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Ask the Physical Therapist! Caitlin Alexander, DPT Answers Your Injury Questions

The Strength Running Podcast

Release Date: 02/08/2024

Ultrarunning + Strength Training: How to Get Strong and Gain Endurance with Coach Holly Martin show art Ultrarunning + Strength Training: How to Get Strong and Gain Endurance with Coach Holly Martin

The Strength Running Podcast

Runners ask all the time: How should I fit strength training into my endurance goals, and how can I get as strong as possible with limited time? Holly Martin is a personal fitness trainer and run coach based in Nashville, TN who specializes in time-efficient circuit training and individually tailored run programs. Holly comes from a diverse background of professional ballet, ultramarathon running, and 10 years of experience in CrossFit. She’s finished many ultra marathons, including two 100 milers. In this episode, Holly and I talk about: Strength training for ultra runners to prevent...

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How 50mi World Record Holder Charlie Lawrence Treats Serious Injuries, Fuels his Ultras, and More show art How 50mi World Record Holder Charlie Lawrence Treats Serious Injuries, Fuels his Ultras, and More

The Strength Running Podcast

The running world gets to watch in awe as elites set new records and perform incredible feats. But it’s not all rainbows and unicorns for these athletes. World record holders face injuries and challenges, too. Charlie Lawrence set the record in the 50-mile distance in 2023, clocking in at 4:48:21. That’s an unbelievable average of 5:46 per mile. Charlie also ran his marathon personal record of 2:16 while qualifying for the US Olympic Trials Marathon for the second time. In this episode, Charlie and I talk about: The glute injury and hip labral tear that led Charlie to pull out of the 2024...

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How to Stay Healthy By Strengthening Your Midstance, with Coach Chris Johnson, DPT show art How to Stay Healthy By Strengthening Your Midstance, with Coach Chris Johnson, DPT

The Strength Running Podcast

The midstance phase of a running stride is a crucial element of running form, but many runners are ignoring it. If you have weaknesses, imbalances, or poor movement patterns, this is the part of the gait cycle that will show it. Chris Johnson, DPT is a Seattle-based physical therapist, performance coach, entrepreneur, and multiple time Kona IRONMAN qualifier who shares how midstance affects your running performance and how you can improve it. In this episode, Chris and I talk about: Midstance importance in running mechanics and injury prevention The impact midstance has on muscles and...

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Running Form Tests, Technique Cues, and Footstrike Patterns with Physical Therapist Matthew Silver show art Running Form Tests, Technique Cues, and Footstrike Patterns with Physical Therapist Matthew Silver

The Strength Running Podcast

If you're starting to wonder whether your running form is helping or hurting your performance, we’re sharing two important tests that can help you better conceptualize how your body moves through space. Dr. Matthew Silver is a doctor of physical therapy, coach, cross country athlete, founder of Alpha Project Phyzio and Performance in Maryland, and author of the book "Built to Run." We spend a lot of time on foot strike, the problems associated with over-striding, and the many solutions for resolving this form error. In this episode, Matthew and I talk about: Testing running form through the...

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Recovery’s Big 5 Strategies with Dr. Peter Tierney show art Recovery’s Big 5 Strategies with Dr. Peter Tierney

The Strength Running Podcast

What makes the biggest impact when it comes to recovery strategies and tools for runners?  Dr. Peter Tierney is a health and performance researcher, consultant, and coach who’s worked with many professional sports organizations to help athletes recover effectively from exercise. Peter’s “Big 5” recovery strategies are science-backed and possible for runners to add to their training and lifestyle. In this episode, Peter and I talk about: Recovery as part of a lifestyle, not just a post-exercise tool. The Big 5 recovery strategies for runners and endurance athletes, and how to use...

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Believe in the Run Founder Thomas Neuberger on the Evolution of Running Shoes, New Shoe Trends, and Fad Features show art Believe in the Run Founder Thomas Neuberger on the Evolution of Running Shoes, New Shoe Trends, and Fad Features

The Strength Running Podcast

Thomas Neuberger has probably worn more pairs of shoes than anybody else over the last 15 years (with maybe the exception of Runner’s World Director of Product Testing and Runner-in-Chief, Jeff Dengate). Thomas’ deep experience in the running shoe industry gives him an unparalleled perspective on the evolution of shoes, why some features are no longer available, and the future of running shoes. In this episode, Thomas and I talk about: The 2009 origin story of Believe in the Run, a top shoe review company in the United States What it's like to test around 100 pairs of running shoes a...

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Andy Wacker: Exploring Longevity, Seasonal Training, and Supporting Trail Runners show art Andy Wacker: Exploring Longevity, Seasonal Training, and Supporting Trail Runners

The Strength Running Podcast

Trail running doesn't always mean running an ultramarathon. From trail 5ks to marathons, there's a growing interest in middle distance trail events. Andy Wacker is making this space a more vibrant and welcoming community for runners. Andy Wacker is a professional runner who excels on the track, road, and trail. He is the 2019 world Mountain Running Champ, 2016 US Trail Half Marathon Champ, 2015 US Trail 50k Champion, and a two-time NCAA XC All-American. Andy seeks longevity in the sport and embraces a seasonal training approach to keep him running strong across different distances and...

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Boston Marathon Preview 2024 with 18x Finisher & Author Marc Pollina show art Boston Marathon Preview 2024 with 18x Finisher & Author Marc Pollina

The Strength Running Podcast

The Boston Marathon is quickly approaching! Whether you’re racing Boston this spring or have it in your sights as a long term goal, this episode will help you learn all the ins and outs of this iconic event. Today’s guest on the podcast will be headed to Boston for the 19th time! Marc Pollina has run 26 marathons and has been a fixture at Boston as both a charity runner and a sub-3 hour qualifier. Marc’s new book, , offers an incredibly thorough look at the Boston Marathon, whether you’re trying to qualify for the first time or want to be better prepared to navigate race logistics. His...

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Unfiltered with Jon Levitt: Injuries, Business Updates, New Sauna Science, and More show art Unfiltered with Jon Levitt: Injuries, Business Updates, New Sauna Science, and More

The Strength Running Podcast

This week I decided to take you along on my conversation with my friend and fellow podcaster, Jon Levitt. Jon is a sub-3 marathoner and a Senior Sales Executive at . He also hosts the popular podcast, , where I was a guest on . We usually have long meandering conversations on trail runs throughout Boulder, but this time we recorded it.  While we start by discussing our current running troubles (and our efforts towards solving them), we ultimately focus a lot of our conversation on the professionalization of the running industry. As the sport continues to grow, all players in the industry...

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Is Everything We Know About Pain Wrong? Ryan Whited on a Better Way to Treat Pain show art Is Everything We Know About Pain Wrong? Ryan Whited on a Better Way to Treat Pain

The Strength Running Podcast

Ryan Whited is an elite climber, personal trainer and strength & conditioning coach who owns Paragon Athletics in Flagstaff, Arizona. Together with author and coach Matt Fitzgerald he has written .  His approach to pain is a novel one and requires you to think about it in a much different way than most of us currently do. Learning to use “training as treatment” and recognize the positive aspects of pain are just a few of the concepts we discuss today. Before pain starts, !  We also cover: Why pain can be a tool that is used to your advantage Understanding pain as a...

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More Episodes

My guest on today’s episode in Dr. Caitlin Alexander. Caitlin is a physical therapist, a professional triathlete, and a certified triathlon and running coach. Three years ago she joined me on episode 179 to talk about long-term injuries, and now she is here to answer reader questions on injury reduction.

Caitlin owns Hü Performance in downtown Boulder, Colorado. She works with a wide variety of athletes, from weekend warriors to competitive triathletes and elite runners. In addition to physical therapy, Caitlin also offers professional bike fitting, personalized strength and conditioning, and endurance coaching.

Caitlin addresses a variety of reader questions on injury resilience, including topics such as:

  • The most efficient means of injury prevention for time-crunched athletes
  • Ending the cycle of recurrent tendonitis after time away from training
  • Dealing with lower back pain after long runs
  • How to determine what kind of pain is worrisome and what you can run through
  • What to prioritize for healthy running as we get older
  • Why running alone doesn’t replace strength training
  • How different types of stress contribute to injury

My conversation with Caitlin will help you stay healthy this season and in the years to come!

Links & Resources from the Show:

Thank you DrinkLMNT!

A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

DrinkLMNT's 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.

If you’re not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I’m now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.

Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They’re the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out DrinkLMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

Thank you Previnex!

After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 - and having a thin frame - has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids.

Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they’re going to do.

Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you’ll try it! Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex!