The Strength Running Podcast (Jason Fitzgerald)

Many runners called The Leadville Trail 100 Run's near-20 year record "unbeatable." David Roche raised the bar with an astonishing 2024 performance.

David Roche is an elite trail runner and running coach. He's a two-time USATF trail national champion, the 2014 Sub-Ultra Trail Runner of the Year, and former Mountain Runner of the Year.

As of August 2024, David is also the new course record holder of the Leadville 100 Mile Endurance Run, finishing in 15:26:34.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How David blends consistency with fun in his training

• The recovery routine that helped him perform at Leadville

• Specific workouts he used in preparation for the race

• Weekly mileage, strides, steep hill work, bike workouts, and uphill treadmill sessions

• Fueling and pacing strategies he planned for Leadville, including precision caffeine and consistent effort levels

• Using heart rate to ensure a proper and consistent effort throughout the race, and the confidence monitoring it gave him

• The mental side of training and racing, and how the support of loved ones helped

• How a 2024 near-death bike accident impacted his mindset around both life and his running career

Share this episode with your running friends who want to apply lessons from an elite runner into their own workouts!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Learn more about David and SWAP

• Follow David on Instagram

• Listen to my previous podcasts with David: this one on mechanical output, this one on power and speed development, and this one all about the long run. 

• David contributed his favorite injury prevention strategy to The Little Black Book of Recovery & Prevention along with 8 other elite athletes.

Thank you DrinkLMNT!

A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

DrinkLMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

If you’re not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I’m now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.

Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They’re the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out DrinkLMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

Thank you AG1!

We’re also supported by AG1, the greens superfood mix. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens. It’s recommended by professional athletes and has over 7,000 positive reviews.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. They’ve made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable and rigorous with the 3rd party testing that they do.

For our listeners, they are offering a year’s worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop – the choice is yours. Check out AG1 to redeem your offer today.

Matt Chittim is the host for the Rambling Runner and Road to the Trials podcasts. He is a running coach and, of course, a passionate runner himself. He is enthusiastic about amateur runners and contributes so much to the community through his content.

In this podcast, we talk about his recent injury, what lead to it, and the lessons that Matt learned through this experience.

Our topics of conversation also cover:

• The start and evolution of a running career
• What leads to a running injury and how to recover from it
• Importance of the proper training process
• The difference between knowing the right things and doing them

I loved this raw and real conversation and I hope you will find it to be informative as well.

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Matt on Instagram and Twitter
• Check out the Rambling Runner website
• Mentioned episode with Duane Scotti
• See our injury prevention program with a free course
• Join our SR team - a community of passionate runners

Thank you Precision Hydration!

Thank you to our newest sponsor, Precision Hydration. If you've ever struggled with hydration or electrolyte issues, use code STRENGTH15 to get 15% off your first order. They offer tablets, packets, and other essentials to help you train in any environment.

Precision Hydration knows that there isn't a one-size-fits all approach to hydration, which is why I love that they help athletes refine their hydration strategy for whatever event they're training for. If you can’t get a custom sweat test done, they have a free online test that will give you your own personalized hydration strategy.

It’s heating up where I am and I’m ending my runs a lot sweatier than I was just a month ago. I know I’ll be paying a lot more attention to my hydration and electrolyte needs. This is especially important with longer runs in the mountains here at altitude.

You can learn much more about hydration in my conversation with the founder of Precision Hydration, Andy Blow.

Check out Precision Hydration and get 15% off your first order of electrolytes that match how you sweat by using the code "STRENGTH15".

Tempo runs are beneficial for virtually every runner – from milers to marathoners, tempos are nearly ubiquitous.

Of course, they’re a staple for longer distance runners training for the marathon and beyond.

If you’re not familiar with this type of workout, there are three popular definitions:

1. Comfortably hard. A pace that’s faster than “moderate” but not exactly “hard.” If you have a high training age and prefer running by feel or perceived effort, this may be the most helpful definition for you.

2. The pace you could race for an hour. For some runners, their tempo pace is similar to or about the same as their 10k pace.

This definition is best used for more advanced runners.

3. 85-90% of maximum heart rate. If you train by heart rate (learn how to calculate your max heart rate here), this is a valuable way to ensure you’re in the right range for your tempo run.

More scientifically inclined runners know that tempo workouts are run at or near your lactate threshold. This is the pace at which you’re producing the maximum amount of lactate that your body can clear from your muscles and blood stream.

In other words, tempo runs are done at lactate threshold which is the fastest you can still run aerobically.

Meet Devon Yanko. On August 19, 2017 she won the Leadville Trail 100 - a race where 9,200 feet altitude is the lowest you'll experience on the course.

She finished in 20:46:29, averaging 12:28 per mile - a half hour ahead of her nearest competitor.

With nearly 16,000 feet of elevation change through Colorado's gnarliest mountain terrain, the course is so difficult that in most years, less than half of the field finishes the race.

Having run in similar places, I can vouch for how strenuous this terrain can be (even for experienced runners). With precious air at a costly premium, the steep grades and uneven footing make traversing these trails a form of slow-motion torture.

Going uphill burns the lungs after just a few steps. Each muscle contraction seems to draw double the amount of oxygen to fuel their movements.

Running downhill isn't much better. The rocky terrain is a nightmare for those with weak ankles.

Try running fast on a technical downhill trail after running for 3+ hours (in the dark, no less). It's terrifying.

To win Leadville is like single-handedly winning the World Series or the Superbowl.

Leadville is one of the top ultramarathons in the world. Winning it is a career-defining moment for trail runners.

But for Devon, it's just one more race on her long list of achievements:

• 3 time member of the USATF 100k National Team including 2009 Gold Medal winning team in Belgium
• 2007 RRCA Marathon National Champion
• 2010 50 mile road National Champion
• 2012 Olympic Trials marathoner (PR of 2:38:55)
• 2011 100k National Champion
• Set Fastest Known Time on the Grand Canyon R2R2R trail with Krissy Moehl in April 2011
• 3rd place at the Two Oceans Marathon (56k)
• 5th in Comrades Marathon (89k, as well as first novice and first American)
• Ran the 3rd fastest trail 100 miler ever for a North American running 14:52 at the 2015 Javelina 100

Not to be outdone, she's also the owner of M. H. Bread and Butter bakery in San Anselmo, CA with her husband.

Strength Running readers will also be familiar with Devon - she joined eight other elite athletes in sharing her best injury prevention and recovery advice for The Little Black Book of Prevention & Recovery (it's free - download it now).

You're going to love my conversation with Devon - but not just because she's one of the best long distance runners in the world.

She's also hilarious.

Dr. Mike Young is the Director of Research and Performance at North Carolina-based Athletic Lab. A Lead Instructor for both USA Track & Field and USA Weightlifting, he also works with elite athletes and has consulted with the MLS, MLB, NFL, PGA, and NHL.

He has degrees in exercise physiology, coaching science, and biomechanics – not to mention his prowess publishing multiple peer-reviewed journal articles.

Mike has coached seven national champions in Track & Field and at four Division I NCAA programs.

He’s on the Strength Running Podcast today to talk about how distance runners can benefit from speed development – from specific workouts to other ways of getting faster (it’s not all sprint work).

This episode of the Strength Running podcast is brought to you by... YOU! Coach Jason Fitzgerald answers 7 of your biggest questions about running consistently, improving your trail running skills, motivation, and how many miles you should start with when you first begin running.

For beginner runners or those who are just getting back into running after a long layoff from injury or simply taking a break, how you tackle your training is really important. For more beginner-oriented training advice, sign up at http://strengthrunning.com/new and you'll also get the bonus encore podcast that answers even more of your burning questions!

Alexandra Ellis is a polymath, having studied and worked in many different areas of exercise science, fitness, and coaching.

She has a degree in Exercise Biology and has amassed nearly 1,000 hours of yoga training. Alex also has additional education in:

• Human Dissection (of course, this was the first thing we talked about)
• CrossFit Mobility
• Movement education with Sarah Court, DPT
• Regeneration Techniques workshop completion through NSCA

As you can see, she has experiences that most coaches would envy (human dissection and NSCA training in particular).

And I'm always looking for new perspectives that will help us improve our running. Alex delivers in a fun episode that highlights her knowledge about the body, movement, recovery, and injuries.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• What did she learn from dissecting human cadavers?
• The physiological, biomechanical, and behavioral aspects of her Exercise Biology degree
• What she learned from CrossFit Mobility that will help runners
• How to incorporate a daily mobility practice into your life
• The pros and cons of different massage tools (foam rollers, lacrosse balls, and even Graston tools)
• How to prevent and treat rolled ankles
• What she means when she says, "If stretching ain't helping, start building strength."

To celebrate our 100th episode, I invite you to take a short (3-question) survey to help us make it better. I really appreciate it.

Trail running doesn't always mean running an ultramarathon. From trail 5ks to marathons, there's a growing interest in middle distance trail events. Andy Wacker is making this space a more vibrant and welcoming community for runners.

Andy Wacker is a professional runner who excels on the track, road, and trail. He is the 2019 world Mountain Running Champ, 2016 US Trail Half Marathon Champ, 2015 US Trail 50k Champion, and a two-time NCAA XC All-American.

Andy seeks longevity in the sport and embraces a seasonal training approach to keep him running strong across different distances and disciplines.

These days, Andy is growing the trail running community as the founder of The Trail Team, a group of elite and sub-elite athletes that work together in Boulder, Colorado. The Trail Team aims to professionalize the sport and create more opportunities for runners everywhere.

In this episode, Andy and I talk about:

• Andy's running journey from his first trail race in 2013 (which made him temporarily quit trail running) to now

• The mindset shift from track running to trail running and finding freedom from obsessing over splits

• Andy's unique approach to training and leaning into challenges

• How Andy focuses on a seasonal approach and a cross-over model so that athletes can run on the roads and the track

• How Andy is running for longevity in the sport

• Why Andy loves sub-ultra races: Trail running isn't only ultrarunning, and sometimes it's a great idea to focus on middle distance races

• Supporting sub-elite and professional runners through media storytelling, mentorship, and trail camps

• Andy's plans for the Track Team in 2024

If you're looking to run through many seasons of life, you'll get inspired by this episode!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Learn about The Trail Team

• The Trail Team on Instagram

• Andy Wacker on Instagram

• Get tips to master your mindset

• Read the eBook on Running for Health and Happiness: The Beginner's Guide to Faster, Pain-Free Running

Thank you MOBO board!

Invented by renowned physical therapist Jay Dicharry, MOBO helps you stabilize your stance with an innovative rocker board that’s set up on two fins. The design effectively forces you to drive your big toe into the board to improve your stability. I was pretty arrogant going into my first session on the MOBO Board. How hard can it be to balance, right? Well, I was humbled pretty quickly!

Even if you’re a good runner, better balance, stability, and proprioception is going to help you have a more powerful stride and prevent more running injuries. You’ll learn how to improve the efficiency of the kinetic chain from your hip to your big toe. Because as Jay likes to say, it’s not just how strong you are, but how well you use that strength.

I was recently at a weekend physical therapy workshop (lol I was the only running coach) and learned how important (and rare) this simple movement is. Save 10% with code STRENGTHRUN10 at checkout at moboboard.com.

Thank you AG1!

We’re also supported by AG1, the greens superfood mix. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens. It’s recommended by professional athletes and has over 7,000 positive reviews.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. They’ve made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable and rigorous with the 3rd party testing that they do.

For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out AG1 to redeem your offer today.

Amelia Boone is a giant in the obstacle course racing world and she's started competing in ultramarathons over the last few years as well. Many of her fans know she has struggled with an eating disorder and spent time in treatment last year. She’s now in recovery, she just moved to Colorado, and she’s been riding her Ellipti-Go on the Front Range’s big climbs over the last few months. 

Jason has always looked up to Amelia and admired her work ethic, her talent, and her drive. But also her vulnerability and how she invites us along as she deals with her struggles.

Amelia gave Jason some courage last year to share how losing his grandfather was so incredibly hard and the toll that it took. In this podcast, she gives us a glimpse of how she pushes through challenges and the things that she continues to struggle with.

In this episode as Jason and Amelia discuss:

• Reframing criticism
• The fine line of "trusting your body"
• Self-talk and mantras during a race
• The slippery slope of too much confidence

I hope you take away some lessons from this episode because no doubt, there’s a lot to learn from such an admirable human being.

Thank You PATH Projects!

PATH Projects continues to be a great supporter of this podcast! I'm grateful for their partnership and want to share more about their products - I think you'll love them as much as I do.

PATH Projects is an online-only retailer of high-quality running gear and apparel. That means there is no retail markup, making their products quite affordable.

Currently, I’m wearing the Sykes 5″ Shorts (see them in action in this video) and I'll be getting a pair of their new Wildcat 3” racing shorts soon. If you know me, you won't be surprised that I'm really excited about this! I know they will be my go-to shorts for running.

PATH uses new technical fabrics and innovations to create award-winning apparel for endurance athletes. In fact, their Brim shorts and Tahoe base liner won Runner’s World’s 2018 Gear of the Year award. And the Pyrinees hoodie was named one of the best six sweatshirts for running in the cold by Gear Patrol.

You know you'll be wearing the best when you select PATH Projects!

Tina Muir is a former pro runner and the host of the Running Realized Podcast and Running for Real Podcast. She’s an 11-time All-American athlete and elite athlete for Great Britain who has run in two British Olympic Trials.

In this episode we talk about:

• Recognizing pain versus injury
• Importance of your body's physiology to help with injury prevention
• Can you be a bodybuilder and distance runner at the same time?
• How to manage pain
• Top factors in injury prevention (this one may surprise you!)
• How training journals can help

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Connect with Tina on her website
• Follow her on Instagram
• Check out the Running Realized Podcast
• Learn more about human physiology from Brad Beer on Instagram or Twitter
• Other episodes with Tina:
  • Tina Muir Takes Your Strength Training Questions
  • Tina Muir Cohosts The Podcast To Answer Your Running Questions
  • What If You Stop Loving Running? An Honest Conversation With Tina Muir
• Learn more about injury prevention
• Invest in Injury Prevention for Runners

Thank you Precision Hydration!

Thank you to our newest sponsor, Precision Hydration. If you've ever struggled with hydration or electrolyte issues, check them out. They offer tablets, packets, and other essentials to help you train in any environments.

Precision Hydration knows that there isn't a one-size-fits all approach to hydration, which is why I love that they help athletes refine their hydration strategy for whatever event they're training for. If you can’t get a custom sweat test done, they have a free online test that will give you your own personalized hydration strategy.

It’s heating up where I am and I’m ending my runs a lot sweatier than I was just a month ago. I know I’ll be paying a lot more attention to my hydration and electrolyte needs, especially with longer runs in the mountains here at altitude.

You can learn much more about hydration in my conversation with the founder of Precision Hydration, Andy Blow.

Check out Precision Hydration and get 15% off your first order of electrolytes that match how you sweat by using the code "STRENGTH15".

Ryan Wooderson owns Long Run Physiotherapy & Performance in Denver, Colorado and has spent nearly a decade helping athletes get healthy and stay healthy. He is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and completed his orthopedic residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He’s an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and his practice focuses on injury prevention and helping athletes perform.

In this episode, we explore further details about:

• Variability in perceived exertion during workouts
• Prioritizing restorative in the morning hours
• Improving the quality of your sleep with environmental factors
• How to do naps the right way

Anyone can benefit from better sleep and I hope this episode will provide you with ideas on how to do just that.

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Connect with Ryan on Instagram and Facebook
• Learn more on his website
• Free advice from elite runners on recovery

Thank You InsideTracker!

Our show is supported by our longtime sponsor InsideTracker. Today, more than ever, it's essential that we’re making the right decisions to keep our bodies healthy. To help us be resilient, prevent over-training, and optimize our running to get the most from it.

InsideTracker is the ultra-personalized nutrition platform that analyzes your blood and DNA biomarkers along with your lifestyle habits to help you optimize your body and reach your goals.

InsideTracker’s patented system will transform your body's data into knowledge, insights, and a customized action plan of science-backed recommendations. The data can help you determine whether you’re running too much, not enough, or have some other issues that could be affecting your recovery or performance.

I've had my own blood drawn with InsideTracker several times and have been amazed at the valuable information that they provide. Not only are the results very detailed, but they also share guidance for how to improve any markers that are out of range.

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, InsideTracker offers a selection of plans that best suit your needs with a limited time 25% discount.

Thank You PATH Projects!

PATH Projects continues to be a great supporter of this podcast! I’m grateful for their partnership and want to share more about their products that I’ve been loving because they so durable and comfortable.

PATH Projects is an online-only retailer of high-quality running gear and apparel. That means there is no retail markup, making their products quite affordable.

In particular, I’ve just started wearing their 3” Sykes shorts and they’re a little different from the 5” Sykes shorts (you can see those in action here). The material is thinner and lighter, which is perfect in a performance short, and they’re obviously shorter. I’m not sure if my wife thinks they’re too scandalous or loves them, but I’m wearing them constantly.

PATH uses new technical fabrics, like the Japanese fiber called Toray Primeflex, to create award-winning apparel for endurance athletes. In fact, their Brim shorts and Tahoe base liner won Runner’s World’s 2018 Gear of the Year award. And the Pyrinees hoodie was named one of the best six sweatshirts for running in the cold by Gear Patrol.

You know you’ll be wearing the best when you select PATH Projects!

Runners often struggle with mindset blocks, so let's tackle them together.

Ian Sharman is the founder of Sharman Ultra Coaching, a team of elite running coaches. He ran his personal best marathon of 2:21 at age 43, and a half marathon PR of 1:03 at age 44. Ian's won over 50 marathon+ races with at least one win every year for 19 (and counting) consecutive years.

Ian also holds the fastest time in a trail 100-mile race by a Brit at 12h44m, boasts the record for the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (69h49m), has won the USATF 100-mile trail championship twice, and is a four-time Leadville Trail 100 Champion.

We talk about:

• Ian’s training approach for his recent half marathon personal best
• Running by feel and adapting to race conditions
• Balancing ego and process in training
• Comparison’s impact on training and performance
• Racing mindset strategies
• Handling pre-race excitement and execution

Send this episode to a friend who has a 2025 race so they can improve their mindset for it!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Ian on Instagram
• Follow @sharmanian on Threads, Bluesky and X
• Ian’s website: sharmanultra.com
• Join to my upcoming live mental toughness training.

Thank you to 2XU!

If you haven't tried 2XU technical compression gear, you're missing out. 2XU has been the world leader in performance compression for 20 years, helping runners feel better and recover faster with compression gear that's backed by scientific evidence. Their graduated compression gear is engineered to improve blood flow and performance while speeding recovery.

Knowing that their gear is engineered for runners by runners and backed by research makes me absolutely love 2XU. Go to 2xu.com and use code "JASON" in all caps to get 20% off sitewide, except clearance items or wetsuits.

Thank you Gut & Green!

Previnex’s new Gut & Green Superfoods powder is my new go-to. It has organic barley and oat grass, alfalfa, spirulina, chlorella, kale and broccoli… and that's it. Their ingredients are backed by clinical data and contain three specific gut fibers that help promote GI health, digestion, reduced inflammation, and a better microbiome.

And, best of all, it actually tastes good. Try it for yourself here at previnex.com and be sure to use code “JASONGREENS” to save 15% off your first order. Don’t tell anyone, but if you put Gut & Green Superfoods powder in your cart, then the 15% off discount will work for anything else you add into your cart as well. Thanks Gut & Green!

Want to run faster with fewer injuries? Take a look at your gait.

Jessica Wulke is a dual board-certified specialist physical therapist in orthopedics and sports. She has extensive experience treating professional athletes and continues to treat athletes in the NFL and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.

Jessica was the leading gait analysis and running injury therapist at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation.

We talk about:

• The basics of gait analysis for runners
• Common issues that gait analysis can identify, like hip and core weaknesses
• Hip drop, crossover gait, and foot pronation or supination
• How strength training can help your form and prevent injuries
• The expected timeline for retraining running form
• How running form impacts performance
• How to be proactive in staying strong and reducing injury

Send this episode to a friend who you want to be your accountability buddy for form drills!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Jessica on LinkedIn
• Academy Medtech Ventures
• Get my favorite form cues and how to implement them in your training.

Thank you to 2Before!

We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles.

So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.

Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

Thank you AG1!

We’re also supported by AG1, the greens superfood mix. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens. It’s recommended by professional athletes and has over 7,000 positive reviews.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. They’ve made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable and rigorous with the 3rd party testing that they do.

For our listeners, they are offering a year’s worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop – the choice is yours. Check out AG1 to redeem your offer today.

Lisa Tamati has overcome many challenges in her life. From body image issues and tough races to a childhood sense of insecurity and nearly losing her mom.

Through all of this, she has developed many coping strategies that she shares with us in this episode. A favorite strategy for Lisa is "going all in". She recognizes the vast human potential and knows that if we are 100% committed, we will find a way and overcome barriers. 

As one of New Zealand’s best ultra runners, she has 25 years experience running the toughest endurance events in the world. 

She’s actually finished over 140 ultra-marathons, has a few National Titles, a number of podium places in international races, and many expeditions under her belt (a favorite is her illegal trek across the Libyan Desert).

When faced with a family health crisis, Lisa quit ultra running to help her mother recover from an aneurism. Years later, running continues to be a large part of Lisa's life as she became a coach, public speaker, author, and podcaster.

In this conversation, we also discuss:

• Importance of resilience
• Assessing your "why"
• Dealing with anxiety
• And other tidbits of wisdom from Lisa

I'm thrilled to share this episode with you and I hope you'll be as inspired as I was.

Thank You PATH Projects!

PATH Projects continues to be a great supporter of this podcast! I'm grateful for their partnership and want to share more about their products that I've been loving because they so durable and comfortable.

PATH Projects is an online-only retailer of high-quality running gear and apparel. That means there is no retail markup, making their products quite affordable.

They’ve launched a bunch of new products over the last few weeks, including the Sykes 5” (you can see them in action here) shorts and the Wildcat 3” shorts. I was hesitant to get two of their t-shirts because I already have a lot of t-shirts and how different could they be? Well, I’m glad I was wrong because they’re now my two favorite shirts! They are so soft with a nice stretch to them - perfect for summer!

PATH uses new technical fabrics and innovations to create award-winning apparel for endurance athletes. In fact, their Brim shorts and Tahoe base liner won Runner’s World’s 2018 Gear of the Year award. And the Pyrinees hoodie was named one of the best six sweatshirts for running in the cold by Gear Patrol.

Help support our show by supporting our sponsor: PATH Projects.

Grayson Murphy is a two-time world mountain running champion and a 4-time US national champion in mountain running and the vertical kilometer. She has also been a finalist at the US Steeplechase Olympic Trials and has qualified for the 2024 Olympic Trials marathon.

In our discussion we go into depth on Grayson’s training and how she structures her workouts for success, including:

• Grayson’s current adventures, including a trip to Patagonia
• Her recent health concerns and how it has impacted her training
• How Grayson’s focus on threshold work gives her great breadth for racing
• The pain cave of the vertical kilometer (and how I’ve been challenged to try one!)
• How Grayson uses limited and specific VO2 max workouts in training
• The concept of “lifetime miles” for runners
• Grayson’s future racing plans

Grayson's success has come in part from her ability to understand what works best for her mind and body. Our conversation will help you understand how you can apply some of these concepts to your own training. Enjoy!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Grayson on Instagram and Strava
• Check out Grayson’s awesome training journal
• Listen to my previous episode with Grayson
• My discussion with Grayson’s coach, David Roche, on long runs
• Let me help you design your training

Thank you MOBO Board!

Invented by renowned physical therapist Jay Dicharry, MOBO helps you stabilize your stance with an innovative rocker board that’s set up on two fins. The design effectively forces you to drive your big toe into the board to improve your stability. I was pretty arrogant going into my first session on the MOBO Board. How hard can it be to balance, right? Well, I was humbled pretty quickly!

Even if you’re a good runner, better balance, stability, and proprioception is going to help you have a more powerful stride and prevent more running injuries. You’ll learn how to improve the efficiency of the kinetic chain from your hip to your big toe. Because as Jay likes to say, it’s not just how strong you are, but how well you use that strength.

I was just at a weekend physical therapy workshop (lol I was the only running coach) and learned how important (and rare) this simple movement is. Save 10% with code STRENGTHRUN10 at checkout at moboboard.com.

Thank you High Performance Lifting!

We’re also supported by one of our most popular training programs: High Performance Lifting. We now know that muscle loss and less testosterone is a dramatic performance limiter as we age, especially among men. The best way to counteract the aging process and hold on to your youthful running performances is to get stronger. 

High Performance Lifting is the only weightlifting program on the market that’s created by a USA Weightlifting National Coach and a USA Track and Field certified coach. It’s periodized, progressive, and focused on power so that you not only get stronger and become more injury resilient, but you’re able to turn that new strength into speed. 

While there are no secrets to great training, High Performance Lifting has been my secret weapon to create faster runners. Check it out here to see all the details. You can opt for the strength programming only, or get a version of the program with a running plan library and a series of expert interviews to help you take your running to the next level. Sign up today.

After college, Deena traveled to Amarosa, Colorado to train under Coach Joe Vigil. That's when her running took off.

To discover why and how this happened (it wasn't better training), Deena joined me on the Strength Running Podcast to discuss the mental journey she's taken throughout her career.

Our conversation focuses on several topics:

• How to turn negative thoughts into positive thoughts - while running or in everyday life
• Why Deena used to race "with fear" (and how she recovered from this dangerous mindset)
• The mental expectations she's had to abandon to reach higher levels of performance
• How to "participate in the process" rather than overly worry about results

These are all major themes of her award-winning memoir Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory.

Breaking through a performance plateau when you seem to be slowing down can be frustrating. Running improvement sometimes can be difficult.

How do you train differently? What are the low-risk, high-reward activities that will prompt you to keep improving?

Sometimes, a fresh set of eyes on your training is what it takes. Use the improvement suggestions in this episode to help you think more strategically about your training, challenge yourself to try something new, and get out of your comfort zone. 

For more, visit strengthrunning.com or our youtube channel.

Our sponsor for this episode of the podcast is SteadyMD. They pair you with a primary care doctor, online, who’s available via phone, text, or video for all of your needs. It’s tele-medicine at its finest.

And not just any doctor, but a fellow runner who understands the training process, your recovery needs, repetitive stress injuries, and can easily order you blood work, referrals for specialists, and more. Dr. Josh Emdur leads the program and he’s a sub-3 marathoner!

Visit SteadymD to learn more about this innovative medical service for endurance runners and reserve your spot.

Nichola - or Nic as her friends call her - has such a long list of credentials and accomplishments that I simply can't share them all here.

But just a sampling of her education and experience demonstrates her expertise:

• Graduated from Loughborough University with a First Class Honours Degree in Sports & Exercise Science
• Graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a post-graduate diploma in Dietetics
• Holds a Master's Degree in Health Science
• Published author in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics

Her blog has also been voted as the UK's best health blog in 2015! Clearly, we're in good company.

In this conversation, Nic and I discuss a wide variety of topics important to runners:

• How can athletes running with diabetes fuel appropriately while managing their disease?
• Why is being "calorie-aware" important but fundamentally different than counting calories?
• Does the ketogenic ("keto") diet work for runners?
• Is coconut water a good source of hydration for runners?
• Do detoxes work?
• Should athletes like runners take multivitamins?

Use these principles to focus on big-picture principles and thrive!

Angie and Trevor Spencer are the hosts of the Marathon Training Academy podcast and have helped thousands of runners over the years successfully run their first marathons.

Angie ran her first marathon in 2008, promptly got injured, but turned things around in a big way: since then, she's run 51 marathons and 4 ultras with not a single injury (!). A Registered Nurse, she also has USATF-Level 1 and RRCA-Level 2 coaching certifications.

Trevor followed in his wife's footsteps and went from couch potato to marathoner in just a few short years. After his first marathon in 2011, he's since completed 14 marathons, 15 half marathons, and a Spartan Trifecta.

They've both joined me on the podcast to talk about the subject of "Couch to Marathon" or how to:

• Transition from sedentary to marathon with as little injury risk as possible
• Differentiate between training to finish vs. training for performance
• Marathon training mistakes that are common among beginners

Every year, about a half a million runners finish a marathon in the United States (and most of them - nearly all of them - aren't elite athletes blessed with marathon-friendly genetics).

The marathon can be conquered. Success over 26.2 miles just needs a more strategic plan than your neighborhood 5k.

This is how you do it.

Living through the recent pandemic has made us acutely aware of the need to adapt to changing circumstances. We can only control the controllables, and there are very few of them!

This week’s podcast guest has had an enormous impact on the world of high school coaching. Mr. Ryan Banta is a coach with more than 20 years of experience and the author of The Sprinter’s Compendium. At the high school level, Ryan has produced 135 All-State medalists, including 10 state champions and 15 runners-up. He also coached this year’s state championship team.

A major factor in Ryan’s success comes from his ability to help others embrace the twists and turns of the training process. He is a master at reframing setbacks and teaching his runners that success comes from being adaptable. Ryan’s knowledge and experience applies to runners of all levels and with goals at any distance.

Ryan’s breadth and depth of knowledge make for a fascinating conversation on so many aspects of adaptability, including

• Why training plans always get changed
• How to remain flexible, while still pushing yourself forward
• Why it’s so hard to change your plan even when your plan needs to change
• Our favorite forms of cross-training for runners
• Specific changes you can make to your training based on the setback you’re experiencing
• Practical, every day training modifications for distance runners

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Learn more about Ryan Banta
• Follow Ryan on Twitter
• Connect with Ryan on Linked In
• Check out Ryan's book, Sprinter's Compendium
• Listen to a previous episode with Ryan
• Download our free Season Planner worksheet

Thank You Athletic Greens!

Thank you to our sponsor, Athletic Greens! They are a health and wellness company that makes AG1. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. Athletic Greens has made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable.

For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out Athletic Greens to redeem your offer today.

Thank you Gnarly Nutrition!

What an amazing brand name! But Gnarly Nutrition don’t just sound great, they make amazing nutrition products to help athletes like you optimize their diet, fuel smarter, and reach new heights in training. Their chocolate whey protein powder blows my mind - it’s the tastiest protein powder I’ve ever had. I mix it with almond milk and it’s just amazing how creamy and sweet it tastes. 

Gnarly is a trusted supplier of nutrition products to athletes because all of their protein powders, pre-workout supplements, amino acids, and fuel are all NSF-certified. That means you can trust everything from Gnarly to be safe, clean, and free of any banned substances. ​​They comply with strict standards and procedures during every stage of the product’s development, including unplanned on-site inspections, to ensure you know exactly what you’re putting in your body.

Fuel better and recover smarter so that you can do more of what you love: running. Go to gognarly.com and be sure to use code GNARLY20 to save 20% sitewide on your entire order.

Combining coaching with community can make a massive difference in training happily and healthily.

Enter: the Team Strength Running coaching program.

This podcast episode is a recording of a 2024 Team Strength Running Coach’s Chat where I dig into these questions:

• What can I do over the course of a year before my fall goal marathon?
• How can I gradually increase mileage after recovering from sciatica and a meniscus tear?
• Should I strength train 2 or 3 times a week?
• What should I be doing now to start marathon training in a few weeks?
• If I'm super busy, should I focus on shorter races instead of marathons?
• Will running in Zone 2 all the time make me faster or not? Is max heart rate to measure zones accurate?
• How can I adjust my training plan based on my work schedule? Should I take off days or switch them around?
• If I'm injured, is it bad to cross-train in higher zones?
• How do I track heart rate while pool running?
• Is treadmill incline running a good substitute for hill training in a flat area?

Share this episode with a friend who you want to be training accountability partners with in 2025.

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Join Team Strength Running!
• Get an invite to my upcoming live mental toughness training.

Thank you Previnex!

After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 - and having a thin frame - has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids.

Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they’re going to do.

Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you’ll try it! Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex!

Thank you to 2Before!

We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles.

So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.

Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

Menachem Brodie is an exercise scientist, USA Cycling Expert level coach and USA Triathlon certified coach, and a graduate of an American College of Sports Medicine Accredited program with a bachelors in Exercise Physiology.

He also has experience working in physical therapy, Emergency Medicine, and even with sports like basketball and CrossFit.

By now, you've noticed that I love speaking with guests on the podcast with a wide diversity of experiences. And Menachem clearly fits the mold.

Today, we're discussing strength training for endurance runners.

More specifically, we're focusing on:

• The value of having a strength and conditioning certification (but why experience also matters)
• Strength work for rehabilitation vs. performance
• The lifting differences between endurance runners and cyclists
• How to think about strength training periodization
• Thoughts on fitness classes like Orange Theory, boot camp, Body Pump, etc.

As the author of two strength training courses offered on the Training Peaks site, Menachem is uniquely positioned to offer us new perspectives on weightlifting for runners.

Dr. Ryan Smith is a lead instructor for the Institute of Clinical Excellence in the Fitness Athlete division. He specializes in treating individuals who participate in CrossFit, Olympic Lifting, powerlifting, and other recreational sports like running.

He also specializes in pelvic health therapy, utilizing an external approach that focuses on education and management of diastisis recti, pelvic organ prolapse, and post-partum issues.

Ryan is an avid supporter of the Senior Rehab Project and promoting individuals to strength train throughout their lifetime.

You might recognize his name - he contributed to an earlier article on bodyweight strength training for runners.

And I'm excited to introduce a longer discussion with Ryan on many related topics:

• The common movement dysfunctions among runners (and how to address them)
• Should you worry about a "clicky" hip or knee?
• What are "movement vital signs?"
• How to use pain science to improve your running

Enjoy my conversation with Dr. Ryan Smith!

Show Links & Resources:

• Ryan on Twitter
• Ryan's PT office Recharge
• Weightlifting for runners
• My recommended strength exercises
• SR's free strength course (case studies, exercises, what not to do, and more)

Running form has often focused on concepts like cadence and footstrike to create change and improve efficiency. But a “top down” approach - focusing on the arms, torso, and cues - is an innovative and accessible way to become a stronger, healthier runner.

This week’s guest on the podcast is Paul Mackinnon, a former semi-pro hockey player who has become an expert on gait retraining. Paul is from Melbourne, Australia and has worked with many high level athletes over the years to improve their running form, including former podcast guest and 2:19 marathoner Peter Bromka.

My discussion with Paul is a masterclass on form. Despite this being a complex topic, his ideas are easy to grasp and  have made me rethink some commonly held concepts about running technique. Some of the topics we discuss on the episode include:

• Paul’s “top down” approach to thinking about running form and technique
• 3 of the most common problem areas for runners
• How your arms create lift in your running
• The underestimated torso - why we need to focus here first
• The impact of running shoes on form
• Form cues that help reinforce proper form
• Why the “don’t fix what isn’t broken” mentality may not be the best way to approach running technique
• The importance of body awareness to create change in your form

This week's episode can help runners learn how to improve their form at any stage of the game.  Enjoy!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Learn more about Paul and how to improve your running technique
• Get 25% off your first month membership at The Balanced Runner here, or use code strengthrunning
• Follow Paul on Instagram and Facebook
• Watch Pauls videos on YouTube and Vimeo
• Download our cheat sheet on form cues
• Read more on running form and efficiency

Thank you Elemental Labs!

A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. And you can get a free sampler pack of 4 flavors and 8 individual packets when you pay $5 in shipping.

Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out Elemental Labs to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack. 

Thank You Gold Coast Marathon

We’re supported by the Gold Coast Marathon which takes place in Queensland, Australia on July 2nd, 2023. Get yourself a memory of a lifetime and commit to this amazing destination race in one of the most beautiful countries that I’ve ever visited. You can run the marathon or any distance down to 5k, but the marathon course is flat and fast with only 75 meters of elevation gain. Over 60% of finishers self-report a PR at the end of the race. 

I spent 6 weeks in Australia, with one of them being in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast. The beaches are stunning, the people are friendly, and the natural environment of this region is so beautiful.  If I could go back there and run this race with you, I would in a heartbeat.

The Gold Coast Marathon is a World Athletics Label Road Race and this will be the 43rd running of it. Get yourself that shiny new PR on a fast course - with a destination race you’re going to love, at the Gold Coast Marathon on July 2nd. Learn more here, but don’t wait because early bird pricing ends on April 28th.

Megan Roche is the 2016 USATF Trail Runner of the Year at the ultra and sub-ultra distances. She is a five-time national champion, a North American Mountain Running Champion, and a six-time member of Team USA.

She graduated from Duke University with a degree in Neuroscience and received her M.D. from Stanford Medical School. She’s currently back at Stanford, doing a PhD in epidemiology, focused on population health and genetics for athletes.

Today we’re focusing on how to modify your training after a positive test or after your vaccine. We’re going to learn what the vaccine does in our bodies, the effect it has on athletes, the types of exercise we might want to be cautious about post-vaccine, what side effects we can run through vs. what we should not run through, and more. 

Thank you Precision Hydration!

Thank you to our newest sponsor, Precision Hydration. If you’ve ever struggled with hydration or electrolyte issues, use code STRENGTH15 to get 15% off your first order. They offer tablets, packets, and other essentials to help you train in any environment.

Precision Hydration knows that there isn’t a one-size-fits all approach to hydration, which is why I love that they help athletes refine their hydration strategy for whatever event they’re training for. If you can’t get a custom sweat test done, they have a free online test that will give you your own personalized hydration strategy.

It’s heating up where I am and I’m ending my runs a lot sweatier than I was just a month ago. I know I’ll be paying a lot more attention to my hydration and electrolyte needs. This is especially important with longer runs in the mountains here at altitude.

You can learn much more about hydration in my conversation with the founder of Precision Hydration, Andy Blow.

Check out Precision Hydration and get 15% off your first order of electrolytes that match how you sweat by using the code “STRENGTH15”.

Whether you love the mile or you want to continue running into your 40's or beyond, you'll be inspired by this Masters runner.

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’s one of the most competitive Master’s runners in the USA, having run the 2023 Boston Marathon in 2:34 and with his recent 3rd place finisher at the 2024 National Masters Road Mile.

In this episode, Mario and I talk about:

• Mario's goal to break the 5-minute mile at age 42
• Love for the mile: a perfect blend of speed and strength, fitness and focus
• Returning to running after a 20-year hiatus, and the "fresh start" of turning 40
• Preparing for the Masters Road Mile Championship with smart training
• Earning a personal best of 4:09.2 at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic
• Training strategies for track and field athletes, especially Masters
• Incorporating movement prep and speed work before intense track workouts
• Proper running form and technique during high-intensity interval workouts
• Running volume and long runs for track athletes
• Structuring mile workouts for Masters runners, including threshold intervals and tempo runs
• Pacing and mental preparation for a mile race

Listen to this episode for a case study in amazing planning so you can be thoughtful in your next running goal.

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Mario's website
• Mario on Strava
• Mario on Instagram
• The Morning Shakeout
• Want to stay strong throughout your running career? Get the free strength email course.

Thank you to 2Before!

We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles. 

So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.

Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

Thank you DrinkLMNT!

A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

DrinkLMNT’s products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

If you’re not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I’m now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.

Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They’re the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out DrinkLMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

Most coaches - including myself - don't have the tools to discuss this serious issue. I have no personal experience or training with eating disorders in runners (though I have friends with disordered eating).

So I brought on someone who does: Annyck Besso.

The goals of this conversation are threefold:

• Give coaches better tools to educate, help, and guide their runners with eating disorders
• Open a dialogue among all runners and foster a healthy, productive conversation
• Provide resources to those who might be suffering from any type of disordered eating

Annyck is a Registered Dietitian with expertise in the treatment of eating disorders in private and academic medical center environments. She has a Bachelors degree in nutrition and dietetics, a Master's degree in dietetics, and specialty training in approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Family Based Treatment (FBT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

She's also quite the speedy runner, recently running 3:07 at the hot and humid Wisconsin Marathon.

Resources & Links from the show:

• The Recovery Record app
• Mind Body Health (Annyck's practice)
• Division of Responsibility Feeding
• National Eating Disorders Association Helpline
• FBT approach for treating eating disorders
• Recommended book: Nourishing Wisdom by Marc David
• Recommended book: Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
• Recommended book (for parents): Anorexia and Other Eating Disorders by Eva Musby
• Strength Running's free nutrition series

Thank you Annyck for coming on the podcast to share your expertise about the topic of eating disorders in runners. There are a lot of resources included that I hope all of our listeners will find helpful!

I'm not promoting running trails because they're beautiful. Or awe-inspiring. Or jaw-dropping. Though, that's certainly an added bonus!

Trail running is a welcomed alternative to road running because it's a different type of stress that helps you become a better runner:

• The uneven surface can limit the repetition of running, thereby reducing your injury risk
• The varying terrain and obstacles (rocks, roots, holes, more turns and elevation changes) requires more athleticism
• Softer surfaces can promote recovery on easy days

Plus, let's not forget that running trails usually means that you're going to run slower. And that can actually be a very good thing!

When used appropriately, train running can aid recovery by forcing you to run slower. A lower heart rate - on a softer, more forgiving surface - is how to structure a great recovery day.

From injury prevention to athleticism to recovery, trail running can help improve the quality of your training (and your race results).

To help you make the most of running trails - and get started with the least amount of stress - I spoke with trail and ultra runner Doug Hay.

Doug is the coach behind the Rock Creek Runner blog and podcast (Trail Talk). For a healthy dose of #trailporn, don't miss his Instagram!

He's also the creator of the Trail Runner's System (today's sponsor).

Our conversation covers a lot:

• Our best advice for new trail runners
• Do trails make running easier?
• How "trails" can be a lot more than just trails
• The risks of road running
• Trail running as a gateway drug
• What trail gear is absolutely necessary (and what isn't)?

We also include a challenge for you - so don't miss this episode.

Dr. Anh Bui is both a runner and an expert on running form and gait analysis. She competed in cross country and track at UC San Diego and her interest in physiology and biomechanics, in addition to helping injured runners, led her to become a physical therapist.

Anh completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy at Columbia University. She also furthered her education with a focus on advanced orthopedics, women’s health, and management of the running athlete. In her work at Columbia’s RunLab Clinic, Anh performed gait evaluations and provided individualized plans to high level runners.

As a physical therapist, a certified strength coach, a USATF certified running coach (and a competitive runner!), Anh is able to provide a variety of tools to help runners get healthy and remain injury free.

Some of the subjects we discuss in depth include:

• Guiding principles when it comes to form
• The best way to think about cadence
• How and when to apply a forward lean technique 
• Is a midfoot strike optimal for all runners?
• Who can benefit from gait analysis?
• Form cues

You're bound to learn some new and useful advice on running form and gait in my discussion with Anh!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• To learn more about Dr. Anh Bui, visit her website here
• Follow Anh on Instagram
• Check out these useful running cues to help optimize your form.

Thank You InsideTracker!

This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker, one of the most reputable blood testing companies in the world. They were founded in 2009 by aging, genetics, and biometrics scientists to help you analyze your body’s data and get a firm idea of how well you’re responding to training.

Understanding your body’s biomarkers, from stress hormones to testosterone to Vitamin D, can help you figure out if you’re over-training, under-training, optimally training, or if you have a health issue that might be affecting your running. But the best part is that they give you personalized optimal ranges for each of these biomarkers and a host of ways to improve these markers through diet, lifestyle, or exercise changes.

I’ve personally gotten three Ultimate tests from them and the process is simple, easy, and very eye-opening if you haven’t done a deep dive on your biomarkers yet.  Of all the investments you can make in your running, this one is like getting a detailed checkup or regularly scheduled maintenance for your internal physiology. 

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, get 25% off any of their blood tests with code STRENGTHRUNNING at InsideTracker.

Thank you Spartan Race!

You’ve probably heard of Spartan Races - but you probably don’t know that they offer such a wide variety of types of races. From short to long-distance obstacle courses - and even ultra distances, to trail races, stadium races, and even city races in major metropolitan areas. 

What I love about obstacle course races is that they are a great diagnostic tool to help you pinpoint what area of your fitness is lacking. Do you have a general aerobic deficiency? Do you struggle with upper body strength? Can you handle the stop and start nature of OCR’s? Do you have the mobility to perform the obstacles? 

Signing up for a race that challenges you in a different way can help you find out more about yourself as an athlete. Ever since I tried my first obstacle course race in 2012, I’ve loved these events. They are demanding and require you to be a well-rounded athlete, something that I wholeheartedly endorse here on this podcast. Go to spartan.com to find a local race near you. If you’re in Colorado, I hope to see you on June 12th at the Colorado Springs Spartan Race.

Damian Hall is one of the best ultra endurance athletes in the UK. He has represented Great Britain at the trail world championships, holds 7 records or Fastest Known Times (FKTs) and he has competed in the Sahara Desert and the Arctic. All this in less than a decade-long running career.

Damian recently wrote a book called In It for the Long Run, which depicts his 2020 Pennine Way record attempt and details of his midlife crisis.

In today's conversation, Damian shares about his most recent Wainwright Coast to Coast FKT and the hallucinations caused by hyponatremia (decreased sodium concentrations due to over hydration). We also talk about the lessons learned in ultra running that apply to life.

In this episode we also talk about:

• How to prepare for days of running
• What drives someone to run for hundreds of miles
• How to know when you're ready... for anything in life

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Damian on Instagram
• Learn more from his website
• SR training plans for advanced runners
• Check out Damian's book!

Thank you Elemental Labs!

A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors.

Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense.

They just released their first new flavor of 2021, their most requested flavor, watermelon salt. So check out Elemental Labs to try their new flavor and get your hydration optimized. 

If you’re looking to take your running to the next level, strategic use of a training log can help you get there. Using a journal to collect your thoughts, plan your goals, and analyze your short and long-term training can provide unique insights to improve as a runner.

With that in mind, this week's podcast is a special edition to introduce something I have been working on over the past nine months. Strength Running's own running log - The Performance Training Journal - is now available!

The power of reflection is real. While an electronic log on Strava can store your mileage and splits, it doesn’t encourage any interaction or reflection. There is little opportunity for growth. While a pencil and paper log may sound archaic these days, the simple act of writing and reflecting has more power to improve your running than any app.

If you aren’t logging the details of your training, you’re missing an opportunity for improvement. This edition of the podcast is meant to help you understand the value of a journal and learn how the Performance Training Journal has been created and refined to help you get the most from your running. 

You’ll learn how our  journal can help you...

• Focus on the most useful training metrics 
• Approach your training to continue improving
• Gain a better understanding  of your body’s capabilities and limitations
• Find confidence leading into a key event
• Learn about strength training, injury prevention, race planning and more

Get started with the Performance Training Journal today!

Thank You Previnex!

We’re supported by our newest partner, Previnex. After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m less than a year from being a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

I’ve been taking their Immune Support and multivitamin over the last month and  I feel great. I have more energy and clarity, not to mention peace of mind that I’m giving my body what it needs.  I believe Previnex works and I hope you experience the same benefits as I do. Use code jason15 for 15% off your order at Previnex!

Thank You Gold Coast Marathon

We’re supported by the Gold Coast Marathon which takes place in Queensland, Australia on July 2nd, 2023. Get yourself a memory of a lifetime and commit to this amazing destination race in one of the most beautiful countries that I’ve ever visited. You can run the marathon or any distance down to 5k, but the marathon course is flat and fast with only 75 meters of elevation gain. Over 60% of finishers self-report a PR at the end of the race. 

I spent 6 weeks in Australia, with one of them being in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast. The beaches are stunning, the people are friendly, and the natural environment of this region is so beautiful.  If I could go back there and run this race with you, I would in a heartbeat.

The Gold Coast Marathon is a World Athletics Label Road Race and this will be the 43rd running of it. Get yourself that shiny new PR on a fast course - with a destination race you’re going to love, at the Gold Coast Marathon on July 2nd. Learn more here, but don’t wait because early bird pricing ends on April 28th.

This week’s episode is a repost from the Adaptive Zone Podcast, hosted by Matthew Boyd. Matt is a physiotherapist and running coach who specializes in helping runners overcome injury while setting new PRs. His podcast addresses runners and triathletes to help them move from injury and rehabilitation into performance.

On the podcast Matt gives Jason a hypothetical case study for “Carrie”, a marathoner with a 3:48 PR who is looking to go sub-3:45 but can’t quite seem to get there. She runs 2 marathons each year and averages between 40 and 60 km (25-37 miles) each week.

Matthew and Jason look at how Carrie’s training can change moving forward to help her earn a new personal best in the marathon. While they focus on two possible overarching changes in training, we also dive into the details, including:

• Why time away from the marathon can make you faster
• The difference between fast and hard running
• How both mental and physical recovery can help you improve
• The principle of specificity in race training
• Why hill workouts prepare you run faster on the flats
• Treating racing as a skill that can be improved

Our case study is applicable to the training of so many runners - you’re bound to learn something that helps you improve!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Learn more about Matt
• Listen to the Adaptive Zone podcast
• Learn more about how to engineer a marathon PR
• Let me help you reach your goals

Thank You Previnex!

We’re supported by our newest partner, Previnex. After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m less than a year from being a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

I’ve been taking their Immune Support and multivitamin over the last month and  I feel great. I have more energy and clarity, not to mention peace of mind that I’m giving my body what it needs.  I believe Previnex works and I hope you experience the same benefits as I do. Use code jason15 for 15% off your order at Previnex!

Thank You GOODR!

If you watch my videos on YouTube you know that I’ve been wearing Goodr sunglasses for nearly a decade. They’re super affordable - starting at only $25, made for running so they stay on your face, and the styles are just wild. They’re also a 100% Carbon Neutral company, meaning they offset all of their carbon emissions, and they donate 1% of their profits to environmental causes. 

Goodr offers a 30-day money back guarantee and 100% satisfaction but I know you’ll find a pair you love from the hundreds of styles they have. Find yours here at Goodr to get free shipping!

The midstance phase of a running stride is a crucial element of running form, but many runners are ignoring it. If you have weaknesses, imbalances, or poor movement patterns, this is the part of the gait cycle that will show it.

Chris Johnson, DPT is a Seattle-based physical therapist, performance coach, entrepreneur, and multiple time Kona IRONMAN qualifier who shares how midstance affects your running performance and how you can improve it.

In this episode, Chris and I talk about:

• Midstance importance in running mechanics and injury prevention

• The impact midstance has on muscles and running form

• Common problems in midstance technique from knees to hips

• The gluteus medius muscle, a common problem area for runners

• Training the gluteus maximus and hip abductors for running mechanics

• How to train the midstance for stronger running

• Single leg exercises for runners with injuries

• “Movement snacks” for runners: simple movements throughout the day to help runners improve midstance

This is an excellent episode for any runner who’s considering how their running form plays into their performance, even beyond midstance mechanics.

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Chris Johnson’s newsletter

• Chris Johnson on Instagram

• Chris Johnson’s website

• Run easier and more powerfully with these form cues

Thank you 2Before!

We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles. 

If you want to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.

Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

Thank you MOBO Board

Invented by renowned physical therapist Jay Dicharry, MOBO helps you stabilize your stance with an innovative rocker board that’s set up on two fins. The design effectively forces you to drive your big toe into the board to improve your stability. I was pretty arrogant going into my first session on the MOBO Board. How hard can it be to balance, right? Well, I was humbled pretty quickly!

Even if you’re a good runner, better balance, stability, and proprioception is going to help you have a more powerful stride and prevent more running injuries. You’ll learn how to improve the efficiency of the kinetic chain from your hip to your big toe. Because as Jay likes to say, it’s not just how strong you are, but how well you use that strength.

I was recently at a weekend physical therapy workshop (lol I was the only running coach) and learned how important (and rare) this simple movement is. Save 10% with code STRENGTHRUN10 at checkout at moboboard.com.

Running ain't always easy. And with over 18 years of running experience - and 6+ years of coaching thousands of athletes - Jason wanted to share some of his biggest mistakes and the lessons that he's learned the hard way.

Why share these lessons? So you don't have to make the same mistakes! Trial and error works, but it's messy. Instead, eliminate all that wasted time and effort and instead focus on these Big 7 Lessons to avoid injury, gain endurance more quickly, and race a lot faster.

Jimmy Picard is a doctor of physical therapy in Salt Lake City. He emphasizes the importance of taking an active role in the recovery process, rather than leaving your recovery in the hands of others. 

With his physical therapy expertise working with endurance athletes, his history as a former cross-country runner at the College of William and Mary, and his experience as a Cat 2 cyclist, Jimmy has unique and valuable insights into effective injury rehab for runners.

When it comes to healing yourself, Jimmy believes in the science behind the active components of injury rehab - including physical therapy exercises and strength training -  where you are the driving force behind the process.

In the podcast, Jimmy also discusses how your outlook and planning for recovery can make all the difference, including:

• Taking a holistic approach to recovery
• Avoiding catastrophic thinking
• How to manage the 2 buckets of recovery: calming down and building back up
• Avoiding extremes in the recovery process: why shutting it down and pushing through an injury are both ineffective

For more on staying healthy, get Strength Running's best advice here.

Whether you’re injured or not, you’re bound to learn a lot from this comprehensive discussion about injury rehabilitation!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Jimmy on Twitter and Instagram
• Connect with Jimmy on Linked In
• Visit Jimmy's website: Redefine Physical Therapy and Performance
• Want to prevent injuries from happening?

Thank You InsideTracker!

Our show is supported by our longtime sponsor InsideTracker. Today, more than ever, it's essential that we’re making the right decisions to keep our bodies healthy. To help us be resilient, prevent over-training, and optimize our running to get the most from it.

InsideTracker is the ultra-personalized nutrition platform that analyzes your blood and DNA biomarkers along with your lifestyle habits to help you optimize your body and reach your goals.

InsideTracker’s patented system will transform your body's data into knowledge, insights, and a customized action plan of science-backed recommendations. The data can help you determine whether you’re running too much, not enough, or have some other issues that could be affecting your recovery or performance.

I've had my own blood drawn with InsideTracker several times and have been amazed at the valuable information that they provide. Not only are the results very detailed, but they also share guidance for how to improve any markers that are out of range.

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, InsideTracker offers a selection of plans that best suit your needs with a limited time 25% discount.

Thank you Elemental Labs!

A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. And you can get a free sampler pack of 4 flavors and 8 individual packets when you pay $5 in shipping.

Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense.

They just released their first new flavor of 2021, their most requested flavor, watermelon salt. So check out Elemental Labs to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack. 

Are you a new runner or looking to get back into the sport after a long break? This episode is for you! We tackle all the questions to help you get started, run comfortably, and develop an amazing lifelong habit.

Mark Kennedy is an RRCA Certified Running Coach and the founder of the None to Run community, which also has its own podcast and app. What started as a blog has become an impressive community of new runners all sharing in their ongoing successes. Mark and I talk a bit about the community, but focus on listener generated questions that include:

• How do I establish a consistent running habit?
• How can I get back into running if I’ve spent years away from it?
• Are trails a suitable place for a new runner?
• What’s the best way to implement strength training with my running?
• I’ve fallen in love with running! How soon can I think about running my first marathon?
• Am I going to harm my knees?

If you’ve been hoping for an episode that gets back to the basics, this is for you. Our conversation will help get you on your way to healthy, happy running!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Mark and None to Run on Instagram
• Visit the None to Run community
• Check out the articles in the None to Run Blog
• Let me help you finish your first 5k!

Thank you Previnex!

We’re supported by our newest partner, Previnex. After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m less than a year from being a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

I’ve been taking their Immune Support and multivitamin over the last month and  I feel great. I have more energy and clarity, not to mention peace of mind that I’m giving my body what it needs.  I believe Previnex works and I hope you experience the same benefits as I do. Use code jason15 for 15% off your order at Previnex!

Thank You InsideTracker!

We’re sponsored by InsideTracker, a company that’s been around for more than 10 years to help you optimize your health, longevity, and performance. To live your healthiest, longest life possible, you need to understand what’s going on inside your body. People age at different speeds. And generic, annual blood work doesn’t properly evaluate your biological age. But InsideTracker does.

InsideTracker is a truly personalized nutrition and performance system, designed to extend your health span and slow down the aging process. Created by leading scientists in aging, genetics, and biometrics, InsideTracker analyzes your blood, DNA, and fitness tracking data to identify where you’re optimized—and where you’re not.

With InsideTracker, you get a daily Action Plan with personalized guidance on the right exercise, nutrition, and supplementation for your body. Add InnerAge 2.0 to any plan to calculate your true biological age, and see how you’re aging from the inside out. For a limited time, get 20% off the entire InsideTracker store!

I’ve had the privilege of working with this week’s guest on the podcast for nearly four years. Thomas Shanabruch came to me as a gifted runner who was looking to push himself to the next level, while staying healthy as a master’s runner.

This is the story of the last few years and how he has notched PR after PR in a variety of distances from the 5k to the marathon (but his progression in the marathon is just stunning!).

Tom and I discuss a variety of factors that have contributed to his string of PRs, including:

• Taking your your workouts AND your recovery seriously 
• The importance of setting bold goals
• Stepping out of your comfort zone, whether it’s in a 5k or in the weight room
• How to make time for strength work, day in and day out
• The importance of mindset - taking the training seriously without it becoming a burden

What’s next up for Tom? He’ll be running the Boston Marathon in 2022 and as well as the Berlin Marathon to complete the world marathon majors. Although most of us aren’t as fast as Tom, everyone can learn from his love of running and racing, and his continued commitment to improvement!

NOTE: This show is a rerun of episode 233.

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Get your own PR Race Plan
• Learn how weightlifting can help you get faster
• Read more about strength training for marathon runners
• Learn more ways to PR as a master's runner

Thank you Previnex!

We’re supported by our newest partner, Previnex. After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m less than a year from being a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

I’ve been taking their Immune Support and multivitamin over the last month and  I feel great. I have more energy and clarity, not to mention peace of mind that I’m giving my body what it needs.  I believe Previnex works and I hope you experience the same benefits as I do. Use code jason15 for 15% off your order at Previnex!

Thank You InsideTracker!

We’re sponsored by InsideTracker, a company that’s been around for more than 10 years to help you optimize your health, longevity, and performance. To live your healthiest, longest life possible, you need to understand what’s going on inside your body. People age at different speeds. And generic, annual blood work doesn’t properly evaluate your biological age. But InsideTracker does.

InsideTracker is a truly personalized nutrition and performance system, designed to extend your health span and slow down the aging process. Created by leading scientists in aging, genetics, and biometrics, InsideTracker analyzes your blood, DNA, and fitness tracking data to identify where you’re optimized—and where you’re not.

With InsideTracker, you get a daily Action Plan with personalized guidance on the right exercise, nutrition, and supplementation for your body. Add InnerAge 2.0 to any plan to calculate your true biological age, and see how you’re aging from the inside out. For a limited time, get 20% off the entire InsideTracker store!

Colleen Quigley, one of the most dominant steeplechasers in American history, has represented the US at the World Championships and Olympics, won the 2019 indoor mile national championships, and she’s hungrier than ever to get back to training and top form.

In this episode, we’re discussing her months long foot injury and what she’s doing to properly diagnose it, treat it, and get back to top form. Colleen is tough as nails, honest, vulnerable, and so positive about her comeback. I know that will rub off on you, too.

You can hear her top injury prevention tips (along with 4 other world-class runners) in Episode 160 here.

And don't miss 9 pro athletes' best recovery advice here.

Thank You InsideTracker!

Our show is supported by our longtime sponsor InsideTracker. Today, more than ever, it’s essential that we’re making the right decisions to keep our bodies healthy. To help us be resilient, prevent over-training, and optimize our running to get the most from it.

InsideTracker is the ultra-personalized nutrition platform that analyzes your blood and DNA biomarkers along with your lifestyle habits to help you optimize your body and reach your goals.

InsideTracker’s patented system will transform your body’s data into knowledge, insights, and a customized action plan of science-backed recommendations. The data can help you determine whether you’re running too much, not enough, or have some other issues that could be affecting your recovery or performance.

I’ve had my own blood drawn with InsideTracker several times and have been amazed at the valuable information that they provide. Not only are the results very detailed, but they also share guidance for how to improve any markers that are out of range.

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, InsideTracker offers a selection of plans that best suit your needs with a limited time 25% discount.

This week’s guest on the podcast has the amazing ability to build community wherever he goes. On an average week, you may find him leading a group of 40 runners or training alongside past Olympians. Jonathan Levitt is a runner and host of the For the Long Run Podcast, and perhaps secretly, the (unofficial) mayor of Boulder, Colorado.

Jon moved to Boulder several years ago and is a huge presence in the running community. He thrives off the companionship of group runs, and often does at least 4 of his 6 runs each week with friends. Through trial and error Jon has learned how to manage the logistics of running with both faster and slower runners, while blending it seamlessly into his own training schedule.

Jon and I discuss the incredible running community of Boulder, along with:

• How Jon finds joy in helping others feel like they belong
• The unique aspects of Boulder’s running scene
• What is the “soft hour” in Boulder and why it works so well
• The ways Jon balances his training while joining other runners
• How to build a running community in your hometown
• The importance of emulating the mental models of other runners

Jon is thoughtful, fun, and full of insights on what makes a running community great. Enjoy!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Visit Jon’s podcast website, For the Long Run
• Follow Jon on Twitter and Instagram
• Listen to the For the Long Run podcast on YouTube
• Subscribe to Jon’s newsletter
• Listen to Jon's podcast episode with Jason
• Join Strength Running's community!

Thank You AG1!

We’re also supported by AG1, the greens superfood mix. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens. It’s recommended by professional athletes and has over 7,000 positive reviews.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. They've made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable and rigorous with the 3rd party testing that they do.

For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out AG1 to redeem your offer today.

Thank you to our Performance Training Journal!

We’re also brought to you by our very own Performance Training Journal, which is now available on Amazon. Since I started running in 1998, I’ve kept a hardcopy training journal. Holding a tangible log, writing in it daily, and reflecting on the ups and downs of running is a surefire way to improve. 

This hardcopy training journal helps you focus on the training metrics that matter, prioritizes a long-term outlook so you don’t take any shortcuts, and maintains your motivation with strategic self-praise. With a no-frills, functional design, the Performance Training Journal includes coaching advice on racing, injury prevention, strength training, and more. It will guide you through race scheduling, how to plan your race morning, the best workouts for endurance runners, and encourage you to track your personal bests over time. 

You have the space to make this journal your own whether you're a new runner or a professional, a trail or road runner, or a mid-distance specialist or ultra marathoner.⁣ So don't just track your running, learn from it with the Performance Training Journal! Check it out today on Amazon.

Shin splints are a common source of pain for newer runners, and misconceptions abound when it comes to managing them. Learn how to prevent and treat shin splints and keep them from developing into a more serious injury.

Duane Scotti is a physical therapist, a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist, a certified running coach, and the host of the Healthy Runner Podcast.

After years in the gym, Duane developed a love for running and founded Spark Healthy Runner, a coaching-focused group devoted to helping runners love the sport and run injury free. Duane recognizes the major impact that training decisions have on injury, and uses his combined coaching and physical therapy skills to get the most from his runners.

Since there are many misconceptions about shin splints, Duane and I start with the basics and discuss everything you need to know to make shin splints a thing of the past, including:

• What actually causes the pain of shin splints
• The difference between shin splints and other lower leg injuries, including compartment syndrome, posterior tibial tendinopathy, and more
• The primary causes of shin splints
• Why untreated shin splints can put you at greater risk for a stress fracture
• Prevention and treatment strategies, including PEACE & LOVE
• The role of strength work and cross-training to address shin splints

You can also learn more about preventing injuries here.

Duane's knowledge combined with his enthusiasm for the sport make for a dynamic discussion with lots of practical advice.  Enjoy!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Learn more about Duane and Spark Healthy Runner
• Follow Duane on Facebook and Instagram
• Watch Health Spark Runner videos on YouTube
• Listen to my previous episode about hamstring health with Duane
• Check out my free injury prevention course

Thank You GOODR!

If you watch my videos on YouTube you know that I’ve been wearing Goodr sunglasses for nearly a decade. They’re super affordable - starting at only $25, made for running so they stay on your face, and the styles are just wild. They’re also a 100% Carbon Neutral company, meaning they offset all of their carbon emissions, and they donate 1% of their profits to environmental causes. 

All of their sunglasses are polarized, non-slip, and will match your craziest running outfits!

Goodr offers a 30-day money back guarantee and 100% satisfaction but I know you’ll find a pair you love from the hundreds of styles they have. Find yours here at Goodr to get free shipping.

Thank you Elemental Labs!

A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. And you can get a free sampler pack of 4 flavors and 8 individual packets when you pay $5 in shipping.

Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out Elemental Labs to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack. 

Jason is back with another coaching call episode, this time featuring a runner named JT who is committing to train more diligently for his upcoming 5mi race on Thanksgiving.

He's currently training through the Texas summer heat and curious about setting an appropriate time goal, how to work through tune-up races, whether time trials work the same way, and how to pace his goal race.

JT is a member of Team Strength Running, a group coaching program for runners passionate about improvement. You can sign up here to learn more.

This episode would not have been possible without Inside Tracker, who is offering a 10% discount on any of their tests with code strengthrunning.

They test over 40 biomarkers, like various stress hormones, to determine if you’re training too hard, too little, or have any physiological weaknesses that can be remedied by either diet, exercise, or lifestyle changes.

In other words, you learn about problems that have actionable solutions.

After getting your results, they communicate what you can do to lift or lower your results into the optimal range. For any runner who wants every advantage, to see what they’re truly capable of achieving, I highly recommend Inside Tracker. I’ve personally used their ‘Ultimate Package’ tier and loved the process and results.

Don’t forget to use code strengthrunning to save 10% on any test (including their affordable DIY and Essentials)!

Holley Samuel is a Registered Dietitian who also happens to be a Boston Marathon Qualifier. She has a Master’s in Health Education and is a Certified Personal Trainer, and also happens to own a cookie company. Clearly, she knows how to maintain a balance when eating for both joy and health!

Holley and I explore the ins and outs of marathon nutrition, including carb-loading before the race, your pre-race breakfast, mid-race fueling, and eating for recovery. 

Holley and I tackle a wide variety of marathon nutrition questions:

• Is carb loading important? What’s the right way to go about it?
• What factors impact the amount of carbohydrates we can store? (It might not be what you think)
• How many grams of carbohydrates do you need? And what’s the best way to get them in?
• How do you practice carb loading in training?
• What’s the best way to fuel on race day? Is it ok to rely on what the race offers?
• How can you improve recovery with both mid- and post-race nutrition?

No matter what your level of expertise, Holley shares her wisdom in a practical and accessible way for everyone.

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Visit Holley’s website
• Follow Holley on Instagram
• To help further refine your nutrition, download our Q&A with a Registered Dietitian

Thank You InsideTracker!

This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker, one of the most reputable blood testing companies in the world. They were founded in 2009 by aging, genetics, and biometrics scientists to help you analyze your body’s data and get a firm idea of how well you’re responding to training.

Understanding your body’s biomarkers, from stress hormones to testosterone to Vitamin D, can help you figure out if you’re over-training, under-training, optimally training, or if you have a health issue that might be affecting your running. But the best part is that they give you personalized optimal ranges for each of these biomarkers and a host of ways to improve these markers through diet, lifestyle, or exercise changes.

I’ve personally gotten three Ultimate tests from them and the process is simple, easy, and very eye-opening if you haven’t done a deep dive on your biomarkers yet.  Of all the investments you can make in your running, this one is like getting a detailed checkup or regularly scheduled maintenance for your internal physiology. 

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, get 25% off any of their blood tests with code STRENGTHRUNNING at InsideTracker.

Thank you REVEL Race Series!

We’re also supported this week by REVEL Race Series. REVEL races are an incredibly fast, downhill, and scenic series of marathons and half marathons that take place in a variety of beautiful U.S. locations. Their next race takes runners from the canyons of the Wasatch Mountains to the foothills of Salt Lake City, Utah on September 10th for the 10-year anniversary of REVEL Big Cottonwood. 

Featuring a speedy downhill course and amazing mountain views, this race will be sure to help you set your PR and finally hit that Boston Qualifying time as it is the fastest marathon and half marathon in the state of Utah. In fact, it has more than 5,200 feet of elevation loss that can help propel you to a shiny new PR!

REVEL in speed. REVEL in beauty. REVEL in Big Cottonwood. Register at REVEL. And don’t wait - there’s a price increase on July 13th so I hope you take advantage of that and the benefits of running with gravity.

Eli Asch is currently the Race Director for the Twin Cities Marathon. Prior to this role, he directed the California International Marathon (CIM), which hosted two USATF marathon national championships. Under his direction, CIM was the fastest-growing major marathon in America.

Eli also served as the Logistics and Operations Manager for the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon events. He holds an MBA in Sports Business from San Diego State University and a BA in English from Whitman College, where he was captain of the cross country team.

I wanted to bring Eli on the podcast to share the details of what it takes to put on a major marathon race.

We talk about:

• Nitty gritty details of getting a race permit
• How races are measured and certified
• Reconciling your GPS watch data with the race distance
• Expanding the running community to be more inclusive
• What you can do now to support your favorite races

Enjoy my podcast with Eli and rejoice in the knowledge that races are, in fact, coming back!

Our show is supported by our longtime sponsor InsideTracker. Today, more than ever, it's essential that we’re making the right decisions to keep our bodies healthy. To help us be resilient, prevent over-training, and optimize our running to get the most from it.

InsideTracker is the ultra-personalized nutrition platform that analyzes your blood and DNA biomarkers along with your lifestyle habits to help you optimize your body and reach your goals.

InsideTracker’s patented system will transform your body's data into knowledge, insights, and a customized action plan of science-backed recommendations. The data can help you determine whether you’re running too much, not enough, or have some other issues that could be affecting your recovery or performance. I recently had my own blood drawn and am glad to report that my results indicate that everything is in a healthy range.

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, InsideTracker offers a selection of plans that best suit your needs. Use Code STRENGTHRUNNING at InsideTracker to save 10% of any of their tests.

The New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world, and its unique course makes it a bucket-list event for many runners.

When it comes to navigating the logistics of the New York City marathon, there are few people who know it better than Richard White.  Richard is a fixture of the NYC running scene and a 17-time finisher of the race.  After more than 4 decades of racing, Richard will be going for his 18th NYC finish and his 60th marathon finish this weekend. 

Richard is passionate about the race itself as well as its history, and he’s an invaluable resource on all aspects of the NYC Marathon. In this episode he’ll let you in on some of the useful tricks he’s learned from his 17 NYC finishes, including:

• How to segment the course to make it more approachable.
• Making the most of the energy from other runners and spectators.
• COVID-related changes that make this year unique.
• Tips for tackling the most challenging parts of the race.
• The physical, mental and emotional aspects of the course.
• Suggestions for navigating the post-marathon crowds.

Richard’s familiarity with the course provides so many useful ways to navigate the New York City marathon, whether you’re a new or seasoned marathon runner. In our conversation we discuss:

• How knowledge of the course details will help you run a smarter race
• The importance of managing your effort in the early miles
• How to approach the 3 most notable hills on the course at miles 1, 14 and 23
• Digging deep and using mental strength to help you through the final hill on 5th Avenue
• Breaking up those last 10 miles into manageable chunks
• Why expecting the worst is sometimes the best strategy!

Whether you’re running the New York City Marathon this year or plan to in the future, this episode is full of useful insider information you won’t want to miss!

Thank You InsideTracker!

Our show is supported by our longtime sponsor InsideTracker. Today, more than ever, it's essential that we’re making the right decisions to keep our bodies healthy. To help us be resilient, prevent over-training, and optimize our running to get the most from it.

InsideTracker is the ultra-personalized nutrition platform that analyzes your blood and DNA biomarkers along with your lifestyle habits to help you optimize your body and reach your goals.

InsideTracker’s patented system will transform your body's data into knowledge, insights, and a customized action plan of science-backed recommendations. The data can help you determine whether you’re running too much, not enough, or have some other issues that could be affecting your recovery or performance.

I've had my own blood drawn with InsideTracker several times and have been amazed at the valuable information that they provide. Not only are the results very detailed, but they also share guidance for how to improve any markers that are out of range.

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, InsideTracker offers a selection of plans that best suit your needs with a limited time 25% discount.

Thank You Athletic Greens!

Thank you to our newest sponsor, Athletic Greens! They are a health and wellness company that makes AG1. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. Athletic Greens has made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable.

For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out Athletic Greens to redeem your offer today.

Self-efficacy is one of the most important concepts in the world of performance psychology. Most of us understand this idea as "confidence" but it's actually more specific than that. It means:

"Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in his or her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments."

Now you might have a lot of questions:

• How can we better prioritize our mental fitness so that we believe in our abilities?
• What are the sources of self-efficacy so we can draw from them during training?
• How can we use mantras for running to our advantage?
• Are there strategies for building confidence training (or self-efficacy training) into our running?

To help us answer these critical questions, I invited Dr. Amber Shipherd onto the podcast.

Dr. Amber Shipherd is an assistant professor and performance psychology program coordinator at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She's also a certified mental performance consultant and owner of Next Level Mind Consulting.

She is a member of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee Sports Psychology Registry and an Executive Committee Member with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

And thankfully for us, she's an expert on self-efficacy!

She joins us on the Strength Running Podcast to discuss the intricacies of confidence:

• Why confidence is not nearly as valuable as self-efficacy
• Strategies for building self-efficacy while running
• Mindset traps that sap confidence and leave you doubting yourself
• Best practices for incorporating imagery and personal affirmations in your running

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Amber on Twitter
• Visit Amber's website
• How to thrive during adversity
• My favorite mantras

This week’s podcast features a coaching call with a runner named Bradford.

After a year of fast racing, Bradford had a taste of success and is looking to make continued improvement as a new master’s runner. Having recently turned 40, Bradford set some challenging but realistic goals for the year ahead: run a sub-3 marathon and qualify to run Boston in 2024.

Bradford lives in Washington, DC and often runs several workouts each week with a local club of competitive athletes. While these structured workout sessions have enabled him to achieve fast times in the 5k and half marathon, Bradford is wondering how best to juggle all the elements of training for his first marathon.

Bradford and I talk about his past and current training and plan for how he can achieve his goals in the years ahead. While he is doing a lot of things right, we discuss ways he can make continued progress, including:

• How to alter his current schedule of workouts
• The importance of race selection when setting a challenging goal
• Why more mileage is so key to his marathon goal
• Using tuneup races to evaluate his fitness
• How to fit strength training into a busy schedule

Often we think about what we're doing wrong in training. This is a fun discussion on how to keep improving when you're already on the right track. Enjoy!

Join Team Strength Running to be able to come on the podcast for these coaching calls!

Don't miss our other coaching call episodes:

• How to Escape a Running Rut
• How to Fix Knee Pain
• Running And Lifting: How Elizabeth Does Both As A Sub-3 Marathoner

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Learn more about running your fastest marathon as a master
• Engineering a marathon PR as master’s runner
• See how High Performance Lifting can benefit your running
• Run coaching to help you set new PRs

Thank You InsideTracker!

We’re sponsored by InsideTracker, a company that’s been around for more than 10 years to help you optimize your health, longevity, and performance. To live your healthiest, longest life possible, you need to understand what’s going on inside your body. People age at different speeds. And generic, annual blood work doesn’t properly evaluate your biological age. But InsideTracker does.

InsideTracker is a truly personalized nutrition and performance system, designed to extend your health span and slow down the aging process. Created by leading scientists in aging, genetics, and biometrics, InsideTracker analyzes your blood, DNA, and fitness tracking data to identify where you’re optimized—and where you’re not.

With InsideTracker, you get a daily Action Plan with personalized guidance on the right exercise, nutrition, and supplementation for your body. Add InnerAge 2.0 to any plan to calculate your true biological age, and see how you’re aging from the inside out. For a limited time, get 20% off the entire InsideTracker store!

Thank You Athletic Greens!

Thank you to our sponsor, Athletic Greens! They are a health and wellness company that makes AG1. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. Athletic Greens has made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable.

For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out Athletic Greens to redeem your offer today.

For a lot of runners, what started as a way to get in shape or lose a few pounds turns into a lifelong passion.

Soon, you're going on running retreats and flying across the country to run a marathon. What did we do with all of our free time before running?!

Alas, not every runner gets to experience a lifetime of running bliss.

Some of us over train, burn out, or get so injured that we simply give up. But I will not let that happen to you!

Instead, let's learn from lifelong competitors who are still running after decades of workouts, long runs, and races.

These are athletes that have discovered the secret to unlocking a lifetime of racing, trail runs, and workouts (in other words... a lifetime of FUN!).

And Jonathan Beverly interviewed 50 of them to help you run for decades.

In his new book Run Strong, Stay Hungry: 9 Keys to Staying in the Race, Jonathan Beverly discusses the universal principles that promote lifelong running.

He spoke with 50 "lifetime competitors" like:

• Deena Kastor (American Record holder in the marathon and half-marathon)
• Bill Rodgers (4x winner of the Boston Marathon)
• Joan Benoit Samuelson (former marathon World Record holder)

But more importantly, he interviewed a lot of normal runners! Not just Olympians or previous Boston Marathon winners - but average runners who don't have elite genetics.

That's why this podcast episode is so important: it's what works for all runners - not just the best runners.

Andy Galpin, PhD has been an assistant professor at California State University Fullerton for more than a decade. He formerly won a Division 3 national football championship while earning his exercise science degree at Linfield College. He then got his Master’s in Human Movement Sciences and his PhD in human bioenergetics. He serves on many advisory boards in the area of human performance, wrote the 2017 book Unplugged, and is a sought after speaker and high performance coach.

In this conversation, we’re focusing on

• the principles that influence the strength workouts of endurance runners
• how we can train power during our strength sessions
• common mistakes in this area
• how to lessen the risk of injuries during power-oriented training
• his favorite at-home pieces of equipment

This episode is also brought to you by our newest training program, Bodyweight Power! I’ve partnered with Dr. Victoria Sekely - who’s a certified strength coach, running coach, and physical therapist - to bring you the only bodyweight strength program that prioritizes power, all possible in the comfort of your own home. We’re celebrating with launch week bonuses, so see all the details before this Friday night at strengthrunning.com/bodyweight-power/

Thank You InsideTracker!

This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker, one of the most reputable blood testing companies in the world. They were founded in 2009 by aging, genetics, and biometrics scientists to help you analyze your body’s data and get a firm idea of how well you’re responding to training.

Understanding your body’s biomarkers, from stress hormones to testosterone to Vitamin D, can help you figure out if you’re over-training, under-training, optimally training, or if you have a health issue that might be affecting your running. But the best part is that they give you personalized optimal ranges for each of these biomarkers and a host of ways to improve these markers through diet, lifestyle, or exercise changes.

I’ve personally gotten three Ultimate tests from them and the process is simple, easy, and very eye-opening if you haven’t done a deep dive on your biomarkers yet.  Of all the investments you can make in your running, this one is like getting a detailed checkup or regularly scheduled maintenance for your internal physiology. 

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, get 25% off any of their blood tests with code STRENGTHRUNNING at InsideTracker.

Geoff Burns, PhD helps us understand the changes in regulations in running footwear, as the industry figures out how to handle the performance impact of carbon-plated “super shoes.” His understanding of the technology, from both a personal and professional perspective, is uniquely informative.

Geoff has competed at the highest levels of ultrarunning and was the 2016 US national champion at 100km, where he ran 6:30. He competed at the collegiate level for the University of Michigan, and went on to represent the USA over the 50km and 100km distances, and finished 5th at both the 2016 and 2018 IAU 100km World Championships.

Geoff also has degrees in biomedical engineering and kinesiology with a PhD from the University of Michigan. His research focuses on running, physiology, biomechanics, and sport performance. 

This week’s podcast delves into the science of super shoes, including what has made them such a useful tool for both elite and amateur runners and how you can use them to your own benefit. The episode is unique because all the questions that Geoff answers came directly from Jason's Twitter community.  

We discuss:

• What types of runners will benefit most from these types of shoes?
• At what distances are super shoes most beneficial?
• Can (and should?) you still use an insert in shoes with carbon plates?
• Do shoes with carbon plates increase your injury risk?
• How should these types of shoes be used?  Every day?  For racing only?  Or something in between?
• What is the longevity of these shoes?
• What is the future of this technology?  How will these super shoes become even better?

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Geoff on Twitter and Instagram
• Visit Geoff's website
• Read Geoff's discussion on the pros and cons of thicker shoes

Thank You InsideTracker!

Our show is supported by our longtime sponsor InsideTracker. Today, more than ever, it's essential that we’re making the right decisions to keep our bodies healthy. To help us be resilient, prevent over-training, and optimize our running to get the most from it.

InsideTracker is the ultra-personalized nutrition platform that analyzes your blood and DNA biomarkers along with your lifestyle habits to help you optimize your body and reach your goals.

InsideTracker’s patented system will transform your body's data into knowledge, insights, and a customized action plan of science-backed recommendations. The data can help you determine whether you’re running too much, not enough, or have some other issues that could be affecting your recovery or performance.

I've had my own blood drawn with InsideTracker several times and have been amazed at the valuable information that they provide. Not only are the results very detailed, but they also share guidance for how to improve any markers that are out of range.

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, InsideTracker offers a selection of plans that best suit your needs with a limited time 25% discount.

Thank you Elemental Labs!

A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. And you can get a free sampler pack of 4 flavors and 8 individual packets when you pay $5 in shipping.

Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense.

They just released their first new flavor of 2021, their most requested flavor, watermelon salt. So check out Elemental Labs to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack. 

Candice Burt holds the FKT - or Fastest Known Time - on the 171-mile Tahoe Rim Trail, the 95-mile Wonderland Trail, and the 20-mile Enchantment Lakes Traverse. She won the Delirious W.E.S.T. 200-mile (which is actually 219 miles) and placed 4th at the HURT100 Endurance Run in 2019. She also has podium finishes at countless ultras over the years.

Along with working out the arrangements for this year's races, Candice is currently getting ready to cover the Arizona Trail, which is 800 miles long. She shares details of her planning, logistics, and other intricacies of what it takes to run for weeks on end.

In our conversation, we also cover topics on:

• Safety and comfort out on the Arizona Trail
• Gear considerations for runs and nights out in the wild
• What inspires the athletes that inspire us
• How Candice went about organizing her first ultra race
• The cost and logistics of putting on long races

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Candice on Instagram
• Check out more on her site: Candice Burt
• Join one of her ultra races
• The book that inspired Candice: Born to Run

Thank You, beam!

Our newest sponsor is beam and they have a great offer for our community. I've had the chance to try out their products and have become a big fan.

The two products that I’m enjoying the most are their Elevate Variety Pack and Dream, their sleep-promoting mix. The Elevate options include Balance, with prebiotics and probiotics for a happy gut, Energy with a small amount of natural caffeine, and Recovery with collagen and amino acids.

Dream is a powder that tastes like cinnamon hot cocoa and it helps you get a better sleep. It has THC-free CBD, melatonin, magnesium, l-theanine, and other compounds that help you rest more quickly and easily. I have trouble sleeping and this has made a huge difference in the quality of my sleep.

Beam's products are low in sugar, taste great, and use responsibly sourced ingredients. They are offering 15% off your order with the code "JASON" (not case sensitive). Couple that with a subscription and your first month’s savings will be 35%!

Sleep better, recover faster, what’s not to love? Check them out at beamtlc.com.

Clare Gallagher burst onto the ultrarunning scene with her first attempt at a 100-mile race, the Leadville 100, which she won despite being brand new to the distance. She followed up with wins of the grueling Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run and the CCC 101K. She also has the Fastest Known Times on the Zion Traverse and Joshua Tree Traverse.

As an outstanding athlete, Clare has a platform that she uses to amplify voices, causes, and efforts that she feels passionate about. Clare is an environmental activist, helping preserve public lands across the country and bringing much needed attention to environmental issues that threaten the very lands our sport depends on.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• Clare's rise in the sport
• How she won Leadville 100 with no prior experience and no coach - as well as the value of having a coach
• Low-mileage training and how it works for her
• Clare's (lack of) willingness to run a 200-miler in the future
• Her approach to balancing training and racing with the rest of her life

Currently, Clare is training again for Western States 100, while continuing with her environmental activism.

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Clare on Instagram and Strava
• Check out her blog and updates
• Our prior interview with Clare
• Follow Alex Falconer on Instagram
• Take action with Save the Boundary Waters 

Thank you Elemental Labs!

A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors.

Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense.

They just released their first new flavor of 2021, their most requested flavor, watermelon salt. So check out Elemental Labs to try their new flavor and get your hydration optimized. 

Nick Symmonds is one of the world's best middle distance runners. A two-time Olympian and 2013 silver medalist at the World Championships, he has a personal best time of 1:42.95 in the 800 meters (and a 5:19 beer mile PR!).

An outspoken advocate for athletes rights, his company Run Gum has sued the US Olympic Committee and USA Track & Field to help track athletes better market themselves. Considering that more than 50% of elite track and field athletes live under the poverty level, this would dramatically help them land more sponsorships and make a better living.

In this far-ranging conversation, Nick and coach Jason Fitzgerald talk about everything from Tesla and SpaceX, auctioning off ad space on Nick's shoulder to the highest bidder, what it feels like to perform on the world's biggest stages, and starting his performance running gum company Run Gum.

Coach Elisabeth Scott hosts the enormously popular Running Explained podcast and joins us today to answer your running questions!

We’ll be answering questions about warmups and cool-downs, strides, tempo workouts, core routines, how to taper effectively, and when to schedule strength training.

Want to get your questions answered by Jason during our live Coaching Call? Join Team Strength Running!

Thank you Gut & Green!

Previnex’s new Gut & Green Superfoods powder is my new go-to. It has organic barley and oat grass, alfalfa, spirulina, chlorella, kale and broccoli… and that’s it. Their ingredients are backed by clinical data and contain three specific gut fibers that help promote GI health, digestion, reduced inflammation, and a better microbiome.

And, best of all, it actually tastes good. Try it for yourself here at previnex.com and be sure to use code “JASONGREENS” to save 15% off your first order. Don’t tell anyone, but if you put Gut & Green Superfoods powder in your cart, then the 15% off discount will work for anything else you add into your cart as well. Thanks Gut & Green!

Thank you MOBO Board!

Invented by renowned physical therapist Jay Dicharry, MOBO helps you stabilize your stance with an innovative rocker board that’s set up on two fins. The design effectively forces you to drive your big toe into the board to improve your stability. I was pretty arrogant going into my first session on the MOBO Board. How hard can it be to balance, right? Well, I was humbled pretty quickly!

Even if you’re a good runner, better balance, stability, and proprioception is going to help you have a more powerful stride and prevent more running injuries. You’ll learn how to improve the efficiency of the kinetic chain from your hip to your big toe. Because as Jay likes to say, it’s not just how strong you are, but how well you use that strength.

I was recently at a weekend physical therapy workshop (lol I was the only running coach) and learned how important (and rare) this simple movement is. Save 10% with code STRENGTHRUN10 at checkout at moboboard.com.

Travis Macy is an endurance Renaissance Man. If it exists, he’s probably done it.

Multiday, team stage race? Snowshoe racing? Ski mountaineering? He’s completed all of that – and a lot more. Sponsored by brands like Hoka and Injinji, Travis has completed over 120 events in 17 countries.

When he’s not running up mountains in Colorado’s front range (even bringing me along for a run), he’s skiing, mountain biking, snowshoeing, or gearing up for his next 100-mile ultra.

His book, The Ultra Mindset, is a blueprint for success in running, business, and life. Miss his actionable running lessons at your own peril…

In the latest episode of the Strength Running Podcast, I sit down with Travis to talk about his many adventures in the world of ultra-endurance.

I’m sure you’ll find it inspiring – but more importantly, the advice can help you plan your next adventure.

Matt Daniels is a professional athlete for Nike Trail Running who focuses on ultramarathon distances. He placed 7th in the NCAA 1500m, contributing to Adams State’s first ever 1st place team finish in the Outdoor NCAA Championships. He transitioned to ultra trail running ever since, most recently winning the Gorge Waterfalls 50k earlier this year and competing at UTMB this summer.

Matt and I discuss our shared love of the mile and how his college coach helped to shape him. 

We delve into:

• The events Matt ran in college and his experiences as a middle distance runner
• Matt’s unique comparison of the 3k and the 50 mile distances
• How his first trail race led him down the path to ultra running
• Typical training weeks for ultra races with different terrain and distances
• How Matt’s college coach had a long term impact on all of his relationships
• Learning to get comfortable with slower ultra paces
• Great options for a fun first 50k!

While Matt's success at a variety of distances is unique, his story of injury, recovery and learning how to get the best from himself is entirely relatable. Enjoy our conversation!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Matt on Instagram and Strava
• Connect with Matt on LinkedIn
• Watch From Sub-4 to States on YouTube
• Learn more about injury prevention

Thank You Previnex!

We’re supported by our newest partner, Previnex. After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m less than a year from being a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

I’ve been taking their Immune Support and multivitamin over the last month and  I feel great. I have more energy and clarity, not to mention peace of mind that I’m giving my body what it needs. I believe Previnex works and I hope you experience the same benefits as I do. Use code jason15 for 15% off your order at Previnex!

Thank you Impossible Sleep!

We’re also supported by Impossible Sleep, a performance sleep drink to help high performers get the most out of their nightly rest. Impossible Sleep is a melatonin free sleep drink mix that provides deep recovery while gently lulling you to sleep. It only has two ingredients, with magnesium to promote muscle recovery and deep sleep, and L-theanine for a subtle calming effect that helps you wind down at the end of the day.

High achieving runners have to prioritize their sleep - it’s like a performance enhancing drug that allows us to absorb our training, improve, and race faster. The Impossible Sleep drink helps you optimize your bedtime routine so you can get as much deep recovery as possible.

When you consider that studies have shown that sleep loss can lead to glucose imbalances, increased anxiety, and your risk of getting sick, it’s a no-brainer to get as much high quality sleep as you can. Learn more about Impossible Sleep drink and be sure to use code jason20 to save 20% on your first subscription order, plus you’ll get a free sleep kit as a welcome gift.

There's no better investment in your running than a book. For the price of a movie and popcorn, you can learn the training strategies of elite coaches, Olympians, and the lessons that have taken others decades to learn.

Wouldn't you like to shortcut that learning curve?

Coach Jason Fitzgerald shares his six favorite running books (and the other - admittedly weird - books he's currently reading) that will propel your training to new heights and deepen your understanding of the sport.

In high school, my indoor track coach always told our team to “get out of your comfort zones!” This valuable mental toughness training always reminded us that racing is certainly not comfortable…

And over the years, my ability to hone mental toughness into a skill to be used at will became easier and easier.

In the beginning, it wasn’t that way:

• I sandbagged workouts just because I didn’t feel good
• I “settled” on placing 2nd or 3rd in races because I was afraid to believe in myself
• I’ve even dropped out of races for no good reason other than my head wasn’t in the right place

Even now, I have experiences that shake my sense of self-belief.

In 2015, I DNF’d an ultramarathon (my first and only attempt).

In 2019, I was disqualified for cutting the course (by accident) of a trail race.

These experiences shook my self-confidence and made me question whether or not I even possessed any mental toughness.

But I soon realized that I wasn’t approaching mental toughness in the right way. It’s not an issue of whether you “have it” or “don’t have it” – it’s an issue of, “are you working on it?”

That’s because mental toughness training is an ongoing practice that must be cultivated over time.

You’re never “done” with developing this valuable mental skill – just like you’re never “done” with workouts, long runs, or recovery runs as a runner.

This episode also includes an announcement about Mindset Mastery, our new coaching program. It's now open for up to 20 runners but registration closes on Monday, February 3rd! 

This week’s episode tackles a variety of questions about the training process, including off-season planning, the concept of sandwiching, addressing cramps and side stitches, and more!

Drawing from Instagram and Twitter, Jason is directly answering your specific questions. We’re going to discuss the “sandwiching” concept, side stitches, optimal cadence, off-season training, muscle cramps, and more. Thank you to the athletes who submitted their questions. If you want to contribute in the future, make sure you connect with Jason on Instagram and Twitter.

Here's where you can find some of the questions I tackle on this episode:

• 3:03 - How should training plans vary for a road vs. a trail event?
• 6:25 - How often should you "sandwich" your runs with strength training? (hint: every run!)
• 13:48 - What you should do if the weather impacts your long run?
• 19:36 - How do volume and intensity fit into your running workload? 
• 26:30 - What inexpensive options are effective if you're trying to do more strength training?
• 35:54 - What should an off-season look like to avoid losing too much fitness?

Enjoy this week's questions and answer session!

To get even more personal support from Jason, join Team Strength Running for live coaching sessions, a group of runners to support you, 30+ training plans, and more!

Thank You Athletic Greens!

Thank you to our newest sponsor, Athletic Greens! They are a health and wellness company that makes AG1. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. Athletic Greens has made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable.

For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out Athletic Greens to redeem your offer today.

As a runner, keeping your posterior chain strong and functional is the key to healthy running.

The muscles that make up the posterior chain comprise the entire back side of your body. Runners will primarily focus on the lower portion of that chain, which includes the glutes, the hamstrings, and the calves.

Dr. Asher Henry is a runner, coach, and physical therapist who loves to help runners get and stay healthy! She is also a certified strength and conditioning coach and a 4 time All-American and top 5 finisher at the USA Trail Half Marathon and 10k Championships.

Asher was a co-coach with me on a recent Endeavorun Running retreat, and her knowledge, energy, and enthusiasm for what she does is contagious. We discuss all the essentials of the posterior chain and its importance in your running, including:

• Common issues associated with dysfunction in the posterior chain
• How taking care of your muscles allows your connective tissues to do their job
• Why drills and plyometrics can be great but you need to be strong enough to handle them
• Methods of testing and continued assessment  to determine your problem areas
• Using isolated strength to improve weak areas before working larger muscle groups
• How to avoid building dysfunction on top of strength to aid injury prevention

Enjoy my conversation with Dr. Asher Henry!

• Learn more about the link between mobility and weight training
• Let me help you prevent injuries!

Thank you Elemental Labs!

A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. And you can get a free sampler pack of 4 flavors and 8 individual packets when you pay $5 in shipping.

Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out Elemental Labs to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack. 

Thank You Athletic Greens!

Thank you to our sponsor, Athletic Greens! They are a health and wellness company that makes AG1. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. Athletic Greens has made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable.

For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out Athletic Greens to redeem your offer today.

A graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Metzl is one of the most highly regarded doctors for runners. He delivers lectures around the world and has published numerous peer-reviewed papers.

In addition to his medical practices in New York and Connecticut, Jordan has written several books for athletes including:

• Running Strong
• The Athlete’s Book of Home Remedies
• The Exercise Cure

He’s the creator of the IronStrength workout for runners and is a multiple marathon and Ironman finisher.

Today on the podcast, we’re discussing how to keep you healthy and running stronger.

Our topics of discussion include:

• The importance of having a strong butt
• Strength training’s (bloated?) injury prevention benefits
• Balancing high mileage with staying healthy
• The injury risks of highly cushioned shoes like the Nike Next%

Links & Resources From the Show:

• Follow Jordan on Instagram
• Prevention advice from the pro’s
• Visit Jordan’s website
• Strength routines for runners
• Our injury prevention email series

Alex Hutchinson holds a PhD in Physics from Cambridge, a Master’s in Journalism from Columbia, and is a former national-class runner in Canada. He has written for Runner’s World, Outside Online, The Globe and Mail, Popular Mechanics, and many other major media.

I am a big fan of his fitness books as well. He wrote:

• Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance 
• Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights? 

Alex and I have partnered together before to bring you expert advise. We also recorded a podcast episode on the limits of human endurance.

On today's episode, I wanted to have an in-depth conversation about all things related to tapering.

I asked you, our Strength Running community on Instagram and Twitter, for questions that you may have. You guys rock, as always! Thanks for your thoughtful questions and helping to guide the conversation.

If this episode was helpful, a rating and review in Apple Music is most appreciated!

Brooke Torres is an ultra runner who couldn’t understand why running shoes were so uncomfortable. So, she started a running shoe company to fix that problem.

Hilma Running Shoes makes shoes specifically for the needs of women’s feet, which are uniquely shaped and not just a smaller version of men’s feet (since as you'll hear, that doesn't work).

In this episode, Brooke and I talk about:

• Women's foot shape and its impact on running shoe design
• How poor-fit shoes can lead to injury and discomfort due to differences in foot geometry
• Heels, high arches, and bunions: common foot problems in women
• How women often choose to size up in order to find more width
• Hilma's three different fits, with a 90% try-on success rate
• The cost and time required for custom shoe creation (it's a lot)
• Personalized shoe fitting for women, using data and quizzes to determine the best fit
• Running shoes for various purposes and from urban walking to moderately technical trails
• Helping women feel welcome in the outdoor industry

I'm normally reluctant to have running company CEO's on the podcast, since the episode could feel like a massive advertisement. But I confidently made an exception with this episode.

Hilma Running Shoes is a small company that is solving a very real need among women runners. If you don't know about Hilma yet, you should.

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Brooke on Instagram
• Hilma Running Shoes on Instagram
• Hilma Running Shoes website
• Get the free injury prevention email series.

Thank you 2Before!

We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles. 

So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.

Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

Thank you DrinkLMNT!

A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

DrinkLMNT’s products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

If you’re not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I’m now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.

Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They’re the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out DrinkLMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

Michael Crawley is an anthropology professor at Durham University in England. A 2:20 marathoner, he spent 15 months training with the best runners in Ethiopia to figure out the secrets to their success.

His book, Out of Thin Air, is a beautiful story of a culture where for many, "running is life."

From their very different relationship to easy runs, metrics and pace, and even the social aspect of running, this episode will open your eyes to a different way of approaching running. But more than that, you’ll see how running is life for many in Ethiopia and how the sport is an integral part of the Ethiopian identity.

Visit https://strengthrunning.com/​ to learn more about barefoot running, getting faster, injury preventing, and lifting for speed.

Or connect with Jason

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasonFitz1​

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonfitz1/​

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strengthrunning

Stephanie Howe is a heavy hitter from the ultra-endurance world who holds a PhD in Nutrition and Exercise Science. As an elite trail and mountain runner, Stephanie has won the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run and holds the course records for the Bandera 100k and Lake Sonoma 50 miler.  

Stephanie's doctoral dissertation focused on the influence of exercise intensity on appetite in endurance-trained women. She is passionate about helping people learn how to fuel for competition and long-term health, and currently coaches runners and provides nutritional counseling.

Stephanie answers a variety of questions from Strength Running listeners on training and race nutrition, along with some of the controversial fad diets and nutrition strategies:

• The ins and outs of marathon fueling - is it ever too late in the race to fuel?
• How to use different types of fuels at various stages of longer races
• A “pyramid” plan for ultra fueling
• Should you still carb load before races?
• How to simplify good nutrition for a busy family with mix and match meals
• The benefits of using a nutritionist
• Her take on the Keto diet, intermittent fasting, the carnivore diet, and bonk runs

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Stephanie on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
• Visit Stephanie’s website
• Check out Strength Running’s Nutrition for Runners program
• Sign up for more free nutrition Q&A!

Thank you Elemental Labs!

A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. And you can get a free sampler pack of 4 flavors and 8 individual packets when you pay $5 in shipping.

Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense.

They just released their first new flavor of 2021, their most requested flavor, watermelon salt. So check out Elemental Labs to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack. 

A Senior Staff Editor and OpDocs producer at The New York Times, Lindsay Crouse's most-read and watched work includes:

• How the 'Shalane Flanagan' Effect Works
• I Am 35 and Running Faster Than I Ever Thought Possible
• Nike Told Me to Dream Crazy, Until I Wanted a Baby
• I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike
• (browse all of her work here)

Lindsay is one of the foremost voices for women in running, helping us better understand structural inequities that lead to gender inequality and power disparities in the sport.

After earning a history degree from Harvard University while competing in track and field and cross country, Lindsay moved to New York City and worked in a variety of editing and journalism awards before finally landing at The New York Times.

As a senior producer of OpDocs, she's produced memorable videos about the marathoner Memo and Walk, Run, Cha Cha (which earned a nomination for an Academy Award).

Lindsay is at the forefront of current affairs in the running world, highlighting how power is often unjustly wielded by the powerful against those with very little of it.

But she's not just a running journalist - she's a runner! And quite a fast one at that... just this past fall, she raced 2:53 at CIM, scoring a sub-3 marathon and improving on her PR by a massive 6 minutes.

In this conversation, Lindsay and I discuss her work, its real-world impact on the running community, and what draws her to these stories.

We also talk about:

• The changing culture of distance running
• Why representation matters, particularly for female athletes
• How we shortchange women runners through coaching and science
• Whether being a runner has helped her break these huge stories
• Why so many runners consider quitting (but shouldn't)

Lindsay Crouse is someone to watch in the world of running. As a near-Olympic Trials Qualifier working for the "newspaper of record," breaking the biggest stories in running, she's an exciting figure in the industry.

This episode would not have been possible without Inside Tracker, who is offering a 10% discount on any of their tests with code strengthrunning.

Whether it's illness, injury, or stale training, most runners have found themselves stuck in a rut at times. Learn the best way to assess your running and start making progress again with this one-on-one coaching call.

This week’s episode features a coaching call with Ivan, a Team Strength Running member. Ivan was a runner in high school and came back to the sport after over a decade away. Ivan had a successful buildup to a strong half marathon last year, but has struggled with his running after some recent setbacks.

Like many of us, Ivan's bout with COVID earlier in the year made for a slower than expected return to training.  He has struggled with finding the right volume and intensity in training to both feel good and make progress.

Our discussion focuses on putting all the pieces together - looking at his past and present running - to help him get back on track and feel positive again. Ivan and I talk about the factors that impact his training, including:

• All the things Ivan has been doing right with his training
• Why more time off requires a longer base phase
• The importance of pacing training runs correctly
• What Ivan's training history says about his racing potential
• Why lower mileage is the right plan to focus on for now
• Ivan's long term goals for 2023 and beyond

This is a conversation everyone can relate to. I hope you enjoy my coaching call with Ivan!

Thank You InsideTracker!

This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker, one of the most reputable blood testing companies in the world. They were founded in 2009 by aging, genetics, and biometrics scientists to help you analyze your body’s data and get a firm idea of how well you’re responding to training.

Understanding your body’s biomarkers, from stress hormones to testosterone to Vitamin D, can help you figure out if you’re over-training, under-training, optimally training, or if you have a health issue that might be affecting your running. But the best part is that they give you personalized optimal ranges for each of these biomarkers and a host of ways to improve these markers through diet, lifestyle, or exercise changes.

I’ve gotten several Ultimate tests from them and the process is simple, easy, and very eye-opening if you haven’t done a deep dive on your biomarkers yet.  Of all the investments you can make in your running, this one is like getting a detailed checkup or regularly scheduled maintenance for your internal physiology. I scheduled another Ultimate test for myself soon and it’ll be interesting to compare with the test I got in February.

Thank you Elemental Labs!

A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. And you can get a free sampler pack of 4 flavors and 8 individual packets when you pay $5 in shipping.

Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out Elemental Labs to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack. 

Wondering what you can do to prevent injuries? Let's learn from the best in the sport!

Today's podcast rounds up advice from the world's top female runners on what they do to prevent injuries and stay healthy while performing at the highest levels.

I asked a single question to 5 of the best runners in the world - Colleen Quigley, Sara Hall, Grayson Murphy, Kate Grace, and Molly Huddle:

What single idea, tool, or strategy is most helpful in keeping you healthy and running injury-free?

The responses are fascinating. Particularly, pay attention to the commonalities. These women are especially focused on what allows them to run sustainably, improve over time, and focus on their own particular needs.

Many of the women mentioned the importance of your mindset, and I couldn't agree more! That's why we offer a course designed to improve your mental toughness, along with techniques that you can implement in your own running.

If you aren't ready for a full course, check out these helpful guides to up your mental game:

• Mantras for running
• Mental toughness training
• Additional tips from a sports phycologist

See what these incredible women had to say and, of course, see our ultimate guide for injury prevention.

Thank You PATH Projects!

PATH Projects continues to be a great supporter of this podcast! I'm grateful for their partnership and want to share more about their products that I've been loving because they so durable and comfortable.

PATH Projects is an online-only retailer of high-quality running gear and apparel. That means there is no retail markup, making their products quite affordable.

In particular, I’ve just started wearing their 3” Sykes shorts and they’re a little different from the 5” Sykes shorts (you can see those in action here). The material is thinner and lighter, which is perfect in a performance short, and they’re obviously shorter. I’m not sure if my wife thinks they’re too scandalous or loves them, but I’m wearing them constantly.

PATH uses new technical fabrics, like the Japanese fiber called Toray Primeflex, to create award-winning apparel for endurance athletes. In fact, their Brim shorts and Tahoe base liner won Runner’s World’s 2018 Gear of the Year award. And the Pyrinees hoodie was named one of the best six sweatshirts for running in the cold by Gear Patrol.

You know you'll be wearing the best when you select PATH Projects!

This was an incredible year for the Strength Running Podcast and I have you and our guests to thank! If you have shared the pod with your running group, left a rating or review in Apple Music, or supported our sponsors I want to thank you for making all of this possible.

In 2019, we hit one million downloads for the podcast, we’ve already surpassed 1.5 million and are quickly en route to 2 million downloads. These are surreal numbers - and they're because of you.

In this episode, host Jason Fitzgerald recaps the most popular lessons, ideas, and principles from the last year of the podcast.

One of my goals with Strength Running is to prevent you from making the same mistakes that I've made in my own running career. Because I've made almost all of them!

Some of my "favorite" mistakes have been:

• Running my easy days too hard
• Not doing any dynamic warm up exercises before each run
• Inconsistently completing my strength exercises
• Relying too much on intensity and brutal workouts to "prove" my fitness

Now, my coaching philosophy is more balanced. There's less pressure on any one individual workout and more on the total body of work completed during a training cycle.

And today on the podcast, I want to show you what that looks like in practice.

Brian is in his mid-40's and started running about five years ago. He's run a variety of races but only one marathon. A big reason why is that he's had a lot of injuries from knee pain, glute problems, and IT Band Syndrome.

We're discussing:

• How Brian typically prepares for the marathon
• His background in other sports
• The steps he can take to prioritize healthy, pain-free running
• Marathon training fundamentals

Show Links & Resources:

• Injury prevention for runners ecourse
• Elite runners on recovery and staying healthy
• Sub 3 hour marathon training
• How to run your fastest marathon

Thanks Brian for sharing your running life with us!

Thanks PATH Projects

PATH Projects made this episode of the podcast possible. They’re an online-only retailer of high-quality running gear and apparel that I’m falling in love with (and they're giving away three $75 gift cards!).

Currently, I’m wearing the Sykes 5″ Shorts (see them in action in this video), the Pyrinees hooded sweatshirt, and the Torch base liner. Their gear is unique, stylish, and a premium quality that feels great to wear. And because there’s no retail markup, PATH is quite affordable.

They’re using new technical fabrics and innovations to create award-winning apparel for endurance athletes. In fact, their Brim shorts and Tahoe base liner won Runner’s World’s 2018 Gear of the Year award. And the Pyrinees hoodie was named one of the best six sweatshirts for running in the cold by Gear Patrol.

Check out their full lineup of shorts, tops, hats, and base liners on their site - and don't forget to enter to win one of three $75 gift cards at PathProjects.com.

Any athlete who seeks to perform at their best knows the importance of mental training. Whether it’s a tough workout, a local 5k, or competing on the world stage at the Olympics, having confidence in your abilities will help you get the most out of yourself.

Greg Chertok has over a decade of experience creating mental training programs for a wide range of athletes. He's worked with youth athletes as well as professionals, including Olympians, NCAA and Super Bowl champions, and Stanley Cup players. As a performance and mental skills consultant, Greg is an expert at helping others build sport-specific confidence.

Greg and I discuss many aspects of developing confidence that will benefit your running, including:

• What does it mean to be confident in an athletic setting?
• Is confidence innate or can it be changed?
• Common confidence traps and how to avoid them
• What can we learn from professionals when it comes to building confidence?
• What are the disadvantages of being both under- and over-confident?
• How does confidence impact us outside of competition?

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Learn more about Greg’s work
• Work on your own mental skills with our free mindset email course
• Take our mindset course!

Thank You InsideTracker!

This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker, one of the most reputable blood testing companies in the world. They were founded in 2009 by aging, genetics, and biometrics scientists to help you analyze your body’s data and get a firm idea of how well you’re responding to training.

Understanding your body’s biomarkers, from stress hormones to testosterone to Vitamin D, can help you figure out if you’re over-training, under-training, optimally training, or if you have a health issue that might be affecting your running. But the best part is that they give you personalized optimal ranges for each of these biomarkers and a host of ways to improve these markers through diet, lifestyle, or exercise changes.

I’ve gotten several Ultimate tests from them and the process is simple, easy, and very eye-opening if you haven’t done a deep dive on your biomarkers yet.  Of all the investments you can make in your running, this one is like getting a detailed checkup or regularly scheduled maintenance for your internal physiology. I scheduled another Ultimate test for myself soon and it’ll be interesting to compare with the test I got in February. Get yours today!

Thank you Elemental Labs!

A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. And you can get a free sampler pack of 4 flavors and 8 individual packets when you pay $5 in shipping.

Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out Elemental Labs to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack. 

The Boston Marathon is quickly approaching! Whether you’re racing Boston this spring or have it in your sights as a long term goal, this episode will help you learn all the ins and outs of this iconic event.

Today’s guest on the podcast will be headed to Boston for the 19th time! Marc Pollina has run 26 marathons and has been a fixture at Boston as both a charity runner and a sub-3 hour qualifier.

Marc’s new book, The Boston Marathon Handbook, offers an incredibly thorough look at the Boston Marathon, whether you’re trying to qualify for the first time or want to be better prepared to navigate race logistics. His reverence for the event is clear, but as someone who has faced the profanity inducing weather of Boston in April, Marc also writes with a sense of humor! 

Marc and I talk about all things Boston today, including:

• Marc’s long history with the Boston marathon
• Three elements that make Boston so special
• The “Four Cs” of Boston pacing execution
• Course specific preparation: how to mimic it in training
• Some of the commandments of Boston Marathon etiquette
• Why it’s essential to learn all the Boston race logistics

If you're looking to learn about the Boston Marathon, you won't want to miss this episode!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Get The Boston Marathon Handbook!
• Listen to the 2021 Boston Marathon preview episode
• Get even more info on planning your Boston Marathon morning
• Let me help you with your marathon training

Thank you DrinkLMNT!

A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

DrinkLMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

If you’re not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I’m now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.

Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They’re the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out DrinkLMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

Thank you Previnex!

After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 - and having a thin frame - has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids.

Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they’re going to do.

Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you’ll try it! Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex!

When you’ve already pushed your body to the limit and made it to the Olympics as an elite 800m runner, what’s next? Nick Symmonds returns to talk about his adventures since retiring from competitive running.

Although Nick retired from competitive running in 2017, he has been busier than ever. Whether developing Run Gum or getting over a million followers on YouTube, Nick is always in pursuit on the next personal and professional challenge.

In addition to talking about what Nick has been doing professionally since 2016, we also cover:

• How his desire to entertain has gotten him over a million followers on YouTube
• Why he loves running but has no desire to train anymore
• Nick’s current fitness goals
• How he inspires a passion for fitness in others while keeping it fun
• Why Nick fears boredom as an entrepreneur more than anything else
• What mindset allows Nick to tackle such audacious goals

You can't help but be inspired by Nick's energy and enthusiasm for all things fitness. Enjoy!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Check out Nick's YouTube Channel
• See the unveiling of Nick's obstacle course!
• Learn more about Run Gum
• Follow Nick on Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter.
• Listen to my first ever podcast episode with Nick.
• Want to get strong like Nick?  I can help.

Thank you MOBO Board!

Invented by renowned physical therapist Jay Dicharry, MOBO helps you stabilize your stance with an innovative rocker board that’s set up on two fins. The design effectively forces you to drive your big toe into the bboard to improve your stability. I was pretty arrogant going into my first session on the MOBO Board. How hard can it be to balance, right? Well, I was humbled pretty quickly!

Even if you’re a good runner, better balance, stability, and proprioception is going to help you have a more powerful stride and prevent more running injuries. You’ll learn how to improve the efficiency of the kinetic chain from your hip to your big toe. Because as Jay likes to say, it’s not just how strong you are, but how well you use that strength. Save 10% with code STRENGTHRUN10 at checkout at moboboard.com.

Thank You Athletic Greens!

Thank you to our sponsor, Athletic Greens! They are a health and wellness company that makes AG1. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. Athletic Greens has made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable.

For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out Athletic Greens to redeem your offer today.

Running uphill (against gravity) stresses your body in a unique way that you can’t mimic on flat land.

That stress results in some fantastic adaptations and benefits:

• There’s less impact running uphill so it’s easier on your joints and connective tissues
• Hills “force” you to run with better form, reinforcing a more efficient stride
• Running up steep grades builds power more safely than running fast on flat terrain
• Hills provide the most specific strength work runners could ask for
• Hill workouts build strength, speed, endurance, VO2 Max, and every other metric runners care about!

While hill sessions aren’t too race-specific (unless you’re training for an entirely uphill race), they have a valuable place in any training program.

This episode discusses these benefits, when hills should be incorporated into your season, my 3 favorite types of hill workouts, and the type of runner who will benefit most from hills.

Matt Phillips in an expert in the field of massage therapy and performance, which is why he's one of our few repeat guests! Our previous podcast focused on running form, but today we're discussing another specialty of his: massage.

Originally a strength and conditioning coach with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Matt turned his attention to Sports Therapy in 2004. Since then, he has focused his work on distance runners and endurance athletes.

He is also a lecturer in Anatomy and Physiology and his work has appeared in most major media.

In this episode, we talk about the common beliefs that are not supported by scientific data, in particular, that massages are not helpful for:

• Breaking down scar tissue
• Flushing out lactic acid
• Increasing circulation
• Reducing injury through added pain

We also talk about how finding a knowledgeable massage therapist can help with:

• Relaxing the central nervous system
• Aiding with recovering
• Educating you

Matt provides some great tips on how to find a therapist suitable for you and your needs, incorporating massages into your athletic pursuits, and sorting through all that anecdotal evidence.

Thank You Elemental Labs!

A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors.

Their products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite and I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense.

I’m encouraged by the fact that Navy SEAL teams, Olympic teams, and pro athletes have started using Elemental electrolyte supplements to improve their performance. Learn more about what they do at their website.

David Joyce is an expert on optimizing athletic performance in a variety of sports from soccer to football to rugby and more. David joined us last year on the podcast to discuss injury rehabilitation, and he is back this year to focus on prevention.

David is the co-editor of High-Performance Training for Sports: The Authoritative Guide for Ultimate Athletic Conditioning, the second edition. He holds master’s degrees in both sports science and sports medicine, as well as an MBA, and has over 50 publications in the field of sports performance. David has worked in Olympic programs in the UK, China, and Australia and has trained and rehabilitated multiple world-class athletes.

David and Jason discuss facets of injury prevention you may not have considered, even though they are easy to implement:

• The impact of advancements in technology for runners
• Why a good coach will always be essential alongside technology
• How to find a rhythm to your training by polarizing your efforts - keep your easy runs easy and make the hard ones count
• Know the appropriate range of your running efforts and (mostly) train within them.
• The importance of developing consistency by eliminating friction in your schedule 
• How “motion is lotion” and why you don’t want to “allow the rust to settle”

Enjoy this discussion with one of the top performance experts in the world!

Sign up here for coach Jason's best injury prevention advice.

Thank You InsideTracker!

Our show is supported by our longtime sponsor InsideTracker. Today, more than ever, it's essential that we’re making the right decisions to keep our bodies healthy. To help us be resilient, prevent over-training, and optimize our running to get the most from it.

InsideTracker is the ultra-personalized nutrition platform that analyzes your blood and DNA biomarkers along with your lifestyle habits. Their goal is to help you optimize your body and reach your goals.

InsideTracker’s patented system will transform your body's data into knowledge, insights, and a customized action plan of science-backed recommendations. The data can help you determine whether you’re running too much, not enough, or have some other issues that could be affecting your recovery or performance.

I've had my own blood drawn with InsideTracker several times and have been amazed at the valuable information that they provide. Not only are the results very detailed, but they also share guidance for how to improve any markers that are out of range.

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, InsideTracker offers a selection of plans that best suit your needs with a limited time 25% discount.

Thank You Athletic Greens!

Thank you to our newest sponsor, Athletic Greens! They are a health and wellness company that makes AG1. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provides a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all of my kids in school, I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick. Then, I can’t train!

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. Athletic Greens has made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable.

For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for a single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out Athletic Greens to redeem your offer today.

Stress fractures are an injury feared most by runners. And with good reason - they require extensive time off for healing and recovery.  By understanding common risk factors, you can stay healthy and prevent this distressing diagnosis.

Joining us is Dr. Emily Kraus. She is the Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford Children’s Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center, specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation sports medicine. She researches bone stress injuries at Stanford's Healthy Runner Project, which is focused on bone stress injury prevention in collegiate distance runners.

Emily is an expert on running injuries, stress fractures, and RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport). In addition to her research, she performs gait analysis at the Stanford Run Safe Injury Prevention Program and serves as a medical advisor for the Adaptive Sports Injury Prevention Program. 

Emily’s passion for working with runners stems from her own love of running. She has completed multiple marathons including Boston, as well as a 50km ultramarathon. With a recent marathon PR of 2:50, Emily is both incredibly knowledgeable and fast!

During the podcast Emily and I discuss all aspects of stress fractures, including:

• The difference between stress reactions and stress fractures, and the most effective way to diagnose a bone injury
• Risk factors for bone injuries, including those that are running-specific and diet-related
• What is RED-S, who is at risk, and how it relates to stress fractures
• The treatment and recovery process for bone injuries
• Prevention strategies to avoid stress fractures

This episode is a must for all runners who want to learn more about bone injuries and how to prevent them!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Emily on Instagram and Twitter
• Learn more about the Stanford FASTR Program
• Get stronger to help avoid injury

Thank You InsideTracker!

This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker, one of the most reputable blood testing companies in the world. They were founded in 2009 by aging, genetics, and biometrics scientists to help you analyze your body’s data and get a firm idea of how well you’re responding to training.

Understanding your body’s biomarkers, from stress hormones to testosterone to Vitamin D, can help you figure out if you’re over-training, under-training, optimally training, or if you have a health issue that might be affecting your running. But the best part is that they give you personalized optimal ranges for each of these biomarkers and a host of ways to improve these markers through diet, lifestyle, or exercise changes.

I’ve personally gotten three Ultimate tests from them and the process is simple, easy, and very eye-opening if you haven’t done a deep dive on your biomarkers yet.  Of all the investments you can make in your running, this one is like getting a detailed checkup or regularly scheduled maintenance for your internal physiology. 

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, get 25% off any of their blood tests with code STRENGTHRUNNING at InsideTracker.

Thank you Spartan Race Series!

You’ve probably heard of Spartan Races - but you probably don’t know that they offer such a wide variety of types of races. From short to long-distance obstacle courses - and even ultra distances, to trail races, stadium races, and even city races in major metropolitan areas. 

What I love about obstacle course races is that they are a great diagnostic tool to help you pinpoint what area of your fitness is lacking. Do you have a general aerobic deficiency? Do you struggle with upper body strength? Can you handle the stop and start nature of OCR’s? Do you have the mobility to perform the obstacles? 

Signing up for a race that challenges you in a different way can help you find out more about yourself as an athlete. Ever since I tried my first obstacle course race in 2012, I’ve loved these events. They are demanding and require you to be a well-rounded athlete, something that I wholeheartedly endorse here on this podcast. Go to spartan.com to find a local race near you. If you’re in Colorado, I hope to see you on June 12th at the Colorado Springs Spartan Race.

Tim DiFrancesco is the former Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team. After spending more than six seasons in the NBA, he left to grow TD Athletes Edge, his performance-oriented strength facility in Salem, MA.

He earned his BS in Exercise Science & Athletic Training from Endicott College and his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. His experience includes professional athletes, sub-elite athletes in the NBA-Development League, and recreational athletes across numerous disciplines.

In this conversation, we discuss what really happens in your body when you start lifting weights. We also talk about:

• Why lifting will turn you from a donkey into a gazelle
• How we change minds about endurance runners lifting weights
• Whether plyometrics are drills or strength exercises
• How to get start with plyos, plan them in your training, and mistakes to avoid

Links & Resources:

• Follow Tim on Instagram and Twitter
• Visit TD Athlete's Edge
• Lift weights for endurance
• High Performance Lifting

Big thanks to Tim DiFrancesco for coming on the show and sharing his expertise. Please connect with him and express a big thank you!

Thank You beam

Our newest sponsor is beam, one of my newest favorite companies! They have a great offer for the Strength Running community so don’t miss out on 15% off your order with code JASON!

The two products that I’m enjoying the most are their Elevate Variety Pack and Dream, their sleep-promoting mix. The Elevate options include Balance, with prebiotics and probiotics for a happy gut, Energy with a small amount of natural caffeine, and Recovery with collagen and amino acids.

Dream is a powder that tastes like cinnamon hot cocoa and it helps you get a better sleep. It has THC-free CBD, melatonin, magnesium, l-theanine, and other compounds that help you rest more quickly and easily. I have trouble sleeping and this has made a huge difference in the quality of my sleep.

Beam’s products are low in sugar, taste great, and use responsibly sourced ingredients. They are offering 15% off your order with the code “JASON” (not case sensitive). Couple that with a subscription and your first month’s savings will be 35%!

Sleep better, recover faster, what’s not to love? Check them out at beamtlc.com.

Matt Phillips is a running injury and performance specialist from England who's written for most major media platforms and has spoken at numerous international conferences. You might recognize him!

He's a massage therapist, video gait analyst, and is also the host of the Run Chat Live Podcast (I was recently a guest here!).

In this conversation, we're covering a lot:

• When is gait retraining a good idea? Who should consider it?
• What are the risks of trying to improve your form?
• Are the risks of prolonged sitting substantial? How can we work around this?
• Can you reinforce proper running technique without trying to?
• What aspects of this topic have changed in the last 10 years?

If you'd like to reinforce proper form, improve your efficiency, and make running more economical you can do so using "form cues." They are simple to implement ways of automatically improving your gait.

See my three favorite form cues here.

Recovery means much more than what you do - it's also about what you don't do.

For example, many runners think foam rolling or taking an ice bath are effective recovery methods. And if you enjoy them, I won't argue! But what you're not doing is equally important:

• Are you using your day off from running to do your own taxes and run 34 errands?
• Did you plan your big (i.e., stressful) family vacation for your post-marathon recovery week?
• Do you stay out late enjoying one or several too many adult beverages?

If the answer is yes, then it almost doesn't matter what you do for your post workout recovery.

Because the addition of stress - whether physical or mental - derails our best recovery efforts. That's why when I was in college, our track coach was very understanding of poor workout splits during mid-terms. You simply can't perform physically and mentally at a high level for very long.

We previously discussed a hierarchy of injury prevention strategies and how some tactics are far more effective than others. The same is true for recovery strategies.

I want you to understand the best, most productive, and effective ways to recover from your hardest workouts.

And I'm thrilled to present you with today's podcast episode with Ms Christie Aschwanden.

Christie is the lead science writer for FiveThirtyEight and a former health columnist for the Washington Post. She's also a finalist for the National Magazine Award and her work has been featured in Discover, Smithsonian, and O, The Oprah Magazine.

A fellow Coloradan like myself, Christie was a high school state champion in the 1,6000m run, a national collegiate cycling champion, and an elite cross-country skier with Team Rossignol.

Her new book is Good to Go: What The Athlete in All of Us Can Learn From the Strange Science of Recovery.

She's on the podcast to discuss individual post workout recovery strategies but also the bigger questions:

• How do we know if we're fooling ourselves that something is working (when it isn't)?
• Why isn't it enough to simply ask, "Does this recovery method work?"
• Overall, have we made recovery too complicated?
• How do you prioritize mental recovery?
• If you were to speak to the entire Olympic Team about recovery, what would you say?

This episode is an excerpt of my full conversation with Christie for the Team Strength Running group coaching program.

You may recognize this week’s guest: Dr. Victoria Sekely is a running coach, certified strength and conditioning specialist, and doctor of physical therapy who joined me on episode 135.

Victoria was a varsity tennis player at Georgetown University before getting her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from NYU. As a runner herself, she knows that we want to spend our time on the roads and trails rather than in the gym. But her experience as a physical therapist has taught her the enormous value of building and maintaining a strength training habit, even for as little as 20 minutes, twice each week.

Victoria emphasizes how strength training teaches us something we rarely think about as a runner: control. Rather than trying to force changes to our running form, strength training gives us an opportunity to slow down, pay attention, and be more mindful of how our bodies are moving. With consistency, that can translate into more efficient, stronger running.

We discuss the ins and outs of bodyweight training and how it can help every runner, including:

• The best time to start strength training and how to fit it into your schedule
• The relationship between rehab and prehab
• How to make your bodyweight routine progressive
• Why bodyweight exercises make you a better athlete
• The physical benefits of training mindfully 
• Victoria’s top five exercises to build functional strength

Victoria's knowledge and humor make for an engaging and informative discussion!

Thank You InsideTracker!

This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker, one of the most reputable blood testing companies in the world. They were founded in 2009 by aging, genetics, and biometrics scientists to help you analyze your body’s data and get a firm idea of how well you’re responding to training.

Understanding your body’s biomarkers, from stress hormones to testosterone to Vitamin D, can help you figure out if you’re over-training, under-training, optimally training, or if you have a health issue that might be affecting your running. But the best part is that they give you personalized optimal ranges for each of these biomarkers and a host of ways to improve these markers through diet, lifestyle, or exercise changes.

I’ve personally gotten three Ultimate tests from them and the process is simple, easy, and very eye-opening if you haven’t done a deep dive on your biomarkers yet.  Of all the investments you can make in your running, this one is like getting a detailed checkup or regularly scheduled maintenance for your internal physiology. 

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, get 25% off any of their blood tests with code STRENGTHRUNNING at InsideTracker.

Jen Schumacher is currently the mental performance consultant for Northwestern University’s football program. Previously she was the Assistant Director of the Performance Psychology program at West Point Military Academy. She is also a professional speaker and provides training for elite performers in many fields, whether ultra-endurance athletes or Fortune 100 executives.

Our discussion focuses on an introduction to sports psychology, how it applies to endurance sports, and how to create a regular practice that will allow you to reap the benefits. Some of the topics we touch on include:

• Jen’s background & the goals of the Performance Psychology Program at West Point
• The best way for endurance runners to get started with performance psychology
• Common mistakes for athletes using mindset training
• The best approach to tackling the mental skills we seek as runners
• How to avoid the comparison trap and turn it into something positive
• How Jen applied performance psychology to her own ultra-endurance swimming

My conversation with Jen with help make sports psychology more accessible for everyone. The more regularly you can make it a part of your own training, the better the results will be!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Enroll in our complimentary mindset course
• Listen to a podcast about mental toughness and skill building
• Learn more about specific mental toughness for runners strategies
• Enroll in Mindset Mastery

Thank you Lagoon!

Our newest sponsor is Lagoon, maker of the most comfortable pillow I’ve ever used. And that’s no hyperbole. I’m pleasantly surprised every night I lie down because this pillow is just perfect for me. Since I know that sleep is the #1 recovery tool at my disposal, I’m taking it a lot more seriously.

I took their sleep quiz to find the right pillow for my body size and sleeping position at. It only takes 2 minutes and you’ll find the type of pillow that will work best for you. I’m using the Fox and absolutely loving it. A big reason why is because it’s adjustable.

Since you can add or remove fill to get your alignment right, it’s a great way to optimize the most important way you can become a better runner that isn’t training: sleep. We all know how important sleep is. It’s the best recovery tool that you have at your disposal - better than compression, ice, heat, massage, or anything else you can think of. Sleep is when the magic happens and your sleep quality matters.

Take your rest and recovery to the next level with Lagoon and get 15% off your purchase with code strengthrunning here.

Thank you DrinkLMNT!

A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

DrinkLMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

My favorite flavor is watermelon salt, but citrus salt is also a banger. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out DrinkLMNT to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack.

Grayson Murphy is a five-time Division 1 All-American, the 2019 World Mountain Running Champion, and the 2019 and 2021 US Mountain Running Champion. In addition to her racing success, Grayson is working on her Masters of Sustainable Natural Resources at Oregon State University. She also has her own small business selling a self-designed training log and planner.

Catch her contribution to Episode 160: 5 Of The World’s Fastest Women On Injury Prevention & Recovery!

Grayson and I discuss her year of injuries, and she shares how she has handled them both mentally and physically. Her openness about dealing with injury is a tremendous resource for all levels of runners. Some topics we touch on include:

• Her sequence of injuries, from her plantar fascia to her hip
• How cross-training both hindered and helped her recovery process
• The importance self-assessment along with professional help
• How a written training journal can help with injury prevention and recovery
• What she learned about recognizing different types of pain
• How she is beginning to trust her body again post-injury

Grayson’s thoughtfulness and self-reflection on her recovery process will help any runner, whether injured or not!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Visit Grayson’s website
• Follow Grayson on Instagram
• Learn more about Grayson
• Read about Grayson’s cross training adventures
• Let me help you prevent injuries!

Thank You InsideTracker!

This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker, one of the most reputable blood testing companies in the world. They were founded in 2009 by aging, genetics, and biometrics scientists to help you analyze your body’s data and get a firm idea of how well you’re responding to training.

Understanding your body’s biomarkers, from stress hormones to testosterone to Vitamin D, can help you figure out if you’re over-training, under-training, optimally training, or if you have a health issue that might be affecting your running. But the best part is that they give you personalized optimal ranges for each of these biomarkers and a host of ways to improve these markers through diet, lifestyle, or exercise changes.

I’ve gotten several Ultimate tests from them and the process is simple, easy, and very eye-opening if you haven’t done a deep dive on your biomarkers yet.  Of all the investments you can make in your running, this one is like getting a detailed checkup or regularly scheduled maintenance for your internal physiology.  Get yours today!

Thank you Elemental Labs!

A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. And you can get a free sampler pack of 4 flavors and 8 individual packets when you pay $5 in shipping.

Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out Elemental Labs to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack. 

Chris Bennett is the Nike Running Global Head Coach and Senior Director Nike Global Running. Translation: Chris is an absolute powerhouse of a coach and runner.

I got to chat with Chris about his role at Nike, how runners approach the sport from a variety of angles, what often prevents us from achieving our goals, his message to every runner in the world if he had the opportunity to speak to the global running population, and so much more.

In this episode, Chris and I talk about:

• The multifaceted nature of coaching (it's not just creating workouts).
• Don't overcomplicate running; it can be simple and accessible.
• How runners' motivations have shifted from performance-driven to stress relief and mental wellness.
• How all runners can explore the sport beyond just competition and time.
• The growth of running and its perception as a competitive sport.
• You need more than just time goals.
• Common obstacles to consistent and effective running training.
• Adjusting training plans based on the athlete's needs and self-awareness.
• Don't rely on a coach entirely; listen to your body and mind-- and speak up!
• Self-sabotaging by "doing" too much without enough recovery.
• Running with the legendary Joan Benoit Samson.

Send this episode to anyone who could use more play and exploration in their running goals.

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Chris Bennett on Substack
• The Nike Running App
• Chris's Podcast, Coach Bennett's Podcast
• Chris on Instagram
• Chris on TikTok
• Chris on Threads
• Get a plan for your next PR
• Get the free injury prevention email series.

Thank you Previnex!

After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 - and having a thin frame - has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids.

Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they’re going to do.

Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you’ll try it! Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex!

Thanks to The Performance Training Journal!

The Performance Training Journal is now available on Amazon and debuted as the #4 new release in the running category. Since I started running in 1998, I’ve kept a hardcopy training journal. Holding a tangible log, writing in it daily, and reflecting on the ups and downs of running is a surefire way to improve. 

This hardcopy training journal helps you focus on the training metrics that matter, prioritizes a long-term outlook so you don’t take any shortcuts, and maintains your motivation with strategic self-praise. With a no-frills, functional design, the Performance Training Journal includes coaching advice on racing, injury prevention, strength training, and more. It will guide you through race scheduling, how to plan your race morning, the best workouts for endurance runners, and encourage you to track your personal bests over time. 

You have the space to make this journal your own whether you're a new runner or a professional, a trail or road runner, or a mid-distance specialist or ultra marathoner.⁣ So don't just track your running, learn from it with the Performance Training Journal! Check it out today on Amazon.

Team Strength Running combines coaching with community to help runners work toward all sorts of goals.

Team member Brian came on the show to share about his running journey and goal to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

I gave him some steps to take to make his dream a reality, and thought you’d also benefit from hearing a recording of a live coaching call.

We talk about:

• How speed work helped Brian in recent improvements
• "The season before the season"
• Training and pacing strategy for a REVEL Marathon
• Using middle-distance races to build toward a fast marathon
• Small shifts to Brian's training that will make a big impact
• Race fueling and recovery fuel

Send a link to this episode to a friend who wants a BQ.

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Join Team Strength Running!

Thanks to Ketone-IQ!

Ketone-IQ increases the levels of ketones in your blood - and raised blood ketone levels do increase focus and alertness, which is why I take a shot before every podcast recording and have for almost two years even before their sponsorship. I feel dialed in and quick for these high-stakes conversations.

There’s also promising research - and loads of anecdotal evidence - that ketone supplementation can help with recovery if taken post-exercise. I know some of the best ultra runners in the world, Boston Marathon champ Des Linden, and the pro cycling team that won the TdF in 2022 and 2023 all take ketones post-race to aid recovery.

Go to Ketone.com/strengthrunning to save 30% on your first subscription and receive a free 6-pack of Ketone-IQ and try for yourself today.

Thank you Previnex!

After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 - and having a thin frame - has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids.

Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they’re going to do.

Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you’ll try it! Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex!

Thank you DrinkLMNT!

A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

DrinkLMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

If you’re not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I’m now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.

Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They’re the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out DrinkLMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

This week’s guest has played a pivotal role in the trail running community. Dylan Bowman is an elite ultrarunner, podcast host, and leader and cofounder of Freetrail. He began his athletic career as a competitive lacrosse player, but after college discovered his love for the beauty and community of trail running.

Early in his career, Dylan established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the ultra world, with podium finishes at many of the most competitive ultra races including Leadville and Ultra-Trail Mt Fuji. In the last couple of years Dylan has set his sights on a new project - Freetrail - best described as “a community dedicated to the life-changing sport of trail running.”

Dylan and I cover a lot of ground in this podcast, from how he became a trail runner to his newest project and vision for the sport. Some of the topics we discuss include:

• Why making the leap from lacrosse to trail running was not as random as it seems
• The importance of finding the things in life that light you up
• How Dylan’s early love of sports radio impacted his current endeavor
• The parallels between entrepreneurship and running
• The evolution and direction of the trail running world
• Why livestreaming is the lynchpin to growth in the sport

Dylan's genuine love for his running and business are infectious, and you're sure to enjoy all the twists and turns of our conversation.

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Dylan on Instagram and Twitter
• Learn more about Dylan
• Connect with Dylan on Linked In
• Check out Freetrail and follow Freetrail on Instagram
• Listen to the Freetrail podcast
• Learn more about trail running

Thank you Previnex!

We’re supported by our newest partner, Previnex. After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m less than a year from being a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

I’ve been taking their Immune Support and multivitamin over the last month and  I feel great. I have more energy and clarity, not to mention peace of mind that I’m giving my body what it needs.  I believe Previnex works and I hope you experience the same benefits as I do. Use code jason15 for 15% off your order at Previnex!

Thank you Bodyweight Power!

We’re also supported by our very own strength training program, Bodyweight Power. This is the only bodyweight strength training program created specifically for endurance runners that’s periodized and focuses on power. I partnered with running coach, physical therapist, and certified strength coach Victoria Sekely to make this program possible. That means it’s running coach, PT, and strength coach approved! 

It’s time to treat yourself, so make a commitment to get stronger and stay healthy. You can use Bodyweight Power for years, gaining strength with each training cycle. Once you enroll, you also get free updates for life.  Invest in your strength, injury resilience, and speed with Bodyweight Power.

Jay Dicharry is a physical therapist who rose to prominence as an expert in biomechanical analysis as Director of the SPEED Clinic at the University of Virginia.

He has written two books that are highly recommended for our community: Anatomy for Runners and Running Rewired. Jay also consults for several footwear companies, the US Air Force, and USA Track and Field.

Recently, Jay created and founded MOBO Board, an innovative foot stability tool. 

In this episode we talk about the 4 skills that Jay deems absolutely necessary for healthy, pain-free running. Those are postural control, rotational stability, hip dominance, and individual skeletal alignment. We go into detail on all of these, talking about what they are, why they’re important, and how to build these skills into your training.

For more on injury prevention, join our free prevention course here.

You might know Craig as the 2013 Pan-American Jr. Games 1500m champion or the 4th place finisher at the 2016 US Olympic Trials in the 1500m. More recently, Craig won the USATF indoor mile and set a blazing 3:53 mile PR.

His list of personal bests is eye-popping:

• 800m: 1:46:03
• Mile: 3:53.93
• 5k: 14:20.27

Craig is a fun guy to talk with because he doesn’t take running too seriously. He’s a fierce competitor but you’ll also see how his running really took off in college when he was able to have fun with his team.

(it's funny how you perform better when you're having more fun outside of training...)

He also doesn’t take himself too seriously, which I find incredibly refreshing. He rocks a mullet and an absolutely perfect 1980’s style Burt Reynolds mustache. The RV only came after the mustache because he wanted to keep the 80's theme going.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Jason and Craig talk about how his career exploded in college, his affinity for running fast, and why your next breakthrough might require you to take running less seriously.

Get a sneak peak into what we do every month in our Team Strength Running coaching program. During these live calls, I'm on live video, taking any and all questions from the team's members.

It's an opportunity for runners in the program to ask me anything about the many factors of strong, healthy running. Members get guidance on sticky running questions, problem solve training issues, and get the action steps they need to keep moving forward.

If you’d like to attend our next live coach’s chat, you're invited to join the team. We have members all over the world that use our library of more than 30 different training plans, our exclusive gear discounts, support from other members, and of course, direct coaching guidance from me.

This episode is a recording of a Spring 2024 Team Strength Running Coach’s Chat where we discuss:

• The carnivore diet and its potential impact on runners
• Should you race by pace, RPE, or heart rate?
• Pacing for half marathon based on 10k performance
• Proper hip and knee rotation during running
• How to modify a training plan if your race is midweek
• Running drills for improving form and performance
• And more!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Join Team Strength Running!
• Why group coaching helps runners
• How to Harness the Power of the Running Community

Thank you 2Before!

We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles.

So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.

Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

Thank you AG1!

We’re also supported by AG1, the greens superfood mix. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens. It’s recommended by professional athletes and has over 7,000 positive reviews.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. They’ve made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable and rigorous with the 3rd party testing that they do.

For our listeners, they are offering a year’s worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop – the choice is yours. Check out AG1 to redeem your offer today.

No matter how much you love running, all runners should strive to be athletes for success and longevity in the sport. Being well-rounded in pursuit of your goals can make you strong and fit for the long haul, both mentally and physically.

This week’s guest on the podcast is a mountain runner, climber, hiker and snowboarder. Kelly Halpin has a passion for exploring remote wilderness, often on her own. 

Kelly’s incredibly diverse background has shaped her into the athlete she is today. She has the distinction of earning 14 FKTs (Fastest Known Times) on routes throughout Wyoming, Montana, Utah and California. Most of them have been unsupported - meaning she did them with no assistance and carried everything she needed with her -  sometimes for multiple days.

Kelly is also a prolific artist who uses her talent as an illustrator to encourage others to explore the outdoors. As a professional runner with so many unique interests, Kelly brings a unique perspective to athletes in a variety of sports. 

Kelly and I touch on a number of topics that runners and other athletes can relate to, including:

• Kelly’s breadth and depth as an athlete
• How she balances her love for so many competitive sports
• Advice for parents who want to expose their kids to a variety of outdoor adventures
• How Kelly transitioned her love for the outdoors into a full time career
• The way her athletic lifestyle influences her art.
• The details behind Kelly’s extensive warmup routine

Enjoy my unique and dynamic conversation with Kelly!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Learn more about Kelly on her website
• Check out Kelly's artwork
• Follow Kelly on Facebook and Instagram

Thank You InsideTracker!

This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker, one of the most reputable blood testing companies in the world. They were founded in 2009 by aging, genetics, and biometrics scientists to help you analyze your body’s data and get a firm idea of how well you’re responding to training.

Understanding your body’s biomarkers, from stress hormones to testosterone to Vitamin D, can help you figure out if you’re over-training, under-training, optimally training, or if you have a health issue that might be affecting your running. But the best part is that they give you personalized optimal ranges for each of these biomarkers and a host of ways to improve these markers through diet, lifestyle, or exercise changes.

I’ve personally gotten three Ultimate tests from them and the process is simple, easy, and very eye-opening if you haven’t done a deep dive on your biomarkers yet.  Of all the investments you can make in your running, this one is like getting a detailed checkup or regularly scheduled maintenance for your internal physiology. 

If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, get 25% off any of their blood tests with code STRENGTHRUNNING at InsideTracker.

Thank you Spartan Race Series!

You’ve probably heard of Spartan Races - but you probably don’t know that they offer such a wide variety of types of races. From short to long-distance obstacle courses - and even ultra distances, to trail races, stadium races, and even city races in major metropolitan areas. 

What I love about obstacle course races is that they are a great diagnostic tool to help you pinpoint what area of your fitness is lacking. Do you have a general aerobic deficiency? Do you struggle with upper body strength? Can you handle the stop and start nature of OCR’s? Do you have the mobility to perform the obstacles? 

Signing up for a race that challenges you in a different way can help you find out more about yourself as an athlete. Ever since I tried my first obstacle course race in 2012, I’ve loved these events. They are demanding and require you to be a well-rounded athlete, something that I wholeheartedly endorse here on this podcast. Go to spartan.com to find a local race near you. If you’re in Colorado, I hope to see you on June 12th at the Colorado Springs Spartan Race.

Imagine a running festival combined with a retreat plus a race thrown in there: That's Jesse Itzler's Runningman.

Jesse Itzler is the founder of Runningman and All Day Running Co., a serial entrepreneur, an author, an endurance sports enthusiast, and a 100-mile ultra marathoner.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Translating running's discipline and consistency into other areas of life

• Sharing the values of health and wellness with children

• Jesse's approach to long-term running planning

• Finding the sweet spot of having a plan while being flexible

• The parallels of 100-mile races and running a business

• What you'll find at Runningman: a track, sauna, cold plunges, yoga, expert sessions, and community

• If Jesse could ask David Roche, course record holder at Leadville, any question, what would it be?

Send this episode to a friend you'd love to go to Runningman with (and use code JASON for 10% off passes).

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Join us at Runningman: use code JASON at checkout for 10% off passes

• Follow Jesse on Instagram and TikTok

• Follow All Day Running Co. on Instagram

• Jesse's website

• Download the free Little Black Book of Recovery & Prevention featuring 9 pro runners and their strategies for recovering and staying healthy.

Thank you Previnex!

After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 - and having a thin frame - has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids.

Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they’re going to do.

Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you’ll try it! Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex!

Thank you to 2Before!

We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles.

So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.

Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

Dirk Friel is the co-founder of TrainingPeaks, the largest training platform in the world for athletes. He’s also a talented athlete who explores the mountains through cycling and ski mountaineering.

In 2017, Dirk was named Business Person of the Year by Boulder, Colorado’s Chamber of Commerce. What began as a coach-focused triathlon training platform now includes running, cycling and a host of other sports,  And soon they’ll be launching Training Peaks Strength for coaches as well!

Dirk and I discuss how training has evolved since the early days of faxed training plans, and where it is headed with the rapid advances in artificial intelligence. 

Our conversation covers:

• The future of coaching and the impact of AI
• Why coached shouldn’t worry about losing their jobs to AI
• How TrainingPeaks harnesses AI to assist coaches and athletes
• Upcoming technology for athletes and coaches
• What has surprised Dirk from his decades of work with endurance athletes
• Challenges currently facing the coaching industry

Dirk has had a huge impact on the world of endurance training and continues to influence coaches and athletes through his training platform.  Our conversation will help you think about the current and future role of technology in your own training!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Dirk on Instagram
• Learn more about Dirk
• Listen to the TrainingPeaks CoachCast
• Follow Training Peaks on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter
• Sign up for our email list to hear about my new training plans on TrainingPeaks!

Thank you DrinkLMNT!

A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

DrinkLMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

If you’re not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I’m now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.

Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They’re the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out DrinkLMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

Thank you MOBO Board!

Invented by renowned physical therapist Jay Dicharry, MOBO helps you stabilize your stance with an innovative rocker board that’s set up on two fins. The design effectively forces you to drive your big toe into the board to improve your stability. I was pretty arrogant going into my first session on the MOBO Board. How hard can it be to balance, right? Well, I was humbled pretty quickly!

Even if you’re a good runner, better balance, stability, and proprioception is going to help you have a more powerful stride and prevent more running injuries. You’ll learn how to improve the efficiency of the kinetic chain from your hip to your big toe. Because as Jay likes to say, it’s not just how strong you are, but how well you use that strength.

I was recently at a weekend physical therapy workshop (lol I was the only running coach) and learned how important (and rare) this simple movement is. Save 10% with code STRENGTHRUN10 at checkout at moboboard.com.

Angie Spencer is the cohost of the Marathon Training Academy Podcast and someone who just finished the 50 state challenge.

But she added two important twists: first, not every race was a marathon. Some of them were ultramarathons!

And she didn't run all of the marathons just to finish them. In fact, her 50th marathon this past January in Hawaii was a substantial Personal Best.

How in the world did Angie run a PR in the marathon - a BQ no less - more than a decade after starting the challenge?

She's on the pod to talk about just that. We're also discussing:

• How she maintained her motivation over more than 10 years to finish the 50 state challenge
• The mistakes she'd avoid if she were to start over again
• How her training evolved to make her into a more resilient, stronger, faster marathoner
• What's next for Angie after completing such a long-term goal

If you're thinking about committing to a monumental goal like a multi-year running streak, 50 marathons in all 50 states, or even a time-based goal like a sub-3 marathon, this episode with Angie Spencer is for you.

Resources & Links:

• Listen to the MTA Podcast with hosts Angie and Trevor Spencer
• See the MTA blog
• Follow MTA on Instagram and Twitter
• How to recover from a marathon
• How to qualify for the Boston Marathon
• How to run your first marathon

Thank you Angie for sharing your story with us on the podcast! Be sure to say hi on Instagram!

Enter to Win with PATH Projects

This episode of the Strength Running Podcast is sponsored by PATH Projects. They’re an online-only retailer of high-quality running gear and apparel that I’m falling in love with (and they’re giving away three $75 gift cards!).

Currently, I’m wearing the Sykes 5″ Shorts (see them in action in this video), the Pyrinees hooded sweatshirt, and the Torch base liner. Their gear is unique, stylish, and a premium quality that feels great to wear. And because there’s no retail markup, PATH is quite affordable.

They’re using new technical fabrics and innovations to create award-winning apparel for endurance athletes. In fact, their Brim shorts and Tahoe base liner won Runner’s World’s 2018 Gear of the Year award. And the Pyrinees hoodie was named one of the best six sweatshirts for running in the cold by Gear Patrol.

Check out their full lineup of shorts, tops, hats, and base liners on their site – and don’t forget to enter to win one of three $75 gift cards at PathProjects.com (the giveaway ends on May 3rd!).

Today's podcast episode features one of the lead coaches for Rogue Running, a massive running group in Austin, Texas.

After discovering the Running Rogue podcast and learning more about the group, I instantly recognized Chris McClung as a thoughtful coach who truly "gets" training (he's not going to tell you to run less, run faster...).

In this conversation, we focus on three key areas:

• How he learned to be a great coach
• The training theory and principles that influence his coaching
• The role of community and how that impacts your performance

This episode is an excerpt from Team Strength Running, our group coaching program that connects you to me as your coach, a team of your peers, and a new monthly expert interview.

Sign up here to get notified the next time we open!

No runner wants to get injured. But the worst part of an injury is often the mental side of it, not the physical!

Sure, you can go to the PT or self-treat your injury. That will help you physically heal. 

But what about your loss of identity when you can't run? What about the loss of a future goal? How will you respond to feeling like you lost your community?

Perhaps more importantly, your mental outlook will affect how you treat your injury and the level of success of that treatment. We have to get this right!

Joining me is mental skills coach and psychologist Carrie Jackson. She is the author of On Top of Your Game: Mental Skills to Maximize Your Athletic Performance and coauthor of Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries. She’s worked with elite and pro runners around the world and her work has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Runner’s World, and most other major media. You can hear even more of Carrie on her podcast, The Injured Athlete’s Club.

We discuss:

• How to practice acceptance
• Fear management strategies
• How to adjust goals
• Why "recovery is training" 

As a formerly injury-prone runner, this conversation really impacted me. I remember how each injury made me feel. And there’s almost no worse feeling for a runner! It’s one of the major reasons why my coaching practice and training programs all revolve around consistency and staying healthy so you can focus on your running. If you want to learn even more about how to prevent injuries, go to strengthrunning.com/prevention.

Thank you LMNT!

A big thanks to LMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at LMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

LMNT’s products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

If you’re not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I’m now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.

Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They’re the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out LMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

Thanks to Ketone-IQ!

Ketone-IQ increases the levels of ketones in your blood – and raised blood ketone levels do increase focus and alertness, which is why I take a shot before every podcast recording and have for almost two years even before their sponsorship. I feel dialed in and quick for these high-stakes conversations.

There’s also promising research – and loads of anecdotal evidence – that ketone supplementation can help with recovery if taken post-exercise. I know some of the best ultra runners in the world, Boston Marathon champ Des Linden, and the pro cycling team that won the TdF in 2022 and 2023 all take ketones post-race to aid recovery.

Go to Ketone.com/strengthrunning to save 30% on your first subscription and receive a free 6-pack of Ketone-IQ and try for yourself today.

Thanks Boulderthon!

Boulderthon is a top 10 race in America according to USA Today and one of the best fall marathons according to Runner’s World. With a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon, Boulderthon offers an amazing fall destination race weekend right at the foothills of the Rockies. Use code STRENGTH20 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon.

Join me in Boulder, one of the top running destinations in the country, on September 28th, to experience the tight knit running community here, race on the epic streets of Boulder, and finish on historic Pearl Street. While I live in Denver, I travel to boulder probably once a week to run. It’s arguably one of the best running locations in the United States. 

There’ll probably be cool and crisp fall weather for racing fast, too. And don’t worry, Boulderthon is a BQ-eligible, USA Track & Field Sanctioned Event.

Boulderthon is on track to sell out again this year so don’t miss out. Use code STRENGTH20 to save $20 on the marathon or half-marathon here and I hope to see you in Boulder this fall.

Elisabeth Scott, a multiple-certified running coach and host of the Running Explained Podcast, joins us to discuss all things WORKOUTS.

What is a workout? What is the purpose of a workout? What are the different types of workouts?

We discuss pacing vs. running via perceived effort, the philosophy behind workouts, and how to structure them. 

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Elisabeth's podcast Running Explained
• Let me help you with a training plan
• Follow Elisabeth on Instagram

Thank you DrinkLMNT!

A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

DrinkLMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

My favorite flavor is watermelon salt, but citrus salt is also a banger. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.

There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out DrinkLMNT to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack.

Thank You AG1!

We’re also supported by AG1, the greens superfood mix. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens. It’s recommended by professional athletes and has over 7,000 positive reviews.

One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.

I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. They've made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable and rigorous with the 3rd party testing that they do.

For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out AG1 to redeem your offer today.

Megan Roche is a professional runner for HOKA ONE ONE and the 2016 USA Track & Field Trail Runner of the Year at the ultra and sub-ultra distances.

A five-time national champion, she’s also the North American Mountain Running Champion and a six-time member of Team USA.

Her new book The Happy Runner: Love the Process, Get Faster, Run Longer was written with her husband David Roche (also an elite runner who contributed to our Little Black Book of Recovery & Prevention) and presents a unique and compelling view of how to excel as a distance runner.

In it, she discusses a wide range of fascinating topics for runners:

• The difference between hard and fast – and when to prioritize each
• How to define “the process”
• Why kindness can help you become a better runner

And of course, Megan and David cover the training side of things with a focus on how to get the most out of your body.

In this podcast conversation, Megan and I talk about:

• Can positivity make you a more robust runner?
• Does running make people more optimistic?
• Why is running “meaningless?”
• How her medical degree has impacted her training
• A lot more…

It’s no easy feat to run a marathon under three hours. It’s faster than the fastest Boston Qualifying time of 3:05 (for young men) and according to one analysis, only 4% of men and just 1% of women achieve this level of performance.

An article from LiveStrong notes that:

“the nonprofit organization RunTri used the times of 230,251 finishers in 25 races to determine that in the 2011-2012 marathon season the average time for any person, regardless of gender or age, was 4 hours, 24 minutes and 0 seconds.”

I’m not familiar with either of these sources so we should be careful with the results. Let’s take them with a big grain of salt.

But still, they underscore the general idea that a sub-3 marathon is really hard! And especially for women, who weren’t born with many of the biological “tools” that aid performance (higher muscle mass, more testosterone, etc.).

So this coaching call was particularly exciting for me. Lindsey has a 3:14 personal best but that wasn’t under ideal conditions – in other words, she knows a lot of improvement is possible.

In this conversation, we discuss her training background, past race performances, and the training upgrades required to make her sub-3 marathon dream a reality.

Chris Johnson is a physical therapist, Ironman triathlete, coach, and a three-time All-American triathlete.

He started studying physical therapy as an undergraduate while he was captain of the tennis team at the University of Delaware. Chris then earned his PT degree while completing an orthopedic and sports graduate fellowship before working in New York City as a physical therapist and researcher.

Chris then moved to Seattle where he started Zeren Physical Therapy. He's also a certified triathlon coach, three-time All American triathlete, two time Kona Qualifier, and is currently ranked 16th in his age group in the country for long course racing.

I’m excited to bring you this conversation focused on injury prevention. We’re exploring a lot of fascinating topics:

• Stride smoothness
• Form drills and corrective exercises
• Injury assessments (like the Functional Movement Screen)
• Predicting injuries
• Rehabilitation exercises vs. prevention exercises

Chris possesses a wealth of information about movement fluency, injury prevention, and treatment. I was honored to speak with him and I hope that you get a lot of value from this conversation.

Show Links & Resources:

• Follow Chris on Instagram
• The RunCadence app
• Chris' Physical Therapy Practice in Seattle, WA
• Elite Athletes on Injury Prevention (free)
• Running Injuries resource page

More Prevention Advice From the Best

One of my favorite projects recently was asking nine elite athletes about their favorite injury prevention strategies.

The result is The Little Black Book of Prevention & Recovery. It features:

• Dathan Ritzenhein – 3x Olympian, 3x National Cross Country Champion
• Devon Yanko - 100k National Champion and 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier
• David Roche – 2x National Trail Running Champion
• Amelia Boone – 3x World’s Toughest Mudder Champion
• Andy Wacker – Trail Half Marathon National Champion
• Ian Sharman – 3x winner of the Leadville Trail 100
• Joseph Gray – Mount Washington American Record holder and World Mountain Running Champion
• Kelly O'Mara - Professional triathlete
• Max King – US National Ultra Running Champion and 2x winner World Warrior Dash Champion

Each of these athletes share their most effective recovery or injury prevention strategy – and you'll see a lot of options for staying healthy.

Strategies include post-race recovery, why eating is critical for prevention, how to come back to running after you get hurt (and what mistakes to avoid), and the power of eliminating busyness from your life.

Pick and choose the tactics that most resonate with you. Start using them and you’ll start feeling a lot more resilient.

Click the image below to download the free book. Enjoy!

Bart Yasso is a legend in the running community. And as the “Mayor of Running” and Chief Running Officer at Runner’s World, he’s one of the most recognizable faces in the sport.

If you don’t yet know Bart, here’s a short list of what he’s been up to over the last 30 years:

• Competed in more than 1,000 races during his 30+ career at Runner’s World
• Successfully finished the 56-mile Comrades Marathon, the Mt. Kilimanjaro Marathon, and the Badwater Ultramarathon
• Has run races on all 7 continents (yes, even Antarctica)
• Inducted into the Running USA Hall of Champions
• Inventor of the “Yasso 800’s” marathon predictor workout
• Winner of the 1987 U.S. National Biathlon Long Course Championship
• 1998 winner of the Smoky Mountain Marathon
• 2:39 marathon PR (like me!)
• Has cycled twice across the country by himself with no support

He’s also the author of My Life on the Run: The Wit, Wisdom, and Insights of a Road Racing Icon.

In 2014, I had the pleasure of meeting Bart at the Runner’s World Half Marathon and Festival (recap here) where he shared the running stories that have shaped his life.

In particular, how the Comrades Marathon brought South Africa, a country weighed down by the horror of Apartheid, closer together.

And how his favorite running memory is drinking coffee by the Trevi Fountain with his mom during the Rome Marathon.

More importantly, Bart spoke about the people that make the sport of running so incredible. Meeting other runners is what keeps him going – and he meets a lot of people flying to 45 races every year!

Ritz has more career highlights than there are spectators at the Boston Marathon (ok maybe not but still!):

• 3x Olympian at the 10,000m and marathon distances
• Former US Record holder in the 5,000m (12:56.27)
• 3rd fastest American marathon time in history (2:07:47)
• Three-time USA Cross Country Champion
• Two-time Foot Locker National high-school Cross Country Champion
• Half-marathon PR of 60:00 (2nd best HM time in US history)

A Generation UCAN-sponsored athlete, he is now preparing to run the River Bank Run 25k this May.

I kicked off the episode with an embarrassing story - one I debated sharing but I thought it was funny. Enjoy!

On more serious topics, we chat about:

• His injury prevention approach that's helped him rebound after so injuries (stress fractures, hernias, Achilles problems, and more)
• His favorite confidence-building workout
• His go-to meal after a marathon
• Eating pop-tarts the night before racing a marathon
• How his training has changed since turning pro

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dathan Ritzenhein!