Run To The Top Podcast | The Ultimate Guide To Running

If you’ve ever been out running by yourself and felt a little unsafe, you’ve likely either had to change your route or cut the run short to head to a more secure environment.   This fear is one many runners know well, and that’s why runners David and Ellen Caren decided it was time to invent something that could offer peace of mind and keep runners safe.   Run Angel is the first personal safety wrist wearable that not only sends SMS messages and emails to loved ones in the event of an emergency, but it also emits a 120 decibel, high-pitched siren when activated to shock unsuspecting attackers and notify passersby of your whereabouts.   In this episode, David shares how the idea, company, and product were developed, as well as some additional safety tips all runners should keep in mind.   To get a Run Angel for you or a loved one, go to runangel.com and use coupon code RUNCON20 for 20% off your purchase. Questions David is asked: 4:28 Can you tell us a little about your background? How did you first get into

We know that’s a sensational title, but hear us out. A study published by RunRepeat.com, an independent review aggregator for running shoes, analyzed 34,680,750 race results over the course of 21 years to conclude that American runners are steadily getting slower across distances from the 5K up to the marathon. We know what you’re probably thinking: with Olympians like Galen Rupp and Molly Huddle continually setting national records, how can that be? While it’s clear US elites are steadily advancing, the study found that the remainder of the field is, on the whole, slower than it was in the 90s. Now this could be due to a variety of reasons, and some argue one of those reasons might just be that the sport has gained a lot of popularity in the last couple decades. More runners of varying age and gender? We like the sound of that. While this is certainly plausible, others argue there’s another, less favorable culprit behind the trend: the rising rate of obesity in America. This is the hypothesis behind the stu

When it comes to running, some days are great, some are mediocre, and some are, well, horrendous. The same is true for runners of all skill level, and this volatility is not only what makes running one of the most mentally challenging sports out there but also one of the most rewarding. If you know how to leap the mental barriers. That’s why in this episode we’re speaking with runner, counselor, and sports psychology consultant Adrienne Langelier.  A Woodlands, TX native, Adrienne combines her own athletic experience with a background in applied sports psychology to help runners hurdle the mental roadblocks so common in running. Listen in as Adrienne shares her advice on how to strengthen your mind and overcome the mental blocks that might be holding you back. Questions Adrienne is asked: 2:02 How did you first get into running and how did you decide to become a sports psychology consultant?   10:05 What do runners of all skill levels have in common when it comes to mental barriers?   13:57 How would advise r

Our very own community manager at RunnersConnect, Tony Pallotta, recently joined the RunnersConnect team after owning and operating a specialty running store in Boston for twelve years. Leaving one running mecca for another, Tony now lives in Denver, CO where he continues working as a personal coach as well as training for his next big ultramarathon. He has raced everything from the 400 on the track all the way up to Ironman’s and has accumulated enough miles to circle the globe twice, including a double Grand Canyon crossing. Tony has dedicated so much of his life to helping other runners meet their potential, and not only is he our community manager at RunnersConnect but he’s also a longtime member. Listen in as Tony shares his insight, knowledge, and experience to break down some of the most pervasive misconceptions about injuries, shoes, and more. Questions Tony is asked: 2:22 Tony’s background 3:38 What was it like transitioning from a RunnersConnect member to a RunnersConnect staff member? 4:28 What are

President of the International Association of Women Runners, Bennett Cohen is a renowned coach for women over 40 and has helped women into their late 70s reach new personal bests. Plagued by his own nagging injuries, Bennett conducted research on how to train smarter and use strength training. As a result, he was able to get back into full training incredibly quickly, as you’ll hear, and he has been able to remain virtually injury free since. He explains in detail the reasons why older runners in general, and women specifically, have different injury risks and training needs than younger runners and he also discusses strategies to help master runners of any experience level. He’s been an avid runner for almost 40 years and a coach for 16 years, and in this episode he shares his valuable insight on how to tailor our training depending on our age and gender. And don’t worry - if you’re a man or woman under the age of 40 - there’s plenty for you in this interview as well.   Questions Bennett is asked: 2:07 How d

Have you ever trained hard for a race, paid the entry and travel fees, only to have a bad experience because the race wasn’t what you expected? Enter BibRave. Tim Murphy and his wife Jessica are both avid runners who founded BibRave back in 2011 with the desire to separate the good races from the bad so runners wouldn’t have to take chances. BibRave is an online running community that allows runners to research, recommend, and leave feedback on races. This of course makes the website important to not only runners but to race coordinators and directors as well, and that’s why Tim and Jessica also help races improve and better promote themselves. Whether you’re trying to figure out where to race next or maybe you’re thinking of conducting an event of your own, this episode’s for you. And if you’re in the US (or you’ve raced in the US), be sure to nominate your favorite race for the BibRave 100 - a definitive list of the best races in America. Voting ends August 20, 2017.   Questions Tim is asked: 3:11 How did y

Sleep, stress, and dehydration can all raise or lower heart rate on any given day, which makes heart rate training less accurate than we’d like.   That’s why co-founder and lead engineer of Stryd Jamie Williamson decided it was time for a change.   With his business partner Li Shang and a team of like-minded “sports nuts”, Jamie set out to create the world’s first wearable power meter for running.   Stryd understands how fast you can run and how long you can run by measuring energy output three dimensionally.   Its unique environmental sensors measure your movements - including forward and back, side to side, and up and down - to determine how fast, how far, and how efficiently you can run across any terrain.   And that’s not even the best part.   It collects this data at lab grade power to give you real-time, actionable target numbers that let you know how efficiently you’re running and make reaching your goals a whole lot simpler.   Listen in as Jamie discusses how Stryd works and why power is quickly repla

Ultrarunner, coach, and best-selling author Jenny Hadfield began running to lose weight, but, as many people do, she quickly fell in love with it.   However, one thing about the running world Jenny didn’t love was the formulaic, one-size-fits-all training plans that didn’t accommodate for busy lives.   She began working with runners to create training that fit their unique makeup as well as their schedules outside running. She works to make running more accessible, and she’s a large part of the reason the sport has seen such a boom over the last 20 years.   In this episode, Jenny shares her experiences and philosophies to show us that there is a more practical approach to training - not only with our busy schedules but also with our bodies. Questions Jenny is asked: 3:30 How did you first get into running? 6:14 When you first started did you see yourself doing all these extreme distance races? 8:10 What have been some races that you feel were defining moments in your career? 10:02 What were some of the diffic

“Nick Symmonds” has long been a household name in the running world. He is a two-time Olympian, six-time U.S. champion, the 2013 World Championship silver medalist, and the fourth-fastest American of all time in the 800 with a time of 1:42.95. He’s one of America’s best track athletes ever, and, at the age of 33, he’s retiring. Well, at least from the track. Nick’s passion for running and his relentless desire to do more has him turning his sights to a new, slightly different challenge: the marathon. Nick will toe the line at the Honolulu Marathon this December 10th, 2017, and he admits that he’s going to have quite a few barriers to overcome in the months ahead (barriers many of our listeners know too well). Listen in as Nick reflects back on his incredible career, discusses his objectives for both the Honolulu Marathon and his company Run Gum, and shares his insight on the art of setting goals and working towards them.   P.S. Make sure you enter the RunAloha Sweepstakes for a chance to win an all-inclusive,

Closing the Gap Between Who We Are and Who We Can Be - With Adam Goucher & Tim Catalano Adam Goucher & Tim Catalano met at the University of Colorado where they ran together under esteemed coach Mark Wetmore. It was there that a lasting friendship was born, and Tim and Adam later went on to pen a book on their combined experiences and studies. The book is called Running the Edge, and it is as much about life as it is about running. Running the Edge served as a philosophical foundation for their business, Run The Edge, a community of fitness and fun based in Boulder, Colorado. The ultimate goal of Run The Edge is to help people around the world improve their fitness and overall well-being, and to encourage all levels of transformation and growth through community support. Adam and Tim are big believers in the power of reflection and self-awareness, and as they strive to help others better themselves in running and beyond, they’re continually working to do the same. Take a listen and learn how the power

