How do we get better at racing? We need to race! Racing is a skill that is developed through experience, and yes, you'll make some mistakes along with the way - that's NORMAL. Coach Sara Manderscheid joins the show to discuss the lessons we can learn from racing, how to learn the RIGHT lessons from your races (good or bad!) and more! What do we mean when we say "racing is a skill"? Racing enough to develop the skill of racing without racing all the time! How do you communicate about racing & race planning with someone who is new or never really raced before? What do we mean when we say "the goal is to finish strong" in a race? What do we mean by "peak fitness" and why can't we race our fastest possible races all the time? Troubleshooting common race errors and what we can learn from them "I was trying to run faster but my legs wouldn't turn over!" "I kept pushing harder and harder but my pace kept slowing down!" "I went out at xx pace... why couldn't I hold it?" "It felt like my whole body just shut down at mile (10/16/22, etc) - what happened? "Why do I need to adjust my race plan when it's hot/humid, etc?" Sara's mission is to deliver customized training plans, motivation, inspiration, and support for committed runners looking to take their training to the next level. She meets the athlete where they are to create the right plan for them. Running gets to fit into life, not the other way around. With over 15 years of running experience and knowledge, Sara's goal is to help each individual become the strongest version of themselves. Showing up for yourself is the first step, Sara is right there with you in the process to discover your potential and breakthrough to new levels - as a human and as an athlete! ❤️ https://elevateyourrunning.com/

Running is many things; it's therapeutic, it's good for our mental and physical wellbeing, and it's probably part of your mental health management! But running ISN'T therapy or a replacement for therapy. Therapist & coach Sarah Strong, MSW, LCSW (@the_trail_therapist) joins the show to talk about this and the ways that we can make sure that we're using running responsibly for our mental health! Running isn't therapy, but running can be therapeutic; what do we mean by that? What running can & can't do for mental health Ways that running may contribute to or exacerbate underlying mental health conditions The difference between running for exercise & mental health management and training seriously for a big performance goal Access to therapy & healthcare equity Some signs that talking to a therapist might be better than going for a run and more! Known online as The Trail Therapist, Sarah Strong is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and running coach who is passionate about helping runners have a healthy relationship with their sport, their body, and themselves. Whether she’s training for an upcoming ultra, providing hiking based mental health services or chasing after her kids and dog, you can find Sarah on her local Colorado Front Range Trails most any day of the week. Nature, movement, and mindfulness are the foundation of her therapeutic practice.  In addition to her work as a therapist, Sarah also coaches with Microcosm Coaching and Revolution Running and volunteers her time with Bigger Than The Trail. You can find Sarah’s mental performance coaching programs and courses at the-trail-therapist.teachable.com.

This week's episode is a RUNNER Q&A! Coach Elisabeth answers questions about warm-ups, "glute activation", how to find your race pace when you're doing mostly easy running, WHY our runs are (often) of different lengths during the week, a first marathon pep talk, and more! 🕶️🦩This episode is sponsored by GOODR SUNGLASSES! Every pair comes with a 1-Year Warranty and 30-day FREE returns. 100% satisfaction guaranteed (plus Goodr is 100% Carbon Neutral company + 1% for the planet 🌎) Get FREE SHIPPING on your next order of sunglasses & support the show using code RUNEXP at www.goodr.com! 🕶️ -- Looking for guidance in your training? Not sure what do to or when do to it? Want SPECIFIC advice for your training or to learn EXACTLY what YOU should do to reach your goals? Check out the MANY training plans available including 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon, base-building, and speed base plans for beginner to experienced runners! Book a "Call A Coach" consult! 30- and 60-minute calls available with Coach Elisabeth to get YOUR specific questions & help you chart a path forward! Get more from your marathon or half marathon training with Group Coaching or TrainingPLUS programs! 1:1 Run Coaching spaces are available; learn more at the link in bio!

What role does nutrition play in injury prevention & injury recovery? What can you do to reduce your injury risk, and how can you support your injury recovery with nutrition? Registered Dietitian Steph Hnatiuk (@steph.the.runners.dietitian) joins the show to help us understand the relationship between injury and nutrition! The role underfueling plays in increasing injury risk Carb restriction & Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) What your body needs when it's injured (hint: it's not restriction!) Fear of weight gain when injured Ways we can use nutrition to support the recovery process Fasted training/"earning" your food Obsession over "burning calories" when injured Bone health & nutrition Key nutrients to support injury recovery Steph Hnatiuk has been a Registered Dietitian and Fitness Coach for over 10 years and has helped thousands of people improve their eating habits, get big results, and develop a better relationship with food. She helps runners of all levels achieve their personal best performance using her 3-step strategy: the Fuel Train Recover method. You can find her on Instagram @steph.the.runners.dietitian, or at www.stephaniehnatiuk.com

How do you learn to TRUST that the process is working? How do you learn to TRUST yourself instead of trying to be "perfect on paper"? How do you become OK with your goals taking longer than you want to achieve? Coach Angie Brown, DPT, of @realliferunners, joins the show to talk about TRUST: learning to trust the process and trust yourself! Common misconceptions about the process Why is it so hard to learn to trust ourselves? Getting frustrated & overwhelmed when you're trying to do "all the things" at the same time When our ego gets in the way Letting go of instant gratification  Learning to tune into your body, not your watch What if it takes longer than you want to reach your goals? Focusing on the process, not the outcome Not letting a single bad workout or race destroy your confidence   And more! Dr. Angie Brown, DPT is a mom, wife, entrepreneur, coach, and physical therapist that is the founder of the Real Life Runners Training Academy and Real Life Runners podcast that she hosts alongside her husband, Kevin Brown. She loves helping runners to run faster and longer without injury so they can have more energy, be strong, healthy, and fit, and have more freedom in their lives. She holds her doctorate in physical therapy, specializing in runner-specific strength and conditioning, mobility, and injury prevention for runners and also holds a certification in nutrition to help her clients integrate healthy eating to complement their training and overall health goals. She has a passion for health, wellness, food, fitness and helping to educate people on the importance of healthy lifestyle changes, in order to live an active, vibrant life, both now and as we get older. Website: https://www.realliferunners.com/ Email: support@realliferunners.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realliferunners Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realliferunners YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@realliferunners  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realliferunners 

PLYOMETRICS! What place do they have in an endurance runner's training? Dr. Matt Casturo, DPT, CSCS (@themovementsystem) joins the show to introduce us to plyometrics for endurance runners! What are plyometrics? "Sport-specific" training vs "general fitness training" Muscle fiber types and "explosive" power The Stretch-Shortening Cycle Tendons! WHY an endurance runner might want to include plyo How to SAFELY introduce plyo into your training and more! The Movement System was created by Matt Casturo, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, to improve your understanding of human movement and make the world stronger. Matt received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The Ohio State University in 2021, and his Bachelors in Exercise Science from The Ohio State University in 2017.

You've probably heard about "macros", but what about "MICROS"? Micronutrients are a key component of nutrition for both health and performance, and sports dietitian Kirsten Screen (@screennutrition) is here to teach us all about them! What are micronutrients? "Micros" vs 'Macros" Key micronutrients for endurance athletes Electrolytes, iron, Vitamin D, and more How to make sure you're getting ENOUGH micronutrients Common deficits & causes Supplementation: yay or nay? And more! 🕶️🦩This episode is sponsored by GOODR SUNGLASSES! Every pair comes with a 1-Year Warranty and 30-day FREE returns. 100% satisfaction guaranteed (plus Goodr is 100% Carbon Neutral company + 1% for the planet 🌎) Get FREE SHIPPING on your next order of sunglasses & support the show using code RUNEXP at www.goodr.com! 🕶️ Kirsten Screen, MPH, RD, LD is a Registered Dietitian of nearly 20 years. She and her team at Screen Nutrition work with active/athlete adults to support full body function through nutrition. Their focus is on reducing symptoms & increasing performance by supporting gut health and hormonal balance through nutrient resources. Screen Nutrition supports clients in 1:1 and group settings, as well as through self-led resources. Find them on Instagram at @screennutrition or on the web at screennutrition.com

How much of performance is mental vs physical? Is that something you can even quantify? Probably not, but the two are clearly inextricably linked. Mental Performance Coach Shannon Mulcahy (@mulcahyperformance) joins the show this week to talk about the role your MIND plays in your performance! What do we mean when we talk about the mental side of performance? The toxic side of telling someone anything is possible if they want it enough "Mental strength" vs "mental toughness" Setting goals & including mental performance skills Self-talk & skill-building Performance anxiety and more! Shannon Mulcahy is the founder of Mulcahy Performance Consulting - a sport psychology practice helping athletes to train their minds like they train their bodies. Based in Columbia, Maryland, Shannon holds a Master’s in Sport and Exercise Psychology and has worked with hundreds of athletes and coaches worldwide in her 8+ years of industry experience. When she’s not working with athletes, she can be found on a trail or in a lake training for her races. Connect with Shannon on Instagram @mulcahyperformance or explore the current services and resources at mulcahyperformance.com

What's the deal with... supershoes? The Doctors of Running (@doctorsofrunning) Matthew Klein, PT DPT PhD(c) OCS GCS FAAOMPT, and Nathan Brown, PT DPT OCS, are here talk all things CARBON PLATES, fancy foams, performance improvements (maybe...?) and more!! What IS a "supershoe"? History of this new generation of footwear Getting nerdy about foams What does the "plate" actually do? Supershoe geometry What does the science say about what these shoes DO? If, how, and when to wear a plated shoe Do stability plated shoes exist? Is this CHEATING?  Doctors of Running (formerly Kleinruns DPT) was founded by Dr. Matt Klein as a way for him to share his thoughts and learn more about footwear, biomechanics, physical therapy, rehabilitation, running, and performance.  It continues to evolve to this day to meet the needs of those who contribute, those who read/visit and those looking for assistance.  https://www.doctorsofrunning.com https://www.facebook.com/doctorsofrunning https://www.instagram.com/doctorsofrunning https://www.youtube.com/@doctorsofrunning https://twitter.com/DoctorsRunning

Welcome to Season 3! Dr. Matt Minard, DPT, CSCS, founder of Learn2Run, joins Coach Elisabeth for the first episode of 2023 for a deep dive on running cadence. WHAT is running cadence? WHEN does cadence matter? WHO should pay attention to cadence? Learn about optimal cadence, the relationship between cadence and speed, cadence and stride right, and more in this wide-ranging conversation about running cadence! 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. https://www.instagram.com/learn.2.run https://www.tiktok.com/@learn.2.run www.l2rsmartersaferfaster.com 🕶️🦩This episode is sponsored by GOODR SUNGLASSES! Get FREE SHIPPING on your next order of sunglasses & support the show using code RUNEXP at www.goodr.com! 🕶️