The Rambling Runner

The February episode of Coach's Corner LIVE on Relay is out and it may have been our best one yet. Many Relay subscribers sent in questions about the mental side of running/racing and they were fantastic. Over the course of an hour we answered the following questions: "I enjoy running far, but am looking at making the leap from doing 50 milers as my longest ever distance to my first 100 miler in the fall. How do I conceptualize and build mental strength in training, knowing I'll be running twice as far as I ever have?" "How do I work on having the mental confidence that I can sustain my marathon effort for 26.2 miles when in training, I've only run 10-12 miles continuously at that same effort?" "I’ve struggled with race anxiety. I’ve seen a pattern when I go into a race with the plan to run the race as a workout, it takes the anxiety and pressure off and I end up running a great race. I don’t seem to have too much anxiety when it comes to hard workouts. How can I work to switch my mindset on race day to fe

We are starting off season three of Road to the Trials with one of the best and most versatile runners in the U.S. - Nell Rojas. In this episode we talk about her 2022 marathon performances and take a deep dive into the tumultuous last two months of her life that nearly ended her 2023 Boston Marathon before it began. Nell is a professional marathon runner for Nike. She grew up in Boulder, CO with two older brothers and her dog Starblaze. She walked on to the Northern Arizona University cross country and track and field teams and got her B.S. in Exercise Science. After college she became a professional triathlete until she decided to move out of her mom's basement and focus on her coaching career. She discovered marathons when she finished 7th at the 2018 marathon national championships in a time of 2:31. She recently finished 5th at the 2021 Boston Marathon, 10th at the 2022 Boston Marathon, and 10th at the 2022 NYC Marathon. She is the 2021 10 mile national champion.  Nell started coaching with her dad Ric R

The Road to the Trials has returned for season three and we are fired up! We will be bringing you a yearlong, behind the scenes, look at the training and racing of some of America's best runners as they prepare for the Olympic Marathon Trials on February 3, 2024. In this amazing season we will be following Nell Rojas, CJ Albertson, Sara Vaughn, Dani Moreno, Nico Montañez, Carmen Graves, Ramiro “Curly” Guillen, and Jereny Rivera. In this episode we are joined by Stefanie Flippin and Peter Bromka. Stefanie is a professional ultra runner and doctor who co-owns her own practice. She was also featured in season one of Road to the Trials! Peter is one of the best running-focused writers in the country and has chronicled his own quest for an OTQ over the past five years. In this episode the three of us dive into the eight runners that we will follow this season while Stefanie and Peter share what they learned from their own journeys and their thoughts on the year ahead.  Follow season three's runners: Nell Rojas: h

Miguel Peralta is the kind of enthusiastic and galvanizing person that can bring runners of all abilities together. He is also super fast! In this episode Miguel talk about how he originally pushed running away when his dad tried to get him to run as a teenager, embracing running in his 20's, how taking a "no days off" mentality fit his personality, the magic of 10 mile runs, and how he went from a 3:27 marathon all the way down to 2:47! Miguel also talks about bringing runners together to help his community through his work with the Guapo Boys. You can follow Miguel at www.instagram.com/smalls26.2. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING and get a free sample pack of six Edg

Dr. Jess Mena, DPT is here for our monthly collaboration and this time we are talking about she went from an ultramarathon newbie to dropping two hours off her 50k time. Jess breaks down her race and improvement with her unique blend of insight, wit, and high-energy. Here is a poem Jess wrote after her experience: That sound of dirt under my feet The smell of crisp mountain air Mountain rugged dirt roads That stimulates the senses aware. My soul overwhelmingly full My legs on agonizing fire The spirit in complete peace Nature, it endlessly inspires. Leave the straight hard lines Leave the concrete busy place Barrel up and down mountains Follow the winding road at whatever pace. Follow it to the sea. Follow it to a lake Whatever you do Enjoy the ride without mistake. Thank the earth Thank the sky. That you have had the opportunity To run on trails up this high. Follow Jess at www.instagram.com/tempo_with_jess. Sponsors: Thank you to Lagoon for sponsoring this episode and for their truly amazing pillows!

Today we have a special episode of Coach's Corner. Almost all of us had made running goals in our lives. Many of those are almost certainly time-based goals. These types of goals can have huge positives and just as many negatives. In this episode, James McKirdy and I dive into all of them. James McKirdy is the founder and head coach of McKirdy Trained. You can learn more about his amazing coaching company and dozens of elite coaches at www.mckirdytrained.com. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING and get a free sample pack of six Edge energy gels, you only have to pay the shipping, at www.ucan.co/rambling. _ _ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice

Carolyn Su is back for our monthly For the Love of The Run feature and we are leaning into the new year. In this episode, we talk briefly about how our process of setting goals/resolutions has changed over time before getting into all of our goals for athletic and personal lives. We both bring some serious honesty and frankness in this episode as we talked for well over an hour and didn't even get to our professional goals! For the Love of the Run is presented by Tracksmith. Both Carolyn and I been wearing and loving Tracksmith for years and we couldn't think of a better brand to partner with on this endeavor. They have even have a new running shoe coming out soon called the Eliot Runner that we are very excited about! You can visit our link at www.Tracksmith.com/loveoftherun to see their new arrivals and use code LOVEOFTHERUN to receive free shipping. Also, 5% of proceeds from the use of the code will go to our charity partner the Asian Mental Health Collective - www.asianmhc.org. Sponsors: Thank you to La

Jason Fitzgerald, the host of the top rated Strength Running Podcast, is back on the show! Jason has been on the show several times to talk about the importance of strength training, improving as an athlete, and the various ways becoming stronger can help runners achieve their goals. In today's episode, Jason and I discuss some different and exciting topics. First we dive into the occasional imposter syndrome that can overcome runners as they try to take up strength training for the first time and do so at a gym. Then we talk about how lifting heavy as a sport in its own right, even if someone has been doing it for years, doesn't have to be at odds with being a better runner. We've seen an influx of people get into running inspired by Nick Bare, Cameron Haynes, OCR athletes, and the like and it's an exciting expansion to our sport. We also talk about how runners should approach lifting heavy when they've never done it before. You can learn more about Jason at https://strengthrunning.com. Sponsors: This episo

Holy cow - 500 episodes!!!! For the last five and a half years I've been bringing you the Rambling Runner podcast and it's been one of the greatest joys of my life. In this episode I'm joined by my friend and fellow media member Dylan Bowman. We take a deep dive into everything that goes into the work, the joys, the challenges, and plenty of things that happen behind the scenes in our fun and interesting industry. Dylan is the founder of Freetrail - the best place for trail running media. You can visit their new and exciting website at www.freetrail.com. Sponsor: Thank you to Lagoon for sponsoring this episode and for their truly amazing pillows! Take their two minute quiz and learn which pillow is perfect for you and the way you sleep at https://lagoonsleep.com/rambling and save 15% by using code RAMBLING at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi folks! We are a week into 2023 and I hope everyone is nailing all of their process goals and staying aligned with what you hope to pursue in new year! With that in mind, we have the fantastic guest on today's show - Alli Felsenthal. In 2022 Alli had one of the best years I've ever seen from an amateur runner. She set a PR in every distance distance she raced, including smashing her 3:00 marathon goal at Chicago. Alli swam competitively as a teenager before stepping away from organized sports. A few years ago she starting running/racing on a whim and hasn't looked back. Her story has inspired me for a long time and I was eager to have her on the show. You can learn more about Alli at https://runafastermarathon.com and www.instagram.com/runwithalli. Sponsors: Previnex is a supplement brand that I trust, use, and have greatly benefited from. They source the highest quality ingredients in the most clinically effective and beneficial forms. For years I have used the Nourify PLUS protein powder and Joint Health

The new year is here and all of us are focused on the things we want to accomplish in 2023, and beyond, and the ways in which we hope to get there. With that in mind, we have the perfect guest to help us illuminate the way - Sara Manderscheid. In 2022 Sara set a PR in every distance (see the list below) and did the same in 2021. In this episode she details just how she was able to reach those heights as a dedicated amateur runner just like you and me, lots of Boston Marathon talk, and how she overcame her struggles with the final 10k of the marathon. Here are the PR's she set in 2022: Marathon - 3:15:21 (2022)   Half - 1:31:01 (2022)  10K - 41:38 (2022)  4.3 Mile Trail Race - 32:37 (2021) * First Place Female Overall  5K - 19:48 (2022)  You can learn more about Sara at www.elevateyourrunning.com and www.instagram.com/sayrahrunshappy. Sponsor: Thank you to Lagoon for sponsoring this episode and for their simply amazing pillows. Take their two minute quiz and learn which pillow is perfect for you and th

Emily Heller, one of my favorite people, is back on the show! In this episode we talk all about the 2022 running shoe revolution. It was a year that was paradigm shifting in many ways. Emily's YouTube channel, Run Like Heller, has some of the best shoe reviews on the internet so she was the perfect person to help break it all down. Specifically we dove into the new super max category, the explosion of new and varied carbon plates, a new and exciting take on stability shoes, and the elimination of lightness as a proxy for speed. You can check out her awesome work at www.youtube.com/RunLikeHeller and follow her at www.instagram.com/runlikeheller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2022 has been a banner year for my running and I couldn't be more excited about it! I'm about to eclipse 2,200 miles with 100,000 feet of elevation gain - nearly double what I've done in any previous year. All at the age of 41... and I'm just getting started. In this episode, I take a deep dive into the five lessons (plus one extra) that I'll take from this year to help me in 2023, and beyond. No matter your skill or fitness level, I think you'll be able to take plenty from this episode as you prepare to have your best year possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carolyn Su is back for our monthly For the Love of The Run feature and we are joined by my good friend, and consistent guest, Maurice "Marathon Panda" Lowman. In this episode the three of us each share five unpopular opinions that we feel strongly about. We have plenty of running related topics, some food topics, clothes, and much more. Most of all, TONS of laughs as all of us had an absolute blast recording this episode! For the Love of the Run is presented by Tracksmith. Both Carolyn and I been wearing and loving Tracksmith for years and we couldn't think of a better brand to partner with on this endeavor. They have even have a new running shoe coming out soon called the Eliot Runner that we are very excited about! You can visit our link at www.Tracksmith.com/loveoftherun to see their new arrivals and use code LOVEOFTHERUN to receive free shipping. Also, 5% of proceeds from the use of the code will go to our charity partner the Asian Mental Health Collective - www.asianmhc.org. Learn more about your ad cho

