The Running Explained Podcast

My guest this week is Chris McClung of Rogue Running, host of the Running Rogue podcast and co-host of the Clean Sport Collective podcast with Kara Goucher and Shanna Burnette, and I couldn't think of a better guest to discuss this week's topic: PACING!  What IS pacing? The relationship between your pace and your effort How to effectively use your watch to pace yourself (& how NOT to use it) Findi...

This week we're talking about how to LEVEL UP your running game! Running Coach Sara Manderscheid ( @sayrahrunshappy ) talks about the things we can all do to take our running to the next level, including... -How to set the right goals that challenge you (& the importance of thinking long-term) -The difference that fueling makes in your performance and recovery -Strength training importance and...

Mental health = physical health! In this episode I sat down with Coach Lauren Sheu ( @running.for.welllness ), runner and mental health advocate, to talk about how running and mental health are intertwined!  🧠WHY is running good for our mental health?⁠ 🧠How the lessons we learn from running translate to our life⁠ 🧠Breaking up with the "all or nothing" mentality⁠ 🧠Learning to deal with unc...

How do you train for the race you want to run? How does your training CHANGE AND DIFFER depending on your goals and experience? In this jam-packed episode with Coach Laura Norris (@lauranorrisrunning), we dive into "the specificity of training", what it means, and how to apply it to YOUR training! ⁠Some of the topics we cover include... HOW do you train for different race distances? ⁠ HOW does eas...

What IS a "tempo run"? What do they do and when are they beneficial to include in your training? My guest this week is RRCA Coach Brian Lock (@roadrunner309) and we talk in depth and in detail about... What is (and is not) a tempo run? What is lactate threshold and how are threshold runs structured? What is the purpose of goal pace workouts in a training plan? The right (and wrong) way to execute...

This week Starla Garcia ( @starla_shines ), Registered Dietician and OTQ Marathoner joins the show to talk all about in-run and in-race fueling! Wondering if, when, or how to fuel during your runs and your races? In this episode we discuss... The importance of proper run & race fueling The common reasons runners neglect to fuel, or underfuel, their runs or races The recommendations of carbs pe...

Questions about strength training and how it fits into your running? Wondering how important it is? RRCA Running Coach Stacey Gross ( @s__gross ) answers all your questions! We talk about... HOW & WHY strength training is important for runners Why hills don’t replace strength training How to include strength in your training Heavy weights/lower reps vs lighter reps/higher reps Key strength tra...

In this episode, Dr. Marie Whitt ( @dr.whitt.fit ) and I talk all about CROSS-TRAINING as it relates to running!  What *is* cross-training? Why and when would you include cross-training when you're training for a running-specific race? Do you NEED to include cross-training in your overall training?⁠ ...IT DEPENDS!⁠ ⁠The big takeaway? Cross-training can be very beneficial but does NOT replace...

Jen Scott, RD, helps us break it down and talk about the FUNDAMENTALS OF NUTRITION for athletes. What are macronutrients? What are micronutrients? How do these things behave in our bodies and WHY do we need more of this or that than a non-runner might need? In this episode we talk about... Macronutrients: 1. Protein (& amino acids) 2. Carbohydrates (what ARE they?) + glycogen storage 3. Fats (...

Let's talk about shoes!! Every new runner is advised to go to a running shoe store to get "properly fitted for a pair of running shoes", but what does that MEAN? In this episode, we break down... A Brief History of Running Shoes Parts of a shoe: Uppers & Lowers FOAM!! & the principles of elastic energy return Stack Heigh, Heel Drop, Cushion Neutral vs Stability Carbon Plate Shoes Trail Sho...

What is power, do you ask? Well, this episode with Nathan Fenton of RunPowerCoach will teach you all about what "power" is, how you measure it, why it's useful, and then of course the conversation just gets nice and nerdy about training like all conversations between running coaches tend to do!! I learned some VERY cool stuff from Nathan in this conversation, so I know you'll learn some very cool...

Bad days... we all have them! But there is a heck of a lot to learn from the days that don't go the way we planned. In this episode, we break down the common causes behind "bad days", whether in a normal everyday run, in a workout, or on race day and cover topics like... Cumulative Fatigue Expectation vs Reality WHY you keep your easy days easy HOW to execute a workout Workout Paces & Why? Race Pa...

COMMON RUNNING INJURIES with Carmen Scuito, aka @chocolatemilkrunner! This episode is a massive survey of the most common running injuries, their symptoms, and their causes!⁠ ⁠ IT Band Syndrome⁠ Runner's Knee (Patellofemoral Syndrome)⁠ Inner Knee Pain/Bursitis⁠ What Hip Flexors Do⁠ Piriformis Syndrome⁠ Importance of Core Strength⁠ Quad & Hamstring Strains⁠ Shin Splints (& Stress Fractures)⁠ Soleus...

Summer is coming... are you ready? In this episode, I break down everything you need to know about running in the heat and how to become acclimated to running in warmer temps! ⁠ 🌡️Thermoregulation & core temperature⁠ 🌡️What about humidity?⁠ 🌡️ALL ABOUT SWEATING!!⁠ 🌡️Signs of heat stress/heat stroke⁠ 🌡️How to stay hydrated⁠ 🌡️What happens during the heat acclimation process?⁠ 🌡️How to stay safe & p...

This episode was a total blast to record with Run Coach & Under Armour Running Ambassador Alison Staples (@alioop_0_o_runs on Instagram!) We went through some common "rules" of running and discussed if it was an *always* rule or if or when you can "break" that rule!! Some of the "rules" we discussed... Always follow a hard day with an easy day Never increase your miles by more than 10% each week R...

This week we're talking about TRAINING PLANS! What they are, why they are structured the way they are, differences between different plans, and how to read one! When & why do you need a training plan? Why & how are training plans structured the way they are! The basics of training periodization Race-specific training plans Base-building training plans How to read a training plan -- If you like the...

What is mobility and why is it SO important?? My guest this week is Kaila Morgante, aka @Bodkick on Instagram, and we took a dive into mobility this week: what it is, why it's important in running, and how to make sure you're working on it! We covered... Mobility vs. flexibility: which one is more important? What's really happening when something "feels tight"? How strength & mobility are related...

Thousands of runners get pregnant and give birth every year... but information about being a postpartum runner isn't nearly as readily available as it should be! Julie Leonard ( @strongbodystrongmama ) and Sarah Highland ( @pelvicfloorandmore ) are cutting through that dearth of information with their evidence-based "Ready to Run Postpartum" 10-week program specifically designed for postpartum run...

How we FEEL about running is one of the most important things... so what do we do when things "feel" not so great? In this episode I discuss... -How do I stop comparing myself to other runners? -Dealing with guilt when you miss a run -What to do when a run doesn't go how you planned -Dealing with mental fatigue (wanting to stop) and mental 'burnout' on long runs -- If you like the show, please rem...

My guest this week is Steph Hnatiuk, aka @steph.the.runners.dietitian on Instagram, and we're talking about RUNNING and WEIGHT LOSS! But if you're looking for answers on how many calories to eat, or what specifically your meals should be made of in order to lose weight, you won't find those answers in this episode. In this hour-long discussion, we talk about... The relationship we have with food W...

Ever gotten injured? Statistically, yes you have! I sat down with Physiotherapist Brodie Sharpe, Host of The Run Smarter Podcast to talk about how we should approach running injuries, how to reduce our injury risk, and what returning to running while dealing with an injury looks like! When can you address an injury while continuing to run vs. needing to take time off? Red flags for when injuries a...

My guest this week is Dr. Carrie Pagliano, DPT, a board-certified pelvic floor and post-partum expert helping women get and stay active both before & after pregnancy! We covered a lot of ground in this episode, including... What IS a pelvic floor and why it's important for all runners to be aware of their pelvic health (not just pregnant or postpartum women!) Being active during pregnancy - what's...

If you're interested in discourses on how lactate threshold training is related to your marathon pace, or how to get REALLY race-specific for the race you're training for (including the elevation profile of the course) this episode is for you!  This week's questions are... Picking the best recovery bath: ice baths or Epsom salt baths? Which is better for marathon training: tempo runs or long inter...

In my first "Run Coach Chat" I talked with Tucker Grose from Training With Tucker (find him at @trainingwithtucker on Instagram!) about a wiiiiide range of training topics, including... -Why the marathon should NOT be the first distance you tackle -Common mistakes many runners make -Why qualifying for the Boston Marathon is so challenging (but what might help you get there) -Planning your training...

This week I answered some really excellent and complex questions on the podcast!⁠ ⁠ Running & cortisol; is running every day bad for my cortisol and my adrenal health?⁠ What's the best run/distance to jump back in after finishing half marathon? ⁠ What are some of the best ways to build your base back up after taking some time off?⁠ Protecting and taking care of your knees, especially if you're ver...