Doctors of Running Podcast

Bloodwork, vitamin levels, and other biomarkers can be confusing, so on this episode Andrea is joined by Dr. Liz Herman, ND and Dr. Jared Pistoia, ND to break down the science of our blood. They explore how getting our bloodwork done as athletes can differ from the average person. They take a look at creatine kinase, blood glucose, anemia and more. They also dive into the critical role of vitamins (D, B12) and minerals like iron and calcium. Finally, they discuss the differing hormone changes both women and men experience as they age, and how to address those changes. If you've ever wanted to learn more about your blood, tune in! Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:46 - Introducing Dr. Herman 4:36 - Introducing Dr. Pistoia 7:12 - Why get bloodwork done? 12:09 - The role of creatine kinase 15:10 - The most common abnormal bloodwork findings in endurance athletes 16:13 - Do males & females require different types of tests? 18:24 - How to treat abnormal levels 22:28 - Defining and treating anemia 27:10 - The role of ferritin 31:15 - Iron-rich foods & supplements 40:18 - The importance of calcium for athletes 45:47 - Addressing Vitamin D levels 49:09 - Ideal blood calcium levels & supplementation 52:55 - The function of Vitamin B12 1:01:07 - Hormone testing for women 1:05:15 - Hormone changes in men as they age 1:07:45 - Wrap-up Since 2006, Dr. Herman has been the owner and medical director of Bethel Naturopathic Medical (Instagram, Facebook), treating patients with the highest standard of naturopathic care and commitment to excellence. She's earned a reputation for being one of Bethel's leading health care providers who cares deeply about naturopathic medicine and your health. She has not only served Bethel, but also the surrounding communities in the tri-state area for over 20 years. In the past, she served as a supervising physician of student doctors at the University of Bridgeport's School of Naturopathic Medicine and was the former president of the Connecticut Naturopathic Association. Her combination of skills makes her a unique asset to conventional and holistic doctors. Dr. Pistoia is an attending physician at Bethel Naturopathic Medical. He specializes in the homeopathic treatment of mental health disorders. He's authored two books and is a former writer for Healthline. He also serves as the Legislative Co-Chair of the Connecticut Naturopathic Physician Association and is a state delegate for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. His interest in health began in high school, where he worked on a faculty committee for healthier school food choices. He attended Stony Brook University on Long Island, NY and later became a certified fitness trainer, until resigning to become a naturopathic physician. Dr. Pistoia is passionate about health and has a strong interest in the advancement of human psychology. This week’s episode of the Doctors of Running Podcast is sponsored by our friends at Running Warehouse. With the introduction of super foams and carbon plates, it’s never been more fun to tackle the trails than with today’s footwear. The Nike Ultrafly hit shelves recently, giving runners a chance to take the tried-and-true ZoomX midsole foam off road and into the woods for long distances. In our Chief Editor Matt Klein’s review of the shoe, he says “Those wanting ZoomX foam with a plate that feels comfortable at both easy and uptempo paces will enjoy the Nike Ultrafly. The ultramarathon community should be excited that they have a super shoe specifically designed for them.” Not to be outdone, Hoka’s Tecton X2, New Balance’s SuperComp Trail, and Saucony’s Endorphin Rift offer excellent alternatives that each have their own strengths. Find reviews on all four super trail shoes at Doctors of Running and head over to Running Warehouse to shop today.

This episode is all about the hamstrings. Often a source of pain and frustration for many a runner, Nathan & David take a deep dive on one of the most important muscle groups in the running cycle. After an overview of the anatomy and common injuries of the hamstrings, they answer your questions covering subjects such as proximal hamstring tendinopathy, the effect of zero drop and carbon plated shoes, stretching, and more. Finally they offer strategies to avoid injury and maintain strong, healthy hamstrings. The Subjective: what medical condition or injury do you want to hear about next? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:59 - An overview of the hamstring and why it's often injured 10:31 - Typical pain points and hamstring injuries 14:28 - How to rehab proximal hamstring tendinopathy 25:12 - How do zero drop and carbon-plated shoes effect the hamstring 29:24 - When in running with a proximal or distal tendinopathy hurt the most? 32:42 - The role of stretching in hamstring injuries 39:20 - How to maintain healthy hamstrings 43:31 - Is it "hammie" or "hammy"? 44:59 - Wrap-up This week’s episode of the Doctors of Running Podcast is sponsored by our friends at Running Warehouse. Make sure you head over to YouTube to catch the second episode of their new series, Test Run, where they put their team through a series of challenges to help showcase what kind of activities each shoe was best suited for. Their latest episode is all about versatility. Connor and team brought out some fan favorite trainers of the past year including the Saucony Endorphin Speed, Asics Novablast 3, Hoka Clifton 9, and New Balance Rebel v3 to see where each shoe excelled. Check out the results of their test by heading over to Running Warehouse’s channel on YouTube today.

