816. Deirdre Keane, Everest Extreme Ultra Marathoner

"We're track and field's biggest hype people, and we want to share the joy of the sport with as many people as possible." You'll be hard-pressed to find anyone who loves track and field more than the dynamic duo ("the greatest bromance in track and field") of Chris Chavez and Kyle Merber. This week, we're turning our Friendship Fest attention to the guys. Chris is the founder of Citius Mag, host of the Citius Mag podcast, former Sports Illustrated journalist, director of the Magic Boost program, and one of the nicest, hardest-working people in the industry. Kyle is a former professional runner (a 3:52 miler! he won the Millrose Games mile as a high schooler!) who retired in 2020, and now works full-time for American Express while also managing The Lap Count newsletter and navigating life as a new dad. Chris and Kyle started as friends (you'll get that full story in this episode), and now work together as collaborators and track and field commentators. In this conversation, they share their enthusiasm for the sport, talk about what it's like when they run together (it's more fun for one of them than it is for the other), and share their big dreams for the future. SPONSOR: Tracksmith. Click here and use code ALI22 to get free shipping. Plus, Tracksmith will donate 5% of your purchase proceeds to the Brave Like Gabe Foundation. What you'll get on this episode: Chris and Kyle recall their first meeting (7:00) Why Kyle wanted Chris to help tell his retirement story (11:50) How Chris and Kyle are working together right now (14:25) Chris and Kyle, track and field commentators (22:45) What to expect from Chris and Kyle this summer (33:15) On running together (35:15) What Chris and Kyle are excited about in running right now (37:40) Chris and Kyle share the moments when they were especially proud of each other (44:00) Check out: Chris Chavez on Episode 262 of the Ali on the Run Show Trials of Miles The Real Maine documentary Citius Mag podcast: Kyle Merber Exit Interview and The Importance of Sharing the Athlete Story The Magic Boost program Follow Chris: Instagram @chris_j_chavez Twitter @chrischavez Citius Mag Follow Kyle: Instagram @kylemerber Twitter @TheRealMerb Subscribe to The Lap Count 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!

8 Mar 20221h 5min

"It could be two o'clock in the afternoon and the sun's beating down on us, and I'm just smiling. I'm gritting my teeth through the afternoon sun, and still believing I can push through it." On February 18, renowned ultra runner Camille Herron made history — again. The queen of the ultra scene ran and won the USATF 100-Mile Road Championships in Henderson, NV, and not only won the race outright (the first male finisher was half an hour behind her), she broke her own 100-mile world record by 89 seconds, finishing in 12 hours 41 minutes and 11 seconds. That's a 7:36 per mile pace on an 85-lap course. On this episode, Camille (who turned 40 on Christmas) talks all about that race, including how she prepped for it, her goals going into the race, and how she has tweaked her training and lifestyle habits in order to "age like a fine wine," she says. Plus, how she got into running and ultras, and where her always-happy demeanor came from. SPONSORS: Shokz — Use code OTR15 for 15% off wireless headphones. St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville — Use code ONTHERUN10 for $10 off your registration for this year's races, taking place April 23–24. What you'll get on this episode: How Camille's feeling since running the USATF 100-Mile Road Championship (4:05) What Young Camille was like, and how she found and fell in love with running (6:25) Reflecting on the USATF 100-Mile Road Championship, and what Camille's goals were going into the race (14:00) What Camille's training is like (18:25) Why Camille started working with a registered dietitian (23:50) The lifestyle choices Camille has made recently so she can perform at her best (32:45) All about the 85-lap 100-Mile Road Championship course, and how Camille broke it down mentally (36:35) How Camille was feeling at the start line (44:30) The pressure of being Camille Herron (47:00) How Camille felt during the first half of the race (49:25) How Camille pushed through the "dark parts" of the race (55:00) That finish line feeling (59:30) How Camille celebrated (1:05:00) Camille's advice for the ultra-curious (1:08:00) For more, check out: Camille Herron in the New York Times Follow Camille: Instagram @runcamille Twitter @runcamille 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!

3 Mar 20221h 18min

"When I met Aisha, I was like, 'Oh, we're gonna be friends forever.'" Emily Infeld and Aisha Praught Leer are professional runners and Olympians, and despite never sharing a coach, team, or hometown, they have the type of friendship that transcends all of that. On this episode, Aisha and Emily talk about how they met, share their first impressions of each other, and talk about how they bonded long-distance in the early days of their professional careers. We get some big life updates: Emily officially announces who she's being coached by since leaving the Bowerman Track Club, and Aisha talks about how her return to running has been going since having surgery to repair her torn meniscus after last year's Tokyo Olympics. Plus, LOL-worthy stories about Emily behind the wheel, Aisha in the pool, and so much more. SPONSOR: Tracksmith. Click here and use code ALI22 to get free shipping. Plus, Tracksmith will donate 5% of your purchase proceeds to the Brave Like Gabe Foundation. What you'll get on this episode: When and how Emily and Aisha met (6:00) Emily and Aisha recall their first impressions of each other, and talk about how their friendship progressed (10:55) The time Emily taught Aisha how to swim — kind of (18:00) On running together and making a long-distance friendship work (19:40) How Emily and Aisha are alike, and how they're different (26:00) What Emily and Aisha talk about, and what they're each like when the other is racing (38:00) What's new with Aisha (43:00) What's new with Emily (52:10) Emily and Aisha talk about moments when they've felt especially proud of each other (1:04:20) For more, check out: Emily Infeld on Episode 400 of the Ali on the Run Show Aisha Praught Leer on Episode 462 of the Ali on the Run Show Aisha Praught Leer on Episode 415 of the Ali on the Run Show Aisha Praught & Will Leer on Episode 204 of the Ali on the Run Show Aisha Praught Leer on Episode 197 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Emily: Instagram @emilyinfeld Twitter @emily_infeld Follow Aisha: Instagram @aishapraughtleer Twitter @aishapraught 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 Mar 20221h 15min

"I didn't prepare for it. I wasn't ready for it. It was very, very hard, and dark, and scary." Welcome to the second episode in the new Beyond the Run series on the Ali on the Run Show. Twice a month, we're checking in with industry experts, professional runners, and everyday runners to talk about the intersection of running and mental wellness. (The first episode in this series with Dr. Ian Nurse and Emily Saul was a must-listen.) Today, running and strength coach Jess Movold returns to the show to talk about her pregnancy (she's currently 21 weeks along with her first baby, a boy!) and how she's coped with the physical and emotional changes in her life. It's an honest, vulnerable conversation about expectations vs. reality, dealing with dark days, and how life is changing on the run and beyond. SPONSOR: New Balance — Go to newbalance.com/beyondtherun to learn more about how New Balance is supporting the conversations around mental wellness in running. (And check out my current favorite jacket, joggers, and long-sleeve shirts.) What you'll get on this episode: Jess shares her experience running the Austin Half Marathon at 21 weeks pregnant (5:10) Jess's relationship with her dad (11:40) How Jess found out she was pregnant, and what it was like running the New York City Marathon a few weeks into her pregnancy (20:00) The story of Kelly (31:00) Expectations vs. reality (35:00) How Jess is dealing with the tough days (46:15) Body talk (50:00) Why Jess says mental wellness "is everything" (1:05:30) Jess offers runners a pre-race pep talk — and tries to convince us all to do 10 push-ups (1:08:30) For more, check out: Jess Movold on Episode 249 of the Ali on the Run Show Jess Movold on Episode 147 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Jess: Instagram @jessmovold Instagram @runnersworldcoach 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 Feb 20221h 20min

"My default is trusting and looking for the good. I want to believe that people are telling me the truth when I talk to them. I assume they are. I just generally find that I always give people the benefit of the doubt and assume they're honest and well intentioned. Obviously that's not true. But that sort of naïveté, if you will — which definitely led to me getting catfished — has strangely served me well. I'm so glad I got duped by that woman." Nev Schulman is best known as the star of the 2010 award-winning documentary Catfish, and now as the host of the MTV show of the same name. (My mom knows — and adores — him as the runner-up from Season 29 of Dancing with the Stars.) But when he's not seeking scammers, he's likely on the run. Nev is a 2:58 marathoner who is currently training to run the New York City Half Marathon, where he hopes to run a personal best (sub-1:25). On this episode, Nev talks about what it was like growing up near the New York City Marathon finish line and getting to watch the race with his dad (also a 2:58 marathoner!) every year. He talks about becoming a dad himself (he and his wife have three children) and the unexpected effects of fame on both him and his family. He talks about hitting rock bottom at 19, and about how he learned not to let the hardest time in his life define him forever. And he talks about his empathetic and compassionate outlook on life, and how he's able to remain optimistic in this world, even after being catfished himself. Plus, all about his running story, including how he got started running at age 30, his favorite New York City Marathon memories, and more. SPONSOR: Shokz — Visit shokz.com/ontherun for 15% off wireless headphones. What you'll get on this episode: Today in the life of Nev (4:30) How Nev got into running (8:25) Nev shares his love for dance and talks about what it was like being on Dancing with the Stars (17:15) How Nev got his start in film production (24:50) On fame (34:00) How Nev keeps seeing the good in the world (43:00) How Nev became a marathoner (49:50) How Nev ran a 2:58 marathon (1:01:10) Nev's new friendship with Alexi Pappas (1:07:25) What's next for Nev on the run (1:11:10) Follow Nev: Instagram @nevschulman Twitter @nevschulman 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!

