For The Long Run: Exploring the Why Behind Running

How do you stay motivated after a big setback or injury? Fiona O'Keeffe is a professional runner with the PUMA Elite team based in North Carolina. After graduating from Stanford in 2020, she made the move to the East Coast and found success on the roads under the guidance of Alistair and Amy Cragg. Listen to hear about: - Balancing competition and community - Process goals and setbacks as opportunities for growth - PUMA’s support and how they value their athletes  - Not being afraid to take chances - Enjoying the day-to-day aspects of running  - Using gratitude for reflection and staying grounded Stay connected: - Fiona on Instagram: instagram.com/fiona_okeeffe  - For The Long Run Podcast on Instagram: instagram.com/forthelrpod - Jon Levitt on Instagram: instagram.com/jwlevitt - Join the For The Long Run email community: for-the-long-run.beehiiv.com This episode is supported by Boulderthon: Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR20 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.

Get tips from a coach who’s run over 250 marathons and ultras on 5 continents! Ian Sharman is the founder of Sharman Ultra Coaching, a team of elite coaches. He got a marathon PR of 2:21 at age 43, and a half marathon PR of 1:03 at age 44. He's won over 50 marathon+ races with at least one win every year for 19 (and counting) consecutive years. Ian also holds the fastest time in a trail 100-mile race by a Brit (12h44m), the record for the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (69h49m), has won the USATF 100-mile trail championship twice and is a four-time Leadville Trail 100 Champion.  Listen to hear about: Getting hooked on ultras after a race in the Sahara Desert Ultramarathon strategies to maintain a consistent pace Behind the scenes of focusing on 100 mile races Goal-setting and long-term planning for running Tips for downhill running Outcome vs. process goals Stay connected: Ian on Instagram: instagram.com/sharmanian Follow @sharmanian on Threads, Bluesky and X Ian’s website: sharmanultra.com For The Long Run Podcast on Instagram: instagram.com/forthelrpod Jon Levitt on Instagram: instagram.com/jwlevitt Join the For The Long Run email community: for-the-long-run.beehiiv.com This episode is supported by: PUMA: Get 20% off any PUMA run or train products from shoes to apparel with code FTLR20 at www.puma.com. Tifosi Optics: Fantastic sunglasses for every type of run. Anti-bounce fit, shatterproof, and scratch resistant. Use code FTLR2024 at this link for 15% off your pair. Hyperice: Innovative recovery tools for all types of training. My favorite are the Normatec leg boots and Normatec Go portable calf sleeves. Reach out to me on Instagram for a discount code to use at hyperice.com. Fuel Goods: Get all of your endurance sports nutrition goodies from one place and support an Asheville-based local business. You may even get a free FTLR hat in your custom box! Use code FTLR10.  https://fuelgoods.com/pages/forthelongrun 

This sprinter came from humble beginnings and is now one of the fastest people on Earth. Julien Alfred is a Saint Lucian sprinter and PUMA athlete who won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics 100-meter event, setting a new national record of 10.72s in the final.  Her medal was the first-ever Olympic medal for Saint Lucia, and then won a silver in the 200 meters. Listen to hear about: Julien’s start to running as a child How a professional sprinter trains Not getting complacent, even with multiple Olympic medals The role that faith plays in Julien’s drive Julien’s experience on the PUMA athlete team Being featured on Netflix’s “Sprint” Stay connected: Julien on Instagram: instagram.com/julien.alfred  For The Long Run Podcast on Instagram: instagram.com/forthelrpod Jon Levitt on Instagram: instagram.com/jwlevitt Join the For The Long Run email community: for-the-long-run.beehiiv.com This episode is supported by: Hyperice: Innovative recovery tools for all types of training. My favorite are the Normatec leg boots and Normatec Go portable calf sleeves. Reach out to me on Instagram for a discount code to use at hyperice.com. Fuel Goods: Get all of your endurance sports nutrition goodies from one place and support an Asheville-based local business. You may even get a free FTLR hat in your custom box! Use code FTLR10.  https://fuelgoods.com/pages/forthelongrun  PUMA: Get 20% off any PUMA run or train products from shoes to apparel with code FTLR20 at www.puma.com. Tifosi Optics: Fantastic sunglasses for every type of run. Anti-bounce fit, shatterproof, and scratch resistant. Use code FTLR2024 at this link for 15% off your pair.

Print media is still alive, and it’s shaping running culture, too. Simon Freeman is a runner and co-founder of Like the Wind magazine, an indie running publication telling stories that inspire, motivate and move runners. He and his wife Julie also co-founded Freestak, an influencer platform for endurance sports brands which they sold in 2023. Simon lives in Switzerland, enjoying the mountain life and building the Like the Wind media business.   Listen to hear about: How Simon wove his entrepreneurial background into the endurance sports space The beginnings of Like the Wind and growing a media business Why he chose an ink on paper journal for long-form storytelling Breaking stasis and taking risks in business The challenges of training for a marathon at 50 Balancing financial challenges with creative freedom Why storytelling is so important to running culture Stay connected: Simon on Instagram: instagram.com/likethewindmag  For The Long Run Podcast on Instagram: instagram.com/forthelrpod Jon Levitt on Instagram: instagram.com/jwlevitt Join the For The Long Run email community: for-the-long-run.beehiiv.com This episode is supported by: Tifosi Optics: Fantastic sunglasses for every type of run. Anti-bounce fit, shatterproof, and scratch resistant. Use code FTLR2024 at this link for 15% off your pair. Go Brewing: Grab a few six-packs of the award-winning non-alcoholic beer using code FTLR and get 15% off and free shipping on all orders above $40. My favorites are the sours. Find them at gobrewing.com. PUMA: Get 20% off any PUMA run or train products from shoes to apparel with code FTLR20 at www.puma.com.

Laura Jorgensen, a former pro cyclist with over 50 podium finishes, co-founded Fuel Goods to simplify sports nutrition. She shares her journey from college basketball to endurance sports, highlighting how challenges fueled her entrepreneurial spirit. Discover the origins of the Fuel Goods RunnerBox and the impact of community support. Laura emphasizes the importance of proper nutrition for runners and how personal growth intertwines with athletic pursuit. Tune in for insights on embracing simplicity, navigating business uncertainties, and redefining success.

Raz says that running sucks, but we should do it anyway. Raziq Rauf is an NCTJ-trained journalist (writer) and USATF-certified running coach (runner).  Raz interviews interesting people from the running world, and writes about their impact on running culture and the people around them in his weekly newsletter, Running Sucks. Listen to hear about: Solo running and how it mirrors Raz’s solo writing life The benefits of run clubs and how to get it right Why Raz lied to his friends about training for a 5k so he could avoid drinking Finding more joy in training rather than racing Role models making an impact on the running community Stay connected: Raz on Instagram: instagram.com/runningsucks101  For The Long Run Podcast on Instagram: instagram.com/forthelrpod Jon Levitt on Instagram: instagram.com/jwlevitt Join the For The Long Run email community: for-the-long-run.beehiiv.com This episode is supported by: Fuel Goods: Get all of your endurance sports nutrition goodies from one place and support an Asheville-based local business. You may even get a free FTLR hat in your custom box!  https://fuelgoods.com/pages/forthelongrun  Emich Kia of Denver: Family-owned and reliable dealer for buying or leasing an EV! I test drove the EV6 and it's a game-changer with 300+ mile range, super-fast charging, a sporty feel perfect for driving up into the mountains. Tell Emich Kia of Denver I sent you.  Hyperice: Innovative recovery tools for all types of training. My favorite are the Normatec leg boots and Normatec Go portable calf sleeves. Reach out to me on Instagram for a discount code to use at hyperice.com.

The media often only shows one side of a story where the “fastest woman on the planet” has to return her Olympic medals. Marion Jones competed in track and field and became a household name in the early 2000’s, working with major brands and competing in 5 events at the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. In 2007, Marion confessed that she had lied about taking performance enhancing drugs and was sentenced to six months in jail after a scandal involving over 20 professional athletes. Marion used her resolve to make an impressive comeback to competitive sports, publish her book “On The Right Track,” and launch her campaign to help youth make better decisions. Listen to hear about: Marion’s early days as an athlete who loved training even more than competing The shift from professional athlete to entrepreneurial coach and the parallels between sport and business Marion’s story of having her Olympic medals taken away due to performance enhancing drugs How Marion decided to take what was a failure and turn it into a way to improve others’ lives Reframing failure and rebranding your life after adversity Stay connected: Marion on Instagram: instagram.com/themarionjones  For The Long Run Podcast on Instagram: instagram.com/forthelrpod Jon Levitt on Instagram: instagram.com/jwlevitt Join the For The Long Run email community: for-the-long-run.beehiiv.com PSST! Did you hear the secret giveaway challenge we’re hosting with MadeGood? It’s mentioned in the episode. Good luck! This episode is supported by: Hyperice: Innovative recovery tools for all types of training. My favorite are the Normatec leg boots and Normatec Go portable calf sleeves. Reach out to me on Instagram for a discount code to use at hyperice.com. MadeGood: Get better-for-you, organic, and gluten-free snacks that help you fuel your training. Use LongRun15 for 15% off MadeGood on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/MadeGood/page/D52B1F41-B2AC-4B27-A77F-E83775F7089F  Emich Kia of Denver: Family-owned and reliable dealer for buying or leasing an EV! I test drove the EV6 and it's a game-changer with 300+ mile range, super-fast charging, a sporty feel perfect for driving up into the mountains. Tell Emich Kia of Denver I sent you.  Tifosi Optics: Fantastic sunglasses for every type of run. Anti-bounce fit, shatterproof, and scratch resistant. Use code FTLR2024 at this link for 15% off your pair. 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!

In this conversation, Jonah Rosner, an applied sport scientist and running coach, shares his impressive journey from working with NFL athletes to focusing on running performance. He discusses the importance of understanding running physiology for improved economy and speed. Jonah offers practical tips for marathoners, emphasizing consistency and setting progressive mini-goals. He also highlights the role of proper nutrition and recovery in maximizing performance, advocating for self-experimentation to find what works best for individual runners.

Feeling stuck and hoping to have more perfect days in 2025? This one’s for you. Eric Hinman is a hybrid athlete, 5x Ironman, serial entrepreneur, and brand builder based in Denver. Eric believes in the long-term vision of the brands he partners with. His portfolio of angel investments in the wellness space includes companies such as Ten Thousand, HVMN, Beam, Slate, Ice Barrel, The Real Cereal Co, Kane Footwear, MASA Chips and more. Listen to hear about: How Eric went from selling insurance door to door to becoming a popular wellness creator How competing in Ironman races changed Eric’s views of success Behind the scenes of investing in brands and start-ups Why you need to figure out your perfect day and shift your environment to make it possible Balancing passions like biking, Crossfit, and running and recovering from it all Eric’s focus on community and shared experiences Stay connected: Eric on Instagram: instagram.com/erichinman  Eric’s website: EricHinman.com  For The Long Run Podcast on Instagram: instagram.com/forthelrpod Jon Levitt on Instagram: instagram.com/jwlevitt Join the For The Long Run email community: for-the-long-run.beehiiv.com This episode is supported by: MadeGood: Get better-for-you, organic, and gluten-free snacks that help you fuel your training. Use LongRun15 for 15% off MadeGood on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/MadeGood/page/D52B1F41-B2AC-4B27-A77F-E83775F7089F  Tifosi Optics: Fantastic sunglasses for every type of run. Anti-bounce fit, shatterproof, and scratch resistant. Use code FTLR2024 at this link for 15% off your pair.

Salma Fotovat, co-founder of Riverside Natural Foods and MadeGood, is a beacon of passion for sustainable food sourcing. She shares how running became her refuge during tough times and highlights its parallels with entrepreneurship. Salma reflects on her family's influence in creating their brands and her commitment to a net-positive environmental impact. The conversation dives into the mental health benefits of running and the importance of accessible nutrition, showcasing how fitness and wholesome food can transform lives together.