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Ali Lopez

@chefaliruns

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chef 🥦🥑 veggielover ultrarunner🏃🏻‍♀️ feed. love. serve 💚💚💚 Vermont

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We should all be so lucky to watch the sun rise on two consecutive days. And two Vermont sunrises? Well I'll cheers to that... with maple whiskey of course. @silo_distillery

Thank you thank you thank you
📸 @judithgophoto
for catching this beautiful moment

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🎉1 year Giveaway Announcement🎉 our second, and final, giveaway winner is @chefaliruns ! Thank you so much for participating, listening, and sharing our podcast! We appreciate you all! Another huge thank you to our sponsors @pathprojects @getsaltybritches @skratchlabs

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Summer running turns every run into a boilathlon.

You’re not racing for time, you’re racing for the nearest hose, ice bath, or gas station Slurpee.

This week’s Thursday Trivia brought to you by @topoathletic is a sweaty one:

What’s the weirdest, wildest, most desperate thing you’ve done to survive a summer run? Ice in your shorts? Sat in a stranger’s sprinkler? Drank pickle juice straight from the jar?

No judgment…..only applause.

Drop your survival story in the comments. Make us laugh. Or cry. Or sweat. Again. 🥵👇

Plus, the winner from July is announced in the video! Is it you?

#ThursdayTrivia #TopoAthletic #RunTriBike #SummerRunning #HotRunMess #HydrateOrCrispify #RunnersLife #EverydayAthlete #MeltingMiles #SweatEquity

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I’ll go anywhere for a good story.

This how It All Started story started with a conversation while @ramblingoreillys was in the porta potty.

Thanks to @chefaliruns and @laurab_312 for getting this conversation started, I’m able to share Alison’s story with you.

Check the story or the HIAS highlight in bio for the link.

And be prepared to chat because you never know where I’ll be and setup an interview.

#EverydayAthlete #UltrarunningCommunity #BlindAthlete #MomsWhoRun #TrailRunningLife #InclusionInEndurance #AdaptiveAthlete #RunningWithPurpose #EnduranceFamily #RunForMore

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GUIDE GRATITUDE 💙💚

These amazing humans took on the challenge and selfless act of guiding me to the finish line. Most of them had NEVER guided before. The bravery and compassion and strength it took to do this.... I can never say thank you enough.

Amy - to take the first 15 miles when you're the one direction the whole gosh darn race?! THANK YOU

Max - The reporter who wore bright pink and took a leap of faith to run the miles with me all while interviewing me! THANK YOU

Ali - my other Ali. Your compassion through my cramping legs balanced with your gentle pushes to keep me moving were priceless. Your choice to stay on and crew was unexpected and humbling. THANK YOU

Laura - Giirrrllll you're an expert guide and you didn't even know it. Your ridiculous positive affirmations and Peloton countdowns kept me laughing and moving. THANK YOU

Brenda - You might be the most interesting person I know. Your subtle sarcastic humor and athletic domination combo got me through some tough trail miles. THANK YOU

My PIC - what can I say. You believe in me when I don't believe in myself. You push me to my limits and truly make me a better human. From crew to guide you're a pro and there's no way I could do this life without you. THANK YOU

I selfishly want this team to go to every race with me. The true dream team sparkle queens. Til next year right!? 😉

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Lovely day on the trails & backroads with family & friends 🫶🏻Last long run in the books 🌟

20 days until @vermont100mile 🐎🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️

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At the start of 2024, I took the decision to bring the Running Tales podcast to an end.

I still loved the stories, the inspiration it provided, the amazing conversations with a range of brilliant runners.

But it was becoming a lot of work, a lot of work largely on my own with - to my imposter syndrome mind - not enough audience feedback. So, with regret, I took the decision to bring the podcast to an end.

If I’m honest, I immediately regretted it. I missed the stories, I missed telling them and trying to reveal what made the best of the running world tick. But it was a clean break, and I thought that was that.

Until Jason Bahamundi @cooktraineatrace offered me a chance to bring it back, but this time with a whole army of support behind me.

And so, Running Tales returned as part of the @everyday_athlete_podcast_ntwrk, one of eight shows seeking to tell the real stories of the running world, the pain and pleasure of being an everyday athlete, and the power of people to overcome whatever obstacles are thrown in their path.

A huge debt of gratitude is owed to Jason, @theaumgandhi and everyone else at @runtrimag and the Everyday Athlete Podcast Network community.

We now have 14 live EAPN Running Tales episodes behind us, as well as our bonus, podcast-only edition with the incredible @natsyruns which came out this week (check it out!). We’ve told stories of ultra runners who take on 400-milers for fun, runners who run for lost loved ones or to overcome adversity and addiction, and those who have achieved the seemingly impossible.

It’s been an honour to tell their stories. Please check them out via the links 🔗 in our bio above.
Long may it continue.

Thank you to the Everyday Athlete Podcast Network. To everyone who reads, watches and listens to Running Tales and to the amazing guests we’ve had in 2024.

As ever, thanks to @stepper_shell without whom none of this would be possible ❤️

Here’s to telling more stories - and never quitting - in 2025.

Happy Christmas everyone 🎄

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🎧 🎵 NEW PODCAST 🔥 🏃‍♀️

In Episode 10 of Running Tales, in collaboration with @stepforwardwithlewis and @runtrimag on the @everyday_athlete_podcast_ntwrk, we chatted to Ali Lopez @chefaliruns

Ali shared her experiences of starting later in life, transitioning to trails, and how running has transformed her physically and mentally.

Her story begins with her first half marathon, followed by an emotional journey to qualify for the Boston Marathon, including breaking the four-hour marathon mark, and how crossing the Boston Marathon finish line felt like being a rock star!

Ali’s passion for the sport then led her to the trails, where she discovered a love for ultra running. She chats about the laid-back atmosphere of ultras and strong sense of community.

Ali shares how her first ultra, a six-hour timed race where she completed 32 miles, opened her eyes to the supportive, fun side of the sport. She also recounts her emotional experience of training for the Vermont 100, only for it to be canceled due to severe flooding.

One of the most powerful parts of the interview is Ali’s resilience in overcoming a detached retina, caused by an exercise band accident. She underwent multiple surgeries, facing challenges with depth perception and night running. But Ali never gave up. Her first race back, an emotional 5K, is testament to her strength and perseverance.

Ali’s candidness about the mental aspects of running will resonate with athletes of all levels. She talks openly about using running as a tool for mental health, helping her overcome body image struggles and eating disorders.

Looking ahead, she shares her plans for the future, including tackling the Yeti 100 after a recent cancellation due to Hurricane Helene. She’s also eyeing a potential 200-mile ultra!

This episode is packed with inspiration and heartfelt moments that will leave you ready to hit the trails.

LISTEN ON APPLE 🍏:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/everyday-athlete-podcast-network/id1659689628?i=1000673686720

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY 🎶

https://open.spotify.com/episode/34Kd1i7FL3HWXn5uKhsoMI?si=xvebll-CQka1kngFS13GNg

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Running Tales episode 10 with Ali Lopez is now available everywhere you find your podcast under the Everyday Athlete Podcast Network.

#runningpodcast #runningtales #eatingdisorderawarness

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On the 10th Episode of @running_tales_ on the @everyday_athlete_podcast_ntwrk, @craig_on_the_run chats with @chefaliruns about:

• Her start in running
• Qualifying for the @bostonmarathon
• Her nickname: Queen of the Loops
• @vermont100mile
• Eye injury and eating disorder
• What’s next?

This is not an episode you want to skip as there is a great conversation that takes place.

Check out the Everyday Athlete Podcast Network wherever you get your podcasts and be sure to subscribe, rate and review.

#Running
#TrailRunning
#UltraRunning
#Podcast

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Every year we invite runners to tell us their post-race ‘Mud & Blood’ stories and we choose a few favorites to share with y’all. This year we didn’t have a lot of actual mud or blood, but what we did get were tons of beautiful race recaps. Here are 8 that stood out (in order of the photos shared):

1. Danforth Sullivan, persevered... for all! Amidst a lot of puking, he earned a 2-hour PR & sub-20 finish, PLUS was this year’s top fundraiser, raising over $19,000 for @vermontadaptive!

2. Bobi-Jo Thomas, found her silver lining! Despite dropping at 70, she posted positively about making new friends, her husband’s crew support, and the desire to try again in 2025.

3. Doug Settele, jumped for joy! He gritted out his first 100-mile finish on damaged quads, leaping in the air to triumphantly slap the finisher’s banner.

4. Dave Dillon, captured the course! He made an excellent video sharing the heart of the race.Visit his page to check it out.

5. Ali Lopez, wouldn’t say no! As Mark Twain has been quoted, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” She completed her first 100 at age 62 with the help of her three-person crew... ALL friends she made volunteering at Margaritaville in 2022!

6. Jon Maaraoui, stole our hearts! Jon’s story was part of the fabric of this year’s VT100. He was a pre-race AWD panelist and finished with only compliments for the event - praising course markings, aid stations, land owners, horses/riders, and the volunteers. “During the AWD panel, I was asked my favorite race, well this is it.”

7. Matthew Goldstein, ran with purpose! Sidelined at Margaritaville, he waited hours to rally, buoyed by the fact that he was raising money and awareness for the Otto Specht School in Chestnut Ridge NY to help provide outside experiences to kids with learning challenges and developmental delays.

8. Xiali He, did get bloody and muddy! She crashed her bike and hurt her knee a week before the race, but sill decided to toe the line. The spirit of the event, her endorphins, and friends made along the course lifted her to finish in 26 hours 36 minutes!

Thanks again to everyone who shared their stories. See you all in 2025!

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Mile 22 on 2024 Vermont 100 Mile UltaMarathon: Endurance athletes travel from around the world to test their limits at the Vermont 100 Endurance Race.
Featuring unrelenting rollers that add up to 17,000 feet of climbing, VT100 winds its way over country roads, through forested trails, and alongside breathtaking views of the southern Green Mountains.
For full coverage of Mile 22 is on YouTube. Link in Bio or go to https://youtu.be/3y1ULMgw6GY?si=rZlCW4IcFwPUl0PI #vermont100 #vermont100miler

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