The Runners Zone

Welcome to the Runners Zone Podcast hosted by Nathan Carlson and Chris Johnson. Lend us your ear as we We interview world leaders in endurance sports, discuss optimizing performance for runnings and help provide practical solutions to common running problems. We also discuss life as niche-practice business owners treating and training runners.

Episode 53: Maybe Runners Shouldn't Lift? 01/12/2023

Episode 53: Maybe Runners Shouldn't Lift? Hey welcome back to the RZ podcast. On this episode, Chris and Nathan dive into why some runners shouldn’t lift weights. Be sure to check out the references and useful links from the podcast below! Strength and Conditioning for Runners Effects of Strength Training on Running Performance Ko study Yamaguchi study Dorn study Iversen study Nathan Newsletter Chris Newsletter /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/25575495

Episode 52: Handling Complex Stress Fractures 10/24/2022

Episode 52: Handling Complex Stress Fractures In this epsiode, Nathan and Chris break down the current state of injuries and triathlong, expected timelines for racing after a stress fracture, and how "life loads" are often more important than "training loads". RunWell is a website to help runners run with more confidence and less pain by providing actionable guides, timeless training plans, and always-available support from expert coaches and physical therapists through an engaged and supportive online community. Check out and access lifetime membership today. As a token of appreciation for being a listener and supporter of our podcast, plug in "rw10" to save 10% off. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/24781299

Episode 51: Greg Lehman 09/15/2022

Episode 51: Greg Lehman In this episode, Chris sat down with Greg Lehman. Greg is a chiropractor and physiotherapist based out of Canada. Greg is extensively published in the literature on manual therapy and exercise biomechanics. In his clinical and teaching roles, he blends the fields of biomechanics, pain science, and psychology to help active individuals with injury management and prevention. They dive into how to manage osteoarthritis, the importance of staying active when dealing with an injury, and the need for variability in movement throughout life. Greg’s Online Course Greg’s Course Live Course Calendar Check out Greg’s Website and free pain guidebook /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/24374268

Episode 50: Coach Chris Gannon 08/25/2022

Episode 50: Coach Chris Gannon In this episode, Nathan sat down with Creighton Cross Country and Track Coach Chris Gannon. Coach Gannon talks about navigating collegiate running, the recruiting process, how to coach athletes that have to compete for nine months a year, what success looks like, and how we can be better advocates for our athlete's mental health and well-being. If you have enjoyed the Runners Zone Podcast, Chris Johnson and I would love it if you signed up for our monthly newsletters. We cover wide range of topics from running related injuries, performance enhancement, entrepreneurship, and life. That's the easiest way to stay up to date on all our courses, products, podcast episodes, and other content. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/24153123

Episode 49: Having Difficult Conversations 07/27/2022

Episode 49: Having Difficult Conversations In this episode, Nathan and Chris discuss the need to have difficult conversations with patients and athletes. They explore the college recruiting process, navigating challenging coaching and life situations, and discuss how to set patients up for long-term success. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/23866023

Episode 48: Dr. Michelle Barrack 07/08/2022

Episode 48: Dr. Michelle Barrack Dr. Michelle Barrack is a registered dietitian and associate professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at California State University at Long Beach. She is the President of the Athlete Triad Coalition and a world-renowned researcher on the topics of the Male and Female Athlete Triad, bone density in endurance athletes, and youth endurance sports. To learn more about Dr. Barrack be sure to follow her on social media and the athlete triad coalition website at the links below. University Bio: Dr. Barrack’s IG: The Athlete Triad IG: The Male Athlete Triad Consensus Paper Part I: The Male Athlete Triad Consensus Paper Part II: /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/23649458

Episode 47: Linda Steinhardt 06/10/2022

Episode 47: Linda Steinhardt Linda Steinhardt is a registered dietitian based out of Denver Colorado. In this episode, Linda talks about her research on athletes' perception of body comp testing and the negative experiences that are quite common. Linda also shares her thoughts on what we can do to better utilize testing with athletes without jeopardizing their mental and physical health. To learn more about Linda, be sure to visit her Instagram . I’m excited to announce the release of my new resource, “ A Guidebook to Navigating Running After a Stress Fracture”. This guidebook is a combination of my last decade of clinical practice working with hundreds of runners and the current best literature on these injuries. To learn more, and pick up your copy visit the link . /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/23352254

