

The Runners Zone
Nathan Carlson
Welcome to the Runners Zone Podcast hosted by Nathan Carlson and Chris Johnson. Lend us your ear as we We interview world leaders in endurance sports, discuss optimizing performance for runnings and help provide practical solutions to common running problems. We also discuss life as niche-practice business owners treating and training runners.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 6, 2025 • 39min
Episode 73: Primary care for runners with Dr. Laurel Short
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Laurel Short, a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and headache specialist, shares her expertise on primary care for endurance athletes. She highlights common challenges like stress and underfueling, along with proactive screening for nutrition and mental health issues. Dr. Short also dives into the significance of proper lab tests, the complexities of supplements, and the importance of strength training for aging athletes. With her direct experience in triathlons, she blends clinical insights with personal passion!

Sep 22, 2025 • 42min
Episode 72: Trusting your gut
To learn more about Nathan's new 5-week virtual cohort, click below Hybrid: A Clinician’s Course to Strength Training for Runners. To learn more about Bones, Tendons, Weights, & Whistles in New York City, click HERE. The Runners Zone Want to work with runners and build a thriving business around it? The Runner’s Zone is an upbeat, global community of clinicians, coaches, and trainers who love working with endurance athletes. For over 10 years, we’ve helped passionate professionals fast-track their skills, grow their confidence, and build beautiful, word-of-mouth businesses that runners rave about. Join us if you’re ready to level up—and have fun doing it. Use code “rzpod” for 10% off the annual membership. To learn more click HERE.

Sep 8, 2025 • 49min
Episode 71: Is gait analysis overrated?
To learn more about Nathan's new 5-week virtual cohort, click below Hybrid: A Clinician’s Course to Strength Training for Runners. To learn more about Bones, Tendons, Weights, & Whistles in New York City, click HERE. The Runners Zone Want to work with runners and build a thriving business around it? The Runner’s Zone is an upbeat, global community of clinicians, coaches, and trainers who love working with endurance athletes. For over 10 years, we’ve helped passionate professionals fast-track their skills, grow their confidence, and build beautiful, word-of-mouth businesses that runners rave about. Join us if you’re ready to level up—and have fun doing it. Use code “rzpod” for 10% off the annual membership. To learn more click HERE.

Aug 25, 2025 • 35min
Episode 70: Stop putting tools in your toolbox
Join Chris and Nathan for Bones Tendons Weights & Whistles @ Motion PT in New York City on October 4-5. To learn more click HERE. Episode Timestamps 2:00 "Put more tools in your toolbox" is a bad message 6:00 Red flags in a con ed course or instructor 7:40 You only have so much time for a test 8:00 More is not always better 11:00 The best tests for a "difficult" patient 13:30 PT isn't all about talking to someone 18:00 You can only change so much about your treatment strategy 20:30 Clinical reasoning and the table torsion test 21:00 Gaps in BSI literature and working with actual runners 23:00 The primary clinical tools you need 30:00 Taking away runner's pain is seductive Thanks for tuning into The Runners Zone Podcast. Chris and I would love it if you gave us a review as those really help us continue to produce episodes. The Runners Zone Want to work with runners and build a thriving business around it? The Runner’s Zone is an upbeat, global community of clinicians, coaches, and trainers who love working with endurance athletes. For over 10 years, we’ve helped passionate professionals fast-track their skills, grow their confidence, and build beautiful, word-of-mouth businesses that runners rave about. Join us if you’re ready to level up—and have fun doing it. Use code “rzpod” for 10% off the annual membership. To learn more click HERE.

Aug 11, 2025 • 43min
Episode 69: How to disagree with physicians
Join Chris and Nathan for Bones Tendons Weights & Whistles @ Motion PT in New York City on October 4-5. To learn more click HERE. Episode Timestamps 2:00 When PTs and doctors clash 9:10 How to do well by patients 10:30 Disagreeing on when a patient can run 14:00 Patients need a unified providers 17:30 A challenging navicular BSI 22:00 The need to have imaging that matches a pain presentation 27:00 Doctors, PTs, & researchers have different viewpoints 34:00 Don't overstep your role Thanks for tuning into The Runners Zone Podcast. Chris and I would love it if you gave us a review as those really help us continue to produce episodes. The Runners Zone Want to work with runners and build a thriving business around it? The Runner’s Zone is an upbeat, global community of clinicians, coaches, and trainers who love working with endurance athletes. For over 10 years, we’ve helped passionate professionals fast-track their skills, grow their confidence, and build beautiful, word-of-mouth businesses that runners rave about. Join us if you’re ready to level up—and have fun doing it. Use code “rzpod” for 10% off the annual membership. To learn more click HERE.

Jul 21, 2025 • 38min
Episode 68: How much running will get you hurt?
Thanks for tuning into The Runners Zone Podcast. Want to work with runners and build a thriving business around it? The Runner’s Zone is an upbeat, global online community of clinicians, coaches, and trainers who love working with endurance athletes. For over 10 years, we’ve helped passionate professionals fast-track their skills, grow their confidence, and build beautiful, word-of-mouth businesses that runners rave about. Join us if you’re ready to level up—and have fun doing it. Use code “rzpod” for 10% off the annual membership. To learn more click HERE. Episode Timestamps 1:00 PTs should have a nationwide license 6:20 How much running is too much article 10:40 Principles for progressing a runner's training load 19:00 Life loads versus training loads 23:45 Tissue specific training considerations31:00 When training isn't working anymore Studies from this episode - How much running is too much? Bone stress injuries

Jul 4, 2025 • 49min
Episode 67: Pillars of professional success
Thanks for tuning into The Runners Zone Podcast. Chris and I would love it if you gave us a review as those really help us continue to produce episodes. The Runners Zone Want to work with runners and build a thriving business around it? The Runner’s Zone is an upbeat, global community of clinicians, coaches, and trainers who love working with endurance athletes. For over 10 years, we’ve helped passionate professionals fast-track their skills, grow their confidence, and build beautiful, word-of-mouth businesses that runners rave about. Join us if you’re ready to level up—and have fun doing it.Use code “rzpod” for 10% off the annual membership. To learn more click HERE. Episode Timestamps 1:00 An update on the podcast 9:15 Current reading recommendations 11:30 Empathy without accountability is a slippery slope 16:45 The importance of communication in business 17:45 The need for delayed gratification 22:30 The need to share your ideas (not other people’s) 29:00 Why you need to write a newsletter 35:00 The need to edit roles out of your life 40:00 Think more about your follow up emails

Jun 16, 2025 • 45min
Episode 66: Does zero pain mean you can run?
Chris and Nathan both have new online courses for you to check out. Nathan's course Rebuild: BSI Management https://runningmatekc.com/rebuild-bone-stress-injury-online-course/ Chris's Course: Clinical Running Essentials https://chrisjohnsonpt.com/clinical-running-essentials/ In this episode, Chris and Nathan dive into 2:00 Does an absensce of pain mean you can start running?7:00 What if a physician gives the runners a green light?11:50 The research on asymptomatic BSIs12:45 Nathan’s phases of BSI rehab17:15 What if running is too important to the patient?21:00 Avoiding distractions in recovery23:00 The George article32:00 Navigating symptoms during BSI rehab39:00 Should patients avoid social media? Warden article https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33962529/ George article https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39141251/ Asymptomatic tibial BSIs https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15333349/

Feb 3, 2025 • 31min
Episode 65: What do you struggle with in the clinic?
Boston Bones, Tendons, Weights, & Whistles https://chrisjohnsonpt.com/product/bones-tendons-weights-whistles-boston-march-2025/ Timestamps: 2:20 What’s new with Chris4:30 What’s new with Nathan5:30 Case study one - vague hip pain14:10 Case study two - glute med tendinopathy?16:30 Chris and Nathan come to Boston18:20 Solopreneuer corner: One tip for if and when you go out on your own25:00 What do we struggle with in the clinic?

Jan 14, 2025 • 40min
Episode 64: The Skills You Don't Learn in School
To learn more about Chris and Nathan's new business offer click below. https://skilled-teacher-862.kit.com/7fca4b4f3b Episode Timestamps 3:00 Taking time off around the holidays 6:30 Downtime in training and in business 9:00 The space between the stimulus and response 12:42 A new offering from Chris & Nathan 15:20 The non-clinical skills you need 20:00 The top 3 skills that will help your career 25:43 Figuring out YOUR approach to social media 28:00 What we’ve learned from clinics across the country If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you gave us a review and shared with a friend.