218. Anita Perez, 2:39 Marathoner, Single Mom, & Special Education Teacher

"Be honest, be real, be vulnerable. That's how you find your mental toughness." —Dr. Nicole Detling This episode will change your life on the run. It's a bold statement, I know, but Dr. Nicole Detling, the founder of Headstrong Consulting in Utah, is here to help us all improve our mental game. Dr. Detling is a mental performance coach for teams and athletes including the US Ski and Snowboard Association, Ballet West, tons of Olympians, and members of the PGA, MLB, NBA, NHL, and more. On this episode, she talks about building mental strength, getting through tough workouts and races, motivation, "chunking," tapping into your "why," coming back from a break, and the importance of rest days — both physical and mental. She also talks a lot about failure — why we fear it, what it actually means, and how social media factors into that fear of failure. We wrap up the episode by talking about exercise abuse. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription. What you'll get on this episode: Advice for training your brain on the run (4:30) How to mentally prep for and thrive on race day (23:50) General Q&A (45:33) What we mention on this episode: United Airlines NYC Half Marathon Don't Leave Your Mind Behind Follow Dr. Detling: Instagram @headstrongdoc Twitter @headstrongdoc Website 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!

12 Mar 201957min

"Hear my voice in your head when you start trying to dig out the cysts on your face." —Dr. Rachel Nazarian Dr. Rachel Nazarian is a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in New York City, and is an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai. On this episode, she dishes some real talk about skin, including everything she wants women to know about acne, cysts, and beauty influencers. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription. What you'll get on this episode: General skincare and product Q&A (2:15) All things acne (16:45) Body stuff, like nipple hair, chin hair, and stretch marks (30:00) Myth-busting (43:15) What we mention on this episode: Dove Beauty Bar Cetaphil Cleanser BioClarity Treatment System VaniCream Revision Skincare Intellishade SPF Heliocare capsules Vanish spot treatment Mario Badescu skincare Follow Dr. Nazarian: Instagram @drrachelnazarian 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!

11 Mar 201956min

"Physical fitness and financial fitness are both simple. To get physically fit, we need to eat less and work out more, and to get financially fit, we need to spend less and make more. It sounds really simple, but if it were that simple, we'd have a bunch of skinny millionaires running around! There are a lot of emotions around both." —Shannon McLay If you want to run a marathon, you hire a running coach or personal trainer. If you want to get your finances whipped into shape, you hire Shannon McLay, founder and CEO of The Financial Gym and host of the Martinis and Your Money podcast. Shannon is a former Merrill Lynch financial advisor who created The Financial Gym to help people "kick their assets into shape and their bad money habits to the curb." Her goal is to help men and women, primarily of the millennial generation, to get financially healthy. Shannon and her team at The Financial Gym have coached more than 1,400 clients and helped them turn their bank accounts, credit scores, and investments around — and on this episode, she talks about how to get started, plus how to avoid the financial comparison trap. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription. What you'll get on this episode: General money Q&A, including advice on credit cards, bank accounts, the financial comparison trap, and more (5:00) Budgeting 101 (22:15) Advice for paying off student loans (28:05) All about investing and saving (37:45) Baby and family questions (53:00) What we mention on this episode: NerdWallet The Points Guy Acorns Investing 101 Webinar via The Financial Gym Betterment Policygenius Follow Shannon: Instagram @theshannonmclay Twitter @theshannonmclay The Financial Gym Martinis & Your Money Podcast 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!

10 Mar 20191h 6min

"It's important to have the tough conversations." —Dr. Logan Levkoff Dr. Logan Levkoff is an expert on sexuality and relationships, and she's all about promoting honest conversations surrounding both. In addition to being a sexuality educator, Dr. Levkoff is also a television regular, appearing regularly on Good Morning America, the Today show, CNN, and the first three seasons of Married at First Sight. She has worked with major brands like Dove, Pfizer, Starbucks, and Trojan, and has authored and contributed to several books on sexuality. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription. What you'll get on this episode: All things love and relationships (3:30) Advice on sex (30:00) What we mention on this episode: The 5 Love Languages Follow Dr. Levkoff: Instagram @loganlevkoff Twitter @loganlevkoff 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 Mar 201951min

