Ali On The Run Show

"It’s terrifying. But I think that’s a good thing." This week on the job, we're headed to the courtroom! Catherine McNamara is a public defender in Massachusetts — a job she says is often mischaracterized and misunderstood. So she's here to clear things up. Catherine talks about what makes her work hard, stressful, important, and rewarding, and talks about what it's like in the courtroom. She also talks about developing the confidence needed to be a litigator and trial attorney. SPONSOR: Tracksmith — Go to tracksmith.com/ontherun and use code ONTHERUN for $15 off your first Tracksmith order of $75 or more. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Blog Strava Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it w

“It’s the most popular club that no one wants to join.” Welcome to the monthly edition of Ramblings on the Run with Ali and Matt! This month, Matt Chittim — host of the Rambling Runner podcast and the Road to the Trials podcast — and I catch up on how our running is going, share what we're loving right now, and talk about what we're excited about. And then, we have a little March Madness fun — with a twist. It's the "Ramblings on the Run Fictional 5K," and we've got brackets! What we mention on this episode: Millennium Running Natural Born Heroes by Christopher McDougall You’re Wrong About podcast Follow Matt:  Instagram @rambling_runner Rambling Runner podcast Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Like the Facebook page Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Blog Strava Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podc

“Being able to come to work as my whole self. Being able to be out. Being able to appear on camera in drag. Hopefully for those of you that are out there listening, if you work at a company or a place where you cannot be yourself — and I know you need to make the money — it is not worth it. It is not worth it to stifle that magic. You will slowly die inside. Go work for a place where you can be Mara every single damn day. Let your freak flag fly and be who you wanna be. We are too advanced in this society to be squandering any time on not being able to be ourselves.” Growing up in Rhode Island, Matty Maggiacomo had a tumultuous — and at times traumatizing — relationship with sports and coaches. But today, he's a fitness instructor on the world's largest streaming platform. On this episode, Matty talks about how he rediscovered fitness later in life, and how he got the job teaching treadmill and strength classes at Peloton. He talks about his dreams of being on TV, including how he made those dreams come tr

“It’s definitely not like Suits. It’s way more like The Office.” For Victoria Asikis, grocery shopping is the best. As a lawyer working in regulatory compliance for food and beverage products, strolling the aisles is basically doing market research. And on this episode, we learn what, exactly, a food lawyer does. (It's pretty fascinating stuff!) Victoria lives in Ottawa, Ontario, where she is a part of the advertising and product regulatory group at Gowling WLG, a large multinational law firm. She spends her days making sure that every word, statement, or claim on a food, beverage, or natural beauty product (like your favorite cereal box, bag of granola, or chemical-free face wash) is true and accurate. She is also the Communications Director for the Hellenic Canadian Lawyers' Association. And turns out, it's really cool work! Victoria is so passionate about what she does — and you'll be able to tell within the first two minutes of this conversation! SPONSOR: Tracksmith — Go to tracksmith.com/ontherun an

"Having a baby is not the end of your running goals and dreams." Welcome back to Ask Ali, a monthly series where I answer all of your questions. This time around, we've got listener questions about running after having a baby, podcasting behind-the-scenes, getting into freelance writing, stroller recommendations, and my real thoughts on Taylor Swift's folklore vs. evermore. 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 ONTHERUN for $10 off! What I mention on this episode: Episode 174: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Ali on the Run Show Emilia Benton on Episode 340 of the Ali on the Run Show Molly & Izzy Seidel on Episode 341 of the Ali on the Run Show Uppababy Vista stroller Thule Urban Glide II jogging stroller Colugo Compact stroller Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Like the Facebook page Join the Facebook gr

“There comes a certain time that you just need a break. You’re human. You don’t have to feel great all the time. It’s OK to be in touch with your feelings and say, ‘I don’t feel great, and I’m going to take five days off.’ It’s fine!” Blanca Grinkovitch is a 20-time marathoner, Ironman, lululemon ambassador, director at New Jersey treadmill studio Juma Fit, and mom of twin boys. She runs a 3:07 marathoner and a 1:29 half-marathon, and today, in her fifties, she's running stronger and healthier than ever. On this episode, Blanca talks about how she has stayed happy and healthy on the run for decades at a time. She has boundless energy and excellent advice, and you're going to love her! SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones. What you’ll get on this episode: Blanca’s advice for how she is stronger than ever in her fifties (5:00) Did Young Blanca envision this future for herself in the fitness industry? (10:00) Blanca reflects on her first race in Central Pa