Episode 46: How We Approach Social Media 04/27/2022

Episode 46: How We Approach Social Media In this episode, Chris and Nathan discuss their history and current approach to social media. They cover the challenges young clinicians and entrepreneurs face and some tips for navigating the social media landscape. Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/22924178

Episode 45: Todd Hargrove 04/01/2022

Episode 45: Todd Hargrove In this episode, Chris sat down with Todd Hargrove. Todd is a Feldenkrais practitioner and author of A Guide to Better Movement and Playing with Movement. Todd discusses determining good vs. bad movement, the role anatomy plays in how we move, encouraging movement and variability during development, and how pain impacts how we move. Check out Todd’s writing on Substack and pick up a copy of his books below. Chris and I are excited to announce our Spring 2022 Virtual Bones, Tendons, Weights, and Whistles Course. We're pumped that our good friend Rebecca McConville will join us in teaching this three-day course. The course covers everything you need to know when working with runners. To learn more, and sign up, check out the link below. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/22637084

Episode 44: Culture, Coaches, and Negative Positivity 02/25/2022

Episode 44: Culture, Coaches, and Negative Positivity Nathan and Chris discuss the recent podcast with Anna Mae Flynn. They touch on how positive feedback can be detrimental, the crucial role of team culture on collegiate runners' experience, the challenges college coaches face, and how positive messages can make us feel worse. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/22242695

Episode 43: Michaela Parisi 02/10/2022

Episode 43: Michaela Parisi Today, I chat with runner, educator, coach, and PhD student Michaela Parisi. We go through her early days of running, her experience with an eating disorder, navigating post-collegiate marathon training, and how her experiences shape how she coaches high school runners and swimmers. Michaela shares her nuanced opinion of perfectionism and social media and a bunch of other topics. Be sure to check her out below. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/22080566

Episode 42: Anna Mae Flynn 01/24/2022

Episode 42: Anna Mae Flynn In this episode, Nathan sat down with Anna Mae Flynn. Anna Mae is a professional trail runner and coach based out of California. She discusses her experience developing as a runner, navigating the challenges of college running, and how training in a negative environment negative training environment influences how she coaches. To learn more about Anna Mae, check out her website and social media accounts below. Website: https://www.mountainendurancelife.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/annamaeflynn/ /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/21851402

Episode 41: Tom O'Brien 01/03/2022

Episode 41: Tom O'Brien Tom O'Brien is a director, writer, and acting coach. He discusses growth, creativity, running as an escape, being in your body versus your mind, and the importance of visualization. Check out Tom's website below! /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/21648140

Episode 40: Adversity, Communication, & Sherpas 12/20/2021

Episode 40: Adversity, Communication, & Sherpas Hey and welcome back to the Runners Zone Podcast. In this episode, Chris and I recap a lot of the themes from our last episode with Lindsey Plass. We discuss the challenges of being a rehab professional and having difficulties managing your own pain, the need for having “sherpas” in your life, and how easily we can positively or negatively impact others with the messages we send. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/21543179

Episode 39: Lindsey Plass 12/02/2021

Episode 39: Lindsey Plass In this episode, Chris sat down with Lindsey Plass. Lindsey is an expert in all things related to the hip. They discuss her struggle with a labral tear and FAI as an athlete. They also go over her work with patients dealing with hip pain. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/21342185

Episode 38 (Books, Boston, + Independence) 11/23/2021

Episode 38 (Books, Boston, + Independence) In this first episode of The Runners Zone, "Lend us Your E.A.R.", Chris and Nathan discuss their current book recommendations, returning to the Boston Marathon, and creating independence with injured endurance athletes. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/21253268

Episode 37: Charlie Reid 09/09/2021

Episode 37: Charlie Reid Bones, Tendons, Weights, and Whistles Online /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/20419940

Episode 36: Brittany Charboneau 06/11/2021

Episode 36: Brittany Charboneau In this episode, Chris sat down with professional runner and coach Brittany Charboneau. Brittany talks about her journey as a runner, her goal of being a comedian, finding balance, and having other interests besides running 24/7. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/19341572

Episode 35: Kentaro Onishi 05/18/2021

Episode 35: Kentaro Onishi On this episode, Chris sat down with Kentaro Onishi. Kentaro is a PM&R physician based out of Pittsburgh. He focuses on using diagnostic ultrasound, advanced ultrasound-guided procedures, and orthobiologics. He and Chris discuss Ken's goal to cure tendinopathy. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/19134287

Episode 34: Brian Barney 04/30/2021

Episode 34: Brian Barney On this episode, Chris sat down with Brian Barney. They discuss Brian's running career, running a running specific business, being African American in the endurance world, and his experience with heart surgery. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/18820622

Episode 33: Amanda Fisher 02/12/2021

Episode 33: Amanda Fisher On this episode, Nathan sat down with Amanda Fisher. Amanda is a pelvic physical therapist and owner of Empower Your Pelvis. You can learn more about her at her social media handles below. Also be sure to check out her team's new resource Empowered in the Bedroom. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/17921720

Episode 32: Rich Blagrove 12/21/2020

Episode 32: Rich Blagrove In this episode, Nathan sat down with Rich Blagrove. Rich is a Lecturer and the Physiology Program Leader for the Masters in Strength and Conditioning at Luffborough University in the UK. He is a world leader in strength training for endurance sports and has been very influential in the science and practical aspects of lifting and running. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/17271113

Episode 31: Scot Morrison 12/11/2020

Episode 31: Scot Morrison On this episode, Chris sat down with Scot Morrison. They discuss how we should be assessing a runner's strength, how we can fine tune our approach to prescriptive exercise, and how to use autoregulatory programming with athletes. To learn more about Scot, check out his website and IG handle below. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/17140757

Episode 30: Rich Willy 11/21/2020

Episode 30: Rich Willy In this episode, Chris sat down with Rich Willy. Rich is a physical therapist and the chair of the physical therapy program at the University of Montana. In the episode, Rich discusses current best management of anterior knee pain, bone stress injuries, optimizing bone health, and many other things related to long distance running. You can check him out on Instagram at @montanarunninglab. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/16896965

Episode 29: Rachael Norfleet 10/31/2020

Episode 29: Rachael Norfleet In this episode, Nathan sat down with endurance athlete Rachael Norfleet. Rachael shares her story of growing up in endurance sports, racing triathlon including qualifying for Kona, dealing with health issues in endurance sports, and her current focus on trail running. Be sure to check her out on IG at @rachaelnorfleet. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/16622201

Episode 28: Stephen Day 10/15/2020

Episode 28: Stephen Day In this episode, Chris sat down with Stephen Day. Stephen is a multiple-time Kona Qualifier who shares his experience in endurance sports, his philosophy towards training, and what training has been like following a COVID-19 diagnosis. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/16414604

Episode 27: Amelia Boone 09/25/2020

Episode 27: Amelia Boone Welcome back to the 27th episode of the Runners Zone Podcast and thanks so much for listening in today. On today’s episode, Chris sat down with one of the most accomplished Obstacle Course Racing Athletes in the world Amelia Boone. Amelia opens up about her history in endurance sports, the trials of managing recurrent bone stress injuries and many other powerful topics. I really look forward to sharing this with you today and I hope you enjoy this candid conversation with Amelia Boone. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/16153331

Episode 26: Author Licia Morelli 09/11/2020

Episode 26: Author Licia Morelli On this episode, Chris sat down with author Licia Morelli. Licia is the author of The Lemonade Hurricane and her latest book I Am Darn Tough. To learn more about Licia, check out her website https://liciamorelliwriter.com/ and make sure to pick her two books at the link below /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/15949520

Episode 25: Dr. Emily Kraus on Bone Health 08/28/2020

Episode 25: Dr. Emily Kraus on Bone Health In this episode, Nathan sat down with Dr. Emily Kraus. Dr. Kraus is one of the world leaders in bone health, managing bone stress injuries, and working with runners of all ages. To learn more about Dr. Kraus, check out her website https://emilykrausmd.com/ as well as her social media accounts listed below. /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/15734624

Episode 24: Golden Harper 08/16/2020

Episode 24: Golden Harper Cinder Block Series: /episode/index/show/runnerszone/id/15629969

The Runners Zone

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