The Run Smarter Podcast

Brodie Sharpe
The Run Smarter Podcast

Expand your running knowledge, identify running misconceptions and become a faster, healthier, SMARTER runner. Let Brodie Sharpe become your new running guide as he teaches you powerful injury insights from his many years as a physiotherapist while also interviewing the best running gurus in the world. This is ideal for injured runners & runners looking for injury prevention and elevated performance. So, take full advantage by starting at season 1 where Brodie teaches you THE TOP PRINCIPLES TO OVERCOME ANY RUNNING INJURY and let’s begin your run smarter journey.

  1. 7 HR. AGO

    Bone Stress Injuries in Runners Using Carbon Fiber Footwear

    For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ Summary: In this episode, we dive into a 2023 study that examines the relationship between carbon fiber plate footwear and bone stress injuries in runners. The research is an opinion article, backed by case studies and observations, highlighting potential biomechanical shifts and injury risks that may come with these advanced shoes. We break down the mechanics of carbon fiber shoes, how they work, and their impact on running performance. We also explore five case studies of athletes who developed navicular bone stress injuries while using these shoes, providing valuable insights into the risks, symptoms, and management strategies. Key Takeaways for Recreational Runners: Carbon Fiber Shoes: Performance Benefits and Misconceptions – Carbon fiber shoes act as a lever, not a spring. While they enhance running performance by providing a more efficient propulsion, their benefits are closely tied to both the carbon plate and the high-tech foam used in the midsole.Biomechanical Changes – Runners using carbon fiber shoes experience changes in biomechanics, such as reduced cadence, longer strides, and increased flight time. These changes could potentially increase the risk of injury, particularly in the foot and ankle.Injury Risks – Bone stress injuries, particularly in the navicular bone, may occur due to the altered distribution of forces in the foot. Athletes in the study experienced symptoms like midfoot pain and swelling after using carbon fiber shoes, leading to long recovery times and, in some cases, surgery.Case Studies – Five detailed case studies offer real-world examples of how runners were affected by bone stress injuries after using carbon fiber shoes. These cases emphasize the importance of symptom awareness, early diagnosis, and gradual rehabilitation.Careful Transition to Carbon Fiber Shoes – Runners should avoid making abrupt transitions into carbon fiber shoes. It’s essential to gradually introduce these shoes into your training routine, starting with slower runs before incorporating speed workouts or races. Failure to do so can lead to severe bone stress injuries, as seen in the case studies.Monitoring Symptoms – Keep an eye out for midfoot pain, especially around the navicular bone. If you experience persistent pain or swelling, seek medical advice and consider getting an MRI or CT scan early to prevent a prolonged recovery process.This episode provides essential insights for any runner considering carbon fiber footwear, especially those concerned about injury risks and recovery strategies. Get Access to Brodie's Running Research Database!

    39 min
  2. OCT 20

    Q&A: Running with Chronic Fatigue / Single-Leg Exercises / Carb Loading Advice

    For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ Today's Episode Question: Question 1: I was also caring for my mom - she died earlier this year and the profound grief turned into depression/anxiety and has left me with chronic fatigue. I haven't been able to run in 20 months and I've been doing it my whole life. How does one run when dealing with clinical depression/anxiety when the fatigue is too much? Question 2:When is the best time to incorporate single leg exercises? Is it year-round or during a certain phase of training? How should this be balanced with exercises that use both legs? Question 3:I’ve run two marathons and started carb loading 2 days prior to marathon day. I’m generally a healthy eater and I really struggle with consuming the suggested 10grams of carbs per kilogram of body weight before the event, given that my carb loading diet is made up of things that I don’t like eating, ie white bread, white rice and sports drinks. I previously fuelled well throughout my 2 marathons and luckily haven’t experienced hitting the wall yet. I’ve entered Queenstown marathon in November and am considering not carb loading as a kind of experiment and just making sure I fuel and hydrate well throughout the race. What do you think of this? Get Access to Brodie's Running Research Database!

    33 min
  3. SEP 22

    The Best Caffeine Strategy to Run Faster with David Hellard

    The Best Caffeine Strategy to Run Faster with David Hellard 🚀 Get 20% OFF Caffeine Bullet Chews HERE 💥 Use Code: RUNSMARTER to claim this offer! 🎯⚡ Guest Bio:David Hellard is a passionate endurance runner, entrepreneur, and podcast host. He is the founder of Caffeine Bullet, a business that specializes in caffeine chews designed for athletic performance. David has also competed in various ultra-marathons, including the Marathon des Sables, and was the face of the Golden Trail World Series. He’s also the host of the popular podcast, Bad Boy Running, where he shares stories of running adventures rather than focusing solely on performance improvement. He successfully pitched his company on Dragons’ Den and secured investment from well-known entrepreneurs. Episode Summary:In this episode, Brodie Sharpe chats with David Hellard about the science behind caffeine as a performance-enhancing supplement for runners. The discussion dives deep into how caffeine can benefit runners of all levels, from improving endurance to boosting mental alertness. They explore the optimal dosages, timing, and forms of caffeine, as well as the variability in how individuals respond to it based on genetics. The episode is packed with actionable insights for runners looking to enhance their performance through caffeine without sacrificing sleep or gut health. David also shares how his product, Caffeine Bullet, was developed and offers listeners a special discount. Key Takeaways for Recreational Runners: Caffeine as a Performance Booster:Caffeine can enhance endurance by up to 8% by sparing glycogen stores and releasing fat as an energy source.It can reduce the perception of pain and fatigue, helping runners push through tough sections of a race.Personalized Response to Caffeine:About 50% of people are "super responders" to caffeine, while 8% may see no benefit. It's important to test caffeine use in training before relying on it during a race.Genetics play a large role in how quickly you metabolize caffeine. Brodie discusses his own genetic predisposition as a fast metabolizer.Optimal Dosage and Timing:The ideal caffeine dose is between 3-6 mg per kg of body weight. For a 75kg person, that’s about 225-450 mg.For longer races, take caffeine when you start to tire, often around mile 18-22 for marathoners. In shorter races, it can be taken pre-race or early in the race to get an additional mental boost.Choosing Caffeine Sources:Caffeine can be consumed via chews, gels, coffee, or gum, but chews like Caffeine Bullet are absorbed faster, making them more effective for mid-race boosts.Uncoupling caffeine from carbohydrate intake can allow for more flexibility in timing, particularly if gels are your primary source.Considerations and Potential Drawbacks:Caffeine can increase heart rate, making it important to monitor if you're using heart rate data during training or racing.Gut sensitivity to caffeine varies; testing its impact in training is crucial to avoid gastrointestinal distress during a race.Overuse can lead to disrupted sleep and reduced training benefits, so it’s essential to manage daily caffeine intake.Practical Advice for Testing Caffeine in Training:Experiment during training runs to find out what timing and dosage work best for you.If you’ve been relying on caffeine regularly, consider cutting back to restore sensitivity and improve race-day effectiveness.For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ Get Access to Brodie's Running Research Database!

    1h 6m
  4. SEP 15

    Strength & Foam Rolling on Running Injuries

    Episode Summary: This episode delves into a 2023 research paper that examined how an 18-week program of strength exercises and foam rolling impacted the injury rates of recreational runners. Brodie breaks down the study's methodology, results, and key takeaways, offering runners actionable insights into injury prevention through targeted strength work and foam rolling techniques. Key Takeaways: Strength Training Reduces Injury Risk: The research found that runners who performed strength exercises focused on key muscle groups (hip abductors, quadriceps, foot supinators) twice a week had a significantly lower risk of injury compared to those who did not.Foam Rolling Shows Mixed Results: Foam rolling has shown inconsistent outcomes across studies, but this particular intervention suggests that combining strength exercises with foam rolling may improve injury resilience.Compliance Matters: The study found that runners who adhered closely to the injury prevention program had an 85% lower risk of injury compared to a control group. Conversely, low-compliance runners were almost twice as likely to get injured.Foam Rolling's Role in Recovery: Brodie shares how the research shifted his perspective on foam rolling, citing that while its benefits for flexibility and recovery are not always clear, it may play a role in reducing trigger points and injury risk.Injury Prevention Recommendations: By integrating strength training and foam rolling consistently, runners can significantly extend their "injury-free" running days and potentially decrease the likelihood of developing running-related injuries.Actionable Advice for Runners: Runners can incorporate strength training exercises like single-leg squats, forward lunges, side steps with resistance bands, and foam rolling sessions targeting key lower body muscles to help reduce their injury risk. Consistency and compliance with these exercises are crucial for seeing tangible results. For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ Get Access to Brodie's Running Research Database!

    32 min
  5. SEP 8

    New Research into Chronic Tendon Pain

    In this episode, we dive deep into groundbreaking research that could revolutionize how we understand and treat chronic tendon pain. Our host explores a new paper that suggests chronic tendon pain might be driven by neuropathy—dysfunctional nerves—rather than just degenerative or inflammatory disorders. This shift in understanding opens up exciting possibilities for more effective treatments and pain relief strategies. Key Talking Points: New Insights into Chronic Tendon Pain:The episode begins by exploring the idea that chronic tendon pain might be primarily neuropathic. The latest research suggests that the pain could stem from nerve damage or dysfunction rather than solely from tendon degeneration or inflammation.This novel understanding could change how we approach treatment, potentially leading to more targeted and effective methods.The Role of Neuropathy in Tendon Pain:We discuss how the study highlights nerve sprouting and neuronal ingrowth as possible causes of pain in chronic tendinopathy.Learn about substance P, a neuropeptide that may play a significant role in maintaining chronic pain through neurogenic inflammation.Lifestyle and Environmental Factors:Discover how chronic stress, poor diet, and environmental exposures can elevate levels of substance P, leading to persistent inflammation and pain.The importance of lifestyle modifications, such as stress management, anti-inflammatory diets, and healthy sleep habits, is emphasized as potential strategies to reduce chronic tendon pain.Emerging Treatment Options:We explore potential treatments discussed in the paper, including radio frequency ablation, shockwave therapy, and percutaneous ultrasound-guided tenotomy (PUT). While these treatments are promising, the host cautions listeners about the need for further research and understanding before seeking these options.Holistic Approach to Managing Tendinopathy:The episode concludes with actionable insights on how to manage chronic tendon pain through a combination of load management, lifestyle changes, and possibly exploring emerging treatments.Encouragement to focus on a holistic approach, integrating physical, psychological, and environmental factors, to achieve better pain management and healing outcomes.Why You Should Listen: This episode is a must-listen for anyone dealing with chronic tendon pain, as it uncovers new research that could significantly impact your treatment approach. Whether you're a runner, athlete, or someone struggling with tendinopathy, this discussion will provide valuable insights and practical advice to help you better manage your condition. Takeaways: Understanding the role of nerves in chronic tendon pain could lead to more effective treatments.Lifestyle changes, such as reducing stress and adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, can play a crucial role in managing pain.Stay informed about emerging treatments, but proceed with caution and consult with healthcare professionals before trying new therapies.Tune in to explore these exciting developments in chronic tendon pain research and learn how you can apply these insights to your own recovery journey! For MORE Run Smarter Resources 🏃‍♂️📚- Including Free Injury Prevention Courses 🩹🎓- The Run Smarter Book 📖- Access to Research Papers 📄🔍- & Ways to Work with Brodie 🤝👟👉 CLICK HERE! 🎉✨ Get Access to Brodie's Running Research Database!

    33 min
4.8
out of 5
123 Ratings

About

Expand your running knowledge, identify running misconceptions and become a faster, healthier, SMARTER runner. Let Brodie Sharpe become your new running guide as he teaches you powerful injury insights from his many years as a physiotherapist while also interviewing the best running gurus in the world. This is ideal for injured runners & runners looking for injury prevention and elevated performance. So, take full advantage by starting at season 1 where Brodie teaches you THE TOP PRINCIPLES TO OVERCOME ANY RUNNING INJURY and let’s begin your run smarter journey.

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