Ali On The Run Show

“The best part of going to the Olympics, for me, is being able to attend events when I’m not working, and then watching athletes win and medal an event, and then knowing they’re going to come on the show and I’m going to get to work with them up close and meet them. That’s the coolest thing about my job, and what makes it unique at the Olympics.” Yosef Herzog is the stage manager for NBC's Today show, which means part of his job is getting to go to the Olympics! On this episode, Yosef talks about what it was like being at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. (These were Yosef's fifth Olympic Games with NBC!) He talks about being on set with the country's best athletes, including Simone Biles and Allyson Felix, and talks about what it was like being inside the Olympic Stadium and getting to attend track and field events. He also talks about the challenges and perks of working a morning broadcast at 8 PM local time. (The biggest upside, Yosef says: not having to set an alarm in the morning for a change!) Yosef recently

“Build those relationships. Have those adventures. Create those memories. That’s what’s worth living for, right there.” Ashley Paulson never stops moving. She's a professional triathlete, ultramarathoner, 91-time marathoner, U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier and runner, iFit coach, and mom of four with hot pink hair. On this episode, Ashley talks about her recent win at the Deseret News Marathon, and about the sweet story that inspired her to run the race in honor of her father, wearing the T-shirt he got after running the race in the 80s. She reflects on the toughest times in her career, both at the races (in Kona, specifically) and off (when she was served a six-month suspension from triathlon after testing positive for a banned substance in a contaminated supplement). She shares the highs (traveling the country in an RV for two years with her husband and all four kids!), and the lows (her history with disordered eating). Ashley is a ball of energy — don't be surprised if you find yourself picking u

“You always have to stay in the fight.” It is an honor and a privilege to get to share this very special conversation with the legendary Wyomia Tyus today! Wyomia Tyus, now 75, is a two-time Olympian and four-time medalist (three gold, one silver). She competed in the 1964 Games in Tokyo at 19 years old (just like Athing Mu!), and again at the 1968 Games in Mexico City, where she became the first person to ever win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the 100 meters. On this episode, Wyomia tells her life story, reflecting on growing up as the youngest of four kids in the Jim Crow South, and dealing with racism and segregation at a young age. She shares the story of her house burning down when she was 14 and, one year later, the death of her father. She talks about meeting coach Ed Temple, who took her under his wing and coached her to all four Olympic medals while also filling the void left by her father's passing. Plus, she talks about her role in the 1968 Olympic protests, and what it was like being in M

“Why can’t I do it all? Why can’t I be a mom, a really good mom, be the mom that I want to be, and also be an athlete, a really good athlete, the athlete I want to be?” The last time professional runner and coach Neely Spence Gracey was on the Ali on the Run Show, she had just run her first postpartum marathon after having her son, Athens. She ran a 2:44 at the Houston Marathon and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in the process. A year and a half later, a lot has happened in Neely's life — including another baby! On this episode, Neely offers updates about what it was like running the Marathon Trials last year and what life for her family was like during the pandemic. She talks about getting pregnant, in spite of having an IUD at the time, while she was training for The Marathon Project, and talks honestly about what that surprise was like. Neely talks about her pregnancy run streak, about giving birth to Rome on June 14, and about what postpartum life as a mom of two has been like so far.

“If you’re thinking, ‘Ali, basketball isn’t really supposed to be a contact sport…’ It was the way I played it!” Welcome to Ask Ali, a twice-a-month series where I answer all of your questions. This time around, we’ve got listener questions about dealing with self doubt, running friendships, the mental side of marathon training, and so much more. Thanks to everyone who called in for this one. Enjoy! If you want to be part of a future “Ask Ali” episode (yay!), call 917-947-9699 — introduce yourself, and ask whatever’s on your mind! I can’t wait to hear from you! SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off your entire goodr order! You asked: Why can’t professional marathoners tell you which fall races they’re running?! (2:20) What is it about running that can really attract such powerful friendships and relationships? (6:00) Advice for becoming an early morning runner (16:30) Should I drop from the marathon to the half-marathon? (24:50) Which ball sport would you play? (29:30) How

“I said, ‘The best thing for me right now is to just choose life, and to step away.’” Tomorrow, Robyn Stevens will make her Olympic debut, representing Team USA in the 20K race walk. In June, Robyn won her event at the Olympic Track & Field Trials, officially becoming the fastest female walker in the country. And on this episode, she talks about the long road to becoming an Olympian, which included a 17-year break and retirement from the sport to recover from a severe eating disorder. But now, "Walkin' Robyn" is healthy, cruising at a 7:40/mile pace, and becoming an Olympian at age 38. Plus, Robyn offers a bit of "Race Walk 101" (race walking: it's not just fast walking, it's definitely not slow running, and it comes with lots of rules and regulations!), and shares her excitement about getting to head to Tokyo to compete with her boyfriend, fellow race walk champion and Team USA member Nick Christie. SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones. What you’ll ge

“There just aren’t enough boys named after awesome women out there, so I just wanted to contribute to that!” The last time Ladia Albertson-Junkans was on the Ali on the Run Show, she was in Atlanta, about to run the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Ladia had qualified for the Trials, and then went on to run the Western States 100-miler, and then ran the Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the Timberline Trail around Mount Hood. Then, soon after running the Olympic Marathon Trials, her next great endurance adventure began: motherhood. Today, Ladia is mom to seven-month-old Gabriel Birch. On this episode, Ladia talks about what new motherhood has been like, and shares the special story of how Baby Gabe got his name. (Without giving away too much: He's named after Ladia's late best friend, professional runner Gabe Grunewald.) Plus: big goals, rainbows, and Taylor Swift. THE LAST TIME LADIA WAS ON THE SHOW:  Episode 178 Episode 215 SPONSOR: UCAN. Click here and use code ALI for 20% off your entire UCAN order

“I’m just training and racing and I’m living my best life… I’m living my American Dream.” At 15, Diane Nukuri became an Olympian. At 16, she fled her home country of Burundi, seeking asylum in Canada. By 20, she was a student at the University of Iowa, fluent in English (her third language) and thriving on the run. Soon after, she competed at the 2012 Olympics, then again at the 2016 Games. Today, Diane is a dual citizen of the United States and Burundi, she's a professional runner sponsored by Asics, and she holds the Burundian records in the 1500, the 5,000, the 10,000, the half-marathon, and the marathon. She has represented Burundi in the Olympics three times at three different distances: the 5K in Sydney in 2000, the marathon in London in 2012, and the 10K in Rio in 2016. On this episode, Diane talks about growing up in Burundi as one of eight siblings, and about her decision to leave the country amidst its violent Civil War. She talks about living with family in Ontario, enrolling in a French-speakin

“I was just so excited. I knew at that moment that it was going to change my life.”   Last year, Dinée Dorame, a citizen of the Navajo Nation, made her podcast debut as a guest on the Ali on the Run Show. Today: She's a podcast host of her own! At the beginning of 2021, Dinée launched her show, the Grounded podcast, which explores the intersection of running, community, land, and culture. On this episode, Dinée reflects on how the show has changed her life, and how she has found her voice and interview style along the way. She talks about being a recipient of the first-ever Tracksmith Fellowship program, and about being seen in the running community for all that she is, and not as simply "the Native runner." Plus, Dinée offers an update about how her own running is going, and the latest developments in her Accessory Navicular Syndrome. And she shares stories about interviewing some of her first guests on the Grounded podcast, including the legendary Billy Mills, Jordan Marie Daniel, and Meb Keflezighi (who

“High hopes, low expectations.”   Welcome to Ask Ali, a twice-a-month series where I answer all of your questions. This time around, we’ve got listener questions about what I'm watching right now, finding your identity when you can't run, leaving New York City, working in the running industry, and so much more. Plus: another surprise appearance by Brian Cristiano! Thanks to everyone who called in for this one. Enjoy! If you want to be part of a future “Ask Ali” episode (yay!), call 917-947-9699 — introduce yourself, and ask whatever’s on your mind! I can’t wait to hear from you!   SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off your entire goodr order!   You asked: The top five things I’m watching right now (3:10) All about my trip to Ocean City, NJ (10:00) How to find your identity when you don’t have running anymore (18:55) About the mental shift regarding leaving New York City and being happy — not sad — to come back and visit (27:25) All about running with a jogging stroller (36

“I’m a bit bummed with how it went, but that’s why I want to get back into more racing. I know I’m fitter than that showcased, and I want to just have fun with racing, because the Olympics are obviously the pinnacle of our sport, but I think there’s so much more aside from that. So I want to have fun with all that, and do what I love, and not feel like because I didn’t make this team it was a failure of a year or I’m a failure of an athlete.”   Emily Infeld arrived at the start line for this year's U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials 10K last month with an impressive running resumé. She's a professional runner with the Bowerman Track Club, specializing in the 5K and 10K. She's a 2016 Olympian and a 2015 World Championships bronze medalist. But along the way, Emily has also been plagued with injuries — one major injury, she says, for every year of her professional career. In spite of injuries, surgeries, and setbacks, Emily has persevered and built immeasurable mental toughness along the way. So when she

“Nothing is guaranteed. And because of that, it enabled me to be so present and so thankful and aware of how special the whole thing was.”   Welcome to Season 3 of the What's New With You series, where we catch up with past guests on the Ali on the Run Show. And we're kicking off this season with professional middle-distance runner Kate Grace! The last time Kate was on the show, in December 2017, she had just left her sponsor, Oiselle, to sign with Nike and join the Bowerman Track Club. Now, three and a half years later, Kate has left BTC and is now a member of Team Boss, training under coach Joe Bosshard. (And she's moving! Kate is in the process of relocating from Portland, OR, to Boulder, CO, to train full-time with the team.) On this episode, Kate talks about her decision to change teams, and talks about how training is different with Coach Joe. Plus, she recaps her races at this year's Olympic Track & Field Trials, where she hoped to make her second Olympic team in the 800m, but ultimately fell sh

“I want you to understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. I want you to believe in the mission, and I want you to have fun. I want you to enjoy the process, and I want you to know that what you’re doing is a worthwhile endeavor.”   Like many of us, Matt Wilpers grew up wanting to be a marine biologist. ("I was really into whales," he recalls.) Ultimately, he pursued a career in finance, working as an analyst and auditor with KPMG and, later, Goldman Sachs. When he realized the NYC finance lifestyle wasn't for him, Matt decided to go to medical school, and, as a lifelong athlete and former collegiate runner, started teaching fitness classes on the side. Then, just as he was getting ready to pursue his medical career full-time, he got the call from Peloton. Plot twist! Today, Matt is one of Peloton's most popular cycling and treadmill instructors, and has his own coaching business. On this episode, Matt talks about why he's so passionate about coaching, and why getting to help people on their own

“Engineering is really about problem solving. Can you come up with a creative solution, and how do you work through it? My problems, on a day-to-day basis, are working with things like beans and corns and food processing equipment. But really, problem solving can be applied to anything. So I’m here to say that engineering is more than just planes and trains!”   Welcome to the seventh and final episode in Season 5 of the On the Job series on the Ali on the Run Show! We're closing out this season with a soup-er conversation celebrating women in STEM! Today, meet Jill Cardamone, a senior process engineer at Campbell's Soup Company. As a member of the Soup and Broth team in research and development, Jill acts as the middle man that takes what a food scientist creates in the kitchen and translates it to a massive scale. (She'll explain this process in excellent detail using my favorite Superhero Muffins as an example.) In her five years on the job at Campbell's, Jill has dealt with soup emergencies (really!), f

“The word should can put us into tricky places. Because who’s to say what we should or should not do? A lot of things in life are a lot more nuanced than should or should not, yes or no, black or white.”   Welcome to Ask Ali, a twice-a-month series where I answer all of your questions. This time around, we’ve got listener questions about racing, nutrition, New York City must-dos, running plateaus, Orangetheory memories, and so much more. Plus: a surprise appearance by Brian Cristiano! Thanks to everyone who called in for this one. Enjoy! If you want to be part of a future “Ask Ali” episode (yay!), call 917-947-9699 — introduce yourself, and ask whatever’s on your mind! I can’t wait to hear from you!   SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN15 for 15% off your entire goodr order!   You asked: If I could only race one distance for the rest of my life, which would it be? (3:00) Do you have any tips for nutrition during high mileage weeks? (5:18) What are your top must-dos and must-sees for a

