877. My Boston Marathon Pep Talk

"I went back to Boston, and I found myself again. I found the Ali I knew was in there. The Ali who lives and breathes running. The Ali who had felt so isolated for so long, but who craves community and connection, and knows exactly where to find it." We're just days away from the 130th Boston Marathon! Last year, I was honored to be asked to be the keynote speaker at the Boston Athletic Association's annual partner summit at the Museum of Science. I used the opportunity to share my Boston Marathon story. My story, as someone who grew up 80 minutes north of Boston, who knew nothing about the Boston Marathon, and who, even as an adult working in the running industry, felt like there wasn't a place for me in Boston. This is the story about how I found — or made — my place, and about how profoundly it has changed my life. This is my love letter to Boston, to the race, to belonging, and to the running community.  SPONSOR:  Oofos: The best in the recovery footwear game. Click here to check out Oofos's new CLUB+ line! Your feet are going to be so happy! Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter 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 with your friends!

"Doubt and belief can coexist. In the book, you see a ton of my doubts and struggles with confidence. But then there's also this untouchable belief that's always there, too. So it's almost like, which voice are you going to listen to?" It's a big week for professional runner Sara Hall! She turns 43 tomorrow, and then heads east to race the Boston Marathon on Monday. And while most marathoners are recovering on Tuesday, Sara, in true Sara form, will be doing the opposite: It's book launch day! Sara's debut memoir, For the Love of the Grind, comes out April 21, and in this conversation, Sara talks about why the time was right to write a book. She talks about what the writing process was like, about the part of the book that's likely to shock readers, and about why she wanted to get in touch with Eminem before the book came out. Plus, how she's feeling heading into Boston 2026. SPONSOR: Lagoon. Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you, and use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your next Lagoon order. FOLLOW SARA @sarahall3 IN THIS EPISODE: All about Sara's workout in Crested Butte, what's making her happy today, and what husband Ryan is up to these days (2:10) Reflecting on 11 years since Sara made her marathon debut at the L.A. Marathon (6:00) Sara's advice to this year's Boston Marathoners — especially those whose training may not have gone perfectly (10:00) How Sara is feeling heading into the 2026 Boston Marathon (11:50) Sara isn't the only Hall running Boston: Eldest daughter Hana is running, too! (16:10) Sara's plans for her 43rd birthday this week (22:00) Why Sara always tosses her watch mid-marathon (24:20) For the Love of the Grind: Why Sara decided to write a book now, and what the writing process was like (27:25) Why Sara wanted to get in touch with Eminem, and what it was like recording the audiobook (34:00) The part of the book that made me gasp — and the story behind it (39:15) On 21 years with ASICS (43:45) Who is this book for? (47:55) What's exciting for Sara on the run right now? (48:50) Sara's superlatives: talking about the most fun, most challenging, and most memorable races of her career (58:55) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Subscribe to the newsletter Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon 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 with your friends!

"Calm, calm, calm. Relax, relax, relax." Welcome to your guide to the 2026 Boston Marathon! We just about one week away from the 130th running of the world's oldest marathon. This year's Boston Marathon takes place, as always, on the third Monday of April — this year, that's April 20. In this mega-episode, I (along with a team of experts and insiders) attempt to answer all of your questions about all things Boston. Katie Hawkes and Lauren Proshan from the Boston Athletic Association are here to talk logistics (take some deep breaths — the journey to the start line is doable, and you won't be waiting around for too long once you get there!), elite athlete coordinator and B.A.A. Chief Operating Officer Mary Kate Shea talks about assembling this year's professional fields and about which storylines to follow, and 2018 champion and Boston favorite Des Linden joins to talk course strategy. Get excited: Whether you're running, volunteering, cheering, or watching from home, it's always a Boston to remember. SPONSOR: Shokz! The official headphone of the Boston Marathon! Use code ALI for $10 off your next Shokz purchase. (I love the Open Run Pro 2.) IN THIS EPISODE: B.A.A. director of brand and experience Katie Hawkes talks about the significance of the Boston Marathon, and shares what's new for 2026 (4:45) Want to run Boston someday? Here's what you need to know about getting in (38:25) B.A.A Chief Operating Officer and elite athlete coordinator Mary Kate Shea talks about assembling this year's professional athlete fields, and shares the storylines to watch (56:45) Lauren Proshan, the B.A.A.'s chief of race operations and production, explains the process of getting to the start line in Hopkinton, and what to know once you're there (1:22:40) 2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden breaks down the Boston Marathon course (2:05:45) All about the Boston Marathon finish line (2:36:25) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Subscribe to the newsletter Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon 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 with your friends!

"That's been my thing lately: What excites me?" Emily Sisson is the American record holder in the marathon, a two-time Olympian, and a New Balance professional athlete. And right now, she's gearing up to make her Boston Marathon debut. In this conversation, Emily talks about how the Boston build has been going, and why now was the time to finally race Boston. She talks about her sixth-place finish at last month's United NYC Half, explains why she wanted more from her 2:25 finish at the New York City Marathon in the fall, and talks about making Ireland home — and making new friends in the process. FOLLOW EMILY @em_sisson_ SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to check out the brand new Ellipse, New Balance's just-released everyday trainer. (It's gorgeous!) IN THIS EPISODE: What's making Emily happy today (2:10) The adjustment period in making Ireland home (6:00) How Emily's Boston Marathon training is going (13:25) Emily reflects on her day at the 2026 United NYC Half (15:35) On navigating feeling "off" (19:50) How Emily likes to celebrate a race well run (27:45) Why Boston, and why now? (28:20) What's after Boston? (38:40) What's exciting for Emily right now? (39:40) Why Emily doesn't know what she'll hit for peak pre-Boston mileage (45:15) How much is Emily thinking about 2028? (51:10) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Subscribe to the newsletter Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon 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 with your friends!

"All I can do is move forward knowing that one day I'll have that moment." Jess McClain just might be the most-loved professional marathoner in the country. The Phoenix, AZ-based Brooks athlete made national headlines last month when she was leading the U.S. Half Marathon National Championships in Atlanta and was led off course by an official vehicle in the final mile of the race. That day, Jess lost out on a national title, a spot on Team USA, and a good amount of prize money. (Listen to Emma Grace Hurley's recap of the day here.) She handled the aftermath with grace, compassion, and optimism. In this conversation, Jess talks about the race, and about the moment she realized she'd been led off course and was no longer in the lead. She also talks about the just-announced resolution (she has a spot on Team USA, and will be competing at World Championships in Copenhagen later this year) and how she feels about it. Jess, who is coached by David Roche, talks about how she's feeling heading back to the Boston Marathon, where she ran a personal best (2:22:43) last year and was the top American woman in the race. Plus, reflections on egg freezing, being a pacer at The Marathon Project in December, and how Jess is feeling after this weekend's Sound Running 10K. FOLLOW JESS @jesstonn SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to check out the brand new Ellipse, New Balance's just-released everyday trainer. (It's gorgeous!) IN THIS EPISODE: What's making Jess happy today (3:15) How Jess is feeling after running the 10K at the Sound Running meet this weekend (8:10) Jess sums up her 2026 Boston training block (16:25) How Jess handled the stress of the aftermath of the U.S. Half Marathon National Championships (21:45) How Jess feels about the resolution, and about being named to Team USA for World Championships in Copenhagen (30:00) What it was like unwittingly being at the center of a major running controversy (37:15) Jess recaps her day at the 2026 U.S. Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta, and talks about the moment when things went astray (41:00) Jess talks about her day as a celebrity pacer for the women's OTQ group at The Marathon Project (51:25) Jess's experience freezing her eggs, and why she made the decision to go through the process now (55:20) What it takes to run a personal best in Boston (1:02:40) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Subscribe to the newsletter Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon 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 with your friends!

"It's a new day, it's a new age, let's learn, let's grow together. That's it." Last week, professional Colorado-based marathoner Emma Bates broke the running internet when she shared that she had been dropped by her fueling sponsor after they found out she was pregnant. In this conversation, Emma shares her side of the story that has taken the running community by storm. Emma also talks about running a 2:25 at the Valencia Marathon in the fall, about finding out the next day that she was pregnant, and about the realities of being a pregnant professional marathoner.  SPONSOR: Lagoon. Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you, and use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your next Lagoon order. IN THIS EPISODE: What's making Emma happy today — and some news! (3:10) How Emma is feeling at almost 20 weeks pregnant (7:50) Emma's reflections on the 2025 Valencia Marathon (10:40) What it's like being a pregnant professional athlete, and the pressure of trying to conceive on a timeline (13:45) On receiving a hemochromatosis blood disorder diagnosis last year, and what that has meant for Emma (18:00) How Emma found out she was pregnant (23:00) Emma's thoughts on returning to running and racing after having a baby (29:50) How and when Emma told her sponsors she was pregnant (34:00) Emma talks about what happened with her fueling sponsor, and what their contract negotiations looked like (37:15) Why Emma decided to share the "gel tasting" video last week (42:40) What's on tap for Boston Marathon weekend, and Emma's advice for runners headed to Boston this year (55:35) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Subscribe to the newsletter Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon 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 with your friends!

