The Running Explained Podcast

Can you quantify EVERYTHING? Are you relying too much on "the numbers"? Are you DEVASTATED when you can't hit your exact target splints in a workout? Coach Nick Klastava has some wisdom to share about how runners should focus way less on "the numbers", and what they should focus on instead! What numbers do runners tend to overemphasize? How important is pace? Are there any ways to guarantee your r...

TAPERING is a vitally important, integral part of your race-specific training, yet many runners struggle to taper properly! In this episode, Coach Elisabeth outlines the basics of... What is taper is What a taper does HOW to taper properly What's normal (& not normal) in a taper How to deal with the anxiety of "running less" Strength & cross-training in your taper And more! Visit runningex...

STRENGTH TRAINING - always a hot topic with runners! Physical therapist and running coach Dr. Kate Bochnewetch (@the_running_dpt) joins the show to discuss the different kinds of strength training and what "heavy lifting" means (and why YOU should be doing it!) What is "strength training" & why is it important for runners? When your "strength" training actually is cardio in disguise Circuit traini...

What does it mean to set & achieve a goal? Are you setting goals YOU want to achieve? What happens next after you reach your big goal? Coach Marcus Brown (@marcus_runs, @arunnerslife_podcast) joins the show to discuss goals, goal-setting, and what goals actually mean The evolution of your goals & goal-setting "Race day" pace goals Chasing long-term goals Are you setting goals that are meaningful f...

Have you ever had to defer a race? Are you worried about whether you SHOULD race? What about DNFing - why don't we talk about this more? Coach Tucker Grose joins the show for a thoughtful and personal discussion on when to defer, when to DNS, when to DNF, and how to make smart decisions so the worst-case scenario doesn't come to pass. When to defer your goal race? Back-up planning & adjusting...

We all want to be healthy, right? We all want to be faster, better runners, right? What happens when our quest to "be healthier" becomes something more dangerous and restrictive? In this deep and wide-ranging discussion with sports dietitian Kelsey Pontius, RD ( @sportdietitiankelsey ) about "clean eating", orthorexia, food rules, and more, we cover... Why it's so hard to change our deeply held be...

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO FIND A SPORTS BRA THAT FITS??? Sports Bra expert Laura Tempesta ( @bravolution , www.bravolution.com ) joins the show to educate us all about sports bras, why it's so hard to find a sports bra that fits, and HOW to find one that fits you! Why sports bras are a piece of athlete equipment, not 'apparel' Compression & encapsulation How sizing ACTUALLY works Finding your siste...

Not all advice, however well-intentioned, is good advice. And some advice is downright bad! Coach Elisabeth addressed some "bad running advice", from the misguided to the misunderstood & misconstrued, to the downright dangerous.  How NOT to train effectively When NOT to push through the pain What DOESN'T determine your readiness to run a marathon Why it's BAD when your body stops sweating...

NASTY CRAMPSES! Why do they happen, and always at the worst time? Learn what we do and don't know about the cause of and risk factors for exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMC) in this episode with Coach Elisabeth, including... A history of the research on muscle cramps in the last 100 years The basics of muscle types & HOW your skeletal muscles work  The "electrolyte imbalance" theory...

Are you an "injury-prone" runner? Does it feel like you're playing whack-a-mole with running-related injuries? Dr. Carmen Scuito, DPT, rejoins the podcast to discuss his FREE 5-movement injury risk self-assessment tool for runners who want to learn more about their bodies, movement patterns, strengths, and deficits! Why it's important to understand how your body moves Going through the screening t...

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TRACK with Jason Fitzgerald of Strength Running ! This jam-packed episode covers the basics of using a track in your training along with discussing classic speedwork/workouts that you might perform on a track, and will teach you everything you need to know about using "a playground for runners"! What does Jason mean when he calls the track "a playground for ru...

RUN-WALK! When to use it, WHY to use it, how to use it! Learn about run-walk with Coach Elisabeth, even if YOU don't think you need run-walk in your training! What is run-walk? How does run-walk work? Using run-walk to build aerobic capacity How to EFFECTIVELY use run-walk in your training Common rebuttals to run-walk/running slow Time-based run-walk intervals And more! Visit runningexplained.co f...

DON'T CALL IT A DREADMILL! The treadmill is a VERY effective tool in your training toolbox... if you know how to make it work for you! Amanda Brooks, founder of Run To The Finish, joins the show this week to talk ALL about treadmill training! Do treadmill miles "count"? Which to trust: your watch, or your treadmill? Why are you slower/faster on the treadmill compared to outside? How...

Got shin splints? WHY?? What causes shin splints and what can you do about them? Sports Physical Therapist Dr. Marie Whitt rejoins the show to discuss all things shin splints, including...⁠⁠ Symptoms of shin splints (what do they usually feel like?)⁠ What ARE shin splints?⁠ What (do we think) is the cause of shin splints?⁠ How should you treat shin splints if they pop up?⁠ Specific prehab & re...

WHY DO MY HIP FLEXORS FEEL TIGHT?? Physical Therapist Dr. Lisa Mitro (@dr.lisa.dpt) joins the show to talk about the how and why behind hip flexor issues in runners! What are the hip flexors? "Why do my hip flexors feel tight??" Self-assessment for tightness versus weakness How to treat weak hip flexors How to treat tight hip flexors Stretching: yay or nay? Are weak hip flexors preventing you from...

Dr. McKale Montgomery, 2:34 marathoner and iron researcher, joins the show this week to discuss her two great loves: endurance running and iron!! Learn all about iron and the role it plays in our body every day, the importance of iron for endurance performance (and health), and more! What role does iron play in our body? Why is sufficient iron important specifically for running performance? Iron d...

The Boston Marathon returns to Patriots' Day in 2022! Coach Mary Johnson ( @itsamarython ), Founder of Lift. Run. Perform, joins the show to talk ALL THINGS BOSTON! From the history of the race, to qualifying times, and an overview of the course itself, tips, tricks, and how-tos, this episode is your primer on the Boston Marathon! A brief history of the Boston Marathon How to run Boston: quali...

Interested in ultras? What IS an ultra, how do you train for one, and how the heck do you fuel such long endurance event? Sports RD Kylee Van Horn joins the show to discuss the basics of ultrarunning events, what she considers an "ultra" from a fueling standpoint, and what you need to know about fueling and hydration (and ALL the logistics) for your ultra event! What IS an ultra? Is it just by dis...

Have you ever walked into a running store and been intimidated and overwhelmed? Do you want to learn more about running shoes? Hollie Sick ( @fueledbylolz ) joins the show to talk all about how to buy running shoes and her experience working in run specialty for a decade!⁠ 👟What we mean when we say you should get "fitted" for a running shoe⁠ 👟What to expect when you go to a running store⁠ 👟"Arc...

SOLO EPISODE! Making a race day plan: what do you need to do to make your big race day successful? Logistics: traveling, food, timing, etc Working backwards on race day Big races with corrals & special considerations Race day gear Fueling & Hydration strategy A, B, C, D goals Developing pacing strategies  Planning for in-race challenges & rough spots and more! Elisabeth Scott is t...

Sports Dietitian Steph Hnatiuk returns to the podcast for a deep discussion on body composition: what it is, what we really mean when we talk about body composition and "recomposition", and why chasing that ultra-low body fat percentage or certain physique goal might not be helping your running performance! What does "body composition" mean? Factors that influence body composition Why the scale ca...

What happens when you're running "aerobically"? What is "anaerobic" training? WHY should you know and care? Coach Laura Norris ( @lauranorrisrunning ) brings the SCIENCE on this episode on go through WHAT happens in our bodies when we're creating energy aerobically versus anaerobically, WHEN you train in one specific energy/effort zone versus another, and WHY we should know this! What is "aerobic"...

Dopey winner Brittany Charboneau ( @funnyrunner26.2 ) joins the podcast this week to talk all about her magical winning weekend, her life as a pro runner, and training for multi-race events! Brittany's non-traditional path to becoming a professional runner Training for Dopey and her plan going into the weekend Her between-race recovery strategies The hardest moment of the weekend (that almost dera...

Do you get enough sleep? Do struggle with sleep quality or quantity? Are you unconvinced by regular, non-scientist people telling you how important getting enough sleep is for your overall health and your training/running performance? Real-life sleep scientist Dr. Amy Bender (@sleep4sport) joins the show to teach us all about sleep, specifically in the context of athletic performance! The differen...

So you want to run your first marathon!! What do you need to know before you even start training? Running Coach Chris Knighton of Knighton Runs joins the show to discuss training for your first marathon! When do you know you're ready to train for a marathon? What kind of base do you need? "Bucket list" training versus training to perform your best How long should your long run be? The importance o...