Run Free Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ryan Hall
A podcast embarking on the journey of running free from everything holding us back from reaching our full potential in sports, running, and life.
What an incredible story we have for you this time with Tyler Moon. Trust us, you'll want to give this one a watch/listen as he and Jay have a fantastic discussion. Enjoy!
You are in for a treat this week. Jay interviews Run Free Coach and a Canadian Legend, Rory Linkletter. Fantastic discussion on so many topics. Enjoy!
Jay rides solo for this episode talking about what it means to be an "older" athlete now in his 40's and how that affects him and changes things. Hope you enjoy!
You are in for a treat this episode. Co-Founder Ryan Hall joins Co-Founder Jay Stephenson for a fantastic discussion about a bunch of different topics. You won't want to miss this one!
Don't forget, you too can be a part of Run Free, just visit our website and click the button for a free consultation and let us match you with one of our amazing coaches!
www.runfreetraining.com
Dr. Matt Silver joins the podcast to talk about physical therapy, recovery, super shoes, foot integrity, mobility, strength training, and much more. To get his book or learn more, check out Matt's links below:
Website:https://www.alphaprojectphyzio.com
Book Site: https://www.alphaprojectphyzio.com/built-to-run-book
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattsilverpt/
Kerry Boehner joins the podcast for a great discussion with Run Free Co-Founder, Jay Stephenson.
On this episode, Jay talks with one of his Run Free athletes, C.J. Gustafson all about his journey from boxer to runner and how Run Free has impacted his life. Great discussion we hope you enjoy!
To get a free consultation and a Run Free coach yourself, visit www.runfreetraining.com and click the button.
Jay is joined by Run Free Coach Cody Moore and Run Free athlete Chris Jackson to hear from Chris all about how much having a Run Free Coach in Cody changed and improved every aspect of his training and performance for the better.
From Chris: "I started working with Cody in October of 2024. My main 2 goals I shared with him were to 1.) run a well executed marathon and 2.) break 2:50. I had run 3 marathons prior (3:12, 2:55, 3:01) and experienced a bonk in all 3."
Highlights:
- Training Overall - Throughout the training I had so many milestones that I've never experienced before. Running faster paces for longer periods of time. Several cool workouts where I would run fast for a portion and then recover but then run intervals or even faster miles towards the end of the workout. Those workouts gave me so much confidence in being able to still run fast when I'm tired. I probably have 5-6 workouts that I feel almost as proud of as if it were a race. That made the training super fun and rewarding. I also told Cody that I feel like I was a 3-speed bike before working with him and now I feel like a 18-speed. Not only like I have more gears but I have control and confidence over those gears. Week over week I appreciated that the workouts were never really the same - this was a big difference from my training plans in the past. Also, Cody's advice on nutrition on longer runs helped me get use to it early in the training cycle so I had no issues during my races.
- Chickamauga Battlefield Half Marathon - ran a PR in the of 1:19. The PR wasn't the goal but awesome to get it. We ran the race as a workout with a 3 mile warm up, 10 steady and then close out the last 5k hard. My previous half PR was a 1:21. This one gave me a lot of confidence because I knew I could go much faster if I were to race a half. Super fun!
- Whiskey Run Half Marathon - ran a 1:20 and placed 1st. Same thing with this run on treating it like a workout. We ran the first 10 at/near marathon goal pace and then the last 5k hard. The cool thing about this one - I ran the last 5k of this race in 17:24 and my current 5K PR is 17:04. I can't wait to try a 5k now!
- Wilmington Marathon (goal race) - ran a 2:44:34 and didn't bonk! I'm still processing how excited I am about this race. I had a lot of negative thoughts in my head about 3 days leading up to the race. I was worried that even though I've done all the work I'm still going to bonk/crash at some point because that is what I do in marathons. MAN, incorrect. I was literally able to race all 26.2 miles. We had a great plan of 3 miles warming up around 6:25 and then stick between 6:13 - 6:20until mile 20. The first half felt good and I was conserving energy a bit. Miles 13-20 felt way better than I expected and I was avg. closer to 6:15 at this point. In the final 10k I was starting to get real pumped but still respecting the fact that this is where I typically fall off. I ended up closing with 6:14, 6:11, 6:12, 6:05, 6:08 & 5:45. I think the think I was most excited about was feeling good the whole race and knowing there is definitely more time I could take off. A 2:39 feels in reach and I would have never said that before this experience.
