The World of Running Geeks On Feet

Based on the analysis we have done across various races in India, a surprising 80% of the runners take up distance running after they are in their mid-30s. One of the challenges however is no formal coaching, this is either because of an intentional choice, or lack of access to coaches, or many times life priorities wouldn’t leave enough time to work with a coach.

In this episode, we'll explore how to get the best out of us, as we self-coach as recreational runners. In this episode we discussed:

+ Best practices to approach self-coaching
+ Setting realistic goals
+ Creating a training plan that fits our needs
+ Tracking progress and making adjustments as needed
+ Staying motivated


Madhukar BK

Madhukar has run 18 marathons many more half-marathon and 10K distances. He ran his first marathon in 2014 at the first edition of Shriram Properties Bangalore Marathon and completed it in 4:59:52. Since then, Madhukar has run marathons within and outside India and has also completed 5 of the 6 World Major Marathons including the Boston Marathon. He is currently preparing for his final WMM which is the upcoming New York City marathon due this November. His best time for a 10K is 41:51, Half Marathon is 1:32:11 and for the marathon it is 3:18:52. He has achieved the coveted BQ in the past 2 qualifying windows. He is an active member of Soles of Bangalore, a leading running group based in Bangalore. Apart from running he works with an IT firm in Bangalore and lives with his wife and 2 sons.

This episode is sponsored by Athlos

Athlos started with an aim to know what does it take to build functional yet beautiful running gear for Indian conditions. This led to the launch of Athlos in 2015. Today's Athlos running collection features Shorts and T-shirts made from sustainable and high-quality fabrics like Econyl (recycled ocean waste nylon), Eucalyptus, and Merino wool. Please visit www.goathlos.com to know more.


Related Episodes

+ Ep 3: Beginner's Guide to Running
+ Ep 22: The Science of Endurance Training
+ Ep 30: Heart Rate Training
+ Ep 32: Run Less Run Faster

Most traditional training philosophies and methods for long-distance endurance training have one thing in common, putting high mileage. For recreational runners, this type of training can backfire. Most runners’ focus on mileage, ignoring other important aspects such as speed, strength, and mobility.

In this episode we discuss the FIRST (The Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training) training method for runners, which focuses on training with purpose, intensity, and recovery. The FIRST method is described in the book ‘Run Less Run Faster’ by Bill Pierce and Scott Murr. The method is designed for recreational runners with full-time jobs, and it emphasizes progressive overload and realistic goals. This episode also discusses the 7-Hour Workout Week training approach, which is designed for runners who want to improve their health and fitness.

Bill Pierce

In this episode, we talk to Bill Pierce, who is behind the FIRST training methodology. Bill Pierce is a prominent figure in the world of distance running, known for his contributions to running science, coaching, and authorship. As a co-author of the influential book "Run Less Run Faster," he has played a pivotal role in reshaping the way runners approach training.

This podcast is sponsored by Athlos

Athlos started with an aim to know what does it take to build functional yet beautiful running gear for Indian conditions. This led to the launch of Athlos in 2015. Today's Athlos running collection features Shorts and T-shirts made from sustainable and high-quality fabrics like Econyl (recycled ocean waste nylon), Eucalyptus, and Merino wool. Please visit www.goathlos.com to know more.

Related EpisodesSubscribe to our newsletter for weekly workouts that will help your running.

At Run Mechanics, we have analyzed more than 200 runners and almost 95% of them had weak hips. This could be pelvic drop, pelvic tilt, hip rotation, etc.  Whether one is a seasoned marathoner or just starting out on their running journey, the strength and mobility of your hips can make or break your performance. 

Poor hip mechanics manifest in more ways than one while running - weak glutes resulting in un-optimal stride, extreme fatigue in lower legs, unstable pelvis, pelvic drop, and a whole host of injuries.  

In this episode we had Aravind of Team GeeksOnFeet, who is also co-founder of RunMechanics join us to discuss how to master hip mechanics to become a better runner.  Aravind is a certified running gait analyst.

We have discussed various topics including:

Common issues that cause  poor hips mechanics

How to assess your hip mechanics

Framework for building good hip mechanics 

Workouts that will help you to build good hip mechanics 


This podcast episode is sponsored by Athlos.  Athlos started with the aim to know what it takes to build functional yet beautiful running gear for Indian conditions. This led to the launch of Athlos in 2015. Today's Athlos running collection features Shorts and T-shirts made from sustainable and high-quality fabrics like Econyl (recycled ocean waste nylon), Eucalyptus, and Merino wool. Please visit www.goathlos.com  to know more.
Related Resources:
Perfect your hip mechanics
How to Improve Running Stride
How to prevent Overstriding
Improve Hip Flexion for Better Running
Importance of running form 

In the 30th episode of the podcast "The World of Running," host Aditi Pandya delves into the world of heart rate (HR) training and its effectiveness in endurance training. With guest speaker Anand Hatwalne, an experienced runner and co-founder of 'Running Potential,' this episode explores the importance of HR monitoring for effective training and optimizing performance and recovery.

Why does HR have such significance in endurance training? The answer lies in the fundamental principle, that is training at the right intensity to improve aerobic fitness, which is key for long-distance running performance. Traditionally, runners relied on pace and effort to gauge intensity, but the advent of smartwatches and chest straps revolutionized training by introducing real-time HR monitoring as a vital metric.

The episode then dives into the basics of HR training, highlighting the relationship between lower HR and lower effort. Understanding this connection is crucial for effective training..

The episode addresses various methods of monitoring HR, including wrist monitors and chest straps. Current fitness levels and genetics play a significant role in HR levels. Anand explains training zones based on HR, such as maximum HR (Max HR) and lactate threshold HR (LT HR), explaining their relevance and how to personalize the zones using Max HR or lactate threshold.

In addition to training, HR also plays a vital role in recovery. Resting heart rate (RHR) serves as an indicator of recovery status. Time to Recovery is introduced as a metric to guide training that is explained.

The episode delves into the practical application of HR training, discussing the day-to-day variations in HR and the factors that influence RHR, including sleep and infections. Adapting training based on these variations is essential for optimizing performance. The use of HR in racing is also explored, with specific HR zones suggested for different race distances like 10k, half marathon, and marathon. 

Finally, the episode introduces heart rate variability (HRV) as a metric gaining importance in running. HRV refers to the differences between consecutive heartbeats and can provide valuable insights into recovery and overall training adaptation. Different methods of measuring HRV are discussed.

About Guest Anand Hatwalne

Anand has been running for close to 2 decades. In 2013, he co-founded 'Running Potential', through which he has been helping fellow runners and friends get better at this sport. He has a couple of ultras and a few marathons under his belt. Anand is especially drawn to the physiological aspects of running and exercise science. 

He is a public speaker and has delivered many talks related to Running in the public domain. Anand was also invited multiple times by Indian Army establishments such as the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the College of Military Engineering (CME) in Pune, the Army War College (AWC) in Mhow, and an army camp in Missamari, Assam, to talk about these topics.

In 2019, owing to his work in spreading awareness about HRV for endurance sports, the training platform HRV4Training chose Anand as one of its mentors.




Ep 16: The Art and Science of Pacing
Understand LTHR and HR zones

Trail running has a certain charm associated with it, which is very different from road running. The former takes runners to quieter paths of mountains, lakes, forests, grasslands, etc. while the later is all about roads and speed. Trail running needs a different approach to running apart from speed & attire the most important is a mindset.

Whether you're a seasoned road runner looking for a new challenge or a beginner looking to explore the great outdoor trails, this episode will provide you with the basics of everything that you need to get started with trail running. From gear and nutrition to training, we have covered everything you need to know.

Our guest for this episode is Kannan Sundararajan a.k.a Coach Kay.

Coach Kay is an Ultramarathoner, running since 2011 completed over 70 marathons and ultramarathons including a 100-mile (160 km) race, Back-to-Back Comrades Marathon, and a first-ever Triangular Run Challenge finisher with 500 km in May 2019. Coach Kay is the Founder & Ultrarunning coach of his academy KaysFIT Academy since 2016. He is the Founder & Race Director of Ooty Ultra & Bison Ultra. He is an ACE certified Personal Trainer and UESCA (United Endurance Sport Coaching Academy) certified.  

Coach Kay provides online/personalized coaching & mentoring on general fitness, weight management, ultramarathon/running & sports conditioning, and youth fitness. He has coached more than 300+ recreational marathoners, ultrarunners & young adults In March 2023, KaysFIT Academy achieved a significant milestone by signing an MOU with the Center for Sports Excellence (Dravid Padukone Academy) to set up and offer a long-distance running coaching program, based on RCF (a custom framework designed by Coach Kay), to recreational runners inside the integrated sports complex.

Related Episodes:


Endurance Training for Ultra Marathons
Malnad: An Ultra to Reckon
Trail Blazers - Let's Talk Running

Kenya can be said as the Mecca of the running world. Kenya has come to be the home of world-class athletes such as Eliud Kipchoge, Wilson Kipsang, Abel Kirui, David Rudisha, Florence Kiplagat, Edna Kiplagat, amongst others.

Though most of us are recreational runners, we are pushing the limits in our own way, and the Kenyan runners set an aspirational north star for us. As a recreational runner, we have a lot of questions related to how Kenyan runners train.

In this episode, we discuss topics related to:


What is unique about the training that sets Kenyans apart?
How many miles do they put in a day or week?
How do they recover from their hard training?
What is their nutrition like?
How do they preventing injuries?


GUEST INTROS:

HUGO VAN DEN BROEK

Hugo van den Broek is a former elite marathon runner, with a personal best of 2h12. He has coached amateur and elite runners from all over the world. His athletes ran at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics and had World Best performances in 2009 and 2015. When coaching his athletes, Hugo uses a combination of experience (he has been in the world of running for more than 30 years) and his scientific knowledge thanks to his M.Sc. degree in Human Movement Sciences.

Hugo and his wife Hilda Kibet have been living and training in Iten, Kenya, since 2007. They both retired from professional running in 2015 and have 3 daughters. The couple has a guesthouse where they accommodate amateur and elite runners from all over the world, and organize running camps called ‘Kenya Camp’ for amateur runners who want to experience training in Kenya under professional guidance.


VIJAYARAGHAVAN VENUGOPAL

Vijay was our first guest for our very first episode on marathon training and now again. It’s been a pleasure to witness Vijay on and off the track focused on sports and nutrition. Vijay has recently visited Kenya and get to see how Kenyans train, and brings the perspective of a recreational runner.

Vijayaraghavan Venugopal is an avid sports enthusiast, he is the father of an aspiring mid-distance national junior athlete, and himself an 8-time sub-3-hour marathoner. Amongst the marathons include Boston, Berlin, Chicago and Paris. He is also the co-founder and CEO of the nutrition brand Fast&Up.


RELATED EPISODES


Supplements for Runners
Marathon Training
Breaking 3


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