820. Sofia Camacho, Nonbinary Runner, Drag Artist, & 2:29 Marathoner

It's almost time for the 45th running of the Chicago Marathon! The 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 8, and this episode is packed with all the information you need before you head to the start line. (And yes, you really should plan to get there two hours early. We'll explain why!) The elite fields are stacked (Sisson! Hassan! Linden! Bates! Seidel! Scaroni! Schär!), and they'll be followed by tens of thousands of runners en route to 26.2-mile glory. Get ready. Get psyched. And get that Goose Island at the finish! Planning to tune in from home? Here's how to watch. SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALIUCAN for 20% off your next UCAN order. 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. Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. What you'll get on this episode: Chicago Marathon executive race director Carey Pinkowski talks about what to expect at this year's race (2:20) How to get in, how to watch, and how Chicago is committed to sustainability (28:20) What to know about getting to the start and navigating the athlete village (35:35) Chris Wehrman ("Coach Worm") and Robyn LaLonde talk Chicago Marathon course strategy (48:45) All about the finish line experience and tips for spectating (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!

29 Sep 20231h 24min

"That was my overwhelming emotion: embarrassment." Charlie Watson is a UK-based registered dietitian, marathoner, blogger, and mom. In this conversation, she talks about being diagnosed with MRKH (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome), a rare disorder that affects the female reproductive syndrome, and about how it affected her both as a teenager and, more recently, as an aspiring mom. She talks about her journey to motherhood via surrogate, including the IVF and egg-freezing process, finding and choosing a surrogate, and why pursuing motherhood via surrogacy is both an overwhelming decision and a privilege. Charlie is currently training for the Valencia Marathon. SPONSOR: adidas: Click here to check out the adiClub membership benefits, including 15% off and free shipping. FOLLOW CHARLIE @therunnerbeans 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 Sep 20231h 12min

"I went in with zero expectations — let's see what happens! — and totally surprised myself." Lindsay Flanagan just represented Team USA at the World Athletics Championship marathon in Budapest. She finished ninth, was the top American of the day, and is feeling psyched about how it all played out. In this conversation, the Asics-sponsored athlete and two-time member of Team USA recaps her experience at World Championships, including a lost luggage situation, what the crowds in Budapest were like, and how the whole race went down. (Fun fact: Lindsay's roommate was fellow Team USA marathoner Susanna Sullivan!) 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. goodr: Use code ONTHERUN for free shipping on your entire order. Vacation Races: Click here and 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: On dealing with post-Budapest jet lag, marathon recovery, and wrapping up the 2023 racing season (3:55) Lindsay's approach to Orlando 2024 (8:45) Lindsay reflects on running her "breakthrough" 2:24 at last year's Gold Coast Marathon (10:30) How Lindsay found out she made Team USA (12:15) Lindsay's stories from the World Championships marathon finish line (17:40) All about the pre-race vibes, group texts, athlete lounges, and more (22:00) How Lindsay was feeling the night before the marathon (32:00) How Lindsay was feeling the morning of the race (35:00) Lindsay breaks down her race at the 2023 World Athletics Championships marathon in Budapest (41:15) On being satisfied and always wanting more (55:30) What happened after Lindsay crossed the finish line (57:20) 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!

14 Sep 20231h 12min

"It's gotta be a little bit more than running." Courtney Wayment has been called one of the new "Steeple Queens" in the U.S. But is that a good thing? Does that add pressure? Expectation? Excitement? In this conversation, Courtney returns to the Ali on the Run Show to talk about making her second World Athletics Championships team in the 3000m steeplechase, and what it was like competing in Budapest this summer. She talks about making it to the final, and about what it feels like to have "a broken heart on the track." Courtney lives in Utah, where she's coached by former Brigham Young University coach Diljeet Taylor. This weekend, Courtney, who is sponsored by On, will head to Eugene, OR, to race at the Prefontaine Classic and Diamond League final. SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!) FOLLOW COURTNEY: @courtsasport20 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!

