2019 has almost ended and 2020 is all but upon us. This is a great time to appreciate the gift of fitness that has made such a difference in the lives of most of us listening to this podcast. Let’s take a moment to say “thank you” for fitness, especially running, and review the year behind us while also looking ahead with hope and some goals, too. On today’s episode we will be sharing 2019 success stories from three of our own team members at RunnersConnect and what they had to overcome to create that success. Listen to RunnersConnect Members Tom Van Ongeval, Francesca Fuller, and Krishna Akkaram tell their stories of 2019 success in running.

The Gift of Fitness: 2019 Success Stories for 3 RunnersConnect Members

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This month’s RC spotlight features an entire family of runners. Arthur and Christine Leyva are so passionate about the sport that they got a local coach to officiate their wedding and now have two kids, Flint and Artistotle, who have caught the running bug as well. They train together and support each other in pursuing some pretty lofty goals including getting into the Boston Marathon Weekend. You’ll hear all about it from them, including what they love about running and how it has brought them closer as a family. Arthur and Christine first met through a local running group in Austin, Texas when at the time, Arthur was just starting to get into the sport. Since then, they’ve gradually become more obsessed with improving their times, and now the whole family shares that common goal. They are incredibly encouraging but also aren’t shy about a little healthy competition that makes their story even more fun. During the show, we’ll cover fun stories from their family that include:  How Arthur and Christine first met through their mutual love of running How running has helped to bring them closer as a family What lessons Arthur and Christine have learned from their running that they are passing on to their kids What running goals each member of the Leyva family is working towards And you’ll hear their answer to who is the most competitive person in the family  You’re going to love hearing from this family of runners, so let’s get into it!   Connect, Comment, Community   Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram  Join the Elite Treatment  where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month!  Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community   RunnersConnect Facebook page  GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT!  This week’s show brought to you by: Flagstaff Retreat Spots are starting to fill up fast for our 2024 summer running retreat in Flagstaff, AZ. Our retreats are the perfect combination of spectacular running, hands-on coaching, informative and fun training lessons, and unforgettable memories with runners just like you!  Whether you’re looking for the chance to run along the grand canyon, experience some of the most picturesque trails in the US, or learn directly from our team of coaches and some of the foremost experts in strength, nutrition and biomechanics, our Flagstaff retreat is for you. Now, keep in mind these retreats ARE NOT for elite runners. They are for runners like you who love running and just want to improve. Most of our attendees are between 40 to 70 years young and range in ability from Boston Qualifiers to those who are just getting started. To see all the accommodations, prices, photos, schedule and all other details, head to runnersconnect.net/flagstaff. TIMELINE Improving your mitochondria is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your performance and make your body work better.  Time-line Nutrition's Mitopure is backed by over a decade of research and is clinically proven to revitalize mitochondria.  Mitopure restores mitochondrial function, so every cell in your body has the energy to do its job and keep you healthy and functioning right. In fact, clinical studies have shown that 500mg of Urolithin, one of the main ingredients in Mitopure, can significantly increase muscle strength & endurance with no other change in lifestyle. Improving your mitochondria is one of the best things you can do for your health and with Mitopure from time-line nutrition, it has never been easier.  Go to timelinenutrition.com and use promo code RUNNERSCONNECT for 10% off the plan of your choice.

RC Spotlight -  How the whole Leyva family caught the running bug with Arthur, Christine, Flint, and Aristotle

Laura Rutterford joins Run To The Top to discuss several important topics within our community.  We lead with her experience with hip dysplasia and the steps that she took through childhood and early adulthood to get to a point where she had near-perfect running form and the ability to train for and race half marathons.  After that, we get into her professional background as a physiotherapist and some of the insights she’s gained working with running-related clients to rehab various muscles, joints, posture, and overall movement issues.  Then we get into some of the essential exercises she recommends to improve form for endurance athletes and we conclude with her interest in runner-focused pilates.  This was a knowledge-packed episode coupled with touching, inspirational background stories that I think you’ll enjoy.   Connect, Comment, Community   Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram  Join the Elite Treatment  where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month!  Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community   RunnersConnect Facebook page  GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT!  https://hipdysplasia.org/  https://miles4hips.org/  https://www.hiphopenetwork.org/  This week’s show brought to you by: NuNee The myth that running is bad for your knees has been debunked by research. In fact, it’s actually good for your joint health. But the unfortunate fact is that runners' knee is the most common running injury of all, accounting for 20% of all running injuries.  Here's the good news! When runners knee strikes, the NuNee brace can help relieve the pain immediately and help you keep running to prepare for your next big race. In fact, independent clinical research has shown that NuNee helped 9 of 10 runners start running again, immediately, without knee pain.  Even better, after 6 weeks of using NuNee, 100% of research participants were pain-free and able to run without the NuNee device.  Runners from coast to coast have experienced the miraculous ability to keep running and training with NuNee. From 5k to 100 mile ultras, NuNee has helped runners get to the starting line so they can finish strong. So when runners knee pain strikes, don’t wait. Apply NuNee right away so you can get back to training and cross that finish line. To order NuNee go to nuneeshop.com and use code RTT15 and get a 15% discount.  Flagstaff Retreat Spots are starting to fill up fast for our 2024 summer running retreat in Flagstaff, AZ. Our retreats are the perfect combination of spectacular running, hands-on coaching, informative and fun training lessons, and unforgettable memories with runners just like you!  Whether you’re looking for the chance to run along the grand canyon, experience some of the most picturesque trails in the US, or learn directly from our team of coaches and some of the foremost experts in strength, nutrition and biomechanics, our Flagstaff retreat is for you. Now, keep in mind these retreats ARE NOT for elite runners. They are for runners like you who love running and just want to improve. Most of our attendees are between 40 to 70 years young and range in ability from Boston Qualifiers to those who are just getting started. To see all the accommodations, prices, photos, schedule and all other details, head to runnersconnect.net/flagstaff.

Running Form Insights From An Expert Physiotherapist

Only 0.3% of Americans participate in ultra races but if you’re not a part of this group (yet) you can still learn from the challenges of these difficult events. Coach Hayley is a talented 2:37 marathoner and recently completed her first-ever ultramarathon by finishing a 50k run through the Endurancelife Ultra Series. She even accidentally ran an extra 2 miles, something Hayley will speak about during the episode. Despite the mishap, she is now preparing for her first 100k race and has some great lessons to share with other runners. Whether you’re a veteran at the distance or have never run a race of any distance this is an insightful conversation about human perseverance and dealing with unexpected obstacles. As we unpack everything Hayley learned through this experience, we’ll go over some exciting topics that include:  How to nail your fueling for ultra-endurance races The importance of testing your gear beforehand Why you may need to start slower than you think for your first ultra And why trying new things can make you a better athlete  We spend a lot of time talking about how to make sure your race goes according to plan but for Hayley, it’s really the unexpected surprises that make this such a compelling story and that will offer valuable lessons for any runner.   Connect, Comment, Community   Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram  Join the Elite Treatment  where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month!  Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community   RunnersConnect Facebook page  GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT!  This week’s show brought to you by: Mushroom Breakthrough One of the most difficult things about training hard in the morning is the brain fog and mental fatigue that comes when you’re trying to get your work day going.   I am sure all you morning runners can relate to that feeling of not being able to focus and get motivated those first few hours at work.   That’s why I was excited when BIOptimizers released its one-of-a-kind product called Mushroom Breakthrough   It’s a powdered blend of 5 potent superfoods including 1.2 pounds of concentrated mushrooms, which have been shown in research to enhance memory, focus, processing speed, and more.    It’s the perfect way to not only boost recovery post-run, but improve mental clarity in the morning without taxing your adrenal system with caffeine. You’ll notice the difference in concentration, focus and mood, especially on those days when morning training really has you feeling tired and unmotivated.   For an exclusive offer go to bioptimizers.com/runtothetop and use code RUN10 during checkout.   And the great thing about BIOptimizers is that you can try it risk-free with their 365-day money-back guarantee. AG 1 Ask yourself - do you get enough green veggies each day? I'll admit, I don't. It's tough to fit all of those greens in with an active and busy lifestyle. But getting in your fruits + veggies is SO crucial as a distance runner for recovery, digestion, and optimal performance. That's where Athletic Greens is a gamechanger. One scoop has 75 bioavailable vitamins, minerals, and whole food-sourced ingredients including a multivitamin, multimineral, probiotic, green superfood blend, and more. That means fewer stomach issues, more focus and energy throughout the day (because the workday matters just as much as the morning run), and overall ... just feeling healthier. Look, if you're struggling to get those fruits + veggies in - or if you keep buying them but they always go bad in the fridge - Athletic Greens will make getting those micronutrients simple and delicious. Get 5 BONUS travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D when you order at drinkag1.com/RTTT. Get yours now!

