The Runner's Doc

Adam Van Nortwick

The Runner's Doc is a podcast that takes a deep dive into the causes behind running injuries and discusses techniques to avoid these injuries and keep runners healthy. The show is hosted by Adam Van Nortwick, a Physical Therapist, athletic trainer, and avid runner who has over a decade's worth of physical therapy and sports rehabilitation experience. In addition to his personal experience, Adam adds value to this show by routinely interviewing guests who are competitive athletes, coaches, and experts in this field. If you are truly interested in being able to compete at the highest level and avoid injuries, follow this podcast and share it with your running friends.

Episodes

  1. Season 2 Episode 3 Interview with Lori Thomsen

    03/22/2025

    Season 2 Episode 3 Interview with Lori Thomsen

    Welcome back, this is the Runner’s Doc Podcast. For those of you joining us for the first time, I’m happy you’re here. In this episode I had the pleasure of interviewing Lori Thomsen. Lori is a physical therapist who practices at the Hruska Clinic in Lincoln Nebraska and she is a faculty member at the Postural Restoration Institute. Lori’s shoe list, which she develops for the Hruska Clinic and updates when new shoes are released is a valuable resource that is utilized by therapists and patients all over the country. Thank you for joining us and get ready to learn a lot! Show Notes 5:07 How Hruska Clinic Shoe List was born 6:07 Lori shares her story about a patient with a successful program and lingering knee pain 8:25 How shoe design changes foot mechanics 9:30 The foot and ankle are very impactful with your pelvis and your hip and vice versa 12:01 Qualities to look for in a shoe 12:30 Proper foot mechanics 13:46 The problem with current running shoes 15:26 If you don’t get good heel strike you don’t get good hamstring and glute recruitment 17:52 shoes that bend in the middle of the foot can increase risk of certain foot and ankle injuries 21:25 Review of qualities you look for in a shoe 22:20 Your brain has got to sense the ground underneath your shoe 24:00 How to check if your shoe is right for you 26:22 Check out the shoe list videos at Hruska Clinic (https://www.hruska-clinic.com/shoe-list/) 30:01 Two big recommendations for all runners 31:00 The most important and forgotten role of the hamstring 32:00 What’s normal hamstring flexibility? 35:00 One exercise to loosen tight back muscles 36:03 The one muscle in a runner’s life that probably needs to be stretched 38:08 Why runners should put their hands on their knees to catch their breaths? 40:08 Dynamic warm up examples 41:16 A great cross training exercise

    48 min
  2. Season 2 Episode 2 Interview with Lee Pollock

    03/07/2025

    Season 2 Episode 2 Interview with Lee Pollock

    Welcome back, this is the Runner’s Doc Podcast. For those of you listening for the first time, I’m glad you decided to join us. In this episode I had the pleasure of discussing all things running with Lee Pollock, who is a competitive runner and has been since he began his career in the 60’s! He's had an impressive running career, running a sub 3 hour marathon in five consecutive decades. He is a wealth of information and I can’t wait for you to hear what he had to say. I hope you enjoy and learn a lot from what Lee had to say. Some of the highlights from this episode are listed below. Show Notes 7:09 In my 3rd steeple chase race of life, I got 2nd at NCAA championships 8:10 I won first marathon, the Mile High Marathon in Denver in 1980 (running a 2:26!) 9:08 Got call from Runner’s World saying he was on a short list of people who has run sub 3 hour marathons in 5 consecutive decades 11:24 Was running 140 miles per week in shoes that were less forgiving 11:50 I’ve been patient with injuries and would take whatever amount of time off that was necessary to recover. 12:13 When I've been injured I use cross training to keep in shape 12:34 I had a hamstring injury that kept me from running for 2 years and started incorporating biking into my normal training routine and would use that as an “active recovery” on my rest days 14:00 I haven't kept track of heart rates, but would do zone 2 training by concentrating on how my body felt 15:32 Guys who are doing well in the Tour de France are saying they spend more time in zone 2 than any other zone 16:46 When I run I think about my running. How do I feel? How am I hitting the ground? 18:41 When approaching a race pay attention to staying away from the harmies 21:18 I would try to do something every day versus taking a day off, but was not afraid to take a day off 23:31 With regards to race planning, I follow a 3 month cycle, biomechanics, strength, then speed 24:34 When doing strength days I left nothing on the table 28:15 What advice would you give people who are just getting started? 28:41 My number one recommendation for all runners 30:23 Have a mix of different kinds of running 34:37 Camaraderie and having compatible training partners can be important to helping you accomplish your goals

    40 min
  3. Season 2 Episode 1 the Two Components of a Running Injury

    01/21/2025

    Season 2 Episode 1 the Two Components of a Running Injury

    Welcome back for season 2. In this solo episode of the Runner's Doc Podcast, I discuss the two components of a running injury. I also discuss the importance of identifying and treating the underlying cause of the injury, not just the symptoms. After discussing the two different components, I provide strategies for how to identify and treat these injuries. Below are links to two blog posts on The Runner's Doc website which discuss common compensatory movement strategies that occur with running. I hope you find this episode helpful and if you know anyone else who could benefit from it, please share it with a friend. Since this is a different format for us please make sure to leave us some feedback. If you haven't already subscribed to our show, make sure you do that so you can keep up to date with the latest episode. Thank you for listening and supporting the show. https://www.therunnersdocpt.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-c9ydp https://www.therunnersdocpt.com/blog/blog-post-title-three-lcj9k

    13 min
  4. Episode 8 Interview with Brandon Hudgins, Sub 4 Minute Miler, Competitive Runner, Running Coach, and Co-Founder of High Point Athletic Club

    11/24/2024

    Episode 8 Interview with Brandon Hudgins, Sub 4 Minute Miler, Competitive Runner, Running Coach, and Co-Founder of High Point Athletic Club

    In this episode I had the pleasure of interviewing Brandon Hudgins for a second time. For those of you who don't know Brandon, he is a runner, running coach, sub 4 minute miler and he is the co-founder of High Point Athletic Club. To learn more about Brandon and his journey as a running coach, make sure to check out Episode 1 of this podcast. In this episode Brandon discusses High Point Athletic Club and its role in helping runners maximize their running performance while avoiding injuries. Since the summer of 2021, Brandon grew from coaching 5-6 athletes to 45-50 athletes! Some of these athletes are local and some are coached remotely. An important part of Brandon's coaching philosophy is that it doesn't only focus on running but places a lot of emphasis on strengthening exercises to maximize performance and avoid injuries. During our discussion he covered a wide range of topics. Check out some of the highlights below. Show highlights 14:05 One of Brandon’s biggest struggles is getting athletes to communicate about their training status so their programs can be adapted and changed accordingly. 15:50 It’s hard to be objective with yourself. You need someone else to evaluate what’s working and what’s not working with your program. Sometimes training isn’t going well because of lack of sleep, stressors in life, or overtraining. It’s hard for you to know the right questions to ask yourself. 21:10 Many people have too many moderate efforts in their training program. All their runs end up being moderately hard versus being hard or easy. 21:40 Run walks are a great way to build back tissue strength after an injury. 22:40 Even some of the pros do run walks on their easy days. It makes sure you keep your easy days easy. 25:54 Easy runs are there to train the heart. Stopping for 60 seconds and walking is not going to negatively affect that, but it does affect tissue loading. 27:20 How do you help people stay compliant with strength training? 32:40 What’s the best strength training exercise for running performance?

