179. Dr. Caitlin Alexander on Long-Term Injuries, Self-Treatment, and Disrupted Motor Patterns
Release Date: 02/18/2021
Plyometrics: How to Start the Easy Way, with 5x National Champ Eoin Everard
The Strength Running Podcast
Eoin Everard is a physiotherapist with a PhD in Biomechanics. He’s also a sub-4 minute miler, a sub-14 minute 5k runner, and a five-time Irish National Champion in the 1500 and 3000m. He also hosts the and is the cofounder of the . Today's conversation focuses on plyometrics: How can your average runner even get started with plyometrics Why you do NOT need advanced depth drops and other types of plyos The non-plyometric types of training that give you benefits just like plyos What types of shoes and surfaces to wear for plyometrics A lot more! Plyos demand strength so before you...
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Body Positions, Cues, and Cadence: The Ultimate Running Form Episode with Paul Mackinnon (repost)
The Strength Running Podcast
Running form has often focused on concepts like cadence and footstrike to create change and improve efficiency. But a “top down” approach - focusing on the arms, torso, and - is an innovative and accessible way to become a stronger, healthier runner. Paul Mackinnon is a former semi-pro hockey player who has become an expert on gait retraining. He's is from Melbourne, Australia and has worked with many high level athletes over the years to improve their running form. My discussion with Paul is a masterclass on form. Despite this being a complex topic, his ideas are easy to grasp...
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Good vs. Great: Ranking VO2 Max, Threshold, & Economy with Brady Holmer
The Strength Running Podcast
has a Master's degree in Human Performance, writes the incredibly popular , and has recently run a 2:24 marathon. He also trains unconventionally: gone are the 100-mile weeks and in place of them are moderate mileage weeks (60-80) with 10+ hours of cycling. In this episode, we rank the core 3 performance metrics of VO2 Max, Lactate Threshold, and Running Economy and discuss how they interact with physiological resiliency, how they can be improved, and which one is the most important. Extra Resources: (one of our most popular episodes with Brady!) Thank you Previnex! Get...
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Fueling Do’s & Don’ts (Carbs, Protein, & Supplements) with Stevie Lyn Smith, RD
The Strength Running Podcast
Stevie Lyn Smith is a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, a Registered Dietitian, and an 11x Ironman competitor with an 11:35 PR. Today, we're exploring the most recent advances in sports nutrition for fueling: How many carbs are now recommended per hour of hard running? What about workouts or long runs? Is "proteinmaxxing" valuable for runners? What are its potential drawbacks? How much dehydration is acceptable before a decrease in performance is inevitable? Should every runner consider sodium bicarb for better performances? A lot more... A big thanks to Stevie for her...
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Training Myths & Best Practices with 2:09 Marathoner Thomas Nobbs
The Strength Running Podcast
Thomas Nobbs is a running coach with 10+ years of experience and newly minted 2:09 marathoner - making him Canada's 4th fastest marathoner ever! He joins us to discuss training myths and best practices: Training "myths" and overblown ideas Trends in the running community When it’s a good idea / bad idea to model elite runners The most impactful levers to pull for marathon improvement for 3-4 hour marathoners GIve Tom a follow or on ! Thank you Previnex! Get yourself 15% off your first purchase . Previnex is a unique supplement company - one that I trust because they do things...
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How a Psychotherapist Coaches Elite Runners: Brant Stachel on Pro Mindset Training
The Strength Running Podcast
Brant Stachel is a tour de force: he's a massage therapist, coach to elite marathoners, published author of , licensed psychotherapist, and former professional triathlete. Incredible. Coach Stachel's athlete Tom Nobbs just became Canada's 4th fastest marathoner with his 2:09 finish. Today, we discuss: How Nobbs ran 2:09 off entirely treadmill training Can you separate mindset training from physical training? His favorite tools for building mental toughness Is running therapy?! Don't miss these related resources: Follow Brant on or Learn Thanks Boulderthon! is a...
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Self-Treat Injuries & Manage Pain with Dr. Tom Walters
The Strength Running Podcast
Tom Walters is a board-certified orthopedic physical therapist, former college professor, and author of (a bestseller on Amazon). Besides running his , Tom served as a full-time undergraduate kinesiology professor for eight years, teaching human biomechanics, therapeutic exercise, and pain science. Today, we discuss the science of pain and the injury treatment process: Is all pain bad? Why does some pain feel good? The value of cross-training during injury Why blood flow is so important for healing The timeline it takes to heal from common injuries If you're injury prone, sign up for...
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IT Band Syndrome Prevention & Treatment with Physical Therapist & Coach Duane Scotti
The Strength Running Podcast
Duane Scotti is a physical therapist, certified running coach, and host of the Healthy Runner Podcast. Today, we're focusing on IT Band Syndrome. I've personally had ITBS twice - and once so severe that it nearly ended my running career. After seeing 4 PT's, I developed the to build hip and glute strength. You can also get an to the routine. Duane and I discuss: How to know if you have ITBS Common training errors and injury causes What can make this injury worse Can you run through pain? Treatment steps for IT Band Syndrome Thanks Duane for this masterclass on how to approach IT Band...
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Running Economy Masterclass: How to Improve Your Efficiency with Bill Evans, PhD
The Strength Running Podcast
Bill Evans has a PhD in Exercise Physiology, coaching experience at the D1 level, and is the founder of . He has more than 20 scientific papers published in his field and was formerly a senior scientist at Johns Hopkins University in their Applied Physics Laboratory. Today, he's helping you improve your running economy. We discuss: The impact of easy running and different types of workouts on economy How to order workouts during a season How drills, plyometrics, and strength training improve efficiency Long-term and short-term perspectives on economy To improve your form, don't miss our...
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Running and Lifting: How Elizabeth Does Both As a Sub-3 Marathoner (Repost)
The Strength Running Podcast
Listeners know I'm a relentless advocate of , whether you're doing bodyweight exercises at home or lifting heavy in the gym. But some runners take strength training to a level above and beyond the rest of us - and find great success along the way. Elizabeth Corkum is a fellow running coach and one of my former private coaching clients. Elizabeth - who goes by the nickname Corky - is a 2:58 marathoner and 5-day per week weightlifter. Coach Corky has multiple coaching certifications, including USA Track and Field, Road Runners Club of America, and the Lydiard...
info_outlineDr. Caitlin Alexander is a physical therapist at Build Sports Performance Lab & Physical Therapy in Boulder, Colorado with a certification in Applied Functional Science. She's a certified triathlon coach, running coach, and has experience working with elite-level athletes.
She's also an incredible athlete herself! Caitlin has qualified for the Kona World Ironman Championships and is a category 3 cyclist.
In our conversation today, we’re talking about what happens when you have an injury for a very long time. You see, our movement patterns live in our brain. Your brain is what controls how you run and if your brain learns over time to compensate for an injury, you’ll develop all new movement patterns - and they won’t be ideal.
Finally, Caitlin and I discuss:
- the origins of disrupted motor patterns
- how these movement patterns become ingrained in our brain
- the process required to relearn optimal movement patterns
- fun Q&A!
Resources & Links:
- Follow Caitlin on Instagram
- Mobility training for runners
- Dynamic warm up exercises
- Jay Dicharry on injury-free running
- Injury prevention email course
Thank you Elemental Labs
A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors.
They're also offering free product: just pay for shipping and you can get their sample pack including 8 packets of citrus, raspberry, unflavored, and orange salt varieties.
Elemental Labs' products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.
The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite and I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.
There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense.
I’m encouraged by the fact that Navy SEAL teams, Olympic teams, and pro athletes have started using Elemental electrolyte supplements to improve their performance. Learn more about what they do at their website (and don't forget to get your free sample pack!).