The Fueling Forward Podcast

Maddie Alm
  • 5.0 (47)
  • NUTRITION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hosted by Maddie Alm, sports dietitian and elite runner, The Fueling Forward Podcast is the place to go for all things running and sports nutrition. Learn from other runners as they discuss their own experiences with nutrition and performance and learn from Maddie, a registered dietitian and runner. Through these conversations, we will bust common nutrition myths and misconceptions around fueling for performance, so you can find an approach to fueling that will allow you to feel and perform your best without taking short cuts. Here at Fueling Forward, we believe in fueling your body for the long run!

  1. 29. Special Episode with Maddie & Alexa

    1D AGO

    29. Special Episode with Maddie & Alexa

    This week is a special episode of The Fueling Forward Podcast where you get to hear from the Fueling Forward dietitians, Maddie Alm and Alexa Efraimson. After a listener asked to hear our stories, we decided to interview each other so you can learn more about the dietitians behind Fueling Forward. In today’s episode we talk about: How Alexa got her start in running, going pro right out of high school and running the American junior record in the 1500How Maddie went from a walk on to an All-American while at the University of ColoradoWhat Alexa struggled with as a pro athlete that led her to discover the field of nutrition and pursue a career as a dietitianHow working with a dietitian in college helped Maddie learn the importance of fueling for performance, and the changes that inspired her to become a dietitianWhat each of us hope to change when it comes to nutrition for runners, and the runners we work with to help them learn how to fuel for health and performanceOur answers to the end of episode rapid fire questions!If you would like to learn more about Fueling Forward and the services and resources we have to offer, you can head to our website at www.fuelingforward.com

    1h 5m
  2. Q&A With Maddie - 26

    MAR 27

    Q&A With Maddie - 26

    This episode is a Q&A episode where I answer questions that have been submitted by listeners. Questions for today’s episode include: I’ve been struggling with a bone stress injury since June 2025 and have been mostly cross training. I’m struggling with body image and acknowledging that I still need to fuel. Do you have any advice?I know I should fuel with carbs before a run, but should I also be fueling before strength training sessions? If so, what would be a good example?I’m a high school runner trying to dial in my nutrition. I have an hour commute after practice, should I be fueling during this window? If so, what should I be having?I’m a collegiate athlete and have been struggling to fall asleep at night. Is there anything I can do from a nutrition standpoint to try to improve this?Thanks so much to everyone who has submitted questions so far! If you would like to submit a question for future episodes, you can do so on my website HERE or email me at fuelingforwardpodcast@gmail.com.

    46 min
  3. 28. Jessica Dorrington

    MAR 20

    28. Jessica Dorrington

    This episode is an interview with runner and pelvic floor PT, Jessica Dorrington. Jess grew up in North Dakota, where she fell in love with running and went on to run at the collegiate level. Through her experience with injuries, she was inspired to pursue a career in physical therapy. She went on to get her Master's in Physical Therapy, and became a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist and Certified Manual Physical Therapist. Throughout her time as a PT, she discovered that she was passionate about pelvic floor health and became Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certified, a certification that only 150 practitioners have nationwide. She is now the Director of Physical Therapy at Therapeutic Associates Bethany and Rock Creek, where she works with everyone from recreational to pro runners to help them manage injuries and a wide scope of pelvic health related issues. On top of her incredible career as a PT, Jess has also finished 10 marathons and has run a sub 3-hour marathon twice, most recently at Chicago in 2025. She's also a mom of 2, and her experience with pregnancy and postpartum and working with athletes going through this phase inspired her to co-write the book Strong as a Mother with former professional runner Shannon Rowbury. In today's episode, we talk about: How Jess got her start with running and what the running and nutrition scene was like in North DakotaWhat she learned navigating injuries and how this inspired her to become a physical therapistThe overlap between physical therapy and nutrition when it comes to preventing, managing, and treating injuries in runnersWhat pelvic floor PT is and why pelvic health is important for runners of all ages, genders and levelsHow Jess balances fueling with a busy life schedule, and her tips for runners to help them stay on top of their needsHer book, Strong as a Mother, and why she hopes it will help empower women to find the balance between staying active and listening to their body throughout pregnancy and postpartumYou can learn more about Jess and her services as a PT HERE and you can find Jess's book Strong as a Mother HERE.

    1h 10m
  4. Q&A With Maddie - 26

    MAR 13

    Q&A With Maddie - 26

    This episode is a Q&A episode where I answer questions that have been submitted by listeners. Questions for today’s episode include: My husband and I are both former collegiate athletes and have noticed our bodies shifting as we enter our 30's. Is this normal, and if so can you explain the science behind why this might be happening?I recently learned that calcium can block iron as well as other things. How do you recommend splitting it up at meals and with other supplements?My daughter has to take thyroid medication in the morning and can't eat for 30 minutes before she runs. I don't want her to train fasted and she doesn't want to wake up earlier to take it. Is there anything we can do?I lift a lot and have gotten bulkier in the off season, and I'm worried this will prevent me from running a PR during track. Do you have any advice on race weight?Thanks so much to everyone who has submitted questions so far! If you would like to submit a question for future episodes, you can do so on my website HERE or email me at fuelingforwardpodcast@gmail.com. If you're interested in our free Zoom webinar that will take place on Wednesday 3/18/26, you can register for that HERE.

    48 min
  5. 27. Amy Haas

    MAR 6

    27. Amy Haas

    This episode is an interview with runner and coach, Amy Haas. Amy is from Columbus, Ohio and is better known on Instagram as Race Across the States because she has completed a half marathon in every single state. In addition to that accomplishment, she is also a sub 3 hour marathoner as well as a running and strength coach. Amy is expecting her first baby due in a few weeks, and has been able to train and even race throughout her pregnancy. In today's episode, we talk about: How Amy discovered her love for running, and how that love for running eventually turned into a way to control how her body lookedAmy's worsening struggles with her relationship with food and body image, and the rock bottom that ultimately served as her wake up call to make some changesHow increasing her fueling and not focusing on weight allowed her to go from a 1:58 to a 1:19 half marathoner, and why weight isn't everything when it comes to performanceAmy's journey to becoming pregnant, navigating a miscarriage, and experiencing pregnancy after lossWhat it has been like for her to continue to train and race throughout pregnancy, and why it has been an important part of her pregnancy journeyIf you'd like to keep up with Amy, you can find her on Instagram @raceacrossthestates and you can also learn more about her coaching business HERE. ***Trigger warning: this episode discusses pregnancy and pregnancy loss, so you may want to skip it if you're not in a place to hear about those topics.***

    55 min
  6. Q&A With Maddie - 25

    FEB 27

    Q&A With Maddie - 25

    This episode is a Q&A episode where I answer questions that have been submitted by listeners. Today's episode starts off with a fun personal announcement 👀. Questions for today’s episode include: Can you talk about how to fuel when you’re sick, and also maybe how to decide if you should train or rest when sick?You mentioned in a previous episode that high hamstring and plantar fasciitis injuries are often related to under fueling. Can you talk more about why that is?I really struggle with hydration in the winter. Do you have any tips or suggestions?I’m a high school athlete involved in 2 sports, and I’m noticing it’s hard to tel when I’m full or not. I often feel unsatisfied after meals, but if I eat more I feel bloated. Do you have any tips on how to navigate this?Thanks so much to everyone who has submitted questions so far! If you would like to submit a question for future episodes, you can do so on my website HERE or email me at fuelingforwardpodcast@gmail.com.

    49 min
  7. 26. Shannon Rowbury

    FEB 20

    26. Shannon Rowbury

    This episode is an interview with American middle distance running great, Shannon Rowbury. Shannon grew up in San Francisco, where she switched from Irish Dance to running. She found herself on a full ride scholarship to Duke, and was offered a professional contract with Nike out of college. During her professional career, Shannon was an 8 time member of Team USA, including a 3 time Olympian. She was the American record holder in the 1500, running a time of 3:56, and has won 3 bronze medals: one at the 2009 World Championships, one at the 2016 Indoor World Championships, and as of recently was upgraded to a bronze from the 2012 Olympic Games due to 3 athletes getting caught doping. She will receive her bronze medal at the 2028 LA Olympics. She is also an Emmy winning sports broadcaster, co-author of the books Medalist Mindset and Strong as a Mother, and co-founder of the non-profit Imagining More. In this episode, we talk about: How growing up with dance allowed her to develop skills that eventually translated to running, and why it's important to her for her kids not to specialize too early in sportsWhat her relationship with food was like growing up, and how that foundation was tested when she moved across the country to attend college at DukeHow she navigated her first major injury while trying to sign a pro contract and pursue a pro running career out of collegeWhat it was like training in a toxic environment as a pro, and how she realized she could have done things in a healthier wayHer experience training throughout pregnancy and postpartum, and why staying on top of fueling is key to avoiding injuryWhat her new book, Strong as a Mother, is about and why it was so important to her to create this resourceHer non-profit, Imagining More, and how she hopes to inspire young girls to get active in sportsIf you're interested in learning more about Shannon's Projects, you can find them here: Strong as a MotherImagining More

    57 min
  8. Q&A With Maddie - 24

    FEB 13

    Q&A With Maddie - 24

    This episode is a Q&A episode where I answer questions that have been submitted by listeners. Questions for today’s episode include: I'm in a busy phase of life and am eating more convenience foods. Is there a difference between eating convenience vs. whole foods, and are there convenience foods that are better than others?I took some time off of running and noticed that I was feeling super hungry. Can you explain what might be going on in my body and do you have any advice for what I should do during the rest of my break?I'm 1 year postpartum and have been struggling with how much my body has changed. As a runner, I know how important fueling is, but it's also hard not feeling like myself. Is there a way for me to safely lose weight, or is that not something I should focus on?I’ve been really focusing on incorporating more post-run fuel, but I'm still feeling like I'm chronically sore and not recovering well. Do you have any recommendations for anything else I should be focusing on?Thanks so much to everyone who has submitted questions so far! If you would like to submit a question for future episodes, you can do so on my website HERE or email me at fuelingforwardpodcast@gmail.com.

    49 min
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5
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

Hosted by Maddie Alm, sports dietitian and elite runner, The Fueling Forward Podcast is the place to go for all things running and sports nutrition. Learn from other runners as they discuss their own experiences with nutrition and performance and learn from Maddie, a registered dietitian and runner. Through these conversations, we will bust common nutrition myths and misconceptions around fueling for performance, so you can find an approach to fueling that will allow you to feel and perform your best without taking short cuts. Here at Fueling Forward, we believe in fueling your body for the long run!

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