Doctors of Running Podcast

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

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