Trials Marathoner Andrea Pomaranski on Defying Age at 41, Running 120 Mile Weeks, & How She Lifts
Release Date: 02/15/2024
Zone 2 Q&A: Can You Run Too Slow? When Does Easy Pace Get Faster?
The Strength Running Podcast
Have we put Zone 2 running on an undeserved pedestal? A dug into Zone 2 as it relates to heat training. One listener named Nadine emailed me some great questions to follow up on the Zone 2 conversation. Like many of you, easy running has gotten confusing for Nadine because of so much of the advice on the internet to never go faster than Zone 2 and the value of very slow running. But Nadine was feeling better at slightly faster paces! I figured it'd be more helpful to record a conversation about these topics as a follow-up to our episode with Brady, and Nadine agreed. In this episode, we talk...
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How to Run a Faster Marathon (new coaching call!)
The Strength Running Podcast
Hoping to get faster at the marathon and reach a personal best? So is Nick Jordan, a member of Team Strength Running. Nick joined this coaching program in order to most effectively use his time and effort to get the best possible chance of reaching a marathon personal best. We talked about what he can do in the remaining months to stack the deck in his favor. is a program that includes ongoing coaching directly from me, access to a team of other runners just like you, a library of 30+ training plans, a whole bunch of discounts, bonus resources, and more. In this coaching call, we talk about: ...
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Alex Larson, RD on Sugar Cravings, Weight Loss & Training, Salt Supplementation, and More
The Strength Running Podcast
Sugar cravings, salt content, underfueling, post-race beers… Runners get a lot of conflicting nutrition information, so we’re asking your questions to a registered dietitian! Alex Larson is a Minnesota-based registered dietitian and Ironman triathlete who’s worked with thousands of athletes in more than fifteen countries. I get a lot of questions from endurance runners about nutrition, so we collected your questions for Alex to answer. In this episode, Alex answers these running nutrition questions: We have treats in the house for the kids, how do I stop stealing them? What are best...
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Mario Fraioli on Training for the Mile (at 40+) and Placing 3rd at the National Masters Championship
The Strength Running Podcast
Whether you love the mile or you want to continue running into your 40's or beyond, you'll be inspired by this Masters runner. Mario Fraioli is a Bay Area-based running coach who works with a number of Olympic Trials-level marathoners, top ultrarunners, and competitive age-group athletes. He’s one of the most competitive Master’s runners in the USA, having run the 2023 Boston Marathon in 2:34 and with his recent 3rd place finisher at the 2024 National Masters Road Mile. In this episode, Mario and I talk about: Mario's goal to break the 5-minute mile at age 42 Love for the mile: a perfect...
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Healthy Knees Masterclass: Knee Health Myths & Injury Prevention with Dr. Howard Luks
The Strength Running Podcast
As a runner, it's almost guaranteed that somebody has told you, "Running is bad for your knees!" Spoiler alert: It's not. Dr. Howard Luks has the education and experience to prove it. Howard spent more than 20 years as the Chief of Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy at New York Medical College, specializing in athlete care. As a board certified orthopedic surgeon, he focuses on a variety of joints but focuses on knee health. In this episode, Howard and I talk about: Squats for knee health: form and variety Functional strength training that mimics life activities Assessing risk with knee pain or...
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Zone 2 Myths, Heart Rate vs. Effort, Heat Training, and Zone 3 with Brady Holmer
The Strength Running Podcast
Brady Holmer knows a lot about running and a lot about science: a perfect combo for a conversation on the show. Brady is a lifelong endurance athlete who competed in cross country and track at the collegiate level. He currently works as a science writer and researcher, holding a Master’s degree in human performance. He also recently ran his PR in the marathon: a 2:37. In this episode, Brady and I talk about: The flexibility of heart rate zones and their impact on training adaptations Physiology is constantly fluctuating: zones aren’t static RPE (rating of perceived exertion) is a valuable...
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Nike Running’s Global Head Coach Chris Bennett on Good Coaching, Community, & More
The Strength Running Podcast
Chris Bennett is the Nike Running Global Head Coach and Senior Director Nike Global Running. Translation: Chris is an absolute powerhouse of a coach and runner. I got to chat with Chris about his role at Nike, how runners approach the sport from a variety of angles, what often prevents us from achieving our goals, his message to every runner in the world if he had the opportunity to speak to the global running population, and so much more. In this episode, Chris and I talk about: The multifaceted nature of coaching (it's not just creating workouts). Don't overcomplicate running; it can be...
