The Running for Real Podcast

Tina has been a podcast host for a decade; first on Runners Connect’s “Run to the Top,” then since 2017 on her own award-winning show, “Running for Real.” Inspiring interviews and deep friendships ha…

Kelly Roberts has inspired other runners by sharing her running journey online since long before the word “influencer” entered the popular lexicon. In  Tina’s final interview before “Running for Real…

For many writers, the logical followup to a successful book is a sequel. For Alex Hutchinson, it was his reluctance to go down that path that led to his new book, "The Explorer’s Gene: Why We Seek Bi…

Many people identify themselves as climate activists, but not many would call themselves climate optimists - especially not now. Lauren Bash, however, still finds reasons to be hopeful, and offers wa…

Ten years ago Jeffrey McEachern found himself at a point in his life where he knew things had to change. He found happiness and purpose through running, became a Peloton instructor, just earned his S…

There’s a time before a race when the crowd settles down and is quiet for a few minutes - during the singing of the national anthem. At last year’s TCS New York City Marathon, that honor was given to…

As runners, we’re always trying to go faster or further because those metrics demonstrate how successful we are. But in his new book, "Win the Inside Game: How to Move from Surviving to Thriving, and…

Olivia Baker is a serious runner - her achievements at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels attest to that. She never loses sight of the fact that there’s much more to running than th…

Erin Ton holds 91 FKTs (Fastest Known Times), a feat surpassed by only one other woman. In 2023, she returned to the mountains where she first hiked with her family as a child, and summited 57 of Col…

Erin Taylor has been teaching yoga for over twenty years, helping high-performing athletes to excel at their sport. She’s taken what she’s learned from training Olympians and Ironman champions and ap…

As you’ll hear, as of recording, Tina is under the weather. So she’s following the advice that she gives others and being gentle with herself. We’ll be back with a full episode next week!

For complet…

Every year at this time, we’re inundated with lists of Things To Do In The New Year. They can be intimidating, and make us feel as though if we don’t accomplish them all, we’ve failed. This isn’t one…

As we come to the end of 2024, Tina is looking back on the year that was and looking forward to an exciting 2025!

For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode428…

Cheryl Toussaint knows the importance of a mentor in young people’s lives. She was just thirteen when she met running coach Fred Thompson, who insisted that his teenage athletes pursue excellence not…

Nadia Ruiz was only 14 when she ran her first marathon. Since then she’s run 158 more (with 82 BQs), 136 half marathons, 13 half Ironmen, five full Ironmen, multiple ultras… Her parents are her inspi…

Live Aid was THE event of 1985. The concert to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia, viewed by 40 percent of the world’s population, was broadcast live from London and… not New York, not Los Ang…

As we all know, Tuesday was Election Day in the United States. It’s the foremost thing on many people’s minds, including Tina’s. Rather than a regular interview episode, she’s sharing her feelings an…

In a 1980s TV commercial, Sy Sperling declared, “I’m not only the Hair Club president; I’m also a client.” That, Rob Simmelkjaer says, describes his role as CEO of New York Road Runners. 

He hosts NY…

When there is an opportunity for Courtney Phillips-Manning to share knowledge, especially knowledge that will benefit her community, she seizes - or creates - it. That led her to co-found Chicago’s G…

There have been times in Quinton Jacobs’ running life when he chased PRs and qualifying times. Those were physical seasons. He’s also had mental health and adventure seasons, and seasons of running t…