RunnersConnect Run to the Top Podcast

How do you advance from being a good runner to a really good runner? You’re not a beginner runner any more and you are ready to take it to the next level and stretch to your potential. On today’s Run to the Top, I’m going to share the 4 tricks I learned to get really good at running, which includes… How to break through a running plateau when your performance is stuck How to safely accelerate your...

It wasn’t too long ago that running, or really any exercise at all, for women was considered “unladylike”.  Luckily, that’s changed, but there still exists a complicated relationship between a woman's body, exercise, and how it’s viewed around the world. In this interview, we dive deep into this fascinating subject with journalist Danielle Friedman, author of Let’s Get Physical.  Connect, Comment,...

With it being cold and flu season (and still in the midst of a pandemic), how should you adjust your running if you get sick? Do you need to stop completely, merely adjust your hard training days, or something more? On today’s Run to the Top we discuss… when it’s okay to exercise when you are sick, what precautions and modifications you should make to your routine,  when it’s not a good idea to ru...

India Cook is a mentor on the board of advisors of the Coaches of Color Initiative, founded by Matt Fitzgerald’s 80/20 Endurance Team with the goal of improving diversity in endurance sports.   India and I go into the details of the project and touch on how the world of recreational endurance running is beginning to change for the better. She is an uplifting and inspirational person to talk to and...

Whether you're training for your first 5k or looking for those last few workout secrets to help you blast a new PR, this episode is for you. Coach Claire will help you… Understand the specific physiological demands of the 5k and why it matters Give you specific workouts based on your goal Discuss some racing techniques that will help you turn in your best performance yet. Ready to run your best 5k...

Unlike runners in their 20s and 30s, older runners are often walking that tightrope between performance, potential and overall health and wellness.  Running is still a battle to perform your best, but we’re also running for our health and overall well-being. That's why we’re thrilled to have legendary runner and writer Amby Burfoot on our podcast to discuss the key ingredients to running happy, ma...

As New Year’s resolutions start to face their first test after the first easy week, were you doomed to fail from the start? Behavioral scientists suggest that true behavior change comes in 5 stages. So, are or were you in the right stage to actually make long-term changes and achieve your goals? Listen to this week’s show to see if you’re ready and to learn how to take meaningful steps towards ach...

We’ve all heard stories about runners who’ve collapsed during a race from a heart issue. The question is, are these instances a statistically anomaly or does training hard actually increase our risk of heart issues? Dr. Erin Michos, Associate Professor of Medicine within the Division of Cardiology at Johns Hopkins, is on our show today to answer… Who is at risk for a cardiac event while running?  ...

It’s the start of the new year and of course that means reflection and goal planning. So, on today’s Run to the Top, I’m going to go over how to plan the optimal year of training and why it’s critical to do this now. You’ll learn: what happens when you don’t make a strategic plan for your goals, how and when to mix up your distances and your training, and what a well-planned yearly calendar looks...

Are you ready to layer up and brave the cold for some winter running? If so, here are some essential tips for running in the winter that will make your runs a whole lot easier, safer and help you adapt your schedule. We discuss… Essential gear Tips for running on ice and snow Layering and what to wear Adapting your runs when a treadmill is needed. Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect...

The lure of downhill racing is pretty seductive. Courses promising fast times and scenic views are becoming more and more popular, especially for runners looking for the extra edge to finish in a personal record or to score a Boston qualifying time. But downhill running is actually much harder on your body than flat or even uphill running and surprisingly, some runners end up being slower on cours...

Staying motivated is something that every runner has to deal with.  Whether you’re constantly lacking motivation or it only comes up once in a blue moon, one of the secrets to powering through these times is accountability. So, how do you set yourself to be accountable? What happens when you need external accountability? To answer these questions, we’ve brought on Sabrina Little, an expert coach a...

Have you heard of the concept of “ideal race weight” and tried working towards it or wondering if it could help improve your running? In short, your “ideal race weight” is the optimal balance between enough muscle strength to provide power for your stride with as little “unnecessary” weight as possible.  But, is it possible that chasing an ideal race weight can actually backfire? In this in-depth...

We’ve all been there. We have a big race coming up and we want to give our all to training (which includes more than just the running, like sleep and nutrition too). But, we also have obligations as parents, spouses and at work is the ultimate struggle for most runners. So, how do you do it? In today’s podcast episode, Coach Claire gives you some helpful tips, including… How to know if it’s worth...

Most recurring running injuries are caused by some kind of muscle imbalance or weakness. The imbalance or weakness in one part of your body causes another part to compensate by doing more work, usually resulting in some type of overuse injury. Strength training is the best way to fix this…but not just any type of strength training. Specifically, you’ll want to focus on what’s called unilateral tra...

For many runners, qualifying for Boston is a dream. So how, exactly, do you do it? What does it take and how long does it take to get faster in the marathon so you can achieve your dream goal? In this episode, we discuss… How to determine if you have the innate ability. What does it take and how long does it take to get faster in the marathon How much can we expect to improve from your first marat...

Believe it or not, walking can make you a better runner, even if you’re experienced.  From increasing your aerobic capacity to allowing you to run farther and recover faster, walking can be a tool you add to your training tool-belt. In this episode, you’ll learn… The science behind why walking works The benefits walking can add to your training How to implement, even if you’re experienced, for the...

We know that nutrition plays a critical role in our recovery and running performance, both in training and while racing. Yet, it’s often difficult for runners to balance the needs of their running with the desire to eat healthier overall and keep the weight off. The difficulty is compounded when we realize that no one diet or nutrition plan is right for everyone. That’s why we’ve brought nutrition...

Perhaps the most common mistake runners make when writing their own training plans is trying to change or add in too many variables at once. This leads to overtraining and not being able to identify what is (and isn’t) working. When it comes to writing your training schedule or adjusting your plan to take your training to the next level, there are 3 main variables to take into account: frequency,...

When your race fueling and prep calls for sugary drinks and gels, how do you balance optimal nutrition for your running performance with what’s best for your optimal health? To get answers, we turned to Dr Krista Scott-Dixon, the curriculum designer at Precision Nutrition, one of the top nutrition certification and coaching programs in the world. In this episode, we discuss… Eating for top perform...

When the weather is perfect, there’s nothing better than a nice run outdoors. But when it’s not so great, or when it’s downright miserable running weather, you have three options: Run in terrible and/or unsafe conditions anyway Skip your run and hide under the covers Or, if you have access, hop on treadmill Download your FREE Treadmill Guide for Runners now But is treadmill running really the same...

To this day, many athletes and coaches use some combo of spreadsheets, emails, calendars, and even paper to plan and record their training. There is a better and more simple way, thanks to the technology of companies like Final Surge. CEO TIm Surface joins Coach Claire to explain more. In this episode, you learn: why to log your runs to track progress how planning your running schedule digitally c...

It’s a harmless oval of synthetic rubber. It’s perfectly measured, free of obstacles or elevation changes. It’s been engineered to be the best surface to run on anywhere. So why does a running track evoke fear, intimidation, and even disgust among some runners? I would bet that it’s even less popular than the dreaded treadmill (which by the way, is also a great place to run). On today’s Run to the...

Trail running can seem a little intimidating if you are used to running on the roads.  But it can be an incredible experience, once you are armed with a little knowledge. RunnersConnect Coach Ruairi Moynihan is the perfect bridge between the roads and the trails as a super fast 2:22 road marathoner and he’s a champion trail racer, too. Ruairi’s here to tell us why he loves the trails, how to train...

Runners are inherently goal-oriented - it's why we have race day circled on the calendar.  However, this approach may be actually setting you up for failure. In fact, it can be like trying to squeeze a wet bar of soap - the harder you squeeze the more difficult it is to keep ahold of. So, in this episode of Run to the Top, we’re going to teach you a better way to set goals and walk you through the...