800. Aisha Praught Leer, on Life After Professional Running

"I hope that through my work, people saw my life." With a legendary 14-year career on the track and on the roads, professional 1500m runner and miler Jenny Simpson decided earlier this year that she was ready to retire. After spending 2024 diving into the world of marathoning, Jenny announced that she would run the TCS New York City Marathon as her final professional race.  Then, after crossing the finish line in 2:31:54 and settling onto the couch with a bowl of ice cream (Blue Bell mint chocolate chip), Jenny got an invitation — and an immediate jolt off that couch. Instead of heading into retirement, Jenny embarked on The Great World Race, running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.   Up next: Jenny and Jason (and their two dogs) are packing up the Winnebago and spending the next year on a 50-state Run USA tour. In this supersized, two-hour episode, Jenny talks about all of it, and shares her reflections on her legacy in the sports. FOLLOW JENNY & JASON'S RUN USA TOUR @JENNYANDJASONRUNUSA AND ON YOUTUBE. SPONSORS:  Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (Emma Bates and I are both Otters!) Use code ALI at checkout for $25 off your next Lagoon order. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. In this episode: How Jenny is feeling after a 10-marathon year (2:20) Jenny’s decision to race the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon, and to make it her last professional race (8:30) What Jenny hopes her legacy will be (14:55) Jenny recaps her New York City Marathon (23:10) On getting the invitation to run The Great World Race, just days after finishing the New York City Marathon (53:30) “It’s as hard as you think it is” (1:02:10) Jenny recaps each day of The Great World Race (1:05:50) What’s next for Jenny Simpson? (1:46:45) 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!

29 Nov 20241h 58min

"I’m living the dream, being who I am, truly and authentically. I can’t complain at all. It’s not even work." Tiara Williams is a self-proclaimed "little track nerd." The creator, journalist, broadcaster, and in-stadium announcer is the host of "Real Talk with Tee," and she's become a fan and athlete favorite for her genuine and insightful post-race interviews (that often involve dancing and laughing). Whether she's behind the mic, behind the camera, on the mic, or on camera, Tee brings a lightness to her reporting that puts athletes at ease. In this conversation, the former heptathlete talks about her passion for the sport and its athletes, and about how she has built "Real Talk" to what it is today, including stints at multiple World Championships, the 2024 Paris Olympics, international Diamond League meets, Athlos, and more. Plus, what it's like being one of the only Black women in the mixed zone, and where Tee hopes to go from here. FOLLOW TEE @_realtalkwithtee SPONSORS:  Volvo Cars: Click here to get an exclusive offer on a Volvo purchase or lease. (I'm completely obsessed with the XC90!) Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (Emma Bates and I are both Otters!) Use code ALI at checkout for $25 off your next Lagoon order. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. In this episode: What Tee was up to at The Running Event, and how she describes her job and role in the running industry (2:10) On staying authentic while building a career and brand (4:00) All about Tee’s childhood, what she was like growing up, and how she got into running and sports (4:45) How Tee got started in sports journalism (11:20) The evolution of Real Talk with Tee (18:50) What it was like interviewing Shericka Jackson at the Paris Olympics, and what it was like seeing that interview in Sprint Season 2 (27:10) How Tee has found her way in the mixed zone (29:30) On being intimidated by certain athletes (47:10) What’s next for Tee? (51:20) 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!

26 Nov 20241h 8min

"I think it would shock a lot of people to see just how hard I go for The Lonely Goatherd from The Sound of Music. That yodeling, wow." Welcome to Ask Ali, where I answer all of your questions submitted on Instagram (I'm @aliontherun1). This time around, we're covering everything from life lately and health stuff to the pros and cons of working for myself, what I'm watching lately, the music that got me through 2024, and so much more. SPONSOR:  New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. 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!

23 Nov 20241h 11min

"You’re so much more than just somebody who has survived cancer. And also...you’re somebody who has survived cancer! Figuring out that new identity is an interesting thing to navigate." At 28 years old, Christine Thorn Fischer was a happy, healthy, elite-level steeplechasing, elementary school teacher. Then, she found a lump in her breast. Christine was diagnosed with stage four invasive ductal carcinoma — breast cancer — that spread to her spine and sacrum. Suddenly, instead of dreaming about her next race on the track, Christine was undergoing intense treatment including eight rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy. In this conversation, Christine — who is married to professional marathoner Reed Fischer — talks about her diagnosis and the days, weeks, and months that followed. She talks about her experience with scalp cooling to preserve her hair during treatment, about the worst day of her life, and about what it was like learning that she might die within a few years.  Not only did Christine get a "no signs of disease" report from her most recent scans, she is living. Christine is officially back on the run, and just ran her first marathon — the TCS New York City Marathon — a few weeks ago, conquering the course in 3:09:52 FOLLOW CHRISTINE @c_thorn31 SPONSORS:  Volvo Cars: Click here to get an exclusive offer on a Volvo purchase or lease. (I'm completely obsessed with the XC90!) Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (Emma Bates and I are both Otters!) Use code ALI at checkout for $25 off your next Lagoon order. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. In this episode: Christine reflects on running the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon (5:45) On being a “cancer survivor” (11:40) What Christine was needing when she went on a Boarding for Breast Cancer retreat (13:50) All about Christine’s breast cancer diagnosis and the days, weeks, and months that followed (19:45) Christine recounts the worst day of her life (34:00) Christine’s advice on how to support someone going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment (44:50) What Christine recalls as the hardest parts of her cancer journey (50:00) Christine’s decision to do cold capping during chemotherapy (59:40) On reaching the light at the end of the cancer tunnel (1:07:45) How Christine’s perspective on fear has changed over the past two years (1:16:20) Why Christine wanted to run the New York City Marathon after completing cancer treatment (1:17:50) 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!