Today I am psyched to have my good friend, and occasional running partner, Ted Jordan on the show. Ted's journey as an amateur runner began the same way as most folks - he started running a couple times a week to stay fit while in his 20's. Things progressed quickly for Ted in his late 30's when he decided that he wanted to complete a marathon before his 40th birthday. From there, Ted improved every year and isn't slowing down anytime soon. In fact, he set a five minute marathon PR at the Philadelphia Marathon a few weeks ago with a time of 3:36! In this episode Ted and I talk about improving as we age, how he was able to increase his aerobic base in order to feel strong at the end of marathons, and the methods he uses to determine his marathon pace and pacing strategies. You can follow Ted at www.instagram.com/tjordan1329. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This past weekend we took the Rambling Runner Podcast on the road to the California International Marathon! This fantastic race brings in runners from all over the country who are itching to reach a big goal. The energy surrounding the event is palpable and it's always one of the highlights of my year. In this episode we have four back-to-back live shows featuring: Alison Mariella Desir: Discussing her book "Running While Black" Mike "Kofuzi" Ko: Talking about running three marathons and eight week and Shoe Talk (of course) Jess Mena, DPT: All about marathon recovery from a running physical therapist Ashley Paulson: Chasing fun and interesting goals and staying healthy for the long term in order to achieve them If you want to hear the live shows with Peter Bromka and Stefanie Flippin you can get them by subscribing to Relay at www.patreon.com/relay. Peter speaks eloquently about marathon and it's place in his life and Stefanie discusses coaching athletes to take a shot a big goal. Learn more about y

Hi everyone, if you are running the California International Marathon we have the perfect episode for you! Matt Chittim, Mike "Kofuzi" Ko, and Peter Bromka breakdown literally EVERYTHING you need to know about the race. They cover travel, Sacramento food spots, pre-race logistics, the buses, porta-potties, staying warm before the race, and of course, race course strategy and course management. No joke, they cover everything! This episode was originally published on Relay. _ _ _ Relay is a collaborative of elite runners and running content creators publishing high-end writing, audio/podcasts, and video. These pieces provide insight, knowledge, and entertainment to dedicated runners. Relay has some of the most collaborative and creative work in the running industry that is sure to impact runners of all abilities. ​​Relay will be publishing 20+ pieces of content per month including 3-4 live video sessions. These will include the Relay Book Club, Coach's Corner, and interviews with professional runners. The live

Dino Nosella is on the podcast and he has a great story to tell! Dino's story is about motivation, inspiration, and improvement. Dino's family and friends were hit hard during the pandemic. On top of that, his small business was shuttered for 10 months during Toronto's shutdowns. Through it all, he found solace in running and his children. He kept pushing and enjoying parts of life were available to him when all else was up in the air. This year Dino rebounded from a spring marathon DNF to execute the best marathon of his life. Hear all about Dino's amazing story and how his local running community has propelled him to new heights. Our California International Marathon live shows at the expo have been finalized! If you will be in Sacramento this weekend we'd love to see you. Friday Tim Tollefson - 4:00 Elaina Tabb - 4:30 Julia Griffey - 5:00 Jon Levitt - 5:30 Saturday Alison Mariella Desir - 3:00 Mike "Kofuzi" Ko - 3:20 Jess Mena - 3:40 Ashley Paulson - 4:00 Peter Bromka - 4:30 Learn more about

Carolyn Su is back for our monthly For the Love of The Run feature! First, Matt and Carolyn dive into their current running adventures. Carolyn is bouncing back nicely from two injuries that seriously threatened her short term running future. Matt details his first every trail race and the amazing folks who move over trails like nothing he's ever seen. Then the conversation shifts to managing race results at marathons when the conditions greatly alter everyone's ability to perform. We saw this recently at the the NYC Marathon and Indy where folks had to manage the conditions and their own expectations. For the Love of the Run is presented by Tracksmith. Both Carolyn and I been wearing and loving Tracksmith for years and we couldn't think of a better brand to partner with on this endeavor. Now is the time to buy some Tracksmith favorites as they are having a huge sale (which almost neve happens)! You can visit our link at www.Tracksmith.com/loveoftherun and save 20% by using code GRAVY20 at checkout between

With December a week away many runners are starting to consider how they are going to approach the winter months in regards to their running and fitness. In this episode, I take a deep dive into why building your aerobic base is the best way forward and the top ways novices and experience runners can do just that (and it isn't only about running more miles). If you are looking for a coach to help you along your running journey, I'd be honored to work with you! You can learn more and sign up at www.mckirdytrained.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices