The Strength Running Podcast

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!