The Running for Real Podcast

Effort-based running is a highly sought-after skill. In a perfect world we could measure everything we do by how capable we are in that moment. This is an optimal situation because we wouldn't limit ourselves when we have the energy, and we wouldn't look down on ourselves when we don't. However, because of the complexity and difficulty of always doing the perfect amount of an exercise, we have mea...

Over the years, running has given many great causes a voice. From your neighborhood kid asking for a quarter for every lap he runs, to world-famous runners using their success to raise awareness, running somehow gives clout to an organization or an idea. We've seen runners raise money for cancer research, clean water, or war veterans. Almost every cause or movement that stems from running seems un...

Running a race is a great metaphor for life. Thinking back on the classic story about the tortoise and the hare, we learned that consistency outperforms skill when the tortoise beat the hare. Running teaches us to keep our eye on the prize, as they say. Each race has its literal highs and lows, that we can easily compare to life's highs and lows. The similarities and lessons are endless. We've als...

What can you accomplish in a week? How about a year? Do you find yourself setting goals that are too big? Or maybe burden yourself with too many tasks to complete in a week? Maybe a better question is, "What can you accomplish today? Or better yet, right now. We tend to set ourselves up for failure when we set goals without any room for mistakes or failures.   We live in an impatient world where e...

Losing or gaining weight is a unique struggle for every person. We all know certain people that can eat whatever they want, and not gain an ounce. Others go to the gym for two weeks, down a protein drink or two, and put on 20lbs of muscle. Metabolism seems to be king when it comes to weight management. When identical diets and workout plans give entirely different results to two individuals, contr...

It has been a few years since my husband Steve was on the show, and a lot has changed since I last brought him on. Rather than him and I just talk about our lives, we thought we would pass it over to you to ask your questions. We answered almost all of them, and I hope you enjoy getting to know Steve better. Here are the questions we answered (not in the order we answered them). Advice for taperin...

What does your resume and your potential have in common? Answer: Both are an opportunity to rewrite your story. Our lives are full of ups and downs. What we choose to focus on is the difference. Imagine if you wrote your resume based on embarrassing or unsuccessful moments. You wouldn't highlight times you tripped while running, wore clothes inside out, or got fired for being late. Thankfully, you...

What came first? The runner or the track? Do we create our environment, or does our environment shape us? These questions fall under the category of social cognitive determinants. I know, big words. In other words, how our thoughts affect our actions and surroundings, and vice-versa. Being aware of what we are thinking, feeling, and doing and how they interconnect is a great way to practice mindfu...

Consider the following questions: How do you run a marathon? How do you write a best-selling book? How do you eat an elephant? One step, one sentence or one bite at a time of course. When we are able to fix on the small task directly in front of us, any lofty goal seems doable. To do this it is important to let go of past fears and stress of the unknown future. Focus on the moment and before you k...

Do you want to be prepared for anything that might happen in a race? How would it be to have complete control over your thoughts? What new limits could you reach, or what new goals could you set for yourself? If you are looking for ways to prepare for your next race, we have the answers for you! This week on the Running for Real Podcast we interviewed several professionals that have experience in...

Have you wondered if we really are capable of becoming anything we set out to be? Could you have been the astronaut or zookeeper you wished to be as a 3 rd grader? Do we give up too early? Or do we simply change what we want to be? Ross Bernstein, keynote speaker and author of more than 40 sports books, believes that there isn't any special sauce that successful athletes have. After researching ab...

You may have recently read somewhere, "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" This question is obviously meant to inspire you to do the things you have put off by putting your tepidness, laziness, or fears behind you. If you knew you wouldn't fail, you might attempt much more than you currently do. What is it about the thought of failure that stops us? There's a different wa...

Do you ever feel like you have no control over your own life? It can happen to anyone. An injury, debt, children to support, or endless school assignments can leave us to the mercy of things seemingly out of our control. It is easy to get bogged down by negative thoughts or lists of things to do. But putting our energy into the things we can control has the potential to change everything. When Dam...

How often do you intentionally think about the things you are grateful for? Is it once a year during the holiday season, sitting around a big turkey? And even then, do you tend to go no deeper than the surface-level, "family, friends, and my job" answer? In comparison, how often do you think about your difficulties? How many times do you find yourself, vocally or otherwise, complaining about the u...

You're halfway through what you hoped to be a 10-mile run when your knee starts flaring up again. Yes, it's painful, but the fear of injuring it further is really what slows you down. Over the past few years the story has repeated itself, "You just haven't rested enough," "Maybe you should consider a different sport," or "It's okay, running just isn't for everyone." At this point the injury is muc...

Full Recovery from Eating Disorders Sarah Canney is a believer of full recoveries—recoveries that give you complete freedom. When she was diagnosed with anorexia and then later bulimia, her belief that she could be free from either gave her the strength to battle for nine challenging years. "I did not believe I was born for an eating-disorder life," says Sarah, "That's where the belief for complet...

Have you ever paused to think about how you talk to yourself? Do you consider the fact that we often think about our words before we criticize or give advice to our friends, but no such filter exists when we participate in self talk? When it comes to reflecting on body image, training for a race, or setting goals, the way we think and talk about ourselves can drastically affect our performance. Le...

What a bonus episode for you today! My first ever live show, and what a live show it was. Four podcast hosts from four of the most popular running podcasts brought together to host a show together. Ali Feller of Ali on the Run, Carrie Tollefson of CTolle Run, and Lindsey Hein of I'll Have Another Podcasts joined me on the stage for this Women Behind The Mic event, hosted by Generation UCAN. We sol...

Run Fast as a Masters Runner Running past your forties (a group typically referred to as "Masters Runners") comes with unique challenges. Some rumored challenges are false, and some are very real. One of the more common illusions is that Masters Runners can't run fast. You may hear that older runners should keep to marathons and other ultra-distances where they can run at a reasonable pace. "Becau...

No Shoes, No Problem Have you tried running barefoot yet? Over the past several years there has been a craze with minimal footwear. Whether it's shoes that claim "zero drop," shoes that look like toe socks, or shoes that are little more than a piece of rubber, shoe makers are claiming that shoes have been the cause of injury for years and that their shoe is the solution. But who is right? Can we r...

I'm sure you've heard the advice to avoid comparing yourself to others. Especially in the running community emphasis is put on competing against yourself, not others. But what about comparing ourselves to our past selves? Is that a positive or a negative? Marathon enthusiast and motivational blogger Dorothy Beal decided that she will never delete a bad race photo of herself. Her reasoning? To remi...

You know those couples that are relentlessly successful, kind, energetic, and so annoyingly in love that you crave their presence? We interviewed that couple today. Megan and David Roche are a powerhouse duo who have had very successful running careers and coach others to have the same. They recently wrote "The Happy Runner" which is a perfect title for what their mission is all about. Their coach...

Running Psychology If running is really 90% mental, why are we sometimes slow to focus on our mental health? Does it sound more difficult than the actual running? Do we not know where to begin? Often the answer is simply that we don't consider it. It's not something we focus on until there seems to be a problem. Mental conditioning is more than just race visualization. It is learning about what fu...

Sleep and Performance It is universally accepted that getting enough sleep is crucial to performing at your peak. There really aren't any arguments against it. You recover most when you are sleeping. Sleep reduces your risk of cancer, depression, and anxiety. Your memory is improved and your focus is better. In fact, sleep is so important that if you didn't get enough sleep last night, I will not...