"Please don't Google this stuff." —Brynn Fessette O'Neill Brynn Fessette O'Neill, DPT, is a physical therapist at Finish Line Physical Therapy in New York City. On this episode, she offers advice on prehab, injuries, and recovery. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription. What you'll get on this episode: All about prehab and rehab (3:00) Brynn explains why specific injuries happen and how to deal with them, including IT-Band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, runner's knee, and more (14:30) Everything you need to know about recovery (35:30) What we mention on this episode: Brynn on Episode 21 of the Ali on the Run Show Vibrating foam roller Follow Brynn: Instagram @bfessette 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 Mar 201948min

"Focus on your food choices, your hunger, your fullness cues, and your body's cravings, and eat a variety of delicious foods you like." —Kelly Hogan Kelly Hogan is a registered dietitian and many-time marathoner. On this episode, she talks about what it means to be an anti-dietitian, how to question the nutrition information you find on social media, and what all runners should understand about healthy, proper fueling for optimal performance. Plus, she shares her expertise and insights on current popular health and wellness trends, from the keto diet to intermittent fasting. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription. What you'll get on this episode: What it means to be an anti-diet dietitian (2:10) Running-specific nutrition questions (5:45) Kelly shares her expertise on popular health and wellness trends (29:00) What we mention on this episode: Kelly Hogan on Episode 39 of the Ali on the Run Show Generation UCan Picky Bars Follow Kelly: Instagram @kellyhoganrd Follow Peanut on Instagram @peanut_the_dorkie Twitter @KellyHoganRD Email: kellyhoganrd@gmail.com 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!

7 Mar 201954min

"Do your own training. Get in your own routine. Don't compare yourself to what everyone else is doing and posting everywhere. Have confidence in what you're doing." —Mary Johnson Mary Johnson is a USATF Level-1 certified coach and the founder of Lift, Run, Perform. On this episode, she answers listener questions about coaching, strength training, and that crucial build-up to race day. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription. What you'll get on this episode: General coaching questions and personal questions (4:00) Cross training and strength training Q&A (14:10) Running-specific advice (22:20) Race-related questions (41:10) What we mention on this episode: Ranfone Training Systems Nike Vomero Nike Pegasus Allie Kieffer Follow Mary: Instagram @itsamarython Twitter @itsamarython Blog Lift, Run, Perform 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!

6 Mar 201957min

"I've always been about working hard and going after things that you are excited about and passionate about and working your ass off. That's the only way to make it happen. No one else is going to make it happen for you." —Anna Kaiser You may know Anna Kaiser as the creator, founder, and CEO of the dance cardio brand AKT. Maybe you've taken — and barely survived — her class, either in person or with AKT On Demand. Or maybe you recognize her from her professional dance days, performing on the Fame tour and dancing in the best movie ever, Enchanted. Or, let's be honest, maybe you know her as Kelly Ripa's workout BFF, or as the woman credited for keeping Shakira in shape. On this episode, Anna talks about going from a wannabe opera singer in Zurich to an entrepreneur on the brink of opening 300 studios nationwide. She shares the mistakes, missteps, and challenges she's faced along the way, talks about why she wanted to improve upon the boutique fitness industry, and opens up about how becoming a mom two years ago changed her at home, in the studio, and beyond. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle! What you'll get on this episode: What were Young Anna's dreams for the future? (3:00) Anna reflects on her college experience and explains why it wasn't everything she'd hoped it would be (8:15) Why Anna decided to move on from the dance world (12:00) How AKT was born, and how Anna stood out in the boutique fitness industry (15:00) How Anna became fitness BFFs with Kelly Ripa (21:00) How Anna has cultivated an empowering community (22:50) Why Anna decided to franchise (25:45) How Anna become business savvy, and the bad business decisions she's made along the way (31:25) Anna's take on the state of the fitness industry, now and in the future (34:30) Anna opens up about motherhood, including returning to work post-birth, having help, and "balance" (39:45) Does Anna have any insecurities? Plus, what she says she's proudest of (46:30) What we mention on this episode: EDGE Performing Arts Center AKT On Demand Xponential Fitness The Milling Room Follow Anna: Instagram @theannakaiser Twitter @theannakaiser Facebook 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!

28 Feb 201958min