54. Gwen Jorgensen, Olympic Gold Medalist & Professional Triathlete

Chris Heuisler is the National Run Concierge for Westin Hotels and Resorts. He has every runner's dream job — traveling the country to meet runners and hear their stories — and he beat out more than 1,100 applicants to get the gig. Chris and his team of concierges make sure runners staying at Westin Hotels know where to run — they'll even run with you! — and they'll hook you up with free New Balance gear to borrow during your stay. Chris, a former Equinox trainer and actor, also racks up some serious miles in the air: 100,000 per year, in fact, traveling to various Westin Hotels across North America to be on-hand for race weekends at Rock 'n' Roll events. Chris is also a super speedy runner (and sub-3:00 marathoner) on a quest to run a marathon in all 50 states. (He's completed 20 states so far.) Chris — or "Uncle Huggy Bear," as his family calls him — currently lives outside Boston with his wife, Rachel, and their two kids. Show Notes 3:00: Run Westin Program: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/about/move-runwestin.html?language=en_US 3:00: Westin Hotels: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/index.html 9:30: Chris running with Meb: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-run-of-a-lifetime_us_57d298d5e4b0eb9a57b7a67a 10:00: John Bingham, The Penguin: http://www.johnbingham.com/ 11:40: November Project: http://november-project.com/ 12:30: Rock 'n' Roll Race Series: http://www.runrocknroll.com/ 18:20: New Yorker article about working from home: http://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/i-work-from-home 18:50: Chris on Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/chris-heuisler 19:50: Deena Kastor's Mammoth Running Escape: http://deenakastor.com/escape/ 22:40: Huffington Post story about meditation: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-10-minutes-of-doing-nothing-is-helping-my-running_us_58a5f0b9e4b0fa149f9ac2f8 23:50: Headspace app: https://www.headspace.com/ 28:20: John's 40th Birthday Marathon at Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh: http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/262-suprises-a-birthday-party-of-marathon-proportions 34:20: Run Westin / Rock 'n' Roll VIP Program: http://runwestin.starwoodpromos.com/ 37:15: Chris's piece for the Huffington Post about running a 2:45 marathon: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nyc-the-one-that-got-away_us_5812b11ee4b08301d33e07b3 44:50: Chris on IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1319070/ 45:00: Proof Chris and Alexis Bledel totally dated: http://www.lifeandstylemag.com/posts/gilmore-girls-netflix-118978 48:15: The Mebsie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZYlmiZRHI0 57:10: Chris's Favorite Track Workout: http://running.competitor.com/2015/02/training/workout-of-the-week-deeks-quarters_12386 59:00: ROLL Recovery R8: https://www.rollrecovery.com/r8/ Follow Chris: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisheuisler/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RunWestin Follow Ali: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

23 Feb 20171h 5min

Alice Saunders is the creator of Forestbound, a Boston-based company that makes and sells canvas and leather bags made from historic textiles. Alice is also a super speedy runner and marathoner. She started running later in life, and now boasts some pretty serious PRs, including a 3:19 marathon and a 1:37 half marathon. In this episode, Alice and I talk about how she created Forestbound, why she started running (for a good cause!), and our unathletic pasts — including our best strategies for skipping out on the mile during gym class in fifth grade. (Plus a few hot takes about important things like pineapple pizza.) We're also hosting a giveaway with this episode! One lucky listener will win Alice's famous ESCAPE Canvas Utility Bag. (You're going to want this bag. It's the best.) To enter, leave a rating and review on iTunes (http://apple.co/2kDx0zz) before Tuesday, February 21. I'll pick a winner at random and will announce the lucky ESCAPE bag winner on next week's episode. Show Notes Forestbound: http://www.forestbound.com/ ESCAPE bag: http://www.forestbound.com/collections/escape-canvas-bag Forestbound Long May They Run line: http://www.forestbound.com/collections/long-may-they-run The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration: http://www.theaftd.org/ SHAPE Women's Half Marathon: http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2017/shape-womens-half-marathon Eugene Marathon: http://www.eugenemarathon.com/ Sarah Bard: https://sarahjbard.com/ Follow Alice: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestbound/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Forestbound Website: http://www.forestbound.com/ Follow Ali: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes (http://apple.co/2kDx0zz). Spread the run love!

16 Feb 201758min

John Honerkamp is a former Olympic Trials qualifier, a running coach, and one of the co-leaders of the November Project tribe in New York City. He boasts an impressive running history: He competed at the Olympic Trials in the 800 meters when he was still in college, and holds a 2:44 marathon PR. John worked for New York Road Runners for six years, where he helped create and develop the organization's Virtual Trainer coaching and group training programs. John is currently a freelance running coach and consultant, and trains everyone from first-time runners to super competitive collegiate track and field athletes. (Fun fact: He's also a comedian and performs with improv troupes!) Note: The audio for this episode is a little funky at times. We didn't have a great internet connection while we were recording, so bear with us, and it'll be fixed for the next episode! Show Notes: November Project: http://november-project.com/ New York Road Runners: http://www.nyrr.org/ New York Road Runners Virtual Trainer: http://www.nyrr.org/train-with-us/training-programs Follow John: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnhonerkamp/ Website: http://johnhonerkamp.com/ Follow Ali: Instagram: aliontherun1 Twitter: aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

10 Feb 20171h 11min

Alison Desir is a runner, writer, and blogger, and is the founder of Harlem Run. She was the driving force behind the recent Run 4 All Women, a run from Harlem to Washington, D.C., that raised more than $100,000 for Planned Parenthood. Alison is also the creator of the Harlem One Miler, which is in its third year and will expand to Detroit, MI, later this year. Alison and I talked about how running helped her through a period of depression, how she created Harlem Run, which now boasts 250 people at its workouts, and what her plans and goals are for the Harlem One Miler. Follow Alison: Twitter: powderedfeet Instagram: powderedfeet Blog: http://www.powderedfeet.com Follow Ali: Instagram: aliontherun1 Twitter: aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com 2:20: Harlem Run: http://www.harlemrun.com/ 3:30: Team in Training: http://www.teamintraining.org/ 4:00: Rock 'N' Roll San Diego: http://www.runrocknroll.com/san-diego/ 12:20: Follow Amir: https://www.instagram.com/alacrityamir/ 12:45: Follow Mary Arnold: https://www.instagram.com/maryarnold79/ 13:15: Meet Kai: http://www.harlemrun.com/bios/ 16:40: Harlem United: https://www.harlemunited.org/ 17:00 Harlem One-Miler: https://harlem1miler.com/ 23:00: Run 4 All Women: https://www.gofundme.com/4Women4AllWomen 27:50: AM Joy Clip: http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/women-run-to-march-for-planned-parenthood-860218435670 32:40: Finish Line Physical Therapy: http://finishlinept.com/ 45:00: Project Start: https://www.instagram.com/psyougotthis/ 45:00: Candice Huffine: https://www.instagram.com/candicehuffine/ 1:00:00: Mary Wittenberg: https://www.instagram.com/marywruns/ Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

9 Feb 20171h 3min

Brian Cristiano is the founder and CEO of BOLD Worldwide, a sports advertising agency in New York City, and the host of the Sports Marketing Huddle podcast. He's also my husband! So on this episode, we talk about what it's like living with—and loving—someone with Crohn's disease. I've had a few rough flares during our time together, so I picked Brian's brain to get his perspective on what it's like being on the other side of the bathroom door. Follow Brian: Instagram: briancristiano Twitter: brian_cristiano Sports Marketing Huddle podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-marketing-huddle/id1135417163?mt=2 BOLD Worldwide: http://www.boldworldwide.com/ Follow Ali: Instagram: aliontherun1 Twitter: aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com Run for the Rabbit Announcement: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2011/04/22/im-running-for-the-rabbit/ Meet Brian: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2011/09/28/meet-my-handsome-friend/ 5:00: Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America: http://www.ccfa.org/ 9:30: 2011 Brooklyn Half Marathon Recap: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2011/05/21/brooklyn-half-marathon-recap/ 20:00: 10-Day Juice Cleanse: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2013/04/04/this-is-an-opportunity-not-a-punishment/ 20:00: Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead: http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/ 47:00: Probiotics: https://www.natren.com/healthy-trinity.html 57:00: Roomba Scooba: https://www.amazon.com/iRobot-Scooba-Floor-Scrubbing-Robot/dp/B00IO9U06I Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

9 Feb 201759min

Emily Halnon is an ultramarathoner who lives in Eugene, OR. After completing an Ironman and running a 3:08 marathon several years ago, Emily decided to make the shift from road races to trail running and ultras. She has since run a handful of 50-mile races and three 100-milers. Emily and I met in 2011 after following each other on Twitter and reading each other's blogs for a while. (Internet friends are the best friends!) She was living in D.C. at the time and paced me to my own marathon PR in 2012 before moving cross-country to set up shop in Eugene. Emily and I talked about everything from first marathons and ultramarathon aid stations (and all the yummy snacks you can enjoy mid-race) to writing, blogging, and our favorite Celine Dion songs. Follow Emily: Twitter: emilysweats Instagram: emilysweats Blog: http://www.sweatonceaday.com/ Follow Ali: Instagram: aliontherun1 Twitter: aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com 3:00: National Half Marathon Recap: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2011/03/27/national-half-marathon-recap/ 5:00: Manchester City Marathon Recap: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2012/11/06/from-413-to-351-my-manchester-city-marathon-recap/ 6:30: Alison's First 20-Mile Run: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2011/08/14/ali-emily-sweat-all-over-the-nations-capital/ 10:00: Follow Emily's mom on Instagram! @andyjha 14:00: Emily's Ironman Recap: http://www.sweatonceaday.com/2011/07/ironman-lake-placid-race-report.html 20:00: Emily's Eugene Marathon PR Recap: http://www.sweatonceaday.com/2012/04/eugene-marathon-race-report.html 24:00: Javelina Jundred: http://aravaiparunning.com/network/javelinajundred/ 27:40: Pine to Palm Recap: http://www.sweatonceaday.com/2014/09/pine-to-palm-100.html 41:00: Wilder Running & Writing Retreat: http://www.wilderrunning.com/ 46:30: Blue Apron Review: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/2015/08/26/i-finally-tried-blue-apron/ 56:00: Cascade Crest 100: http://www.cascadecrest100.com/ 58:40: Meghan Arbogast: https://runningmegleg.com/ Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

9 Feb 20171h 2min

Welcome to the Ali on the Run Show — your best running buddy! This is a podcast where we talk about working hard, running hard, and doing whatever it takes to break a physical and mental sweat. I'm your host, Ali Feller, and I'm a writer and editor in New York City. I write about health and fitness for Women's Health, Self, Shape, Allure, Fitness, and more, and am the former editor in chief of Dance Spirit magazine. I also blog at Ali on the Run, which is what inspired this podcast. Every week on this show, we'll cover everything from marathon training and yoga to mental health and wellness. Bring us along on your next run — I'll do my best to leave you feeling excited, inspired, and ready to pick up the pace along the way. Show Notes: Follow Ali: Instagram: aliontherun1 Twitter: aliontherun1 Blog: Ali on the Run (aliontherunblog.com) Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!

9 Feb 20172min