737. Ask Ali!

"You only have a fallback plan if you plan to fall back." —Jeni Novak When I was 12 years old, my cool older cousin was dating the coolest girl I'd ever met. She wore high heels, she was a dancer, and she would always do my hair and makeup when I saw her. That girl — woman — is Jeni Novak. We called her "Little Jen," because she was teeny tiny, but today, Little Jen has gotten up to some big things: She went on to become a professional dancer, eventually dancing for Miley Cyrus and becoming not just her go-to dancer, but also one of her closest friends. (Jealous.) Jeni met her now-husband while dancing for Miley (my cousin went on to marry the other coolest girl I've ever met), so if you're a Miley Cyrus fan (I am!), there are lots of fun Miley stories in this episode. Today, Jeni is a hair and makeup artist in Hollywood. She and her husband started their own creative agency and production company, Novak Entertainment, and their clients include Lululemon, Tone It Up, Reebok, and more. Jen has so many inspiring stories to share, so if you're looking for someone to help whip you into shape and up your hustle game, you'll get it in this episode. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle! What you'll get on this episode: Jeni recalls her early days as an aspiring professional dancer, and how she made her dance dreams come true — including the fateful way she ended up moving to Los Angeles for good (4:10) How Jeni has built her confidence, and whether she's ever felt insecure in this industry (22:30) How Jeni ended up dancing for — and becoming close friends with — Miley Cyrus (25:15) How and why Jeni decided to start a production company (36:30) The big job Jeni was preparing for when we recorded this episode (48:40) How Jeni made her way into the health and wellness space (1:00:10) What we mention on this episode: The Juilliard School Legends in Concert Broadway Dance Center L.A. DanceMagic Miley Cyrus performing Melancholy Hill Matte Black Follow Jeni: Instagram @jeninovak Website Novak Entertainment 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!

23 Aug 20181h 13min

"I haven't always failed gracefully, but I've always come back." —Laura Anderson Laura Anderson is a full-time working mom and McKirdy Trained running coach based in Rochester, NY. Laura had her daughter, Hannah, a little over a year ago, and in May she ran — and won — her first big postpartum race. On this episode, Laura reflects on her 2018 Buffalo Marathon win (she finished in 2:57, which was also a marathon PR) and the training that helped her break the tape. She also honestly and candidly talks about her experience with postpartum OCD, body image, and goal setting. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle! What you'll get on this episode: Laura reflects on her recent Buffalo Marathon win and what race day was like (2:50) How Laura's Buffalo Marathon training went — her first postpartum training cycle — and what she does for cross-training (11:40) Why Laura chose not to run during her pregnancy (17:15) Laura talks about whether not running throughout pregnancy made her postpartum comeback easier or more challenging (22:00) How Laura got into running (28:30) What Laura's training for now, plus how and when she sets her running goals (32:00) Laura's advice for aspiring Boston Marathon qualifiers (36:30) How and why Laura decided to become a running coach, and what she's like as a coach (38:30) Laura talks about the most common mistakes she sees most runners making (41:30) Laura opens up about her postpartum OCD (44:15) How Laura takes care of herself in spite of an extremely busy schedule (52:30) What we mention on this episode: Buffalo Marathon McKirdy Trained Lake Effect Half Marathon *Learn more about Postpartum OCD* Follow Laura: Instagram @losingrace Twitter @losingrace Coaching Blog Salty Running 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!

15 Aug 20181h 1min

"I'm still not sure which was crazier: me finishing second, or the response to me finishing second." — Sarah Sellers After the 2018 Boston Marathon, everyone wanted to meet second place finisher Sarah Sellers. She joined the Ali on the Run Show just two days after her triumphant finish in Boston — and that episode went on to become the most-downloaded episode of the show ever. Today, Sarah is still a nurse anesthetist living in Arizona, but her life looks a little different post-Boston. She's no longer and unknown, unsponsored runner — she signed with Altra soon after Boston — and she's $75,000 richer thanks to the Boston Marathon. On this episode, she looks back at that day in Boston and how her life has changed since, and shares her big racing plans for the fall. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring What's New With You Week on the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle! What you'll get on this episode: What the days and weeks after the Boston Marathon were like for Sarah (2:05) What it was like returning to work after Boston (4:45) What Sarah's post-Boston recovery was like (6:00) How Sarah spent her $75,000 Boston Marathon prize money (7:30) How Sarah became sponsored post-Boston, what that process was like, and why she chose to partner with Altra (10:10) Whether her second-place finish in Boston added stress and pressure to Sarah's running (16:00) How Sarah is fitting her new, busier running and racing commitments into her already intense work schedule (19:40) What's next for Sarah Sellers? (23:00) What we mention on this episode: Sarah Sellers on Episode 69 of the Ali on the Run Show Boston Marathon London Marathon Kara Goucher Des Linden NYRR New York Mini 10K Altra Deseret News 10K Follow Sarah: Instagram @sarah_sellers Twitter @sarahwhosellers 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!

