Doctors of Running Podcast

In this week's episode Matt is joined by Wessel van Veenen, an orthotic specialist. The duo discusses some basics of appropriate orthotic usage and explores best practice use. They then dive into some new, exciting developments in the world of orthotics to look out for. Wessel also shares his unique background in footwear, including some unique testing through a brand that's exploded back into the running scene in recent years. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 4:55 - Wessel's masters work: testing Puma prototypes 8:49 - Wessel's work as an orthopedic advisor 14:26 - Should you get an insole or an entirely different shoe? 19:38 - Shoe modifications to aid mobility 30:10 - Orthotic uses for carbon fiber plates 36:51 - The differences between walking orthotic aids & running shoes 45:41 - New & upcoming developments in orthotics 53:35 - Wrap up

On this episode, Andrea and Megan are joined by a very special guest: Amelia Boone! Amelia's an incredibly accomplished obstacle racer and ultra runner. Tune in to hear how she's survived and won so many epic, painful races. She'll also share her story of long injury history and struggle with an eating disorder, offering strategies to fight and recover even stronger. Amelia Boone is a full-time corporate attorney, obstacle racer, and ultrarunner. Dubbed “The Queen of Pain,” Amelia is a 4x world champion and one of the most decorated obstacle racers in history. Over her career, she’s amassed more than 50 podiums and 30 victories in obstacle racing. You can find her online at her website, Twitter, and Instagram. The Subjective: how do you balance your running with every day life? Chapters 00:00 - Intro 03:19 - What is obstacle racing? 06:09 - How Amelia trains for obstacle racing 08:59 - The Death Race?! 11:18 - Mental strategies for survinging the suffering 18:06 - Transitioning from obstacle racing to ultra racing 19:55 - Amelia's favorite shoes 27:40 - Balancing work and training lives 31:49 - Amelia's injury history & lessons learned 39:45 - The dangers of linking injury to our identity 44:20 - Fighting with and recovering from eating disorders 53:24 - Wrap-up

This second part of our winter running feature is all about the treadmill. Some days, the weather is just too rough to brave the elements, or maybe the schedule calls for a hard workout that will be unnecessarily challenging in the cold/snow/ice; that's where the treadmill comes in. Nate & Andrea share tips to finding and buying the right treadmill for your needs, how to adjust your training, their favorite shoes on the treadmill, and the science behind biomechanical changes while treadmill running. The Subjective: what's your number one tip for getting through winter training? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 1:58 - Treadmill buying guide: features, size, types, etc. 11:04 - How to approach training on a treadmill 20:43 - Picking shoes for treadmill running 23:53 - Biomechanical changes while treadmill running 30:40 - Gait changes on a treadmill vs. outdoors 38:31 - Wrap-up

As we sink into the depths of winter, getting out for a run can get more challenging. Running in the extreme cold, icy, and snowy conditions presents unique obstacles to training. In this two-part conversation, Nate and Andrea (both cold-climate natives in Wisconsin and Connecticut) share their favorite strategies for mastering the winter, from training adaptations to gear & clothing. Stay tuned for part two where they dive into the art of training well on the treadmill. The Subjective: what's your number one tip for getting through winter training? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 5:06 - Cold weather training considerations 13:06 - Physiological changes while running in the cold 20:38 - Staying warm no matter the temperature 28:26 - Winter shoe recommendations 38:56 - Favorite winter clothing 48:38 - Wrap-up

Mizuno's brand new super shoe, the Wave Rebellion Pro, features some of the wildest geometry on the running shoe market. Featuring a huge stack of foam, an extreme heel bevel, midsole cutouts, and a carbon-infused plate, Mizuno's made an impressively fast & bouncy super shoe, worth of consideration among the best. Join Matt & David as they take a deep dive on this exciting new offering. They also look forward to all the new shoes coming out in 2023, including things like Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 and Saucony Kinvara Pro. Be sure to check out our full written review of the Rebellion Pro! The Subjective: what shoe(s) are you looking forward to the most in 2023? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 3:14 - Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro Review 6:17 - What to make of the extreme midsole geometry 15:38 - The Best Uses for the Rebellion Pro 18:24 - Comparisons 26:08 - Who will/won't the Rebellion Pro work for 32:23 - Looking forward to 2023's upcoming shoes 51:30 - Wrap up

