Ali on the Run Show

“If you want to do this job, you have to be willing to assume that you could be wrong about just about everything. You need to be willing to look everything up.” Carla Benton gets paid to read all day. Sound like the dream? As a freelance book copy editor and proofreader, Carla agrees: She's living her dream. (She worked on 70 books last year alone!) On this episode, Carla (whose twin sister, Emilia, was on the show a few weeks ago) offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to get a book published. She started her career in publishing in New York City, where she worked for major publishing houses including Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and Penguin, before moving to Chicago and going freelance. She has contributed to hundreds of books and best-sellers — including running books, like Deena Kastor's Let Your Mind Run and Becky Wade's Run the World. Carla also talks about the difference between copy editing and proofreading, what it's like editing fiction novels set amidst the pandemic, how Covid-19 is changing the industry, and diversity in publishing. SPONSOR: Tracksmith — Go to tracksmith.com/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN for $15 off your first Tracksmith order of $75 or more. Follow Carla: Instagram @cnbenton_ Twitter @cnbenton1 Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 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!

6 Huhti 20211h 9min

“I have this insatiable need to find out how good I can be. I just want to see how fast I can run and what I can accomplish. If I can make an Olympic team, if I can win the New York City Marathon. And just daring to try is what fills me with so much purpose in my daily life. Anytime I have an obstacle, I’m like yeah, but nothing else fires me up more than clawing my way back to fitness.” Steph Bruce returns to the Ali on the Run Show today! Steph is a professional runner for HOKA NAZ Elite in Flagstaff, AZ, and today, we're catching up to hear how Steph's running has been going in the past year. Steph talks about the disappointment of finishing sixth at last year's U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and about how she grieved that outcome. She talks about resiliency, and about "writing her own running obituary" after tough races. And she talks about recovering and returning to the sport she'll always love. Steph offers an update on her recent plantar fasciitis injury, which forced her to drop out of The Marathon Project in December (spoiler: she's back to running 90-mile weeks!), and talks about her plans for the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials this summer, where she'll be racing the 10K. Plus, she talks about being a role model in the sport, about what the pandemic has been like as a mom of two young boys (Riley and Hudson), and about why she thinks people follow professional runners. SPONSOR: AJC Peachtree Road Race — Register for this year’s race today at ajc.com/peachtree. What you’ll get on this episode: How was your run today, Steph? (2:55) Running as a team sport vs. individual pursuit (6:45) What it was like re-living the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials through A Time and A Place, and what the aftermath of that race was like (8:35) Reflecting on the earliest days of the pandemic (20:00) On the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, and Steph’s love for the 10K (25:20) Competing at the Sunset Tour 10K  and the Marathon Project in 2020, and the Plantar Fasciitis injury that came next (31:15) On being a role model in this sport (37:45) Steph talks about writing her own “running obituary” (41:30) Steph shares her ultimate running dreams and goals, and what’s next (47:00) Why do people follow professional runners? (53:40) An update on how Steph’s mom — who was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer last year — is doing (1:00:10) What does GRIT mean to Steph right now? (1:03:15) What we mention on this episode: Steph Bruce on Episode 104 of the Ali on the Run Show Steph & Ben Bruce on Episode 206 of the Ali on the Run Show A Time and A Place Follow Steph: Instagram @stephrothstein Twitter @steph_rothstein Facebook Blog YouTube 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 Huhti 20211h 6min

“I think about it a lot, like what do I want to add to this sport? What do I want to add to my life, and what do I want my legacy to be? And I feel like it would be a hollow journey if I didn’t try to use my platform to spread a good message to make change.” Gabriela DeBues-Stafford is having one heck of a year so far. In her debut season training and competing with the Bowerman Track Club, the Canadian professional middle-distance runner and 2016 Olympian has run — and won — two races already, including the 3000m at the Prickly Pear Invitational (where she also ran a personal best), and the 1500 at the Texas Qualifier in Austin (where she generously donated her winnings to Austin Mutual Aid). And Gabriela is doing all of this having joined the team during the pandemic, and while dealing with a Graves disease flare. On this episode, Gabriela shares her experience with a chronic autoimmune disease, and explains how it has affected her running over the years. She talks about training with the Bowerman team (and Coach Shalane!), and about being the first Canadian woman to break four minutes in the 1500. Gabriela is currently the Canadian record holder in the mile, the 1500, and the 5K — so what will it take for her to make Canada's Olympic team this year? She explains the Canadian qualifying process, and assures us that things are looking good for her heading into the 2021 Olympic Games. Plus, she talks about being queer, about proposing to her now-husband, Rowan, and about their love story. SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones. What you’ll get on this episode: All about Gabriela’s hair (3:00) How Gabriela’s feeling at the start of the 2021 season (8:25) Gabriela’s experience with Graves Disease (11:30) On running that 4 x 1 mile workout after the Prickly Pear Invitational race (24:30) Why Gabriela donated her winnings to storm relief efforts after the Texas Qualifier (25:45) On being an outspoken advocate (30:25) Gabriela explains the Canadian Olympic team qualifying process (38:20) What it was like competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio (44:45) On what it takes to be a professional runner in Canada (47:00) Why Gabriela left Scotland to join Bowerman Track Club (51:15) How Gabriela met her now-husband, Rowan (1:00:00) All about training with Coach Shalane Flanagan (1:07:20) What we mention on this episode: Austin Mutual Aid Follow Gabriela: Instagram @gabrielastafford Twitter @gstafford13 Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 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!

