Foot pain and knee pain are all too common ailments for runners, but it can be hard to pin down the source or figure out how to treat it. Nathan and Matt team up to take a look at some common sources of forefoot, heel, plantar, and anterior knee pains. They explore different possible causes, strategies for rehab/strengthening, and things to look for in shoes.

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Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!

Stryd’s Race Power Calculator eliminates the uncertainty of race day by analyzing the course, weather, and your personal capability to create a custom power target. This lets you pace with precision—conquering hills, battling headwinds, or enduring heat without overdoing it. With Stryd, you’re strategizing for your best performance. Ready to own race day? Visit ⁦stryd.com⁩ today.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:22 - In For Testing
• 11:38 - Diagnosing Nate's foot pain
• 24:32 - Plantar forefoot foot pain
• 27:46 - The impact of shoes on plantar pain
• 32:48 - Heel & plantar fascia pain
• 36:04 - Maintaining a healthy foot
• 42:10 - Anterior knee pain
• 44:43 - Shoes & knee pain
• 49:06 - Preventing & rehabbing knee pain
• 53:27 - What about running form?
• 1:00:16 - Wrap-up

Join Nathan, David, and Matt as they continue answering you the mailbag questions they started on our 250th episode! They explore how different foam compositions can affect injury pathologies, the science behind shoe rotations, adapting to super shoes, and much more. We love hearing your questions, so email us at [email protected]!

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!

Stryd’s Race Power Calculator eliminates the uncertainty of race day by analyzing the course, weather, and your personal capability to create a custom power target. This lets you pace with precision—conquering hills, battling headwinds, or enduring heat without overdoing it. With Stryd, you’re strategizing for your best performance. Ready to own race day? Visit ⁦stryd.com⁩ today.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:18 - In For Testing
• 17:54 - Foam composition's effect on injury & pain
• 23:56 - Shoe shelf life
• 29:26 - Finding the right shoe for ultramarathons
• 35:48 - Helping run retail customers understand how to find the right shoe
• 45:02 - Adapting to super shoes without running in them much
• 54:23 - The science behind shoe rotations
• 1:06:56 - Wrap-up

We've got a special mailbag episode for our 250th episode! We've put together tons of questions from long times friends of the podcast (Drew from Weartesters, Tina & Evan from Brooks, and more!) and from our listeners. Matt & David discuss pre-race rituals, post-run snacks, their worst shoe color, GOAT shoe rotations, and much more (shoes as ice cream?!). Want to hear your question on our next mailbag? Email us at [email protected].

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

This episode is sponsored by our friends at Running Warehouse. We're all about variety here, which is why we love the large selection of options they offer online. You can find all of today's best shoes at ⁦runningwarehouse.com⁩ today. Also, did you know we have our very own DOR page there? Find all of our team's favorite Running Warehouse picks at the official ⁠Doctors of Running shop⁠.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:22 - In for Testing
• 14:52 - Treating plantar fasciitis in youth athletes
• 21:46 - Worst shoe color ever
• 26:46 - Things we wish shoes did better to help runners
• 33:00 - Pre long-run/race rituals
• 38:02 - How much does drop matter with soft midsoles
• 42:52 - Favorite post-run snacks
• 45:12 - What would you wear for a run across the US?
• 48:38 - Potential impact of over-40mm midsoles
• 56:38 - If midsoles were ice creams, what would they be?
• 1:03:28 - Building a 3-shoe rotation from any shoes ever
• 1:12:50 - Wrap-up

As we head into the back half of the year, it's time to make our picks for our favorite shoes of the 2025 so far. Matt, Andrea, David, and Nathan put together a 4-shoe rotation from their 2025 favorites: daily trainer, long run, workout shoe, and race shoe. We want to hear your picks! Email us at [email protected] or leave a comment.

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

This episode is sponsored by our friends at Running Warehouse. You can find all of our favorite shoes of the year so far at ⁦runningwarehouse.com⁩ today. Also, did you know we have our very own DOR page there? Find all of our team's favorite Running Warehouse picks at the official ⁠Doctors of Running shop⁠.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:10 - Favorite Skratch product of the year
• 7:31 - Favorite daily trainer of the year
• 31:08 - Long run shoe
• 41:20 - Workout shoe
• 52:08 - Race shoe
• 59:12 - Most intruiging brand
• 1:05:16 - Wrap-up

Strength training and cross training are some of the best things runners can do to help their performance, and we're passionate about them here at DOR. Nathan, Matt, and David join up to share their keys when it comes to strength & conditioning. They'll give you practical strategies on how to approach strength training in a way you can consistently accomplish, because the best routine is the one you can do on the regular!

