43. Kara Goucher

"Right on Hereford, left on Boylston. It is the place to be. It's special every time." We are less than two weeks away from the 128th running of the world's oldest marathon. This year's Boston Marathon takes place, as always, on the third Monday of April — this year, that's April 15. In this mega-episode, I (along with a team of experts and insiders) am attempting to answer all of your questions about all things Boston. Katie Hawkes and Lauren Proshan from the Boston Athletic Association are here to talk logistics (take some deep breaths — the journey to the start line is doable, and you won't be waiting around for too long once you get there!), past champions Des Linden and Meb Keflezighi join to talk course strategy and to break down what it takes to succeed (and run a PR!) in Boston, and sports dietitian Meghann Featherstun is here to give you some last-minute fueling advice. Get excited: Whether you're running, volunteering, cheering, or watching from home, it'll be a Boston to remember. SPONSORS: 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. Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. What you'll get on this episode: B.A.A. director of brand and experiential marketing Katie Hawkes talks about the significance of the Boston Marathon, and shares what's new for 2024 (4:00) Want to run Boston someday? Here's what you need to know about getting in, plus how to watch, the inside scoop on the Boston Celebration jackets, and more (29:50) 2014 Boston Marathon champion Meb Keflezighi offers a Boston-specific pep talk (48:00) Lauren Proshan, the B.A.A.'s chief of race operations and production, explains the process of getting to the start line in Hopkinton, and what to know once you're there (1:15:00) A quick note from Ali (1:39:30) Sports dietitian and four-time Boston Marathoner Meghann Featherstun offers advice on Boston-specific fueling before, during, and after the race (1:45:45) 2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden breaks down the Boston Marathon course (2:11:00) All about the Boston Marathon finish line (2:41:30) A quick overview about spectating at the Boston Marathon, and final thoughts on all things Boston 2023 (2:48:00) 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!

4 Apr 20242h 56min

"It's OK to prioritize time for happiness. Hard times will come. It's really important to know what happiness feels like to you so that when you're in those dark times, you know that happiness is real, you have hope for the future, and you can hold onto that — that you'll be happy again." Her story captivated the nation: Elizabeth Smart was 14 years old when she was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City and held captive for nine months. During that time, she was repeatedly raped and abused by her captors. Remarkably, Elizabeth has gone on to live a happy, healthy life. She's a mom of three, and she's a child safety activist and commentator for ABC News. She's also a four-time marathoner. In this conversation, Elizabeth talks about how she found running, the role it plays in her life today, and what the marathon means to her. FOLLOW ELIZABETH @elizabeth_smart_official 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. 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: The role running plays in Elizabeth's life right now (4:30) Safety, fear, and running: Elizabeth's take (9:00) Why Elizabeth's story captivated the nation (13:00) Elizabeth's feelings on being a victim vs. a survivor (19:00) When life went "back to normal" for Elizabeth (23:30) How Elizabeth found running (30:00) Why Elizabeth decided to run a marathon (37:30) Why Elizabeth kept running marathons (49:10) What's next on the run for Elizabeth? (54:25) On running marathons vs. competing on The Masked Dancer (58:10) Elizabeth's message to fellow survivors (1:00:30) 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!

26 Mars 20241h 7min

"I will always show up and do my best, and try to maintain my integrity in the process. I don't always get it right. But I always try." I ran the New York City Half. I had the best time. And today, I'm here to talk all about running my first 13.1-mile race since my breast cancer diagnosis in May 2023. Plus, answering listener questions about running, podcasting, and more. SPONSORS: 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. goodr: Click here and use code ALI for free shipping. What you'll get on this episode: My 2024 NYC Half recap (1:00) Running-related questions (43:30) Podcast-related questions (56:20) Cancer-related questions (1:02:00) Life questions (1:04:10) 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!

21 Mars 20241h 13min

"Des is the coolest one out of all of us, and she organized it. So of course if Des organizes a dog party, we're going to go to it... And I think if you went to the dog party, you had a good race." She's the American Record Holder in the marathon, she just made her second Olympic team, and this weekend, she was in New York City for a live show all about doggy play dates, missing dogs, the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, potential Olympic tattoo spots, being Emily in Paris, and so much more. Welcome Emily Sisson back to the Ali on the Run Show! FOLLOW EMILY @em_sisson_ SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite daily shoe, and I ran the NYC Half in the SC Elite v4!) 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 Mars 20241h 7min

"I have yet to meet a marg that is too spicy for me." Emma Coburn is an Olympic bronze medalist, a World Champion, a world silver medalist, a 10-time U.S. champion, and a three-time Olympian. The New Balance-sponsored professional athlete returns to the Ali on the Run Show for the seventh time today to catch us up on how life has been since tearing her hamstring at World Championships last summer. (Spoiler: She's fit!) FOLLOW EMMA @emmacoburn 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. Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. 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 Mars 20241h 6min

"I hope I can normalize not hitting goals and being OK." We took our finest feathers and poppiest pink outfits to Richmond, VA. Welcome to Ali on the Run Show LIVE with Keira D'Amato! We played games — Never Have I Ever, Truth or Dare Jenga, and the classic Skeirragories — we laughed, we squatted, we chugged water, and we had an honest conversation about Keira's experience at the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials. Come for the community. Stay for the Meat Thing clip. (OK, maybe don't stay for the Meat Thing clip...) SPONSORS: 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. 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. 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 Mars 20241h 40min

"Records are always going to be broken, but medals are forever." Nikki Hiltz returns to the Ali on the Run Show for the seventh time — and for the first time as a world championship medalist! Last weekend, Nikki took home the silver medal in the 1500m at World Indoor Championships, and today, we get to hear all about it. Plus a very special (and oh so wholesome) guest to kick off the episode. FOLLOW NIKKI @nikkihiltz 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. LISTEN HERE: EMBED What you'll get on this episode: Welcome Liz Hiltz to the Ali on the Run Show! (1:45) How it feels to be a World Indoor Silver Medalist (11:35) "This is my whole personality now" (14:10) The 1500m community, and what makes it so special right now (18:35) Nikki's reaction to watching the 1500m with their parents after the race (20:20) Nikki's race plan for the 1500m final (25:10) The significance of Nikki's "THEM" necklace (30:20) Why Nikki went for the win in the prelims (35:50) On watching Elle Purrier St. Pierre take home a gold medal the day before the 1500m final (39:40) How Nikki and Emily Mackay went from acquaintances to Team USA teammates and medalists (42:10) All about that race-day sore throat (45:35) From getting off the line to the finish line: How the race broke down (54:00) All about Nikki's role in the forthcoming Tracktown series debuting March 29 (1:01:35) What Nikki's into right now (1:05:15) A message on authenticity (1:09:20) 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!

7 Mars 20241h 14min

"I think about when I was a kid and I would just go out and run hard and not worry about the result or what was the worst thing that could happen. I run my best when I run with the same mindset I had when I was 12." Jackie Gaughan qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials in her very first marathon. At 24 years old, she was the 18th-fastest qualifier in the field. (Her PR is a 2:27 from the 2023 Berlin Marathon.) In this conversation, Jackie talks about going from being an anxiety-riddled runner at Notre Dame to a four-time marathoner who finished 25th at the Trials. She talks about how running fits into her life as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs, about her oldest daughter tendencies (she's the oldest of four), and about racing with a Jackie Mindset. FOLLOW JACKIE @jackie_gaughan SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season. (The SuperComp Trainer is my favorite shoe!) What you'll get on this episode: All about Jackie's run today (1:45) Jackie's decision not to run this year's Boston Marathon (2:45) What Jackie's job entails, and how she fits running in (5:00) How it felt going into the Trials as the 18th-fastest qualifier (7:00) What it means to run with a Jackie Mindset (8:00) How and why Jackie became a runner (9:35) On dealing with race-related and running-related anxiety (14:15) Why Jackie decided to move up to the marathon after college (16:10) What Jackie's Trials training was like (18:05) What it was like in Orlando leading up to the Trials (23:25) On making the decision to walk during the race (28:00) How Jackie got through the toughest parts of the race, and what the finish line experience was like (34:00) What running looks like for Jackie right now (38:00) What it means to run the Jackie Gaughan way (41:00) 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!

5 Mars 202446min