Run to the Top Podcast | The Ultimate Guide to Running

Many of us enjoy nothing more than a cold beer on a hot day or a strong drink after a long work shift.  However, what impact, if any, does this have on our training and racing goals? Obviously, you’re not drinking beers before you run, so is there any detriment? The research and answers may surprise you. In today’s uptempo talk, Coach Dylan and Coach Ruairi are going to dive into the pros and cons of alcohol consumption on your running and even discuss the beer mile along the way.  Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT! This week’s show brought to you by: CollaGenius: Adding collagen to your daily recovery routine can dramatically improve your recovery and ability to stay healthy.  If you want to try collagen yourself, our recommendation is CollaGenius because it contains an efficacious dose at 2.5g of collagen with no added fillers or proprietary blends. If you’re interested in trying it out, head to nootopia.com/runtothetopgenius and user code run10 during checkout to save 10 percent. Oladance: If you’re looking for better and safer headphones while you run, then you need to check out Oladance.  Their open-ear-design and dynamic drive delivers premium sound while still being comfortable and allowing you to hear your surroundings to stay safe.  To help out, we’ve locked in a special deal with Oladance for Runners Connect listeners. Just visit oladance.com/RTTT and use code RTTT to save 20% on your purchase.

Nick ran cross country in high school, setting a 5k PR of 17:49 way back in 2005. But in 2012 he developed a severe case of achilles tendonitis which caused him to hang up the racing shoes for almost 10 years! Now he’s back to training - but he’s having some trouble. Some injuries, overly intense workouts, and in general he doesn’t feel like he’s quite on track to reach his goals. What could be behind the present difficulty? We have some ideas! On this weeks Training Plan Rescue, Coach Michael covers: How to effectively come back from a big running hiatus If and when you should emulate what the pro runners do We’ll set Nick up for success moving forward. Anyone had similar difficulties as Nick? Let us know in the comments! Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT! This week’s show brought to you by: CollaGenius: Adding collagen to your daily recovery routine can dramatically improve your recovery and ability to stay healthy.  If you want to try collagen yourself, our recommendation is CollaGenius because it contains an efficacious dose at 2.5g of collagen with no added fillers or proprietary blends. If you’re interested in trying it out, head to nootopia.com/runtothetopgenius and user code run10 during checkout to save 10 percent. Oladance: If you’re looking for better and safer headphones while you run, then you need to check out Oladance. Their open-ear-design and dynamic drive delivers premium sound while still being comfortable and allowing you to hear your surroundings to stay safe.  To help out, we’ve locked in a special deal with Oladance for Runners Connect listeners. Just visit oladance.com/RTTT and use code RTTT to save 20% on your purchase.

Do you have a goal time you’ve been eyeing but aren’t sure if and when it will be attainable? Or are you fairly new to running and wondering what to expect from your rate of improvement? This is a fairly common question and the short answer is, it depends.  In today’s episode, we’ll help you… Determine how much you should expect to improve race to race  Understand the factors to consider when it comes to getting faster. The specific things you can work on to ensure you maximize your potential through the year Want more? Download your FREE Improvement Performance Calculator now. Enjoy the chat today and of course, let us know if you have any questions of your own on any of our social media channels. Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT! This week’s show brought to you by: LMNT LMNT is loaded with everything you need to replenish your electrolyte balance with 1000mg of sodium, 200mg of potassium, and 60mg of magnesium, and doesn't include anything you don't need like extra sugar or anything artificial. They are currently running a special deal where you can get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order.  So, order your favorite flavor and get a free sample pack to try out new flavors or share with your running friends. To claim this exclusive deal you go to drinkLMNT.com/runnersconnect.  Lagoon Sleep Lagoon specializes in making pillows designed specifically for runners and athletes to help them optimize their sleep and recovery. If you want to see the dramatic effect a pillow designed just for you can be, head to lagoonsleep.com/top. Then take their awesome 2 minute sleep quiz that matches you with the Lagoon pillow that’s perfect for you. Plus, if you use the code TOP at checkout, you’ll also save 15% off your purchase.

There’s no doubt that winter running can be some of the most difficult months of training, especially if you have a big race coming up in April or May and you have to be focused on getting in the work. Motivation fades when every run requires dressing in 10lbs of gear and braving the elements or constantly fretting about how to adapt yet another workout for the ice and snow.  That’s why in today’s podcast roundup, we’re going to help teach you everything we’ve learned over the past 10 years about training in winter conditions. And no, these are just another round of “wear layers” type of tips (although we do recommend this). Instead, we’re going to hear from some experts on exactly how to adapt your workouts, stay motivated, and make sure your spring race is your best yet, whatever mother nature throws at you this weekend. Grab your free download of our Treadmill Guide for Runners now! Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT! This week’s show brought to you by: BiOptimizers Most magnesium supplements fail because they are synthetic and only contain one or two forms of magnesium, which is simply not enough. The reason Magnesium Breakthrough from BiOptimizers is so effective is because it’s the only organic full-spectrum magnesium supplement that includes 7 unique forms of magnesium all in each pill. By making Magnesium Breakthrough part of your daily routine, you’ll be fully rested, recharged, and ready to crush all your New Year’s resolutions. For an exclusive offer for Run to the Top listeners go magbreakthrough.com/runtothetop In addition to the 10% discount you get by using promo code run10, you will unlock a special gift with purchase - for a limited time only. Elo Health Finding the right supplements at the right dosages specifically for your needs isn’t easy. That’s why we love Elo Health. Elo uses a combination of at-home blood biomarker testing, Apple Health data, and Dietitian support to determine exactly the right supplements just for you. Once you have your results, they set you up with a registered dietician to go over your results and explain what each biomarker means. Then they’ll go over the scientific literature behind each supplement they recommend based on your personal health markers. Your custom supplements are delivered straight to your door every month, divided into convenient daily packets and evolve as your biomarkers and health data change. If you’d like to give Elo a try, you can get a free blood biomarker test (a $200 value) by going to elo.health and entering code RTTT. 

Welcome to our coach chat this week and our first podcast of the new year. As we all try to get our 2023 started off on the right track, one of the first things we start to think about is tracking towards our goals. As any good coach will tell you, one of the most critical pieces to achieving any goal you set for yourself is tracking your progress along the way. Unfortunately, many runners are not aware that they are often too concerned with the wrong metrics in their training. The result is often frustration, stagnant race results, and injuries. So, today we’re going to go over a couple of common metrics many runners put too much focus on and how you can shift your mindset should you fall victim to these familiar pitfalls. Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT! This week’s show brought to you by: Collagenius: Collagen peptides are one of the latest supplements to take the running world by storm in our never-ending quest to improve recovery. With strong collagen levels, your body will better handle the pounding that comes with running so many miles. If you want to try collagen yourself, our recommendation is CollaGenius because it contains an efficacious dose at 2.5g of collagen with no added fillers or proprietary blends.  If you’re interested in trying it out, head to  nootopia.com/runtothetopgenius and use run10 during checkout to save 10% off your next order Oladance: If you’re looking for better and safer headphones while you run, then you need to check out Oladance. Their open-ear-design and dynamic drive delivers premium sound while still being comfortable and allowing you to hear your surroundings to stay safe.  To help out, we’ve locked in a special deal with Oladance for Runners Connect listeners. Just visit oladance.com/RTTT and use code RTTT to save 20% on your purchase.

When it comes to executing workouts, understanding aspects like pace, distance, and duration might already be at the top of your mind. But how much thought have you given to the importance of the rest intervals in your workouts? Can you distinguish between what you need for something like a neuromuscular-based workout versus the rest you need for threshold intervals?  Come to think of it, you might have other questions too. Like on those days where things aren’t clicking, does it make sense to stop a workout? And if so, when is it prudent to move it to the next day?  Well, this is another episode of Run To The Top with RunnersConnect coaches Dylan Belles and Ruari Moynihan discussing the appropriate rest intervals and rest paces associated with 5 paces and intensities and the questions of when you should stop a workout and if and when you should consider moving these workouts to another day.  Tune in to hear their discussion. Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT! This week’s show brought to you by: Oladance: If you’re looking for better and safer headphones while you run, then you need to check out Oladance. Their open-ear-design and dynamic drive delivers premium sound while still being comfortable and allowing you to hear your surroundings to stay safe.  To help out, we’ve locked in a special deal with Oladance for Runners Connect listeners. Just visit oladance.com/RTTT and use code RTTT to save 20% on your purchase. Metpro: MetPro is a world-renowned concierge nutrition, fitness & lifestyle coaching company. Using Metabolic Profiling, MetPro team of experts analyzes your metabolism and provides an individualized approach to obtaining your goals.  Run to the Top listeners receive a complimentary Metabolic Profiling assessment and a 30-minute consultation with a MetPro expert. To claim this offer head to metpro.co/rttt

What are your thoughts on exogenous ketones? Are you familiar? Are you wondering what they have to do with running? Well, in this episode you are in for a treat. Brian McMahon, runner and Chief Strategy Officer at deltaG - a company that makes exogenous ketones - joins Run To The Top to talk about what ketones are, the difference between options out there on the market for runners (particularly, the difference between ketone “esters” and “salts”), their benefits for running performance, recovery, and even day to day life, recommended programs for usage, and much more.  If you’re curious to learn more about ways that you can sustainably and optimally fuel your body during prolonged exercise and tough training blocks, this episode is for you.  In addition to the science of ketones, Brian and I do a deep dive into the history of its development and usage in military and endurance sports environments, and talk a bit as well about what the next few years could look like for its adoption in the running community.  Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT! This week’s show brought to you by: P3OM: If you’ve struggled with stomach issues in training or racing or frequently get sick when training hard, adding a high quality probiotic supplement could be the key to relieving both issues. As always, the quality and type of probiotic supplement you take can have a huge impact on its effectiveness. That’s why we recommend P3-OM probiotics.  P3-OM is a patented probiotic that uses the most effective strain of probiotic and also at the highest recommended effective dosages. This strain is also proteolytic, meaning it is maintainable in the human digestive system and it doesn’t require refrigeration.  It’s a secret weapon for upgrading your immunity and protection against bad bacteria. If you’re interested in trying it out, you can get 10% off P3-OM right now by going to p3om.com/runtothetop and using code code run10. Oladance: If you’re looking for better and safer headphones while you run, then you need to check out Oladance. Their open-ear-design and dynamic drive delivers premium sound while still being comfortable and allowing you to hear your surroundings to stay safe.  To help out, we’ve locked in a special deal with Oladance for Runners Connect listeners. Just visit oladance.com/RTTT and use code RTTT to save 20% on your purchase.

We’ve put together some of the best interviews we’ve conducted over the past 6 years from masters coaches, researchers and high-performing athletes to help you better understand the benefits of strength training in any running program. In this interview… We’ll dispel some of the myths out there around strength training Look at what the academic research says about its applicability to running Help you understand the types of strength training you should be doing Plus, how often you should be doing it, what progression should look like in this area, and more. And the best part is, in this podcast we’re boiling everything down to just the best advice and words of wisdom. So, if you’re ready to learn how to make the most of strength training for your running performance, today’s interview round-up is just what you need!  Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT! This week’s show brought to you by: BiOptimizers: If you’re looking to try enzymes to help with your digestive issues, we recommend Masszymes by BiOptimizers. It’s a best-in-class supplement loaded with full spectrum enzymes for digesting proteins, starches, sugars, fibers, and fats. Taking Masszymes daily helps top off your enzyme levels and replace the enzymes your body is no longer producing.  After you start taking Masszymes, you may notice that you no longer feel bloated after meals and it will help you absorb more nutrients. Just head to masszymes.com/runtothetop and use the code run10 and you’ll save an additional 10% on any purchase. Elo Health: When it comes to supplements, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to figure out exactly what you need and what is going to help you the most. Elo finds the right supplements by taking into account your blood biomarker values, health history, and fitness goals to determine the optimal supplement formulation just for you. The biomarker test is shipped right to your door and is simple and easy to take at home. Once you send it back, they analyze your blood biomarkers. You’ll get a full panel profile of your deficiencies, strengths and levels that need to be improved.  Once you have your results, they set you up with a registered dietician to go over your results and explain what each biomarker means. Then your custom supplements are delivered straight to your door every month, divided into convenient daily packets and evolve as your biomarkers and health data change. If you’d like to give Elo a try, you can get a free blood biomarker test (a $200 value) by going to elo.health and entering code RTTT.

Do you have great results at shorter distances like the 5k and 10k, but can’t run equivalent times for longer races like the HM and Marathon? That’s the problem Aliisa Laurie has dealt with her last few marathons. Alissa has posted impressive times at shorter distances, but through a combination of training errors and injuries has fallen short of her potential in the marathon. Listen in to Coach Michael’s analysis of Alissa’s current strategy and execution, as well as his suggestions for Alissa’s future marathon training blocks when it comes to approaching long runs, easy days, workout selection, strength building, and injury prevention. Download your FREE Hip Strengthening Exercises Guide Now! Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT! This week’s show brought to you by: P3-OM: If you’ve struggled with stomach issues in training or racing or frequently get sick when training hard, adding a high quality probiotic supplement could be the key to relieving both issues. As always, the quality and type of probiotic supplement you take can have a huge impact on its effectiveness. That’s why we recommend P3-OM probiotics.  P3-OM is a patented probiotic that uses the most effective strain of probiotic and also at the highest recommended effective dosages. This strain is also proteolytic, meaning it is maintainable in the human digestive system and it doesn’t require refrigeration.  It’s a secret weapon for upgrading your immunity and protection against bad bacteria. If you’re interested in trying it out, you can get 10% off P3-OM right now by going to p3om.com/runtothetop and using code code run10. LMNT: LMNT is the hydration solution designed with athletes and everyone who sweats in mind. LMNT comes in lots of salty flavors that even the saltiest sweaters will love, such as citrus, raspberry, and orange.  It even comes unflavored for those who prefer the clean, salty taste. It's loaded with everything you need to replenish your electrolyte balance with 1000mg of sodium, 200mg of potassium, and 60mg of magnesium, and doesn't include anything you don't need like extra sugar or anything artificial. Even better, they are currently running a special deal where you can get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order. So, order your favorite flavor and get a free sample pack to try out new flavors or share with your running friends.  To claim this exclusive deal you must go to drinkLMNT.com/runnersconnect.

How many times have you been in a training run or race environment where issues like nausea, bloating, or cramping have interrupted performance?  Or how often have you tried to experiment with the latest drink mixes, gels, and bars only to find yourself back at square one wondering what will keep you properly fueled and focused on the task at hand during prolonged exercise?  Personally, I’ve lost count of how many times gut distress and nutrition choices were the limiting factors on my performance in these scenarios. And that’s why I’m excited to have Robert Wilson, a professor of exercise science and registered dietitian on the podcast today.  Robert wrote a book a few years ago called “The Athlete’s Gut: The Inside Science of Digestion, Nutrition, and Stomach Distress”. In this interview, we use his research to talk about the sources and remedies for common gut distress issues that runners face. We dive deep into the nutritional strategies that runners can implement to execute their most important, challenging runs in training and on race day.  Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT! This week’s show brought to you by: Kion: Kion Aminos is backed by over 20 years of clinical research, has the highest quality ingredients, no fillers or junk, undergoes rigorous quality testing, and tastes amazing with all-natural flavors.  If you want to naturally boost energy, build lean muscle, and enhance athletic recovery you need to get Kion Aminos.  To save 20% on monthly deliveries and 10% on one-time purchases, go to getkion.com/runtothetop to get the fundamental supplement for fitness, Kion Aminos. Amino Company: Heal is an amino acid, whey and creatine based formulation designed to reduce recovery times and improve physical function after injuries by accelerating muscle repair while helping maintain a healthy inflammatory response.  If you're looking for a nutritional advantage when it comes to recovering from your running injury or your daily training I recommend you give Heal from AminoCo a try. If you’re interested in learning more and giving Heal a try, we’ve got a special offer for you where you can save 30% by using the code RC30. Just head to: aminoco.com/rttt and use the code RC30 at checkout to save 30%.