Run Farther & Faster — The Podcast with Coaches Lisa Levin and Julie Sapper

After discussing some exciting news, including updates on Comrades and the Boston Marathon, Lisa recaps her incredible performance at the 2026 Clarence DeMar Marathon. Spoiler alert-she ran a 3:05 after a summer of easy running in record heat.

Lisa recaps the highs and lows of the weekend, along with how she trained and prepared to run one of her fastest marathons to date.

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Interested in hiring a coach? Email us at julieandlisa@runfartherandfaster.com or head over to our website.

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When is quitting actually the smart choice?

Inspired by New York Times journalist Lindsay Crouse’s new book, The Case for Quitting, we’re talking about something runners often have a hard time doing: knowing when to stop, change course, or as we prefer to call it…pivot.

As runners, we’re taught to be persistent. We celebrate grit, consistency, and pushing through when things get hard. But there are times when continuing with a training plan, workout, race, or specific goal is no longer serving us—and recognizing that isn’t weakness. It can be a sign of...

We are so excited to welcome sports psychologist Dr. Mitchell Greene to talk about the fears we see all the time in runners and, more importantly, how we can learn to work with those fears rather than allowing them to control our training and racing.

We’re diving into some of the biggest fears runners face and how to distinguish between being appropriately cautious and being controlled by fear, and why confidence isn't necessarily the absence of fear.

Dr. Greene shares practical strategies runners can use to keep fear from dictating their de...

You’ve put in the work. The workouts are clicking, your paces are feeling easier, the weather is cooperating, and suddenly you’re wondering if you can do more, should be running more, and/or should be running faster.

In Episode 290, we discuss how to protect a solid training cycle all the way to the start line. When training is going well, it can be just as easy to get derailed by emotion as when things are not going as smoothly.

Feeling strong can lead runners to push paces, add mileage, squeeze in extra workouts, cons...

As we publish this today, August 21st, we are experiencing the first sub 70 degree morning since June. The summer of 2026 has been ridiculously steamy for so many of us around the world, and our running feels tough as a result.

In this episode, we provide ten science-based reasons why your slow, sweaty, and uncomfortable summer runs are serving you well for fall. We also discuss how to optimize your easy days and your speed work to ensure you’re getting the right training stimulus on a particular day.

We ho...

You’ve had a great training cycle…until taper. Your legs feel heavy. You feel a pain you never felt before in your training. You wonder if you will be able to achieve your goal.

In this second episode of a two-part series, we’re tackling the most common sources of runner anxiety that arise before, during, and after a race and sharing how we help athletes separate normal racing stress from legitimate concerns.

We hope that this episode will give you practical strategies to manage the mental side of rac...

You’ve had a great training cycle…until that one bad workout. Your legs feel heavy. Your Garmin tells you you’re “unproductive.” You miss a few runs, head out on vacation, or start comparing your mileage to everyone else’s, and suddenly you’re questioning everything.

In this first episode of a two-part series, we’re tackling the most common sources of runner anxiety that arise during a training cycle and sharing how we help athletes separate normal training stress from legitimate concerns.

We hope that this episode will give you pr...

If you’ve been staring at your weather app wondering whether you should head out the door or stay inside, this episode is for you.

This week, we tackle one of the most common questions we’ve been getting from runners: Should I run when the AQI is high?

Remember:consistency wins over single workouts, and sometimes the smartest training decisions are the hardest.

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Interested in hiring a coach? Email us at julieandlisa@runfartherandfaster.com or head over to our...

After a big announcement and a conversation about recent races, we welcome Cat Fitzgerald, PT, of Custom Performance in New York City , for an important discussion about underfueling, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), and injury risk in runners.

Cat explains how insufficient energy intake can affect recovery, bone health, hormones, performance, and the body’s ability to withstand training. They discuss signs that a runner may be underfueling, why RED-S is not limited to athletes in a particular body type or at a particular level, and how runners can better support their training th...

After graduation, travel, and a run-in with a rodent/mammal, we are back with updates, along with some hot weather racing and training tips!

If your running feels stagnant, the problem may not be your training plan at all. In this episode, we break down ten overlooked factors that can quietly sabotage performance, recovery, and consistency. In this episode, we explore the hidden non-running issues that often prevent runners from reaching their goals.

