251. How 2x Olympian Kara Goucher Handles Expectations, Pressure, and Pre-Race Anxiety
Release Date: 06/09/2022
How the Fitness Industry Began: Exploring 200+ Years of Training Evolution with Professor Conor Heffernan
The Strength Running Podcast
How did we transition from a society with no "sports" or competition, to one where they're ubiquitous? Learn the history of the fitness industry: how weightlifting and running emerged, early versions of equipment, how people trained 200+ years ago, and more. Dr. Conor Heffernan explores the main themes from his book, . If you like history and training, you're going to love this episode! Thank you 2Before! We are supported by , a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrant berries designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote...
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Long Run Strategy, Balancing Intensity vs. Volume, Heavy Lifting, & More (Q&A with Jason)
The Strength Running Podcast
Listen in on a Team Strength Running coaching call, where Jason takes questions from the community about training, long runs, workout strategy, and more. To join one of these calls, . We discuss: Long run strategy ( with David Roche!) The value of lifting heavy weights () How to balance speed and mileage Thank you for listening and supporting the podcast! Thank You Lever! I'm excited to partner with - a bodyweight support system that helps you run further or faster with less effort and injury risk. You’ve probably seen pro runners using Lever...
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How to Learn From Any Injury (So You Stay Healthier) with Physiotherapist Brodie Sharpe
The Strength Running Podcast
Brodie Sharpe is a physiotherapist, the host of the , and author of . As a Physical therapist who specializes in endurance runners, Brodie Sharpe takes a holistic approach to . He helps runners learn how to correct mistakes and work with their bodies to get healthy. Brodie emphasizes the importance of looking at training as well as your lifestyle around it, since every aspect of what you do impacts how you feel and perform. This episode focuses on how to learn from a running injury: how to figure out what caused it the training changes needed to prevent it from recurring how to update...
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Isometrics vs. Strength vs. Plyos: What’s Missing in Your Strength Training with Dr. Matt Silver
The Strength Running Podcast
Dr. Matthew Silver is a physical therapist, author, and owner of Alpha Project Phyzio and Performance in Maryland. His book is now available. While he set his college’s 8k record and made the all-conference team, injuries prematurely ended Matt’s career, sparking his interest in physical therapy. In today’s conversation, we’re talking about the different types of strength training that exist, their benefits and drawbacks, and how to integrate them into your training. It’s important to recognize that not all strength training is the same. We’re going to discuss traditional...
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Atlantic CEO Nick Thompson on Master’s Training, Motivation, and Breakthroughs
The Strength Running Podcast
Nick Thompson has been running and racing for 35 years. He’s the 40-44 age group American record holder in the 50k with a 3:04 finish time (that’s 5:56 per mile for 31 miles), and was previously the world’s top ranked runner in his age group in the 50-mile. He's now the CEO of the Atlantic Magazine and his new book is now available: You'll hear: How Nick’s relationship with his father helped him get into running What drives him to compete today vs. 30 years ago His recommendations for passing along a love for running to your kids How his cancer diagnosis changed his relationship with...
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Movement, Strength, and Injuries: Dr. John Rusin on How to Run Pain-Free
The Strength Running Podcast
Dr. John Rusin is a physical therapist and trainer who's worked with nearly every professional sports league as well as Olympic athletes. His new book, , is now available. Our conversation focuses on movement, coordination, and building efficiency. We discuss: common mistakes in the weight room how to structure better strength workouts mindfulness and breathing a nervous-system oriented warm-down when to know if you’re putting in too much effort in the gym We should not consider strength training to be "cross-training" - it’s just part of the normal training process. Learn how to...
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How to Build Physiological Resilience in the Marathon with Coach John Davis, PhD
The Strength Running Podcast
John Davis holds a PhD in Biomechanics, coaches elite marathoners, and is the author of . His newest book is a masterclass on marathon preparation: . It includes new research on training theory, elite-level training plans, and guidance for every type of aspiring marathoner. Today, we discuss physiological resilience: How physiological resilience is like the 4th metric of performance How to build this skill safely Example workouts for beginner to advanced runners The role of "depletion workouts" in physiological resilience What actually causes the "marathon fade" at the end of 26.2 miles...
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Super Shoes & Form: How New Shoe Tech Alters Running Form with Chris Napier, PhD
The Strength Running Podcast
Chris Napier is the author of , a professor of physical therapy, practicing physiotherapist, 2:33 marathoner, and medal winner at the Canadian Track & Field Championships in 1996 and 1997. He is also a scientific advisor to , the world’s smartest running shoe (I'm also an advisor!). Today's focus is on super shoes and how they affect your running form: The specific form changes that happen due to high-stack foam and carbon plates Specific injury risks from super shoes How often Chris recommends wearing super shoes Training changes that while wearing super shoes Extra Resources: ...
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Cross-Training Masterclass: Coach Megan Flanagan on How to Add Other Sports to Your Running
The Strength Running Podcast
is a former collegiate athlete and writer for Outside Magazine, a certified running coach and personal trainer, and a Spartan Elite podium athlete. She has a bachelor’s in Psychology & Nutrition, a master’s in Public Health, and has finished four 100-mile races. Megan is a multi-faceted athlete and works with a variety of runners in her . In this conversation, we’re bringing our combined experiences with cross-training to you: how to add cross-training why you should add it what forms of exercise are best the types of exercise to avoid if you want to stay healthy when to...
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How to Build Fatigue Resistance with the Coach of Both UTMB Champs, Scott Johnston
The Strength Running Podcast
Scott Johnston is one of the top coaches in the world, especially in mountain and high alpine sports. He's worked with Killian Jornet and recently coached both winners of the most prestigious trail race on Earth, UTMB (Tom Evans & Ruth Croft). He's also author of one of my favorite training books, and founder of the coaching group. This conversation focuses on fatigue resistance: What is fatigue resistance? Local vs. global fatigue Top workouts to build fatigue resistance The role of the nervous system in fatigue Scott's wisdom has helped the best runners in the world reach...
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.
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