Run Farther & Faster — The Podcast with Coaches Lisa Levin and Julie Sapper

After a big announcement and a conversation about recent races, we welcome Cat Fitzgerald, PT, of Custom Performance in New York City , for an important discussion about underfueling, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), and injury risk in runners. Cat explains how insufficient energy intake can affect recovery, bone health, hormones, performance, and the body’s ability to withstand traini...

After graduation, travel, and a run-in with a rodent/mammal, we are back with updates, along with some hot weather racing and training tips!

If your running feels stagnant, the problem may not be your training plan at all. In this episode, we break down ten overlooked factors that can quietly sabotage performance, recovery, and consistency. In this episode, we explore the hidden non-running issues that often prevent runners from reaching their goals. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Interested in hiring a coach? Email us at julieand...

We share a deep love of all things running with our dear friend, Cherie Louise Turner, and decided to get together and talk running and podcasting. Here is part 2! Cherie is the host of Women’s Running Stories and a competitive masters runner. In this episode we talk about our own running journeys. Enjoy this fun and lively conversation!  Mentioned in this Episode Blanche Moila on WRS: https://pod...

We share a deep love of all things running with our dear friend, Cherie Louise Turner, and decided to get together and talk running and podcasting. We had so much fun! Cherie is the host of Women’s Running Stories and a competitive masters runner. In this episode we talk about our podcast journeys as women with running podcasts, and we talk about some of the trends we're seeing in the running worl...

We loved co-hosting another live show at the Boston Marathon with our co-host Cherie Louise Turner, host of Women’s Running Stories. Our phenomenal guests this year did not disappoint. Two days after our live show, Mary and Lisa raced the Boston Marathon. Amazingly, Mary was the third woman to cross the finish line on Marathon Monday, finishing in 2:20 at age 37! Lisa crossed the finish line in 2:...

Less than 24 hours after we raced, we recap! We ran, we conquered, and now…we sore! Highlights include—some interesting and new logistics, our fueling plans, and how we handled tapering during our busiest weekend of the year. We know this course, yet each year, we learn something new about the race and ourselves. Congrats to all who ran this storied course on Patriots’ Day! You did that! Follow us...

In this episode, we break down everything you need to know to run your best Boston Marathon—from race-week preparation to smart execution on race day. With Boston around the corner, we walk through how to approach the course with confidence: how to handle the early downhill miles, when to start respecting the Newton hills, and how to adjust your effort so you don’t leave your race on the first hal...

After providing some key taper advice, we welcomed back a very special guest, Darren Sapper (Julie’s husband), who has spectated the Boston Marathon ten times. Darren provides guidance on getting to the spectating spots and how to navigate Boston while with kids. We appreciate Darren’s support of the podcast and our running and coaching pursuits. Thanks to Darren for joining us. Darren’s coordinat...

We’re so thrilled to welcome back the legendary Dave McGillivray, who has served as the Boston Marathon race director since 2001. Dave breaks down the key changes to this year’s race, offering clarity into what runners can expect with six waves, rather than four, and how to adjust accordingly. Dave also offers course insight and guidance, along with how he’s training for his 54th consecutive Bosto...

This week we are joined by Run Farther & Faster runner, Beth Colling, who at age 57 ran a 3:43 at the Tokyo Marathon, earning her Six Star Medal. But Beth’s journey to that finish line was anything but straightforward. Just one year ago, after a life-altering health setback, she wasn’t sure she would ever run another marathon. Instead of stepping away from the sport she loves, Beth turned that unc...

This week we’re joined by Allison Mercer, a Team USA ultrarunner, championship competitor, and thoughtful voice in the running community, to unpack the controversy that unfolded at the 2026 USATF Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta. Allison is an accomplished distance runner who has represented the United States at the ultrarunning world championships and competed at national championship event...

After watching Alysa Liu skate with pure joy to win gold, we were inspired! What if we trained and raced the Boston Marathon the same way? This week, we welcome 13-time Boston marathoner and longtime friend, Ken Trombatore, to break down a practical roadmap for training and racing Boston with joy and gratitude. Whether your’re chasing a PR, running your first Boston, or simply want to experience B...

In this episode, we break down thirteen powerful, practical, and often overlooked ways to elevate your performance at the Boston Marathon—starting now! We cover how to make your long runs mimic the unique Boston course profile, why mastering your late start timing can make or break your day, and how to build both the uphill strength and downhill efficiency this course demands. From nailing maratho...

If winter miles feel disproportionately hard, you’re not imagining it. Extreme cold changes how your body works and it’s easy to lose confidence in your training. In this episode, we break down why running in cold temperatures feels harder, even when fitness hasn’t changed. We explore the physiological reasons and how to adjust training intelligently in extreme cold without derailing your plan or...

Winter weather has a way of blowing up even the most carefully built training plans—and testing our patience right along with it. In this episode, we talk about how to navigate training when snow and ice make it impossible (or unsafe) to stick to the plan as written. We break down how to adapt workouts without losing fitness, when to swap, shorten, or skip runs, and how to rethink consistency duri...

We’re thrilled to welcome Brad Stulberg back to the podcast! Brad, who was featured in episode 183, is a bestselling author, coach, and one of today’s leading voices on sustainable performance and well-being. Frequently featured in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, his newest book, The Way of Excellence—out January 27—explores what it really means to pursue excellence in a world that oft...

In this episode, we sit down with Rena Elmer, mom of 11 , Olympic Trials qualifier, and 2:35 marathoner, to talk about her running journey and pursuing big athletic goals while growing her family. We discuss resilience, time management, Boston Marathon tips, faith in the process, and the power of showing up for yourself even when life is full. Whether you’re a runner, a parent, or someone chasing...

Goodbye MyPlate and Hello Food Pyramid. The food pyramid is back —but what does it actually mean for runners? In this episode, we talk with our most frequent guest, registered dietitian, Amy Goldsmith, to break down the newly released food pyramid for runners. We talk through how the updated recommendations—the positive and negative—impact athletes and what runners should prioritize for training,...

Happy New Year! We are so glad to be back podcasting! In this episode, we break down impactful running trends of 2025 and what they taught us about training smarter, staying healthy, and keeping the sport joyful. From the rise of AI-driven training plans and Garmin obsession, to the continued shift toward fueling awareness, and longevity-focused running, we look at what actually helped runners imp...

We don’t have a car to give away, like Oprah, but we do have a list, like Oprah, of our Favorite Running-Related Things for 2025! We hope that you enjoy this list as much as we enjoyed creating it. For a full list with links and discount codes to the items we mentioned, head over to our Instagram and check out the Favorite Things link in our profile. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Interested...

We are thrilled to welcome longtime Run Farther & Faster runner, Dr. Kimberly Baer, a talented runner, dentist, mom and awesome human. Some may remember Kim's story from last year. She ran the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and ran her lifetime PR there in a time of 3:21. Unfortunately, during that race, she stepped in a pothole and broke her foot--she still has no idea how she finished! As a r...

Wow what a joyful morning at the Marine Corps Marathon! In this episode, we share a common theme among our most successful runners this season (and what defines success, as it’s not always about time).

After providing last minute Marine Corps Marathon race tips, we welcomed Alan Stroshine, who is the race director of the Clarence DeMar Marathon Weekend. Alan is a lifelong resident of Keene, New Hampshire, and member of the Keene Elm City Rotary Club, which organizes the race weekend events, including the marathon, half marathon, Kids DeMar, and Super Seniors. Alan shares his journey from runner...

After Julie shares an exciting update, we take a deep dive into the common patterns we’ve noticed among runners who achieve their marathon goals. Whether you’re chasing a PR or aiming to finish strong, this conversation will help you recognize the building blocks of a successful marathon. You can find us on Instagram and and Facebook. Looking for coaching? Email us at julieandlisa@runfartherandfas...