Kinda Fast Podcast

Kinda a Stress Fracture, Kinda Not? | Chicago Marathon 2026 Recap

This week on the Kinda Fast Podcast, Claire and Travis are talking all things Chicago Marathon 2026, including record-breaking performances, surprising training methods, and some unforgettable finish-line moments. Plus, we're diving into an injury every runner should know about: stress reactions vs. stress fractures.

We kick things off with "What Does That Even Mean?" and explain what a sweep car is, how marathon cutoff times work, and why you definitely don't want Disney's famous Balloon Ladies catching up to you on race day!

Then we're recapping the 2026 Chicago Marathon! From Amos Kipruto and Hawi Feysa's victories to Emma Grace Hurley's record-breaking American marathon debut, there's plenty to talk about. We also discuss Clayton Young's impressive performance despite a hamstring injury, Vinny Mauri's unconventional treadmill training at Planet Fitness, and which running shoes dominated the podium. Plus, we've got a 100-year-old woman making her track and field debut and a heartwarming story about a wife who secretly trained for a half marathon to surprise her husband.

For our deep dive, we're breaking down the difference between a stress reaction and a stress fracture. How do you know if that nagging shin pain is normal soreness or something more serious? We discuss five warning signs runners shouldn't ignore, common causes of bone stress injuries, and how training too hard, increasing mileage too quickly, or not fueling properly can lead to problems. Travis also shares his personal experience running through a bone stress injury and what his recovery looked like.

Finally, we're checking in on our own training, including Travis's acceptance into the 2027 Boston Marathon and Claire's road to the 2027 London Marathon!

Have you ever dealt with a stress reaction or stress fracture? We'd love to hear your experience!

The Kinda Fast Podcast is powered by Upward Running, a Christian running app designed to help runners grow in faith and fitness through training plans, coaching, encouragement, and community.

Download the app: https://upwardrunning.com/download/

Use code KINDAFAST for a two-week free trial!

New episodes every Friday!

#KindaFastPodcast #ChicagoMarathon2026 #RunningInjuries #StressFracture #MarathonTraining #UpwardRunning

What do Taco Bell, pot-bellied pigs, and 6,800 miles of running have in common? This week's episode of the Kinda Fast Podcast!

Claire and Travis welcome special guest Keith Storm, a runner who accomplished something pretty incredible: running every road and trail in Greenville County, South Carolina!

Over nearly four years, Keith covered approximately 6,800 miles, encountering everything from loose dogs and a pot-bellied pig to a baby bear along the way. He joins us to share what inspired this enormous challenge, the adventures that came with it, and what it takes to stay committed to a goal that takes years to accomplish.

We talk about early-morning highway runs, the importance of setting smaller milestones, discovering places you've passed a thousand times but never truly explored, and what's next for Keith.

Plus, somehow, nine Taco Bell stops during an ultramarathon make their way into the conversation!

Whether you're chasing a personal record or dreaming up your next big adventure, this episode is a reminder that sometimes the most incredible journeys start right outside your front door.

The Kinda Fast Podcast is powered by Upward Running, a Christian running app with training plans, coaching, daily encouragement, and a supportive community to help you grow in faith and fitness.

How to find Keith Storm: https://www.runupstate.com/ https://www.instagram.com/keithstorm/

Download the app: https://upwardrunning.com/download/

Use code KINDAFAST for a two-week free trial.

New episodes every Friday!

#KindaFastPodcast #KeithStorm #RunningPodcast #UpwardRunning #GreenvilleSC #RunningCommunity

What do the Berlin Marathon, $500 racing shoes, 30,000 burpee broad jumps, and tendon strength have in common? Somehow, they all made it into this week’s Kinda Fast.

Claire and Travis kick things off with What Does That Even Mean?, breaking down eccentric vs. concentric muscle contractions and why both matter for runners.

Then, it’s time for running news. Tigst Assefa runs an incredible 2:11:04 at the Berlin Marathon, setting a new course record before suffering an Achilles injury in the final kilometers. Plus, Adidas unveils the new Adizero Adios Pro 5 with a completely different carbon design—but all six men’s and women’s podium finishers in Berlin chose to race in the $500 Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 instead.

And because running a normal marathon apparently wasn’t difficult enough, German HYROX athlete Kevin Ociepka covered the entire 26.2-mile marathon distance using burpee broad jumps—about 30,000 of them over more than six and a half days.

Finally, in this week’s Deep Dive, Claire and Travis are talking tendons. Why do they matter so much for runners? Why can they take longer to adapt than your muscles and cardiovascular system? And how can you help prepare them for the demands of running?

They break down five exercises runners can incorporate into their strength training: calf raises, deadlifts, Bulgarian split squats, speed skaters, and pogo hops.

