Welcome to the Allie on the Run show. I'm your host, Allie Feller, and this is where I talk with people who are doing exciting things on the run and beyond.
From professional athletes and celebrity runners to the everyday amateur and back of the pack runner, we are here to celebrate everyone and anyone who enjoys a life on the run.
And whether you are running towards something big or away from something that's been holding you back, I'm here to hold your hand and help you pick up the pace.
You knew this one was coming. My guest today is Emily Infeld, fresh off her 10,000-meter win at the US Track and Field Outdoor National Championships, her first national title at age 35.
Emily has had an incredible career on the track.
Ten years ago, she made her first world championships team and earned a bronze medal in the 10,000 on the world stage.
She competed at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, and throughout her career, Emily has become a fan favorite.
Known for being ruthlessly upbeat and optimistic and unbelievably kind, Emily's fan base is vast.
And that's in part because over the past 13 years, Emily has shared the struggles too.
She has been injured. She's had major surgeries.
She has changed teams, coaches, locations, and sponsors.
She had a stalker for three years, a tremendously stressful time for Emily.
Right now, Emily and her husband Max live in Portland, Oregon.
She is sponsored by Brooks. after being a Nike athlete for 12 years, and she's coached by her college coach, Chris Miltenberg.
I know we are all so happy for Emily in this win, which came down to an impressive kick down the home stretch.
So I hope you enjoy hearing all about the race and the road to breaking the tape.
Please enjoy this conversation with national champion Emily Infeld on the Alley on the Run show.
All right. By insanely popular demand, Emily, you crossed that finish line and my inbox blew up from people being like, we need her on the show.
So I am delighted to have you here. Our 10,000 meter champion, Emily Infeld.
Welcome back to the Allie on the Run show.
How are you doing? Oh my gosh. I am still on cloud nine.
It's so good to be here. It's so good to see your face.
I'm just so happy still. I'm feeling overwhelmed, but in the best way.
Yeah. How's the view from cloud nine? What have the last couple of days felt like for you?
Um, man, it's just, it's also funny. It's I saw, I'm like, I've got to see some friends I haven't seen in a bit.
I had a friend who had a baby right before I left for Flagstaff and like a week before I left.
So I went over there like two days before I got to hold the baby.
It was like the best. And then I went for a walk with her yesterday and it was just, I don't know.
It's so wonderful. And it's also nice to like i don't know see my friends and i'm like i want to catch up with you like i haven't seen you and you're a new mom and that's like like that is like the i don't know the best thing in the world i feel like it's a huge thing so i'm like all these people are so wonderful to me but i'm also just i'm happy to see my friends and be back in real life a little and then i don't know just i feel really celebrated and loved and my pt had decorated my whole outside like that my house inside and outside and then she decorated her office she's like just the sweetest person in the world so anyways i just i'm feeling really happy and loved and um all the things was the house being decorated a surprise or do you have like a ring cam so you kind of had a heads up no it was a total surprise and i'm like it was max is being so weird because we ended up staying a day later like we were originally going to leave on friday and then we stayed saturday because i wanted to watch um like sinclair and nikki and see and i just like i'm like i wanted to watch more people and more races and see the steeples and i kept going back and forth about when we were staying and he's like well why like are we staying are we leaving I'm like why do you care like we're just driving back it doesn't matter and it's because he'd been coordinating with her and she like wanted to make sure the house is all done and I like showed up and I was like who did this what is what happened who did this and like a bunch of my neighbors were outside and I was like who did this and he it was just really sweet and we had two friends come over and they sprayed me with champagne um it's really nice I love that you just mentioned sticking around to be there for Sinclair and Nikki.
I just recorded with Nikki yesterday and we were talking about Nikki's victory lap, which we're of course going to talk about your victory lap.
And I asked, I was like, were there any particularly meaningful interactions or anyone in the stands during this victory lap?
Like, what stands out to you? Thinking Nikki's going to talk about someone who's, like, wearing a Pride 5K shirt or something.
And Nikki was immediately like, Emily Infeld, and said that they saw you and were like, come down here.
And the champions got to have a moment. So it's a good thing you stuck around for Saturday.
Oh, my gosh, it was really nice. I mean, they're incredible.
And just I don't know, so wonderful. I've gotten to run with them a bunch in flag.
I've like tried to like, well, I've got my butt kicked.
I'm like, can I hop on the back of you to do that?
And they're like, sure, you can hop on. And then I'm like, I sent my coach a video.
And I was like, look, I'm running really fast.
And he's like, yes, as you can see, as Nikki is putting like meters on you each step, you need to remember this and this and this.
And I was just like dying. But yeah, they're wonderful.
And it was so nice. And I also love them saying whatever.
That's like the meat of the old people or something.
And I was like, Nikki, you're not old. I was like, you're five years younger than me, I think.
I was like, you're not old. I'm not old.
So I did want to ask, you know, in every headline, and there's so much that we're going to talk about, about, you know, the past 10 years and about meddling in this event on the world stage 10 years ago.
But in so many of the headlines that have come out since you're finished, it's Emily Infeld, 35.
Emily Infeld at 35. And on the one hand, you know, it sounds like, oh, my gosh, how is she even walking?
She's so old. But at the same time, it's like. there is something to be said about longevity in this career.
And so what is your opinion? What is your take?
Or how does it feel to have like the age in there all the time?
Because people have also had opinions, which I think comes with a little bit of projection that we all do of our own age.
So I would love your opinion on Emily Infeld 35 wins first national title.
Yes. I mean, I'm embracing it. I think it's funny.
One of my girlfriends said she saw an article that said ancient runner.
No. And I was like, you've just sent me that.
I was like, what? I was like the word ancient, just so laughable, so funny.
But I'm like, I don't know. I love it. Cause I'm like, there's, I mean, you see these 22 year olds winning and I love that for them.
Like, I just think it's cool in the sport to be like, yeah.
Or like that 16 year old kid who is second in the eight.
I'm like, man, I'm like, it's incredible to see these young phenoms, but I also just think too, I'm like, I feel like we put this like limit on athletes and women where it's like, you got to this point.
And I was working with some physiologists this fall, Brett Kirby and Brad Wynn.
And they were like, there's no scientific data that says that women in their thirties are getting any slower.
And they're like, honestly, like you can, your VO2 max, I think goes down like 0.05% every five years or something when you hit 30.
Like that's what they said, which is like nothing.
Like, That's like not statistically significant.
So anyways, I think that also gave me peace of mind that I'm like, yeah, why am I saying I'm done?
I mean, in all like being realistic, it's not like I have two decades left of my career.
Like I am 35. But I also think because of that, I'm like, I feel fit.
I want to see how fit I can get. And I just want to give myself that opportunity and know that like if I'm still working hard and doing these good workouts that I can still be competitive.
But anyways, I don't know. I love it. I embrace that.
I've had so many people come up to me at the meet and they're like, I'm 35. and i was like heck yeah and they were like i just did like i pr'd in this like road 5k and i was like heck yeah i love that i think it's so great um and yeah i mean i'm not going to be pr-ing until i'm 50. i wish i was but also looking at like sarah hall who's incredible and like i think i've had these women examples in front of me who are just not looking at their age as a limiter and i feel like that's helped me to feel the same and to say i can keep getting better and better Um, and that I don't have to look at myself and say, I'm in my thirties now.
Like I'm going to all of a sudden not be good anymore.
Or, um, I also think you just have to look at training differently.
Like I probably mean like my coach has been really, really helpful with me and that, and just knowing that I can't train the same as when I was 22, now that I'm 35 and that's okay.
What are some of the biggest differences in training at 35 versus 22?
I'm taking a day off every week. Like I take Sunday off every week, which is I was very skeptical of because I haven't been someone who's in the past taking a lot of days off.
I didn't feel like I needed it. And I think my coach said, that's good.
If you don't feel like you need it, I think that's a perfect reason to take it.
And he's like, we don't want to feel like we're taking it because you feel like you need it.
We want to prevent you from feeling like you need to do that.
So we're going to like build this into your training.
