loader from loading.io

Ask the Physical Therapist! Caitlin Alexander, DPT Answers Your Injury Questions

The Strength Running Podcast

Release Date: 02/08/2024

Dr. Spencer Nadolsky on Losing Weight, When to Diet, and Weightlifting for Weight Loss show art Dr. Spencer Nadolsky on Losing Weight, When to Diet, and Weightlifting for Weight Loss

The Strength Running Podcast

How much attention do you need to give to your weight as a runner? Dr. Spencer Nadolsky is an obesity and lipid specialist physician who’s helped thousands of patients across the US. After competing on a college track team in the horrible early 2000’s culture of “lighter is better,” I wanted to bring a medical expert onto the podcast to discuss weight loss in a responsible way. We talk about: The balance between fueling for performance and the potential need for weight loss Assessing whether weight loss is clinically indicated or potentially harmful Focusing on nutrition rather than...

info_outline
Marathon Pacing, Training, & Problem-Solving Q&A with Coach Sara Manderscheid show art Marathon Pacing, Training, & Problem-Solving Q&A with Coach Sara Manderscheid

The Strength Running Podcast

Hoping to improve your marathon performance this fall? Sara Manderscheid is a running coach and podcaster living in Boulder, CO. Sara fell in love with the marathon training process after BQ'ing in her 2019 marathon debut. This fall, she's attempting to get as close to the 3 hour barrier as possible in the marathon. Sara's been a guest on the podcast twice before and returns to take your marathon specific running questions. We collected your Instagram and Twitter questions and answer them together, including: How does being sick affect fitness, and is it better to just rest and not run? What...

info_outline
Decoding Your Bloodwork: What Blood Tests Reveal with Stevie Lyn Smith, RD show art Decoding Your Bloodwork: What Blood Tests Reveal with Stevie Lyn Smith, RD

The Strength Running Podcast

When’s the last time you got bloodwork done? Stevie Lyn Smith is a Registered Dietitian on a mission to educate and coach athletes on how to fuel their goals without sacrificing health and happiness. As a board certified specialist in sports nutrition, Stevie Lyn has helped hundreds of athletes fuel to improve performance, energy levels, and recovery– without feeling guilt or restriction. In this episode, we talk about: Using bloodwork as a tool for performance and overall health How bloodwork can help identify nutritional deficiencies and overtraining Ideal timing for bloodwork testing...

info_outline
Why David Roche Needed 4-Minute Mile Speed to Win the Leadville 100 (+ more secrets) show art Why David Roche Needed 4-Minute Mile Speed to Win the Leadville 100 (+ more secrets)

The Strength Running Podcast

Many runners called The Leadville Trail 100 Run's near-20 year record "unbeatable." David Roche raised the bar with an astonishing 2024 performance. David Roche is an elite trail runner and running coach. He's a two-time USATF trail national champion, the 2014 Sub-Ultra Trail Runner of the Year, and former Mountain Runner of the Year. As of August 2024, David is also the new course record holder of the Leadville 100 Mile Endurance Run, finishing in 15:26:34. In this episode, we talk about: How David blends consistency with fun in his training The recovery routine that helped him perform at...

info_outline
Jesse Itzler on the Magic of 100-Mile Ultramarathons: Mindset, Entrepreneurship, & More show art Jesse Itzler on the Magic of 100-Mile Ultramarathons: Mindset, Entrepreneurship, & More

The Strength Running Podcast

Imagine a running festival combined with a retreat plus a race thrown in there: That's Jesse Itzler's Runningman. Jesse Itzler is the founder of Runningman and All Day Running Co., a serial entrepreneur, an author, an endurance sports enthusiast, and a 100-mile ultra marathoner. In this episode, we talk about: Translating running's discipline and consistency into other areas of life Sharing the values of health and wellness with children Jesse's approach to long-term running planning Finding the sweet spot of having a plan while being flexible The parallels of 100-mile races and...

info_outline
Team USA Coach Paul Greer on the Pillars of Development for Youth & Master’s Runners show art Team USA Coach Paul Greer on the Pillars of Development for Youth & Master’s Runners

The Strength Running Podcast

How do we develop new runners, young runners, and master's runners, into great runners? Paul Greer is a professor of Health and Exercise Science at San Diego City College, coach of the San Diego Track Club, and the 2016 and 2024 Team USA Men’s Junior Cross Country coach. With about 40 years of coaching experience, Paul has a lot of wisdom to share for runners from youth to master's levels. His athletes include hundreds of Boston qualifiers, several top age-group competitors, and a handful of Olympic qualifiers. In this episode, we talk about: Reasons for the lack of adult cross-country...

info_outline
Inside the Race Industry: The Future of Timing & Why Races Cost So Much with CEO Phil Dumontet show art Inside the Race Industry: The Future of Timing & Why Races Cost So Much with CEO Phil Dumontet

The Strength Running Podcast

Ever catch yourself complaining about how much you paid to sign up for a race? Here's the inside story. Phil Dumontet is a 2:42 marathoner, the founder of Boulderthon, and the CEO of race management and timing company Brooksee. Personally, I believe Brooksee's timing technology is going to revolutionize road racing in the future. In this episode, we talk about: The day-to-day of a racing management company CEO: managing races, training teams, and building partnerships Race marketing and differentiation, with a look at Portland and Boulderthon's strategies Race planning, permitting, and...

info_outline
Unfiltered: New Equipment, Jason’s Knee Injury, Milestones, and more with Jon Levitt show art Unfiltered: New Equipment, Jason’s Knee Injury, Milestones, and more with Jon Levitt

The Strength Running Podcast

Kick back for a less structured conversation with my friend Jonathan Levitt, focusing on the big and small real-life issues affecting runners. Jon is a runner, cyclist, and host of For The Long Run Podcast. I like to joke that Jon is the Mayor of Boulder because of his ridiculous network of every single runner who lives within 100 miles. We share a lot of miles on the Boulder trails together and have great, rambling conversations about the running industry and our personal training, like this one. In this episode, we talk about: New running equipment thoughts A silly knee injury: How I’m...

info_outline
Aerobic Threshold and the Benefits of Zone 3 with John Davis, PhD show art Aerobic Threshold and the Benefits of Zone 3 with John Davis, PhD

The Strength Running Podcast

In today's running culture, people can't stop talking about Zone 2 running. But what about Zone 3? John Davis is an author, running coach, former collegiate runner, and an expert in human performance with a focus on biomechanics. He ran at Carleton College before getting a PhD in biomechanics at Indiana University's School of Public Health, focusing on running injuries. In this episode, we talk about: The underutilized value of Zone 3 running Why zones aren't as clear as many people make them out to be Lactate threshold and steady-state max in running High-end aerobic training and its...

info_outline
Dr. Gaby Go on Plyometrics: Safety and Benefits, Scheduling, & Favorite Plyos show art Dr. Gaby Go on Plyometrics: Safety and Benefits, Scheduling, & Favorite Plyos

The Strength Running Podcast

Most runners have heard of plyometrics, but are they using these exercises effectively to prevent injury and boost performance? Dr. Gaby Go is a Doctorate of Physical Therapy who ran Division 1 Track and Field for the University of Maryland, College Park, and who qualified for the Boston Marathon in her debut marathon. Today, Gaby’s sharing a lot of knowledge around plyometrics for runners with us. In this episode, Gaby and I talk about: The basics of plyos: what they are, who they're for, and what they do Using plyometrics for tendon health, especially the Achilles How plyometrics help...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

My guest on today’s episode in Dr. Caitlin Alexander. Caitlin is a physical therapist, a professional triathlete, and a certified triathlon and running coach. Three years ago she joined me on episode 179 to talk about long-term injuries, and now she is here to answer reader questions on injury reduction.

Caitlin owns Hü Performance in downtown Boulder, Colorado. She works with a wide variety of athletes, from weekend warriors to competitive triathletes and elite runners. In addition to physical therapy, Caitlin also offers professional bike fitting, personalized strength and conditioning, and endurance coaching.

Caitlin addresses a variety of reader questions on injury resilience, including topics such as:

  • The most efficient means of injury prevention for time-crunched athletes
  • Ending the cycle of recurrent tendonitis after time away from training
  • Dealing with lower back pain after long runs
  • How to determine what kind of pain is worrisome and what you can run through
  • What to prioritize for healthy running as we get older
  • Why running alone doesn’t replace strength training
  • How different types of stress contribute to injury

My conversation with Caitlin will help you stay healthy this season and in the years to come!

Links & Resources from the Show:

Thank you DrinkLMNT!

A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

DrinkLMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

If you’re not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I’m now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.

Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They’re the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out DrinkLMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

Thank you Previnex!

After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 - and having a thin frame - has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids.

Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they’re going to do.

Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you’ll try it! Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex!