Ali on the Run Show

"Calm, calm, calm. Relax, relax, relax."
Welcome to your guide to the 2026 Boston Marathon! We just about one week away from the 130th running of the world's oldest marathon. This year's Boston Marathon takes place, as always, on the third Monday of April — this year, that's April 20. In this mega-episode, I (along with a team of experts and insiders) attempt to answer all of your questions about all things Boston. Katie Hawkes and Lauren Proshan from the Boston Athletic Association are here to talk logistics (take some deep breaths — the journey to the start line is doable, and you won't be waiting around for too long once you get there!), elite athlete coordinator and B.A.A. Chief Operating Officer Mary Kate Shea talks about assembling this year's professional fields and about which storylines to follow, and 2018 champion and Boston favorite Des Linden joins to talk course strategy. Get excited: Whether you're running, volunteering, cheering, or watching from home, it's always a Boston to remember.
SPONSOR: Shokz! The official headphone of the Boston Marathon! Use code ALI for $10 off your next Shokz purchase. (I love the Open Run Pro 2.)
IN THIS EPISODE:
B.A.A. director of brand and experience Katie Hawkes talks about the significance of the Boston Marathon, and shares what's new for 2026 (4:45)
Want to run Boston someday? Here's what you need to know about getting in (38:25)
B.A.A Chief Operating Officer and elite athlete coordinator Mary Kate Shea talks about assembling this year's professional athlete fields, and shares the storylines to watch (56:45)
Lauren Proshan, the B.A.A.'s chief of race operations and production, explains the process of getting to the start line in Hopkinton, and what to know once you're there (1:22:40)
2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden breaks down the Boston Marathon course (2:05:45)
All about the Boston Marathon finish line (2:36:25)
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"That's been my thing lately: What excites me?"
Emily Sisson is the American record holder in the marathon, a two-time Olympian, and a New Balance professional athlete. And right now, she's gearing up to make her Boston Marathon debut. In this conversation, Emily talks about how the Boston build has been going, and why now was the time to finally race Boston. She talks about her sixth-place finish at last month's United NYC Half, explains why she wanted more from her 2:25 finish at the New York City Marathon in the fall, and talks about making Ireland home — and making new friends in the process.
FOLLOW EMILY @em_sisson_
SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to check out the brand new Ellipse, New Balance's just-released everyday trainer. (It's gorgeous!)
IN THIS EPISODE:
What's making Emily happy today (2:10)
The adjustment period in making Ireland home (6:00)
How Emily's Boston Marathon training is going (13:25)
Emily reflects on her day at the 2026 United NYC Half (15:35)
On navigating feeling "off" (19:50)
How Emily likes to celebrate a race well run (27:45)
Why Boston, and why now? (28:20)
What's after Boston? (38:40)
What's exciting for Emily right now? (39:40)
Why Emily doesn't know what she'll hit for peak pre-Boston mileage (45:15)
How much is Emily thinking about 2028? (51:10)
Follow Ali:
Instagram @aliontherun1
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Support on Patreon
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!

"All I can do is move forward knowing that one day I'll have that moment."
Jess McClain just might be the most-loved professional marathoner in the country. The Phoenix, AZ-based Brooks athlete made national headlines last month when she was leading the U.S. Half Marathon National Championships in Atlanta and was led off course by an official vehicle in the final mile of the race. That day, Jess lost out on a national title, a spot on Team USA, and a good amount of prize money. (Listen to Emma Grace Hurley's recap of the day here.) She handled the aftermath with grace, compassion, and optimism. In this conversation, Jess talks about the race, and about the moment she realized she'd been led off course and was no longer in the lead. She also talks about the just-announced resolution (she has a spot on Team USA, and will be competing at World Championships in Copenhagen later this year) and how she feels about it. Jess, who is coached by David Roche, talks about how she's feeling heading back to the Boston Marathon, where she ran a personal best (2:22:43) last year and was the top American woman in the race. Plus, reflections on egg freezing, being a pacer at The Marathon Project in December, and how Jess is feeling after this weekend's Sound Running 10K.
FOLLOW JESS @jesstonn
SPONSOR: New Balance. Click here to check out the brand new Ellipse, New Balance's just-released everyday trainer. (It's gorgeous!)
IN THIS EPISODE:
What's making Jess happy today (3:15)
How Jess is feeling after running the 10K at the Sound Running meet this weekend (8:10)
Jess sums up her 2026 Boston training block (16:25)
How Jess handled the stress of the aftermath of the U.S. Half Marathon National Championships (21:45)
How Jess feels about the resolution, and about being named to Team USA for World Championships in Copenhagen (30:00)
What it was like unwittingly being at the center of a major running controversy (37:15)
Jess recaps her day at the 2026 U.S. Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta, and talks about the moment when things went astray (41:00)
Jess talks about her day as a celebrity pacer for the women's OTQ group at The Marathon Project (51:25)
Jess's experience freezing her eggs, and why she made the decision to go through the process now (55:20)
What it takes to run a personal best in Boston (1:02:40)
Follow Ali:
Instagram @aliontherun1
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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's a new day, it's a new age, let's learn, let's grow together. That's it."
Last week, professional Colorado-based marathoner Emma Bates broke the running internet when she shared that she had been dropped by her fueling sponsor after they found out she was pregnant. In this conversation, Emma shares her side of the story that has taken the running community by storm. Emma also talks about running a 2:25 at the Valencia Marathon in the fall, about finding out the next day that she was pregnant, and about the realities of being a pregnant professional marathoner. 
SPONSOR: Lagoon. Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you, and use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your next Lagoon order.
IN THIS EPISODE:
What's making Emma happy today — and some news! (3:10)
How Emma is feeling at almost 20 weeks pregnant (7:50)
Emma's reflections on the 2025 Valencia Marathon (10:40)
What it's like being a pregnant professional athlete, and the pressure of trying to conceive on a timeline (13:45)
On receiving a hemochromatosis blood disorder diagnosis last year, and what that has meant for Emma (18:00)
How Emma found out she was pregnant (23:00)
Emma's thoughts on returning to running and racing after having a baby (29:50)
How and when Emma told her sponsors she was pregnant (34:00)
Emma talks about what happened with her fueling sponsor, and what their contract negotiations looked like (37:15)
Why Emma decided to share the "gel tasting" video last week (42:40)
What's on tap for Boston Marathon weekend, and Emma's advice for runners headed to Boston this year (55:35)
Follow Ali:
Instagram @aliontherun1
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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 needed to do it like I needed to breathe."
At any given marathon, there are thousands of runners on the start line, hoping to complete the 26.2-mile journey to the finish line. That means that at any given marathon, there are thousands of reasons to run. This episode is about those reasons. (Thank you to the nearly 1,000 of you who shared the stories behind why you ran your first marathon. Truly inspiring.)
SPONSOR: 
Oofos: The best in the recovery footwear game. Click here to check out Oofos's new CLUB+ line! Your feet are going to be so happy!
In this episode:
Why I ran *my* first marathon (2:35)
Why you ran *your* first marathons (14:20)
What do you wish you had known before your first marathon? (59:30)
Your advice for first-time marathoners (1:12:20)
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!