Um, and he even talked about, he's like, we might add in here, there, like build it back in.
And then I just have been training really well off of six days that he's like, I don't think we need to add that seventh day in.
I think like for you and this point in your career, you put so many miles in over like the last two decades that he's like, that's all in your legs.
I, I feel like for you, it's about recovery.
And I think we've been really great about communicating about that in my training.
Um, And I just don't have these like crazy stellar like home run workouts.
Like I'll have an occasional like really good workout.
But I think all like for me right now, it's building consistency and knowing that like I don't have to be having these workouts on paper that are like the craziest thing in the world.
It's just being consistent day in, day out, week in, week out.
And adding that up turns into good fitness.
So what does running six days a week, what do you usually hit in terms of mileage?
Um, I'm roughly like 72 to 80. Um, but it's nice because most of my I think to I'm just hitting more quality than I have in a while like I'm running like 15 to 18 quality miles.
And I love that because that means all my warm ups and cool downs are like eight to 15 minutes.
Like I feel like at most I'll warm up 15 and I cool down normally eight or 10.
And it's so nice because I think coach Milt too, he's like, you're not running efficient when you're running that slow.
He's like, let's just cut that out. I think that can lead to injury.
If you're slogging five miles, when you're tired after a hard workout, he's like, let's just run a mile or eight minutes or mile and a half.
He's like, you really don't need it. And we're to be running well and efficient form.
And he's like, I just don't think you're that efficient after you put in 10 miles of work.
He's like, we're going to jog eight minutes.
We're not going to jog five miles. You don't need to.
I really like that approach. And I like hearing that from a professional runner.
I'm wondering how many people listening at home right now are like, Huh.
I wonder if I didn't need to do a five mile cool down.
Um, cause that's a run in itself. So I appreciate you sharing that.
When we look at Emily from 2015, the Emily who meddled on the world stage, took home that bronze in the 10,000 meters, what stands out to you?
How do you see that Emily? Oh, I mean that Emily was very naive and young, but I think that's also kind of good.
Like, I feel like I went into the 10 K that was my third ever 10 K. It was still a new event for me.
I had been training with Shalane and she was just fabulous.
And I feel like I was looking at her, um, and just kind of shocked that I was able to keep up with her and workouts.
I think that me, I was like, huh, weird.
I can do this. Or like, I would have like a really fast last rep and she would say something about it.
And I'm like, oh, well, that's really nice.
Like, I don't know. I think I still, she's wonderful.
And I just looked up to her and emulated her a ton.
So it was that to me was all just felt surreal.
And I think going to my first outdoor worlds, I really didn't expect to medal.
And I think for me, that naivety, I think helped me a bit because I think I just, I didn't know that much.
I was just like, I'm going to follow my teammate and I'm going to follow Molly because I ran with them at USA.
So let me just stick myself where they are in the race. and I just I don't know I'm like I I loved that year for me and that version of me because I had come off of two years of being hurt I had two sacral stress fractures and just feeling consistent and healthy and even looking back then I was only running 65 miles a week and I think that had like I reminded myself that this year where I was like yeah why do I think have to feel like I need to run 90 or something like the years I've run like over 100 miles a week I haven't run very well or I've gotten hurt and I'm like why am I trying to make myself into someone that I'm not like that's okay we can all I look at Kira D'Amato and I'm like, she's like crushing the marathon.
She's not running like 110, 130. Like, so I'm like, she, again, is an example to me and a helpful reminder of me to be like, why am I trying to make myself different from the me that I am?
And reminding myself of me from 2015 and just how happy I was to be out there competing.
Yeah, it was just the best. so what if we were to go to a year ago if we look at last summer's emily who lined up to race i love that you're just giggling yeah here we go the emily that lined up to race the 5 000 meters at the trials and had a tough day finished 16th that day did not make the olympic team what would you say or how do you see that emily Oh man, I was in a rough spot for sure.
I mean, I'd been dealing with Achilles on both my sides.
I had like a three millimeter tear on my right Achilles and I was dealing with some hip pain.
And I ended up getting a PRP in my hip 10 days out from USA's just because my hip had been bugging me so much.
And I just wasn't in a good place. I wasn't happy.
I wasn't healthy. My training hadn't been going well all year.
I was kind of in a we were trying something new in training and I really just didn't feel good.
And it was one of those things where it just like I wasn't feeling good on my day to day.
I was just like it was. hard for me. So I was really not happy.
We had also moved to LA. We ended up only living there for 10 months because then they moved my husband back.
So I was just all over the place that year.
And yeah, just not in a happy mindset, which isn't fun.
I'm like, I feel like I wasn't, I was really struggling emotionally, mentally.
I was physically not healthy. I was not in good shape.
So lining up there was kind of like, we'll see.
And I had this because I mean, I think we all do this when you believe in yourself, you want to throw yourself in there.
And I was like, maybe I'll have a day that somehow it'll just I can like my body will overcome all this and I can like outwill my mind.
And in the final, Parker took it and I was like responded right away.
And I'm like, I'm going to sit right behind her.
And like four laps later, literally out the back.
And then I got lapped like I got lapped by the top three.
And it was It was funny. I remember getting lapped by Elise and Carissa.
And I was honestly smiling because I was like, my girls are making the team.
I'm so happy. But as I'm hobbling away, just running so slow.
And I gave them the biggest hug. And it also made me cry because they were so kind to me.
And I was like, this is your moment. I'm so happy.
And they were just being so sweet to me.
And I'm like, Girls, I this is terrible.
Don't worry about it. It's to celebrate you.
I love you. I'm so happy for you. And I don't know, I think that's something to in this sport where I'm like, man, the people who are so nice.
And I'm like, this isn't about me. I just had literally the worst performance ever.
I don't like I love you guys. I know you love me.
But like, this is about you. And I'm so happy.
Well, because people care about you, which we'll get to in a second.
But so many people, as I've just been wading into the comments on YouTube and on Instagram, one big takeaway that so many people have said is one of them is never count Emily Infeld out.
You never know where she's going to come from.
But a big one has been Emily never stopped believing in herself.
And this is coming from like strangers on the Internet.
I'm sure this is coming from people who know you as well.
But like there's this big takeaway that Emily has been competing for a while and that you keep lining up.
And so I'm curious if that assessment from strangers on the Internet, is it correct?
Have you always had this unwavering belief in yourself or have there been times over the past, we'll say, 10 years when that's been challenged?
Oh, I've definitely doubted it for sure.
But I think when I line up, I try to have that belief.
And that was I mean, even last year to the trials, I lined up being like, I think I can make this team.
And like on paper, there's no way I like my training had been all over the place.
I was missing weeks and weeks and weeks.
I my Achilles was awful, like. But I lined up and I'm like, if I'm going to line up, I'm going to put myself in it.
I'm going to have that mindset that I'm going to make the team.
And then it was a rude awakening that I was so far off of that.
But it's been hard. I mean, I think there's moments.
I mean, I think when you line up for a race, I'm able to better get myself in that headspace.
But in training, like I've had some rough workouts. or just my body not feeling well.
I hurt my back in 2023 and had to take a month off of pretty much training.
And yeah, I don't know. I think it's those moments where I've had these things flare up.
And I think more than anything, I have told myself, am I too old?
Is my body fighting me that it doesn't want me to do this?
And I've had to really try to change that narrative and mindset and say, maybe training just has to look different.
But I think that's hard when I'm like, you get in that place of I'm like, can I just... is training just not cooperating with me like is it my body just telling me like we're you put put us through a lot of a lot of hard work the last couple decades and we're just not going to work for you anymore and I think I've had to really work on changing that mindset I love therapy I think that's wonderful I have all these like self-help books like or not self-help but like you are a badass like I was reading that one like these just I don't know positive mantra mindsets um so all that is to say I'm like I have had Stephanie doubts my husband's had unwavering belief like he literally thinks I'm the best person in the world.
And we have like Beatrice running 2850 in the 10k and Max is like, Yeah, I think you could win everything.
And I'm like, I love you. But I love your belief in me.
So I think I'm trying to harness a little of his belief in me and myself as well.
But I also think it's okay to have doubts.
And I'm like, I love that people think I have unwavering belief in myself.
I wish I did. I'm like a human like anyone else where you have moments of doubt, but I'm really working on trying to get myself to that place of just Um, yeah, I believe in myself.
And even for me going into this race, I was like, I know I'm fit.
I believe in myself, but I also know how good the women are I'm competing against.
And I'm like, I could have an incredible day and end up sixth or fifth or third and whatever it is.
If I know that I gave it my best, like that's all I can do.
Um, and it ended up with me winning, which was incredible.
Are you a visualization person? Had you pictured yourself breaking the tape? yes I it's it's so funny I also think I was like looking back at all these pictures and I haven't broken tape in so long that I like ran through the line and I just held on to the tape and then I like carried it with me on the victory lap and like we have it and I was like what was I doing like I was just in a blur I was like like I was hugging one of my like girlfriends who was there and I looked so awkward hugging her because I have this tape in my other hand and I was like what was I why did I hold on to that like what was I doing it was just I think I didn't know what to do is like, I don't know what to do with my hands.
They're just going to hold this tape. Wait, did you have the tape, the entire victory lap?
Like, did you return from your victory lap with the tape still?
Yes. And I brought it to Portland with me.
Like, I didn't know what to do with it. I love that.
I love that you kept it, but I feel like at some point a race official should have been like, do you want us to hang on to that for you?
No, I just, it's just so weird. I was like, what was I doing?
But I'm like, whatever. I love it. Cause I just, I don't know.
That's me. I'm weird. I'm awkward. But, but anyways, with the visualization actually was, I, and I think because I was reading that book.
Like the you are a badass the weekend I started visualizing myself breaking the tape, but it's so funny because then every time I was visualizing, I couldn't get myself to visualize winning by beyond like a lean, like I kept picturing people next to me and it was like all the way through the line, like leaning, so I think I knew that.
Like, I feel like you can sense like, you know, you can sense in a race if someone's coming up on you.
And I made a hard move and was like, wait, I'm not feeling anyone by me.
And in my head, I was like, I have time to put my hands up because every time I was visualizing myself, it was like it was all the way to the line that I didn't think I'd be able to put my hands up.
Like it was like I was diving across the line just to get there.
And I like had a moment literally 10 meters before the finish where I was like, I can put my hands up.
And then I was like, just I felt like I was so awkward because I didn't know what to do.
No, you were not awkward. It was a wonderful finish.
I also would have loved if like, because as we saw, like you were soloing in that final straightaway, I would have loved if you did a very dramatic lead, you know, just, just for effect, like give us the track, give us the sprinter lean across the line, just in case.
I did do that in grand slam. Nikki said something to me after where they were like, no one was by you and you were like, ah, like all the way across the line.
And they're like, no one was like 10 meters, like 10 or 20 meters from you.
And you were like hauling as if there was eight people just like right on you.
Hell yeah. Made me giggle. So I was like, okay.
I was like, yeah, I just wanted to make sure I didn't want to.
Yeah. I wanted to not, not lose it in that last meter.
This episode of the alley on the run show is brought to you by UFOs.
You know how people use that expression?
Walk a mile in their shoes. Okay, I would be delighted to walk a mile or more in someone's ufos.
Have you heard of ufos? You've probably heard of ufos.
You might even be wearing a pair of ufos right now.
If you're like me, you have indoor ufos, you have outdoor ufos, you have outdoor but just to get the mail ufos, school drop-off ufos, car ufos, bathroom ufo slippers.
Ufos makes recovery shoes. They make recovery slides, recovery sneakers, recovery slippers, even cute little recovery boots.
So what makes them so great? Glad you asked.
These shoes are made with Ufoam technology, which absorbs 37% more impact than traditional foam footwear.
It helps your body recharge and reduces stress on your feet and joints.
Now, I didn't fully understand recovery footwear until I actually tried it.
It's hard to explain in audio form just how good these shoes feel and just how much I like walking around in them.
We're talking about Eugene and Hayward Field in these episodes.
Well, in 2023, when I ran the Eugene Marathon, you know what I wore to fly cross country to and from the marathon?
Ufos, obviously. Boy, was I happy, especially on that return flight.
I am so excited to have Ufos in the Alley on the Run show family.
I'm excited to keep sharing more about the brand, the products, the people, and the benefits of shoes that are designed solely, soul, get it, soul of your shoes.
They are designed solely to help you feel better, bounce back faster, and run stronger.
Get yourself a pair of Ufos. I promise your body will thank you.
Go to Ufos.com to keep your feet and body happy.
That's Ufos.com to get your recovery shoes. you know speaking of the victory lap with the tape your victory lap as I have heard was like at least an hour oh my gosh did it feel like that talk to me about where and look we're still going to go back we're still going to talk about the race but like I want to hear about this victory lap and also are you given instruction like do they say okay now you can take your victory lap stay against the like what do they tell you or do you just when you're a champion you just know what what to do.
I know. I definitely don't know. I think part of why it was so long too, was because they had two pair events.
So I, I was like not trying to get in the way of that.
So I stood against the wall and cheered for those events.
And I think that was part of it was that like dirt, like those events happened.
And I like made, like I made 10 meters, like a lot, whatever on my victory lap.
And then I stopped and paused and watched the race.
And then I made 10 meters and then stopped and paused and watched the race.
And then I had like a really big section of, um some of my husband's co-workers and some of my friends who it was so sweet they were on um I don't know at like the 300 mark or whatever 100 meters in and they were like banging um where they were they're like Emily during the race it was so sweet and it was just like so I don't know it was so nice and they're like you could hear that I was like yeah you guys were so loud um But I did, Nick Willis commented something.
He said, he was like, we were trying to wait for you on your victory lap, but it took too long.
And I was like, I responded back and I was like, yeah, it was the Adrian Brody acceptance speech equivalent of a victory lap.
Like the longest in history. Like just turning the lights off at Hayward Field. literally literally I'm like I think I mean I think like the I think Nico like caught up to me and I was like oh gosh I gotta like really hurry up like he I was like what was I doing but I was just I don't know I was taking my time I wanted to talk to everyone people were so nice I was trying there was like lots of little kids so I was trying to be like do you run what do you run um just because I don't know I'm like I just it was really sweet and I loved like, I loved running when I was that young.
And I was like, I would have loved if someone was like, what event do you do?
And they're like the 400 or the eight. And I'm like, I love those events.
Like blah, blah, blah, blah. So I feel like that was really special.
But I probably could have hurried it up.
I think I took no, no, this is the celebration.
This is what it's all about. This is like, soak it all in, enjoy that moment.
No, I love that. So I'll ask you the same thing I asked Nikki, were there any especially memorable or meaningful interactions during your victory lap?
Oh, I mean, I feel like there was a lot.
I, so two of my, our best, like one of our best couple of friends out here and their son were there watching.
And I got, it was so cute. They were coming in like where I was doing stride outs on the turf and they were coming in that way.
And I got to see them before. And he's so like Forrest, their son is so sweet.
And he was like, hi. And I was like, hi Forrest, like I'm about to run.
I'm going to try to run as fast as you. And he's like, look at me go.
And then he like ran away. Yeah. So I saw them on the victory lap and he was like a good sport.
I was like, man, this has to be hard for like a little kid to be paying attention this long.
But I gave him my flag because I was like, here, I wanted to give him a little something.
And it was just so funny because Max was like, don't give that away.
I was like. What? I was like to our friends, kid, like, what are you talking about?
Do you want this? Like, I was just like, why are you being so weird?
But it made me giggle so much because he can be so funny sometimes.
But that was really special for me. Yeah.
And I mean, I don't know. I'm like seeing like I feel like hugging my parents, Max. um alicia's family was there um i feel like i hugged everyone in the race because they're all so wonderful so all that was really nice um but yeah i'm like that's probably seeing forest and and my friends and giving him a little flag and seeing how happy he was just for like a little trinket he was like oh yeah max is like fuming in the corner i know he's like online ordering another one literally i was like do you want me to order like i can go to the dollar store and get you this like what are you talking about So funny.
When you're doing that visualization that you were talking about, when you're picturing yourself outleaning your competitors, are you picturing, do your competitors have faces?
And you don't necessarily have to name them, but when you're picturing it, are you like, yeah, it's me and Taylor Rowe down to the wire?
Yes, I honestly think I pictured it a bunch of different ways with a lot of the women in the race.
And I was really trying. I mean, I was picturing that sometimes it was just me and kind of like a blur.
But I think I started to more think about who I really felt like was going to be there and picturing that.
And I don't know, in my head being like, these are the people I'm going to stick on because I know how good they are and how competitive this race is.
So I think there's a lot of different people in there.
And I just knew I was like, man, I'm like...
These women are also incredible and tough and gutsy that I was like, it's going to be really hard.
So I'm better. I better picture it being really, really hard.
How close did the people you were picturing in your visualizations compare to what the top few in the field ended up being?
Yeah, I mean, I think it was, I knew that Taylor, Elise, Weenie were going to be there.
I was thinking Jess and Carissa, Amanda Vestry, like I was thinking of all these women.
And I think it's funny because I did, I was, I looked up on the Jumbotron a couple of times because I knew I was just like, someone's going to take it.
It's going to start to whittle the field down.
And then I was trying to just make sure I reacted to any move.
So I feel like when I was in the race too, I was like, okay, it's now the four of us.
And I knew I was like, okay, this is the race.
Um, and I feel like in my head, I was kind of like, okay, I was picturing it could have been like this with these people.
So, so we talked about Emily a year ago who was having a tough time.
What did it take to go from that Emily to this Emily?
Oh, a lot of probably therapy work on myself.
Support that. Yeah, to get my head in a good space.
But also I think to trust my body again.
Like I ended up getting PRP in my Achilles and my hip and having to take like a month off.
And then working with my PT this whole fall, I couldn't run for a bit.
But we were in the gym like doing, I mean, starting kind of like baby training. exercises, but really like building my program back from the ground up.
And that was really helpful. So I think that for me to, it gave me something to focus on and that helped my mindset a bit.
Cause it's like, if I can't run, then I can like focus on doing these things.
I can focus on like getting to a point where I can hop up and down on one foot.
And it's like, I think when you go through an injury and you have those little stepping stones, it's helpful to be like, now I can do this and now I can do this.
And then it got to the point where it was like, I can walk jog and then I can do a 20 minute run.
And I think having those stepping stones along the way helps me so that I don't get too far ahead, but I'm like able to say, I'm excited that I can do this.
And like, I went from, I did this, race last year.
I was an ambassador for Robert's run in Montana, which was so sweet.
And I had a bunch of people reach out to me and they were like, you were here for our race last year and you walked a mile.
And that was like the most you had done.
And now look at you. And that was really sweet because they were like, are you going to run the race?
I was like, no, I'm going to walk the mile, which honestly, like my PT probably was like, you aren't supposed to even doing that.
But like, but it was just really sweet to see.
And I think It's hard when you're in it, but I think like, I don't know, zooming out, it's like, man, that seemed like it was going to be forever where it was like, it felt like I couldn't run.
It felt like I wasn't like able to get to work out.
And then I just think if you're in the moment and you focus on what you can do, all of a sudden you're able to do way more than you thought versus being upset that like, why can't I run?
Why can't I work out? Why can't I this? And don't get me wrong.
That's really hard to do that. But I think I've really worked on trying to just be in the moment and control what I can control and celebrate the little milestones and when I did a 20 minute run at like 830 pace I was like I did a run like it felt like a real run I ran like I don't even know how much not very much yeah but I love the reminder to celebrate the little wins because sometimes the little wins are not only do they lead to the biggest wins but the little wins are big wins all wins are big wins so totally I love that thanks OK, so sometimes we hear from athletes who when they have a big day like the one you had, they say there's a part of them that knew they were going to do something special that day.
Did you have that at all or was this I mean, you talked about going into every race and having that belief in yourself, which I love.
Was there a part of you that was like, I feel like I could do something really special today?
Honestly, no. know. I mean, it's funny.
I'm like, I really thought I could make the team.
Um, but I think, I mean, I said, I feel like I, I had been running with Elise a lot and we were talking about, um, USAs and I was saying, I was like, I think like I could be fifth.
I really want to be on the team with you.
Like I was so confident she was going to be on.
And I was like, I don't know what I'll end up.
And I think when I got, like, I honestly don't think until the race, was happening that I was like, I think I could win this.
Like, I just felt so good. Um, but I think in that lead up, I was trying to visualize myself winning.
Uh, but I thought too, like just me being competitive was going to be a huge win.
Like that was going to be special for me just off of, I mean, my 2023 and 2024, I wasn't really competitive.
I wasn't there. I Um, I mean, finishing so close to Lisa and Carissa, I was like, I know it's still in there.
Um, but I knew it was going to be hard. And I was like, if, yeah, again, what I said before, if I know that I ran my absolute best race, if I'm fifth, I can be happy with that.
Uh, but as the race started happening, I was like, I really think I can win.
And I was trying to just have like a, like a hunter mindset of like the person, anyone who makes the move, like I'm going to cling on them, like just keep your eyes up.
And I felt really engaged and like in that race, which was fun.
Like I feel like it, it's funny. I'm sure it hurt, but it like, I wasn't even aware of it hurting because my mindset was so laser focused on the body in front of me that I was like, follow whoever.
And like, that was all I was focused on.
Was it fun? It was really fun. Oh, okay.
Talk to me about that more. What made it fun?
Other than winning, obviously winning sounds awesome.
That sounds very fun. But during the race, like when you're in it, are you like, I'm having the best time right now?
I mean, I feel like it's funny. I feel like I was having fun.
I honestly feel like the first mile felt the worst.
Like it felt like my stride was choppy running that slow.
And I just felt like the fact that I was in the race.
Like the last two years, I hadn't been in the race.
So the fact that it started to dwindle down and I was still in the race and I could hear people cheering for me.
Like I could hear Coach Milt. I could hear my friends.
I could hear Coach Henner. And I was getting antsy and he kept being like, be patient, don't go yet.
And I'm like, I just feel like that was really nice.
And to be like aware in the best way, like I feel like I was having, I don't know if you've had that, but like almost like an out of body race experience where like you're. yes, you're in the race, but you're also aware of things, but in a good way.
Sometimes I'm aware of things because you're hurting and you're like, oh no, I'm going backwards.
But I was in a laser focused flow state mindset and just aware, hearing the things, going in my ear, out my ear, but just making me feel confident.
And that was really fun to feel like I was I don't know.
I just, my body felt really good. I felt better when we started to run faster.
And then I just was excited because I knew I was feeling good that I was going to have a good kick.
And I was just honestly scared of when to go.
Like I think with a K to go, I wanted to take it.
And I was like, not yet. And then a lap to go.
And to be in that place is so fun to be in a race and to know that you're competing for the win.
And I just hadn't been in that place where I'm competing for a win in a long time.
And it's just, it's really fun. Yeah. Oh, I love that so much.
So one thing that blows my mind is when you and other athletes come on here and they talk about being at Hayward field, for example, and they're like, yeah, no, I could hear my coach.
Yeah. Which first of all, how, how are you hearing that?
But aren't you also hearing each other's coaches?
And what's that like? Like, are you hearing the other athletes, coaches yelling stuff to them?
And does that get in your head? it's, I don't, it's, this is so weird because normally I do.
And I feel like I've had moments in other races and in bad races in particular, like in, uh, 2024, when I dropped out of the 10, I feel like I was hearing all these coaches mostly because I was like hurting and I went right behind the pacer and I had people, um, like in my face being like too slow she's too slow go around her and I was like oh my god like mortified because I was feeling awful and I was like people's coaches or fate like who's saying that but it's coaches to their athletes and I don't want to say who but I know who it was because there is a couple faces and I was like oh my god and that in my head when you're not feeling good you're already like uh-oh this is going to be a hard day and then you have people literally in your face on the infield being like too slow she's too slow and I'm like they're talking about me it's very sweet that you're laughing but of course I'm like who was it Which is so funny.
