Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast A to Z Running

We are tackling some of the strangest research yet! What do environmental factors have to do with performance? Do the pace lights in pro track racing actually help? How does a treadmill run at the gym compare to a treadmill run in the basement? In short: what can we do to lower perceived effort and increase performance and recovery in training and racing? THAT’s how big we are going today on AtoZrunning.

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Changing certain subtle physical details about something alters behavior. It’s not mind control, and it’s not magic. Even though it feels like both. The question we are going to dive into today is how to make it work FOR us instead of AGAINST us. That and the insane year of running news and updates continues, so be sure to catch the world of running segment. All this and more coming right up!

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There’s a lot to be discovered in the world of interesting facts and uncommon research, so in the spirit of the recent 1 mile world record, we’re going to be talking about running strollers and some unexpected findings for all you double-duty runners out there.

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For any runner interested in finding success, the essential question remains “How do I get better?” Setting aside all the possibilities in the details, there remains one answer to that question, and it’s much simpler than you’re thinking. Want to guarantee success and improvement? We’ve got the answer coming right up.

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When endurance athletes are given challenging cognitive tasks before running, what happens to their time to fatigue score? When college athletes are competing in a sport during exam week, what happens to injury rates? When an adult is experiencing high work stress and anxiety, what happens to physical recovery time? All these questions and more speak to the principle that is both the most sneaky and the most sinister for runners. Join us as we reflect on what it means to effectively channel our energy.

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Every runner since the beginning of time has needed the occasional reminder to take the extra time to do those strength and mobility exercises. This is that reminder because as one of the great running coaches once said, “if you want to be a faster runner, you need to be a stronger animal.”

Learn more about our brand new training app: RUN by AtoZrunning (visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching)

We are taking you back to the roots, the core foundation of what quality training means and looks like. To begin this exploration, we start where we spend the most amount of our time and energy as runners: how do we get more fit? We’ll answer that question with the three most important workouts for runners.

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What does recent world champion Jimmy Gressier have against chocolate, and what deep meaning was he embedding in this seemingly whimsical interview? We think we know, and we’re going to break it down for you. That and we MUST discuss Sebastian Sawe and the historical spate of marathoning at Boston and London.

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It’s time to figure out how to be better, and a quick look at a small handful of research-backed strategies is just the ticket we need. It’s not about elaborate or whole-cloth changes in who I am. It’s about the right strategies at the right time, and for the show today, we’re going to share exactly that. And don’t miss our recap of indoor track championship season–USA, NCAA, and world indoor championships highlights and more!

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This week on AtoZrunning:

If we told you that we could predict exactly why you have difficulty making those big behavior changes you wish you could make, would you believe us? Thankfully, we don’t have to make that claim. But Katy Milkman, author of How to Change, does. This week, we are going to tackle those barriers and discover exactly what is holding us back.

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(The sound problem has been fixed!)

Runners talk about treadmill misery and loathing the indoor training season, but is it possible that the reason it’s so rough is because we think it is? A recent conversation with another runner set us to thinking, and we’ve got some stark realities to share that will also, hopefully, change your experience with treadmills.

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Once upon a time, you went for a run with some friends and that one friend had one of those fancy new watches–they called them GPS watches. Remember that? Remember how silly it was when that friend kept updating everyone on the pace you all were running? Remember how that friend would keep jogging circles at the end of the run to make sure the watch hit a round number?

Is it possible we’ve gone too far? That’s the question we are going to answer today when we discuss when to ditch that watch.

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Running is a wicked environment… at least as David Epstein defines the term in his 2019 work Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. In today’s episode, we’ll take a look at WHY running is a wicked environment and what we might want to do about that.

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If I see one more time a headline about how everyone sets new year’s goals and quits by February, I’m going to quit the internet! And yet, I was chatting with another runner recently, a wise and accomplished man, and he casually mentioned a habit of his that rocked my thinking. Best part? This week, we’re bringing that idea to you–the unbreakable rule!

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We’re going to get practical and talk about the key difference between running hard and running easy and when we should be doing both. You’ve heard about the 80/20 rule, you know about Lydiard and Jack Daniels and double threshold… but do you know what all of that means for YOU and this week’s training? That’s where we are taking you in today’s discussion.

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When the pressure is high and expectations abound, performance can suffer. But it doesn’t have to. Even for runners who feel like race-day pressures are insurmountable, certain deliberate strategies and the right practice of those strategies can change everything!

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In a recent conversation with other runners, we fell to discussing the challenges of digging deep or pushing harder or hurting a little more. Given the close connection to our recent discussion about mindset and the mind-body connection, we dive deeper into pain, both what it is and what we can do as runners to overcome it better.

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Just how important are mindset and expectations on physiological experiences? Research has suggested that the connection is so significant that a person can literally create a physiological response to something that is not at all present. We kick off the 7th year of AtoZrunning by taking a closer look at the connection between the mind and body and what that means for runners.

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In a world constantly battering us with the new–new ideas or technologies, new workouts or training approaches–it becomes that much more important for us to seriously consider what things we need to STOP. In this final episode of rules to realize your dreams, we share the last three rules: stop taking shortcuts, stop compromising, and stop negativity.

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What is the most important thing every runner needs to know to realize our dreams? As we continue our series on rules to realize your dreams, we tackle #6: Get Knowledge.

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One of the most valuable things we can do for ourselves as runners is define a clear vision for why we run and what we are hoping to achieve by this crazy endeavor. For many, that’s a very arbitrary and unclear idea at best, so on our quest to share the 9 rules for realizing your dreams, we are next tackling vision.

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For a complete breakdown of the running purpose process, visit atozrunning.com/get-vision

This week on AtoZrunning:

Headstrong and self-reliant runners the world over will recoil at the revelation of our fourth rule for realizing your dreams: Get Help! The question today is what do we mean by “help” and how does that actually make a difference for runners? 

If you’re looking to make a change in your own running efforts, check out our coaching services at https://atozrunning.com/coaching

This week on AtoZrunning:

Runners are often–accurately in my opinion–described as disciplined and dedicated individuals. In some ways, consistency is baked in. In other ways, it is very difficult. Success requires consistency and balance, so we’re tackling that subject next.

For more about our coaching services, visit atozrunning.com/coaching

This week on AtoZrunning:

Have you ever been especially frustrated about something only to have a well-meaning friend suggest that you “be patient?” It’s probably not the most helpful advice. At least, not at that moment. But when it comes to making our dreams come true as runners, there’s reason to suggest it is both the first and most important advice to receive.

For more, visit atozrunning.com

We are living in the age of legends in distance running, and I hope you aren’t missing it! Faith Kipyegon may not be close to breaking 4 in the mile yet, but she is still setting World Records year after year. Add to that countrywoman Beatrice Chebet and you’ve got an amalgamation of excellence that is still only scratching the surface! And we’re only talking about this weekend’s results.

To learn more about our Coaching Services for runners, visit atozrunning.com/coaching

This is yet one more reason why one should never assume that just because a race isn’t the headline event, it won’t be electric! That’s exactly what the men’s 1500m at the Paris Diamond League was! ELECTRIC! And even though there were 4 national records, 13 personal bests, and a new world leading performance, it was the teenager in 2nd place who you should really be watching. We’ll tell you why next on AtoZrunning. 

To learn more about our coaching services for runners, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching

The most interesting thing about the NCAA championships is how unpredictable it can be! NCAA record-holders don’t make finals and past champs go home devastated. And just as often, champs defend titles and new records are set… it’s some of the most exciting track and field around, and we’re breaking it down for you here.

For more about our coaching services for runners, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching

How great is Beatrice Chebet? How do we even measure this? Dominant performances in the Olympics and world cross country champs, world records on the track… She recently got even more ambitious and targeted one of the most insane (and probably illegitimate) records out there. Stick around for the full story.

(To learn about our Coaching Services, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching)

Erin Kunst, massage therapist, marathoner, trail runner, and ultra marathoner, among other things, joins the show to talk about returning from hip labrum surgery to run a lifetime best marathon 15 months later and what it took to make such a feat possible. 

To learn about coaching services with AtoZrunning, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching

The best part about running news lately is that there’s been a little bit of everything! If you want track, we’ve got Grand Slam and Diamond League both in full swing. If you want roads, we’ve got record-setting Marathon Majors and US road circuit. If you want shenanigans and controversy… yep. We’ve got that, too.

To learn about our coaching services, check out https://atozrunning.com/coaching

If you didn’t know the name John Korir before this year’s Boston Marathon, it might be because you weren’t paying attention when he won Chicago last year in under 2:03. But it also might be because plenty of talented runners show occasional moments of glory. It’s when a runner repeats the performance on the big stage that spectators start to wonder: are we seeing the rise of the next marathon king? Let’s take a closer look and find out.

For more, visit atozrunning.com

What will it take to bring back track, as the saying goes? Michael Johnson’s new Grand Slam Track series has staked its reputation on the idea that they can bring new audiences to track and field. The recipe? Money and fame, apparently. But more importantly, the first installment of Grand Slam has come and gone, and we get to tell you all about it!

Is 2 hours of exercise a day enough movement? Does light actually matter for health? Why is everyone obsessed with cold plunges right now? As we wrap up our discussion about Casey Means’ book Good Energy, we’ll be tackling these and other questions about areas outside of food that fuel our energy.For more, visit atozrunning.com

If you’re betting on a race, would you bet on the runner who started 100 meters behind everyone else? In what has swiftly become one of the most competitive 10,000m events in the world, the TEN features the fastest distance runners the US has to offer in addition to an outstanding selection of international talent. That’s why it was even more impressive when Telahun Bekele, despite literally starting the race 100m behind everyone else, found himself vying for the win with one lap to go. 

And that is only one of the exciting occurrences in this week’s running news.

More at atozrunning.com

What does it look like to fuel well? Is it the perfect diet? Is it all or nothing? Is it really just a food thing? To continue our discussion about Good Energy by Casey Means, we tackle the 6 most influential areas and share specific recommendations to minimize bad energy and maximize good.

For more, visit atozrunning.com

In recent running news: 

Jakob Ingebrigtsen made history yet again at the world indoor championships in Nanjing. In fact, this latest accomplishment is so rare that only one other runner has ever done it before. Is this finally enough to settle the question? Is Ingebrigtsen the best? We’ll break it down, and you can decide for yourself.

In recent running news: Jane Hedengren breaks multiple high school records. NCAA Nationals features legends and legendary upsets. One of the greatest half marathoners in history has been suspended. Don’t miss the latest running news brought to you by AtoZrunning.

Today on AtoZrunning:

Did we get energy wrong? Despite incredible medical innovations in recent decades, some health concerns continue to rise. We want to take some time to talk about health and healthy habits. To do that, we took a look at a recent publication on the topic, Good Energy by Casey Means.

For training, coaching, and other services, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching

In the world of running: Ingebrigtsen is, quote, “loaded with training”. Who sets national records 8 years after retirement? How fast should you be able to run 1 mile? 

Brought to you by AtoZrunning, atozrunning.com

Today on AtoZrunning:

We react to an outstanding comment in a Hobbs Kessler interview about the costs and benefits of training. In the world of running, Tokyo Marathon served upsets by upstarts as well as title defenses all in one race. The last little bit of indoor track action in the US was once again dramatic, if not earth-shattering. And if you can name one thing about either the men’s or women’s US half marathon champs, you’ll be in the minority. 

For training, coaching, and other services, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching

Today on AtoZrunning:

We take a look at the role that muscle strength plays in longevity. In the world of running, records continue to drop like lead weights. The US indoor championships introduced some fresh faces. And can you guess the last time a half marathon record was broken by THIS MUCH? 

For training, coaching, and other services, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching

Today on AtoZrunning:

We wrap up our series on getting started/restarted by talking about how we should expect to feel, from fatigue to soreness to aches and pains. In the world of running, SO MUCH HAPPENED that we aren’t even sure how to tease it! Want to guess how many world records fell in the last two weeks? Then there’s Shelby Houlihan’s return and all the talk around that. We just need to get this started! 

For training, coaching, and other services, visithttps://atozrunning.com/coaching

Today on AtoZrunning:

We continue our series on restarting, this time discussing motivation–why it’s hard and what we can do about it. In the world of running, indoor track season is already exciting with a world record and a notorious yet heralded return. Also, what’s the current status of creatine supplementation? 

For training, coaching, and other services, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching

Today on AtoZrunning:

We begin a series on getting started and restarted. What challenges do we face, and how do we overcome them? We’ll start by talking about the first priority. In the world of running, Houston was bonkers! Do you know which legendary 18-year-old US record just fell? Also, it’s a new year, and that means new decisions in the pro running scene. We’ve got the scoop on some of the biggest. And the longest daily running streak just came to an end. We have thoughts to share.

For training, coaching, and other services, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching

Today on AtoZrunning:

Stephanie Penny, physical therapist and back specialist,  joins us again to talk about returning to running after back injury and treatments that can help. In the world of running, Beatrice Chebet closed out 2024 with one more dose of insanity. And if you were curious just how amazing 2024 was for distance running, we’ve got a list of all the records that were broken! 

For training, coaching, and other services, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching

Today on AtoZrunning:

PT and back specialist Stephanie Penny joins us to discuss how common running injuries may actually be back problems AND what we can do about it. In the world of running, what happens when we take 12 weeks off? A recent experiment boasts encouraging results. To wrap up the year, we both share our top 3 world of running moments from 2024. Bonus points if you can guess any of them! 

For training, coaching, and other services, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching

Today on AtoZrunning:

We wrap up our series on challenging the search engine with our final question: What is effort-based running? In the world of running, global marathon performance has shifted in the last 16 years, but the exact nature of that shift will SHOCK you. A generational achievement marked this year’s Footlocker XC Champs. Will it prelude greater things to come? Do you run in the morning or afternoon? Daniel Pink reminds us which is better and why. 

For training, coaching, and other services, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching

Today on AtoZrunning, we target the effects of aging on running performance for this week’s search engine challenge. In the world of running, Valencia Marathon was insanely fast. Track season is off with a bang at the Boston opener. Make your prediction now: how fast do you think 60-year-old Anne Gilshinan ran 1 mile?

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Today on AtoZrunning:

We asked the search engine how to run faster. We’ll share the top results and our reactions. In the world of running, NCAA XC nationals saw multiple rare and amazing achievements. A new US high school XC record was run. And treadmill running might just become a sanctioned sport!

For training, coaching, and other services, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching

Today on AtoZrunning:

We ask the internet what the best running workout is, and we’ve got the top five answers for you. In the world of running, another world record fell on the roads. NCAA Cross Country regionals had some fascinating moments. And are spray-on shoes the next great shoe innovation? 

For training, coaching, and other services, visit https://atozrunning.com/coaching