The People Run Podcast

49:24

#51 The Running Gamer: From Video Games to a 2:37...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/06/11

Malik J, better known as The Running Gamer, found a way to combine two passions that don't often overlap: running and video games. In this episode, Malik shares how a simple challenge led him into the sport, why he nearly walked away from running after college, and how Detroit's running community helped bring him back. We talk about building a unique identity online, racing two 5Ks in less than 12 hours, traveling to Spain for the Seville Marathon with ASICS, and the lessons he's learned cha...

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54:53

#50 The Secret Behind an OTQ and Elite 15 Hyrox...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/06/09

Olympic Trials qualifier. Elite 15 Hyrox athlete. Most athletes spend their entire careers chasing excellence in one sport. Alyssa McElheny is doing it in two. In this episode, Alyssa shares her journey from spending more than a decade chasing an Olympic Trials qualifier to becoming one of the fastest Hyrox athletes in the world. We talk about finding the sport she was built for, balancing elite marathoning and hybrid racing, and why success often comes from leaning into your strengths r...

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69:41

#49 How Zach Bitter Thinks About Training

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/06/04

In this episode of The People Run Podcast, I sit down with Zach Bitter, one of the fastest 100 mile runners in history, to talk about training, longevity, recovery, and what it really takes to improve over the long term. We dive into why Zach has incorporated cycling into his training, how he thinks about consistency versus hero workouts, and why many runners may be overemphasizing mileage at the expense of quality. Zach also shares his thoughts on recovery, gut training, super shoes, the ev...

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31:47

#48 Inside Cooldown | How Bailey Ness Built One of...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/06/02

Bailey didn’t plan on building one of the biggest run clubs in America. What started as an idea for a running clothing brand eventually turned into Cooldown a community now spanning 18 cities and helping reshape modern run culture. In this episode of The People Run Podcast, Bailey shares how Cooldown accidentally exploded, why run clubs became the new social space, and what it actually takes to build community across cities while keeping the same vibe everywhere. We also talk about the curre...

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60:46

#47 How Kara Built a Life Through Running | Kara Dudley

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/05/29

Kara never planned for running to become her life. Before coaching runners, building a community, and becoming one of the first women to complete all seven World Marathon Majors, she was pursuing dance and theater in New York City while trying to figure out where life was taking her. In this episode, Kara shares the leap from corporate life into coaching full time, the relationships and breakups that shaped her running journey, how she unexpectedly became faster over time, and why running eve...

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70:35

#46 The Heart of the Race | Pro Runner Kasey Knevelbaard

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/05/26

In this episode of The People Run Podcast, Fitz sits down with Under Armour pro runner Kasey Knevelbaard for a conversation on racing, mindset, gratitude, and what it really means to chase your potential in today’s golden era of running. From Team Mission Run Dark Sky and life as a professional runner to racing internationally, injury prevention, shoe innovation, and learning how to stay present in competition, this episode goes far beyond splits and training plans. Chapters 00:00 Chasing T...

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45:08

#45 The Long Way to a 2:15 Marathon | Paxton Smith

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/05/22

Paxton Smith accidentally qualified for the Olympic Trials in his first marathon but the real journey started after that. In this episode, Paxton shares the long process of chasing a 2:15 marathon while balancing full-time teaching, coaching, high mileage training, and life in Miami after running at the University of Colorado. Chapters 00:00 Accidental First Marathon OTQ 05:39 Chasing the Dream at Coloarado 08:30 From Boulder to Miami, Teaching, Coaching & High Mileage 11:57 Failing Forw...

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47:38

#44 How Running on Blades Set Her Free | Tanya...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/05/19

Born in Belarus in the aftermath of Chernobyl, Tanya Khvitsko-Trimb grew up between orphanages, boarding schools, and years of hiding her prosthetic legs from the world. In this episode, Tanya shares her journey from Belarus to the United States, getting her first running blades, discovering freedom through running, and eventually chasing big goals like the Boston Marathon. We also talk about identity, motherhood, recovery from injury, what people misunderstand about disability, and why...

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46:28

#43 How A Civil Engineer Reached HYROX Worlds | Aycan...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/05/15

In this episode of The People Run Podcast, Fitz sits down with Aycan Kara a civil engineer who started running and lifting in her late 20s and is now preparing for the HYROX World Championships. Aycan shares her journey from growing up in Turkey to discovering fitness after moving to the United States, how consistency changed her life, and what it’s been like balancing HYROX training with a full-time engineering career. They talk about overcoming gym intimidation, racing HYROX doubles with he...

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44:37

#42 Running Was Never Mine To Lose | Nell Rojas

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/05/12

Professional runner Nell Rojas joins The People Run Podcast for an honest conversation about identity, recovery, and rebuilding her relationship with running. After stepping away from racing while battling Lyme disease and multiple co-infections, Nell opens up about the physical and mental toll of losing the thing that once defined her, learning how to slow down, and finding perspective through it all. We talk about the road to finally getting answers, how chronic illness changed her relation...

