The People Run Podcast

Fitz Mayi
  • 5.0 (2)
  • RUNNING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The People Run Podcast is about the lives behind the miles. Hosted by Fitz Mayi, this show features real conversations with runners at every level from pros to parents, coaches to community builders about training, identity, discipline, setbacks, ambition, and what the sport gives back. Every runner has their own world. This is where we step into it.

  1. #44 How Running on Blades Set Her Free | Tanya Khvitsko-Trimb

    2D AGO

    #44 How Running on Blades Set Her Free | Tanya Khvitsko-Trimb

    Born in Belarus in the aftermath of Chernobyl, Tanya Khvitsko-Trimb grew up between orphanages, boarding schools, and years of hiding her prosthetic legs from the world.  In this episode, Tanya shares her journey from Belarus to the United States, getting her first running blades, discovering freedom through running, and eventually chasing big goals like the Boston Marathon. We also talk about identity, motherhood, recovery from injury, what people misunderstand about disability, and why she wants to be seen as more than just “inspiring.” This is one of the most honest and powerful conversations we’ve had on The People Run Podcast. Chapters 00:00 Growing Up After Chernobyl 05:03 Finding a Future In America 10:14 The Day Running Found Her 15:08 Running on Blades 17:32 The Cost of Competing 20:54 Boston, Falling, and Getting Back Up 29:13 Running as Gratitude 32:04 More Than an Inspirational Story 35:43 The Reality Behind the Story 39:31 Freedom Through Running 42:17 Healing, Patience, and Running 45:14 Effort Over Excuses Follow Tanya: Instagram: instagram.com/tanyakhv/ Follow The People Run Podcast: Instagram: instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/ Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube: The People Run Podcast Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/

    48 min
  2. #43 How A Civil Engineer Reached HYROX Worlds | Aycan Kara

    6D AGO

    #43 How A Civil Engineer Reached HYROX Worlds | Aycan Kara

    In this episode of The People Run Podcast, Fitz sits down with Aycan Kara a civil engineer who started running and lifting in her late 20s and is now preparing for the HYROX World Championships. Aycan shares her journey from growing up in Turkey to discovering fitness after moving to the United States, how consistency changed her life, and what it’s been like balancing HYROX training with a full-time engineering career. They talk about overcoming gym intimidation, racing HYROX doubles with her boyfriend, training for her first marathon, chasing big goals while staying realistic, and the emotional story of racing alongside her dad in Turkey a moment that inspired her entire family to become more active. Chapters 00:00 From Turkey To Hyrox Worlds 06:17 Learning Fitness One Step At A Time 12:30 The Hyrox Lesson That Changed Everything 16:51 Balancing Engineering & Elite Training 18:10 Starting Hyrox Together 23:26 How To Start Hyrox The Right Way 25:11 Racing Alongside Her Dad 30:41 A Year Of Big Firsts 37:33 Facing Hyrox Worlds 42:16 Im Not Special, I Stayed Follow Aycan: Instagram: instagram.com/aycan.fit/ Follow The People Run Podcast: Instagram: instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/ Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube: The People Run Podcast Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/

    46 min
  3. #42 Running Was Never Mine To Lose | Nell Rojas

    MAY 12

    #42 Running Was Never Mine To Lose | Nell Rojas

    Professional runner Nell Rojas joins The People Run Podcast for an honest conversation about identity, recovery, and rebuilding her relationship with running. After stepping away from racing while battling Lyme disease and multiple co-infections, Nell opens up about the physical and mental toll of losing the thing that once defined her, learning how to slow down, and finding perspective through it all. We talk about the road to finally getting answers, how chronic illness changed her relationship with running, fear and validation in elite sport, signing with Altra during recovery, coaching athletes through breakthrough moments, and what it really takes to compete at the highest level. This episode is about more than racing. It’s about purpose, perspective, and learning who you are when running gets taken away. This is The People Run. Chapters 00:00 Where Running Left Nell Rojas 03:28 When Her Body Started Breaking Down 12:25 The Long Road to Answers 15:04 A  Different Relationship With Running 18:03 Coaching Through Recovery 21:33 Missing Running & Learning Patience 27:48 Finding New Opportunities 32:05 What it Takes To Compete At The Top 37:21 This Is Part Of The Process 43:07 Why Running Still Matters Follow Us: IG: instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/ YT: youtube.com/@ThePeopleRunPodcast Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/ Follow Nell: IG: instagram.com/nell_rojas_running/ Photo Credit to Joe Friend Subscribe to The People Run Podcast for more real stories from everyday runners, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a friend who needs some inspiration.

