Real Life Runners with Angie and Kevin Brown

  Lots of runners believe that if some running is good, more running will be better.  Plenty of coaches train with a high mileage framework.  Other running systems go counterculture and tell you that you can get great results without running high mileage.  So where is the truth?  Can you get better by putting more miles on your legs?  As you may guess, the answer goes beyond yes or no.     HIGHLIG...

  Are you a new runner? Before lacing up your shoes, download and listen to today's podcast for useful running tips for beginners! Highlights of the Episode: Get a good pair of shoes Buy running clothes Start strength training now Slow down Don’t sign up for a marathon...yet Take care of your body Establish a routine for consistency Set a goal Find support Running is a journey   Thanks for Li...

  We all have different reasons why we got into running.  We all have different reasons why we continue to run.  Most people would say that they want to be more fit and healthy.  But are these two words the same?  If you are more fit, does that automatically mean that you are more healthy?  We don’t think so, and in today’s episode, we will tell you why. Highlights of the Episode Reasons that we r...

When we ask runners what is holding them back from the improvements that they want to make, one of the top 3 answers is always motivation.  Today, we will be talking about the idea of motivation and how you need more than motivation for long term success.   Highlights of the Episode: How can I stay motivated?  Why motivation is a lie Why motivation is not your key to consistency The 6 things that...

You want to run faster, so you practice running faster.  You want to run faster, so you push every run just that little bit extra.  You want to run faster, so you live by the motto “no pain, no gain.”  You want to run faster, but now you are exhausted, sick, burnt out, or injured.  When you are ready to start back up and bring more joy to your running, consider that most improvement coming during...

  Before you can truly test your physical limits in any endeavor, you must find the right headspace.  You cannot accomplish a goal through purely physical means.  In this episode, we discuss why running is such a mental sport and the limits you place on yourself by ignoring this important facet of training.   Highlights of the Episode   How mind, body, and skills all play a role in your running su...

Running seems pretty fundamental.  There is not much required gear.  You do not need a special location, field, or court.  You do not need teammates.  With something so simple, sometimes we as runners make running so complicated.  This can be useful, but sometimes adding more and more loses the focus of what matters.  For running consistency, never forget the basics.   Highlights of the Episode  ...

Many runners are type A, goal oriented, focused individuals.  This is a great trait for following through on a training plan.  Determination can help you through the boring and difficult aspect of the plan.  However, sometimes the goal oriented runner sees so many opportunities that they cannot decide.  This is a problem when runners go all in on too many different goals at the same time.   Highli...

In this encore presentation of our recent live workshop, we talk about the Running Journey, the 5 stages, and how you can move ahead.  By assessing where you are, you can know exactly what to work on to get to where you want to be.   If you want to catch the video replay version, head to realliferunners.com/therunnersjourney - when you register you will be granted instant access to the replay.  En...

Running, some may say, is predominantly a solo activity. There are great mental and physical benefits that can come from training solo. However, even if every run you head out the door by yourself, you are still not training in a vacuum. When training in a group, you are directly and clearly connected to those around you. These same benefits are available to all of us, we just need to know where t...

Depending on where you run in the world you may know the terms personal record and personal best. Most often these are interchangeable, but in this episode, we dive into the terms and what beliefs they may create in us.  We discuss the negative of connecting too closely with a personal record and how that number is not a critical component of your running identity.   Highlights of the Episode Our...

The Olympics are a truly inspiring event to behold.  The Tokyo 2020 games came with extra build-up and anticipation that naturally lead to even more excitement and emotion.  While some may argue that the games should have never happened, or that they were watered down without the fans.  These games are the first games to take place with a new motto that brings into focus what the Olympic movement...

Heat and humidity can change running in many different ways. Today on the RLR podcast, we are going to cover what you need to know to stay safe while you're out on your run.   Highlights of the Episode What happens when we exercise How heat and humidity can affect performance Training in heat and gender Prevent heat-related conditions Advantages of running in the heat How to train in high hea...

Setting goals is a challenge because Goldilocks goals are difficult to pinpoint.  This becomes even more true the longer the timeline.  Often, we are told that we need practical goals that we can reach in a timely manner.  Today, we are going to cover why that does not always work.  We are going to cover why big goals that blow the lid off any expectations and limits are a fun way to live.  To get...

Do you have some younger people with lots of energy bouncing around the house? You know that heading off on a run has served you many benefits. You are healthier, you pay attention to nutrition, and you have learned to overcome challenges and confront difficult situations. Wouldn’t it be nice to have your kids gain these benefits? How can we incorporate our kids into our running, when is the right...

Ever get into a training rhythm that feels good but out of nowhere it just hits you - why am I doing this?  The Olympic Trials got me thinking about putting in the work and not getting the outward-facing goal.  There are lots of feel-good stories and interviews with athletes making the team, but what about the athlete that just misses?  What about the athlete that finished last?  Is it worth all o...

Have you noticed the number of new devices and apps popping up that will help you track your recovery?  There is a saying that if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.  With this in mind, wearable company’s have found more and more aspects of our bodies that they can measure.  Do the numbers actually help optimize our recovery better than an honest personal assessment about how we are feelin...

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just take a break from life for the next 9 months and build a beautiful multi-phased training plan filled with consistent build-up and plentiful recovery?  How does a training plan get created and executed when running is not the only aspect of your life? While illness and vacation can sometimes throw a wrench in our plans, what about when our job creates its own p...

Races are coming back.  Before you just sign up for the first one available, consider how long it will take you to be prepared for the race.  In this episode, we dive into one of our favorite distances, the half marathon.  We break down training strategies and timelines based on whether this will be your first ever, your first in a while, or a repeat race when you are chasing a personal best.    H...

One of our key principles of training is that your running cannot all stay at the same pace.  One of the training terms thrown around quite a bit is polarized training.  In this episode, we look at what polarized training actually entails, what the research suggests about alternate styles of training, as well as if and how to incorporate this style of training into your own running.    Highlights...

The half marathon is such a wonderful race distance.  It is long enough that you need to put in months of training to perform well, but it is short enough that you do not need to abandon all work and family obligations to devote yourself to increased mileage and a weekend long run that can get grueling while prepping for a marathon.  In this episode, we cover how to set yourself up for success whe...

The way we look when we run can be remarkably distinguishable to other runners who have known us for a while.  As races get going again, this is a good reminder that while running form can be improved and optimized, there are plenty of runners out there with less than “perfect form” putting up strong race results.  In this episode, we cover running form while racing and the adage that running form...

As runners, many of us are looking to improve in some manner.  Some of us are looking to improve consistency.  This may rely on adding enjoyment or removing pain.  Some of us are trying to run faster or farther.  This can rely on appropriate training and planning.  Given enough time, a training plan will create enough adaptations to your body that you can survive whatever new challenge you underta...

We know the immense benefits that running can bring to us, both physically and mentally, and we want other people to experience that without all of the aches, pains, and frustrations. To be able to take charge of their physical and mental health and train in a way that’s right for them. Here's the secret that we've learned on our running journey and after coaching runners for 15 years: T...

Breathing is essential for life.  We all know that. Today we want to talk about the importance of the breath, both when we are running and when we are not running.  How important is breath control? What techniques can we use to improve our breathing?   Highlights of the Episode   Two ways to think about breathing Breathing through your mouth vs nose Techniques for breathing Breathing while running...