Your running plan might be missing the one thing that makes everything else work: strength. I’m joined by strength coach and entrepreneur Chris Ryan, and we get honest about what actually helps runners stay healthy, improve form, and keep chasing goals without getting stuck in the injury cycle.
Chris shares his path from competitive sports and Division I track to the real-world turning point many athletes face: recurring injuries, shifting priorities, and the need to build a life beyond competition. From corporate finance to entrepreneurship to coaching in New York, he explains how discipline and consistency transfer across every arena. We also talk about what he loves most as a coach: helping people build self-respect through small, repeatable wins that compound over time.
Then we get practical for endurance athletes. We break down why many runners struggle when they only “pound the pavement,” why surface choice matters, and how adding controlled intensity can improve running economy and posture. Chris makes a strong case for strength training for runners, including why the trap bar deadlift is such a powerful tool for building force and resilience without chasing muscle size. We also cover mobility and prehab staples like tibialis raises, ankle and calf work, and hip mobility patterns that support better mechanics.
We even zoom in on nutrition with a simple lens: the “liquid diet” problem, from alcohol to sugar-loaded coffee drinks, and how cleaning that up can change energy, recovery, and body composition fast. If you want smarter training, fewer aches, and a plan you can actually stick to, press play, subscribe, and share this with a runner who refuses to lift. After you listen, what’s one small change you’re committing to this week?
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör
Carla Coffey. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Carla Coffey och inte av,
eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.
