Doctors of Running Podcast

Expert in bone health and injuries in runners, Rich Willy, discusses various topics including the link between food and bone health, practical exercises to reduce injury risk, the role of shoes in bone injuries, and taking a holistic view of bone injury risk. He also emphasizes the importance of strength training for runners and the impact of shoe design on bone stress injuries.

Q&A episode discussing topics such as sprinters' shoes, foam rolling vs. massage guns, liquid nutrition vs. gels for fuel, shoe comparisons, and stride vs. cadence. Also includes a New Balance Beacon question and other intriguing this-or-that dilemmas.

Debates on the impact of racing shoes on world records, the effectiveness of foam rolling and stretching, the value of $500 marathon racing shoes, and whether LeBron James could qualify for the Boston Marathon make this podcast a heated and entertaining discussion.

David, a running shoe expert, shares tips on building a shoe rotation for different running purposes. Matt reviews the redesigned Adidas Adios Prime X 2 with big changes to its ride. They discuss various shoe options for training, racing, and exploring stability in the Adidas Prime X Strung. Detailed reviews and analysis of specific shoe models are also provided.

In this mailbag episode, the Doctors of Running Podcast tackle listener questions about shoes, biomechanics, and more. They compare the Boston 12 to similar options, discuss stability and asymmetry in running mechanics, recommend carbon-plated shoes for beginners, and talk about the Endorphin Elite vs. the Vaporfly 3. They also explore icing for recovery, shoe suggestions for middle school cross country, and which discontinued shoe lines they'd like to see back.

The Doctors of Running Podcast explores the evolving definition of maximal trainers, the impact of cushioning on biomechanics, and the characteristics that define a maximal shoe. The hosts debate the criteria for maximal shoes and compare various models, discussing stack heights, foam types, and cushioning levels. They also explore the impact of stack height on eversion and running economy, highlighting the importance of footwear variety and moderation in training with maximal shoes.

The internet provides us with an endless amount of information about running, but between websites, social media, online magazines, and more, how do we sift through to find what's legitimate? On this episode, Andrea and Nathan are joined by journalist and influencer Ashley Mateo to talk all things running media and coaching. They take a look at the state of journalism and how it's changed over the years, vetting sources and influencers on social media, the future of AI, and more. Ashley's also a USATF-certified coach, so they explore the benefits of the athlete-coach relationship and how they can help you take your running to the next level. Ashley Mateo is an award-winning journalist and editor who currently works as a freelance editorial consultant. She was previously the site director of Redbook and the deputy digital editor at Shape. Her writing has appeared in such outlets as The Wall Street Journal, TIME, Runner's World, Women's Running, Men's Journal, Health, Women's Health, Bicycling, and more. She received her degree in journalism from Boston University. Ashley is also an RRCA- and UESCA-certified running coach. She lives in Denver. You can find her online on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and be sure to subscribe to her phenomenal email newsletter, the rundown. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:38 - Ashley's running background 5:35 - The Subjective: what are you favorite sources for running information? 10:22 - How Ashley got into writing about running 16:25 - How freelance journalists get assignments 18:22 - How writing about running has changed in the last 5-10 years 22:38 - How coaching has changed Ashley's writing 26:18 - The role of a running coach 31:45 - How to find reliable sources of information on social media 35:08 - Vetting influences who also have sponsorships and advertise 39:46 - The community and communication in the coaching relationship 44:28 - How reliable are running influencers? 49:24 - The comparison trap 55:46 - How journalism is being changed by AI 1:00:31 - AI in fitness machines & training plans 1:05:06 - Content creation & burnout 1:14:41 - Ashley's favorite shoes 1:24:24 - Wrap-up 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 Warehouse⁠to shop today.

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.