    45 min
  4. #41 What Happens When Keira D’Amato Has to Stop Running

    MAY 7

    #41 What Happens When Keira D’Amato Has to Stop Running

    Keira D’Amato has built one of the most inspiring stories in running. From stepping away from the sport to coming back and breaking records, she’s become one of the most respected voices in distance running. But this time… she had to stop. In this conversation, Keira opens up about what it actually feels like when running the thing that gives you purpose, structure, and community is suddenly taken away. From injury and surgery to rebuilding from zero, this is a raw look at identity, patience, and starting over. We also get into race day rituals, international racing, the evolution of the sport, and why running today might be in its golden era. This isn’t just about elite running. It’s about what happens when you’re forced to slow down and how you build yourself back up again. Chapters 00:00 The Injury 09:33 Choosing Surgery 12:13 Life Without Running 14:58 Race Day Mindset 18:12 How Strava Jokes Started 18:50 The Big Reset 21:13 Kilometers vs. Miles 23:38 Favorite Races and International Races 29:18 Would Keira Write Another Book? 34:11 Women's Running and The Growth of the Sport 40:02 Are We in the Golden Era of Running? 41:43 Starting Over and Beginning Again 44:55 The Power of Small Wins 49:26 What's Next Follow Us: IG: instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/ YT: youtube.com/@ThePeopleRunPodcast Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/ Follow Keira: IG: instagram.com/keiradamato/ Subscribe to The People Run Podcast for more real stories from everyday runners, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a friend who needs some inspiration.

    53 min
  5. Boston Marathon: 4 Runners, 4 Different Stories

    APR 30

    Boston Marathon: 4 Runners, 4 Different Stories

    The Boston Marathon means something different to everyone. For some, it’s chasing a PR. For others, it’s years of work just to get to the start line. And for some, it’s something much deeper than the race itself. In this episode, four runners share their Boston experience from completely different perspectives  from a 2:31 performance, to a pro debut, to a dream years in the making, to a story of resilience and redemption. Same race. Different journeys. Different meaning. Chapters 00:00 Max - 2:31 PR at Boston 07:53 Polly - Pro debut at Boston 12:30 Emily - Chasing The Dream Race 17:19 Maurice Boston in a Suit 21:37 What Boston Marathon Meant 30:31 The Hardest Moments 38:17 The Magic of Boston

    47 min
  6. #40 400 Laps. 100 Miles. More Than Just a Race | Sean Rhodes

    APR 28

    #40 400 Laps. 100 Miles. More Than Just a Race | Sean Rhodes

    There are hard things… and then there’s choosing to run 100 miles in circles. Sean Rhodes is getting ready for the Stoney 100, 400 laps around a track, but this isn’t just about distance. It’s about purpose. It’s about pushing into uncomfortable places and seeing what’s on the other side. We talk about what it actually takes to train for something like this, the mental lows that hit in the middle of an ultra, and what happens when you come out of it stronger than you expected. But this goes deeper than running. Sean shares the path that led him here  from a rough stretch earlier in life, to finding discipline through bodybuilding, to building something meaningful through running. We get into chasing big goals, balancing life outside of training, and why sometimes the hardest things we choose end up teaching us the most. This one isn’t just about a race. It’s about the kind of person you become while chasing something that big. Chapters 00:00 The Stoney 100 - More Than a Race 08:08 Training for 100 Miles on a Track 10:05 Building The Stoney 100 16:37 2:44 Marine Corps Marathon to BPN 50 Miler 6 Days Apart 22:05 Can You Do It ALL? Lifting + Running + Ultra 29:22 How Running Found Him 33:05 Faith Running & Purpose 36:46 Why He Chooses Hard Things 38:55 Being Present Beyond Running 40:33 Big Goals at Chicago Marathon after Stoney 100 45:50 How He Recovers From Big Miles 48:55 A Rough Past and a Turning Point Follow Us: IG: instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/ YT: youtube.com/@ThePeopleRunPodcast Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/ Follow Sean: IG: instagram.com/sean.rhodes/ Subscribe to The People Run Podcast for more real stories from everyday runners, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a friend who needs some inspiration.