For this episode of the Run Free Podcast, both Jo Butler and Jennifer Galvez join Jay to discuss how to eat proper and get quality nutrition leading up to running a marathon. This is just as important as running and weight lifting and other forms of training in order to get your best performance. Enjoy!
To get a free consultation and learn how we can help you get to the next level and exceed your goals, please click the link on our webiste: www.runfreetraining.com.
Run Free Co-Founder Jay Stephenson sits down with athletes Drew Burnett and his son, Malachi, who is also a Run Free athlete and one of the best high school runners in Georgia. Malachi had a tremendous season that saw him reach the national finals in San Diego in 2024. It's a great discussion and we hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by!
In this episode, Jay and Chad talk about their personal journey's with sleep and how they have implemented different methods to improve their sleep quality.
For a free consultation or to find more info on our services, check us out at runfreetraining.conm
Jay interviews Ryan Hall about the process of not coaching and Ryan's transition from coaching professional athletes. Great discussion that we hope you will enjoy!
In this episode we chat with Run Free Athlete Kristen Briglia about her journey overcoming RED's (relative energy deficiency) and HA (hypothalamic amenorrhea). Kristen shares what she has learned on her path to recovery after decades of under eating and the subsequent health decline she experienced as a result.
In this episode we chat with the author of Built to Run, Dr. Matthew Silver. Matt is a long time runner with a passion for helping his fellow runners become more resilient to injury, reduce pain, and achieve their best performances. We’re very excited to share this information packed episode with you and also announce that Matt will be joining us this June at our Run Free Camp in Flagstaff Arizona.
You can find Matt’s book at his website: https://www.alphaprojectphyzio.com/meet-alpha-project
Sign up for Camp or Free Consultation at runfreetraining.com
In this episode, Jay and Chad chat about the the largest component of run training, aerobic runs. These runs bring a ton of value and fitness but don't get talked about as often as the more flashy workouts. So why do we need to spend so much time running easy? Jay and Chad share their own personal experiences playing around with how they executed their easy runs and subsequent running volume, along with recommendations on how to make good decisions about your own running volume and easy run pacing.
In this episode, Ryan rejoins as co-host as we catch up with one of his athletes, professional runner and Run Free coach Rory Linkletter. This conversation comes fresh off Rory's blazing fast race at the Seville Marathon where he posted a 2:08:01, sneaking under the Olympic standard for the marathon. Rory has a lengthy running resume and we're excited to share some of his knowledge with you in this conversation.
In this episode Jay and Chad chat about their second metabolic tests with Calorify and how they both managed to change factors in their metabolic output through diet manipulations. Jay has since had great success with energy and weight management with himself and others who have tried his program.
For more information on coaching or the Run Free Camp, visit us at www.runfreetraining.com
If you're of the fast twitch variety, check out Sprint Free Training: Maximize your sprint performance and minimize injuries with a proven holistic approach, tailored for your weekly needs on and off the track
www.sprintfreetraining.com
In this episode we talk about what double threshold training is, where it comes from, and who stands to benefit from this type of training methodology.
For more information on coaching or the Run Free Camp, visit us at www.runfreetraining.com
- Run Free Camp 2024: Flagstaff, AZ, June 19-23Early bird expires on Feb 1 and we would like to help get the word out. Here’s the link with info:https://www.runfreetraining.com/camp2024-flagstaff- Free webinar on Jan 30th talking about how to plan nutrition for the Boston Marathon with Jay, Jo, and Cody. Run Free is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Run Free Pre/During Boston Marathon Nutrtion
Time: Jan 30, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87309445777?pwd=eEZ0dUlTSGJqVGFhOXg0RkNicmQzQT09
Meeting ID: 873 0944 5777
Passcode: 582510
In this episode we chat with coach Bradley Moon about an underutilized training method for most distance runners, sprinting. Bradley shares his thoughts on how sprint training can not only help increase top end speed but ultimately make you a more efficient distance runner with a higher resiliency to injury. Bradley will be heading up our forthcoming Sprint Free training program and we're very excited to not only share his knowledge with you, but also begin to utilize his training protocols in our own programs.
