Today's conversation is a long overdue episode on hydration. I'm thrilled to have Andy Blow on to share his expertise.
Andy is a Sports Scientist with a degree from the University of Bath, focusing his expertise on sweat, dehydration and cramping. He's also a former elite level triathlete with numerous Top 10 finishes and an Xterra World title. He's now the CEO of Precision Hydration.
As runners, we're all familiar with cramping, electrolytes, and hydration - but Andy really breaks these down for us. We talk about:
Andy helps us understand how to apply all this in training and in races. And I really appreciate his emphasis on simplifying hydration, depending on the environmental conditions and duration of workouts.
I hope this topic will be as fun for you to learn about as it was for me.
I want to thank Naked Nutrition for their sponsorship of this podcast. They make great dietary supplements without artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors. Only the purest ingredients - and everything is made in the USA.
I've been taking their Vanilla Whey Protein Powder for a few months now and can confidently say that it's the best protein powder I've ever had: it tastes great and I know I'm not ingesting what I don't need. I've used a lot of different protein powders over the years and this is definitely my favorite.
I love that this protein powder has only 3 ingredients and the whey is sourced from grass fed cows' milk. For those looking for a plant-based option, Naked Nutrition has vegan protein powders as well, also made from clean ingredients.
I've also started taking their Naked Greens supplement, which is basically a powder of different vegetables, grasses, and leafy greens. It certainly tastes like grass (that's the point, I think) but I like the fact that I'm giving my body an extra dose of veggies. I know many of us can all use a boost in our nutrition and this is a great way to do it.
Check out all their products and let me know what you think!
Amelia Boone is a giant in the obstacle course racing world and she's started competing in ultramarathons over the last few years as well. Many of her fans know she has struggled with an eating disorder and spent time in treatment last year. She’s now in recovery, she just moved to Colorado, and she’s been riding her Ellipti-Go on the Front Range’s big climbs over the last few months.
Jason has always looked up to Amelia and admired her work ethic, her talent, and her drive. But also her vulnerability and how she invites us along as she deals with her struggles.
Amelia gave Jason some courage last year to share how losing his grandfather was so incredibly hard and the toll that it took. In this podcast, she gives us a glimpse of how she pushes through challenges and the things that she continues to struggle with.
In this episode as Jason and Amelia discuss:
I hope you take away some lessons from this episode because no doubt, there’s a lot to learn from such an admirable human being.
PATH Projects continues to be a great supporter of this podcast! I'm grateful for their partnership and want to share more about their products - I think you'll love them as much as I do.
PATH Projects is an online-only retailer of high-quality running gear and apparel. That means there is no retail markup, making their products quite affordable.
Currently, I’m wearing the Sykes 5″ Shorts (see them in action in this video) and I'll be getting a pair of their new Wildcat 3” racing shorts soon. If you know me, you won't be surprised that I'm really excited about this! I know they will be my go-to shorts for running.
PATH uses new technical fabrics and innovations to create award-winning apparel for endurance athletes. In fact, their Brim shorts and Tahoe base liner won Runner’s World’s 2018 Gear of the Year award. And the Pyrinees hoodie was named one of the best six sweatshirts for running in the cold by Gear Patrol.
You know you'll be wearing the best when you select PATH Projects!
At Strength Running, we're focusing on mastering our mindset in 2020. How do we build the mental fitness to have unstoppable confidence, the mental toughness to persevere, and the fortitude to stay consistent with your training month after month?
In this episode, coach Jason Fitzgerald discusses:
Today's sponsor is our newest training program: Mindset Mastery.
This course makes performance psych approachable for all runners by focusing on the 5 core mental skills for endurance athletes: Focus, Anxiety Management, Intensity, Mental Toughness, and Confidence.
It includes video presentations, guidance from renowned sports psychologists, mental exercises, a complete Training Plan Library, and the Mindset Toolbox of bonus resources.
See all the details at strengthrunning.com/mindset/
In today’s episode, we’re discussing how to reframe adversity and manage fear.
Cindra has numerous tools that she talks about for reframing adversity. One that I liked, in particular, is asking yourself "why is this happening for me?", instead of "to me". This helps to view challenges in light of the growth opportunities. She also suggests asking yourself questions like:
Cindra shares facts about fear to highlight that fear is universal and that we can choose to act courageously.
In this conversation, Cindra also provides actionable steps for:
I hope you'll enjoy listening to this episode and putting these strategies into action for yourself.
I want to thank Naked Nutrition for their ongoing sponsorship of this podcast. They make great dietary supplements without artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors. Only the purest ingredients - and everything is made in the USA.
I've been taking their Vanilla Whey Protein Powder for several weeks now and can confidently say that it's the best protein powder I've ever had: it tastes great and I know I'm not ingesting what I don't need. I've used a lot of different protein powders over the years and this is definitely my favorite.
I love that this protein powder has only 3 ingredients and the whey is sourced from grass fed cows' milk. For those looking for a plant-based option, Naked Nutrition has vegan protein powders as well.
I've also started taking their Naked Greens supplement, which is basically a powder of different vegetables, grasses, and leafy greens. It certainly tastes like grass (that's the point, I think) but I like the fact that I'm giving my body an extra dose of veggies.
Check out all their products and let me know what you think once you try them out!
Our guest today is Jay Ell Alexander. She’s the owner of The Vaughn Strategy, a public relations strategy consulting firm. And in 2018, she become the owner and CEO of the Black Girls RUN! Organization.
Black Girls RUN! wants to encourage African-American women to make fitness and healthy living a priority. Their goal is to create a movement to lower the disproportionately high health outcomes in the female African-American community and subsequently, lower the number of women with chronic diseases associated with an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle.
Our discussion today focuses on the history of Black Girls RUN, the health disparities African-American women experience, how we can all work together to create a more equal playing field, and how you can get involved with Black Girls Run.
I also want to express my gratitude for the ongoing support from PATH Projects. They make affordable running gear that’s incredibly high quality. You can find everything from running shorts to headwear on their site.
Currently, I’m wearing the Sykes 5″ Shorts (see them in action in this video), the Pyrinees hooded sweatshirt, and the Torch base liner. Their gear is unique, stylish, and a premium quality that feels great to wear. And because they are a direct to consumer shop, PATH skips the retail markup and keeps prices affordable.
I personally love how functional their gear is – both for running and wearing around the house. Check them out, you won’t be disappointed!
Justin is currently the Mental Performance and Leadership Coach with the Tampa Bay Rays, a major league baseball team. Prior to that, he worked for the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Browns. He works with both coaches and players to improve the overall performance of their organizations.
Justin holds a Master of Science degree in Sport and Performance Psychology and his framework for improving performance will give us a glimpse of how he works with a variety of his clients.
We also address questions such as:
I hope you find this conversation filled with useful suggestions and ideas on how you, too, can improve your mental game.
I want to thank Naked Nutrition for joining as our newest podcast sponsor. They make dietary supplements with the purest ingredients with no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors - and everything is made in the USA.
I've been taking their Vanilla Whey Protein Powder for several weeks now and can confidently say that it's the best protein powder I've ever had: it tastes great and I know I'm not ingesting what I don't need. I've used a lot of different protein powders over the years and this is definitely my favorite.
I love that this protein powder has only 3 ingredients and the whey is sourced from grass fed cows' milk. For those looking for a plant-based option, Naked Nutrition has vegan protein powders as well.
I'm also getting a shipment of their Naked Greens powder soon. I'll tell you about it after I test it out.
Check out all their products and let me know what you think once you try them out!
Duane is the owner of Spark Physical Therapy in New Haven, CT and host of the Healthy Runner Podcast.
Duane initially started running as an adult, wanting to add some cardio to his gym sessions. After having a hip surgery, his doctor advised him to get off the treadmill and run outside. Without having fully recovered, Duane suffered a running-related hamstring tendon injury.
Through his own rehabilitation and his work as a physical therapist, Duane continues to set Personal Bests in his running career. He joins us today to have a deep-dive conversation about hamstring injuries:
Duane not only has the clinical expertise to evaluate and treat hamstring injuries but the coaching expertise to design training that better protects you from hurting this important muscle group.
We'll also discuss why tight hamstrings are sometimes falsely labeled an injury, why glute strength is intimately tied to hamstring health, and how "rest" is rarely the treatment for injuries.
Duane and Jason also talk about:
Show Links & Resources:
David Joyce is a titan in the world of elite sport. He has worked at the highest levels of world athletics and with multiple national, world, and Olympic Champions. He’s worked at two Olympic Games, with elite rugby and soccer teams, and is currently the Head of Athletic Performance with the Greater Western Sydney Giants soccer team in Sydney, Australia.
He holds masters degrees in both sports physiotherapy and strength and conditioning and teaches the Masters of Strength and Conditioning course at Edith Cowan University in Perth.
He’s the main editor of two authoritative books on athletic performance and injury risk mitigation, the first is Sports Injury Prevention and Recovery: Integrating Medicine and Science for Performance Solutions and the second is High-Performance Training for Sports: The Authoritative Gide for Ultimate Athletic Conditioning.
In this episode, we’re discussing a more effective approach to injury recovery: a performance framework that isn’t simply interested in healing the injury, but actually getting you to your pre-injury level of performance.
We’ll talk about:
For more on injuries, hear from 9 elite runners on their favorite prevention and recovery advice!
Thank you to our sponsor Inside Tracker! Test your blood to see if you're overtraining or have any hormones out of the optimal range. Use code strengthrunning to save 10% on any test.
Scott Caulfield is the director of strength and conditioning at Colorado College and previously the coaching education manager and head strength and conditioning coach for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
He holds a bachelor's degree in physical education, a master's degree in sports coaching, and three important certifications:
Scott has held strength coaching roles at Dartmouth College, the River Valley Club, the Vermont Frost Heaves, and Colorado College.
Topics from this episode include:
Show Links & Resources:
This episode would not have been possible without Inside Tracker, who is offering a 10% discount on any of their tests with code strengthrunning.
They test over 40 biomarkers, like various stress hormones, to determine if you’re training too hard, too little, or have any physiological weaknesses that can be remedied by either diet, exercise, or lifestyle changes.
In other words, you learn about problems that have actionable solutions.
After getting your results, they communicate what you can do to lift or lower your results into the optimal range. For any runner who wants every advantage, to see what they’re truly capable of achieving, I highly recommend Inside Tracker. I’ve personally used their ‘Ultimate Package’ tier and loved the process and results.
Don’t forget to use code strengthrunning to save 10% on any test (including their affordable DIY and Essentials)!
Runners, friends, I recorded this episode to give you a small jolt of encouragement when I think we all need it.
I sincerely hope you are well, safe, healthy, and able to see those who you most care about. I’m in awe at the bravery of our healthcare pro’s who put their lives at risk to help others - and I’d like to give an enormous, public thank you to these heroes.
As we’re all experiencing more and more fatigue from being quarantined and isolated, I hope that you reflect on what’s most important to you, invest in that, and encourage those around you with positivity.
We don’t have a formal sponsor for this episode but I’d like to thank all of you for making it possible. Without your support and feedback, we wouldn’t be here today.
I’m still in shock that the Strength Running Podcast is consistently in the Top 3 most popular running podcasts in the US. Thank you for every review, every download, and every share with your friends.
Thank you for listening.
Resources:
Angie Spencer is the cohost of the Marathon Training Academy Podcast and someone who just finished the 50 state challenge.
But she added two important twists: first, not every race was a marathon. Some of them were ultramarathons!
And she didn't run all of the marathons just to finish them. In fact, her 50th marathon this past January in Hawaii was a substantial Personal Best.
How in the world did Angie run a PR in the marathon - a BQ no less - more than a decade after starting the challenge?
She's on the pod to talk about just that. We're also discussing:
If you're thinking about committing to a monumental goal like a multi-year running streak, 50 marathons in all 50 states, or even a time-based goal like a sub-3 marathon, this episode with Angie Spencer is for you.
Resources & Links:
Thank you Angie for sharing your story with us on the podcast! Be sure to say hi on Instagram!
This episode of the Strength Running Podcast is sponsored by PATH Projects. They’re an online-only retailer of high-quality running gear and apparel that I’m falling in love with (and they’re giving away three $75 gift cards!).
Currently, I’m wearing the Sykes 5″ Shorts (see them in action in this video), the Pyrinees hooded sweatshirt, and the Torch base liner. Their gear is unique, stylish, and a premium quality that feels great to wear. And because there’s no retail markup, PATH is quite affordable.
They’re using new technical fabrics and innovations to create award-winning apparel for endurance athletes. In fact, their Brim shorts and Tahoe base liner won Runner’s World’s 2018 Gear of the Year award. And the Pyrinees hoodie was named one of the best six sweatshirts for running in the cold by Gear Patrol.
Check out their full lineup of shorts, tops, hats, and base liners on their site – and don’t forget to enter to win one of three $75 gift cards at PathProjects.com (the giveaway ends on May 3rd!).
One of my goals with Strength Running is to prevent you from making the same mistakes that I've made in my own running career. Because I've made almost all of them!
Some of my "favorite" mistakes have been:
Now, my coaching philosophy is more balanced. There's less pressure on any one individual workout and more on the total body of work completed during a training cycle.
And today on the podcast, I want to show you what that looks like in practice.
Brian is in his mid-40's and started running about five years ago. He's run a variety of races but only one marathon. A big reason why is that he's had a lot of injuries from knee pain, glute problems, and IT Band Syndrome.
We're discussing:
Show Links & Resources:
Thanks Brian for sharing your running life with us!
PATH Projects made this episode of the podcast possible. They’re an online-only retailer of high-quality running gear and apparel that I’m falling in love with (and they're giving away three $75 gift cards!).
Currently, I’m wearing the Sykes 5″ Shorts (see them in action in this video), the Pyrinees hooded sweatshirt, and the Torch base liner. Their gear is unique, stylish, and a premium quality that feels great to wear. And because there’s no retail markup, PATH is quite affordable.
They’re using new technical fabrics and innovations to create award-winning apparel for endurance athletes. In fact, their Brim shorts and Tahoe base liner won Runner’s World’s 2018 Gear of the Year award. And the Pyrinees hoodie was named one of the best six sweatshirts for running in the cold by Gear Patrol.
Check out their full lineup of shorts, tops, hats, and base liners on their site - and don't forget to enter to win one of three $75 gift cards at PathProjects.com.
Victoria Sekely was a varsity tennis player at Georgetown where she got her undergraduate degree in human sciences. She then went to New York University and earned her doctorate in physical therapy.
She's a USATF-certified running coach, certified Kinesio Taping practitioner, and received her certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) certification from the National Strength & Conditioning Association.
In this episode of the podcast, we're discussing a variety of weaknesses that are common in runners and how to address them:
With races cancelled for the foreseeable future, now is the time to put in the real work of improving (instead of racing). Focus on training, identify your weak areas, and make your comeback to racing stronger than ever.
Show Links & Resources:
Thank you Victoria for sharing your expertise and helping us stay healthy!
PATH Projects made this episode of the podcast possible. They're an online-only retailer of high-quality running gear and apparel that I'm falling in love with.
Currently, I'm wearing the Sykes 5" Shorts (see them in action in this video), the Pyrinees hooded sweatshirt, and the Torch base liner. Their gear is unique, stylish, and a premium quality that feels great to wear. And because there's no retail markup, PATH is quite affordable.
They're using new technical fabrics and innovations to create award-winning apparel for endurance athletes. In fact, their Brim shorts and Tahoe base liner won Runner's World's 2018 Gear of the Year award. And the Pyrinees hoodie was named one of the best six sweatshirts for running in the cold by Gear Patrol.
Check out their full lineup of shorts, tops, hats, and base liners at PathProjects.com.
Luke Tyburski has overcome more in his relatively short life than most of us. His dream as a child was to play professional soccer on the world stage. And he accomplished exactly that as an adult, playing in lower-level professional leagues in California, Louisiana, and the UK.
But his dreams were cut short after a series of debilitating injuries. He couldn't maintain the workload of a high-level soccer player without getting hurt.
Soon, he succumbed to severe clinical depression. With no backup plan and thoughts of suicide running through his mind, Luke felt lost.
But then he discovered endurance sports.
Reinventing himself as an ultra-endurance adventurer, Luke started competing in the most brutal events on the planet:
And these are just the most extreme events!
Now, Luke is still focused on ultra-endurance events but also in sharing his journey.
In this episode of the podcast, Luke and I talk about his background as a soccer player and how he decided to become an ultra-endurance athlete.
Specifically, we discuss:
Luke is a teacher and has a way of lifting up those around him. I felt inspired, motivated, and in a positive state of mind after I spoke with him and I know you will, too!
Show Links & Resources:
Our sponsor for this episode of the podcast is SteadyMD. They pair you with a primary care doctor, online, who’s available via phone, text, or video for all of your needs. It's tele-medicine at its finest.
And not just any doctor, but a fellow runner who understands the training process, your recovery needs, repetitive stress injuries, and can easily order you blood work, referrals for specialists, and more. Dr. Josh Emdur leads the program and he's a sub-3 marathoner!
Visit SteadymD to learn more about this innovative medical service for endurance runners and reserve your spot.
Today on the podcast, we're talking with Emma Coburn on the incredible success she's had over the last few years.
For nearly a decade, Emma Coburn has been a force to be reckoned with in the 3,000m steeplechase - a notoriously difficult race that requires strength, coordination, and an unwavering focus.
In this conversation, we're discovering how Emma has engineered such a tremendous career over a long period of time. Emma and I talk about:
Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or Google Play.
Show Links & Resources:
A big thanks to our new sponsor, Elevate Running Camp! This is an awesome opportunity to enjoy some of the best trails in the country and a mecca for distance running in Boulder, Colorado.
Elevate is a 4-day, 3-night adult running camp with pro athletes, doctors, and other experts to help you make the most from the retreat. You'll be able to get a post-run massage, do some outdoor yoga, and most importantly, connect with other runners just like you. Plus, you get a swag bag and professional camp photos to post all over your Instagram account!
All ages and paces are welcomed and the price, excluding travel to Boulder, is all-inclusive with lots of great food for runners as well.
While registration is currently closed because of the coronavirus, I encourage you to sign up for their email list on their site. You’ll be the first to know when registration reopens and when it does, you can use code elevatestrength200 to save $200 off a camp of your choice.
Abby Stanley is the assistant cross country and track coach for Cal Baptist and the cohost of the Up and Running Podcast.
She's also my teammate for Rambling Runner's Virtual Race Series Podcaster Challenge. And I'm happy she's on my team - she's a 2:52 marathoner, too!
Her first race ever was a marathon in college - not the best introduction to racing, but it got her hooked. Now, she surrounds herself with running as a coach and podcaster.
On the Strength Running podcast, we're discussing a wide-ranging set of issues designed to help you improve:
Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or Google Play.
This episode would not have been possible without Inside Tracker, who is offering a 10% discount on any of their tests with code strengthrunning.
This episode answers the #1 question runners have asked over the last week: 'now that my spring race is canceled, what do I do now?'
You'll hear from Jen Miller, author of Running: A Love Story and the person behind the New York Times weekly running newsletter. She had a marathon and a 50k on her plate this spring but both races are canceled. Jason and Jen discuss what she can do now and her unique circumstances that take priority over running.
Team Strength Running - our virtual team - is open indefinitely to help you stay connected to the running community. This is our group coaching program where you get a coach, a library of training plans, strength and core routines, ongoing education with a new expert interview every week, and the support and camaraderie of having a network of other runners just like you. It’s a team, after all!
If you’d like to see more details and potentially join, go to https://strengthrunning.com/join-the-team/ to learn more.
A virtual race series that I’ve joined is The Rambling Runner series. You can find more info at https://www.theramblingrunner.com/virtualraceseries or you can simply search for the rambling runner club on Strava and join from there. It’s entirely free and this is one of the best opportunities to stay connected in the coming months.
This is an extra episode this week about the coronavirus. All of our lives have been disrupted over the last few weeks and things seem to be getting worse, so I wanted to give some advice to runners out there on how to handle their training and race schedule in a time like this.