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53:24

#41 What Happens When Keira D’Amato Has to Stop Running

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/05/07

Keira D’Amato has built one of the most inspiring stories in running. From stepping away from the sport to coming back and breaking records, she’s become one of the most respected voices in distance running. But this time… she had to stop. In this conversation, Keira opens up about what it actually feels like when running the thing that gives you purpose, structure, and community is suddenly taken away. From injury and surgery to rebuilding from zero, this is a raw look at identity, patience,...

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46:43

Boston Marathon: 4 Runners, 4 Different Stories

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/04/30

The Boston Marathon means something different to everyone. For some, it’s chasing a PR. For others, it’s years of work just to get to the start line. And for some, it’s something much deeper than the race itself. In this episode, four runners share their Boston experience from completely different perspectives from a 2:31 performance, to a pro debut, to a dream years in the making, to a story of resilience and redemption. Same race. Different journeys. Different meaning. Chapters 00:0...

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55:29

#40 400 Laps. 100 Miles. More Than Just a Race | Sean...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/04/28

There are hard things… and then there’s choosing to run 100 miles in circles. Sean Rhodes is getting ready for the Stoney 100, 400 laps around a track, but this isn’t just about distance. It’s about purpose. It’s about pushing into uncomfortable places and seeing what’s on the other side. We talk about what it actually takes to train for something like this, the mental lows that hit in the middle of an ultra, and what happens when you come out of it stronger than you expected. But this goes d...

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44:59

#39 HYROX Mistakes That Are Holding You Back |...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/04/24

Anthony Di Paolo has done it all Ironman, ultras, and now over 20+ HYROX races, including competing at Worlds. In this episode, we break down what actually matters if you’re trying to get better at HYROX and what most people are getting wrong. From going out too fast on race day, to trying to train everything at once, to the mental side when a race doesn’t go to plan this is a real look at the mistakes, lessons, and adjustments that come with chasing progress in a hybrid sport. If you’re trai...

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54:12

#38 He Wasn’t Supposed to Walk… Now He’s Chasing 100...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/04/21

Scott wasn’t supposed to walk. Now he’s chasing 100 miles. This isn’t a clean, polished story. It’s what it actually looked like growing up being told what he couldn’t do, dealing with how people saw him, and figuring it out the hard way. At one point he stopped going outside. Didn’t want to be seen. Didn’t like what he saw in the mirror. Now he’s training for distances most people won’t even attempt. We talk about the part people don’t see the pain, the judgment, the self doubt and the decis...

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40:26

#37 He Thought Running Was Over… Then Started Again...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/04/17

David stopped running for years after back issues and thought that chapter was over. At 74, he found his way back building a daily run streak and rediscovering something he thought he lost. We talk about what that actually looks like, how he adapted his running, and why showing up every day changed more than just his fitness. Chapters 00:00 Running Again at 74 04:18 How He Runs Every Day Without Breaking 09:17 Defiance 11:47 Family Support and Sharing the Journey 16:53 Reflections on Runnin...

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43:41

#36 Adversity, Discipline, and Chasing a 100 Miler |...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/04/14

In this episode of The People Run Podcast, Fitz sits down with Rio Mata to talk about what it really means to build yourself through adversity. At a young age, Rio faced injuries, family challenges, and isolation. Instead of folding, he found the gym, leaned into discipline, and started chasing something bigger. That path led him into bodybuilding, running, coaching others, and now preparing for one of the toughest 100 mile races in the country. This conversation goes beyond training. It’s ab...

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49:14

#35 What Happens When a Marathon Runner Tries...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/04/10

After years of chasing a sub 3 marathon, Bobby finally hit his goal… and started asking what was next. Instead of doubling down on running, he decided to try something completely different stepping on a bodybuilding stage for the first time. Chapters 00:00 After Sub 3 : What Now? 03:09 Marathoner to Physique Prep 06:26 Can a Runner Build Stage Ready Physique? 09:29 Teaching Himself Bodybuilding (No Coach) 12:09 The Experience on Stage 15:19 Show Day vs Race Day Pressure 18:28 Winning His Firs...

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51:14

#34 D1 HYROX Athlete: What It Really Takes | Eric...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/04/07

Eric went from a D1 basketball background to competing in Hyrox and recently dropped 8 minutes off his time. In this episode, we talk about what actually helped him improve: running on tired legs, speed work, race strategy, and the reality of Hyrox. We also get into balancing training with a full schedule, the mental side of racing, and why you just have to show up and figure it out. Chapters 00:00 4:45 AM Mornings, Coaching & Training Balance 09:05 Sacrifices vs Tradeoffs in Pursuing ...

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49:25

#33 She Works Full Time and Runs at an Elite Level |...

The People Run Podcast ·

2026/03/31

In this episode of The People Run Podcast, I sit down with Amy Hoagland a full time neurosurgery nurse practitioner chasing elite level running while balancing work, family, and everyday life. Chapters 00:00 Amy's Breakout Half Marathon 04:22 130° Sauna Cycling at Hotworx 08:08 Racing Mesa & Catching Elites Runners 10:03 Why Amy Runs 90% of Her Miles on a Treadmill 14:21 Marathon on a Treadmill + Chasing OTQ 18:00 Gaining Weight & Getting faster than Before 24:21 Injury & Finding ...

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