The Running Explained Podcast

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! GUEST BIO: 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: Coach Elisabeth is the Founder and Head Coach at Running Explained, 6x marathoner, multi-certified coach, Boston Qualifier, and enthusiastic believer in your ability to turn the impossible into the possible. Whether you're a brand new runner or have been pounding the pavement for decades, she believes there is always more to learn about running and always more that running can teach us about life. C⁠rush your goals with a Running Explained training plan, masterclass, group coaching, or 1:1 coaching⁠, or learn from her meticulously researched ⁠Instagram posts on a wide variety of running-related topics⁠! GUEST BIO: Dr. Lisa is a Physical Therapist who helps runners prevent and treat injuries using practical tips, science-based research, and simple running-specific movements. She is also a run coach and certified running gait analyst. Through her treatment methods, she has helped thousands of runners return to pain free running and train smarter!