305. What Jon Levitt Learned from 850,000 Runners About Running After 40
Release Date: 08/07/2026
Healthy Runner Podcast
Have you ever wondered if you can keep running (not just through this season) but for the rest of your life? If you're over 40 and you've started questioning whether your body can keep up, this episode is for you. Joining me today is Jon Levitt, host of the popular For The Long Run podcast, where he's spent years interviewing some of the world's best runners, coaches, sports scientists, and researchers to answer one big question: What does it actually take to achieve sustainable excellence? Through conversations reaching more than 850,000 runners every month, Jon has uncovered the common...
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Disney Marathon Weekend isn't just a marathon… it's one of the most unique endurance events you'll ever train for. Between miles on unforgiving concrete, long days walking through the parks, early morning wake-ups, and for many runners, back-to-back races like Goofy and Dopey, your body needs more than just a running plan. It needs a strength plan. In this episode, Dr. Duane Scotti, running physical therapist, running coach, and two-time Dopey finisher, shares the exact 20-week strength training roadmap he uses to help runners prepare for Disney Marathon Weekend without breaking down. You'll...
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Have you been stretching your IT band every day… yet the pain on the outside of your knee keeps coming back? Here's the truth that surprises most runners: you can't actually stretch your IT band. In this episode, Dr. Duane Scotti, running physical therapist, running coach, and 8x marathoner, explains why the traditional "IT band stretch" isn't solving your problem and why it may even be keeping you stuck in the injury cycle. You'll learn why IT band syndrome isn't caused by a "tight IT band," what's really driving that sharp pain on the outside of your knee, and the three evidence-based...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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...
info_outlineHave you ever wondered if you can keep running (not just through this season) but for the rest of your life?
If you're over 40 and you've started questioning whether your body can keep up, this episode is for you.
Joining me today is Jon Levitt, host of the popular For The Long Run podcast, where he's spent years interviewing some of the world's best runners, coaches, sports scientists, and researchers to answer one big question:
What does it actually take to achieve sustainable excellence?
Through conversations reaching more than 850,000 runners every month, Jon has uncovered the common habits, mindset shifts, and training principles that help runners stay healthy, continue improving, and enjoy running for decades.
In this episode, we discuss:
✅ What "sustainable excellence" really means for everyday runners
✅ The biggest mistakes runners over 40 make that lead to injury and burnout
✅ How your training should evolve as you get older
✅ Why recovery becomes one of your greatest performance tools
✅ The mindset shift that separates runners who keep improving from those who quit
✅ Practical lessons from elite athletes, coaches, and researchers that every masters runner can apply today
Whether you're chasing a marathon PR, training for your next runDisney race, or simply want to keep enjoying the sport you love for years to come, this conversation will help you train smarter, stay healthier, and run stronger for life.
Resources Mentioned
🎧 Healthy Runner Podcast Episode 278: The 5-Step Injury Prevention System here
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A big thanks to Kila for your support for this episode!
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👋🏼 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.
Connect with Jon Levitt
- Learn more about Jon and For the Long Run
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