Playing to Your Strengths with Esther Atkins When Skechers Performance athlete Esther Atkins realized she didn’t quite possess the genetics to become an 800 meter specialist, she set her sights on something different - and it’s lucky she did. One of America’s best marathoners today, Esther was the 2014 US Marathon champion and earned a spot on the World Championships Marathon team in 2015. With a blazing personal best of 2:33:15 and many more achievements to her name, it’s clear Esther found her calling. But just as with most runners, Esther’s career has not been without its setbacks. From severe performance anxiety to plain old bad races, Esther has persevered through a lot to become the accomplished competitor she is today, and she credits a large part of her success to avoiding comparisons and focusing on her strengths. Listen in as Esther shares her inspiring story and her tips for capitalizing on the strengths unique to you and your body. Here are some of the topics we’ll discuss today:   Esther’s runni

Orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. David Geier has an enormous passion for helping athletes reach their maximum potential, and he believes a big part of that is simply learning from others’ mistakes. We runners often ride that line between just right and too much in training, and injury occurs when we go too far. This is the basis of David’s book That’s Gotta Hurt, which chronicles the injuries that have served as turning points in sports medicine, including Joan Benoit’s legendary win in the 1984 US Olympic Marathon Trials just 17 days after arthroscopic knee surgery. In this episode, David will discuss the ways in which sports medicine has evolved and share the truth behind treatments like cortisone injections, stem cell therapy, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to help you navigate through injuries for long term health and success. Here are some of the topics we’ll discuss today: Common causes of running injuries and how to minimize them The importance of sleep and how to know if you’re

It was the hottest Boston Marathon in history.   Heat waves blurred the horizon as Jack and his competition toed the starting line, their uniforms already drenched in sweat. It was over 100 degrees, and spectators lined the course with sprinklers and garden hoses at the ready to cool off passing runners.   40 percent of the field dropped out that year, but, through smart racing and pure grit, Jack gradually worked his way into the lead and then into history as he crossed the line the champion of the 1976 Boston Marathon with a finishing time of 2:20:19.   The race was nicknamed - appropriately enough - the “Run for the Hoses”, and it was one of the biggest defining moments of Jack’s life.   “One” being the operative word.   Jack went on to record a personal best of 2:11:17 at Boston in 1978 and qualified for 3 consecutive Olympic Trials in the marathon in 1972, 1976, and 1980.   Jack also taught sports psychology at Tufts for 26 years and now works as a training consultant to the Dana-Farber Marathon Challeng

What if someone told you there is no “correct” stride? That, just like our fingerprints, everyone’s optimal stride is unique to them? While this goes against the grain of what we runners have been taught, Jonathan Beverly has the proof to back it up. The author of a new book called Your Best Stride, Jonathan is a coach, lifetime runner, and expert in running shoes and the running industry. He writes for Runner’s World and Outside Magazine just to name a few, and he also served as editor of Running Times from 2000-2016. Today Jonathan’s going to share with us some shocking information on the myths surrounding running shoes and what constitutes a perfect stride, how to counter those lifestyle habits detrimental to your stride, and how to master the best stride for you and your performance. Here are some of the topics we’ll discuss today:   Jonathan’s new book Your Best Stride Why there is no “correct” stride Stride signature and preferred movement path Why foot strike is overrated The perils of sitting down an

After LA native and trail runner Caitlin Landesberg discovered she was gluten intolerant, she felt left out when she could no longer partake in the ritual post-workout beer with her friends.   To most runners, this ritual is a familiar one and part of what makes the sport so gratifying. Kicking back with friends after a workout or a race and having a well-earned beer (or, ya know, maybe a few) is an important facet of running and one that goes way back. The celebration (and often commiseration) following a race is a key component to our camaraderie as runners, and beer plays a big role in that.   To Caitlin, running just wasn’t the same without this component, and so she began looking for a satisfying gluten-free beer that would quench her thirst for the rich, full taste to which she was accustomed.   Coming up empty, Caitlin decided to just make her own, and, after a lot of trial and error, Sufferfest Beer Company was born.   Specializing in gluten-removed beer, Sufferfest’s mission is to build community in

Cherie Gruenfeld exemplifies the ability to remain competitive regardless of age.   Much like many of our listeners, Cherie picked up endurance sports a little later in life - starting running in her early 40s and triathlons in her late 40s.   Now at the age of 73, she is one of the most heavily decorated Masters triathletes in the world and still competes in half Ironmans to this day.   In this episode, Cherie walks us through her late entry into competitive running and triathlons, her philosophy for finding continued success in the sport, and a little about her nonprofit organization through which she works to help underprivileged kids achieve more than they ever thought possible.   Between her advice on longevity in the sport and her outlook on self betterment (even when that may no longer mean setting PR’s), Cherie’s story has something for everyone. Here are some of the topics we’ll discuss today: What motivated Cherie to start running and competing in triathlons How she has maintained her competitive s

When ultramarathoner and running guru Danny Dreyer attended a tai chi class in 1999, a lightbulb went off.   He believed the martial art’s principles of alignment, relaxation, and balance might allow him to finally make the next leap in training, and he wasn’t disappointed.   After he began incorporating tai chi into his running, Danny not only witnessed dramatic improvements in his performance, but he also wasn’t getting injured any more.   In fact, he’d finish a run feeling exactly the same as when he started.   Wishing to share his discovery, Danny founded ChiRunning through which he’s helped thousands of runners conquer injury and run more efficiently to reach new levels.   A mindful and process driven exercise rather than simply a means to an end, ChiRunning is also known as “moving meditation”, and it’s helped both recreational and elite athletes reduce impact for improved health, better performance, and more enjoyable running.   Listen in as Danny discusses the benefits of ChiRunning as well as how you

Most of us have been there. You’re in the thick of training just a few weeks away from your big goal race, and then one morning you step out of bed to feel a new pain - a pain far worse than the everyday soreness you know too well. *insert expletive* So what does the doctor prescribe? You guessed it. Time off. These two words are pretty much the last thing we runners want to hear after months and months of hard work, and the thought of scrapping all that work and starting over after your goal race has come and gone can be demoralizing. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Enter Dr. Christopher Segler of Doc On The Run, a San Francisco-based practice that specializes in podiatry and running injuries. An accomplished marathoner and Ironman triathlete, Chris knows full well how frustrating injuries can be, which is why he’s devoted his life’s work to getting sidelined runners healthy and back to the grind as fast as possible. So what’s the first step to a speedy recovery? According to Chris, don’t take time off.

You know your body better than anyone else, so you know when things aren’t feeling “right”. Unfortunately, traditional healthcare doesn’t typically cater to runners. Reference ranges are determined without the athlete in mind, and when you express symptoms of fatigue, weight gain, or maybe IBS to the average practitioner, you’re often prescribed medication as a short term solution to a longterm problem. Enter functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner and “biohacker” Christopher Kelly. Chris is the founder of a company called Nourish Balance Thrive that provides athletes with science-based, personally customized support programs based on their unique wiring. A program is created with an athlete’s specific biomarkers in mind, which are substances indicative of disease, infection, or environmental exposure that help Chris and his team pinpoint what might be holding that athlete back. Chris then creates a special diet and lifestyle plan that will trigger optimal gene expression (i.e. allow you to achieve peak

Since Christopher McDougall popularized the practice in his 2009 publication of Born to Run, more and more runners have been opting for minimalist shoes or, ditching the foam altogether, barefoot running. Followers of the barefoot movement maintain the practice both significantly reduces injury and improves running performance. But is there real, scientific proof to back these claims? According to Dr. Irene Davis, the answer is a resounding yes. Irene is one of sport’s leading experts on running biomechanics and injury as well as the most credible minimalist shoe and barefoot running advocate in the world. A professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, Irene’s research revolves primarily around the relationship between lower extremity mechanics and injury. She’s devoted the last decade to developing protocols to alter runners’ gait patterns and thereby reduce those mechanics known to cause injury - mechanics, as Irene has learned, often caused by footwear. Lis