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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.
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Run to the Top Podcast | The Ultimate Guide to Running
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Now displaying: May, 2023
May 31, 2023

How many times have you finished a race and thought “I could have pushed harder”? If you’re anything like me, then this likely happens to you quite often.

But, one thing I learned from interviewing some of the best runners in the world is that you can actually train your mind, just like your body, to overcome your brain telling you to slow down and learn how to better push your physical limits.

To help you learn how to do this, I’ve brought on one of our favorite guests, Matt Fitzgerald. He’s going to teach you…

  • The science of inhibitory control and the benefits of practicing inhibitory control
  • How to deal with your thoughts during a long endurance race
  • How to unlock neuroplasticity for better performance
  • Perception of effort and how it affects physical & mental capacity

If you’re tired of finishing races like you could have pushed yourself harder, this is a must listen!

Connect, Comment, Community

This week’s show brought to you by:

Lagoon

Lagoon specializes in making pillows designed specifically for runners and athletes to help them optimize their sleep and recovery.

Their sleep quiz pairs you with the perfect pillow for you based on sleep position, body size and more.

And the data on sleep improvement isn’t only from research papers. Using her whoop device, US Olympic Trials marathon qualifier Caitlin Keen saw her deep, restorative sleep increase by 52 minutes when she switched to a Lagoon pillow.  

If you want to see the dramatic affect a pillow designed just for you can be, head to https://lagoonsleep.com/top 

Then take their awesome 2 minute sleep quiz that matches you with the Lagoon pillow that’s perfect for you. Plus, if you use the code TOP at checkout, you’ll also save 15% off your purchase. 

LMNT 

Maintaining healthy electrolyte levels will not only improve performance and endurance on the run, but can help with preventing headaches, maintaining a healthy weight, and help with recovery. 

That’s why we recommend all runners check out Element this summer. It's loaded with everything you need to replenish your electrolyte balance with 1000mg of sodium, 200mg of potassium, and 60mg of magnesium, and doesn't include anything you don't need like extra sugar or anything artificial.

Even better, they are currently running a special deal where you can get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order. So, order your favorite flavor and get a free sample pack to try out new flavors or share with your running friends.  

To get this special offer and make sure you’re hydrating properly this summer, head over to drinklmnt.com/runnersconnect.

May 26, 2023

What age were you when you first started running?

I’m guessing you were over 18 - and likely over 30, 40 or even 50. And unfortunately, as you may have well experienced, there’s something so much harder about starting when you’re older.

So many more obstacles, worries, and challenges that your running peers who started earlier in life never had to deal with. 

In today’s episode, Coach Jeff is going to dig deep into many of these reasons and share with you some tips on how to make some of them a little easier or less challenging.

You’ll learn…

  • The science behind why it’s more difficult to stay healthy
  • The big physiological disadvantage you face (and how to catch up)
  • And how our approach to goals as adult runners puts us at a disadvantage

Having been someone who took up running very early in life and now someone who coaches almost exclusively people who didn’t, Coach Jeff has a lot of unique perspectives and anecdotes he’s going to share with you that really make some of these points hit home.

If you started running later in life, you’re really going to love this episode. 

Connect, Comment, Community

This week’s show brought to you by:

Heal from the Amino Company

Heal from the Amino Company. Heal is an amino acid, whey and creatine based formulation designed to reduce recovery times and improve physical function after injuries by accelerating muscle repair while helping maintain a healthy inflammatory response. Check out the research here: aminoco.com/rttt

If you're looking for a nutritional advantage when it comes to recovering from your running injury or your daily training I recommend you give Heal a try.

If you’re interested in learning  more and giving Heal a try, we’ve got a special offer for you where you can save 30% by using the code RC30. Just head to: https://aminoco.com/rttt and use the code RC30 at checkout to save 30%

Dri Seats

If you’re tired of sweaty, smelly and stained seats after your runs then you have to check out the car seat covers made specifically for runners from driseats.

DriSeats waterproof seat covers are designed specifically for runners. Unlike towels, they are 100% waterproof and easily fit over your entire seat so you don’t have any missed spots.

Plus, they are super easy to slide over your seat so it’s ready in seconds and they are machine washable so they are easy to clean and be ready for your next run.

You can head to driseats.com and use code RC20 to get 20% off first order

May 24, 2023

Are you a runner that has suffered from hip-related injuries, weakness, or mobility issues? Do you suspect it’s having a negative impact on your training? 