It’s running news, ridiculously expensive shoes, 30,000 burpees, and a little strength training—all in Episode 67 of Kinda Fast.

Kinda Fast is powered by Upward Running, a Christian running app with training plans, coaching, daily encouragement, and an incredible community to help you grow in both your faith and fitness.

Is your running form holding you back? In Episode 66 of the Kinda Fast Podcast, Claire and Travis talk heel striking, the myth of “perfect” running form, and four practical ways to become a more efficient runner over time: build consistency, add strides, use drills with a purpose, and strength train.

In running news, they discuss research on the benefits of a 10-minute easy run, Keely Hodgkinson’s unusual Nike speed suit, Alphafly 4 resale listings reaching $1,400, and an update on last week’s HYROX story.

The Kinda Fast Podcast is powered by Upward Running, a Christian running app with training plans, coaching, daily encouragement, and community. The Fall Challenge begins September 28, with 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon options. Download the app at https://upwardrunning.com/download/ and use code KINDAFAST for a two-week free trial.

Episode 65: Kinda Fast Case Files: Mysteries, Scandals, and Controversies

The evidence has been collected, the files have been reopened, and Travis has not been told the official rulings.

In this special true crime-inspired episode of the Kinda Fast Podcast, Claire and Travis investigate four of the strangest mysteries, scandals, and controversies in running history. We are talking suspicious split times, missing photographs, an unexplained wind reading, and a marathon that may never have happened,

Before opening the case files, we explain the new World Athletics Ultimate Championship and how the fast-paced, three-night event differs from the traditional World Championships. We also recap several of its biggest performances, including sprint doubles from Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek.

Then, we discuss the Racefaster Half Marathon in New Jersey, where runners crossed waist-deep and, in some places, chest-deep floodwater despite multiple flash flood warnings. At what point should race organizers cancel an event rather than allowing runners to decide whether to continue?

We also cover the controversy surrounding HYROX Beijing winner Joanna Wietrzyk. Officials allowed her to continue competing after a bowel-related incident created sanitation concerns involving the shared course and workout equipment. Should officials have stopped her immediately?

Finally, it is time to examine the evidence in four unforgettable case files:

Case File 1: Rosie Ruiz and the Boston Marathon victory that quickly unraveled. How much of the marathon did she actually run?

Case File 2: Flo-Jo’s 10.49-second world record and the wind gauge that officially recorded no measurable wind.

Case File 3: Kip Litton, his suspicious marathon performances, and the mysterious West Wyoming Marathon, which may never have taken place.

Case File 4: Allyson Felix, Jeneba Tarmoh, and the dead heat that left USA Track & Field without a rule for awarding the final Olympic position.

Travis hears the evidence without knowing the verdicts and shares his theories before Claire reveals the official rulings. Can he solve the cases?

The Kinda Fast Podcast is powered by Upward Running, a Christian running app offering training plans, coaching, daily encouragement, and a supportive community to help you grow in your faith and fitness.

Download the Upward Running app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and use code KINDAFAST for a free two-week trial.

How did running go from a survival skill to one of the world’s most popular sports?

In Episode 64, Claire and Travis travel through the history of running, from early humans hunting for food and ancient messengers delivering critical news to the first Olympic footrace, professional pedestrianism, and the creation of the modern marathon. They also explain why a marathon is exactly 26.2 miles and how the running boom made the sport accessible to everyday athletes.

In What Does That Even Mean?, learn about the ancient Greek stadion and how it gave us the modern word “stadium.”

In running news, Claire and Travis share the powerful story of Keith Palmer and his father, FDNY Battalion Chief Orio Palmer. They also discuss the Edmonton Marathon course error that cost 13 runners their Boston qualifying times and Clayton Young’s attempt to break Conner Mantz’s American marathon record at the Chicago Marathon.

Finally, they explore the important place running holds in the Bible, from Old Testament messengers and the race to the empty tomb to Paul’s instructions to run with purpose, discipline, and perseverance.

The Kinda Fast Podcast is powered by Upward Running, a Christian running app featuring training plans, expert coaching, daily encouragement, and a faith-filled community. Download the Upward Running RunClub App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store today!

Do runners actually love running...or do we just love proving we can do hard things?

This week, Claire and Travis explore why runners willingly choose discomfort, complain through every mile and then wake up and do it all over again. They break down how the brain interprets pain, why running with friends makes suffering easier and how to stop a difficult run from turning into a mental spiral.

Plus, they explain eccentric loading, test their knowledge of college football speed, cover a professional runner’s dog-assisted 4:31 mile and recap Ben Dhiman’s incredible UTMB victory and the record-breaking 2026 Sydney Marathon.

