302. Marathon Training Mistakes That Lead to Injury (With Jason Fitzgerald)
Release Date: 07/01/2026
302. Marathon Training Mistakes That Lead to Injury (With Jason Fitzgerald)
Healthy Runner Podcast
If you're training for a marathon, this episode could save you months of frustration and help you reach the starting line healthy and ready to perform your best. Joining me for his fourth appearance on the Healthy Runner Podcast is marathon coach Jason Fitzgerald, founder of Strength Running, USATF-certified coach, and 2:39 marathoner. Together, we answer some of the biggest questions marathon runners have, including: ✅ Why runners hit the wall around mile 20 ✅ The marathon workouts that actually matter (and the ones you can stop stressing about) ✅ How to structure your long runs for...
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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...
info_outlineIf you're training for a marathon, this episode could save you months of frustration and help you reach the starting line healthy and ready to perform your best.
Joining me for his fourth appearance on the Healthy Runner Podcast is marathon coach Jason Fitzgerald, founder of Strength Running, USATF-certified coach, and 2:39 marathoner.
Together, we answer some of the biggest questions marathon runners have, including:
✅ Why runners hit the wall around mile 20
✅ The marathon workouts that actually matter (and the ones you can stop stressing about)
✅ How to structure your long runs for maximum benefit
✅ Zone 2 vs. threshold training and how much of your running should actually be easy
✅ Why strength training is a game changer for marathon performance and injury prevention
✅ How runners over 40 can train smarter, recover better, and stay healthy throughout marathon training
Throughout the conversation, Jason shares the coaching strategies he uses to help runners perform their best, while I provide the physical therapy perspective on reducing injury risk, improving recovery, and building a body that's ready for the demands of 26.2 miles.
Whether you're training for your first marathon or chasing a new personal best, you'll leave this episode with practical strategies you can immediately apply to your training.
🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Marathon Training Guide
Want a clear, proven roadmap to train smarter and feel strong on race day?
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This free guide is designed for both beginner and advanced runners who want to achieve their marathon goals while staying healthy and injury-free.
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A big thanks to CurraNz for your support for this episode!
Want to know my favorite recovery supplement for runners? CurraNz is New Zealand’s natural running supplement made of a strong antioxidant (polyphenol anthocyanin) found within blackcurrants.
Learn more about the real science behind blackcurrant extract in my interview with Fleur Cushman in episode 233 on the Healthy Runner Podcast.
Click here and use code HEALTHYRUNNER for 20% off your first order!
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 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.
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.
Links and Resources from the show:
- Learn more about Jason and Strength Running
- Follow Jason on Instagram
- Watch Strength Running videos on YouTube
- Listen to the Strength Running podcast
Listen to my previous episode about building mental resilience for running with Jason
Listen to my previous episode about injury prevention with Jason
Listen to my previous episode with Jason about Strength Training as Power Training for running here!
Connect with Dr. Duane:
- Instagram - @sparkhealthyrunner
- Sign up for the Healthy Runner Newsletter
- Join our Healthy Runner Facebook Community
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel