This week’s coaching call with Team Strength Running member Chris Robinson will help put all the pieces together for running a fast 5k. This episode originally aired in 2021 but remains useful and relevant for any runner hoping to take their racing to the next level.
Chris is a cross-country coach at Eureka College who has raced a variety of distances from 5ks to ultras. His sub-20 5k PR came several years ago in the midst of primarily aerobic half-marathon training. Since then his training has varied in consistency, as he has often put the needs of his collegiate runners ahead of his own.
To challenge himself, Chris planned to race a 5k every month of the year as motivation to get back to consistent training and earn a new PR at the distance. We discuss his running background and training history, then delve into what he can do moving forward to train for a PR without getting burned out or injured from monthly racing.
Our conversation covers:
If you’re looking to improve in the 5k or just learn how to improve your training structure, you’ll enjoy my conversation with Chris!
Links & Resources from the Show:
We’re supported by our newest partner, Previnex. After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m less than a year from being a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.
Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.
I’ve been taking their Immune Support and multivitamin over the last month and I feel great. I have more energy and clarity, not to mention peace of mind that I’m giving my body what it needs. I believe Previnex works and I hope you experience the same benefits as I do. Use code jason15 for 15% off your order at Previnex!
We’re also brought to you by our very own Performance Training Journal, which is now available on Amazon. Since I started running in 1998, I’ve kept a hardcopy training journal. Holding a tangible log, writing in it daily, and reflecting on the ups and downs of running is a surefire way to improve.
This hardcopy training journal helps you focus on the training metrics that matter, prioritizes a long-term outlook so you don’t take any shortcuts, and maintains your motivation with strategic self-praise. With a no-frills, functional design, the Performance Training Journal includes coaching advice on racing, injury prevention, strength training, and more. It will guide you through race scheduling, how to plan your race morning, the best workouts for endurance runners, and encourage you to track your personal bests over time.
You have the space to make this journal your own whether you're a new runner or a professional, a trail or road runner, or a mid-distance specialist or ultra marathoner. So don't just track your running, learn from it with the Performance Training Journal! Check it out today on Amazon.
When evaluating any new technology and whether it will help your running, product reviews are typically our first means of learning about the pros and cons of a product. By learning how to use these reviews to your advantage, you’re more likely to make better decisions about which products work best for you.
This week’s guest on the podcast has reviewed just about every type of gear imaginable, from clothing and shoes, to recovery tools, to watches and smart rings. Ashley Mateo is likely a familiar name, as she has written for just about every major media outlet including Runner’s World, Bicycling, Women's Health, Health, Shape and Self.
In addition to her writing and prolific product testing, Ashley is a RRCA and UESCA certified running coach and an accomplished marathoner. She also publishes one of my favorite running newsletters, The Rundown, which is available on Substack.
With her extensive experience testing a variety of products, Ashley has unique insights into using product reviews to help you search for new gear. By learning how to think more critically about these reviews, you can evaluate gear before making an investment, and know how to get the most out of your purchase.
Ashley and I talk about her background in the sport and then dig into the product review process, including:
Our discussion will show you how to get the most out of your next running purchase!
Links & Resources from the Show:
Thank you to our newest sponsor, BetterHelp. BetterHelp is the world’s largest therapy service, and it’s 100% online. I’ve been speaking more openly recently about my own mental health struggles last year as I went through a divorce. And while running was certainly an outlet, it could never replace actual therapy to help me process everything I was going through at the time.
If you’re struggling with any kind of mental health issue right now, it’s certainly impacting your running and I want you to be as healthy as possible - both physically and mentally. Improving your mindset is a powerful lever to pull to improve your relationship with running.
With BetterHelp, you can message your therapist at any time, schedule live sessions when it’s convenient for you (or use text), and change your therapist at no extra charge.
Improve your mental skills - and make running more manageable - with BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month here at BetterHelp.
We’re also supported by AG1, the greens superfood mix. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens. It’s recommended by professional athletes and has over 7,000 positive reviews.
One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.
I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. They've made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable and rigorous with the 3rd party testing that they do.
For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out AG1 to redeem your offer today.
Running is one of the most popular and widespread activities in the country, yet coverage of the sport pales in comparison to team sports such as baseball and football. Media attention to trail and ultrarunning is even more limited, due to challenging accessibility and technology limitations.