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Men’s vs. Women’s Feet: Why Hilma Running Shoes is Making Shoes for Just for Women
The Strength Running Podcast
Brooke Torres is an ultra runner who couldn’t understand why running shoes were so uncomfortable. So, she started a running shoe company to fix that problem. Hilma Running Shoes makes shoes specifically for the needs of women’s feet, which are uniquely shaped and not just a smaller version of men’s feet (since as you'll hear, that doesn't work). In this episode, Brooke and I talk about: Women's foot shape and its impact on running shoe design How poor-fit shoes can lead to injury and discomfort due to differences in foot geometry Heels, high arches, and bunions: common foot problems in...
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The Value of Challenges: Sally McRae on Seeking Out Adversity & Scary Goals
The Strength Running Podcast
Sally McRae is known worldwide for her mental fortitude and ability to push through extreme discomfort. As a professional mountain and ultra runner for Nike, Sally is a two-time Top 10 Western States finisher, the Badwater 135 Champion, Tarawera 100 Champion, Mozart 100 Champion and Moab 240 Champion. Sally is also an author, podcast host, business owner, and a strength and running coach. In this episode, Sally and I talk about: The pros of using a treadmill for distance training The whole body needs to be strong for endurance races, not just the muscles How Sally structures strength training...
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The Drop Interviews Jason: Coaching, Strength, and Shoes with Thomas Neuberger and Meaghan Murray
The Strength Running Podcast
We're switching it up a bit this week so you can listen to the episode of The Drop where I was the guest! The Drop is hosted by Thomas Neuberger, Meaghan Murray, and Robbie Reddinger. Robbie wasn’t on this episode, but I had a great time chatting with Thomas and Meaghan and thought you'd enjoy a listen. We talked about: Preventing injury while high mileage training with proper warm-ups and cool downs Problem-solving in running: motivation, plateaus, and improving performance How training for a marathon can help build self-efficacy in the rest of life The difference in pain between a 5k and...
info_outlineAndrea Pomaranski just completed the 2024 Olympic Trials marathon, finishing 27th of 117 finishers in a time of 2:34:35. Andrea ran shorter distances in college and set the American under-20 record in the steeplechase in 2001. Then 22 years later, she also set the American Master’s record in the 50k. Des Linden is currently the only woman who has recorded a faster 50k!
Andrea has qualified three times for the Olympic Trials in the marathon, and finished 27th this year only 20 days after racing the Houston Marathon. She credits her success to her long term consistency in training alongside regular strength work and pilates.
As an elite marathoner, Andrea has used High Performance Lifting for the past several years to guide her strength training. In this episode we discuss her approach to training and strength work, and how she manages to run 120+ mile weeks with 3 children and a hectic schedule. Our discussion covers:
- Andrea’s experience at the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials
- How Andrea manages her marathon recovery
- Structuring 120 miles of weekly running as a busy mom
- Andrea’s keys to staying healthy while running high mileage
- What’s next for Andrea!
While Andrea is faster than most of us, her story of persistence and juggling a busy schedule is relatable to everyone. Enjoy our conversation!
Links & Resources from the Show:
- Follow Andrea on Instagram
- Check out Andrea’s impressive race performances
- Read more about engineering a master’s marathon PR
AG1 - Foundational Nutrition
We’re also supported by AG1, the greens superfood mix. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens. It’s recommended by professional athletes and has over 7,000 positive reviews.
One scoop per day is what I’ve been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I’m getting sick and can’t train.
I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. They've made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable and rigorous with the 3rd party testing that they do.
For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out AG1 to redeem your offer today.
The Performance Training Journal
The Performance Training Journal is now available on Amazon and debuted as the #4 new release in the running category. Since I started running in 1998, I’ve kept a hardcopy training journal. Holding a tangible log, writing in it daily, and reflecting on the ups and downs of running is a surefire way to improve.
This hardcopy training journal helps you focus on the training metrics that matter, prioritizes a long-term outlook so you don’t take any shortcuts, and maintains your motivation with strategic self-praise. With a no-frills, functional design, the Performance Training Journal includes coaching advice on racing, injury prevention, strength training, and more. It will guide you through race scheduling, how to plan your race morning, the best workouts for endurance runners, and encourage you to track your personal bests over time.
You have the space to make this journal your own whether you're a new runner or a professional, a trail or road runner, or a mid-distance specialist or ultra marathoner. So don't just track your running, learn from it with the Performance Training Journal! Check it out today on Amazon.