Running With James

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Every runner has aches, pains, tight muscles, and those little nagging sensations that make you wonder: Should I keep running, modify my workout, or take a few days off?

But how do you know the difference between normal training discomfort and an actual injury?

This week on Running with James, we’re breaking down one of the most common questions runners face: When should you push through, when should you back off, and when should you stop altogether?

We’ll talk about training soreness, muscle fatigue, overuse injuries, warning signs, and why understanding how your body responds to training is just as important as following the training plan.

We’ll also discuss:

• What aches and discomforts can be part of normal training adaptation?
• What symptoms should never be ignored?
• When does pushing through become counterproductive?
• Why rest alone doesn’t always fix an injury.
• How to modify training without losing all your progress.
• How to build a stronger, more resilient runner.

The goal isn’t to become afraid of every little ache. It’s to become a smarter athlete who knows when to keep going, when to adjust, and when to get help.

Because knowing when NOT to run can be just as important as knowing when to run.

Let’s talk about it!

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Are we actually becoming better runners, or are we just buying the lifestyle?

From carbon-plated shoes and expensive GPS watches to trendy running gear and the latest gadgets, the running industry has plenty to sell us. But do these things really make us better athletes, or do they just make us feel like we’re making progress?

In this episode of Running with James, we get real about the difference between looking like a runner and training like one. As a coach, James has seen athletes chase more mileage, faster times, and the latest gear while struggling with the one thing that matters most: consistency.

We’re talking running industry marketing, gear obsession, training shortcuts, and what it actually takes to get faster. Because no shoe, watch, or fancy running kit can replace showing up and doing the work.

You can buy the uniform, but you can’t buy the discipline.

So before you buy your next pair of running shoes, ask yourself: Are you investing in your training, or just buying the feeling of becoming a better runner?

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Why do we really run? Is it for the love of the sport, the pursuit of a PR, the recognition, or the validation that comes with posting our miles for everyone to see?

In this episode of Running with James, we get real about the pressure to run faster, chase numbers, compare ourselves to others, and prove something through our performance. From Strava kudos and Garmin stats to race-day results and social media, when does healthy competition become a search for validation?

We’re not saying stop chasing goals or celebrating accomplishments. We’re asking a bigger question: Are we running because we love it, or because we need it to tell us we’re good enough?

It’s time to remember your why, rediscover the joy of the journey, and stop letting your performance define your worth.

🎧 Tune in, join the conversation, and ask yourself: Would you still run if nobody else could see your miles?

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Running is exploding.

Marathons are selling out. HYROX is filling events faster than ever. Run clubs are popping up everywhere. Google searches for “how to start running” and “run club” are hitting all-time highs. Millions of people are suddenly choosing to run, race, lift, compete and train together.

But why?

Is this really about getting faster and getting in better shape?

Or are we searching for something bigger?

In this episode of Running With James, we take a look at the numbers behind the massive growth in running, HYROX and the fitness industry—and what that growth might tell us about where we are as a society.

We talk about:

🏃‍♂️ Why marathon demand has exploded
 🔥 The unbelievable growth of HYROX
 📈 The search numbers behind the running boom
 🤝 Why run clubs are becoming so popular
 🧠 The connection between exercise, mental health and loneliness
 ❤️ Whether we’re actually getting healthier—or simply becoming more obsessed with fitness
 🏋️ How the fitness industry has shifted from selling workouts to selling community
 ⚠️ The darker side of the fitness boom: comparison, burnout and turning everything into a competition
 💭 And the bigger question: Are people really searching for fitness… or are they searching for connection?

Maybe the biggest fitness trend isn’t running.

Maybe it’s belonging.

🎧 Listen now and tell us: Why do YOU run?

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You trained for the race. You put in the miles. You did the workouts.

But do you actually have a race plan?

A great race doesn’t just happen because you’re fit enough to finish. How you pace yourself, fuel, hydrate, manage effort, handle the tough moments, and respond when things don’t go according to plan can make or break your race.

In this episode of Running with James, we’re breaking down how to create a race plan that gives you the best chance of executing on race day.

