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Mark Gaudet and special guest David Magida talk about the 2021 Jacksonville Spartan Race and review the released course map. Listen in to get details about how to approach the first race of the USNS. 

Josh Ried stops on an episode to talk about how to improve your core strength with training. We talk about:The most effective core strength movements for OCRHow to implement core work into your Spartan race training routineWhat you need to do for looks vs performanceConnect with Josh: IG: @Ja_shua_riedFollow Reinforced Running Email: rich@reinforcedrunning.comYouTube - Reinforced RunningIG (Rich Ryan) -  @reinforced_running_rich Twitter - @ReinforcedRunTRAINING RESOURCES:Apply for One-on-one CoachingClick Here For Your FREE Guide to Running Faster Learn More About Strength Coaching for OCR Athletes Click Here for Strength Coaching for Runners

Annie Dube is an elite OCR athlete former AG Spartan World Champ and one of the brightest up-and-comers in the sport to look out for in 2021. Annie is a tremendous athlete with a big capacity to work. In her short time as an OCR athlete (started in 2018), she has learned quite a bit about what it takes to compete at a high level - and she shares her insight with us.Make sure to give Annie a follow at @mountaingoatgirl on IG and follow along with TORC @ the_obstacle_ racing_ collab. 

Rob Hewitt is a fantastic endurance coach and has coached at every level including high school, college, and elite club level. Rob is currently the coach of the Philadelphia Runner Track Club. He has a serious passion for coaching and creating top-level performance as well as helping develop better human beings. We talk about:How to take ownership of your workout volume and intensity.  Why you should develop absolute speed and how to do it.Follow Reinforced Running Email: rich@reinforcedrunning.comYouTube - Reinforced RunningIG (Rich Ryan) -  @reinforced_running_rich Twitter - @ReinforcedRunTRAINING RESOURCES:Apply for One-on-one CoachingClick Here For Your FREE Guide to Running Faster Learn More About Strength Coaching for OCR Athletes Click Here for Strength Coaching for Runners

Charlie Schreiber is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach. He has competed 2-times in the Bouldering World Cup, 3-times in the ABS Open Bouldering National Championships, 5-time in the Bouldering National Cup Series event champion as well as an 8-time Youth National Champion in Bouldering Events and can ascend V11's and  V12's. As a coach, he's led his team to a 1st place team victory at the Regional Championships, 28 individual National Championship invitations, and 3 podium finishes. Topics covered in this episode:How to Build Grip Strength and Grip EnduranceHow to Understand the Signals of Overtraining Charlie Schreiber: IG: @charlie46YouTube: Paradigm ClimbingFollow Reinforced Running Email: rich@reinforcedrunning.comYouTube - Reinforced RunningIG (Rich Ryan) -  @reinforced_running_rich Twitter - @ReinforcedRunTRAINING RESOURCES:Apply for One-on-one CoachingClick Here For Your FREE Guide to Running Faster Learn More About Strength Coaching for OCR Athletes Click Here for Strength Coaching for Runners

Nick Ryker is a Spartan Pro Team member, VJ Shoes sponsored athlete, and all-around beast. Learn how Nick lives and trains with the goal of becoming one of the best OCR athletes in the world. Follow Nick @nryker5Follow TORC @the_obstacle_racing_collab

Ryan Kempson has become one of the best and most dynamic OCR athletes in the world. In 2019, he finished on the podium in the Spartan U.S. National Series and finished third at Spartan Race North American Championships in West Virginia. Topics covered in this episode: How Ryan uses water workouts to improve his recovery.How to create the optimal race day plan and a season-long plan.How to build sustainable training volume year over year. The future of OCR and some possible directions it could go.Mentioned in this episode: https://athleticbrewing.com/ (code RICHR20)Follow Ryan Kempson: Instagram: @ryan.kempsonFollow Reinforced Running Email: rich@reinforcedrunning.comYouTube - Reinforced RunningIG Rich -  @reinforced_running_rich Twitter - @ReinforcedRunTRAINING RESOURCES: Apply for One-on-one Coaching Click Here For Your FREE Guide to Running Faster Learn More About Strength Coaching for OCR Athletes Click Here for Strength Coaching for Runners

Erin Rost is a two-time runner-up at Worlds Toughest Mudder with an expansive background as a D1 soccer player, jumpmaster, and bodybuilder. We talk about:Erin is also a full-time nurse working the night shift in Labor & Delivery and how she hopes to blend her passion for women’s health with fitness.How she uses her challenging night schedule to build my mental game.  And how she is intentional in my training/nutrition to help get the best training results she can while. Give Erin a follow @womanzoniaFollow TORC @The_obstacle_racing_collab

Chris Wooley is a Spartan Pro athlete with podium finishes in Hyrox and several US-based stadium races. Chris also has top finishes in tower and dune running events. With a background as a coach and PT and has an extremely well thought out approach to training. We talk about: Advanced strength training techniques such as the conjugate method and maxim sustained power.How to improve running efficiency with cadence work. His prep to go after two world record for a mile run in full firefighter gear and the Murph world record. Follow Chris @ _chriswoolley_

Lillie Elkin is a two time Spartan Race AG World champion in the 15-19 AG group. After a Dominate 2019, Lillie has moved into the elite field full time and She kicked off 2020 with a 5th place finish in the only USNS series race in Jacksonville.We talk about Lillie’s goals of becoming a pro-OCR athlete, nutrition therapist, and coach.Her process of recovering from a recent surgery. And Lillies top three pieces of advice for young athletes looking to take their results to the next level. Follow Lillie @Lillieelkin_spartaocrFollow TORC @The_obstacle_racing_collab

Carolyn Stocker is a running coach, Registered Dietician, Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach. In the episode we talk about:Initiative eating for the endurance athleteWhy endurance athletes should lift heavy The newest in shoe tech Competitive snowshoeing. Follow Carolyn @castocker_rd ,  Chaski.run, and www.carolynstockerperformance.comGet Strength Coaching from Reinforced RunningLearn more about Strength Coaching for OCR Athletes here.Click here for Strength Coaching Runners.

