The Natural Running Network

Our show fans love it when we take questions and try to provide answers.  Some questions are tough, most in respect to training tips, running form, heart rate etc.  Miguel Medina, elite OCR Pro and Elite Coach Richard Diaz put it out to the community and the questions asked will be fielded during this podcast episode.

Here are just a few:

* Do shoes matter, and if so how?

* What are your thoughts on the MAF (180 – your age) method?

* Have you found a way to balance strength and running in your training?

* Any tips on how to maintain form over long grueling distances?

I saved some of the best ones; you’ll have to tune in to hear our answers!

Nearly all Obstacle Course Events include a heavy carry component and even those that don’t require hill climbing ability. These training challenges are best approached outdoors and typically best conducted by mimicking the actual challenge.  Where am I going with this you might ask? In this episode I have the pleasure of sharing some of my training tips with Crystal Seaver, Master Trainer for Wreck Bag, a product produced by Lindonfitness.com.

If you participate in Spartan Races, Battlefrog events or even World’s Toughest Mudder, you will benefit greatly by employing the workouts I share in this episode. If you don’t own a Wreck Bag and having been trying to make a shift carry tool, you’re being penny thrift and a pound foolish. If you’ve been thinking about a purchase, listen to this episode and take notes! I’ll tell you how to develop explosive hill climbing/bag carry power.

Peter Kostelnick is on a mission. Having already won The Bad Water Ultra Marathon in 2015 and setting a record in 2016. He has now set his sights on setting a Guinness World Book of Record for the fastest Transcontinental run. We’re talking 3100 miles of running in hopefully 44 days. For those of you who are like me and mathematically challenged, that’s an average of 72 miles of running each day for 44 consecutive days! Along with Peter, we’ll be talking to Charlie Engle of “Running the Sahara” fame. Also a veteran of this continental crossing and hopeful to attempt breaking Peters record if he succeeds. This episode is all about running long.  Please join me Richard Diaz and Peter Kostelnick and Charlie Engle as we share this event as it is in its planning stages.

Ryan Atkins is the winningest athlete in the sport of Obstacle Racing today. It seems as if no course or competitor thus far has been able to undue his success. Ryan and Richard Diaz fields some questions from friends on social media and wrap up by discussing what it might take for someone like Hunter McIntyre to beat him at the Spartan World Championship and his team plans for Worlds Toughest Mudder. If you are a fan of Ryan Atkins, you don’t want to miss this episode.

Anyone who knows me (Richard Diaz), knows I am hard-nosed when it comes to supplementation and gimmicks. I have always believed that a good feeding strategy and plenty of rest will be all you need to perform optimally. I get plenty of opportunities to test all sorts of products in the world of Sports Performance and have been known to slam the door on a lot of snake oil salesman.

I am also fortunate in that I have great connections among elite professionals in sports science and in the athletic community and keep my ear to the ground to learn as much as I can, whenever I can.

Enter Beet Juice, an all-natural food recognized in small circles since Roman days as potion of life giving qualities. Listen as I interview Dr. John Ivy as he reveals the science behind this natural performance enhancing potion. This particular product has become a staple of most all of the elite athletes in the Obstacle Racing community, from the entire Spartan Pro team and across the board to cyclists and runners who hope to shave precious seconds from there performances.

An interview with Jim Vance elite triathlon coach and a true pioneer in the uncharted waters of training with a Power meter for runners. Jim has recently released his revolutionary book “Running with Power” The Complete Guide to Running to Power Meters for Running. Last October, we had Jim on before he had released his book to discuss the various aspects and benefits of power running. Now, fresh off his research Jim shares what one could expect from training with power. Jim had suggested long ago that once the benefits of training with power were better understood and made available, all records would quickly fall, from the mile to the marathon. They say; Power meters for running are the future and the future is now.  Listen in to learn how this technology may help you to become a better athlete.

Dr Noah Kaufman is the leader of the famed “Wolf Pack”, stars of American Ninja Warrior. Noah was gracious enough to come on our podcast to share some amazing tips on how to train like a Ninja, how to improve grip strength and how to improve your ability to successfully navigate obstacles in OCR events.  He also shares some powerful tips on how best to deal with blisters and avoiding the down time. Noah is a wealth of great information in regards to obstacle training and Parkour. Clearly this is a show you don’t want to miss!

I guess Richards name has been tossed around the OCR circuit quite a bit these days, so much so that other podcasters have sought him out for interviews. I guess the shoe is on the other foot so to speak. This episode is a copy of an interview done this week with Elijah and Phil host of The Obstacle Order Podcast. They wanted to hear firsthand what the buzz was about regarding the clinics Richard puts on and what people might expect for having attended. If this is something you are interested in, you might want to give this show a listen. (This recording was copied with the express permission of Elijah Markstrom.)

 

 

As they say; “The Devil is in the details”. Coach Richard Diaz and guest, Elite OCR athlete Beni Gifford discuss the details that can set you apart from the pack as a much faster runner. Beating yourself up, packing on the miles, hard track workouts won’t make you faster unless you learn to master the details as prescribed by the coach in this podcast.

Unlock your strength and potential as a runner in Spartan Racing, Trail Running or your next Marathon by following the advice offered in this podcast.

As athletes, we are no strangers to post workout aches and pains. When these signals begin to impede our ability to perform and result in missed training days, it’s time to pay attention. We’ve invited Dr. Steve Capobianco, Medical Director for Rock Tape back on to discuss what’s new in the way of self-treatment, prevention and “how to” that Rock Tape has become famous for. Are you familiar with myofascial release? Do you know why and what you can expect from these varied practices that are known to improve functional range of motion? If you are a runner, participate in Spartan Racing or other Obstacle Races, you don’t want to miss this show.