Info

Run to the Top Podcast | The Ultimate Guide to Running

Running podcast to motivate & help runners of every level run their best. The RunnersConnect team of coaches, headed by your host Finn Melanson, share with you the best running information backed by research, science and experts.
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Run to the Top Podcast | The Ultimate Guide to Running
2024
April
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2014
September


2012
September


Categories

All Episodes
Archives
Categories
Now displaying: 2015
Dec 30, 2015

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Runners Connect.

Today we’re talking about the weight loss aspect of running. We’re talking with Katie Foster who’s lost 125 pounds from running and has become an inspiration to runners and non-runners alike. She has some great advice. She’s best known for her Runs for Cookies blog and chronicles her journey and her ups and downs and really is inspiring.

“I was willing to only do changes that I could make forever.” - Katie

Katie talks with us about how making a list of the changes you intend to make could be the difference between temporary and permanent results, how to still [...]

Dec 23, 2015

Life as an elite runner isn’t what you would expect; even the fastest and most dedicated runners can lose their passion. Our guest was a runner at the University of Oregon, which is an amazing opportunity and every collegiate runners dream. But the pressure was on, and his story got interesting fast. So today is about his experience, before, during and after his collegiate life as an athlete.

“Winning as a team is something that will always stick with me.” – Luke

Luke Puskedra is an Elite runner from Sal [...]

Dec 16, 2015

The best runners out there still have painful, awful, days; what makes them good is that they accept that that was just a bad day. It’s not the definition of their ability or limits, and they know that tomorrow will be even better because of it. Are you ready to experience this major perspective shift?

Our guest is Tom Foreman. He’s an Emmy award winning journalist who has been in the field for over 30 years. He’s an anchor and a reporter for CNN, an author, and the ultimate comeback kid when it comes running. Today’s interview is amazing because it too [...]

Dec 9, 2015

My listeners always tell me how much they enjoy the variety of speakers on the show and I thought it was time to hear from someone from a different culture without access to all the newest gadgets available in the American markets. Bobby Philip is a well known Indian runner with a great story to tell.

Bobby was the first Indian to run the Boston Marathon barefoot in 2015, he has great PRs, he lives in Bangalore and works for Nokia.

Today we’re going to talk about why a Boston qualifier has become the ultimate dream come true for an Indian runner, what’s it’s like running and training in India and how he transitioned to barefoot running.

“My running career was accidental.” [...]

Dec 2, 2015

For many runners our ‘peak’ race seems like a lifetime ago and thanks to the temperature dropping, our motivation is at a definite low. I thought it would be a great time to bring on a motivational speaker - but he’s not just any motivational speaker. Dick Beardsley is best known for the close finish at the Boston Marathon with Alberto Salazar in 1982, which was considered the greatest marathon finish of all time.

He was inducted into the 2010 National Distance Running Hall of Fame, he’s now an international best selling author, motivational speaker, was the subject of a feature film and is often the keynote address at many events.

Nov 25, 2015

We tend to put ourselves into buckets, but we can’t always define ourselves in this bucket or that. You might be surprised to learn that today’s guest actually uses yoga to improve her running performance. Today we’re going to talk with Cara Gilman about the benefits of yoga on our running.

In this episode we’ll discuss:

  • How yoga can make a difference on your performance, and almost immediately.
  • Which classes are best for runners
  • How to incorporate yoga for restorative benefits
  • Se [...]
Nov 18, 2015

Today we’re talking to the inventor of the phrase “power nap.” You’re going to learn so much in this interview, and it’s going to change the way you look at sleep forever. It turns out that counting sheep isn’t as effective as we thought, so we get the low down from an expert.

Are you ready for one of the most impressive bios you’ve ever heard? Our guest today is Dr. James Maas. He’s an internationally recognized authority in sleep and performance, he conducts research on both, as well as in leadership and critical thinking. He was also a professor at Cornell University for 48 years, and won multiple awards while doing so.

He’s one of the wo [...]

Nov 11, 2015

Today’s emphasis is the importance of following a training program that takes your gender and age into account. Our guest has been coaching women runners for quite some time, and today we find out why. 

We discuss the noticeable difference in motivation between men and women, and our guest get the best advice I’ve ever heard about how to practice visualization.

Today we’re joined by Bennett Cohen, President of the International Association of Women Runners. He’s a running coach to women over 40 and has helped women into their 70s run personal bests. 

He’s been an avid runner for 37 years an [...]

Nov 4, 2015

Today, we’ll be learning about the True Form Runner. You may or may not have heard of it, but it’s quickly becoming an international fitness phenomenon, and with good reason.

As runners, we all focus on having the best posture and form possible, so as to stay injury free and get the best results from our workouts. That’s where True Form comes in. Jeff Vernon, one of the developers of True Form Runner, will be joining us today to discuss the in’s and out’s, how it’s used and what you can gain by using it.

Here are some other topics we discuss: 

·       Jeff’s journey to develop The True Form

Oct 28, 2015

How many of you think injuries are normal part of running?

Well, we’re here to tell you it’s not.

Not only is it entirely possible to run injury free, but it’s possible for everyone. Today we’ll be discussing how to do it by following, his “insurance policy” for injury free running which he outlines in his bestselling book: “You Can Run Pain Free”.

[...]

Oct 21, 2015

Today we’re talking mostly about foot injuries in runners, how to prevent them, and why they happen in the first place. We also go into orthotics, Dr. Nick’s top shoe recommendations, and so much more.

Our guest started out running as a hobby, and has been a runner most of his life.

Dr. Nick Campitelli is a podiatrist based in Akron, Ohio who specializes in foot and ankle surgery.

Oct 14, 2015

As runners, we strive to do our best and we know how important nutrition is to running our best. Yet, we often hear about how many runners don’t get enough vitamins and minerals in their diet.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn more about nutritional deficiencies, the science behind them, and how to correct them once and for all. If you’ve ever wondered whether you need to take iron, calcium or any other supplement, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll also talk about various studies done on bone density, bone loss and nutrition, and their surprising findings, diet recommendations for sports performance, and much more.

Oct 7, 2015

Marathon Season is here and this is Chicago Marathon week (did you read our Chicago marathon race guide?).  One of the runners who will take part in it is my guest on this episode and he shares his incredible story of bravery and overcoming the odds to lead a life that inspires others. It is the most emotional interview I’ve done and I am certain you will be as inspired by Fernando Cabada as I am.

Fernando explains that he grew up in the Fresno, California area as the son of first and second generation immigrants.  His fat [...]

Sep 30, 2015

We’ve all heard the expression - when one door closes, another opens. For my guest that expression had lasting meaning. Carrie Tollefson, a 2004 Olympian, had trained and planned for a spot on the 5K team, but as fate would have it she didn’t make the team. Carrie came back and surprised everyone, including herself, by earning a spot on the 1500m team. For Carrie, being an Olympian changed her life.

Carrie, elite middle-distance runner, is also a five-time NCAA champion, three-time national champion, an ESPN2 analyst, wife and mother. Through her website, public speaking and training camps Carries inspires people to Get After It and [...]

Sep 23, 2015

In today’s episode, we’ll be debunking a few fitness myths and learning some important tips with certified personal trainer and running coach, Meghan Kennihan. Meghan has loved sports for as long as she can remember, including: being on every sports team in her school and running several marathons and triathlons, but hitting several bumps along the way.

These are some of the topics we covered:

  • Meghan’s transition from running to power lifting
  • Differe [...]
Sep 16, 2015

My guest today is Janae Jacobs who writes a daily blog, Hungry Runner Girl. Not only does Janae give advice and share her journey of running, but her blog also serves as a community for runners to encourage and support one another. Hungry Runner Girl has grown in popularity and now receives a million views a month. Janae ran her first marathon in 2010 and fell in love with running and racing. Today we’ll talk about how runners can support each other, how to motivate yourself to get through workouts, and why it’s important to think long-term when you think about running.

Janae blogs twice a da [...]

