I love you and I like you.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Struggled a bit with what, exactly, I wanted to say here on this day!
I think about love a lot.
What it is, what it means, what it feels like, and all of the places that we find it.
I love love.
I always have.
I love having a crush, and I love being in love. I love the butterflies, and I love the long conversations. I love not even pretending to play it cool.
I love familiar love. Familial love. “Knowing exactly what you’re going to say before you even say it” best friend love. Comfortable love. “Could talk for hours” love. Makes-you-better love. “You were the first person I wanted to tell” love.
Mother-daughter love. The very best love.
I love romantic comedies and love songs and meet cutes and happy endings. (Don’t.) I love love stories. I love Love Story. (Baby, just say yes.)
I feel deeply, and I care a lot. Sometimes I hate that about myself. Mostly, I don’t.
I hope you can always think of a time when you felt loved. The truly, madly, deeply kind.
(Sometimes I think I’m absolutely painfully obnoxiously delusionaly cheesy. Mostly, I don’t.)
I will always believe in love.
Happy Valentine’s Day. Love ya.
(Annie and I will spend the day doing cute, simple things. Heart-shaped foods. Love notes and hearts everywhere. A few little surprises. Special outfits. Heart hair. Extra “I love yous.”)
This week on the Ali on the Run Show:
Love on the Run with Jacqueline “Cousin Jackie” Adair: My cousin bestie! It was so fun getting to have my cousin Jackie on the show this week to celebrate some family love. It’s never lost on me how special it is and how lucky I am to get to call my family, my friends.
Love on the Run with Dakotah & Montana Popehn: Can I get a collective awwww? I adore these two, and loved getting to hear their full love story, from how they met to what’s next for the marathoning newlyweds.
LOVING:
I got to see my best friend last Friday night! She lives in Connecticut and was in town with one of her daughters for a dance competition and convention. Annie and I got to meet them for dinner while they were here, and it was the best.
This winter! We’ve gotten so much great snow (and are due for much more this weekend), I’m absolutely loving ski racing, and as much as I hate being cold, the decision to lean into winter this year has made it so much fun.
Having our health back! Annie got hit with all kinds of sickness(es) last week, and it made its way to me on Sunday night. Mine was quick: knocked out for around 36 hours, but I’ve gotten back on my feet pretty quickly. Still not 100%, but thrilled we’ve both turned major corners. (Ellie, not to be outdone, managed to get a UTI this week. We’re a mess!)
The Millrose Games. Old news by now (and already a newer new World Record!), but what an awesome meet. Running is so fun. I love being a sports fan.
“Sometimes it's hard not to feel sorry for myself. You know, poor me with my failed, fragile body. But then I look around this room and I say to myself… ‘Lucky guy. I'm a lucky guy.’ I don't know how much longer I'm gonna have to work with you, hang out with you, laugh with you. Road’s gonna get tougher and tougher. But I do know that I'll get through it because of everyone in this room. And that's what I'm thankful for. ’Cause we can get through anything if we have people to lean on. I'm leaning on you. I'm leaning on you.”
—Paul Rhoades (Harrison Ford), Shrinking Season 2 finale
(I’ve watched that episode four times now. I love this show and love that scene and love Paul. When he says “I’m leaning on you,” I just lose it.)
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.
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goodr: Click here and use code ALI for $5 off your next order.
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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.
St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville: Sign up today for the races happening April 26–27, 2025, and use code ONTHERUN for $10 off.
And so…
Take good care of yourselves. Take good care of each other. Tell someone you love them. And whatever you’re going through, keep going.
(You’ve got this. You’re doing great.)
Love,
Ali
Love to you, Ali.
Happy Valentine’s Day Ali and Annie!