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This episode features a coaching call about how to best prepare for a hilly trail race when you’ve never run one before. Even if you’re not gearing up for trails or hills, this is a valuable discussion on sound training for different types of terrain.  Aileen is a member of Team Strength Running and has very little experience with hills or trails. But she wants to "go for it" and do her first very hilly trail race coming up soon.  How can she best prepare? What opportunities exist for building strength for hills and trails? What must her long runs and faster workouts look like? As Aileen adds all new variables to this upcoming race, our goal is to make sure that she's not just physically prepared for the elevation changes and trails, but confident in her ability to do so. Join the team and you could have the opportunity to come on the podcast, too! Thank you Elemental Labs! A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They’re also offering free product: just pay for shipping and you can get their sample pack including 8 packets of citrus, raspberry, unflavored, and orange salt varieties. Check out Elemental Labs to try their sample pack for free and get your hydration optimized for this spring season.

Tim DiFrancesco is the former Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team. After spending more than six seasons in the NBA, he left to grow TD Athletes Edge, his performance-oriented strength facility in Salem, MA. He earned his BS in Exercise Science & Athletic Training from Endicott College and his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. His experience includes professional athletes, sub-elite athletes in the NBA-Development League, and recreational athletes across numerous disciplines. In this conversation, we discuss what really happens in your body when you start lifting weights. We also talk about: Why lifting will turn you from a donkey into a gazelle How we change minds about endurance runners lifting weights Whether plyometrics are drills or strength exercises How to get start with plyos, plan them in your training, and mistakes to avoid Links & Resources: Follow Tim on Instagram and Twitter Visit TD Athlete's Edge Lift weights for endurance High Performance Lifting Big thanks to Tim DiFrancesco for coming on the show and sharing his expertise. Please connect with him and express a big thank you! Thank You beam Our newest sponsor is beam, one of my newest favorite companies! They have a great offer for the Strength Running community so don’t miss out on 15% off your order with code JASON! The two products that I’m enjoying the most are their Elevate Variety Pack and Dream, their sleep-promoting mix. The Elevate options include Balance, with prebiotics and probiotics for a happy gut, Energy with a small amount of natural caffeine, and Recovery with collagen and amino acids. Dream is a powder that tastes like cinnamon hot cocoa and it helps you get a better sleep. It has THC-free CBD, melatonin, magnesium, l-theanine, and other compounds that help you rest more quickly and easily. I have trouble sleeping and this has made a huge difference in the quality of my sleep. Beam’s products are low in sugar, taste great, and use responsibly sourced ingredients. They are offering 15% off your order with the code “JASON” (not case sensitive). Couple that with a subscription and your first month’s savings will be 35%! Sleep better, recover faster, what’s not to love? Check them out at beamtlc.com.

Alison Pope-Rhodius is a professor of Applied Sport and Performance Psychology and a Program Director at Holy Names University in California. She is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and the co-editor of Excelling in Sport Psychology: Planning, Preparing, and Executing Applied Work. As an expert in this field, Alison got to travel the world working with elite archers and coaches, culminating in working with the U.S. team and U.K. number one archer at the 2004 Olympics. She has been an active member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) for many years and was made a Fellow in 2018.  Alison brings an approachable understanding of what the growth mindset is and how athletes can use it to their advantage. In our conversation, we talk about: Details of what a growth mindset is Common pitfalls to avoid How to recognize when you are in a fixed mindset Tips for practicing this technique Alison also shares about the power of controlling the elements that you can, and letting go of the rest. Links & Resources from the Show: Follow Alison on Twitter Read more on the growth mindset Additional podcast on mastering your mindset Get our free mindset email series! Thank you to XOSKIN for sponsoring this episode, who’s offering 20% off with code ‘SR’ at checkout! I was introduced to this company a few months ago and have been impressed with the quality of the shorts, socks, and shirt that I’ve been wearing. They’re soon launching a men’s base liner and women’s lightweight shorts. To be the first to know when the new items are launched, follow them on social media at @xoskinusa. XOSKIN is the only seamless athletic apparel brand in the United States, using 3-dimensional knit structures and their patented materials (PTFE and Copper) to create apparel with superior wicking and drying capabilities that work in all kinds of environments and conditions. Their apparel has been used in some of the most challenging races in the world, from Death Valley in the middle of summer, to the sub-zero temperatures of the Arctic.  XOSKIN’s material feels great against the skin and the fit is so comfortable you’ll forget you’re even wearing it.  Their patented materials are your best defense against chafing, blisters, hot spots and odor.  Unlike most technology in athletic apparel which is gone after a few washes, XOSKIN’s RapiDriCopper™ technology is molecularly boned to the fiber and won’t wash out. Be sure to check out XOSKIN to see all of their shirts, tights, socks, compression sleeves, and more. Their clothes are made for both men and women so you’re sure to find something that suits your needs. Use code SR (not case sensitive) to get 20% off your order!

Jason Fitzgerald started Strength Running in 2010 with a small blog after he ran his first marathon in 2:44 and suffered through a severe IT Band injury. 11 years later, Strength Running is now a multimedia company with a YouTube channel, Instagram, award-winning blog, and Twitter. He also provides a number of training programs, including the popular Injury Prevention for Runners and High Performance Lifting. In addition to all this, Jason is the head coach of Team Strength Running - an engaged community of runners who cheer each other on while getting the resources they need to propel their running forward. And of course, there is the Strength Running Podcast, which is where we're catching up with Jason today. In this interview, Jason shares more details about: Why he stuck with running in his early years The positive impact that different coaches have had on him The ups and downs of Jason's own running career Running post college and how his focus shifted How Strength Running went from a passion project to a full time job Wisdom for those wanting to become entrepreneurs Thank You beam! Our newest sponsor is beam, one of my newest favorite companies! They have a great offer for the Strength Running community so don't miss out on 15% off your order with code JASON! The two products that I’m enjoying the most are their Elevate Variety Pack and Dream, their sleep-promoting mix. The Elevate options include Balance, with prebiotics and probiotics for a happy gut, Energy with a small amount of natural caffeine, and Recovery with collagen and amino acids. Dream is a powder that tastes like cinnamon hot cocoa and it helps you get a better sleep. It has THC-free CBD, melatonin, magnesium, l-theanine, and other compounds that help you rest more quickly and easily. I have trouble sleeping and this has made a huge difference in the quality of my sleep. Beam's products are low in sugar, taste great, and use responsibly sourced ingredients. They are offering 15% off your order with the code "JASON" (not case sensitive). Couple that with a subscription and your first month’s savings will be 35%! Sleep better, recover faster, what’s not to love? Check them out at beamtlc.com.

Today, we're talking to Jonathan Levitt who took his high altitude training seriously. Not only is he paying attention to how he performs at 9,600 feet, he's also using blood tests to track important biomarkers that indicate how his body adapts. Jonathan is a sub-3 marathoner, sales manager for InsideTracker (code strengthrunning saves you 20% on any test), and host of the For The Long Run podcast. Jonathan shares not only anecdotal stories of how his body is responding, be he also has the data to back it up. He is lucky enough to have a team of experts helping him figure out how to adjust to altitude. In our conversation, Jonathan and I talk about: Adjusting workouts when first moving to higher altitude Increasing fitness with decreasing intensity Biomarker changes after 2 months Importance of fundamentals like sleep and nutrition Links & Resources from the Show: Follow Jonathan on Instagram and Twitter Read the blog training at high altitude Blood test with InsideTracker (code strengthrunning saves 20% on any test!) Thank you Elemental Labs! A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They're also offering free product: just pay for shipping and you can get their sample pack including 8 packets of citrus, raspberry, unflavored, and orange salt varieties. Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day. The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite and I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium. There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out Elemental Labs to try their sample pack for free and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming spring season.

Candice Burt holds the FKT - or Fastest Known Time - on the 171-mile Tahoe Rim Trail, the 95-mile Wonderland Trail, and the 20-mile Enchantment Lakes Traverse. She won the Delirious W.E.S.T. 200-mile (which is actually 219 miles) and placed 4th at the HURT100 Endurance Run in 2019. She also has podium finishes at countless ultras over the years. Along with working out the arrangements for this year's races, Candice is currently getting ready to cover the Arizona Trail, which is 800 miles long. She shares details of her planning, logistics, and other intricacies of what it takes to run for weeks on end. In our conversation, we also cover topics on: Safety and comfort out on the Arizona Trail Gear considerations for runs and nights out in the wild What inspires the athletes that inspire us How Candice went about organizing her first ultra race The cost and logistics of putting on long races Links & Resources from the Show: Follow Candice on Instagram Check out more on her site: Candice Burt Join one of her ultra races The book that inspired Candice: Born to Run Thank You, beam! Our newest sponsor is beam and they have a great offer for our community. I've had the chance to try out their products and have become a big fan. The two products that I’m enjoying the most are their Elevate Variety Pack and Dream, their sleep-promoting mix. The Elevate options include Balance, with prebiotics and probiotics for a happy gut, Energy with a small amount of natural caffeine, and Recovery with collagen and amino acids. Dream is a powder that tastes like cinnamon hot cocoa and it helps you get a better sleep. It has THC-free CBD, melatonin, magnesium, l-theanine, and other compounds that help you rest more quickly and easily. I have trouble sleeping and this has made a huge difference in the quality of my sleep. Beam's products are low in sugar, taste great, and use responsibly sourced ingredients. They are offering 15% off your order with the code "JASON" (not case sensitive). Couple that with a subscription and your first month’s savings will be 35%! Sleep better, recover faster, what’s not to love? Check them out at beamtlc.com.

Brian is a consistent runner with two decades of experience and over 25 marathons under his belt. While his fastest marathon was 2:59 back in 2013, he hasn't been able to set a new PR since. As a member of Team Strength Running, Brian has the opportunity for these coaching calls. In this episode, listen to Jason and Brian talk about: His history and background as a runner What he's doing right in his training (and should continue) The improvements he can take to keep getting faster Why Jason is encouraged that he will meet his big goal! Brian is currently following the Half Marathon Training Plan from the High Performance Lifting program. He has added strides to his runs, lifts to support his training, and is training for a shorter distance than his goal race. All that is going to pay off! Brian has exciting opportunities to improve his marathon race time and we are all awaiting to hear about his next big race. From your feedback, I know that these types of coaching calls resonate with many of you. If you are interested in hearing more of these behind-the-scenes calls, check out the recent episodes with another masters runner and a discussion on running your first marathon. This information and support is the foundation of the Strength Running team, where you can join our thriving community. Thank You XOSKIN! Thank you to XOSKIN for sponsoring this episode, who's offering 20% off with code 'SR' at checkout! I was introduced to this company a few months ago and have been impressed with the quality of the shorts, socks, and shirt that I’ve been wearing. They're soon launching a men’s base liner and women’s lightweight shorts. To be the first to know when the new items are launched, follow them on social media at @xoskinusa. XOSKIN is the only seamless athletic apparel brand in the United States, using 3-dimensional knit structures and their patented materials (PTFE and Copper) to create apparel with superior wicking and drying capabilities that work in all kinds of environments and conditions. Their apparel has been used in some of the most challenging races in the world, from Death Valley in the middle of summer, to the sub-zero temperatures of the Arctic.  XOSKIN’s material feels great against the skin and the fit is so comfortable you’ll forget you’re even wearing it.  Their patented materials are your best defense against chafing, blisters, hot spots and odor.  Unlike most technology in athletic apparel which is gone after a few washes, XOSKIN’s RapiDriCopper™ technology is molecularly boned to the fiber and won’t wash out. Be sure to check out XOSKIN to see all of their shirts, tights, socks, compression sleeves, and more. Their clothes are made for both men and women so you're sure to find something that suits your needs. Use code SR (not case sensitive) to get 20% off your order!

Dr. Duncan Simpson has a PhD in Sport Psychology and is the Director of Personal Development at IMG Academy, a multi-sport training institution in Florida. He has worked with children, high school students, and professional and Olympic athletes in a range of sports. Duncan was formerly an Associate Professor in the Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology Program at Barry University. He is also a certified consultant with the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. Given his experience and education, Duncan possesses a deep knowledge of the mental game that athletes are faced with. In our conversation, Duncan covers a variety of mental skills and how athletes utilize them to gain a performance advantage: Creating short- and long-term focus Avoiding external distractions Doing self-assessments And how to apply it all to your own running Connect with Duncan on Twitter Email him at duncan.simpson@img.com Train your mind A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They're also offering free product: just pay for shipping and you can get their sample pack including 8 packets of citrus, raspberry, unflavored, and orange salt varieties. Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day. The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite and I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium. There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out Elemental Labs to try their sample pack for free and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming spring season.

Shane Benzie is a running coach, movement specialist, researcher and the founder of the Running Reborn coaching platform. He has worked with beginners to world record holding runners all over the world to help them harness their elasticity and improvement their movement. His work has taken him to six continents and many different environments, where he lives with and trains with elite athletes, tribes and indigenous people to crack the code of natural human movement and how to turn it into human performance.  This conversation covers: Why impact doesn't cause running injuries but mismanagement of impact could How to assess your running form and what to look for Proper mechanics of a foot strike Tips on moving beautifully while running What you can do in your daily non-running life to support your training How to modulate stride length while maintaining cadence Links & Resources from the Show: Find Shane on Running Reborn Shane's book: The Lost Art of Running Free Form Cues Worksheet mentioned in this episode Thank you XOSKIN! Thank you to our newest sponsor, XOSKIN, who’s offering 20% off with code ‘SR’ at checkout! I was introduced to this company a few months ago and have been impressed with the quality of the shorts, socks, and shirt that I’ve been wearing. XOSKIN is the only seamless athletic apparel brand in the United States, using 3-dimensional knit structures and their patented materials (PTFE and Copper) to create apparel with superior wicking and drying capabilities that work in all kinds of environments and conditions. Their apparel has been used in some of the most challenging races in the world, from Death Valley in the middle of summer, to the sub-zero temperatures of the arctic.  XOSKIN’s material feels great against the skin and the fit is so comfortable you’ll forget you’re even wearing it. Their patented materials are your best defense against chafing, blisters, hot spots and odor. Unlike most technology in athletic apparel which is gone after a few washes, XOSKIN’s RapiDriCopper™ technology is molecularly boned to the fiber and won’t wash out. Be sure to check out XOSKIN to see all of their shirts, tights, socks, compression sleeves, and more. Their clothes are made for both men and women so you’re sure to find something that suits your needs. Use code SR (not case sensitive) to get 20% off your order!

Zoë Rom is the Associate Editor of Trail Runner Magazine, host of the DNF podcast and an outspoken advocate for environmental justice. She has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Journalism from the University of Colorado and has a deep passion for our public lands. Zoë lives, plays, and works in the mountains of Colorado. She has a firm belief that access to outdoor recreation should be equal for all. At the same time, the negative impacts of industrial development should not be weighted on certain racial or income groups. In today’s episode, we dive into many topics such as institutional negligence, equal access, and the fight for justice. Zoë has numerous suggestions on how you can get involved – everything from individual food choices to the support of organizations that are doing meaningful work. Links & Resources from the Show: Follow Zoë on Instagram Check out her podcast: DNF Read more about Zoe on Trail Runner Magazine Zoë Rom’s website SR’s trail running guide Elite trail athlete Peter Maksimow on public lands Thank you Elemental Labs! A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They’re also offering free product: just pay for shipping and you can get their sample pack including 8 packets of citrus, raspberry, unflavored, and orange salt varieties. Elemental Labs’ products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day. The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite and I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium. There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out Elemental Labs to try their sample pack for free and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming spring season.

Dana Giordano is a middle-distance pro runner for Adidas and the Boston Athletics Association (B.A.A.). Prior to becoming a pro, she worked at Reebok for several years as a Product Manager, while keeping up with running as a lifestyle sport. She was also an All-American at Dartmouth University and reflects often on those years of running. Dana has had an interesting year as a pro, given the global pandemic that we are all facing. Her impact goes well beyond her performance, as the host of the More than Running with Dana Giordano podcast, where she features stories of women in the sport. Dana left her job in pursuit of her Olympic dreams and shares the many challenges that she has overcome and continues to deal with. In this episode, we talk about: Dana's journey from collegiate runner to pro The life on an underdog elite runner Training through cold, snowy winters Mental skills and mindset to overcome setbacks How to keep running fun Dana's overall humble perspectives and down-to-earth approach makes this conversation very accessible to all runners. I hope you'll come away with a new look at the life of a pro runner and how you can achieve more in this sport as well. Links & Resources from the Show: Dana's Instagram and Twitter Check out Dana's podcast Children's book: Girl Running: Bobbi Gibb and the Boston Marathon Thank you to our newest sponsor, XOSKIN, who's offering 20% off with code 'SR' at checkout! I was introduced to this company a few months ago and have been impressed with the quality of the shorts and shirt that I’ve been wearing. They have a patented knitting technology that keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It has even been used in Death Valley races, so you know the heat dissipation is excellent. The 3-dimensional knitting of the fabric is very comfortable and versatile because there aren’t any seams so the risk of chafing, blisters, or hot spots is a lot lower. I’m also loving that they have powerful anti-odor properties. They use both copper and a synthetic treatment to reduce odor and friction and wick moisture. Plus, it’s molecularly bonded so it doesn’t come out in the wash.  Be sure to check out XOSKIN to see all of their shirts, tights, socks, compression sleeves, and more. Their clothes are made for both men and women so you're sure to find something that suits your needs. Use code SR (not case sensitive) to get 20% off your order!

Dr. Caitlin Alexander is a physical therapist at Build Sports Performance Lab & Physical Therapy in Boulder, Colorado with a certification in Applied Functional Science. She's a certified triathlon coach, running coach, and has experience working with elite-level athletes. She's also an incredible athlete herself! Caitlin has qualified for the Kona World Ironman Championships and is a category 3 cyclist. In our conversation today, we’re talking about what happens when you have an injury for a very long time. You see, our movement patterns live in our brain. Your brain is what controls how you run and if your brain learns over time to compensate for an injury, you’ll develop all new movement patterns - and they won’t be ideal.  Finally, Caitlin and I discuss: the origins of disrupted motor patterns how these movement patterns become ingrained in our brain the process required to relearn optimal movement patterns fun Q&A! Resources & Links: Follow Caitlin on Instagram Mobility training for runners Dynamic warm up exercises Jay Dicharry on injury-free running Injury prevention email course Thank you Elemental Labs A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They're also offering free product: just pay for shipping and you can get their sample pack including 8 packets of citrus, raspberry, unflavored, and orange salt varieties. Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day. The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite and I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium. There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. I’m encouraged by the fact that Navy SEAL teams, Olympic teams, and pro athletes have started using Elemental electrolyte supplements to improve their performance. Learn more about what they do at their website (and don't forget to get your free sample pack!).

Steven Sashen is a Master’s All-American sprinter and one of the fastest sprinters over 50 in the United States. He’s a former All-American gymnast, a professional stand-up comic, a cognitive psychology researcher, and he previously tought Tai Chi and Zen Archery. Steven has quite the background which is probably needed for starting a successful company in one of the most competitive industries in the world: footwear. He's now the cofounder and CEO of Xero Shoes. We’re going to talk about the beginnings of Xero Shoes, the benefits of minimalism, how to transition, plus feature a whole host of questions from members of Team Strength Running, our group coaching program. If you’d like to impact future podcast episodes, you can learn more about the team at strengthrunning.com/join/ Follow Jason Fitzgerald on Instagram and subscribe to the Strength Running YouTube channel!

Our guest today is Bryan Green, the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Go Be More apparel, host of the Go Be More Podcast, organizer of the Ignite Sendai Conference in Japan that connects entrepreneurs, and author of the new book Make the Leap. Bryan ran for UCLA from 1997 - 2002 where he was a 2x National Qualifier for cross country, captain of the track team, and 3rd place finisher at the 2001 Pac-10 10,000m final. In this conversation, we’re focusing on the mental side of training. The mindset that is required for high performance and all of the little things that enable us to succeed that aren’t really little at all. We’re going to discuss feedback loops, his Optimal Training Pyramid, your hidden training program, and building your self-belief system. For more on mindset, sign up for Strength Running's free mental fitness course here. Support our sponsor InsideTracker by using the code strengthrunning on any of their tests at InsideTracker.com.

Michael Crawley is an anthropology professor at Durham University in England. A 2:20 marathoner, he spent 15 months training with the best runners in Ethiopia to figure out the secrets to their success. His book, Out of Thin Air, is a beautiful story of a culture where for many, "running is life." From their very different relationship to easy runs, metrics and pace, and even the social aspect of running, this episode will open your eyes to a different way of approaching running. But more than that, you’ll see how running is life for many in Ethiopia and how the sport is an integral part of the Ethiopian identity. Visit https://strengthrunning.com/​ to learn more about barefoot running, getting faster, injury preventing, and lifting for speed. Or connect with Jason Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasonFitz1​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonfitz1/​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strengthrunning

Jay Dicharry is a physical therapist who rose to prominence as an expert in biomechanical analysis as Director of the SPEED Clinic at the University of Virginia. He has written two books that are highly recommended for our community: Anatomy for Runners and Running Rewired. Jay also consults for several footwear companies, the US Air Force, and USA Track and Field. Recently, Jay created and founded MOBO Board, an innovative foot stability tool.  In this episode we talk about the 4 skills that Jay deems absolutely necessary for healthy, pain-free running. Those are postural control, rotational stability, hip dominance, and individual skeletal alignment. We go into detail on all of these, talking about what they are, why they’re important, and how to build these skills into your training. For more on injury prevention, join our free prevention course here.

Ryan Banta is a coach with more than 19 years of experience and the author of the Sprinter’s Compendium. At the high school level, Ryan has produced 135 All-State medalists, including 10 state champions and 15 runners-up. His teams have won 12 district championships and 5 top five state finishes in the last nine seasons. He has been elected Missouri Track and Cross Country Coaches Association (MTCCCA) president and served on the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) advisory board. In this podcast, we discuss: Prevention of sprinting-related injuries Common training errors in pursuit of speed Mechanics of maximum velocity running The speed development differences between teenagers and adults  In the spirit of this year's Take Action theme, we leave off with a number of actionable steps that any runner can take to improve their speed. Show Links & Resources: Connect with Ryan on Twitter Check out his videos on YouTube Books mentioned by Ryan Supertraining by Yuri Verkhoshansky Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett Thank You PWURE! Our newest sponsor is PWURE; learn more about them at pwure.com. They’re offering 20% off your first month with code "nextlevel" at checkout. Using either your Strava data or an online consultation, they create pre-run and post-run personalized shakes using organic ingredients. They’re the first company to use your fitness data to craft on-demand nutrition - I think the potential of this is awesome and it reminds me of the testing and effort that goes into elite marathoners and their fueling. PWURE has been testing their products with pro runners and the promise here is that they can deliver optimized, better ratios of carbohydrate to protein so you can perform better and recover faster. You get a post-workout dose recommendation so everything they make and recommend is unique to you. All of their formulas can be made vegan, there are four flavors to choose from, and you can even add vitamins. 82% of users saw performance and recovery improvement after one month and 86% would recommend it to a friend. See all PWURE have to offer and don’t forget that code nextlevel will save you 20% on your first month.

