RunnersConnect Run to the Top Podcast

Our bodies are amazing and they are surprisingly individual. One person could eat loaves of Wonder Bread with negligible effects to blood sugar while another person’s levels would skyrocket. Science doesn’t quite understand why there are such dramatic differences, but we know that they are there. So what does this mean for the average athlete? How does our fueling and overall nutrition need to cha...

There are not many ultrarunners who have run farther than Robbie Balenger. Robbie’s been making headlines for the past few years with his massive athletic feats. Just this past spring, Robbie decided to see if he could run longer than a Tesla could on a single charge along a Texas highway. Three days and 242 miles later, man beat machine. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Robbie fuels his amazing...

Fueling your running is not as simple as eating when you are hungry or not eating when you are not hungry. Registered Dietician Cortney Berling of EatWellRunBetter.com explains how to actually eat for running performance or weight loss. We talk about: when you absolutely should NOT listen to your body as a runner and what to do instead  the differences in nutrition when you are running to lose wei...

If you have a busy life outside of running, and let’s face it, we all do, this can be a real challenge. And let me tell you a little secret--all that time might actually be unnecessary! On today’s Run to the Top, Coach Claire reveals some great ways to better fit your training into your busy life. She goes over: Exactly how much time you need to invest in training for endurance races from the 5k t...

Getting older doesn’t mean getting slower, as long as you make critical changes to your training and how you fuel. Dr Stacy Sims, the revolutionary exercise and nutrition scientist who wrote Roar unlocks what female athletes need to do before, during and after menopause to thrive. Her newest book, Next Level, smashes the stereotypes of female aging and menopause and outlines exactly what female at...

Do you ever feel like you are missing out on key training elements that could actually help you get faster and stronger? If you are stuck in a plateau or a cycle of injury, there are some changes that can help. Eoin Everard is a physiotherapist with a PhD in Biomechanics who studies what makes runners faster and stronger. He’s the founder of everardpilates.com . and he certainly has discovered wha...

Running can be intimidating to a lot of people. But jogging? It can open a world of fun fitness to almost everyone. Chris Heuisler of the Knob Creek Jogging Club talks about how a simple word shift transformed the lives of hundreds of bartenders. In this fun and inspiring episode, we explore: Why the word “jogging” made all the difference in getting non-runners to get onboard How runners’ serious...

Side stitches affect up to 70% of all runners.  If you’ve ever suffered from a sharp, shooting pain in your side in the middle of your run, you know how awful it is. On today’s Run to the Top Podcast, we go into the science of side stitches. You’ll learn: which runners are most susceptible to them what you can do to prevent them, and how to deal with a side stitch on the run This will be a super h...

Do you train your brain as hard as you train your body? World-renowned expert on performance, Olympic-level coach, author and podcast host Steve Magness is our special guest on the Run to the Top and he can teach us how. You’ll learn: How the stereotypical view of mental toughness has changed for the better What mental techniques elite runners use in their training, and How you can use the four pi...

Are you stuck in a metabolic plateau? We run, eat less, maybe lose some weight, plateau, run more, eat less. The weight stays the same (or goes up!), but the belly or the thighs or the arms even get softer. What ends up happening is that the body fat stays stubbornly put but muscle growth stops or even reverses. More running and more calorie restriction aren’t the answer. It’s incredibly frustrati...

The beauty of following a pace group is that you don’t have to race alone. You’ll not only have a more experienced runner leading you to your dream finish time, but likely, you’ll have a whole group of people trying for the exact same thing. You can relax, keep your eyes off your watch, and ride the pace group wave all the way to a new personal record. Or maybe not… On today’s Run to the Top Podca...

Last January in Houston, Fiona O’Keefe crossed the finish line in 1:07:42, making her half marathon debut the fastest ever by an American woman. At age 23, this young runner has an incredibly bright future. Fiona specializes in the 10k and the 5k right now and--fun fact--she accidentally broke her 10k PR in the middle of her record breaking half. Coach Claire asks Fiona about her incredible day in...

After her husband was killed in Afghanistan and the terrorist bombs at the Boston Marathon went off in front of her, Linda Ambard vowed not to let terrorism take any more from her. As of this year, Linda has run 220 marathons, with at least one in every state and one on each of the seven continents. Linda’s story is about more than just survival.  It’s about learning to thrive no matter what life...

Plant-based athletes are everywhere these days. But can a plant-based diet really be a performance booster for your running? What are the pros and cons of a plant based diet for runners? On today’s Run to the Top Podcast, we’ll going to go over the benefits that a plant-based diet provides runners the potential downsides to going plant-based, and we’ll give you  a day in the life of a vegan runner...

For the first time in history, just over 50% of all races are run by women.   While women are leading in the number of participants, research on women in sport is still stubbornly behind the guys’. We know that women and men perform differently, carry and use fat differently, as well as react to pain differently. Typically, men are bigger, stronger, and faster, until you get to the ultra distance,...

Have you ever gotten a DNF? Sometimes quitting in the middle of a race is undoubtedly the right thing to do. Other times, you will be full of regret when you do. Either way, it will sting for a while. On today’s Run to the Top Podcast, Coach Claire talks about the dreaded DNF. She speaks from personal experience on this one, because she’s been there. She’ll go over: when it’s a really good idea to...

Recovery can be a tricky balance for a runner. In order to train well, we sometimes have to train tired and under-recovered. But if we dig ourselves too deep into a hole of stressful training, it might be something that takes days, weeks, or even months to climb out of. That’s why having cycles of stress and rest over your day, your weeks, your months and even your years can be so beneficial for y...

If you’ve been running for any length of time, you’ve probably heard of the term “running cadence”. You may have even tried to improve yours. However, is it possible you’re falling victim to one of the many myths about running cadence?  On this episode of Run to the Top Podcast, we’re going to explore your running cadence, including… why focusing on your cadence can be an important tool for gainin...

From what to eat before runs to how much macros and calories we need to properly fuel and recover without gaining weight, running nutrition can often seem complicated and difficult to follow. Sports dietitian Kylee Van Horn doesn’t believe it has to be this complicated. In fact, she’ll give you simple, actionable strategies to make your running nutrition plan easy to plan and stick to. Some topics...

How much do you rely on the data from your running watch? Do you analyze all the data it gives you after every run? In this Run to the Top episode, we’re going to take an in-depth look at how much you should trust this data and how you can most effectively use it in all training situations.  In this episode, you’ll learn… some of the great features that make your watch more useful how to use it mo...

How often do you train for the mental challenges of running? Do you spend just as much time working on your mental prep as you do your physical preparation? You’re not alone if you’ve never even thought of how training your mindset can improve your training and mindset performance. That’s why we interviewed renowned sports psychologist Dr. Michael Sachs about how we can train our mind to perform b...

Many times, when you go out for a run, you feel better than when you left. A good run can leave you feeling energized and ready to tackle just about anything. But then there are those runs that leave you dragging and bone tired. You’re struggling to keep up with the last few miles of your long run. Or your cool down from a tough track session feels like you are running through a pool of mud. Does...

Do hills intimidate you? Or do you love tackling all the ups and downs? Learn how to run hills more effortlessly, how to incorporate them into your training, and what workouts you can do on hills to build more powerful legs. Elite trail runner and coach David Roche of “Some Work, All Play,” teaches a master class on why hills are so powerful and how exactly to run them. Whether you hate hills or l...

There are several strategies for scheduling and executing tune up races and when done right, they can enhance your fitness and boost your confidence for the big day.   But, if they’re not done right, they can add extra risk, like not recovering enough, and unnecessary stress to your schedule.   On today’s show, I’m going to talk all about tune up races. You’ll learn: when to add a tune up race for...

Sometimes the hardest part about having an audacious goal is getting started. How do you get from point A to point B when it seems so far away? How do you keep yourself motivated along the way? We invited Aisha Zaza, host of The Mindset Mile, to teach you the simple mindset trick that has been so effective for athletes we coach and myself as a coach. This is a must listen if you are looking for a...