Michele Gonzalez, best known as NYC Running Mama, is a Staten Island-based mother, runner, marathoner, Ironman, and Instagram superstar. On this episode, Michele and I talk about how she’s feeling as she gets ready to run the Boston Marathon, what her training has been like, and what she did differently this time around. Michele also talks about her time at West Point and in Iraq (she served three times overseas and trained for a marathon on her base!), how she found running and ran through her pregnancies, what her daily diet is like, and what her life is like as a full-time working mom to two cute boys, AJ and Ryan. Plus, she talks about how she actually makes those daily 4 AM workouts happen, how she handles social media pressure, and what her big goals are for the future — on the run and beyond. Stuff We Mention on the Show: Boston Marathon: http://www.baa.org/ Michele’s New York City Marathon recap: http://www.nycrunningmama.com/2016/11/14/2016-nyc-marathon-race-recap/ Michele’s coach, Mary Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/itsamarython/ McKirdy Trained: http://mckirdytrained.com/ Michele’s post about how she views pain: https://www.instagram.com/p/BSPivP-hHq2/ Michele’s New Jersey Marathon recap: http://www.nycrunningmama.com/2013/05/06/initial-thoughts-on-nj-marathon-failure/ Michele’s Philadelphia Marathon recap: http://www.nycrunningmama.com/2013/11/18/2013-philadelphia-marathon-lesson-on-not-quitting/ Michele’s Ironman Lake Placid recap: http://www.nycrunningmama.com/2013/08/01/ironman-lake-placid-race-recap/ West Point: http://www.usma.edu/SitePages/Home.aspx Foot Locker 5-Borough Challenge: https://www.facebook.com/FootLockerFiveBoroughChallenge/ Generation UCAN: https://www.generationucan.com/ Airbnb Brooklyn Half: http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2017/airbnb-brooklyn-half United Airlines NYC Half: http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2017/united-airlines-nyc-half Brooklyn Mile: http://www.brooklynmile.com/ Follow Michele: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nycrunningmama/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYCRunningMama/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nycrunningmama Blog: http://www.nycrunningmama.com/ Follow Ali: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliontherun1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliontherun1 Blog: http://www.aliontherunblog.com/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/13333410 Thank you for listening to and supporting the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on iTunes. Spread the run love!