In this episode, Ryan rejoins the podcast to talk about hill training with Jay and Chad. Topics include why hills are a beneficial tool for all runners, physiological benefits of hill training, mental benefits, different types of hill workouts and how to implement them for various goals. Chad and Ryan both trained hills by running repeats of the snow summit ski resort in the high school running years and are big believers in hill training for a strong body and a strong mind.
In this episode we talk in depth with Shannon Thompson, Performance Psychologist, about how to train our minds so that we can perform better and have more enjoyment in the process. Shannon works as a vocational consultant with a wide range of clients, including elite, professional endurance athletes from around the world, and the Division I teams at Northern Arizona University. Her approach is science based, philosophical, and spiritual. She draws upon empirical research and the literary arts to help each individual find their professional path and perform at his or her best consistently.
In coaching a wide variety of athletes, we've found that the diet component of endurance training can be one of the difficult and confusing pieces of the puzzle. We recently got the chance to test out the Calorify test, which is the first at home metabolic test using a method called doubly labeled water. This tests gives you a super accurate reading on your metabolic output and your caloric intake. In this conversation, we chat with Hari Mix, CEO of Calorify. Hari was a top level runner at Stanford and has a deep passion for alpinism. His experience in his own extreme athletic endeavors and the observations he's made through his work at Calorify have given him some critical insights into the role of metabolism in helping or harming our athletic endeavors.
In this episode we talk with one of America's top performing ultra trail runners Tim Tollefson. Tim shares lessons he's learned over his career from racing the US Olympic Marathon Trials to the rugged trails of UTMB (ultra trail mont blonc). We discuss his internal struggles with body dysmorphia and how he has gone from being so self conscious that he would hide from other runners out on the trails to courageously creating community in the form of his own race the Mammoth Trail Fest. Tim's story is a beautiful demonstration of how the struggle we experience in ourselves can manifest into love, acceptance, and empathy for others.
In this episode of the Podcast we chat with CJ about his training philosophy and how he has become one of America's fastest marathoners. CJ placed 6th place on a very challenging Olympic Trials course in 2020 and is a top contender heading into the 2024 Trials. CJ is known for high mileage, crazy hard long runs, and an open minded view on training protocols.
In this episode, Ryan and Chad pick up where they left off chatting about Chad's 2:12 marathon debut along with updates on training heading into the 2023 Boston Marathon. This conversation goes in depth into the subject of suffering in a Marathon and strategies for having a better marathon experience.
In this episode Ryan does a Podcast takeover where he interviews brother Chad about his recent marathon debut at the Mesa Marathon 2023 where he finished with a time of 2:12:47. Ryan has been coaching Chad on his journey towards the 2024 Marathon Olympic trials, giving us a little inside view into the relationship of athlete and coach. In the first of this three part series, we go over tips for runners looking to run their first marathon along with lots of laughs, and thoughts on how to better approach our running from a mental health stand point.
In this episode we sit down with our Run Free Nutrionist Jo Butler. In this conversation we go over fad diets to avoid, recommendations for various nutrients, and the psychology surrounding diet. This episode is packed full of wisdom for anyone wanting to better improve the way their diet impacts their performance, health, and mental well being.
In this Episode we sit down with Run Free athlete, Nathan Deeter, to talk about the lessons he has learned from his sobriety and how he applies those same principles to achieve success in his running, business, and personal life.
In the latest episode of the Run Free Podcast, we share a conversation with one of our original coaching staff and professional runner, Courtney Barnes. Courtney raced professionally on the track for many years prior to making a transition to trail running. Courtney retired from trail running for a brief period of time, finding that the external change didn't remedy the internal challenges she was facing. In this conversation, we talk about her journey and how she has come back to trail running with a fresh perspective, the lessons she learned and how we can be healthier, happier runners.
