830. Emily Venters, Training for her 26.2-Mile Debut at the 2025 Chicago Marathon

"Everything I'm doing is new. It feels like I'm going into the unknown, which is scary." Emily Venters is officially one to watch on the U.S. women's distance running scene. The Nike-sponsored pro trains with Ed Eyestone's group in Utah, and this fall, she'll make her 26.2-mile debut at the Chicago Marathon. In this conversation, the five-time NCAA All-American talks about the road to the marathon, which hasn't always been easy. She talks about struggling in college, and debating leaving the sport altogether. She talks about dealing with injuries and disordered eating, and about having OCD. Plus, what it's like training alongside Conner Mantz, Clayton Young, and Keira D'Amato; how it's felt hitting 100-mile weeks; and whether Emily is has her sights set on taking down Fiona O'Keeffe's American debut record in the marathon. This Monday, Emily will race the USATF 20K Championships in New Haven.  FOLLOW EMILY @ventersemily SPONSOR:  New Balance: Click here to get your hands on the just-released Rebel v5! In this episode: All about Emily’s run today, and how she’s feeling heading into USATF 20K Championships this weekend (3:40) How Emily is feeling about her first marathon build (5:45) Why the marathon, why now, and why Chicago? (12:55) Emily’s recap from the 2025 U.S. Track & Field Outdoor National Championships 5K (22:15) What Emily was like as a kid, and how she became a runner (25:00) From Boise State to CU Boulder to the University of Utah: inside Emily's injury-riddled collegiate running experience, and what helped her finish her collegiate career on a high, healthy note (32:00) Emily's experience with OCD, and how it shows up on the run (41:25) How Emily became a professional athlete (48:25) 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'm fresh off my fourth round of chemotherapy, and am back on the couch recording with friends. This time for chemo, I was joined by my OG running blog friend Emily Halnon, and this is our recap from the day at the infusion center and the few days we spent together.  SPONSOR:  Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I'm an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your next Lagoon order. 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 love this sport and I love the people in it. I love the people I race against. I love all the fans. People are wonderful." Fresh off her U.S. Outdoor National Championships 10,000m win, fan favorite Emily Infeld returns to the Ali on the Run Show to talk about winning her first national title at age 35, 13 years into her professional career. Ten years ago, Emily made her first World Championships team, and went on to win a bronze medal in the 10,000m on the world stage. The next year, she made her first Olympic team, and competed at the Games in Rio. Then, Emily had a string of tough years and struggles, including injuries, surgeries, changing teams, changing coaches, changing locations, changing sponsors, and navigating a three-year ordeal with a stalker. Today, Emily is happy, healthy, and breaking the tape. She lives in Portland, OR, with her husband, Max. She's sponsored by Brooks, after 12 years with Nike. And she's coached once again by her college coach, Chris Miltenberg. In this conversation, Emily talks about what it took to unleash that kick in the homestretch and to break the tape at a National Championship. SPONSORS:  Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. Oofos: The best in recovery footwear! Check out Oofos's 2025 Project Pink collection, where 10% of every purchase is donated to cancer research.  In this episode: What the view from Cloud 9 is like (2:15) Emily’s take on becoming a National Champion at 35 years old (5:35) How Emily reflects on the runner she was in 2015, when she won bronze at World Championships, and the runner she was last summer, when she finished last in the 5000m at the Olympic Trials (11:15) How Emily has maintained an unwavering belief in herself — and whether she’s ever doubted herself (16:00) Emily’s approach to visualization, and what it was like breaking the tape at USAs (19:00) All about the victory lap (23:30) What it took to go from last place at the Trials to first place at Nationals (29:20) Did Emily know it was going to be a special day? (32:10) Emily’s race plan (38:00) How Emily spent the day leading up to the 10,000m, how Hayward Field felt that day, and how the race played out (43:15) What it was like going through the mixed zone after the race, and how Emily spent the rest of the night and weekend in Eugene (57:45) What’s the deal with world rankings, and is Emily definitely going to Tokyo for World Championships? (1:06:20) What it’s like being on the receiving end of an outpouring of support (1:10:00) 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!

"This was a really important step in my journey to feeling more like myself, and I’m really happy I did it." We heard from Nikki Hiltz right before they competed at the 2025 U.S. Track and Field Outdoor National Championships — and now they're back as a nine-time national champion. Fresh off winning their sixth straight U.S. 1500m title, Nikki returns to the show with their full race recap. Nikki talks about racing in the first round of the 1500m, and about watching their partner, Emma Gee, achieve her goal of making it to the 3000m Steeplechase Final. Then, Nikki breaks down all the details from the 1500m Final, including the race plan, the drama, the final kick, and the hour-long victory lap. Plus, Nikki shares some big personal news and talks about what's next on the run and off. FOLLOW NIKKI @nikkihiltz SPONSORS:  New Balance: Click here to get your hands on the just-released Rebel v5! Shokz: Use code ALI for $10 off your next purchase. Code valid in the U.S. and Canada. In this episode: How Nikki is feeling after winning their sixth straight U.S. 1500m title, and their ninth national title (1:45) What Nikki will remember most about this race (2:50) Was Nikki really hoping to run the 5000m at USAs? (7:10) What it was like watching partner Emma Gee make the 3000m Steeplechase Final (9:40) On cruising through the first round of the 1500m (12:40) How Nikki and Emma spent their day off between rounds (15:45) How Nikki was feeling on the day of the 1500m Final (18:15) Nikki breaks down the 1500m Final (27:45) All about that hour-long victory lap (37:20) Nikki’s take on the new World Athletics-enforced mandatory sex testing (41:30) What it was like being at Hayward Field — as a fan — on the final day of competition (48:40) Nikki shares some personal news (53:10) What's next for Nikki on the run (1:12:50) 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!