“People should feel like they have a real say in the decisions that impact their everyday lives.” Beth Huang says community organizing is on her mind 24/7. As the Director of the Massachusetts Voter Table voting rights organization, it's her life's mission to get everyone everywhere (starting in Massachusetts!) registered to vote and showing up to vote. Beth and the MA Voter Table don't care how you vote — it's a nonpartisan organization — they just want you to have answers so you know how to register, how to get to the polls (no easy task in 2020!), and how to stay active in your own community. On this episode, Beth explains how they actually do this. She talks about the importance of caring about your local community, and about why it's not just the big elections every four years that matter. The MA Voter Table is especially focused on BIPOC communities, and on creating a more equitable and even playing field. This episode is a great reminder about the importance of civic access (that everyone who wants

“In order for me to light the world on fire — I am going to do amazing things in Tokyo — I’m going to train smart, I’m going to stay out of trouble, and I’m going to stay injury free. Because I believe in my heart that even four months of training, I am going to be super fit and I’m going to have an amazing race in Tokyo. I just hope that my body is in tune with my mind. Because I know in my mind that even though I just had a child, that’s not going to be a barrier. I’m not going to make excuses. My child is going to be the motivation for me, and I know I have what it takes to succeed in Tokyo.” Aliphine is back! Back on the run (!!!), and back on the Ali on the Run Show. The last time Aliphine Tuliamuk — the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champion — was on the show, she was eight months pregnant, readying to give birth to a baby girl. And now, that baby girl is here: Zoe was born on January 13, 2021, and on this episode (her first postpartum podcast interview!), Aliphine reflects on her pregnancy, on givi

“The only person who can make you feel good about yourself is yourself. You really have to feel confident in who you are and what you bring to the table, and know that you’re enough. That’s your foundation.” Ask any Peloton devotee about instructor Olivia Amato, and you'll probably hear the same phrase over and over: "She's a real-life Energizer Bunny." Olivia is one of the few Peloton instructors who can "do it all" — she teaches on both the bike and the treadmill, and teaches strength classes. (Her core classes will leave your entire body quivering.) But Peloton wasn't always the plan for Olivia. Though she was super sporty growing up, a guidance counselor suggested she pursue a career in finance. So when Olivia graduated high school, that's exactly what she did: went to college and then went on to Wall Street, where she worked in sales and trading. Though she thrived in the fast-paced, high-stress environment, she hated it. It wasn't her passion. She loved fitness, and as soon as she had her "a-ha" mome

"I used to be a morning person. I’m not a morning person anymore!" Liz Lemon was always destined to do two things: run and help people. Liz (and yes, she gets a lot of 30 Rock references thanks to her name) comes from a family that runs and practices medicine, so it's no surprise that Liz would do the same. She's a night shift nurse in the emergency room at a hospital in California (though she's currently on leave on account of a broken hand), while also pursuing her master's degree in nursing education. When she's not in the ER, Liz is on the run: She's a 3:44 marathoner, 1:29 half-marathoner, and 17:54 5K runner. On this episode, Liz talks about what it's really like working the front lines in a hospital (and she insists that despite what we see on Grey's Anatomy, "people aren't really hooking up in the break rooms"), explains what her days and nights really look like, and shares some of her most memorable stories from the hospital. SPONSOR: Tracksmith — Go to tracksmith.com/ontherun and use code ONTHE

