Ali on the Run Show

865. Paul Swangard, Track & Field Analyst & The Voice of Hayward Field

Thu, 19 Feb 2026

"I want to be part of making people care. My hope is that my enthusiasm for the sport as a fan of the sport comes through in my calls."

Even if you don't know his face, you definitely know his voice: Paul Swangard is here! Paul, a lifelong resident of Eugene, OR, is known as the Voice of Hayward field, where he's the longtime in-stadium announcer at the University of Oregon. He's an Emmy-award winning member of the NBC sports talent team, where he is an analyst and does play-by-play for track and field and distance events including the Olympics, World Championships, US National Championships, Millrose Games, New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Diamond League meets, and more. He also does the world feed broadcasts for the New York City and Boston Marathons. Paul is a professor in the School of Journalism and Communications at the University of Oregon, he's a sought-after media consulstant and strategic advisor for brands in running and beyond, and he is one of the best to ever get on the mic.

FOLLOW PAUL @paul_swangard

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In this episode:

What is making Paul happy today? (3:00)
What Paul hopes his University of Oregon students take from his classes and his teachings (5:40)
Paul's road to Hayward Field — and the microphone (13:25)
What it was like working World Championships in 2022 at Hayward Field (24:05)
Paul explains his role on any given NBC broadcast (31:55)\
Paul's most meaningful memories on the mic (37:15)
What makes a broadcast a success? (47:30)
On getting nervous before going on air (56:50)
What Paul wishes the viewers at home understood about a race broadcast (59:25)

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864. Love on the Run with Deena & Andrew Kastor

Thu, 12 Feb 2026

"So we kissed, and then we spent every day after that together."

They're one of running's greatest power couples: Deena and Andrew Kastor are here for Love on the Run Week! In this conversation, the Olympic bronze medalist and the esteemed coach talk about how they met, how long they waited to call each other, and who made the first move. Today, Deena and Andrew live in Mammoth Lakes, CA, with their daughter, Piper.

FOLLOW DEENA @deenakastor

FOLLOW ANDREW @coachkastor

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863. Love on the Run with Mica Rivera & Adam Wood

Tue, 10 Feb 2026

"Running can feel pretty isolating. It's a very individual sport. But she's in it with me every single day. It makes me feel very special. She really cares about what I'm trying to do."

Welcome to Love on the Run 2026! We're kicking off Valentine's Week with Utah-based high school sweethearts Mica Rivera and Adam Wood. Mica and Adam are content creators and marathoners who were on the same high school track team, went to separate colleges to run (her to Utah State University, him to Brigham Young University), and are now married and running together for a living. Adam just ran a marathon PR at CIM, finishing in 2:16:58. And Mica, who is coached by Ed Eyestone, made her 26.2-mile debut at The Marathon Project in December (paced by Adam!), where she ran 2:31:35.

FOLLOW MICA & ADAM @thewoodsrun

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862. Roisin Willis, Professional Runner & Stanford University Student

Thu, 05 Feb 2026

"Sometimes you've just gotta be a little bit fearless."

The last time Roisin Willis was on the Ali on the Run Show, the "fastest high schooler in American history" at the time was fresh off earning a gold medal in the 800m at the USA Track and Field U20 Outdoor Championships, and was headed to Stanford University. (Listen to that episode here.) Now, the middle-distance runner is wrapping up her time at Stanford — and she's gone pro! The two-time NCAA 800m champion opted to forgo her remaining NCAA eligibility in favor of signing a professional contract with New Balance, and she just made her pro racing debut with a stellar indoor season. In this conversation, Roisin talks about racing at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (she ran and won the 800m), at Boston University (she ran 1:57.97, becoming the first American woman to break 1:58 indoors, and breaking the American record in the event), and at the Millrose Games (she won the 600m). She also talks about her struggles with mental health during her time at Stanford, and about the tools that helped her through the hardest days. Plus, a peek at what's next. (First: midterms!)

FOLLOW ROISIN @roisin.willis

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Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you, and use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your next Lagoon order.

In this episode:

Where in the world is Roisin Willis? (3:00)
What it's like being a professional athlete as a senior in college (4:30)
On being in a sweet spot with running right now, and where Roisin wants to improve (8:50)
The athlete Roisin looks up to most in the sport — and all about the first time they met (11:30)
What's making Roisin happy today (14:55)
Roisin's key takeaways from the short but sweet 2026 indoor season (16:35)
What it was like making her professional debut at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (18:45)
Why Roisin decide to race the 800m at BU six days later — and how she broke the American record in the indoor 800m (22:50)
How Roisin approached racing the 600m at the Millrose Games, which she also won (27:45)
Why Roisin decided to forgo her remaining NCAA eligibility in favor of going pro, and what that process has looked like (33:20)
Roisin talks about making it through the dark days, and about the tools that helped her find the sunshine again (46:00)
What's next for Roisin on the run and off? (1:01:15)

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861. The Support Squad Series: Round 9 with Seema Mack

Thu, 29 Jan 2026

"Your person doesn't need you to be perfect. They just need you to be there and show up, and bring as much positivity and lightheartedness as possible. There are going to be times when it gets really heavy and hard, and if you can bring a little levity, a little humor, it goes a long way."

On December 30, 2025, I was up at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for my ninth round of chemotherapy. This time around, I was joined by my dear friend Seema Mack, who is president and CEO of KidsVax, a mom (to Sloane, 8, and Reese, 5), a wife, and an amazing friend. This is our [way too long] recap from the day at the infusion center, plus the story of how we met, and a bit about what makes Seema "The Magic Maker."

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