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Interested in hiring a coach? Email us at julieandlisa@runfartherandfaster.com or head over to our website.

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Special shout out to our friend...

We share a deep love of all things running with our dear friend, Cherie Louise Turner, and decided to get together and talk running and podcasting. Here is part 2!

Cherie is the host of Women’s Running Stories and a competitive masters runner. In this episode we talk about our own running journeys.

Enjoy this fun and lively conversation! 

Mentioned in this Episode

Blanche Moila on WRS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blanche-moila-comrades-marathon-inspiring-change/id1495427631?i=1000473773849

Lisa on...

We share a deep love of all things running with our dear friend, Cherie Louise Turner, and decided to get together and talk running and podcasting. We had so much fun!

Cherie is the host of Women’s Running Stories and a competitive masters runner. In this episode we talk about our podcast journeys as women with running podcasts, and we talk about some of the trends we're seeing in the running world. We also have a brief conversation about hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

We had so much fun in...

We loved co-hosting another live show at the Boston Marathon with our co-host Cherie Louise Turner, host of Women’s Running Stories.

Our phenomenal guests this year did not disappoint. Two days after our live show, Mary and Lisa raced the Boston Marathon. Amazingly, Mary was the third woman to cross the finish line on Marathon Monday, finishing in 2:20 at age 37! Lisa crossed the finish line in 2:32 at age 47!

More about Mary and Lisa:

In addition to being internationally competitive runners, Mary and Lisa al...

Less than 24 hours after we raced, we recap! We ran, we conquered, and now…we sore! Highlights include—some interesting and new logistics, our fueling plans, and how we handled tapering during our busiest weekend of the year.

We know this course, yet each year, we learn something new about the race and ourselves. Congrats to all who ran this storied course on Patriots’ Day! You did that!

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Interested in hiring a coach? Email us at julieandlisa@runfartherandfaster.com.

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In this episode, we break down everything you need to know to run your best Boston Marathon—from race-week preparation to smart execution on race day.

With Boston around the corner, we walk through how to approach the course with confidence: how to handle the early downhill miles, when to start respecting the Newton hills, and how to adjust your effort so you don’t leave your race on the first half of the course. We also cover pacing and how to stay mentally locked in from Hopkinton to Boylston.

We...

After providing some key taper advice, we welcomed back a very special guest, Darren Sapper (Julie’s husband), who has spectated the Boston Marathon ten times.

Darren provides guidance on getting to the spectating spots and how to navigate Boston while with kids.

We appreciate Darren’s support of the podcast and our running and coaching pursuits. Thanks to Darren for joining us.

Darren’s coordinates for spectating spots:

Mile 6.5 in Framingham: 16 Concord St, Framingham, MA 01702 (north...

We’re so thrilled to welcome back the legendary Dave McGillivray, who has served as the Boston Marathon race director since 2001.

Dave breaks down the key changes to this year’s race, offering clarity into what runners can expect with six waves, rather than four, and how to adjust accordingly. Dave also offers course insight and guidance, along with how he’s training for his 54th consecutive Boston Marathon, which he will run with his three children and astronaut Sunita Williams.

As taper begins and nerves set in, Dave shares...

This week we are joined by Run Farther & Faster runner, Beth Colling, who at age 57 ran a 3:43 at the Tokyo Marathon, earning her Six Star Medal. But Beth’s journey to that finish line was anything but straightforward. Just one year ago, after a life-altering health setback, she wasn’t sure she would ever run another marathon.

Instead of stepping away from the sport she loves, Beth turned that uncertainty into opportunity. Through patience, determination, and the support of her community, she rebuilt her fitness and confidence—ultimately crossing the finish line in Tokyo in 3:4...

This week we’re joined by Allison Mercer, a Team USA ultrarunner, championship competitor, and thoughtful voice in the running community, to unpack the controversy that unfolded at the 2026 USATF Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta.

Allison is an accomplished distance runner who has represented the United States at the ultrarunning world championships and competed at national championship events herself. Allison is also a leader in the Atlanta running community and served as the three-hour pacer for the marathon event, which occurred on the same day.