“Once I started to believe in myself and believe I was faster — which is the power of the mind — I started showing it.” Ce'Aira Brown wants you to know that she's still running. She's still training (alongside Ajeé Wilson), and she's still staying true to her "talk less, grind more" mentality. (And when she's not on the run training for the 800m or 1500m, she's on the runway, modeling.) On this episode, Ce'Aira — who is a former NCAA All-American and 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier who formerly trained with Frank Gagliano and now runs professionally for Hoka One One — talks about her running journey and her career. So why don't people think she's running? Because you're pretty unlikely to see a lot of running "content" on her Instagram feed. But Ce'Aira promises, she's more in it than ever. In honor of International Women's Day, she talks about the women who inspire her, and she talks about being a role model herself. She explains why, after running a 2:02 season opener in Austin two weeks ago, she's "not sa

“The worst thing you can do is count yourself out.” Last year, Molly Seidel ran her first marathon — at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, where she finished second and earned herself a spot on the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team. And she'll be the first to tell you that she wouldn't have gotten to that start line without her #1 fan: her sister, Izzy. Now, one year later, Molly is a professional runner for Puma, training for the 2021 Olympics, and Izzy is her self-appointed hype girl. On this episode, the Seidel sisters — who are roommates in Boston — talk about what their family was like growing up, and about how their lives have changed since the Trials. Plus, they talk about the importance of "the pursuit of fun" in everything they do, and share their experiences with the comparison trap, imposter syndrome, and building confidence. (Pro tip: Having a hype girl helps!) SPONSOR: goodr. Click here and use code ONTHERUN for $10 off! What you’ll get on this episode: Which of Molly’s races has been the most

“I kind of spiraled into this years-long cycle of trying to constantly seek improvement in my times and not give myself a break when I really needed it.” If you’ve read an article about running in the past few years (which, who hasn’t?), you’ve probably read something by Emilia Benton. Emilia is a freelance journalist (we talk a lot about her transition to going freelance after working in the magazine industry, and about why she’s so much happier on her own) and is a regular contributor at Runner’s World, Self, Women’s Health, Shape, Popsugar, Prevention, Verywell, Fast Company, and more. On this episode, Emilia talks about making her freelance dreams come true and about the stories she’s proudest of, and shares the one publication that’s still on her writing wish list. Plus, Emilia — who lives in Houston, TX, with her husband, Omar, and their dog, Astro — shares her running story. She explains how she’s gone from dreaming of one day running a two-hour half-marathon to recently running a sub-1:40 half, and ta

“A lot of science is about asking questions. It’s OK to not understand something. And it’s OK that it’s hard. That understanding comes in just being curious. We don’t have all the answers, but we know how to go about looking for them.” Welcome to Season 4 of the On the Job series! This season, you’ll hear from seven women with cool, unique, interesting careers. We’ll learn about the jobs we see on TV — lawyers and nurses and astronauts, oh my! — and we’ll honor some frontline heroes, including an emergency room nurse and a middle school special education teacher. But first, we’re going to space, with real-life rocket scientist Lynn McGrew! Lynn is a NASA aerospace engineer based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, and on this episode, she talks about the moment she fell in love with space (“For the first time, in the middle of the country, I saw this band of stars across the sky, and I was just fascinated by it. What is this magical view overhead? I was absolutely stunned, and so curious,” she says

“Whatever you want to do, whether it’s to write a book or to run a marathon, you have to be brave enough and bold enough to start to say that out loud. It’s the only way you can begin to own it and then to understand how to make it happen. You have to put it out there.” When Meaghan B Murphy was first on the Ali on the Run Show in January 2019, she casually mentioned maybe kind of sort of wanting to write a book someday. Fast forward two years, and someday is today: Meaghan’s debut book, Your Fully Charged Life, is officially on bookshelves! (Congratulations, Meaghan!) On this episode, Meaghan is back to talk about what it’s like being a newly-published author. She talks about the getting-published process, and talks about what it was like writing a book during a pandemic with three kids (plus a dog!) at home while also navigating a promotion and new job as editor in chief of Woman’s Day magazine. Meaghan talks about being terrified of getting Covid — and then getting it, and getting really sick, two weeks

"There's a lot of uncertainty, and getting better at that has taken a lot of practice." Welcome to the second episode in the new monthly "Ask Ali" series — where you call in with your questions, and I answer them. This time around, we're covering everything from motherhood and going on family fun runs to how I maintain a positive attitude with a chronic illness (or do I?). I talk about the art of interviewing, finding a therapist, what it would be like if I hosted an "Ali on the Run" race, and, naturally, I offer up some hot takes on Broadway Shows, Center Stage, and The Greatest Showman. 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 ONTHERUN for $10 off! What I mention on this episode: Jess Sims on Episode 261 of the Ali on the Run Show Tunde Oyeneyin on Episode 311 of the Ali on the Run Show "All About the Peloton Treadmill," via Ali

"People don’t know what you go through or the feelings you have if you don’t express and you don’t talk about them. People can have all of these assumptions about you, but unless you verbalize what’s really going on in your mind, they will never know." When it comes to running, India Cook is passionate about sharing her story — but it's not about her, she'll tell you. It's about making sure other runners in the community feel seen, heard, and welcome on the run. India is a two-time marathoner and 15-time half-marathoner from Atlanta, GA, and she's a content creator and storyteller (and former semi-professional cheerleader, which, yes, we talk about on this episode!). India is the co-host of The Run Duo podcast and hosts the Miles From India YouTube channel. She's also an RRCA-certified run coach. On this episode, India talks about racing in the Covid-19 era, shares her thoughts on what it means to be a brand ambassador in 2021, and talks about what it has been like being a BIPOC public figure in the wake o

“I got to be a little brother and a big fan.” Happy Valentine's Day, and welcome to the final day of Love on the Run Week on the Ali on the Run Show! Today, we're wrapping things up with the best-loved brothers in running: Meb and Hawi Keflezighi. On this episode, Meb and Hawi talk about their childhoods, share stories of emigrating to the U.S. from Eritrea, and talk about their brother-turned-professional relationship (Hawi is Meb's agent). At the end of this week, I hope this series has made you laugh, smile, and feel the love! SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ontherun for 20% off your next UCAN order! What we mention on this episode: Hawi Keflezighi on Episode 263 of the Ali on the Run Show Ali on the Run Show LIVE! Featuring Meb Keflezighi, Andrea Barber, Chris Heuisler, and Des Linden LIVE at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with Carrie Tollefson, Meb Keflezighi, & UCAN You Can Run a Marathon with Meb Keflezighi Run to Overcome by Meb Keflezighi Follow Meb: Instagram @runmeb

"Best buds for life." On the surface, sisters Sarah and Marisa Cummings seem like they could be twins. Both were competitive ice skaters and valedictorians of their respective graduating high school classes. They each went on to attend Princeton University, where they each ran on the cross-country team. Then, though three years apart, they each moved to New York City to pursue jobs in the finance industry and to run for the New York Athletic Club. But to know Sarah and Marisa is to know that they aren't identical, they swear. On this episode, Sarah and Marisa talk about their sisterly bond, and about how they've supported each other over the years. SPONSOR: UCAN — Go to ucan.co/ontherun for 20% off your next UCAN order! What we mention on this episode: Sarah Cummings on Episode 215 of the Ali on the Run Show Sarah Cummings on Episode 112 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Sarah: Instagram @sarahccummings Follow Marisa: Instagram @marcummings Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Joi

“That was the kicker: Matt said, ‘If the dog doesn’t like you, you have to go.’” One day, in Flagstaff, AZ, professional runner Matt Llano walked into a local coffee shop where Brannon Harbur was working. That first day they met, they talked for hours — long after Brannon’s shift had ended. They agreed to meet up for a first date of sorts, at a group run. Fitting, for a professional runner. But Brannon wasn’t a runner. Still, he showed up, because he was interested — in Matt, not in running. Brannon went on to run 10 miles (alongside Stephanie Bruce), getting to know Matt in the process. They’ve been together every day since then. Today, Matt is a professional runner for Under Armour and Dark Sky Distance, and Brannon is the Chief Experience Officer of Mental Performance at HYPO2. On this episode, they talk about how running factors into their relationship today, and about the time Brannon tried to teach Matt about accounting while on a long run. (It…didn’t go well.) Plus, they talk about meeting each othe