Ali on the Run Show

"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

"Moral of the story is if a girl is gonna stick around you when you’re sleeping until 12:30 in the afternoon, she probably likes you. Marry her." Happy Valentine's Day! Welcome to the seventh and final episode in this year's Love on the Run Week series. Today, Jersey is in the house! Professional runners Josette Norris and Robby Andrews join the show to talk about the first time they met, the actual first time they met, and what they're each like on the sidelines when the other is racing (spoiler: loud!). Josette signed with Reebok in 2020, and is fresh off a breakout year where everyone was talking about "Josette Norris from New Jersey." And 2022 is already off to a solid start for her, with personal bests in the 1500m and the 3000m. Robby is in his tenth year competing as a professional athlete. He is sponsored by adidas, and is a 2016 Olympian: He competed in the 1500m in Rio. In this conversation, Josette and Robby (who got engaged in 2020) keep it fun talking about Robby meeting Barack and Michelle Obama and about how wedding planning is going. But they also talk about dealing with tough stuff, like Robby's experiences with Lyme disease, injuries, and surgeries, and Josette's experience being thrust into the running spotlight last year, and how she handled that. Robby offers an epic answer to the "What food would you make for Josette?" question in the Sprint, and they talk about what's on tap for 2022. SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ali and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. Follow Josette: Instagram @josettenorris Follow Robby: Instagram @ra_andrews 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!

14 Feb 20221h 37min

"I feel like I’m the best version of myself when he’s around." It's a big weekend for professional runners Sinclaire Johnson and Craig Nowak! Sinclaire and her Union Athletics Club teammates just broke the DMR (distance medley relay) world record in Spokane, WA (Sinclaire ran the 800m leg), and Craig was tasked with pacing 1500m and the 3K. But when they're not racing, pacing, or record-breaking, Sinclaire and Craig live and train together in Portland, OR. On this episode, they share the story of how they met (at Oklahoma State University, where Sinclaire was a freshman and Craig was a fifth year senior), what it was like dating long-distance after Craig graduated, and moving in together. Sinclaire, an NCAA 1500m champion who signed with Nike after graduating, talks about her decision to leave the Bowerman Track Club last year and to join Union Athletics Club, where she is coached by Pete Julian. She talks about having that conversation with former coaches Jerry Schumacher and Shalane Flanagan, and about why the Bowerman training style wasn't working for her. And Craig talks about becoming "the pacer guy," about his role as an official pacer on race day, and about how he navigates his own racing goals with his pacing duties. SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ali and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. For more, check out: Sinclaire Johnson on Episode 373 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Sinclaire: Instagram @sinclairejohnson Follow Craig: Instagram @pacepirate 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!

13 Feb 20221h 4min

“It was that classic thing of, ‘Want to go study together?’ with no actual interest in studying whatsoever.” In the summer of 2011, the northeast was preparing to get hit by Hurricane Irene. At Providence College in Rhode Island, a group of students gathered in a dorm room to ride out the storm together. Two of those students, both at Providence to run competitively, were Emily Sisson and Shane Quinn. On this episode, professional runner Emily and mental health counselor Shane talk about why they were immediately attracted to each other (no "speed goggles" necessary), and how their relationship started (shout-out to the Providence Place mall!). They reflect on major moments in Emily's running career, like winning the 10K at the U.S. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials last summer, and talk about what it was like when Emily competed at the Olympics but Shane couldn't be there with her. Plus, exciting life updates: Emily and Shane (and their two dogs, Desmond and Tori) just moved to Flagstaff, AZ! SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ali and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. For more, check out: Emily Sisson on Episode 394 of the Ali on the Run Show Emily Sisson on Episode 234 of the Ali on the Run Show Emily Sisson on Episode 169 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Emily: Instagram @em_sisson_ Twitter @em_sisson Follow Shane (and Desmond and Tori): Instagram @the_golden_life_of_desmond 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!

12 Feb 20221h 9min

“I thought he just wanted to be my friend!” Love on the Run Week, day four! Today we're joined by Minnesota Distance Elite's Annie Frisbie and Dhru Patel. Annie is in the midst of a breakout year on the run. She made her marathon debut at the TCS New York City Marathon in November, where she ran a 2:26, finishing seventh overall and as the third American woman. That time was the fourth-fastest marathon debut by an American woman. Then, Annie signed her first professional sponsorship deal with Puma. Last month, she raced for the first time in her new kit and shoes at the Houston Half Marathon, running a 1:10, finishing 10th, and immediately saying she was "hungry for more." When she's not running professionally, Annie is a graphic designer. On this episode, we hear all about that day in New York City from Annie's perspective, and from Dhru's, who was there to support his girlfriend and teammate. Dhru explains why he's taking a running and training break right now, and about what his days look like without running and competing. Dhru is perhaps best known for making history in April 2019. He was a senior accounting major at North Central College and ran the 5,000 meters at a meet at Stanford. Dhru finished in 13:51, breaking a 42-year division-three record. SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ali and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. For more, check out: Dakotah Lindwurm on Episode 476 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Annie: Instagram @anniefrisb3 Follow Dhru: Instagram @dhru1114 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!

11 Feb 20221h 4min

"I was like, you know what, any woman who can hop over a fence in a dress — I need to know more about her!" It's day three of Love on the Run Week, and Natalie and Jerold Mitchell are here! Natalie and Jerold have been married for more than two decades, and have three children together. They live in Los Angeles, where Jerold works in human resources, Natalie is a run coach (she's also a 12-time marathoner with a 3:05 personal best), and they co-host the Suite Run podcast. On this episode, they talk about the first time they met (Natalie was not interested), about bonding at a friend's wedding, and about dating long-distance for two years before Jerold moved to L.A. to be with Natalie. Jerold shares the story of surprising Natalie by running a marathon with the hopes of proposing at the finish line — and they laugh about how that story actually played out. (You will, too.) Plus, they share the highs and lows of working together, and Natalie offers an update on her goals to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the marathon. SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ali and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. For more, check out: Natalie Mitchell on Episode 307 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Natalie: Instagram @natrunsfar Suite Run Suite Run podcast 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!

10 Feb 20221h 10min