On race day in At...

After watching Alysa Liu skate with pure joy to win gold, we were inspired!

What if we trained and raced the Boston Marathon the same way?

This week, we welcome 13-time Boston marathoner and longtime friend, Ken Trombatore, to break down a practical roadmap for training and racing Boston with joy and gratitude.

Whether your’re chasing a PR, running your first Boston, or simply want to experience Boylston Street with gratitude instead of tension, this episode will help you allow more joy into yo...

In this episode, we break down thirteen powerful, practical, and often overlooked ways to elevate your performance at the Boston Marathon—starting now!

We cover how to make your long runs mimic the unique Boston course profile, why mastering your late start timing can make or break your day, and how to build both the uphill strength and downhill efficiency this course demands. From nailing marathon pace on hilly terrain to practicing real-world fueling strategies (yes, even the scary ones), we share tips you can implement immediately.

Whether you’re a...

If winter miles feel disproportionately hard, you’re not imagining it. Extreme cold changes how your body works and it’s easy to lose confidence in your training.

In this episode, we break down why running in cold temperatures feels harder, even when fitness hasn’t changed. We explore the physiological reasons and how to adjust training intelligently in extreme cold without derailing your plan or forcing paces that don’t make sense. We cover smart modifications for long runs, marathon pace work, and speed sessions, including when to shift to effort-based training, slow paces ap...

Winter weather has a way of blowing up even the most carefully built training plans—and testing our patience right along with it.

In this episode, we talk about how to navigate training when snow and ice make it impossible (or unsafe) to stick to the plan as written. We break down how to adapt workouts without losing fitness, when to swap, shorten, or skip runs, and how to rethink consistency during unpredictable conditions. More importantly, we explore the mindset shift required to stay grounded, motivated, and confident when circumstances are out of your co...

We’re thrilled to welcome Brad Stulberg back to the podcast! Brad, who was featured in episode 183, is a bestselling author, coach, and one of today’s leading voices on sustainable performance and well-being. Frequently featured in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, his newest book, The Way of Excellence—out January 27—explores what it really means to pursue excellence in a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming.

In this conversation, we dig into how Brad defines excellence (hint: it’s not just about winning or grinding harder), and how runners can apply...

In this episode, we sit down with Rena Elmer, mom of 11 , Olympic Trials qualifier, and 2:35 marathoner, to talk about her running journey and pursuing big athletic goals while growing her family.

We discuss resilience, time management, Boston Marathon tips, faith in the process, and the power of showing up for yourself even when life is full. Whether you’re a runner, a parent, or someone chasing a goal that feels just out of reach, Rena’s story will leave you inspired to rethink your limits and keep going!

We love...

Goodbye MyPlate and Hello Food Pyramid. The food pyramid is back —but what does it actually mean for runners? In this episode, we talk with our most frequent guest, registered dietitian, Amy Goldsmith, to break down the newly released food pyramid for runners.

We talk through how the updated recommendations—the positive and negative—impact athletes and what runners should prioritize for training, racing, and recovery. Amy also clears up common misconceptions and explains how energy needs differ for runners versus the general population.

Amy Goldsmith, RD, has worked with h...

Happy New Year! We are so glad to be back podcasting! In this episode, we break down impactful running trends of 2025 and what they taught us about training smarter, staying healthy, and keeping the sport joyful.

From the rise of AI-driven training plans and Garmin obsession, to the continued shift toward fueling awareness, and longevity-focused running, we look at what actually helped runners improve and what quietly led to burnout or injury. We also talk about the cultural side of running in 2025 and why easier paces need to gain more respect on Strava.

We don’t have a car to give away, like Oprah, but we do have a list, like Oprah, of our Favorite Running-Related Things for 2025!

We hope that you enjoy this list as much as we enjoyed creating it. For a full list with links and discount codes to the items we mentioned, head over to our Instagram and check out the Favorite Things link in our profile.

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Interested in hiring a coach? Email us at julieandlisa@runfartherandfaster.com or head ov...

We are thrilled to welcome longtime Run Farther & Faster runner, Dr. Kimberly Baer, a talented runner, dentist, mom and awesome human.

