675. Everything You Need to Know About the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon

"It is so fun to have a hobby that is just for fun where I do not care about the outcome. It's awesome." Welcome to Ask Ali, a monthly series where I answer all of your questions submitted on Instagram (I'm @aliontherun1). This time around, we're covering everything from ski racing and a silly injury to a certain pro athlete's return to racing — and more. SPONSOR: goodr: Click here and use code ALI for $5 off your next order. 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!

28 Jan 56min

"Kurt's seen it and my teammates have seen it. I've gotten better every single week for two years straight. So the world is seeing this massive jump, but for me, it's over 100 weeks of improvement. That's super steady. At some point it was going to be reflected in one big performance. It didn't happen overnight." In March 2023, Erika Kemp was gearing up to make her marathon debut. The six-time collegiate All-American and multiple-time USATF national champion was on a racing hot streak, having earned titles from the 5K up to the 20K. She had just signed with Brooks Running, and was being coached by Kurt Benninger. But, Erika insisted, she hadn't had her big, breakout, career-defining performance yet. That changed this past weekend at the Houston Marathon. Erika finished second in 2:22:56 — and 11-minute personal best, and comfortably under the world standard. She remains the fastest American-born Black woman in the marathon. In this conversation, Erika talks about her breakout day in Houston, and about what it took to make such a massive improvement in the marathon. Plus, the advice and affirmation Erika got from Des Linden before the race, her snapshot moment from the day, and how she learned to embrace the "marathoner" title. FOLLOW ERIKA @imtinyrik SPONSOR: St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville: Register for the marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, 1 mile, KiDSROCK, or Doggie Dash, all taking place April 26–27, 2025 in Music City, USA! Use code ONTHERUN at checkout for $10 off your Saturday race registration. Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. In this episode: How Erika is feeling after Houston (1:50) "Erika Kemp, Marathoner" (4:30) Erika's snapshot moment from the 2025 Houston Marathon (5:10) Erika's time goals for Houston (8:00) How Erika has learned to trust herself on race day, and the advice she got from Des Linden before Houston (10:50) How Erika recovered physically and mentally after a DNF at the Olympic Marathon Trials last year (15:10) Why Houston? (17:10) Erika's takeaways from her Houston training (18:00) How Erika knew Houston was going to be her day (30:15) Why Erika ran the race with her friend, Jonas Hampton (34:50) What Erika eats the night before a marathon, and what her morning routine is like (38:00) What Erika was hoping to get out of Houston (43:00) What it felt like standing on the start line (45:40) Erika recaps her Houston Marathon experience (46:45) How Erika celebrated (57:30) A look at Erika's 2025 racing calendar (1:01:45) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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 Jan 1h 6min

"It was horrible and wonderful at the same time." Ali and Allie on the run! Professional track, trail, and road runner Allie Ostrander returns to the Ali on the Run Show today to talk about signing with Oiselle, and about her goals for her 2025 racing season. Allie will be making her half marathon debut at the Mesa Half Marathon in just a few weeks, and in this episode she talks about why she's intrigued by the distance, and what she hopes to accomplish in 13.1 miles. Plus, her reflections on her first injury-free year since 2019, what it's like being a full-time runner and content creator (subscribe to her YouTube channel and get this girl to 100K!), and her advice on how to be a better downhill runner on the trails. SPONSORS: 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: Why Allie doesn't run on Sundays (2:25) What Allie can share about her 2025 racing calendar (7:45) Allie's goals for her half marathon debut (16:45) All about Allie's decision to sign with Oiselle (19:45) Allie's goals for 2025 (24:00) Allie's advice for how to be a better trail runner (25:45) What it took to have an injury-free year for the first time in five years (31:20) How Allie sees the business of running (38:40) How Allie learned to reframe failure (48:30) What Allie would say to her 16-year-old self, and her future self (50:45) 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!

16 Jan 1h 14min

"Take away the paces. Take away the expectations. And approach every single interval or every single mile like you're listening to your body and understanding that this isn't an exterior thing you're doing for someone or to achieve something. It's you inside, and that's all that matters." It's been a hard year and a half for Nell Rojas. The Nike-sponsored professional athlete had a speedy ascent in the world of marathoning. She won the 2019 Grandma's Marathon, and was the top American woman at the 2021 and 2022 Boston Marathons. In this conversation, Nell explains what's been going on with her mind and body recently. She talks about where her fitness is at these days, and about her spring marathon plans. (This just in: Nell will, in fact, be racing this year's Boston Marathon.) Plus: Nell's takeaways from the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials, her foray into voice lessons, and her story about "the most nervous she's ever been." Nell — a running coach herself, with more than 50 athletes on her current roster — lives in Boulder, CO, where she is coached by her father, Ric Rojas. SPONSOR: St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville: Register for the marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, 1 mile, KiDSROCK, or Doggie Dash, all taking place April 26–27, 2025 in Music City, USA! Use code ONTHERUN at checkout for $10 off your Saturday race registration. In this episode: Nell's take on New Year's Resolutions (2:00) How Nell spends her days — and what her ideal date entails (4:00) What Nell's loving right now (9:45) All about Nell's workout today (15:45) An update on Nell's health (17:30) How Nell is feeling on the run (33:10) What Nell is excited about right now (37:10) Nell's takeaways from the 2024 Marathon Trials (41:45) Why Nell decided to take singing lessons (44:40) The one exercise Nell says all runners should be doing, and Nell's advice to all spring marathoners (48:50) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group 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 Jan 56min

"There will be more sunshine. You just keep going. It's not always going to suck. I promise." It's tradition: Happy New Year, and welcome to the annual State of the Ali on the Run Show episode! In this solo episode, I'm recapping 2024 — the personal highs and lows, the professional highs and lows, and the beauty and chaos in between all of it. Last year, the Ali on the Run Show surpassed 23 million downloads. There were 92 episodes of the show with 63 guests (40 first-timers, and 33 recurring and returning guests), plus 14 solo episodes. (The guest with the most podcast appearances in 2024: Nikki Hiltz, of course!) THANK YOU for being here for the rollercoaster ride. Let's have some fun in 2025! (Admittedly, I forgot to record the section of this episode that is, traditionally, "My goals for the year." Should I take that as some kind of sign?) SPONSOR: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), including the new Mocha + Caffeine gel and the Chocolate gel. (My dream!) Then, use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. In this episode: The 2024 Ali on the Run Show by the numbers (2:20) My 2024 personal and professional highlight reel (22:20) Revisiting my 2024 goals (57:20) Looking forward on the Ali on the Run Show (1:02:00) The 2025 Ali on the Run Show mission statement (1:10:35) Answering listener questions about the show — and more (1:13:25) 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 Jan 1h 40min

I love you. I appreciate you. In this short solo episode, I'm wishing you the happiest holidays and reflecting a bit. I'm delighted to report that I'm heading into 2025 with a renewed sense of self, and a lot of joy, happiness, and peace. I wish the same for you. And if you're not there right now, that's OK. The sun will come out tomorrow, next week, next month, next year — whenever you're ready for it. You've got this. (You're doing great!) SPONSOR: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), including the new Mocha + Caffeine gel and the Chocolate gel. (My dream!) Then, use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. 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 Dec 202414min

"I mean, it's Taylor Swift Girlhood 101." Lee Glandorf is a lifelong athlete. The former Yale University rower turned marathoner has also had a lifelong passion for fashion. So it makes perfect sense that Lee's latest endeavor is the launch of The Sweat Lookbook, a weekly newsletter that covers the intersection of sports and style. In this conversation, Lee shares her 2024 hits and misses, from BFF-inspired twinning sets at road races to surprising collaborations between big brands. Plus, she talks about how running — and fashion — have factored into her life during her recent pregnancy and now, with a six-month-old boy (Casper!) at home. (Listen to Lee's first episode of the Ali on the Run Show here.) FOLLOW LEE @leeglandorf SPONSOR: New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. In this episode: Lee offers a life update, on the run and beyond (4:00) Lee's experience running during pregnancy and postpartum (7:20) Why Lee decided to launch The Sweat Lookbook newsletter (11:00) Lee's favorite fashion-forward athletes to follow (17:00) If you could represent any brand, based solely off their pro kits, who would you choose? (22:00) What Lee sees as the emerging trends in running (25:15) Why are we still putting removable pads in sports bras?! (29:30) The evolution of major marathon weekend programming and activation culture (32:40) Why is everything so expensive? (41:00) Lee's take on run crew culture, and the intersection of run crews and fashion (44:00) The biggest fashion hits and misses of 2024 (46:25) Lee's current running outfit of choice (59:25) Lee's Running Outfit: New Balance RC Short 3" Tracksmith Strata Short Tracksmith Brighton Base Layer Everyone Watches Women's Sports Tee Sports Romance hat 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!

19 Dec 20241h 8min

"If we can move from a place of fear to a place of curiosity — from a place of resisitance to a place of learning — we'll get a lot farther. We'll enjoy the process a lot more if we can be in the space of learning and curiosity rather than fear and resistance." Fan favorite Emily Saul returns to the Ali on the Run Show to hold all of our hands as we navigate end-of-year stress and navigate new-year anxieties. Emily is a licensed mental health counselor, sport psychology coach, and founder of E Saul Movement. She's a former Division-1 collegiate rower, she's a lifelong athlete, she's a many-time marathoner, and she's a TEDxBoston speaker. FOLLOW EMILY @emilysaulboston SPONSOR: New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. In this episode: Why you should listen to Emily's advice (6:20) Emily's advice for how to handle end-of-the-year anxiety, and the comparison trap of it all (11:00) Why Emily says we all need to get off the "hedonic treadmill" (23:45) How to approach goal setting in the new year (32:45) "I'm afraid to push myself too hard" (43:10) "It's cold and dark and I can't get myself up and out the door" (1:07:50) Emily on the Ali on the Run Show: Beyond the Run with Emily Saul, Marathon Mentality Q&A Part I Beyond the Run with Emily Saul, Marathon Mentality Q&A Part II Beyond the Run with Emily Saul, Marathon Mentality Q&A Part III LIVE at the Boston Marathon with Emily Saul & Anoush Arakelian Beyond the Run with Dr. Ian Nurse & Emily Saul Emily Saul, Co-Leader of November Project Boston 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 Dec 20241h 29min