Run To The Top Podcast | The Ultimate Guide To Running

What if you could actually run your best past age 40? And get fitter and stronger? We’ve put together some of the best interviews we’ve conducted over the past 10 years from masters coaches, researchers and record holders to help you better understand how to adapt your training as you age. We’ll go over the mental obstacles we face as masters runners, from perhaps not being able to reach our previous best times to wondering what’s our potential and overcoming the fear of injury. You’ll also get specific workouts, training schedules, and strength schedules from some of the fastest and most accomplished masters runners in the world. So, if you’re ready to learn how to make the most of your running as you age, 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 RUNNERS

We are back with another edition of Training Plan rescue. The feedback from the previous episode has been great and Coach Jeff is excited to take a deep dive into a listener's training plan this week to see what we can all learn and apply to our training.  This week, we’re looking at a training plan from Tim Ballard. Tim has been running for about 10 years and making good progress up until the last year or two. He’s typically in the top of his age group at most races, but as he’ll tell you, things have been slipping the last few races. Listen in to Coach Jeff’s expert analysis of Tim’s current strategy and execution, as well as his suggestions for Tim’s future training blocks when it comes to approaching easy days, workout selection, recovery, and strength building. What is causing your running injuries? Findout through our Mobility and Strength Assessments That Pinpoint Your Injury Risk Try our free Running Pace Calculator that provides your race pace and easy and long run paces! Connect, Comment, Communit

What comes to mind when you think about “amino acids”? Are you incorporating them into your diet? Have you considered the performance and recovery benefits of amino acids for your running training? If not, you’ll want to tune in to this episode where I chat with Angelo Keely, the Co-founder and CEO of Kion. You’ll learn… About the importance of amino acids for body composition, fitness, and overall health. Understand why amino acids are fundamental for performance and recovery. Learn tactically when, where, and how runners can use amino acids to improve performance, recovery, and longevity. You’ll get a lot from this discussion about the importance of amino acids from one of the leading experts in the field! 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: P

Do you ever notice fellow runners taking an interesting approach to a particular run or training block? Or using certain recovery tools or consuming certain drinks and foods in their quest to improve and reach peak performance? In any of these circumstances, maybe you’ve asked yourself: “Why do you runners do that?”  Well, this episode of Run to the Top is another Up Tempo Talk with Runners Connect coaches Dylan Belles and Ruari Moynihan answering 3 of those burning questions. First, they address why runners drink beet juice and whether it's performance enhancing, then they tackle why runners do two-a-days and specifically why they double on their long run days, and finally they examine whether it's beneficial to schedule and execute back to back workout runs in a training block. 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 EX

What should I eat before I run? It’s an age-old question faced by many runners both new to the sport and those who have been training seriously and are looking to fine tune their training diet. Unfortunately, this isn’t a question with a simple answer. First, almost every runner will differ in terms of what works well for their stomach and the types of foods they prefer, both in terms of taste and any specific food sensitivities.  Second, the amount of time you have before you run will play a big role in exactly what and how much you can eat. Finally, the type of run you’re doing - easy, long, or fast workout - will change the energy demands you need and thus what types of foods will work best. But never fear, while there isn’t a simple answer, today we’re going to take you through a simple 3-step process to help you find the optimal foods for you to eat before every type of run. Plus, as a bonus, I’ll get into the science of the best foods for recovery after every type of run. Connect, Comment, Community F

Did you know we’ve been publishing interviews with some of the leading scientists, coaches, athletes and experts in the running world since 2011! That means we’ve had more than a decade of experts to learn from and to help you hone your training. That said, combing through podcast archives to find specific answers to your questions or the challenges you’re feeling with in training now isn’t always easy. That’s why as one of our new formats for this show, we’re going to be combining the best knowledge we’ve gained over the past decade plus into actionable audio lessons and guides on specific topics you need help with. Each episode will get in-depth on topics such as strength training, injury prevention, training for specific race distances, nutrition and more. And we’ll do it using the best sound bites and actionable pieces of information from our years of interviews. With fall marathons on the horizon, this episode is going to cover everything involved in the marathon taper.  From mileage and specific workout

We are excited to share with you the first rendition of our “training plan rescue” series where a listener sends us their busted training plan and our coaches rescue it.  In this episode, our Head Coach Michael Hammond analyzes and offers recommendations on the training plan from a listener named Alex who has been aiming and falling short of his goal to break 3:40 in the marathon. You’ll learn about the 3 big problems in Alex’s current training plan as well as the 3 high-leverage changes he can make to run well under 3:40 off his training next cycle.  You’ll learn: The 3 big problems in Alex’s current training plan The 3 high-leverage changes Alex can make to break 3:40 in his next training cycle 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: Timeline and

We have bittersweet news to share. This is the last episode hosted by Claire Bartholic!  In this special, transition episode of the Run to the Top Podcast, Claire Bartholic bids farewell to listeners and welcomes new Host Finn Melanson. You will also hear from RunnersConnect Founder Jeff Gaudette who talks further about next steps for the podcast and the types of content listeners can expect from the show on a weekly and monthly basis. You’ll learn: Why Claire is stepping down, what’s next for her professionally, her favorite moments hosting the show, and how listeners can stay in touch All about the new Host Finn Melanson, his running and podcasting backgrounds, and how he’ll work with RunnersConnect moving forward New content cadences and formats for the show moving forward 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 EXPER

Planning a destination race in a far away place has lots of challenges. International travel is even more stressful since there are so many details that you will have to figure out before you even set foot on the plane. To navigate the dos and don’ts of destination races, I’m speaking with Angie and Trevor Spencer, the duo in charge at Marathon Training Academy. Angie and Trevor love nothing more than a marathon or two in a far away land and they’ve come on the Run to the Top today to help you plan or even just dream about your next running adventure. You’ll learn: what to take into account before you even register for the race, common pitfalls of international races, and what to plan for and what to pack in your suitcase So if you are taking a plane, train or automobile to your next big race, you don’t want to miss this one. 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

If you’ve been a runner long enough, some well meaning person will eventually ask you about your knees. Running is actually good for your knees, but if you’re the one who’s got knee pain on the run, that’s not particularly comforting. So what can we do about this common injury in runners? Do we have to stop running completely? Thankfully, the answer is usually no. But there’s a lot more to it than that. Physiotherapist and founder of the Run Smarter Series and Run SmarterPodcast Brodie Sharpe is here to talk about it. You’ll learn: who is most likely to develop knee issues from running what we can do to prevent and treat running pain, and what most runners want to know, when you can get back to running again Even if you’re one of the lucky runners who has never had knee pain, this conversation will help make sure you stay that 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 Fa

Have you hit a plateau in your running? Despite doing all the right things, or most of the right things that you are supposed to be doing, you just seem stuck. Maybe it’s because you're getting older and you think your better days are behind you. Maybe you need a new workout plan, a new coach, new shoes, or a new supplement to get you to the next level. Or perhaps you’re just not finding the joy in your running like you used to. Elisabeth Scott is here to help you change that. On today’s Run to the Top Podcast, Coach Claire brought back the head coach and founder of Running Explained to help you finally break through to the next level in your running.   You’ll learn: What you might be missing out on even if you think you’re getting your training right Which aspects of your schedule might need to change and, Why consistency and patience are so important in not only your growth but determining if you are even in a plateau in the first place. Elisabeth is uniquely talented at making running concepts clear and

All runners are not the same. Distance runners and sprinters really seem to be engaging in an entirely different sport. Tiny and lean elite marathoners are a stark contrast to muscular, powerful sprinters. Training for these events is vastly different and what it takes to be successful for a 100m sprinter is quite different than that for a marathoner. Or is it? Certainly it’s easy to find the differences, but I would argue that there’s a significant overlap both in the physical training philosophy, but the mental aspect as well. Most runners listening to this show are clearly on the endurance side, but there is a lot to be learned from the sprint side as well. On today’s Run to the Top Podcast, I’ve invited on the creator of Sprint Science, Kieran Gillespie. Kieran is an England Athletics coach, with a degree in both mathematics and physical education. You can find him sharing his sprint training knowledge on his wildly popular Sprint Science Instagram account and that’s where I got hooked on his training adv

As good as running is for our bodies, it’s probably equally good, if not even more so, for our brains. The mental health benefits of aerobic exercise have been proven over and over again in scientific studies. On today’s Run to the Top Podcast, we explore the topic of running as a meditation practice with author and runner Nita Sweeney. You might remember her from being on the show a couple of years ago. Nita’s back with a new book out called Make Every Move a Meditation: Mindful Movement for Mental Health, Well-Being, and Insight. We talk about: why you might want to incorporate meditation into your running what the benefits are, and exactly how to start doing it on your run right now. And don’t worry for all of you out there who bristle with anything too new agey or woowoo. You’ll learn how you can actually use some of these techniques to improve your performance, not just your mental health. Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs o

Running is a massive participation sport. About 50 million Americans (or 15 percent of the U.S. population) participate in some form of running, according to a 2020 report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Yet very few elite runners are true household names these days. Sure, there might be some stories that capture the world’s attention, usually around the Olympic Games, but overall there is a disconnect between running for yourself and being a true fan of the sport. Our guest on today’s episode of the Run to the Top Podcast is out to change that. Chris Chavez is a writer for Sports Illustrated and is the founder of Citius Mag, a track and field media triumvirate of podcast, blog, and YouTube channel. Chris’s mission with Citius Mag is to share and grow the passion for track and field into a thriving community. What’s even more interesting is that Citius Mag has grown from a way for Chris to report more on the sport, to becoming one of the leading media players in track and field. And he’s n

What if I told you that there is something out there that can help you build lean muscle, boost endurance, reduce fatigue, help you perform better, help slow down the aging process, with virtually no downsides? Not only that, it’s something that is super cheap, safe, and has been rigorously studied for decades. You’d probably say it’s too good to be true. Well, it actually is true. It’s creatine. Yes, the supplement that bodybuilders have been taking forever to bulk up can also be incredibly beneficial to endurance athletes as well. Now, you might be wondering how this can possibly be true. After all, most endurance athletes don’t want to grow Arnold Schwartzenegger muscles and tend not to have much in common with the gym bros trying to bulk up. But mention boosted endurance and reduction in soreness? Now we’re getting excited. Coach Claire dives down the creatine rabbit hole with registered sports dietician Kelly Jones. In this episode of the Run to the Top, you’ll learn: what the benefits of creatine are f

Trail running can be intimidating to lots of people. What if you get lost, break your ankle, or see a snake? I’m not sure that you’re safer running in the city with weirdos and speeding BMWs, but I think it’s pretty normal to be intimidated by trail running if you’ve never done it before. Anne (Wheatly) George is on the Run to the Top today to help us out. Anne has challenged herself with some of the toughest trails in the country. She has run Rim to Rim to Rim of the Grand Canyon twice, including one trip all by herself. She’s run the iconic Nepali coastline in Hawaii solo, trekked her way to Everest base camp and run/hiked her way up half dome in Yosemite twice to name a few of her adventures.  When she isn’t adventuring, she enjoys ultra trail racing. Anne has completed the Tunnel Hill 100 miler in 16 hours with a second place finish. She also earned second at the Bear 100 and took First place overall at Badwater Cape Fear 50. In this episode we talk about: the misconceptions about trail running, how to s

It’s the middle of summer and for fall marathoners, it’s time to get into your marathon build up. On today’s Run to the Top Podcast, I’m going to go over exactly what you should be doing for the next 12-14 weeks, week by week, to get ready for your best marathon yet. I’ll go over what your training should look like each week with modifications for first time marathoners and for advanced runners. You’ll learn: how to plan your training to build your running up safely and effectively how to incorporate down weeks and combo long runs when to best schedule tune up races, and I’ll explain some of my favorite marathon workouts right when you need them You’re probably going to want to download this episode and re-listen to this a few times during your marathon build so be sure to mark this episode one of your favorites. 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  R

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 25% of Americans have experienced back pain in the last three months. Up to 80% of all adults have felt it at some point in their lifetime. There are lots of reasons for this and most of them stem from leading a sedentary lifestyle. But you’re a runner. You’re not sedentary. So why are you getting a pain in the back when you run? We invited physical therapist Dr Lauren LaPierre, The Personalized Running Doc, on the Run to the Top to take a deep dive into back pain in runners.  We go over: The most common reasons runners get back pain, what we can do about it, and how we can make sure that we get back to running safely Lower back pain before, during and after a run is sadly a fairly common issue and if you’ve ever felt it or if you want to avoid ever feeling it in the future, this is the episode for you. Download your FREE Low Back Mobility Strength Circuit Guide now! Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where yo

To be a serious athlete, it’s pretty much a given that you need to be, well, serious. Serious about your training, what you eat, how you recover. You need to choose your races wisely. You need to say no to things that might be a lot of fun, but don’t align with your bigger goals. Or do you? Shawanna White is definitely a serious runner, but she is clearly having way more fun than the rest of us. (Okay, speaking for myself here). She manages to consistently run sub-3 marathons, despite being past age 40, despite racing lots and lots of other races, and despite having lots of fun along the way. In this episode of the Run to the Top, you’ll learn: how to train and race a lot when you have a full time job why running with friends is so powerful how you can keep running well as a master with a few changes So if you are also a runner who takes yourself too seriously or if you are one that just loves to have fun, Shawanna White is definitely an inspiration. Connect, Comment, Community Follow RunnersConnect on Inst

Plantar fasciitis sidelines countless numbers of runners each year, with a stabbing pain in every step. The good news is there is treatment and prevention which can make your feet less susceptible to this debilitating injury. And the best protocols might not be what you think they are. The Plantar Fasciitis Doctor, Dr Angela Walk, joins Coach Claire to explain more. Yes, that’s really her last name and she’s a chiropractic physician specializing in foot and gait analysis and plantar fasciitis from Nashville, TN. They talk about: why this injury happens so often in runners what we can do to prevent and treat it, and most importantly exactly when we can get back to running again. So if you’ve ever suffered from this awful injury or if you would like to avoid it in the first place, this is a must-listen. Connect, Comment, Community www.drangelawalk.com 20% off entire store with free shipping. This includes foot health products such as pain creams, therapy products, as well as CBD products. Use code: RUNTOTHETO