Joe Friel is a renowned endurance sports coach most notable for some of the elite triathlon and cycling athletes he’s worked with over the years. He’s also the author of a great book called the “Triathlete’s Training Bible” and he joins the show today to discuss some of the running-related themes in the newest edition.  In a wide-ranging conversation around mental readiness, physical readiness, and race-season planning you’ll get some excellent takeaways from topics like: why should you...

It can be trickey to tell the difference between a niggle and an injury but how you respond when something doesn’t feel quite right could be the difference between a PR and and DNF. Coach Hayley Munn joins us in this to show, bringing her educational background in physical therapy and years of coaching experience to help tell the difference between an injury and a niggle and explain what to do about each of them.  It can be really challenging sometimes for even the most experienced runners...

In this episode of Run To The Top, sports dietitian Alex Larson delves into the intricacies of fueling for improved performance and body composition among endurance athletes, advocating for a flexible eating style.  Larson offers insights into post-race recovery, emphasizing the importance of timing and food group choices to optimize recovery windows. The discussion also touches upon the early signs and consequences of underfueling, highlighting the need for sustained nutritional support for...

If you’re a runner, you probably already know you need to train to get faster but what about taking this to the next level with over 175 miles per week?  This is exactly the type of extreme training that went into Kelvin Kiptum’s world record setting marathon performance, where he ran 2:00:35 in Chicago this past fall.  In this episode we’ll take a closer look at Kiptum’s training and discuss whether everyday runners can employ some of the same strategies or if Kiptum’s radical approach to...

In this episode of Run To The Top, we are joined by Steve Sashen, the Founder-CEO of Xero shoes. We discuss his journey from returning to running in his late forties to becoming a competitive sprinter and building a prominent shoe brand. Our conversation delves into the problems with modern running shoes, the advantages and disadvantages of super shoes, various biomechanical studies informing the athletic footwear industry, and the case for minimalist footwear and barefoot running. Takeaways...

In today’s episode, we’re bringing you a story from an incredible athlete who spent years of training to accomplish his goal of competing at the olympic marathon trials by running an OTQ time - and ultimately fell just short of that goal during his most recent attempt. This athlete happens to also be one of our own coaches here at RunnersConnect and his name is Ruairi Moynihan. Ruairi came so close to hitting the 2:18 standard back in 2022, running an impressive 2:21 marathon while training...

In the remote Arizona mountain town of Flagstaff more than half a century ago, a training ground for generations of legendary runners and a collegiate dynasty at Northern Arizona University were born. Authors Matt Baxter and Ron Mann capture the history of it all in their new book “Running Up The Mountain''. They join Run To The Top to reflect on some of the key insights from the story including: The benefits of altitude training and other environmental factors that shaped the birth and...

Welcome back to RC spotlight where we highlight amazing achievements from runners just like you. Today’s athlete proves that success in running comes in a variety of forms. On today’s show, we’ll hear from Catie Markesich, an athlete who isn’t afraid to carve her own path by prioritizing personal growth and happiness in the sport. This is the story of a runner who brings out the best in herself and others as she tackles challenging goals. Catie competed in numerous marathons and...

It’s the New Year and that means aspirational thinking is in the air. Many of you might be wondering - how do you harness that mindset not just in the first days and weeks of the year, but throughout 2024? Well, metabolism expert and transformation specialist, Angelo Poli returns to the show to address just that. We talk about: goal setting around sports nutrition and everyday dieting understanding the levers for change in your diet and overall lifestyle to follow through on your ambitions...

Every runner knows the best workout is the one you actually do, but it can be hard to find time for consistently sticking with your training program.  Luckily, there are ways to improve your training without taking time away from other activities or even to cut down on the time required for your current workout routine. Here’s our list of what you’ll learn Creative ways to make your runs more time-efficient Tips to make fueling your runs less of a chore Ways to combine some of your...

When dealing with everyday pain and tightness in your body, life may not be as enjoyable as it could be, and this extends to running. You become more injury-prone, your performance suffers, and movement becomes less enjoyable. Above all, you may not be living up to your full potential. If this resonates with your recent experiences, tune into this episode with Dr. Grayson Wickham, a Physical Therapy expert and founder of the Movement Vault. Dr. Wickham is on a mission to assist runners in...

One of the most polarizing topics in running is the treadmill. Some love the comfort of running indoors while others find this machine boring or monotonous, giving it a nickname in the running community as the “dreadmill”. Wherever you stand on this debate, it can be a useful tool for training that provides consistency and control over your runs.  We’re right in the middle of winter right now and if you live in a cold climate, you’re almost certain to have days where cold and snow make...

