Run To The Top Podcast | The Ultimate Guide To Running

Today my guest is one of the best distance runners in the country.  Molly Huddle finished 6th in the 10k at the 2016 Rio Olympics and is about to try her legs out on her first marathon in New York.  Molly is already a superstar – and has been since college – but that doesn’t stop her from learning new things.  She’s going to s [...]

I’ve been wanting to talk to our guest today for a long time!  He’s got a lot of experience, a lot of opinions, and he’s not afraid to share them.  Nick Symmonds is an elite runner who’s won Olympic medals and competed in his fair share of world track and field championships.  He’s seen a lot of things in his time running professionally, and he’s on the podcast today to share a few of these experiences.  [...]

Everyone has a body image issues, and overcoming them is a huge challenge.  My guest today is no stranger to that.  Ethan is from Los Angeles, so he knows better than anyone how detrimental body image issues can be to our confidence and our health.  That’s part of what inspired him to create The Ginger Runner, a website and vlog dedicated not only to running but how to overcome all the hardest and ugliest parts of runn [...]

If you think it’s impossible to run 50+ miles day for weeks on end, our guest today is here to prove you wrong! After overcoming a 16 year battle with heroin addiction, Perry Newburn is lucky to be alive.  He realizes what running brings to our lives, and wanted to give back to the running community in the same way that he had been given a second chance. Perry became the king of long-distance running and he’s run numerous marathons, ultra races, and challenges like running around the outside of both islands of New Zealand and running for 72 hours straight wit [...]

If you have some burning questions about your running diet, tune in now and listen to this interview with legendary nutritionist Nancy Clark.  She’s a registered dietician with years of experience in the field of Sports Nutrition. She knows how important it is to develop a personalized nutrition plan based on your dietary needs and unique training plan, and we talk about how you can still treat yourself with dessert without blowing your calorie intake for the day.  The trick is knowing how many calories you burn per hour and what foods you like to eat that help [...]

  Have you run a Warrior Dash?  The Warrior Dash is a part of this fantastic trend of obstacle races, a running race that combines all sorts of physical feats to spice up your run. They will show you that no matter what you look like or how fast you are, you CAN succeed and accomplish things you never thought you could. These obstacles mean a diverse group of people can tackle one goal together at a fun, challenging event that gets you out of your comfort zone.

If you’ve ever given up on running once, or twice, or maybe twenty times, then this is the episode for you. Pete Magill is my guest today and we’re talking about why it’s so easy to quit running, and how it’s just as easy to start back up again.  Pete is the author of the transformative book “The Born Again Runner”, and he breaks down key training techniques that will change the way you put together your runner’s body.  For Pete, running became his anchor, and he’s developed a strong and smart training regimen steeped in personal experience and gr [...]

Not many runners are able to have their spouses as their coaches, but as you may know, my husband and I are an exception to that rule.  Today we’re talking to Steve Picucci, who is the head cross-country and track and field coach at Moorehead State University in Kentucky. He also happens to be my husband, and he coaches me as well. Steve has an innate ability to understand what each individual runner needs when it matters. This is part of what makes him such a great coach. Here are some of the topics we’ll discuss today:

Running has been in the spotlight a lot in the past few weeks, and not for a positive reason. Because there have been some recent physical attacks on runners, it’s important to understand how to stay safe while running.  Do you know what to do if your life is in danger?  This information is important for men and women alike. Todd Williams, two-time Olympian and black-belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, is the founder of RunSaf [...]

We all know about power meters for cycling, but now there are power meters for running too. Today, Jim Vance the author of “Run with Power,” will explain what power meters are and how they can be used in training. Or, if you are new to running and are interested in how to obtain goals, Jim will speak about how a power meter can help you. Some of the topics that you’ll hear about include: Jim’s background as a [...]

Today we are talking to Ed Whitlock, who is 85 and still breaking running records.   Ed began his running career when he was 14. He continued running when he went to University, but took a break from running after he injured his achilles. Ed started running again when he was 40, breaking all sorts of running records up until today.   Some of the topics that you’ll hear about include:  

Hiring a coach to help train can get expensive, but today we are going to hear from Dirk Friel, the Founder and CEO of TrainingPeaks about why it’s a good idea to consider a coach.  Or, If you are an experienced runner and thinking about becoming a coach, Dirk has some great advice for you. Some of the topics that you’ll hear about include: Dirk’s background growing up with fitness. Dirks journey from chasing his d [...]

Today we are talking to a couple who have grown up together in their running careers.  They met in college, dated long-distance, got married, and are now the parents of two young children. This is in addition to having thriving running careers and keeping up with their coaching and their blog. Stephanie and Ben Bruce are the guests today, and this is a fantastic show for parents and non-parents alike, as they give a lot of great advice. They’re both down-to-earth and able to accept criticism, which they have had their fair share of, so we’ll talk about that.  [...]

Matt Long is the author of The Long Run. Some of you may already know his story: In short, he was hit by a bus, spent six weeks in a medically induced coma in the ICU, and was told that he would be lucky to walk with a cane.  Matt was extremely determined and never gave up when it came to getting back on his feet and back into his regular life.  [...]

Do you ever feel like you are holding yourself back? If so, you’re not alone! No matter how good a runner you are, it’s likely that you spend a lot of time convincing yourself that you’re not as good as you actually are. This is part of human nature. Today’s guest gives us some pointers on overcoming mental obstacles and getting ourselves to where we want and need to be in our running and in other areas of our lives. That guest is Scott Welle, a best-selling author, peak performance strategist, marathon runner, and founder of Outperform the Norm. He has a d [...]

Do you know how to properly fuel your body before, during and after a workout? As an athlete, you are probably aware of the importance of eating well, but do you know what that entails? Maybe you have trouble because you don’t like to cook, but at the same time, you don’t like to rely too heavily on packaged foods. Since your health is tied to what you eat, this is something that you need to know about.   Today’s guest is Matt Kadey. Matt is a dietitian, cyclist, nutrition and travel writer, and professional recipe developer. He is also the author of

There’s one topic that many female runners will need to consider at some point during their running careers, and that is pregnancy. Whether planned or unplanned, pregnancy can absolutely have a huge effect on your training and workouts. Many doctors will support a woman who is planning to run throughout her pregnancy (as long as it is safe for her in particular, of course!), so taking a nine-month hiatus is not often necessary.

On the Run to the Top podcast, I try to vary the types ofguests that we have. Today, I’m excited to be interviewing a professionalrunner. Phoebe Wright has a lot of accolades, but first and foremost, she’sdown to earth and simply wonderful to talk (and to listen) to. You’re sure toenjoy today’s episode. Phoebe is a Nike athlete and a five-time NCAA champion. Sheis currently training for the Olympic trials. She has a blog and hasparticipated in a great interview.  Some of the topics you’ll hear about include: ●     How Phoebe went from a mediocre high school runner toan NCAA champion.   ●

Do you ever struggle with exhaustion?  Whether you’re running or just going through the activities of daily life, there might be some issues that you’re dealing with that can make you feel “not quite right”. 

You already know the physical benefits of running, and if you run, you also know that there are countless emotional and mental benefits. From boosting creativity and productivity, to fostering a sense of organization, taking up running, particularly distance running, can impact your life profoundly. Today’s guest, Dr. Jason Karp, holds many running accolades, including having been the youngest collegiate coach at the age of 24. In addition, he holds three degrees in exercise physiology. Today he talks to us about his book, The Inner Runner. Some of the topics that you’ll hear discussed include: ●     Why Jason wrote his book, and what the process was like.