"I needed to do it like I needed to breathe." At any given marathon, there are thousands of runners on the start line, hoping to complete the 26.2-mile journey to the finish line. That means that at any given marathon, there are thousands of reasons to run. This episode is about those reasons. (Thank you to the nearly 1,000 of you who shared the stories behind why you ran your first marathon. Truly inspiring.) SPONSOR:  Oofos: The best in the recovery footwear game. Click here to check out Oofos's new CLUB+ line! Your feet are going to be so happy! In this episode: Why I ran *my* first marathon (2:35) Why you ran *your* first marathons (14:20) What do you wish you had known before your first marathon? (59:30) Your advice for first-time marathoners (1:12:20) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter 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 with your friends!

I remember being like, 'I can't believe I'm here. I can't believe I'm doing this right now.'" It's been a while since I've done a race recap! This weekend, I ran the United Airlines NYC Half — my first half marathon in two years. With 11 rounds of chemotherapy in the rear view, I felt a major shift this weekend in my favorite city, with so many of my favorite people, doing one of my favorite things. In this solo episode, I'm breaking down the entire weekend (in far too much detail, and with too many stories about parking, turkeys, and eyebrow tinting). From the parties and plays to the 13.1-mile journey from Brooklyn to Central Park, this is my 2026 NYC Half recap — plus, some big updates on the cancer and chemo front. SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to check out the brand new Ellipse.  IN THIS EPISODE: Some big updates on the cancer front, and how I ended up running the 2026 NYC Half (2:45) Friday: the drive to NYC, the crime I willingly committed, the West Side Highway run, the New Balance welcome party, and Oh Mary on Broadway! (29:00) Saturday: the shakeout run, and a lot of friend time (41:30) Sunday: NYC Half day! (52:00) Monday: one last run, and final thoughts (1:35:30) MY RACE OUTFIT: Shoes: New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v5 Socks Shorts Crop Jacket SPIBelt Headphones (use code ALI for $10 off) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Subscribe to the newsletter Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon 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 with your friends!

"Everyone deserves a super shoe." Welcome to the second episode in a new series on the Ali on the Run Show called "No Stupid Questions." This is where experts come in to answer everything you've always wanted to ask about running. We'll be covering a wide range of topics including personal running and coaching, the business of running, and "no such thing as TMI." Last week, Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught Leer kicked off the series answering questions about professional running — and then some.  This week, Jinger Gottschall returns to the show to answer questions about shoes and sports bras. Jinger is the Director of Sports Research at New Balance (listen to her previous episode here), and her days are spent in the research lab working on product innovation.  FOLLOW JINGER @jingerfitness SPONSOR: Lagoon. Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you, and use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your next Lagoon order. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Subscribe to the newsletter Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon 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 with your friends!

"It's been a really, really tough couple days. I've never been such a combination of stressed and sad." At Sunday's USA Track and Field Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta, the top three women — Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley, and Ednah Kurgat — were led off course in the final mile of the race. The three were on track to take the podium, and to earn spots to represent the United States on a World Championship team. All signs were pointing to Jess, Emma Grace, and Ednah becoming Team USA ahead of the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen this September. National titles, prize money, sponsor bonuses, and, of course, the glory of breaking the tape and earning that moment were all on the line.  Much has been said about the race, the misdirection, and the immediate aftermath. Molly Born ultimately broke the tape, as Jess, Emma Grace, and Ednah clawed their way back into the mix. But what happens now? The one unanimous takeaway from that day in Atlanta is that no one feels good about how the day played out.  Today, Emma Grace Hurley comes to us from her much-deserved post-race vacation in the Cayman Islands to offer her unique perspective on all of this. Emma Grace spent the early years of her running career as a member of Atlanta Track Club Elite. She has served on committees for USA Track and Field, and currently lives in Indianapolis, where she is coached by former Atlanta Track Club Elite coach Andrew Begley. Emma Grace has a deeper understanding than most about how these various organizations work, about what goes into pulling off a road race of this scale and, of course, about what it's like being an athlete with so much at stake. FOLLOW EMMA GRACE @emmagracehurley SPONSOR: UCAN. Click here to get a UCAN Edge Energy Gel sample pack, and use code ALI for 30% off your entire UCAN order. Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Subscribe to the newsletter Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon 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 with your friends!