Inspired Soles

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Canadian marathoner Thomas Nobbs joins the show after his breakthrough 2:09:25 win at the McKirdy Micro Marathon, moving him to 4th all-time in Canada. We unpack the training, patience, and mindset behind his massive leap.

Connect with Thomas:

• Instagram: @nobbs.not.knobs @coach.nobbs
• Coaching: Team Run Run, @teamrunrun

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Four experienced run coaches pull back the curtain on a real mentorship-group conversation to explore the pros, cons, and trade-offs of 1:1 coaching versus training plans—and help you decide what’s right for you.

SPONSOR: Cure Hydration. Staying hydrated isn't just about water — you also need electrolytes. Real ingredients. Real hydration.

Visit curehydration.com/INSPIREDSOLES for 20% off. 

Previous Episode with these coaches:

• Ep 227: Insights From 5 Expert Run Coaches

Connect with Janelle Brade:

• Inspired Soles Interview: 
  • Ep 148: Level Up Your Mental Game
• Website: https://www.motivatedinmotion.com/
• Instagram: @motivated.in.motion @motivated.mrs

Connect with Lynsey Romano:

• Inspired Soles Interviews: 
  • Ep 31: Why Runners Can't Afford to NOT Strength Train 
  • Ep 206: The Science of Marathon Tapering
  • Ep 221: Navigating Changes in the Coach-Athlete Relationship
• Website: https://www.runcoach.org/ 
• Instagram: @lynseyeromano

Connect with Jocelyn Fredine:

• Inspired Soles Interview: 
  • Ep 280: Strong at Every Stage | 5 Women on Running, Identity & Belonging (International Women's Day Special)
• Website: https://www.runcoach.org/ 
• Instagram: @coach.jocelyn

Connect with Sarah Carroll:

• • Inspired Soles Interview: 
    • Ep 218: How to Get Started (or Re-Started) With Running
  • Website: https://www.underdogscoaching.com/
  • Instagram: @underdogs_coaching

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

What does marathon training really look like across a nearly two-hour performance gap?

In this episode, I’m joined by Sara Mandersheid to explore the key differences between coaching a 2:55 and a 4:35 Boston Qualifier. We dig into how factors like time on feet, long runs, workouts, fueling, recovery, and race day strategy should actually scale — and why a one-size-fits-all approach to marathon training often misses the mark.

Along the way, Sara shares thoughtful truths about mileage, performance, and what really moves the needle — while also reminding us that joy has a place in the process.

Whether you’re chasing a BQ or simply looking to train smarter, this conversation might just change how you think about your running.

Connect with Sara:

• Instagram: @sayrahrunshappy @elevateyourrunning
• Podcast: Elevate Your Running 
• Coaching: elevateyourrunning.com

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

This week, I’m joined by professional marathoner Jacob Thomson, coming off his race at the New York City Half Marathon. We unpack how the race played out, including the moment he found himself running solo, and what it all means with Boston just five weeks away.

We also talk about his unique role pacing some of the best runners in the world, his top tips for tackling the Boston course, and his podcast Out and Back. And of course, we couldn’t help but weigh in on the buzz around Grant Fisher’s half marathon debut.

SPONSOR: Cure Hydration. Staying hydrated isn't just about water — you also need electrolytes. Real ingredients. Real hydration.

Visit curehydration.com/INSPIREDSOLES for 20% off. 

Connect with Jacob:

• Instagram: @jtcougars8 @runthomsontraining @out_n_back
• Out and Back Podcast 
• Coaching: https://www.thomsontraining.run/

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Carolyn speaks with five Canadian women runners from their 20s to their 60s about identity, belonging, and what running gives us at every stage of life. Their stories are different, but the threads that connect them may feel surprisingly familiar.

Guests:

1. Jazz Shukla (@peanutjazz) – Olympic 800m runner
2. Joelle Tomlinson (@joelle_t) – TV host and media personality, joelletomlinson.ca
3. Jocelyn Fredine (@coach.jocelyn) – Athletic therapist and running coach
4. Shannon Wilson (@shannon72wilson) – Runner, triathlete, and palliative care professional
5. Judy Otto (@otto.jusdy) – Masters runner chasing a Boston qualifier

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

My frequent co-host (and husband!) Johnny Coffin is back on the mic for a deeper conversation about what the past few months have stirred up since The Marathon Project. From unpacking a tough DNF to reflecting on the themes emerging across recent podcast episodes, we explore identity, expectation management, and the patterns Johnny has noticed as I’ve processed it all in real time.

We also share training updates with eight weeks to go until Boston — including Johnny’s upcoming 3000m and international half marathon — and how we’re supporting each other through this next build. Along the way, we reference Grossweiner’s Law and the now-infamous “meatloaf vs. pizza” analogy… which will all make sense by the end.

Sponsor: Visit levermovement.com and use Inspired20 for 20% off OR use this link: https://levermovement.com/discount/Inspired20

Connect with Johnny:

• Instagram: @bestjohnnyever
• Previous Inspired Soles episodes:
  • EP: 271: The Marathon Project: PBs, DNFs & Perspective 
  • EP 266: Chasing Big Goals at The Marathon Project
  • EP 240: Sub-35 10K & Ottawa Race Weekend Recap
  • EP 230: Ask Carolyn Anything + Colour Commentary from Johnny
  • EP224: Do You Control Strava, or Does It Control You?
  • EP 211: Coffin's Chicago Marathon Recap: The Bodily Fluids Episode
  • EP 202: Paris Olympic Track & Marathon Recap 
  • EP 55: Road to the 2021 Boston Marathon
  • EP 12: Slow the BLEEP Down

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Jeff Cunningham returns for a deeper conversation about the parts of coaching that go far beyond workouts and race plans.

We explore what happens when the real obstacle isn’t fitness, but confidence. When athletes are running 90+ miles per week but not fueling enough. When self-worth gets tangled up in race results. When comparison — amplified by social media — chips away at belief.

Jeff shares how he navigates these challenges as a coach, especially when the issue isn’t physical but emotional — or when it falls outside of his own expertise. We talk about the danger of the success-or-failure mindset, what it really means to “stay on the path,” and how to rebuild trust in yourself after a disappointing performance.

This episode is about caring for the whole runner — not just the one chasing a PR.

If you’ve ever felt like your biggest hurdle wasn’t the training plan but your own self-doubt, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Jeff:

• Instagram: @jdcunningham97
• Bat City Track Club
• Cunningham Running
  
  

Jeff's Past Episodes on Inspired Soles:

• Episode 256 on Marathon Pacing 
• Episode 217 with Polly (Jeff’s Canadian sub-elite athlete)

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

What does “good coaching” really mean — and who deserves it?

In this episode, I’m joined by running coach, podcast host, and Running Rogue founder Chris McClung for a wide-ranging conversation on the fundamentals that help runners improve without shortcuts. We talk about slowing down to get faster, training by feel, and why elite training principles should be accessible to every runner, regardless of pace or experience.

Chris also shares behind-the-scenes insight into his new book, Running the Rogue Way: Elite Training Accessible to All, and the philosophy that has guided Rogue athletes for over two decades.

Visit levermovement.com and use Inspired20 for 20% off OR use this link: https://levermovement.com/discount/Inspired20

Connect with Chris:

• Instagram: @roguechris
• Podcast: Running Rogue
• Book: Running the Rogue Way: Elite Training Accessible to All
  • Paperback 
  • Hardcover
  • Canada
    • Ebook at Indigo
• Website: runningrogue.com
• Previous episode: Training for Hilly Races

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

I’m joined by high-performance running coach, mental performance coach, endurance athlete, and author Brant Stachel.

Brant’s new book, Fast and Free: Mindset Training for Endurance Athletes, explores what it really means to train your mind with the same intention and structure as your body — without losing the joy that brought you to the sport in the first place.

We talk about managing nerves and pressure, building confidence over time, and navigating those inevitable moments in training and racing when things start to feel hard or uncertain. Brant shares practical tools, real-world examples, and insights from his work with endurance athletes across all levels, offering a grounded, sustainable approach to mental performance.

Whether you’re chasing a personal best, working through setbacks, or simply looking to show up more calmly and confidently in your running, this conversation will give you plenty to reflect on — and apply.

Visit levermovement.com and use Inspired20 for 20% off OR use this link: https://levermovement.com/discount/Inspired20

Connect with Brant:

• Instagram: @fastandfreecoaching @brant_stachel
• YouTube: @FastandFreeCoaching
• Podcast: The Fast and Free Podcast
• Website: runfastandfree.com

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

I’m joined once again by Canadian marathon record holder Natasha Wodak for a timely and important conversation. We begin by recapping Natasha’s 2025 season and wrap up by looking ahead to what’s lighting her up in 2026, but the heart of this episode focuses on start line safety in a rapidly growing sport.

Just days before this recording, Natasha was taken down at the start of a local 8K race after being barged through by another runner. Although she got up and finished strongly, the injuries she sustained ultimately disrupted her training and prevented her from racing again days later. Together, we reflect on her experience and use it as a starting point to explore how crowded, chaotic start lines affect runners of all abilities—and how we can collectively do better.

This is a thoughtful, solutions-oriented discussion about shared responsibility, race design, and the small changes that could make a big difference in keeping all runners safe.

Visit levermovement.com and use Inspired20 for 20% off OR use this link: https://levermovement.com/discount/Inspired20

Resources we discussed in the episode:

• iRun Magazine article

Connect with Natasha:

• Instagram: @tashawodak
• Previous episodes on Inspired Soles
  • Ep 209: All Set to Race the Toronto Waterfront Marathon
  • Ep 190: On Missing the Olympic Marathon Standard
  • Ep 124: Canadian Marathon Record Holder

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected].