The People Run Podcast
The People Run Podcast is about the lives behind the miles.Hosted by Fitz Mayi, this show features real conversations with runners at every level from pros to parents, coaches to community builders about training, identity, discipline, setbacks, ambition, and what the sport gives back.Every runner has their own world. This is where we step into it.
#80 He Traded Heavy Lifting for a 2:29 Marathon | Matthew Paulson
Matthew Paulson was focused on lifting heavy when he decided to run his first marathon in 2023. After a humbling 3:51 finish, he returned with a different commitment to running and eventually ran 2:29 in Berlin.
In this episode, Matthew shares how his training evolved from all out mile repeats and punishing hill sessions to a more deliberate approach with a coach. We discuss building toward 100 mile weeks, keeping easy runs easy, and racing shorter distances to become a faster marathoner.
He also takes us through Berlin: the nerves before the start, a pacing mistake, and the painful...
#79 One Year to His First IRONMAN 70.3 | Eloi Boisteau
Eloi Boisteau could barely swim a length of the pool when he committed to his first IRONMAN 70.3. One year later, he finished in 4:48.
In this episode, Eloi shares how watching a friend race led him to take up triathlon, learn to swim, and build a training routine around school. We talk about the doubts, sacrifices, and support behind that first finish and what a difficult race at Mont Tremblant taught him about pacing and expectations.
We also get into his 24-hour challenge covering 100 kilometers on a frozen lake in Quebec, his 2:58 marathon debut, and his...
#78 How Seb Hansen Ran a 2:27 Marathon
Seb Hansen broke three hours in his tenth marathon. A little over two years later, he ran 2:27:15 in Berlin.
In this episode, we explore what changed: his ambition, his training, and how much of his life he was willing to dedicate to getting faster.
Seb breaks down weeks reaching 170 kilometers, adding double threshold sessions, and fitting the work around a full-time job. We discuss fueling, recovery, and why he’s become more comfortable adjusting workouts instead of forcing every target pace.
He also shares what he learned training in Iten, Kenya, how he fo...
#77 Building Lauderdale Run Club with Punk on the Run
What are run clubs really building?
Chris, known as Punk on the Run, moved from Canada to Fort Lauderdale without knowing anyone. He wanted people to run with and a place where the connection continued after the miles. That idea became Lauderdale Run Club.
In this episode, we talk about building a club’s identity, bringing brands into the community, and what giving back actually looks like. Chris shares his perspective on gatekeeping, running influencers, and the motivations behind the run club boom.
We also get into his background in fashion photography, a 100 mi...
#76 How an Olympian Balances a Full-Time Job and High-Mileage Training | Ruben Sança
Olympian Ruben Sança has spent nearly three decades competing at a high level, all while balancing a full-time career, family, and demanding training.
Originally from Cape Verde, Ruben shares his journey from a childhood marked by asthma to representing his country at the Olympics.
We discuss how he manages high-mileage training alongside his role as an executive director, the importance of patience and consistency, adapting as he approaches 40, and why he believes his best running may still be ahead.
We also look ahead to the New York City Marathon, his ambitions for a...
#75 He's a Double Amputee Who Ran a 2:58 Marathon and First to Finish Leadville 100 | Brian Reynolds
From hiding his prosthetics growing up to running a 2:58 marathon and finishing the Leadville 100, Brian Reynolds has spent years discovering what he's capable of.
After losing both legs below the knee to meningitis at age four, Brian never imagined endurance running would become part of his life.
In this episode of The People Run Podcast, we talk about his first steps into endurance sports, the challenges of running with prosthetics, and the years of training, fueling, and adaptation it took to break three hours in the marathon.
We also get into his four...
#74 Army Ranger Dylan Truesdale Lost an Eye in a Crash. Then He Started Running Ultras.
Dylan Truesdale served as an Army Ranger before eventually leaving the military. Later, a devastating car crash changed the course of his life. He lost his right eye, suffered lasting damage to his remaining vision, and had to rebuild from a point where even basic movement looked completely different. What followed wasn’t a straight-line comeback. It was a decision to find out what he was still capable of.
That decision eventually led Dylan to ultramarathons, a 3:03 marathon, HYROX, heavy strength training, and a life built around doing difficult things with purpose. In this conversation, he talks ab...
#73 What Does It Take to Become One of the World's Best Marathoners? | Zouhair Talbi
What does it really take to become one of the best Marathoners in the world?
