Running to the Castle
A podcast for slow, back-of-the-pack, or injury-prone runDisney runners on a journey to running magical miles.
Join me, Dr. Ali, as I share the secrets I've gathered as a runner, Doctor of Physical Therapy and coach.
You'll learn the exact ways I get my clients to the castle strong without feeling broken or held together with KT tape as they cross the finish line.
Dr. Ali and this podcast are lovers of runDisney and are not affiliated with runDisney.
Episodes
219 episodes
RTTC #219 How to Do Intervals in a Crowded Race Environment
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali answers a listener question about how to manage run/walk intervals in crowded runDisney race environments, especially when dodging other runners makes the experience frustrating instead of fun.&...
RTTC #218 How to Stay Consistent With RunDisney Training Without Hating Every Run
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down what consistency actually looks like for slow, back-of-the-pack runDisney runners… and why it has less to do with willpower and more to do with whether you actually enjoy yo...
RTTC #217 The Non-Negotiable Everyone Should Add To Their Run
In this episode of Running to the Castle Dr. Ali shares the one non-negotiable every runner needs to add to their routine, and it’s not another workout, speed session, or long run. It’s recovery. She explains why recovery should be ...
RTTC #216 How Fueling More Helped a Back-of-the-Pack Runner Finish Dopey an Interview with Kai
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali sits down with Kai to share his powerful journey from walking for weight loss to completing the Dopey Challenge after years of setbacks, surgeries, and time away from running. Despit...
RTTC #215 Springtime Surprise Recap
In this episode of Running to the Castle Dr. Ali recaps her Springtime Surprise weekend experience from start to finish, sharing everything from travel chaos and expo surprises to race strategies and emotional finish line moments. S...
RTTC #214 How Slowing Down Long Runs Helped Her Go From Just Finishing a Marathon to a Princess PR an Interview with Christina Bowler
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali talks with Christina Bowler about how she went from a self-proclaimed non-athletic Disney fan who could barely run the mile in gym class to a runDisney runner who completed multiple race weekend...
RTTC #213 Race Day Cross the Finish Line With Confidence
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali walks listeners through exactly how to approach race week so they can cross the finish line feeling calm, prepared, and confident instead of panicked and second-guessing themselves. ...
RTTC #212 How a Back-of-the-Pack Runner Finished Dopey from the Last Corral Interview with Page Bitner
In this episode of Running to the Castle Dr. Ali sits down with Page Bittner to walk through her full journey from a gymnast who hated running to a Dopey Challenge finisher, and not just any finish, but one that required adaptability, trust, an...
RTTC #211 What to Do When Your Running Feels Worse Than It Did Months Ago
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down one of the most frustrating experiences for runners…when your pace slows down and your stamina feels worse despite months of training. She explains why this is incredibly...
RTTC #210 No Pain No Gain Really?
In this episode of Running to the Castle… Dr. Ali breaks down the biggest misconception in running, that “no pain, no gain” is the key to getting faster. She explains why that mindset is actually keeping so many slow, back-of-the-pa...
RTTC #209 Before You Stop Running Because of Pain Listen to This
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali Marty breaks down one of the most common fears she hears from runners: that a painful week of training means they've injured themselves and need to stop completely. Drawing from thre...
RTTC #208 What Should You Eat When Training for runDisney Races?
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali talks about one of the most common questions runDisney runners ask: what should you eat when training for your races? She explains why there is no single “healthy” meal plan that wor...
RTTC #207 How To Stay Consistent Training for runDisney As a Slow Back of the Pack Runner
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down what consistency actually looks like for slow, back-of-the-pack, or injury-prone runDisney runners…and why it has less to do with motivation and more to do with how your tra...
RTTC #206 How to Run A Faster Half Marathon As a Slow runDisney Runner
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down how slow, back-of-the-pack runDisney runners can actually get faster in the half marathon without exhausting themselves or overtraining. She explains why the build phase,...
RTTC# 205 When Is It OK to Train the Full Race Distance?
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali explains when it actually makes sense to train the full race distance for a half marathon or marathon… and why most slow, back-of-the-pack runners shouldn’t do it during race training. ...
RTTC #204 From 7-Hour Marathoner to 6:19 at Dopey… A Real runDisney Success Story with Amanda Mueller
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali talks with returning guest Amanda Mueller about what changed between her previous runDisney races and her most recent Dopey Challenge and Disneyland races… and how trusting her training complete...
RTTC #203 If You Passed Character Stops But Really Wanted to Stop... This is How You Do It
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali explains why many runDisney runners end up skipping character stops even when they really want them, and what actually needs to change so you can stop without worrying about getting swept. ...
RTTC #202 Why Am I Not Getting Faster?
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali tackles one of the most frustrating questions in the running community: "Why am I not getting faster?" She breaks down her comprehensive Finisher Framework, explaining that speed is ...
RTTC #201 I Just Finished Princess Now What?
In this episode of Running to the Castle Dr. Ali congratulates all the Princess Half Marathon Weekend finishers and dives deep into the crucial "what comes next" phase of the training cycle. She emphasizes that regardless of whether...
RTTC #200 If You’re Slow and Training for runDisney, This Is for You
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali celebrates the podcast's 200th episode milestone by dedicating it to the "slow, back-of-the-pack" runners who often feel out of place in a speed-obsessed running culture. She address...
RTTC #199 Calf Tightness in the First 2 Miles of a Run for Slow Runners
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali tackles a frustration shared by many back-of-the-pack runners: that stubborn calf tightness that seems to haunt the first two miles of every run. She debunks the myth that more stret...
RTTC #198 What Training and Mileage Should Look Like Between Races
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali addresses a common listener question regarding how to manage training and mileage during the "off-season" or the gaps between major race weekends. She emphasizes the importance of th...
RTTC #197 Should I Still Taper When I Missed 2 Weeks of Running?
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali addresses a common dilemma for runDisney participants: whether to continue tapering for a race even after missing significant training time due to illness or "life getting lifey". Us...
RTTC #196 How to Incorporate Daily Walking into Your Running Routine
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali addresses a listener's question about how to balance a long-standing daily walking habit... particularly in a hilly neighborhood... with the added physical demands of training for a runDisney ra...
RTTC #195 How to Train for Wine and Dine Half Marathon, 10k or 2 Course Challenge as a Slow Run/Walk Runner
In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali discusses the essential preparation steps for the upcoming Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend, emphasizing that even though the races are months away, the work begins now. She highl...