Sep 9, 2015

Today I am excited to welcome Max Prokopy to the show. Max has his masters degree in exercise physiology and a member of the UVA Speed Clinic. At the Speed Clinic they help people runners and walkers optimize their gait to remain injury free and increase their performance. Max and his team have helped both elite level runners to age groupers, and from age 10 to 80 come through their 2.5 hour evaluation process.

When you arrive at the clinic you will run a little, watch a lot of video, and perform a battery of ex [...]

Sep 2, 2015

Our guest today is a nutritionist and authority on using proper nutritional habits to get your body race day ready. Her name is Pip Taylor, a professional dietitian, sports dietitian, and triathlete. She has been competing internationally for 15 years. She has won the ICU World Cup and many Ironman Triathlons. She has also represented her home country of Australia numerous times on the international stage.

Today we will discuss the following:

  • How fear can ruin a di [...]
Aug 26, 2015

I try to listen to your requests for podcast guests. One request that comes up often is to interview other coaches who are interested in sharing their coaching philosophies. Another is to hear from elite athletes to find out what life is like for them. In this interview we will be doing both. So expect to hear about what the life of an elite athlete is and how our guest coach prepares his group of elites for their races.

Dennis Barker has been the coach of Team USA Minnesota since its inception in 2001. Team USA Minnesota is a team of professional runners based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Coach Barker oversees the training of both male and femal [...]

Aug 19, 2015

Today’s guest is someone who brings fun to the sport but isn’t looking into breaking a world record. Liz Miele is a seasoned marathon runner, a stand-up comedian at Comedy Central including “Live at Gotham”, she’s been on “Late Night with Conan o’Brien” and Access TV. She’s been featured in many press publications like the NY Times, Time at New York and the New Yorker, winner of the 2008 Gilda’s Club contest and a finalist at the 2008 March Comedy Madness.

In this episode we’ll discuss:

Aug 12, 2015

Dr. Steve Pribut will be bringing something new to the table. A Podiatrist based in Washington D.C., he mainly specializes in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. Aside from that he is also a well-known expert of Podiatric Sports Medicine and Biomechanics. In short, he is an expert on a variety of runner’s injury and its treatment.

Aside from his profession, he has also served as the President of the District of Columbia Podiatric Medical Association for 4 years. He was also the past president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine (AAPSM) and he was also on the advisory board of Runner’s World Magazine. He also served as ch [...]

Aug 5, 2015

For today’s show, I have no guest because I am getting married in a few days! So I decided to share my story for anyone who is interested in learning more about me. I was interviewed on Marathon Training Academy a few months ago by Angie and Trevor, and you can listen to that episode here.

For those of you who weren’t aware, I am originally from England, and moved to the States in 2007 to pursue my running career. I finished off a great collegiate career by finishing 3rd in the 10k at the 2012 Great Britain Olympic Trials.

Jul 29, 2015

Today on the show I am excited to welcome Michele Gonzalez of the blog NYC Running Mama. First and foremost, Michele is an amazing person who puts her kids first, but also makes the time to run. She is a mother of two, Ironman finisher, ultra, and marathon runner. To top that, she has also completed 3 tours in Iraq as a military intelligence officer, later became a captain. Michele writes for Women’s Running magazine.

  • First marathon was 3:54
Jul 22, 2015

Dr. Mark Cucuzzella is an accomplished marathon runner. He is also an Associate Professor at West Virginia University, a family physician, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserves, the Chief Medical Consultant for the Air Force Marathon, and the owner of Two Rivers Treadsthe nation’s first minimalist shoe store which is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

We cover a lot of ground with Mark as he discusses:

Jul 15, 2015

I have been thinking for a while that it is time to change it up. I loved the idea of having panel of experts on at the same time, I just needed a topic that would allow it.

Recently on my personal blog, I wrote about why runners need to cross train, even if they are not injured, and it got me thinking about cross training more and more. Until recently I was scared to cross train, I thought I was too good to cross train, and I associated injury with cross training.

We hea [...]

1 2 3 Next »