Some may remember Kim's story from last year. She ran the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and ran her lifetime PR there in a time of 3:21. Unfortunately, during that race, she stepped in a pothole and broke her foot--she still has no idea how she finished! As a result, Kim spent several months after the Chicago Marathon NOT running to allow her broken foot to heal with an eye toward her next goal...

Wow what a joyful morning at the Marine Corps Marathon! In this episode, we share a common theme among our most successful runners this season (and what defines success, as it’s not always about time).

After providing last minute Marine Corps Marathon race tips, we welcomed Alan Stroshine, who is the race director of the Clarence DeMar Marathon Weekend. Alan is a lifelong resident of Keene, New Hampshire, and member of the Keene Elm City Rotary Club, which organizes the race weekend events, including the marathon, half marathon, Kids DeMar, and Super Seniors.

Alan shares his journey from runner to race organizer, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create meaningful and memorable race experiences for the marathoners who toe the line in Keene each year.

After Julie shares an exciting update, we take a deep dive into the common patterns we’ve noticed among runners who achieve their marathon goals. Whether you’re chasing a PR or aiming to finish strong, this conversation will help you recognize the building blocks of a successful marathon.

You can find us on Instagram and and Facebook. Looking for coaching? Email us at julieandlisa@runfartherandfaster.com to set up a coaching call. Thanks for listening!

Lisa does it again! In this episode, Lisa shares how she navigated a hot summer of training to then run a hot fall marathon behind a…well…interesting runner. Lisa crossed the finish line of the Clarence DeMar Marathon in 3:13, winning fourth woman overall, and first in her age group. She shares all of the details of her training and racing, including fueling. Whether you are training for a marathon or avoiding one at all costs, you will learn from Lisa’s recap!

You can find us on Instagram and and Facebook. Looking for coachi...

We are so thrilled to welcome American record-holder and now author Keira D’Amato to discuss her brand-new book, Don't Call It a Comeback: What Happened When I Stopped Chasing PRs, and Started Chasing Happiness. Keira shares candid insights into her unconventional journey in running—from stepping away from the sport to becoming one of the fastest marathoners in U.S. history—all while balancing motherhood, a career, and her signature sense of humor.

In our conversation, Keira talks about what inspired her to write the book, the lessons she hopes readers (and runners of all...

In this episode, ,we unpack the official acceptance announcements for the 2026 Boston Marathon—and the surprising cutoff time that left thousands of qualified runners out of the race…again.

Julie shares her own experience of being just nine seconds short of the cutoff, reflecting on the sting and plans moving forward.

We’ll dive into the numbers behind this year’s acceptance statistics, explore why the cutoff landed where it did, and offer practical takeaways for those planning their next BQ attempt.

You can find us...

In this episode, Julie opens up about her race at the Grand Rapids Last Chance BQ.2, a marathon that didn’t go according to plan.

She reflects on:

This is an episode for runners who’s ever had to wrestle w...

How do GLP-1 medications affect training, performance, and recovery? In this episode, we talk with our most frequent guest, Amy Goldsmith, RD, who breaks down the science of GLP-1s, explores the unique challenges they pose for endurance athletes, and shares practical strategies for balancing medication benefits with running goals.

Amy Goldsmith, RD, has worked with hundreds of athletes in her practice, Kindred Nutrition. Amy specializes in sports nutrition and eating disorders and hosts the podcast, Don't Be Foodish. Amy focuses on meeting all her clients where they currently are and focusing on education...

We are back and excited to bring some life and running updates. We hope that this episode resonates with so many of you!

Thanks for listening. If you are inclined to leave a five star review, we would be so grateful!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @runfartherandfaster.

Questions? Email us at julieandlisa@runfartherandfaster.com or head over to our website (www.runfartherandfaster.com).

Please follow, share and review our show!

Lisa recaps her incredible and inspiring week at the National Senior Games and why aging is a privilege!

Thanks for listening. If you are inclined to leave a five star review, we would be so grateful!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @runfartherandfaster.

Questions? Email us at julieandlisa@runfartherandfaster.com or head over to our website (www.runfartherandfaster.com).

Please follow, share and review our show!