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Tread Lightly Running Podcast

Tread Lightly Running Podcast

Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris 169 Episodes Jun 27, 2026

The Tread Lightly Running Podcast provides data-driven, evidence-based running advice in a practical and inclusive way. Topics include running faster, marathon training, fueling science, and injury prevention. Co-hosted by Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris, who have over 20 years of coaching experience and have been featured in Runner's World, SELF, NPR, and Outside.

Episodes

Why Your Half Marathon Has Plateaued (And How to Train for a Breakthrough) Jun 27, 2026 00:38:27 Repeatedly missing your running goals is a frustrating experience, especially if you are training hard for a race. In this episode, we discuss what causes a half marathon plateau and solutions to break through to the next performance level. You will learn how to know if you need more speed, goal pace training, endurance, or strength when training for a half marathon. Even if your races have not pl
Thinking About a 50K? 50 Miler? How to Run Your First Ultra Marathon, According to Science Jun 20, 2026 00:41:47 You have loved our episodes on how to run your first half marathon and marathon - so today, we have an episode for those of you who feel ready to go further. We discuss how to train for your first ultra marathon, whether you are doing a 50K, 50 miler, or 100mile. You will learn how to structure workouts and long runs, how to prepare for elevation gain, how to fuel, and more! Thank you to our spons
Understanding Foot Strike: Does It Impact Injury or Performance? Jun 13, 2026 00:32:16 Pronation can be misunderstood as a scary, dangerous risk for injury - and people use that to sell you something. In reality, a certain degree of pronation is a normal part of the running gait. However, excessive or limited pronation can be problematic for some runners. So how do you know if you need to worry about overpronation or buy stability shoes? In episode 171, we take an evidence-based app
What Does "Wake Up Your Glutes" Actually Mean? Dr. Gaby Go, DPT Explains Glute Activation Jun 6, 2026 00:35:34 You have probably encountered claims that your “glutes aren’t firing” or that you have “sleepy glutes,” and that lazy glutes are hurting your running. This approach misses a lot of nuance: if you can stand, your glutes work; but weak glutes can impact running injury risk and running economy. We are joined by Dr. Gaby Go, DPT and run coach, who explains the nuances of glute activation and why stron
Heat Acclimation Strategies and Science-Backed Cooling Techniques for Summer Running May 30, 2026 00:37:31 In our last episode, we discussed the physiology of running in the heat, including why you run slower. However, you are not doomed to suffer through slow slogs all summer long. In part two of our summer running series, we discuss heat acclimation strategies and cooling techniques to make summer running a little less miserable.Thank you to our sponsors:✨Title Nine: Comfortable sports bras that actu
The Science of Running in Heat & Humidity (and How to Handle It) May 23, 2026 00:39:44 It doesn’t have to be a cruel summer of slogging through hot, humid runs. You can adjust your training so that summer running is productive and enjoyable. In part 1 of our summer running episodes, we discuss the physiological impacts of running in the heat and humidity, and how to adjust your training based on those responses.Thank you to our sponsors:✨ Good Ranchers: American-grown meat, delivere
The Neuroscience of Pain (And How to Use It) with Kruse Elite May 16, 2026 00:46:14 Pain is not just tissue damage - but it’s also just not in your brain. In this episode, we’re joined by Taylor Kruse of Kruse Elite. We discuss the neuroscience of pain and movement, including how the brain processes pain, the role of the vestibular system, and how we can think about non-injury pain for runners. Bonus: you will also learn why motion sickness happens!Thank you to our sponsors:✨Titl
Race Banditing, AI Coaching Apps, If Downhill Races are PRs, and Other Grey Areas of Running Culture May 9, 2026 00:43:09 Is bib-sharing wrong? Should downhill races count as a PR? Are AI running apps the future of the sport, or setting up runners for injury? In this episode, we have a nuanced discussion on many of the gray areas of sportsmanship and running culture.✨Title Nine: Comfortable sports bras that actually fit, from a women-owned company. Use code RUNTOTHEFINISH for free shipping at https://runtothefinish.c
How To Race On A Budget (Because Running is Not Cheap) May 2, 2026 00:34:19 Running for exercise can be cheap, but running for performance and participating in races can be expensive. Maybe you are also weary of the wastefulness of influencer culture and want to know how to purchase fewer things and make your gear last longer. In this episode, we share our advice on how to race on a budget, from gear to fuel and more. Thank you to our sponsors:✨ Good Ranchers: American-gr
What to Eat Before a Race, from the 5K to Marathon Apr 25, 2026 00:35:32 Carbohydrates, caffeine, and water (sometimes with electrolytes): these seem so simple, but they all improve performance when taken before a race. In this episode, we discuss how to structure your pre-race meal before a 5K to marathon, including what to eat, how to time it, and how to avoid GI upset.Thank you to our sponsors:✨Wahoo KICKR RUN: A treadmill that feels like running outdoors. Shop here
Strava Anxiety: When Data Makes You Slower Apr 18, 2026 00:34:36 Data can be useful (when it’s valid and reliable) - but excessive data, especially when mixed with comparison against others, can negatively impact your training and relationship with running. In this episode, we discuss Strava anxiety, the comparison trap, and when data can actually make you slower.Thank you to our sponsors:✨Wahoo KICKR RUN: A treadmill that feels like running outdoors. Shop here
What the Rise of Women in Sports Means for Everyone with Ashley Mateo Apr 11, 2026 00:39:23 Women account for a majority of the growth in the sport of running over the past few years - and media is catching up with this shift. We sit down with runher magazine’s founder Ashley Mateo to discuss trends and media representation of women in running.Thank you to our sponsors:✨Title Nine: Comfortable sports bras that actually fit, from a women-owned company. Use code RUNTOTHEFINISH for free shi

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