Zouhair Talbi joins The People Run Podcast for a conversation about the years of work, belief, sacrifice, and environment behind competing at the highest level of distance running.
Fresh off winning the Great North Run in 59:47, Zouhair reflects on his journey from Morocco to becoming one of America's top distance runners, and why his ambitions now extend far beyond his accomplishments so far.
We talk about the mindset required to compete against the world's best, how training alongside...
#72 1:11 in His First Half Marathon | João’s Copenhagen Follow Up
João returns to The People Run after making his half marathon debut at the Copenhagen Half Marathon, running 1:11:58.
We talk about why the race became the hardest effort of his life, fighting through the final kilometers, losing his bib mid-race, finishing second in his age group, and what he learned about himself when things started to hurt.
João also shares what life has been like since moving to the UK to study sports science at St. Mary’s, why he chose recovery over another race, and what comes next as he turns his focu...
#71 “I Am A Runner”: Living and Racing With Cystic Fibrosis | Katie O' Grady
“I Am a Runner”: Living and Racing With Cystic Fibrosis | Katie
Katie O’Grady has spent much of her life trying to answer one question: How far can she go?
Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at six years old, Katie found running alongside her dad and discovered a talent that would eventually earn her a college scholarship. But repeated infections, pneumonia, hospital stays, and the loss of her mother continually interrupted the running career she wanted to pursue.
Through it all, Katie never stopped seeing herself as a runner.
In this conversation, Katie...
#70 Going All In Hyrox Elite 15 | Fran Kilinski
Fran Kilinski is all in on the pursuit of HYROX Elite 15.
At 32, Fran is chasing a place among the sport’s elite while navigating the demands of training, racing, and life outside competition. He’s even left his second job to give himself more room to pursue that goal.
In this episode of The People Run Podcast, we get into his journey through running and HYROX, what it takes to compete at this level, the decisions he’s made along the way, and what he’s learning as he pushes toward Elite 15.
Every runner h...
#69 How a Middle School Teacher Became a 2:54 Marathoner | Adriana Prince
Adriana Prince is a full time middle school teacher, a 2:54 marathoner, and a runner who regularly logs 70-90 miles a week. But what makes her story interesting isn't just how much she runs. It's how much she loves doing it.
In this episode of The People Run Podcast, Adriana shares how she found her way into running, stepped away from competitive racing, and rediscovered the joy that eventually led her to a sub three hour marathon. We get into her early morning routine, balancing training with teaching, learning when to back off, and the role faith and...
#68 He's Only 19 and Runs a 32-Minute 10K | João Souza
At 16 years old, João Guilherme left Brazil for the UK and found himself navigating a new country, school, training, and stretches of living on his own.
Running had only recently entered his life. What started as 20-minute treadmill runs eventually became something much bigger. Three years later,
João is 19, has run 32:17 for 10K, is preparing for his first half marathon in Copenhagen, and is about to begin studying sports science at St Mary’s University surrounded by one of the strongest running environments in the UK.
João shares how running gave hi...
#67 70 Mile Weeks, 5AM Runs & Fatherhood | Gio Cerisier
At 25, Gio Cerisier is balancing 70 mile weeks, 5AM runs, a full-time job, marriage, and fatherhood all while chasing the fastest times of his life.
Gio shares how a self-funded trip to Flagstaff changed what he believed was possible, his progression from a 17-minute 5K runner to running 69:50 in his first half marathon, and how he rebuilt after hernia surgery. He also breaks down his approach to double-threshold training, fast long runs, and why he refuses to prove his fitness in workouts.
But running is only part of the story. Gio opens up about becoming a...
#66 4 Olympics. 2 Sports. What’s Next? | Chirine Njeim
Chirine Njeim spent most of her life as a ski racer, representing Lebanon at three Winter Olympic Games before eventually walking away from the sport that had defined her.
Then she found running.
What started as a new challenge quickly became something much bigger, eventually taking Chirine back to the Olympics this time as a marathoner.
Chirine joins Fitz to talk about starting over in a new sport, chasing the Rio Olympics, representing Lebanon, taking on seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, and why after four Olympics she’s still asking: ...
#65 Behind the Lens: The Side of Sport We Don’t See | Audrey Helle
What does a photographer see that the rest of us miss?
Fitz sits down with Audrey Helle, a Sport editorial photographer, to talk about the way she sees athletes through her lens from HYROX and track to boxing and other high-intensity sports.
Audrey shares why she shoots primarily in black and white, how she uses harsh light to her advantage, why she scouts venues before shooting, and how she looks for the vulnerable, emotional moments athletes don’t always want people to see.
They also talk about how street photography shaped he...
#64 A Brain Aneurysm Nearly Took His Life. Now He’s Running NYC | Polow Lynn
In 2023, Polow suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm while out on a run.
He woke up in the hospital days later, spent weeks in the ICU, and had to relearn how to walk before he could even think about running again. The first attempts back were brutal tears, panic, fear that it could happen again, and the question of whether he would ever feel like himself as a runner again.
Eventually, he kept showing up.
Polow talks about the emotional side of recovery, survivor’s guilt, therapy, the first runs he couldn’t finish, and t...
#63 100 Mile Weeks, 12-Hour Shifts & Running a 2:28 Marathon | Madey Dickson
Madey is a 2:28 marathoner chasing even bigger goals while working full time as a nurse and regularly training up to 100 miles per week.
In this episode, we talk about how she balances 12 hour hospital shifts with high level marathon training, 4 a.m. runs, and the discipline required to make it all work. Madey shares how working in healthcare has changed her perspective on running, why she refuses to take her health for granted, and how she’s learned to race more aggressively and “close the gap.”
Fueling 100 mile weeks, body image in distance running, recovery, relati...
#62 He Quit His Job to Chase Sub-2:10 & Race the Best | Joey Whelan
Joey Whelan was running 2:13 - 2:15 marathons while balancing running with work when he decided he had one more shot to see how good he could become. With the support of his wife, he quit his job, went all in on running, and eventually broke 2:10.
Joey talks about what changed when running became his full time pursuit, racing multiple marathons a year, recovering quickly enough to keep coming back, and what each race has taught him. We get into Berlin's brutal heat, winning and setting course records, representing Team USA, training at 100+ miles per week, and the small d...
#61 Emily Durgin: When Will I Feel Like Myself Again? | Injury, Recovery & 2028
Emily Durgin has been a U.S. champion, finished ninth at the 2024 Olympic Trials, and spent years consistently improving and competing at the highest level. Then an injury changed the rhythm of everything.
Emily opens up about the past year and a half of trying to feel like herself again. She shares what it was like racing at 85%, questioning whether her best years were behind her, and eventually deciding that continuing to push through wasn't worth sacrificing a full recovery.
We talk about the mistakes she's made returning from injury, learning when to stop forcing...
#60 She Qualified For Hyrox Worlds In Under A Year | Courtney Hayre
Less than a year after signing up for her first HYROX, Courtney qualified for the HYROX World Championships.
In this episode, Courtney shares how she balances a full-time career, family life, and training while chasing her potential. We talk about qualifying for Worlds, running a sub 40 10K, training 15+ hours a week, fueling, recovery, and the mindset that's helped her improve so quickly.
Whether you're training for HYROX, running your next race, or simply trying to fit big goals into a busy life, there's something in this conversation for you.
Chapters<...
#59 Why Running Never Leaves You | Deena Kastor
Olympic medalist, author, and lifelong runner Deena Kastor joins The People Run Podcast.
We talk about how her relationship with running has evolved, why joy matters more than chasing personal bests, what keeps her running today, the growth of the running community, writing Let Your Mind Run, and the lessons running continues to teach her decades after standing on the Olympic podium.
If you’ve ever wondered why we keep coming back to running, this conversation is for you.
Enjoy the episode....
#58 This Wasn't the Plan: From 3:15 to a 2:46 Marathon | Sydney Levenfeld
Sydney Levenfeld never expected running to change the direction of her life.
After being diagnosed with epilepsy in 2020, running became a safe space during a difficult period. What started as a way to cope eventually led to a 3:15 debut marathon in Chicago, a growing belief in what she was capable of, and ultimately a 2:46 marathon PR.
Sydney joins the podcast to talk about finding confidence through running, her rapid marathon progression, learning to love the training process, the workouts that helped her improve, racing Chicago, Boston and Eugene, and the...
#57 This Professor is a 2:13 Marathoner | Kristoffer Mugrage
What does it take to balance teaching at a university while running a 2:13 marathon?
In this episode, I sit down with Kristoffer Mugrage a professor at Adams State University, sports psychology lecturer, and one of America's top marathoners. We dive into the mindset, consistency, and training principles that have helped him become an elite marathoner while balancing a demanding career outside the sport.
We talk about Boston Marathon, running 120+ mile weeks, altitude training, fueling, sports psychology, managing stress, confidence, and why enjoying the process might be the biggest key to long term improvement.
...
#56 He Had One Month of Rent Left... Then Under Armour Called | David Mullarkey
David Mullarkey left the Isle of Man to chase a dream that most people thought was impossible. After moving across the world to compete in the NCAA, spending months without a sponsor, and burning through his savings with only one month of rent left, he finally got the email that changed everything—Under Armour was signing him as a professional runner.
In this conversation, David shares what it was really like leaving home, adapting to life in America, competing in the NCAA, coaching himself after college, racing for Great Britain, and why patience has be...
#55 Born With One Arm. Couldn’t Swim 15 Feet. Now He’s Racing 140.6 Miles. | Casey Watson
He Couldn’t Swim 15 Feet. Now He’s Racing 140.6 Miles | Casey Watson
Born With One Arm. Couldn’t Swim 15 Feet. Now He’s Racing 140.6 Miles.
Casey Watson once jumped into a pool believing his marathon fitness would carry him through a lap. Fifteen feet later, he was standing up, out of breath, and realizing he had no idea how to swim.
That moment became the start of something much bigger.
In this episode, Casey shares how he taught himself to swim, adapted a bike h...
#54 Run Clubs, Hyrox & The Search For Community | Olivia Cox
This week on The People Run, I’m joined by Olivia, a former British Army soldier, fitness presenter, runner, and HYROX athlete.
We talk about the rise of run clubs, why HYROX has exploded in popularity, and what so many people are really searching for when they sign up for races, join a community, or take on hard challenges.
Along the way we discuss Olivia’s path from the Army into fitness media, how running became more than exercise, racing around the world, the culture surrounding HYROX, social media authenticity, and why community might be the...
#53 From Paralysis to Leadville 100 | Sean Casey
At 13 years old, Sean Casey was told he may never walk again.
After being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, Sean went from playing football with his friends to spending 94 days in the hospital, learning how to walk, use his hands, and rebuild his life from the ground up. Just as he recovered, he faced another serious illness that put him back in the hospital.
Today, Sean is running marathons, chasing a sub-3, and taking on one of the toughest races in the world: Leadville 100.
In this episode, Sean shares his journey through paralysis, recovery, i...
#52 How Far Can We Push Our Potential? | Stefanie Corgel
Stefanie Corgel is a runner, strength coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Good Pain LA. In this conversation, we discuss her journey from college strength coach to online fitness entrepreneur, what marathon training has taught her about longevity, and why getting faster sometimes means staying healthy rather than pushing harder.
We dive into injuries, marathon majors, Boston and New York, chasing ambitious goals without losing yourself in the process, and the lessons learned from nearly blacking out during the London Marathon. Stef also shares her approach to strength training for runners, balancing performance with long term health, and...
#51 The Running Gamer: From Video Games to a 2:37 Marathon | Malik Jordan
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 chasing faster times.
Most importantly, Malik explains why runners get into...
#50 The Secret Behind an OTQ and Elite 15 Hyrox Athlete | Alyssa McElheny
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 rather than forcing a path that isn't meant for you.<...
#49 How Zach Bitter Thinks About Training
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 evolution of endurance sports, and what he’s learned after years of competing and co...
#48 Inside Cooldown | How Bailey Ness Built One of America’s Biggest Run Clubs
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 current running boom, modern run culture, brand partnerships, and what’s next for Cooldown.
...
#47 How Kara Built a Life Through Running | Kara Dudley
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 eventually became about freedom more than performance.<...
#46 The Heart of the Race | Pro Runner Kasey Knevelbaard
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 The Best Version of Yourself
03:11 Why Running Times Keep Getting Fa...
#45 The Long Way to a 2:15 Marathon | Paxton Smith
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 Forward Toward 2:15 Marathon
20:54 Japanese vs. Kenyan Running Culture
23:27 Inside Iten: The Home Of Champions
25:48...
#44 How Running on Blades Set Her Free | Tanya Khvitsko-Trimb
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 she wants to be seen as more than just “inspiring.”
This is one of the most honest and powerful conversations we’ve had on...
#43 How A Civil Engineer Reached HYROX Worlds | Aycan Kara
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 her boyfriend, training for her first marathon, chasing big goals while staying realistic, an...
#42 Running Was Never Mine To Lose | Nell Rojas
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 relationship with running, fear and validation in elite sport, signing with Altra during recovery, coaching athletes through breakthrough moments...
#41 What Happens When Keira D’Amato Has to Stop Running
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, patien...
