Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Alison McPherson, a 31 year old lifelong runner, coach, and all-around powerhouse who lives in Canmore, Alberta. In March, Ali won a hilly 50K trail ultramarathon, and just one month later, ran a personal best of 2:58:13 at the Boston Marathon. If that wasn’t special enough, her 64-year-old mom – whom she coached – also crossed the Boston finish line in an incredible 4:09!

In this episode, we dive into Ali’s remarkable back-to-back performances, how she balanced recovery and racing, and what it meant to return to Boston with her mom on a much nicer day than they experienced in 2018.

Ali is someone who truly walks her talk, and her clients at Rhythm Run Coaching are lucky to have her in their corner.

Connect with Ali:

• Instagram: @rhythmruncoaching
• Website: rhythmruncoaching.com
• Ali's previous appearance on Inspired Soles: Insights From Five Expert Run Coaches

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Today’s guest is Andrea Wilson — a 49-year-old runner and occupational therapist from Comox, BC who has gotten faster throughout her 40s, culminating in a 2:58 marathon at CIM in December 2024. But her story is about so much more than running.

Roughly a decade ago, Andrea’s world got turned upside down, and she found herself asking some big questions: Who am I? What do I believe in? Through that journey, she found her voice, learned to set boundaries, and began to live with more confidence and clarity — all of which freed up space for her to pursue her love of running.

As an OT, Andrea specializes in self-regulation — which includes emotional processing, cognitive strategies, and sensory awareness. She explains how understanding these systems helped her take ownership of her goals, silence negative thoughts, and run the best marathons of her life in her late 40s.

We talk about mirror neurons, the addictive pull of screens, why stress impairs decision-making, and how it truly does take time to establish new routines.

Connect with Andrea:

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Justin Kent joins Inspired Soles fresh off a huge PB and win at the McKirdy Micro Marathon (2:09:29) to talk about the race, the growing depth of Canadian men’s marathoning, and how he and wife/Olympian Lindsey Butterworth juggle elite training with life as new parents.

Connect with Justin:

• Instagram: @jkent_
• Mile2Marathon: https://mile2marathon.com/

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Today I’m joined by Jason Fitzgerald—fellow podcaster, run coach, and the founder of Strength Running, one of the most trusted names in the running world. Based in Denver, Colorado, Jason brings a deep well of experience to the sport. He ran cross country and track at Connecticut College, dabbled in the steeplechase, and has posted impressive lifetime PRs including a 2:39 marathon and 4:33 mile.

In this episode, we dig into the fundamentals of running—and why Jason believes 99% of our time, effort, and resources should be focused right there. We also explore the remaining 1%—those little extras runners love to obsess over—and whether they’re worth it.

We even tackle his dislike for the term “full marathon,” answer some crowd-sourced listener questions, and uncover the deeper meaning behind Strength Running. If you like smart, practical advice delivered with a side of fun, you’re going to love this conversation.

Connect with Jason:

• Instagram: @jasonfitz1
• Website: strengthrunning.com
• The Strength Running Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-strength-running-podcast/id1170932252

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

If you’ve been around the world of distance running for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the name Ben Rosario. He’s done just about everything in the running industry—from professional runner and run specialty store owner to race director and Olympic-level coach.

Ben spent nearly a decade as the head coach and executive director of NAZ Elite in Flagstaff, AZ, where he guided professional athletes to national titles, World Championship appearances, and an Olympic Trials Marathon victory. Now, as the Co-Founder & CEO of The Marathon Project, he’s creating a world-class racing opportunity for athletes who are fast—but not necessarily pro. And if you’re an everyday runner, you might also know him as the co-author of Run Like a Pro (Even If You’re Slow), where he shares training principles anyone can apply to improve their running.

In this conversation, we discuss why Ben felt the need to bring The Marathon Project back, what sets it apart from other races, and where he sees it going in the future.

An entrepreneur at heart, Ben has been the mastermind behind some of running’s most exciting projects, and we dive into the lessons he’s learned from each venture.

Connect with Ben:

• Instagram: @marathonproj
• Website: themarathonproject.com
• Book: Run Like a Pro (Even If You're Slow)
  • Matt Fitzgerald's book about training with Ben/NAZ Elite: Running the Dream

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on the world of professional race announcing with none other than Steve Fleck – one of the leading endurance sports announcers and commentators in North America. If you've ever crossed the finish line at a major race, chances are you've heard his energetic and insightful voice bringing the moment to life.

Beyond calling the action at running, triathlon, and cycling events, Steve is also a sought-after corporate emcee and a key figure in the race and event industry. In this episode, we dive into what makes a great announcer, the evolving race experience, and some of Steve’s most memorable finish-line moments. We also get a little nerdy about the future of Canadian distance running – are we in a boom? Who’s coming up through the ranks? And what will it take for Canada to be even more competitive on the world stage?

Whether you're a runner, a race director, or just someone who loves the energy of live events, this episode is packed with insights and behind-the-scenes stories.

Connect with Steve:

• Instagram: @steve.fleck

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Today’s format is a little bit different — and hopefully a whole lot of fun.

I recently put out the call for your burning questions, and you did not disappoint! Welcome to our very first Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode, where I’ll be answering questions directly from you, the amazing listeners. And by popular demand and to make things even more interesting, I’ve invited back a special guest host — my husband, Johnny Coffin. Johnny will be adding his signature “colour commentary” as we dive into everything from the strangest job I ever had and favourite distance to coach, to my dream podcast guest and why I don’t listen to music when I race. We’ll even tackle some spicy takes on pork burritos and the great bicarb debate.

Your questions, my answers, and Johnny’s unfiltered takes.

Connect with Johnny:

• Previous Inspired Soles episodes:
  • EP224: Do You Control Strava, or Does It Control You?
  • EP 211: Coffin's Chicago Marathon Recap: The Bodily Fluids Episode
  • EP 202: Paris Olympic Track & Marathon Recap
  • EP 55: Road to the 2021 Boston Marathon
  • EP 12: Slow the BLEEP Down
• Instagram: @bestjohnnyever

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Today, we’re breaking down the topic of competition amongst athletes – and exploring the differences between healthy and unhealthy rivalries.

My guest is Brandy Adolphe, a fierce competitor and good friend, who recently won the 1500m national indoor title in the 45-49 age group with a blazing time of 5:32.19. Carolyn & Brandy have raced head-to-head many times—mostly Brandy wins, sometimes Carolyn does—but one thing remains constant: their respect for each other.

Over the years, they’ve noticed a tendency for people to frame their competition as a rivalry filled with tension or drama. But is that really the case? In this episode, they discuss:

• What it really means to compete
• The pressure of outside narratives, and
• Why they believe rivalries—when rooted in mutual respect—can make us all better athletes.

Connect with Brandy:

• Instagram: @brandyadolphe3
• Brandy's 1st Inspired Soles interview: Running by Feel with 3:19 Marathoner
• Brandy's 2nd Inspired Soles interview: Sinister 7 Race Recap

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.