The Podcast is Back! Ryan introduces the new hosts of the Podcast Chad and Jay. The group discusses various topics including how to fully enjoy your running, their history as endurance athletes, and speed development for distance runners.
Jared is not only fast but he is a rock solid dad, friend, coach, and human being. Give this a listen to get some fresh perspective on the beautiful journey of running and life.
Questions covered: How to unload pressure leading up to a race, How to visualize, how to handle surging in racing, and more.
In this episode I chat about how I’ve experienced frustration to be one of the most powerful catalyst for growth and explore how we can use it as a guide to our breakthrough.
In this episode I talk with one of only 29 athletes in history to compete in both the Winter and Summer Olympics. Of which, Chirine is the only athlete to ever go from an anaerobic event (Alpine Skiing) to an aerobic event (Marathon) in the Olympics. You’ll love hearing Chirine’s story covering everything from handling nerves, transforming her body, coming out the other end of an eating disorder, what it was like living in Lebanon, and how she is feeling leading up to her attempt to qualify for the Olympic Marathon in Tokyo.
In this interview I chat with my Mo about his pursuit of qualifying for the marathon in the upcoming Olympic Games in the marathon for Jordan. We also discuss what it’s been like training with the Halls in Flagataff for the last six months and much more.
In this episode, I discuss “how to change". Sharing helpful tips, mindsets, and perspectives that I learned in both of my transformational experiences of growing into a pro long-distance runner and then transforming myself into a powerlifter/body builder.
In this episode I discuss how to manage the most internally tricky two weeks prior to goal races: taper time. I share my most helpful tips and tricks in everything ranging from managing nerves to nutrition to sleep.
In this episode I talk about how to see injuries in a helpful way, how to prevent injuries, and how to handle them when they do come.
In this episode I discuss things I’ve learned along the road that are helpful in going after New Years resolutions.
In this episode Sara shares her recent breakthrough marathon experience, recovery tips, how she manages her internal game, and much more.
In this episode I answer questions from listeners including: is long slow distance running good, slow v fast release protein and timing, how many carbs per hour should one take in during a marathon, how to train for a marathon in extreme conditions, how to lift to add or not add size, is it possible to be a muscular distance runner, and how to handle post successful race let down emotions.
In this episode I discuss the upside down perspective of how wanting the best for your competitors will actually make you faster and how to nurture that sentiment towards them.
Stoked to share this conversation with Run Free Coach Courtney Barnes as she transitions from professional track athlete to trail and ultra running. Courtney’s sense of freedom and lightness is contagious as she shares how she keeps running from becoming her identity.
In this episode I share my experiences going through depression during my sophomore year at Stanford, which caused me to briefly drop out of school and also my emotional struggles with retirement, sharing some helpful tips that led me through these trying times.
Hear Chad’s sorry of learning to balance body weight/image and athletic performance along with a discussion on if drinking alcohol is detrimental for athletes.
Loved hearing my bro share his story from his Footlocker National Title in high school to his transition from running to triathlon to road cycling and mountain bike racing. Chad is one of my favorite people on the planet to hang with so had to make this a two-parter as we couldn’t seem to stop chatting. Part 1 here.
Lessons I’ve learned on how to optimally fuel post goal race during a two week off period and learning the answer to the question of weight issues in the off season. Also, what to eat post workout and why you might consider eating a midnight snack.
Hear the behind the scenes on Sara’s recent second place finish at the London Marathon.
In this episode I discuss how to set up chasing your goals with a successful mindset and strategic plan along with how to know when it is time to pivot or reverse direction when pursuing your goals.
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a long run, hard workout or race and wondered: ‘what am I doing out here?’ In this episode I discuss the importance of knowing the answer to that question and a discussion about what the purpose of running truly is.
A lot of things went right and and lot of things when wrong in my first ultra. In this episode I share my experience running my ultra giving some helpful tips along the way.
