226. 2 x Olympian Nick Willis on What it Takes to Run a Sub-4 Mile for 19 Years Straight
Release Date: 12/16/2021
When Should You Quit Running? An Honest, Difficult Conversation with Author Dimity McDowell
The Strength Running Podcast
What if you have to make the hard decision to stop running altogether? That's the heartbreaking choice Dimity McDowell, a long-time runner and sports journalist, had to make a few years ago. In this conversation and in her new book, , we explore what it means to hang up your running shoes for good: The loss of identity, community, and purpose How to fill the hole that running once filled What the experts recommend How to find closure after a running career ends Follow Dimity on and be sure to check out ! Thank you 2Before! We are supported by , a powerful sports...
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Ken Rideout on Extreme Running, Mindset Hacks, Beer Miles, and Confidence
The Strength Running Podcast
Ken Rideout is one of the fastest 50+ runners in the world, clocking 2:28 at age 50. A former addict, he turned his focus to running and became unstoppable, winning the 155-mile Gobi Desert March and the 2021 NYC Marathon Master's Division. His new book, , is now available. Ken's on the podcast today to discuss: His extraordinary and how he stays driven What draws him to extreme events (and how that can help you) His experience at a "Celebrity Beer Mile" How he's built confidence as a runner and his tips for you Follow for even more inspiration. Thank you Lever! Lever is back...
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Impact, Force, and Load: Exploring the Real Drivers of Injuries with Professor Brent Edwards
The Strength Running Podcast
Brent Edwards is a professor of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. He's an expert on how mechanical load affects the body and influences musculoskeletal health and injury risk. Learn with my best advice! In addition to running experiments in the lab, he’s also working with the smart shoe company Avelo to help them figure out how to keep runners healthy. His expertise ensures Avelo’s impact metrics reflect what is really happening with your stride so you can learn from it and train smarter. You can preorder a pair of smart running shoes . In this conversation, we discuss: How Brent...
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Running Longevity Masterclass with Dr. Jordan Metzl: Strength, Aging, & More
The Strength Running Podcast
Dr. Jordan Metzl is a Harvard-trained medical doctor, bestselling author, and a highly sought after international speaker. His new book, , is now available! Jordan is the creator of the immensely popular Iron Strength workout, a medical columnist for Triathlete Magazine, and a 37-time marathon finisher (not to mention an Ironman Triathlete!). In this conversation, we focus on running longevity: The training habits that need to change in your 40's and 50's Potential tension between performance and longevity The role of as we age a lot more... . Thanks for a great conversation, Jordan! Thank...
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Stacking the Deck in Your Favor: Best-Selling Author Brad Stulberg on Sustainable Excellence
The Strength Running Podcast
Brad Stulberg is the New York Times best-selling author of . He cohosts the Growth Equation podcast, coaches executives and entrepreneurs, and is on the faculty at the University of Michigan’s Graduate School of Public Health. He also deadlifts 530 pounds! He's also the author of and coauthor of . In this conversation, we explore what it means to run sustainably: The truth about motivation Why "balance" is often an illusion The incredible power of surrounding yourself with the right people Is anxiety actually a bad thing? His thoughts on Alex Honnold's summit of Tapei 101 live on...
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Training Updates, Smart Shoe News, & A Super Secret Announcement (with Jon Levitt)
The Strength Running Podcast
Jason sits down with fellow podcaster and friend Jonathan Levitt to chat about their training, upcoming goals, updates with the Avelo smart running shoe, and their new business The Huddle. The Huddle is a private peer network of entrepreneurs, creators, and executives. We meet regularly to solve problems, examine opportunities, and get support with goals. Growth happens together and we're excited to welcome new business owners and ambitious entrepeneurs! If you're interested in learning more about what we do, . Links & Resources from the show: Jon's podcasts & Follow track...
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From Bodybuilder to Boston Qualifier: Can John Goldman Accomplish the Unreasonable?
The Strength Running Podcast
John Goldman is a former bodybuilder and currently the CEO of . After running a 5:13 marathon last December, he's not attempting the unreasonable: to qualify for Boston in a year. He enlisted the coaching of physiologist and ultra-endurance coach Alan Couzens to guide his training. This episode is a case study on how to accomplish unreasonable goals. How do you progress your fitness so you can run almost two hours faster in the marathon in only a year? What do you focus on? What is the correct order of what to focus on? How is his progress going after only two months? Follow along with his...
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Built Different: Training for the Female Physiology, with Olympian Shannon Rowbury & PT Jessica Dorrington
The Strength Running Podcast
Should women think differently about training and weightlifting when they're pregnant and post-partum? In this episode, Olympian and her physical therapist explain the specific training needs of pregnant and post-partum women, including: Exercise that's advised vs. not recommended How to modify training as pregnancy evolves The role of strength training during pregnancy Post-partum recovery strategies How to prepare for perimenopause through training Their new book, , is also available to preorder! Thank you MOBO Board! Invented by renowned physical therapist Jay...
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The Limits of Endurance: Dr. Andrew Best on Running’s “Metabolic Ceiling”
The Strength Running Podcast
Dr. is a professor at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts where he focuses on evolutionary questions about human physiology. You can email him at . His latest study was titled “.” They looked at the maximum, sustainable amount of energy expenditure that can be done over a long time period. It answers the question, "what is the limit of human energy expenditure?" It's a metric that literally dictates how hard you can train. If you want sustainable performance, you'll love this episode. Fan of the podcast? Support our partners! Thank you MOBO Board! Invented by...
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Development: Workouts, Mindsets, & Strategy with Head Conn XC Coach Sam Alexander
The Strength Running Podcast
Sam Alexander is the head coach of the men's cross country and track & field teams at Connecticut College (Jason's alma mater!). Sam recently coached the track team to a historically high finish at the New England championships and helped the cross country team qualify for the National Championships for only the second time in program history. This episode focuses on development - or, how to progress through beginner to advanced stages of running. We discuss: Athletic development for college runners vs. new runners The "order of operations" of development How to build speed and...
info_outlineNick Willis exemplifies longevity not only in the competitive world of elite running, but even more so in an event that typically favors young, powerful runners.
He is the 2008 Olympic silver medalist and the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in the 1500m. Nick’s PR of 3:29 established him as one of the fastest 1500m runners in history.
Nick also holds a unique record of being the most consistent miler in history. For the past 19 consecutive years, he has run a sub-4 minute mile. On January 1st at midnight, he’ll be attempting his 20th year of sub-4 miles at the Armory in New York City.
In the podcast, we discuss many of the factors that have contributed to Nick’s success, including:
- The importance of who you surround yourself with
- Putting in the focused work when it counts
- How he focuses on injury prevention
- Using less conventional cross-training as an outlet
- Learning to respect your body and know what it can and cannot do, especially as you get older
- A willingness to be patient and show up when it matters
- Using strength as a primary resource when it comes to healing
Links & Resources from the Show:
- Follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram
- Watch Nick prepare for his 20th sub-4 miler
- Check out Nick on Facebook
- Get stronger and avoid injury
- Join a team to support your own running
Thank You InsideTracker!
Our show is supported by our longtime sponsor InsideTracker. Today, more than ever, it's essential that we’re making the right decisions to keep our bodies healthy. To help us be resilient, prevent over-training, and optimize our running to get the most from it.
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