In this final episode of 2022, Andrea Myers gets to share her picks for the best shoes of the year! Tune in to hear her picks for daily trainer, max cushion, racing shoes, and more–and even a section devoted to her beloved New Balance Beacon. What each person seeks in a daily can be totally different from the next depending on their running rotation. In this year's Best Of, we decided to NOT have consensus picks as we couldn't come to terms with just picking one shoe as the best daily trainer, or stability shoe, or racing shoe of 2022. With so many variances and specifications for runners, we decided to leave it a bit broader due to the differences in many of the picks and let the shoes do the talking. Be sure to check out our website to see our full team's picks for every category of shoe. The Subjective: what's been your favorite shoe(s) in these categories? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 0:36 - Best Daily Trainer 3:06 - Best Max Cushion Shoe 5:28 - Best Stability Shoe 7:00 - Best Stable Neutral Shoe 9:34 - Best Trail Shoe 12:14 - Best Performance Trainer 14:50 - Best Racing Shoe 18:05 - The Beacon is GOAT 19:25 - Wrap up

We're back with Part 2 of our Best Shoes of 2022. We've tested over 140 shoes in 2022 (!!!) and we're excited to share our favorites of 2022. In this second edition, we're diving into the fast stuff: racing shoes (both short & long distance) and performance trainers. We also cover some of the shoes that disappointed in 2022 and wrap things up with our thoughts on what brands stood out this year. What each person seeks in a daily can be totally different from the next depending on their running rotation. In this year's Best Of, we decided to NOT have consensus picks as we couldn't come to terms with just picking one shoe as the best daily trainer, or stability shoe, or racing shoe of 2022. With so many variances and specifications for runners, we decided to leave it a bit broader due to the differences in many of the picks and let the shoes do the talking. Be sure to check out our website to see our full team's picks for every category of shoe. The Subjective: what's been your favorite shoe(s) in these categories? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:03 - Best Performance Trainers 13:05 - Best Short Distance Racing Shoes 23:07 - Best Long Distance Racing Shoes 34:19 - Most Disappointing Shoes 42:30 - Best Brands of the Year

It's that time of year! We've tested over 140 shoes in 2022 (!!!) and we're excited to share our favorites of 2022. Over the next two episodes, Matt, David, and Nathan will share their picks for best shoes that came out in 2022. In Part 1, we're starting with our picks for Daily Trainers, Max Cushion, Stable Neutral, Stability and Trail. What each person seeks in a daily can be totally different from the next depending on their running rotation. In this year's Best Of, we decided to NOT have consensus picks as we couldn't come to terms with just picking one shoe as the best daily trainer, or stability shoe, or racing shoe of 2022. With so many variances and specifications for runners, we decided to leave it a bit broader due to the differences in many of the picks and let the shoes do the talking. Be sure to check out our website to see our full team's picks for every category of shoe. The Subjective: what's been your favorite shoe(s) in these categories? Chapters 00:00 - Intro 03:22 - Best Daily Trainers 14:11 - Best Max Cushion Shoes 21:54 - Best Stable Neutral Shoes 31:34 - Best Stability Shoes 40:06 - Best Trail Shoes 46:49 - Wrap-up

Cycling is one of the best ways for runners to maintain fitness while unable to run or to cross-train while fit, but the barrier of entry can often seem high. What kind of bike do you need? What about pedals and shoes? How do you translate running training to the bike? Our resident cyclist Andrea Myers sits down with recent bike convert and DOR Contributor Megan Flynn to give you the basics to biking. They answer a multitude of questions spanning from equipment to workouts to fueling. If you've ever wanted to get into cycling, this is the place to start. The Subjective: what's your favorite way to cross-train? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 7:32 - The benefits of cycling for runners 12:49 - How to get started cycling 20:41 - The importance of a good local bike shop 23:23 - Flat vs. clip pedals 28:14 - Cycling shoes 35:58 - Finding great routes to ride 40:48 - Cycling trainings tips for beginners 50:43 - More tips for new cyclists 57:14 - Dressing for cycling vs. running 59:28 - Fueling on the ride 1:02:35 - Getting a good bike fit 1:05:01 - Wrap-up

On a shorter "shakeout" episode today, Matt is taking us back to the basics. He breaks down the basic elements of a running shoe. Defining parts of the upper, midsole, and outsole that we occasionally overlook. Ever wondered what terms like heel counter, rocker, or sidewalls mean? Start here! Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:44 - The upper 8:57 - The midsole 17:01 - The outsole 20:50 - Wrap-up