"We’re actually going to Tokyo! This is real!"   Karissa Schweizer and Elise Cranny were already teammates as part of the Bowerman Track Club. And now they'll share another team: Team USA. At last month's U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, Karissa and Elise secured their spots on Team USA by racing both the 5K (where Elise won and Karissa took second) and the 10K (where Karissa made a second team, finishing in second place). On this episode, Karissa and Elise reflect on their training leading up to the Trials, and break down both rounds of the 5K and the 10K final. They talk about how their teammate Shelby Houlihan's recent four-year ban from the sport affected them emotionally leading up to the Trials, and they share their excitement about making their first Olympic teams.   SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.   What you’ll get on this episode: Who was in the stands on race day? (6:15) How Karissa and Elise were feeling heading into the Trials,

"I just remember thinking during the race, 'I’m running my race and I’m doing everything I can to give myself a shot at making this team.' And at the end of the day, if it’s enough, it’s enough."   The last time Emily Sisson was on the Ali on the Run Show, it was to break down her disappointing race at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Today, Emily returns to the show — and this time, we're celebrating! Last month, Emily raced — and won! — the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, earning herself a spot on Team USA for this summer's Olympic Games. On a hot day at Hayward Field in Eugene, OR, Emily took the lead five laps into the 25-lap race, and she held it the entire time, finishing in 31:03 and breaking a 17-year-old Trials record that was formerly held by Deena Kastor. On this episode, Emily talks about the win and shares every detail from race day. She talks about how hot it really was on the track that day, explains how she recovered physically and emotionally after last year's M

“Doubting yourself doesn’t get you anywhere. I decided that I was going to make this happen, and I did.”   More than a decade ago, Erica Sara Reese was having a hard time. She had been working in the fashion industry, as a buyer for companies like Coach and Barneys New York, while pursuing a nutrition degree on the side. But she was also going through a divorce, and she wasn't happy — so she started creating, making jewelry at her dining room table. When her friends started having babies, she noticed they were often getting jewelry to commemorate the life change. And road races, Erica Sara says, were her babies at the time. So why not commemorate that with jewelry? She started designing necklaces and charms with her races and finish times on them, and soon, friends started asking her to design celebratory necklaces for their own races. Erica Sara Designs was born. Today, what started as a side hobby is now a wildly successful small business, and Erica Sara's designs can be seen at finish lines across the c

“This was the most fun I’ve had in so long.”   If you watched any of this year's Olympic Track & Field Trials coverage, you would have heard a familiar voice calling the distance races: Kara Goucher! Kara served as commentator and member of the NBC broadcast team at Hayward Field, and today, she's here to tell all. On this episode, Kara talks about how she got the job (she will also be part of the NBC broadcast team during the Olympic Games in Tokyo later this month), how she prepared for the races, and what it was like calling all the action. She reflects on the highlights and heartbreaks from the Trials, talks about making mistakes live on air and how she handled them, and about getting the call that her husband, Adam, had gotten into a car accident right before she was about to go live. As always, Kara is open and honest, and promised nothing was off-limits during this conversation — so yes, she talks about having to wear Nike-branded apparel on air, and whether that swoosh-covering braid was intent

“It felt like there was an earthquake in the running world, and we’re seeing these fault lines change everything. And some things are good, and some things are weird.”   As the current American record holder in the 10,000 meters, Molly Huddle was one to watch heading into this year's Olympic Track & Field Trials. But just a few days before the Trials kicked off in Eugene, OR, Molly (who is also the American record holder in the 10 mile, the 20K, and the half-marathon) announced that she wouldn't be racing the 10K after all. She pulled out of the race, citing an injury that she's been dealing with since last year's Olympic Marathon Trials. On this episode, Molly — who represented Team USA at the last two Olympics, in 2012 in the 5000m and in 2016 in the 10,000m — talks about what it was like scratching from the biggest race of the year, and how she's handling the loss of an Olympic cycle and a chance to be on this year's team. She talks about watching her training partner and friend Emily Sisson win the