251. How 2x Olympian Kara Goucher Handles Expectations, Pressure, and Pre-Race Anxiety
Release Date: 06/09/2022
Modern Ultra Training: How Ultramarathons Are Evolving with 4x Leadville Winner Ian Sharman
The Strength Running Podcast
Ian Sharman is a 2x USATF 100-mile Trail Champion, 4x winner of the Leadville Trail 100, and author of the new book . He's one of the most recognizable names in the world of ultrarunning. He’s won more than 50 marathons out of over 250 he's run, ran a 2:21 marathon at age 43, holds the fastest time in a trail 100-mile race by a Brit (12h44m), and holds the record for the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (69h49m). In this conversation, we discussed what's changed and what remains fundamental for ultramarathon training (fueling, mileage, workouts, terrain, durability, and more). Resources...
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How to Raise Your ‘Speed Ceiling,’ Mileage Building, & Warm-up Strategy Q&A
The Strength Running Podcast
This is a sneak peak into our coaching calls! Our group meets regularly to discuss training, ask strategy questions, get coaching guidance, and figure out exactly how to achieve our biggest goals. If you'd like to join these calls, ! You'll also get access to the broader community, opportunities to come on the podcast, our training plan library, and a lot more. Like the show? Support our sponsors! Thank you Altra! New customers can ge 10% off your entire order with code jason10 . I’ve been wearing Altra shoes for years - I absolutely love the roomy toe box that leaves extra room for my feet...
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How to Achieve a Breakthrough: Jason Coach’s RUNegade’s Host to a Sub-4 Marathon
The Strength Running Podcast
Todd Marentette is the co-host of the RUNegade Podcast - and he partnered with Jason to help him with a breakthrough. For years, Todd has run almost the same time in the marathon: just over four hours. He's given Jason full control of his training and 10 months of runway to do the impossible: break his plateau, run a massive PR, and change how he thinks about training. This episode originally aired on the RUNegade Podcast (, ). We discuss: The importance of cycles and dividing time into distinct seasons Varying your training focus to achieve maximum progress Race-specific work vs....
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Building Faster Runners: Dickinson Coach Don Nichter Shares 40+ Years of Coaching Wisdom
The Strength Running Podcast
Don Nichter is the head cross country coach at , where he's built their men's and women's programs into consistent national-level contenders. His teams have claimed 24 Centennial Conference championships across cross country and track and field and he has been named Mideast Regional Coach of the Year seven times and was voted the men’s Centennial Conference Cross Country Coach of the Year twice. During his 40+ years with Dickinson, he has coached 39 All-Americans. Today, he shares what he's learned and how you can apply those lessons to your own running. Coach Nichter and Jason chat...
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Zone 2 Running Best Practices, Surprises, and Myths with Alyssa Olenick, PhD
The Strength Running Podcast
Alyssa Olenick is an exercise phyisology PhD, ultramarathoner, hybrid athlete, and weightlifter. She's been featured in Time, Nike, Women's Health - and pretty much every major media outlet and podcast that exists. She's also one of my favorite communicators about training theory and physiology. Today, she's helping us decipher : How to grow Z2 fitness (hint: don't just run in Z2!) The timeline of Zone 2 improvement Why Z2 is not a "cage" How heart rate at this effort is impacted by heat a lot more! Resources & Extras: (video) Thank you Previnex! Get yourself 15% off your first...
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2:11 Marathoner Charlie Sweeney on Mega Mileage: How He Runs 145 Mile Weeks
The Strength Running Podcast
Charlie Sweeney is chasing the dream... by running up to 145 miles per week. This volume is not for the faint of heart (or most of us mere mortals...). But we can learn a lot from elite athletes who are training at top mileage levels. In this episode you will learn: How Charlie makes time for running twice per day with a full-time job His progression of mileage over the years that got him to 145 mpw The benefits he expects to receive from this level of mileage The importance of going all-in on what you can control Charlie's recovery strategies for running such high volume For more on...
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Plyometrics: How to Start the Easy Way, with 5x National Champ Eoin Everard
The Strength Running Podcast
Eoin Everard is a physiotherapist with a PhD in Biomechanics. He’s also a sub-4 minute miler, a sub-14 minute 5k runner, and a five-time Irish National Champion in the 1500 and 3000m. He also hosts the and is the cofounder of the . Today's conversation focuses on plyometrics: How can your average runner even get started with plyometrics Why you do NOT need advanced depth drops and other types of plyos The non-plyometric types of training that give you benefits just like plyos What types of shoes and surfaces to wear for plyometrics A lot more! Plyos demand strength so before you...
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Body Positions, Cues, and Cadence: The Ultimate Running Form Episode with Paul Mackinnon (repost)
The Strength Running Podcast
Running form has often focused on concepts like cadence and footstrike to create change and improve efficiency. But a “top down” approach - focusing on the arms, torso, and - is an innovative and accessible way to become a stronger, healthier runner. Paul Mackinnon is a former semi-pro hockey player who has become an expert on gait retraining. He's is from Melbourne, Australia and has worked with many high level athletes over the years to improve their running form. My discussion with Paul is a masterclass on form. Despite this being a complex topic, his ideas are easy to grasp...
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Good vs. Great: Ranking VO2 Max, Threshold, & Economy with Brady Holmer
The Strength Running Podcast
has a Master's degree in Human Performance, writes the incredibly popular , and has recently run a 2:24 marathon. He also trains unconventionally: gone are the 100-mile weeks and in place of them are moderate mileage weeks (60-80) with 10+ hours of cycling. In this episode, we rank the core 3 performance metrics of VO2 Max, Lactate Threshold, and Running Economy and discuss how they interact with physiological resiliency, how they can be improved, and which one is the most important. Extra Resources: (one of our most popular episodes with Brady!) Thank you Previnex! Get...
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Fueling Do’s & Don’ts (Carbs, Protein, & Supplements) with Stevie Lyn Smith, RD
The Strength Running Podcast
Stevie Lyn Smith is a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, a Registered Dietitian, and an 11x Ironman competitor with an 11:35 PR. Today, we're exploring the most recent advances in sports nutrition for fueling: How many carbs are now recommended per hour of hard running? What about workouts or long runs? Is "proteinmaxxing" valuable for runners? What are its potential drawbacks? How much dehydration is acceptable before a decrease in performance is inevitable? Should every runner consider sodium bicarb for better performances? A lot more... A big thanks to Stevie for her...
info_outlineKara has retired from competitive running but remains an active presence as an athlete advisor for Oiselle and Altra. She is a sports analyst and broadcaster for NBC Sports, and had an opportunity to be on the other side of the camera as a color commentator at the Tokyo Olympics.
Competitive from a young age when she would regularly beat all the boys, Kara has learned how to handle pressure and expectations throughout her career. Although Kara dealt with pressure at an elite level, that feeling is something all runners can relate to.
Whether it’s the expectations you set for yourself, feeling pressure from other individuals, or comparing your accomplishments with other runners, the burden of pressure can be overwhelming when you aren’t able to manage it. But nervousness and pre-race jitters can also mean that you are invested in what you are about to do. When you learn how to channel that adrenaline to help instead of hurt, you can use pressure to your benefit.
Kara and I cover a lot of ground on the podcast this week, including:
- The pros and cons of feeling pressure, and how to manage it to get the best from yourself
- The value of personal mantras
- How that feeling of pressure has evolved for Kara over the course of her career
- Kara’s intense preparation for broadcasting races, and her goals as a commentator
- What makes a good race for Kara as a runner and as an an analyst
- And perhaps most importantly, if and when she’s starting a podcast with Des Linden!
Links & Resources from the Show:
- Check out Kara on Instagram and Facebook
- Follow Kara on Twitter
- View Kara’s racing highlights
- More ways to deal with pressure and stress
- Lear how to Master your Mindset
Thank You InsideTracker!
This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker, one of the most reputable blood testing companies in the world. They were founded in 2009 by aging, genetics, and biometrics scientists to help you analyze your body’s data and get a firm idea of how well you’re responding to training.
Understanding your body’s biomarkers, from stress hormones to testosterone to Vitamin D, can help you figure out if you’re over-training, under-training, optimally training, or if you have a health issue that might be affecting your running. But the best part is that they give you personalized optimal ranges for each of these biomarkers and a host of ways to improve these markers through diet, lifestyle, or exercise changes.
I’ve personally gotten three Ultimate tests from them and the process is simple, easy, and very eye-opening if you haven’t done a deep dive on your biomarkers yet. Of all the investments you can make in your running, this one is like getting a detailed checkup or regularly scheduled maintenance for your internal physiology.
If you’re ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, get 25% off any of their blood tests with code STRENGTHRUNNING at InsideTracker.
Thank you Tanri Outdoors!
Thank you to a previous sponsor who has rejoined us, Tanri Outdoors! They're offering 10% off your order with code JASON at checkout.
Tanri makes all-natural mineral sunscreen, lip balm, and moisturizer that protects you from both types of UV rays. Tanri is made by runners, for runners! All of their products are reef-safe and never tested on animals.
If you spend a fair amount of time outdoors, you know the importance of applying sun protection. I have had to make it a habit myself, living in the mile high city of Denver. Using Tanri products is easy and effective, so I hope you'll give them a try.
Mineral sunscreens like the ones from Tanri typically work better than chemical sunscreens as they protect you from both types of UV rays. And none of their products have phthalates, parabens, or artificial fragrances.
Tanri also gives back 1% of their proceeds to help protect our National Parks. That's a win for you and for our planet! Browse all of their sun care products and use code "JASON" to save 10% on your order.