Amanda Brooks on Coaching the Middle Pack: Turning Running Punishment into Purpose
From faking knee pain to avoid running to coaching over 1,000 runners - Amanda Brooks knows exactly what it's like to be in the middle of the pack, because that's where most of us actually are.Amanda Brooks has been a running coach for over 13 years, working with thousands of runners to find more enjoyment in the process. She’s also known for the thousands of reviews on her site and her highly rated book, "Run to the Finish," geared towards the middle of the pack.Jon chats with Amanda about:when do you become a “real” runner?finding motivation to run when you’ve lost it (not race goals)time management strategies when running with a full time jobstereotypes that runners NEED to breakwhat Amanda considers when trying a new shoeindustry and shoe predictions for 2026Stay connected:Follow Amanda:instagram.com/runtothefinishwww.runtothefinish.comHer Book, “Run to the Finish:”https://a.co/d/i9rM7OFThis episode is supported by:PUMA: Get your pair at your local Fleet Feet or your favorite local running shop!Tifosi Optics: Fantastic sunglasses for every type of run. Anti-bounce fit, shatterproof, and scratch resistant. Get 20% off when you use this link!Janji: Use code “FTLR” at checkout when shopping at janji.com for 10% off your order and see why Janji is the go-to for runners who want performance gear made to explore. All apparel is backed by a 5 year guarantee, so you know it’s meant to last!AmazFit Check out the T-Rex 3 and a selection of GPS watches at http://bit.ly/4ojbflT and use code “FTLR” for 10% off.
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Sara Vaughn on Boulder Living, Marathon PRs, and Running for Something Bigger
At 35, Sara Vaughn was just getting started—landing her first professional contract and proving that sometimes the best chapters come when you're brave enough to rewrite the story.Sara Vaughn is mom of 4, placed 6th in the NYC Marathon in 2024, is a top American and 2X top 10 at the Chicago Marathon.Jon chats with Sara about:living the fullest Boulder lifestyleher marathon training structurethe winning mindset to have at the start linepost-race recovery techniquesthe go-to PUMA shoes that have lead to PRsStay connected:Follow Sara:https://www.instagram.com/saravaughn_realtor/https://www.instagram.com/vaughnchildcarefund/This episode is supported by:PUMA: Get your pair at your local Fleet Feet or your favorite local running shop!Janji: Use code “FTLR” at checkout when shopping at janji.com for 10% off your order and see why Janji is the go-to for runners who want performance gear made to explore. All apparel is backed by a 5 year guarantee, so you know it’s meant to last!Eternal: Eternal is a performance health company for runners, endurance, and anyone serious about their training, with expert guidance to keep you healthy and performing your best.AmazFit Check out the T-Rex 3 and a selection of GPS watches at http://bit.ly/4ojbflT and use code “FTLR” for 10% off.Boulderthon: Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR2026 for 10% off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.
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Sara Hall on Longevity, Mindset, and Finding Joy in the Process
After 21 years as a professional runner, Sara Hall reveals the mental shift that saved her career when she was ready to quit in 2009 - and why she refuses to use the 'grandma emoji' at age 42.Sara Hall is a professional distance runner for ASICS. Her personal best time for the marathon is 2:20:32 set at the Marathon Project in Chandler, Arizona on December 22, 2020, making her the third-fastest American woman in history. She is the second-fastest American woman ever to run the half marathon, running 1:07:15 on January 16, 2022–an American record at the time.Jon chats with Sara about:her 21-year professional running careerhaving an identity beyond athleticstraining experiences in Ethiopia and lessons learnedhumanitarian work focusing on extreme poverty and the orphan crisis in Ethiopiawhat’s next after her running career and how to transition to the next chapterStay connected:Follow Sara:https://www.instagram.com/sarahall3/This episode is supported by:Eternal: This episode is sponsored by Eternal: a science-backed, preventative health company offering integrated primary care, advanced testing, and personalized health planning for active people. Whether you’re chasing a PR, recovering from injury, or simply optimizing long-term health, Eternal gives you the full picture and a plan of action.AmazFit Check out the T-Rex 3 and a selection of GPS watches at amazfit.com and use code “FTLR” for 10% off.Janji: Use code “FTLR” at checkout when shopping at janji.com for 10% off your order and see why Janji is the go-to for runners who want performance gear made to explore. All apparel is backed by a 5 year guarantee, so you know it’s meant to last!Visit Leadville: So you think you know Leadville? Lake County has so much more to offer year-round than just the 100 miler in the summer. If you’re thinking of getting away, highly recommend booking a trip to Leadville to get up into the mountains, eat yummy food, and play outside. Check out more of what Leadville has to offer here!
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Eternal CEO Alex Mather on Longevity and the Future of Athlete Care
If you don’t invest in your weaknesses now, they will haunt you down the road.This conversation originally aired on Episode 13 of Long Run Labs, my new podcast on the business of the outdoor industry.Alex is the Founder and CEO of Eternal. Before founding Eternal, Alex was the founder and CEO of The Athletic, a subscription sports media company founded in 2016. The Athletic reached 1M paid subscribers faster than any publishing company in history and sold to The New York Times in 2022 for $550M. Prior to The Athletic, Alex ran Product & Design for Strava, helping the platform go from 800 users to 10s of millions. Originally from Philadelphia, Alex lives in Presidio Heights with his wife, two kids, and golden retriever. Jon chats with Alex about:Alex's Journey as a Runner and Endurance AthleteBuilding Strava's Growth and CommunityThe Athletic's Creation and Success StoryFounding Eternal and Its MissionLeadership Philosophy and Team BuildingStay connected:Follow Alex:https://x.com/amatherhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alexemather/This episode is supported by:Tifosi Optics: Fantastic sunglasses for every type of run. Anti-bounce fit, shatterproof, and scratch resistant. Get 20% off when you use this link!Janji: Use code “FTLR” at checkout when shopping at janji.com for 10% off your order and see why Janji is the go-to for runners who want performance gear made to explore. All apparel is backed by a 5 year guarantee, so you know it’s meant to last!Eternal: Eternal is a performance health company for runners, endurance athletes, and anyone serious about their training. Eternal just added PCP capabilities for those in NY and CA to answer the question of, “so, does this mean you’re my doctor?”PUMA: Get your pair at your local Fleet Feet or your favorite local running shop!AmazFit Check out the T-Rex 3 and a selection of GPS watches at amazfit.com and use code “FTLR” for 10% off.
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Amanda Basham on Balancing Elite Running with a Real Life
Sometimes the hardest race isn't 100 miles through the mountains - it's figuring out who you are when everything in your life changes.Amanda is a professional trail runner and endurance coach with a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University. She has coached endurance athletes for 10 years in everything from 5k - 200 miles. She is an Oregonian originally and now lives and trains in Colorado. Amanda ran collegiately for a couple years and then got into road marathons. It wasn’t until 2014 that she discovered trail running after an injury from pounding the pavement. Amanda was instantly hooked and jumped into the ultra scene. She’s very competitive so she made it a goal to become an elite trail runner. She accomplished that goal in 2015 and won the 50 mile USATF Trail Championships as her first race as a professional. After that, she traveled the world and raced as many of the top trail races as she could, including Western States 100, UTMB, CCC, Tarawera and Ultra Trail Capetown.Jon chats with Amanda about:Struggling with imposter syndrome as a professional runnerSports psychology workMoving from ultra volume to speed work and shorter distancesBalancing professional obligations with family lifeRedefining success and moving beyond performance metricsStay connected:Follow Amanda:https://www.instagram.com/amanda_basham/Amanda’s Website:https://www.amandabasham.com/This episode is supported by:Janji: Use code “FTLR” at checkout when shopping at janji.com for 10% off your order and see why Janji is the go-to for runners who want performance gear made to explore. All apparel is backed by a 5 year guarantee, so you know it’s meant to last!Eternal: Eternal is a performance health company for runners, endurance athletes, and anyone serious about their training. Their in-depth, two-hour physicals cover metabolic testing, mobility assessments, bloodwork, and a full movement analysis — all with expert guidance to keep you healthy and performing your best. Check them out at eternal.co and use code FTLR for 10% off your performance physical.Tifosi Optics: Fantastic sunglasses for every type of run. Anti-bounce fit, shatterproof, and scratch resistant. Get 20% off when you use this link!Tailwind: Fueling shouldn’t be complicated. Tailwind offers all-in-one nutrition that’s easy to digest, gut-friendly, and made by athletes, for athletes. Use code FTLR20 for 20% off your first order here.AmazFit Check out the T-Rex 3 and a selection of GPS watches at amazfit.com and use code “FTLR” for 10% off.
About For The Long Run: Exploring the Why Behind Running
Exploring the why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated. Running is a sport that has the power to unite us all and we are here to share conversations about how running has shaped the lives of people within our community, as well as how running has created community in itself.
From pro runners and Olympians to ultramarathoners running their first big race to business owners who use running to improve their entrepreneurial journey, we believe in creating community and expanding the running world for all.
Hosted by running enthusiast, Jonathan Levitt.
South Africa