And I'm like, I also think I'm like coaches are human that like when you're in the race mindset, I think people get whatever they get excited and they're cheering for their athletes.
But it's funny because I feel like I have heard that before.
But in this race in particular, I don't feel like I was hearing anyone except for people for me, which is weird.
And I can like distinctly like I heard my coach.
I heard Coach Henner. I heard my friends.
The one person I didn't hear was Max, which he was probably like, what the heck?
How did you not hear me? But I heard Terrence even at one point. um and Jen um who I'm like I feel like I've worked out with Katie Izzo and Flag so I've gotten to know them well but I heard them cheering for me and like what people were saying it was just really interesting that I could like pick out who it was and then I knew people were different I knew where coach Milt was going to be but I had people like around the whole track saying different things to me and like at different points I was like okay that's coach Henner that's this person and it was really, really nice.
And I know other people's coaches were cheering for them, but I didn't even like, didn't recognize it.
Didn't acknowledge it. Like it just, my brain for some reason, wasn't computing.
It was only computing people for me. That's like a special kind of tunnel vision right there.
That's incredible. So let's talk about the race plan.
What had you and coach mill talked about?
What were you, what was the plan? Uh, I mean, the plan was to not really to not do anything.
He was like, just follow the group. He's like, it's going to start to dwindle.
And he's like, you just need to keep your eyes up for when a move is made.
And he's like, I don't want you to think about the time because I know the time was a big part of it where he's like, I don't want you to think about that.
He's like, I think other people will be thinking about that.
And he's like, honestly, you can use that to your advantage.
I don't want you to be stressed about the time.
He's like, I just want you to be focused on racing.
And I think that was really helpful for me.
And I think I went in knowing... I hope I run the time that'll get me to worlds, but I'm not going to force it.
I just, I want to try to be top three. I want to try to win.
Cause I was like, if I'm stressed about the time and trying to make it happen.
And then I, I am so tense the whole race, I'm probably not going to end up top three anyways, so it won't matter.
So I'm like, I just don't want to even think about that.
I'm just going to follow the people in front of me.
And he did it a couple of times. I feel like early in the race, I I'm like the 10 Ks long race.
So you're like, I don't need to be like right up there.
But I feel like six laps in at one point, I think I was starting to go really far back.
And Coach Milt was like, all right, you're a little too far back.
Like, keep your eyes up for when a move is made.
So then I had to move around because I was like, oh, no, oops.
I like don't want to be too far out of it that I'm like eight bodies behind the person who's making a move.
And then it's like you have to try to sprint to get there.
So I was like, let me put myself in better position.
But I was really just focused on I'm like, the bodies in front of me and I feel like Elise started to crank it down.
And then I saw Taylor kind of make her way out and I was like, all right, she's going to take it at some point.
I really got to pay attention to her and when she's going to do it.
And I think that's, I mean, I think all of us know that feeling, but like being race savvy when you're like being aware of those people and knowing like who's going to make a move and just like, I need to keep my eyes on those bodies in front of me and just be ready to respond.
Cause if you respond right away, I feel like it's way easier than, um like i know carissa i feel like like didn't respond right away and then she tried to bridge the gap which is so hard to do when you're by yourself and you like and i know i have had that happen to me before in a race where you like you don't respond right away and then all of a sudden you're gapped and that happened in 2022 in the 10k where like i didn't respond right away and alicia made a big move and carissa went with her and then all of a sudden i was gapped and trying to bridge the gap And then I was like, well, now I don't think I'll be able to do this.
They're running like 71s. And now I'm like 20 meters gapped all of a sudden.
So I was like, I don't want that to happen.
I want to just try to respond. And if I die off of that, I die.
But at least I know I respond and I'm in the race for as long as I can be in the race.
Was there a point in the race where you surprised yourself, where you looked around and you were like, oh, not only am I still in it, I feel great.
I don't know. I mean, I think that honestly is interesting.
Like I knew I didn't know what pace we were running.
So I'm like, I knew we were running slow at the beginning.
But I think Chris Chavez asked me that he's like, Do you have any idea what pace you're running or what you needed to run?
And I was like, No. And I'm like, I did feel really good.
But I was like, I have no idea what we're running.
Like we might not be running that fast. Like, but I was like, we must be running fast.
Cause we drop people. But I was like, honestly, like we could be running 69 or 75 seconds.
And I don't know. Like, I just, I feel like my body was like, I feel good.
It's going to start to hurt. It's going to start to grind, but it just, I.
I don't want to say this in like a bad way, but I feel like I had workouts in flag that I did that hurt way more than that race.
And I also, one thing altitude so hard and I really struggle at altitude, but I didn't get that feeling where I had like this workout where I was doing K's and on like rep three, I was like, Oh, am I going to be able to keep going?
And I feel like I was in a flow state in the race where I didn't have that.
And I think that's what was surprising for me is that I was like, in my head, I was like, it's going to really hurt.
And I'm don't get me wrong. It was hurting, but it wasn't that like, Oh my God, I'm on like hanging, hanging on by a thread.
I knew I had a lot more left. And I think that was probably surprising that I was like, Whoa, I actually feel like I have a lot more in my tank.
Um, and then I just was biting, biting my time.
And can we talk about the fact that you ran the same time in this race that you ran in however many years ago, like what in the world?
I know. When did you realize that? I, Max told me, and I don't know if someone told him, but which is so bizarre.
He was like, someone told me this, that you ran the same exact time.
And it was to like the 600th of a second.
It was like 3143, 50 something to 3143, 60, like 63 or something.
It was like so close. And which is so bizarre.
Um, but I think, I mean, that race, it was so hot and humid.
So I know we were slow and I had, I think I closed in like 62, like I closed really fast.
So this, I didn't close as fast here, but I think my last 200 was faster.
Cause my last 200 was 30.8, which I was like, I felt really good.
And I had been doing like closing out workouts hard, but I was like, man, it's like, that's pretty good for a 35 year old closing in And sub 31.
That's good for anyone. Yeah. Yes. That's amazing.
So if we were to go back to, you know, you raced in the evening on Thursday, what was your day that day?
Like, how did you spend your time leading up to the race?
Oh, I was honestly really nervous. I think that's, it's funny.
I, I do think, I think it's a good thing.
Like Max kept telling me, he's like, it's good you're nervous.
But I was having that feeling where I was like, do I want to do this?
And I honestly felt like on my shakeout, I didn't feel that good.
I shook out at noon and I felt really good in my pre-race session.
I did it with Vanessa and we did strides and I was running faster in my strides than I even anticipated.
So I was like, that's really good. And then I didn't feel that good in my shakeout.
And I was in my head thinking, did I run too hard yesterday?
I mean, I did like 100, 150 and two 200s.
So I'm like, I really didn't do that much.
But I was like, did I use my race correctly? yesterday, like I was just being really nervous, really nervous.
But I mean, I got I slept in, got up, I had a bagel, a piece of toast, a coffee, came back, had a banana, hung out, I like chugged a bunch of Pedialyte, went for my shakeout with Max, tried to take a nap, was reading my book, he was like watching some show.
And I was being like a little spicy to him.
Cause I didn't want to watch it. He was watching like the naked gun or something.
And I was like, why is this on the TV? It was like some, like this old movie.
And I was like, I'm trying to read my motivational book.
Like turn this off. I am a bad-ass. Yes, yes.
But honestly, I mean, it was weird because I just wasn't feeling good all day.
Like I was feeling kind of sluggy because I think I was so nervous.
And I remember Pascal telling me this back in the day that he's like, when you're feeling really tired, it's just because your body is trying to harness all your energy for the big endeavor you're about to do.
So he's like, it's honestly a good thing if you're feeling kind of sluggy because it means you're like conserving all your energy.
And I don't know if he like said that to just be positive and kind.
But I think I had that in my head, too, that I was like, it's OK, it's good.
And I had for some reason I had a workout like two workouts in flag that I knew were going to be hard.
And I got really nervous and they were night workouts.
So I think that helped me to kind of simulate the day of where I was just I was feeling really nervous.
And I'm like, why was I getting so nervous for those workouts?
But yeah. I think it was a blessing in disguise because I had gone through those motions a couple of times in like the month lead up and been like, I actually had really good workouts.
So I'm like, I am in good shape. I know this, like I, my training is all there.
I can only control what I can control. Um, just try to stay, I don't know, as calm as you can.
Um, but it was basic. Like I just had mostly a Um, I did bicarb, which I'm like, I feel like I do bicarb really like early.
Like I like to do it at least three hours before my race.
Um, yeah. And then just had like electrolytes.
We had maxed an ice vest for me, which was really nice just cause we knew it was going to be warm.
Um, and he just took care of me. Like he's the best with that.
So it was really nice. Okay. So then you get to the track.
What was it like? Yeah. Um, so we, it was really cute.
My parents picked up, um, they picked us up and then they drove Elise over too.
So we all went over together, uh, which was really nice.
And they dropped us off just so we didn't have to worry about parking.
Uh, and Max carried all this stuff in. Yeah.
It was like your parents dropping you off for school and it's so wholesome.
You and your friend. It was so cute. It was really cute.
Um, and it was fun. It's like nice to have a buddy and like, I don't know, to be with Elise and have Max there felt really good.
Um, Vanessa came and met up with us and then we warmed up with Carissa too.
So I, and we didn't get there that like, honestly, we got there and hung out for like 20 minutes because it was going to be warm.
So we're like, we don't want to be there too long.
So where I like listen to put my feet up, listen to a couple of my like pump up songs and then did some activations, went and jogged 12 minutes with Vanessa, came back, was doing strides and then saw my friends and their son, which is really nice.
And then went, yeah, went to the call room.
Coach Milt just gave me a big hug, was like, all right, you got this.
You know what to do. You've done this. Um, and that was it.
And then I'm like, I don't know. I feel like it happened.
It was really fast. Um, I didn't feel that great on the warmup, but I was with those girls, which was really nice.
So I feel like we were just talking about not running.
Like we were just talking like chit chatting.
So I think that was helpful to kind of turn the brain off to that.
And then, um, with chit chatting with like Jess and Amanda in the call room and, um, got to say good luck to some of the 1500 girls from the heat before us, cause they were still in there.
So that was nice. Um, Yeah. And then it was like race time.
And I also feel like it was funny. I was standing next to Jess on the line and I thought, we thought they were going to introduce us.
So I said to her, I was like, they're going to introduce us.
Right. And she's like, yeah. And then literally right after she said that they're like on your marks and we're like, oh, okay.
Time to go. Yeah. Okay, it's happening.
Also, this it's just so funny of you talking about all this of like, getting dropped off with my friend.
And then we're just chit chatting on the form up.
And it was great. I got to see other people and wish them luck.
Like, and then we've got and then we've got Noah and Kenny.
What wild comparison there. Uh, what are your pump up songs right now?
What were you listening to? Oh my gosh, they're not.
I posted my, uh, this is actually, it was my, you did, you posted your playlist.
It was my cross training playlist that I made this fall when I was not running and I was doing like rowing machine and like, and like elliptical and bike and like whatever I was doing.
But it's honestly, it's so random. It's like a bunch of Blink-182, The Naked and Famous, because I love The Naked and Famous.
I don't know why I'm like, they have like three songs that I just like love.
They're not, they're like kind of mellow, but I also like mellow pump up songs.
Olivia Rodrigo. Yeah, Taylor Swift is on there.
Tate McRae, probably. So it's like a mix of like my punk rock, punk pop, whatever, millennial era stuff.
And then some like, I don't know, badass, like, hot girl like olivia and tate and like and like taylor swift and stuff so i'm like oh it's like a nice little mix uh but it's not that like that pump up you like some people like really i don't know like yeah to me and like it's funny because it feels like like i had lana del rey on there and like when i had lana it was like doing a lot of cross training to her and one of my friends was like are you okay like are you getting ready to make out with someone yeah like they were like they're like what are you listening to they're like are you feeling blow like are you feeling okay and I think about kissing I feel like Lana Del Rey is like makeup music oh sorry are we not Lana Del Rey uh oh no yeah Lana Del Rey is makeup music that's what I was thinking but I was I feel like one of my friends they're like I feel like that's kind of like depressed and I was like that too I feel like it's not I was like I love it I think it's like beautiful but it is it's like very like sultry like slow so I was like it was a very interesting choice for my like cross-training workouts but for some reason I liked it well it all worked obviously this episode of the alley on the run show is brought to you by viore viore makes comfortable casual cute clothing that you can wear pretty much anywhere shorts and tanks to take on the run viore's got it leggings and bras for yoga obviously cute matching sets for post-workout brunch you bet Whether you're sweating, running errands, or going out with your girlfriends, Viore has you covered.
You will look great, you'll feel great, and these items aren't going out of style anytime soon.
Viore makes classic pieces. They're on trend, sure, but mostly this is stuff you're going to have for a long time.
And I can attest to the fact that these pieces, they hold up in terms of fashion, yes, but also in terms of quality.
I've had my Viore Performance Joggers, the ones that go viral for a reason because they are so darn soft.
I've had them for years and they're still as good as new.
It's worth investing in quality pieces when you know they stand the test of time.
And Viore passes that test every time. It's always fun seeing what I'm wearing when I record these ads because I don't plan it.
I just love these clothes and I wear them often.
And right now I'm sitting here in Viore's Villa Wide Leg Pants, which are my summer favorites. the halo performance crop perfect for working from home perfect for camp pickup perfect for going out later if i wanted to i don't want to go out later but i could and i would look cute in this outfit when you go to viore.com on the run you'll get 20 off automatically applied to your cart that's v-u-o-r-i dot com slash on the run Offer is valid for first time Biori shoppers.
Biori.com slash on the run for 20% off. Take advantage of this great deal and enjoy shopping.
I was talking to Kira earlier this week and getting her race recap.
And she was talking about, you know, kind of the atmosphere at Hayward.
And actually Nikki talked about it as well because it was all Thursday night.
When you walked out there, did it feel like, oh my gosh, it's Hayward and it's loud and it's exciting?
Or did it feel like a little more chill?
I don't know. I honestly felt like it felt kind of chill.
I'm curious what they said. Is that what they said too?
Yeah. Well, Nikki was like, I ran out of the tunnel, all excited, ready for the loud roars of Hayward.
And it was like two people in the stands, which it wasn't.
It was much more than two people. But I mean, Nikki was saying that that kind of played to their advantage of like, for them, it was the first round of the 15.
So it was like, okay, this is more chill.
Like, whatever so yeah i was curious your take because yours you know with the 10 it's a final right out of the gate and so it is a different energy that you get from the crowd uh but it was also the first night of competition which is typically um you know it builds over the four days though you kind of change the game with that i feel like we had a lot of excitement on day one because of you Yeah, I mean, honestly, I like the chill.
And it's like, even I feel like in college, I remember running the 5k in 2012 with the Olympic trials.
And I was listening to like maroon five.
And like, I just like to feel chill. Like I don't like to feel too hype.
So even when there is a big crowd, I try to like have myself feel chill.
So I love that. Like I felt like I was in the zone.
I honestly was more focused on like, like just next to me.
Like I feel like turning next to her and like, it wasn't like crazy hectic, but I liked that.
And then I felt like it built through the race and I really liked the vibe and the atmosphere.
Like it was perfect for me. I didn't need it to be like crazy hectic.
Like I would have loved that. I obviously want more fans.
I want all the fans at track. I want track stadiums to be like full to the brim, but I'm like, I felt like it was a nice energy and, of like a good crowd dynamic and just that I could hear all the people that I wanted to hear what about once you unleashed that kick what did the crowd at that point where you know you had sort of this tunnel vision where you're only hearing your people did that at any point sort of open up and expand were you able to take it all in during that last we'll say 80 to 100 meters I don't know.
I honestly, I'm like, it's funny. I remember in 2015 when I meddled, I really felt like I blacked out my last hundred meters.
Like I like my mind went blank and I crossed the line and it was like a blur.
Like I was like, what? And this, I felt like I was cognizant, but it's almost like I felt like I heard the crowd less, which is weird.
Like I feel like more people would be like, they're hearing all the tears, like go, go, go.
But I honestly felt like all I could see was like the finish line tape in my like in my vision.
And I was just like, run through there, run through there.
And then when I crossed the line, I could hear people, but it was like my brain tuned everything out.
And it was like a time warp of like eight seconds from when I like went on Alicia's shoulder with 80 meters to go or whatever it was.
Like, I feel like it was weird. Like I just was so focused on that.
Um, and then heard everyone after, but even with like, maybe with 200 to go, I was hearing people and I like at least made a big move and I just responded.
And then it was like, quieted in my mind which sounds weird to say are you as much as you're not hearing everything so I'm picturing yeah in my head of having a moment right before you break the tape when it's like okay this is a terrible comparison but I'm going to bring it back around so bear with me you've seen the movie Armageddon right yeah yeah okay so you know in Armageddon Bruce Willis, his life flashes before his eyes at the end.
I'm like picturing you about to break the tape and having all the races from the past 10 years flashing in your head of like everything it took to get to this moment.
Did that happen? But different from Bruce Willis because his ending not great.
I know your ending was great. Yeah, I love that.
I wish but I honestly think mostly in my head, I was like feeling, I was like run through the line, run through the line, like trying to feel if I could feel like sent someone coming up on me.
And then really the only thing I thought was I was like, put your hands up.
And like, I did that, but I wish I had some, like, I don't know, some better thought in my head, but that was really it.
Like it was like, I kind of went blank and was just going.
And yeah, I don't know. I mean, I did think maybe with like a lot, like on the last lap, I was thinking about, um, in 2012 i won the 3k at indoor nationals and literally in like the last 50 meters i just like made a big move and i was just like sitting sitting sitting and then just like stuck in a box and i was able to find space with 50 to go and then just like blasted and i remember coach milt saying that at some point he's like you have a really good last 50. in my head i was like okay i can wait until like 50 to go and then go But I wish there was better... I don't know.
It was kind of like tumbleweeds in my head.
I wish there was something better. Yeah, I mean, that's fair.
You're at the end of a 10K in high heat about to win the race.
Crazy that you don't have time to let your life flash before your eyes.
This is... Clearly, I've not done what you did.
No, I love that though, Allie. I feel like that's really sweet.
I'm like, I wish I had that. Well, someone should make that for you for Instagram.
Yes, yes, I like that. Someone make a nice video compilation of the highs and the lows and send it to some really nice music.
We can make that happen. So we need to do Instagram montage.
We need to order some American flags. Yes. quite the little to-do list that we're coming up with here.
But let's talk about after you, so you break the tape, you do your interview, you do your victory lap, you eventually make your way down to the mix zone.
What was the energy like with there? Because a lot of those journalists have been covering your career for a long time.
So what was it like when you stopped and you were down there for a while?
Yeah, I was down there for a while. It was really nice.
It's just I also think I'm like, man, the last couple of years and you go through the mix zone and it's a bad performance.
I could see everyone's face like so, so kind.
But everyone giving me those looks of like the head tilt.
Yeah. They're like, we're sorry. And like those pity eyes.
And I'm just like, oh, my gosh, get me out of here.
It's so nice because I know they're like everyone is so sweet and I know they care.
But it's just like I was like a little mortified being like womp womp.
Like, hello, everyone. So it was really nice to have a better energy and to be like, look, I'm I did it.
And it was the best energy. Your post-race interviews were so fun because it's just genuine joy.
And you can tell that everyone there was really excited for you, which is just fun to see and feel in a mix zone.
So after that, what happens after you leave the mix zone?
What do you do next? Um, I had, so I had a drug tester that came up to me right after that.
And then I saw coach mill, um, and talked to him, which was really nice.
So I had like the, uh, the gal following me, got to talk to coach mill, um, max.
And I'm like trying to think who else was there.
Maybe it was just, I don't know, just them.
I'm like trying to remember. I'm like, my brain is mush.
Oh, and my agent and Ray was there. Um, and he actually was really nice before.
I don't remember when he said this, but I feel like he said this like a couple of days before the race, but he was like, said something about like, he thought I could do well.
And he was like, you know, you could win.
And I was like, oh, I was like, that was like really nice of you to say.
Like, I just felt like it was really sweet.
And I don't know, just really nice that he was there.
And Kate, his daughter who works with him and Matt Sonnenfeldt and Milt and Max.
And then I think my parents were like standing up high and cheering for From like the, cause they couldn't come in the athlete area.
But it was, yeah, that was really nice. And then I did a cool down, like a short cool down.
And it was, I ran like a mile and a half, but everyone was so nice.
Like, I feel like I was running, like did like a lap and then someone would be like, Emily.
So I would give them a hug and people were just so kind.
It was like, that was really nice. So my cool down took longer than it should have because I kept stopping.
And I'm like, I also, Coach Milt was like, at this point, he's like, just run a mile.
And then I just accidentally ran like a mile and a half because I wasn't paying attention to my watch and I was like chit-chatting.
And then I went to do drug testing and I did that really fast, which was really nice.
It's always nice when you don't have to wait.
And I had chugged like three Gatorades and a couple waters because I had no water from my victory lap.
And my victory lap was so long that I literally... finished.
And I was like, I need fluid. So I like immediately chugged a water, immediately chugged a Gatorade, chugged another Gatorade in the media thing.
And then another Gatorade while I was talking to people and then another water.
So I was like, okay, my drug testing is going to be like bing, bing, boom, which it was, which was really nice.
Yeah. So that was great. And then at that point I was like, I need pizza.
I'm hungry. So we got track down pizza. Oh, perfect.
Great way to celebrate. So did you sleep that night?
Not really. I did get five hours. Like I have an order ring and I, so I did team processing, which I was like the last person there.
And I was glad that they were still like open.
So I did it Thursday night. I did it Thursday night.
What time did you leave there? Like midnight.
I know. And then I went, so then I went and we'll actually, I guess we didn't eat pizza because my parents went to get it when I was doing team processing.
But it was shorter for me because I, they had to like whatever i have to wait for the ranking stuff to come out so i didn't book my travel or anything so it was quick so they're like we'll reach out to you to book your travel and figure that part of it out so honestly it went by pretty quick which was nice and then we sat in the lobby ate some pizza and then max and i went to the brooks house which was really nice and they had like cardboard cutouts of all their athletes and put on like a i don't know um like a gold tinsel thing on my cutout.
And then I popped a bunch of champagne, which was fun.
Yeah. So we didn't get back to the hotel until like two 30.
And then I just like, couldn't fall asleep.
So I probably went to sleep at like four 30 and then slept until, I don't know.
I slept for like five hours. So four 30 to nine 30, I think.
At what point did you just like lay there with your phone and start reading and responding to messages?
I, so it's, I was, I feel like I was doing that.
And then I got overwhelmed. And then I also was in my head.
I was like, this is why I can't sleep because of the blue lights.
I was like trying to like put away. And then and I was feeling stimulated.
But Max is also feeling like he was like in that like that zone of just excited and hyped, which was really sweet.
So I feel like I was trying to go to sleep and put my eye mask on.
And then I like had to go pee at some point.
And he was like still on his phone like this.
And I was like, well, neither of us are going to be sleeping.
Oh, that's a great reason to lose sleep, though.
So then you were obviously in town the next few days.
So were you back at the stadium watching more track?
How did you spend the next couple days in Eugene? yeah so i i'm like what did i do i did uh did some photos with brooks on in the morning and did like a shakeout run so i ran like 30 minutes the day after the race um and did pictures with them and then i went to the city's house and did a podcast with them um and then we went to the stadium and then went to dinner with my parents which was really nice.
