117. The Pro Athlete Experience with Olympian Kate Grace & Endeavorun

Phil Batterson is a competitive runner, former running coach, and the founder of Critical Oxygen. Phil has a PhD in human bioenergetics and a love for all sorts of endurance sports, from rowing to track and field and ultras. His goal with Critical Oxygen is to teach athletes and coaches how to optimize their physiology to maximize endurance performance. This episode is important and is a repost of episode 330 from 2023. Phil breaks down some of the complex physiology behind the three different thresholds to make it more accessible, as well as providing practical ways to apply it in training. Some of our discussion includes: Phil's journey into endurance training and exercise science What physiology defines each of the three thresholds How runners can determine their own thresholds The importance of lactate threshold work for race preparation Common mistakes when using training zones How to integrate VO2 max work with cross training Whether you like to geek out on physiology or just want to race faster, you'll learn a lot from my conversation with Phil! Links & Resources from the Show: Follow Phil on Instagram Check out the Critical Oxygen podcast and blog Let me help you get the most out of your training Thank you to 2Before! We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles. Just like beetroot but more effective, blackcurrant berries are vasodilators, helping you get more blood flow to where it's needed. Boost your performance and immune system with 2before: use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com. Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running! Thank you LMNT! A big thanks to LMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at LMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You'll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. LMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day. If you're not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I'm now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff. Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They're the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out LMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season. Thank you Gut & Green! Previnex's new Gut & Green Superfoods powder is my new go-to. It has organic barley and oat grass, alfalfa, spirulina, chlorella, kale and broccoli… and that's it. Their ingredients are backed by clinical data and contain three specific gut fibers that help promote GI health, digestion, reduced inflammation, and a better microbiome. With twice of the fiber of my last greens mix and a better flavor, it's a no brainer for me. Try it for yourself here at previnex.com and be sure to use code "JASONGREENS" to save 15% off your first order. Don't tell anyone, but if you put Gut & Green Superfoods powder in your cart, then the 15% off discount will work for anything else you add into your cart as well. Thanks Gut & Green!

28 Elo 1h 19min

Dan joins us on the podcast today: a runner who recently improved his marathon from 3:38 to 3:08. In this conversation, Dan shares what he did to improve by a massive 30 minutes over 26.2 miles. But what if he wants to keep going? What if Dan wants to run another 30 minutes faster and start flirting with a sub-2:40 marathon? We'll cover what training changes need to happen to break 3 and run a much more competitive marathon finish time. Thanks to Dan for coming on the podcast and sharing his story! More resources: How to build running-specific strength Marathon Pacing & Warm-up Strategy Pete Pfitzinger on how to run your best marathon Thank you Previnex! After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I'm cautiously changing my tune. I'm now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I'm optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I'm excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen. Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need. Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 – and having a thin frame – has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids. Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they're going to do. They're now offering international shipping so if you live in the UK, Canada, Australia, or anywhere around the world, you can try Previnex as well. Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you'll try it! Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex! Thank you LMNT! A big thanks to LMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at LMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You'll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. And BIG news! Their newest flavor is now available for a limited time: LEMONADE SALT! LMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day. If you're not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I'm now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff. Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They're the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out LMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

21 Elo 1h 10min

Andrea (Annie) Rodenfels is a 7x All-American in the steeplechase and 5,000m, national champion, Drake Relays 3,000m steeplechase champion, and 2x Olympic Trials qualifier. Annie is also one of the few pro runners to come from a Division III school. In this episode, we discuss her path to going pro: The evolution of her career from college to now Her experience with the new pro team Meridia How she trains today (mileage levels, long runs, etc.) Her approach to double workouts in one day How she manages energy and caffeine for 8:30pm races A lot more! You can support her team Meridia by registering for their virtual mile here! Resources: More info about Merida from Colleen Quigley Training & Coaching programs SR's strength series Thank you Avelo! Avelo is the world's smartest running shoe created by a team of ex-Nike engineers. I'm so excited by Avelo that I've been advising them for nearly two years. And the market has spoken - they raised over $100,000 on Kickstarter on their very first day because they're doing something unique. Embedded in their bouncy, lightweight Supertrainer is a sensor that measures impact and your running form, showing you how much force your body is experiencing and when during your run your form starts deteriorating. This gives you incredible insights into your unique form, how it changes, and when it breaks down so you better understand your injury risk and when you get fatigued. The shoes never need to be charged and you can reuse the sensor in each pair of Avelo's. Their app gives you real-time coaching that I had a lot of input on, based on your unique data. They're still available on Kickstarter at 34% off for a very limited time, so get yours today! Thank you to 2Before! We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles. Just like beetroot but more effective, blackcurrant berries are vasodilators, helping you get more blood flow to where it's needed. Boost your performance and immune system with 2before: use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com. Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

14 Elo 51min

When you get a new smart watch, heart rate monitor, or other type of wearable, do you know how it will help your running, specifically? Dr. Peter Tierney is a health and performance researcher, consultant, and coach who's worked with many professional sports organizations across Europe. He joins us today to discuss the science behind wearable tech. We discuss: The wearable stack that Peter recommends Most important metrics to focus on Recommended hardware (specific products) What you can safely ignore Why the actual metric may not be as important as the trend over time Peter first joined the podcast in 2024 to discuss the 5 Big Recovery Strategies (listen here). Resources: The Lost Art of Running by Feel (article) The Best & Worst HR Workouts (video) The world's smartest running shoe (Kickstarter) Thank you Previnex! After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I'm cautiously changing my tune. I'm now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I'm optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I'm excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen. Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need. Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 – and having a thin frame – has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids. Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they're going to do. They're now offering international shipping so if you live in the UK, Canada, Australia, or anywhere around the world, you can try Previnex as well. Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you'll try it! Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex! Thank you Avelo! Avelo is the world's smartest running shoe created by a team of ex-Nike engineers. I'm so excited by Avelo that I've been advising them for nearly two years. And the market has spoken - they raised over $100,000 on Kickstarter on their very first day because they're doing something unique. Embedded in their bouncy, lightweight Supertrainer is a sensor that measures impact and your running form, showing you how much force your body is experiencing and when during your run your form starts deteriorating. This gives you incredible insights into your unique form, how it changes, and when it breaks down so you better understand your injury risk and when you get fatigued. The shoes never need to be charged and you can reuse the sensor in each pair of Avelo's. Their app gives you real-time coaching that I had a lot of input on, based on your unique data. They're still available on Kickstarter at 34% off for a very limited time, so get yours today!

7 Elo 1h 12min

Runners are heat training more often with saunas, hot tubs, and hot weather runs. How much do we need to realize the full benefits of heat training? What are the best options and how do we structure it into our training? In this episode, coach Jason Fitzgerald shares how to think about heat training from duration to frequency to type of heat training. Resources: Heat Exposure video Running in the heat article Training programs Thanks Boulderthon! Boulderthon is a top 10 race in America according to USA Today and one of the best fall marathons according to Runner's World. With a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon, Boulderthon offers an amazing fall destination race weekend right at the foothills of the Rockies. Use code STRENGTH20 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon. Join me in Boulder, one of the top running destinations in the country, on September 28th, to experience the tight knit running community here, race on the epic streets of Boulder, and finish on historic Pearl Street in this BQ-eligible, USATF sanctioned event. Boulderthon is giving away $40,000 in travel credit, thanks to their partner, Frontier Airlines, so run clubs from coast to coast can fly FREE to Boulderthon - the first-of-its-kind program. Apply at Boulderthon.org/flyfree Boulderthon is on track to sell out again this year so don't miss out. Use code STRENGTH20 to save $20 on the marathon or half-marathon here and I hope to see you in Boulder this fall. Thank you Gut & Green! Previnex's new Gut & Green Superfoods powder is my new go-to. It has organic barley and oat grass, alfalfa, spirulina, chlorella, kale and broccoli… and that's it. Their ingredients are backed by clinical data and contain three specific gut fibers that help promote GI health, digestion, reduced inflammation, and a better microbiome. With twice of the fiber of my last greens mix and a better flavor, it's a no brainer for me. Try it for yourself here at previnex.com and be sure to use code "JASONGREENS" to save 15% off your first order. Don't tell anyone, but if you put Gut & Green Superfoods powder in your cart, then the 15% off discount will work for anything else you add into your cart as well. Thanks Gut & Green!

