Transcript
Speaker: All right. Welcome to the runner's podium podcast. So excited to have Ali Felsenthal on today. Coach Ali, who's quite an amazing person. I've been following Ali and her career um on Instagram for a long time.
Speaker: running coach and also just more than just a running coach I feel like you try to help people be overall healthy and good athletes and you talk a lot about mindset and a lot of things that are just beyond simple running basic stuff like you get into a lot of awesome stuff on your Instagram and you're coaching empires growing which seems really great congrats on that and I know you used to be in New York and i think we crossed I think we crossed paths, whether it was like in New York at maybe some races or the McCarran track or stuff like that. You're out in California now. So thank you so much for joining the podcast.
Speaker: Yeah, thank you so much for having me. That was such a great introduction. i appreciate you. And I, you know, it's crazy. We're here nine years later after starting Run With Allie, kind of pre-pandemic, turning it into a virtual business. I used to live at McCarran Park yeah Track when I lived in Williamsburg.
Speaker: I'm a New Yorker and I will always be a New Yorker and I probably will end up back on the East Coast. um But right now I'm in San Diego, California, and it is definitely different, but the running community is great in both places.
Speaker: Oh, amazing. Sunny San Diego. I think it's, would you agree that it's probably the best weather of any place in the United States, like consistently? Okay, this is not going to be your typical answer because I'm someone that loves seasons. I love seasons. I grew up with seasons. So like I miss holding my hot chocolate in a sweater like when it's snowy outside, right? Like I'm weird like that. I love running in the snow. So yes, but I miss the seasons and it is beautiful every day. So when someone's like, oh, it's going to be more humid tomorrow, like like yesterday though, because it was like the same thing.
Speaker: yeah Yeah. But it's beautiful here and I encourage you to visit and any of the listeners on here for sure. Yeah. it's Tons of great endurance athletes in Southern California. It's probably just a great scene of people training all the time.
Speaker: All the time. Cool. All right, let's jump in. So, you know, we've got categories and we just do a top three format and we can blast through them. And I can't wait to hear what your answers are. I know you're such a ah passionate and knowledgeable running person.
Speaker: What are your top three most memorable running moments? Yeah, I would have to say completing my first marathon. jumping in and not having trained properly, literally, in 2015. But just, I really took a 180 I went from being a corporate girl who was like popping bottles and doing recreational types of things, I probably shouldn't mention here. and that race changed my life, really. Like it it kind of opened up a whole door of like, wow, I want to do this. Like I want to help people run marathons. And that was my first one.
Speaker: So that was my most memorable memorable moment. Also not being able to get up afterwards. That was like, up that was tied to that. My brother had to like literally pick me up because I sat down right away. Don't encourage doing that. um Was it New York?
Speaker: It was New York. Yeah. Yeah. Oh my gosh. I'll be there this year cheering, just not running it this year. ah Second most memorable running moment, I would say it was breaking three hours for the first time in the marathon. Yeah. I worked so hard. I put it out there on the ground. i was going for this goal.
Speaker: I made a lot of sacrifices for it. and It was something else. Like, it was just something I saw on Instagram initially from one of my friends. I was like, what's sub three? What is that? Like, I want to chase that.
Speaker: And I did i did that. um That was really cool. It was just really cool. Like, the atmosphere and just, like, everyone around me chasing that same barrier. Sure. And my third most memorable running moment was...
Speaker: when I had to do this nine mile tempo run on the track during the pandemic and the cops were like shouting at me on this megaphone and like I had my headphones in so like I didn't even hear them but like meanwhile I'm just like running laps and like up like eventually like I guess they just like gave up because I finished my workout and like they're like ma'am get off the track and I'm like oh my god like I did not hear these people for like whatever nine miles I was like tempoing right Because there was no way to like run in New York. Yeah, I remember. It was scary. Yeah. I was one of the people that stuck around.
Speaker: So that was definitely a memorable moment for so many reasons. ah But yeah, here we are. It's it's ah the memory. It's almost like, was that even real? Like those i know that that scenario actually happened that there's cops yelling at you to get off the track. It seems absurd. They were probably yeah yeah they're probably like, this goes out. They're ignoring us intentionally or just like really like doesn't understand what's going on. So.
Speaker: But I like that you got it done. Got it done. Yeah. What about your top three running shoes? Oh, yeah. Yeah, which could be like race shoes. It could be everyday trainers. No, no. I hear you. This is a good question. Because like running shoes are hot right now. I mean, they're always hot. But um a few of my best friends actually work at the local running shoe store. So I get in heated conversations all the time. Good ones. I would say my top are the A6 Metaspeed Sky Tokyo.
Speaker: For racing, marathons, half marathons, love them. Love the… They're very forgiving. And i feel like the propulsion is just something else, honestly. Cool. I will go with… My second one is like the OG Vaporfly Nike.
Speaker: Like the OG one, the ones that they don't have anymore. I love those shoes. Nice. I don't think they're like the 4s, personally. Yeah. Yeah, but they're great. And I think they're great for kind of any type of foot and any runner. They also help with heel strikers. Not like you should be heel striking really far in front you anyway. say that um And I would say my regular trainer, my like day-to-day, have a tie, um newly tie. So drum roll. Okay. The New Balance um v five
Speaker: ah Like just like the New Balance V5. There's no plate in them. They're very cushiony, but they make your legs really work. So if you want strong legs, wear them.
Speaker: Okay. um And the Mega Blast, the A6 Mega Blast, which there's not a carbon plate, but there's some sort of maybe a PVAX plate in them. ah Very bouncy, very light.
Speaker: But yeah, I would have to say the Rebel V5s and those are a tie. Cool. Yeah. i've I love a New Balance. I've started, i like the 1080s are like my go-to, like everyday trainer. hes Those are a good one too. Those were, yeah I was thinking about saying that one and I was like, but there's so many. I'm like looking at my red shoes right now while I'm thinking about it. And because I love those so much, I started running in the ratios to like I started running in the super comp elite because I'm like, if I love the 1080 so much, I was I used to do ah Adidas like Adios pros for my marathon shoe. And then I was like, I love the 1080s. Maybe I should try the super comp elite like their racing shoe. And I've it's been great.
Speaker: I've never tried Super Comp, but I tried the Super Comp Trainer, the step below. I have that one too. Yeah. Yeah. And I love those. Like, yeahp um, but cool. That's awesome.
Speaker: Totally. All right. What about your top three running moments that didn't go as planned? I have more three, but okay. Um, okay. Yeah. um okay Runners have runner things here. So I'm just going to be very, I'm going to say this very like gracefully in the, but ah yeah, in the best way I can.
Speaker: After the Boston Marathon 2017, really was not in good shape. Stomach was really just off. And i was on the T and got off of the train and like found a random bush. And just like, there was also a cop right there and like literally didn't know where I was. Right. So that was great.
Speaker: Probably number one. Okay. That was just humiliating. Okay. Um, number two, i would say when I tripped and fell like in front of like my new running group, but I, I wouldn't like, but it was like, there was nothing there kind of thing. You know what i mean? Like, like full on FaceTime. Okay. Like there was, where it's like, it was almost like who put that there kind of thing. Like tripped on nothing.
Speaker: ah ships on nothing Yeah. ae And i want to say when I was giving a presentation at the Run Show USA in Boston, um i didn't realize this, but my, I don't know if this is a running moment, but I was trying to show people how to do a pistol squat on stage and I like fell doing it.
Speaker: Oh, no. So I was like, hey, we're all human here. I like need like I like shine light on it. And i was like, hey, you know, it' just like shows I'm not a robot. um It was fine, but it was pretty embarrassing. There was couple hundred people there. Yeah. I mean, it's understandable. I love rocking pistol squats, but I use like I'll do it at the Smith's machine or something where I can hold on to something on either side. Like it's hard to do a pistol squat with no support. Yeah. Well, I wasn't even trying to go all the way down. That's the thing. i was trying to show them and I lost balance and I was like, oh no. And like, while I was going down, I realized that happens. it happens. Yeah.
Speaker: It probably made it a memorable moment for the crowd. Absolutely. Yeah. I hope so. right. What about your top three pieces of essential gear outside of shoes? My handheld, my handheld running water bottle. um I'm a very, very salty sweater. I am like crazy about, if you follow my content, um sweat testing and just hydration. It also changed my running for the better and recovery.
Speaker: So I would say that. um Are gels in this category? Can be, yeah. Okay. Okay. My Never Second gels, they also, in my unbiased opinion, even though they do sponsor my brand, they are excellent. um Just...
Speaker: like the way they are engineered scientifically. Which one? Never second. Okay, cool. Yeah, yeah. A newer gel to the running community. i want to say they went from like cyclists to running. and um I would say recently in San Diego, my like my running hats Because it's always so sunny and I can't put on enough sunscreen for my dear life. Like, I don't, you know what I mean? i just, yeah, I just, I need that more than my sunglasses because it's just, it's a necessity. And it's also, looks cute with the running off it.
Speaker: Oh, hell yeah. My friend who's in San Diego, like he wears these like sun, long sleeve sun shirts, you know, with like a hood when he's running, you know, like he covers up just because it's like so nonstop sun all the time there. Yeah. Yeah. It's hot. And that was like good for him. But yeah.
Speaker: What about your top three running pet peeves? Oh, yeah. Which could be like social media, could be like your personal training, things that, you know, frustrate you, other runners, things you see out there.
Speaker: i have a lot of them. um Okay. I can't stand when people claim that they like know something and they are just like shouting out false information on the internet. And, you know, like, or on social media and it's like really like driving people, runners in the wrong direction. Right. And they're like, oh my God, i do this. And it's like, okay,
Speaker: A huge pet peeve of mine because I value like good information and good. I've like had mentors that are you know know their stuff. They're well-educated. They—yeah.
Speaker: um So I would say that— Yeah, totally. Another one I can't stand is that the water fountains—I don't know why this bothers me so much, but like I—this always happens, and it happens to be more with men, no offense, but like I'll see them like literally like take a sip of water and like like wipe their face and then like put their hand on the fountain and then like— put water i don't know it's just like just yeah just a little little pet peeve of mine um good one yeah no for real and i would just say like running bathrooms in general and i know that's a big one like porta potties we could even go there like but like just when people don't have etiquette it's like bad as it is but you know i could just say etiquette simply put yeah yeah mean if you run a marathon you know what i mean by that yeah yeah
Speaker: Your first one, i totally agree. Everyone wants to have some kind of hot take or some kind of shortcut hack, right? There's no shortcuts. There's no hacks. yeah There might be hacks. I take that back. There might be hacks and better ways to do things that are more efficient, but there's no shortcuts to hard work.
Speaker: I just feel like even the word hack is it's running. It's about putting in the work and yeah consistency over time and it's seeing the big picture. And it's not about quick little tricks.
Speaker: You know, I don't know maybe that's going to lead someone to success, more power to them. But for me, it's all about consistency over time, running smart, not finding little hacks to get yourself better.
Speaker: No, you're, and you're doing it right because eventually the people that try to find those hacks, they're either going to plateau or get injured or not. Prove it's the same thing as plateauing, right? Like, yeah you know, that's why i love running and that's why it's amazing because like the more consistent you are, the more you're going to surprise yourself and it's going to be in moments where you least expect it.
Speaker: Yeah, totally. Yeah. What about your top three favorite races of all time? That's not fair. Oh my God. I have so many. um are we just like marathons to miles? Like any race?
Speaker: Totally. Trail race, whatever. Yeah. I need to do more trail races. I love cross country, but um okay. I would say rock and roll San Diego.
Speaker: um Not because i am an ambassador for them, but because before I moved here, i actually flew out here for that race because I i just loved it. ah The marathon, the half is very difficult, but it's fun. in New York City, the marathon, because it's ah it's not even just a marathon. The whole city's out and it's, oh my God.
Speaker: Everyone needs to do that one. Yeah. I think. this is going to sound really weird, but really like this local 10K here that's called Ode Pros because it's around a lake and it's just like a really like small town feel and vibe on July 4th. And like, what better way to like celebrate America and just, I don't know, like with health and just like good people and a small town, like kind of vibe and with local runners in the community. Like, I love that.
Speaker: And that's what miss from like bigger races. So I would have to go with those three. Yeah. I mean, I'm in New York, so I'm constantly doing pretty big races all the time, but I love going upstate and finding small races, smaller marathons and just the vibe. It's just a completely different experience. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. i mean, someday I'll do an ultra, but not yet. What about your top three favorite places to run? i actually love the trails to run. Okay. I love the trails um for like a long run, just's like anything above 14. And there's a lot out here. yeah right. There are. Yeah. um I would have to say that's probably number one, believe it or not.
Speaker: Number two, I'd have to say in New York, I love the West Side Highway. like I just, I used to do all my tempo runs and marathon runs there. i just love, I love it. um And then I really, really enjoy Pacific Beach and running to La Jolla and back because it's also along the coast. It's not along the water and it's kind of rolling. So it like instills you know variety in your run versus just like flat. I could keep going, but I had to pick three.
Speaker: That sounds awesome. I want to do that one. I love running on like along the beach. Yeah. Oh, yeah. And you could jump in afterwards. So that's like what's even better, right? like Totally. Yeah. You could do that in...
Speaker: the East river. Right. But you're going to come out probably with something. Yeah. and yeah I don't, I wouldn't take my chances. I won't be doing that. Yeah. Yeah. Because you can wait in line and go swimming at the public pool.
Speaker: That's your best shot. Yeah. They have one by McCarron. Exactly. Yeah. Um, what about your top three recovery essentials? Okay. Uh, food is number one.
Speaker: Like truly right after every run, I'm like chugging a shake or I'm like stuffing something in my mouth. Right. First thing, when get in the door before stretch, I think that is so it's like the non shiny stuff, right? It's like the basic things. I would say that sleep, which is like, oh, my God, i don't know where I'd be without consistent daily sleep.
Speaker: Again, it's not a tool. It's like the little things. And then I would go with, you know, doing my preventative injury drills as a third. But that's just only because I'm a little older now. I'm in my 30s. And like my body is not the same as it was when I was 20, right? I can't just like pop out of bed and like go. um But keeping it simple, I always tell people to stay away from the shiny objects.
Speaker: Like I love my Theragun, but like it's a progressive therapy tool. It's You know, it's going to make you feel good and loosen things up. Amazing. But like sleep and food really help you recover.
Speaker: Keeping it simple. Yeah. Basic. Back to the basics. but Seriously, though, you know, like it's wild. I that's what prevents me from getting injured personally. Totally. Yeah.
Speaker: Awesome. So we went through the categories. That was amazing. Thank you. Yeah. yeah I was wondering if you can leave one last thought for runners. Yeah, whatever you're doing and whatever you're training for, make sure that you are doing it for yourself and no one else.
Speaker: And when training gets hard, remind yourself it's fun, but it's challenging. And if it's not fun, change something. It should always bring you joy to run versus the opposite, right? Like a lot of us run for stress relief. Running shouldn't stress you out. And so that's what I'm going to leave you with.
Speaker: Beautiful. Love it You heard it here. Follow Allie. Run with Allie. Run with, yeah, at runwithally on Instagram. I am runcoachally. Runcoachally, yeah.
Speaker: My actual name is Allie. So it all ties together, yeah. Yeah, and I'm sure you can connect with, people can connect with you there or find you on a website or what whatnot.
Speaker: Yeah, my website's runafastermarathon.com. Yep. And um if you put in Run Coach Alley on Google, you'll find me. Yeah. and And definitely to everyone out there, check that Instagram out. It's just a wealth, consistent wealth of information. So I'm so grateful for you coming on today. This was amazing. Thanks so much for doing oh my God. Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure.
