The Running Public

Today is a look behind the scenes to what a typical conversation between Kirk and Brakken looks like. No agenda, no specific topics, just talking about races and training. However, the second half features Brakken making a bold statement about doing nothing but Compromised Running for the rest of the year and detailing why and how he plans to do so!

We hit a little bit of everything today ladies and gents! We have to say, the level of thinking behind these questions is really impressive. We love seeing people take their training seriously, and your dedication shows in your questions. Some highlights include: Carbon trail shoe discussion What certifications should a running coach have? How to manage racing twice in one day How to calculate fue...

Lactate Threshold might just be the single most misunderstood concept in all of endurance training. So, we dedicate an entire episode to explaining and simplifying this awesome piece of training jargon. Get ready to take some notes! And pay attention for the longest analogy (7+ minutes) we've ever used!

Three months ago, Nick was preparing to prove his ranking as one of the most promising young racers in North America. Then, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The toll it immediately took on his body has been severe, and he is actively fighting to regain control of his dreams of being a professional athlete. This interview will leave you rooting for Nick while realizing how lucky we are to...

The people have spoken: It is time to dive into training and racing distances over 30 miles!  How much volume do you need? Back to back long runs? How long is long enough in training? Do I need speed work? Gear, fueling, shoes, etc

Slovenian National Gymnastics Team Member for 10 years Spartan Ultra World Champion 2x World's Toughest Mudder Champion 2nd Place at ECO Challenge: Fiji Undefeated at OCR Races 8 Hours or longer Bachelor’s Degrees in Physics and Astrophysics from Cal-Berkeley Master’s Degree in Science and Engineering from Stanford. This woman is one of the top endurance athletes on the planet but has taken the lo...

If you're going to swing the hammer, swing that thing hard! That was a big take away from the Dr Fred Clary interview, as he talked at length about preparing for 110% or even 120% of the demands of your next competition. Today we explain what that means, why it matters, and how it works / what it looks like in training.

Fred Clary is a Chiropractic Neurologist, World Record holding Power Lifter, and a goldmine of knowledge about maximizing the potential of the human body. Today we look into the role strength training plays in unlocking your endurance potential. Be warned: Brakken filled an entire page with notes while recording this episode. This is one you will want to listen to with a pen and pad in hand!

The super-shoe era is officially here, so Doctor Kraker went into the lab to test out the Nike Alphafly against two "typical" racing shoes in order to get clear data that shows exactly how much these new shoes affect your running. Along the way we hit the following: What is a super shoe? How does the carbon plate work? How do they affect pace at Mile, 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, and Marathon distances...

Brakken's wife, Lisa, finally joins us today! Lisa hates racing. Hates it. She also can't stand easy runs, training schedules, and scripted quality workouts. We discuss how she structures her training and life in order to keep running a purely enjoyable and therapeutic exercise. 

Kirk raced in Las Vegas this past weekend while Brakken commentated the Savage Race in Georgia. They have several takeaways from the two races that could be difference makers for athletes moving forward! The power of purposeful cross training How truly awful it is to race in sand The importance of a plan for attacking rigs Having the correct mentality for racing under the new pandemic style of rac...

Glenn is a self taught runner who didn't even begin training until after college. Learning on the fly, he progressed to a low 15 minute 5k and 4:12 mile over the course just a few years. From there, he was signed by the Spartan Pro Team in 2014 and has been an OCR racer ever since.  Our longest episode yet, and you will not regret staying until the end! Glenn is one of the best people we have ever...

We've noticed a few trends with the athletes we work with over the past few months. We want to go over them right now and hopefully help out anyone who is starting to exhibit similar behaviors in training! A few highlights: Rushing injury rehab in order to be ready for a "B" Race Forcing a specific pace on Easy / Recovery Runs Cutting weight too aggressively / restricting too many calories Trying...

This month's Q&A covers a little bit of everything! How much is too much cross training? Nasal breathing as a tool vs a training style Should you treat Grip training like Endurance training? When to get new shoes for treadmill training Can you improve your ability to use fast-twitch muscles? Should supercompensation be used more heavily for designing training plans? And people apparently still rea...

Waking up for the second day of racing can be a brutal experience. Today's episode is designed to make that process as smooth as possible for you!  How to train for multiple days of racing How to approach race week What to do immediately after Race #1 How to warm up Day #2

Yancy might be the most influential person in the sport of OCR not named Joe De Sena. His coaching, passion, and service to our sport has personally impacted thousands and thousands of individuals. From a childhood in rural Texas to the military to cancer, learn about the journey that made the man we all know and love. 

When we find ourselves do too much of our running on surfaces that don't mimic race terrain it ALWAYS comes back to haunt us. A week ago in Jacksonville, many people realized they weren't ready for the sloppy conditions. The water and mud broke their cadence and rhythm, preventing them from ever getting going. Broken running is such a powerful skill to master, so we dive deep into it today!

An endurance athlete, Doctor and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Dr. A'nna joins us for a look into the way nutrition and blood testing affects our performance. We begin with general principles then progress to A'nna's specialty: female specific nutrition and blood testing. If you are a female athlete, coach female athletes, or even just know a female athlete, the second half of this interview...

Racing has returned to the OCR world! This weekend was full of familiar faces and surprise performers. Today we breakdown the course, the performances, what we learned, and much more!

Kevin is the biggest enigma in the sport OCR. Despite having an endurance career that stretches over 30 years, he is still a bit of an unknown commodity. Understood by few, his story deserves a listen. So kick back as he takes you through the process of becoming the KG we see today!

It is time to kick off our 2021 Race Season! Today we discuss our race week mindset, the final workouts we hit, we preview the course and the competition and talk a bit of strategy!

Born into extreme poverty in a small Kenyan village, Stephen survived and made his way to the US through running. One of the wildest stories of defying the odds you'll hear, Stephen is a shining example of what vision, hard work, and pure self belief can do for you, both as a human and as an athlete!

What barriers are constantly in your way? Every time you struggle to get a workout in or perform your best, what is to blame? Today we identify what is holding you back and give strategies for eliminating those road blocks!

Carol Pratt is a running coach who has seen and done it all throughout her career: Part of the first female high school class to have equal access to sports Witnessed the rise of Title IX Ran D-1 Track  Ironman Finisher 2x Boston Marathon Qualifier Created a girl's high school cross country program High School, Club, and Masters Running Coach

The age old debate for endurance sports is one of size. At what point does extra power or strength begin to get in the way of your speed and endurance? This question is often paired with its less healthy sibling: How small is too small? We discuss this in depth today in hopes of helping you frame your mindset for what is ideal for your body.