

For The Long Run: Exploring the Why Behind Running
Jonathan Levitt
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 26, 2021 • 51min
138. Charlie Watson: Chasing Boston, from across the pond
Charlie Watson is a registered dietitian working in a hospital, a new dog owner, a runner, even though right now “I don’t really feel like one,” and world traveler.
In this episode we talked about:
-BBQ food vs a barbecue
-calling herself a runner vs not
-getting into running
-signing up for the London Marathon as her first race
-why the Boston Marathon is her North Star
-our shared passion from invitational/charity bib to BQ bib
-how she gets out the door in tough conditions
-being a dietitian in 2020/2021
-mental health
-balance
-podcasting/writing
-and much more!
Follow along with Charlie’s adventures at instagram.com/therunnerbeans

Jan 22, 2021 • 49min
137. Lauren Paquette: A Very Fun Job
Lauren Paquette is a southerner, new Flagstaff resident and professional elite distance runner with NAZ Elite.
In this episode, we talked about:
-her entry into running
-moving to a new city
-battling through four years of injuries
-motivation through the hard times
-not giving up
-getting to where she is today
-knowing cities better than the locals
-her dog
-very important team related information, such as Team Burrito or Team Quesadilla
-her experience so far with NAZ Elite
-what she wants to contribute
-lots of jokes
-the origin of her social handles
-and much more!
Follow along with Lauren’s adventures at https://www.instagram.com/hotpaquettes/

Jan 19, 2021 • 1h 2min
136. Emma Kertesz: Mood Boards and Marathons
Emma Kertez is a wearer of many hats as a runner, educational consultant, dog mom, seltzer connoisseur, and mood board curator.
In this episode, we talked about:
-training in Boulder
-her journey into elite running, with an OTQ marathon
-balance between “life” and running
-racing post collegiately
-racing in the Olympic Trials
-mental health
-using her social media platforms the way that she does
-taking time off from running in 2020
-LOTS of laughter
-and much more!
Follow along with Emma’s journey at https://www.instagram.com/em_kertesz
This podcast is brought to you by Access Nutrients.
If you routinely consume foods made from grains, beans, nuts, seeds, or soy, you may unknowingly be ingesting large amounts of phytate; an anti-nutrient that pulls zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium out of your body.
For anyone struggling with digestion, energy, sleep or micronutrient deficiencies like iron deficiency anemia, consider giving Access Nutrients a try.
This digestive enzyme will break down the phytate in your food, and give your body access to the micronutrients otherwise locked up and unavailable to you. They’ve already had incredible success with elite athletes struggling with iron absorption and energy.
Check out some of the incredible testimonials and research on their site to learn more at www.accessnutrients.org and use the code FTLR for 10% off your first order.

Jan 15, 2021 • 51min
135. Nathan Riech: A Paralympian on a mission to grow the movement
Nathan Riech is someone who really cares about the next generation. His relationship with running has evolved over the years, which we dove more into. He’s a Paralympic Athlete on a mission to help the next generation have better resources.
In this episode, we talked about:
-his brain injury and how it transformed him
-podcasting
-balance
-growing up in a family of elite athletes
-the Paralympic movement and what it means to him
-where he wants to be in 5-10 years
-enjoying each run for what it’s worth
-gratitude
-“loosening the reigns”
-what he wished people knew about him
-getting into ultras in the future
-and much more
Follow along with Nathan’s journey at instagram.com/nategraywolf
This podcast is brought to you by Access Nutrients.
If you routinely consume foods made from grains, beans, nuts, seeds, or soy, you may unknowingly be ingesting large amounts of phytate; an anti-nutrient that pulls zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium out of your body.
For anyone struggling with digestion, energy, sleep or micronutrient deficiencies like iron deficiency anemia, consider giving Access Nutrients a try.
This digestive enzyme will break down the phytate in your food, and give your body access to the micronutrients otherwise locked up and unavailable to you. They’ve already had incredible success with elite athletes struggling with iron absorption and energy.
Check out some of the incredible testimonials and research on their site to learn more at www.accessnutrients.org and use the code FTLR for 10% off your first order.

Jan 11, 2021 • 42min
134. Amy Puzey: Race Directing and Small Business Owning in 2021
Amy Puzey is a mother, a wife, a runner, a holistic nutritionist, race director, business owner and more.
In this episode, we talked about:
-getting started as a runner
-going longer on trails
-what got her into race directing
-balancing family/work/running
-the response with Tommy Puzey
-what it’s like being a race director in 2020/2021
-what people can do to support their favorite races
-how she became passionate about nutrition
-why she believes she is/we are here
-her work with Access Nutrients and enzymes
-and much more!
Follow along with Amy’s adventures at https://www.instagram.com/amyg.zn/
This podcast is brought to you by Access Nutrients.
If you routinely consume foods made from grains, beans, nuts, seeds, or soy, you may unknowingly be ingesting large amounts of phytate; an anti-nutrient that pulls zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium out of your body.
For anyone struggling with digestion, energy, sleep or micronutrient deficiencies like iron deficiency anemia, consider giving Access Nutrients a try.
This digestive enzyme will break down the phytate in your food, and give your body access to the micronutrients otherwise locked up and unavailable to you. They’ve already had incredible success with elite athletes struggling with iron absorption and energy.
Check out some of the incredible testimonials and research on their site to learn more at www.accessnutrients.org and use the code FTLR for 10% off your first order.

Jan 5, 2021 • 50min
133. Martin Hehir: "You just need to stubbornly persevere"
Martin Hehir is a professional runner, a dad and husband, medical student and much more.
In this episode, we talked about:
-his first run
-getting more into running in high school
-the process of getting better
-what he loves about training
-The Marathon Project
-what success means to him
-“stubborn perseverance”
-the meaning of “Die first, then quit”
-exploring limits
-being a parent/husband, medical student and pro runner
-balance
-pro tips for being a dad who runs a lot
-what he knows now that he wishes he knew earlier
-vaccines (and all his colleagues getting it)
-self comparison and the downsides
-meeting yourself where you are right now
-what’s next for him
-and much more!
Follow along with Marty’s adventures at https://twitter.com/mardy_hehir and www.instagram.com/marty10khehir
Cover photo: Justin Britton

Jan 1, 2021 • 48min
132. Kaitlyn Morgan Yonke: "I get to be here; I get to challenge myself"
Kaitlyn Morgan Yonke is an adventurer and a believer that anything is possible.
In this episode, we talked about:
-getting into running
-running longer distances
-her recent FKT
-why she is so passionate about raising funds and awareness for MS
-her relationship with her father who has MS
-seeing the best in other people
-what she’s proud of
-where she’s going
-music therapy and the power it can have
-and much more!
Follow along with instagram.com/kkroo917
Thanks to GU Energy Labs for sponsoring this episode. Initially known as THE energy gel company, GU now offers several different product lines designed to meet the needs of today’s athlete.
It’s not just the mid run refueling option that I love, but their post run recovery protein that mixes SO well with coffee, or even the before bed magnesium and vitamin D supplement too. No other magnesium supplement has worked as well as theirs has for me.
This season of running is a great time to try something new, so why not try GU?
For The Long Run listeners get 20% off anything on their site with the code FTLR at guenergy.com.

Dec 29, 2020 • 1h 8min
131. Adalgisa (Lisa) Rivera: Community as a Purpose
Adalgisa (Lisa) Rivera is an afro-latina, born in Harlem, a runner, a community activist, social worker, veteran and mentor.
In this episode, we talked about:
-“community as a purpose”
-what community means to her
-how she got into running
-why she showed up to a second Harlem Run workout
-Harlem Run and what it means for her
-self care and gratitude
-her work as a social worker
-a dive into mental health
-accessibility when it comes to running
-a reference to Stride for Stride, aimed at increasing diversity
-how she coaches beginners
-feeling seen, heard and validated
-running as an afro-latina woman in 2020
-how she’s used running to help her in 2020
-and much more!
Follow along with Lisa at instagram.com/lovelylisa125
Thanks again to GU Energy Labs for sponsoring this episode. Initially known as THE energy gel company, GU now offers several different product lines designed to meet the needs of today’s athlete.
It’s not just the mid run refueling option that I love, but their post run recovery protein that mixes SO well with coffee, or even the before bed magnesium and vitamin D supplement too. No other magnesium supplement has worked as well as theirs has for me.
This season of running is a great time to try something new, so why not try GU?
For The Long Run listeners get 20% off anything on their site with the code FTLR at guenergy.com.

Dec 25, 2020 • 1h 10min
130. Sarah Bowen Shea: Another Mother Runner
Sarah Bowen Shea is a mom of three teens in Portland, Oregon, the cofounder of Another Mother Runner which is a largely online community for women runners, and before that was a freelance magazine journalist.
In this episode (which was full of lots of laughter) we talked about:
-Another Mother Runner and its growth
-sponsorship and more
-failure
-community and what it means for her
-balance
-meditation
-2020 and how it has impacted AMR
-a lot of reflections on the podcast guests
-our first marathons
-more laughter
-and much more!
Follow along with Sarah Bowen Shea at https://twitter.com/SBSOnTheRun and instagram.com/TheMotherRunner
Thanks to GU Energy Labs for sponsoring this episode. Initially known as THE energy gel company, GU now offers several different product lines designed to meet the needs of today’s athlete.
It’s not just the mid run refueling option that I love, but their post run recovery protein that mixes SO well with coffee, or even the before bed magnesium and vitamin D supplement too. No other magnesium supplement has worked as well as theirs has for me.
This season of running is a great time to try something new, so why not try GU?
For The Long Run listeners get 20% off anything on their site with the code FTLR at guenergy.com.

Dec 22, 2020 • 49min
129. Ruby Wyles: "I'm not doing great; injured athletes never are"
Ruby Wyles is a collegiate runner who is self admittedly “gritty, stubborn and has good intentions.” She’s one of the biggest supporters of the podcast so it was fun to put the mic in her hands for an episode.
In this episode we talked about:
-her start with running
-getting into collegiate running
-what collegiate running has been like in 2020
-her rollercoaster of 2020
-writing and introspection
-being real
-talking about the journey while she’s in the thick of things vs afterwards of a success story
-injuries
-working with Matt Daniels
-mental health and the stigma around it
-running trails and mountains
-and much more!
Follow along with Ruby’s adventures at https://www.instagram.com/rwylesxox/