233. On the Job with Amanda LaVergne, Broadway Performer

"We decided, 'OK, I’m gonna run in the Trials and then we’ll hopefully get pregnant right away, and then I’ll maybe even be able to run a fall marathon the next year!' And…it didn’t happen like that." You probably know Amanda Nurse by her Instagram moniker: Amanda Runs Boston. And she sure does. Amanda is a 20-time marathoner and two-time Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon. She's a clinical social worker turned adidas-sponsored runner and coach who has taken her marathon time from 3:26 to a very impressive 2:40. On this episode, Amanda talks about her road to elite distance running, her decision to make a major career change, and her adventures in motherhood. She opens up about her "plans" to get pregnant and what that means for a professional runner, and shares what actually happened on her road to having Riley, her now two-year-old son. It's an honest, real-talk-filled conversation about the realities of new motherhood. (And fun fact: Amanda is coached by former Ali on the Run Show guest Kaitlin Goodman! Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!   What you’ll get on this episode: Did Amanda always want to be a runner? Plus, the time Joan Benoit Samuelson called Amanda a sandbagger (2:50) How Amanda met her husband at a local 5K (13:00) Amanda reflects on the first time she qualified for the Olympic Trials in the marathon, and what running the Trials was like (22:00) How Amanda has improved her mental strength (30:30) On deciding to have a baby, and the surprising amount of time it took to get pregnant (34:40) How Amanda felt throughout her pregnancy, and her adventures in postpartum running (45:00) On postpartum emotions, depression, and more (54:10) What Amanda wishes she had known as a new runner (1:02:35) What we mention on this episode: Beach to Beacon Dana-Farber Cancer Institute How Bad Do You Want It by Matt Fitzgerald Barre3 Kara Goucher on Episode 43 of the Ali on the Run Show Molly Millwood on Episode 155 of the Ali on the Run Show Amanda’s postpartum post To Have and To Hold by Dr. Molly Millwood Follow Amanda: Instagram @amandarunsboston Twitter @amandarunsbos Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Twitter @aliontherun1 Facebook 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!

11 Sep 20191h 13min

"You deserve to be on that starting line. Believe in yourself and your training." Molly Bookmyer is a 2:44 marathoner who recently finished third in the U.S. 25K championships. But the road to an Olympic Trials qualifying time hasn't been easy. On this episode, Molly shares her inspiring story of resilience and positivity. In 2013, Molly's doctors found a brain tumor and needed to perform brain surgery to remove it. Then, she suffered a seizure while running on the treadmill, and had to have a second brain surgery. After recovering, getting healthy, and getting back on the run, Molly and her now-husband got married. But one week after returning from their honeymoon, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Molly is a force to be reckoned with, on the run and beyond. Thank you to Generation UCAN for sponsoring the You Can Run a Marathon series on the Ali on the Run Show! Click here and use code ONTHERUN for 20 percent off your order, plus free shipping. (First-time buyers, check out the UCAN Run Starter Pack here, and get 50 percent off.)   What you’ll get on this episode: Molly’s inspiring story (2:05) On leaning into running during difficult times (8:50) On grieving an injury and healing emotionally (12:15) What Molly’s work day looks like right now (15:20) Why the marathon? Plus, what Molly’s first marathon training cycle and race looked like (16:10) How Molly fuels for marathon training and racing (22:00) When Molly realized she had the potential to run an Olympic Trials qualifying time in the marathon (26:00) On training in Ohio’s ever-changing weather (34:10) What race week looks like for Molly (35:10) Follow Molly: Instagram @mollybookie Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 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!

9 Sep 201947min

“Pressure is a privilege.” —Nikki Hiltz Allie Ostrander and Nikki Hiltz are both having huge breakthrough years on the run. Allie, who recently signed with Brooks Running, and Nikki, who is in her second year as a pro athlete for adidas, joined me for a live show at New York Road Runners's second annual RunnerCon event the day before the New Balance Fifth Avenue Mile to talk racing, big dreams, goals, and activism. Neither Allie nor Nikki had ever run Fifth Avenue before, so it was fun talking to them on the eve of the big race. (Nikki ended up running strong and placing fourth!)   What we mention on this episode: Emma Coburn and Jenny Simpson on Episode 96 of the Ali on the Run Show Allie Ostrander on Episode 162 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Nikki: Instagram @nikkihiltz Follow Allie: Instagram @allie_ostrander Twitter @allie_ostrander Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 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!

