EPISODE #168: She Didn't Peak in College. She Peaked in Her 30s | Alana Levy's Journey to the Olympic Marathon Trials

What if your biggest breakthrough came years after you thought your competitive running career was behind you?This week on RUNWITHALLI LIVE, I'm joined by Alana Levy, my fellow Horace Greeley High School alum, a 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, and one of New York City's top marathoners. Alana is a Product Manager by trade, an incredible human, and someone who proves that your best running may still be ahead of you.After stepping away from competitive running following college, Alana never imagined she'd eventually qualify for the Olympic Trials. Yet through years of consistency, patience, and trusting the process, she progressed from a 2:59 marathon to a 2:48, then a 2:40, and ultimately a 2:34 marathon to earn her first Olympic Trials qualifier. All while working full-time.In this episode, we dive into what it takes to balance ambition, career, and elite performance without losing sight of why you started running in the first place.WHAT WE COVER:00:00 Welcome to RUNWITHALLI LIVE00:01 Meet Olympic Trials Qualifier Alana Levy02:02 Why She Stepped Away from Competitive Running04:55 Running Faster in Her 30s Than Ever Before05:21 Breaking 17 Minutes in the 5K10:37 Joining Brooklyn Track Club Changed Everything13:28 How She Improved from 2:59 to 2:3416:35 Recovery, Nutrition & Training Evolution19:18 The Power of Patience in Running22:05 Letting Go of Fear & Racing for Yourself24:46 Rapid Fire: Sacrifices, Joy & Daily Habits27:46 Garmin, WHOOP & Nutrition Habits30:40 Balancing Tech & Elite Marathon Training33:46 Alana's Most Controversial Running Opinion36:20 Advice for Runners with Big Goals39:10 Final ThoughtsAlana's story is proof that progress doesn't have an expiration date. She is far from slowing down and continues to inspire me, and I know she'll inspire many of you listening as well!Fun fact: I was the captain of our varsity swim team, and Alana was the track star when we graduated from Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York, in 2007. Nearly two decades later, our paths have crossed again through running and the incredible community this sport creates. It truly is one of my favorite parts of running and how it has a way of bringing people back together. And no, we are NOT old!FINAL THOUGHTSWhether you're chasing your first marathon, hoping to qualify for Boston, balancing training around work and family, or simply wondering if your best running is still ahead of you, this conversation is a reminder that consistency compounds, patience pays off, and extraordinary results often come much later than we expect.If you've ever questioned whether you're too late to improve, this episode is for YOU!And remember, there’s no pace too slow!Share this episode with a training partner who needs to hear it!Connect with Alana Levy:InstagramAnd take ONE thing from this episode and apply it to your next run.Thank you for being here. I appreciate you!Support the showThe RUNWITHALLI LIVE Podcast is hosted by Alli Felsenthal, founder of RunWithAlli Coaching and virtual run coach to runners around the world. Each episode brings expert guests, honest conversations, and practical tools to help you train smarter, race better, and love the process. Whether you’re chasing your first finish line or a new PR, you’re in the right place.ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? Your support helps this podcast reach more runners who need it. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the #1 way to help the show grow: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/runwithalli-live/id1510066149Share this episode with a runner who needs to hear itSubscribe so you never miss an episodeWORK WITH RUNWITHALLI 1:1 Run Coaching. Personalized plans from the mile to the marathon → runafastermarathon.comFollow on Instagram → @runwithalliJoin the newsletter for weekly training tips, athlete wins, running science, and more → http://runafastermarathon.com/newsletterFree community with free weekly resources → Discord Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREE Support the showThe RUNWITHALLI LIVE Podcast is hosted by Alli Felsenthal, founder of RunWithAlli Coaching and virtual run coach to runners around the world. Each episode brings expert guests, honest conversations, and practical tools to help you train smarter, race better, and love the process. Whether you’re chasing your first finish line or a new PR, you’re in the right place.ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? Your support helps this podcast reach more runners who need it. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s the #1 way to help the show grow: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/runwithalli-live/id1510066149Share this episode with a runner who needs to hear itSubscribe so you never miss an episodeWORK WITH RUNWITHALLI 1:1 Run Coaching. Personalized plans from the mile to the marathon → runafastermarathon.comFollow on Instagram → @runwithalliJoin the newsletter for weekly training tips, athlete wins, running science, and more → http://runafastermarathon.com/newsletterFree community with free weekly resources → Discord