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:14 - In for Testing
• 17:52 - An overview of strength & cross training
• 22:34 - How do our strength & conditioning needs change as we age?
• 28:30 - How do things change depending on what kind of races you're training for?
• 39:42 - Our Top 3 keys for strength & conditioning
• 52:48 - Wrap-up

You know we love stable neutral shoes at DOR. Matt & David join up to take a look at the state of stable neutral shoes in 2025 and give their favorite picks. They define some key terms like sole flair and sidewalls, then share their favorites for daily training, speed work, and races.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!

This episode is sponsored by our friends at Running Warehouse. We're all about variety here, which is why we love the large selection of options they offer online. You can find all of today's stable neutral options discussed in the shoe at ⁦runningwarehouse.com⁩ today. Also, did you know we have our very own DOR page there? Find all of our team's favorite Running Warehouse picks at the official Doctors of Running shop.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 6:00 - An overview of "stable neutral"
• 20:06 - Stable neutral daily trainers
• 29:36 - Speed options
• 36:38 - Sole flare
• 41:12 - Lower stack height
• 47:20 - Wrap-up

David & Nathan are here with a mailbag, where we answer your questions. They discuss the upcoming Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, the latest in minimalist/zero-drop shoes, running store shoe fitting, and more. They also share the shoes they've got in for testing and some clothing picks that have stood the test of time. Want your questions answered? Email us at [email protected]!

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:16 - In for Testing
• 3:56 - Apparel we love
• 12:18 - How you can work with us as coaches and PTs
• 16:50 - How's the arch fit of the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo
• 21:20 - What would be the ideal running shoe store fitting process?
• 30:32 - Minimalist/zero-drop shoe recommendations
• 35:14 - Lateral foot movement in different kinds of shoes
• 38:04 - ASICS Glideride 3 replacements to help with Hallux Rigidus
• 44:11 - Wrap-up

Matt & Andrea are back with another installation of Between Two Feet, where they contrast their different experiences in a shoe. Last time it was the Nike Vaporfly 4, and this time it's the Brooks Hyperion Max 3. Brooks completely overhauled the Hyperion Max, one of Andrea's favorite shoes of the past few years, and turned it into a true max-stack supertrainer. With a Pebax plate & a dual-density DNA Flash/DNA Gold midsole, this one's meant for the long miles. Matt & Andrea discuss how their different mechanics affect how they experienced the foam, weight, and geometry of the shoe. They wrap up by offering some supertrainer options as alternatives to super racing shoes.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 4:47 - Upper
• 9:15 - Midsole
• 22:19 - Supertrainers as alternative racing shoes
• 28:08 - Wrap up

Matt & David are joined by Yowana for a special episode of hot takes only: Buy/Sell and This or That! We put ourselves on the hot seat here–no gray area, no middle ground. We pick between, and argue over EVA midsoles, $500 shoes, long run days, soft vs. firm midsoles, and much more.

Yowana is the founder of Supwell Running, place where hobby joggers come to get better. They're about mileage, putting in the work daily and being consistent. They're also about shenanigans, looking out for each other and passing on the best running shoe deals. Be sure to check them out on Instagram and YouTube!

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

This episode is sponsored by our friends at Running Warehouse. You can find all of our comfort picks from today’s episode at runningwarehouse.com.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 10:32 - Buy/sell: Companies should make fewer shoe models
• 17:56 - No more EVA shoes
• 26:26 - 500 shoes
• 36:33 - Puma is a top 3 running shoe company right now
• 43:48 - Reviewing shoes has made me a better runner
• 50:06 - This or That: Saturday or Sunday long runs
• 55:12 - Saucony Endorpin Trainer or Puma Deviate Nitro 3
• 1:00:05 - Midsoles: soft & bouncy or firm & responsive
• 1:03:43 - Reviewing long distance shoes or short distance shoes
• 1:07:54 - If you were going to build your ideal super shoe, how would you do it?
• 1:18:42 - Wrap-up

If you've been following us for a while, you know that Matt & Andrea often experience shoes completely differently, so on this episode they get together to compare & contrast their experiences in Nike's major overhaul to the OG of supershoes: the Vaporfly 4. With a shorter stack height and narrowed down platform, this nimble racer offers a vastly different ride from its big sibling, the Alphafly 3. Andrea loved Vaporfly 3, so how will she feel about the updates? Matt's often found the Vaporflys too unstable, so will that continue? Tune in to see if you side more with Andrea or Matt! Have any shoes you want us to compare/contrast opinions on? Email us at [email protected].

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 11:26 - Nike Vaporfly 4 overview
• 13:30 - Upper
• 19:26 - Midsole & Ride
• 30:12 - The impact of small geometry changes on the running experience
• 39:02 - Wrap-up