The Run Smarter Podcast

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In this episode, Brodie chats with Dr. Phil Hayes β€” senior lecturer at Northumbria University, sports scientist, and highly experienced running coach β€” about his role as co-editor of The Science and Practice of Middle and Long-Distance Running. Phil’s academic expertise in exercise physiology and decades of coaching experience give him a unique perspective on bridging cutting-edge research with practical training wisdom.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
  • Behind the Book: How the project came about, Phil’s collaboration with Rich Blagrove, and why they felt a science-based resource for runners was missing from the market.
  • Physiology Insights: The limitations of purely metabolic models of performance and why neuromuscular factors and fatigue resistance are vital for understanding endurance.
  • Critical Speed Testing: How to use field-based protocols to estimate your maximum sustainable speed, set training zones, and guide performance predictions without a lab test.
  • Training Load Monitoring: Why mileage alone can be misleading, and how tools like session RPE, TRIMP scores, and workload ratios help prevent injury and manage progression.
  • Consistency Over Intensity: Why avoiding training spikes and maintaining a sustainable workload is key to long-term performance gains.
  • Strength & Conditioning: How targeted, year-round S&C work prevents injury, improves resilience, and supports running efficiency.
  • Structured Programming: Building both macro- and micro-level training structure to balance hard and easy sessions, and why logging your training is crucial.
  • Race Preparation: Adopting a β€œown the start line” mindset, using checklists, and practicing tapers before key events to refine your approach.
  • Tapering Principles: Reducing volume while maintaining intensity in the final weeks before a race, and why individual experimentation is essential.
  • Fundamentals First: How focusing on the basicsβ€”training structure, S&C, recovery, and balanced intensityβ€”outperforms chasing β€œmagic workouts.”

What is 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.