The Running Public

You’ve sent some great questions this month! Highlights include: What’s holding you back, efficiency or engine? What supplements should you be trying? Uphill efficiency vs flat speed efficiency. What should you do if your HR is too high even when jogging slow?

Jared Francisca PT, DPT, joins us to talk specific processes for rehabbing common running related soft tissue injuries (tendinitis, tendinopathy, strains, tears).

Kirk takes one side and Brakken takes the other while they debate the overall importance of Strength Training for a distance runner.

With both boys scheduled to toe the same start line in May, this marks their first time racing each other since 2021! Today they break down their lifetime head to head match ups and predict how this one will go.

Kirk takes one side and Brakken takes the other while they debate the overall importance of Long Runs in a training plan.

Exactly one hundred episodes ago, we spoke with Betsy about her plan to ran across the US despite living with MS. Here we are, one year later, to discuss her experience!

Both Brakken and Kirk entered the lottery and this week they both found out they got in! With sixteen weeks until race day, what is their plan for being ready to attack 31 miles of technical, hilly terrain??

Our take on orthotics. One shoe to “do it all”. Should we worry about kids’ running form? If we had to add in one extra hour of non-aerobic training per day, what would it be? How long to adjust to carbon plated shoes. How cold is too cold to run? And more!

Training for the Olympic Marathon Trials on top of full time med school means that Felicia has to be hyper efficient with her training and her daily schedule. We discuss her daily practices, tips, and recommendations for living a more efficient life.

Last month, double amputee Ryan Kules set three Guinness World Records for adaptive rowing: fastest marathon, fastest ultramarathon, and longest distance in one hour.

With both of us having an “Ultra Focus” this off season, but starting with totally different fitness levels, this is what it will look like from a training perspective.

We close out our podcast year the best way we know how: Q&A sesh!

When we look back a year from now, these are the race results and training blocks that will make us happy men in 2026!

A few episodes ago, we mentioned how the Hoka Speedgoat and Clifton just aren’t working for us like they used to and so many of you reached out to confirm your same experience. So, today we’re giving you eighteen alternative shoe options to consider!

We, but mostly Brakken, talk about our year of training, racing, and also what next year might look like!

We pick three shoes, three training locations, and three pieces of gear/clothing for each major race type: 5k/10k, Half Marathon/Marathon, and Ultramarathons.

The training, the current Pro scene, the race itself, and what Ultramarathon fitness allows you to do makes these the best race distances!

Mary Martin is the race director of the Standhope Ultra Challenge in Idaho: a race built for women, parents, and the next generation of mountain athletes.

The training, the current Pro scene, the race itself, and what HM / Marathon fitness allows you to do makes these the best race distances!

The training, the current Pro scene, the race itself, and what 5k / 10k fitness allows you to do makes these the best race distances!

Former NCAA D1 swimmer, current NYU med student, and recent Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier off less than 50 miles per week!

The training, the current Pro scene, the race itself, and what Mile fitness allows you to do makes the Mile the best race distance!

Today’s topics: HRV, Strength Training, Extra Sleep vs Extra Training, 100M readiness, Strava Overtraining, and Backwards Walking.

Kirk is back in the studio and we’re answering your most pressing running questions!

A nutrition coach and sports dietitian in addition to being a runner herself, Kylee specializes in endurance athletes struggling with complex GI issues, race fueling complexities, disordered eating, eating disorders, low energy availability, and REDS.

Sound familiar? The RMR podcast did this exact topic this week. Rich didn’t listen to this, we didn’t listen to his, and we did not discuss our talking points with each other prior to recording! Mostly because Rich didn’t know we were doing this. Check his out if you haven’t already and see where we are in alignment and where we disagree!

They aren’t going anywhere any time soon, so is the running community better or worse for their presence??

Anytime, anywhere! These workouts are simply great for building overall fitness.

Kirk loves float style intervals. Brakken loves to hate them. What exactly makes these workouts worth doing?

Ultra runner extraordinaire, Mark Dowdle, joins us to chat all things Backyard Ultras and Last Man Standing events.

If two 5 mile runs equal one 8 mile run, what does the 4x4x48 Challenge equal? And does a 15:00 5k runner hurt the same as a 15 minute two mile runner, assuming they are both at max effort?? What about time spent in zones?!? Let chaos ensue!

We choose your six best questions of the week to spend a little extra time analyzing and talking through!

The weather is finally shifting away from the summer heat and it is time to go find out exactly what kind of fitness you’ve build this year!

James brings a crazy resume to the podcast: USA Cycling BMX National Team Coach USA Cycling Coach of the Year Physical Health & Wellness Vice President for the Wounded Warrior project Exercise Physiologist Bike Racer & Trail Runner

How should you actually feel during each stage of training? From Off Season and Base all the way through Competition, here is how our energy levels, soreness, and motivation changes throughout the cycles.

When life dictates that you need some time away from full bore training, but you don’t really want or need a real offseason, it’s time for a Bridge Season!

Today we’re re-airing our interview with Rylan Schadegg. Rylan passed away last week and this is the best way we know of keeping his voice alive.

High mileage with less ‘Quality” workouts or low mileage with more Quality? Singles or Doubles? Base Building before starting Speed Work or doing it concurrently? Long Runs or Medium Runs?

Last week we discussed why a formula CAN’T accurately tell you how much hill work you should be doing. This week we discuss exactly what you SHOULD be doing in training!

A listener sent us a reel that gives a simple calculation for determining how much vertical gain every runner should be doing. Is it perfect? Just okay? Terrible?

We cover 8 great listener questions, ranging from speed work to marathon training!

Wrapping up our mini series, some aspects of running can be very overrated at times while being very underrated in certain circumstances.

With all the recent drug bans being laid down in the running world, it’s time we talk about what performance enhancing drug use looks like in our sport.

You want to take your running seriously? These are the most underrated ways of improving!

We debate the most overrated tactics when it comes to getting faster!

Highlights include: Stride Rate vs Length Hyrox Shoes Tall Runners Treadmill vs Outdoor training Group Run Etiquette Race Pace Predictors

Spartan Racing, in the Pro Ranks, is dead and gone in North America. Athletes haven’t been paid in years, numbers have flatlined, and the opportunity to make a living as a Spartan Athlete is no longer a thing. So, today we remember peak Spartan Race. Not in sadness, but as a celebration of what once was!

Lead chiropractor and owner of Bottenfield Chiropractic Strength and Wellness, Dr Patrick has become Kirk’s go-to for injury rehab.

US Track and Field Championships were this past weekend and oooooh baby were there some RACES!

Kris shows up to discuss racing, training, mindset and balance like only she can!