For Real, Though

Ryan and Tina reunite after nearly two weeks together, recapping their trip to Nashville and Chattanooga, including the US Trail Running Conference. They then answer a listener question about the emotional toll of injuries and the connection between an athlete and their body, sharing their own surgery and recovery stories before closing with their weekly icks.

Topics Reunion and the yogurt bowl (0:02).

Ryan and Tina are back on screen, and Tina raises something from last week. They recap a yogurt bowl and a snotty tissue Ryan left in her car, and Ryan owns that he failed to clean them up.

Electric car charging troubles (2:16).

Tina's electric car was undercharged after their Nashville trip, and she struggled to find a working charger on the rural drive to Chattanooga. Ryan recounts the stressful charging stops. Tina says she needs to learn the apps and charging options, and they discuss a backup battery and a Tesla adapter.

Chattanooga and Nashville recap (5:46).

They enjoyed the US Trail Running Conference in Nashville and praise the tacos at an unnamed Mexican restaurant. They also cover Ryan meeting Tina's daughters, the demands of parenting, and Tina's tightly scheduled life of elite running, work and children. They consider whether Ryan's visit added stress and agree the time was worthwhile, though unusually intense.

Trail racing, sustainability and inclusion (14:12).

Tina describes learning about sustainability challenges in trail races, including generator power and fire risk, and the different scale and culture of trail versus road running. Ryan discusses meeting race directors and moderating panels on race revenue and inclusion. He talks about the emotional challenge of sharing personal experiences while advocating for non-binary divisions, and about feeling welcomed by the trail community. They discuss intentionally using personal stories and emotion to help people understand exclusion.

Ryan's return to training (23:17).

After the NYC Marathon, Ryan describes a rainy workout, a 35-mile run, and a quad concern that resolved after rest and checking with his team.

Listener question: the emotional toll of injury (25:53).

Tina discusses learning to recognize effort and recovery without relying on a watch, and how niggles can be early warning signals.

Niggles versus injuries (29:37).

They distinguish common low-level niggles from injuries. Ryan shares how he monitors mild pain to see whether it worsens, while Tina advises easing or postponing workouts rather than forcing them, especially for less experienced runners. She also recommends Run Care for finding runner-aware medical professionals.

Injury trauma and surgery (40:23).

Ryan shares a severe college ankle sprain, years of fear and ankle problems, and eventual surgery. Tina describes Haglund's deformity and Achilles surgery, the daily pain and limits it caused, and her long recovery. They reflect on surgery as a way to relieve long-term physical and emotional burden.

Recovering and returning to running (47:48).

Ryan describes anxiety about losing fitness, cross-training, and regaining fitness faster than he expected. Tina explains she worried he returned too aggressively, while her own recovery was more cautious. They discuss testing limits, building confidence, and how pain at an old injury site can trigger fear.

The long road back from Achilles surgery (59:23).

Tina reflects on how slowly her fitness returned and how the experience increased her appreciation and respect for her body.

Chronic pain and advocating for care (1:04:41).

They discuss Ryan's year-plus of plantar fasciitis, the emotional toll of chronic pain and repeated treatments while continuing training, and the value of seeking other opinions and advocating for care.

Weekly icks (1:09:09).

Tina says Ryan doesn't fully clean his reusable Hydrapak bottles, leaving the silicone tops on, and they discuss drying, cleaning and a bottle-cleaning product. Ryan's ick is Tina calling him out for leaving his hair dryer on the bathroom counter. They tease each other about household habits and the ironing board, then wrap up.

Our ground rules:

• we will get off topic
• we argue and pick fights with each other
• we swear

we are intentionally provocative (and have to work through disagreements to get to the next level of relationship)

See you Every Friday!

Theme music by TJ Dumser. You can find him on Instagram @sixmissing

Check out this episode!

Ryan and Tina record their first episode in person, in Tina's kitchen in Chattanooga, a day after getting back from New York City Marathon weekend. They cover Ryan's 2:23 marathon and first-place non-binary finish, Tina's refill stations during the race, a very public chafing problem, the online buzz that followed, and the weekly ick among many other topics.

Topics

Why they're in Chattanooga (4:22).

Both just finished New York City Marathon weekend and are speaking at a conference in Nashville this week. They also announce they'll be on stage together at TRE in December.

A chaotic New York week (6:20).

Tina juggles her sustainability nonprofit, her work with New York Road Runners and a marathon. Ryan points out she never budgets transition time, as in the Wednesday plan to squeeze a group run in before Harry Styles at Madison Square Garden.

Community and the Desert Solstice reaction (9:42).

They talk about friends showing up in New York and people asking "where's Ryan?" Ryan says the reaction to the 24-hour announcement skews toward "you must be mental to do it on a 400 meter track."

Pacing a 2:23 PR (14:28).

New York was training for the 24-hour race. Ryan guessed a 2:25 and his coach suggested 2:20, so Ryan split the difference and ran 2:23 on a hard course.

Deferring last year (16:52).

Tina remembers Ryan floating the idea of starting the race six weeks after surgery. Ryan deferred instead.

Sub-elite treatment and the non-binary division (18:39). Ryan describes the private transport, police escort, warm-up area and PTs. Ryan explains why visibility in the division matters.

Race moments (21:59).

Ryan recalls the helicopters over the Verrazzano Bridge, the wall of noise coming off the Queensboro Bridge, the climb up Fifth Avenue and the bike escort.

A competitive non-binary time (26:42).

Ryan finished first non-binary in a course record time.

London vs. New York (28:12).

Tina gets the verdict from the Deputy Mayor of London, Mete Coban, whom she hands a medal at the finish. Tina still holds a slight London bias.

Tina's meltdown and race-morning decision (31:59).

An overwhelmed Tina breaks down in a Sweetgreen on Friday, partly from guilt about being away from home. On race morning she decides to start with NYRR Team for Climate at the back of wave two rather than in wave one.

Team for Climate and the refill stations (40:04).

Tina tells the group of about 200 runners they raised $800,000. She then runs 2:55 while refilling at Culligan stations with a reusable bottle and nutrition flask, and estimates over 100,000 cups saved across 61,000 runners.

Joyful moments and running it again (51:21).

Tina describes punching the Mario-style boxes and locking eyes with friends. They then talk about running again next year and how lucky an auto-qualifying time is when the lottery odds are 1 to 4 percent.

Bloody nipples go viral (57:06).

Ryan forgot tape, relied on anti-chafe and started bleeding around mile eight. The NYC Marathon collab post has 1.5 million views and over 12,000 shares. The irony is that Ryan did a Band-Aid brand collaboration this year.

Backlash and why visibility matters (63:55).

Ryan says the negative comments hit harder this time. Ryan cites the Trevor Project's 2024 survey on suicidal ideation among non-binary and trans youth, and invites questions for a future episode.

Icks and the notification center (70:57).

Tina's ick is Ryan cuddling without asking, and Ryan's is the yogurt bowl left on the table. They then revisit Team Notification Center, which turns into a conversation about phone habits.

Tina and Ryan start with the response to the first episode, then close the loop on Tina's backpack. They cover their New York City Marathon weekend, Ryan's 24-hour world record attempt, backyard ultras, and what it's like to negotiate sponsorships. They finish with their weekly icks, which turn out to be about notifications and text messages.

Topics How the launch landed (4:14).

Ryan says the feedback has been warm. What came up most was how much listeners liked Tina and Ryan's relationship. Ryan says he mostly wanted people to see it.

Closing the loop on Tina's backpack (4:50).

After last week's episode, Tina felt self-conscious about her backpack and put it through the wash. Ryan and Tina disagree on whether it's "disgusting" or "just has a lot going on." She cleared out old bag tags, wrappers and airplane tickets first. When she repacked it, she found the watch she lost in Chicago. A replacement had just arrived, so she's now keeping the washed watch and sending the new one back.

New York City Marathon weekend (10:35).

They fly in Wednesday and go to the Harry Styles concert at MSG, where they're still working out their sign. Tina speaks at the expo on Thursday, and both run on Sunday. Ryan is nervous about the warm forecast. He recalls cramping up and becoming dehydrated after London in April, and he's thinking ahead to the walk back from the finish in Central Park.

Ryan's 24-hour world record attempt (16:50).

He's going after the record on December 19th on a 400 meter track, aiming to pass 198.5 miles. He explains why he chose this over a 100-mile race, what the crew setup looks like, and how he's thinking about bathroom stops. Tina talks about her mixed feelings about track running and about being there to support him.

Backyard ultras (31:26).

This was the most requested topic from listener questions. Ryan walks through how the format works: a 4.167 mile loop that has to be finished within each hour. He covers last week's World Team Championships, where the winner completed 107 laps. He also covers the format's history and the strategy and sleep deprivation involved. Ryan talks about his own ski version in January, where he stopped after 13 laps because of the cold. They also mention going to watch one in person.

Sponsorships and rejection (46:30).

They talk about how often brand conversations end in a "no" or silence, and why it's hard not to take that personally. Tina describes where she is in her own negotiations. She wants running to be a bigger part of her year without it taking over everything. Ryan describes weighing offers from several brands, and says it may come down to how each brand shows up and communicates rather than the product.

Notification centers (1:12:34).

Tina wants Ryan to turn off his notifications and the notification center. Ryan says his phone is full of emails, news, dating apps and texts. He admits he reads messages and then forgets to reply. He says he's closer to changing it, though Tina isn't convinced.

Weekly icks (1:15:02).

