The Seconds Flat Running Podcast

Phil is headed to Grandma's Marathon and we're offering some last minute course strategy tips for everyone competing in Duluth this weekend. Then we discuss more on low risk, high reward training. In particular, we dive into the longstanding Phil v. Travis debate on continuous v. broken threshold runs. Thanks for all the great follow-up emails and questions!

The Columbus Marathon identifies itself as, "America's Most Meaningful Race." After spending the next hour with Darris Blackford and Alli Hile, we think you'll understand why that title fits the event. Darris serves as Race Director, drawing on a wealth of experience as he helps organize one of the Midwest's finest marathons. Alli was the original Marathon Mile Patient Champion representing Nationwide Children's Hospital -- the primary beneficiary of Columbus Marathon's extraordinary fundraising outreach and source of race day inspiration for runners and walkers. You can find full details for the 45th running of the Columbus Marathon on October 19 at: columbusmarathon.com Questions, comments, show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! columbusrunning.com

Building off our listener questions from last episode, we're helping create a portfolio of workouts that will help you improve with low risk of over training, burnout, or injury!

We're back from Spring Break with a conversation about your questions: What are the best applicable lessons from the elite races at Boston and London for amateur runners? How can we adapt my training for summer heat? How can we use heat & humidity to enhance my training? Are my training sessions turning into races? What are indicators I can use to control effort levels in workouts? How much time should I spend training at 5K pace in preparation for a 5K race? We're discussing these topics to help increase the fun and effectiveness of your training! columbusrunning.com Temperature / Dew Point intensity chart: https://maximumperformancerunning.blogspot.com/2013/07/temperature-dew-point.html

After a recap of the 129th Boston Marathon, we unpack Conner Mantz's training block, analyzing the past 10 weeks of mileage, long runs, workouts, paces, racing, cross training, taper, and more! We're diving deep into all the details that helped build the second fastest American marathoner ever. Finally, we close by previewing the London Marathon. It features one of the most accomplished fields in marathon history.

Earlier this week I shared a conversation with New Balance Boston Coach Mark Coogan. He is truly one of distance running's great sages. His team includes current lions of our sport like Elle St. Pierre, Heather MacLean, and recent addition Parker Valby. Mark shares tales from New England's rich running tradition and his own elite career on the track, grass, and roads. We also unpack specific workouts that have yielded his athletes Olympic appearances and World Championships medals. But more importantly, we hear about his overarching training principles, which, I believe, can help guide all of us to greater success and joy in our running.

Who is the greatest American female distance runner ever? We're back with Part 2 of our bracket. Last week we crowned Frank Shorter as King, who will be his Queen? Questions comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! columbusrunning.com

Who is the greatest American male distance runner ever? It's time to decide in our March Madness style Sweet 16 bracket. We're comparing 16 of the best ever from mile up to marathon, crossing eras, offering a lesson in our sport's history, and picking the GOAT. Next time, we'll turn our attention to the women's bracket. Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflapodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! columbusrunning.com

How are shoe brands testing their professional athletes and their shoes? How will the super shoes of the future look and feel? What is the life span of your racing shoe? How often should you wear super shoes as part of your training? What are the best practices for attacking the uphills and downhills at the Boston Marathon? Jinger Gottschall of New Balance joins us this week answering all these questions and more! www.columbusrunning.com Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com

In February 2021 Hobbs Kessler recorded the fastest indoor mile ever by a U.S. high school runner. Last week he moved to number two on the all-time world rankings with his 3:46 mile at the Millrose Games. In between, Hobbs inked a pro contract with adidas, won the mile at the World Road Running Championships, and made the Paris Olympics in both the 800m and 1500m, finishing fifth in the 1500. Recently, Phil and I had the joy of sharing an hour with Hobbs. We chatted about the special significance of relationships in running, took a deep dive into his training system, discussed the in-race learning experiences of a young pro, and much more!

Karaoke. Seafood. How do we grade Parker Valby's pro debut? Cam Myers v. Hobbs Kessler, who has the brighter future? Is Ethan Strand the next great American miler? Millrose Games or Super Bowl, what are you watching? & More!

Thank you for all the emails! This week we're tackling the hot topics of best practices for restructuring a training week when life happens, recovery tools, frozen food indulgences, where to go if you are targeting a PR marathon or half marathon, activation, and dynamic warmups. Enjoy! Our warm-up drill sequence mentioned in this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_la6oN1hUx8 columbusrunning.com

The late North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano said, "Every single day, in every walk of life, ordinary people do extraordinary things." Our friend Blake Pratt epitomizes Jimmy V's words as a champion of the running community and top notch masters athlete. Blake has poured his energy into uplifting fellow runners. His string of recent personal bests prove we are all better together. We're excited to share Blake's story as we enter a new year. We hope it inspires you and encourages you to share your time and talent with your running community. Because in that way each of us can help others accomplish extraordinary things. www.columbusrunning.com Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com

Happy new year! We're wrapping 2024 with a conversation about what we learned this year and our favorite things in running & culture. Thanks for listening in 2024! Send us your questions, comments, & episode ideas for 2025: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com columbusrunning.com

We celebrate Max's BIG personal best and Travis shares the raw emotions of his race experience in our CIM race recap episode. Thanks for sharing the training & racing journeys with us this fall! Columbus 10K $5 discount code: TravisGsentme25 www.columbusrunning.com Have a question, comment, or show idea? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com

It's race week! We're discussing taper plans, race strategy, fueling, and more. Plus, we have a listener question on training paces, and a recap of recent action at Valencia and Fukuoka. If you're racing CIM check out Mile 135 for more details on course strategy! It's your last chance to email secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com with race predictions and/or questions for our panel. Email to win shoes or apparel from our partners at New Balance and Columbus Running Company. columbusrunning.com

We're two weeks out from CIM & the guys are recapping their last big training weeks! Join the conversation and email us your training questions and/or race predictions to: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com YouTube links to the exercises described by Dr. Phil in episode 191: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/V1NKta2znwU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiKl5UoiG5c

We're back for a training update from the boys on their road to CIM. Max piles up the mileage and the frequent flyer miles, Travis experiments with new long run workouts and airs his running pet peeves, and Doctor Phil offers great insights into strength and mobility protocols for hip flexor issues. Send us your training questions for the panel: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com. We'll be randomly drawing winners for shoe and apparel giveaways from our partners at New Balance and Columbus Running Company!

We're on the road to CIM! Magic Max Hoffman, a man with long-term OTQ aspirations, joins the show, as he and Travis prep for California International Marathon. We'll follow their training and racing through marathon day on 12/8/24. Thanks to New Balance for partnering with us for this series! Send in your questions for the panel for a chance to win a pair of shoes or shorts courtesy of New Balance. secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com columbusrunning.com

In Chicago, Phil spent four hours grooming with otters at the aquarium and Josh's "bathroom routine was bangin'," but how did the Doctor and the Bad Boy race? We hear about their taper week, marathon, and training reflections in the final installment of our Chicago Marathon series. Thanks to Columbus Running Company and OOFOS for making the Windy City Chronicles possible!

Josh and the Bad Boy return to take you through their last big week of training. It was a roller coaster ride of illness, rolled ankles, and a hurricane. Special guest Miles Bryan joins us as well. He shares his sub-3 Chicago training and racing plan. We conclude the episode with a series of questions/answers about tapering, fueling, and race execution. Good luck to the boys in Chicago!

The Bad Boy and The Doctor are back for a big episode loaded with training week updates and listener questions about how many times per week the guys run fast sessions (and why) and their nutrition program. To close out, Dr. Phil introduces his new training question segment, "The Doctor is In," asking about best practices for the final long runs. Send your questions to secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com to enter our OOFOS road to Chicago giveaway columbusrunning.com

Josh goes to altitude in Arizona while Phil trains through the South Carolina summer heat. Hear the latest on their training for Chicago as we reach 6 weeks from race day. Also, our panel considers a listener question about using heart rate in marathon training / racing. Send your questions to secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com to enter our OOFOS road to Chicago giveaway! columbusrunning.com

Dr. Phil and Josh "Bad Boy of Buffalo" Behuniak are on the road to the Chicago Marathon. We are documenting their journey in a five-part series. Join us for training insights, racing strategy, and details on an OOFOS giveaway. Welcome to the Windy City Chronicles! columbusrunning.com Have a question, comment, or show idea? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com

Thanks to a listener question we are discussing which categories of workouts we prioritize at different phases of a marathon training cycle. But first, we consider which Olympic races had the most significance for the future of distance running, and we introduce our new upcoming training series. columbusrunning.com secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com

Welcome to Part 9 of The Road to L.A. ‘84, our multi-episode retrospective on the 40th anniversary of a seminal moment in a golden era of marathoning. In this episode our journey reaches its climax — the 1984 Olympic marathons. 40 years later, here's the story of the most awaited 26.2 mile foot races in Olympic history…

Welcome to part 8 of The Road to L.A. '84, our multi-episode retrospective on the 40th anniversary of a seminal moment in a golden era of marathoning. We're telling the behind-the-scenes account of the athletes, the training, and the build-up races. This week we rewind to the 1984 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials in Olympia, Washington -- the precursor to the first ever Women's Olympic Marathon, and a race teeming with intrigue as the world's fastest marathoner faced a career-threatening injury. 40 years later, here's the story of The First Women's Olympic Marathon Trials...

Welcome to Part Seven of The Road to L.A. '84, our multi-episode retrospective on the 4oth anniversary of a seminal moment in a golden era of marathoning. We're telling the behind-the-scenes account of the athletes, the training, and the build-up races. Last year we shared the stories of the biggest races of 1983: Rotterdam, Boston, the Helsinki World Championships, and New York. We examined the training of the men and women who won those races -- the leading contenders for Olympic Gold at Los Angeles 1984. And we explored the running and popular culture of the time. In this episode we look back at the pinnacle domestic events of 1984, the Olympic Trials. 40 years later, here's the story of the 1984 Men's U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon... columbusrunning.com Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Should I run a half marathon in marathon prep? What pace should I use for "speed work" in marathon training? Are long runs or threshold sessions more important for half marathon training? Who is the biggest lock for American gold at the Paris Olympics? Split shorts or half tights? We discuss these questions and more! columbusrunning.com

This week it is a joy to celebrate Father's Day with you as I present an article I wrote for PACE Magazine on Father's Day 2021. It's a love letter to our sport, my father, my grandfather, and all those with whom I've been lucky enough to share miles through the years. "My father was the best man I ever knew...He combined strength and courage with gentleness, tenderness, and great unselfishness...I never knew anyone who got greater joy out of living than did he." -- Theodore Roosevelt

Hayward Field. Pre's Trail. The birthplace of Nike. From Bill Dellinger to Galen Rupp. And Andrew Wheating to Matthew Centrowitz. The men of the University of Oregon have a rich tradition, perhaps greater than any other team in the country. Current mid-distance star Elliott Cook is a fitting torch bearer for the Duck legacy. Originally from Dublin, Ohio, Elliott moved to the Pacific Northwest for school, and has punctuated his career so far with recent Pac 12 championships in the 800 and 1500 meters. He'll chase Oregon immortality this week at the NCAA Championships. And he'll do so on his home track with joy, a thoughtful approach, and immense reverence for his storied program. Elliott is our third guest in our series chronicling the journeys of local stars on their way to the upcoming Eugene Olympic Trials. Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts columbusrunning.com

Earlier this year Abby Nichols represented the United States at the World Cross Country Championships -- an unlikely outcome for someone who once quit her track team within the first week of practice. But Abby came back, dedicated herself to the sport won Ohio titles in track and cross country, and continued her ascent with Big Ten, and, later, Pac 12 championships. Now she's aiming for our sport's greatest prize, the Paris Olympic Games. Abby is our second guest in our series chronicling the journeys of local stars on their way to the upcoming Eugene Olympic Trials. Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts columbusrunning.com

From her humble start as a high school sprinter, Emily Richards rose to the top of NCAA mid-distance running with nine national championships and set the Division III record for 800 meters. Now she's chasing Olympic dreams and is the first guest in our series chronicling the journeys of local stars on their way to the upcoming Eugene Olympic Trials. But beyond her on track accomplishments, you'll appreciate Emily's enthusiasm, passion for her craft, and gratitude for her opportunities. Running is something we get to do, not something we have to do. It's a blessing and privilege. Emily epitomizes that spirit. Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts columbusrunning.com

Mary Oliver asked, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” As runners we feverishly answer that we plan to race fearlessly, testing the limits of human performance. We challenge our aching muscles and foggy brains across distances so far as to be considered maniacal by the average, sane, non-endurance athlete. We traverse trails, ford rivers, and climb precipices seeking the ethereal. Meaning. Beauty. Clarity. Peace. But our running is rooted in the everyday. The consistent practice of our beloved craft. What so many guests of this podcast have told us is the foundation of success. And in the day to day we share our one wild and precious life with the people who run next to us stride for stride and with the places where our two lower limbs miraculously keep striking the earth mile after mile. I'm overjoyed to share with you the story of the place where I run more than any other place. I hope in connecting with my sacred running space you'll reconnect with the beauty and sanctity of where you run.

Stephanie Bruce's story reads like a love letter to running. Through trials and triumphs, grief and growth, she has leaned into the sport and followed her own course. She's a three-time U.S. champion and an invaluable voice on transparency and vulnerability while juggling her responsibilities of motherhood and her career. Steph joins us this week to share her story and also to celebrate Mother's Day as she'll be the special guest at the Mom Day 5K on May 12. After Steph, we hear from Race Director Meg Sexton with event details and the special cause the race supports. Mom Day 5K: www.momday5k.run Come celebrate our Ohio running and walking community on Saturday, May 11: https://www.columbusrunning.com/springfest/ Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts columbusrunning.com

After a discussion about the London Marathon and the future of adidas racing shoes, we analyze using workouts with prescribed recovery paces. What are they? Why should we use them? Why are they uncommon in many traditional training plans? How do we best execute float segments? What are example sessions? We'll address all these questions are more! Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts columbusrunning.com

Coach Chris Lundstrom of Minnesota Distance Elite shepherded multiple athletes to the US Olympic Marathon Team Trials in Orlando this February. Among his success stories: Annie Frisbee finished in the top 10 and Dakotah Lindwurm placed on the podium, earning a spot on our Olympic team for Paris. Chris ran collegiately at Stanford and later competed in three Olympic trials marathons. Also, he holds a PhD in Kinesiology. Coach joins us this week for a conversation about Minnesota Distance Elite and a deep dive into marathon training.

Phil raced the 2024 Tobacco Road Half Marathon, and he's giving you insights on what to expect from the course, logistics, organization, competition, and more if you put this fun race on the American Tobacco Trail on your future race calendar. Also, beginning at 21 minutes, we unpack the details of our warm up and cool down protocols, and debate the topic of long cool downs as a method for reaching mileage goals. Dynamic drills mentioned in this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_la6oN1hUx8 Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts columbusrunning.com

New Balance Rebel v4 | Saucony Endorphin Speed v4 | Saucony Endorphin Pro v4 | ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris With so many exciting new models dropping in March we spent time in 4 of the most anticipated shoes of the spring. What's best for you? Tune in to find out all the details about each. Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts columbusrunning.com

This week we take you inside the world and national records that fell at an electrifying Millrose Games, analyze the new super shoes worn by top finishers at the U.S. Marathon Team Trials, and bid farewell to greats Kelvin Kiptum and Henry Rono. Plus, if you'll be racing the Greenville Half Marathon on 2/24 we hope to see you there! Join us pre-race for a warm up from the Center St. parking lot in TR, just south of Gateway Park. Questions, comments, or show idea? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts columbusrunning.com

It's time for one of our favorite events: The Olympic Team Trials Marathon. We preview the course and make our predictions -- most assuredly our worst predictions yet. Then, we review the race experience at the Austin 3M Half Marathon and close with Phil's shoe of the year for 2023 and the most anticipated shoes of 2024 for Travis.

As a new year dawns, we're reflecting on what has worked and what's missing from our training. To help you through the reflective process we've designed "ideal training weeks" for each other based on our 2024 target races. These microcycles incorporate runs we enjoy, runs that have yielded success, and runs that might be a missing ingredient for greater success.

The Norwegian Model of double threshold, Parker Valby's cross training, Kelvin Kiptum's massive mileage and quality. We're diving into each and unpacking what can be scaled and applied for better running in 2024. Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts columbusrunning.com

After 2 years removed from the marathon and a year battling serious injury, Columbus Running Company Elite athlete Sakiko Minigawa ran the California International Marathon last week chasing the Olympic Trials standard. Despite the obstacles, and perhaps because of them, she raced to a new personal best of 2:35:52. As Booker T. Washington wrote, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” By that measure, Sakiko has reached the pinnacle of running success. She joins us this week to share her experience of training, persevering, and ultimately excelling. Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts columbusrunning.com

Marathon season wrapped up with fireworks at Valencia, Fukuoka, and California International, and indoor season opened in spectacular, record-breaking fashion at Boston University. We recap the action and discuss what these results mean for the sport in 2024. Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts columbusrunning.com

CS Lewis once wrote, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” Justin Melott personifies Lewis's words as he quests after personal bests from the mile to 100 miles. Justin is a deep thinker on running, a dear friend, and a Columbus Running Company manager. Moreover, he's an inspiration to those of us aspiring to new heights in our running long past the glory days of interscholastic athletics. This past week he set a new 5K PR, and pacing his race was one of the high points of my time in running. Afterward we sat down to bring you the story of that race and the running journey he continues each day. I'm privileged to bring you Justin Mellott on Mile 163 of Seconds Flat...

We're tackling your toughest training questions this week: our top Thanksgiving dishes, how to construct threshold sessions, what we've learned about training so far from the Road to L.A. '84 series, how to fight late race fatigue and cramping, and how to best use the Moneghetti Fartlek. Plus we review exciting new shoes from adidas and New Balance! Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: seondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! columbusrunning.com

Welcome to Part Six of The Road to L.A. '84, our multi-episode retrospective on the 40th anniversary of a seminal moment in a golden era of marathoning. We're telling the behind-the-scenes account of the athletes, the training, and the build-up races. This week we rewind to the 1983 New York City Marathon — site of one of the most thrilling finishes ever seen in sports. A race we've been so excited to relive with you. 40 years later, here's the story of New York 1983... Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Welcome to Part Five of The Road to L.A. '84, our multi-episode retrospective on the 40th anniversary of a seminal moment in a golden era of marathoning. We're telling the behind-the-scenes account of the athletes, the training, and the build-up races. This week we rewind to the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. After a spring of epic clashes in Rotterdam and Boston, the world's greatest distance runners converged on Scandinavia competing for the crown of World Champion — a title awarded outside of an Olympic year for the first time in track & field history. 40 years later, here's the story of Helsinki 1983 on Mile 159 of Seconds Flat… Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

What do the recent world record performances by Tigst Assefa and Kelvin Kiptum mean for the future of the sport? Is a sub 2 hour marathon imminent? Can the Japanese Grand Championships provide a model for strengthening the USA marathon team selection? Who might match the drama from Berlin and Chicago at the upcoming New York Marathon? We consider those topics plus we answer marathon-related listener questions. Questions, comments, or show ideas? Email us: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com Enjoy the show? We'd love your feedback in a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Welcome back friends! With fall marathon season just around the corner we're unpacking all the questions around how and how frequently to use long run workouts. Then we share thoughts on the New Balance More Trail v3 and On CloudBoom Echo 3 (spoiler: they're good!) before we close with our speculation on the future of super shoes. Email us thoughts and questions: secondsflatpodcast@gmail.com And if you enjoy the show please leave a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!