Jon Levitt has spent the last seven years asking the best runners in the world — Olympians, ultrarunners, back of the pack finishers, and everyone in between — one simple question: what keeps you going?

As the host of For The Long Run and Long Run Labs, and a builder in the endurance space through Find My Huddle and Eternal, Jon has become one of the most trusted voices in the sport. But in this episode, the tables turn. We flip the mic on the guy who usually asks the questions.

Jon and I get into his own running journey — from his first marathon to ultra distances, from a life-changing dinner with Zach Miller in 2018 to launching one of the most respected running podcasts out there. We talk about the aggregate wisdom he has collected from hundreds of conversations, why process beats outcome every single time, what the back of the pack has taught him that the elite side hasn't, and how curiosity — not talent, not obsession, but pure curiosity — has driven every chapter of his life.

We also get into what it looks like to build a real business in the running world, why starting early matters, and the three words he lives by: pursue adventure, follow curiosity, bet on yourself.

Whether you are chasing your first 5K or your fifth 100 miler, this conversation is going to leave you fired up to lace up.

Anne Keane is a jewelry designer, a mom, and a woman who has been living with — and thriving through — stage 4 breast cancer. She is also a marathoner, chasing all six Abbott World Marathon Majors while raising money for Dana-Farber, the very institution that is part of her own cancer journey.

In this conversation, Anne and I get into all of it. How running found her during the pandemic. What it feels like to train for Boston and Berlin while managing a stage 4 diagnosis. The mental discipline it takes to keep showing up when your body has its own agenda. How her work as a jewelry designer at Flock Boston connects to her work as a runner — both requiring patience, craft, and steady hands. Why she chose the word thriving instead of surviving. What it means to run for Dana-Farber. And what she wants the metastatic breast cancer community to know about what is still possible.

Anne is the definition of at your own pace. This is a conversation about resilience, community, creativity, and choosing to live fully — one mile, one bead, one day at a time.

If you have ever been told something hard and had to figure out what came next, this episode is for you.

What happens when a Peloton bike gifted by your husband accidentally sparks a full-blown running obsession? For Laura, it meant going from her first ride to coaching her son's middle school cross-country team—to a state championship—in just six months.

In this episode, Laura shares the beautifully messy reality of becoming a runner: fueling her first marathon with nothing but applesauce squeeze pouches, battling humidity so brutal her vest left burns, and wrestling with the voice that whispered "I don't look like a runner, I don't talk like a runner." Spoiler: she ran it anyway, clocking her best half-marathon split in the process.

We dig into imposter syndrome, the power of community, and why every runner—no matter their pace—belongs in this sport. Laura's story is proof that you don't need to start on the roads to end up crossing a marathon finish line. You just need to start.

Whether you're eyeing your first 5K or your fifth marathon, this one's a reminder: one step, one mile at a time.

What does it really mean to call yourself a runner? In this episode, Mike sits down with Avelyn Castillo — known online as it's.aveline — for an honest, funny, and deeply motivating conversation about identity, belonging, and the long road to the start line.

Avelyn shares how she went from hating gym class and avoiding exercise altogether to training for and finishing marathons — all while managing asthma, navigating body image, and fully embracing life as a slow runner and run-walker. She opens up about the identity shift that comes with becoming a runner, the power of representation for plus-size athletes, and why transparency and inclusivity matter so much in running spaces.

Together, Mike and Avelyn dig into the role community plays in keeping us going: the friends, run clubs, and training partners who carried her through Boston, New York, and beyond. From charity running and the six-star dream to the mental health benefits of marathon training, Avelyn's story is a powerful reminder that progress is never linear — and that every mile counts.

If you've ever felt too slow, too late, or like you're not the "right" kind of runner, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and ready to keep going at your own pace.

Kaitlin started out as a swimmer. These days, she's an Ironman finisher—but the road between those two points is where the real story lives.

In this episode, Kaitlin walks us through her journey across all three disciplines: swimming, biking, and running, and what it actually takes to put them together over an Ironman distance. We talk about the training and the discipline the sport demands, but also about the quieter stuff—the humility that keeps you grounded, the mental resilience that carries you when your legs won't, and the lessons that only show up after you've raced more than once.

What comes through most is how personal the whole thing is. Kaitlin's path is her own, shaped by consistency, small wins that added up, and the community that pushed her along the way. It's a conversation for endurance athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and anyone who needs a reminder that growth tends to come one steady step at a time.

Most runners just want to finish. Kristina wanted to do something bigger.

After learning she carried a genetic cancer risk and undergoing a mastectomy and hysterectomy, she didn't slow down—she ran straight at it. Kristina went on to complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors and raised over $150,000 for cancer research along the way.

In this episode, she shares how she got from a high-risk diagnosis to the finish line of six of the world's biggest marathons. We talk about the mental side of it—how she kept going, why she ran for her dad's life, and what it meant to cross the London Marathon finish line with her family cheering her on. We also get into charity running, and why she believes telling your story can be the thing that gets you through the hard parts.

It's an honest conversation about turning pain into purpose, and about how running became her way of healing and building something that lasts. If you're a runner, a survivor, or just someone who needs a reminder that setbacks can turn into comebacks, this one's for you.

You can follow Kristina's work @kristinacoccoluto on Instagram and support her mission to fund cancer research.

Most runners start because they want to get faster — but what keeps so many going through the toughest miles, and the even tougher mental barriers, is something much simpler: the pure joy of movement. In this heartfelt conversation, Fudgie proves you don't have to be fast or perfect to truly belong in the running community.

His candid stories — from bleeding nipples to mid-marathon epiphanies — capture the messy, authentic side of running we rarely see online, and it's exactly what makes him so inspiring. You'll discover how running became far more than physical exertion for Fudgie: a powerful tool for resilience, mental health, and navigating life's biggest challenges. He opens up about how running carried him through Covid, shattered his self-imposed limits, and became a source of unshakable confidence at any size or pace.

Together we break down the importance of community, the overlooked social benefits of the sport, and the real reason runners keep coming back even when motivation feels miles away. Fudgie's story is a reminder that progress isn't linear, that every step — even the ones that feel all wrong — builds resilience and reveals how much strength we carry inside us.

Whether you're brand new, returning after time away, or simply need a reminder that your journey is yours alone, this episode will reignite your love for the sport and your belief in what's possible. It's grounded, honest, funny, and real — perfect for anyone who wants to keep it authentic.

Fudgie is a London-based runner, content creator, and advocate for accessible, inclusive running. His account, @InstaFudgie, is a breath of fresh air — full of unfiltered honesty, positivity, and support for runners of every background. His message is clear: you don't have to be fast or perfect to run, and your story matters.

It's time to start where you are — because you belong here, no matter your pace.

Mike also talks about a reunion with a a fellow marathoner in the most unlikely of places.

Some people run to win. Coach J ran to survive — and ended up finding a life.

This week, he shares the journey from losing his mom at 17 and running in basketball shoes to becoming a certified coach, a sub-16 5K, a 2:41 marathon, and a running community leader. It's a story about grief, grit, and the kind of slow transformation that only happens one mile at a time.

We cover the things every runner — new or seasoned — needs to hear: how to obsess over progress instead of perfection, why your race isn't anyone else's, how to use social media without losing yourself, and what it really takes to keep showing up when the road gets long.

Pull up your laces. This one will move you.