Well, you are in luck because in this episode runner rehab specialist Dr. Lauren LaPierre returns to the podcast to discuss all things hip strengthening. Specifically, we discuss:

  • warning signs or symptoms of hip dysfunction
  • common causes of hip tightness and restricted mobility in runners
  • how hip mobility impacts running efficiency and performance
  • specific hip stretches, mobility exercises for runners to consider
  • the role of hip flexibility and range of motion and its impact on running mechanics
  • strength training exercises that improve hip stability and prevent common hip injuries
  • cross-training exercises that specifically benefit hip health

To follow & connect with Dr. Lauren click here: @thepersonalizedrunningdoc  

To learn more about 1:1 coaching opportunities with Dr. Lauren, whether you're looking to return to running pain free or improve your running performance for a race this coming fall, schedule a FREE Discovery Zoom Call via this link: https://thepersonalizedrunningdoc.com/schedule

To view & try the exercises discussed in this podcast, click this link: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1dIVowABft61dRibvUZUxTGwHScJLHE8

Connect, Comment, Community

This week’s show brought to you by:

Oladance

If you’ve tried running with headphones before but didn’t like how they felt, then you really need to give Oladance headphones a try. You’ll be amazed at the difference their open-ear-design makes. Just visit oladance.com/rttt and use the code RTTT to save 20% on your purchase.

Timeline

Timeline Nutrition has developed a groundbreaking product called Mitopure that revitalizes your mitochondria, which creates energy in nearly every cell in your body. Go to timelinenutrition.com and use promo code RUNNERSCONNECT for 10% off the plan of your choice.

AG1

If you’re someone who struggles to get in all the fruit and veggies you need, or who wants to get more consistent but always falls off, or you end up finding tons of fruits and veggies gone bad in the fridge, AG1 will make it simple and delicious. If you want to try them out and get a special bonus of 5 travel packs and a year’s supply of vitamin D, head to athleticgreens.com/rttt.

May 19, 2023

There’s a lot to be said about the benefits of quick and easy online logs like strava, but is it possible you’re missing out by not keeping a hand-written log as well?

Coach Ruiari and Dylan think so and in today’s episode they’re going to discuss why exactly they think hand-written logs can be such a beneficial tool to improve your running.

Some of the benefits they discuss are…

  • The ability to easily flip back over years and analyze trends
  • Hand-written logs by nature help you write down more thoughts and feelings and not just data so you have more insight into why you might have been running so well or so poorly.
  • Especially for beginners, it can help you understand the reason behind why you’re doing things.

This is a great back and forth between the coaches and something I think every runner can get something out of. If you’re not already using a hand-written log, this will be a great listen.

Connect, Comment, Community

This week’s show brought to you by:

Elo Protein

Elo’s Smart Protein takes the guesswork out of finding the optimal protein amount and blend for you by drawing data from your wearables and fitness apps such as Strava, Peloton, and Apple Watch to provide specific dosing recommendations after every workout. 

Elo Smart Protein comes in either grass-fed whey or pea protein, and can include other functional ingredients, like probiotics and ashwagandha, to help you recover faster and support your goals. 

Take out the guesswork and get the right amount of protein after every workout. Go to elo.health and enter code RTTT for 50% off your first month.

MetPro

Using Metabolic Profiling, MetPro’s team of experts analyzes your metabolism and provides an individualized approach to obtaining your goals. 

Your MetPro coach then works with you to consistently make adjustments based on your metabolic data as well as how your plan fits your lifestyle. 

MetPro’s coaches are not only educated experts in their field, but they’re empathetic that people have demanding schedules and often stressful lives. They will work one-on-one with you to identify the best nutrition and fitness strategy that is going to work for your personal goals and lifestyle needs.

Get a complimentary Metabolic Profiling assessment and a 30-minute consultation with a MetPro expert at metpro.co/rttt

May 17, 2023

Setting realistic goals is perhaps one of the most important pieces of starting out your training on the right foot and one of the most common reasons we see runners struggle with their training.

So, today we’ll be hearing from  Dr. Grayson Kimball, a Sport Psychology Consultant in the Boston area who is also a big runner himself.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

  • How to know if your goals are realistic and why this is so important
  • How to combine setting long-term and short-term goals
  • Re-setting your goals after an injury or period of missed running
  • And how to exceed your limits with mental preparation.

There are a lot of great insights from this interview that are going to help you plan and prepare for your upcoming fall races. So, let’s get to it!

Connect, Comment, Community

This week’s show brought to you by:

LMNT - Summer

Maintaining healthy electrolyte levels will not only improve performance and endurance on the run, but can help with preventing headaches, maintaining a healthy weight, and help with recovery. 

That’s why we recommend all runners check out Element this summer. It's loaded with everything you need to replenish your electrolyte balance with 1000mg of sodium, 200mg of potassium, and 60mg of magnesium, and doesn't include anything you don't need like extra sugar or anything artificial.

Even better, they are currently running a special deal where you can get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order. So, order your favorite flavor and get a free sample pack to try out new flavors or share with your running friends.  

To get this special offer and make sure you’re hydrating properly this summer, head over to drinklmnt.com/runnersconnect.

Magnesium Breakthrough from Bioptimizers

Supplementing with magnesium before you go to bed has been shown in scientific studies to…

  • Increase in muscle oxygenation during high intensity exercise
  • Reduce inflammation 
  • Significantly improve sleep quality
  • Improve aerobic exercise capacity when training.

When you’re looking for a magnesium supplement, make sure you take one that is organic and has all 7 unique forms of magnesium. 

Our recommendation is Magnesium Breakthrough from Bioptimizers because it’s made with the highest quality, organic magnesium and contains all 7 critical forms. Most other magnesium supplements are synthetic and only contain one or two forms of magnesium, which is simply not enough.

For an exclusive offer for Run to the Top  listeners go to magbreakthrough.com/runtothetop 

 

May 12, 2023

With the main portion of the spring racing season completed, many of you are likely pondering what you should do next.

So, today our current and past coaching team are going to answer some listener questions about what to do after your race.

Here’s what you’ll learn…

  • Why you need to have a period of recovery after a marathon (and how to do it properly)
  • How to deal with muscle soreness after races and why it might be happening to you more than normal.
  • How to put a bad race behind you
  • The best way to approach training for back-to-back marathons
  • And what to do between races to optimize your long-term progression

If you have questions you’d like our coaches to answer on the podcast, you can head to https://runnersconnect.net/daily and submit them to us. 

Connect, Comment, Community

This week’s show brought to you by:

Oladance

If you’re looking for better and safer headphones while you run, then you need to check out oladance. 

The unique design of their headphones allows you to listen to your favorite music and podcast while running, yet still hear everything going on around you so you can stay safe.

But my favorite part is that their open-ear-design means your ears will never get tired or fatigued, even after 2 hours or more of listening. That makes them perfect for those super long runs.

Plus, their dynamic driver is 3 x bigger than most headphones, which allows them to deliver superior sound, while still being comfortable.

Just visit oladance.com/rttt and use the code TOP to save 20% on your purchase.

Heal from the Amino Company

Heal from the Amino Company. Heal is an amino acid, whey and creatine based formulation designed to reduce recovery times and improve physical function after injuries by accelerating muscle repair while helping maintain a healthy inflammatory response. Check out the research here: aminoco.com/rttt

If you're looking for a nutritional advantage when it comes to recovering from your running injury or your daily training I recommend you give Heal a try.

If you’re interested in learning  more and giving Heal a try, we’ve got a special offer for you where you can save 30% by using the code RC30. Just head to: aminoco.com/rttt and use the code RC30 at checkout to save 30%

May 10, 2023

Today we’re lucky enough to have our very own Coach Jeff on the show to talk about the importance of macronutrients and how ensuring you have the right mix can help you hit your performance and nutrition goals.

You’ll learn…

  • The role of each macronutrient and why each is critical to performance and health
  • The optimal ratio of macronutrients to hit your goals
  • How you should adjust these macros based on your training, age, gender and other factors.
  • And if you stick around until the end, Coach Jeff will give you some awesome tips to make hitting you daily macronutrient goals easier.

There’s a lot to unpack here and Coach Jeff is going to get real in-depth, so let’s get to it!

Connect, Comment, Community

This week’s show brought to you by:

BiOptimzers Sleep

If you struggle to get to sleep or stay asleep all night, then you’re going to love the new product from BiOpimizes called Sleep Breakthrough.

Sleep Breakthrough is a delicious sleep drink that supports your natural melatonin production and relaxation without creating a dependency so you can have your best night’s sleep on demand

You’ll fall asleep in minutes and you’ll stay asleep throughout the night. 

For an exclusive offer for our listeners go to sleepbreakthrough.com/runtothetop

In addition to the discount you get by using promo code RUN10, you can unlock special gifts with purchase with retail values of at least 20 dollars.

TIMELINE

Improving your mitochondria is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your performance and make your body work better. 

Time-line Nutrition's Mitopure is backed by over a decade of research and is clinically proven to revitalize mitochondria. 

Mitopure restores mitochondrial function, so every cell in your body has the energy to do its job and keep you healthy and functioning right. In fact, clinical studies have shown that 500mg of Urolithin, one of the main ingredients in Mitopure, can significantly increase muscle strength & endurance with no other change in lifestyle.

Improving your mitochondria is one of the best things you can do for your health and with Mitopure from time-line nutrition, it has never been easier. 

Go to timelinenutrition.com and use promo code RUNNERSCONNECT for 10% off the plan of your choice.

May 5, 2023

How much should you trust your GPS watch? 

In this week's coaches chat, coaches Michael and Andy dig into GPS watches and cover some of the most common questions and concerns we see as coaches, plus metrics we recommend tracking. 

They’ll discuss…

  • Why GPS watches may not always be accurate, especially on trails or dirt roads.
  • Why certified marathon courses are more accurate than GPS watches.
  • Understanding effort is more important than just focusing on paces for training
  • How to have a healthy balance between the data you consume and the effort you put in. 

You don't want to miss this one. 

Connect, Comment, Community

This week’s show brought to you by:

Lagoon

Lagoon specializes in making pillows designed specifically for runners and athletes to help them optimize their sleep and recovery.

Their sleep quiz pairs you with the perfect pillow for you based on sleep position, body size and more.

And the data on sleep improvement isn’t only from research papers. Using her whoop device, US Olympic Trials marathon qualifier Caitlin Keen saw her deep, restorative sleep increase by 52 minutes when she switched to a Lagoon pillow.  

If you want to see the dramatic affect a pillow designed just for you can be, head to lagoonsleep.com/top 

Then take their awesome 2 minute sleep quiz that matches you with the Lagoon pillow that’s perfect for you. Plus, if you use the code TOP at checkout, you’ll also save 15% off your purchase. 

Oladance

If you’re looking for better and safer headphones while you run, then you need to check out oladance. 

The unique design of their headphones allows you to listen to your favorite music and podcast while running, yet still hear everything going on around you so you can stay safe.

But my favorite part is that their open-ear-design means your ears will never get tired or fatigued, even after 2 hours or more of listening. That makes them perfect for those super long runs.

Plus, their dynamic driver is 3 x bigger than most headphones, which allows them to deliver superior sound, while still being comfortable.

Just visit oladance.com/rttt and use the code TOP to save 20% on your purchase.

May 3, 2023

On this episode of RunnersConnect, we explore various ways to improve running form and prevent injuries. 

Our expert guest, Jay Dicharry, shares insights from his experience analyzing running patterns and addressing injuries as a physical therapist. 

Jay’s going to discuss the most common issues we see when it comes to running form and injury, including the two most usual culprits of poor form and injury, posture and foot strike.

Plus, we’re going to get into building strength and power in your legs, the impact of different types of footwear on foot strikes and load on the body, and the role of glute muscles in running posture alignment. 

Whether you're a seasoned runner or just starting out, this episode has something to help you run stronger and with less injury risk.

Connect, Comment, Community

This week’s show brought to you by:

Magnesium Breakthrough from Bioptimizers. 

Supplementing with magnesium before you go to bed has been shown in scientific studies to…

  • Increase in muscle oxygenation during high intensity exercise
  • Reduce inflammation 
  • Significantly improve sleep quality
  • Improve aerobic exercise capacity when training.

When you’re looking for a magnesium supplement, make sure you take one that is organic and has all 7 unique forms of magnesium. 

Our recommendation is Magnesium Breakthrough from Bioptimizers because it’s made with the highest quality, organic magnesium and contains all 7 critical forms. Most other magnesium supplements are synthetic and only contain one or two forms of magnesium, which is simply not enough.

For an exclusive offer for Run to the Top  listeners go to magbreakthrough.com/runtothetop  to save up to 42% 

LMNT

Maintaining healthy electrolyte levels will not only improve performance and endurance on the run, but can help with preventing headaches, maintaining a healthy weight, and help with recovery. 

That’s why we recommend all runners check out Element this summer. It's loaded with everything you need to replenish your electrolyte balance with 1000mg of sodium, 200mg of potassium, and 60mg of magnesium, and doesn't include anything you don't need like extra sugar or anything artificial.

Even better, they are currently running a special deal where you can get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order. So, order your favorite flavor and get a free sample pack to try out new flavors or share with your running friends.  

To get this special offer and make sure you’re hydrating properly this summer, head over to drinklmnt.com/runnersconnect.

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