98. Mary Wittenberg, Former CEO of New York Road Runners & Virgin Sport

"I have zero expectations. I'm ranked 60-plus. But I think I have a good shot at being top 10 in the world, and maybe even having a shot at a medal. Those were my own expectations and my own pressure. Good expectations, and good pressure. It started as, 'We made it, we checked the box, we got to the Olympics!' But it quickly transitioned to, 'Oh, let's see what we can do. Let's swing for the fences.' When Clayton Young lined up at the start of the Paris Olympic Marathon, he had thousands of fans cheering him on. Sure, he had his friends and family — including his wife, Ashley — in Paris. But because Clayton and Ashley so meticulously documented the build from the Trials to Paris in a docu-series, they gained legions of new fans and followers along the way. Clayton earned his spot on Team USA by finishing second at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February, just seconds behind teammate Conner Mantz. In Paris, they did it again, finishing seconds apart at the Olympic Marathon on that grueling, hilly, scenic tour of the city. Conner finished eighth, and Clayton ran 2:08:44, landing him in ninth place. And somewhere around those hills, we saw the mid-race low five between teammates, garnering a collective "awwww" from the viewers at home. An even cuter duo than the training partners: Clayton and his wife Ashley, who is known on Instagram as "Feed Your Runner," and is tasked with fueling Clayton's 120-mile training weeks. In this episode, we get to hear about how Ashley and Clayton support each other, and about what it looks like to be in a partnership where you're chasing big dreams and making choices and sacrifices in pursuit of greatness. Clayton and Ashley have two daughters, they live in Utah, and their next big [family] trip will be to New York this fall, when Clayton will race his third marathon of the year at the TCS New York City Marathon. FOLLOW CLAYTON @_clayton_young_ FOLLOW ASHLEY @feedyourrunner SPONSOR: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN training essentials pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. 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!

29 Aug 20241h 29min

"I wanted to change the world just like she had." Kate Gunderson — best known online as "The Plane Kate" — is living a real-life Top Gun...kind of. (She'll explain!) Kate is a flight test engineer (a literal woman in STEM!), a former NASA engineer, and a nine-time marathoner with a 3:18 personal best. In this conversation, Kate explains what her role entails, what it's like being in flight test school, and how she handles being a woman in a very male-dominated industry (she's the only woman in her program!). She offers advice on improving your confidence, on speaking up when you're "the only," and on chasing your biggest dreams. Plus, all about her first flight, what it took to run a massive personal best, and whether or not she still dreams of heading into space someday. FOLLOW KATE @theplanekate SPONSOR: Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (Emma Bates and I are both Otters!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your order. What you'll get on this episode: Top Gun vs. real life, and what Kate's first flight was like (2:30) On being a woman in a male-dominated industry (7:25) When Kate knew she wanted to pursue a career in space (10:10) How Kate made her dreams come true (14:50) On life in test pilot school (30:15) How Kate met her soon-to-be husband (46:15) What's the dream now? (52:30) How — and why — Kate became a runner (58:05) What it took to run a 3:18 marathon (1:01:20) On doing the right thing, even when it's hard (1:05:55) Kate's advice for beating imposter syndrome (1:10:30) 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!

27 Aug 20241h 25min

"It's like everything you've been working for coming true in one moment." Today in 2024 Paris Olympic Games recap episodes: marathoner Dakotah Lindwurm! Dakotah earned her spot on Team USA by finishing third at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in February, and now, she finally got to run those 26.2 miles (or 42.1 kilometers, as she learned) through Paris, and can officially call herself an Olympian. Dakotah finished 12th at the Olympic Marathon, and was the top American woman in the race, running 2:26:44. In this episode, we get to hear all about the race, including what it was like leading the Olympic Marathon, and what it was like getting engaged at the finish. Plus, what's next: Dakotah announced this week that she will be running the TCS New York City Marathon in just 11 weeks. SPONSORS: goodr: Click here and use code ALI for free shipping on your entire order. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN training essentials pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. What you'll get on this episode: How Dakotah is feeling post-Paris, and all about her decision to run the New York City Marathon in just 11 weeks (2:00) If Dakotah hasn't had her breakthrough yet, what would that look like? (8:20) Dakotah's Paris expectations vs. reality (10:00) All about the boy on the sidelines (16:50) Why this race was "bittersweet" for Dakotah (19:40) How watching the men's marathon impacted Dakotah's race plan (23:45) The pre-race camaraderie between Dakotah, Emily, and Fiona (28:30) What it was like racing the Olympic Marathon — and why the first 10K was so "chaotic" (33:20) On leading the Olympic Marathon (36:10) How Dakotah felt on the hills (39:00) Dakotah's advice for getting through the low points of a race (42:40) What the final miles of the race were like for Dakotah (47:30) The finish line proposal! (50:30) The immediate perks of being an Olympian (55:40) How Dakotah chose what to wear for the marathon (1:02:30) 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 Aug 20241h 7min

"I knew it was going to be incredible. I knew it was going to be such a fun and crazy experience. But it was an experience of a lifetime. There's no other way to describe it. I just had so much fun. One of my goals was to soak it all in and have fun, and I really did that." Nikki Hiltz returns to the Ali on the Run Show for the tenth time — and this time, officially, as an Olympian. Nikki finished seventh in the 1500m Final at the Paris Olympic Games, and in this episode, they give us the full scoop about what it was like being at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, living in the athlete village, and competing at the Stade de France. Let the 2024 Paris Olympic Games recap episodes begin! FOLLOW NIKKI @nikkizhiltz SPONSOR: New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. What you'll get on this episode: How Nikki is feeling post-Olympics (2:40) Nikki's Olympic expectations vs. reality (4:25) All about that moment between Nikki and Tara Davis-Woodhall, and Nikki's take on the Team USA camaraderie at the Games (9:10) What it was like in the athlete village (17:50) Nikki's thoughts on how the final played out (28:45) On feeling loved and supported at the Olympics and beyond (39:00) Nikki answers listener questions (40:45) 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!

20 Aug 20241h 43min

"Everyone's doing their dream, you know? There are people who are winning, and that's their dream. There are people who, just being there, that's their dream. Hearts are being broken. It feels like you're on that most emotional day of your period for two weeks." Michelle Wolf is best known for her work as a stand-up comic. (Earlier this year, she wrote Kim Kardashian's bit for Netflix's Tom Brady roast.) But runners know: She's one of us. Michelle is an ultramarathoner and track and field super fan. (She even worked with Hayward Magic at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, OR.) In this episode, Michelle returns to the Ali on the Run Show to kick off all things 2024 Paris Olympic Games. We're recapping our viewing experiences and most memorable moments as two of running's most eager cheerleaders. SPONSORS: Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN training essentials pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. 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!

15 Aug 20241h 52min

"I remember watching the New York City Marathon on TV and just saying, 'One day, I want to do that.' I'm watching it, and I'm like, 'They're superheroes! How do they do that?!'" Sam Ryan is WABC 7's Emmy Award-winning sports anchor and reporter. The New York City-based mom of two spends her days talking baseball, football, and hockey on live TV — but her favorite day on air is when she gets to co-anchor WABC's New York City Marathon coverage. Sam is an 11-time marathoner who has worked at ESPN, ABC Sports, CBS, and the MLB Network. She has covered the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Little League World Series, Monday Night Football, and the Home Run Derby. (I was fortunate to get to work with Sam at the 2023 New York City Marathon and at this year's New York Mini 10K!) FOLLOW SAM @samryanabc7 SPONSORS: Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. What you'll get on this episode: Sam's best on-the-job celebrity encounters (4:30) What Young Sam was like, and how she found her way to sports journalism (8:35) "I'm nervous all the time" (15:20) A day in the life of a sports reporter (20:00) How Sam pursued a travel-filled career and motherhood (26:50) On being a woman in a male-dominated industry (31:40) Sam's advice for being more comfortable on live television (34:50) Sam's most memorable "live on TV" moments (41:15) On co-anchoring the New York City Marathon broadcast for WABC7 (45:00) How — and why — Sam became a runner (51:25) Why Sam decided to run her first marathon at 44 years old (57:55) Sam's decision to get her master's degree in English Literature (1:04:30) 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!

8 Aug 20241h 17min

"The energy is just so palpable. Even though it's the crack of dawn, we are all abuzz and going. You have to be able to get it going." The next time you're watching the Today Show and you see the anchors eating or drinking something delicious, that's the work of Katie Stilo. As Today's food stylist and culinary producer, it's Katie's job to prepare segments, write scripts based on guest-submitted recipes, cook those recipes (often from world-renowned chefs), and artfully arrange all the food and tablescapes on screen. Plus, she's often on camera, whipping up masterpieces for Savannah, Hoda, Al, Craig, Carson, and the crew. In this conversation, Katie talks about her Emmy Award-winning career, and about the road to landing her dream job. She also talks about becoming a runner two years ago. Katie's goal to see if she could finish a 10K turned into seeing if she could finish a half marathon, which turned into seeing if she could go sub-2:00 in the half marathon. (Spoiler: She did, running a 39-minute half-marathon personal best at this year's Brooklyn Half.) Katie is currently training for this year's TCS New York City Marathon. FOLLOW KATIE @katie.stilo SPONSOR: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN training essentials pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. What you'll get on this episode: On *not* being in Paris for the Olympics with the Today team (2:30) What, exactly, Katie's job entails (8:00) On cooking for the Today anchors and feeding their preferences (15:45) Katie's most memorable live television bloopers and mishaps (17:50) How Katie got her dream job (27:00) How Katie became on-air talent for Today (43:45) Katie's favorite Today guests (49:00) What it was like being a food stylist for M&Ms (51:45) How, when, and why Katie became a runner (53:25) How Katie is feeling at the start of New York City Marathon training (1:01:10) 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!

1 Aug 20241h 24min

"I live in constant duality now." We're taking a break from the Trials recaps and Olympics episodes to catch up. Welcome to Ask Ali, where I answer all of your questions submitted on Instagram (where I'm @aliontherun1). SPONSOR: goodr: Click here and use code ALI for free shipping on your entire order. 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!

30 Jul 202452min