The Running Explained Podcast

Have you ever had a big goal race go SO CATASTROPHICALLY SIDEWAYS that you're plummeted into an existential crisis afterwards? Yeah, us too! In this episode with Dr. Victoria Sekely (@trainsmartunstrong) we discuss the pressure of setting goals, the impact of race disappointments, and the influence of others' opinions. PLUS, we talk about the challenges faced by women in running and the importance of living with uncertainty and being able to pivot. The conversation includes personal experiences, such as training for and racing the New York City Marathon, and going out too fast in races! KEY HIGHLIGHTS! 04:45 The Impact of Race Disappointments 06:37 Vicky's Experience of Training for and Racing the New York City Marathon 20:51 Navigating Expectations and Perfectionism 45:12 Dealing with Shame and Self-Worth 55:00 Trusting Yourself in Races 01:05:13 Redefining Goals and Expectations 01:07:15 Approaching Future Goals with Awareness 01:12:08 Accepting Imperfection and Progress -- Victoria Sekely is a Manhattan-based Physical Therapist with a passion for all things running. Victoria graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and went on to complete her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York University. Victoria is also a USATF Level 1 and RRCA-certified run coach. She is dedicated to helping runners of all levels by using her skills and knowledge to assist runners who are rehabbing from an injury, interested in injury prevention, and/or looking to improve their training with custom running programs.

FOOTSTRIKE is often a hot topic among runners... but should it be? Does where you land matter? If so, WHY? Physical therapist & founder of Learn2Run Dr. Matt Minard, PT, DPT, OCS, CMTPT, CSCS, Cert. MDT, returns to the show for a deep dive into all things foostrike! -What is footstrike? -What footstrike can and can't tell you -Why you might be thinking about footstrike all wrong -Heel striking vs midfoot or forefoot striking -Footstrike form cues: helpful or harmful? -What about sprinters? -Footstrike on different terrain -AND more! WATCH: "Reverse Engineering Foot Strike- Why & When the HEEL is King" on the Learn2Run YouTube channel! Download The Run Club app by Running Explained and join the club today! -- Dr. Matt Minard owns Learn 2 Run, a program that teaches runners how to run smarter, safer, and faster. He hopes this podcast will help runners improve their metrics while reducing injuries. In practice, he focuses on 3 very important aspects of running: optimizing mechanics, building a base, and increasing VO2max. His purpose is to help people. With a passion for human movement and fitness, he is driven to help others learn how to move their bodies strategically and efficiently to reduce the risk of injury and increase overall wellness.

Melissa Lodge, an elite runner and researcher, discusses RED-S in endurance athletes. They explore the history, causes, and culture of RED-S, as well as the impact of teammates and within-day deficits. Melissa emphasizes the need for education and intervention to improve outcomes for female athletes and girls in sport.

Welcome to 2024! In this first episode of the year, Coach Elisabeth breaks down what makes an "elite" runner elite: their genetics, training, and more! -What is "elite"? A tiered framework for understanding athletic performance -Genetic predispositions: maybe they're born with it! -Why it's not just about good genes -The training: how much? What type? -And more!

In this year-end reflection, the podcast covers topics such as recovering from relative energy deficiency syndrome, the impact of carbon plated shoes on performance, the importance of individualization in running, the podcast distribution on Spotify, the concept of rehab and prehab for runners, the importance of strength training for rehabilitation and prehabilitation, and expressing gratitude to the audience.

Are you derailed by performance anxiety? Are you pinning your self-worth & whether your training cycle was "worth it" on if you PR'd or not? Dr. Leah Avery, DPT, joins the show today to talk about her experience in healing from debilitating performance anxiety and her relationship with athletic performance. Leah was a D1 All-American swimmer and competed at the Olympic Trials, but her relationship with sport and performance was anything but healthy; when she started running during her graduate work, she found herself stuck in a cycle of performance anxiety that culminated in panic attacks during not one, but two, different marathons. Determined to make a change in her relationship with performance, sport, and running, Leah has spent the past few years intentionally freeing herself from the expectations of performing in a certain way and re-finding her love of running and sport! Leah has been a practicing PT for nearly a decade which is also when she began here running career. Prior to that she was a competitive swimmer starting at the age of 8 and retired her senior year of college. During her career she was a D1 All-American and competed at the Olympic Trials. Leah’s athletic career was anything but linear and she faced many hardships which originally lead her to a career in physical therapy. However, after starting her running journey, it was clear she had an unhealthy relationship with athletics. Her mission is to help runners reach their potential in a healthy manner by treating the person, not just the runner. And help them understand that running adds value to our lives but it is not what makes us valuable.

Taking objective stock of your training cycle - what did you attempt to do, what actually happened, and how did it feel - can be an incredibly useful exercise so that you can learn what worked, what didn't... and ID any mistakes that were made! Coach Elisabeth walks you through training cycle analysis in this episode that will encourage you to... 1) Objectively look at what you set out to do vs what actually happened 2) Identify patterns & learn lessons 3) Understand what is and is outside of your control and 4) Take those lessons in your next training cycle! This episode is sponsored by Previnex! Try the probiotic & other supplements that Coach Elisabeth takes daily, and save 15% using code RUNEXP on your first order from ⁠⁠⁠Previnex.com⁠⁠⁠! - Coach Elisabeth Scott is the Founder and Head Coach at Running Explained. She is a multi-certified run coach, Boston Qualified marathoner, and seeker of both truth and compassion in helping YOU become the best runner you can be!

Coach and elite mountain runner Kim Nedeau discusses the benefits of low run volume/high training volume training framework, manipulation of training intensity distribution, configuring a training week, and the success of elite runners on this framework. They also explore alternative training methods, the challenge of convincing athletes to lower mileage, and the importance of cross training in running. Kim Nedeau shares her coaching programs and services for athletes seeking alternative training methods and injury prevention.

Sports dietitian Kylee Van Horn discusses gut health for runners, including supporting good gut health, the gut microbiome, signals for training balance, nutritional training, signs of poor gut health, and more. Kylee Van Horn is an endurance sports dietitian and founder of Flynutrition.

Post-race recovery starts AS SOON AS YOU CROSS THE FINISH LINE! What do you need to do to set yourself up for post-race recovery success? This episode is sponsored by Previnex! Try the probiotic that Coach Elisabeth takes daily for her own gut health, and save 15% using code RUNEXP on your first order from ⁠Previnex.com⁠! -The very first things to focus on after crossing the finish line -Refueling and hydrating in the hours after your race -Muscle glycogen depletion and resynthesis -WHY racing is so stressful on your body -How much time do you really need to take off after a race? -Why does it feel like I've lost SO much fitness?? -And more! Coach Elisabeth is the founder and head coach at Running Explained. She is a multi-certified run coach, has been featured in the New York Times, and works with runners around the globe to help them understand the science behind endurance running in order to become the best runners they can be!