03. Alison Desir, Founder of Harlem Run

It's no secret that I love being in my thirties. In honor of turning 32 this weekend, I'm using this episode to take a look back on the last two years and reflect on the most important lessons I've learned since entering my thirties. (Spoiler: It's a lot of "you do you" and "ignore the haters" and "live with integrity.")

2 Maj 201730min

Lauren Conkey is 3:18 marathoner, vegetarian, and mom to two girls, Amelia (3) and Mabel (8 months). She's the blogger behind the now-retired Health on the Run, and lives in Rhode Island, where she works in public health — and on this episode we find out what that actually means and what her job entails. Lauren and I have been friends for years — an internet friendship success story! — so I wanted to use this episode to catch up on her life, her running, and how life has changed since having two kids (spoiler: it’s changed a lot). Lauren shares how she got started running — a story that involves her runner dad convincing her to run a mile on a track so she could stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve — and went on to shave 20 minutes off her marathon time, and gets personal talking about running before, during, and after her pregnancies. She also opens up about her recent miscarriage and how she returned to running afterward. You don’t have to have kids to appreciate Lauren’s wise words and reflections on life as a runner mom! Stuff We Mention on the Show: New York City Marathon: http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/ Cleveland Marathon: http://www.clevelandmarathon.com/ Manchester City Marathon: http://www.millenniumrunning.com/marathon Ali’s Manchester City Marathon Recap: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2012/11/06/from-413-to-351-my-manchester-city-marathon-recap/ New York City Marathon Weekend 2011: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2011/11/07/new-york-city-marathon-weekend/ Follow Lauren: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcontherun/ Retired blog: https://healthontherun.wordpress.com/ Follow Ali: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

27 Apr 201756min

On this episode, I talk about my history with body-related issues — starting when I was a young dancer to my college years and my post-collegiate experience with exercise addiction — and what I did to get past them. I spent years obsessing over how I looked and constantly checking in with my appearance — and what I disliked about it. Now I'm at a place where I may not always be totally "body positive," but I'm at least body neutral, and that feels incredibly freeing. Join me!

25 Apr 201730min

Brynn Fessette O’Neill is a physical therapist at Finish Line Physical Therapy in New York City — in fact, she’s my physical therapist! On this episode, Brynn talks about how she became a physical therapist and shares her advice for anyone considering a similar career path. She talks about the three things runners should be doing every single day to stay healthy and injury-free, dishes on the difference between her male and female patients — spoiler, she says women are way tougher — and discusses the most common injuries and issues she sees in athletes. This is a must-listen for runners! Stuff We Mention on the Show: Finish Line Physical Therapy: http://finishlinept.com/ Coach Cane: https://www.instagram.com/coachcane/ San Diego Half Marathon: http://sdhalfmarathon.com/ Team in Training: http://www.teamintraining.org/ New York City Marathon: http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/ Philadelphia Marathon: http://philadelphiamarathon.com/ United Airlines NYC Half: http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2017/united-airlines-nyc-half How to foam roll your lateral quads: http://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/foam-rolling-moves-quads/ Alter-G treadmill: http://finishlinept.com/services/alterg-anti-gravity-treadmill/ Finish Line Physical Therapy on ClassPass: https://classpass.com/studios/finish-line-pt-new-york Chris Mosier on the Ali on the Run Show: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ali-on-the-run-show-podcast/ Ragnar Relay South Beach: https://www.runragnar.com/event-detail/relay/southbeach New York Transit App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/transit-real-time-app-for-bus-subway-metro/id498151501?mt=8 Follow Brynn: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bfessette/ Website: http://finishlinept.com/team/brynn-fessette/ Follow Finish Line Physical Therapy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finishlinept/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FinishLinePT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FinishLinePT Website: http://finishlinept.com/ Follow Ali: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

20 Apr 20171h

I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching lately, so on this episode, I’m sharing something my yoga teacher read to me once called “Stop Waiting.” It’s about how we need to stop waiting for life to happen to us, and instead need to be the ones in control, taking action, and igniting a fire in our own lives. I totally lived this way in my teens and twenties when I was in pursuit of my dream job as editor in chief of Dance Spirit magazine. I got that job — yay! — but in the years since I moved on have found myself living more cautiously and less intuitively. That all stops now. Time to channel 16-year-old Ali by making bold declarations, pursuing big dreams, forgetting about what other people think, and taking back control of my happiness. Follow Ali: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

