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All Episodes

The MicroCast — 240 episodes

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Title
1

How Much Volume Do You Actually Need? Minimum Dose, Optimal Dose, Frequency, and Distribution

2

A Leadville Win and a Leadville DNF: What Both Taught Us About Training

3

Is Training Making You Slower?

4

Downhill Running Science: Eccentric Loading, the Repeat Bout Effect & Descending Technique

5

Recovery Is the Ceiling: The 5 Things Blocking Your Recovery (Plus Soft Rock, Hot or Not, and Debriefing Your First 100)

6

Race-Specific Training: Are You Actually Training for YOUR Race? Plus: the best running belts, pre-race strength training, and make-up miles

7

What Fitness Actually Is: The 5 Systems Every Runner Trains (Plus Running in Wildfire Smoke)

8

Heat vs. Altitude Training for Runners: What Actually Works (+ Golden Hour, Probiotics & Time-Based Training)

9

Durability: How to Stop Fading Late in Races (Plus Antihistamines, Yard Work & the "Ultra Bod" Myth)

10

AI vs. Human Coaching, Hiding Your Heart Rate in Races, Cramps & Training in Humidity

11

Building the Long Run: Endurance, Fueling, and the Mental Game of Going Long

12

How to Know If Your Training Is Actually Working (The N of 1 Experiment)

13

The 5 Metrics That Actually Matter in 2026 (And Why Most of Your Data Is Noise)

14

Running Economy Explained — 5 Levers That Work, 4 Myths to Ignore

15

How Hydration and Sodium Make or Break Your Race

16

Why You Should Always Be Training + Coach TJ's Canyons 100k Race Recap!

17

5 Reasons Your Fitness Is Stuck (and How to Get Unstuck)

18

The Science of Periodization: How to Actually Structure Your Training Year

19

5 Signs You're Ready to Race (And 5 Signs You're Not)

20

UTMB Chianti Castles UTCC 120k Race Recap + Fueling Short Runs and Psychedelics for Running?

21

The Performance Trap: What Elite Male Athletes Get Wrong About Discipline, Leanness, and Control

22

5 Most Overhyped Ideas in Endurance Training (And What Actually Works)

23

Should You Run Twice a Day? The Science Behind Running Doubles

24

What Good Running Coaching Actually Looks Like (And How to Find It) with Cliff Pittman, CTS Coaching Development Director

25

Is Running 30 Ultras a Year Actually Destroying Your Body? The Science

26

The Science of Going Long: How to Train Beyond Your Comfort Zone

27

7 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Runners Make (And How to Fix Them)

28

6 Principles for Training Through Big Life Changes

29

How to Return to Running After Time Off , Plus: Burrito League and Plyometrics!

30

When Cross-Training Helps Runners (And When to Just Run More)

31

5 Signs Your Runs Aren't Easy Enough

32

5 Off-Season Habits That Will Make You a Stronger Runner in 2026

33

Coaches' Mailbag — Your Running Questions Answered

34

5 Running Studies That Actually Matter in 2025 (Skip the Hype)

35

5 Running Lessons I Wish I Learned Sooner | Advice from Experienced Runners

36

11 Things Every Runner Should Do to Reach Their Potential

37

RED-S Explained: Why Underfueling Hurts Your Performance More Than You Think

38

5 Science-Backed Ways to Prevent Running Injuries: What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t)

39

Stop Overthinking Your Training: How to Simplify and Run Better

40

Running Recovery Myths and Metabolism Mistakes: What Actually Works for Endurance Athletes

41

The Science of the Long Run, Plus: Creatine & Burnout

42

5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Training Year

43

Steady State vs. Tempo vs. Threshold

44

5 Ways to Rock Your Recovery + Why Is Treadmill Running So Hard?

45

5 Ways to Nail Your Next Workout & Staying Motivated Through Injury

46

When to Take a Down Week & Weighted Vests and Fatigue Resistance

47

Run Rabbit Run 100 Race Recap: Storms, Strategy & Mental Flexibility

48

5 Ways To Nail Your Taper, Plus: Mental Fatigue, Simplified Logistics, and Race-Week Execution

49

Minimizing Muscle Damage, Talking through the Colon Cancer Study, and How Social Media Slows You Down

50

Aid Station Efficiency, Fat Adaptation Myths, and Training Volume Explained

51

5 Science‑Backed Pacing Rules for Ultras

52

Who Gets to Be an Athlete? Endurance Fueling Myths, Carb Periodization & Race-Day Resets

53

5 Workouts Every Runner Needs to Get Faster (Without Burning Out)

54

Protein: Hype vs. Reality

55

Fuel Smarter, Run Stronger: Endurance Nutrition Myths Busted

56

TJ's Silver Rush Recap + Training For Busy Runners

57

5 Myths Holding Your Running Back

58

Master Downhill Running: Technique, Strength & Mindset for Trail Runners

59

Block vs. Mixed Training, Best Gels for Running, and Making Data Actually Useful

60

How to Train for High Altitude Races: Acclimatization & What Actually Works

61

Top 5 Science-Backed Reasons Runners DNF – And How to Prevent Them

62

How to Set Your Running Zones: VO2 Max, Lactate, and Why Your Zones Might Be Wrong

63

Heat Training for Runners: What Works, What’s Hype, and How to Do It Right

64

How to build Real Mental Toughness and the Limits of AI Coaching

65

The 5 Most Debated Ideas in Endurance Training—And What the Science Actually Says

66

Stress Is Stress: Strength Training Timing, Gut Myths & the Truth About Recovery

67

The 5 Running Studies Every Athlete Should Know (Training, Fueling, Injury Risk + More)

68

How Long Does It Actually Take to Get Fit? Training Timelines, 200-Milers, and Coaching at the Edge of Science

69

Ultra Recovery, Speed Training Myths & Mid-Run Bananas: Hot Takes + Science-Backed Advice

70

UTMB Chianti Recap: We Hitchhiked to a UTMB Race and Ran Through Castles

71

Goal Setting, and Staying Motivated Without Racing

72

The Race Weight Trap: How It Can Hurt Your Performance

73

Why You Slow Down in the Second Half of a Race (and How to Fix It!)

74

Evidence-Based Training: How Science Should (and Shouldn’t) Guide Your Training

75

How Much Training Can You Skip Without Losing Fitness? (The Science of Minimum Effective Dose)

76

Why Your Longest Run Isn’t What Matters - and Should You Train by Time or Mileage?

77

Mental Training For Runners and How To Prevent Running Injuries

78

How to Fix Your Running Form and to Run Easy!

79

Building Training Volume: Tips for Running Longer Distances (Even Your First Ultra!)

80

Road Shoe Power Ranking & Lactate Threshold Training For Runners

81

High-Carb Fueling, Breaking Through Training Plateaus, and Gel Power Rankings

82

Coach Kylee and Zoe Answer Your Nutrition and Diet Questions!

83

Want to Get Better at Running? Nail the Fundamentals.

84

How Runners Can Navigate Injury Recovery

85

Nutrition Periodization For Runners

86

Ask A Running Coach Anything!

87

Coach TJ's Spartan Race Recap and Post Race Recovery Tips!

88

11 Things Every Runner Should Do

89

How Long Does It Take To Get Faster?

90

Strength Training For Runners

91

Running and Training Through Menopause

92

"Blue Collar" Training for Runners with Physically Demanding Jobs

93

Hybrid vs. Block Training Periodization for Runners, and What Data Actually Matters

94

Our Top Ten Favorite Workouts for Runners

95

The Bad Ideas Draft. Worlds Worst Nutrition, Training, and Running Advice Ever!

96

The "Best" Running Cadence, Running on Soft Surfaces, and Transition Season!

97

Fatigue, Perfectionism and Cycle Syncing!

98

Coach Zoë on For The Long Run!

99

How To Set Better Running Goals - And Train Without Goals!

100

Coach Zoë's Leadville 100 Race Recap!

101

How to Get Better at Running Downhill and Leadville 100 Preparation!

102

The Most Common Questions Coaches Get About Running

103

The Six Biggest Training Mistakes Athletes Make

104

Your Diet Sucks - The Zero Calorie Ultra

105

Introducing Your Diet Sucks - Why Athletes Fall For Diet Bullsh*t

106

Supplements That Work, and How To Track Your Training

107

V02max Matters For All Runners. Here's How to Improve Yours.

108

Altitude Training For Runners plus a Silver Rush 50 Recap!

109

Coach TJ's Western States Endurance Run Recap!

110

How To Train For Your First 100 Mile Race. Plus, Injury Prevention!

111

How To Get Better At Running Uphill

112

Should You Actually Be Heat Training?

113

How Specific Should Your Training Be?

114

How To DNF Your First Ultra

115

Why Runners Should Train by Effort, Not Heart Rate

116

Faster as a Master: Training For Athletes Over 40

117

When Should You Wear Carbon Supershoes? And Lake Sonoma Recap!

118

Spring Trail Training Tips and Using Races to Train For Ultras

119

The Inside Out Athlete with Mental Performance Consultant Lucie Hanes, M.S. Applied Sports Psych

120

11 Guiding Principles for Athletes Who Want to Reach Their Potential. Plus Real Foods Hot or Not.

121

Coach Zoë Rom is back! Partner Race Swap, What to Focus on To Reach Your Potential, Plus Alcohol Use for Athletes

122

The Curiosity Mindset with Jonathan Levitt, For The Long Run Podcast. Plus Developing Your WHY and Leaning into Joy.

123

The Zen of Performance with Author, Athlete and Philosopher Francis Sanzaro, PhD

124

Planning for Your A Race + Stretching, Foam Rolling, Chiros & N/A Beverages with Coach Zack Russell

125

Thinking about New Year's Resolutions? Try a habits and outcome based approach instead.

126

2023: A Year in Review & Celebrations, Peloton, The Real Core Work Runners Need & Normatech Boots

127

Our Favorite Influencer, The Essentials of the Coach-Athlete Relationship, Managing New Life Stress Strategies & WSER Waitlist Mindset

128

Intention versus Commitment & Progress - Plus Loop & Out and Back Races as well as Xtraining!

129

Microcosm 3.0 - What We've Learned. Plus Transition Season, Running Dates and Friends That Don't Run. Are they the best kind?

130

The Bad Ideas Draft. Worlds Worst Nutrition, Training, Internet Takes, Gear and Wild Cards! From Low Carb High Fat Diets to Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches to 100 Mile Weeks and Run Streaks.

131

Our Top 10 Favorite Workouts and WHY, plus The Importance of Hobbies and What we do for FUN, Thoughts on Running with Music and so much more!

132

Run Rabbit Run 100 Recap & Takeaways + Blood & Sweat Test Hot Takes & Community Coaching Reflections

133

Brand Ambassadorship, The Bear and La La Land plus Training Adaptations and Timelines for Adaptation

134

How to Become a Sustainable Runner: Mind, Body, Community and Planet + Hot or Not + Boot Camps & Non-Linear Recovery

135

Leadville 100 Recap + Hot or Not + Book Reviews + Worlds Most Tired Proposal

136

Leadville 100 Training & Chatter, Hot Water Immersion, Dealing with Uncertainty, Books & Hot or Not!

137

The Biggest Obstacles We've Faced & How We Dealt With Them. Plus Working Remote, Book Tour Vulnerability, Training While Traveling Takeaways & Bonus Hot or Not.

138

Challenges Covering Hard Rock 100, Business Decisions, Inspiration from NF's "Hope," plus TJ's Silverton Alpine Marathon Win and How We Got Into Running!

139

San Juan Summer Solstice 50 Recap, The Champions Mindset, Comedy of Failures and Living a Values Driven Life

140

microCHAT with Coach and Athlete Kristen Schindler - Resilience, Grit and Insights Through Injury

141

A rising tide lifts all boats! The WHY Behind the MicroCOMMUNITY. Plus "Yes, And," FOMO & Protein with bonus Hot or Not takes!

142

Mindset from Racing in Argentina, Taylor Swift & Matthew McConaughey

143

Insights Through Injury & Failure with Professional Climber and Coach Dan Mirsky

144

microCHAT: 100 Millas Sierras Del Bandoleros with Athlete Zena Robinson

145

UTMB Valhöll Recap with Coaches Zoë Rom and TJ David

146

Deep Dive into Parenting while Pursuing Running at a High Level with Coaches & Athletes Sarah Strong and Drew Conner

147

Habits of the Successful Athlete

148

Long Run & Race Day Fueling w/ Kylee Van Horn, RDN

149

Planning for Your First Ultra Q&A

150

Beginners Q&A

151

The Big Thing Effect with Jeff Patterson, Author & Success Coach

152

Building Running Confidence

153

Mental Performance Tools

154

The Never Enough Mentality

155

When is it time to level up? Is work-life-training balance real? Plus a brief xtraining discussion.

156

Exploring Purpose, Multiple A Races, Races That Don't Fit Your Skill Set & Difficult Adventures

157

Training Perspectives on The Menstrual Cycle & Birth Control + The Impacts of Low Level Activity Post Training

158

2022 Takeaways, Planning for 2023 and Winter Running Tips

159

The 2022 Gratitude Call

160

Coach 2022 Takeaways & Off Season Training

161

Puerto Vallarta by UTMB Recap & Working Through Setbacks Pt. III

162

Working Though Mental Setbacks Pt. II, Running Form, Athletic Greens

163

Responding to Training Setbacks Pt. I

164

Rapid, Not So Rapid Fire Friday! Travel w/ Nutrition, Protein During Long Races, Picking A Races, Aid Stations and Drop Bags, Think Beyond One Season!

165

Hill Training 101: Your Guide to All Things Hills

166

Rapid, not so Rapid Fire Friday! Treadmill Runs, Easy Running, Self-Supported Long-Runs, Mental Performance

167

The ins and outs of Group Runs!

168

Coach TJ CCC Recap & Takeaways

169

CCC Training Update & Mental Performance

170

Athlete/Coach Communication Roundtable

171

Adjusting Recovery Expectations, Training Flexibility & Types of Sugars

172

Silver Rush Race Takeaways with Coach TJ - Plus Was it Really a Bad Run? & Taper Science

173

Strong and Stable Legs + Building Strength Into Your Plan w/Coach Megan Flanagan, CPT

174

The Mental Side: Giving Up Saturday's for Long Runs, FOMO and Social Media

175

WSER Recap! Using Ice During Races & Getting Vulnerable on Race Day

176

Summer Training & How to Deal with the Heat

177

Strength Training for Runners with Coach Megan Flanagan, CPT

178

Rapid Fire Friday with Coach Zoë

179

Planning and Running Your First Ultra

180

Collegiate Peaks with Coach Z, Electrolytes 101 with Coach Kylee, Dog Running and More!

181

Earth Day, CBD and Recovery, Rigidity and Flexibility in Training

182

Managing The Stress of Longer Long Runs & Coping with Pre-Race Nerves

183

Why Long Run Variations and Long Run Fueling 101

184

How to Run Strides & How Training Structure Works

185

Crewing and Pacing -- Runner and Crew/Pacer Perspectives!

186

Finding Light in Dark Times & Celebrating The Highs!

187

Coach/Athlete Sarah Strong Wins Up for Air! Full recap plus Balancing Big Goals with Life!

188

Process Oriented Goals 101 & Comparison Traps

189

The Finite & Infinite Mindset Paradox

190

Fueling Under Stress & When Busy! Running Economy & Workouts by Effort

191

Coach Zoë Talks Boundaries plus Running with Your Partner

192

Coach TJ & Coach Kristen Talk Rest, Recovery & WHOOP

193

Coaches Corner! When should I take an extra rest day? How do I gain more autonomy in the training process?

194

Coach Habits & Routines Check-in plus Prioritizing Long Term Health

195

Coaches Corner! Dealing with COVID Uncertainty in Training & Racing plus Forming Sticky Habits!

196

Winter Fueling with Kylee Van Horn, RDN

197

UTMB and Coach Race Recaps

198

Downhill Running and Fun Vs. Focus on Long Runs

199

Overthinking, Efficiency and Race Reports

200

Hydration Packs, Flat Races, New Shoes, And Partners Who Don't Run

201

Coach Race Recaps, Reframing Fear, Commitment and Competitiveness

202

Boundary Setting, Perceived Effort And When To Pause Your Watch

203

Morning Runs, Disappointment and Motivation!

204

TJ & Zoë Community Call

205

Strava, Comparison, Competition and Role Models

206

Masters Athletes and Heat Adaptation

207

Give Yourself Permission To Go For It!

208

Adventure Imperfectly!

209

Big Dreams, Air Quality and Cultures Of Excellence

210

Wildlife Encounters and Nutrition!

211

Cadence, Perspective & Building Training Plans

212

Coaches Corner: Running for Time Vs. Mileage and Garbage Miles

213

Metrics That Matter

214

Understanding Identity

215

Music, Hydration, "Real-Foods" and Anti-Racism

216

VO2 Max Tests, Long Run Recovery, Downhill Running, Runners Highs, Stress Relief and FKT's!

217

Race Day 101

218

Daily Check-Ins, Run Streaks, Alcohol, Splits, and Goal Setting!

219

Bad Days & Building Mental Toughness

220

Downtime, Antidepressants, Race Selection, Self-Criticism, Guilt Vs. Shame and Yoga!

221

Rest Day 101

222

Earth Day For Endurance Athletes!

223

Rapid Fire Friday!!!

224

Burnout Is Real!!!

225

Your Brain Is A Body Part!

226

Rest Days, Comparison, Cross-Training, Social Media and Balance!

227

Simplify Your Training!

228

Rapid Fire Friday!!!

229

Mental Health Matters!

230

Train Smarter, Not Harder

231

Shoes, Glutes, The Flu and More!

232

Nutrition Q & A with Kylee Van Horn!

233

Tips For Busy Athletes!

234

Coach Q&A: Heart Rate Variability, Race-Specific Training, Confidence on Group Runs and Running in the Rain!

235

Goals 101: How To Set Running Goals

236

Coach Q&A!

237

You are a runner!

238

Stress Management For Athletes

239

Winter Training 101!

240

Motivation, Goal-Setting and Nachos!