Life is Good (TM)

Bye Boston. So Long, London. Hello, 40...

May 02, 2025

It’s likely that I’m right in the middle of what will end up being my busiest — and maybe best? TBD! — month-long stretch of the year.

It’s all been booked solid, from Annie’s dance shows and an early family Easter celebration to Boston Marathon weekend, London Marathon weekend, a bit of a birthday coming up, a little celebratory gathering, and Mother’s Day.

I should recap London.

London was incredible.

The Boston-to-London turnaround is, as I keep saying, absolutely diabolical. You are not at all recovered from Boston — whether you ran it, worked it, or cheered it, you’re hanging on by a sweat-wicking thread — and then you’re hopping across the pond, descending into time zones unknown, barely aware of what day it is or what you’re supposed to be doing. (You’re = I’m. My. It’s me. Hi.)

So while I never really knew what time it was in London, and I expected to be physically and emotionally exhausted, I kind of thrived there.

I loved London. I loved my time there.

I was in London with New Balance — one of my longtime partners, as you know, and one of the sponsors of the London Marathon.

I attended an intimate (like small, not like lingerie) Women’s Summit with a couple dozen or so runners on Friday. We gave product feedback (everyone, and I mean everyone, hates the removable bra pads), we talked about what matters to us most on race weekends (fascinating how varied the answers were; most people voted for “Peace & Quiet” while I was over here representing the U-S of A, being like, “I want vibes and after parties!!!”), and we talked about what’s working and isn’t working when it comes to brand marketing and consumer outreach (again, varied; I thought the Puma “Get High” campaign was a relatively eye-rolly attempt at virality, and a lot of the other women really liked it).

On Saturday, we were all up early for a group run led by the Rep Runners crew. This was great, which is such high praise from an ardent Big Group Shakeout Run on Marathon Weekend avoider such as myself. (I get overwhelmed, OK?! What if I need a bathroom stop and the entire group runs away?!)

It was a great way to run around Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, and the London Marathon finish line. No better way to explore! After the run, my New Balance Queen (she’s not technically my boss, but she’s one of the people I work with most at NB, and so I just think the Queen title fits!), Kristen, and I logged some more miles exploring beyond the general hotel radius. We ran along the River Thames out to The Black Dog (I know it’s not the same one she sings about, but let me enjoy and pretend, OK?), where I danced around the cute street screaming, “I hope it’s shitty!!!”

We had time to explore the city a bit afterward, did a little shopping, and then made our way back to the New Balance Townhouse (their very chic and cool penthouse pop-up) where I was hosting a women’s running-focused panel with Jinger Gottschall, Ciara Mageean, Lillie Bleasdale, and Juliette Denny. I wish we’d recorded this, because it was a great conversation about the state of women’s running as we see it — what matters, what doesn’t, what’s trending, what chafes, and what we as women truly need. (Answers included “to feel safe on the run” and also “pockets.” Both great answers, IMO!)

On Sunday morning, Kristen and I ran to Tower Bridge, which was thrilling. I was constantly gasping and squealing on this trip. I really, really loved my first time in London. (Also, very bathroom accessible! I never had an issue finding and being granted access to a restroom. We love to see it!!!)

And, of course, the race! We (me, New Balance, Cat Deeley, Gordon Ramsey…) were right at the finish line. They’ve got the Union Jack flying everywhere, and that final straightaway runs from Buckingham Palace into the finish. It’s a stunning sight, and I can’t believe I got to see it with my own eyes.

Congratulations to all of the London runners. I’m obsessed with how many people run the London Marathon in a very, very specific kind of costume in order to earn a very, very specific Guinness World Record.

I was so, so happy in London. And in Boston.

And so while, yes, I wanted to briefly recap my UK adventures, I’m also here to say that I am genuinely happy lately.

Earlier this week, I called Cousin Jackie.

She didn’t answer.

But when she called back, I was so excited to immediately launch into what I had rehearsed:

“Hey, just real quick, I have called you every night for the past two years screaming and crying and sad and angry. Tonight, I am calling just to tell you that I am really happy.”

I’m sure it’s a little gauche to keep saying that. A bit tacky, to shout from the [internet] rooftops that I’m loving life these days.

But after two years of crying almost daily, two years of relentless shit… I, frankly, don’t care of it’s gauche or tacky or a little much.

There’s still relentless lingering shit. But the work is working. Nature (Ali) is healing!

I am dancing in my kitchen again.

I am singing as I walk down the streets. (Fun songs, not just the bridge from “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived!”)

I feel like these past two weeks turned a big page for me.

I feel like I’m entering the next chapter.

The next Era.

And I feel really ready for it.

Last year, at the ripe age of 39.4, my therapist told me, “Your life is going to look so different at 40.”

As the weeks and months ticked closer and closer to the big 4-0, I started to really question my girl Martha.

She said it would be different. And so far, she’s accurately predicted a lot of what’s happened in my orbit. Was this her first miss?

Well, I suppose a lot could still change in the next four days… But as it stands in this moment, Martha nailed it yet again.

I’ll turn 40 this Tuesday.

And life looks so different, in so many beautiful, optimistic, downright thrilling ways.

SPONSOR SHOUT OUTS

I am so 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:

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