860. Sinclaire Johnson, HOKA Athlete
Ali on the Run Show
Ali Feller
4.9 • 4.2K Ratings
🗓️ 22 January 2026
⏱️ 64 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"This seems like a no-brainer. There's this company that really values what we're doing, and they don't really want to change that. All they want to do is find a way to support us."
Professional middle-distance runner Sinclaire Johnson returns to the Ali on the Run Show today — this time as a HOKA-sponsored athlete. Sinclaire is the American record holder in the mile on the track and on the roads, both of which she set last year, in addition to making two 2025 world teams and running multiple personal bests. After spending her entire career thus far as a Nike athlete, Sinclaire is excited about big changes ahead with HOKA. In this conversation, she talks about why she made the sponsor switch now, and what that means for her home base, her coaching (she's coached by fiancé Craig Nowak; listen to their Love on the Run episode here), and her next steps. Sinclaire will kick off her indoor season — in her new racing kit! — this weekend at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.
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In this episode:
- What's making Sinclaire happy today (2:20)
- What Sinclaire's watching right now (6:00)
- An update on wedding planning (7:35)
- Why Sinclaire decided to sign with HOKA this year after a long career as a Nike-sponsored athlete (13:05)
- Recapping Sinclaire's year of big changes and reflecting on her coaching change in 2025, from Union Athletics Club's Pete Julian to fiancé Craig Nowak (28:30)
- Sinclaire's "big training risks" from 2025 (34:40)
- Sinclaire's "failures" from 2025 (35:50)
- Sinclaire's biggest successes in 2025 (40:05)
- How 2025 was a year of growth for Sinclaire (52:15)
- How Sinclaire is feeling heading into her indoor season opener at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, where she'll be racing the mile (55:00)
- Sinclaire's hopes, dreams, and plans for 2026 (59:00)
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Allie on the Run show. I'm your host, Allie Feller, and this is where I talk |
| 0:08.9 | with people who are doing exciting things on the run and beyond. From professional athletes and |
| 0:14.1 | celebrity runners to the everyday amateur and back of the pack runner, we are here to celebrate |
| 0:19.0 | everyone and anyone who enjoys a life on the |
| 0:22.1 | run. Whether you are running towards something big or away from something that's been holding you |
| 0:26.5 | back, I am here to hold your hand and help you pick up the pace. My guest today is professional |
| 0:31.8 | runner Sinclair Johnson and she returns to the Allie on the Run show today with some very big news. |
| 0:38.1 | Sinclair Johnson, Hoka Athlete. |
| 0:41.2 | Sinclair is a middle distance runner and she is the American record holder in the mile on the track and the road mile, |
| 0:46.8 | both of which she set last year. |
| 0:48.7 | We talk all about that. |
| 0:50.3 | Last year was a big one for Sinclair. |
| 0:52.4 | She left Union Athletics Club to be coached by her |
| 0:54.8 | fiancée, Craig Noak, which is a big risk and one that ultimately paid off. Sinclair made two |
| 1:01.3 | world teams last year, broke two American records, and ran multiple personal vests. And now she's |
| 1:07.4 | kicking off 2026 with new shoes and a new kit. Sinclair spent her entire professional |
| 1:12.8 | career to date as a Nike athlete and is now all in on Hoka. She explains how the deal came to be |
| 1:18.6 | and talks about why it's such a good fit for her. Sinclair will open her season this weekend at |
| 1:24.2 | New Balance Indoor Grand Prix and we talk all about that. We recap the highs and lows |
| 1:28.6 | from 2025. And of course, we talk wedding planning. Sinclair and Craig are getting married in September. |
| 1:34.8 | Now, please enjoy this conversation with Sinclair Johnson kicking off 2025. And you know, no, oh my God, it's 2026. Yeah. |
| 1:52.1 | God. You know, it takes a little minute to remember to say 2026 when you're just fresh in the new year. |
... |
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