Go! Running Talks

How quitting bad habits and running shapes your personality - Running Florence with a local!

Lapo was born and raised in Florence. His name is typically Florentine. And after almost nine years guiding runners through the city, he's about to reach his 1,000th guest. He's an architect by profession - which means when he runs you past a Renaissance dome or through a hidden courtyard, he sees things most people miss. He's also been running for over 20 years and completed 24 marathons. In this episode, Lena sits down with Lapo to talk about why he calls certain runs "running poetry," the only DNF of his career, and what nine years of running the same city with people from around the world has taught him. What you'll hear in this episode: * From smoking to running: replacing one addiction with another - and never looking back * What "running poetry" actually means - and why Lapo's running playlist has classical music on it * His marathon personal best in 2021 - and the DNF in Rimini that taught him every marathon demands respect * The secret viewpoint after Piazzale Michelangelo - where doctors from Alaska watched Florence turn red at sunrise * A couple who first ran with him in their 70s, came back five years later and extended their booked 10K all the way to 10 miles - because they wanted to keep going * His son Gio joining the guide team - and why early mornings are still not his favorite thing * Almost 1,000 guests from every continent - ages 16 to over 80 * "Never rush" - why Lapo won't train anyone for a marathon until they've done a half marathon first * How running builds self-esteem and teaches you to deal with suffering in all areas of life Lapo's tours in Florence: * The Florentine Gems Tour - 8K * A Run with a View - 10K * Florence Hills Tour - 13.7K * Florence Trail Run - 17K * Florence Grand Tour - 21K Book a running tour in Florence: gorunningtours.com/p/italy/florence/ [http://gorunningtours.com/p/italy/florence/] Go! Running Tours connects runners with local guides in 70+ cities worldwide. Whether you're a business traveler, a marathon tourist, or just someone who loves to explore cities on foot - there's a tour for you at https://gorunningtours.com/ [https://gorunningtours.com/] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/gorunningtours] Follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/GoRunningTours/] Join our Strava club [https://www.strava.com/clubs/492052/discussion]

How did these Boston finishers train for the Boston Marathon?

This past Monday, three Go! Running Tours guides crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon. Alan from Montreal. Emily from New York. Jose from Chicago. Three different training cycles, three different race days - and one thing in common: they earned every kilometer. In this special episode of Go! Running Talks, Lena sits down with Alan, Emily, and Jose days after the race to talk about what Boston actually feels like from the inside. The hills. The crowds. The moments where you're ready to quit and somehow don't. What you'll hear in this episode: * Why Boston ruins your quads in the first four miles - before you even feel it * The Wellesley Scream Tunnel: you can hear it a kilometer before you reach it * Alan's Gollum analogy for the mental battle on the Newton Hills * Emily's tip that made strangers cheer for her the entire 42.2K * The real story behind why Heartbreak Hill is called Heartbreak Hill - from 1936 * Is Heartbreak Hill actually as hard as they say? Three runners answer * Emily's journey from charity runner to four-time Boston qualifier * Jose's first Boston - and why he's already signing up again * What all three would do differently next time Alan guides in Montreal. Emily guides in New York City. Jose guides in Chicago. Want to run with a Boston Marathon finisher? gorunningtours.com/p/canada/montreal/ [http://gorunningtours.com/p/canada/montreal/] - gorunningtours.com/p/usa/new-york-city/ [http://gorunningtours.com/p/usa/new-york-city/] - gorunningtours.com/p/usa/chicago/ [http://gorunningtours.com/p/usa/chicago/] Go! Running Tours connects runners with local guides in 70+ cities across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Whether you're a business traveler, a marathon tourist, or just someone who loves to explore cities on foot - there's a tour for you at https://gorunningtours.com/ [https://gorunningtours.com/]

Tokyo has 23 different worlds. Ihor will help you find yours - Running Tokyo with a local

Tokyo is not one city. It never was. Ihor, Go! Running Tours' lead guide in Tokyo, has been exploring the city on foot, by bike, and through a camera lens for five years. His conclusion: Tokyo has 23 different wards, and each one is its own world. The 7K and 12K tours he runs with guests cover what would be an entire city center in most European capitals - and still only scratch the surface. In this episode, Lena sits down with Ihor to talk about what it means to find your Tokyo, why the best itinerary is the one that leaves room for the unexpected, and what happens when a runner who loves books, music, and field recording becomes a guide in one of the most layered cities on earth. What you'll hear in this episode: * Growing up running 5K every morning in a Ukrainian military boarding school - and  loving it * The Japanese running culture shock: masks, gear, and runners who look like they came from another planet * Running a marathon in Okinawa where a farm handed out  eggs and a man with salt appeared 10 meters later * The "Find Your Tokyo" philosophy - and what Ihor's own Tokyo looks like * The toilet tour: a 20K half marathon dedicated to Tokyo's most iconic public bathrooms, built for the Olympics * Why Ihor never runs the same road twice on tour * "Nerds meeting nerds" - what happens when a guide and a guest are equally obsessed with the same city * One piece of advice for every runner, beginner or experienced Ihor's tours in Tokyo: 7K, 12K, and the 20K Toilet Tour Book a running tour in Tokyo Ready to run Tokyo? Find your route with Ihor at gorunningtours.com/p/japan/tokyo/ [http://gorunningtours.com/p/japan/tokyo/] Go! Running Tours is the global leader in running tours and connects runners with local guides in 70+ cities across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Whether you're a business traveler, a marathon tourist, or just someone who loves to explore cities on foot - there's a tour for you at https://gorunningtours.com/ [https://gorunningtours.com/]

Running Denver with a Local: How Sara Built the City’s Best Running Tours

Sara Amato wasn't sure anyone would want to run Denver. "It doesn't have the cool architecture and history that European cities do," she told us. She built the tours anyway. Sara is Go! Running Tours' lead guide in Denver - ultra runner, trail lover, and the person behind a running community that turned strangers into lifelong friends on a 42-mile day at the Grand Canyon. In this episode, Lena sits down with Sara to talk about imposter syndrome in running and in guiding, what it's like to show a city you had to learn to believe in, and why Denver's elevation will humble any runner - no matter how fast they are. What you'll hear in this episode: * Imposter syndrome in running and in guiding - and how Sara moved through it * What rim to rim to rim at the Grand Canyon actually feels like (42 miles, one day, last half is a death march) * Building tours in a city without centuries of European history - and why Denver doesn't need it * Why Denver's elevation at 5,280 ft hits every runner the same way, no exceptions * The RiNo Arts District - murals that change every season, and why it's one of Sara's favorite routes * Denver tours from 5K to half marathon - and why Sara recommends going for the longest one * Coffee Run Club: the all-female running community built to be welcoming, not intimidating * Sara's #1 advice for every runner: fuel your body, no matter what Sara's tours in Denver: gorunningtours.com/p/usa/denver/ [http://gorunningtours.com/p/usa/denver/]  Go! Running Tours connects runners with local guides in 70+ cities across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Whether you're a business traveler, a marathon tourist, or just someone who loves to explore cities on foot - there's a tour for you at https://gorunningtours.com/ [https://gorunningtours.com/]

What Happens when a Hotel GM decides running is part of the guest experience

Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago partnered with Go! Running Tours to offer guests something most hotels don't: a guided running service that starts at the hotel door and takes you into the city. Two routes. Both 6K. One along Lake Michigan - past Soldier Field and the Adler Planetarium. One south through Chinatown's Dragon Gate to Ping Tom Memorial Park. Private, guided, available every day, adapted to your pace. The partnership came from a simple observation: business travelers and conference guests want to stay active on the road, but they don't always know where to run or how to make it happen before a full day of meetings. A bespoke running service removes that friction - and adds a layer to the hotel experience that a gym simply can't replicate. In this episode of Go! Running Talks, Lena sits down with Matt Schalk, General Manager of Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, to talk about: * Why Hyatt Regency McCormick Place invested in a running service for guests * What hotels gain by catering to active travelers and conference attendees * How running fits the rhythm of business travel * Chicago's South Loop and lakefront trail - what makes them worth running * His best running memory: a hidden oceanfront trail near a San Francisco airport hotel * What running has taught him about leading a large team Book a running tour from Hyatt Regency McCormick Place: https://gorunningtours.com/hyatt-regency-mccormick/ [https://gorunningtours.com/hyatt-regency-mccormick/] About Go! Running Tours: We're a global network of local running guides offering tours in 80+ cities worldwide. Discover cities by running, with locals who live and love their city. Book your next running experience at https://www.gorunningtours.com [https://www.gorunningtours.com] Subscribe for more conversations and follow us for new interviews.