Tom Schwartz, also known as Tinman, has over 30 years of coaching experience. He has worked with youth runners, masters, and professionals. Tom has developed dozens of D1 collegiate athletes, national champions, and national record holders and works with athletes across every distance and on every terrain from the track, road, to trail.  Tom has a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Coaching, a master’s in Human Performance, an MBA, and is currently working on his PhD in Health & Human Performance. You might recognize Tom as the coach of Drew Hunter, one of the fastest high schoolers ever a few years ago. Drew is now running professionally for Adidas on the Tinman Elite team in Boulder, CO. In today's podcast, we talk about all the things that make teams special and how Tom works with his athletes to create a greater good in our world. We cover topics on: Elements of a successful team Life skills we can learn from running Delayed gratification Self discipline Modulation Purpose Specificity Coaching athletes of all ages, abilities, and events Tom's training philosophy to "keep the ball rolling" And of course, Tom shares so much wisdom and inspiration for all of us involved in the sport. Our show is supported by our longtime sponsor InsideTracker. Today, more than ever, it's essential that we’re making the right decisions to keep our bodies healthy. To help us be resilient, prevent over-training, and optimize our running to get the most from it. InsideTracker is the ultra-personalized nutrition platform that analyzes your blood and DNA biomarkers along with your lifestyle habits to help you optimize your body and reach your goals. InsideTracker’s patented system will transform your body's data into knowledge, insights, and a customized action plan of science-backed recommendations. The data can help you determine whether you’re running too much, not enough, or have some other issues that could be affecting your recovery or performance. I recently had my own blood drawn and am glad to report that my results indicate that everything is in a healthy range. If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, InsideTracker offers a selection of plans that best suit your needs. Use Code STRENGTHRUNNING at InsideTracker to save 10% of any of their tests.

This episode is all about the off-season. The "in between" time between seasons of running. You'll learn how to best structure this time based on your goals, weaknesses, and ability. This episode was the suggestion from a listener. He asked if I could talk about what runners should do after they run a marathon but before they start their next big training block. Now, whether you’re training for a marathon or any distance race, this is a great question. A good example is what to do after the Boston Marathon but before you start training for the NYC marathon. If you train for 16 weeks for New York, that puts the beginning of your training in late July. Assuming you take a full two weeks off from running after Boston, you’re left with 11 weeks. What do you do with that time period? Our sponsor is the first tech-enabled sports nutrition company - PWURE that you can find at pwure.com. You hook up your Strava profile or do an online consultation to create personalized pre- and post-run shakes from organic ingredients. Use code ‘nextlevel’ to save 20% on your first month.

Eli Asch is currently the Race Director for the Twin Cities Marathon. Prior to this role, he directed the California International Marathon (CIM), which hosted two USATF marathon national championships. Under his direction, CIM was the fastest-growing major marathon in America. Eli also served as the Logistics and Operations Manager for the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon events. He holds an MBA in Sports Business from San Diego State University and a BA in English from Whitman College, where he was captain of the cross country team. I wanted to bring Eli on the podcast to share the details of what it takes to put on a major marathon race. We talk about: Nitty gritty details of getting a race permit How races are measured and certified Reconciling your GPS watch data with the race distance Expanding the running community to be more inclusive What you can do now to support your favorite races Enjoy my podcast with Eli and rejoice in the knowledge that races are, in fact, coming back! Our show is supported by our longtime sponsor InsideTracker. Today, more than ever, it's essential that we’re making the right decisions to keep our bodies healthy. To help us be resilient, prevent over-training, and optimize our running to get the most from it. InsideTracker is the ultra-personalized nutrition platform that analyzes your blood and DNA biomarkers along with your lifestyle habits to help you optimize your body and reach your goals. InsideTracker’s patented system will transform your body's data into knowledge, insights, and a customized action plan of science-backed recommendations. The data can help you determine whether you’re running too much, not enough, or have some other issues that could be affecting your recovery or performance. I recently had my own blood drawn and am glad to report that my results indicate that everything is in a healthy range. If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, InsideTracker offers a selection of plans that best suit your needs. Use Code STRENGTHRUNNING at InsideTracker to save 10% of any of their tests.