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Running to the Castle

Dr. Ali Marty

A podcast for slow, back-of-the-pack, or injury-prone runDisney runners on a journey to running magical miles.

Join me, Dr. Ali, as I share the secrets I've gathered as a runner, Doctor of Physical Therapy and coach.

You'll learn the exact ways I get my clients to the castle strong without feeling broken or held together with KT tape as they cross the finish line.

Dr. Ali and this podcast are lovers of runDisney and are not affiliated with runDisney.

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31 episodes
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English

Episodes 31

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S3 · E73
Thursday · 34 min
RTTC #255 Do You Need to Get Faster or Is Something Else Keeping You Slow?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down why more speed workouts aren't always the answer when you feel like you're not getting faster. She explores how race day nerves, run-walk strategy, and summer heat can all hold back your pace, even when your training is right on track. You'll also learn how to check whether you're truly improving with standardized pace testing instead of trusting how a run feels. If you run at the back of the pack and want plenty of time for character stops, castle photos, and staying ahead of the balloon ladies, this one is for you. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
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S3 · E72
Tuesday · 25 min
RTTC #254 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Week 20 Taper
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali explains what the taper really is and why the right amount of pulling back changes with your race distance. She uses a Merida bow and arrow analogy to show why doing too much and doing too little can both keep you from a strong race day. She covers what to stop the moment your peak long run is done, and why "more is better" rarely applies here. She also shares how an unexpected back flare-up reshaped her own taper, and how scouting the race course is shaping her pacing plan. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
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S3 · E71
September 17 · 19 min
RTTC #253 Do You Need to Run More Than 3 Days to Train for a Marathon?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali tackles a debate that keeps resurfacing on social media... whether 3 days of running a week is actually enough to train for a marathon. She breaks down why she builds her training plans from research and science rather than chasing every other coach's opinion, and why time on your feet matters more than mileage for runners at 13 to 16+ minute paces. Dr. Ali makes the case for consistency and injury prevention over pushing to four, five, or six running days, and explains how cross-training fills the gap in cardiovascular fitness without the burnout risk. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
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S3 · E70
September 15 · 21 min
RTTC #252 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Week 19
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali walks through hitting peak week of her Proof of Time 10K training... and what happened when her body had other plans. She breaks down the 5 phases of a successful running journey (build, train, taper, race, and recovery) and explains why "the hay is in the barn" once peak week is done. She also talks about how she handled an unexpected setback in the final days before taper, and why she made the call to adjust rather than push through. It's an honest look at trusting the work you've already put in, even when the last stretch doesn't go exactly as planned. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
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S3 · E69
September 8 · 39 min
RTTC #251 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Weeks 17 and 18
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali combines two weeks of Proof of Time Half Marathon training into one honest, "it just didn't happen" kind of episode. Week 17 got wiped out by travel... a trip to Massachusetts to visit family and meet her new niece, a flight delay, a Wi-Fi outage, and a pile of laundry that pushed her only workout, a long run, two days late. Week 18 started rocky too, but the week turned around fast: a speed workout testing new run-walk intervals that beat her 10K race pace goal even with a slower running split, and a long run using yet another interval combo to protect her legs before race day. The takeaway she wants every runner to hear... after a rough stretch, your pace doesn't crumble, but your legs might be sore, so treat that first week back like a recovery priority, not an afterthought. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
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S3 · E68
September 3 · 25 min
RTTC #250 Why Am I Still Not Getting Faster?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down the five warning signs that tell her a runDisney runner's speed workouts simply aren't built for them...even after months or years of consistent training. This episode is specifically for the 13-16+ minute per mile, run/walk crowd who keep hitting a wall: speed workouts written in distance instead of time, workouts that call for race paces you haven't actually established yet, strides tacked onto the end of an already-exhausting long run, hard intervals that are too long for your run/walk rhythm, and that flattened-out, exhausted feeling that follows every single workout. Dr. Ali explains why each of these misses the mark for run/walk runners, walks through her four go-to workout types...30-20-10s, progression runs, hill sprints, and tempo runs...built around your actual run/walk intervals and paces, and shares how her Back-of-the-Pack Runner Speed Program, with its waitlist open now is designed to help you get faster before your next runDisney race, whether that's Wine & Dine, Marathon Weekend, Princess, or Springtime Surprise. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
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S3 · E67
September 1 · 28 min
RTTC #249 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Weeks 14 15 16
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali catches up on three weeks of Proof of Time half marathon training that didn't go according to plan: a low blood pressure week that forced a full stop, a "just get movement in" recovery week complete with Garmin mishaps and a very unimpressed Levi, and a comeback week featuring a whimsical treadmill run and a tempo run along Boston's Charles River. She talks through how she made real-time decisions about safety, rest, and recovery without trying to cram in makeup workouts, and shares where her pacing and Garmin's race predictions have her landing with just over a month to go before race day. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
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S3 · E66
August 27 · 18 min
RTTC #248 Overcome the Dragon The runDisney Ramps
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali digs into why hill training is one of the most underrated ways to get faster for runDisney races...and how to actually "overcome the dragon," the nickname one of her Stronger Faster Finisher runners gave to the toughest incline on course. She breaks down the exact 45-minute hill workout she prescribes, including incline targets, sprint pacing, and why two minutes of recovery matters more than runners think. Dr. Ali also shares her own race-day strategy for handling on-ramps and inclines, and makes the case that training hills isn't about forcing yourself to sprint them...it's about earning the freedom to choose. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
- Transcript
S3 · E64
August 18 · 22 min
RTC #247 How to Master the Progression Run to Build Your runDisney Pacing Buffer
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down the progression run... one of her four go-to speed workouts for runDisney runners using run/walk intervals. She explains why this pyramid-style workout (starting steady, building to a peak pace, then coming back down) trains your body to hold faster paces for longer, no track distances required. Dr. Ali also shows how the same pacing pattern maps onto race day itself... starting easy, building speed, and giving yourself a buffer to make up time after a character line wait. She closes with the mantra that makes the whole thing doable: focus on the 30 seconds in front of you, not the whole 13.1 miles. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
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S3 · E63
August 13 · 32 min
RTTC #246 Stop Guessing Your Paces How to Find Your Real Training Limits
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down why so many back-of-the-pack runners get stuck in what she calls the "gray zone"... running just hard enough to feel exhausted but never fast enough to actually get faster. She walks through her full pace testing protocol for finding your true easy, moderate, and hard paces, plus the conditions that make your results repeatable from test to test. You'll learn why average pace is misleading, how often to retest, and what realistic progress looks like over six to eight weeks. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
- Transcript
S3 · E62
August 11 · 38 min
RTTC #245 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Week 13
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali recaps a rare 100%-completion week of Proof of Time half marathon training, hitting every cardio and strength workout on the plan. She breaks down a tough 10K race pace tempo run, an early-morning cross-training walk with Levi, and a strength day where she pushed to a full 45-minute session. The heart of the episode is her run-only experiment: testing what happens when she runs straight through instead of using run-walk intervals, and why she's collecting data across multiple runs before drawing any conclusions. She also shares a genuinely surprising long run comparison to last year, plus a hydration hack for beating the Las Vegas heat. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
- Transcript
S3 · E61
August 6 · 21 min
RTTC #244 6 Signs You're on Your Way Out of Corral G As a Slow runDisney Runner
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down six signs that show a slow, back-of-the-pack runDisney runner is making real progress toward leaving Corral G behind. She explains why structured speed workouts, dialed-in easy run pacing, and knowing your long run time down to the minute matter more than corral placement alone, and introduces the "gray zone" concept that keeps so many runners stuck at the same pace. Dr. Ali is candid that a great race is absolutely possible from Corral G, while also validating the very real desire many runners have to move up. The episode sets the stage for a multi-week series and an upcoming workshop focused on building the structure needed to get faster. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
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S3 · E60
August 4 · 33 min
RTTC #243 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Week 12
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali shares Week 12 of her Proof of Time half marathon training journey, digging into what it really takes to hit and hold race pace when your body (and the Las Vegas summer heat) is fighting back. She explores the experiment of adjusting run/walk intervals versus running straight through, and why testing her own training methods matters before recommending them to clients. She also gets honest about missing a long run for reasons that matter more than any training plan, and how deload weeks and a flexible mindset keep one skipped workout from derailing your progress. It's a real look at balancing hard training with real life: perfectionism not included. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
- Transcript
S3 · E59
July 30 · 22 min
RTTC #242 How to Run Faster in the Summer Heat
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down why your paces feel so much harder — and slower — when the temperatures climb, using heart rate zones to show exactly what's happening inside your body. She walks through a simple self-experiment comparing your warm-up heart rate on a comfortable day versus a scorching one, and explains why your heart can't tell the difference between beating fast from sprinting and beating fast from heat stress. Dr. Ali shares practical strategies for adjusting speed workouts, long runs, and recovery breaks to protect your training through the hottest months. She wraps up with a hopeful reminder: all that hard summer effort sets you up to run faster once cooler race season arrives. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
- Transcript
S3 · E58
July 28 · 22 min
RTTC #241 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Week 11
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali walks through week 11 of her Proof of Time training block, including how she's adapting her workouts to brutal Las Vegas summer heat. She shares the mental strategies she leaned on to push through a tough race-pace speed workout, plus what she learned about pace testing on an unfamiliar treadmill. Ali also talks through her decision to take a long run outside instead of on the treadmill, and offers an honest reflection on why it's okay when not every workout on the schedule gets checked off. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
- Transcript
S3 · E57
July 23 · 31 min
RTTC #240 How to Handle the Long Run When All You Know Is Run More Run Faster
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down the true purpose of the long run and why it has nothing to do with getting faster. She explains the "pink, gray, and green" pace spectrum, why zone two heart rate training can be misleading, and how to use pace testing to find your ideal easy pace. Dr. Ali also shares why changing only one variable at a time (distance OR speed, never both) is the key to avoiding burnout and injury, and what to listen to (and what to avoid) to help you slow down. This episode is a must-listen for any runDisney runner stuck in the trap of trying to run every run harder. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
- Transcript
S3 · E56
July 21 · 45 min
RTTC #239 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Week 10
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali walks through a week that got hijacked by a home repair headache and a rough holiday weekend, and shares how she still managed to hit the bare minimum without losing sight of her training goals. She breaks down the key difference between a "just finish" goal and a "fast" goal, and how knowing which one is yours should shape what you cut when life gets in the way. She also shares real, in-the-moment lessons from her tempo run, progression run, and a heat-adapted long run,including a fueling misstep that's a good reminder for anyone training through summer heat. It's an honest look at what a realistic, imperfect training week actually looks like. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
- Transcript
S3 · E55
July 16 · 21 min
RTTC #238 How Long Should Cross Training Be for Slow RunDisney Runners?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down how cross training fits into a slow runDisney runner's training plan and why it's different from strength training. She explains the 5 phases of a running journey and the 6 pillars of balanced training, then answers a listener question about the ideal length and frequency of cross training sessions. Dr. Ali also shares practical ways to fit cross training into a busy schedule, even when time is tight. It's a real-life look at building cardiovascular fitness without adding injury risk from extra running miles. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
- Transcript
S3 · E54
July 14 · 32 min
RTTC #237 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Week 9
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down week 9 of her Proof of Time half marathon training, a week that was far from perfect but still delivered real progress. She walks through a Level 2 Tempo Run interrupted by a mid-workout treadmill shut down, a heavy strength training session, and a stress-driven decision to skip her long run entirely. Dr. Ali also shares her latest pace test results and explains how to know when it's time to retest and why consistency over months matters more than any single week. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
- Transcript
S3 · E53
July 9 · 48 min
RTTC #236 How Do I Build My Confidence to Finish My Race?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali tackles one of the most common fears runners bring to her: will I actually finish this race? She breaks down why small, incremental training increases build real, physical proof that your body can handle race day, and why a single rough workout due to heat, stress, or life circumstances doesn't mean your fitness is slipping. Dr. Ali shares her "10% more, 10% faster" framework for trusting your training and walks through why looking at the facts, not the qualifiers, is the key to real confidence. She's honest about where coaching ends and professional mental health support may be needed, too. 6 week Speed Program Ready to stop panicking about how far ahead of the balloon ladies you are and start actually stopping for character photos? That's what the Back-of-the-Pack Runner's Speed Program is for. Join the Waitlist today to learn more and get first dibs on registration. 7 month Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race? Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt Join the Facebook Community to get training support Check out FREE training plans for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website. ...
- Transcript

Showing 1–20 of 31 episodes