7 Aug 201826min

"It's hard. I go and put the work in and see a glimmer of hope and then get my butt handed to me a week later. It's difficult. But I know what I want to do and what I believe I'm capable of doing, and I know I just need to continue to work." —Gwen Jorgensen When Gwen Jorgensen was on the Ali on the Run Show earlier this year, she had recently moved to Portland, OR, and had just announced her next big goal: to transition from an Olympic gold medal-winning triathlete to an Olympic gold medal-winning marathoner. Gwen has been training with the Bowerman Track Club, under the leadership of Coach Jerry Schumacher, and she's back on the show to give us all an update on how her 2020 pursuit is going. Plus, she talks about how becoming a mom to one-year-old Stanley has changed the game for her, and what she's learned from her fellow Bowerman Babes. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring What's New With You Week on the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle! What you'll get on this episode: Why Gwen wanted to train with the Bowerman Track Club, and how she made it happen (2:10) What it's like being a Bowerman Babe, and what Gwen has learned from her teammates (4:20) What is it about Jerry Schumacher? (8:00) How Gwen's training is going, physically and mentally (11:00) How becoming a mom has changed Gwen's training (15:50) What Gwen's fall marathon goals look like and how she's working toward them (19:45) What's new with Stanley? (22:00) Gwen reflects on her postpartum return to running and training (24:00) What we mention on this episode: Gwen Jorgensen on Episode 54 of the Ali on the Run Show Bowerman Track Club Shelby Houlihan Shalane Flanagan Follow Gwen: Instagram @gwenjorgensen Twitter @gwenjorgensen Facebook YouTube 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!

6 Aug 201829min

"Running is important, but it's not everything." —Janae Baron When Janae Baron was on the Ali on the Run Show last December, she was 37 weeks pregnant, so needless to say, she's seen some big changes now that she has an eight-month-old daughter, Skye, added to her six-member family! On this episode, Janae talks about how that transition has gone, and what the biggest challenges and surprises have been so far. She opens up about the easy parts, the hard parts, and, of course, the running-related parts. Plus, a very special guest at the beginning of the episode! Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring What's New With You Week on the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle! What you'll get on this episode: How life has been for Janae since becoming a family of six (4:40) What Janae says has been the biggest surprise about adding a baby to the family (7:50) How having a baby with Andrew has impacted their marriage (9:45) What Janae's recovery and return to running after having Skye was like (12:00) Janae opens up about her experience with feeling depressed and sad during pregnancy (18:00) Janae shares her current race goals, plans, and dreams — and talks about whether that sub-3:00 marathon goal is still on her mind (23:45) What Janae says she's most excited about right now (39:20) What we mention on this episode: Janae Baron on Episode 50 of the Ali on the Run Show Mary Johnson St. George Marathon Lift.Run.Perform Mountains 2 Beach Marathon Follow Janae: Instagram @hungryrunnergirl Facebook Twitter @hungryrunnergrl Blog 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!

6 Aug 201844min

"Expectations obviously are higher now. But I put them on myself." —Allie Kieffer When Allie Kieffer was on Episode 46 of the Ali on the Run Show last November, she was fresh off a fifth-place finish at the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon. Her 2:29 finish was triumphant: She was this unknown, unsponsored runner from Buffalo, NY, who happened to be the first American woman to finish behind winner Shalane Flanagan. Now, Allie is no longer unknown or unsponsored. She signed with Oiselle soon after NYC, trained in Kenya for seven weeks, and recently moved to Boulder, CO, where she's gearing up to return to the New York City Marathon. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring What's New With You Week on the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle! What you'll get on this episode: Allie reflects on the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon and how it impacted her career (2:15) Allie's best advice for moving past a bad race or workout (6:05) How Allie became a sponsored runner, thanks to Oiselle, what the signing process entailed, and what her sponsorship agreement looks like (7:20) Whether becoming a well-known, in-the-public-eye runner after the 2017 NYC Marathon was stressful or motivating for Allie (13:40) What training in Kenya was like — and how Allie ended up there in the first place (15:30) How Allie coped emotionally after going from being in the best shape of her life to having a stress fracture and being totally sidelined (22:10) Why Allie traded Buffalo for Boulder (28:00) Allie opens up about how she became an advocate for body positivity, and her relationship with her body and race times (31:15) What's next for Allie Kieffer (37:00) What we mention on this episode: Allie Kieffer on Episode 46 of the Ali on the Run Show AJC Peachtree Road Race Portland Track Festival Emma Coburn New York Road Runners Nike Moonshot Project Oiselle Brad Hudson Sarah Lesko TCS New York City Marathon Desiree Linden Boilermaker 15K Follow Allie: Instagram @kiefferallie Twitter @alliekieffer 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!

5 Aug 201839min

"I felt relieved. I knew mentally and physically, I was not ready to be on that starting line." —Michele Gonzalez The last time Michele Gonzalez (AKA "NYC Running Mama") was on the show, she was gearing up to run the 2017 Boston Marathon. During that episode, Michele and I joked about someday being pregnant at the same time — and now here we are, both expecting babies this fall! Michele is a full-time working mom of two, and her third child is due in November. On this episode, she talks about her pregnancy, what her running looked like over the past year, and whether she has any postpartum running goals. She also shares her secrets for snapping those gorgeous sunrise running photos! Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring What's New With You Week on the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle! What you'll get on this episode: Michele shares all the exciting news about her pregnancy (1:45) How Michele's recent running goals factored into her decision to have a baby right now (8:30) How Michele dealt with and got through a tough running year in 2017 (11:45) Whether Michele has any big postpartum running goals, and the pressure she felt in the past to return to running and racing soon after having a baby (16:00) Michele opens up about whether she's worried to take time off from work post-baby (21:00) Michele's best advice for getting back into the workforce after taking time off to raise a family (28:45) Michele shares her secret to getting those gorgeous sunrise running shots (31:30) What we mention on this episode: Michele Gonzalez on Episode 19 of the Ali on the Run Show Mary Johnson, Michele's coach Follow Michele: Instagram Facebook Twitter Blog 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 Aug 201838min

"I don't think I'll ever retire. If something motivates me, I want to go for it." —Kara Goucher Kara Goucher is back on the Ali on the Run Show, talking about her new book, Strong, how keeping a confidence journal changed her life, and where her running career is at right now. She also talks about the current state of women's running, and reflects on how choosing to have a child at the height of her professional running career affected her job. Plus, she answers the two questions everyone keeps asking: Is she retired, and does she want more kids? Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring What's New With You Week on the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $55 off your wireless headphone bundle! What you'll get on this episode: Kara dishes about her new book, Strong, and how keeping a confidence journal has changed her life (2:00) Kara recounts her performance at this year's Grandma's Marathon, and reflects on the highs and lows of the day (7:30) Kara opens up about what it's like when your competitor has an amazing day and you have a less-than-stellar one (13:10) Where Kara's at with her running career right now (17:40) What it's like watching American women dominate on the roads and track right now (20:15) Kara talks about running during and after pregnancy, and why she returned to running so soon after giving birth to her son, Colt (26:30) How choosing to have a child actually affected Kara's professional running career (32:35) Whether Kara still wants to dabble in ultra running (38:00) Is Kara retired? (40:00) Does Kara want more kids? (42:00) What we mention on this episode: Kara Goucher on Episode 43 of the Ali on the Run Show Dr. Stephen Walker, sports psychologist Grandma's Marathon Kara's Podium Retreat Emma Coburn BolderBOULDER 10K Western States Endurance Run Follow Kara: Instagram @karagoucher Twitter @karagoucher Facebook Blog 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 Aug 201846min