Ali Feller inspires while on broadcast team of TCS NYC Marathon amid breast cancer battle

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Strength is something every runner trains for. At this year's TCS New York City Marathon one member of ESPN's broadcast team embodies it in every way.

Ali Feller, host of the popular "Ali on the Run Show" podcast, is battling stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.

Feller was first diagnosed in 2023 and, after a period of remission, learned earlier this year that her cancer had returned. Despite the setback, she continues to run and inspire those who follow her journey.

"My life is filled with unknowns right now. I live my life by to-do lists," Feller said. "There are constant reminders that I am living with stage 4 cancer. No one trains you for this. No one teaches you how to do this."

On her wrists, she wears bracelets with Taylor Swift song lyrics providing motivation with every step.

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One of her favorites comes from Swift's song "Long Live," with the lyrics "I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you."

"That is my life," Feller said. "I am fighting dragons. I am fighting cancer. Life has not been easy for the past few years, and through all of it, I have never been alone."

Feller's motivation is her 7-year-old daughter Annie who is the reason behind everything that she does.

"A lot of what I do and a lot of how I show up is always with her in mind," Feller said.

Running, she says, continues to be where she feels most like herself.

"Running is where I feel myself, it is where I feel home," she said. "I feel like all runners know its who we are it is apart of our identity and when we can't do it for any number of reasons, something's missing."

The running community has embraced her journey. At her Ali on the Run live show ahead of the Chicago Marathon, Feller received a standing ovation as Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" played.

"I came off stage and thought, that was amazing. I love that show. I love that crowd. I love these people," she said. "This community has been with me through the worst times of my life."

Feller credits her support system, friends, family, and the running community as the force that keeps her going.

The 2025 TCS New York City Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 2. Coverage on Channel 7 and wherever you stream ABC 7 New York begins with pre-race coverage, Marathon Sunday, at 7:00 a.m. on November 2. Live coverage of Sunday's marathon begins at 8:00 a.m. only on Channel 7 and ESPN2.

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