The turn to the New Year is a great time to reflect back to lessons learned and look forward to what you hope to accomplish. In that vein, in today’s episode I’ll dive into… 2 important lessons I learned in 2023 My goals for 2024 Exciting updates coming from RC Some of my favorite episodes from 2023 runnersconnect.net/638 runnersconnect.net/642 runnersconnect.net/650 runnersconnect.net/651 Training for the marathon? Get training advice and prep tips from some of the best coaches...

The winter season is officially here and while most people spend their time inside watching Netflix or curling up to a good book; many runners brave the elements to keep training through tough conditions. If you’re a runner looking to run year-round we’re here to help. In this episode of underrated or overrated, we’re covering winter training topics so you know what gear and training strategies will actually help you to get through the colder winter season. Training in the wintertime can...

As we turn to 2024 many of us are starting to think about and plan our long-term goals. That’s why this week’s podcast is about helping you plan for the year. You’ll learn… How to think about and plan big goals Finding the right races Planning your seasons Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page ...

Welcome to another edition of RC spotlight. Today’s show is all about an athlete who is absolutely crushing it in the marathon after not even being allowed to run long distances until later in life. Her name is Sabina Havkins and this talented runner has proven the glass ceiling is no match for her determination and perseverance. Sabina started running as a kid in high school when women couldn’t even have their own sports team. Despite a passion for distance running, she ran the 400m to get...

Do you struggle to maintain your training during the holiday season? If that sounds like you, you’re not alone. It’s an exciting time of year, but all of the extra social activities can make it difficult to stick to a normal running routine. Not to mention the cold and snowy weather you might face depending on where you train. Luckily, you don’t have to choose between holiday fun and running success. If you want to enjoy your holiday plans while still maintaining fitness, this is the episode...

How do we overcome loneliness? And how can running help? In this episode of Run To The Top, Nick Jonsson joins the show to address these questions head-on. Guided partly by personal experience through recovery and partly through research for his book “Executive Loneliness”, Nick offers many lessons on how to take stock of your situation, ask for help, get healthy, and find your relationships and purpose in this world.  Tying it all back to our running community and Nick’s background in...

Earlier in September we released a Boston Marathon special about qualifying for this iconic race. In today’s show, we’re giving you our expert tips on how to train for the Boston Marathon or any other marathon you might have planned this spring. As this episode airs, we’re now about 4 months out from the Boston marathon which is the perfect time to start your training in order to make sure you’re in the best shape possible for race day. Boston is a challenging course with lots of hills. If...

Martinus Evans’ doctor told him that he needed to lose weight, but also that he couldn’t run. Martinus felt otherwise. He said he was going to start training for a marathon. The rest is history.  Over the past few years, Martinus wrote a book called the “Slow AF Run Club”, has built an impressive like-minded running community that supports non-traditional runners in larger bodies and has appeared on podcasts like this one and major events across the running world to share his message and...

It takes a lot of hard work and talent to become a professional runner or coach but even the best of us make mistakes. In this episode, our expert team from RunnersConnect are sharing their biggest running mistakes so you can learn to avoid making the same ones. Training for a big goal can be overwhelming but RunnersConnect is built on the idea of community and of bringing runners together to learn from each other to progress as athletes. We’ve all had bad workouts or messed up fuelling in a...

Are you feeling the burnout from your runs? Ready to harness effective strategies for enduring creativity and commitment to your running?  Lately, I’ve been feeling and thinking all of this and that’s what inspired me to reach out to Mike Schnaidt, a seasoned designer and marathon runner whose recent book, “Creative Endurance” outlines a series of ideas and methods you can deploy to reignite or keep your imagination, spirit, and sense of innovation or breakthrough flowing.  If you haven’t...

With budgets tight around the holidays, Coach Michael shares 5 of his best tips to help you save on your running.  You’ll learn how to… Make your own gels Save on your running shoes Meal prep that actually works Find and save on races Train smarter on a budget. Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook...

Nutritional supplementation can play an important role in any runner’s lifestyle, but it’s oftentimes hard to separate fact from fiction when determining what to use, why to use it, and how much you should be taking. Here to make sense of some of our questions in this space is David Block from Previnex. From his career-long exposure to the supplement and wellness spaces, David shares insights on how certain supplements contribute to health and longevity.  Specifically, we explore the...

Welcome to a special edition of the Run to the Top podcast where we’re turning the tables and hearing from athletes like you who are accomplishing incredible things with their running! We’re calling it RC spotlight and today’s episode is all about a runner with an incredible story defying age and expectations.  His name is Kumar Rao and competing in the 70+ age category, he’s been smashing records in everything from the 5k up to the marathon. Over the course of this episode you’ll hear from...