The Natural Running Network: Recent Episodes
Richard Diaz
If you do not know how to identify and even become a first responder to overuse injuries your athletes deal with, you have no business leading them as their coach. I learned this early and have become a staunch follower in all facets of these concerns and how best to meet them with incredible solutions,…
Will Chung, grandson to the late creator of Soo Bahk Do, a Korean style of martial arts is respected as one of the great movement experts of our time. We recently learned of our connection through family and realized the synergy of thought we also shared in our training philosophy. Anyone who aspires to improve…
Steven Sashen is the CEO and Co-founder of Xero Shoes, a company dedicated to the design of minimal running shoes and the belief that as close to barefoot in all we do is healthier and promotes longevity. It is a rare opportunity to find a running shoe manufacture who refuses to bend to trendy designs…
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The post Minimal Running Shoes… an Interview with Steven Sashen appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
If Kipchoge ran BAREFOOT? Nike had invested a fortune to bring one of their Elite runners to the finish line of a marathon in under 2 hours. Elide Kipchoge did just that! Of course, Nike Monopolized on the event by creating a special racing shoe for him to wear which will pay them back 1000…
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The post If Kipchoge ran BAREFOOT? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Hard to believe but yes it’s true! I did an interview after a long break from podcasting. I said I wouldn’t do it unless I found someone interesting to chat with. So… I reached out to Rylan Schadegg, someone I think is worth a look. A fierce competitor new on the OCR and functional fitness…
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The post Interview with Rylan Schadegg appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Time Trial Tips for Runners… In most training plans runners follow, rarely do you see Time Trials. Blue Benadum and Richard Diaz felt that it’s a topic that runners should understand and employ in their training. How to do it, when to do and why to do them is covered here in this episode! In…
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The post Time Trial Tips for Runners appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Who is Richard Diaz? it’s difficult to put a label on him and he would prefer you don’t. His notoriety is earned through his success as a coach and sports clinician and yes, he has written a few books. All the same he doesn’t like to be defined exclusively for these accomplishments. He has exceeded…
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The post Who is Richard Diaz? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
OCR for Beginners! There is so much to know and learn if you’ve never participated in a Spartan race or any other OCR event, such as Tough Mudder, Savage Race. The first thing you should know is that they are addicting! It seems people can’t get enough of them, almost to a fault. In OCR…
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The post OCR for Beginners appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
dip’s OCR Run Clinic recap Tired of getting injured doing OCR Races? OCR Run Clinic Recap Tired of getting injured doing OCR Races? A few things you can depend on, the sky is blue, grass is green and OCR athletes get injured. Out of love for participation in Spartan races and other OCR events, many…
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The post Tired of getting injured doing OCR Races? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
If you run, you had to have been dealing with injuries and follow the concepts and rationale for shifting to “Running Naturally”. Odd’s are you have been working at it, changed to a more minimal design in shoe selection and through it all, thus far, you’ve come up lame! Injury, frustration yet still feeling you…
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The post Running Naturally – Dealing with Injuries appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Planning on setting new goals for the New Year? We set out to help you avoid common pitfalls so you can avoid inevitable failure! We cover 10 bad idea’s and 10 common approaches and conclude by adding our own spin on what steps to take to help you ensure your success!
