The Running Explained Podcast

We’re back with another fantastic re-run featuring the powerhouse herself, exercise physiologist and hybrid athlete Dr. Alyssa Olenick (@doclyssfitness)!

Hybrid training isn't just about picking between strength or endurance – it's about embracing BOTH for both health and performance goals. Dr. Olenick breaks down the interference effect, explains the shifting application of training intensity, and goes through hybrid training in the off-season all the way through your pre-race taper PLUS many more insights and educational tidbits along the way!

What You'll Learn:

• What hybrid (or concurrent) training is and how it blends strength and endurance for optimal fitness.

• How to manage the "interference effect" and fatigue when training for multiple goals.

• Why strength training is essential for runners for both performance and injury prevention.

• How to approach fitness with curiosity, NOT perfection.

• The importance of seasonal training and post-race recovery for long-term health and performance.

• Why group fitness classes can support your goals but shouldn’t replace focused strength or endurance work.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction to Hybrid Training

(03:48) Defining Hybrid Training

(11:35) Understanding the Interference Effect

(20:30) Training Tolerance and Goal Setting

(23:54) Benefits of Hybrid Training

(29:59) The Importance of Strength Training for Runners

(35:42) Overcoming the Fear of Lifting

(44:23) Building Confidence in Strength Training

(45:14) Embracing Imperfection in Training

(46:47) The Role of Group Fitness Classes

(51:30) Understanding Hybrid Training

(55:25) Balancing Running and Lifting

(01:00:06) The Importance of Recovery

(01:04:58) Long-Term Fitness Perspectives

(01:09:42) The Process Over Perfection

(01:16:11) Finding Joy in the Journey

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Meet Alyssa

Dr. Alyssa Olenick is an Exercise Physiologist, sports nutritionist, weight lifter, and ultra runner. She is known for her high energy and sassy approach to bringing science to your training in a no-nonsense way. Alyssa has helped thousands of women crush big lifting goals, cross race finish lines, or even do both.

www.doclyssfitness.com

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🚨 1:1 COACHING SPOTS OPEN NOW 🚨
Ready to finally train with a plan that’s built around YOU?
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If you're chasing a big goal, whether it's your first marathon or a shiny new PR, our incredible coaches are accepting new 1:1 coaching clients!
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✅ Personalized training
✅ Weekly support + adjustments
✅ Strategy, structure, and accountability
✅ Expert coaching to help you actually hit your goals

Head to https://www.runningexplained.com/runcoaching to learn more!

We're bringing back an amazing re-run episode with Coach Nick Klastava from Season 3, and it's just as relevant and inspiring now as it was then. If you enjoy this episode, check out Nick’s other podcast, Between Two Coaches, which he co-hosts with Coach Amanda Katz (also from Running Explained). You can find it on all major streaming platforms.

Comparison is the thief of joy... so why do we spend SO much time & energy comparing ourselves to others? To other runners, to other versions of ourselves. Coach Nick Klastava is here this week to help us understand WHY breaking free from the comparison trap is actually one of the best things you can do as a runner, why copying another runner's training isn't very helpful, why paces aren't the be-all-end-all, and what we can all learn from the best of the best.

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🏃‍♀️ Running Explained is here to help you run smarter, get faster, and feel more confident in your training.From trusted education to real-world coaching support, we’ve got what you need: no fluff, no gimmicks, just evidence-based guidance that works.

🎙 Podcast & Blog: Free, accessible, no-BS running education📨 Downloadable Training Plans: Built for real life, not perfection 🏅 1:1 Coaching: Personalized guidance with expert support

🔗 Start here → ⁠⁠⁠runningexplained.com⁠⁠⁠

Dr. Marie Witt is BACK for her fifth time on the podcast (aka the Five-Peat!), and this episode is a little more casual and a whole lot of fun. We’re talking about… well, a little bit of everything:

– Gummy bear fueling and why sour candy hits different
– What happens when your miles slow way down in the summer heat
– Shoes, Hobbiton, Regency costumes, and other delightful detours
– The “minimum effective dose” approach to strength training
– And why doing less is often the smartest move a runner can make

We talk about the pressure to do more, what it really means to be consistent, and how to respect your body without losing your goals. And yes, we get a little nerdy, because obviously. It’s us.

If you need a reminder that running is supposed to be fun, that you don’t have to earn your worth in mileage, and that play is part of the process... this one’s for you.

💥 LAST CHANCE: ROAD TO RACE DAY KICKS OFF AUG 4!
If you’re training for the Philly Half or Full and want personalized coaching, a supportive group, expert guidance, and race weekend fun—this is it! Don’t miss your chance to join.
👉 runningexplained.com/roadtoraceday

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🔗 Links & Resources:

Check out her FREE Achilles Recovery Toolkit!

This week, I'm joined by the one and only Jon Levitt, host of For the Long Run and Long Run Labs, endurance athlete, and resident expert in both running and running-adjacent banter.What starts as a lighthearted chat about favorite running shoes (RIP Pegasus 34), run fuel (blue raspberry forever), and dream races (Tokyo, anyone?) turns into a deeply thoughtful conversation about what it means to push yourself to the edge... and what happens when you go past it.We dive into:🎯 The anatomy of a moonshot: Was the Breaking4 Project to break 4 minutes in the mile by a woman a marketing stunt or a meaningful milestone?🧠 The shared psychology of suffering: Why elite runners and mid-packers alike know what it feels like to “bleed” in the third lap💥 What makes a mile so compelling (and painful) to run and watch🥵 Downhill marathons, Boston qualifiers, and the not-so-free speed myth💬 What we talk about when we talk about toughness, exclusivity, and why not every goal should be easyPlus: a very scientific game of “Strava Caption or Shenanigans,” Taylor Swift references, and a reminder that running a hard mile might just change your life.🧭 Resources & Links:Follow Jon on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/jwlevittListen to For the Long Run and Long Run Labshttps://shorturl.at/i7pRU

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🏃‍♀️ Running Explained is here to help you run smarter, get faster, and feel more confident in your training. From trusted education to real-world coaching support, we’ve got what you need: no fluff, no gimmicks, just evidence-based guidance that works.

🎙 Podcast & Blog: Free, accessible, no-BS running education

📨 The Weekly Stride: Your favorite running newsletter

📲 The Run Club App: Training plans + strength work in one place

📋 Downloadable Training Plans: Built for real life and real results

🏅 1:1 Coaching: Personalized guidance with expert support

🔗 Start here → ⁠⁠⁠runningexplained.com⁠⁠⁠

We’re going back to basics—because let’s be honest, most runners are still underfueling!

In this special anniversary episode, I’m bringing back the very first guest I ever had on the show: Registered Dietitian and running coach Cortney Berling to talk (again) about RUNNING NUTRITION 101!

If you’ve ever wondered…

• Should I eat before my run? Why? When? What??
• How much fuel do I ACTUALLY need during long runs?

• Why is post-run fueling so dang hard?

• And wait... am I underfueling even if I’m not losing weight?

This one’s for you.

We cover:

🥯 Pre-run fueling (yes, even early morning runs!)

🔋 In-run fueling strategies & how to train your gut

🍳 What post-run nutrition should look like (even when you're not hungry)

⚡ Fueling myths that won’t die

🧠 Why underfueling might be the real reason you feel overtrained or stuck

Whether you’re training for your first 5K or your 100th marathon, this is a conversation every runner should hear.

Mentioned in this episode:

Cortney’s Instagram: @eatwell.runbetter

Learn more at eatwellrunbetter.com

Our original episode from Season 1!

"s1/e02 Running Nutrition with Cortney Berling, RD"

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🏃‍♀️ Running Explained is here to help you run smarter, get faster, and feel more confident in your training.From trusted education to real-world coaching support, we’ve got what you need: no fluff, no gimmicks, just evidence-based guidance that works.

🎙 Podcast & Blog: Free, accessible, no-BS running education📨 The Weekly Stride: Your favorite running newsletter📲 The Run Club App: Training plans + strength work in one place📋 Downloadable Training Plans: Built for real life, not perfection 🏅 1:1 Coaching: Personalized guidance with expert support

🔗 Start here → ⁠⁠runningexplained.com⁠⁠⁠