Ali on the Run Show

"I had all these supporters that were from the Black running community that were there to cheer me on because I was their representation in the race. That's really big and pretty heavy, I think. And not heavy in a bad way. But it weighs on my mind a lot, especially now."   At just 24 years old — and with only two marathons under her belt so far — Peyton Thomas is already making a name for herself...

"We just wish that science was faster sometimes!"   Amy Diallo always knew she wanted to be a scientist. Growing up in France, her plan was always to move to the United States and study infectious diseases. And perhaps never has Amy's career as a postdoctoral researcher at University of California, San Francisco, been more relevant than today, as she's spending long hours in the lab doing Covid-19...

"If that's my legacy, that's a good one."   Shalane Flanagan has many titles: former professional runner, four-time Olympian, Olympic silver medalist, Bowerman Track Club coach, 2017 New York City Marathon champion, American record holder, two-time New York Times best-selling author, race broadcaster — and, her newest title, mom. Last month, Shalane and her husband, Steven Edwards, became parents...

"I'm 100 percent emotionally involved with the families I serve."   Welcome to Season 2 of the On the Job series on the Ali on the Run Show ! This season, we're kicking things off with JoMarie Flores, a funeral director in Houston, TX. But don't worry: This episode isn't all death, doom, and gloom. JoMarie is so passionate about her work, and you'll quickly see why families love and appreciate her...

"The best thing that can happen to you is to have all your plans get blown up because then you learn how you react to that."   Last week, Tracksmith announced it was adding two members to its team: professional athletes Mary Cain and Nick Willis. But Nick and Mary aren't just figureheads for the brand or sponsored athletes. They're full-time, salaried employees. On this episode, Lee Glandorf, head...

"I was at the cross-section of a couple different identities that people didn't quite understand."   Dinée Dorame is a citizen of the Navajo Nation, Water's Edge clan. She's a lifelong runner who grew up in Albuquerque, NM, moved to the east coast to attend and later work in admissions at Yale University, and has since returned to Albuquerque, where she is the Associate Director of College Horizon...

"I didn't want people to think fun, happy Sasha really has depression and anxiety."   Sasha Wolff is the founder of Still I Run , a non-profit organization and online community for runners, whose mission is to raise awareness around mental health. On this episode — in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month — Sasha, a mom of two who lives in Michigan, talks openly about her own experiences with dep...

"With this platform comes a responsibility."   This episode is a message from me to every listener of the Ali on the Run Show. It's a promise to do better. To showcase more voices on the show and during live events. To listen more. To do the work.   Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Like the Facebook page Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Blog Strava   Listen & Sub...

"I always knew Molly was going to qualify for the Olympics at some point. It was just a matter of when."   During the last weekend in February, everyone was talking about one race: the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. But there was another race that same day, in that same city: Take the Bridge , which Izzy Seidel won. And if that last name sounds familiar — particularly in the context of having a gre...

"I just remember looking down and seeing that five year old little girl, dressed in her favorite princess dress, looking up at me with the biggest smile on her face — and I just see myself in her. It is so magical."   Kaitie Brown knew from a young age that her dream was to one day perform at Walt Disney World — and that's exactly what she went on to do. After three years and 12 auditions, Kaitie...

"I think after a certain point you just realize you're not running to impress other people."   Emily Sisson was one of the top-seeded women competing at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. She's a 2:23 marathoner and professional runner for New Balance, and she went into the Trials after a huge year on the run in 2019. Emily made her marathon debut at the 2019 London Marathon, where she finishe...

"I've trained for Boston... I've done a 20-miler before doing two shows of A Chorus Line , which is two hours of standing on your feet and kicking. I've done 20-milers before a five-show day at Radio City."   Amanda LaVergne is a Broadway actress, singer, and dancer. She has performed in  Annie and  Grease , among many others, and spent a decade performing as Mrs. Claus in the Radio City Christmas...

Welcome to the April edition of Ramblings on the Run with Ali & Matt. Every month, Matt Chittim — host of the  Rambling Runner  podcast and the  Road to the Olympic Trials show — and I will come together to talk about running industry news, our own running, and things we're loving right now, and to answer listener questions about running and podcasting. But this time around, instead of listener Q&...

