300. Run Happy AND Get Faster: Why You Don’t Need to Suffer to PR with Carolyn Coffin
Release Date: 05/14/2026
300. Run Happy AND Get Faster: Why You Don’t Need to Suffer to PR with Carolyn Coffin
Healthy Runner Podcast
Do you feel like every run needs to be hard in order to get faster? If so… that might be exactly why you’re stuck. In this episode, I’m joined by run coach Carolyn Coffin to tackle one of the biggest myths in running: That you need to suffer through every workout to see results. We break down why “party pace” is that conversational, enjoyable effort isn’t just for beginners… it’s actually one of the most powerful tools to help you run faster, stay consistent, and avoid burnout. If your training has been feeling more like a grind than something you enjoy, this episode will shift...
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299. IT Band Syndrome: When to Run, When to Rest, and How to Fix It Faster
Healthy Runner Podcast
Struggling with IT band pain while running and wondering if you should stop… or push through? In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what you should do if you’re dealing with IT band syndrome as a runner. Because here’s the truth most runners don’t hear: 👉🏼 You do NOT always need to stop running. But you DO need to know how to adjust your training the right way. As a running physical therapist and coach, I’ve helped hundreds of runners get out of that frustrating start stop cycle and back to consistent, pain free running. And the runners who recover the fastest are not...
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298. She Started Marathon Running at 50… Now Coach Colleen Masse Has Run 22 (And 6 World Majors)
Healthy Runner Podcast
Most runners think once you hit 50… your best running years are behind you. It’s time to slow down. Run less. Lower expectations. But what if that’s completely wrong? In this episode, I sit down with RRCA Certified Running Coach and Spark Healthy Runner coach, , who started marathon training at 50… and has since completed 22 marathons, including all six World Marathon Majors (Berlin, London, Tokyo, Chicago, New York, and Boston). But this isn’t just a story about big races. It’s about what’s actually possible when you train smart, stay consistent, and build a strong, durable...
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297. Stronger Strides: 6 Recovery Tips That Actually Work for Half Marathon Runners with Dr. Duane Scotti, PT, PhD, DPT
Healthy Runner Podcast
Still feeling sore, tired, and beat up after your runs? It’s probably not your training… It’s your recovery. Most runners think recovery means stretching or foam rolling… But real recovery is what allows your body to adapt, get stronger, and stay injury free. 👉🏼 Training is the stimulus 👉🏼 Recovery is where adaptation happens Miss this… and you don’t get fitter — you just get more fatigued. 🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: ✔️ Why you’re still sore after long runs ✔️ How many rest days you actually need ✔️ The most powerful recovery tool...
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296. Running Through Perimenopause with Coach Emily Fox: Why Your Pace, Energy, and Body Are Changing
Healthy Runner Podcast
If you’re a female runner and lately running feels harder than it used to, you’re not alone. More fatigue. Slower pace. Longer recovery. Sleep disruption. Changes in body composition. For many women, these shifts begin during perimenopause, a stage that can start earlier than most runners realize. The problem is that most training plans never account for these hormonal changes, leaving many runners feeling frustrated and wondering if their best running days are behind them. The good news is they are not. In this episode, Dr. Duane Scotti sits down with our newest addition to the Spark...
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295. Can You Run With Achilles Tendonitis? (Why Rest Might Be Making It Worse)
Healthy Runner Podcast
If you’ve been told the only way to fix Achilles tendonitis is to stop running… this episode might completely change how you think about healing. One of the biggest myths in the running world is that you can’t run with Achilles pain. But in most cases, total rest doesn’t build a stronger tendon, it actually reduces its load tolerance and keeps you stuck in the frustrating start-stop injury cycle. In this episode, I break down: - Why total rest can make Achilles tendinopathy worse - The real reason your pain keeps coming back - The 3 signs it’s SAFE to run with Achilles pain -...
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294. Run Pain-Free: 3 Strength Training Secrets for Half Marathon Runners
Healthy Runner Podcast
What’s the real goal of half marathon training? It’s not pace. It’s not mileage. It’s preventing breakdown. Because if you’re injured heading into race day… you won’t hit your goals. In this episode, Dr. Duane Scotti breaks down why strength training is the most misunderstood and most powerful tool in half marathon training. You’ll learn: ✅ Why 7 out of 10 half marathon runners get injured ✅ How strength training increases durability and prevents common running injuries ✅ The simple weekly strength structure that works for busy runners ✅ How strength improves running...
