Real Life Runners with Angie and Kevin Brown

A few weeks ago, Kevin hurt his back during a strength session. Like many runners, his first instinct was to figure it out on his own. He stretched, modified his training, waited for it to improve, and hoped time would take care of it. Instead, everyday activities became painful, and even short runs felt nearly impossible. But after finally asking for help, everything changed. Within days he was r...

Every year, the Western States 100 captures the attention of the ultrarunning world. It's a race filled with incredible performances, heartbreaking setbacks, unforgettable comebacks, and stories of grit that go far beyond who crosses the finish line first. But you don't have to run 100 miles (or even want to!) to learn from it. In this episode, Kevin shares some of the biggest stories fr...

In this episode, we revisit our recent conversation about asking for help—including Kevin’s week of dealing with back pain and uncover what we believe is often the real thing holding most runners back: ego. Not the loud, boastful kind, but the quieter version that shows up as perfectionism, independence, caution, or the fear of looking like we don’t have it all figured out. We share a simple frame...

In this episode, we’re sharing a very personal story from our own lives. Last week, Kevin hurt his back during a strength workout, and even though I am a physical therapist, he never clearly asked for help. I, on the other hand, didn’t want to jump in with unsolicited advice. The result? A week of unnecessary pain, missed training, poor sleep, frustration, and a whole lot of miscommunication. That...

With so many supplements marketed to runners, it's easy to wonder what's actually worth taking. In this episode, we cut through the noise and focus on a few supplements that have strong research behind them—while emphasizing that no supplement can replace consistent training, good nutrition, quality sleep, and proper recovery. We break down the Three Cs: Carbohydrates, Creatine, and Caff...

Have you ever found yourself wondering if you're doing enough? Should you be tracking your sleep more closely? Monitoring your glucose? Taking more supplements? Investing in another recovery tool? Finding one more way to optimize your health and performance? In today's world, it's easy to feel like there is always another metric to improve, another score to chase, and another strate...

It Doesn’t Look Like Anything Yet: What Building a Vanity Teaches Us About Training Have you ever been in the middle of building something and thought, How is this ever going to come together? That’s exactly what happened when Kevin and I spent three hours putting together our 13-year-old daughter’s new vanity. Somewhere between scattered parts, a cracked panel, and a backwards drawer track, I rea...

Let It Be Enough: Escaping the Comparison Trap in Running and Life In episode 462 of the Real Life Runners podcast, we dive into the comparison trap and how easily runners can fall into measuring themselves against others—or even against past versions of themselves. Whether it’s pace, fitness, race results, or life circumstances, comparison often steals joy and makes us feel like what we’re doing...

Have your runs been feeling harder lately… even when your training hasn’t changed? Maybe your legs feel heavy for no obvious reason. Your motivation disappears by the end of the day. Easy runs suddenly feel exhausting. Or you find yourself overthinking every workout, nutrition choice, and race decision until your brain feels completely fried. In this episode of the Real Life Runners Podcast, Angie...

Progressive Overload for Runners Over 40 Build strength, mileage, and speed—without breaking down Progressive overload isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing just enough to create adaptation. In this episode, we break down how to train smarter as a runner over 40 by working with your body (not against it). We cover the stress → recovery → adaptation cycle and why recovery becomes even more import...

In this episode, we talk about how breakthroughs like the recent sub-two-hour marathon moment shift what we believe is possible—and why those shifts matter for every runner, not just elites. We explore how past milestones like the four-minute mile and Kipchoge’s sub-two-hour attempt show that limits are often more mental than physical, shaped by what we’ve seen and experienced. We also dig into wh...

If you’ve ever finished a run feeling drained, ravenous, or wondering why your body isn’t responding the way you want it to… this episode is for you. We’re taking a page from our rescue dog Jasper—who eats everything —to highlight how many runners fuel in ways that don’t actually support their training.  And we’re not talking about cutting things out or going on another diet. It’s the opposite act...

Ever feel like no matter what you do in your running… it’s never quite enough? In this episode, we’re unpacking the difference between healthy growth and the kind of chronic self-pressure that so many runners are quietly carrying. We see it all the time—constantly moving the goalpost, comparing yourself to others (or a younger or more “ideal” version of you), adding more to the plan even when your...

In this episode, we’re unpacking the paradox behind the advice of “Just do it before you’re ready”. Because yes—taking action before you feel fully ready can be powerful. It helps you move through hesitation, build momentum, and start building the confidence you’ve been waiting for. Whether it’s getting back into running, starting strength training, signing up for a race, or making a big life deci...

We hear it all the time: “choose your hard.” But here’s the truth—not all “hard” is created equal. In this episode, I break down the difference between aligned hard (the kind that builds you) and misaligned hard (the kind that leads to burnout, injury, and disconnection). Because constantly pushing isn’t discipline—it’s often your body being ignored. Aligned hard looks like showing up when you don...

In this episode, we share a real-life story about our dog coming back from the backyard completely covered in sticky weeds—and how it’s the perfect analogy for what so many runners are experiencing. So often, we think progress comes from doing more—more miles, more strength, more data, more plans. But in reality, it’s the weeds —the things that don’t belong—that are quietly holding you back. We de...

Have you ever felt the urge to switch plans, apps, races, or gear—thinking something new will finally move you forward? In this episode, I’m talking about shiny object syndrome and how it quietly keeps runners stuck. I share a personal example from our business where we changed platforms to “fix” a problem, only to realize later that we didn’t need something new—we just needed to go deeper with wh...

Ever feel tired and wonder what to do about it? With the recent shift from daylight saving time, a lot of runners are feeling the effects of disrupted sleep—and that small change can actually increase fatigue, slow reaction time, and even raise injury risk. That’s why we wanted to walk through how we think about fatigue as coaches and runners ourselves. One of the biggest things we see is that not...

Last week we introduced the Three I’s of change: information (knowing), implementation (doing), and integration (becoming). But this week, I realized something was missing. In this episode, I expand the model into the 4-I Framework by adding the most important piece: intention. Because here’s what we see all the time — runners have plenty of information. You know easy runs should feel like a 2–3/1...

You likely know what to do. Strength train. Eat more protein. Fuel with carbs. Run easy. Sleep more. So why is it still so hard to actually do those things consistently? In this episode, we dive into the real reason knowledge alone doesn’t create change — and why lasting progress happens when habits become part of who you are, not just something you try to check off a list. We break down the three...

If running has started to feel harder after 40—more aches and pains, lingering tightness, slower paces, low energy, or frustrating injuries—you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 3 essential pieces of a strong running foundation and why so many runners skip them (even the ones who are “doing all the right things”). You’ll learn why running alone doesn’t build the foundation you n...

The winter olympics have returned, and if you’ve been listening to our podcast for awhile, you know we love the Olympics! The grit. The perseverance. The stories.  Unless you’ve been living under a rock this week, you’ve probably heard of Lindsey Vonn’s comeback. After devastating injuries and stepping away from professional skiing for several years (her last Olympics was 8 years ago), she chose t...

In this solo episode, I’m taking some time to pause, reflect, and look back on 45 years of life, growth, and learning—both on and off the run. I’m sharing the lessons that have shaped me as a runner, a coach, and a human, and the shifts that continue to guide how I show up today. I talk about how my relationship with health and fitness has evolved over the years—from wanting to be skinny to wantin...

Fear doesn’t always look obvious. Sometimes it shows up as overthinking, second-guessing, or feeling stuck and unsure of your next move. In this episode, we talk about what it really means to choose faith over fear — not just in running, but in everyday life. Inspired by a meaningful Christmas gift with the words “Faith Over Fear,” this conversation dives into how fear can quietly impact training,...

In this episode, we share an honest recap of Kevin’s experience at the Long Haul 100. We dive into the emotional highs and lows of race day, the challenges Kevin faced along the way, and the mix of pride and disappointment that comes with tackling a 100-mile race. We also talk about what mattered most in the buildup and during the race—strength training, mobility, fueling, mindset, and the power o...