2025!

Happy New Year. Happy Friday. Happy Whatever. Happy Everything!

When you’re taking family photos, but the stars of the show are 1. doing cartwheels on the grass, and 2. going potty, somewhere. (1. Annie, 2. Ellie. Whether or not that was obvious.)

I just got back from dropping Annie off at school. Her first day of school in 2025! Her first day of school since December 20, 2024!

The break has been wonderful. A mix of high-quality mommy-and-Annie (and Ellie) time, and Ali time. I have loved it all.

Of course, in true Ali fashion, I chose to use my Ali time doing fun things instead of necessary things, which has me starting the new year the way I do every single year: stressed!

Perhaps 2025 will be the year I finally master the arts of time management, proper sleep, and generally making better choices regarding my physical and emotional well-being.

Or! Perhaps 2025 will be spent having fun. Choosing fun over responsible. Choosing joy over endless to-do lists. Choosing adventure over folding yet another load of laundry.

Surely there’s a balance to be found. But for now, it’s one task at a time, one to-do at a time, one load of sheets and towels at a time.

The start of a new year means plenty of things, and what it means on the podcast front is the annual State of the Ali on the Run Show episode.

You can listen to that episode here. (Spoiler: It’s so much longer than it ever needed to be, and for that I blame the unedited “2024 in review” segment.)

In finishing up the episode late last night, I realized I never recorded the traditional final segment: the part where I actually make declarations about my hopes, dreams, and goals for the year.

Maybe that’s not the worst thing.

Maybe I don’t need an ambitious list of wishful thinkings right now.

Maybe I can just see where the year takes me, and maybe that’s OK.

(Though, by way of personal resolutions, I’d like to start journaling again, I’d like to learn to cook a perfect steak, I want to learn how to use — and then actually use — my wood stove, and I’d like to finally take the vacation I’ve been dreaming of for years. Professionally, we’ll see, but I really think RunnerFest has legs… More on that in today’s episode.)

In planning for the annual kickoff episode, I put out a question box on Instagram (I’m @aliontherun1). I answered a handful in the final segment of the show. As for the rest? Let’s do it.

LISTENER Q&A!

Any marathon plans for 2025?

Nope! I don’t see myself training for a marathon this year. It doesn’t fit into my life right now, nor do I have the desire to make that kind of commitment. But last night I found myself telling a friend that I really like the idea of going for a 5K PR this year. (My 5K PR is 21:21 from the 2021 Abbott Dash to the Finish in New York City. I am nowhere near that kind of shape right now, and it’s hard to fathom being able to run one mile at sub-6:53 pace, let alone 3.1 of them. But maybe. Eventually.)

What keeps you up at night?

Lately, nothing. I have been going to bed way too late, so once I’m out, I’m out. What stresses me out? So many things! But none of it is heavy enough to wake me once I’m down. Phew.

What vibes will you hold close in 2025, and which will you ditch?

The pursuit of joy. I am all about people, places, and things that uplift me. That add to my life. Faucets vs. drains. I’m interested in relationships (personal and professional) that excite me and that make me better. I’m ditching the rest.

What did you get yourself for Christmas?

Barefoot Dreams fuzzy socks. You can never have too many fuzzy socks. (My parents got me the Shop Vac of my dreams. I am giddy.)

Looking back at your first episodes, what was your favorite part of you then?

I had no plans, no goals, no dreams, no agenda. The podcast was strictly a hobby, so there was no pressure, no expectation, no bar to set, meet, or jump over. I was just having fun conversations with my friends. And that’s still very much the heart and soul of the show, but the stakes feel slightly higher now in that I have listeners, sponsors, and a larger audience. I love that and I want that! So it’s not a bad thing. It just matters more. It’s not just a hobby. It’s also a product. It’s my livelihood.

Which do you enjoy more on race day: being on the mic or in front of the camera?

Oooooh great question. Right now, in this phase of life, I’ll say being on camera. It’s so fun. Live television is exciting and I’m enjoying learning the ropes.

What was the best meal you ate this year?

Nobu with my friend Conor after the Carnegie Hall show.

Best part of NH living this year? Hardest part?

Best = living near my parents, having a great network of friends (mine and Annie’s), so much nature, trails everywhere, mountains, hiking, fresh air, summer concerts in town, the annual Fourth of July parade, my house, having a pool, having a yard, having the best neighbors ever, Annie’s school and community, being close to Boston, being close enough to New York, no sales tax.

Hardest = missing my friends who don’t live in New Hampshire, snow, ice, using a generator when the power goes out, winter in general, the cost of propane, maintaining a pool, the cost of having a pool, property taxes, being bored of my running routes, not being able to go for walks at night because I live in the woods.

Do you ever feel like you get into ruts or defaults with the podcast?

Of course. Yes. I’ve felt that way for like…two years now! Work hasn’t been able to be my top priority as much as I’d like, and so I often find myself behind and scrambling and booking repeat guests because it’s easier.

Did Annie get a cat for Christmas?

She did not. Not yet.

What was Annie’s favorite Christmas gift?

Fifi. Fifi goes everywhere with us now.

Did the past year change your relationship with running, and in what way?

No, not really. Running played a different role in my life this year, but I don’t think my relationship with it has necessarily changed. I ran very little this past year on account of a long and persistent Crohn’s flare. I am also navigating how to work running into my weekends when Annie is with me. I’ll usually either just not run on the weekends or I’ll get on the treadmill for a bit while she gets some iPad time.

Would love if you would share your favorite moment from each month of 2024.

1. January: Disney on Ice with Annie

2. February: Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando

3. March: Finally watching the Eras tour (on TV) with Annie

4. April: Annie’s school dance show, and everything about Boston Marathon weekend

5. May: Spending two nights at Cliff House in Maine with Annie on my birthday, thanks to Katie Burke

6. June: Annie’s dance recital, riding the mountain coaster at Gunstock Mountain, and going to Pennsylvania with the whole family to celebrate my grandmother’s 100th birthday

7. July: Disney World with Annie!

8. August: Hosting a pool party at home

9. September: Taking Annie (and my mom!) to NYC for Fifth Avenue Mile weekend, and going to the American Girl store, and, of course, getting to ring the bell at the Dartmouth cancer center

10. October: Annie losing her first tooth, Chicago Marathon weekend, and getting my Volvo XC90 loaner

11. November: NEW YORK CITY MARATHON WEEKEND, always and forever

12. December: Annie’s dance holiday show, and celebrating Christmas with my girls

Why the hate for six-star hopefuls? Do you feel the same about 777 or 50 staters?

One time (one time) I mentioned my “unpopular opinion” (I don’t think it’s necessarily unpopular) which is that yes, putting in the work to train for six marathons is of course wonderful and a big commitment, but also that the Abbott World Marathon Majors and the pursuit of the six stars (running all six — now seven — of the major marathons) is mostly a privilege. It’s very expensive and time-consuming. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing! But now people come at me for “hating” people who embark on this challenge, which could not be further from the truth. (Privilege is not necessarily a dirty word, people.) To answer the question: I don’t have “hate” for the six-star hopefuls, but yes, I maintain my position that to do any of these running challenges requires a lot of time and money. (The Great World Race — running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days — comes with a hefty $50,000+ price tag! So yes, I maintain that it is absolutely a privilege to do this.) If you can do them, great! If you want to do them, great! Go for it! Have fun! You’ve got this! I don’t hate you! My goodness.

If you could work at any one race (that you don’t already) in any role, what role and where?

London Marathon, doing a live show that weekend and then hanging out and cheering at the finish. ~Manifest…~

Heard lately on the Ali on the Run Show:

• The 2025 State of the Ali on the Run Show: Last year, the Ali on the Run Show surpassed 23 million downloads. There were 92 episodes of the show with 63 guests (40 first-timers, and 33 recurring and returning guests), plus 14 solo episodes. (The guest with the most podcast appearances in 2024: Nikki Hiltz, of course!)

Ali elsewhere:

• I was a guest on NPR’s Consider This and All Things Considered, talking a bit about “lessons learned from a hard year” and “what we learn when things fall apart.”

What I’m watching:

• I finally started Shrinking on Apple TV. I’ll keep you posted, probably.

SPONSOR SHOUT OUTS

I am so eternally grateful for the wonderful brands and partners I get to work with on the Ali on the Run Show. You can always find the offers and discount codes in the show notes for each podcast episode (rate, review, and share while you’re there!). And now they’re here as well:

• UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), including the new Mocha + Caffeine gel and the Chocolate gel. (My dream!) Then, use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

• New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance's latest releases for the season.

• goodr: Click here and use code ALI for $5 off your next order.

• Sidekick: Click here to get 15% off any recovery tool.

• Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (Emma Bates and I are both Otters!) Use code ALI at checkout for $25 off your next Lagoon order.

• Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase.

• The Eugene Marathon: Register for the Eugene Marathon (April 27, 2025) and save $10 with code ONTHERUN.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for sticking with me. I’m so happy to allegedly be back, and can’t wait to see you all in 2025. Let’s hang out!

And so…

Take good care of yourselves. Take good care of each other. Tell someone you love them today. Thank you so much for being here. Happy New Year! And whatever you’re going through, keep going.

Love,

Ali