12 Sep 202359min

"I bought a new house. And I also got a couple of goats." It's marathon training season, baby! And today, we get to hear from training partners, teammates, and professional runners Emma Bates (making her seventh appearance on the Ali on the Run Show!) and Dominique Scott (returning for the third time!) as they gear up for their fall marathons. They talk about how they're feeling, what their runs together are like, and how coach Joe Bosshard is approaching their training. Plus, Emma's decision to pull back from sharing her training on social media, an introduction to Thelma and Louise, and some big fall marathon news from Dom! 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. 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. goodr: Use code ONTHERUN for free shipping on your entire order. What you'll get on this episode: All about Dom and Emma's run today (3:30) What's the hot gossip on the Team Boss runs? (6:30) Dom announces her fall marathon! (9:35) Emma shares her advice for how to thrive at the Chicago Marathon (11:55) Intimidation vs. comfort on the starting line (15:25) How coach Joe Bosshard is approaching training for both Dom and Emma (17:45) How Dom and Emma are each feeling a month out from running 26.2 (23:10) Emma talks about her decision to stop sharing her training publicly (26:20) All about Emma's new house — and Thelma and Louise! (32:40) On mid-run bathroom stops (42:45) Emma and Dom share their respective goals for their fall marathons (46:50) What it's like being a part of Team Boss in 2023 (53:45) All about buns (1:04:00) FOLLOW EMMA: @emmajanelbates FOLLOW DOM: @domscottrunsa 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!

8 Sep 20231h 11min

"A bald head can mean so many different things." Lindsay Walter is a 52-time marathoner, 4-time 100-mile finisher, and many-time 50K runner. Most recently, the 32-year-old running coach and freelance writer completed Six Days in the Dome: a multi-day, run-as-much-as-you-can event on an indoor track. (She ran 324 miles in the six-day span!) In this conversation, Lindsay recaps the race, and talks about what's next on the run. She also talks about living with alopecia universalis — a condition that caused her to permanently lose all of her body hair at just two years old. Plus, why she wore a wig for years — and what finally convinced her to ditch it for good. 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. 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. Vacation Races: Click here and use code ONTHERUN200 for $200 off any Global Adventures trip, or code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon registration. FOLLOW LINDSAY: @lindsayhannah3 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!

24 Aug 20231h 2min

"Celebrate the little victories. Believe that every brick you put down is building a wall." Sometimes on the Run Your Way series, we hear from professional athletes who are going all-in on their running pursuits, smashing 100-mile weeks and competing at the highest level. Other times, the focus is on runners who are working full-time — even working multiple jobs — and managing additional responsibilities while fitting in running whenever they can. Today: It's both. In this episode, we're hearing from professional runner and full-time sixth-grade math teacher Susanna Sullivan, who will be representing Team USA in the marathon at the World Athletics Championships next week. Susanna talks about how she fits it all in, what her students think of her running pursuits, and how she's feeling as she heads to Budapest. Plus, all about her first professional shoe sponsorship deal (she signed with Brooks earlier this summer), who she put on her roommate request form for World Championships, and so much more. SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!) FOLLOW SUSANNA: @susannasullivan4 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 Aug 202358min

"Not all rectangles are squares. That's how I dissect who's self-conscious and not in the short-shorts vs. tights debates." Welcome back to "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know!" I've worked in the running industry in some capacity for roughly a decade now, and as much as I've immersed myself, there's still so much I don't know or understand. So if I, a relative industry insider, am still confused about things like shoe contracts, waterfall starts on the track, and world rankings (seriously, what's up with world rankings?), surely I'm not alone. And since the 2023 World Athletics Championships competition kicks off this weekend in Budapest, it felt urgent to get the inside scoop. So today, former professional runner and founder of The Lap Count (and track and field's biggest fan and hype guy) Kyle Merber returns to answer all of your (and some of my) questions about the World Championships. Big Qs and Little Qs and world stage paydays and the Media 800, and more! 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: Click here and use code ONTHERUN200 for $200 off any Global Adventures trip, or code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon registration. Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. For more, check out: Everything You Need to Know About Track & Field Everything You Need to Know About the Business of Running Follow Kyle: Instagram @kylemerber Subscribe to The Lap Count 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!

17 Aug 20231h 11min