#688 - Breaking4 Breakdown and Transitioning from Pro Running with Maddie Alm

·54 min·5 clips

Former pro runner Maddie Alm breaks down why Faith Kipyegon's attempt to break the four-minute mile was such a surprising, audacious goal.

The episode begins with host Matt Chittum introducing guest Maddie Alm, a former professional runner for Team Boss. The first major segment is a breakdown of the Breaking4 event that occurred earlier that day, where Faith Kipyegon attempted to break the four-minute mile for women. Maddie shares her initial surprise at the ambitious marketing, given Kipyegon's personal best was seven seconds away. They discuss the race details: Kipyegon ran 4:06.42 with male pacers and advanced footwear, setting a PR but not breaking the barrier. Both praise Kipyegon's bravery for attempting such a publicly marketed moonshot. Maddie and Matt critique Nike's framing of the event as overly optimistic, potentially misleading casual viewers. Maddie provides context, comparing the women's four-minute mile to a men's sub-3:30 mile, highlighting the enormity of the barrier. The conversation then transitions to Maddie's personal journey. She explains she never planned to run post-collegiately and was studying to be a dietitian first. After being recruited by University of Colorado coach Mark Wetmore, she pursued both careers simultaneously. Maddie details starting her business, Fueling Forward, while training with Team Boss, often working multiple jobs and living frugally to support herself. She describes the symbiotic relationship: her running exposure helped grow her business, but the balance was difficult and sometimes led to burnout. Maddie discusses the identity challenges many athletes face when retiring and how having her business eased her transition. She highlights the growing research in sports nutrition, especially for female athletes, and her involvement in a study on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Finally, she talks about her new podcast, the Fueling Forward Podcast, where she interviews athletes and answers nutrition questions, aiming to provide science-backed information. The episode concludes with Maddie sharing her website and coaching program details.

As heard by us

A clear-eyed, enthusiastic look at a four-flat ambition and the context behind a stubborn barrier.

The Rambling Runner Podcast looks at a four-flat mile attempt as both a thrilling spectacle and a serious question for women's running. It captures the appeal of the goal without treating the barrier as simple marketing, especially when the discussion turns to the scale of…

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Why you'd press play

You want to know why a women's four-flat mile attempt can feel thrilling, daunting, and complicated all at once.

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