"It felt like I was playing with house money." Let the 2025 U.S. Track & Field Outdoor National Championships recaps begin! First up: Keira D'Amato, fresh off her first track race of the year. In this conversation, recorded just 48 hours after crossing the finish, Keira talks about racing the 10,000m, running 32:19, finishing seventh, and breaking the American Master's Record. She explains why she decided to race, shares what her goals and race plan were, and talks about how she feels about the outcome. In this episode: How Keira feels about her race at Nationals (2:30) Why racing in spikes is harder on the body than racing in super shoes on the roads (4:00) The last time Keira finished a race and felt satisfied (6:00) How Keira’s body is feeling post-10,000m (9:00) On arriving in Eugene, and what the atmosphere was like (14:10) Why Keira wore a GPS watch during the 10,000m Final (18:30) How Keira spent race day (22:00) Keira’s race plan, and the advice she got from coach Ed “Easy E” Eyestone (31:00) All about that American Master’s Record (34:15) Keira breaks down the race, and talks about when moves were made (39:20) Was it fun? (43:00) What happened after the race (49:55) Keira’s experience recording the audiobook for Don’t Call it a Comeback (58:00) SPONSORS:  UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your entire UCAN order. Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I'm an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your next Lagoon order. 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'm excited, and also a little freaked out!" Jess Movold is a running and strength coach who lives in Austin, TX, with her husband and their son, Battle. Battle is appropriately named: He was born at just 26 weeks and 2 days, and spent 167 days in the NICU. Today, he's a happy, healthy three-year-old, and he's getting promoted to Big Brother this fall. In this episode, Jess talks about making it to the third trimester, and celebrates being "the most pregnant she's ever been!" She reflects on a pregnancy loss, and talks about how she's feeling on the run, at Hyrox, and in this new-to-her phase of life. Plus: The Hunting Wives, celebrity crushes, and so much more. SPONSOR:  New Balance: Click here to get your hands on the just-released Rebel v5! 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!

"It feels really good — and it's a lot of pressure at the same time... I do have a target on my back, but that's fine." Happy USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships! Today, eight-time National Champion (and fan favorite!) Nikki Hiltz will compete in the first round of the 1500m, hoping to advance to the Final and, ultimately, earn a spot on Team USA for World Championships in Tokyo. In this conversation, recorded the night before the meet, Nikki talks about how they're feeling heading into the first round and what the energy is like in Eugene, OR, right now. FOLLOW NIKKI @nikkihiltz FOLLOW KICK @kickdocumentary SPONSORS:  Boulderthon: Join me in Boulder, CO, on September 28, 2025! Click here to register for the marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, and kids run, and use code ALI for $20 off your marathon or half registration.  goodr: Click here and use code ALI for $5 off your next order. 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!

"We really are having the best of times during the worst of times." I'm fresh off my third round of chemotherapy (round two was rough!), and am back on the couch recording with friends. This time for chemo, I was joined by my best friend (and former Dance Spirit colleague!) Michael Anne Bailey, and this is our recap from the day at the infusion center and the few days we spent together. We share our friendship origin story, gush about the things we love most about each other, and talk a lot about eyebrows. SPONSOR:  New Balance: Click here to get your hands on the just-released Rebel v5! 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!

“A great thing about having cancer is people are so nice to you!” This is my attempt to catch you up on what life has looked like since Chemo Round 2. Buckle up! SPONSORS:  UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your entire UCAN order. Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase. 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!

Last summer, Grant Fisher made history by becoming the first American man to win Olympic bronze in both the 5000m and 10000m at the Paris Olympic Games. Last month, he dropped down in distance and ran an 11-second personal best at the Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic. Now, he's gearing up for the USATF Outdoor Championships, where he's hoping to land a spot on Team USA for this year's World Championships in Tokyo. In this episode, he talks about how his training is going, how he reflects on being an Olympian (never an under-dog again!), and what it was like being Faith Kipyegon's right-hand man during her Breaking 4 attempt. (Spoiler: If you don't already love Grant Fisher, you're about to love Grant Fisher.) FOLLOW GRANT @grantfisher_ SPONSORS:  Boulderthon: Join me in Boulder, CO, on September 28, 2025! Click here to register for the marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, and kids run, and use code ALI for $20 off your marathon or half registration.  New Balance: Click here to get your hands on the just-released Rebel v5! 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!