21 Nov 20241h 33min

"I am healthily afraid of the marathon. It looks very painful!" Emma Grace Hurley made a lot of big life changes this year. She moved from Atlanta to Indianapolis. She changed sponsors. She changed teams. And this weekend, it all paid off, as Emma Grace made her 13.1-mile debut at the Indy Monumental Half Marathon, finishing in 1:08:26, setting a course record, and winning the race by nearly two minutes. After a long season filled with second- and third-place finishes, this was Emma Grace's first big career win. In this conversation, the Asics-sponsored professional distance runner and member of Heartland Track Club talks about her approach to this year, her big dreams for next year, and what she plans to do about all of her Marathon FOMO. SPONSORS:  goodr: Click here and use code ALI for $5 off your next order. Sidekick: Click here to get 15% off any recovery tool. In this episode: How Emma Grace is feeling after making her half-marathon debut (2:40) On Emma Grace’s decision to make her half debut (6:10) Emma Grace’s goals and hopes for her first half (13:30) What it felt like to win the Indy Monumental Half Marathon (27:10) Emma Grace’s third-place finish at the Abbott Dash to the Finish 5K (30:30) Why Emma Grace loves to race, and which events top her highlight reel from the year (35:15) Emma Grace talks about all of the big life changes she’s embraced over the past year (45:30) A day in the life of Emma Grace Hurley (53:20) What Emma Grace was like as a kid, and how she got into running (57:00) 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!

14 Nov 20241h 8min

"We go to bed too late, we wake up too early, we don’t eat enough, and we have an awesome time." It was a New York City Marathon to remember. It was one of the best weekends of my life, and certainly the greatest weekend of my career. I hosted two live shows (one with Gabby Thomas and New Balance at Carnegie Hall, and one at Volvo Studio Manhattan with Keira D'Amato), I was on the ESPN and ABC broadcasts on race day, and I was on top of the world the entire time. This is my exhaustive recap of every step. SPONSORS:  Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. The Eugene Marathon: Register for the Eugene Marathon (April 27, 2025) and save $10 with code ONTHERUN. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. In this episode: Friday: the Carnegie Hall live show with Gabby Thomas, a delicious dinner at Nobu, and a sleepover with Keira D’Amato (3:40) Saturday: a morning run in Central Park, a Volvo live show with Keira, an afternoon of broadcast rehearsals — sort of — and an evening of arm wrestling with friends (36:00) Sunday: the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon, and a fun night out (1:00:00) Monday: time to go home (1:34:00) 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!

7 Nov 20241h 42min

"This is where the magic happens." It's an Ali and Keira live show! (The fourth Ali and Keira D'Amato live show, if you're keeping track!) Thank you so much to Volvo Cars USA for hosting us in their gorgeous Manhattan studio space for some fun, some silliness, some singing, and some sandwiches, and thank you to everyone who joined us for a fun morning the day before the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon.  SPONSOR: VOLVO CARS: New sponsor alert! Click here to get an exclusive offer on a Volvo purchase or lease. (I'm completely obsessed with the XC90!) 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!

6 Nov 20241h 28min

"I had to trick myself into believing that I could win a gold medal." Career highlight. Life highlight. Welcome to Ali on the Run Show LIVE with Gabby Thomas, presented by New Balance, held at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, two days before the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. (What a big sentence!)  Gabby Thomas is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, and an Olympic silver and bronze medalist. She's a 200m specialist with a Harvard University degree in Neurobiology and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Texas. She is one of the starts of the Netflix documentary Sprint, and Sprint Season 2, out next week. Gabby was the grand marshal at this year's New York City Marathon, and, allegedly, she makes a great salad. Biggest THANK YOU to the New Balance team (Kristen, James, Sean, Summer, and so many more), the Mirror team, and the team at Carnegie Hall. This live podcast audio was recorded by Noriko Okabe. The pre-show musicians (enjoy the opening rendition of "Shake It Off!") were Mikhail Romanov and Galina Romanova. FOLLOW GABBY @gabbythomas SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite daily shoe, and I race in the SC Elite v4!) 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 Nov 20241h 5min