The Running Explained Podcast

The Running Explained Podcast is taking a hiatus for the next few months but Coach Elisabeth will be back!

Why can't I just THINK my way out of performance anxiety?? I should be mentally tougher!!
Have you ever had this internal struggle?

In this episode, former Division I athlete and licensed mental health therapist Emily Perrin flips the script on "mental toughness" and dives deep into the richer, more holistic concept of resilience. Emily helps us understand how resilience—rooted in childhood development, support, and self-compassion—offers a more complete set of tools for athletes navigating the mental and emotional ups and downs of training and racing. We explore how grounding techniques, body-based feedback, and self-compassion can turn pre-race jitters into a powerful tool for growth. With a focus on flexibility, self-awareness, and mindfulness, this conversation is packed with practical tips for building resilience and embracing the discomfort that comes with being an athlete. Coaches, take note—this one's all about empowering your athletes with a strengths-based approach!

Emily Perrin, LMSW, is the CEO and Founder of Perrin Wellness and Performance, where she combines her expertise as a Licensed Master of Social Work, certified mindfulness and meditation teacher, and former Division I athlete to offer holistic mental health and performance coaching. Growing up in a sports-centric family with a Division I college basketball coach father and a background in competitive swimming and soccer, Emily’s journey has been deeply intertwined with athletics and coaching. However, her passion for mental health advocacy stems from her personal struggles with anxiety, depression, and PTSD, which led her to discover mindfulness and integrative health practices. With a Master's in Clinical Social Work from the University of Denver and advanced training in trauma-informed care, Emily is dedicated to transforming sports culture to be more mental health-aware and proactive in promoting overall well-being. She offers education, speaking engagements, workshops, and coaching to support athletes, coaches, and sport organizations in achieving fulfillment, joy, and success beyond just winning.

In this episode of the Running Explained podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Matt Chittim, coach and host of The Rambling Runner Podcast, about the incredible potential that runners have, no matter when they start. Matt and I dive into how age doesn't have to limit your running goals and why consistent training—what we call "training age"—is so crucial to reaching your full potential. We also get real about the fact that progress in running isn't always linear; there will be plateaus and challenges along the way. But as Matt reminds us, believing in your abilities and giving yourself the chance to see what you're truly capable of is key to unlocking that potential. If you've ever wondered how much faster you might be able to get as an adult runner (especially if you STARTED running as an adult), this episode is for you!

Matt Chittim is a coach, host of The Rambling Runner Podcast, father, husband, and proud masters' runner, helping promote and enhance the world-wide running community through podcasting, video, writing, and coaching!

https://theramblingrunner.com

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

LET'S TALK ABOUT "ZONE 2"!! Dr. Lisa Mitro rejoins the show to share her Zone 2 running journey, and we talk all about the importance of this intensity zone for runners, what it is, how to find it, and so much more!!

What IS "Zone 2"? What are we ACTUALLY trying to achieve here?

How easy running can help prevent injury

Embracing slowing down (& how to convince runners it's OK to slow down!)

Common running form issues on easy runs

Using heart rate to define your easy zone

OTHER ways to find your easy zone!

How your race paces can get faster even if your easy paces don't change

...and so much more!

HOST BIO:

GUEST BIO:

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/

Get ready to level up how your body MOVES! In this episode, biomechanical expert Jay Dicharry dives deep into the art and science of running with the second edition of his book, Running Rewired (seriously, go buy it), breaking down why movement quality is the secret sauce to staying injury-free and improving your form. Jay explains why mobility, stability, strength, and power aren't just buzzwords—they're the building blocks of skilled movement. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of tuning into your body's neural feedback and how focusing on one aspect of form at a time can make all the difference. Whether you're an office-bound runner or just looking to polish your stride, this conversation is packed with practical tips and insights to help you move better, run better, and feel better. Tune in and learn how to build a strong foundation for your running journey!

GUEST BIO:

Originally from New Orleans LA, Jay completed the Masters of Physical Therapy degree at Louisiana State University Medical Center and is a Board- Certified Sports Clinical Specialist. Jay built his international reputation as an expert in biomechanical analysis as Director of the SPEED Clinic at the University of Virginia. Through this innovative venture, Jay was able to blend the fields of clinical practice and engineering to better understand and eliminate the cause of overuse injuries in endurance athletes. His unique approach goes outside the traditional model of therapy and aims to correct imbalances before they affect your performance.

Jay literally wrote the book on running gait assessments: he is author of "Running Rewired" and "Anatomy for Runners", writes columns for numerous magazines, and has published over thirty professional journal articles and book chapters. Jay has had an active research career, teaches nationally, and consults for numerous footwear companies, the US Air Force, USA Track and Field, and USA Triathlon. His ongoing research focus on footwear and the causative factors driving overuse injury continues to provide him cutting edge knowledge to educate and provide patients with an unmatched level of innovation and success. Having taught in the Sports Medicine program at UVA, he brings a strong bias towards patient education, and continues to teach nationally to elevate the standard of care for Therapists, Physicians, and Coaches working with endurance athletes.

Does it sometimes feel like there is an actual barrier preventing you from achieving a goal? In this episode, Coach Elisabeth sits down with sports psychologist/mental performance coach (and, of course, endurance athlete enthusiast) Ashley Eckermann, to explore how our thoughts control our outcomes and WHY we run into these mental blocks!

From cultivating belief in oneself, to visualization exercises, to self-talk, Ashley provides strategies for handling common mental blocks like struggling with pace goals or mid-race doubts that runners often face. and offers practical strategies for overcoming them and continuing to ENJOY your favorite hobby (running!)

GUEST BIO:

Ashley Eckermann is the owner and founder of Maximize the Mind and she goes by a number of titles: sport psychology consultant, performance coach, mental skills coach, mental performance coach, performance psychology expert, sports injury specialist, but ultimately, she teaches athletes to be more competitive by learning strategies to manage their emotions more effectively!

DUN-DUN-DA-DUN the Olympics are here! Coach Nick Klastava lends his analysis to this episode looking the major battle in the men's 1500m, the superstars in the women's 1500m, Sifan Hassan's decision to TRIPLE with the 5000m, 10000m, & marathon, and the battle of the Marathon GOATs: Kipchoge vs. Bekele. Who will come out on top??

VROOM VROOM, BABY! Caffeine is THE most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world, and it's one of the most commonly available ergogenic aids (i.e. substances that can improve athletic performance). In this episode we talk about the research behind caffeine and its effect on endurance performance, "fast" and "slow" metabolizers, dosing, timing, the placebo effect, caffeine's effect on heart rate, and more!

References:

Bangsbo, J., Jacobsen, K., Nordberg, N., Christensen, N. J., & Graham, T. (1992). Acute and habitual caffeine ingestion and metabolic responses to steady-state exercise. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 72(4), 1297–1303. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1992.72.4.1297

McClaran SR, Wetter TJ. Low doses of caffeine reduce heart rate during submaximal cycle ergometry. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2007 Oct 9;4:11. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-4-11. PMID: 17925021; PMCID: PMC2164943.