The Peachtree Podcast: The Official Podcast of the AJC Peachtree Road Race

Runners Who Read EP 7: Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor

For the 7th installment of the Runners Who Read Podcast, Olivia sat down with Deena Kastor, the NY Times bestselling author of Let Your Mind Run. Deena is an Olympic distance runner, coach, commentator, and author. Throughout her illustrious pro racing career, she has won 24 national championships and represented the United States on 19 national teams, including 3 Olympic teams. At the 2004 Games in Athens, she won a bronze medal in the marathon and then went on to win the 2005 Chicago and 2006 London major marathons. She has held American records in every distance from 5k to marathon and currently holds the master’s American record in the marathon having run 2:27.47 in 2015. As an author, alongside co-writer Michelle Hamilton, her memoir, Let Your Mind Run won the American Society of Journalists and Authors’ award for Outstanding Memoir/Autobiography book in 2019. She is currently still racing, coaching for Mammoth Track Club and, commentating as she did just last weekend at the NY Marathon.
 
In this live recorded book club discussion, we talk about both the mental and physical benefits of cultivating positivity in your life, bouncing back from disappointment like she did after the 2008 Olympic Games, and whether she will consider competing at the 2024 Olympic trials among other topics from her book and audience questions.

Runners Who Read EP 6: Do Hard Things by Steve Magness

For the 6th installment of the Runners Who Read Podcast, Olivia sat down with Steve Magness, author of the bestselling book Do Hard Things. Steve is a writer, former elite track and field athlete and coach, and world-renowned expert on performance. As an author, his books, which include The Passion Paradox and also Peak Performance as a co-author, have sold more than a quarter million copies worldwide. His writing has also been featured in The Atlantic, Forbes, Sports Illustrated and other publications. Additionally, he consults on mental skills development for professional sports teams—including some of the top teams in the NBA—and has coached many professional athletes to the Olympic and world championship level.
 
In this live recorded book club discussion, we talk about the shortcomings of the "fake it til you make it" cliche, effective ways to listen to your body when under pressure, and how the true definition of the word "toughness" might be a lot different than you think among other topics from his book and the audience Q&A.
 
Follow Steve:
Twitter: @stevemagness
Instagram: @stevemagness
Website: www.stevemagness.com
 
Follow Olivia:
Twitter - @obaker64
Instagram - @obaker64 

Runners Who Read EP 5: Abdi’s World by Abdi Abdirahman

In the fifth episode of the Runners Who Read Podcast, Olivia Baker sits down with Abdi Abdirahman, author of the July 2022 book: Abdi's World. Abdi Abdirahman is a 5-time Olympian in the 10,000m and marathon. Born in Somalia, he fled the country along with his parents and 4 siblings in the midst of a civil war at just 13 years old. After spending several years in a refugee camp in Mombasa, Kenya, he immigrated to the United States through a program for Somali refugees. It wasn’t until his freshman year at Pima Community College that he would set foot on his first track but it was immediately clear that he was very talented. As a junior, he transferred to the University of Arizona where he would begin to train under Coach Dave Murray (who is still his coach to this day) and kick off a running career that has seen Abdi consistently compete at the elite level and represent the United States on the world stage for the last quarter of a century through present day.
 
In this episode, we discuss how he got his infamous "Black Cactus" nickname, the ways he continues to find fun in the sport after all this time, and the secret to his longevity in this sport at the elite level among other things.
 
Show notes:
Runners Who Read Book Club: www.atlantatrackclub.org/runners-who-read
 
Follow Abdi:
Twitter: @Abdi_runs
Instagram: @abdiruns
 
Follow Olivia
Twitter: @obaker64
Instagram: @obaker64

Runners Who Read EP 4: Bravey by Alexi Pappas

In the fourth episode of the Runners Who Read Podcast, Ronnel Blackmon and Olivia Baker sit down with Alexi Pappas, author of the June 2022 book: Bravey. Alexi Pappas is an Olympic runner and award-winning actor and writer. In 2016, she raced at the Olympics in Rio at 10,000m, setting the still-standing Greek national record of 31:36. Since then, she has put her degree in English from Dartmouth and Masters from University of Oregon to good use co-creating two feature films: TRACKTOWN in 2016 which she also co-directed, and OLYMPIC DREAMS in 2019 in which she also starred. In 2021, Pappas published her first book Bravey, a memoir-in-essays that was the number 1 new release in both the sports and film categories and, despite having only been around for less than 2 years is quickly becoming a classic in track and field world.
 
In this episode, we discuss Alexi's advice on finding and being a good mentor, taking care of your mental health, and pursuing a dream wholly and completely among other things.
 
Show notes:
Runners Who Read Book Club: www.atlantatrackclub.org/runners-who-read
 
Follow Alexi:
Twitter: @AlexiPappas
Instagram: @alexipappas
Website: Home | Bravey (alexipappas.com)
 
Follow Ronnel
Twitter: @ronnelblackmon
Instagram: @ronnelblackmon
 
Follow Olivia
Twitter: @obaker64
Instagram: @obaker64

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Expo Special

Headed to the Georgia World Congress Center to pick up your race number this weekend? Listen as you go for tips on everything from parking to vendors to race day instructions. We'll see you at the starting line on July 4th! 

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Episode 6

Many of us are running in record-breaking heat this week, so it might make you feel better to know that even the world’s fastest runners don’t love the heat & humidity. This week, we hear from Abdi Abdirahman, who’s about to run his 9th Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race. He tells us how he approaches hydration – and how he’s preparing to tackle the course he knows so well. Plus, Atlanta Track Club’s Kristin Lide-Hall tells us how you can still get two t-shirts by volunteering on race weekend. Check out more opportunities at https://www.atlantatrackclub.org/volunteers.

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Episode 5

Hope you've survived the heat & humidity in another week of training for the Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race! We have some fun guests to go along with your latest training runs. We'll reveal the 4 finalists in this year's "Oh Say Can You Sing" contest with 11Alive. Plus, the American women's marathon record holder, Keira D'Amato, shares her favorite Peachtree memory and tells us why she's running it again. 

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Episode 4

If you look forward to seeing what the Peachtree t-shirt looks like at the finish line each year, you’re in luck. That tradition returns this year! This week, we talk with 2 of the t-shirt design finalists, Shay Harbaugh and Russ Vann, who are both making history with their entries this year. Find out what goes into that shirt we all wear on the 4th. Plus, we talk to Peachtree legend Daniel Romanchuk, who’s won the Men’s Wheelchair Division four times!
 

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Episode 3

The 2022 Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race has seen quite a few changes over its 50+ years, and Atlanta Track Club’s Elizabeth Unislawski has been there for much of it. This week, the club’s longest-serving employee shares her experience with the race, some of the behind-the-scenes secrets of elite runners, and what traditions haven’t changed. Plus, we’ll hear from Paralympian and past Peachtree champ Susannah Scaroni, who’s overcome a major accident in order to get back to this year’s 10k in the wheelchair division. You won’t want to miss her advice on powering through setbacks!

The Peachtree Podcast 2022: Episode 2

BOOM! This week, we have some inspirational guests to help get you ready for this year's Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race. Peachtree's In-Training Coach Bob Wells tells us where we should be in our training as we countdown to race day. And if you've never heard the story of Kyle and Brent Pease, you'll want to hear why Peachtree is near and dear to the push-assist team that's changed the game for athletes with disabilities. Find more at www.kylepeasefoundation.org.