Episode 222: Miss USA 2024, Alma Cooper, Takes on the Chicago Marathon

In this episode, we talk with Nicole Dobransky, who shares her Boston Marathon qualifying journey. We have no doubt that you will be inspired by Nicole’s story and her approach to training. More about Nicole:Nicole, mom of three, is a former accountant turned run coach, who specializes in helping runners achieve their running goals through 1:1 run coaching, small group half and full marathon virtual training club called Run Strong.Nicole is also a business coach for run coaches through her company, Runner Rising, and host of the Runner Rising Podcast. Follow Nicole on Instagram @Fitness Fatale.We so enjoyed this conversation!Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Interested in hiring a coach? Email us at [email protected] or head over to our website.Please follow, share and review our show!

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 2024. 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.In this episode, we also talk with Ted McGreer, the owner of Ted’s Shoe & Sport in Keene, New Hampshire, who shares his expertise in running shoes and gear.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Interested in hiring a coach? Email us at [email protected] or head over to our website.Please follow, share and review our show!

Phil Stewart wants you to enter the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run lottery now…and here’s more about our legendary guest. Phil is both a running and race management icon, both in the DC area as well as on the national and international stage. Phil has been the Event Director for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom, the premier springtime running event in Washington, DC, since 1991. He is arguably one of the nation’s experts on road race management, and is the editor and publisher of the Road Race Management newsletter, as well as the co-author of Organizing Running Events: The Complete Guide to Staging a Successful Road Race. Before he became a race director, Phil was, and still is, an accomplished distance runner. He has run the Boston Marathon 25 times, the first time in 1975, where he finished in 2:19:58, qualifying him for the 1976 Olympic Trials. He returned in 1977 to finish 15th overall. Phil has run Boston every decade of his life since those first races and most recently ran the 2021 Boston Marathon in his 70’s.Phil shares all we need to know about Cherry Blossom and how we can enter. He also shares what helps him stay motivated throughout every decade of his life. We loved having Phil on the show and appreciate all he continues to do for the running community.Cherry Blossom information: Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Interested in hiring a coach? Email us at [email protected] or head over to our website.Please follow, share and review our show! Thank you!

In part 2 our 3-part series-How She Did It-we welcomed Leigh Stewart Blum, who started running a few years ago and has an incredible BQ journey . We have no doubt that our listeners will learn so much from Leigh’s trajectory. Thanks to Leigh for joining us!Interested in hiring a coach? Email us at [email protected] or head over to our website.Please follow, share and review our show! Thank you!

Our favorite physical therapist, Rachel Miller, is back! In this episode, we welcomed for the fourth time our dear friend and top physical therapist and running coach, Rachel Miller, owner of ProAction Physical Therapy, who gives a ton of solid advice on preventing falls during runs, running in between training cycles, and avoiding common mistakes after a goal race. If you are in the DC area, definitely check out Rachel’s practice at www.proactionpt.com. She truly is the PT whisperer! Also, join Rachel at the Jingle Bell Run on 12/7 to benefit the Arthritis Foundation.Interested in hiring a coach? Email us at [email protected] or head over to our website.Please follow, share and review our show! Thank you!

After Julie and a special guest discuss life outside of running, we welcomed longtime Run Farther & Faster runner, Suzanne Mishkin, who shares her decade-long journey from newly minted marathoner to Boston qualifier. Suzanne shares how she managed her disappointment after learning that she was not accepted into the 2025 race, how she stays motivated to train during cold Chicago winters, and how she approaches injury and setbacks.This is Part 1 of a three-part series featuring runners who, like Suzanne, achieved a BQ without a Boston 2025 acceptance. In addition to being a runner. Suzanne is a mom of three active boys and a principal. We loved this conversation!You can find us on Instagram and and Facebook. Looking for coaching? Email us at [email protected] to set up a coaching call. Thanks for listening!

Did you know that the most opportune time for injury is during the weeks after finishing a goal race? Join us for our drive home from the Marine Corps Marathon during which we discuss how to approach your running in between training cycles. You can find us on Instagram and Facebook. Looking for coaching? Email us at [email protected] to set up a coaching call. Thanks for listening!

Races are more crowded than ever! After watching our runners race Chicago and Berlin this year, we saw some patterns that we want to pass along to those who have upcoming races this fall. We also discuss tips for successfully running a WMM or similarly crowded race.You can find us on Instagram and Facebook. Looking for coaching? Email us at [email protected] to set up a coaching call. Thanks for listening!

After providing some last-minute Chicago Marathon tips, we welcomed Miss USA 2024, Alma Cooper, who is running Chicago 2024, her first marathon! Alma shares how she juggles her busy schedule with training. She’s currently working on her masters degree at Stanford University, while also balancing her Miss USA duties with her mileage. One tip—she relies heavily on that hotel treadmill to get in her miles.Alma also shares how her mom, a former collegiate track star, is her running inspiration, and how Alma firmly believes that we should never be the first to say no to ourselves when thinking about trying something new.We loved this conversation and believe that Alma’s words provide the perfect motivation before lining up at the start line in Chicago or elsewhere this fall.More about Alma:Alma Oralia Minerva Cooper is a West Point graduate and is now studying for a Master of Science degree in statistics on the data science track. Prior to becoming Miss USA, Cooper planned to serve as a second lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps of the United States Army after completing her degree at Stanford. This will be Alma’s first marathon.You can find us on Instagram and Facebook. Looking for coaching? Email us at [email protected] to set up a coaching call. Thanks for listening!

After discussing the Boston Marathon 6:51 cutoff and our ideas for Boston’s future, Lisa recaps her incredible marathon performance in New Hampshire. Lisa shares why she chose to run the Clarence DeMar Marathon in Keene, and why, out of the 50 plus marathons she’s run, this one was her absolute favorite! You can find us on Instagram and Facebook. Looking for coaching? Email us at [email protected] to set up a coaching call. Thanks for listening!