At the tender age of 23, Annie Hughes burst onto the Ultrarunning scene like a supernova! She won the brutal and storied Leadville 100 and Moab 240 and was ranked 3rd Ultrarunner of the Year by UltraRunning Magazine.

Annie resides in Leadville, CO, and became the race's youngest winner—made sweeter still by running in front of her friends, family, and local community. Annie feels blessed that Hoka took a gamble on her and signed her and it looks like Hoka made a great addition to their pro roster!

Annie is a fierce competitor fueled by exploring her limits, trying to find out just how far her feet and mind can take her. She is on a quest. Next up is the Cocodona250 and I'm stoked to follow!

We discuss: her start in running, moving to the mountains, running at Adams State, burnout, climbing all 58 of the 14ers, moving to Leadville, finishing school, finding Ultra, the Silver Rush 50 Miler, qualifying for the Leadville 100, her 160M Collegiate Loop FKT, the Leadville 100, recovery, the Moab240, running at night, sleep-running, managing sleep in multi-day races, and her recovery strategy for the Cocodona250

My favorite parts from this conversation were Annie taking us out there on the courses at Leadville and Moab, sharing all the highs and lows of those two epic races! I'm so stoked to continue to follow Annie's exciting Ultra running journey!

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Annie:

Instagram: @outdoorable_annie

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

Meet Sam Roecker, nurse and sub-2:30 marathoner! Sam will be toeing the line at the 126th Boston Marathon in Moxie scrubs to support the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers. Sam will try to break the Guinness Book of Records marathon time of 3:08 while running in nursing scrubs to raise awareness and funds for the American Nurses Association for their well-being initiative.

When Sam's physician assistant friend's NYC Pediatric Hospital was converted to an adult COVID care unit to accommodate the overflow, she put her life on the line to care for patients. She now suffers from PTSD, anxiety, and depression as do so many others. When Sam couldn't find resources to help, she decided to combine her two passions to raise money and awareness.

We also discussed: running at Providence College, CIM, US Marathon Champs, Pan American Games (5th in Lima, Peru, repping the US), and going sub-2:30 at the Marathon Project

The funds Sam will raise will go towards the American Nurses Foundation's Well-Being Initiative programs, supporting the mental health and wellness of Registered Nurses in the United States. Program support includes complementary therapy resources, expressive writing programs, financial consulting, podcasts and mobile apps dedicated to mental health and well-being, as well as content dedicated to grief and bereavement.

You can find more information at: https://givetonursing.networkforgood.com/projects/152794-samantha-roecker-marathon-fundraiser

Kudos to Sam for taking action on this important initiative! If you see her out there on Marathon Monday give her some well-deserved love!

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Sam:

Instagram: @samroecker

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

Jana Fridrichová—the Mountain Running Mama—has been on FIRE of late, winning and setting course records at the Martin's Mill Covered Bridge 5 Miler & Buck Ridge Burn Trail 1/2 Marathon on the same weekend! Jana also recently completed her milestone 50th Ultra at the Terrapin Mountain 50K, with 7K of climbing, where she also placed 1st with a time of 4:55!

After divorcing, Jana made the brave decision to make a counseling appointment to address her years of stress drinking to try and escape her marital problems. She was down, not feeling good about herself, and knew something needed to change. Those sessions changed everything. It has been 6-plus years of sobriety and it has helped her to feel happy, healthy, and embrace self-love. Those changes also led to her finding more joy in her running and in life, where she is one of the most positive people you will ever meet.

We discuss: growing up in the mountains of Slovakia, finding running, divorce, facing her stress-drinking, counseling, getting healthy, happy, embracing self-love, best race performances, the JFK50, meeting Melissa, being inspired, channeling her spirit & legacy, mindset, mental strength, mantras, becoming unbreakable, injuries, cross-training, rehab, her fire, passion, & drive, inspiring others in her community, community service, Girls on the Run, race volunteering

I'm so happy our paths crossed at the JFK 50 Mile Race, where Jana has run 7:57, come in 8th place, and INSPIRED so many in her local community of Hagerstown, MD.

