The Running Public

Training Tuesday #66: Chit Chat with Kirk and Brak

Today is a look behind the scenes to what a typical conversation between Kirk and Brakken looks like. No agenda, no specific topics, just talking about races and training. However, the second half features Brakken making a bold statement about doing nothing but Compromised Running for the rest of the year and detailing why and how he plans to do so!

Episode 66: Listener Submitted Q&A

We hit a little bit of everything today ladies and gents! We have to say, the level of thinking behind these questions is really impressive. We love seeing people take their training seriously, and your dedication shows in your questions. Some highlights include:

• Carbon trail shoe discussion
• What certifications should a running coach have?
• How to manage racing twice in one day
• How to calculate fueling needs for a race
• What OG OCR athlete would we bring back?
• HR Zones vs FTP Zones

Training Tuesday #65: All About Threshold

Lactate Threshold might just be the single most misunderstood concept in all of endurance training. So, we dedicate an entire episode to explaining and simplifying this awesome piece of training jargon. Get ready to take some notes! And pay attention for the longest analogy (7+ minutes) we've ever used!

Episode 65: Nicholas Ryker

Three months ago, Nick was preparing to prove his ranking as one of the most promising young racers in North America. Then, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The toll it immediately took on his body has been severe, and he is actively fighting to regain control of his dreams of being a professional athlete. This interview will leave you rooting for Nick while realizing how lucky we are to be able to run in the first place.

Training Tuesday #64: All About Ultras

The people have spoken: It is time to dive into training and racing distances over 30 miles! 

• How much volume do you need?
• Back to back long runs?
• How long is long enough in training?
• Do I need speed work?
• Gear, fueling, shoes, etc

Episode 64: Rea Kolbl

• Slovenian National Gymnastics Team Member for 10 years
• Spartan Ultra World Champion
• 2x World's Toughest Mudder Champion
• 2nd Place at ECO Challenge: Fiji
• Undefeated at OCR Races 8 Hours or longer
• Bachelor’s Degrees in Physics and Astrophysics from Cal-Berkeley
• Master’s Degree in Science and Engineering from Stanford.

This woman is one of the top endurance athletes on the planet but has taken the long, broken road to get here. Her story is incredible, as are the life obstacles she has overcome.

Training Tuesday #63: Swing the Hammer Hard!

If you're going to swing the hammer, swing that thing hard! That was a big take away from the Dr Fred Clary interview, as he talked at length about preparing for 110% or even 120% of the demands of your next competition. Today we explain what that means, why it matters, and how it works / what it looks like in training.

Episode 63: Dr Fred Clary

Fred Clary is a Chiropractic Neurologist, World Record holding Power Lifter, and a goldmine of knowledge about maximizing the potential of the human body. Today we look into the role strength training plays in unlocking your endurance potential. Be warned: Brakken filled an entire page with notes while recording this episode. This is one you will want to listen to with a pen and pad in hand!

Training Tuesday #62: All About Super Shoes!

The super-shoe era is officially here, so Doctor Kraker went into the lab to test out the Nike Alphafly against two "typical" racing shoes in order to get clear data that shows exactly how much these new shoes affect your running. Along the way we hit the following:

• What is a super shoe?
• How does the carbon plate work?
• How do they affect pace at Mile, 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, and Marathon distances?
• Should they be legal?

Episode 62: Lisa Kraker - Running for Happiness

Brakken's wife, Lisa, finally joins us today! Lisa hates racing. Hates it. She also can't stand easy runs, training schedules, and scripted quality workouts. We discuss how she structures her training and life in order to keep running a purely enjoyable and therapeutic exercise.