Mario Fraioli - Seeing life through the lens of running
“For me running is just a lens and it allows me to see what’s possible for myself as an athlete, but it’s also allowed me to see what’s possible for me in the other areas of my life. Cause everything that I’ve learned from running, I’ve applied to every other area of my life.”
Welcome back to Season 4 of the RunAlive Podcast - so excited to be back with you and welcoming 2 new CoHosts in Gill and Rohan.
This week:
We introduce Gill and Rohan to the podcast and we've been thinking about:
Ruth Chepngetich's groundbreaking performance at the Chicago Marathon - can we believe it?
London Marathon Champs times have been lowered - we're not happy. We reference Des and Kara's podcast on Boston times which you can find here
Later in the episode we'll here from Jenny with an expert slot, reflecting on Mario's interview.
Win and fail of the week
Gill runs 1:28 at the Leicester Half in her first race since having her second child
She also had a technology fail - did that actually help?
Ro had a transport nightmare and failed to even make it to the start of XC this weekend
Ed went too far with the S&C and is regretting it still.
Our guest this week:
Mario Fraioli is a Bay Area-based running coach who works with a number of Olympic Trials-level marathoners, top ultrarunners, and competitive age-group athletes. He also writes and publishes the morning shakeout, a weekly email newsletter and occasional podcast that covers running and other topics that interest him.
Summary
In this episode, Mario shares how running serves as a powerful lens through which he views and navigates life. He opens up about the evolution of his relationship with running, which began in high school as a way to stay fit for basketball but has since grown into a lifelong passion that shapes his approach to coaching, personal growth, and self-discovery.
Key Takeaways:
Coaching as Holistic Development:
Mario emphasises that coaching goes beyond physical training—it's about nurturing the whole person. He aims to understand how running fits into an athlete's life and help ensure it occupies a healthy space.
Curiosity as a Driver for Growth:
Mario highlights curiosity as a motivating force. Rather than comparing himself to his past achievements, he remains curious about what he can accomplish at his current stage in life.
Knowing When to Quit with Confidence:
Mario talks about the importance of quitting when something isn’t working, framing it as a positive and brave choice. He sees it as essential for avoiding unnecessary suffering and reevaluating one's approach.
Follow Mario on Strava and Instagram.
Visit his website.
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Listen to the morning shakeout podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Google Play, Soundcloud, or wherever you consume audio content.
Thank You:
Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with anyone who might be inspired by Gill's story. Join the Strava Group and follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk