Q&A

Because pondering the meaning of what comes after NED (at least for now) feels like too much to process!

Jun 19, 2026

In so many ways, the past few weeks have felt so healing.

Yes, there’s the No Evidence of Disease factor. That’s a big deal.

Then there’s all the joy and excitement in New York City. Am I a Knicks fan? No. Am I a basketball fan? Wouldn’t say that. Can I name more than one player on the championship-winning team? No I cannot (Jalen Brunson, though, he seems great!), nor do I know if “championship-winning” is even the most accurate term. But I see the thrill, the camaraderie, the community, the mass celebrations in the greatest city in the world, and I cannot get enough.

Meanwhile, in Boston, more joy and excitement! Do I understand the World Cup? I do not. Do I understand where, exactly, these games are being played, or why it’s a big deal that it’s happening in the U.S., or literally anything about anything? Nope! But I love it! I love seeing how much fun everyone is having.

I loved seeing the former First Family at the Obama Presidential Center opening on Thursday. Sasha and Malia are all grown up and gorgeous, and man do I miss that family!

More of this. More of the good!

How about a quick Q&A for today? I put out a call for questions on Instagram recently (I’m @aliontherun1), and picked a few favorites to tackle here. With that…

What is it like to get a hug from Ali at the end of the Boston Marathon?

Rare! I actually don’t like disproportionately sweaty hugs — like if I’m clean and dry and the other person is sweaty, I don’t realllllly want a hug. I don’t like when peoples’ sweaty armpits get on my shoulders in an embrace! I’m sorry. I’m sorry! I want to celebrate you in every way I can, but finish line hugs aren’t it for me. I’ll high five, I’ll fist bump, I’ll give you all the heart hands in the world, and if I can, I’m totally down for a selfie! But I am actually not a big finish line hugger. It’s a long day out there for me when I’m working, and there are a lot of fluids going around (literal blood, sweat, tears, and usually vomit), so I just try to protect my immune system however I can! Super proud of you, though, I really am!!! (And I’m good with clean, dry hugs!)

What does a Crohn’s flare look like? I have IBS, but know Crohn’s is a whole other level.

It’s ugly! It’s different for everyone, of course, but for me, it’s mostly a lot of “urgency.” Running for the bathroom (or whatever I can find) dozens of times a day. It’s diarrhea, there’s blood, it’s stomach pain, it’s bloating, it’s fatigue, it’s night sweats, fevers. It’s a ton of anxiety, and a constant fear of leaving the comfort of home. Worrying about needing a bathroom, worrying about bathroom access, bathroom lines, bathroom bathroom bathroom. It’s all-consuming.

If you’re comfy sharing, how have you learned to enjoy your solitude as a single woman?

I don’t mind the solitude, and I have shifted my focus to see it as an opportunity. I would always, always, always rather be with Annie. But when she’s not with me, I use that time to be as productive as possible, to do stuff around the house, to run errands, to cram in as much work as I can, to spend time with Ellie, to spend time with people I love, and to have experiences that I enjoy as Ali the Human, not just as a mom, so that when I’m with Annie, I can be really present. I love my house. It’s a peaceful, happy place that I’m constantly working on. I genuinely enjoy my time at home. I have started working out with a group at a local track on Tuesday nights when I don’t have Annie. I unfortunately do use a lot of my kid-free time to do medical stuff, which isn’t fun, but it’s necessary. Two years ago, I took an adult tap class on my nights without Annie. There’s a HIIT/Pilates class that I take sometimes. I don’t always make the best choices, and I usually stay up way too late on nights without Annie!

All that being said, the first year of this was brutal. Anytime Annie wasn’t with me, I felt a deep ache, and no yoga class or long run or girls night in or out could totally take my mind off missing my daughter. I threw myself into work pretty intensely after my separation, traveling for races and events most weekends when Annie wasn’t with me. I still ache without her, and some days are harder than others. But for the most part, I stay busy. And I let myself watch trash that I wouldn’t watch with Annie, like Vanderpump Rules.

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Also breast cancer, also divorced. How have you coped? I get stuck on the unfairness.

I admittedly struggled with the “unfairness” mindset when the legal part of my divorce was ongoing while simultaneously navigating a cancer diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, etc. And it’s not great advice, but I did have to constantly just remind myself that life’s not fair. I was dealt certain hands, and I shuffled some of the cards myself and others were thrown at me 52-card-pickup-style. Life isn’t often fair. I was raised in a home that really valued fairness, and it has taken me some time to change my relationship with so-called “fairness” and how I deal with or without it. I wallowed for a long time. I will never forget my therapist telling me to “put on my big-girl pants” and deal with it / handle it / do something about it. I forget what I was bitching about during that particular session, but she was right. I was whining and complaining, and while my feelings were absolutely justified and I had every right to be furious and upset and and stressed, I was languishing in those feelings instead of taking action.

Are you dating?!

This is always the most popular question. And I get it! I’m nosy, too! I’ve made a whole career out of being nosy!

So: I am currently in a phase of life where I am not actively trying to meet people with the goal of a relationship (I’m not on apps), but am always open to what comes my way. I cannot stress enough how important it has been for me to take post-divorce life really slowly. I thought I would want to be in a relationship again soon after my marriage ended, but turns out, I haven’t wanted that, for me or for Annie. I’m having fun, and I love that for me! But as cheesy as it sounds, I am really focused on doing a lot of hard work to heal from some pretty intense years, and if and when I do pursue something serious, it’s going to have to be really great for me to commit.

I absolutely refuse to settle, and I am fortunate that I have really strong relationships in my life right now, so it doesn’t really feel like something is missing when it comes to a romantic partnership. Truthfully, I am not ready to fully integrate someone into my life, into Annie’s, and into this safe and stable little world we’re building. That could change! I’m sure it will change. To each their own here, of course. We all have different timelines, and that’s OK! (I wasn’t even going to answer this question, but I actually have so much to say! Do I start paywalling things? Blah.)

Do guests get paid to be on your show, or is it voluntary?

Guests do not get paid to be on the show. But I hope it’s fun for them, I hope they gain something from it, and I hope it feels like a good use of their time! (It is so awesome when good things come to the guests after coming on the show. Like a coach or dietitian gets new clients, or a creator gets an influx of subscribers, or a brand gets much-deserved recognition. That is one of the single most rewarding parts of what I do. I recently got to connect a Very Important Person with a running coach I know and trust, and now they’re working together, and that is so cool. I love getting to foster connections.)

Favorite cast member from Vanderpump Rules?

Lisa Vanderpump. I don’t think I even like anyone else on the show. But I will not stop watching. (I’m on Season 5, Episode 6.)

Least fave interview?

I am obviously not going to answer this, but yeah, there have been a few. I can’t think of any super recently, but early on, when I was still finding my way and finding my voice and finding my discernment, yeah, there were a few I didn’t love for various reasons.

Fave summer movie?

Now & Then. Duh. (Team Teeny, always and forever.)

What are your calming tricks when you get super anxious?

Slow down. Slow down the thoughts. Slow down the breathing. Think about what actually needs to be done or solved, and try to do that. Also spraying some of this and scream-singing Taylor Swift in the shower. And on my non-Annie nights, my god do I love 10mg of Ambien.

Which AOTR episode has been the most controversial?

I’m not sure any of them have actually been controversial, but some have generated more conversation than others. Like having Hope Walz on the show, my gosh, [certain] people flipped out, which was so stupid because it was such a lovely, bipartisan conversation, but the last name alone really triggered some specific types of people. (Team Hope! Team Walz!) Emma Bates coming on the show in the wake of “my sponsor dropped me” garnered quite a bit of feedback, though it was less about the show and more about the nuanced situation. Generally things are pretty tame around here, though!

If you run another marathon, which ones are on the list?

London.

Dream brand partnership, running and non-running?

An airline, a hotel, a car, a hot tub… The big-ticket things! Do propane or electric companies do partnerships? Do mortgage companies?! Gas stations??? Market Basket?! I’d love a partnership with Thrive Causemetics, which is one of my all-time favorite brands because of the products, the founder, and the mission, and I have some ideas on how we (that includes you!) could have some fun together. (Big, obvious shout-out to all of my current partners — all brands I love, use, value, appreciate, and am psyched to get to tell you about. Truly the best.)

How are you doing?

Mostly good! Currently dealing with various aches and pains: I’m off the run with some back / hip / leg pain that I’ve dealt with in the past, so hoping to get that fixed up ASAP; mouth sores are bad from my current medications; generally really achy and my body just hurts, but it’s fine because it still feels better than I felt during chemo! Mentally I’m in a pretty good spot. I fear I’m a bit numb from it all, but I’m going through the motions and I’m doing OK!

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. Supporting them = supporting me!

Shokz: Click here and use code ALI for $10 off your next purchase.
Lagoon: Click here to get my favorite pillows (I sleep on the Otter every night), and use code ALI for 15% off.
New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season.
Oofos: Click here to check out the new Club+ line. Comfy and supportive = a dream!
Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori order.

And so…

Take good care of yourselves. Take good care of each other. Be the good. Have some fun.

(You’ve got this. You’re doing great.)

Love,

Ali

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