made along the way (17:45) Thursday: a long morning run, the Run with Champions, and Titanique (27:00) Friday: a star-studded group run ending at a church, a broadcast team meeting, and an unforgettable live show with Ellie Kemper (36:10) Saturday: the Abbott Dash to the Finish 5K and a day full of production meetings (52:50) Sunday: New York City Marathon day! (1:03:30) 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!

22 Marras 20231h 27min