The Rambling Runner Podcast

Meghan Matejka has had the kind of improvement and progression as a marathoner that so many strive for. Her first race after playing soccer and lacrosse in high school and college was a marathon. A huge challenge to say the least. From there, Meghan didn't formally engage with running for another six years, or so. Once she did, Meghan was able to bring her times down and qualify for the Boston Mar...

As the year comes to a close I am excited to bring you seven of the best and most impactful moments of the Rambling Runner Podcast in 2020. This was an incredibly hard episode to create. We have been blessed with so many amazing guests this year. Choosing a select few was incredibly difficult. Once that happened, selecting only one part of their episodes was no picnic, either.  Here are the folks...

When you meet someone who goes after what they want with passion, energy, grace, and optimism is it beyond infectious. It is awe inspiring. There is no other way to describe Kristen Doornbos.  This force of nature is an athlete, artist, entrepreneur, and defeater of challenges. After having little to no experience in athletics growing up, Kristen started running five years ago as a social outlet f...

I’m am so excited to talk all things running shoes with the amazing Emily Heller of the Run Like Heller running show review channel on YouTube. We went deep into the running shoe game and it was a blast: • First favorite running shoe? • Favorite shoe that most people weren’t a fan of? • Shoe that people love that you just couldn’t get into? • Personal preferences versus reviewing for a broad audie...

From the amazing Corey Joyner: The only thing separating you from the goals you set is the work in between. I do not know who said that, but I know it rings true. The time frame of how long it takes to achieve the goal will vary, but the work has to be done. I started out as a 5 hour marathoner. You learn quickly to respect the 26.2mi distance! I worked a little harder for the 2nd attempt and was...

The new Mastering 40 episode is out and we break down the first four months and what the next season of the journey has in store. First, coach James McKirdy explains how he was framing the fall season, the primary focus of that time, how my relative fitness level matters (and doesn't), and TONS of treadmill tips. In the second half of the episode, Adrienne Langelier, my sport psychologist, and I t...

Leah Jantzen is a self-help author, speaker, triathlete and performance coach living on Long Island. Leah is a firm believer in the infinite potential residing in every one of us, and has dedicated her life to helping others realize it. The creator of Train Your Brain—a system for boosting mental fitness—Leah instructs her clients to clearly see an athletic goal in their mind, then guides them thr...

It was an honor to speak with the wonderous Lisa Mueller for this episode of the Rambling Runner Podcast.  A year ago she listened to Mary Johnson and Lauren Floris detail their "Project: Breaking 3" women's program in episode 199. It inspired her to chase her own sub-3 goal. But, she was a bit unsure as the women in that program had already run close to 3:00, making her wonder whether a bigger im...

In 2013, Stefanie Flippin ran her first ultra. She didn't make the last cut-off and was pulled from the course with 6 miles to go. She cried herself to sleep that night and vowed to never be so unprepared for anything again. In 2015, she whined her way through my first 100 miler, begging her husband and parents to just let her drop. She came in DFL (dead f'ing last) but learned at the finish why n...

Elysha Omoomy is back, she was also featured in episode 126, after yet another paradigm shifting performance.  I was going to write-up shownotes, per usual, for this show but decided to simply copy and past Elysha's Instagram post from November 16 because it hits her positivity, relentlessness, and dedication on the head: "From 5:21 12:17/mi to 3:04 7:03/mi, my message to you: NEVER GIVE UP ON YOU...

Jay is one of the most remarkable people I have spoken with and I am sure you'll agree once you hear this episode.  Jay is a pastor at Friends Church in southern California, husband, and father to a little girl, multiple brain tumor survivor. this was a trying moment for Jay and everyone who knew him. Jay and I spoke about his amazing athletic, health, and spiritual background in episode 252. Thes...

The new Mastering 40 episode is here and it details my wildest week yet. Last weekend I was able make up for my 10k DNF six weeks ago with a strong effort. In fact, the final 5k was faster than the 5k I ran three weeks ago. Yes! Then, mere hours later I was hobbled by an ankle injury. First coach James McKirdy breaks down 10k, the differences between racing scared or confident, and how the injury...

