144. Sara & Ryan Hall
Ali on the Run Show
Ali Feller
4.9 • 4.2K Ratings
🗓️ 22 May 2019
⏱️ 68 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"We're distance runners. We know how to dig in with hard stuff and persevere."
Sara and Ryan Hall are one of the best-known couples in the running industry. Ryan is a retired professional runner: He holds the American record in both the half marathon (59:43) and marathon (2:04:58), and represented the United States at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic games. Today, he's a coach, he's spending a ton of time bulking up in the gym, and he just published his latest book, Run the Mile You're In. Sara is a professional middle-distance-turned-long-distance runner, who holds a 2:26 marathon PR and has her eyes set on the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. On this episode, Sara and Ryan talk candidly about their marriage, what they fight about, and what it's like being coached by your spouse. Ryan is Sara's coach, and they were very honest about what it's like for each of them when Sara doesn't have a good race or workout. They also talk about adopting their four daughters from Ethiopia, and take a trip down memory lane sharing their love story, from first sushi date to proposal to becoming parents.
Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!
What you'll get on this episode:
- What the Halls are celebrating right now (3:50)
- Sara talks about what it's like being coached by her husband — and a glimpse at what they fight about in their relationship (4:40)
- Ryan and Sara's love story, including who made the first move, the first kiss, how Ryan proposed, and the roles running and religion have played in their relationship (13:30)
- Sara and Ryan's adoption story (23:35)
- How prepared did Sara and Ryan feel for parenthood, and what were their expectations? Plus, how they support and encourage their daughters when it comes to running (30:40)
- Fast Ryan or Ripped Ryan? Sara tells all! (45:15)
- What Ryan's decision to retire meant for the Hall family (49:15)
- How Sara has gotten faster over the past few years (50:45)
- What's next for the Halls? (58:10)
What we mention on this episode:
Follow Sara:
Follow Ryan:
Follow Ali:
Listen & Subscribe:
SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | This episode of The Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by Aftershocks. |
| 0:04.0 | Welcome to The Alley on the Run Show. |
| 0:10.4 | I'm your host Allie Feller. I'm a freelance writer and editor, a runner, a new mom to 7-month-old |
| 0:16.3 | Annie and a seasoned dog mom to 3-year-old Allie. Every week on The Alley on the Run Show, |
| 0:22.1 | I talk with inspiring people who lead interesting lives on the run and beyond. |
| 0:27.4 | And while running is what brings us all together, on these episodes I want a little something more. |
| 0:33.0 | So join me right here every Thursday to learn about the decisions people have made to get where |
| 0:37.6 | they are today. The good ones and of course the bad ones and how getting sweaty has factored in. |
| 0:43.9 | Today I'm talking to Ryan and Sarah Hall. Yay, they are one of my very favorite running |
| 0:49.1 | industry couples and we had an absolute blast recording this episode. So if you're new to the halls |
| 0:54.8 | a little background, Ryan is a retired professional runner and not just any professional runner, |
| 1:00.5 | a record holding runner. In his prime, Ryan ran a 59 minute 43 second half marathon and a two-hour, |
| 1:08.0 | four minute 58 second marathon to become the fastest American runner in both those distances. |
| 1:14.2 | He represented the United States at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games in the marathon. |
| 1:20.1 | And since retiring a few years ago, he's been spending serious time |
| 1:24.0 | bulking up in the gym, coaching runners and writing. His book Run the Mile You're in is now available. |
| 1:31.0 | Sarah is a current professional runner who is focusing on the marathon. She's a 226 marathoner |
| 1:37.2 | and she has her eyes set on those 2020 Olympic trials which are right around the corner. |
| 1:43.0 | Ryan and Sarah live in Flagstaff, Arizona with their four daughters and two dogs. They adopted |
| 1:48.1 | four sisters from Ethiopia in 2015 and on this episode, they share some never told before stories |
| 1:54.6 | about that process and the adjustment period after becoming a family of six. Well, family of eight, |
| 2:00.4 | the dogs count. Ryan and Sarah are an amazing couple and they were down to talk about both the highs |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Ali Feller, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Ali Feller and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.