Beth Skwarecki joins us to discuss pandemics from a historical perspective, talk more about why this is unlike the flu, and what you can do to keep yourself and loved ones healthy and safe.
Beth is the Health Editor of one of the largest blogs in the World, Lifehacker and runs their health and fitness vertical called Vitals. She has published two books - Genetics 101 and Outbreak! 50 Tales of Epidemics that Terrorized the World. Her work has been featured in Science, Medscape, Scientific American, and many other major media sources.
Be sure to stay tuned after our conversation; I’ll be talking about what you can do to stay fit if you’re isolated at home or if your spring race has been cancelled.
Use these routines to stay fit and strong at home:
Justin ran his first marathon last year in 3:53 after a few years of consistent running. But he's recently taken the last 6 months off from running for a move and a new PhD program.
His goal is to run a much faster marathon this fall. Without much race history and a relatively low training age, we're left with many questions:
The marathon is a uniquely difficult event so our preparation must be methodical. It's the longest distance that's not considered an ultra marathon. And while many ultras are on trails, most marathons are on the roads, providing far more stress and impact than a trail race.
Moreover, the human body is only capable of storing enough carbohydrates for about 20 miles of hard exercise. Hitting the wall - or the infamous marathon bonk - is because runners don't have enough carbs to fuel their high-intensity running.
Clearly, we need to take the marathon seriously.
And Justin is ready to do just that. In this episode, we're going to learn:
Justin is a regular runner just like all of us. He's a 25-year old PhD student living in Philadelphia who started taking running more seriously after he fell in love with his progress.
And now, he's starting to think about qualifying for Boston and potentially running a sub-3 marathon.
A graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Metzl is one of the most highly regarded doctors for runners. He delivers lectures around the world and has published numerous peer-reviewed papers.
In addition to his medical practices in New York and Connecticut, Jordan has written several books for athletes including:
He’s the creator of the IronStrength workout for runners and is a multiple marathon and Ironman finisher.
Today on the podcast, we’re discussing how to keep you healthy and running stronger.
Our topics of discussion include:
Links & Resources From the Show:
On Saturday, February 29, 2020 history was made in Atlanta Georgia as hundreds of athletes vied for the top 3 spots in the men's and women's Olympic Trials Marathon.
This episode was originally recorded for the Road to the Olympic Trials podcast, where it was released one day before this episode. It features a recap of the 2020 Men’s & Women’s Olympic Trials Marathons with Matt Chittim, host of that podcast as well as the Rambling Runner podcast.
This episode is sponsored by Inside Tracker, a company that helps endurance athletes optimize their training after taking a simple blood test. Figure out if you’re over- or under-training so you catch these problems early and train more effectively. Use code strengthrunning (no space) to save 10% on any of their blood testing kits at insidetracker.com.
At this Olympic Trials, history was made, lifetime dreams were accomplished - and shattered, and Olympians were minted.
Nothing is more exciting than a 4-year quest to represent your country in the most competitive contest on Earth. The Olympic Games represent the best in humanity - and you’re about to hear from two very excited running geeks who just watched the trials marathon. Matt and Jason had a blast talking about the breakaway performances, the unique difficulty of the Atlanta course, and surprises from this Olympic Trials.
Chris Johnson is a physical therapist, Ironman triathlete, coach, and a three-time All-American triathlete.
He started studying physical therapy as an undergraduate while he was captain of the tennis team at the University of Delaware. Chris then earned his PT degree while completing an orthopedic and sports graduate fellowship before working in New York City as a physical therapist and researcher.
Chris then moved to Seattle where he started Zeren Physical Therapy. He's also a certified triathlon coach, three-time All American triathlete, two time Kona Qualifier, and is currently ranked 16th in his age group in the country for long course racing.
I’m excited to bring you this conversation focused on injury prevention. We’re exploring a lot of fascinating topics:
Chris possesses a wealth of information about movement fluency, injury prevention, and treatment. I was honored to speak with him and I hope that you get a lot of value from this conversation.
Show Links & Resources:
One of my favorite projects recently was asking nine elite athletes about their favorite injury prevention strategies.
The result is The Little Black Book of Prevention & Recovery. It features:
Each of these athletes share their most effective recovery or injury prevention strategy – and you'll see a lot of options for staying healthy.
Strategies include post-race recovery, why eating is critical for prevention, how to come back to running after you get hurt (and what mistakes to avoid), and the power of eliminating busyness from your life.
Pick and choose the tactics that most resonate with you. Start using them and you’ll start feeling a lot more resilient.
Click the image below to download the free book. Enjoy!
I first met Doug in 2012 for a trail run in Rock Creek Park. At the time, he had only been running for a few years but was quickly smitten by the peaceful grandiosity of trail running and exploring the woods.
As someone who ran his first marathon on a whim (he agreed to it after a few beers one night...), Doug quickly transformed himself into a competent and experienced trail ultramarathoner.
He's now run 100 miles (or more) five times. His idea of a fun weekend is going on a 12-hour adventure summiting peaks in the Great Smoky Mountains. And he has a 100-mile race coming up in May...
You might know Doug as the creative force behind Rock Creek Runner or as the cohost of No Meat Athlete Radio with Matt Frazier.
Or, from one of our earlier conversations about trail running.
But today we're not talking about trails or ultras. We're talking about development, progress, improvement, and growth.
We're discussing how Doug went from non-runner to ultra endurance athlete - and how you can, too.
Show Links & Resources:
I also want to thank SteadyMD for sponsoring this episode. SteadyMD pairs you with a primary care doctor, online who’s available via phone, text, or video for all of your needs.
And not just any doctor, but a fellow runner who understands the training process, your recovery needs, repetitive stress injuries, and can easily order you blood work, referrals for specialists, and more.
Visit SteadymD to learn more about this innovative medical service for endurance runners and reserve your spot.
A Senior Staff Editor and OpDocs producer at The New York Times, Lindsay Crouse's most-read and watched work includes:
Lindsay is one of the foremost voices for women in running, helping us better understand structural inequities that lead to gender inequality and power disparities in the sport.
After earning a history degree from Harvard University while competing in track and field and cross country, Lindsay moved to New York City and worked in a variety of editing and journalism awards before finally landing at The New York Times.
As a senior producer of OpDocs, she's produced memorable videos about the marathoner Memo and Walk, Run, Cha Cha (which earned a nomination for an Academy Award).
Lindsay is at the forefront of current affairs in the running world, highlighting how power is often unjustly wielded by the powerful against those with very little of it.
But she's not just a running journalist - she's a runner! And quite a fast one at that... just this past fall, she raced 2:53 at CIM, scoring a sub-3 marathon and improving on her PR by a massive 6 minutes.
In this conversation, Lindsay and I discuss her work, its real-world impact on the running community, and what draws her to these stories.
We also talk about:
Lindsay Crouse is someone to watch in the world of running. As a near-Olympic Trials Qualifier working for the "newspaper of record," breaking the biggest stories in running, she's an exciting figure in the industry.
This episode would not have been possible without Inside Tracker, who is offering a 10% discount on any of their tests with code strengthrunning.
In high school, my indoor track coach always told our team to “get out of your comfort zones!” This valuable mental toughness training always reminded us that racing is certainly not comfortable…
And over the years, my ability to hone mental toughness into a skill to be used at will became easier and easier.
In the beginning, it wasn’t that way:
Even now, I have experiences that shake my sense of self-belief.
In 2015, I DNF’d an ultramarathon (my first and only attempt).
In 2019, I was disqualified for cutting the course (by accident) of a trail race.
These experiences shook my self-confidence and made me question whether or not I even possessed any mental toughness.
But I soon realized that I wasn’t approaching mental toughness in the right way. It’s not an issue of whether you “have it” or “don’t have it” – it’s an issue of, “are you working on it?”
That’s because mental toughness training is an ongoing practice that must be cultivated over time.
You’re never “done” with developing this valuable mental skill – just like you’re never “done” with workouts, long runs, or recovery runs as a runner.
This episode also includes an announcement about Mindset Mastery, our new coaching program. It's now open for up to 20 runners but registration closes on Monday, February 3rd!