301. My First Ever Marathon DNF: What Every Runner Can Learn From It
Release Date: 06/09/2026
301. My First Ever Marathon DNF: What Every Runner Can Learn From It
Healthy Runner Podcast
Grab your FREE Last week, I did something I never thought I would do. I stepped off the course at mile 13.1 of the Buffalo Marathon and recorded my first ever DNF. After completing seven marathons, I finally had a race that didn't go according to plan. But here's the crazy part... Just six days later, I found myself standing on another marathon starting line. And by the end of that race, I crossed the finish line of marathon number eight. In this episode, I share the full story behind my first DNF, why I made the difficult decision to stop, why I chose to run another marathon less than a week...
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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...
info_outlineGrab your FREE Ultimate Marathon Training Guide to Master Your Marathon Feeling Strong!
Last week, I did something I never thought I would do.
I stepped off the course at mile 13.1 of the Buffalo Marathon and recorded my first ever DNF.
After completing seven marathons, I finally had a race that didn't go according to plan.
But here's the crazy part...
Just six days later, I found myself standing on another marathon starting line. And by the end of that race, I crossed the finish line of marathon number eight.
In this episode, I share the full story behind my first DNF, why I made the difficult decision to stop, why I chose to run another marathon less than a week later, and the biggest lessons I learned from my entire spring marathon training cycle.
If you've ever had a race not go according to plan, struggled with setbacks during training, or felt like one bad race erased months of hard work, this episode is for you.
You'll learn:
✅ Why knowing when to stop is not quitting
✅ Why one race does not define your fitness or your training cycle
✅ The mindset shift that helped me move forward after my first DNF
✅ What I learned about marathon fatigue, fueling, and reflux management
✅ What worked during this training cycle and what I'll be changing before Wineglass Marathon this fall
✅ Why staying healthy may be the biggest marathon win of all
The biggest lesson?
One race does not define you as a runner.
Whether you're training for your first marathon, chasing a PR, or simply trying to stay healthy and consistent, I hope this episode reminds you that setbacks don't erase progress and that resilience is built when things don't go according to plan.
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Looking for 1-on-1 guidance, structure, support, and accountability? Check out our signature Spark Healthy Runner Coaching here!
Episodes and Resources mentioned in this episode:
Listen to my previous episode on marathon strength training guide: run stronger with these 3 essentials here!
Listen to my previous episode race recap running a 23 minute PR at the Cape Cod Marathon here!
Listen to my previous episode on conquering 48.6 miles as part of the Dopey Challenge here!
Listen to my previous episode on the race day mistake most runners don’t see coming here!
👋🏼 New here?
I’m Dr. Duane Scotti, former physical therapy professor turned full-time running coach, running physical therapist, and 8x 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.
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