Why Chasing PRs, Shoes, and Medals Never Fixes Identity — and What Actually Leads to Longevity in Running With Pro Running Coach Alex Ostberg

If you care about running for the long haul–physically, mentally, and emotionally–this episode is for you. We want to look at what actually moves the needle for runners, and we’re back with Alex Ostberg to recap his recent newsletters from The Rundown to do just that.We start with a hard truth many athletes learn too late: performance doesn’t fix identity. That idea sets the tone for a broader reflection on what success in running really looks like when the noise fades.      From there, we zoom out. Over the past year, certain lessons kept repeating themselves across training, racing, and life; lessons that hit harder than any single workout or result. And they tend to show up whether you’re chasing a state title, a marathon PR, or just consistency.We also look back at 2025 as a whole. What trends mattered? What narratives were overblown? And what quietly reshaped the sport in ways most people missed?That leads into habits nobody talks about enough. Not revolutionary breakthroughs, but small, underrated behaviors that compound over months and years. Finally, we tackle one of running’s most persistent myths, which is especially relevant in an era of super shoes, carbon plates, and constant gear discourse.This episode isn’t about hacks or hot takes. It’s about clarity; it’s about cutting through performance culture, training dogma, and external validation to understand what really lasts in this sport.Tap into the Alex Ostberg Rundown Recap Special.If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen. If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!S H O W  N O T E S-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ-My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz