830. Emily Venters, Training for her 26.2-Mile Debut at the 2025 Chicago Marathon

Ali on the Run Show

Ali Feller

Fitness, Sports, Running, Health & Fitness

4.9 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 28 August 2025

⏱️ 61 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

"Everything I'm doing is new. It feels like I'm going into the unknown, which is scary."

Emily Venters is officially one to watch on the U.S. women's distance running scene. The Nike-sponsored pro trains with Ed Eyestone's group in Utah, and this fall, she'll make her 26.2-mile debut at the Chicago Marathon. In this conversation, the five-time NCAA All-American talks about the road to the marathon, which hasn't always been easy. She talks about struggling in college, and debating leaving the sport altogether. She talks about dealing with injuries and disordered eating, and about having OCD. Plus, what it's like training alongside Conner Mantz, Clayton Young, and Keira D'Amato; how it's felt hitting 100-mile weeks; and whether Emily is has her sights set on taking down Fiona O'Keeffe's American debut record in the marathon. This Monday, Emily will race the USATF 20K Championships in New Haven.

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In this episode:

All about Emily's run today, and how she's feeling heading into USATF 20K Championships this weekend (3:40)
How Emily is feeling about her first marathon build (5:45)
Why the marathon, why now, and why Chicago? (12:55)
Emily's recap from the 2025 U.S. Track & Field Outdoor National Championships 5K (22:15)
What Emily was like as a kid, and how she became a runner (25:00)
From Boise State to CU Boulder to the University of Utah: inside Emily's injury-riddled collegiate running experience, and what helped her finish her collegiate career on a high, healthy note (32:00)
Emily's experience with OCD, and how it shows up on the run (41:25)
How Emily became a professional athlete (48:25)

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of The Allie on the Run show is brought to you by New Balance. Go to newbalance.com
0:05.7	running to check out the just released Fuel Cell Supercomp Elite V5.
0:15.7	Welcome to The Alley on the Run show. I'm your host, Allie Feller, and this is where I talk with
0:20.5	people who are doing exciting things on the run show. I'm your host, Allie Feller, and this is where I talk with people who are doing
0:21.3	exciting things on the run and beyond. From professional athletes and celebrity runners to the
0:27.4	everyday amateur and back of the pack runner, we are here to celebrate everyone and anyone
0:32.6	who enjoys a life on the run. So whether you are running towards something big or away from something that's
0:38.4	been holding you back, I am here to hold your hand and help you pick up the pace. My guest today is
0:43.9	professional runner Emily Venters. Name sound familiar? Probably. Emily Venters, who runs professionally for
0:51.2	Nike and trains with Coach Ed Istone's group in Utah is officially
0:55.5	one to watch. She is a five-time NCAA All-American, and this fall, she will make her marathon debut
1:02.5	at the Chicago Marathon. In this episode, Emily talks about the road to the marathon, which has
1:08.2	not always been easy. They never are, right? Emily talks about
1:12.3	having a tough time in college, dealing with nonstop injuries, and disordered eating. She talks about
1:17.7	having OCD and about what that looks like on the run, including during races and about how she's
1:23.4	managing it now. And she talks about the decision to join this crew of Utah-based runners,
1:29.2	including Connor Mance, Clayton Young, Kira Damado, McKenna Myler, and more. Plus, Emily talks
1:35.8	about whether she does, in fact, have her eyes on Fiona O'Keefe's American debut record in the
1:41.7	marathon. Please join me in welcoming Emily Venters to the Allie on the Run Show.
1:54.8	Emily, making your Alley on the Run Show, Dave, you here today.
1:58.7	I am so excited to chat with you.
2:00.6	I feel like you are a name
	...

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