The Runner's Doc

Adam Van Nortwick
  • 5.0 (4)
  • HEALTH & FITNESS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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.

  1. Season 2 Episode 5 How to Stay Fast, Healthy, and Still Have Fun While Competing with Amanda Presgraves

    JAN 31

    Season 2 Episode 5 How to Stay Fast, Healthy, and Still Have Fun While Competing with Amanda Presgraves

    Buckle up for this episode of the Runner’s Doc Podcast as I sit down with Amanda Presgraves. Ranked among the top three off-road triathletes in the U.S., Amanda is a professional XTERRA standout, ultra runner, multiple-time race winner, course-record holder, and former Division I swimmer at James Madison University. In 2025, she added another amazing accomplishment to her resume with a second-place finish at the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 miler. In this conversation, Amanda delivers a master class on how to compete at the highest level without sacrificing your health or your love for the sport. We dive into smart cross-training, the psychological toll of injury, how stress impacts performance and recovery, and the practical steps endurance athletes can take to stay healthy, happy, and competitive for the long haul. If you’re serious about endurance sports and want to stay healthy and competitive for years to come, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Check out the show notes below to jump to specific parts of our interview. 5:10 it’s important to enjoy the athletic activities you’re doing even if you’re being competitive. Don’t take yourself too seriously! 6:41 Amanda discusses being able to run good times by cross training with other aerobic activities 7:27 You don’t need to run all the time to be a good runner 9:41 I realized it was going to take years to build up the musculoskeletal system of a runner 10:04 Trails are so much softer and there is so much more variety in your movement. I haven’t had a stress fracture since 2018 and I think that has to do with the variety in my training 21:30 What is Amanda is most proud of? 22:59 Sometimes health doesn’t equate to performance 27:30 I show up for myself and that may look different than what the plan was 29:30 What have been Amanda's biggest setbacks? 30:10 As an athlete you lose your sense of identity when you're injured 35:07 It took until senior year in college to figure out what training philosophy worked for me 36:43 A dysregulated nervous system leads to injury 38:30 Stress can lead to injury and slow recovery 41:05 Consistency should mean showing up for yourself, not mindlessly showing up for practice when you need rest 42:16 Cross training can be helpful because sometimes it’s hard to run easy 43:48 It’s important to find community when you’re injured and can’t compete is your sport 45:03 What are Amanda's practices to make sure she keeps herself healthy? 48:25 What are Amanda's future goals? 54:20 It’s as important to train your mind as it is to train your body!

    1h 3m
  2. Season 2 Episode 4 Surprise Bonus Episode

    JAN 20

    Season 2 Episode 4 Surprise Bonus Episode

    We're switching things up for this surprise bonus episode of The Runner's Doc Podcast. We hope you enjoy this episode and find the discussion helpful. Please leave us some feedback on Apple Podcasts!

    47 min
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
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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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13