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293. Hip Pain Relief for Women Runners: Why It Keeps Coming Back & How to Fix It with @TheHipDocSarah
Healthy Runner Podcast
Does your hip pain disappear with rest… only to return a few miles into your next run? You are not alone. In this episode, Dr. Duane Scotti sits down with physical therapist, run coach, and hip specialist Dr. Sarah from Legacy Rehab and Performance to break down why hip pain is so common in women runners and why traditional advice like rest and stretching often fails. You will learn: - The top reasons hip pain keeps coming back in women runners - Why stretching alone does not fix the real problem - How hip, core, and glute strength influence running mechanics - The key strength...
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292. How I Conquered the Dopey Challenge Feeling Strong, Durable, and Healthy (2026 RunDisney Marathon Weekend Recap)
Healthy Runner Podcast
Most runners go into RunDisney Marathon Weekend just hoping to survive it. In this episode, I share how I completed the 2026 Dopey Challenge, four races totaling 48.6 miles and finished feeling strong, durable, and pain free. This is not just a race recap. It is a breakdown of the exact training, fueling, recovery, and race strategy decisions that allowed my body to handle four consecutive race days without breaking down. You will hear: - How I structured training after a recent marathon - Why patience and pacing mattered more than fitness - How I approached fueling and recovery across all...
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291. Why Runners Don’t Follow Through on Their Half Marathon Goals (And How 2026 Can Be Different)
Healthy Runner Podcast
Join If you’ve trained for a half marathon before but didn’t follow through, this episode will change how you think about training. In this episode of the Healthy Runner Podcast, Dr. Duane Scotti breaks down the real reason half marathon training falls apart for so many runners (it has nothing to do with motivation or discipline). Most runners are committed and driven, but they’re missing a system that actually fits real life. You’ll learn why relying on motivation leads to burnout, how skipping strength and recovery increases injury risk, and what it really takes to stay...
info_outlineDo you feel like every run needs to be hard in order to get faster?
If so… that might be exactly why you’re stuck.
In this episode, I’m joined by run coach Carolyn Coffin to tackle one of the biggest myths in running:
That you need to suffer through every workout to see results.
We break down why “party pace” is that conversational, enjoyable effort isn’t just for beginners… it’s actually one of the most powerful tools to help you run faster, stay consistent, and avoid burnout.
If your training has been feeling more like a grind than something you enjoy, this episode will shift how you think about performance.
Because the truth is…
You don’t need to choose between running happy and chasing a PR.
🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why running harder isn’t always the answer to getting faster
- What “party pace” really means (and how to use it correctly)
- The biggest mistake runners make with easy runs
- How much of your training should actually feel easy
- Where easy running stops being enough (the “ceiling” most runners miss)
- How to balance performance and enjoyment in your training
- Why enjoying your runs can actually improve your results
- A simple shift you can make this week to train smarter
For runners who want to:
- Run faster without burning out
- Stay consistent and avoid injury
- Feel stronger and more confident in their training
- Actually enjoy the process of running again
🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Marathon Training Guide
Want a clear, proven roadmap to train smarter and feel strong on race day?
Download your Ultimate Marathon Training Guide to Master Your Marathon Feeling Strong
This free guide is designed for both beginner and advanced runners who want to achieve their marathon goals while staying healthy and injury-free.
Claim your free copy here!
Listen to my previous episode with Carolyn on why older runners can get faster here!
Listen to my previous episode with Carolyn as we celebrated 200 episodes here!
Listen to my previous episode with Carolyn about running terminology 101 here!
If you’re ready for structured strength plans, progressive return-to-run programming, and coaching support so you’re not guessing week to week, join the Healthy Runner Academy waitlist
Looking for 1-on-1 guidance, structure, support, and accountability? Check out our signature Spark Healthy Runner Coaching here!
👋🏼 New here?
I’m Dr. Duane Scotti, former physical therapy professor turned full-time running coach, running physical therapist, and 7x marathoner 🏅
I help everyday runners stop nagging injuries, get stronger, and finally feel confident in their training by blending rehab-level expertise with performance training.
If you found this helpful, make sure to follow the Healthy Runner Podcast and share this episode with a runner who needs to hear it.
Connect with Carolyn Coffin:
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Email Carolyn: inspiredsolescast@gmail.com
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Inspired Soles Instagram: @inspiredsolescast
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Carolyn's Instagram: @carolyn.c.coffin
Connect with Dr. Duane:
- Instagram - @sparkhealthyrunner
- Sign up for the Healthy Runner Newsletter
- Join our Healthy Runner Facebook Community
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel