805. My 2025 Boston Marathon Weekend Recap

"I wanted to hug my former self. I wanted to tell her, 'It's OK! It's going to be OK. It won't be easy, but you will survive this.'" A few months ago, I recorded a solo episode talking about navigating "The Fourth Trimester." I was having a tough time — that was obvious. But then I learned: There's a "Fifth Trimester!" And that's the stage I'm in now, as I navigate life with a baby beyond the first 12 weeks and settle into a routine, a work life, and, well, some fun. On this episode, I'm talking about how parenthood has gone from terrifying to fun in the past month — and how getting to music class was a major catalyst in that crucial shift. Annie is five and a half months old now, and I can officially say we're having a blast. It's still hard sometimes, but being a mom to the coolest kid I know is pretty awesome. I'm also reflecting on loneliness, and the guilt associated with feeling lonely when, in theory, I had everything I needed. Plus, thoughts on the comparison trap, being a work-from-home mom, and the new Ali on the Run Show "Motherhood Mondays" series! Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone bundle!   What I mention on this episode: "A Message From Ali" Episode 118 of the Ali on the Run Show "The Fourth Trimester" Episode 114 of the Ali on the Run Show "I Had a Baby!" Episode 106 of the Ali on the Run Show NYC Half Marathon Recap NYC Half Marathon Live Show Taking Cara Babies Newborn Class Annie & Ellie blog post Mary Johnson on Ali & the Experts Week Brynn Fessette O'Neill on Ali & the Experts Week Brian's Great Turkey Trot of 2014 on the Ali on the Run Show Chris Heuisler on Episode 6 of the Ali on the Run Show Chris Mosier on Episode 13 of the Ali on the Run Show Andrea Barber on Episode 45 of the Ali on the Run Show Des Linden on Episode 100 of the Ali on the Run Show Sarah Sellers on Episode 69 of the Ali on the Run Show Boston live show Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 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!

3 Apr 201955min

"Numbers don’t mean anything when it comes to success." —Sadie Lincoln Sadie Lincoln is the co-founder and CEO of Barre3, the mega-popular boutique fitness brand that has more than 130 studios in the United States. On this episode, Sadie talks about being a "former hippie kid," the unconventional way she was raised, and how that shaped her as a student and, eventually, an entrepreneur. She shares the story of how she discovered fitness in college, and how she went on to realize she was working out for all the wrong reasons, leading to burnout and a much-needed change of scenery. She shares her stories of resilience and grit, confidence and failure, and loneliness, connection, and community. She talks about what stresses her out, about why, despite having trained Madonna, she's "not a celebrity trainer," and her husband's grand plan to sell everything they own and move to Portland, OR, with their two toddlers to "start fresh." Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!   What you’ll get on this episode: Sadie talks about her “hippie kid” upbringing and why she was self-conscious about not being smart (3:00) How Sadie found fitness, and how she made a career out of it (14:20) On starting a family, Sadie’s husband’s grand plan, and loneliness (21:10) What it was like starting over (35:15) Sadie’s advice on finding your dream job and life (37:30) Sadie shares what stresses her out (43:20) On training Madonna, and why Sadie says she’s not a celebrity trainer (47:00) How Sadie measures success (51:45) What we mention on this episode: Barre3 Sadie on How I Built This 24 Hour Fitness The Enneagram test Follow Sadie: Instagram @sadielincoln Twitter @barre3sadie Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 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!

27 Mars 20191h 4min

"Start stuff. If you believe in something, just start it." —Mary Wittenberg It was an honor to host this live show at New York Road Runners the day before the United Airlines NYC Half. I was joined by four exemplary leaders in the running community: Mary Wittenberg, former NYRR and Virgin Sport president and CEO; Christine Burke, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Runner Products at NYRR; Leigh Anne Sharek, co-founder of Brooklyn Track Club; and Carly Gill, a 2:47 marathoner and one of the women behind Runner Braids. These women candidly shared their stories of success, failure, and what it's like to feel shaken to your core or rattled with insecurity. They talked about starting movements, social media, FOMO, and dealing with injury, and we talked about how to make running more inclusive. We wrapped it all up with a very special audience-participation-required edition of the Sprint to the Finish. Thanks to New York Road Runners for sponsoring and hosting this live show, which took place at the NYRR RUNCENTER Featuring the New Balance Run Hub. Go to nyrr.org/runcenter for a full calendar of FREE events like the Ali on the Run Show LIVE event, plus group fitness classes, themed group runs, course strategy sessions, and book signings.   What you’ll get on this episode: The significant moments in women’s running that have most inspired the women on the panel (4:00) On getting into running at a young age, and whether it was discouraged or encouraged (7:30) Running as an individual pursuit vs. team sport (11:00) On pink at women’s races (14:00) How do we make running more diverse and inclusive? (21:00) On insecurities and failures (28:30) Reflecting on the running industry and ourselves as runners (36:00) What do we wish men understood about being a female runner? (46:00) The downsides of social media in the running world, and falling into the comparison trap (49:10) What’s next for everyone? (54:00) A very special Sprint to the Finish (56:45) Stuff we mention on this episode:  United Airlines NYC Half NYRR New York Mini 10K Shape Half Marathon Alison Desir & Harlem Run Brooklyn Track Club TCS New York City Marathon Strava (use code ONTHERUN for a FREE month of Strava Summit!) Follow Mary: Instagram @marywruns Twitter @marywitt Follow Christine: Instagram @christinerburke Follow Leigh Anne: Instagram @wicked.la Follow Carly Instagram @carlysheree Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 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 Mars 20191h 9min