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The post New Years Resolution Solutions! appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Running Road VS. Trail So many athletes tell us they don’t like running on road because its hard on their bodies. Is it the surface we choose to run on or something more? Coach Diaz sheds light and his opinion on the choice between Trail Running and Road Running. We will also offer some insights…
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The post Running Road VS. Trail – The Dangers and Benefits appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Regardless if you are a runner, Obstacle course athlete, Hyrox or even Crossfit, The FLow Method of training will boost your tolerance to fatigue and build your capacity to deal with lactate production, who many see as performance killer. This conversation revolves around Richard Diaz’s recent book, Training the Dark Side. Our goal is to…
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The post Boost Speed and Endurance with The Flow Method appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Over Trained? How to self-diagnose. Can you tell when you are over reaching with your training before it’s too late? It is a problem. Many athletes do not know when to say when, what is enough or when is it too much. There is nothing worse than putting in too much work only to be…
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The post Over Trained? How to self-diagnose appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
The 1% Factor – How to accelerate your performance reveals what you can do to provide in the words of Sir Dave Brailsford “the Aggregation of Marginal Gains.” These solutions are so simple it’s hard to believe they would have such profound improvements over your training. And not just in sport but in everything you…
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The post The 1% Factor – How to accelerate your performance appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about heart rate training (but were afraid to ask). Let’s face it, it’s complicated business to truly understand how, why and when as it relates to heart rate. Not to mention, knowing what heart rate you should be following for it to be effective for you! As it so…
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The post EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER WANTER TO KNOW ABOUT… HEART RATE TRAINING appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Running Shoes… Which is right for me? It’s the most complex question asked of me as a coach. There is really no definitive choice that can be recommended. If you are well informed regarding foot function, the potential for running related injuries and the causes, providing advice here can be a slippery slope! It’s the most…
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Join Coach Diaz The Natural Running Networks new Co-Host Leah Duhon “Princess Leah” a highly talented Ninja and OCR athlete in her own right. This episode was open to the audience, Questions and Answers for OCR and Endurance Athletes from those who had questions regarding a variety of topics related to racing and training. We…
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The post Questions and Answers for OCR and Endurance Athletes appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
The Relay event with one rule… Get to Vegas on foot faster than everyone else! The LA Speed Project was the brain child of Blue Benadum and a few of his friends. The conversation went a little like this: “What do you say we do a relay to Vegas? Ok, as long as we do…
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The post THE LA SPEED PROJECT – RUN FROM LA TO VEGAS appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Yes, I have been interviewed on the topic of Training The Dark Side before. However, this explanation, in my opinion is the most comprehensive view and rationale for why this training is so effective. Blue Benadum is an elite Marathon runner. He has embraced the concepts of Flow training and in fact, he has decided…
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The post What is Training The Dark Side? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
The Boston Marathon is arguably the most prestigious running event in the United States and possibly the world. Qualifying for Boston is no easy task. I have a conversation with a friend Blue Benadum a highly successful runner who has run Boston 6 times and set a personal best of 2:23 at this event. He…
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The post How to get to the Boston Marathon appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
I wanted to have a candid conversation with Nicole Mericle, not so much about her recent win at The Jacksonville Spartan Race which was spectacular by the way. My interest is in her new formation of The Dream Team and The OCR Women’s Development Team. This is a first in the sport and I for…
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The post Interview with Nicole Mericle OCR Pro appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
As we all hope, we’re rounding the turn on this insidious pandemic and the summer to fall seasons busting at the seams with races clamoring to occupy what few weekends left for the 2021 season. Through all of this turmoil, it appears that another event producer is emerging on the obstacle course racing scene. HILDERVAT…
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The post Introducing Hildervat – the new OCR series appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Training the Dark Side – Does it really work? A revolutionary approach to training that has shown to be highly effective for a variety of athletic pursuits. Richard Diaz, author and host of this podcast, decided to reach our to Larry Caldwell an enthusiastic Spartan Race competitor who has taken on the project to see…
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The post Training The Dark Side Review, Does it Work? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
OCW World Championships in 2021, is it going to happen? Who better to share these goings on then the founder of OCRW himself, Adrian Bijanda. It’s no secret that 2020 was a bust for virtually every type of mass gathering all over the world, Obstacle Course Racing was no exception. Leading into 2021 with hope…
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The post Adrian Bijanda – OCR World Championships appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Everywhere you turn these days you’ll find CBD for sale the acronym for “cannabidiol”. CBD is the active ingredient derived from a cannabis plant, yes, Marijuana . Over the past half decade, marijuana dispensaries have cropped up all over the country. The medicinal benefits prove to reduce stress, improve sleep, reduce inflammation and pain associated…
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The post Why Every Athletes Need CBD appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
There is much controversy that surrounds the choice of running shoes and how they may or may not protect you from injury. Some say they won’t run on pavement because it hurts their knees or gives them shin splints. In this interview, I speak with Dr Emily Splichal a world renowned board certified Podiatrist and…
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The post Are Trails better than Road for Runners? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Two of the Fittest Women in the World Some may argue, that the fittest athletes on the planet are CrossFit athletes. I am not going to argue for or against the prospect. What I will defend is that Lauren Fisher and Jen Ryann have shown the world on many occasion that they belong on the…
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The post Lauren Fisher and Jenn Ryan visit The Secret Lab appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Things suck these days if you yearn to compete. The Corona Virus has everyone around the world in lock down mode. Finding an outlet for your competitive drive has been a challenge onto itself this entire year. With so many race companies struggling to stay afloat, not many have given a care for the athletes,…
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The post Virtual Racing with OCR Stars appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Breathing – Best practices for performance! Everyone has at one time or another, pondered the idea: What would be the best way to breathe while running? There are so many opinions on the subject, it’s no wonder so many are confused. Veejay Jones – Elite OCR athlete and I (Richard Diaz) thought it would be…
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The post Breathing – Best practices for performance appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Coach Diaz and Elite OCR Athlete Veejay Jones share details of their OCR Performance Project a virtual group training program for aspiring Spartan competitors. Aside from this, Coach Diaz also shares some insights into his freshly released book- TRAINING THE DARK SIDE. This book is a great read for any endurance athlete hoping to better…
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The post The OCR Performance Professionals appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Everyone is locked down and could use some non contact human interaction right now. Veejay Jones (pro obstacle course athlete) and I Richard Diaz (his coach). Discuss current affairs, home exercise options and what’s the best treadmill to buy for your budget. How about training on the cheap? An equipment purchase under $250 and 5…
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The post TIPS ON HOME EXERCISE WHILE YOU… HUNKER DOWN! appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
The Dark Horse program is a highly innovative approach to training for CrossFit and other High Intensity competitions. Behind the research Coach Diaz has invested in anaerobic metabolism and lactate tolerance training, the reveal is Dark Horse II an 8 week training program. The question is often raised, will this type of training be beneficial…
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The post Ryan Fischer talks about Dark Horse II with Coach Diaz appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Who knew? One day as I was surfing social media, I hear Ryan Atkins mention that Platinum Rig is bringing a 24 hour competition to the states!!! Like most enthusiasts, I’ve heard of this line of rigs and how formidable they were. Does anyone remember Battle Frog? They introduced some of these rigs in their…
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The post Another 24 hr OCR World Championship hits the U.S.? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Arguably the most reliable ass kick ass piece of cardio equipment, the Concept2 rower, has been embraced for decades in sport. It has been a staple in Crossfit and now with 2 additional pieces, the Bike and Ski erg these devices are world renowned for delivering a workout that is… shall I say “setting the…
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The post DO YOU? CONCEPT2 appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Will moving Spartan World Championships mark the beginning of the end?
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The post TRAINING TIPS AND…DON’T RELOCATE SPARTAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Here we are at the conclusion of 2019 and change is in the air. I can recall when Spartan Race first made a splash and inspired millions to get off the couch. Is it possible that from this movement a new challenge has spawned from this rave? Enter Hyrox, coined as a functional fitness challenge…
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The post IS HYROX THE NEXT BIG THING IN FUNCTIONAL FITNESS? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
During this episode VeeJay Jones and Coach Diaz spoke about Running injuries, Training volume, Black toenails and a whole lot more!