24 Feb 20221h 26min

"I would declare war on all of your enemies." Welcome to Friendship Fest! Starting today and for the next seven weeks, we'll be hearing from runner friends about how they met, the role running plays in their friendship, and what big dreams and goals they share for the future. (Consider it Love on the Run, friendship-style!) We're kicking things off today with Boulder-based besties and professional marathon runners Nell Rojas and Hiruni Wijayaratne. Nell and Hiruni are both coached by Ric Rojas (Nell's dad), and we recorded this conversation while they were at training camp in Phoenix. They share the stories of how they met, why Hiruni joined Nell and Ric's training group, what it was like running the first 20 miles of CIM together in December, and how they handle it when one of them has a great race or workout and the other doesn't. SPONSOR: Tracksmith. Click here and use code ALI22 to get free shipping. Plus, Tracksmith will donate 5% of your purchase proceeds to the Brave Like Gabe Foundation. What you'll get on this episode: What Nell and Hiruni are up to in Phoenix (6:00) How Nell and Hiruni met (13:25) What it was like when Nell and Hiruni started training together (22:30) How Nell and Hiruni are similar, how they're different, and what they're like when they run together (26:00) On running CIM together in December (40:00) Nell reflects on her race at the Houston Half Marathon in January (48:25) Nell talks about signing with adidas and what she did first after making it official (55:00) Nell and Hiruni talk about when they've felt especially proud of each other (59:20) For more, check out: Nell Rojas on Episode 434 of the Ali on the Run Show Nell Rojas on Episode 431 of the Ali on the Run Show Nell Rojas on Episode 229 of the Ali on the Run Show Hiruni Wijayaratne on Episode 466 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Nell: Instagram @nell_rojas_running Twitter @nellrojas Follow Hiruni: Instagram @hiruni_w 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!

22 Feb 20221h 20min

"I can only show up and do my best every time. And sometimes my best will be the best. And other times it won't. And that's fine. I think." Welcome to the first Ask Ali episode of 2022! This time, instead of answering listener voicemails, I've enlisted Molly Burke to facilitate, and we're answering questions I received before and after the 2022 State of the Ali on the Run Show episode. It's a lot of behind-the-scenes-of-the-podcast stuff, a lot of questions about my goals for the show, and a good amount of self-reflection. Also a surprising number of bear references. SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off your entire goodr order! For more, check out out: Molly Burke on Episode 455 of the Ali on the Run Show The 2022 State of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Molly: Instagram @mollysburke Twitter @mollysburke 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!

18 Feb 20221h 19min

"I've been working a lot on just being able to own who I am in this sport. Things have changed so drastically over the last two years, so it's coming to terms with that, of going from someone who was going to quit the sport to now someone who is one of the better-known names in the sport. That's been a weird transition for me, honestly." Last week, Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel shared a dating-related post on Instagram. And to say it was the talk of the running world (and far beyond) would be an understatement. The post prompted all kinds of reactions (it currently has more than 2,100 comments — nearly double the response Molly received when she posted about running the New York City Marathon in November and breaking the American course record), and Molly returns to the show today to talk about all of it. We're joined by mutual friend, running coach, MyStryde Boston instructor, and 3:11 marathoner Anoush Arakelian, and we're talking about why that post struck a chord for so many. Plus, dating talk, confidence talk, mental health talk, and Boston Marathon talk. (If you're running the race this April, Coach Anoush has some advice for you!) What started as a fun and lighthearted Galentine's Day (and Super Bowl Sunday) girl talk session turned into so much more. Bottom line: You're a 10. SPONSOR: Shokz — Visit shokz.com/ontherun for 15% off wireless headphones. What you'll get on this episode: An update on where Molly keeps her Olympic medal (3:45) How Anoush met her boyfriend (7:20) Boston Marathon goals and advice (9:20) All about that now-viral Bumble post (13:30) Jon Green and Molly Seidel are NOT dating! (23:00) How Anoush and Molly met, and more dating talk (25:00) Emotions and running (37:00) What Molly is doing to improve her confidence (41:30) On reading LetsRun, and why Molly does it (47:15) Dream date talk, and listener dating disaster stories (56:50) For more, check out: Molly Seidel on Episode 420 of the Ali on the Run Show Molly Seidel on Episode 341 of the Ali on the Run Show Ian Nurse & Emily Saul on Episode 474 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Molly: Instagram @bygolly.molly Twitter @ByGollyMolly12 Follow Anoush: Instagram @noushy14 Twitter @AArakelian14 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!

17 Feb 20221h 19min