Run to the Top Podcast | The Ultimate Guide to Running

We’ve long known the biggest barriers in running are those we create in our own heads, but according to Alex Hutchinson and the latest research, there are ways we can bypass these barriers to push farther and faster. A National Magazine Award-winning journalist, Alex’s work revolves mostly around the science of endurance, and there’s a pretty good chance you’ve read some of his stuff. He contributes to Runner’s World, the New York Times, the New Yorker, and he also has his own column in Outside Magazine called Sweat Science. In this episode, Alex will share with us a little about his upcoming book, ENDURE: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance. In the book, Alex explores the controversial new science of endurance that suggests our brains are just as responsible as our bodies for the physical obstacles we encounter in running. In other words, most of the limits we experience are illusionary, and, with some groundbreaking techniques Alex will share with us today, we can actually push through these imaginary limits to unearth our true physical capabilities.

If an airplane wing is too rigid, the plane will crash, and according to author and marathoner Duncan Larkin, the same is true for us runners. When we adhere too closely to our training plans or even, as Duncan says, the tenets of his own books, we don’t leave room for two crucial details: one, that each of our bodies is different and possesses its own unique ebb and flow and two, we’re just plain busy. For most of us, running isn’t our number one priority and our schedules don’t always perfectly complement our training - and that’s okay. However, to optimize our performance and steer clear of injury, it’s important to be flexible and emphasize quality over quantity in training, and that’s the basis of Duncan’s new book, The 30-Minute Runner: Smart Training for Busy Beginners. Duncan writes for Outside Magazine, Runner's World, and ESPN to name a few,  and he was on the show in 2017 to talk about his second newest book Run Simple: A Minimalist Approach to Fitness and Wellbeing. In this episode, Duncan shares with us a little about his new book and his tips for maximizing training when you lead a busy life (which probably applies to you if I had to guess).

The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club.   The second rule of Fight Club? You know how it goes.   Lucky for us, the opposite is true for the founders of November Project, a fitness movement popularly known as the “Fight Club” of running clubs for its intense workouts, free membership, and tribe mentality.     Following their days rowing crew for Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, Bojan Mandaric and Brogan Graham found themselves struggling to stay in shape in the cold New England months and the absence of a structured exercise regiment.   Then one night in 2011 over a couple of beers, they decided to make a pact: every morning for that month of November, they would meet at 6:30am and workout together.   Running hill repeats, bounding up the stairs of Harvard Stadium, dropping to the ground for the occasional pushups - the city was their gym, and the results were significant.   After a few months, Bojan and Brogan decided to throw out a few invites on Twitter, and the rest is history.   November Project now has tribes in 45 cities all over the world with its biggest meetups bringing together upwards of 1500 people for a single morning workout.   Here Bojan and Brogan share a little about their story, how November Project works, and what you can gain from joining a tribe near you.   ****This episode includes some inappropriate language - just a heads up.****

While most of us know we need to do strength work to truly see results, according to Jay Dicharry, this is a waste of time without also practicing movement and mobility. One of America’s leading physical therapists and author of Anatomy for Runners, Jay established his reputation as an expert in biomechanical analysis as Director of the University of Virginia’s SPEED Clinic. Today, athletes from all over travel to his REP Lab in Bend Oregon where Jay blends clinical practice and engineering to better understand overuse injuries. But what sets Jay apart from traditional therapy? He works to correct imbalances before they become a problem, and to do that he helps runners rewire their body-brain movement patterns. In this episode, Jay will share a little about his new book, Running Rewired, explain how we can rediscover our body-brain movement patterns, and dispel the myths that pervade both the shoe and physical therapy industries.

As we enter the bell lap for 2017, I wanted to do something a little special for this week’s episode. Just as it’s good to reflect back on a season and extract all the learning moments, I wanted to reflect back on the best lessons from Run to the Top this year, and to do that I asked for your help. Today’s show will include Run to the Top’s greatest hits of 2017 as chosen by our very own listeners: runners who made incredible strides mentally and physically thanks to the wisdom, inspiration, and perspective shared in this year’s interviews. In this podcast, those runners will share their favorite episodes and what they gained from them followed by a little segment from each show. Whether these episodes are new to you or you’ve heard them before, I hope the lessons within both help you reflect back on 2017 and serve as a springboard into your best year yet.