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The post BLACK FRIDAY Q&A 2019! appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Ever wondered what it would be like to have Coach Diaz provide a Virtual Gait Analysis? With the permission of Mark Falcone, we share the experience with you! Unvarnished conversation between a real life client and Coach Diaz discussing the outcome thus far. Like Mark, a lot of Spartan Race Athletes identify that they have…
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The post What’s a Virtual Gait Analysis? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
“Coach” Richard Diaz and his protege/client – elite Spartan Pro Veejay Jones. In this The First Episode, we discuss changes in Spartan Race course design leading into the 2020 season. Big changes are afoot! Standardized distances and number of obstacles. What are your feelings on this massive change? Are you for or against? Once that’s…
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The post Spartan Race standardizes courses for 2020 appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
If success is a measure of suffering, those who braved the course at the Spartan Lake Tahoe World Championships have much to be proud of. Alison Haase was successful. She did not only challenge herself by braving the Ultra beast in weather conditions that caused many to bow out, she went on to take the…
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The post The Lake Tahoe Ultra Beast – Agony and Estacy appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
It is surprising how many athletes i know who are using CBD’s for a variety of reasons. The more I investigated the more I came to realize that CBD’s are nature’s anti-inflammatory solution and that is only the tip of the iceberg! This episode is a very in depth interview with Jay O’Hare founder of…
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The post WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT… CBD’S appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Before you freak out, no, I am not turning tail on OCR or endurance training programs! If you follow my work, you know that recently I developed a program in collaboration with Ryan Fischer an extremely talented CrossFit Athlete. This program has been out for a mere 5 weeks and meeting with rave responses. An…
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The post A Revolutionary Approach to CrossFit Training Revealed appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Charlie Engle is one of, if not the most entertaining guests we’ve ever had on this podcast and generally has incredible stories to tell. Story telling aside, Charlie Engle has hitched his wagon to The Spartan Trail Running Series. Few are aware of this trail running addition to Spartan Race. If you love to run…
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The post SPARTAN TRAIL RUNNING SERIES REVEALED BY CHARLIE ENGLE appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Hunter McIntyre was the hero of Spartan Racing. He brought color and attitude to the competitions and basically made things fun. Today he has retooled his skills with focus on an attempt at The CrossFit Games. He needed a miracle to get in, he needed to become a different type of athlete to even have…
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The post Hunter McIntyre – Unvarnished! appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
What happens when you mix one badass CrossFit athlete with Coach Diaz in The Secret Lab? Answer: You get a hybrid training program that is sure to set the CrossFit community on fire! I know what you’re thinking… Coach Diaz and CrossFit? Had you asked me a year ago if this were ever likely to…
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The post RYAN FISCHER – ELITE CROSSFIT ATHLETE appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
There is a reason why your grip fails you and your back hurts when you carry a heavy bag or bucket up a mountain. In this interview I discuss this and many other entertaining topics that have to do with making YOU a better Spartan or OCR Athlete. Julien Pineau, is a world renowned Human…
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The post Conversation with a World Class Movement Specialist- Julien Pineau appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
I have always believed that a solid runner will always have a fighting chance as an elite in the sport of OCR. Nell Rojas came on the scene mostly out of peer pressure from her friends many of whom are elites in the sport. The conundrum for Nell is, does she take her eye off…
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The post Interview with Olympic hopeful/elite Spartan Nell Rojas appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
I had to think long and hard before posting this particular episode because, for some, it may seem a bit “infomercial-ish”. Once I started the edit process, it occured to me that this is information that many of you may appreciate hearing in that explains a few projects that we have in the works. If…
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The post Q&A with Laura Messner and “Coach” Richard Diaz appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
The 2019 Spartan Race season is warming up and most of the elite field are paying pretty close attention on the competition to try and get a sense of who to watch for. In previous years, there had been a stir of optimism regarding the potential of one young athlete-VeeJay Jones. At the conclusion of…
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The post ALL EYES ON… VEEJAY JONES appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
If you enjoy a challenge and have done your share of Tough Mudder or Spartan events, it’s time you stepped up to an obstacle course event that was designed by Navy Seals fashioned after they types of challenges they face in Navy Seal training. It’s not too late to register for the Austin Texas event…
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The post BONEFROG CHALLENGE -do you have what it takes? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
One thing is certain, when the elite women’s field contains Rea Kolbl and there are mountains to climb, there is reason for concern. Rea Loves to climb, the longer the better. Having won 2 back to back World’s Toughest Mudder‘s and infamous for her 100 mile weekly workouts (without a day off), Rea is always…
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The post Interview with Rea Kolbl 2 X Worlds Toughest Mudder Champion appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Interview with the Co-Founder of Stick Mobility. This episode sheds light on a training tool and training concepts that can make a tremendous difference in your ability to perform in a Spartan Race, as a runner and an athlete in common. I speak a lot about the role that stability and mobility plays in athleticism…
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The post Interview with the Co-Founder of Stick Mobility appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
This is an episode that every athlete needs to hear! If you run, if running is painful, if your running volume is limited by issues with your feet, ankles, knees, hips or back, it’s because you left out some very important elements in your training. I’ve brought back Dr. Emily Splichal a world renowned Podiatrist…
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The post Optimal Running Performance Begins Here! appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
They moved the venue to Georgia, nobody expected the event to be harder than it has been… but it was. Much harder. It was cold, very, very cold however still 100 miles were logged among two fierce competitors yet Kris Mendoza prevailed. This is an interview with Kris just after he’s had a chance to…
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The post INTERVIEW with THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST MUDDER CHAMP 2018-KRIS MENDOZA appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Once again we invited folks to come on the show, pose questions on topics related to Obstacle Course Racing, Running or anything of that nature. Our guest is Jay Bode of the Overcome and Run Podcast. Someone you may have seen out on the race courses with his wife Heather. Jay is planning to run…
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The post Questions regarding Running your first Ultra Marathon? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Recently I posted an offer for someone to be my guest and to pose some interesting questions regarding training and Obstacle Course Racing. An old friend/client Beni Gifford reached out with what I felt was some solid questions and here is what he wanted to know: I hear a lot of differing views regarding the…
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The post Do You Need an Off Season in OCR? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Few people you will ever meet in your life have ever challenged themselves as extensively as Charlie Engle. He is most famous for his “Running the Sahara” in where he and a few other braves souls crossed the Sahara Desert, some 4500 miles of the most unforgiving terrain in the world. It is never a…
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The post Spartan World Championships Podfest Series-Interview #3 The Running Man-Charlie Engle appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
You may not know the name but for sure you’ve heard the many twisted fables credited to the infamous Death Race. Johnny Waite, for lack of a better term, was an early adopter, having participated and on occasion even won the Death Race. He has acted as Race Director and creator of some of the…
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The post Spartan World Championships Podfest Series-Interview #4 The Death Race with-Johnny Waite appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
If you were to look into the future of OCR you are certain to find these fine young athletes in the thick of Elite Competition at the Spartan World Championships. The Cast of athletes we fondly refer to as “The Young Guns” are made up of Cali Schweikhart, Veejay Jones, James Nair and John Penland.…
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The post Spartan World Championships Podfest Interview Series-Interview #2 w/“The Young Guns” appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
The Natural Running Network and Host Richard Diaz was invited to conduct interviews pre-race at the Spartan World Championships. This is interview #1 with Elite Pro Faye Stenning in a series of 4 Podfest interviews. In the interview, Faye shares her preparation leading to this event, her thoughts on the competition, her terrible running shoe selection practices…
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The post Spartan World Championships Podfest Interview Series-Interview #1 w/Faye Stenning appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Once again, the Spartan World Championships is upon us. The Series was highly competitive with the usual suspects taking the podium along with a few surprises along the way. If you’ve been following Spartan Races you may already have your favorites but in this episode I beg the question… Who is going to win? Will it…
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The post Spartan World Championships – Predictions appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
BE WARNED THIS CONTENT MAY BE DISTURBING. On this day, 17 years ago, my wife and I woke up in a hotel room just outside Los Angeles International Airport. We spent the night there because that morning we were contracted to provide preseason assessments on the LA Kings Hockey Team. We were preparing for a…
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The post 9/11. appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
What seemed like completely out of nowhere, Rebecca Hammond came on to the Spartan OCR Elite field and made people take notice. Its almost unheard of for anyone to walk into the Spartan North American Championship course with only 2 prior events under her belt and cause a stir. Yet, cause a stir she did. …
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The post The Spartan World Championship – Dark Horse…Rebecca Hammond appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
There never seems to be an end to the questions that hard working OCR athletes have regarding their training and racing, with the help of one of our friends Jennifer Herring, Coach Richard Diaz tries to offer his opinion and advice on these topics: Heart rate seems to need a longer pre-race warm up, why?…
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The post OCR Running Questions and Answers appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