31 Heinä 27min

Dr. Philip Skiba is a physician, performance consultant for the Breaking 2 project, coach to dozens of world class athletes, and author of Scientific Training for Endurance Athletes. Phil is a world-class expert on running physiology and how to race faster. His groundbreaking research into Critical Power, Critical Speed, and the "W Prime" model of fatigue help the best runners in the world plan their training. And the best coaches seek him out for guidance. In this conversation, we discuss: How to determine and improve your "critical speed" His work with Avelo (get your pair of smart running shoes!) The under-discussed "battery" of speed that helsp you kick fast at the end of a race Phil's contribution to Breaking 2 and Eliud Kipchoge's sub-2 marathon attempt Please follow Phil on X and be sure to thank him for this conversation! Thank you 2XU! If you haven't tried 2XU technical compression gear, you're missing out. 2XU has been the world leader in performance compression for 20 years, helping runners feel better and recover faster with compression gear that's backed by scientific evidence. Their graduated compression gear is engineered to improve blood flow and performance while speeding recovery. My personal favorites include the Light Speed React half-tights (with tons of pockets for your phone and fuel!) as well as their Ignition Shield tights (for colder weather). But the recovery tights for use after running are more highly graduated and make me feel better after tough runs. 10/10 would recommend! Knowing that their gear is engineered for runners by runners and backed by research makes me absolutely love 2XU. Go to 2xu.com and use code "JASON" in all caps to get 20% off sitewide, except clearance items or wetsuits. Thank you to 2Before! We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles. Just like beetroot but more effective, blackcurrant berries are vasodilators, helping you get more blood flow to where it's needed. Boost your performance and immune system with 2before: use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com. Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

24 Heinä 53min

Keira D'Amato holds the American record in the 10-mile and is the former half-marathon and marathon American record holder. Her new book, Don't Call it a Comeback, is now available for preorder. She was a 4x All-American at American University in both Cross Country and Track but took about a decade off from running seriously in her 20's and 30's. Keira joined us on the podcast in 2018 to discuss her comeback to running. Now, she's back to discuss what that comeback looked like and how she made it happen. Keira and Jason discuss: Her mental relationship with running How it felt not being able to jog to the end of her street Why she craves both fun and variety in her training (and how she adds them) How she made the decision to commit 100% to running Why she considers herself a "bulldozer" Thank you Keira for joining us and talking about your journey back to running. The community is better with you in it! Thank you Previnex! After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I'm cautiously changing my tune. I'm now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I'm optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I'm excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen. Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need. Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 – and having a thin frame – has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids. Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they're going to do. They're now offering international shipping so if you live in the UK, Canada, Australia, or anywhere around the world, you can try Previnex as well. Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you'll try it! Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex! Thank you 2XU! If you haven't tried 2XU technical compression gear, you're missing out. 2XU has been the world leader in performance compression for 20 years, helping runners feel better and recover faster with compression gear that's backed by scientific evidence. Their graduated compression gear is engineered to improve blood flow and performance while speeding recovery. My personal favorites include the Light Speed React half-tights (with tons of pockets for your phone and fuel!) as well as their Ignition Shield tights (for colder weather). But the recovery tights for use after running are more highly graduated and make me feel better after tough runs. 10/10 would recommend! Knowing that their gear is engineered for runners by runners and backed by research makes me absolutely love 2XU. Go to 2xu.com and use code "JASON" in all caps to get 20% off sitewide, except clearance items or wetsuits.

17 Heinä 58min

Colleen Quigley is a 2016 Olympian, steeplechaser, and former model. She accepted a full scholarship to Florida State University, where she became a nine-time NCAA All-American and a 2015 NCAA Champion in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Colleen went on to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, finishing 8th in the 3000-meter steeplechase. She is also a current world record-holder in the 4x1500-meter relay, set in 2020. In this episode, we discuss Colleen's: Recent training and the types of workouts she's doing Current battles with injuries Brief stint as a triathlete New athlete-owned pro track team Meridia To support this new team and its athletes, register for their upcoming Meridia Mile and test yourself over a single mile this summer! Don't miss my previous conversation with Colleen. Thank you to 2Before! We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles. Just like beetroot but more effective, blackcurrant berries are vasodilators, helping you get more blood flow to where it's needed. Boost your performance and immune system with 2before: use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com. Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running! Thank you LMNT! A big thanks to LMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at LMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You'll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. LMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day. If you're not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I'm now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff. Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They're the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out LMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

10 Heinä 1h 13min