Ryan's ick is Tina's stream-of-consciousness texts when he's busy, which he also says he loves about her. Tina's ick is when he doesn't acknowledge her messages.

Wrap-up (1:18:51).

They thank listeners and ask for topic suggestions. They preview a busy two months, including a training camp and CIM. Next week's episode will be recorded live at Tina's house.

Our ground rules:

• we will get off topic
• we argue and pick fights with each other
• we swear
• we are intentionally provocative (and have to work through disagreements to get to the next level of relationship)

See you Every Friday!

Theme music by TJ Dumser. You can find him on Instagram @sixmissing

Our ground rules:

• we will get off topic
• we argue and pick fights with each other
• we swear
• we are intentionally provocative (and have to work through disagreements to get to the next level of relationship)

Navigating Raw Conversations with Friends

In this first episode of our podcast, we share insights into our friendship, highlighting the deep conversations that have made us best friends. In this episode, we reflect on how our relationship has evolved, and how we work with the complexities that come with being both friends and people who like to push boundaries.

The journey of friendship

We talk about how our connection has allowed for authentic and sometimes challenging discussions. If you are looking for a similar connection in your own life, this episode will resonate.

Embracing vulnerability

We are very honest about moments of tension and conflict, and how working through these challenges allowed us to grow. Ryan recalls a recent disagreement, stating, "We actually fought. But then we work through it because we love each other and we always find like common ground in our conversations." Our honesty about conflict sets the tone for this podcast, we want to explore uncomfortable yet necessary topics.

What you can expect ahead

Listeners can expect a mix of topics that resonate with both our personal and collective experiences. We would love to hear your ideas of what we can discuss.

With this podcast, we hope to offer a space where listeners can feel like they are eavesdropping on an intimate conversation between friends, and we want to everyone to engage in deeper discussions in their own lives.

See you Every Friday!

Theme music by TJ Dumser. You can find him on Instagram @sixmissing

Come join two friends being honest, funny and real about running.

Our ground rules:

• we will get off topic
• we argue and pick fights with each other
• we swear
• we are intentionally provocative (and have to work through disagreements to get to the next level of relationship)

See you Every Friday.

Tina has been a podcast host for a decade; first on Runners Connect's "Run to the Top," then since 2017 on her own award-winning show, "Running for Real." Inspiring interviews and deep friendships have come out of the experience, but now, she has decided, it's time to move on.

She'll be focusing on her passion for environmentalism, especially through her work with Racing for Sustainability, the nonprofit she's created to help small to mid-sized races become more eco-conscious.

For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode439.

Thank you to AG1 for sponsoring this episode.

AG1 is a research-backed Daily Health Drink that combines a multivitamin, probiotic, and blend of superfoods into one scoop that supports the microbiome, immune defense, and metabolism with 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food sourced ingredients. You'd be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive powder/supplement on the market.

They're offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You'll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out https://DrinkAG1.com/tina to get this offer!

Thanks for listening!

Keep up with what's going on at Running for Real by signing up for our weekly newsletter on our website, https://runningforreal.com/.

Follow Tina on Instagram and Facebook.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@TinaMuir) for additional content, including our "RED-S: Realize. Reflect. Recover" series of 100+ videos.

Thank you for your support - we appreciate each and every one of you!

Kelly Roberts has inspired other runners by sharing her running journey online since long before the word "influencer" entered the popular lexicon. In Tina's final interview before "Running for Real" goes on hiatus, she and Kelly reflect on their journeys as trailblazers in social media.

While Kelly is Tina's final guest (at least for a while), she does have one more episode coming up to share some exciting news, so be sure to listen next week!

For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode438.

Thank you to AG1 for sponsoring this episode.

AG1 is a research-backed Daily Health Drink that combines a multivitamin, probiotic, and blend of superfoods into one scoop that supports the microbiome, immune defense, and metabolism with 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food sourced ingredients. You'd be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive powder/supplement on the market.

They're offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You'll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out https://DrinkAG1.com/tina to get this offer!

Thanks for listening!

If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast. And if you enjoy "Running for Real," please leave us a review!

Keep up with what's going on at Running for Real by signing up for our weekly newsletter on our website, https://runningforreal.com/.

Follow Tina on Instagram, and Facebook. You'll find Running for Real on Instagram and Facebook too!

Want to be a member of the Running for Real community? Join #Running4Real Superstars on Facebook!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@TinaMuir) for additional content, including our "RED-S: Realize. Reflect. Recover" series of 100+ videos.

Thank you for your support - we appreciate each and every one of you!

For many writers, the logical followup to a successful book is a sequel. For Alex Hutchinson, it was his reluctance to go down that path that led to his new book, "The Explorer's Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map." In it, he examines the ways in which humans' need to explore is expressed in all areas of our lives.

For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode437.

Thank you to AG1 for sponsoring this episode.

AG1 is a research-backed Daily Health Drink that combines a multivitamin, probiotic, and blend of superfoods into one scoop that supports the microbiome, immune defense, and metabolism with 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food sourced ingredients. You'd be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive powder/supplement on the market.

They're offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You'll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out https://DrinkAG1.com/tina to get this offer!

Thanks for listening!

If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast. And if you enjoy "Running for Real," please leave us a review!

Keep up with what's going on at Running for Real by signing up for our weekly newsletter on our website, https://runningforreal.com/.

Follow Tina on Instagram, and Facebook. You'll find Running for Real on Instagram and Facebook too!

Want to be a member of the Running for Real community? Join #Running4Real Superstars on Facebook!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@TinaMuir) for additional content, including our "RED-S: Realize. Reflect. Recover" series of 100+ videos.

Thank you for your support - we appreciate each and every one of you!

Many people identify themselves as climate activists, but not many would call themselves climate optimists - especially not now. Lauren Bash, however, still finds reasons to be hopeful, and offers ways to combat the environmental crisis centered around the principles of climate action, connection, and community.

For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode436.

Thank you to AG1 and Precision Fuel & Hydration for sponsoring this episode.

AG1 is a research-backed Daily Health Drink that combines a multivitamin, probiotic, and blend of superfoods into one scoop that supports the microbiome, immune defense, and metabolism with 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food sourced ingredients. You'd be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive powder/supplement on the market.

They're offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You'll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out https://DrinkAG1.com/tina to get this offer!

Precision Fuel & Hydration helps athletes crush their fueling and hydration so they can perform at their best. Tina used their electrolytes and fuel when she finished first female and third overall at the Bryce Canyon 50 Miler. You can go to https://visit.pfandh.com/tina-planner for their free Fuel & Hydration planner to understand how much carb, fluid, and sodium you need for your key runs.

If you have more questions, Precision offers free video consultations. Their Athlete Support crew will answer your race nutrition questions and act as a sounding board for your fueling strategy. No hard-sell, just an experienced and friendly human who knows the science and is full of practical advice on how to nail your race nutrition. You can book a call at https://visit.pfandh.com/tina-calls.

Once you know what you need to run your best, you can go to https://www.precisionfuelandhydration.com/tina/ for 15% off their range of multi-strength electrolytes and fuel.

Thanks for listening!

If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast. And if you enjoy "Running for Real," please leave us a review!

Keep up with what's going on at Running for Real by signing up for our weekly newsletter on our website, https://runningforreal.com/.

Follow Tina on Instagram and Facebook. You'll find Running for Real on Instagram and Facebook too!

Want to be a member of the Running for Real community? Join #Running4Real Superstars on Facebook!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@TinaMuir) for additional content, including our "RED-S: Realize. Reflect. Recover" series of 100+ videos.

Thank you for your support - we appreciate each and every one of you!

Ten years ago Jeffrey McEachern found himself at a point in his life where he knew things had to change. He found happiness and purpose through running, became a Peloton instructor, just earned his Six Star Medal at the Tokyo Marathon, and motivates others through his "Good Vibes Crew" community.

For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode435.

Thank you to Precision Fuel & Hydration and AG1 for sponsoring this episode.

Precision Fuel & Hydration helps athletes crush their fueling and hydration so they can perform at their best. Tina used their electrolytes and fuel when she finished first female and third overall at the Bryce Canyon 50 Miler. You can go to https://visit.pfandh.com/tina-planner for their free Fuel & Hydration planner to understand how much carb, fluid, and sodium you need for your key runs.

If you have more questions, Precision offers free video consultations. Their Athlete Support crew will answer your race nutrition questions and act as a sounding board for your fueling strategy. No hard-sell, just an experienced and friendly human who knows the science and is full of practical advice on how to nail your race nutrition. You can book a call at https://visit.pfandh.com/tina-calls.

Once you know what you need to run your best, you can go to https://www.precisionfuelandhydration.com/tina/ for 15% off their range of multi-strength electrolytes and fuel.

AG1 is a research-backed Daily Health Drink that combines a multivitamin, probiotic, and blend of superfoods into one scoop that supports the microbiome, immune defense, and metabolism with 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food sourced ingredients. You'd be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive powder/supplement on the market.

They're offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You'll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out https://DrinkAG1.com/tina to get this offer!

Thanks for listening!

If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast. And if you enjoy "Running for Real," please leave us a review!

Keep up with what's going on at Running for Real by signing up for our weekly newsletter on our website, https://runningforreal.com/.

Follow Tina on Instagram, and Facebook. You'll find Running for Real on Instagram and Facebook too!

Want to be a member of the Running for Real community? Join #Running4Real Superstars on Facebook!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@TinaMuir) for additional content, including our "RED-S: Realize. Reflect. Recover" series of 100+ videos.

Thank you for your support - we appreciate each and every one of you!