On today's episode, Matt is joined by Dr. Jeff Moreno, physical therapist and co-founder of DashLX. DashLX is pioneering how running activity data can be gathered and analyzed to enhance the training and overall well-being of athletes. Jeff has a unique opportunity to work not only with individual athletes, many of them among the elites, but also directly with some of the biggest running brands on the scene (Brooks, Saucony, Puma, and more). Matt & Jeff discuss how running data from our watches and phones can be used to assess biomechanics, injury risk, and even shoe choice. Get an inside look at how some of the biggest running footwear brands are using data in partnership with DashLX to inform their design choices and product strategies. Jeff also lends his medical expertise to give practical advice to runners of all levels on how to better use their own activity data to stay strong and healthy. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 1:32 - Jeff's background 10:52 - Linking data with medical care 30:40 - Using data to further medical and running education 37:52 - How DashLX gets connected with the big running brands 41:44 - Organizing & filtering vast amounts of running data 46:46 - Using specific metrics to provide better care 54:02 - How footwear companies are using wearable data to make better shoes 1:00:21 - The most important metrics for runners 1:10:16 - Wrap-up This week’s episode of the Doctors of Running Podcast is sponsored by our friends at Running Warehouse. Make sure you head over to YouTube to catch the second episode of their new series, Test Run, where they put their team through a series of challenges to help showcase what kind of activities each shoe was best suited for. Their latest episode is all about versatility. Connor and team brought out some fan favorite trainers of the past year including the Saucony Endorphin Speed, Asics Novablast 3, Hoka Clifton 9, and New Balance Rebel v3 to see where each shoe excelled. Check out the results of their test by heading over to Running Warehouse’s channel on YouTube today.

This 150th episode of the DOR Podcast is a special combo! First off Andrea shares her top 5 shoes of the year so far. She wasn't able to join the rest of the crew and Connor a few weeks ago, but we knew the people needed to hear from her. How has our resident New Balance Beacon devotee survived the disappearance of her favorite daily trainer? What's her choice when she toes the starting line of races later this year? Tune in to find out. In part two, Matt gives an inside look into his recently published systematic review: Changes in running biomechanics in master runners over age 50. See how much work and time goes into academic research and learn more about how our bodies change as we age. Be sure to check out this week's sponsor, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Running Warehouse⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. They've got a bunch of new shoes hitting the shelves! Check out Hoka's brand new Cielo Road, a 5K/10K racing flat with a PEBA Foam. Want something with some more cushion for those easy days? Take a look at the updated Saucony Triumph 21, a team favorite. If you need some stability for your runs, the ASICS Kayano 30 has been reimagined from the ground up. Find all of these and more by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠runningwarehouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ today.

This episode is all about the back! Andrea is joined by Dr. Jeanne Halloran to take a deep dive into scoliosis and its effects on athletes. They explore the pathology and symptoms of scoliosis, the structure of the back and how it influences running mechanics, strategies and exercises to improve rib and spine mobility and more. Jeanne also lends us her expertise in Schroth therapy. The Schroth Method is a conservative treatment option for scoliosis–a curve specific exercise method that was developed in the 1920's by Katharina Schroth. It is a 3 dimensional approach that focuses on breathing and exercise techniques tailored to the individual. Jeanne Halloran, PT, DPT earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York University in 2004 & Schroth-Barcelona BSPTS C1 certification in January 2019 and C2 certification in January 2020.  She completed her SEAS 1 Cerification in May 2019. Jeanne evaluates, casts and fits custom orthotics and is trained in kinesiotaping.  She has participated in continuing education course diversifying her manual skills including Maitlin, Mulligan, movement with Shirley Sahrman and sports medicine with Kevin Wilk.  Jeanne is certified in Mat Pilates with Power Pilates and trained in Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization. Jeanne is also an avid runner who is always training for a race, whose goal is to be injury free and to get her patients back to sport and activities that they love. She practices at CT Scoliosis and Spine Rehab in Ridgefield, CT. You can find their practice online on Instagram and Facebook. To find a Schroth-certified PT in your area, check out this website. The Subjective: have you ever had back pain interfere with your running? How did you deal with it? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 11:54 - The Subjective: has a back issue ever effected your running? 16:12 - An overview of scoliosis 24:26 - What to do if you or your child have scoliosis 32:57 - How Schroth therapy works 44:20 - The research on the effectiveness of Schroth 49:46 - Running with scoliosis 55:07 - Common symptoms that runners with scoliosis experience 58:35 - Interventions to avoid for runners with scoliosis 1:01:20 - The role of the spine, ribs, and the pelvis in the running gait 1:06:35 - An overview of the SI joint 1:10:09 - Exercises to improve thoracic mobility 1:16:32 - Jeanne's current favorite shoes 1:17:43 - Wrap-up Be sure to check out this week's sponsor, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Running Warehouse⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. They've got a bunch of new shoes hitting the shelves! Check out Hoka's brand new Cielo Road, a 5K/10K racing flat with a PEBA Foam. Want something with some more cushion for those easy days? Take a look at the updated Saucony Triumph 21, a team favorite. If you need some stability for your runs, the ASICS Kayano 30 has been reimagined from the ground up. Find all of these and more by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠runningwarehouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ today.

Time for more listener questions! Nathan and David dig into the mailbag to answer your questions. They take a look at two new "super trainers": the Hoka Mach X and the Saucony Kinvara Pro. They lend their expertise on rehabbing from Achilles tendinopathy and how shoes might impact it. They give some practical advice on making sure you're getting enough protein in your diet to stay fueled and strong, and even more. Be sure to listen til the end to hear David get put on the hot seat for his taco preferences! Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:13 - Should you rotate different shoes for easy and long runs? 9:29 - Mach X vs. Endorphin Speed 3 20:35 - Kinvara Pro Comparisons 30:23 - Running & Achilles rehab with Silbernagel Protocol 36:35 - Heel Drop with Insertional Achilles Tendinopapthy 44:47 - How much protein should runners eat? 53:56 - How do we balance DOR, running, work, family, and more? 1:01:19 - Footshaped vs non-footshaped shoes? 1:07:38 - Bucket list destination races 1:12:22 - Kiss, marry, kill: chorizo, carnitas, or steak 1:14:42 - Wrap-up Be sure to check out this week's sponsor, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Running Warehouse⁠⁠⁠⁠. They've got a bunch of new shoes hitting the shelves! Check out Hoka's brand new Cielo Road, a 5K/10K racing flat with a PEBA Foam. Want something with some more cushion for those easy days? Take a look at the updated Saucony Triumph 21, a team favorite. If you need some stability for your runs, the ASICS Kayano 30 has been reimagined from the ground up. Find all of these and more by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠runningwarehouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ today.

We're more than halfway through 2023, so it's time for some mid-season awards! David, Matt, and Nathan are joined by a very special guest: Connor Blalock of Running Warehouse fame. Not only does Connor, and the rest of the team, give their top five shoes of the year so far, but he gives an insight into working for one of the biggest running retailers. Learn about what it's like to interact with shoe companies and test & review more shoes than just about anyone else. Be sure to let us know what your favorite shoes of the year so far are! Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:21 - Getting to know Connor 5:08 - Connor's process reviewing & making videos about shoes 13:00 - Connor & the team's favorite shoe types & characteristics 17:18 - Shoe trends in the industry 27:54 - Maintaining balance and avoiding bias in reviewing shoes 30:24 - Matt's top 5 shoes of 2023 so far 35:22 - Nate's top 5    39:40 - David's top 5   47:14 - Connor's top 5 57:49 - Connor's thoughts & comparisons on the Nike ZoomX Ultrafly 1:02:20 - Wrap-up Be sure to check out this week's sponsor, ⁠⁠⁠Running Warehouse⁠⁠⁠. Summer's all about racking up the miles before a busy fall racing season. Check out some some of our favorite daily trainers like Hoka's 9th iteration on the beloved Clifton series. If you're looking for something soft and bouncy check out Skecher's latest trainers: Go Run Ride 11 and Maxroad 6 featuring their new Hyperburst Ice foam. If you want something that can pick up the pace, take a look at the revamped Adidas Boston 12 with the softer Lightstrike 2.0 midsole. You can find rabbit’s new trail line and more by visiting ⁠⁠⁠runningwarehouse.com⁠⁠⁠ today.

In this episode, Nathan and Matt are joined by special guests Andrea Paulson and Cory Hoffman from Saucony, to discuss two of their newest and most exciting shoes: the Endorphin Elite and Kinvara Pro. Together, they explore the intricate process of developing and testing midsole foams. Get a behind the scenes look at the development of PWRRUN HG and the unique geometry of the Endorphin Elite. Learn the origin story of the Kinvara Pro, a brand new dual-density, plated "super" trainer. They walk us through the extensive testing and development process that went into creating this shoe and learn who benefits most from its unique features. With the rise of super shoes and their impact on training, the conversation turns to the data surrounding their usage and how it shapes the way we approach our training. Oh, and have you been itching to know the real meaning of "HG"? Tune in to find out! Get ready for an engaging, informative, and thought-provoking discussion on running shoe technology and the future of footwear in the running world.  Andrea Paulson is the Vice President of Product Engineering & Human Performance at Saucony. She leads different, yet connected, divisions that work on every aspect of shoe design, construction and future innovations, as well as biomechanical testing, gathering performance & personal preference data.  Cory Hofmann is a Performance Engineer at Saucony research laboratory, testing almost every aspect of their shoe: fit, durability, mechanical properties, etc. Cory specializes in testing and measuring running shoe performance, focusing on biomechanics and physiology. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 7:40 - How midsole foams are developed & tested 18:22 - How are PWRRUN HG and PWRRUN PB different? 21:42 - The developement of the Endorphin Elite's geometry 27:30 - Running economy testing for the Endorphin Elite 30:28 - Is Saucony heading towards ditching EVA/TPU foams? 33:41 - How durable is PWRRUN HG? 38:42 - What's next for PWRRUN HG? 45:40 - The origin story of the Kinvara Pro 53:30 - The testing & development of the Kinvara Pro 1:01:47 - Who does the Kinvara Pro benefit? 1:13:59 - How does this data impact the conversation about training in super shoes? 1:19:56 - How much should we train in plated shoes? 1:30:03 - What does HG stand for? 1:31:24 - Wrap-up Be sure to check out this week's sponsor, ⁠⁠⁠Running Warehouse⁠⁠⁠. Summer's all about racking up the miles before a busy fall racing season. Check out some some of our favorite daily trainers like Hoka's 9th iteration on the beloved Clifton series. If you're looking for something soft and bouncy check out Skecher's latest trainers: Go Run Ride 11 and Maxroad 6 featuring their new Hyperburst Ice foam. If you want something that can pick up the pace, take a look at the revamped Adidas Boston 12 with the softer Lightstrike 2.0 midsole. You can find rabbit’s new trail line and more by visiting ⁠⁠⁠runningwarehouse.com⁠⁠⁠ today.

Andrea is joined by esteemed guest Shannon Thompson, a mental performance consultant and expert in psychological performance training. Together, they dive deep into the mental aspects of running, offering invaluable insights and practical strategies to enhance your performance and manage anxiety. Discover the power of mantras and phrases as Andrea and Shannon discuss their personal favorites for overcoming challenges during races and training. Learn how positive self-talk can fuel your motivation, boost your confidence, and push you beyond your limits. Mental performance training is a crucial component of success in running, and they shed light on its importance and practical applications. From managing performance anxiety to modulating extreme nervousness, they share techniques and exercises that will help you optimize your mental state and perform at your best. Gain valuable advice for tackling different stages of long-distance races, overcoming workout-related anxieties, and navigating the emotional and mental impacts of physical injuries. Get ready to unlock your mental potential and take your running to new heights! Shannon's athletic background began in the equestrian sport of Three Day Eventing. She was fortunate enough to compete nationally and internationally successfully for more than 20 years and she also coached riders of all ages and levels during this time. Since retiring from equestrian sport she developed a passion for running. She's raced the 800m through to ultra trail events and almost everything in between. Her interest regarding the power of the mind to impact an athlete’s performance and overall experience moved her to complete an undergraduate degree in psychology, and then a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Positive psychology is the science of human flourishing and high achievement. Her work out of HYPO2 is offered to a wide range of clients, including elite, professional endurance athletes from around the world, and the Division I teams at Northern Arizona University. She draws upon empirical research, her own experience, and the arts to help each individual grow, perform and experience the opportunities within sport to the full. You can find her on her website or Instagram @shannonleighthompson! The Subjective: what mantra/phrase do you use to get through races or training? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 6:45 - The Subjective: what mantra/phrase do you use to get through races or training? 9:10 - What is mental performance training? 15:15 - Techniques for managing performance anxiety 24:54 - Strategies for modulating extreme nervousness 33:00 - Advice for getting through different stages of long distance races 37:15 - Managing anxiety surrounding workouts in training 43:23 - The effects of a physical injury on mental health 55:27 - Managing anxiety when returning to sport post-injury 59:40 - Cultivating personal identity outside of athletic pursuits 1:08:36 - Wrap-up Be sure to check out this week's sponsor, ⁠⁠⁠Running Warehouse⁠⁠⁠. Summer's all about racking up the miles before a busy fall racing season. Check out some some of our favorite daily trainers like Hoka's 9th iteration on the beloved Clifton series. If you're looking for something soft and bouncy check out Skecher's latest trainers: Go Run Ride 11 and Maxroad 6 featuring their new Hyperburst Ice foam. If you want something that can pick up the pace, take a look at the revamped Adidas Boston 12 with the softer Lightstrike 2.0 midsole. You can find rabbit’s new trail line and more by visiting ⁠⁠⁠runningwarehouse.com⁠⁠⁠ today. 

This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at running shoe design and production. Matt & Nathan are joined by special guest Richard Kuchinsky, founder of Directive Collective and an expert in footwear design and development. They explore an array of topics–from defining industrial design and the significance of consultants in the footwear industry to Richard's proudest project with The Directive Collective, this is an inside look at the shoe design process from initial sketches to the finished product. Delving deeper, they discuss the factors influencing shoe pricing and the emerging trends Richard foresees in the ever-evolving footwear landscape. Additionally, they examine the categorization of running shoes, the pivotal role of comfort and "feel" in selecting the right shoe. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 5:20 - Defining industrial design 10:44 - The role of consultants in the footwear industry 13:16 - What is The Directive Collective? 19:50 - The project Richard is most proud of 22:12 - The shoe design process: from sketch to final product 29:48 - The time horizons for creating a shoe 37:16 - What goes in to shoe pricing? 45:38 - The trends Richard sees coming in the footwear industry 49:22 - How Richard would categorize the variety of running shoes 55:09 - The role of comfort and "feel" in shoe selection 1:03:14 - What's next for shoes? 1:06:02 - Richard's all-time favorite shoe 1:08:02 - Wrap-up Richard Kuchinsky, a runner and running shoe designer, is the Founder and Owner of The Directive Collective- a full-service design footwear design consultancy. A 4x Boston Qualifying marathoner, Richard has an extensive experience of 20+ years in the footwear industry, and has driven the creative design and development process for global brands, focused on design DNA and strategy. The Directive Collective provides complete footwear design solutions from concept to commercialization including technical design and development and specializes in performance running and innovation. You can find Richard on Instagram, LinkedIn, and The Directive Collective website. Be sure to check out this week's sponsor, ⁠⁠Running Warehouse⁠⁠. Rabbit’s new outdoor collection is made for the trail, by trail runners. Inspired by time spent in the mountains, rabbit’s new line has been crafted and put through the test by elite athletes on some of the hardest trails and races in the world. We’ve been huge fans of rabbit’s EZ tee shirts since we first reviewed them a few years ago. They remain some of our favorites and are still highly soft and comfortable hundreds of miles later. Our chief editor Matt Klein is also a lifelong fan of their High Country collection which blends office-ready apparel with running-quality fabric for those looking for run commute attire. You can find rabbit’s new trail line and more by visiting ⁠⁠runningwarehouse.com⁠⁠ today.