Ali on the Run Show

"I have zero expectations. I'm ranked 60-plus. But I think I have a good shot at being top 10 in the world, and maybe even having a shot at a medal. Those were my own expectations and my own pressure. Good expectations, and good pressure. It started as, 'We made it, we checked the box, we got to the Olympics!' But it quickly transitioned to, ' Oh, let's see what we can do. Let's swing for the fenc...

"I wanted to change the world just like she had." Kate Gunderson — best known online as "The Plane Kate" — is living a real-life  Top Gun ...kind of. (She'll explain!) Kate is a flight test engineer (a literal woman in STEM!), a former NASA engineer, and a nine-time marathoner with a 3:18 personal best. In this conversation, Kate explains what her role entails, what it's like being in flight test...

"It's like everything you've been working for coming true in one moment." Today in 2024 Paris Olympic Games recap episodes: marathoner Dakotah Lindwurm! Dakotah earned her spot on Team USA by finishing third at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in February, and now, she finally got to run those 26.2 miles (or 42.1 kilometers, as she learned) through Paris, and can officially call herself an Ol...

"I knew it was going to be incredible. I knew it was going to be such a fun and crazy experience. But it was an experience of a lifetime. There's no other way to describe it. I just had so much fun. One of my goals was to soak it all in and have fun, and I really did that." Nikki Hiltz returns to the  Ali on the Run Show for the tenth time — and this time, officially, as an Olympian. Nikki finishe...

"Everyone's doing their dream, you know? There are people who are winning, and that's their dream. There are people who, just being there, that's their dream. Hearts are being broken. It feels like you're on that most emotional day of your period for two weeks." Michelle Wolf is best known for her work as a stand-up comic. (Earlier this year, she wrote Kim Kardashian's bit for Netflix's Tom Brady...

"I remember watching the New York City Marathon on TV and just saying, 'One day, I want to do that.' I'm watching it, and I'm like, 'They're superheroes! How do they do that?!'" Sam Ryan is WABC 7's Emmy Award-winning sports anchor and reporter. The New York City-based mom of two spends her days talking baseball, football, and hockey on live TV — but her favorite day on air is when she gets to co-...

"The energy is just so palpable. Even though it's the crack of dawn, we are all abuzz and going. You have to be able to get it going." The next time you're watching the  Today Show and you see the anchors eating or drinking something delicious, that's the work of Katie Stilo. As  Today's food stylist and culinary producer, it's Katie's job to prepare segments, write scripts based on guest-submitte...

"I live in constant duality now." We're taking a break from the Trials recaps and Olympics episodes to catch up. Welcome to Ask Ali, where I answer all of your questions submitted on Instagram (where I'm @aliontherun1 ). SPONSOR:   goodr:  Click here  and use code ALI for free shipping on your entire order. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support o...

"Of course making the Olympic team would be amazing, but it's not going to define who I am. It's not an end-all-be-all for me." When Jess McClain lined up at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials earlier this year, she did so as an under-the-radar, unsponsored, self-coached athlete — and she finished fourth , becoming the official Team USA Alternate in the marathon. Just a few weeks ago, Jess competed...

"I went there to do a job, and that was to make the team." New Balance Boston's Elle Purrier St. Pierre lined up at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials a total of five times — each time as the fastest-seeded athlete in the field. In this episode, Elle talks about racing the impressive 5000m and 1500m double, and making Team USA in both. She talks about the last-minute decision to race the 5000...

"That's always my goal: to win. And I always think I can. I have the belief." Emily Mackay is a World Indoor Championships bronze medalist . She's a 3:55.90 1500m runner. And she's going to the Olympics! Emily just raced the 1500m at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials, where she finished second, ran a huge personal best, and earned her spot on Team USA for this summer's Olympic Games in...

"When I crossed the line, I was in so much shock. I kept having to check the board to make sure I was reading it right!" Juliette Whittaker is a college student who just finished third in the Women's 800m race at the Olympic Track and Field Trials, and will be going to Paris later this summer to represent Team USA at the Olympics.  A college student . Going to the Olympics. In this conversation, t...

"Oh my god, I'm going to the Olympics!" Weini Kelati came into the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials as the American Record Holder in the half marathon, and as the only athlete in the women's 10,000m field with the Olympic Standard. She was the one to watch — and for good reason. In a thrilling finish, the Flagstaff-based Under Armour athlete won the race and earned her spot on Team USA for...

"I don't need to know I'm going to do it, but I need to be open to the idea that I  can do it."  Let the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials recaps continue! Today: Kate Grace , who just competed at her fourth Olympic Trials in the 800m. In this episode, Kate breaks down all the details from all three rounds of the 800, including her stressful-for-the-fans strategy for the first round, flying...

"I like to go hard at these events, work myself to the bone, and bring people as much track and field content as they can take." Few people love track and field more than  Chris Chavez . In this episode, Chris talks about his experience at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials with Citius Mag . Chris and his team produced three live shows every day of the Trials, conducted countless mi...

"When I crossed the finish line, it was definitely joy, but I think more than anything, it was relief." Right before the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials, we heard from fan favorite guests Nikki Hiltz and Emma Gee . Nikki and Emma were headed into their events at the Trials with big dreams and goals. Emma wanted to make it to the 3000m Steeplechase final. And Nikki wanted to make Team USA...

"It was a lot of firsts. I'll be 40 in a couple months, and it's not too often that you get firsts to that degree. It was a really cool experience to feel that." Let the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials recaps begin! First up:  Keira D'Amato , who just competed at her first Track Trials and finished 10th in the 10,000m. In this episode, Keira tells all, including where her mind and body we...

"You get your medal outfit fitted for you, so when you are ideally on the stage, it looks perfect. And when I had it on and they were taking it in a little bit, I was like, 'I could do this. I could need this outfit.' And I really hope that I do." Dakotah Lindwurm and Annie Frisbie are training partners, teammates, and best friends . And so far, 2024 has been good to Dakotah and Annie on the run....

"It was like, 'What if the worst thing happens and I don't make the team?' And then it happened, and my life was fine. And then on the other end of it, last year I won the whole thing, which was really unexpected and cool…and my life also didn't change. So I know that no matter what happens, I have a great life outside of this thing." Nikki Hiltz and Emma Gee return to the Ali on the Run Show as t...

"I'm used to having to claw my way to prove myself to the people I need to prove myself to. But now, it's more of a mentality I have: Keep your head down. There's nothing glamorous about this sport. For me, it's all hard work, show up, showcase your fitness, and then go celebrate with the people who really care about you." Amanda Vestri was the talk of the running scene last weekend, after her bre...

"I'm trying to appreciate the peaks and the valleys — but there's a lot of beauty in the hillside, too." Last year, Krissy Gear stormed on the steeplechase scene by taking the win at the 2023 USATF National Championships, earning her first national title and a spot on Team USA for the World Championships in Budapest. Now, Krissy is gearing up for this summer's U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Tri...

"I feel the most confident I've ever been." Emily Mackay is having a heck of a year on the run! The Team New Balance Boston athlete earned a bronze medal at World Indoor Championships in the 1500m earlier this year, and has kicked off her outdoor season with strong performances including a personal best at the Prefontaine Classic, where she ran 3:59.76. In this conversation, Emily reflects back on...

"I am scared of outer space, submarines, and remote research laboratories." We're live with Emma Coburn for the  fourth time, making this her eighth appearance on the  Ali on the Run Show ! In this conversation, recorded in front of a live audience at Smack Mellon in Brooklyn, NY, the day before the RBC Brooklyn Half, we cover Emma's ick factors, her season-ending injury and her outlook about bein...

"I feel like life should be back to normal. And it's not!" Welcome to the 2024 RBC Brooklyn Half finish line! I was delighted to be one of the guests for a live recording of the  Set the Pace podcast with host Becs Gentry . In this episode, I reflect a bit on my history with the Brooklyn Half, including why I wasn't able to run this year's race (more on that here ), and then share the recording fr...

"I remember being acutely aware that it was the worst day of my life up to that point, and the world was still going. People were out for runs in Central Park. People were going to the office. People were picking their kids up from school. It felt like everyone else's world kept turning and I was in purgatory." It's been one year since I was diagnosed with stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma with DC...