Doctors of Running Podcast

Finding the right shoe, whether it's your first or your fifth, can be daunting. Matt & Andrea are joined by Megan Searfoss, owner of Ridgefield and Darien Running Company, to give a store-owner's perspective on finding the best shoe for you. Megan also shares wisdom from years of running experience and dozens of races including Ironmans and marathons. Megan Searfoss is the owner of Ridgefield and Darien Running Company, a run-specialty retailer, located in Ridgefield and Darien, CT. In 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, Ridgefield Running Company was named Top 50 Best Running Stores in America, with 2019 awarded Top Ten, and in 2020 a Top Four Store. A competitive athlete, Megan has competed at the Ironman World Championships and Boston Marathon, 9 Ironman distance events, over 20 marathons, and countless other races. Though her personal favorite are long-distance events, it is introducing a non-exerciser to training and competing in a 5K that is most rewarding. Time and time again, her encouragement to cross the finish line has changed lives of many women that didn't believe they could. Megan is passionate about engaging women to make health and wellness a part of their lives through Run Like a Mother, a company she founded in 2008. Run Like A Mother® is a branded lifestyle property that encompasses women at every stage of motherhood. Megan created the National Run Like a Mother® 5K race event series, a women's only 5K occurring every Mother's Day. The Subjective: how did you get into running? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 4:12 - Megan's background 13:46 - Megan's favorite races 17:26 - Advice for longevity in your running career 23:36 - The making of a great running store 27:42 - Using your "foot brain" in finding the right shoe for you 29:47 - Finding the right size shoe 32:52 - Replace your old shoes! (And sports bras) 36:28 - Advice for building back after injury 44:18 - The benefits of a running community 47:22 - How Megan trains her store employees 51:20 - How Megan decides what shoes to stock 1:03:40 - How customers can improve their shoe-buying experience 1:06:56 - Megan's favorite shoes right now 1:09:11 - Wrap-up

Injuries large & small plague almost every runner throughout their career. Detecting early signs of injury and stopping them before they turn into something serious will help us keep running consistently. Nate & Matt are joined by Brodie Sharpe, a fellow PT, who specializes in injury prevention and rehabilitation. They take a look at the nature of injury risk, how to reduce it, strategies & tools for rehabbing, and much more. Brodie Sharpe is a Physiotherapist from Melbourne, Australia and the owner of the Run Smarter Physiotherapy Clinic. Brodie helps runners train smarter and dispels common running myths to help runners reduce their injury risk and overcome injuries efficiently. He spreads this information primarily through the Run Smarter Podcast which has climbed into the top 1% of podcasts globally, and his recent YouTube channel. The Subjective: what are some of the early signs you look for when determining if you have an injury coming? Chapters 00:00 - Intro 02:01 - Introducing Brodie Sharpe 06:08 - The basics of running injuries 15:40 - What puts runners at high injury risk? 19:26 - Early signs of injuries in runners 24:33 - Strategies for assessing the severity of & recovery from injuries 28:55 - What to do when injury symptoms start 39:07 - Differentiating between small niggles and full injuries 44:26 - The benefits of keeping a running journal 50:40 - Modifying routines while rehabbing an injury 53:30 - 3 Key ways to reduce injury risk 57:30 - Wrap-up

These days, max cushion midsoles aren't just for racing shoes. Maximally cushioned trainers are a staple in many runners' rotations. Today, Matt & DJ review two max-stack offerings, one a veteran to the scene and the other a newcomer. First up is the HOKA Bondi 8, the latest update to one of the original max cushion shoes. Next is Mizuno's Wave NEO Ultra, which offers not only maximum cushioning, but sustainability with over 50% of the materials used made from sustainable or recycled materials. They compare/contrast this two cushioned shoes and explore whether a sustainable shoe can offer real running performance. The Subjective: what's your favorite easy day shoe? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:20 - The Subjective: what's your favorite max-cushion training shoe? 7:03 - Hoka Bondi 8 Review 18:30 - What would you change about the Bondi 8? 22:16 - Mizuno Wave NEO Ultra Review 27:36 - Sustainability vs. performance 32:57 - Bondi 8 & NEO Ultra comparisons 42:10 - Wrap-up

We know from the research that running isn't bad for our knees, but that doesn't mean we won't pick up knee injuries every once in a while. Patellar Tendinopathy is one of the most common ailments for runners. The knee is critical in the gait cycle, so is easily effected. Nate, Matt, and DJ discuss chronic tendon pain in the knee: its anatomy, symptoms, and risk factors. They give you tips for rehabbing the patellar tendon so you can get back to running consistently. Finally, of course, they cover what types of shoes can influence the tendon. The Subjective: what's your favorite easy day shoe? With Fall coming up, that mean's two things: it's marathon racing season! And well - it's Fall. This week's sponsor is Running Warehouse, and they've got some really great apparel in to get you ready for anything, whether it's raceday or cool weather running. We are huge fans of rabbit running gear. We talk about it all the time in our chats about how soft and comfortable it is. For Chicago marathon fans, you should absolutely check out their fun Chicago Collection. The colors look awesome with the red, light blue and white and our team are superfans of their singlets. If you are looking for Fall gear, rabbit's ez long sleeve is one of absolute favorites. We reviewed it two winter seasons ago and are still using it to this day because of how well they've held up and soft they remain. You can also find tons of great new releases including the Asics Magic Speed, Kayano 29 which we just reviewed, and the Fresh Foam More v4 which we are reviewing now and have enjoyed. Head over to runningwarehouse.com today to shop. You can find a link in our description for some of our favorite gear if you'd like to check that out and support DOR. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 1:48 - The Subjective: what's your favorite easy day shoe? 15:02 - Patellar Tendinopathy: anatomy review 20:10 - Tendinitis vs. Tendinopathy 22:05 - Diagnosing patellar tendinopathy 26:27 - Risk factors 36:00 - Rehabbing patellar tendinopathy: load it 49:32 - Things to avoid when recovering from tendinopathy 53:00 - Knees over toes? 55:58 - The impact of shoes on the patellar tendon 1:00:28 - Wrap-up

Urinary incontinence (leaking) is an incredibly common struggle for runners, both male and female. Specifically for women, more than 50% of athletes report dealing with leakage. Understandably this struggle is underreported and often unaided when people do ask for help. Andrea and Megan interview Dr. Beth Shelly, a pelvic floor specialist. Dr. Shelly dives into the research on leakage, the anatomy of the pelvic floor, risk factors, treatment and more. Beth Shelly is a Doctor of Physical Therapy board certified in women’s health and biofeedback for pelvic floor dysfunction. She has practiced for over 35 years, specializing in women’s and men’s health. Beth completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa in 2007 with the completion of her research in the methods PTs use to learn PFM examination. Her private practice in Illinois specializes in pelvic health and lymphedema. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram. Chapters 00:00 - Intro 08:18 - An overview of urinary incontienance 11:50 - The musulature of the pelvic floor 18:30 - Risk factors for urinary leakage in runners 26:06 - Possible causes of urinary leakage 30:58 - How a pelvic floor physical therapist can help runners 42:03 - Assessing a runner's abdominal and pelvic strength 57:06 - The use of biofeeback technology 1:02:54 - How to find a pelvic floor specalist 1:09:26 - Wrap-up

We've all heard it. "Running will ruin your knees!" But upon looking at the research, the inverse is actually true. On this episode, Matt & Andrea take a deep dive into the anatomy and biomechanics of the knee. They show how research indicates that running is actually protective for you knees. They explain the common diagnosis of osteoarthritis, its risk factors, and how to take steps to prevent it. The Subjective: What's the biggest running-related myth you've heard? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:20 - No, running is not bad for your knees 9:44 - Osteoarthritis defined 14:06 - The two types of osteoarthritis 19:56 - Risk factors for knee arthritis 28:24 - The link between mileage and OA risk 40:08 - How to reduce your risk of knee irritation 48:52 - Positive effects of running 54:24 - Wrap-up

Recovery is one of the trickiest aspects of training. How do you know when you're adequately recovered? How do you balance training load and rest? How do you figure out good nutrition, hydration, and sleep? In this episode Dr. Ryan Wooderson joins DJ and Matt to help us find answers to those questions and more. Dr. Ryan Wooderson is a physical therapist, biomechanist, and fitness/wellness advocate. He is passionate about helping people move better and live better, for the long run. He earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Regis University and completed his orthopedic residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is an orthopedic clinical specialist and his practice focuses on injury prevention and helping athletes return to the sports and activities they love. He has been practicing for 8 years in Denver, CO. You can find him online at longrunphysio.com and Instagram @longrunphysio. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 3:27 - How do you define recovery? 6:20 - The role of sleep in recovery 16:44 - Nutrition before & after the run 24:10 - Active recovery & a running schedule 30:22 - The role of recovery tools (vibration, compression, etc.) 36:44 - The 3 keys to recovery 39:08 - Wrap-up

One hundred episodes! For this special occiasion, we could really only talk about one thing: super shoes. 2022 has been a banner year for next generation racing shoes with the likes of the Endorphin Pro 3, Adios Pro 3, Alphafly 2, FAST-R, and more. Nate, Matt, and DJ make their picks for most unique, most stable, and favorite racing shoes of the year so far. We're extremely excited to partner with Running Warehouse giveaway a free pair of shoes of your choice for this 100th episode! To enter, leave a comment on the YouTube podcast video answering this week's Subjective quesiton. Alternatively, you can email us at doctorsofrunningpodcast@gmail.com. The video will be out on August 12 and the giveaway will be open through August 19. To win, you must be in the US and the shoes you want must be in stock at Running Warehouse for $200 or less. The Subjective: What's your favorite racing shoe of the year so far? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 3:26 - Giveaway from Running Warehouse! 7:44 - Reflections in 100 episodes 10:29 - What's the most unique super shoe on the market 17:44 - The most stable super shoes 27:38 - Stable racing alternatives to super shoes 36:02 - DJ's favorite super shoes of 2022 so far 39:38 - Matt's picks 43:32 - Nate's racing choices 47:21 - What to look forward to for the rest of the year 53:38 - Wrap-up

Today on the podcast Matt & Andrea discuss the ins and outs of run retail. Before starting Doctors of Running and becoming a physical therapist, Matt got his start in at a running shoe store. Our hope with this episode and forthcoming resources on our webiste is to give running retail employees a framework to help customers find the right shoe for them. They'll give you resources and key questions to ask as you and the customer learn what's best for them. Each month at DOR starting in 2022, a member of our team selects a charity of their choice to donate 10% of our monthly profits to. This month we're donating to The ALS Association. ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There is no cure for ALS yet. Established in 1985, The ALS Association is the only national nonprofit organization fighting ALS on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. Learn more and donate at www.als.org. This episode is sponsored by Running Warehouse. We've been loving gear the Vuori gear they have available, especially the Performance Tank and Kore Short. They're comfortable and stylish for both running and lifestlye. Running Warehouse also has the brand new Saucony Enorphin Pro 3 in stock, which is Matt's front-runner for racing shoe of the year. Head over to runningwarehouse.com to check out these and more! The Subjective: What's your favorite local running store? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 5:40 - The Subjective: What's your favorite running store? 7:02 - Matt's history in run retail 15:24 - The pitfalls of using pronation to prescribe shoes for runners 19:26 - Tips for run retail employees to help customers find shoes 24:54 - Ask key questions to help customers figure out what they want 34:30 - The difficulty of in-store gait analysis 38:20 - Helping customers learn about what they like in shoes 42:14 - The trouble with static foot tests 45:40 - Using the RUNCAT to find ideal shoes 54:42 - Asking the right questions to determine shoe comfort 59:02 - How to be a better running store customer 1:03:28 - The importance of building great relationships 1:09:11 - Wrap-up

Nate, Matt, and DJ are joined by two very special guests from New Balance: Danny Orr and Ethan Steiner. Danny & Ethan give us an inside look at the development and testing of New Balance's brand new max-stack training shoe, the FuelCell SuperComp Trainer. Boasting a whopping 47mm of midsole and a full-length EnergyArc carbon fiber plate, the SC Trainer was developed to maximize comfort, efficiencty, and energy return. Danny & Ethan help us understand the technology behind EnergyArc, how they landed on 47mm of stack height, and more. Danny Orr is the General Manager of Performance Running at New Balance, leading multiple teams focusing current offereings as well as multi-year shoe development. Ethan is a Sports Research Engineer at New Balance, working in their Sports Research Lab, focused on shoe development, research, and innovation. For more on the FuelCell SuperComp Trainer, be sure to check out our full multi-tester written review on our website. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 1:12 - Getting to know Ethan & Danny 7:26 - The history & origin of the SC Trainer 10:01 - The evolution of the FuelCell Foam 15:27 - How New Balance tests its foams 16:58 - The design and goal of EnergyArc 23:33 - Testing methodology for human subjects in New Balance's lab 28:37 - How New Balance designed the SC Trainer's massive stack height 36:24 - Who is the SC Trainer for? 43:38 - How the SC Trainer impacts fatigue resistance & running economy 52:30 - What's coming next for the FuelCell line 59:01 - Wrap-up