148. April Cargill on Becoming a Marathoner at 50
Ali on the Run Show
Ali Feller
4.9 • 4.2K Ratings
🗓️ 6 June 2019
⏱️ 58 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"I thought oh, London Marathon, that sounds cute! So I signed up. And then I was like Paris Marathon? Oh my god, that sounds so cute, too. So I signed up for that, too."
In her twenties, April Cargill was a two-pack-a-day smoker working long days and staying up late nights in the fashion industry in New York City. Today, at 55, the Harlem native is a six-time marathoner on a quest to complete all six World Marathon Majors. On this episode, April — who is the director of production for designer Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss — talks about why she started running in her fifties, what finally got her to kick the smoking habit, and what it's like being a hard-working single mom.
Thank you to the New York Road Runners Virtual Pride Run 5K for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE to register (it's free!) and complete your run between June 22–30. Everybody's doing it!
What you'll get on this episode:
- What was 20-year-old April up to? (3:00)
- What April's job in the fashion industry is like (4:50)
- How April got into a serious smoking habit — and found fitness when she quit (7:40)
- What it was like starting running in her fifties, and the intimidation factor that came with it (23:00)
- On joining November Project, and working out with her son, Aubrey (32:00)
- April opens up about being a single mom (41:40)
- How running has helped April get through tough times (47:11)
What we mention on this episode:
Candice Huffine on Episode 11 of the Ali on the Run Show
John Honerkamp on Episode 4 of the Ali on the Run Show
Alison Desir on Episode 3 of the Ali on the Run Show
Meaghan Murphy on Episode 113 of the Ali on the Run Show
Follow April:
Follow Ali:
Listen & Subscribe:
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This episode of The Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by the New York Roadrunners |
| 0:04.1 | Virtual Pride Run 5K. Go to nyrr.org slash virtual racing slash Alley to learn more about why you |
| 0:11.6 | should run in celebration of the LGBTQIA community. Welcome to The Alley on the Run Show. |
| 0:22.1 | I've got a bonus episode for you today. I just did not want to wait another week to share my |
| 0:27.6 | conversation with my dear friend April Cargo. I met April on the run literally a few years ago. |
| 0:34.4 | I was living in Manhattan at the time and we were both part of this group of runners that met on |
| 0:38.4 | Tuesday mornings at 630 to do speed workouts. It was scrappy, it was free, and you basically just |
| 0:44.2 | showed up. So April and I, along with about 15 to 20 other runners, we just showed up. We were both |
| 0:50.7 | part of the November Project community in New York City, which meant soon April wasn't just this |
| 0:55.4 | badass moment with a killer top not full of braids that I got to see once a week in between 400 |
| 1:00.8 | meter repeats. I was now seeing April four times a week, all in the ripe hour of 6am. We got closer, |
| 1:08.1 | we were both part of Candace Huffine's Project Start campaign. You can go back and listen and learn |
| 1:12.8 | more about that on episode 11 of The Show, and April became this woman that I just so admired and |
| 1:18.1 | could not wait to see every morning. Alright, so what's her story? April will tell you obviously, |
| 1:23.8 | but the short version, April used to smoke a lot, like multiple packs a day. But when she turned 50, |
| 1:31.1 | she started running. Yes, turned 50 started running. Not just running. Running marathons. |
| 1:38.1 | April is a single mom. She works in the fashion industry and at 55, she's not only not a |
| 1:44.0 | smoker anymore. She's on a quest to run all six world marathon majors. Her story is so inspiring |
| 1:50.8 | to me. She's so humble and I feel really fortunate to get to call her a friend. Speaking of friends, |
| 1:56.2 | you may hear April's puff a bit during the conversation, playing with a squeaky ball in the |
| 2:00.2 | background. Let's just embrace that and roll with it. And please welcome to The Show, April cargo. |
| 2:10.5 | April, welcome to the Alley on the Run Show. I'm so glad we're doing this. Thanks for being here. |
... |
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