The Run Smarter Podcast

Episode 444: What to Focus on When You Can't RunLearn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ Being sidelined by injury can feel like a double blow. Not only are you dealing with pain and frustration, but you've also lost one of your biggest outlets for stress relief, fitness, and social connection. In this episode, Brodie shares a practical framework to...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨Luke is a Sports & Exercise Chiropractor who has a particular interest in the management, treatment and prevention of calf and achilles injuries. I interview Luke and explore the common causes for this injury and the most common mistakes runners make in their recovery plan.Luke also provides his checklist if calf strains are a regular occurrence in your...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨Latest Research: Performance Gains, Shockwave Debate, Arch Support ScienceIn this month’s research roundup, Brodie breaks down three fascinating new papers covering running performance, Achilles rehab and plantar fasciitis management.First, a large systematic review investigates what actually predicts better running performance in non-elite runners — from 5K athletes through to ultramarathoners. The finding...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ The Missing Link in Rehab You’re Probably IgnoringPain isn’t always just about tissues, load, or biomechanics.In this episode, Brodie explores one of the most overlooked contributors to prolonged running injuries: the psychosocial side of pain. Drawing from both research and years of working with chronic injury cases, he introduces a 20-questi...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ In this exclusive AMA release, Brodie answers three practical listener questions that many runners quietly struggle with. From deciding whether to see a physio or doctor for persistent knee pain, to knowing when it’s safe to introduce back-to-back running days during rehab, to understanding why your lower back tightens on longer runs… this episode is packed with evidence-based guidance...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ Coach Claire Bartholic wasn’t always a runner.  She started running in her mid-30s simply to get in shape for her high school reunion. She caught the running bug and finished her first marathon at age 38 in a respectable 4:02 and was immediately hooked.   With dedicated coaching and training, she successfully lowered her marathon PR to 2:58, remarkably without injury, and...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨In this episode, Brodie breaks down a brand-new 2026 systematic review investigating whether collagen supplementation truly improves tendon health, recovery, and performance. With conflicting advice from experts and unclear evidence in the past, this paper helps clarify what actually works—and more importantly, how to apply it to your training.Paper: Collagen Supplementation on Tendon-Related Structural and...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨Stem cells are one of the most talked-about frontiers in medicine—but how much of it actually applies to runners dealing with tendon pain?In this episode, I’m joined by orthopaedic surgeon and researcher Chukwuweike Gwam to break down the latest evidence on stem cells and tendon healing. We unpack what stem cells actually are, how they work in the...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨On today’s Q&A episode, Brodie tackles a wide range of listener-submitted questions—covering everything from preparing for mountain races without hills, structuring marathon training in your 50s, and the science of hydration, to managing lateral knee pain, deload weeks, and cardiac drift in ultra events.The common thread is learning how to train smarter by understanding why...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨Returning to running after injury isn’t as simple as waiting until you’re pain-free and heading back out the door.In this episode, I sit down with Eric Hegedus to break down a structured, evidence-informed approach to returning to running—based on his clinical commentary and years of working with injured runners.We dive into how to bridge the...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨In this month’s Latest Running Research episode, Brodie breaks down three fascinating studies that challenge common beliefs and refine how runners should approach performance and injury prevention. First, a randomized controlled trial on ketone supplementation reveals that while ketones significantly improve cognitive function—helping with reaction time and mental clarity—they do not improve running performance, efficiency, or fuel...

 Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨  Episode SummaryIn this Q&A episode, Brodie answers listener-submitted questions covering everything from transitioning to zero drop shoes to fixing ITB pain, understanding Zone 2 training accuracy, and safely introducing sprint work.Along the way, he breaks down common misconceptions, highlights what actually matters, and provides practical, step-by-step strategies you can apply straight aw...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ This episode is a previously recorded Ask Me Anything (AMA) that was originally released exclusively to podcast patrons. Now that the patron platform has been discontinued, these conversations are being shared on the main feed so the broader Run Smarter audience can benefit from the questions and discussions.In this AMA, Brodie answers listener questions on several co...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ Tendon pain is often treated as a purely physical problem. Strengthen the tendon, adjust the load, and eventually things should improve.But what happens when the pain persists for months… or even years?In this episode, Brodie speaks with physiotherapist and PhD researcher Jack Mest about a recent systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ Andy Blow is the founder of Precision Hydration and a former elite triathlete. In today's episode, we delve into the misconceptions around sweat & hydration advice and how to individually tailor a fueling strategy to help your performance.Andy also answers your questions around cramping, running in cold conditions, gels for a sensitive stomach and if hydrating days before a...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨  In this month’s research roundup, Brodie reviews three new papers examining super shoes (advanced footwear technology) and their impact on running economy and performance.Across a large review, a meta-analysis, and a randomized crossover trial, the consistent finding was a ~2.5–3% improvement in running economy when using carbon-plated, high-stack, high-rebound foam shoes. Importantly, benefits weren’t limited to elit...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ In this episode, Brodie dives into a long-awaited research review examining whether active cool downs actually do what we’ve been told they do.You’ve probably heard that cooling down helps “flush lactic acid,” reduce soreness, prevent injury, and speed up recovery.But what does the evidence say?This episode breaks down a comprehensive narrative...

 Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ In this episode, Brodie breaks down a newly published review paper that takes a deep dive into what’s actually happening inside painful tendons — far beyond the usual “overuse” explanation. You’ll learn how healthy tendons are structured, what changes at a microscopic level when tendinopathy develops, and why pain severity often doesn’t match what shows up on scans. The episode explores how fac...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨In this rerun episode, we dive deep into foot strength, control, and coordination with one of the world’s leading authorities on running biomechanics, Jay Dicharry.Jay is a physical therapist, biomechanical researcher, and author of Running Rewired and Anatomy for Runners. He’s also the creator of the MOBO Board and has analysed thousands of runners’ gait pattern...

Learn more about Brodie's Research Database & AI Assistant 📄🔍For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨In this month’s Latest Running Research episode, Brodie breaks down four newly published papers that challenge common assumptions about bone health, injury risk, shoe prescription, and recovery tools in runners. Across all four studies, a consistent theme emerges: what feels logical—or is heavily marketed—doesn’t always align with how the body actually adapts. From bone mineral density...