Doctors of Running Podcast

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

"Super trainers" are the latest trend in shoe design: a next-generation foam, a midsole height of over 40mm, and a stiff rocker (with or without a plate). These new shoes can be a ton of fun to run in with huge amounts of cushioning and energy return. However, they come with hefty price tags and unknown effects on running biomechanics. Matt & David explore this new category of shoes, specifically reviewing the new ASICS Superblast and comparing it to other offerings like the New Balance SC Trainer and Adidas Prime X. Wondering if these super trainers are for you? Have a listen! The Subjective: what do you make of these new super trainers? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 3:16 - How to define "super trainers" 8:30 - Lower-stack shoes with super foams 12:30 - ASICS Superblast Review 17:44 - Comparing the Superblast to the other max-stack super trainers 20:33 - Weighing the cost of super trainers 27:26 - What's the purpose for max-stack super trainers 31:02 - Who these shoes might not work for 34:10 - What's being done well with this new category 38:44 - How could these shoes be improved? 43:02 - Is there a point of diminishing returns for midsole height? 47:19 - Where this category is headed in the future 50:36 - Wrap up

Running, especially training and racing hard, introduces large amounts of load & stress on your muscles and bodily systems. There are times that altering or reducing your training load can be critical to preventing serious injury. This is especially the case when recovering after a goal race (specifically the marathon), fighting off the beginning pain or niggles, or when returning from an injury. Nathan and Matt explore different strategies to help you recover from big races and keep your training consistent even in the midst of occasional pain. They share tips for water running and take a look at the AlterG and Lever Pro treadmill systems which actually reduce the force of gravity on your body while running. For a deeper look at these three options, be sure to read the in-depth article on our website. The Subjective: how long do you take off after a goal race? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 3:42 - Defining stress & load 7:40 - Decreasing load after a big race 17:48 - Do super shoes decrease damage and speed recovery? 20:27 - Altering load while returning from injury 23:38 - Healing timeframes for bone and tendon injuries 31:54 - Reasons to modify load while training 37:02 - A primer on water running 43:29 - AlterG treadmill running 49:05 - Lever Pro running system 59:58 - Wrap up

You've got your race booked, so now comes the tough decision: what shoe do you wear on race day? With all the super shoes out there now, it can be a challenge to decide which one will be best for you when you toe the starting line. Two of the most important factors are race distance and course. What types of shoes are best for 5K/10K versus half marathon and marathon? What about hills, tight turns, and mixed terrain? Nathan, David, and BJ discuss their experiences with different shoes (both super and "normal") on race day over a variety of different distances, courses, and speeds. They also weigh the impact running economy benefits should have on our shoe decisions. Be sure to check out our friend Dustin Joubert's excellent work testing the running economy benefits of a variety of shoes on his website or on Instagram @labratrundown. The Subjective: how do you decide what shoe to race in for different distances? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 3:00 - The difference between short & long distance race shoes 9:44 - Should you always use the shoe that improves your running economy the most? 13:37 - What do you like in a 5K shoe vs. a half or marathon shoe? 27:21 - How course terrain & format effect shoe choice 43:24 - How do your goals change what shoe you choose? 47:13 - Balancing the value proposition of expensive super shoes 52:45 - Ideas for non-super shoes to race in 58:31 - How to prepare for & test your racing shoes 1:04:35 - Wrap-up