733. Juliette Whittaker's 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials Recap

"Hands down, the most courageous thing I've ever done is walk into trying to get pregnant and walking through pregnancy after loss." Rachel Schneider Smith just might be the most-loved woman in the professional running world. Everyone adores her — and in this episode, it's easy to see why. Rachel is a HOKA-sponsored professional runner who competes in everything from the 1500m on the track to the half marathon on the roads. (Girl's got range!) She lives in Flagstaff, AZ, where she is coached by her husband, Mike Smith. In this conversation, Rachel talks about pregnancy after loss, and about the role running played during her grieving process in the wake of a miscarriage. She talks about returning to running and racing, and about how she's feeling heading into the USATF 15K Championships this weekend in Florida. FOLLOW RACHEL @rachschneid18 SPONSORS: Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I'm an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your order. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. What you'll get on this episode: All about Rachel's run today, and how her body feels returning to running after having a baby (2:25) Where Rachel finds her flow state (5:00) Rachel reflects on her performances at USA Indoor National Championships last weekend (6:00) On running with teammates in Flagstaff, and running with nose strips at USAs (11:45) Rachel's New Hampshire roots (14:20) What Rachel's return to racing has been like (16:40) Navigating life as a professional runner and mom (22:45) The sisterhood of professional runner moms (27:40) Rachel's experience with loss, and the role running played in her grieving process (30:25) Rachel's bout with skin cancer (38:00) What Rachel was like as a kid (45:30) Rachel's goals for the USATF 15K Championships (50:15) 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 Feb 20241h 7min

"I had the time of my life out there. I soaked it all in." So often, the fourth-place finisher at any given Olympic Trials is the most devastated of the day. The person who came closest to the podium, and was the first not to make the team. But at this year's U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, Jess McClain changed the narrative. The self-coached, unsponsored, agent-less runner shocked fans with her fourth-place finish and four-minute personal best, finishing in 2:25:46. In this conversation, Jess — who is the executive director of the Love Up Foundation and is a freelance marketing consultant — talks about how she made it happen. FOLLOW JESS @jesstonn SPONSORS: goodr: Click here and use code ALI for free shipping. Sidekick: Click here to get 15% off any recovery tool. What you'll get on this episode: Jess's emotions a few days post-Trials (2:55) On Jess's approach to the Trials (4:45) Does Jess want a coach, an agent, a sponsor? (7:20) Jess's snapshot moment from the day (11:30) How the race played out (22:15) When Jess knew she was in fourth place (29:00) What it means to be the official Team USA alternate (30:40) How Jess trained for the Trials (36:20) On Jess's work with the Love Up Foundation (38:55) What Jess decided to wear on race day (44:15) How Jess found the confidence to go for it (50:35) 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!

22 Feb 20241h 2min

"This was the happy ending to it all, to all the struggle. But that's life, right? It wasn't how the story ended. But believing it was kept me in it." Sara Hall just competed at her eighth Olympic Trials event. She went all-in for this one, hoping to make her first Olympic team. At the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in Orlando, FL, Sara ultimately finished fifth — two spots short of earning a spot on Team USA. Her 2:26:06 finish broke the American Masters Marathon Record, and as she processes what it all means for her and her journey, Sara shares in this episode that there's so much to be proud of and grateful for. (And, after her eighth Trials, it's fitting that this is Sara's eighth appearance on the Ali on the Run Show!) FOLLOW SARA @sarahall3 SPONSORS: Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I'm an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your order. UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. What you'll get on this episode: On Sara's recent car trouble, and how her body is feeling post-Trials (2:10) What Aliphine and Sara talked about on the start line (3:50) How serious was Sara's injury when she scratched from the Houston Half? (4:45) All about Sara's pre-race warm-up (7:15) Why Sara took off and threw her watch at mile 17 (9:30) Sara shares her proudest racing moments (12:20) On dealing with mid-race cramping (15:20) What's next? (22:00) Sara's first workout after the Trials (27:00) On breaking the Master's Record at the Trials (28:40) Sara's snapshot moment from the day (31:45) The race plan (40:35) How Sara processed and grieved this race with her family (40:20) On making the final turn toward the finish line (48:40) What it was like seeing training partner Makenna Myler at the finish (52:00) On never giving up on your dreams (53:45) 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!

20 Feb 202457min

"Going into this race, I was like, 'Top 10, that sounds like a really good goal. I can do that. Top 10.' And then when that race started, I was like, 'Holy crap, Top 10 is going to be so hard. This is the most talented group of women I have ever been surrounded by.' Everywhere I looked, I was like, 'You're amazing, you're amazing, you're incredible…' I felt honored to be among those women. I just look up to all these women around me." "Have kids and dreams." It's Makenna Myler's mantra (surely you've seen her post-race video that quickly went viral), and it's exactly what she's doing. The mom of two (10 months and 3 years old) just finished seventh at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, where she ran a personal best time of 2:26:14. Makenna went into the Trials hoping for a Top 10 finish, and wanting "to be a factor." In this episode, she talks about how she made it happen, about being coached by Ryan Hall, about doing workouts alongside Sara Hall, and about what it was like pumping with fellow Trials-running moms before the race. FOLLOW MAKENNA @benzmakenz SPONSORS: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!) UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. What you'll get on this episode: How Makenna processes her races (2:45) What it was like nursing and pumping during race weekend (5:00) All about Makenna's viral "Have kids and dreams" video (10:00) On imposter syndrome, being coached by Ryan Hall, and training with Sara Hall (13:10) What the start of the race was like, and the race plan Ryan gave Makenna beforehand (23:55) The last 10K (29:15) What Makenna and Ryan talked about after the race (45:30) Where Makenna plans to run next (51:00) Why Makenna shaved her head in high school (55:30) 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!

