“I don’t know what the year will bring, but I know I’m going to keep showing up for myself and for all of you.”

In 2021, I released 165 episodes of the Ali on the Run Show with 134 different guests. I welcomed 10 new sponsors to the show, and maintained a strong partnership with eight longtime sponsors. In addition to the "hallmark" Thursday conversations, there was a steady stream of fun series options to choose from, including Love on the Run, On the Job, Ask Ali, What's New With You, Just Missed, Ramblings on the Run, and The Everyday Runner. After a long, pandemic-induced break, I was thrilled to return to in-person live shows in both Boston and New York City, and I hosted two virtual live shows earlier in the year. In October, the show surpassed 10 million downloads. November saw the show's single highest week of downloads, and became the show's highest-ever month of downloads. I hired a new member of the Ali on the Run Show team, and finally (finally!) created and sold merchandise.

It wasn't an easy year. We were — and still are — in this pandemic. I'm still recording all of my episodes remotely, without having face-to-face conversations with the guests. I'm still trying to do a better job of navigating my role in the running industry's problems with racism and representation, and on this episode, you'll hear me acknowledge where I feel I fell short this year.

Today, I offer my annual State of the Ali on the Run Show, reflecting on the past, present, and future of this podcast. I'm here (solo today, and returning with guests next week) to look back on 2021, sharing both the by-the-numbers and beyond-the-numbers looks at the past year. I touch on my personal highlight reel from 2021, and revisit my 2021 goals. I share some key takeaways from the year-end listener survey (thank you to the thousand of you who participated!), and share what you can expect from this show in 2022.

SPONSOR: Shokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you’ll get on this episode:

• The Ali on the Run Show in 2021, by the numbers (2:20)
• Revisiting my 2021 goals (42:50)
• Key takeaways from the 2021 Ali on the Run Show year-end listener survey (51:30)
• What you can expect from the Ali on the Run Show in 2022 (1:05:15)

Follow Ali:

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