My guest on the podcast came to running nearly a decade ago, and quickly fell in love with the mountains, trails, and the ultra world. Finn Melanson is the host of Singletrack, one of the most successful podcasts about the trail and ultra scene. His experience covering and participating in the sport have given him unique insight into its recent growth, and where it’s headed in the years to come.
While Finn and I start by discussing the phenomenal race by Courtney Dauwalter at Western States, we focus on the evolution of ultrarunning and how its coverage continues to improve. While ultrarunning is still a niche sport, it’s on a trajectory to become more widely watched in the near future.
Finn and I talk about why and how this is happening, including:
If you love running and want to understand the possibilities for growth in our sport, this podcast is for you!
Links & Resources from the Show:
We’re supported by our newest partner, Previnex. After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m less than a year from being a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.
Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.
I’ve been taking their Immune Support and multivitamin over the last month and I feel great. I have more energy and clarity, not to mention peace of mind that I’m giving my body what it needs. I believe Previnex works and I hope you experience the same benefits as I do. Use code jason15 for 15% off your order at Previnex!
We’re also brought to you by our very own Performance Training Journal, which is now available on Amazon. Since I started running in 1998, I’ve kept a hardcopy training journal. Holding a tangible log, writing in it daily, and reflecting on the ups and downs of running is a surefire way to improve.
This hardcopy training journal helps you focus on the training metrics that matter, prioritizes a long-term outlook so you don’t take any shortcuts, and maintains your motivation with strategic self-praise. With a no-frills, functional design, the Performance Training Journal includes coaching advice on racing, injury prevention, strength training, and more. It will guide you through race scheduling, how to plan your race morning, the best workouts for endurance runners, and encourage you to track your personal bests over time.
You have the space to make this journal your own whether you're a new runner or a professional, a trail or road runner, or a mid-distance specialist or ultra marathoner. So don't just track your running, learn from it with the Performance Training Journal! Check it out today on Amazon.
Running shoe technology has evolved dramatically in recent years. More than ever, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the possible options. Add the arrival of carbon-plated “super shoes” and choosing a shoe becomes even more confusing.
On the podcast today is Dr. Matthew Klein, a professor of Physical Therapy at West Coast University Center for Graduate Studies who specializes in orthopedic, geriatric, and sports rehabilitation. Matt has been running for over a decade and was an accomplished Division III runner as the 2012 NWC 10,000m champion.
Matt’s love for running led him to specialize in treating runners of all ages and abilities. He is also the founder of Doctors of Running, which provides detailed running shoe reviews. When it comes to figuring out what to put on your feet, Matt is an incredible resource.
While Matt and I begin by talking about running shoe options, we also touch on a lot of concepts that are broadly applicable to everyone’s running. Our discussion includes:
Don't be intimidated by all the various running shoe options. Matt will help make your next decision an easier one!
Links & Resources from the Show:
Thank you to our newest sponsor, BetterHelp. BetterHelp is the world’s largest therapy service, and it’s 100% online. I’ve been speaking more openly recently about my own mental health struggles last year as I went through a divorce. And while running was certainly an outlet, it could never replace actual therapy to help me process everything I was going through at the time.
If you’re struggling with any kind of mental health issue right now, it’s certainly impacting your running and I want you to be as healthy as possible - both physically and mentally. Improving your mindset is a powerful lever to pull to improve your relationship with running.
With BetterHelp, you can message your therapist at any time, schedule live sessions when it’s convenient for you (or use text), and change your therapist at no extra charge.
Improve your mental skills - and make running more manageable - with BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month here at BetterHelp.
Invented by renowned physical therapist Jay Dicharry, MOBO helps you stabilize your stance with an innovative rocker board that’s set up on two fins. The design effectively forces you to drive your big toe into the bboard to improve your stability. I was pretty arrogant going into my first session on the MOBO Board. How hard can it be to balance, right? Well, I was humbled pretty quickly!
Even if you’re a good runner, better balance, stability, and proprioception is going to help you have a more powerful stride and prevent more running injuries. You’ll learn how to improve the efficiency of the kinetic chain from your hip to your big toe. Because as Jay likes to say, it’s not just how strong you are, but how well you use that strength.
I was just at a weekend physical therapy workshop (lol I was the only running coach) and learned how important (and rare) this simple movement is. Save 10% with code STRENGTHRUN10 at checkout at moboboard.com.