    55 min
  7. #39 HYROX Mistakes That Are Holding You Back | Anthony Di Paolo

    APR 24

    #39 HYROX Mistakes That Are Holding You Back | Anthony Di Paolo

    Anthony Di Paolo has done it all Ironman, ultras, and now over 20+ HYROX races, including competing at Worlds. In this episode, we break down what actually matters if you’re trying to get better at HYROX and what most people are getting wrong. From going out too fast on race day, to trying to train everything at once, to the mental side when a race doesn’t go to plan this is a real look at the mistakes, lessons, and adjustments that come with chasing progress in a hybrid sport. If you’re training for HYROX, thinking about it, or just trying to balance strength and endurance without burning out this one’s for you. Chapters 00:00 Why Hyrox 04:48 Ironman to HYROX 06:25 Transitioning to High Rocks and Early Success 09:07 First HYROX to Worlds 10:43 Doing Too Much & How He Trains Now 14:59 HYROX Mistakes on Race Day 19:45 Threshold Training Insights  25:28 Pro Weights, Podiums, The Diffrence 31:16 When It Doesn't Go Right 36:51 The Hybrid Athlete's Dilemma 40:33 Where Progress Comes From Follow Us: IG: instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/ YT: youtube.com/@ThePeopleRunPodcast Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/ Follow Anthony: IG: instagram.com/anthony__dipaolo/ Subscribe to The People Run Podcast for more real stories from everyday runners, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a friend who needs some inspiration.

    45 min
  8. #38 He Wasn’t Supposed to Walk… Now He’s Chasing 100 Miles | Scott Davidson

    APR 21

    #38 He Wasn’t Supposed to Walk… Now He’s Chasing 100 Miles | Scott Davidson

    Scott wasn’t supposed to walk. Now he’s chasing 100 miles. This isn’t a clean, polished story. It’s what it actually looked like growing up being told what he couldn’t do, dealing with how people saw him, and figuring it out the hard way. At one point he stopped going outside. Didn’t want to be seen. Didn’t like what he saw in the mirror. Now he’s training for distances most people won’t even attempt. We talk about the part people don’t see the pain, the judgment, the self doubt and the decision to keep moving anyway. “No one’s better than you. You just have to go again.” Chapters 00:00 Disney Full Circle Moment 06:07 " I Wasn't Supposed to Walk... Let Alone Run" 09:57 Challenges Chasing 100 Miles Despite the Odds 14:25 The Reality of Running in ExoSym 20:37 When It all Broke Down 23:30 It Wasn't the Pain 32:50 I Was in a Hole 35:28 Hearing What People Really Thought 38:41 Why Running 43:20 Bigger Than Running 49:18 The Next Challenge Awaits Follow Us: IG: instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/ YT: youtube.com/@ThePeopleRunPodcast Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/ Follow Scott: IG: instagram.com/living_adaptive/ Subscribe to The People Run Podcast for more real stories from everyday runners, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share this episode with a friend who needs some inspiration.

    54 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The People Run Podcast is about the lives behind the miles. Hosted by Fitz Mayi, this show features real conversations with runners at every level from pros to parents, coaches to community builders about training, identity, discipline, setbacks, ambition, and what the sport gives back. Every runner has their own world. This is where we step into it.

Information

  • Creator
    Fitz Mayi
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The People Run Podcast
  • Show Website
    The People Run Podcast

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