For The Long Run: Exploring the Why Behind Running

By Jonathan Levitt

For The Long Run explores the why behind running.

Since 2019, host Jon Levitt has recorded 500+ conversations with the people who shape endurance sport: Olympians and champions, ultrarunners, coaches,... more

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The podcast currently has 449 episodes available.

Best of For The Long Run: Exploring the Why Behind Running

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Number 1: What Newer Runners Get Right That Veterans Forget with Daniel Berk
Daniel Berk was 32 years old, about 50 pounds overweight, and hadn't sprinted since college when he posted a tweet saying he was going to become a runner. He didn't know what he was doing. His first 5K took 50 minutes. He described himself as a blubbery, slow, out-of-breath whale. And then he just kept going. Two and a half years later he's lost 50 pounds, run four half marathons, and is sixteen weeks out from his first full marathon at Chicago. He's also an entrepreneur, a content creator, a father of two with a third on the way, and someone who thinks about running and business in almost exactly the same terms. This conversation is about what happens when you show up publicly with a goal you're not sure you can achieve — and what that does for you in every other part of life. Topics covered: What pushed Daniel over the edge to start running — a family heart scare and a TikTok His first 50-minute 5K and why he kept going anyway When the runner's high finally hit and why he describes it like a drug Breaking the 30-minute 5K and what that meant to him How the mental game of running mirrors the mental game of entrepreneurship Why he used to downplay his progress and how Jon pushed back on that The Gap and the Gain — looking back at how far you've come versus the gap to where you want to be Being publicly curious and what that's done for his career and his running Chicago marathon prep — training block, fueling experiments, shoe rotation What he's thinking about at the start line with his pregnant wife and two kids waiting at mile markers Chunking as a framework for getting through long runs and hard things What's going through his head the moment he crosses the finish line Support our sponsors: Training Peaks The coaches behind UTMB winners and the athletes you've heard on this show are all using the same platform — and that's not a coincidence. Get 20% off Training Peaks premium with code FTLR here! Boulderthon Whether you're hunting for a PR or just looking for an excuse to visit Colorado in early fall, Boulderthon has a race for you. Register at Boulderthon.org and use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the Half or the Full. Kila makes custom 3D-printed insoles out of super shoe foams, built to your exact feet and shipped straight to your door. Head to kilarun.com and use code FTLR for $50 off your first order.
August 21, 20261h
Number 2: Four Days, 200 Miles, and a Very Long Way Around Tahoe
What happens when 100 miles is no longer far enough? Ekta Basu joins Jon after finishing the Tahoe 200, a journey that took her more than four days and pushed her further than she had ever gone before. She shares how she went from a self-described “mile junkie” with little structure to training intentionally for 200 miles, and why the process taught her as much as the race itself. Ekta takes us inside the highs and very low lows of Tahoe, from early blisters and chasing cutoffs to spending the final 20 miles hunched over with a failing back. She talks about the crew and community that kept her moving, seeing her son cry at the finish line, and the realization waiting for her after 200 miles: everything she needed to keep going was already within her. They also talk about doing hard things, the freedom of running, why every step is a choice, and the curiosity that keeps Ekta wondering just how far she can go. Stay connected: Follow Ekta on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekta_runs/ Support our Sponsors: Boulderthon Whether you're chasing a PR or looking for an unforgettable race weekend, Boulderthon offers a 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon, and kids races in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. Register at Boulderthon.com and use code FTLR2026 to save $20 on your half or full marathon registration. Tifosi Optics From bright sunshine to overcast mornings, Tifosi offers performance eyewear designed for every running condition, with prescription options available as well. Shop at TifosiOptics.com and use code FTLR2026 to save 20% on your order. FlyKitt FlyKitt helps take the jet lag out of travel with a personalized plan built around your specific flight, so you can arrive ready to run, work, or explore. Use code FTLR at flykitt.com.
September 11, 202648min
Number 3: Why Loving the Process Matters More Than Winning the Race
Joe Corcione returns to talk through his Western States race, why he considers it his best race ever despite missing his time goal, and how he defines success through process and effort rather than placement or pace. He also breaks down the mindset tools he used late in the race, the role of sober living and personal growth in his why, and the bigger mission behind Everyday Ultra. This is an interview centered on performance, identity, and purpose, with strong crossover into coaching, business, and community-building. Joe shares the practical and mental framework he uses for racing and for running a business that he believes should change lives, not just improve times. Support our Sponsors: Boulderthon Whether you're chasing a PR or looking for an unforgettable race weekend, Boulderthon offers a 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon, and kids races in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. Register at Boulderthon.com and use code FTLR2026 to save $20 on your half or full marathon registration. Go Brewing This episode is brought to you by Go Brewing, a small family-run brewery outside Chicago making non-alcoholic IPAs, lagers, and hazies that actually taste like beer, with most cans under 60 calories and no added sugar, so try favorites like the Jab Jab Grapefruit IPA, New School Sour Berry, or Baller Melon at gobrewing.com and use code FTLR2026 for 20% off your first order.
August 28, 20261h 6min
Number 4: Grief Is a Long Run: Finding Purpose in the Hard Miles with Emma Zeiger
Emma Zeiger knows a lot about doing hard things and finding meaning in them. After losing her dad when she was nine, Emma eventually found community through Experience Camps, a free camp for children who have lost a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. That experience helped inspire Ghosted by Grief, her podcast and community built around making hard conversations easier to have. Now, after two marathon attempts were derailed by health issues and surgeries, Emma is training for the New York City Marathon while raising money for Experience Camps through her “Grief Is a Long Run” campaign. The idea: grief, like running, isn’t linear. Mile six can feel impossible and mile 19 can feel easy. You just have to keep moving. Emma and Jonathan talk about grief, finding community through endurance sports, the pressure we put on ourselves, and learning to accept what our bodies can do. Ultimately, it’s about doing hard things, finding joy along the way, and making those hard things a little less lonely for someone else. Stay Connected: Emma's Podcast: Ghosted Emma on Instagram Support our Sponsors: Boulderthon: Whether you're hunting for a PR or just looking for an excuse to visit Colorado in early fall, Boulderthon has a race for you. Register at Boulderthon.org and use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the Half or the Full. CEP compression socks and sleeves are built to support runners through the full race experience, from long travel days to race-day miles and post-race recovery. Shop CEP at ceprunning.com and make compression part of your next race plan. FlyKitt helps take the jet lag out of travel with a personalized plan built around your specific flight, so you can arrive ready to run, work, or explore. Use code FTLR at flykitt.com.
September 18, 202657min
Number 5: Des Linden on Building a Media Business After Boston
Quick note before you press play. This conversation with Des Linden first aired on Long Run Labs, my podcast about the business of endurance and the outdoor industry. Des is one of the most thoughtful people in running when it comes to how athletes can build something lasting beyond their competitive years, so I figured her story was worth putting in front of the For the Long Run audience too. Des Linden won the 2018 Boston Marathon in one of the most iconic performances in the history of the race. But this conversation is not about that day. It is about what she has built since and how she thinks about the next chapter. Des and Jon chat about: how Des started seeing the business side of running as early as 2011 what twenty years of loyalty with Brooks actually looks like in practice why winning Boston in 2018 gave her permission to flip the switch her transition to trail and why she is entering that space carefully why gravel running might be the most underrated opportunity in the sport right now the financial literacy gap in professional running and why it matters what she would tell a current athlete who wants to build something beyond competition the one brand she has not pitched yet but absolutely should Support our sponsors: Training Peaks The coaches behind UTMB winners and the athletes you've heard on this show are all using the same platform — and that's not a coincidence. Get 20% off Training Peaks premium with code FTLR here! Boulderthon Whether you're hunting for a PR or just looking for an excuse to visit Colorado in early fall, Boulderthon has a race for you. Register at Boulderthon.org and use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the Half or the Full. Tifosi Optics From bright sunshine to overcast mornings, Tifosi offers performance eyewear designed for every running condition, with prescription options available as well. Shop at TifosiOptics.com and use code FTLR2026 to save 20% on your order. Kila makes custom 3D-printed insoles out of super shoe foams, built to your exact feet and shipped straight to your door. Head to kilarun.com and use code FTLR for $50 off your first order.
August 14, 20261h 20min