The Running Public

Running isn't as simple as just building a big engine. There are many accompanying skills that need to be developed in order to fully access your fitness during a competition. Ascending, descending, technical terrain, heat, altitude; these are all skills that need sharpening or developing in order to round out your game. When and how often should they be trained? Today we debate it all!

The fastest runner in the sport of OCR today, Mark Batres has been training as a distance runner since he was 8. From child phenom to collegiate stud to 2:19 marathoner to US National OCR champ, Mark walks us through his journey as a runner. He is also a successful endurance coach and we get to pick his brain about training volume, racing weight, and interval work.

There is a lot of buzz around Hunter McIntyre's new virtual competition, OCR Stars, so we decided to walk you through everything you need in order to prepare for and dominate this competition! We analyze Hunter's tenancies as an athlete and coach in order to flesh out the details of what the events could look like. We then give you the training specifics needed to attack those specific type of events. Get listening and then get training!

The youngest, and arguably best, athlete in the sport of OCR takes us on his journey from 13 year old wunderkind to 21 year old phenom. Get to know the young man behind the legend! Also, Brakken does his best to sabotage the episode by not knowing the start time and Matt Kempson makes a surprise guest appearance.

These three terms are always talked about, sometimes understood, and rarely implemented correctly. Today we fix that! We break down what each term means, discuss why and when you would use it, then give you real examples of how to implement it correctly!

Tuesday's Q&A episode only covered half of your questions so we are powering through today! This episode might have the most wide ranging topics we've ever covered. We start with different approaches for dealing with and sourcing sponsors, progress to a debate between OCRWC and Spartan World Championships, touch upon some training nitty-gritty, then finish up with our dream jobs and play F-M-K with Beni, Hunter, and Matt B Davis. Buckle up!

We had an overflowing inbox this week so it was time for a Q&A session! With virtual races coming up we have a lot a marathon strategy and pacing questions. From there we run the gauntlet from strength training and dynamic warm ups to HR zones, burn out vs fatigue, and of course a little bit of compromised running. Don't miss Kirk's bear attack story!

Hunter McIntyre swings by to announce the launch of his new Virtual Race Series: OCR All Stars. With 4 competitions and a minimum of $31,000 in prize money, this will be the biggest paying race of 2020 and it doesn't forget about the Age Groupers! We also chat about his athletic goals for 2021, his plans to run a 4:30 mile in the next few months (while weighing over 200 lbs), partying with the Backstreet Boys, and his life advice for everyone this year.

Kirk and Brakken have a combined 45 years of Endurance Training between the two of them. That is a LOT of chances to screw up! Today they talk through the 6 biggest mistakes they've made in their running careers, from not testing things out until race day to trying to match their rivals in training. Some stories are funny, others are cautionary, but they all will help you avoid the biggest pitfalls runners tend to make!

Ian Hosek is the mind behind Hosek Performance Engineering (and endurance coaching company) and the 5th place finisher at the 2019 Spartan World Championships. Ian joins us to talk about his development as both athlete and coach, starting with his mindset as an engineer and continuing through his work at the Nike Campus (where he helped test the Vaporfly and Alphafly prototypes) and as a professional endurance athlete. We finish up with a "debate" on the efficacy and merits of Compromised Running.

We wrap up our "Things Pros Do" series by taking a look at how Pros keep their minds and bodies healthy. Professional Athletes leave nothing to chance when it comes to ensuring that they will be at the start line in great health and fitness, so why should we be any different? Pros focus on 3 things above all else: Prehab, Rehab / Recovery, and Mental Health. We break these 3 areas down and discuss how you can invest in your body like a Pro.

The duo behind GRIT Coaching stop by today to talk about the Professional Athlete's mindset. Jess O'Connell represented Canada at the 2016 London Olympic Games and co-founded GRIT coaching with Faye Stenning. We asked Jess to talk to us about mindset during this season where most races have been cancelled, as she had her 4 year dream of qualifying for another Olympics stripped from her due to COVID-19. We got way more than we asked for, as she led us on a two hour journey through the the mindset and focus needed to be an Olympic-level athlete.

Continuing our "Things Pros Do" series, we move from workout planning to workout execution. Pro athletes do not do ANYTHING randomly. They approach their training like a game of chess. Every workout is done for a very specific reason and is often completed in order to set up a future workout. We break down motivation, training vs exercising, using goals to create a training plan, and balancing training and life, among many other topics!

Ryan Kent has been a at the top of the OCR scene for the past 6 years, but 2020 has been unlike any other year for him. With the pandemic making it impossible to earn a living through race results, Ryan has reinvented himself. Working full time, with his first baby on the way, he is in the best shape of his life and ready to unleash that fitness upon the first race that re-opens. Today we touch upon balancing training and work, eating disorders and racing weight, his training philosophy, goals for the 2021 season, and what life will look like for him now that he is going to be a dad.

Today we kick off a mini-series: Things Pros Do. This series will shed some light on the "little things" that we all can be doing in order to maximize our running potential. The first thing all Pro athletes do, that not everyone else does, is prepare for EVERY single workout, and not just by getting some coffee in them and stretching out! From advanced planning, to mindset and data driven workouts, the pros just do it correctly - and now so can you!

Generally, we do our Q&A episodes on Training Tuesday, but this one had so much good info that we bumped it into a full episode! The theme that emerged from the questions sent in was Recovery and Deload Weeks, but we also touch upon Pacing, Shoes, Lifting, Master's Runners, and Treadmill Training.

Races are almost a foreign concept at this point in time! It's been months since most people have toed the startline. Are you feeling mentally unprepared for the demands of race day? Mental toughness is a perishable skill - if you don't use it you lose it! Today, we talk about using it: how to schedule these days, what the workouts should look like, and our favorite "turn yourself inside out" sessions.

Kacey McCallister had both legs amputated just below his hips as a six year old. From there he became an All-State wrestler, competed as a dual sport Division 1 athlete, took 7th in the wheel chair division at the Boston Marathon, and has completed more than 20 Spartan Races. He joins us to discuss resiliency and the power of failure, as well as giving us an unintentional wake up call to be tougher than we currently believe we can be.

Our last interview with Cole Derosa brought in a boatload of questions about two things Cole does regularly: he does two workouts per day and he builds volume through circuit work. Today's episode is a breakdown of the concepts of doubling up on your workouts and using non-impact training styles to add "running" volume to your week: why you should try it, how it works, specific workouts to implement, and how to fit extra workouts in your busy schedule.

Cole Derosa is employed full time in the US Military, trains in the middle of the day in Florida heat and humidity, arrives to his hotel after midnight the night before most races, and doesn't have a hill within 200 miles of his home. How does this 48 year old man consistently show up and prove himself to be arguably the greatest Age Group athlete in the sport of OCR? Today we find out!

We recap this past weekend's festivities, highlighting top performers and handing out prizes to 4 lucky, random racers!

Richard Diaz has been coaching and advising athletes of all sports and levels longer than most of us have been alive. Diaz is known for his ability to analyze and improve running form, posture, cadence, efficiency, and economy, as well as for working with some of the best athletes in the sport of OCR. Today he walks us through his revolutionary approach to Endurance Training, details his journey as a coach and researcher, and whets our appetite for his new book, Training the Dark Side.

It has been a LONG time since most of us have had the opportunity to race, which might lead to being a bit rusty. Today we explore the different race strategies that are proven to be most effective, broken down into whether you are an Open / Age Group Athlete looking to run your best race or a Competitive athlete seeking your best finishing position. We talk pacing, mindset, pain management, strategy, and more. The first few minutes are specific to the Virtual Races coming up this weekend (Beer Mile and Burpee 10k). At the 27:15 mark the "real" racing talk begins. Enjoy!

From World Champion Unicyclist to World Champion Ultra Runner, Ryan Atkins has made a living out of finding unique sports and mastering them. In this episode he details his rise as an athlete, his unique ability to recover between herculean efforts, the difficulty/honor of being a 5x World Championship runner-up, and what lead to his early 2020 race success.

We're officially in sight of the 2020 race season returning, and you are probably one of three types of people: you are in monster shape, terrible shape, or decent shape. Either way, we outline your training route to fall dominance!

Matt is not only the founder of Endurelite, he is the most knowledgeable individual either of us know when it comes to fueling for optimal athletic performance. This episode is a mash-up of three highly informative topics: Nutrition strategies for an endurance athlete, fueling before/during/after races, and myth-busting the nutrition industry's most commonly assumed truths. This episode is a direct follow up to Training Tuesday #20: Nutrition for Athletes. get out your notebook and pen because Matt drops nonstop knowledge that we all need to hear!

Today we talk about why there is no secret diet for runners, why you shouldn't obsess over macros and micros, why we can't stand "Scare Tactic" coaches/professionals, and what we DO think is important, nutritionally, for runners. WARNING: This is not our typical Training Tuesday episode. This is us on our soapbox. This is a rant-filled episode. This is not necessarily one to sit down with your notebook and learn golden truths! Today is about getting some frustration off our chest. The health and fitness industry has some trends that we don't love, so we are breaking form and addressing them.

From teenage running phenom to OCR legend, Faye Stenning gives us a real, unfiltered look at the struggles and successes that have defined her career to date. Highlights include: Running at the Olympic trials as a teenager Quitting the sport due to race anxiety Rebirth as an Obstacle Racer Finding the right balance of running and strength work

Heavy Carries are a make or break obstacle during most OCR races, yet many of us fail to work on them with the same amount of planning and intensity that we use for the other areas of our race preparation. This episode gives you everything you need to bulletproof your carry game, from tips and techniques to our favorite workouts!

The mystery man of OCR joins us for a look into the life of one of running's true enigmas! Highlights include: 100 mile weeks in high school Growing up training with Jim Walmsley Getting cut from NAU's team 7 times Transitioning to a world class Trail and Obstacle Racer Living and training with Hunter McIntyre Chasing antelope on his bike through the Utah salt flats

Speed Work. Repetitions. Intervals. Track Sessions. It goes by different names, but the concept remains the same: running fast! We go over the three main styles of interval work today (short rest, moderate rest, long rest), give you specific examples of each type, and walk you through the what/why/how!

Founding member of the Spartan Pro Team and current voice of Spartan Race's live race coverage, David Magida has been instrumental in the development of the sport of OCR. He chronicles his journey as an athlete, discusses the past and future of Spartan's race coverage, and details his comeback plans!

The questions have been pouring in this week so we are going to hit as many of them in the next 80 minutes as we can! Highlights include: Training in the heat/humidity Altitude acclimatization What is "drop" in running shoes and how do I choose the right drop for me? Best back exercises for OCR athletes Ice baths vs contrast hydrotherapy Our favorite running books Training for OCR and triathlon simultaneously

The reigning Spartan Race World Champion, OCRWC 3k World Champion, and Spartan Trifecta World Champion joins us today! Topics include recovering from two torn labrums, training exclusively on trails and hills, the physical and mental adjustments that took her from a DI Track and Cross Country star to the top of the OCR game, and her passion for rock climbing.

The age old debate in running: Is it better to run high mileage or low mileage? Today we explore this concept fully and give you our recommendations, along with strategies for implementing either method.

Matt Novakovich is one of the most successful Obstacle Racers of all time despite not finding the sport until he was 39 years old. Today he details his life as an athlete, taking us on his journey from an undersized 9th grader to a man who has competed professionally in multiple endurance sports. Along the way we get a glimpse of his Alaskan training grounds, his foray into boxing, and his thoughts on a comeback at age 46.

Can Kirk and Brakken talk for over an hour about Warming Up and Cooling Down? YUP. Why you should do it. How long it should last. Specific protocol for doing it properly based on your race type. That's it. Seriously, how could someone make this entertaining for over an hour??

Steve Hammond: Ultra runner, Spartan Race course designer / On course reporter / Videographer, and man of a fantastic beard and accent. He stops by to talk about his most recent challenge (Run the Calendar), dealing with hippos and crocs as a professional paddler, the unseen factors that go into designing a Spartan course, and of course much more!

LSD vs Long Fast Runs? Is it needed for a 5k runner? How long is too long? Every runner has questions about how to implement the Long Run, and today we answer them all!

Spartan Pro Athlete. Entrepreneur. Bachelorette Alum. Stud Bass Fisherman. We all know the Kirk we see today, but how did he get here? Today's episode takes you from Kirk's youth as an underdeveloped soccer stud, through his trails and tribulations in his college years, to the (semi) finished product we all know and love!

The Time Trial - one weapon that should be in EVERY runner's arsenal. Today we give you everything you need to know for including Time Trials in your training schedule: Why they are important, what type to choose, how to execute, how often to retest, and more!

Kirk takes the helm today and interviews our very own Brakken Kraker on his journey from a jack of all trades youth to a top level endurance athlete and coach.

The questions have been pouring in, so we took this week as a chance to answer a whole bunch of them! This episode covers a super wide range of topics: Shin pain Adding in additional runs Pre-race nutrition Long runs for Ultra runners Cross training - is it useful? y mucho, mucho mas!

From high school track to road racing, triathlon, and OCR, Dennis has coached every facet of Endurance Racing. Most well known for his outside-the-box training methods using tire dragging and sled pushing, Dennis looks at endurance training from a very unique perspective. Tune in today to hear how he developed his training system and how to best apply it for your own athletic development!

As distance runners, we don't always have a sense of comfort with the weight room. However, the weight room can be the difference between a successful season and one that ends in injury and/or disappointment. Today we explore the concept of Strength Training for Runners: What lifts are best for endurance athletes What rep ranges you should be doing How to periodize your lifting to complement your racing Specific plans for what to do from this day forward to maximize your 2020 race season How to do all this while trapped in your house (if need be)

Join us for our most entertaining and informative episode to date! Hunter McIntyre is an enigma in every sense of the word and today he takes you on an unprecedented, all-access journey through his life. Hear Hunter as you never have before as he shows us how every experience he's gone through molded him into the mentally bulletproof bulk-pony he is today! Childhood Delinquency Drug Abuse Deep-woods lumberjack Collegiate Wrestler Modeling in Miami Stumbling upon Obstacle Racing CrossFit Games Failure OCR Dominance

Our season is shot to pieces and the remaining races are all TBA. What to do with all the fitness we've built? How to attack the rest of the season? Are we all screwed or is there a way to maximize our fitness with the hand we've been dealt? We've got you!

OCR stat guru Jack Bauer swings by to talk all things OCR. Highlights include: Jack's lifelong quest to break 2:00 in the 800m OCR Mount Rushmore The mentally toughest athletes in the sport Finding the next great crop of racers Racing weight Pooping mid-race and still beating Brakken

After getting sidetracked with nipple chaffing stories, we get down to the business of exploring exactly how to use a treadmill to maximize your training. Is it the most fun? Not always. Can it be the greatest tool a runner has? Absolutely! If you're forced indoors for a workout, this episode is your road map to success!

Ryan takes us on a journey through his running career. He went from a D1 walk on to an All-American before transitioning off road and becoming a Team USA member and competing for OCR world championships. Throughout it all, Ryan has constantly reinvented his running to remained at the top of his chosen sport.