Run To The Top Podcast | The Ultimate Guide To Running

Nowadays when people decide to start running (especially around the holidays) they usually do it to lose weight, begin a healthier lifestyle or even as hobby, perhaps. But it’s crucial to never forget why you’re running: because it’s fun!  Enjoy your runs and take it slow; don’t let your ego get in the way of what could be your best run yet. That’s exactly what Mark Kennedy is here to tell us; not only was pace key to his running but it’s key to life. Mark is a USATF certified coach and former Kinesiologist [...]

Today we’re going back to the physical side of running in life; we’re talking about breathing. Did you know that many of us are breathing wrong? Yeah, that’s actually a thing. And if you’re a runner and you think you already know how to breathe, think again; taking our guest’s advice to heart today could change your life. He’s helped thousands of people, from Olympians to Elite runners, change their lives through their breathing and their running has never been the same.

Today’s podcast is focused on why it is a good idea to avoid the comparison trap and why it’s better to focus on our own milestones and improvement.  We are also going to learn about some of the interesting differences between male and female physiology and how it relates to performance and recovery. We are also going to discuss why what someone else is doing may not be right for you. It all comes down to drawing inspiration from other people, but not doing comparisons. We also discuss why recovery is so important, and why a diet that is overly strict is not a good idea.  The guest today is Sarah Joyce. Sarah has a PhD in Sport Science, and she is the Editor-in-Chief of Women’s Running Australia. She is a runner, an established writer, and has a specialized knowledge of the female athlete. Sarah put a lot of r [...]

On today’s podcast we will take a look at the things our listeners would like from the Run To The Top Podcast in 2016.  We’ll be going through what we’re up to, what you can look forward to in the coming year, and an in-depth explanation of the survey results that we asked you to participate in last year. Today’s topics include: How to overcome your pacing struggle Guests you recommended for this year The biggest compl [...]

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Runners Connect. Today we’re talking about the weight loss aspect of running. We’re talking with Katie Foster who’s lost 125 pounds from running and has become an inspiration to runners and non-runners alike. She has some great advice. She’s best known for her Runs for Cookies blog and chronicles her journey and her ups and downs and really is inspiring. “I was willing to only do changes that I could make forever.” - Katie Katie talks with us about how making a list of the changes you intend to make could be the difference between temporary and permanent results, how to still [...]

Life as an elite runner isn’t what you would expect; even the fastest and most dedicated runners can lose their passion. Our guest was a runner at the University of Oregon, which is an amazing opportunity and every collegiate runners dream. But the pressure was on, and his story got interesting fast. So today is about his experience, before, during and after his collegiate life as an athlete. “Winning as a team is something that will always stick with me.” – Luke Luke Puskedra is an Elite runner from Sal [...]

The best runners out there still have painful, awful, days; what makes them good is that they accept that that was just a bad day. It’s not the definition of their ability or limits, and they know that tomorrow will be even better because of it. Are you ready to experience this major perspective shift? Our guest is Tom Foreman. He’s an Emmy award winning journalist who has been in the field for over 30 years. He’s an anchor and a reporter for CNN, an author, and the ultimate comeback kid when it comes running. Today’s interview is amazing because it too [...]

My listeners always tell me how much they enjoy the variety of speakers on the show and I thought it was time to hear from someone from a different culture without access to all the newest gadgets available in the American markets. Bobby Philip is a well known Indian runner with a great story to tell. Bobby was the first Indian to run the Boston Marathon barefoot in 2015, he has great PRs, he lives in Bangalore and works for Nokia. Today we’re going to talk about why a Boston qualifier has become the ultimate dream come true for an Indian runner, what’s it’s like running and training in India and how he transitioned to barefoot running. “My running career was accidental.” [...]

For many runners our ‘peak’ race seems like a lifetime ago and thanks to the temperature dropping, our motivation is at a definite low. I thought it would be a great time to bring on a motivational speaker - but he’s not just any motivational speaker. Dick Beardsley is best known for the close finish at the Boston Marathon with Alberto Salazar in 1982, which was considered the greatest marathon finish of all time. He was inducted into the 2010 National Distance Running Hall of Fame, he’s now an international best selling author, motivational speaker, was the subject of a feature film and is often the keynote address at many events.

We tend to put ourselves into buckets, but we can’t always define ourselves in this bucket or that. You might be surprised to learn that today’s guest actually uses yoga to improve her running performance. Today we’re going to talk with Cara Gilman about the benefits of yoga on our running. In this episode we’ll discuss: How yoga can make a difference on your performance, and almost immediately. Which classes are best for runners How to incorporate yoga for restorative benefits Se [...]

Today we’re talking to the inventor of the phrase “power nap.” You’re going to learn so much in this interview, and it’s going to change the way you look at sleep forever. It turns out that counting sheep isn’t as effective as we thought, so we get the low down from an expert. Are you ready for one of the most impressive bios you’ve ever heard? Our guest today is Dr. James Maas. He’s an internationally recognized authority in sleep and performance, he conducts research on both, as well as in leadership and critical thinking. He was also a professor at Cornell University for 48 years, and won multiple awards while doing so. He’s one of the wo [...]

Today’s emphasis is the importance of following a training program that takes your gender and age into account. Our guest has been coaching women runners for quite some time, and today we find out why.  We discuss the noticeable difference in motivation between men and women, and our guest get the best advice I’ve ever heard about how to practice visualization. Today we’re joined by Bennett Cohen, President of the International Association of Women Runners. He’s a running coach to women over 40 and has helped women into their 70s run personal bests.  He’s been an avid runner for 37 years an [...]

Today, we’ll be learning about the True Form Runner. You may or may not have heard of it, but it’s quickly becoming an international fitness phenomenon, and with good reason. As runners, we all focus on having the best posture and form possible, so as to stay injury free and get the best results from our workouts. That’s where True Form comes in. Jeff Vernon, one of the developers of True Form Runner, will be joining us today to discuss the in’s and out’s, how it’s used and what you can gain by using it. Here are some other topics we discuss:  ·       Jeff’s journey to develop The True Form

How many of you think injuries are normal part of running? Well, we’re here to tell you it’s not. Not only is it entirely possible to run injury free, but it’s possible for everyone. Today we’ll be discussing how to do it by following, his “insurance policy” for injury free running which he outlines in his bestselling book: “You Can Run Pain Free”. [...]

Today we’re talking mostly about foot injuries in runners, how to prevent them, and why they happen in the first place. We also go into orthotics, Dr. Nick’s top shoe recommendations, and so much more. Our guest started out running as a hobby, and has been a runner most of his life. Dr. Nick Campitelli is a podiatrist based in Akron, Ohio who specializes in foot and ankle surgery.

As runners, we strive to do our best and we know how important nutrition is to running our best. Yet, we often hear about how many runners don’t get enough vitamins and minerals in their diet. In today’s episode, you’ll learn more about nutritional deficiencies, the science behind them, and how to correct them once and for all. If you’ve ever wondered whether you need to take iron, calcium or any other supplement, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll also talk about various studies done on bone density, bone loss and nutrition, and their surprising findings, diet recommendations for sports performance, and much more.

Marathon Season is here and this is Chicago Marathon week (did you read our Chicago marathon race guide?).  One of the runners who will take part in it is my guest on this episode and he shares his incredible story of bravery and overcoming the odds to lead a life that inspires others. It is the most emotional interview I’ve done and I am certain you will be as inspired by Fernando Cabada as I am. Fernando explains that he grew up in the Fresno, California area as the son of first and second generation immigrants.  His fat [...]

We’ve all heard the expression - when one door closes, another opens. For my guest that expression had lasting meaning. Carrie Tollefson, a 2004 Olympian, had trained and planned for a spot on the 5K team, but as fate would have it she didn’t make the team. Carrie came back and surprised everyone, including herself, by earning a spot on the 1500m team. For Carrie, being an Olympian changed her life. Carrie, elite middle-distance runner, is also a five-time NCAA champion, three-time national champion, an ESPN2 analyst, wife and mother. Through her website, public speaking and training camps Carries inspires people to Get After It and [...]

In today’s episode, we’ll be debunking a few fitness myths and learning some important tips with certified personal trainer and running coach, Meghan Kennihan. Meghan has loved sports for as long as she can remember, including: being on every sports team in her school and running several marathons and triathlons, but hitting several bumps along the way. These are some of the topics we covered: Meghan’s transition from running to power lifting Differe [...]

My guest today is Janae Jacobs who writes a daily blog, Hungry Runner Girl. Not only does Janae give advice and share her journey of running, but her blog also serves as a community for runners to encourage and support one another. Hungry Runner Girl has grown in popularity and now receives a million views a month. Janae ran her first marathon in 2010 and fell in love with running and racing. Today we’ll talk about how runners can support each other, how to motivate yourself to get through workouts, and why it’s important to think long-term when you think about running. Janae blogs twice a da [...]