Doctors of Running Podcast

Shin splints is one of the most common running injuries, but also one of the most commonly misunderstood. When people report having shin splints, the cause of the pain could be any number of things. Today on the podcast, Nate, Matt, and David discuss the truth behind shin splints. That lower leg pain could possibly be a stress fracture, medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), or something else entirely. They discuss ways to understand symptoms & causes of shin pain, as well as tips for rehab and strengthening. 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 Senior Contributor Nathan Brown selected The Humble Hustle for our monthly giving! Humble Hikes program provides the chance to expand the youth’s horizons and experience the world around them in a positive and healthy way. They provide education in environmental sciences, environmental activism, advocacy, and available resources in their community. To learn more, visit thehumblehustle.org. The Subjective: what running-related injury are you most interested in learning more about? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 4:18 - Breaking down the anatomy of the shin 6:35 - The structure of our bones 16:27 - Diagnosing shin pain 24:59 - Stress fracture vs. MTSS 34:29 - Causes of MTSS 45:04 - What do we do when we feel signs of MTSS? 54:11 - Rehabbing & strength training for MTSS 1:01:02 - How shoes can effect MTSS 1:08:06 - Wrap-up

Bonus "shakeout" episode! Super shoes with next generation foams and carbon plates aren't just made for racing anymore. Almost every running shoe company has come out with a plated, super-foamed training companion to their racing shoes. It's tempting to try the latest and greatest, but doing so comes with some risks. Matt will give you a quick guide on how to prepare & strengthen your body to handle the unique biomechanical demands that these new shoes introduce. Enjoy this short bonus show, with episode 113 coming in just a couple days! Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:01 - Should we train full time in super shoes? 5:51 - How to prepare your body for running in super shoes 7:47 - Training on unstable surfaces 10:28 - Strengthening your calves for low drop & rockers 14:47 - Do more single leg squats! 17:31 - Ease super shoes into your training

New Balance has put out a ton of great shoes in 2022, so let Matt & Andrea take you through a round-up! They picked four of their favorites: the super-stack SC Trainer, More v4, Rebel v3, and the brand new SC Pacer. They break down what makes each shoe unique and how they've fit into their personal rotations. They also take a look at what New Balance has coming down the line later this year and into the next with SC Elite v3 and a redesigned 860v13. The Subjective: what's current favorite New Balance shoe? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 4:34 - SC Trainer Review 14:40 - How do you define softness? 19:19 - Fresh Foam More v4 Review 28:56 - Rebel v3 Review 34:13 - How toe spring placement effects the ride 41:11 - SC Pacer long-term review 53:30 - Looking forward to 2023: SC Elite 3, Pacer 2, 860v13 1:02:42 - Wrap-up

In this episode, Matt and Andrea talk all about the art and science of running after 40. They dig into research and their experience working with Masters runners, and provide insight on how to what older runners can do to maintain their running prowess. They cover strategies and tips for strength training, nutrition, workouts, recovery, and more. The Subjective: what's changed in your running as you've aged? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 10:00 - What changes start to happen to athletes post-30? 20:26 - Addressing the physiological changes that come with aging 25:50 - Matt's PhD work: a systematic review and research on achilles tendinopathy 34:39 - Contributing factors to loss of calf strength in older runners 42:36 - Tailoring strength training as you age 47:15 - The benefits of strides & hill sprints 49:50 - When in your routine to add strength training 51:13 - How recovery time changes as you age 58:24 - Specific changes surrounding menopause 1:01:30 - Wrap-up

Looking for your first running shoe can be intimidating with so many options avilable, and sometimes it can be hard to find the help you need at a running store. DOR Founder Matt Klein takes from his years of experience working in running stores to give you tips & tricks to finding your first pairs of runnign shoes. He'll also share some red flags and warning signs to avoid when shopping for shoes. 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. 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. Head over to runningwarehouse.com to check out what they have. The Subjective: what's something you wish you knew about running shoes earlier in your running journey? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 3:28 - The Subjective: what's something you wish you knew about running shoes earlier in your running journey? 5:16 - Where to start as a new runner 8:39 - Start simple 14:43 - Using the RUNCAT to assess shoes 20:54 - Start with a basic daily trainer 23:53 - How to assess the fit of an upper 26:04 - Cushioning: more isn't necessarily better 28:50 - Foot tests aren't very useful 31:35 - Don't let a running store sell you an orthotic 33:56 - Don't let a running store diagnose your injuries 37:58 - Wrap-up

Heel counters are often overlooked when choosing a shoe, but their design can make or break a shoe for runners. Heel comfort is critical to the ability to run in a shoe. They're also often touted to promote stability and biomechanical benefits, but what do they actually accomplish? Nate, DJ, and Matt dive into the design, research, and evidence surrounding heel counters. We're also excited to give this month to Club West Track in Santa Barbara, CA. The Subjective: what's a specific part of a shoe that can make it or break it for you? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:56 - The Subjective: what's a specific part of a shoe that can make it or break it for you? 5:35 - Defining the heel counter 15:14 - The origin & purpose of heel counters 24:33 - The evidence of the effects on heel counters on biomechanics 31:51 - The importance of heel lockdown in carbon-plated shoes 38:38 - Physical conditions that might effect heel fit in shoes 45:24 - How to lace-lock your shoes 48:54 - Wrap-up

It's time for a mailbag episode! We gathered up as many of your questions as we could answer in an hour's time. Nate, Matt, and DJ tackle a broad range of subjects such as orthotics, training, recovery, and, of course, shoes. Be sure to stick around 'til the end to get DJ's take on the best shoe for a beer mile. The Subjective: what's the biggest lesson you've learned from running? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 6:13 - The Subjective: what's the biggest lesson you've learned from running? 9:02 - Do you need stability shoes if you wear orthotics? 16:02 - What do you do in between a goal race and the next training cycle? 28:48 - Saucony Tempus vs. Asics Novablast 3 33:22 - What's something similar to the Hoka Rincon 3? 37:52 - Is a firmer or a softer shoe better for shin splints? 41:32 - Does too much Zone 2 heart rate training make you slow? 51:45 - Should a 4 hour marathoner wear super shoes for a marathon? 57:38 - What's the ideal beer mile shoe? 1:01:41 - Wrap-up

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