And then the next day, I think we slept in again.
I had like a long coffee with coach Milt in the morning, which was really nice.
And then Max and I went for a run and then we went to the stadium, um, to go watch and cheer, which is the Saturday stuff.
So when you're sitting down and having that long coffee with coach Milt, are you breaking down the race or are you talking about what the next few weeks until Tokyo will look like or both?
It was both. I mean, honestly, I feel like we spent the first half hour just like shooting the shit.
And then like, we were just like catching up, which was nice.
And like, I don't know, talking about all the things.
And I'm like, he's just so wonderful. I mean, I think he's so smart.
He's also someone, Max said this, that, he's like, it's so interesting because you've had so many coach or like different coaches through your career.
But he's like, after every USA's, like you are on the phone with coach mill, like breaking stuff down.
Like he just has been so wonderful and like so kind.
And like, especially on the years, like 2021, 2023, 2024, like the years that have not gone well, he always shoots me a message and is like, let's chat.
And I'll talk to him on my drive back from Eugene to Portland, like without fail.
And it's just so nice. And Max was like, man, that's like just really cool.
Like I just, he like really thinks the world of Milt and I do too.
And he's like, he's just been in your corner for so long, like when stuff hasn't gone well.
And he's like, you've talked to him after races more than coaches you're working with, which is really interesting.
But I just know he's always been in my corner and And anyway, so I'm like, that was great.
And he also was like, I mean, he's so stoked, but wanted to know, he's like, so after every kind of training block and race that I've done this year, he wants to revisit our training.
And he's like, so what do you think went right?
What do you think went wrong? And I think he already has in his mind things, but he wants to hear from me before he says it.
So he said, he's like, what do you think we did that like really went right from, like I did that a 10K in New York that didn't go great.
And he's like, What do you think we did from that until this that like really made you take a big jump and he like wanted to hear from me and then he's like okay, this is what I think and then we like kind of go back and forth about like what worked what we feel like we need to keep in the program if we need to make any tweaks what we feel like the next few weeks would look like.
And then kind of talked about plans and training.
But I just think it's nice. I just feel like it's really collaborative.
And like, I really trust him. He trusts me.
And it's he I mean, he's great. Like he writes the training.
It's not like I'm collaborating on that, but I'm collaborating with like what I feel like I need.
And then if I feel like I'm missing something, if I feel like there's something I really like that I feel like is really helping me.
And he's like, OK, good. That's what I thought, too.
Or like this and that. And that to me is really nice.
And like, he really values me. And he's like, you're, you've been through this, like you have done this for long enough.
He's like, you know, your body, you know, yourself, like, we like I want your feedback in this and what you feel like is really helping and or what's not helping.
So that's been really, really nice. So what will the next few weeks look like?
And actually, before we even talk about that, can you explain to us with world rankings and with the time and all of that, are you definitely going to Tokyo?
I think it's so hard. I don't want to say definitely, but the rankings came out today and Taylor and I are both in the quota.
So I think as of now we're in. So I don't think there's anything, any other 10Ks that would push us out.
But Team USA said they're not selecting their team until September 1st.
So I don't know. I know, which is kind of wild.
So I was like, I don't know if we're not going to know until then or if they're going to let us know before or if like my travel isn't going to get booked until then.
But I'm pretty... like 99.9% positive Taylor and I are both in.
Um, cause we're both in the world rankings quota.
And like, once you take out, like we're in the quota as of now, we are like, at least as the fourth American, I'm the fifth American Taylor's the sixth American, but they're going to take out the top three.
I think USA will put us as one, two, three.
Um, cause like Parker and Weenie and Carissa are in front of us in the rankings now.
So I think we're, but like the three of us are still, we met the criteria.
Okay. That makes sense. None of it makes sense.
It's all confusing. I talk about this for a living and it's confusing still.
There shouldn't be a shred of doubt. You broke the tape.
You should be going 1000%. But thank you for explaining that.
And we'll celebrate again when they make the official announcement.
So based on the assumption that you will be going to Tokyo, what do you know about what the next few weeks will look like for you?
I'm going to head back to Flagstaff on Saturday and be there for just over three weeks just to get a good altitude stint in.
Max is going to be able to come with me the whole time, which is so nice because he has a week off of work and then he has two weeks remote already.
So that'll be great. So we can train there.
He'll be working, but we'll be training.
And then I'll come back to Portland, probably do at least one more good session, maybe like probably like one hard hit and then like a more threshold session.
And then most likely I'll fly like a week out. probably like I race Saturday the 13th so probably fly Saturday the 6th um and then be in Tokyo and stay I'm like I race on Saturday but then I want to stay and I think I'm going to stay to do some stuff maybe with Brooks for a couple of days.
So I want to like watch the marathons and then watch the 15s.
Yeah. And stay and do some stuff. And then maybe Max and I will like tag on another day and do something.
But my parents are going to come out and then my best friend and her husband and their two kids are going to come.
She's text. She like called me and FaceTime me.
And she's like, would it be weird if we came?
I was like, what are you talking about? I would love that.
Yeah. And she's pregnant with her third and she's just like the best.
And she was like, we really regret that we didn't come to Rio and I want to come.
So I'm like, she's just so sweet. And I was like, like crying when I was like, you're going to come.
I was like, I love that. Well, I can't say it enough.
You get what you give. There is a reason you are being so celebrated right now and that people are so excited for you.
It's been so fun just reading comments and seeing who's been posting about you because it's everyone from Sprinters to marathoners to so many everyday runners like you, just by showing up as who you are, you've made such an impact, not just on the sport, but on this world.
And so it's just so fun to get to celebrate you and see you.
I know it's overwhelming, but you deserve all of this love that is coming your way.
Does this feel different from, say, 2015, this outpouring of joy and love?
Does it feel different than celebrations in the past?
Yeah. I mean, I think I also think 2015 because I was so new on the scene and I mean, I had been hurt the prior two years.
So I just I feel like and it was a big surprise.
I feel like that I made the team and then that I meddled and people were so kind for sure.
But I just think I don't know, being in the sport for so long, like you just get to know people.
And I also think people can really relate to having hardships because I'm like, that's what this sport is.
And I'm like, no one gets through unscathed.
Like it's just part of it. Like it's, I wish that didn't happen.
Like I wish no one had to ever deal with hardship or injuries or whatnot, but I'm like, it's just, I don't know people.
I think who've had moments of doubt or struggles and yeah.
Feeling like they're like, well, I ever get back there.
I think have hope, which makes me really happy.
Cause I'm like, I just, I, yeah, I don't know.
I love this sport and I love the people in it.
I love the people I raced against. I love all the fans and it's just like, people are wonderful.
Yeah. Well, we love you and I'm just so happy for you.
This race was awesome to watch that final kick.
I don't know anyone who stayed seated for that.
I was standing and screaming in my living room.
So thank you for giving us all something to be inspired by and something to cheer for and celebrate.
It feels good in this world to just celebrate the good.
So thanks for being the good and congratulations.
And of course, thank you for coming on the show and talking all about it.
We will be cheering for you in Tokyo and beyond.
Well, thanks so much, Allie. It's wonderful to see you.
And I'm really happy and thankful for you because you put that light in the world and you're wonderful.
So it's good to see you. Mutual admiration society.
Thank you for being a part of it. Congratulations.
Thank you. Thank you so much for being here for this episode of the Allie on the Run show with my guest, Emily Infeld.
How much do you love Emily Infeld? So happy to get to do this episode with her and to chat and to catch up.
She's such a fun one to root for. And I'm just loving doing these Post USA's episodes.
I hope you're enjoying them as well. And we've got more to come.
So stick around. Make sure you subscribe to the Allie on the Run show in the podcast listening app of your choice.
Thank you so much to Ufos and to Viore for supporting this episode.
As always, you can find the links, the codes, everything you need to know in the show notes for this episode.
You get those wherever you're listening.
Nice and easy for you. And I just wanted to remind you, you've got this.
You're doing great. And thank you for joining me on the run.
