The Strength Running Podcast

In high school, my indoor track coach always told our team to “get out of your comfort zones!” This valuable mental toughness training always reminded us that racing is certainly not comfortable… And over the years, my ability to hone mental toughness into a skill to be used at will became easier and easier. In the beginning, it wasn’t that way: I sandbagged workouts just because I didn’t feel good I “settled” on placing 2nd or 3rd in races because I was afraid to believe in myself I’ve even dropped out of races for no good reason other than my head wasn’t in the right place Even now, I have experiences that shake my sense of self-belief. In 2015, I DNF’d an ultramarathon (my first and only attempt). In 2019, I was disqualified for cutting the course (by accident) of a trail race. These experiences shook my self-confidence and made me question whether or not I even possessed any mental toughness. But I soon realized that I wasn’t approaching mental toughness in the right way. It’s not an issue of whether you “have it” or “don’t have it” – it’s an issue of, “are you working on it?” That’s because mental toughness training is an ongoing practice that must be cultivated over time. You’re never “done” with developing this valuable mental skill – just like you’re never “done” with workouts, long runs, or recovery runs as a runner. This episode also includes an announcement about Mindset Mastery, our new coaching program. It's now open for up to 20 runners but registration closes on Monday, February 3rd! 

Dr. Justin Ross' areas of expertise include: Mitigating anxiety, depression, and stress Managing the psychological impact of injury Developing high performing athletes Mindfulness and pain management He uses cognitive behavioral therapy, performance psychology, and mindfulness training to help athletes improve their inner self-talk and develop the mental skills to lead more productive and successful athletic lives. Justin joins us on the podcast to discuss a wide variety of issues: The most important psychological skills for endurance runners How to teach performance psychology for runners How mental fitness skills impact the rest of our life Reinforcing habits through mental training And more… Every runner has struggled with the mental side of the sport: doubts, despair, boredom, anxiety, lack of confidence, and no motivation. Dr. Justin Ross is here to help us conquer that inner critic, use performance psychology to stay motivated, and get in control of our mindset.

This was an incredible year for the Strength Running Podcast and I have you and our guests to thank! If you have shared the pod with your running group, left a rating or review in Apple Music, or supported our sponsors I want to thank you for making all of this possible. In 2019, we hit one million downloads for the podcast, we’ve already surpassed 1.5 million and are quickly en route to 2 million downloads. These are surreal numbers - and they're because of you. In this episode, host Jason Fitzgerald recaps the most popular lessons, ideas, and principles from the last year of the podcast.

I first met Peter at the US Trail Running Conference in Estes Park, CO. We sat together at lunch, had a great conversation, and I'm excited to bring his perspectives to the Strength Running Podcast. Peter is on the podcast today to discuss a wide-ranging set of issues that affect runners: What counts as "trail running" (especially if you live in a city) How you can get involved with trail maintenance in your area Plogging and how we can leave spaces better than we found them His favorite type of race The ATRA trail race calendar Show Links & Resources: The ATRA "Find a Trail" tool Strength Running's Trail Running Resource Page Follow Peter on Instagram Trail maintenance opportunities How to become a competitive trail runner (with pro Abby Levene) How Anna Mae Flynn trains for trail ultras Please be sure to say hi to Peter on social media and thank him for coming on the podcast! Also, a big thank you is in order for SteadyMD for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Learn more about their medical services for runners and how you can benefit from a physician who understands runners. No wait times, no copays, no office visits. Just a doctor who understands runners who's always available for you 24/7.

This coaching call is with a runner named Dena about training and goal setting as a Master’s Athlete. She’s about to turn 41, she’s running well, but she wants to make sure that she continues to do so as a Master’s runner. And there’s no doubt that when you start getting older, running starts getting harder. Recovery is slower, adaptation takes longer, injury risks are higher, and we all experience declines in reaction time, muscle mass, VO2 Max, and so many other factors that affect our running. In this conversation with Dena, we’re talking about the training updates that Master’s Runners can make to stall the aging process, continue to improve, and reduce their injury risk. We also discuss goal setting and how Dena can continue to keep things interesting as she runs far into her 40’s. You’ll notice that I spent a fair amount of time encouraging Dena to train for shorter races and to lift weights. Both of these goals are similar in that they are strength and power oriented - precisely the skills that we must word harder to preserve as we get older.  In fact, you can see a big case study on a runner named David at strengthrunning.com/david/, who at age 73 (!), recovered from a major injury and qualified for the Boston Marathon, by focusing on his strength and power. If I could have every runner over the age of 40 practice two simple things, it would be speedwork and weightlifting. Not just for the strength and speed, but just as much for the hormonal benefits of both. These activities provide a big hit of testosterone and growth hormone, helping spur adaptations, muscle growth, and recovery. Exactly what older runners need. I encourage you to visit our website at strengthrunning.com/strength/ and learn more about the incredible benefits of weightlifting for runners, get some example exercises and other case studies, and see how your running can be transformed with a focus on strength and power. And of course, our email courses are always free.

Abby Levene is relatively new to the ultramarathon distance but has been racing for most of her life. She competed for the University of Colorado at Boulder as a grad student and has a background in the 5k and 10k. But as it happens so frequently to Colorado residents, the mountains came calling. In just the last few years, Abby has made a name for herself as an Adidas sponsored trail runner. And just about two weeks ago, Abby placed 5th at the renowned North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Mile Championships in her first 50-mile race ever. Talk about a debut! In this conversation, we discuss: How track prepared her for long trail races, How her love for trail running began in Boulder, CO What her transition was like from the track to the trails The mindset shifts that are necessary as you start trail running Her advice for aspiring trail runners Show Links & Resources: Follow Abby on Instagram and Strava Trail Running Resources Abby's sponsor Adidas Abby is a genuine pleasure to hang out with and her joy for the sport of running is practically tangible. I hope you enjoy this conversation and if so, an honest review on Apple Music means a lot! Our sponsor for this episode is Inside Tracker. I’ve been a big fan of Inside Tracker for years because of their science-backed, evidence-based system of helping runners avoid burnout, overtraining, and injury through their blood testing service. Take a selfie from the inside and go to insidetracker.com, use code strengthrunning to save 10% on any test at checkout, and discover if you have any deficiencies that are impacting your running.

"Fast Kate" Grace is one of the United States' most decorated and accomplished middle-distance runners. She's an Olympian, Olympic Trials champion, and a runner-up at outdoor nationals in the 1500m. She was also our guest on Episode 97 of the podcast. Kate is a Nike-sponsored athlete, a member of the Bowerman Track Club, and a 4:22 miler. She joins us on the podcast to discuss how an elite runner like herself plans an entire season from start to finish. We're discussing: Overall length of the season, tune-up race scheduling and strategy, and planning Her support team of coaches, experts, and clinicians that makes it all possible Linear vs. nonlinear periodization and the progress of her workouts But she's not the only guest on the podcast today! You'll also be hearing from my old friend and former teammate, Jake Tuber. Jake is the mastermind behind Endeavorun, a new coaching program that gives regular runners like us the "pro athlete experience" with: A kickoff retreat in Tracktown USA at the University of Oregon Coaching and custom training for every registrant A team of PT's, dietitians, and elite runners (like Kate Grace) to keep your running on track VIP race experience and ongoing support - just like the pros It's a coach, running camp, strength programming, fan experience with pro runners, training program, and nutritionist rolled into one program.  The running community has not seen a program this comprehensive; it virtually defies definition and I'm excited to be a part of it next year. Code JASON will also save you 15% on the registration fee and gets you a free pairs of shoes of your choice! Please also take the Endeavorun survey to help us create the best program possible.

Pro ultramarathoner and trail runner Abby Hall joins us to discuss transitioning to longer distances after being a middle-distance athlete, when she thinks it’s a good idea to drop out of a race, what surprised her most when she started competing in long trail races, and what she considers her biggest failure. Abby has placed in the top 10 at races like UTMB CCC, Lake Sonoma, and North Face 50 Mile Championships.  She's a global athlete for adidas and is also sponsored by Ultimate Direction, LEKI, Unived, and CTS. Our sponsor for this episode is SteadyMD. SteadyMD pairs you with a primary care doctor, online who’s available via phone, text, or video for all of your needs. And not just any doctor, but a fellow runner who understands the training process and can easily order you blood work, referrals for specialists, and more. Go to steadymd.com/strengthrunning to learn more and reserve your spot.  Don't miss Episode 113 of the podcast where Jason asked Abby as well as two other pro runners how they fuel for different types of runs, races, and what might change if the distance of their race was a lot shorter.

I first became aware of Max King in 2014 when he won the World Warrior Dash Championship. I realized - after winning my own Warrior Dash in 2012 - that runners are often the best OCR competitors. Before I first interviewed Max, I studied his career and was absolutely amazed by his accomplishments in virtually every discipline there is in the sport of running: Trail races Ultramarathons Cross country 3,000m steeplechase on the track Road marathons Obstacle course races Mountain running If it involves mostly running, Max King is a dominant athlete. And he's not just a finisher - or even a medalist. He's often the ultimate victor, having won world Warrior Dash and mountain running championships and trail and ultramarathon national championships. He's even dabbled in triathlon and adventure races. That's a major reason I asked Max to contribute to our Little Black Book of Recovery & Prevention (9 pro runners shared their favorite injury prevention advice). I wanted to know how such a versatile athlete stayed healthy and prevented injuries. But today, we're discussing something different: how Max King trains.

Anna Mae is actually a recent entry into the world of ultramarathons. She debuted at the 2015 Way Too Cool 50k - only to have her finish time qualify as a top-10 all-time performance. Today, her sponsors include: HOKA ONE ONE Suunto Honey Stinger She's the current course record holder (and 2019 winner) of the Speedgoat 50 Miler. You can usually find her exploring trails and mountains near her home in Marble, Colorado. Anna Mae joins me on the Strength Running Podcast to discuss her training. Specifically, we talk about: The (big) role cross-training plays in her ultramarathon preparation How she mitigates and takes advantage of altitude What a typical, heavy training day looks like for her Her average weekly mileage and vertical gain How she recovers after a 100 miler vs. a 50k ultra Injury prevention strategies for ultra runners (and the rest of us!) Please support our sponsor Inside Tracker (code strengthrunning saves 10% on any test) who help athletes determine if they have any overtraining problems, hormonal imbalances, or vitamin deficiencies. These problems could lead to reduced performance or injury so learn what's wrong so you can take action to improve.