The Planted Runner

Some runners rely almost exclusively on their heart rate to tell them how hard or how easy their runs are and some even plan their entire training around heart rate zones. The only problem is, well, heart rate training is problematic. So why do so many runners use it? And should you? Let’s find out. Today, I’m joined by one of my favorite running coaches, Elisabeth Scott from Running Explained.  ...

What’s the right way to balance your training when you are traveling, especially if you have a family? Let’s find out. Today we’re going to tackle the topic of training on trips, specifically vacations with your loved ones. We’ll get into: how to plan your vacation for the ideal time in your training cycle how to stay fit and healthy while still having fun, and if you do decide to skip training al...

However you choose to describe yourself, plant-based, vegan, plant-curious, flexitarian, or omnivore, there's overwhelming evidence that eating a diet that is made of mostly whole plant foods is ideal for health and longevity. But how do you actually do that well?  Especially as an athlete? Let’s find out. Today, we are going down under speaking with Kate Galli of Strong Body Green Planet.  She’s...

Surprisingly, the three weeks after your goal race can have a big impact on how you’ll race in the future. In this episode, we’re going to explore the hows and the whys of recovery after the marathon.  We’ll go into: I’ll go over some common mistakes that many runners make in the weeks after their race that actually contribute to fitness plateaus. how to properly recover from your race, when to st...

“Lose weight or die,” Martinus Evans was told by his doctor. He was so angry that he decided to run marathons, but without focusing on weight loss. Along his movement journey, he started a movement of thousands with the Slow AF Running Club. Evans’s story is one of dramatic accomplishment at any size, any speed, or any color. This is an exploration of a movement of back of the packers who are taki...

Even the most die hard road runner has got to admit, there’s something pretty magical or at least a little romantic about the idea of trail running. And if you’d like to try it or get better at it, there’s a few things you’re going to want to know first. Let’s find out. Today I’ve invited back Coach Tera Pruett. Tera is a trail running and strength coach here in Asheville, NC and also coaches with...

Today is going to be a personal one. I’m going to share the real story of why I no longer race marathons, despite the fact that my career today is helping runners race better marathons. I’ll get into: Why I needed to let go of marathon training and racing even though it massively transformed my life for the better My struggles with post-marathon identity, imposter syndrome, and FOMO, and What I am...

One of the most common and worthy goals of any marathoner is to be able to race the iconic Boston Marathon.  But did you know that training for Boston, if you want to get it right, will require you to do a few things differently? While the point-to-point race is a net downhill, terrain is tricky. Factor in the unpredictable weather and you can easily trip up in training. Today, I’m going to go ove...

We all know that to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you eat. To gain weight, do the opposite. The problem is that calorie counting is massively flawed We are not eating or burning what we think we are. So what are we supposed to do as runners? We’d like to make sure that we are fueling enough with the right kinds of foods–not too little and not too much Today we’re going to explor...

The half marathon gets no respect. It’s always in the shadow of its big brother, the marathon, which gets all the glory. But maybe, just maybe, the half should be your next A goal race. And I don’t mean go race a half a few weeks during your marathon build up. I mean pick a great half marathon course and train to get really good at it for its own sake. Why would you want to do that? Let’s find out...

A pace group can take away the worry and stress of pacing perfectly so you can just run or hold on for dear life. But as wonderful as that sounds, following a pace group can have some major pitfalls. And in some cases, it can even cost you your dream time. How is that possible? Let’s find out. Welcome to the Planted Runner. I’m Coach Claire Bartholic and my mission is to help you improve your runn...

Is running really the best way to get six-pack abs or even the toned tummy you’ve been hoping for? Or how about the other way around: are all those crunches and sit-ups you’ve been doing to get those alluring abs doing anything for your running performance? Let’s find out. Today we are going to explore the secrets to the six pack. We’ll discover: The basic anatomy of the core and what that means f...

Imagine a 3-pack-a-day smoker for 20 years who finally quits. And then goes on to not only qualify for the Boston Marathon multiple times, but accomplishes her fastest times in her sixties and is still going strong. Get ready to be inspired. Today I’m sharing my conversation with Amiee Cords. We’ll go over Her incredible story from smoker to smoking fast, The lessons she’s learned along the way, a...

Running should be simple. But when you try to learn about how to get better at it, especially as you age, you’re confronted with conflicting advice, complicated workouts, and confusing nutrition trends that just won’t work for you. On The Planted Runner, I’ll share exactly how to run faster, longer, and feel great doing it at any age, because you don’t have time to waste. I’m Coach Claire Bartholi...

Protein is trending in the nutrition space. Everywhere you look, someone is saying you should eat more. But is this protein push all just media and marketing hype? And does this even apply to endurance runners? Let’s find out. Today we are going to explore what you need to know about protein for runners, and specifically for plant-based runners. We’ll uncover: Why the recommended daily allowance d...

What if everything we’ve been conditioned to think about pain and injury is wrong? What if we could heal ourselves on our own faster and more effectively without ever having to stop running? Let’s find out. Today I’m sharing my conversation on Pain and Performance with co-authors Matt Fitzgerald and Ryan Whited about their book of the same name. We’ll explore: Why what we think about pain and inju...

How do you advance from being a good runner to a really good runner? Do you add more miles? Speed up all your paces? Run more often? Or maybe it’s a little of everything. Let’s find out. Today we’re going to explore how to step it up a notch. I’ll cover: how to break through a running plateau when your performance is stuck how to safely accelerate your training to reach new milestones, and what wa...

If you’re a marathoner training for a spring race and you’re running goal marathon paced workouts in January, you’re doing it wrong. Let’s explore a better way. In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about race-specific workouts from the 5k to the marathon. We’ll go over: Why the timing of race-specific workouts matters Why and how to plan workouts that focus on overall fitness instead, and When...

Can even moderate drinking be holding you back from your best performances? In today’s episode, we’ll explore the effects of alcohol on your training. We’ll go over: How even small amounts of alcohol affects your sleep and recovery How it’s related to inflammation, dehydration, and performance loss, and ironically Why the popular trend of Dry January might not be as helpful as it seems. This episo...

What can we learn from the mental strength abilities of the highest performing athletes in the world? What do they do that we don’t? And more importantly, how can we learn to have the mental strength of a champion in our own lives? Let’s find out. Welcome to the Planted Runner. I’m Coach Claire Bartholic and my mission is to help you improve your running, your mindset, and your life with science-b...

The sad truth is that most resolutions are abandoned by mid-January. Even by well-intentioned, highly disciplined runners. There is a better way. Welcome to the Planted Runner. I’m Coach Claire Bartholic and my mission is to help you improve your running, your mindset, and your life with science-backed training and plant-based nutrition. In today’s episode, we’ll explore: why most New Year's resol...

What if there was a way that you could recover so easily and completely between runs that you didn’t need a day off? I know that sounds too good to be true. But it also could be because right now, you aren’t training or recovering effectively. Let’s find out. Welcome to the Planted Runner. I’m Coach Claire Bartholic and my mission is to help you improve your running, your mindset, and your life wi...

Watch this episode on YouTube ENCORE RUN: If you want to get good at something, it can really help to be inspired by someone who has done it before. It doesn’t mean your road is going to be exactly the same, but studying the journey of others can be like a headlamp in the dark. Today, I’m going to go over the 10 steps I took to go from not running at all to finishing a marathon in 2:58 at age 42....

Some runners just really, really love to race. So they race. A lot. If this is you, you could be sacrificing performance on the race that means the most. How do you prioritize? Today’s episode is all about tune up races. You’ll learn: when to add a tune up race for maximum benefit and minimum risk how to run your tune up race to best prepare you for your goal race, and alternative ways to use tune...

Masters runners (those over 40) today are fitter and faster than ever before. How can it be? Have the elite older runners unlocked the running fountain of youth? Let’s find out. We’ll explore how you can get fitter and faster, no matter what your age. We’ll look at: The traditional signs of aging How to slow down the slow down, and we’ll talk about some Factors that you might not even be consideri...