795. Jinger Gottschall, New Balance Director of Sports Research

"You know in your head who you are. You just have to be brave enough to listen." When Julia Brownell was little, she had a dream and a plan: to be a writer. She played sports, she loved to run, and she loved writing scripts and stories in her free time. And turns out, dreams come true. Today, Julia is a 3:16 marathoner, a mom of two, and a writer, producer, and playwright in Hollywood. She has been a writer and producer on shows including This Is Us, Parenthood, Smash, and more. (See? Living the dream!) In this conversation, Julia explains how a TV show is made, breaks down her favorite parts of that process, talks about what it was like getting her big break, and talks about what life has been like during the ongoing writer's strike. Plus, she talks about how she's gotten faster as a master and as a mom, taking more than 45 minutes off her marathon PR. Julia will race the Mountains to Beach half marathon this weekend, and she's looking to go sub-1:30. SPONSORS: Bandit Running: Use code ONTHERUN15 to get 15% off your entire Bandit order. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI23 for 20% off your next UCAN order. What you’ll get on this episode: How Julia fits running into her busy life, and how she’s feeling heading into her half marathon this weekend (2:05) On finding and making running friends as an adult (5:00) What Julia’s life is like right now, during the writer’s strike, and all about how a TV show is made (10:00) What kind of person makes a good TV writer? (21:45) Julia’s favorite part of the TV-writing process, and what it’s like being “the runner” in the crew (24:35) How Julia became a runner and a writer (30:35) What it’s like to get your big break (39:30) On adjusting from being an east coast runner to an L.A. runner (40:25) How Julia has shaved nearly an hour off her marathon PR (41:30) What’s next for Julia on the run? (46:00) On getting hired to work on “Parenthood” (52:00) What it’s like going to the Emmy Awards (56:30) What Julia was working on pre-strike (1:01:45) 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!

18 Maj 20231h 10min

"You just have to survive." Welcome to the return of the Motherhood Mondays series! Once a month, I'll be joined by a fellow mom — including professional runners, everyday runners, experts, and more — to speak candidly about motherhood and all that it entails. Today, I'm joined by Veronica Graziano, a 2:41 marathoner (she ran the Olympic Marathon Trials in 2020, and recapped that experience here and here) and twin mom. Her daughters, Kennedy and Quinn, turn two next week. In this conversation, Veronica talks about what the past two years have been like, including her road to motherhood, a challenging pregnancy, and her postpartum return to running and racing. Veronica works full-time for Mass General Brigham, and lives in Falmouth, ME, with her husband and their daughters. Find her on Instagram @vjaxs. SPONSOR: adidas: Click here to check out the adiClub membership benefits, including 15% off and free shipping. 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 Maj 202356min

"There was a lot of anticipation for this race, and I hope it lived up to everyone’s standards!" Josette Norris is on a hot streak on the track! The On-sponsored Jersey girl (who now lives in Boulder, CO) just won the 5000m race at On Track Fest (and ran a personal best of 14:43), and won the 1500m race at Penn Relays the weekend prior. In this conversation, Josette talks about what life is like as an On Athletics Club athlete, where she is coached by Dathan Ritzenhein. (Listen to Josette's previous appearance on the Ali on the Run Show — with now-husband and fellow pro Robby Andrews — here.) SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI23 for 20% off your next UCAN order. Vacation Races: Use code ONTHERUN200 for $200 off any Global Adventures trip, or code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon registration. What you’ll get on this episode: How Josette essentially paid her own prize money this weekend, and all about the OAC fandom (3:10) On the transition from solo training to being a member of On Athletics Club (5:25) All about Josette’s 5000m win at On Track Fest, including the post-race celebration and the pacer situation (7:00) The intimidation factor with a stacked field (13:50) The red carpet situation (16:00) Visualization vs. reality (21:20) Josette breaks down that 5000m win (25:45) On the media side of it all, and what it’s like rewatching the races after the fact (32:10) What all the big life changes have been like in 2023 (39:50) Follow Josette: Instagram @josettenorris 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!

11 Maj 20231h 3min

"I don’t regret anything. I did my best, all the way until the end. I did what I could on the day." You heard the live show with Shalane Flanagan. You got the full race recap with Keira D'Amato. Now, I'm wrapping up all things Eugene Marathon 2023 by answering listener questions about my training, my race experience, and what's next. SPONSOR: Tracksmith: New customers, use code ALINEW for $15 off your first Tracksmith order over $75. Returning customers, use code ALIGIVE for free shipping, plus a portion of the proceeds from your order will be donated to Moms Demand Action. What you’ll get on this episode: All the pre-race details (2:15) Breaking down race day (31:40) The aftermath (50:50) What I wore: Sports bra Hot pink tank Fuel belt Hot pink socks Shoes My race-day playlist 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!

9 Maj 20231h 5min

"It took a lot of work, realizing that the running community is made up of so many different people, so many different paces, so many different body types. And just accepting that — accepting that you don’t have to run a certain pace or look a certain way to be considered a runner... I finally accepted that truth." Molly Hernandez grew up in Texas with big dreams of being a Disney Channel star. Running? A big "no thank you." Fast-forward to today, and Molly is a 10-time marathoner, two-time ultramarathoner, freelance copywriter, and content creator living in Austin, TX. She's best known on the internet as "Your Running BFF," and she's on a mission to make runners — especially new runners — feel less alone and less overwhelmed. In this conversation, Molly talks about going from non-runner to marathoner in the span of six months, and how her relationship with running has grown and evolved since then. SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!) What you’ll get on this episode: How Molly is feeling after running the Oklahoma City Marathon last weekend (2:50) All about Young Molly and her Disney Channel dreams (4:45) How, when, and why running entered Molly’s life (7:25) Why Molly decided to run her first marathon, and what that training was like (10:25) The moment Molly finally decided to call herself a runner (15:10) A marathoner in the making! All about Molly’s first 26.2-mile race, and her decision to run more marathons (17:20) On running the Oklahoma City Half Marathon last weekend, and how Molly plans her racing schedule (21:20) How Molly became “Your Running BFF” (26:05) How becoming a content creator has changed Molly’s relationship with running (33:20) On becoming an ultra runner (36:40) On time, pace, and the numbers on the watch — and mid-race hallucinations (40:30) What’s next? (46:45) Molly’s advice to anyone struggling on the run right now (51:35) Follow Molly: Instagram @yourrunningBFF YouTube TikTok @yourrunningBFF Website 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!

5 Maj 202359min

"I am so accustomed to thinking about what could go wrong, and how do I prepare for that? Which I don’t think is bad… But very rarely do I let myself be open to the possibility of something great or something magical, or a perfect day. And I tried — start to finish. I kept that in my mind: Be open to the possibility of a perfect day." Last weekend, I ran the Eugene Marathon. It was my seventh marathon. My first marathon in seven years. And my first marathon since becoming a mom. I finished in 3:41:10 — a 10-minute personal best. And in this conversation — guest hosted by Keira D'Amato — I'm recounting all of it. The highs (Annie on the sidelines!), the lows (roughly miles 18–26), and everything in between. ANNOUNCEMENT! We're hitting the road! Join Keira and me for a half marathon and live show in Richmond, VA, on March 9, 2024. This is going to be big! It's going to be fun! And we would love for you to join us. Get your tickets HERE. SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI23 for 20% off your next UCAN order. Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. What you’ll get on this episode: Why did the results say I’m from West New York, NJ? (4:25) Am I proud? And did I have fun? (7:15) Why? (9:05) What happened next? (13:30) All about fueling (17:30) Taper time! (21:50) On the decision to bring the whole family to Eugene (26:40) The days leading up to race day (34:00) The Duck Dash! (43:30) All about the live show with Shalane Flanagan (49:00) How we spent the rest of the day Saturday (51:30) Race morning! (55:00) The start line (1:02:30) “What was your pacing strategy and how did you nail it?” (1:08:10) Cole Hocker, baby geese, and other sights and sounds from the Eugene Marathon course (1:10:10) What I listened to during the race (1:12:50) On the race going from great to…less great! (1:20:30) On feeling pressure to perform well (1:29:30) On getting through the tough miles and to the finish line (1:31:30) That finish line feeling (1:38:50) The after-party (1:48:10) Listener Q&A (1:50:25) Announcement! (2:03:00) 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!

4 Maj 20232h 11min

"I would describe this past year as 'drinking from a fire hose.'" It was the day before the Eugene Marathon, and the goal was to get everyone in the audience feeling less "baaaaah!" and more "aaaaaah." Enter: Olympic silver medalist, 2017 New York City Marathon champion, assistant coach for the Bowerman Track Club and University of Oregon cross country team, and best-selling cookbook author Shalane Flanagan. We talked marathons, we talked motherhood, and we got a quote-worthy pep talk to close it all out. Thank you to the Eugene Marathon for having us, and thank you to the hundreds of people who filled the room with the very best energy. (Registration is now open for the 2024 Eugene Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K! Use code ONTHERUNEUGENE to save on registration.) SPONSORS:  goodr: Use code ONTHERUN for free shipping on your entire order The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race: Register TODAY (before the price increase on April 12!) for the world’s largest and most iconic 10K road race, taking place in Atlanta, GA, on July 4, 2023. For more from Shalane: Shalane Flanagan on Episode 518 of the Ali on the Run Show Shalane Flanagan on Episode 462 of the Ali on the Run Show Shalane Flanagan on Episode 438 of the Ali on the Run Show Shalane Flanagan on Episode 242 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Shalane: Instagram @shalaneflanagan Twitter @shalaneflanagan Facebook 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!

3 Maj 20231h 3min

"We learned from other mentors. We both believe wholeheartedly that it’s a responsibility to then mentor other people and be transparent." Fact: Only 1% of creative agencies are owned by women. Photographer Aisha McAdams (@ai.shoots) and graphic designer Katherine Burgess (@katherine_kart) are here to up that number. They are the founders of Rhoam Creative Studio, a creative design and production studio for sports and lifestyle brands. They have worked with brands including Puma, Tracksmith, Bandit Running, On Running, Maurten, Strava, Brooks, Hoka, Ciele, and more. They are passionate, they are talented, and they are here to help brands share their stories while also helping elevate women in the space. SPONSORS: Bandit Running: Use code ONTHERUN15 to get 15% off your entire Bandit order. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI23 for 20% off your next UCAN order. What you’ll get on this episode: How Katherine and Aisha met (13:40) On being female creatives in a male-dominated industry (18:40) All about Katherine’s “women are missing from sports coverage” project (26:30) The decision to launch Rhoam Creative Studio (35:40) On being part of the 1% (41:20) Aisha and Katherine share their highlight — and lowlight — reels (45:00) What it’s like working with Aisha and Katherine (55:25) Aisha and Katherine share their dream clients, their big goals, and their greatest wishes (1:00:30) 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 Apr 20231h 5min