1 Huhti 20211h 21min

"It’s terrifying. But I think that’s a good thing." This week on the job, we're headed to the courtroom! Catherine McNamara is a public defender in Massachusetts — a job she says is often mischaracterized and misunderstood. So she's here to clear things up. Catherine talks about what makes her work hard, stressful, important, and rewarding, and talks about what it's like in the courtroom. She also talks about developing the confidence needed to be a litigator and trial attorney. SPONSOR: Tracksmith — Go to tracksmith.com/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN for $15 off your first Tracksmith order of $75 or more. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 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!

30 Maalis 20211h 3min

“It’s the most popular club that no one wants to join.” Welcome to the monthly edition of Ramblings on the Run with Ali and Matt! This month, Matt Chittim — host of the Rambling Runner podcast and the Road to the Trials podcast — and I catch up on how our running is going, share what we're loving right now, and talk about what we're excited about. And then, we have a little March Madness fun — with a twist. It's the "Ramblings on the Run Fictional 5K," and we've got brackets! What we mention on this episode: Millennium Running Natural Born Heroes by Christopher McDougall You’re Wrong About podcast Follow Matt:  Instagram @rambling_runner Rambling Runner podcast Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Like the Facebook page 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!

26 Maalis 20211h 3min

“Being able to come to work as my whole self. Being able to be out. Being able to appear on camera in drag. Hopefully for those of you that are out there listening, if you work at a company or a place where you cannot be yourself — and I know you need to make the money — it is not worth it. It is not worth it to stifle that magic. You will slowly die inside. Go work for a place where you can be Mara every single damn day. Let your freak flag fly and be who you wanna be. We are too advanced in this society to be squandering any time on not being able to be ourselves.” Growing up in Rhode Island, Matty Maggiacomo had a tumultuous — and at times traumatizing — relationship with sports and coaches. But today, he's a fitness instructor on the world's largest streaming platform. On this episode, Matty talks about how he rediscovered fitness later in life, and how he got the job teaching treadmill and strength classes at Peloton. He talks about his dreams of being on TV, including how he made those dreams come true right out of college, and why that dream came to a screeching halt on an assignment one day. Plus, Matty talks about his sexuality and about coming out, and about the importance of letting his "freak flag fly" at work — which means we get to hear from Mara Thonner, Matty's treadmill-running alter ego, and about what it's like teaching a live class for thousands in full drag! Matty is a true joy, and this conversation is long, fun, and filled with hefty doses of both laughter and inspiration. SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones. What you’ll get on this episode: On taking time off (9:15) How Matty would describe his Peloton classes (11:00) Getting to know Young Matty (15:45) All about the NBC Page program, and working in live television (22:30) How Matty got the job at Peloton (34:45) How you learn to be a Peloton instructor (39:15) On the magnitude of it all (49:35) MARA joins the show! (54:20) On the Peloton family, and how Matty feels about his colleagues (1:02:15) Matty shares his most memorable Peloton memory thus far (1:06:30) What we mention on this episode: Jess Sims on Episode 261 of the Ali on the Run Show Tunde Oyeneyin on Episode 311 of the Ali on the Run Show Olivia Amato on Episode 344 of the Ali on the Run Show Veneno It’s a Sin "The Original Jess Sims Scare" Follow Matty: Instagram @mattymaggiacomo Twitter @mattymaggiacomo Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 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!

25 Maalis 20211h 25min

“It’s definitely not like Suits. It’s way more like The Office.” For Victoria Asikis, grocery shopping is the best. As a lawyer working in regulatory compliance for food and beverage products, strolling the aisles is basically doing market research. And on this episode, we learn what, exactly, a food lawyer does. (It's pretty fascinating stuff!) Victoria lives in Ottawa, Ontario, where she is a part of the advertising and product regulatory group at Gowling WLG, a large multinational law firm. She spends her days making sure that every word, statement, or claim on a food, beverage, or natural beauty product (like your favorite cereal box, bag of granola, or chemical-free face wash) is true and accurate. She is also the Communications Director for the Hellenic Canadian Lawyers' Association. And turns out, it's really cool work! Victoria is so passionate about what she does — and you'll be able to tell within the first two minutes of this conversation! SPONSOR: Tracksmith — Go to tracksmith.com/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN for $15 off your first Tracksmith order of $75 or more. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 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!

23 Maalis 20211h 7min

"Having a baby is not the end of your running goals and dreams." Welcome back to Ask Ali, a monthly series where I answer all of your questions. This time around, we've got listener questions about running after having a baby, podcasting behind-the-scenes, getting into freelance writing, stroller recommendations, and my real thoughts on Taylor Swift's folklore vs. evermore. Enjoy! If you want to be part of a future “Ask Ali” episode (yay!), call 917-947-9699 — introduce yourself, and ask whatever’s on your mind! I can’t wait to hear from you! SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN for $10 off! What I mention on this episode: Episode 174: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Ali on the Run Show Emilia Benton on Episode 340 of the Ali on the Run Show Molly & Izzy Seidel on Episode 341 of the Ali on the Run Show Uppababy Vista stroller Thule Urban Glide II jogging stroller Colugo Compact stroller 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!

19 Maalis 20211h