JAMBAR athlete and cycling legend Ali Tetrick was featured by our partner, Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), in the following article which appeared in its latest newsletter.
Earlier this month when professional cyclist, former Team USA member and Gravel Hall of Famer Ali Tetrick was pounding out a 100K race, one thing was different - she wasn’t on her bike! She picked up running just over 18 months ago, and is already completing ultras. We checked in with Ali to discuss her newfound joy for running and “chasing wonder.”
Before you became a professional cyclist, you competed in triathlons. What brought you back to the sport of running?
Honestly? It was a family vacation to Mexico with my in-laws, who I adore. But I know something very important about myself: if I don't exercise, I become... less delightful.
We didn't bring our bikes, so I laced up my running shoes to burn off a little crazy. I came back completely wrecked and could barely walk for the rest of the vacation, but something clicked.
I realized I didn't want to be so one-dimensional that I couldn't enjoy other activities besides biking. I remembered what I loved about running: its simplicity. All you need is a pair of shoes and a road, a trail, or even a hotel treadmill.
For years, every trip came with the stress of wondering whether I should bring my bike, if I'd have a safe place to ride, or whether I'd miss valuable training. Running gives me another way to stay active wherever I am. I also love that it helps rebuild my bone density in a way the bike doesn’t.
How have you ramped up your running so quickly, why ultras, and how do you balance this new love with cycling?
When we got home from vacation, my husband and I set a very reasonable goal: to run for an hour without destroying ourselves. We started with three-quarters of a mile running, a quarter-mile walking, turned around, and went home. And we were exhausted.
Then, because apparently I have a questionable relationship with moderation, we signed up for a marathon.
One thing led to another. I went from hoping I could run three miles a few times a week to qualifying for the Boston Marathon, finishing in the top five at a 100K, and qualifying for Leadville.
Consistency is a wildly underrated performance enhancer.
As for balancing both sports, cycling is still my profession and one of the great loves of my life. When I'm deep into an ultra training block, running naturally gets a little more attention, but the bike has become the perfect complement. It keeps me fit without the impact, and it's always there if my body needs a break from pounding the trails.
Most days, though, you'll find me doing both.
How do you think running helps your cycling and cycling helps your running?
The biggest crossover is endurance, both physically and mentally. Long days teach you patience no matter the sport.
Physically, they're wonderfully complementary. Cycling gives me endless aerobic fitness without the impact, while running challenges my bones, muscles, and connective tissue in completely different ways.
If a runner is bike-curious, what advice would you give them?
Just start.
We spend so much time worrying about having the perfect bike, the perfect shoes, the perfect gear, or knowing exactly what we're doing. You don't need any of that to begin. I have a saying: if you are riding a bike, you are doing it right.
Borrow a bike. Rent one. Dust off the one that's been hanging in your garage. (Just take it to your local bike shop to make sure it is running safely and properly.)
Ride a bike path. Explore a quiet trail. Cruise your neighborhood. Join a no-drop group ride. Or head out by yourself if that's what fills your cup.
Give yourself a goal, even if it's simply making it to the next coffee shop or riding for 30 minutes without looking at your watch, or even signing up for your first century!
Nobody starts out knowing how to ride in a group, descend confidently, or fix a flat. Just like trail running teaches you where to put your feet, cycling teaches you those skills one ride at a time.
You don't have to know everything before you begin.
You just have to begin.
Have your hydration and nutrition needs changed since you've been doing more running? What's different about fueling a long ride versus a long run?
Hydration hasn't changed much. Just like I would for a long gravel race, I wear a hydration pack for ultras. It's basically my Mary Poppins bag of endurance sports. Inside you'll find water, electrolytes, emergency supplies, JAMBAR organic energy bars, and probably something random I picked up along the trail to look at later.
My fueling philosophy is still exactly the same as it is on the bike, which is, sip, sip... nibble, nibble. The goal is to stay ahead of dehydration and hunger instead of trying to catch up.
Running, though, is much less forgiving because of the constant impact. You can't fake your fueling when your stomach is bouncing for hours. I've become much more intentional about what I carry, and I love having JAMBARs in my vest because they're made with real ingredients and are easy to eat and digest on long adventures. And they are a delicious treat I look forward to.
On the bike, you have opportunities to coast, recover, and eat more comfortably. Running asks you to think further ahead because your body is absorbing every step. You have to fuel consistently, choose foods your stomach knows and trusts, and stay disciplined about eating even when you don't feel hungry.
Describe your idea of a perfect run.
An easy but very long trail run with my husband. We call them our "SunDates."
No pace goals. No workout. No chasing splits. I like to let him "drop me" so I feel no pressure to do anything other than exactly what I want to do.
I elephant along through the forest, plodding from tree to tree, stopping to admire wildflowers, watch a hawk soar overhead, or simply breathe in that smell only the woods seem to have.
It's less about the miles and more about the moments.
Then we celebrate by trying to discover the best margarita in town, a new local brewery, or whatever delicious treat we've convinced ourselves we've earned. Somewhere along the way, I stopped believing every run had to prove something. Sometimes the best runs are simply the ones that remind you to look around.
Anything else you'd like to share?
After spending so much of my life trying to be one of the best cyclists in the world, running has reminded me what it feels like to be a beginner again.
There's something incredibly freeing about that.
Running isn't my job. No one is expecting results from me. I'll never be the best ultrarunner, and that's actually one of the things I love most. I also love not being terrified at the start lines! Bike racing is super scary after all my crashes. It is fun to start a race not at 30+ mph wondering not if, but when, I am going to crash. Running offers so much freedom and calming endorphins for me.
I get to be curious.
I get to explore.
I get to improve.
I get to surprise myself.
Somewhere along the way, I realized I'd spent years chasing performance. Running gives me permission to chase wonder again. Every trail is a chance to learn something, not just about the sport, but about myself. It has reminded me that trying something new isn't about proving anything. It's about giving yourself permission to grow, to laugh at yourself, and to discover strengths (and weaknesses) you didn't know you had.
Maybe that's what being a beginner really is. Not being good at something yet, but being brave enough to fall in love with learning again.