8 Sep 201945min

"At this level, everyone works really hard. You can’t just say, 'Oh, she just works the hardest.' All the elite athletes on that starting line, everyone has their own challenges in their build up and had to overcome those. Everyone has their own story." Emily Sisson just might be having the best year of her life. The professional runner for New Balance kicked off her year by running a 1:07 at the Houston Half Marathon — coming just five seconds short of the American record. In April, Emily made her marathon debut at the London Marathon, where she ran a 2:23, finishing in sixth place and becoming the seventh-fastest U.S. woman ever at the marathon distance. It was also the second-fastest marathon debut by an American woman. This summer, Emily competed in the 10,000 meters at USA Track & Field Nationals, and landed a spot on the U.S. world team. She'll head to Doha later this month to represent the United States. On this episode, Emily reflects on her breakout year and talks about what's next, including where her head is at leading up to the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials in February. She talks about what training at altitude is really like and what her training looks like right now, and she shares the game-changing marathon advice she got from Meb Keflezighi, Des Linden, and training partner Molly Huddle. Thank you to the New York Road Runners Virtual Halfway There 13.1M for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE to register (it’s free!) and complete your 13.1-mile run between September 7 and October 13. Everybody’s doing it!   What you’ll get on this episode: How was Emily’s run today? (3:00) What is training at altitude really like? (4:20) All about Emily’s relationship with her husband and part-time pacer (10:30) Emily reflects on the highlights of her year on the run (14:30) What advice did training partner Molly Huddle give Emily before running London? (19:30) Why Emily chose not to run this year’s NYRR New York Mini 10K, and how she came back to land a spot on the U.S. 10,000m team (21:50) Is there pressure surrounding the 2020 Olympic Trials? Plus, what it’s like being an American female distance runner right now (28:00) How Emily and Molly became friends and training partners (38:10) What Emily’s diet looks like (42:20) What we mention on this episode: Molly Huddle on Episode 66 of the Ali on the Run Show Molly Huddle on Episode 51 of the Ali on the Run Show Amy Cragg on Episode 97 of the Ali on the Run Show Des Linden on Episode 100 of the Ali on the Run Show Des Linden on Episode 64 of the Ali on the Run Show Maurten The Heart’s Invisible Furies Follow Emily: Instagram @em_sisson_ Twitter @em_sisson Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Twitter @aliontherun1 Facebook 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 Sep 20191h 6min

“When I started running, people laughed at me. But it was a challenge I needed to do for myself.” Dr. Shelby Harris is a clinical psychologist and clinical associate professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the neurology and psychiatry departments. She specializes in anxiety, depression, and treating sleep disorders, and is the author of The Women's Guide to Overcoming Insomnia. What does that have to do with running? On this episode, Dr. Harris shares how treating her insomnia-and-sleep-apnea-riddled patients led her to marathon running. She's now a 13-time marathoner who has taken her time from 5:19 to 3:45, and she's currently training for the 2019 Chicago Marathon, where she hopes to run a Boston Qualifying time. Dr. Harris shares her story of being seconds away from crossing the Boston Marathon finish line in 2013 when the second bomb went off, and talks about losing hearing in her left ear as a result of the blast. She also talks about using exposure therapy as a way to get back to running and racing. Plus, she answers your sleep questions! We received more than 200 questions from listeners (wow!), and Dr. Harris dishes out loads of advice, from how to deal with insomnia to how sleep impacts running and so much more. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!   What you’ll get on this episode: How Shelby got into the sleep field — and found running along the way (5:10) How much sleep should we all be getting, realistically? (8:50) On having phones in the bedroom (14:00) How sleep impacts running (19:35) How Shelby shaved nearly 90 minutes off her marathon time (21:50) Shelby’s 2013 Boston Marathon story (24:10) Shelby answers listener questions about sleep (34:00) What we mention on this episode: Montefiore Sleep Disorders Center Team in Training Jen Bigham on Episode 151 of the Ali on the Run Show Jack Daniels Run S.M.A.R.T. Program Wake Up Narcolepsy New York Road Runners Newport Marathon Follow Shelby: Instagram @sleepdocshelby Website Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Twitter @aliontherun1 Facebook 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 Sep 20191h 9min

"You just have to show up. And I showed up." Not too long ago, Mo Alkhawaldeh was a casual smoker. Today, he's a 2:23 marathoner with his sights set on representing his home country of Jordan in the 2020 Olympic Games. But although Mo is one of the top-ranked runners in the Middle East and Africa, he's not a full-time runner: He works full-time at Princeton University, where he's also the head coach of the Princeton Running Club. He gets his training done before and after work — elite marathoners, they're just like us! In 2015, Runner's World named Mo one of the 50 most influential people in running. Mo, who is coached by Ryan Hall, is currently training for the Berlin Marathon, where he hopes to run a 2:18. Thank you to Generation UCAN for sponsoring the You Can Run a Marathon series on the Ali on the Run Show! Click here and use code ONTHERUN for 20 percent off your order, plus free shipping. (First-time buyers, check out the UCAN Run Starter Pack here, and get 50 percent off.)   What you’ll get on this episode: Why running, and why the marathon for Mo (2:30) The sacrifices that come with training at a high — but not professional — level (11:30) How Mo stays healthy on the run (18:10) A day in Mo’s diet (19:50) What race week looks like for Mo (25:00) Follow Mo: Instagram @mo_alkhawaldeh Blog Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 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!

2 Sep 201945min

"I was in survival mode. What can I do to pay our rent? What can I do to put food on the table?" When Rachel Wyman was five months postpartum with her third child, she opened her first bakery: Montclair Bread Company. Then, when the bakery hit 4,000 Facebook likes, Rachel decided she should do something to celebrate the social media milestone. Despite not being a runner and never having run a race herself, she hosted a low-key 4K race that has since grown to become New Jersey's hardest-to-get-into annual 5K. And Rachel, of course, has become a runner and triathlete along the way. Today, Montclair Bread Company is the town's go-to destination for runners, and is home to the 2,000-member Fueled by Doughnuts run club. On this episode, Rachel, a mom of three, talks about what it was like working 80-hour weeks while getting her MBA and being the sole income provider for her family of five. (Her final project for her master's degree was a business plan for a bakery — which she then made into a reality. A+ for Rachel!) She talks about the accident that shattered her pelvis and changed her life, the power of community, and the importance of following your passions and being open to where life takes you. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle! Listen on Apple Podcasts I Spotify I SoundCloud I Overcast I Stitcher I Google Play EMBED EPISODE HERE What you’ll get on this episode: The story behind the Fueled by Doughnuts 5K, and how it grew to something huge and amazing (4:45) How Rachel started the Fueled by Doughnuts run club, and grew it to more than 2,000 members (18:50) On being naturally business-minded (31:10) What it feels like walking into her bakery every day (52:50) What it was like being on — and winning! — Food Network’s Doughnut Showdown (55:00) The accident that shattered Rachel’s pelvis and changed her life (57:50) What we mention on this episode: Fueled by Doughnuts 5K Fueled by Doughnuts Run Club Sleepy Hollow Half Marathon Wineglass Marathon Bread Alone "Meet the Club that Runs for Doughnuts" via Runner’s World Ironman Lake Placid Mohawk Hudson Marathon Follow Rachel: Instagram @rachelrwyman Blog Montclair Bread Company Fueled by Doughnuts Run Club Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Twitter @aliontherun1 Facebook 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!

28 Aug 20191h 17min

"I never picture myself at the start or during the race or what I’m doing during the race. I just picture myself finishing. That’s all I can see." Chirine Njeim is a four-time Olympian — but the four times she's represented her home country of Lebanon haven't all been on the run. Chirine is a former alpine ski racer turned marathon runner. She competed at the Winter Olympics three times, and in 2016 made her Summer Olympics debut in the marathon. Today, Chirine is a 12-time marathoner who has taken her time from 3:07 to 2:39. Chirine lives in Chicago, where she works full-time and trains with the Second City Track Club. On this episode, she shares how a fun run at the Shamrock Shuffle 8K changed her life, and what her training looks like right now as she gears up for the 2019 Chicago Marathon. Thank you to Generation UCAN for sponsoring the You Can Run a Marathon series on the Ali on the Run Show! Click here and use code ONTHERUN for 20 percent off your order, plus free shipping. (First-time buyers, check out the UCAN Run Starter Pack here, and get 50 percent off.)   What you’ll get on this episode: How Chirine got into skiing and running (2:15) How Chirine got faster (9:30) What Chirine’s marathon training looks like (13:50) What Chirine’s diet is like (21:30) A look at what a typical race week is like for Chirine (26:45) Chirine’s rough races (34:30) Follow Chirine: Instagram @chirine.njeim Twitter @cheron33 Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 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 Aug 201944min