Ali on the Run Show

“I just had to keep moving forward… I never let myself stop and wallow in it, because I was afraid that if I did, I’d never stop. I just had to keep going. So I did.” Lara Kondor is — and always has been — tough. She's a 46-year-old ultra-running mom of three who lives in New Hampshire, and on this episode, she talks about how she found running, and about the powerful role running has played in her life. Lara is a 13-time marathoner and nine-time ultramarathoner, with dreams of hitting the 100-mile mark in a single event. (Her longest so far is 92 miles at The Hamsterwheel 24-hour race.) Both on the run and off, Lara is a full-time caregiver for her oldest child, Noah, who is 25 and was diagnosed with autism at three years old. Noah is mostly nonverbal, but running has given him a new way to communicate. In this conversation, Lara talks about Noah's diagnosis, about new motherhood, and about how they started running together. She talks about asking for help, about accepting help, and about seeing Noah thrive (and get faster!) on the run. SPONSOR: COROS — Use code ONTHERUN for a free keychain watch charger with the purchase of any watch! What you’ll get on this episode: All about Lara’s childhood growing up in Florida (4:15) On having children at a young age, and what it was like getting Noah’s autism diagnosis when he was three years old (6:20) How Lara found running (17:25) Why Lara loves running ultras — on a track (31:40) How Noah found running (36:00) Why Lara and Noah joined the Millennium Running Club (42:30) What’s next for Lara and Noah? (55:40) Check out: Clearwater Running Festival Melissa Cummings on Episode 375 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Lara: Instagram @lara_runs_in_circles 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!

30 Nov 20211h 16min

“If I can make someone else get comfortable and they can get the help they need, that seems like mission accomplished to me.” Grayson Murphy just may be the most versatile professional runner in the country right now. This year alone, Grayson has taken home wins on the trails, the track, and the roads. She won Saucony's Fast Future 10K in Germany, won her heat in the 3000m steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials (and ultimately finished sixth in the finals), won the USATF Mountain Running Championships, won the Deseret News 10K, and earned herself a personal best in the mile. On this episode, we cover all of the highlights from Grayson's fast, fun year, and talk about the tough stuff along the way. Grayson talks about dealing with race anxiety, shares her thoughts on the emotional side of running, and offers advice for thriving in a long-distance relationship. (Yay love language talk!) She talks about her passion for rest days, her love for journaling (check out her line of 2022 planners here!), and what's next on the run. (Hint: The word marathon came up an awful lot in this conversation...) SPONSOR: The WineShine Half Marathon — Register today for the inaugural event, happening July 16, 2022. See you in Napa! What you’ll get on this episode: All about Grayson’s morning run (3:00) Grayson talks about her race at the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K in New York City (4:30) Riding in the lead vehicle during the TCS New York City Marathon — and Grayson’s thoughts on an eventual marathon debut (6:20) Now what? (13:10) Why Grayson loves rest days (15:20) Grayson’s 2021 highlight reel, and what makes racing fun for her (21:20) All about Grayson’s line of planners, and her own mental health journey (24:40) How Grayson processed this summer’s U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials outcome (32:45) Grayson’s favorite drug testing story (41:30) The anti-highlight reel (43:00) Trail running vs. the roads and the track (46:40) How Grayson reflects on her decision to leave HOKA and NAZ Elite after a year at the beginning of her professional career (48:45) Grayson’s biggest hopes and dreams, on the run and off (52:40) Follow Grayson: Instagram @racin__grayson Twitter @racin__grayson Website Buy her planners! 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!

29 Nov 20211h 1min

"There was never a low point for me. Is that weird?!" Two weeks before this year's New York City Marathon, Elyse Kopecky was on the Ali on the Run Show with best friend Shalane Flanagan, talking all about their NYC Marathon plans and dreams, and about the release of their third cookbook, Rise & Run. Now, Elyse is back — and she's officially a marathoner! On this episode, Elyse shares every detail of her debut marathon experience. She talks about the highs and lows of training, about the struggle of being a mom pulled in many directions at all times, and about traveling to New York City alone. She reflects on the excitement of Rise & Run becoming a New York Times best-seller the same week as the marathon, and breaks down her race week. Then, she talks about lining up on the top of the Verrazzano Bridge next to Shalane, and about meeting her at the finish line 3 hours, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds later. Plus, all the excitement of the 26.2 miles in between. SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones. What you’ll get on this episode: On Rise & Run making the New York Times best-seller list the week of the marathon (3:00) Elyse shares her pre-NYC knowledge (5:00) The highs and lows of training (8:00) All the new things Elyse did before race day (11:15) What it was like lining up at the start line next to Shalane (16:30) All about the race! (20:00) That finish line feeling (29:30) How Elyse celebrated her marathon finish (34:00) “The biggest thing that was new on race day” (39:45) Now what? (44:30) Follow Elyse: Instagram @ElyseKopecky Twitter @ElyseKopecky 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 Nov 202149min

"I just loved what I saw. I felt seen. I felt heard. There were so many people that looked like me, or they had similar journeys. They were in a transitional point in their lives, and fitness was part of that. So I just kept coming back." This week on the Everyday Runner series, meet Adalgisa (best known as "Lisa") Rivera. Not only did Lisa and I record this episode just a few days after she completed the New York City Marathon, we also did so on Veteran's Day — an especially meaningful day for Lisa, who served in the U.S. Army National Guard for eight years. On this episode, Lisa shares her emotional NYC Marathon recap, and talks about how she first found running several years ago. (It involved being dragged to a Harlem Run workout "kicking and screaming." Fast forward a few years, and Lisa is now a five-time marathoner and pacer for Harlem Run.) She talks about her childhood, and about discovering the importance of community. And she talks about getting her master's degree in social work, and pursuing a career working in child welfare. Plus, all about her experience at the TransRockies Run this summer (and why she wants to double that distance in 2022), and why it's so important for Lisa to be a "change agent" in her community. SPONSOR: COROS — Use code ONTHERUN for a free keychain watch charger with the purchase of any watch! What you’ll get on this episode: Lisa reflects on her time serving in the military (4:10) Lisa’s emotional New York City Marathon recap (17:00) What Lisa’s childhood was like, and how she got into social work (27:00) How Lisa found running (39:30) What’s next for Lisa? (59:50) Follow Lisa: Instagram @lovelylisa125 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!

23 Nov 20211h 17min

"This was something I would never pass up. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime to document these moments." Cortney White has a unique lens on the running world — literally. Cortney is a professional photographer who just spent the past two months on the road with Shalane Flanagan, documenting every step of her Project Eclipse journey. On this episode, Cortney talks about how she got involved with this project, and shares her own highlights, challenges, and most memorable moments from the six-marathons-in-six-cities experience. She also talks about getting started in the industry, about the camaraderie among running photographers, and about why she wants to get cameras in the hands of more women. Plus, behind-the-scenes stories from her adventures, all about her #vanlife, and her answer to whether she's ever missed a major moment on camera. SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off your entire goodr order! What you’ll get on this episode: All about Cortney’s #vanlife (4:00) How Cortney got involved with Project Eclipse (6:00) Seeing that giant billboard in NYC (12:30) The logistical side of Project Eclipse (15:20) Cortney’s favorite photo from Project Eclipse (29:45) Project Eclipse superlatives! (32:55) The camaraderie among professional photographers (35:30) All about that Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle moment at the New York City Marathon (48:50) How Cortney got her start as a photographer (51:50) On working with the Bowerman Track Club during a difficult year (59:45) Cortney’s favorite part of the job and the ultimate dream assignment (1:02:30) Follow Cortney: Instagram @cortneywhite_ 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!

19 Nov 20211h 13min

"My whole life, I didn’t think I was funny or anything. So when people say that, or when they say I inspire them, my brain is immediately like, 'No, no you don't, don’t listen, they’re lying!' The New York City Marathon completely changed that for me. Meeting people in person for the first time…it really made it real for me." She's baaaaack — and this time, she's a New York City Marathoner! Erin Azar — best known online as Mrs. Space Cadet — became a viral sensation when she started running after having her third child, documenting the process for her TikTok and YouTube fans. Erin was on the Ali on the Run Show in February talking about her rise to internet superstardom. Now, she returns to the show as an official New York City Marathoner. On this episode, Erin shares all the details from her New York City experience, from the pre-race adventures on foot to the journey to the start line, and every meaningful step in between the Verrazzano Bridge and the finish line. Along the way, Erin raised more than $76,000 for Team Fox, which supports Parkinson's disease research — a cause close to Erin's heart, since her dad lives with Parkinson's. (Her goal is to hit $100,000, and they are accepting donations until the end of the month. Click here to help get Erin a few dollars closer to $100K!) Watch Erin's full recap from the day here. Dare you not to cry at the 13-minute mark! SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones. What you’ll get on this episode: How it feels to be a New York City Marathoner (2:30) The moment from NYC that Erin keeps going back to in her mind (6:00) Erin’s journey to the New York City Marathon (12:30) Training reflections (17:15) How the day before the race played out (25:00) The journey to the start line (33:45) What was going through Erin’s head at the start, and what she thought about the Verrazzano Bridge (40:00) Erin’s journey through Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx (44:00) That finish line feeling (59:00) All about appearing on the Today show on Marathon Monday (1:05:00) What’s next for Erin? (1:09:00) Follow Erin: Instagram @immrsspacecadet TikTok @mrs.space.cadet YouTube 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 Nov 20211h 14min

“Running doesn’t break us. It teaches us to bend.” By very popular demand: Welcome to Season 2 of The Everyday Runner series! For the next five weeks, we'll hear from runners who are just like you and me. They are women who love running and who care about it deeply — but they don't do this professionally, and they have jobs, families, responsibilities, and busy lives off the run. They are the everyday runner. To kick off Season 2, meet Chloe Rosen! Chloe is the real-life runner behind the popular "Your Best Running Friend" Instagram account. And no wonder it's funny: Chloe is an actor and comedian whose work has been featured on Comedy Central, Funny or Die, and College Humor! (Check out her hit web series "Dating My TV.") On this episode, Chloe talks about her road to improv and sketch comedy greatness, and about how she found running along the way. (It involves a breakup. Relatable!) She talks about how her relationship with her body has ebbed and flowed over the years, about learning not to compare herself to Past Chloe, and about how she was feeling before running the New York City Marathon last weekend. SPONSOR: COROS — Use code ONTHERUN for a free keychain watch charger with the purchase of any COROS watch! What you’ll get on this episode: On the post-wedding comedown — and how it compares to the post-race comedown (5:15) What Chloe’s childhood was like (10:15) On teaching English in India, and how it changed Chloe’s life (22:25) How Chloe broke into comedy (31:20) How Chloe found running (44:25) All about “Your Best Running Friend” (50:00) How Chloe’s relationship with running has evolved (58:50) Pre-NYC Marathon thoughts (1:06:15) 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!

16 Nov 20211h 22min

“I really want to represent the country, and I want to make that the focus of my entire year.” Last month, Emma Bates was among the thousands of runners who ran the Chicago Marathon on a very hot, very humid day. But the weather didn't bring her down: Emma finished second that day, earning herself a spot on the podium and a new personal best time in the marathon (2:24:20). On this episode, the professional runner for Asics reflects on that day in Chicago, and shares the lessons she learned when the running got tough. She talks about her emotional 2020, including missing a spot on Team USA at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and then traveling to Europe afterward and getting a bad case of Covid-19 (which she hates talking about). Then, she talks about returning to the roads for the Marathon Project, and about her decision to join Team Boss and to be coached by Joe Bosshard. Plus, all about her weekend spectating at the TCS New York City Marathon (where she was best friend Laura Thweatt's "person"), and her excitement about earning a spot on next year's world championship team in the marathon. SPONSOR: Napa Valley Marathon & Half Marathon — Registration is now open for next year's races. Click the link and secure your spot today for these fast, scenic races on March 6, 2022. What you’ll get on this episode: On being Laura Thweatt’s “person” during the New York City Marathon (4:00) How Emma celebrated after the Chicago Marathon, and how recovery is going (12:00) Emma’s 2022 plans, hopes, and dreams (18:30) What Emma remembers most from Chicago (21:10) Emma’s pre-race conversation with coach Joe Bosshard, what Emma’s like on race day, and all about “methodical patience” (25:30) When the race got hard (29:00) On running and grief (33:00) What the last mile of the Chicago Marathon was like, and what happened after the race (36:00) Reflecting on the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and getting Covid after (45:00) Reflecting on the 2020 Marathon Project (51:00) All about joining Team Boss (52:00) On being an emotional runner (1:00:00) What’s next for Emma? (1:02:00) Follow Emma: Instagram @emmajanelbates Twitter @emmajbates 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 Nov 20211h 11min