We’ll talk about:

🏃 How to set realistic race goals
 ⏱️ How to determine your pacing strategy
 ❤️ Using effort and heart rate instead of blindly chasing a pace
 🥤 When and how to fuel and hydrate
 🧠 What to do when the race starts hurting
 🔥 How to avoid the biggest race-day mistake: going out too fast
 📈 How to adjust your plan when things don’t go perfectly
 🏁 Why your race plan should be flexible—not rigid

Whether you’re preparing for your first 5K, a marathon, HYROX, or your next big competition, the goal is the same:

Don’t just show up fit. Show up with a plan.

🎙️ Running with James — real coaching, real training, and real conversations about becoming a better athlete.

If you enjoy the episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who has a race coming up.

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What happens when you put James, Lauren, and Rocky in the hot seat and ask the questions they normally wouldn’t answer?

This episode of Running With James is a little different. No training plan. No structured interview. Just three coaches answering questions about training, racing, fitness, personal life, pet peeves, embarrassing moments, unpopular opinions, and everything in between.

Some answers are serious. Some are ridiculous. A few might get us in trouble. 😂

Who has the worst training habit?
 What’s our biggest pet peeve?
 What would we never do again?
 Who takes competition the most seriously?
 And what questions did we REALLY hope nobody would ask?

You asked. We answered.

This is Running With James… Hot Seat style.

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YOU DON’T NEED TO RUN MORE TO GET FASTER.

Or do you?

One of the most common pieces of advice runners hear is simple: if you want to get faster, run more.

But is more mileage actually the answer?

In this episode of Running with James, we challenge the idea that more running automatically leads to more speed. We break down frequency, volume, intensity, recovery, and the 80/20 approach to training—and why constantly adding miles may not be the smartest way to improve.

We’ll talk about why runners often turn easy days into hard days, why your hardest workout isn’t necessarily your most important run of the week, and why recovery is part of training—not time away from it.

Whether you’re training for a 5K, marathon, HYROX, or simply trying to become a better runner, there’s a good chance the answer isn’t “just run more.”

More running isn’t always better running. And more miles definitely don’t guarantee more speed.

So… do you really need to run more?

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Who really belongs in HYROX?

This week, we’re going straight into one of the more controversial conversations in the sport: Do you actually need to be prepared to do HYROX?

What about the people who sign up just for fun? The athletes who show up underprepared? The people who aren’t chasing a podium, a qualifying time, or a personal best?

Does HYROX belong only to serious competitors, or is there room for everyone?

We break down where we stand on the “HYROX for fun” debate, what being “unprepared” really means, whether there should be a minimum level of preparation, and why the growth of HYROX is bringing a whole new group of people into the sport.

It’s a little controversial. It might ruffle some feathers. But it’s a conversation worth having.

So… who REALLY belongs in HYROX?

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Think getting faster in HYROX means you just need to run more? Think again.

In this episode of Running with James, we break down the 5 key areas you need to train to become a faster, stronger, and more efficient HYROX runner.

HYROX is unique because you’re not running a fresh 1K, you’re running eight of them while your legs are constantly getting beat up by the stations. That means your training needs to prepare you for much more than just running mileage.

We break down the five training “buckets,” how each one impacts your HYROX performance, and how to put them together so you can run faster when you’re already fatigued.

Whether you’re training for your first HYROX or trying to take minutes off your next race, this episode will give you a better strategy for improving your running and your overall race performance.

Stop just running. Start training to run fast at HYROX. 🏃‍♂️🔥

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You don’t need to be better at everything in HYROX.

You need to get better at the right things.

In this episode of Running with James, we break down the 5 HYROX stations that can make or break your race—and why simply training harder isn’t always the answer.

After our recent BC Fitness Movement Performance Clinic with Coach Tommy, we looked at athletes through a different lens: movement quality, efficiency, fatigue, pacing, and the numbers behind performance.

We’re breaking down:

🔥 Sled Push
 🔥 Sled Pull
 🔥 Burpee Broad Jumps
 🔥 Wall Balls
 🔥 The Roxzone — the “hidden station” that can quietly destroy your race

We’ll talk about the biggest mistakes athletes make, where they’re leaving free time on the course, and what you can actually do in training to turn your weaknesses into strengths.

Because in HYROX, seconds matter. And sometimes the fastest way to get faster isn’t running faster—it’s wasting less time everywhere else.

Train smarter. Move better. Race faster.

Running with James
BC Fitness
Houston HYROX Run Club

Support the show

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