The Strength Running Podcast

What we put into our bodies has a profound impact on our ability to train effectively. In short, if you care about you running, you  have to  care about your eating habits. And I've brought a Registered Dietitian on the SR Podcast to help. Over the last few weeks, I've surveyed the Strength Running Twitter and Facebook communities about dieting, weight loss, nutrition, and race fueling. I collecte...

Usually, I fire off answers as fast as I can. Whether that's on Facebook or Twitter , I try to be as responsive as possible. But sometimes, life gets in the way. I simply don't have the time to answer all of your questions - especially when a single SR email goes out to about 80,000 runners... That does not, however, mean I'm not paying attention. In fact, I often save your running questions to ge...

I met Ian in August, 2016 one day before the Leadville Trail 100. We got coffee with a friend of ours and then watched a Beer Mile (it took place on the road behind us in the above picture). Ian officiated – starting the race and cheering on runners as they raced and chugged beers. Two days later, Ian crossed the finish line of the Leadville Trail 100 in first place – his third victory. He's no sl...

I invited Tom Foreman on the podcast to philosophize about running, goals, and racing throughout life. You might recognize Tom as an emmy-award winning journalist at CNN. He's reported on wars, natural disasters, and political skirmishes across 20 countries. He's also quite the runner. Author of  My Year of Running Dangerously ,  Tom has a handful of marathons and ultramarathons under his belt and...

Is it surprising that I don't think strength workouts are cross-training? Rather, strength work is just part of your training as a runner. Cross-training is supplemental exercise that can be helpful to your running, like cycling. But just like form drills, strides, or dynamic flexibility exercises, I consider strength training to be an integral part of how to train distance runners. If you're not...

You might recall George from episode 6 of the Strength Running podcast. We talked about a lot: What's the ideal length long run during marathon training? And half marathon training? Should you keep running marathons if your ultimate goal is to run a faster marathon? If your long runs are already 15+, what types of LR's should you focus on during a marathon season? How long should you run at tempo...

It's not every day that you meet somebody with so many varied interests. And when you do, pay attention. Their insights and mental models are light years ahead of the average person. Simon Donato is one of these "Renaissance Men." His many accomplishments include: A PhD in Geology from McMaster University and a Masters in Paleontology from Western University Credit as the creator and host of the t...

Boston is unlike any marathon in the world. It first started in 1897 with a whopping 18 runners. In 2011, nearly 27,000 runners ran the race on "Marathon Monday," also known as Patriot's Day in Massachusetts. In one of the most famous stories, Kathrine Switzer finished Boston as the first woman with a race number in 1967. She registered as "K.V. Switzer" to avoid detection since women were not all...

Nate is the cofounder of The Run Experience. And he doesn't just have a USA Track & Field coaching certification. He's also completed continuing education courses in: USA Triathlon CrossFit CrossFit Mobility CrossFit Endurance Carol Paoli's Free Style connections Like me, he recognizes that injury prevention and athleticism are what make faster, healthier runners. And in this conversation, we dive...

Diet is more important than most runners realize - and the effects of poor eating habits can derail anybody's running: If you don't eat enough, you're more prone to running injuries and won't run as quickly during races or workouts If you eat too much, you'll gain weight and running economy will suffer A sub-par diet results in poor recovery (and could result in weight gain, too) A sub-par diet al...

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 bes...

James doesn't look like the "typical" runner - he's 6'6" and 250 pounds. A former professional rugby player, James has a degree in Sport Rehabilitation and is fully insured member of the British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT). He's the founder of Kinetic-Revolution and has an ongoing fascination with the functional biomechanics of running (in other words, how you move wh...

In this short episode, Jason shares a letter from a runner named Colleen. She experienced self-doubt and was afraid of failure before a race. But with a positive mindset and a few inspiring lessons, Colleen successfully finished her race. In this letter, Colleen shares her journey. And I hope you find it motivating as you push through with your training.

Long runs, weekly mileage, and faster workouts are all important - but they won't help you improve if you don't prioritize a healthy lifestyle. Without proper nutrition, you won't have as much energy to tackle your training. Without enough sleep, recovery will be sub-par and some of your hard work will be wasted. Without reducing stress, the risk of over-training and injury increases (and you'll r...

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 journa...

Claire Shorenstein is no stranger to running long: she's a Boston Marathon-qualifying runner, frequent triathlete, and multiple ultra marathon finisher. Perhaps more importantly, she's a Registered Dietitian and New York State Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist with a Master's degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. A certified Road Runner's Club of America running coach, she works at...

Current research shows that strengthening the small stabilizing muscles around the arch and plantar fascia can improve ankle stability and balance - but it's often neglected. So I invited Matt Ferguson, the founder of AFX, on the Strength Running podcast to discuss several topics around foot strength: How to build strength in these oft-neglected muscles Mistakes to avoid and myths that can derail...

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 Mara...

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...

Dr. Justin Ross is a Denver health psychologist who focuses on sports and performance psychology among other specialties like stress reduction and pain management. He's also a triathlete, Boston-qualifying marathoner, and a founder of Mind Body Health, a Denver-area integrative health psychology and counseling center. And we talk about a lot: everything from managing anxiety before a race to pract...

Lara has a background in adventure racing and 24-hour team mountain biking. She also loves the trails, so splits and finish times aren't usually that important. Lara decided to cut through the noise and join  Team Strength Running  where she could follow proven training programs, have a team to support her, and get all of her questions answered by a running coach. She recognized that runners somet...

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, m...

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) th...

Have you ever run a marathon and thought you could have raced faster? A lot of marathoners do! And in Episode 6 of The Strength Running Podcast, Jason dives into the background, training, and race execution of a member of Team Strength Running. In this episode, you'll hear how George trained to run his recent best marathon and Jason's advice on how he can take his performance to the next level. Yo...

You might know Steve as the creator and Rebel Leader of Nerd Fitness, a wildly popular community of desk jockeys and average Joe's looking to level up their lives. He's also author of  Level Up Your Life: How to Unlock Adventure and Happiness by Being the Hero of Your Own Story (if you're into personal development or self-improvement, I can't recommend this hilarious, insightful, and uplifting boo...