15 Feb 20241h

"For all the speculators out there, there was no splitting the prize money, no talk about that beforehand, no 'You go first, I go second.' No 'Conner let me win in New Haven, so I have to let him win at the Trials.' It really just happened. I want to make that 100 percent clear. I wouldn't have it any other way. It was pure, raw emotion of enjoying the moment." It was the marathon finish we all couldn't stop talking about. At the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, former Brigham Young University teammates and current training partners Conner Mantz and Clayton Young ran stride-for-stride every step of the way, until Conner broke the tape just ahead of Clayton. Together, they went 1-2 on the podium, securing their spots on Team USA for the Paris Olympic Games this summer. In this conversation, Conner and Clayton talk about the race, about training with coach Ed Eyestone, and about whether Clayton really "let" Conner win. It's Love on the Run meets Friendship Fest! FOLLOW CONNER @connermantz FOLLOW CLAYTON @_clayton_young_ 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: How Clayton, Conner, and Coach Eyestone wow feeling just a few days after the race (2:30) All about that now-famous Olympic Trials finish (3:30) The surge that got Conner to the finish (9:55) What Meb Keflezighi said to Conner and Clayton before the race (15:30) All about Conner and Clayton's relationships with fellow professional runner Jared Ward (16:50) How Conner and Clayton's families feel about their race results (20:15) On getting back on the run with the BYU crew (22:25) Conner and Clayton break down the race — starting with Conner's missed bottle (25:00) The post-race conversations Clayton and Conner had with Zach Panning, who led most of the race (34:35) The nerves of the Trials vs. the Olympics (40:50) The mid-race high five seen around the country (45:35) Clayton's decision to wear sunglasses to the press conference (50:25) How Conner and Clayton met (54:50) 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!

13 Feb 20241h

"Seeing how many people flew down to Florida on a random weekend in February to cheer for total strangers… How cool is that?!" I had the best weekend in Orlando at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon — running around Lake Eola with friends, attending the elite athlete press conference, hosting a Best Running Friends meetup, going on shakeout runs, and, of course, cheering for all of the runners during Saturday's race. This is my recap from the weekend. SPONSOR: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. What you'll get on this episode: Why I went to the Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando (1:00) Friday: a morning run, wise words from Deena Kastor, the elite athlete press conference, an impromptu Best Running Friends meetup, a shakeout run, and a weird sushi dinner (9:00) Saturday: race day! (34:10) Final takeaways (51:50) 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!

8 Feb 20241h 1min

"I knew months ago that was going to be my caption for that post!" Let the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon recaps begin! First up: Dakotah Lindwurm! The 28-year-old Puma-sponsored athlete who trains with Minnesota Distance Elite finished third at the Trials, running 2:25:31 and fulfilling a lifelong dream of earning a spot on Team USA. In this conversation, recorded just two days after the race (while on vacation in the Dominican Republic!), Dakotah talks about her 130-mile training weeks leading up to the Trials while working full-time as a paralegal. She talks about developing an unwavering confidence and belief in herself, shares her original race plan, and breaks down the race itself. Plus, what it was like racing with teammate and best friend Annie Frisbie, what the spectators in Orlando were like, and the mid-race move that makes her feel "icky." FOLLOW DAKOTAH @dakotahlindwurm SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!) 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 Feb 202455min

"As runners, we all deserve to be at the start line — and at the finish line, winning races." Last month, Weini Kelati broke the American record in the half marathon, running 1:06:25 in Houston in her debut at the distance. Just a few days later, she ran — and won — the USATF cross-country championships. Weini's plan was never to be a record-breaking runner, though. Growing up in Eritrea, Weini was accustomed to walking — sometimes running — two hours to get to school each day, six days a week. Running on top of that? No thank you, she told her P.E. teacher. But somehow, she ended up on the school's track team, and at 17 years old, she was chosen to represent Eritrea at the Junior World Championships in Eugene, OR. The rest, as they say, is history. Weini intentionally missed her flight back home in favor of seeking asylum to stay in the U.S. and pursue a running career. She attended the University of New Mexico, where she became the most-decorated track and field athlete in the program's history, and she's been breaking records ever since. Weini lives in Flagstaff, AZ, where she is sponsored by Under Armour and trains with the Dark Sky Distance group. FOLLOW WEINI @weini_kelati SPONSOR: Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. What you'll get on this episode: What's next on Weini's racing calendar? (3:40) All about Weini's childhood (4:30) When — and why — Weini started running in elementary school (10:00) The trip to the U.S. that changed Weini's life forever (19:00) On acclimating to life in the U.S. (25:45) What it was like for Weini to go eight years without seeing her mother (30:00) Weini's college experience at the University of New Mexico (41:00) How Weini became a professional runner (45:00) Why Weini wanted to move up to the half-marathon distance (49:00) Weini's advice for first-time half-marathoners (55:35) 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!

1 Feb 20241h