Nic Maszk is an elite OCR athlete, NAIA Track and Field All-American, track coach, full-time teacher and soon to be dad.  With only one year of racing under his belt has established himself as one of the top competitors leading into 2021. Nic has several podium finishes, won the OCR Stars mile, and has been featured as one of Jack Bauers's top athletes to watch in 2021. In this episode we talk about: How to go from a high-level runner to transWays to Improve your racing through mental preparationAnd how to commit to taking your results to the next level.  Follow Nic @NicmaszkFollow TORC @the_obstacle_racing_collab

For the third year in a row, the first Spartan USNS race will be held at WW Motorcross Park in Jacksonville, Florida. For this TORC Talk,  Nick Ryker,  Mark Gaudet, and Rich Ryan have a convo about what to expect from the course and how to train for it in the next seven weeks. Follow Nick @Nryker5 Mark @markgaudet85 Follow TORC @The_obstacle_racing_collab

Bailey Kowalczyk is an elite trail runner based out of Boulder Colorado. Bailey established herself as one of the best trail athletes in the world with a 17th place finish at the 2020 Golden Series championship. In the episode we talk about:How to make a successful transition from the road into the trail. The perils of learning how to be the healthiest version of yourselfWhich mistakes you should avoid when starting trail training.Follow Bailey @Baileykowalcyzk learn more about her coaching at https://www.baileykowalczyk.com/Grab some delicious NA beers for dry January with Athletic Brewing here. Use code RICHR20 to get 20% off your first order. Follow along Reinforced Running Apply for One-on-one Coaching hereYouTube - Reinforced RunningIG Rich -  @reinforced_running_rich & Josh @Ja_shua_ried   Twitter @ReinforcedRunJoin our private training group on facebook here.Get your free Guide to faster running @ reinforcedrunning.com/runfaster

Lauren Longfield is a newcomer to the sport of OCR and a name to watch in 2021. She has dove into training during 2020 and has been able to push the limits when it comes to her training and volume. Check her Strava here if you don't believe me. Listen in to learn how she has used her background as a bodybuilder and extreme sports athlete to become one of the most promising ultra-endurance athletes in the sport. Follow Lauren @laurenashleeyy and @the_obstacle_racing_collab

Faye Morgan is a Spartan Pro athlete with a wide range of experiences and skills. She has top-ten finishes in the USNS and you can catch her on the podium at any SoCal spartan race. She has a background in ball sports, gymnastics, and CrossFit and uses her diverse background in training to help keep her at the top of the game. We talk about: How gymnastics training can help an OCR athleteWhat drives her to keep pushing for top-level results in her 40s. How to develop grit as an athleteFollow Faye @ fayemocrFollow along Reinforced Running Apply for One-on-one Coaching hereYouTube - Reinforced RunningIG Rich -  @reinforced_running_rich & Josh @Ja_shua_ried   Twitter @ReinforcedRunJoin our private training group on facebook here.Get your free Guide to faster running @ reinforcedrunning.com/runfaster

Lacey Bourgois is a Spartan Pro Team member and finished 10th in the series in 2019. She has since moved from Minnesota to Colorado Springs in part to help her training. Lacey is also a full-time Respiratory Therapist in a hospital and manages to balance her time to be an elite athlete while juggling 12-hour shifts. Follow Lacey at @bourgoislaFollow TORC @The_obstalce_racing_collab

Shaun Stephens-Whale is a Spartan Pro, Elite mountain runner, and seasoned bear fighter. He stops on the podcast for the  first installment of an ongoing series of athlete-focused interviews called "TORC Talks."We talk about how he found immediate success as an OCR athlete and what he needs to do to improve his overall speed so he can get next-level results. We also touch on how ninja warrior training in a gym setting can help your OCR performance and what to do. Plus we get some storytime on his bear encounters. TORC is an acronym for The Obstacle Racing Collaboration. TORC is a team of elite athletes who will be working together to help get better results to push the sport forward. The team is compromised of 15 members - some you may know, some you will get to know.See the full roster here. Follow on Instagram hereThe TORC talk will give you the nuts and bolts behind what these high-end athletes do to prepare themselves for training and racing. Today in the first installment of TORC talk you will get to know Shaun Stephens Whale who is fresh off of a third-place finish in OCR Stars. We talk about his background as a mountain and tower runner and how it has prepared him for immediate success in OCR. Then we dive into some of the things he plans to do to take his results to the next level.Follow Shaun @verticalrunning_eh

Josh Ried and I sit down and talk about the offseason and what you should expect from downtime. During the episode, we talk about: Why not taking downtime might be the reason you are not hitting your goalsHow long to take downtime and how to start a plan for your next seasonSome key metrics to track and to consider for your previous season. And some qualitative questions to ask yourself to gauge the success of your season.Learn more about OCR Power and Conditioning Coaching here

Jack Bauer joins the Reinforced Running podcast to talk about OCR stars Burpee Mountain and the final standings.  Follow Jack @jack_bauer_ocrLearn about Reinforced Running Strength Coaching and conditioning for OCR athletes here.