Ali on the Run Show

858. The 2026 State of the Ali on the Run Show

Thu, 08 Jan 2026

"I needed you all to know that I was drowning, and I was scared."

It's tradition: Happy New Year, and welcome to the annual State of the Ali on the Run Show episode! In this solo episode, I'm recapping 2025: the personal highs and lows, the professional highs and lows, and the beauty and chaos in between all of it.

Last year, the Ali on the Run Show surpassed 25 million downloads. There were 82 episodes of the show with more than 70 guests (32 first-timers, and 38 recurring and returning guests), plus 11 solo episodes and six live shows. (The guest with the most podcast appearances in 2025: Cousin Jackie!)

Thank you for being her for the rollercoaster ride that was 2025, and for sticking around to see what 2026 has in store. This show may have my name in the title, but none of this exists without all of you. Thank you for choosing to be a part of this community.

SPONSOR:

Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you, and take advantage of Lagoon's holiday sale, happening now!

In this episode:

The 2025 Ali on the Run Show by the numbers (2:25)
My 2025 personal and professional highlight reel — and lowlight reel (36:25)
My key 2025 takeaways (1:05:45)
Revisiting my 2025 goals (1:18:40)
Looking forward on the Ali on the Run Show (1:23:35)
The 2026 Ali on the Run Show mission statement (1:41:30)
Answering listener questions about the show and beyond (1:44:05)

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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!

857. Jackson Olson, Savannah Bananas Infielder & Runner

Wed, 31 Dec 2025

"I think there are a lot of athletes out there that are just so scared to show who they truly are and what they like because of their teammates and their coaches. And they're trying to get to the next level, and they're like, 'Oh well, if I like this then I'm not gonna get to the next level.' It's actually the opposite. You're probably gonna play better if you show who you truly are, because you're more free."

Everyone loves Jackson Olson. The Savannah Bananas infielder is on a mission to make baseball more fun — and he's doing just that. Jackson has made a name for himself playing Banana Ball, which is like the baseball version of the Harlem Globetrotters. The exhibition-style games include full-on performances with choreography, lip syncing, and walk-ups designed to delight the sold-out stadium crowds. In this conversation, Jackson talks about his road to the Bananas, and his road to becoming a runner. This fall, Jackson ran his first race — the Disney Wine & Dine 5K — and now he's training for a 10K in January while figuring out how running fits into his busy baseball season. Plus, talking Taylor Swift, Disney World, and how Jackson found his voice and his confidence.

FOLLOW JACKSON @jacksonolson_

SPONSOR:

New Balance: Click here to get your hands on the fan favorite Rebel v5!

In this episode:

On identifying as a runner (2:40)
Jackson shares the journey to his first 5K, and his impressions of the running community (5:00)
Why Jackson turned down an offer to go pro out of college (13:55)
How Jackson learned to embrace his Disney-loving Swiftie side (20:40)
How Jackson became a Savannah Banana (29:30)
All about the theatrics behind the Bananas, including how Jackson pulled off his "Life of a Showgirl" walkup the day after The Life of a Showgirl was released (34:45)
What it was life living out a childhood dream: playing at Yankee Stadium (43:25)
Taylor Swift talk! (48:30)
Will we see Jackson on Dancing With the Stars? (58:00)
How Jackson is feeling heading into this season with the Bananas (1:02:00)

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856. A Holiday Message from Ali, 2025 Edition

Mon, 22 Dec 2025

"I felt your hands on my back. And I needed them."

I love you. I appreciate you. In this short solo episode, I'm wishing you the happiest holidays and reflecting a bit. This year, for me, was at times wonderful and filled with joy. But mostly, I will remember 2025 as the year my breast cancer recurred and spread, reentering my life as a Stage IV, incurable diagnosis. Here's where I'm at — and what I wish for you — as we close out this year.

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855. Lauren "Fithy" Hunnewell, Animal Rescue League Volunteer & 41-Time Marathoner

Thu, 18 Dec 2025

"I run with all dogs, any dogs."

Lauren "Fithy" Hunnewell is the North America running events manager for New Balance. She is the New York Road Runners partnership lead, so she works super closely with the NYRR team on events including the New York City Half, the Fifth Avenue Mile, and, of course, the New York City Marathon. So, Lauren has a super fun job. She also does something really amazing every Monday and Friday morning: She runs with shelter dogs. Twice a week, every week, no matter the weather, Lauren goes to her local animal shelter to take the dogs for runs. Over the past two years, Lauren has logged more than 500 miles with dogs who need homes. In 2025 alone, she ran with 33 unique breeds. In this conversation, Lauren, who has run more than 40 marathons, talks about how she became an animal lover, and how she ended up volunteering at the Animal Rescue League down the street.

FOLLOW LAUREN @fithy07

SPONSORS:

Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase.
Oofos: The best in recovery footwear! Check out Oofos's 2025 Project Pink collection, where 10% of every purchase is donated to cancer research.

In this episode:

All about Lauren's run today — with Atlas the German Shepherd! (2:15)
How Lauren became a dog lover (6:10)
How running with the dogs fits into Lauren's training (14:45)
When and how Lauren became a runner (18:30)
Lauren's history with the New York City Marathon (26:20)
What Lauren's days look like at New Balance (34:05)
Lauren's racing and running goals right now (43:45)
Why Lauren takes her daughter to the Fifth Avenue Mile every year (46:50)
Lauren's advice for running with dogs (59:55)

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854. Jenny Grimshaw, 2:32 Marathoner

Thu, 11 Dec 2025

"I had this sense of nostalgia, of we're going to look back on this as something special. We all felt a little bit of something magical going on."

She's come a long way, baby! Jenny Grimshaw returns to the Ali on the Run Show, this time as a 2:32 marathoner. Jenny just ran four-minute personal best at the California International Marathon, qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials with room to spare. This is the same Jenny who spent years trying to break three hours. The Jenny with a long history of race anxiety. The Jenny who dropped out of CIM in 2022. In this episode, Jenny, a mom to two young kids who lives in San Francisco and works full-time, talks about how she made that 2:32:50 happen, and how she has kept chipping away at her marathon time and enjoying herself along the way. Jenny also has the BRCA1 gene: She had a preventative prophylactic double mastectomy a few years ago, and will have her ovaries removed next year.

FOLLOW JENNY @jenny_gshaw

SPONSOR:

New Balance: Click here to get your hands on the fan favorite Rebel v5!
Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you, and take advantage of Lagoon's holiday sale, happening now!

In this episode:

Jenny's snapshot moment from CIM 2025 (2:50)
All about Peninsula Distance Club, and the power of female friendships (5:20)
How Jenny fits running and training into her days, and on learning to get over mom guilt (10:00)
How being a mom has made Jenny a better runner (15:15)
What it felt like to run a 2:32 marathon (17:40)
How Jenny reacted when, at six weeks postpartum, she learned that the Trials standards had changed from 2:45 to 2:37 (21:10)
On running 2:36 at the London Marathon this year — before the OTQ window opened for 2028 (25:50)
How Jenny has navigated big running dreams and family planning (27:40)
The decision not to run this year's Chicago Marathon, and why Jenny chose to do CIM instead (30:20)
How Jenny knew it was going to be a special day at CIM (34:20)
What it felt like standing on the CIM start line, and Jenny's goals for the day (38:30)
What happens when the CIM finish line clock hits 2:37 (50:00)
What's next for Jenny on the run (51:10)
How Jenny is feeling about needing to have her ovaries removed as a result of having the BRCA1 gene (55:15)
Jenny's advice for people who have big goals and dreams and are feeling stuck (58:20)
All about Jenny's job at Equip, which provides virtual eating disorder treatment (1:00:15)

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