If you ever have thoughts and feelings you wish you didn’t, there’s a good chance you’re human.   But there are ways to put a stop to those thoughts and feelings, and that’s where Dr. Simon Marshall comes in.   A competitive triathlete and world-renowned sport psychology expert, Dr. Marshall helps endurance athletes train their brains to become happier and more mentally resilient.   Dr. Marshall is a former professor of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, former Director of the Graduate Program in Sport & Exercise Psychology at San Diego State University, and has published over 100 scientific articles on the psychology of exercise and has been cited in scientific literature over 10,000 times.   He’s currently the performance psychologist for the BMC Racing team, an elite WorldTour professional cycling team, and he’s also married to three-time world champion triathlete and his business partner Lesley Paterson.   Together, Dr. Marshall and Lesley make up Brave Heart Coaching where they help athletes strengthen both their bodies and minds.   The two also recently published a book called The Brave Athlete in which they share actionable solutions to the most common mental barriers we runners face.   In this podcast, Dr. Marshall will share his tips for conquering the negative thoughts between us and our goals using “[butt]-kicking psychological weapons”. :)   *** This episode includes some bad language. If there are small ears around, you might want to listen with headphones! ***

He’s back! World renowned dietitian and exercise physiologist Bob Seebohar joins us again to delve deeper into the growing research surrounding his two concepts of metabolic efficiency training (MET) and nutrition periodization. If you listened to Bob’s last interview with us, you know that together these concepts increase the body's ability to use fat as fuel during exercise and thus optimize both body composition and performance - a hard balance to strike for most distance runners. If you missed that episode and like what you hear today, be sure to go back and give it a listen here for some better context. Bob is a registered dietitian, exercise physiologist, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, USA Triathlon Level III Elite Coach. He also traveled to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games as a sport dietitian for the US Olympic Team and the personal sport dietitian/exercise physiologist for the Olympic Triathlon Team. This time Bob’s back to answer YOUR questions and, in so doing, discuss everything from MET’s relationship with paleo and plant-based diets all the way to how you can go about determining your own metabolic efficiency. Questions Bob is asked: 4:08 What do you do? 6:10 Can you remind us again about your concepts of Nutrition Periodization and Metabolic Efficiency Training? 10:21 Can you describe intuitive eating and how you help athletes attain that in combination with Metabolic Efficiency Training? 14:00 Can you describe what the Crossover Concept is? 23:41 How does the Metabolic Efficiency Test work? 28:20 Listener question from Yusef: Will I keep burning 60% fat at HR 150 bpm, at hour 28 of a 100miler? 39:55 Listener question from Diana: As someone who eats a ton of almond and peanut butter. Is this a carb, a fat or a protein? 48:14 Listener question from Chelsea: How does being vegan affect my metabolic efficiency and are there any tips for how can I improve this without giving up my lifestyle? 54:04 How do the Paleo Diet and High Fat / Low Carb diets fit in with Metabolic Efficiency Training? 57:13  Is it correct to assume you should increase carbs when in the thick of marathon training? 58:45 Listener question from Darlene: Is the Metabolic Efficiency lifestyle suitable for people with type 1 diabetes who use insulin pumps? 1:02:05 You offer personal consultations - what all do these entail and how can people work with you? 1:04:45 Where can listeners get a Metabolic Efficiency Test done? Quotes by Bob: “Nutrition periodization is basically aligning your daily nutrition to support your physical training needs.” “Metabolic efficiency is basically how efficient your body is at using its stores of carbohydrate and fat. Those are the two main stores of energy we have in our body, and you can actually train that.” “The point where the body crosses from higher to lower fat burning and lower to higher carbohydrate burning - where those two macronutrients cross - is the ‘crossover point’, and in research, they found that to be between 63-65% of max intensity.” “Metabolic efficiency is a great lifestyle nutrition program no matter what distance you’re training for.” “It will be more difficult - not impossible, certainly - but it will be more difficult to balance blood sugar following a pure vegan diet than it will when you enter animal proteins, and it’s just because you’re having more carbohydrate than protein.”   Want more awesome interviews and advice? Subscribe to our iTunes channel   Mentioned in this podcast: Book: Nutrition Periodization for Athletes: Taking Traditional Sports Nutrition to the Next Level Bob's Author page on Amazon.com BobSeebohar.com eNRG performance homepage Bob's eNRG performance Coaching Page Email Sinead

Our guest this week is an incredible guitar player, amazing singer song-writer, and the best audio editor you could ask for, and I’m not just saying all that because he’ll be reading this while he edits the show. :)   If you haven’t already guessed, this week’s guest is none other than Run to the Top editor, Jeremy Noessel.   In addition to playing in 3 bands in the Rhode Island / Connecticut / Massachusetts area and working on several podcasts, Jeremy and his wife, Louise, are also writing an e-book for guitarists and musicians, will be soon launching a blog, and also planning his own podcast.   I’ve been wanting to have Jeremy on the show for some time now because his story is seriously one of a kind.   Jeremy started editing the podcast back when Tina Muir was hosting the show, and since then he’s not only helped us take the show to a whole new level, but the podcast has inspired him to start running again after about a 25-year hiatus.   Jeremy’s skill and incredible attention to detail is a large part of the reason Run to the Top is where it is today as Jeremy has not only improved the show’s audio quality tenfold, but, through constant guidance and constructive feedback, he’s also helped me become a better, more confident podcaster.   He is a true pleasure to work with, and I’m so excited to have him on the show today to share a little behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making Run to the Top, how the show inspired him to pick up running again, and the lessons he’s gained from editing both Run To The Top and our daily podcast, Extra Kick.   Questions Jeremy is asked: 4:43 What do you do with Run to the Top, when and how did you start? 6:25 What’s your favorite part about editing Run to the Top? 9:33 How did editing the podcasts lead to your return to running? 17:57 How did your first race go and how did you feel afterwards? 22:12 What are some of the mistakes you might have made if you started running without the podcasts? 26:30 Do you have any desire for future races, maybe the marathon? 30:19 How has the Run/Walk method helped you get back into running? 34:58 What other Run to the Top episodes you’ve worked on that have resonated with you and helped you? 38:29 What stood out to you in the Kelly Roberts interview? 41:43 How do you balance running with all of your bands and audio work? 43:20 How long does each podcast take you to edit and what’s involved? 48:40 Did you struggle at all when you first started running to juggle everything? 50:54 Where can listeners check out some of your videos, songs and available services? 52:54 Is making music what you enjoy the most? 53:18 Where do your bands play?   Quotes by Jeremy: “I’ve had the benefit of having all of this information that I’ve gotten from the podcasts to avoid some of the common beginners’ pitfalls.” “On the starting line I kept repeating to myself: 1. Have fun, 2. Don’t get hurt, 3. Start slow.” “There was a point in time where I didn’t think I would ever NOT Run/Walk.” “I have had really no formal instruction AT ALL; no formal coaching, so take anything I say with a grain of salt.” “Running can’t be your everything. And really, nothing should be your everything.”   Mentioned in this podcast: Run to the Top Interview with Jeff Galloway Book: Getting Started - Jeff Galloway Jeff Galloway Easy 5k App Mews Tavern Gear N Beer - 2017 2018 Blessing of the Fleet 10-mile road race Run to the Top Interview with Danny Dreyer Run to the Top Interview with Kelly Roberts The Running For Real Podcast with Tina Muir Follow Jeremy's running journals on Strava Jeremy's bands and upcoming events Jeremy Noessel Music & Audio homepage Jeremy's Music and Audio Facebook page Follow 610 Supertanker on Facebook Listen to 610 Supertanker on ReverbNation Follow Rhythm & Thunder on Facebook Rhythm & Thunder's ReverbNation page Follow Transmission on Facebook Transmission's ReverbNation page

Michael Hammond is a graduate of Virginia Tech where he competed in cross country and track, earning two ACC titles and four NCAA All-American honors. His individual efforts led his team to four ACC team championships: one in cross country, two in indoor track, and one in outdoor track. On this episode, Michael shares his perspective on, well… perspective. Most runners are goal-focused, which is understandable considering the time and effort that goes into distance running. But at what point does this single-mindedness become unhealthy? How can runners strike a balance between their running goals and the rest of the world, especially when blindsided by an illness or injury? In his role as Director of Coaching for RunnersConnect, Michael has gotten to know every member, their motivations and exactly what support they need to receive from the coaches as well as from each other. In this episode, he’ll also share a little about the support we need to give ourselves.   Questions Michael is asked: 3:57 What do you do at RunnersConnect? 5:16  What are some of the biggest mistakes runners make when it comes to longevity and mental health in the sport? 8:46 How can overemphasizing one performance be counterproductive? 14:14 How can runners achieve and maintain a positive mindset? 18:55 What other outlets did you have to balance out running? 25:32 How did you cope with injuries and take your mind off running when you weren’t able to go for a run? 32:15 Why is the ‘comparison trap’ so detrimental for runners? 38:23 What other tips do you have for runners to keep perspective and achieve longevity in the sport? 47:13 What’s on tap for you now that you’re on hiatus from running? Quotes by Michael: “I think you should really be running for your own reasons and for yourself.” “A huge part of staying positive is putting things in perspective from a LIFE standpoint, not just a running standpoint.” “Injuries will show you what your real priorities are.” “I think it’s best for 99% of runners to completely ignore professional runners.” “Some of the most proud feelings I ever had were when I was by myself, completely alone, after a great race and I just felt that tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment; that is what you should be training for.” “If you’re 50 years old, you can’t compare yourself to when you were 25; it’s not fair to yourself.”   We really hope you’ve enjoyed this episode of Run to the Top. The best way you can show your support of the show is to share this podcast with your family and friends and share it on your Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media channel you use. If more people who know about the podcast and download the episodes, it means I can reach out to and get through to the top running influencers, to bring them on and share their advice, which hopefully makes the show even more enjoyable for you!

Telling people that you run marathons usually prompts some dumbfounded expressions, but tell them you run ultras and, let’s face it, they’ll probably think you’re nuts. But that’s just a day in the life for Georgia native, Nathan Maxwell.   Like a lot of runners, Nathan started running to get in shape. He did a few 5K’s and then decided to try his hand at the half marathon. That was in 2012.   Since then, Nathan has completed 44 ultra marathons, 9 marathons, and 3 100 milers. He’s a self-proclaimed ultra junkie, and he loves sharing his adventures and promoting an active lifestyle on his blog and Twitter account under the name Social Shark.   On this episode, Nathan will share with us a little about his journey, how to transition from the marathon to ultras if you’re so inclined, and how to stoke the fire if you feel your passion for running starting to fizzle.   While running an ultra is no easy feat, it is manageable and possesses some surprisingly accessible entry points for those who want to dip their running toes in gently.   Questions Nathan is asked: 3:22 Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do? 4:39 Where in South Carolina are you? 5:30 When and how did you get into running? 7:42 Was it love at first sight with ultra running? 10:33 How was the transition into ultra distance? 13:24 How do you train for ultras? 15:37 How do you avoid injury and fatigue with such a rigorous race schedule? 18:57 How can runners be more conscious of how to tune into what their body is telling them? 21:03 What advice do you have for runners who are struggling mentally with their training? 24:19 What advice would you give our listeners aspiring to transition from marathons to ultras? 29:00 How do you break down a 50-mile race in your head when considering race strategy? 34:27 How do you push past hitting the wall in a long race? 37:55 Your favorite mantra (which sits at the top of your website) is “When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble” (Proverbs 4:12 NLT). Can you tell us a little about this and why this is significant to you? 39:53 How did you come by the name Social Shark? 41:42 What did you set out to accomplish with your blog? 43:46 What would you consider to be your proudest achievement to date? 46:13 How did the Uwharrie 100 Miler go? 49:33 What’s next? Any big races on the horizon?   Quotes by Nathan:   “My weekly mileage isn’t quite as high as even typical marathon runners.”   “I really listen to my body and make sure I’m doing the right thing.”   “You can set smaller goals (like) ‘I’m gonna run a certain amount of miles in the next 30 days’”   “You’re not gonna run the same pace in a half-marathon that you would in a marathon. Just do the same thing as you move up to some type of ultra distance. Expect that you’re going to run slower.”   “Find an ultra that’s out there that’s a 6-hour ultra. The nice thing about those events is that they’re very relaxed very chill.”   “Being able to be mentally prepared and ahead of time saying, ‘I’m going out and doing this thing.’ It would be so much harder if you were going out there to only run 20 miles and then you got to the 20 mile mark and somebody said, ‘Just kidding! We’re actually doing FORTY today.’ That’s where, mentally, you’re going to be completely devastated and not be able to get through it.”     Mentioned in this podcast: Nathan Maxwell - Social Shark Homepage and Blog P90X Fitness Program Ultra signup website Uwharrie 100 Miler Nutcracker 12-hour ultra NC Follow Nathan on Twitter Follow Nathan on Instagram