    40 min
  5. Episode 7 Interview with Nelle Fox, Competitive Runner, Running Coach, and Founder of Magnum Opus Coaching (Part II)

    09/13/2024

    Episode 7 Interview with Nelle Fox, Competitive Runner, Running Coach, and Founder of Magnum Opus Coaching (Part II)

    We're back in this episode of the Runner's Doc podcast for part two of my interview with Nelle Fox! For this episode I got to sit down with Nelle to discuss all things running. Being a competitive runner, a running coach, and a health coach, Nelle brings a wealth of experience in all those areas. We discussed the importance of individualized running programs, the impact you can have through remote coaching, and how through the ripple effect your actions can make a big difference in others lives. You don't want to miss all the great information in this episode so set aside some time to listen and as always make sure you share this with a friend who could benefit from listening. If you haven't already subscribed and liked the show, please take a moment to do it now!

    47 min
  6. Episode 6 Interview with Nelle Fox, Competitive Runner, Running Coach, and Founder of Magnum Opus Coaching (Part I)

    09/02/2024

    Episode 6 Interview with Nelle Fox, Competitive Runner, Running Coach, and Founder of Magnum Opus Coaching (Part I)

    We're back in this episode of the Runner's Doc podcast with a show favorite, Nelle Fox! For this episode I got to sit down with Nelle to discuss all things running. Being a competitive runner, a running coach, and a health coach, Nelle brings a wealth of experience in all those areas. We got to discuss running injury prevention from an athlete's and coach's perspective. You don't want to miss all the great information in this episode so make some time to listen and as always make sure you share this with a friend who could benefit from watching as well. If you haven't already subscribed to and liked the show, make sure to do so!

    39 min

  7. 07/16/2024

    Episode 5 Interview with Brandon Hudgins, Sub 4 Miler, Professional Runner, and Running Coach (Part II)

    In this episode of The Runner's Doc podcast, I wrap up my interview with Brandon Hudgins, sub 4 minute miler, professional runner, and running coach. During this interview we discussed Brandon's personal running injuries and the tricks he has used to manage these injuries. Brandon talked about the importance of identifying where his individual weaknesses and movement problems were to develop the best strengthening and rehabilitation program. He also highlighted the importance of strength training and relationship between the ability to jump and run fast. This short episode is jam packed with a lot of great information so make sure to listen closely and take notes! Check out some of the highlights below. Episode Highlights: "Strength training has been a major keystone to my health for a long time (5:51)" Brandon's graduate research study looked at the relationship between jumping and running performance (6:04) "People who jumped further ran faster (6:14)" "Most running related injuries happen because something's getting a load that it's not designed to handle (7:41)" How Brandon incorporates strength training into his athletes' routines (10:13) "I'm lifting heavy and jumping year round (17:18)" Early on in training Lydiard incorporates hill bounding (19:36) Thank you for listening to this episode. Brandon and I are planning another interview where we get into discussing more strength training and how this should be incorporated into your running training to boost your performance and prevent injuries. You can find Brandon on X at @bhudgruns and at the High Point Athletic Club website at https://www.highpointac.com. For those of you who would like to watch this interview you can find it here: https://youtu.be/Sp6Hb1iB2uc?si=6J9sAoQ5E1EQsrkP. For anyone who is interested in ordering Brandon's book, you can buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Going-Distance-Journey-Vasculitis-Patient/dp/1975626583. Finally you can find me at: www.therunnersdocpt.com or on instagram at: @therunnersdoc.

    27 min

  8. 07/01/2024

    Episode 4 Interview with Brandon Hudgins Sub 4 Miler, Professional Runner, and Running Coach (Part I)

    You don't want to miss this episode! During this show, I get to sit down with Brandon Hudgins, professional runner, sub 4 minute miler, and running coach. Brandon discusses how he stays on track running while managing a chronic disease and how he uses his experience to help others reach their running and exercise goals. This is an episode you don't want to miss. Check out the highlights below. How Brandon first got into running (4:52) Brandon explains vasculitis (13:12) Until the late 1980's Brandon's type of vasculitis had a 97-98% death rate 1 year after diagnosis (14:33) In the late 1980's Dr. Anthony Fauci developed the first successful treatment for this condition (14:44) With chronic disease and running you have to drastically adjust your training expectations (19:25) How to manage training load due to medication use for the treatment of chronic diseases (20:22) You have to mentally prepare yourself for running because of how poorly chronic diseases can make you feel (27:44) Links: watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ymMc3ziYNis?si=EANoB3vJm0YrOVec You can find Brandon's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Going-Distance-Journey-Vasculitis-Patient/dp/1975626583 High Point Athletic Club: https://www.highpointac.com

    36 min

  9. 06/17/2024

    Episode 3 Dr. Victoria Agud and I Discuss Running Injuries from a Physical Therapist's Perspective

    In this episode I summarize Dr. Victoria Agud's and my presentation from the 2023 Running Injury Prevention Workshop at our physical therapy clinic. In this episode we discuss the demands running places on the body and the various reasons running injuries occur from a physical therapist's perspective. I cover one specific condition we frequently see at our clinic and make reference to the blog articles I wrote about it on my website. These articles can be found here: https://www.therunnersdocpt.com/blog/blog-post-title-two-c9ydp. We also discuss the role fascia plays in coordinating movement throughout the body and how to recognize when there is dysfunction in this tissue. As we wrap up the episode we discuss some strategies to address current injuries and to prevent future injuries. For more information on how you can recover from a current injury or how to prevent future running injuries visit me at: www.therunnersdocpt.com.

    17 min

  10. 05/31/2024

    Episode 2 Erik Jensen Discusses Proper Shoe Selection and Replacement

    In this episode of the Runner's Doc, we review Erik Jensen's presentation at the 2023 Running Injury Prevention Workshop at Appalachian Physical Therapy in Harrisonburg, VA. Erik is the co-owner of Bluestone Bike and Run in Harrisonburg, VA and uses his running experience and training in kinesiology to match runners with the correct shoe. At the workshop Erik presented all kinds of thoughts on running shoes, ranging from how to pick the ideal running shoe for you to knowing when to replace your running shoes. He also explained what drop is in running shoes and the reason you would pick shoes with different height drops. He described how running shoes are made and why they wear out. You can find a great video of the construction of an EVA foam sole here https://youtu.be/u0-xgEP7mkM?si=-ndW9Nxo0UYqsKu8. For more information on how to recover from a current injury or how to prevent future running injuries visit me at www.therunnersdocpt.com For guidance on picking the right running shoe for you visit Erik at www.bluestonebikerun.com

    12 min

  11. 05/08/2024

    Inaugural Podcast Running Injury Prevent Workshop 2023 (Nelle Fox)

    Welcome to the Runner's Doc Podcast! I'm your host Adam Van Nortwick, runner and physical therapist. I created this show to bring you valuable information that you can immediately apply to your running in order to prevent injuries, address your current injuries, and to boost your performance. In this inaugural episode I share some information from Nelle Fox's presentation at our 2023 Running Injury Prevention Workshop. Nelle is a runner, running coach, and health coach who founded Magnum Opus Fitness and Wellness coaching. She believes in a holistic comprehensive approach to running and health and works with her clients to help them maximize their performance and improve their well-being. You can find Nelle at https://www.magnumopuscoaching.com. The links Nelle shares in this podcast are the Jack Daniel's training calculator and the total daily energy expenditure tool which can be found here https://vdoto2.com/calculator and here https://tdeecalculator.net/. You can find me and more running injury prevention tips at therunnersdocpt.com. Thank you for listening and I hope you find this information useful!

    12 min
  • 11 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Runner's Doc is a podcast that takes a deep dive into the causes behind running injuries and discusses techniques to avoid these injuries and keep runners healthy. The show is hosted by Adam Van Nortwick, a Physical Therapist, athletic trainer, and avid runner who has over a decade's worth of physical therapy and sports rehabilitation experience. In addition to his personal experience, Adam adds value to this show by routinely interviewing guests who are competitive athletes, coaches, and experts in this field. If you are truly interested in being able to compete at the highest level and avoid injuries, follow this podcast and share it with your running friends.

Information

  • Creator
    Adam Van Nortwick
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    11