"Find a way to get people hooked on running. That's what we need."   Jay Holder just might love running — the sport itself, plus every single member of the running community — more than any guy I know. Jay is the Director of Marketing & Communications at Atlanta Track Club, which means this week, we're getting a behind-the-scenes look at what it took to host the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials!...

"I can sincerely say that when I leave work and go home, my heart feels really full — but sometimes it feels defeated... There's a lot of emotion at stake. It's hard."   Christine Mousa is a family specialist in New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency. Her job is to find safe and loving homes for children. It's important, emotional work, and on this episode, Christine talks about...

"You have to believe in yourself. And you can say it a million times, but before this, I didn't actually believe I could run with these girls. And now I absolutely know that I can run with these girls, and I know that I can be competitive."   Nell Rojas finished ninth at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February. And that in its own is impressive — but it's especially impressive when you consid...

"I had to keep believing that my Olympic dream was still alive until the race was over."   Laura Thweatt ran a fast, fierce, gutsy race at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta — a hard effort that earned her a fifth-place finish. But fifth place at the Trials is a tough spot: When the first three finishers make the team and the fourth-place finisher is the alternate, fifth place is so close...

"Fear is not something you experience in an airplane. That's your comfort zone."   For many people, flying in an airplane is an anxiety-inducing adventure. But not for Julia Harrington. Julia is a corporate pilot and captain on two business jets, and on this On the Job episode, she talks about her adventures in the skies. Julia reminisces about her childhood dreams of becoming a pilot, and talks a...

"Without races on the schedule, you're figuring out why you run in the first place. I think this is a really good reminder that we do it because we love it — not because we're constantly chasing a goal or trying to prove something."   Caitlyn Tateishi has run — long, and fast — all over the world. On this episode, the 2:43 marathoner talks about growing up in Hawaii and discovering life on the run...

"I was just like, 'Oh my god, I'm in Hollywood! This was meant to be!'"   Taylor Ritzel has quite the resumé: She was a collegiate rower at Yale University who went on to win Olympic gold in rowing at the 2012 games. Today, though, Taylor has traded her oars for the Hollywood life. She works at Netflix, in nonfiction series content acquisition. On this episode, she talks about what, exactly, that...

"There's nothing I can do, so I might as well not wallow about it, and I might as well just find something else to make me happy for the moment."   Emma Coburn is a two-time Olympian, eight-time U.S. steeplechase champion, world champion, and world silver medalist. On this episode, Emma — who runs for New Balance and is Vice President of the Athletics Association — talks about how the COVID-19 pan...

"I run on pure stress and adrenaline."   Kelly McKnight is an orthopedic surgery resident — a real-life Callie Torres from Grey's Anatomy ! — in Sioux Falls, SD. On this episode, the second in the On the Job series, Kelly talks about what her job entails, what the schooling is like, how she survives grueling 80-hour weeks on her feet, and how running fits in. She also talks about why only six perc...

"I know I wasn't a favorite, but I felt that if a door opened, I was fully ready to sprint through it."   When Kaitlin Goodman , a 2:32 marathoner who runs for adidas and the Boston Athletic Association, arrived at the start line of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, she felt fit, strong, and ready to race. Kaitlin was ranked 29th in the field of more than 500 women, and she was in Atlanta to...

"It's really a lesson in humans and human activity."   Welcome to the On the Job series on the Ali on the Run Show! Every Tuesday for the next seven weeks, we'll meet cool women with interesting, fascinating, unique, badass jobs. They'll talk about how they got into their respective fields, what their jobs entail, why their work matters, and why they've pursued their passions. Plus, they're all ru...

"I'm not going to throw a pity party. I'm celebrating this day. I was a part of history."   It's so hard to believe it's been nearly a month since we were all in Atlanta for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials — truly the good old days! And I want to keep remembering and celebrating those days. Andrea Toppin is a chiropractic student and elite marathoner for Oiselle who trains with the Minnesota Dist...