Kinda Fast is powered by Upward Running. Try the app free for two weeks with code KINDAFAST at upwardrunning.com/kindafast.

This week on the Kinda Fast Podcast, Claire and Travis are talking about something runners hear a lot less about than overtraining: undertraining.

How do you know if you’re actually doing enough to reach the goal you’ve set? We break down some of the biggest signs you may not be training enough, why adding more miles is not always the answer, and how to make sure your training actually matches what you’re trying to accomplish.

Before the Deep Dive, we get into some wild running news, including the Sydney Marathon’s major medal mix-up, a woman allegedly throwing eggs at runners during the Edmonton Marathon, and Yomif Kejelcha’s incredible 56:51 half marathon in Buenos Aires.

We also explain what “pending ratification” really means when a runner breaks a world record, including the course, drug testing, equipment, and shoe checks that have to happen before a record officially goes into the books.

Plus, we talk about consistency, training plateaus, motivation, and why the goal isn’t to finish every workout exhausted. The goal is to get better.

Kinda Undertrained: Medal Mistakes, World Records, and Not Running Enough

The Kinda Fast Podcast is powered by Upward Running, a Christian running community with training plans, coaching, daily encouragement, and a community to help you grow in both faith and fitness.

Try Upward Running free for two weeks with code KINDAFAST at upwardrunning.com/kindafast.

In Episode 61 of the Kinda Fast Podcast, Claire and Travis are answering a question every runner eventually asks: When is it actually time to increase your mileage?

But first, they kick things off with What Does That Even Mean? and finally settle the question of what exactly a running singlet is—and whether it’s really any different from a tank top.

Then it’s time for running news! The Tokyo Marathon 2027 lottery is officially open, and Claire and Travis break down the important dates, entry fees, and just how tough it is to land a bib.

They also test out a viral running hack involving Aquaphor on your eyebrows to keep sweat out of your eyes. It sounds ridiculous…but apparently there’s actually some science behind it.

And the Jakob Ingebrigtsen vs. Josh Kerr rivalry is back. After returning from 11 months away from racing, Jakob says athletes who skip major championships are “ruining the sport”—and yes, he was talking about Josh Kerr.

Then, in today’s Deep Dive: Kinda Want to Run More Miles?

Claire and Travis talk about how to know when your body is actually ready for more mileage, including:

• Whether you’re consistently handling your current mileage
• How well you’re recovering between workouts
• What your easy pace can tell you about your fitness
• Why mileage increases should support a long-term goal
• How structured training plans can help take the guesswork out of adding miles
• When the 10% rule can be useful
• Why you should spread extra mileage throughout the week
• Why adding mileage AND intensity at the same time can be a mistake
• Why you should never try to “make up” missed miles

The biggest takeaway? More mileage isn’t automatically better mileage.

The goal isn’t to run the most miles you possibly can. It’s to find the amount of mileage you can train from, recover from, and consistently repeat.

Ready to run with purpose and find your community?

Join Upward Running at upwardrunning.com/kindafast and use code KINDAFAST for 2 weeks free!

It’s Episode 60 of the Kinda Fast Podcast! 🎉

This week, Claire and Travis celebrate with 60 Seconds of Running Mad Gab, break down the difference between a niggle and an actual injury, and remind you that Upward Running’s 12-Week Back-to-School Challenge kicks off August 17.

In running news, they dive into the growing conversation around drug testing in professional trail running as prize money and sponsorships continue to grow. Plus, they share the incredible story of Paralympian Mohamed Lahna, who completed a 3,300-mile Triathlon Across America—including a 300-mile run on a prosthetic leg.

Then, it’s time for the Deep Dive: GROUP RUNS!

Kinda want to join one...but also kinda terrified to show up? Claire and Travis are talking about what to expect at your first group run, how to find the right pace group, the unwritten etiquette you should know, whether you should bring a friend, and why finding the right running community can make a huge difference.

Because at the end of the day, group runs aren't just about the miles. They're about accountability, encouragement, friendships, and finding your people.

In this episode:

• Niggle vs. injury: how to tell the difference
• 60 Seconds of Running Mad Gab!
• The Back-to-School Challenge starting August 17
• Drug testing and anti-doping in professional trail running
• Mohamed Lahna’s 3,300-mile Triathlon Across America
• How to make your first group run less intimidating
• Finding the right pace group
• Group-run etiquette nobody tells you
• Bringing a friend vs. showing up alone
• Finding a run club that fits your personality
• Why running together can make you a better runner
• How group runs can turn into real friendships and community

Ready to run with purpose and find your community?

Join Upward Running at: https://upwardrunning.com/kindafast

Use code KINDAFAST for 2 weeks free!