By now, everyone is aware that OCR is here to stay. Some thought it to be a fad, if that’s true, I know of over 13,000 dedicated athletes in one single group who might argue the point. What I believe to be true is that the everyday athletes and fitness enthusiasts who have been drinking…
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The post Spartan 4-0, The Biggest OCR Team in the World appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Coach Diaz, who also happens to be the host of this podcast has asked VeeJay Jones Elite Spartan Pro to return to share some insights on training. Learn a few valuable tips on cutting precious time from your racing Get a sneak peak into the infamous Tuesday Morning Training Sessions Learn how to get a…
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The post OCR Racing Tips and Breaking News! appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
My good friend Matt Fitzgerald is back with a new book The 80/20 Triathlon. This training principal is a winning formula for most any endurance sport and I highly recommend that all of my listeners pay attention to this episode. It works for OCR too! Once you understand how important it is to partition your…
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The post The 80/20 Triathlon Formula appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Some months ago I did a podcast with what I referred to as the “Young Gun”, VeeJay Jones, the youngest athlete to win an Elite Spartan Race. As a coach, I saw him as the future of the sport, worth nurturing and certainly a prospect for greatness in the sport. However, he is not alone…
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The post Young Guns Part II – Interview with Elite OCR Pro Cali Schweikhart appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
You couldn’t make this up if you wanted to! Aside from Hunter McIntyre being the reigning TMX Champ and crowd favorite for the upcoming TMX Championship on June 8th 2018. Hunter and his newly appointed wing man Beni Gifford are a couple of cartoon characters. Listen in to here Hunter explain why no one in…
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The post TMX Championship Preview with Hunter McIntyre and Beni Gifford appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Its been awhile since last I posted an episode and whenever we are short on content, we put it out to the followers to provide some stimulating questions regarding OCR training and racing. In this episode, I asked one of my East Coast friends and colleagues Kristen Swan Kurtz to give me a hand with…
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The post Another OCR Question and Answer Episode appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Not everyone has a chance to visit Coach Diaz at his “Infamous Secret Lab” those who do generally end up performing beyond expectation. I thought it might be fun to have one of my clients share his experience and allow you to not only hear his thoughts on the visit but see what went down…
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The post A Visit to The Secret Lab appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
It’s a pretty well known fact in most running circles that heel striking and over striding leads to injury. Many runners have made the shift to forefoot running and in doing so have migrated to zero drop shoes. Unfortunately for many, this transition has not come easy and has lead to a variety of new…
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The post Making the Transition from Heel Striking to Forefoot Running appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
We decided to take more questions on training was we often do, our favorite this time relates to our children in sports. Are we doing the right things to encourage their enjoyment, desire to compete? Are we trying to live through our kids and causing more harm than good? Coach Diaz has had years of…
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The post What are you doing with your Athletic kids? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
The Bone Frog Challenge Race series aere obstacle course races designed and directed by Navy Seals. These obstacle course races are gaining widespread popularity on the eastern seaboard due to their quality and unique challenges many drawn from Navy Seal Training. Richard Diaz has invited Brian Carney, former Navy Seal and founder of the Bone…
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The post Interview with Brian Carney founder of The Bone Frog Challenge appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Stride frequency seems to be the most controversial and perplexing component of running mechanics. There are those that resist the theory of 180 spm being an ideal cadence and its the cause of many arguments. I however feel that most people that struggle with this approach have pieces of the puzzle missing. In this podcast…
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The post Why 180 Strides per Minute? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Back to back OCR events 100 miles apart and I hit them both to show support for a few of my athletes in Veejay Jones and Hunter McIntyre. I invited a few talented athletes in Mike Ferguson and Race course expert Steve Hammond on the show to share their views on the weekends competition. The…
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The post Spartan San Jose and Tough Mudder TMX Weekend Recap appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Veejay Jones is the youngest athlete to win a Spartan Race overall and is currently a member of The Spartan Pro Team. He is also an athlete coached by Richard Diaz. In this episode, we discuss the prospects winning against the competition at the NBC Spartan Series season opener at San Jose California on March…
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The post Veejay Jones – Young Gun on the OCR Spartan Pro Circuit appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
We asked the owner and founder of MudGear to come on and share is story on how MudGear was born, his enthusiasm for the sport of Obstacle Course Racing and the love that goes into each of his products. Diaz human Performance has named MudGear as the official provider of all they’re training and racing…
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The post MudGear Official provided for DHP-OCR appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Have you been talked into making a change in your diet? Decided to go Vegan, Paleo or Keto? Did someone sell you on the promise of weight loss and greater performance as a benefit of making this radical change in your diet? Are you hoping to become “fat adapted”? Richard Diaz (host) asked Matt Fitzgerald,…
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The post Diets Vs. Performance appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Ever wonder about the use or potential benefits of wearing compression wear in a Spartan Race or Tough Mudder? Does it help circulation while running, does it help with recovery? Whats your take on the subject? Zoe Szczepanek asks these questions of Coach Richard Diaz. Be warned these are opinions and they may not be…
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The post Compression Wear, Yes, No, Maybe? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
The most common questions presented to me (Coach Richard Diaz) is “what Running Shoes Should I Buy”? One would expect that my answer might be to name off a particular brand. In this episode, we try to address the How to and what to look for when looking to purchase your next pair of running…
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The post How to Buy the Right Running Shoes! appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Have you ever asked yourself… “Am I doing too much, training too hard too often?” In this episode, Richard Diaz interviews Lennard Zinn and Chris Case the authors of – The Haywire Heart a book that reveals… How too much exercise can kill you, and what you can do to protect your heart. We all take…
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The post How too much exercise can kill you! The Haywire Heart appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Kirk DeWindt “The Bachelor” turned Elite SpartanKirk DeWindt is the real deal. He may have done his stint on reality TV on various episodes of The Bachelor but when it comes to athletic prowess, Kirk is ready to bring it. He has had some success early in Spartan Race events but this is the year…
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The post Kirk DeWindt “The Bachelor” turned Elite Spartan appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Meet Zoe Szczepanek, the new co-host to the Natural Running Network Podcast. Anyone who has attended a Spartan Race or Tough Mudder has most likely seen her. What you may not know is that she has an on going battle with a debilitating hip injury associated with her lust for competition. Zoe comes clean and…
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The post Zoe Szczepanek’s Road to Recovery appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
One of our most favorite things to do and most popular for our audience is to answer questions! At the end of the day, most obstacle course racing athletes who tune into our show do so to pick up training tips and pearls of wisdom. What could be better than to come on to our…
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The post The Live Q&A Show! Answering the burning questions for OCR Athletes appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Faye Stenning is arguably the fiercest competitor on the Spartan Race circuit. Aside from her racing career, she runs a successful OCR coaching business. To her credit, her openness to step outside her experience to learn from her colleagues provided some powerful insight for her leading into the 2018 OCR Race Season. Faye recently attended…
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The post Elite OCR Athlete Faye Stenning visits The Secret lab appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
20017 was the year of change in the sport of OCR there seems to have been a power struggle between the Spartan and the Tough Mudder camps. The Television Networks have taken note of this explosive popularity and have answered the call by providing massive coverage of the sport. NBC has virtually molded the race…
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The post How to Develop a Successful OCR Sprint Race Campaign like the Pros appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
In most all other endurance sports, training is periodized over a race season. Join us as we walk you through a step by step approach to effectively arranging your training and race season for 2018. Are you simply grabbing a season pass and planning to race according to whats close or what your friends are…
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The post How to Plan a Winning OCR Race Season appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Its been weeks since our last podcast, forgive me. I had a big birthday and left the country to celebrate followed by a few weeks on the road putting on running clinics but… We’re Back! In this episode (to be continued in the next episode) we discuss: What it feels like to hit the wall…
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The post Prepping for the New OCR race season, what to do and why. appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
The Natural Running Network has consistently delivered cutting edge information for endurance athletes for a bit over 5 years with over 300 episodes doled out weekly. As a show of gratitude we decided to host a Black Friday “Best of Episodes” contest. The winners will receive gifts ranging from free entry into diaz human performance‘s OCR Run Clinics (valued up to $500)…
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The post The Best of Episodes Review for The Natural Running Network appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
What do you get when you mix an American flag with a Canadian? You get an US “Ay” instead of a USA! Team US-Ay members Miguel Medina and Austin Azar join us to share thoughts on their 2nd place finish at Worlds Toughest Mudder and the conversation goes way of point. For example, whats the…
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The post Worlds Toughest Mudder Recap with Team US-“AY appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
It may seem like a heavy statement to say “The Fittest Runner I’ve Ever met” but in all the years of assessing the fitness of athletes (over two decades) this runner, Blue Benadum has consistently tested off the charts in a VO2max test, I’m talking over 85 mls/kg/min! To put this in perspective, a score…
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The post A Conversation with the Fittest Runner I’ve ever met appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
I’ve often spoke of the importance of dedicating time to MSD sessions in each training week. They will not only keep you sharp, fine tune your running skills but if you’re not already doing them, it may be the reason you can’t seem to break through your performance plateau’s. If you are currently dong what…
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The post The Running Performance Drill that will Unleash your Potential appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
The beginning of this episode starts out with some high opinionated commentary about the state of OCR, bad decisions made by Tough Mudder, followed with curiosities regarding the direction taken by Spartan Race. Once thats done, Shan Kahn and I discuss the importance of getting the numbers right with training; how much volume to take…
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The post Training by the Numbers appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
It may seem like a play on words but Allison Tai is one Tough Mudder in every sense of the phrase. Just recently coming off of the win at The Spartan Ultra Beast World Championships this year (2017), she is setting her sites on the win at The Toughest Mudder World Championship in a matter of…
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The post Allison Tai – Ultra Beast World Champ 2017 appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Did you barely survive or thrive when crossing the finish line this weekend at Spartan Race World Championships Tahoe? Richard Diaz and Shan Khan dive into what was seen from those finishing the race, how ankle stability and foot strength is crucial to these distances, when and how you should start training for an endeavor…
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The post Spartan World Championships, Were you Prepared? appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
The Obstacle Course Racing Season has a few big events over the next few weeks with Spartan World Championships this weekend, followed by OCR World Championships and Toughest Mudder but once these events wind down, what then? Are you planning an Off Season? What will that look like, will you take a few weeks, months…
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The post The Best Advise for OCR Athletes… Plan an OFF SEASON appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Before Natural Running was Vogue, before Born to Run, there was Pose Running. Almost cult like, Dr. Nicholas Romanov had spent a lifetime studying the way we should be running. Much of what he created is difficult to refute. It was fun to have a chance to discuss his theories and compare them to my…
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The post Interview with Dr.Romanov creator of the Pose Running Method appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Its a rare occasion when we go live and take callers, unfiltered and unedited. This used to be a very popular format for us so we thought, why not give it a shot and see how it goes. The topic of the Questions and Answers revolved around pre-race tapering, preparation for The Spartan World Championships…
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The post The Natural Running Network LIVE Questions and Answer Show appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
He seems to come out of nowhere, when people start to wonder where he’s been, then like a wrecking ball, he destroys the competition. Tough Mudder recently released its CBS debut of the new format in OCR competition, Tough Mudder X coined as the toughest mile on earth and offered $25,000 in a winner take…
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The post Hunter McIntyre Tough Mudder X Champion appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Stefanie Bishop is the real deal. Last year she literally ran away with the WORLDS TOUGHEST MUDDER CHAMPIONSHIP, this year as a tune up she participated in THE WORLD ADVENTURE RACING CHAMPIONSHIP. Never heard of it? Feature yourself and a team of companions with a map and compass braving 450+ miles through some of the…
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The post STEF BISHOP – Adventure Racer and Worlds Toughest Mudder Champ appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
We often speak of “proper running” and when we invoke this term, its often met with controversy. Its time to put the quibbling to bed. Our guest, Dr Irene Davis is one the most respected authorities on the subject of running biomechanics. She does not pull her punches when it comes to running and what…
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The post THE RUNNING EVOLUTION appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Heather Gollnick grew up being active in gymnastics, competing in college before getting into . Heather turned professional in 2002 with a focus on the Ironman distances. She won over 200 multisport events, and is a 5X Pro Ironman Champion. Heather participated in her first Spartan Race in January 2016 in California and found her…
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The post HEATHER GOLLNICK IRONWOMAN appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
Nothing is more disheartening to an Obstacle Racer than an ankle inversion sprain weeks before that next big “A” race. Join Richard Diaz and his guest Dr Steve Capobianco Medical Director for Rock Tape as they discuss an easy ”do it yourself” treatment that can save you from serious down time away from training and…
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The post How to quickly reduce the effects of debilitating ankle injuries and get back into the race! appeared first on The Natural Running Network.
I did this interview about a year ago but I wanted to bring it out of the archive because Doc Kaufman has some great advice for grip strength, dealing with blisters and basically everything you need to know about getting a good climb on! For those who are not paying attention; Doc Kaufman is part…
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The post Interview with Dr Noah Kaufman “The Ninja Doc” appeared first on The Natural Running Network.