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Jana:

Instagram: @jafriruns

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

It was an absolute honor and a blast to host this convo with world-class entertainer, mentalist/mind reader, and Emmy winner, Oz Pearlman. When Oz isn't blowing the minds of audiences around the world, he is an avid marathon and ultra-marathon runner, having completed such grueling races as the Badwater 135 Miler, Hawaii Ironman World Championships, Western States 100, and Spartathlon. Oz ran a 2:29 in the 50th NYC Marathon, placing 33rd overall, and holds a 2:23 Marathon PR!

On 4/8/2022, Oz is trying to break the record for most miles ever run in a day around Central Park since it was founded in 1858. This means running over 100 miles nonstop from 6am to 1am, over and over around one of the most iconic loops on the planet.

He is running in support of the Save the Children Ukraine Relief Fund (you can donate here). Oz matched the first $10K donated and has a goal of raising $100K! For NYC locals and run clubs, home base will be at Engineers Gate, 90th & 5th, come on out and share some miles for a great cause!

We discuss: running with purpose, the NYC Marathon, Sparthalon, Badwater 135, his training approach for the Central Park FKT record attempt, his 'why', nutrition, his upcoming appearance on the Rich Roll Podcast, Adam Skolnick, David Goggins, power couple Mike Halovatch and Kate Pallardy, the Keys 100, and much more.

My favorite part was getting my mind read at the end of the episode... and having it be FULLY blown!

I'm rooting hard for Oz to get it DONE and raise that $100K!

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Oz:

Instagram: @ozthementalist

Website: https://ozpearlman.com/

Donate to Oz's record-breaking 100 mile run for Save the Children: https://gofund.me/fa51fa12

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

Sarah Cummings' running has been on fire of late, so much so that she was named the #5 2021 UltraRunner of the Year by UltraRunning Magazine after her stellar season. Her signature moment came at the JFK 50 Mile against a stacked field where she scorched a 6:18 to win, running the 3rd fastest time in the race's storied history! Sweet revenge for the year prior in her 50M debut at JFK, where she and a small group made a wrong turn early, before gamely battling all the way back to 2nd place behind legend Camille Herron.

Sarah is a 2X Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier with a 2:34PR, a 3X member of Team USA (Road 50K 2X, Pan American Games Marathon), and ultramarathon trail runner. In August of 2020, she took a two-week trip to Park City, UT with her sister, Marisa, which became permanent when she realized she had an undercover addiction to the mountains and sunshine. They connected with the Park City trail running community, who really helped them learn the trail system and expose them to mountain running. Sarah struggled at first but was motivated to learn and improve, quickly becoming hooked on the views, exposure to nature, and the completely different feel on the trails. She had found home.

We discuss: her move to Park City, the Grand Canyon Reunion Run, the idea to attempt the JFK50 without telling anyone, the 2020 & 2021 JFK races with her sister crewing, her storybook ending, celebrating at JFK, signing with Brooks, her coaching connection and approach with Hayden Hawks, hiking, poles, wildlife, safety, learning the ropes on trails, her next goal race, her competitive drive, the toughest hole she's ever had to dig out of and it being a transformative experience that changed her perspective on running, coaching in the community, gaining new perspective and joy from her kids, community, mentorship, and her work as the treasurer of the Board of Friends of Princeton Track

I'm so stoked to follow Sarah's amazing running journey moving forward!

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Sarah:

Instagram: @sarahccummings

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

Yulady Saluti is one of the strongest people you will ever meet. Over a 10-year period, she endured 27 abdominal surgeries for colorectal pain, trying to correctly diagnose the source. She suffered severe pain, infections, adhesions, constipation, and the inability to have regular bowel movements, finally resolved by clearing a large intestinal blockage of scar tissue on the 27th procedure. She could finally breath normally and opted to keep her colostomy bag for life to mitigate potential infections.

Then, breast cancer came calling and Yulady decided to share her journey with the world. Blogging, posting photos & videos of the emotional rollercoaster ride of highs and lows, connecting and building out a powerful, supportive community helped saved her. Her husband Gerald is her rock and biggest supporter. Despite the scarring and PTSD from all of it, she has learned to look past her scars and poop bag, to see beyond convention and love herself.

Fast forward & Yulady discovered running during the pandemic—running on her Peloton at first with Becs' Beasts, finding yet another strong community to tap into. Progressing to the roads where she WON her first 5K, placed 2nd in the Atlantic City 1/2 Marathon, running 1:27:05, and running 3:12 in her debut marathon at Philly!

As I'm typing this post for our POD drop, she just won 1st place in the 3000M at the Armory in NYC, running for Bella N Motion at the USATF Masters National Championships! In a word, AMAZING!

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Yulady:

Instagram: @yulady

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

Megan Flynn is resilience redefined, overcoming SIX stress fractures in her high school and college running years and one post-collegiately before a monster breakthrough at CIM, where she scorched a 2:46 marathon! That many injuries could've broken the will of even the most hardcore runner, but only served to strengthen Megan's resolve and send her on a quest to learn more about anatomy and nutrition, influencing her to pursue a career as a DPT, physical therapist.

Growing up in a close-knit, super competitive family no doubt forged her competitive fires. Megan radiates positive energy and is excited about the opportunity to take a big swing at the new Olympic Trials marathon standard of 2:37, either returning to CIM or the Philadelphia Marathon in the fall. Megan recently joined Garden State Track Club, where she looks forward to racing on the track, developing her speed, and having fast friends to accompany her on long runs in her buildup.

We discuss: family life, the competitive fire, mentors, injuries, nutrition, Inside Tracker, mindset—staying positive through all of it, getting healthy & stronger, breaking through, mantras, future goals, community service, and so much more.

I'm so stoked to follow Megan's inspiring journey! Hope you all enjoy her infectious energy as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Megan:

Instagram: @meganflynn02

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

This episode image of Stefanie Flippin effortlessly flying through the air truly epitomizes Hoka's slogan, 'Time To Fly'! Stefanie Flippin is a dynamo with a huge heart, and channels it to power through long days as a foot and ankle surgeon, pro-athlete for Hoka, running coach with Lift Run Perform, and someone deeply invested in her community.

She developed her love for trails and the mountains running with her dad at 7-years-old, watching him float over the hills, then come back down to get her and finish together. It wasn't until medical school that Stefanie started taking her running seriously and it really helped relieve stress and gave her mind a break from studying. Running 20-milers late at night, after crazy long shifts at Cook County Hospital during residency with her now-husband Mitchell forged their partnership. Running in an exhausted, sleep-deprived state with brain fog, unknowingly building all of the tools she would need to become a rock star at the 100-mile distance.

Stefanie is the 2021 USATF 100 Mile National Champion and 2-time Tunnel Hill winner (2020 & 2021), with a 14:04 100-mile PR—which breaks down to 8:26 per mile pace!!! Stefanie enjoys pushing herself to the absolute limit to learn what she's truly capable of—which she had the chance to see at the 2022 USATF 100 Mile race, where she hit some dark patches early on at mile 40, but powered through and rallied to make the podium with help from her amazing pit crew.

Topics discussed include:

Transformation over 100 miles, the individual journey, best practices, lessons learned, fueling—gear—mindset, med school/surgical residency, her husband Mitchell—partnership—PIT CREW MAGIC, coming back from the dead, giving your best not being tied to race result, overcoming imposter syndrome, self-belief, growth, journaling, coaching, helping her athletes with mindset & self-belief, community, giving back to patients, athletes, and the running community.

Stefanie is a force of nature who cares deeply for her patients, athletes, and the running community. I enjoyed this convo immensely and learned so much from it!

I hope you all enjoy this convo as much as we did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Stefanie:

Instagram: @stefanieannflippin

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

At age 13, Erin Genova's appendix burst, and she was hospitalized for a week. While she was there, she watched the Boston Marathon on TV and was so inspired she said, "I am going to run that one day!" That is where her amazing running journey began! Erin made good on that promise, running 3:42 in her 1st Boston in 2002, during her senior year of college at BU, on a sponsor's invitation bib from John Hancock.

We discuss:

-Post kids: her 8-year Boston streak (2005-2012) being broken from surgical complications on Violet's childbirth and the physical and mental trauma from an artery being nicked during her C-section and missing the race

-The Bombing: how she felt guilty for not being there and how she stopped running completely until 2016, when a work colleague convinced her to join him on lunch runs at their gym and on the Charles River

-Boston Marathon 2018: how she ran on the Charles River in the monsoon that day and came back inside to work and watched Des WIN, inspiring her to want to run Boston again

-The Come Back: running a 3:18 in Erie in 2018, BQing, and then plateauing at 3:14. Reaching out to Brendon O'Leary because she sees his athletes hitting big goals and hires Olympic Trials Marathoner Casey Kilareski of O'Leary Racing Team, who makes key tweaks to her training and runs PR's in 5K & 10K before everything shuts down for Covid

-Bec's Beasts: her stress level was very high with Covid, working from home, running outside with a mask, and not being able to race. She found an INSPIRING instructor, Becs Gentry, of Peloton and connected with a core group of athletes (Bec's Beasts) and super-positive community that kept her going and reinvigorated her running again

-Her comeback post-COVID: CIM Race Day. Diving deep into an AMAZING, breakthrough performance where she ran a 2:58—a 16-minute PR! Trusting in the belief of a friend and training partner, Tyler, to take the big swing and run with the sub-3 pace group. Having the support of Team ORT and their runners, who were there that weekend, and family from home

-Post CIM: Winning a 5K, continuing to get faster and stronger

-Community Service: How Erin is a Girl Scout troop leader for daughter and 16 girls

I'm so INSPIRED by Erin's 2:58—a 16-minute PR—at CIM and am stoked to follow what comes next! Erin is incredibly goal-driven, fiercely competitive and strong, and is setting a great example for her two children, Violet & Cooper, to follow (and they are 2 of her BIGGEST fans)!

I hope you all enjoy this convo as much as we did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Erin:

Instagram: @eringenova

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

Brendon O'Leary epitomizes Boston strong and proved it in the 2012 Boston Marathon, where temps hit 89 degrees and there was carnage on the course. In a race of attrition, he was shocked to pass Geofffey Mutai, the 2011 winner—who ran 2:03:02, on the side of the road and kept his focus on getting in enough fluids and showed us all how to stay in the fight, running 2:34, placing 41st overall & 25th American.

In 2014, the year after the bombing, Brendon had his breakthrough race, running 2:29, feeding off the crowds who were chanting "USA!" for Meb—who broke the tape in 2:08—and that big energy helped carry him home over the last 3 miles! Truly epic to rock your PR on such a historic day!

We discussed Brendon's experiences running in the sub-elite field at the New York Marathon in 2016, 17, & 18 and compared and contrasted the courses and what they require.

We closed focusing on the close-knit, family culture they've created at Team ORT and examined three big breakthroughs by their athletes:

-The Soto's father/son team from Guatemala, who both ran sub-3 in 2018 at the Chicago Marathon, qualifying to run Boston together.

-Stephanie Plummer running 5 marathons in 63 days, earning her Abbott World Marathon Majors Six-Star medal and finishing the last race at CIM with her fastest time, 3:42.

-Erin Genova smashing through the sub-3 barrier at CIM, running 2:58 for an 18-minute PR.

I'm stoked to see Brendon get fully healthy and start racking up some fast times again soon. And I'm equally excited to watch him and Casey Kilareski, who ran the Olympic Trials marathon in ATL, continue to grow Team ORT!

I hope you all enjoy this convo as much as we did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Brendon:

Instagram: @olearyracingteam

Coaching Intake, Team Store, Running Plans, & More: https://linktr.ee/Olearyracingteam

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano