RUNNING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH, but how & why? Health versus performance; is it an either/or? Dr. Elizabeth Knight joins the show to talk all things health & running, including the cardiovascular benefits of regular exercise, health vs. performance, health AND  performance and more!

 Running to be healthy: how much running do we need to do?
 The cardiovascular benefits of regular running
 What is chronic inflammation and why is it bad?
 Health vs. performance: MORE exercise isn't always better
  Creating peak performance through good health
  Yes, testing the limits of your ability can be healthy!
  And more!



Elizabeth lives and runs in Portland, Oregon. When she’s not on the trails in Forest Park, she works as a nurse practitioner and owns an integrative health coaching practice, Flower Power Health, where she works with runners. She’s passionate about science, inclusivity, and helping people approach their bodies with kindness and curiosity. A few of her favorite things are dogs, rock and roll, and pizza. You can find her online at www.flowerpower.health and on Instagram @flowerpower.health.



s2/e30 Running for Health, & "Health vs. Performance" with Elizabeth Knight, PhD, DNP, FNP-C (@flowerpower.health)

New episodes now on THURSDAYS! Welcome to Running Explained, where ALL your running questions are answered! For new AND experienced runners, from training to racing, nutrition, recovery, gear, AND MORE, there's always something new to learn about running!

Sports

Running

ONE-TAKE Q&A; RETURNS!! Answering extra questions from a recent Instagram story Q&A;, Coach Elisabeth takes on YOUR questions about running, training, racing, and more! Learn about...
Tapering for a week-long running event
Can you do TOO MUCH base-building??
Keeping HR low while trying to increase cadence
Adding an extra day of cross-training late in marathon training
Handing race week nerves
Running in gusty winds
Trying to race a 5k the week after a marathon - yay or nay?
Age-graded running performance vs. equivalency calculators
AND MORE!


Coach Elisabeth is the Founder and Head Coach at Running Explained, 6x marathoner, multi-certified coach, Boston Qualifier, and enthusiastic believer in your ability to turn the impossible into the possible. Whether you're a brand new runner or have been pounding the pavement for decades, she believes there is always more to learn about running and always more that running can teach us about life. Crush your goals with a Running Explained training plan, masterclass, group coaching, or 1:1 coaching, or learn from her meticulously researched Instagram posts on a wide variety of running-related topics!

s4/e19 Can You Do TOO MUCH Base-Building? & Other Questions Answered! with Coach Elisabeth

This week we are diving into HYBRID TRAINING for endurance runners with exercise physiologist and hybrid athlete Dr. Alyssa Olenick (@doclyssfitness)!
Hybrid training isn't just about picking between strength or endurance – it's about embracing BOTH for both health and performance goals. Dr. Olenick breaks down the interference effect, explains the shifting application of training intensity, and goes through hybrid training in the off-season all the way through your pre-race taper PLUS many more insights and educational tidbits along the way!


Dr. Alyssa Olenick is an Exercise Physiologist, sports nutritionist, weight lifter, and ultra runner. She is known for her high energy and sassy approach to bringing science to your training in a no-nonsense way. Alyssa has helped thousands of women crush big lifting goals, cross race finish lines, or even do both.
www.doclyssfitness.com



s4/e18 Your Hybrid Training Crash Course with Dr. Alyssa Olenick, PhD (@doclyssfitness)

We are often praised for the relentless pursuit of a goal, but what about when it's actually better for you to STOP chasing that goal? Coach and runner Claire Bartholic (@theplantedrunner) shares her own journey of what it cost her to finally achieve her coveted sub-3 marathon goal... and why she decided to step away from marathons altogether after crossing that finish line.

KEY TAKEAWAYS!

 Chasing big running goals requires dedication, yes, but it's essential to assess whether the goal is realistic and sustainable in the long term
 Finding balance and enjoyment in running is crucial for long-term fulfillment.
  Retiring from a specific goal does not diminish a coach's ability to guide and support athletes.
  It's okay to pivot and pursue different goals that align with personal values and bring joy.
  Validation from achieving a goal should not be the sole motivation for running; intrinsic satisfaction and personal growth are equally important.



--
GUEST BIO
Coach Claire has helped hundreds of real runners chase their dreams and conquer what they never thought possible. Her coaching philosophy combines science-based training, plant-based running nutrition, and proven mindset techniques to unlock every runner's true potential. 
She's a certified running coach, sports nutrition specialist, mom, and borderline obsessive plant lover.
As an athlete herself, she went from a 4:02 first marathon all the way to a 2:58 finishing time at the age of 42, entirely plant-based.
She coaches vegan, plant-based, and plant-curious runners to achieve the same dramatic success, from those on a walk-run program, general fitness, up to high-level athletes.  She hosts one of the most popular running podcast in the world, The Planted Runner, and her first book is The Planted Runner:  Running Your Best With Plant-Based Nutrition.



s4/e17 When Is It Time to STOP Chasing a Goal? with Claire Bartholic @theplantedrunner

Now that "warmer than normal" is the NEW "normal"... what do we need to know for our training and racing?? Hosts of the podcast Between Two Coaches, Amanda Katz and Nick Klastava are here to talk all about it!

 So your race was canceled because it's too hot...
 Prepping for hot weather races
 Avoiding self-blame & unrealistic expectations when the temps rise
 Heat acclimation tips
  Learning to run on effort and focus on execution
  ...and more!!


Between Two Coaches is a weekly podcast that helps you enjoy the fitness world with a more human approach. In each episode, hosts Amanda Katz and Nick Klastava will bring problems faced in the fitness community to the surface and share solutions for creating a more sustainable, balanced mindset around your training goals. Consider this podcast your “go-to” on all things fitness, from a loving, supportive, no-BS lens!



s4/e16 Training & Racing in a Warming World with “Between Two Coaches” Amanda Katz + Nick Klastava

This one is for my sober and sober-curious runners out there!! Luc Zoratto's journey into running and sobriety is a tale of community, empowerment, and self-discovery. After being in the "sober closet" for 5 years, he decided to share his sobriety journey publicly on LinkedIn after hitting a major milestone: qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Today, we're talking about quitting drinking, the personal nature of sobriety, and of course, the messy, hard work that comes with pushing yourself athletically AND personally!
Luc Zoratto (@marathon2sobriety) is a Sober Dad, Husband, Marathoner & Alcohol-Free Life Coach. He helps empower high-performing professionals and entrepreneurs to overcome the limitations that alcohol and drugs have on their lives. His mission is to promote a growth mindset that challenges the belief that hard work and alcohol go hand in hand, and inspire others to embrace a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle to help people realize their full potential.
https://www.marathon2sobriety.ca/



s2/e30 Running for Health, & "Health vs. Performance" with Elizabeth Knight, PhD, DNP, FNP-C (@flowerpower.health)

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