In this episode, I am joined by marathoner Alissa Coffman (www.instagram.com/alissamwc). Alissa set a 15 minute PR by running 3:04 at the California International Marathon on December 3! She accomplished this amazing feat after running the New York City Marathon five weeks earlier - setting another personal best in the process. 2017 wasn't always as kind to Alissa. After a great marathon build-up she endured a femoral stress fracture that left her hobbled for the Boston Marathon and forced her into a two month break over the summer. Listen to how she recovered from that disappointment to come back stronger than before and show the kind of toughness that all runners aspire to.

Kim Chanelle Clark Underwood (www. Instagram.com/trackclubbabe) has had remarkable ups-and-downs in her 15 year running career - including a 10 year hiatus. In this episode, we talk about her PR breaking build-up to the California International Marathon, her early struggles with maintaining running consistency, and all of the things she continues to learn, and share, about her running. Some of these include falling into the "comparison trap," overcoming celiac disease, and what she learned from her four experiences at the Kara Goucher Podium Retreat. I hope you enjoy this episode with Kim as much as I did recording it!

We all marvel at the amateur runners who compete with some of the best in the sport. How do these runners who start competing in their twenties reach that level so quickly? In this episode, Maria Betancourth (www.instagram.com/negativesplitspositivevibes) talks about how she did just that. She also gives a detailed description of her training leading up to the California International Marathon on December 3, including her 1:23 half marathon PR that she set in October without a taper, where she will compete with many of the best marathoners in the country.

It is easy to get swept up in the exploits of Shalane Flanagan, Ben True, and other elite runners, but the triumphs and struggles of everyday runners can be just as inspirational. In thiIt is easy to get swept up in the exploits of Shalane Flanagan, Ben True, and other elite runners, but the triumphs and struggles of everyday runners can be just as inspirational. In this episode of the Rambling Runner Podcast, Kristen D'Almeida (www.instagram.com/kdalmeida) talks about her journey from trying to avoid the mile run in high school gym class to running 35 races, including seven half marathons, in three short years. Along the way she discovered the positive mental and emotional effects of running as she dealt with her father's cancer diagnosis.

Mike Sheehy makes the extraordinary sound so simple. He has set the world record for most miles run in a week (408 miles), run 500 miles from San Diego to Phoenix, completed all six Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2017, was on pace to do the same in 2012 before the New York Marathon was cancelled to due Hurricane Sandy, survived Army Ranger School, attended West Point, and run races of all distances. But, as you'll hear in this episode, Mike considers himself an ordinary guy with the simple gift of being able to persevere through pain. I think he is far more gifted than that - but you can judge for yourself in this episode of the Rambling Runner Podcast. You can follow Mike's running exploits at www.instagram.com/mikewmm.

Maurice Lowman, www.instagram.com/marathonpandamaurice, channeled his alcohol and drug addiction into running with amazing results. 20 marathons and a 655 day run streak, and counting, are among them.

In three years Alana Kopelson (IG: @alanaruns26.2) went from occasional runner to a sub-3:00 marathoner. In this episode, we talk about her path from a 3:35 marathon at age 20 to her 2:59 at Chicago.

Brian set the World Record for fastest marathon while dribbling a soccer ball on October 8, 2017! We talk about his prep, race day logistics, and why would someone want to do this?

David is an elite amateur runner (2:42 marathon, 1:16 half-marathon, 17:02 5k) and the father of one of the best H.S. runners in the class of 2017. We discussed his training and parenting styles.

Jen Rhines discusses how she went from reluctant HS miler to 2x NY State Champ, how fast elite runners do mile repeats/tempo runs/easy runs, low-carb dieting, and her burgeoning coaching career.

Amber Schriner is a woman of many talents. Endurance athlete (despite starting only nine years ago), high school principal, wife, and mother of two teenagers. www.instagram.com/runningwithmoxie

Dave Schaad is a Rhode Island road running legend. I first heard about Dave while in middle school! Hear about his incredible quest to run in 1,000 races and what he has learned along the way.

In five years Jeff Fairbanks (www.instagram.com/thetriumphproject) went from first-time triathlete to completing 21 half Ironman triathlons, in 21 days, in 21 different cities.

Cruz Figueroa (www.instagram.com/in_cruz_control) started racing in 2012 at the request of her sister. Since then, she has qualified for the Boston Marathon three times and run five half marathons!

Matt Kelso (www.instagram.com/matt_runs_atl) picked up running, on a whim, after college. Now he is working towards his goal of being a Boston Marathon qualifier.

In this episode, we are joined by marathoner, and aspiring Olympic trials qualifier, Shawanna White.

We've all had those days, or workouts, when unexpected weather conditions throw a wrench into our plans. In this episode I talk about how an early morning rain storm affected my workout and mindset