838. Meghan Howard, On Running the Berlin Marathon with Harry Styles

"Running is running is running, and I love it all." Courtney Dauwalter returns to the Ali on the Run Show — this time as a 2:49 marathoner! Courtney is an ultra runner who is best known for her GOAT-status success on the trails. In 2023, she became the first person to win Western States, the Hardrock 100, and UTMB int he same year. Earlier this year, she won Hardrock in a women's course record: 26 hours 11 minutes and 49 seconds. Most recently, Courtney's been hitting the roads! She just completed the Twin Cities Marathon — her first marathon in more than a decade — in 2:49. But it's not about the time on the clock for Courtney. In this conversation, she talks about why she wanted to run a road marathon, why Twin Cities, and why now. Plus, an exciting announcement about what's next. SPONSOR:  Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I'm an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your next Lagoon order. In this episode: “It’s candy corn season!” (2:00) Courtney’s snapshot moment from the 2025 Twin Cities Marathon (4:50) What’s making Courtney happy today, and what she’s into right now (5:45) How Courtney is feeling post-marathon, and how road marathons fit into her career right now (8:20) What Courtney’s marathon training looked like, and how it differed from ultra training (16:00) Courtney’s time goal and expectations for Twin Cities (21:30) Courtney’s fueling and hydration plan for Twin Cities (26:35) Courtney’s take on the marathon community (29:30) Courtney recaps her race at the Twin Cities Marathon (36:00) Courtney’s takeaways from the marathon (43:20) What's next on the run for Courtney (47:00) How it feels to be a 2:49 marathoner (53:30) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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!

16 Okt 1h 7min

"There’s nothing I’m going to shy away from." What a gift it was to be in Chicago this weekend for all of the Chicago Marathon festivities. And what better way to kick it all off than with a live show with 450 of you, presented by our good friends at New Balance? If the goal was to laugh, relax, and have fun before runners toed the line on Sunday (or Saturday, in the Abbott Chicago 5K!), then we certainly succeeded, thanks to our special guest, former professional runner and Off the Rails cohost, Eric Jenkins. On a personal note: This show was one for the books for me. Thank you for welcoming me in such a beautiful way and for wrapping me up in so much love during such a tough time. This room, this conversation, this event gave me everything I didn't even know I needed. Thank you for being there. Thank you for being you. And thank you to New Balance and Fleet Feet Chicago for making it happen. FOLLOW ERIC @_ericjenkins SPONSOR:  New Balance: Click here to get your hands on the just-released Rebel v5! Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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!

13 Okt 1h 7min

"I do want to be the greatest to ever do it in our sport. And I mean that wholeheartedly. I genuinely feel like it’s something that I can do, and something I’ve been called to do. In due time it is going to happen. But it is going to start with me taking it one day, one practice, one meet at a time." Melissa Jefferson-Wooden has had the year of her dreams. At this year's World Championships in Tokyo, Melissa became the first American in history to win triple gold, winning the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. She became the first American woman since Allyson Felix in 2009 to win the 200m at World Championships, and became the first American woman in history to win the 100/200 double at World Championships. Melissa went undefeated in the 100m this entire season, winning Diamond Leagues, Grand Slam Track meets, and, of course, World Champs. Last year, Melissa made her Olympic debut in Paris, where she won bronze in the 100m and gold in the 4x100m relay. In this conversation, Melissa talks about what life is like for the fastest woman in the world. FOLLOW MELISSA @__melissaj19 SPONSORS:  New Balance: Click here to get your hands on the just-released Rebel v5! Shokz: Use code ALI for $10 off your next headphone purchase. In this episode: Melissa’s honeymoon plans, and how she’s feeling after a banner season on the track (2:30) What it was like being on The Jennifer Hudson Show (5:25) What’s making Melissa happy today (10:20) What’s going through Melissa’s head when she’s in the blocks (13:00) Melissa’s mantra: One Day, One Practice, One Meet at a Time (14:50) All about Melissa’s “hero’s welcome” after flying home from Tokyo (21:15) Melissa’s take on track fashion (23:45) On running as a team sport (29:00) Melissa recaps her 100m experience at World Championships (36:00) How Melissa feels about being a reigning World Champion (41:30) All about the 200m Final, including the false start that kicked it off (43:40) Melissa’s relationship with Allyson Felix (51:15) Melissa reflects on her “introductory year,” and reflects on her early Olympic dreams (56:50) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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!

8 Okt 1h 11min

"This is just the time to be brave and see what happens." Georgia Hunter Bell just won a silver medal for Team Great Britain in the 800m at World Championships in Tokyo. Last year, she won bronze in the 1500m at the Olympics in Paris. Before that? Georgia was working fulltime in cybersecurity sales, convinced that her running days were behind her. In this conversation, Georgia talks about her time off from racing, her return to the sport, and her road to becoming an Olympic and World Championship medalist. Georgia will wrap up her season next week, competing in the 800m at Athlos in New York City. FOLLOW GEORGIA @georgiabelltheduathlete SPONSORS:  goodr: Click here and use code ALI for $5 off your next order. Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. In this episode: How Georgia is feeling post-World Championships, pre-Athlos (2:30) What’s making Georgia happy today, and all about her run today (4:45) Georgia reflects on her race at World Championships, where she won a silver medal, and explains why she ran the 800m instead of the 1500m (10:20) On being a “guaranteed medalist” (18:20) Georgia’s key takeaways from World Championships (26:40) All about Georgia’s relationship with teammate, training partner, and friend Keely Hodgkinson — and what it’s like competing against each other (31:55) Why Georgia took a break from running after college — and why she eventually returned to the sport (38:30) What it took to get a spot on Team GB for the 2024 Olympics in Paris (45:00) How it feels not to be an underdog anymore (55:00) Georgia’s advice to runners in a hard season (58:00) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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!

1 Okt 1h 9min

"Remember the entire journey, because it’s very special." It’s almost time for the 47th running of the Chicago Marathon! The 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 12, and this episode is packed with all the information you need before you head to the start line. (And yes, you really should plan to get there two hours early. We’ll explain why!) The elite fields are stacked, and they’ll be followed by tens of thousands of runners en route to 26.2-mile glory. Get ready. Get psyched. And get that Goose Island at the finish! SPONSOR: New Balance: Searching for your dream Race Day Shoe? Check out the New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v5 — my favorite! In this episode: Chicago Marathon executive race director Carey Pinkowski talks about what to expect at this year’s race (2:15) All things pre-race: How to get in for next year's Chicago Marathon, how Chicago is committed to sustainability, and whether or not you can still change your starting corral assignment (21:35) Who to watch in this year's professional fields (32:10) What to know about getting to the start and navigating the athlete village (34:00) Chris "Coach Worm" Wehrman and Robyn LaLonde talk Chicago Marathon course strategy (44:40) All about the finish line experience and tips for spectating (1:12:20) 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!

25 Sep 1h 18min

"I haven’t spent a lot of time breaking down and crying. Every time I’ve started to have a breakdown, I look at myself in the mirror and say, 'Stop, go about your day.' I know at some point I need to let those tears out, but I don’t really have time, so I’m stuffing it all down." I'm fresh off my fifth round of chemotherapy, and am back on the couch recording with friends. This time for chemo (and scan day!), I was again joined by Cousin Jackie, and this is our recap from the day at the infusion center and the few days we spent together.  SPONSOR:  Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I'm an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your next Lagoon order. Oofos: The best in recovery footwear! Check out Oofos's 2025 Project Pink collection, where 10% of every purchase is donated to cancer research.  Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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!

16 Sep 1h 24min

"Every starting line is a chance for a breakthrough." Josette Andrews is heading to Tokyo! This summer, the On-sponsored athlete went into the 5000m race at U.S. Outdoor National Championships as the top-seeded athlete — and it was the calmest she's ever been in a championship race. In this conversation, Josette talks about racing with a target on her back at USAs, and about making her first outdoor world championship team (she finished third in the 5000m Final at USAs, behind Shelby Houlihan and Elise Cranny). Josette, whose personal best is 14:25 from Rome earlier this summer, will represent Team USA in the women's 5000m race on September 18. Josette and her husband, Olympian Robby Andrews, live in Boulder, CO, where Josette trains with the On Athletics Club. FOLLOW JOSETTE @josettenorris SPONSORS:  New Balance: Click here to get your hands on the just-released Rebel v5! Shokz: Use code ALI for $10 off your next headphone purchase. In this episode: Where in the world is Josette Andrews? (2:30) On Josette’s decision to race on the Diamond League circuit between USAs and World Championships (4:30) How pro athletes get experience with tactical races (12:00) What’s making Josette happy today? (14:15) What it’s like being a top seed at U.S. Outdoor National Championships (20:00) Making the team vs. being on the team, and how Josette hurt her foot before USAs (24:30) On being asked about Shelby Houlihan’s return (31:50) Why Josette feels so calm this summer (34:15) Josette’s key takeaways from the 2025 outdoor season (39:00) How Josette ran an 18-second personal best in the 5000m this year, and how she reflects on this “dream season” (46:45) Josette's message to everyone going through a tough time right now (51:00) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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!

11 Sep 1h 4min