"Be honest, be real, be vulnerable. That's how you find your mental toughness." —Dr. Nicole Detling This episode will change your life on the run. It's a bold statement, I know, but Dr. Nicole Detling, the founder of Headstrong Consulting in Utah, is here to help us all improve our mental game. Dr. Detling is a mental performance coach for teams and athletes including the US Ski and Snowboard Association, Ballet West, tons of Olympians, and members of the PGA, MLB, NBA, NHL, and more. On this episode, she talks about building mental strength, getting through tough workouts and races, motivation, "chunking," tapping into your "why," coming back from a break, and the importance of rest days — both physical and mental. She also talks a lot about failure — why we fear it, what it actually means, and how social media factors into that fear of failure. We wrap up the episode by talking about exercise abuse. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription.   What you’ll get on this episode: Advice for training your brain on the run (4:30) How to mentally prep for and thrive on race day (23:50) General Q&A (45:33) What we mention on this episode: United Airlines NYC Half Marathon Don't Leave Your Mind Behind Follow Dr. Detling: Instagram @headstrongdoc Twitter @headstrongdoc Website Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 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 Mars 201957min

"Hear my voice in your head when you start trying to dig out the cysts on your face." —Dr. Rachel Nazarian Dr. Rachel Nazarian is a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in New York City, and is an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai. On this episode, she dishes some real talk about skin, including everything she wants women to know about acne, cysts, and beauty influencers.  Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription.   What you’ll get on this episode: General skincare and product Q&A (2:15) All things acne (16:45) Body stuff, like nipple hair, chin hair, and stretch marks (30:00) Myth-busting (43:15) What we mention on this episode: Dove Beauty Bar Cetaphil Cleanser BioClarity Treatment System VaniCream Revision Skincare Intellishade SPF Heliocare capsules Vanish spot treatment Mario Badescu skincare Follow Dr. Nazarian: Instagram @drrachelnazarian Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 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 Mars 201956min

"Physical fitness and financial fitness are both simple. To get physically fit, we need to eat less and work out more, and to get financially fit, we need to spend less and make more. It sounds really simple, but if it were that simple, we’d have a bunch of skinny millionaires running around! There are a lot of emotions around both." —Shannon McLay If you want to run a marathon, you hire a running coach or personal trainer. If you want to get your finances whipped into shape, you hire Shannon McLay, founder and CEO of The Financial Gym and host of the Martinis and Your Money podcast. Shannon is a former Merrill Lynch financial advisor who created The Financial Gym to help people "kick their assets into shape and their bad money habits to the curb." Her goal is to help men and women, primarily of the millennial generation, to get financially healthy. Shannon and her team at The Financial Gym have coached more than 1,400 clients and helped them turn their bank accounts, credit scores, and investments around — and on this episode, she talks about how to get started, plus how to avoid the financial comparison trap. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription.   What you’ll get on this episode: General money Q&A, including advice on credit cards, bank accounts, the financial comparison trap, and more (5:00) Budgeting 101 (22:15) Advice for paying off student loans (28:05) All about investing and saving (37:45) Baby and family questions (53:00) What we mention on this episode: NerdWallet The Points Guy Acorns Investing 101 Webinar via The Financial Gym Betterment Policygenius Follow Shannon: Instagram @theshannonmclay Twitter @theshannonmclay The Financial Gym Martinis & Your Money Podcast Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 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 Mars 20191h 6min

"It’s important to have the tough conversations." —Dr. Logan Levkoff Dr. Logan Levkoff is an expert on sexuality and relationships, and she's all about promoting honest conversations surrounding both. In addition to being a sexuality educator, Dr. Levkoff is also a television regular, appearing regularly on Good Morning America, the Today show, CNN, and the first three seasons of Married at First Sight. She has worked with major brands like Dove, Pfizer, Starbucks, and Trojan, and has authored and contributed to several books on sexuality. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription.   What you’ll get on this episode: All things love and relationships (3:30) Advice on sex (30:00) What we mention on this episode: The 5 Love Languages Follow Dr. Levkoff: Instagram @loganlevkoff Twitter @loganlevkoff Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 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!

9 Mars 201951min

"Please don’t Google this stuff." —Brynn Fessette O'Neill Brynn Fessette O'Neill, DPT, is a physical therapist at Finish Line Physical Therapy in New York City. On this episode, she offers advice on prehab, injuries, and recovery. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription.   What you’ll get on this episode: All about prehab and rehab (3:00) Brynn explains why specific injuries happen and how to deal with them, including IT-Band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee, and more (14:30) Everything you need to know about recovery (35:30) What we mention on this episode: Brynn on Episode 21 of the Ali on the Run Show Vibrating foam roller Follow Brynn: Instagram @bfessette Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 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!

8 Mars 201948min