269. Half Marathon Race Day: Your Ultimate Guide to Success with Coach Whitney LaCombe
Release Date: 04/10/2025
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...
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290. RunDisney Marathon Weekend: 7 Race Week Essentials for Dopey Runners
Healthy Runner Podcast
Preparing for RunDisney Marathon Weekend or taking on the Dopey Challenge? Dr. Duane Scotti breaks down the 7 race week essentials that every Disney runner must know from how to taper the right way, to what to eat each day, to the weather, packing, and logistics that make RunDisney so unique. Learn how to avoid the common mistakes that drain energy, derail race week, or increase your injury risk, and instead run each magical mile with confidence, gratitude, and joy. Whether you're running the 5K, 10K, Half, Full, Goofy, or Dopey, this episode will help you feel prepared, strong, and...
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289. Philadelphia Marathon Recap: What Went Wrong and What I Nailed to Get Stronger for My Next Race
Healthy Runner Podcast
If you have ever trained perfectly… only to fall short of your goal on race day… this episode is for you. I am breaking down my Philadelphia Marathon, the lessons that cost me a PR and the wins that set me up to come back even stronger. Inside, you will learn: • The exact moment my race slipped away • How I managed pacing, fueling, and hydration with zero cramps (until I didn’t) • The elevation traps most runners underestimate in Philly • Why “middle mile mindset” can make or break your race • What I will do differently next time, so you can too Race...
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288. Weighted Vest Training for Runners: Helpful or Harmful? What You Need to Know with Coach Cat
Healthy Runner Podcast
Should you run or walk with a weighted vest to get stronger or faster? Or is it just another social media fitness fad that can lead to injury? In this episode, Dr. Duane Scotti sits down with from the Spark Healthy Runner team to break down the science behind weighted vest training for runners. Together, they uncover what fitness influencers often get wrong and explain when (and how) a weighted vest might actually be helpful — and when it can do more harm than good. You’ll learn: - Whether weighted vests really help with bone density, weight loss, or speed - Why runners over 40...
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287. Stop Making These Marathon Fueling Mistakes (Especially If You’re Over 40) with Jennifer Giles, RDN
Healthy Runner Podcast
Are you unintentionally sabotaging your marathon with fueling mistakes? You’re not alone. Most runners over 40 struggle with energy crashes, GI issues, cramping, or bonking — and it has nothing to do with fitness and everything to do with fueling. In this episode, I’m joined by sports nutritionist, exercise physiologist, and speaker , who specializes in marathon fueling for masters runners. Together, we break down the most common marathon nutrition mistakes and exactly how to fuel smarter so you can run strong from start to finish. ✅ Here’s what you’ll learn: - The biggest fueling...
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286. NYC Marathon Survival Guide: Race Day Tips from Ferry to Finish with Coach Whitney LaCombe
Healthy Runner Podcast
Are you running the TCS New York City Marathon this year? Whether it’s your first 26.2 or your fifth, this episode is your complete survival guide to race day — from the ferry ride to the finish line in Central Park! Coach from the coaching team joins Dr. Duane Scotti to break down everything you need to know to make race day smooth, confident, and unforgettable. We cover: 🏃♀️ Race morning logistics — what time to leave, what to bring, and how to handle the start village chaos 🗽 Course experience — where the hills really hit, what the crowds are like, and how to...
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285. How to Run for Life Without Getting Injured - Running Longevity Tips (Interview by Coach Sara Manderscheid)
Healthy Runner Podcast
Want to keep running strong for decades — without dealing with the same nagging injuries? In this powerful conversation, I sat down with Coach Sara Manderscheid on the Elevate Your Running Podcast to talk all about how to make running a lifelong pursuit. We dive deep into: - How to adapt your training as you age so you can stay strong and confident in every season of life - Why strength and plyometric work are non-negotiable for injury prevention - How to tell the difference between “normal” soreness and red flags that mean you need to pause - The key mindset shifts that turn setbacks...
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284. Never Get Bored Running Again: 3 Route Planning Secrets with Coach Lu
Healthy Runner Podcast
Do you find yourself running the same loop over and over… and getting bored? In this episode, Coach Duane sits down with coach from our Spark Healthy Runner team to uncover the secret to keeping running exciting, purposeful, and fun through smart route planning. You’ll learn the 3 types of running routes every runner needs: - Routine Runs — familiar loops that make recovery days stress-free - Workout Routes — purposeful paths for speedwork, hills, and long runs - Exploration Runs — fun adventures (yes, even Strava Art 🎨) that bring joy back to running Whether you’re...
info_outline[Download] Race Day Blueprint: 10 Tips to Crush Your Half Marathon!
Have you been half marathon training and you’re worried that you won’t be ready for success for your big race day? Race day can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, but with the right strategies, you can set yourself up for success!
Coach Whitney LaCombe from our Spark Healthy Runner team is back on the podcast to share her proven half marathon strategies for race day success!
In this episode, coach Whitney and Dr. Duane Scotti dive into the ultimate race day strategy to help you master your half marathon with pre-race rituals to pacing tips, ensuring you cross that finish line with confidence and a smile!
We'll provide valuable insights on how to make a race day plan, half marathon pacing strategy, half marathon nutrition, hydration, adjusting for adverse weather, and mental strategies to use during your half marathon
Whether you're a seasoned half marathoner or gearing up for your first 13.1 miles, this episode is packed with tips and tricks to ensure you cross that finish line strong and so you can go on to enjoy lifelong injury free running after your half marathon!
There are six parts of your running journey that need to be optimized so you can run strong and last long! Learn them here
Want Dr. Duane to answer your question on the podcast? Submit questions here
Related Resources:
Listen or watch all of coach Whitney’s previous episodes
Listen to my previous episode on half marathon fueling here!
Listen to my previous episode on the top 5 half marathon mistakes to avoid here!
Listen to my previous episode on unlocking my fastest half marathon time in 7 years here!
Listen to my previous episode on half marathon prep the week before your race here!
Listen to our previous episode on how to pack for a destination half marathon here
Listen to our previous episode on running gear for your half marathon race here
Listen to my previous episode on mantras and mental strategies for your half marathon here
Want the structured run and strength plan with motivation and accountability to reach your highest running potential and crush your summer running? Book a call to learn more about Healthy Runner coaching
A big thanks to ucan for your support for this episode!
Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge starter pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code HEALTHYRUNNER for 20% off your next UCAN order.
Connect with coach Whitney:
- Instagram: @runwhitspark
- Email: whitney@sparkhealthyrunner.com
- Healthy Runner Facebook Community
Connect with Dr. Duane:
- Instagram - @sparkhealthyrunner
- Join Our Healthy Runner Facebook Community
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
- duane@sparkhealthyrunner.com
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