Zone 2 Myths, Heart Rate vs. Effort, Heat Training, and Zone 3 with Brady Holmer
Release Date: 06/20/2024
Becs Gentry: How this Peloton Instructor and 2:32 Marathoner is Running the Great World Race
The Strength Running Podcast
If you had the chance, would you sign up to run 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 different continents? Becs Gentry is a popular One Peloton instructor, the 4th place finisher at the 2021 UK Olympic Trials, a former Nike Run Club Coach, and a 2:32:01 marathoner. She’s getting ready to start the Great World Race on November 15, 2024. We talk about: Whether Becs expects more challenges physically or logistically How Becs intends to approach each of the 7 days The recovery strategies Becs will implement throughout the week Expected challenges of the Antarctica marathon Becs’ goals for the weeklong...
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Phil Batterson, PhD on Tissue Tolerance: The Key to Preventing Injuries?
The Strength Running Podcast
"Tissue tolerance" might be a hard term for the average runner to define. But it could also be how you prevent your next big running injury. Phil Batterson, PhD, is a former competitive runner with a background in human bioenergetics. As the founder of Critical Oxygen, he gives athletes and coaches knowledge, testing, and coaching to optimize their physiology and maximize endurance performance. We talk about: How pliability, range of motion, and mobility affect tissue tolerance The impact of shock on the body while running Approaching training with injury prevention in mind Strength training...
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The New Rules of Carb Loading with Sport Scientist Jonah Rosner
The Strength Running Podcast
You might give carb loading a quick thought in your taper, but are you actually looking at the current science to make it effective? Jonah Rosner is an applied sport scientist who spent the past 10 years working with athletes and teams from all major American Professional Team sports. Jonah is a running coach and a certified strength and conditioning specialist who uses the latest sport science technology to individualize running programs. Jonah was also the sport scientist on hand during a recent fitness retreat where I had my VO2 Max measured. We talk about: The old vs. new recommendations...
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Marathon Volume, Injuries, and Tune-up Races with 2:25 Marathoner Laura Thweatt
The Strength Running Podcast
From poor tune-up races to switching up nutrition, pro runners face the same lessons more casual runners do. Laura Thweatt is a 2:25 marathoner, professional runner for Saucony, and former US cross country champion. She placed 5th in the 10k at the 2016 Olympic Trials and 5th in the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. We talk about: The emotions before a goal race and working with a sports psychologist during a taper Using a training journal to calm pre-race nerves and boost confidence Injury management with high mileage Handling a bad tune-up race Laura’s goals and strategies for the Chicago...
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Are Super Shoes Unethical? Philosopher Sabrina Little on the Fairness of Super Shoes
The Strength Running Podcast
Do super shoes give runners who use them an unfair advantage? Do they make it impossible to compare modern finish times with earlier performances? Sabrina Little is a trail and ultra runner, formerly a professional runner for HOKA. She has won 5 national titles and a World silver medal, she previously held American records in the 24-hour and 200K, and she was 2013 USATF Ultrarunner of the Year. Sabrina earned her doctorate in Philosophy and teaches ethics at Christopher Newport University. We talk about: The ethical concerns of super shoes Sabrina’s lack of satisfaction post-5k due to...
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Gait Analysis Masterclass: Form Problems & Solutions with Jessica Wulke, DPT
The Strength Running Podcast
Want to run faster with fewer injuries? Take a look at your gait. Jessica Wulke is a dual board-certified specialist physical therapist in orthopedics and sports. She has extensive experience treating professional athletes and continues to treat athletes in the NFL and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Jessica was the leading gait analysis and running injury therapist at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation. We talk about: The basics of gait analysis for runners Common issues that gait analysis can identify, like hip and core weaknesses Hip drop, crossover gait, and foot...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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_outlineBrady 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 metric for runners
- The 80/20 rule of running: 80% lower intensity and 20% higher
- Benefits and nuance of Zone 2, Zone 3, and Zone 4
- Zone 3 training is complicated, but not pointless
- When to ignore heart rate during runs
- Maintaining intensity during hot weather
- Running in summer heat leading to higher heart rates and increased cardiovascular drift
- Heat acclimation and its benefits for runners (and also cooler weather benefits)
- Bike intervals for adaptations and injury prevention
- Finding optimal running paces
You know that friend you have who won’t stop talking about Zone 2? Send them this episode now.
Links & Resources from the Show:
- Brady on Twitter/X
- Brady on Instagram
- Brady’s Substack
- VO2 Max Essentials Book
- Get the free injury prevention email series.
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 to 2Before!
We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles.
So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.
Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!
Thank you MOBO Board!
Invented by renowned physical therapist Jay Dicharry, MOBO helps you stabilize your stance with an innovative rocker board that’s set up on two fins. The design effectively forces you to drive your big toe into the board to improve your stability. I was pretty arrogant going into my first session on the MOBO Board. How hard can it be to balance, right? Well, I was humbled pretty quickly!
Even if you’re a good runner, better balance, stability, and proprioception is going to help you have a more powerful stride and prevent more running injuries. You’ll learn how to improve the efficiency of the kinetic chain from your hip to your big toe. Because as Jay likes to say, it’s not just how strong you are, but how well you use that strength.
I was recently at a weekend physical therapy workshop (lol I was the only running coach) and learned how important (and rare) this simple movement is. Save 10% with code STRENGTHRUN10 at checkout at moboboard.com.