In this episode I share some of my experiences heading into races that were way over my head (including my upcoming ultra marathon) and helpful strategies that I’ve learned to help me head to the line excited and ready to take on the challenge
Under fueling is so common for endurance athletes. Learn why this is often the case, why you should eat more, and how to do so without gaining weight.
Sometimes you just have to be able to shift your thinking to accept that what was once a seemingly unobtainable pace is now your new normal. In this episode Ryan unpacks how to establish new normals to breakthrough to the next level.
In this episode Sara and I catch about her recent race, helpful cues for setting up your next time-trial or virtual race, and how to push yourself without a crowd. Enjoy!
I had such a great time chatting with Collin and am stoked to share this convo with you guys. We talked about how to be optimistic, intentional, curious, and much more. Enjoy!
Episode 45: how to lean out and get stronger, how to mentally handle setbacks and injuries, and more
Episode 43: A chat with Run Free Coach Colin on training in the heat, collegiate running &motivation
Loved this conversation with coach Brittany! She brings in so much fresh perspective to Run Free with her vast experiences in the endurance space. Enjoy this outside the box conversation hearing Coach Britts story and unique perspective!
In this episode I talk to two-time Olympian, 6 X Nation Champion, and 1:42 retired 800 meter specialist Nick Symmonds about his varied ventures with everything from marathons to mountaineering, before we get into the topic of discussion, which is how to put on muscle for runners. Enjoy!Disclaimer: sorry about the audio guys! Anchor is having issues with synching properly when remote recording so you will notice an increasing discrepancy between my audio and Nick’s audio as the podcast progresses, but there is so much good stuff in here I decided to share it anyway. My apologies.
In this episode newly retired Dathan (former American record holder in 5,000 meters in 12:56), Alan (American Record holder in the mile in 3:46), and myself (American record holder in the half marathon in 59:43) remember the good ol' days of our high school class of 2001, in which we were dubbed "the big three" by a writer, forever linking our careers. We recall our first competitions against each other, how we inspired each other, the workout Alan crushed prior to running a national high school record in the mile (3:53...which still stands), how to push through pain, and speculated what it was that led to our respective breakthrough years.
Loved this conversation hearing Paige’s story, training for her first marathon, and adjusting from collegiate running to the pro lifestyle! Disclaimer: sorry about the audio guys! Anchor is having issues with synching properly when remote recording so you will notice an increasing discrepancy between my audio and Paige’s audio as the podcast progresses but there is so much good stuff in here I decided to share it anyway. Unfortunately the next podcast I recorded has the same issue. My apologies.
Rachel shares her inspiring story and many of the life lessons she has learned along the way when it comes to training, nutrition, visualization and weight. Disclaimer: sorry about the audio guys! Anchor is having issues with synching properly when remote recording so you will notice an increasing discrepancy between my audio and Rachel’s audio as the podcast progresses, but there is so much good stuff in here I decided to share it anyway. Unfortunately the next two podcasts I recorded have the same issue. My apologies.
Episode 34: A discussion about how to get your kids into running and proper volume for teens.
Episode 34: How to be confident, how to get through miles 18-23 of a marathon, and how to visualize.
Episode 33: Why negative splitting a marathon is over-rated and how to fuel during the marathon.
A little Coronavirus training and racing update then a discussion of how death brings new life.
In this episode we discuss not going mental in the taper, how to handle pre-race nerves and much more.
Episode 19: Talking coaching, running and the internal game with my first coach: my Dad
Episode 18: Holiday Training/Nutrition and Sleep tips and birthing something new this Christmas.
Chatting with Jay about his new training experiment and how athletes can experiment in their own training.
Join us as we chat breakthrough and Sara walks us through her 2:22 marathon at last Sunday’s Berlin Marathon
In this episode I dive into our “1%” finger of the 5 fingers at Run Free training. I hit on weights, ice baths, cryotherapy, stretching, massage and much more— revealing some things I would do differently if I could go back and do it all over again.
Welcome to the Run Free Podcast! In this episode Ryan explains a little about Run Free Training, how this podcast fits into it, and what it means to Run Free.