Molly Gutt has one of the most unique athletic backgrounds that we've ever had on the show. Cheerleading and gymnastics as a teenager gave way to aerobic kickboxing in her 20's. From there, she was eager to test herself against other fighters and moved to Muay Thai - a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. A short time later, Molly proved herself as one...

Unlike so many of us, Amanda Asaro just completed a fall race season as an elite amateur runner for Central Park Track Club. That's right, you read that correctly - a fall race season. Amanda is a New York City based personal trainer, group fitness instructor at Barry’s, and a decorated college runner. Barry's is an internationally-known HIIT workout gym that focuses on strength, speed, and aerobi...

Peter Bromka is back on the show to talk about something that has effected so many people over - running during a stressful/emotionally draining period of time. This is something that has effected runners since time immemorial and especially over the last week given the uncertainty of the Presidential election. In the second half of the episode we dive into the recent elite half-marathon hosted by...

In this episode of the Rambling Runner Podcast we are joined by the wonderful Danielle Turk-Bly. It was an honor to have Danielle on the show as she is a 2:47 marathoner, accomplished yoga instructor and owner of Lunar Lotus Yoga, home-schooling mother of three boys, and high-level junior alpine skier. She also just successfully finished Des Linden's Run Destober. This grueling challenge involved...

Ramblings on the Run with Ali & Matt is back and we are so excited. Ali Feller, host of the Ali on the Run Show, and I dive into what we are loving right now, looking forward to, our current running situations (spoiler: Ali is killing it!) We also answer a series of fun questions from the listeners. We had a wonderful time discussing all of these things, and more, and we also drop a couple of thin...

The Runners Alliance is a solutions-based initiative from the editors of Runner's World and Women's Health in partnership with HOKA ONE ONE aimed at altering perceptions about what it means to run as a member of a community that experiences high levels of harassment, including women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and more. It's aim is to provide all runners and communities across the nation with the tools and...

The new Mastering 40 episode is here and it details some major variances in performance and mindset. First, Adrienne Langelier, my sport psychologist, and I talk through a recent poor performance in a 10k workout that was a complete mental failure. From there we discuss how I should mentally plan out to my 5k race effort (a model that worked exceedingly well). Finally, we take a deep dive in my li...

Lindsay Nelson's journey from elite college runner to elite marathoner has taken some wild and dangerous turns. From the highs and lows of a turbulent time at Arizona State University, two extremely difficult pregnancies, a miscarriage that almost threatened her life, to running in the Olympic Marathon Trials. Lindsay's story is vastly different than many of her running peers but one that many ama...

Jereny Rivera is a classic example of ignoring limits and just running for running's sake. Five years ago Jereny had never gone for a proper run. In fact, she had been fairly inactive from an athletic standpoint. Then, in an effort to expand her social circle, she joined the Track Shack running group. At that moment her future changed forever. Five years later Jereny is kicking butt and taking nam...

I'm excited to have my good friend Lindsey Hein on the show to do discuss her amazing new show Why is Everyone Yelling? A parenting podcast that features some of the most creative and innovative people in the development, education, and spaces. A mother of four rambunctious boys, Lindsey often shares the coming and goings of her spirited family. Follow Lindsey: https://www.instagram.com/lindseyhei...

And here we go! My quest to break 40:00 in the 10k next summer at the age of 40 took a big step forward in recent weeks. My mileage is now approaching 30 miles a week and legit workouts have begun. The running hasn't been perfect but steps are being made. Most importantly: I'm still 100% healthy. Thank goodness. Coach James McKirdy, founder of McKirdy Trained, and I discuss all of this and talk ab...

For so many of us, this fall running season has taken the wind out of our sails. Cancellations one-after-another during a time when we hoped racing would return. While that feeling is real and pervasive, I'm happy to report that we are starting to see some real in-person options and creativity. Jon Lubgill joins me in this episode to talk about what he and his staff at Sports Backers have done to...

What do Buddy Perdue, myths, and wine all have in common? They all get better with age. Buddy began running at age 44. After few brief challenges he took to it quickly. After years as a cyclist he was able to transition his fitness and aerobic capacity to his new endeavor. Over the next five years he kept improving before reaching a plateau. Undeterred, Buddy reached out to coach James McKirdy wit...