18 Apr 20178min

Michele Gonzalez, best known as NYC Running Mama, is a Staten Island-based mother, runner, marathoner, Ironman, and Instagram superstar. On this episode, Michele and I talk about how she’s feeling as she gets ready to run the Boston Marathon, what her training has been like, and what she did differently this time around. Michele also talks about her time at West Point and in Iraq (she served three times overseas and trained for a marathon on her base!), how she found running and ran through her pregnancies, what her daily diet is like, and what her life is like as a full-time working mom to two cute boys, AJ and Ryan. Plus, she talks about how she actually makes those daily 4 AM workouts happen, how she handles social media pressure, and what her big goals are for the future — on the run and beyond. Stuff We Mention on the Show: Boston Marathon: http://www.baa.org/ Michele’s New York City Marathon recap: http://www.nycrunningmama.com/2016/11/14/2016-nyc-marathon-race-recap/ Michele’s coach, Mary Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/itsamarython/ McKirdy Trained: http://mckirdytrained.com/ Michele’s post about how she views pain: https://www.instagram.com/p/BSPivP-hHq2/ Michele’s New Jersey Marathon recap: http://www.nycrunningmama.com/2013/05/06/initial-thoughts-on-nj-marathon-failure/ Michele’s Philadelphia Marathon recap: http://www.nycrunningmama.com/2013/11/18/2013-philadelphia-marathon-lesson-on-not-quitting/ Michele’s Ironman Lake Placid recap: http://www.nycrunningmama.com/2013/08/01/ironman-lake-placid-race-recap/ West Point: http://www.usma.edu/SitePages/Home.aspx Foot Locker 5-Borough Challenge: https://www.facebook.com/FootLockerFiveBoroughChallenge/ Generation UCAN: https://www.generationucan.com/ Airbnb Brooklyn Half: http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2017/airbnb-brooklyn-half United Airlines NYC Half: http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2017/united-airlines-nyc-half Brooklyn Mile: http://www.brooklynmile.com/ Follow Michele: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nycrunningmama/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYCRunningMama/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nycrunningmama Blog: http://www.nycrunningmama.com/ Follow Ali: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

13 Apr 20171h 13min

Words can be powerful! On this episode, I talk about the mantras, quotes, and phrases that get me through tough runs and hard times. From Broadway lyrics to single words, these are my go-to thoughts for when things get difficult. Things I Mention on This Episode: Hamilton cast album: https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Original-Broadway-Recording-Explicit/dp/B0135P6PZA Rachel Platten, Fight Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1VInw-SKc Brian Cristiano on Episode 17 of the Ali on the Run Show: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/17-relationship-q-a-with-brian-cristiano/id1204523870?i=1000384070320&mt=2 Bethany Lyons: https://www.instagram.com/bethanyalyons/ Project Start: https://www.instagram.com/psyougotthis/ Candice Huffine on Episode 11 of the Ali on the Run Show: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/11-candice-huffine-model-runner-founder-project-start/id1204523870?i=1000382698209&mt=2 Project Start on FOX: http://www.fox5ny.com/good-day/215494645-video Keltie Knight: https://www.instagram.com/keltieknight/ The Lady Gang podcast: http://theladygang.com/ Keltie Colleen in Dance Spirit: http://www.dancespirit.com/uncategorized/Dance-team_diva_Kickline_queen_Commercial_champ_Keltie_Colleen_can_do_it_all/ Follow Ali: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

11 Apr 201720min

We’re mixing things up on this episode to dish out some serious realness, openness, and honesty. Brian Cristiano is the founder and CEO of BOLD Worldwide, a sports advertising agency in New York City. He’s also my husband, so on this episode, Brian and I take turns asking each other “anything we want.” This hour was totally unscripted and it gets a little deeper than I had anticipated. The topics ended up ranging from where we see ourselves in 10 or 20 years to the things that make us happiest in life, our hopes for our future children, and the people who have had the most profound impacts on our lives. Plus, Brian talks about his father’s unexpected death and how it affected his outlook on life, and shares some really valuable career and life advice. Stuff We Mention on the Show: Brian on Episode 2 of the Ali on the Run Show: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2017/03/01/episode-2-brian-cristiano-married-someone-crohns-disease/ Meet Brian: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2011/09/28/meet-my-handsome-friend/ Our engagement story: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2014/12/08/are-you-serious/ Our Hawaii trip: Oahu: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2014/12/17/hawaii-part-i-oahu/ and Maui: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2014/12/18/hawaii-part-ii-maui/ Our wedding: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2015/11/24/party-time-our-wedding-reception/ Our trip to Giraffe Manor: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2015/10/23/honeymooning-in-kenya-part-iv-giraffe-manor/ My Great Breakup of 2011: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2011/04/05/a-new-beginning/ Dance Spirit: http://www.dancespirit.com/ The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone: https://www.amazon.com/10X-Rule-Difference-Between-Success/dp/0470627603 Dogs Being Basic on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogsbeingbasic/ The Dodo on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedodosite/ Dan Nevins: http://dannevins.com/ Follow Brian: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldceo/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boldceo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/boldceo Sports Marketing Huddle podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-marketing-huddle/id1135417163?mt=2 BOLD Worldwide: http://www.boldworldwide.com/ Follow Ali: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

6 Apr 20171h 7min