Top lessons learned from running an ultramarathon

Marathon season is upon us and the team at RunnersConnect is bringing you all the greatest storylines going into the Boston and London Marathon. This year’s field of professional runners is loaded leading up to the Paris Summer Olympics and we’ll give you our take on what to expect and who might surprise or disappoint at upcoming marathon majors. We’ll also chat about our thoughts on what to expect from the American Olympic Marathon team who have all opted out of running a Spring marathon. This is not your typical sports commentary show, so expect it to feel more like a conversation among friends than a data dump of performance metrics. We’re throwing out all of our bold predictions and hot takes so you play along and feel free to disagree with anything said. This is going to be a fun conversation that you’ll love if you also get excited talking about long-distance running events. Some of the stories you’ll hear include:  Will Olympic Trials 3rd place finisher Leonard Korir be competing in Paris? (03:26) Our thoughts on how the American Olympic team may be preparing for the Summer Games (14:12) Which elite men are likely to surprise or disappoint at the Boston Marathon? (29:58) Which American women are favorites to finish well at the Boston Marathon? (43:15) And will we see a new World Record from someone in a stacked field of Women at the London Marathon? (53:25)  This might just be the most exciting time of the year for Marathoners and whether or not you follow elites closely, you can expect to enjoy some great combination of friendly banter and heated debates.    Connect, Comment, Community   Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram  Join the Elite Treatment  where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month!  Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community   RunnersConnect Facebook page  GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT!  This week’s show brought to you by: MAS Iron Outside of training deficiencies, low iron is one of the most common reasons for poor results during workouts and races.  Recent research indicates that almost 56% of male runners and 86% of female runners suffer from an iron deficiency that severely hampers performance. The problem with eating iron-rich foods or supplementing with traditional iron supplements is that iron is notoriously difficult for the body to absorb and utilize. In fact, only about 25% of dietary iron found in animal sources is absorbed while 17% or less of the iron from plant sources is absorbed. But MAS Iron has found a way to combat these absorption issues to ensure you can get the iron you need for health and performance. By combining the most efficiently absorbed form of elemental iron with clinically proven ingredients to aid in absorption, MAS Iron performs like no other iron product on the market. In fact, clinical research has shown the combination of ingredients in MAS Iron can quadruple absorption and increase bioavailability by 30%, all while reducing GI issues by 50%. Check out the research and the results for yourself at masedge.com/iron. Runnersconnect fans will automatically save 20% on any purchase. Fatty15 The benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids are widely espoused, and rightfully so, in almost every healthy diet in the world. The problem is that Omega-3 supplements face a lot of issues. From going rancid quickly to cheap forms not being absorbed. But thanks to Fatty15, now there’s a better option. Fatty15’s C15 omega-3 is made from a patented, oxidation-resistant form of pure C15 derived from plants. It’s vegan-friendly, free of flavors, fillers, allergens or preservatives. Plus, independent studies have shown is has 3x the healthy-aging cell benefits of omega-3 or fish oil and that it’s 3x better, broader, and safer than traditional omega-3. C15 works in multiple ways: It repairs age-related damage to cells, protects them from future breakdown, and boosts mitochondrial energy output. Fatty15 is on a mission to replenish your C15 levels and restore your long-term health. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/RTTT and using code RTTT at checkout for an additional 15% off your first order.

Running News: Storylines for the Boston Marathon and London Marathon

Roughly 1 in 4 US adults suffer from bunions and whether you knew it or not, there’s actually such a thing as “National Bunion Day '' that's only a few days away. Given the time of year and the applicability to our community, I figured it’d be a good topic of conversation.  For runners like us, bunions often result from the repeated stress of hitting the pavement, wearing shoes that are too tight, as well as having flat feet or over pronation to aggravate the problem.  With that context in mind, I invited Dr. Brad Schaeffer, who you may know from the hit TLC show “My Feet Are Killing Me” onto the pod to talk about this issue. Dr. Schaeffer trained at the Comprehensive Foot & Ankle Reconstructive Surgical Residency Program at the Hoboken University Medical Center and is a Board Certified Foot Surgeon with the ABFAS. In this episode, we talk about the causes of bunions, the symptoms of bunions, what to keep in mind if you have them and you’re running with them, how to treat them non-surgically, and some of the latest, cutting-edge procedures out there to take care of them fast with quick recovery.   Connect, Comment, Community   Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram  Join the Elite Treatment  where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month!  Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community   RunnersConnect Facebook page  GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT!  This week’s show brought to you by: Bace CBD ​​If you want to see just how much CBD can improve your recovery, now is the time to give it a try. Right now you can get half off the Discovery Pack, alongside a FREE sample of their balm. That’s 50% off, from $25 to just $12.50! All you have to do is visit bacehealth.com/runnersconnect or enter the discount code RunnersConnect at checkout to pick up your Discovery Pack and prioritize your recovery today. Timeline Nutrition Time-line Nutrition's Mitopure is backed by over a decade of research and is clinically proven to revitalize mitochondria, so every cell in your body has the energy to do its job and keep you healthy and functioning right.  In fact, clinical studies have shown that 500mg of Urolithin, one of the main ingredients in Mitopure, can significantly increase muscle strength & endurance with no other change in lifestyle. Improving your mitochondria is one of the best things you can do for your health and with Mitopure from time-line nutrition, it has never been easier. Go to timelinenutrition.com and use promo code RUNNERSCONNECT for 10% off the plan of your choice.

The Gift of Fitness: 2019 Success Stories for 3 RunnersConnect Members

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