Sometimes it feels like the running world is always in search of the BEST or the FASTEST shoe, but what about comfort? David, Matt, and Nathan rank their five most comfortable shoes and tell you why, and some of the picks are sure to surprise! They also talk about why shoe comfort is so important and how to judge if/why a shoe will be comfortable for you. Let us know what your most comfy shoes are by leaving a comment or emailing us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

This episode is sponsored by our friends at Running Warehouse. You can find all of our comfort picks from today’s episode at runningwarehouse.com.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:24 - The Comfort Paradigm and the Run CAT
• 10:06 - #5 shoe
• 29:20 - #4
• 36:50 - #3
• 44:20 - #2
• 51:20 - #1 shoe
• 1:01:30 - Wrap-up

These days the marathon seems to get all the hype, but let's not forget the shorter stuff! David and Andrea team up to talk all things shorter distance training & racing. Lately Andrea's been focusing on middle distance races & David's high school & collegiate career ranged from the 800 to the 5k. They dive into the physiology of speed and endurance, explore training methods, talk shoes, and much more.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Check out our friends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Skratch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and save 25% on your first order with code DOR24!

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 7:16 - David's training & racing background
• 20:20 - An overview of biological energy systems
• 35:46 - Short-distance training principles
• 48:22 - Shoes for mid-short distance racing
• 59:14 - How to train for both short and long distances at the same time
• 1:06:24 - Wrap-up

No runner's immune to injury, and that goes for our crew too. Matt, David, and Nathan get together to share their recent running and injury struggles. They discuss what led them to injury, how they've adjusted their running to cope, and strategies they've used to rehab and get back to it. We hope our stories can help you can glean some useful tips on dealing with your own ailments. We'd love to hear your stories too! Email us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Check out our friends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Skratch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and save 25% on your first order with code DOR24!

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 4:18 - Matt's recent injury struggles
• 10:04 - How to adjust running based on symptoms
• 18:24 - Nate's recent injury struggles
• 31:20 - The difference between rocker and toe spring
• 35:46 - David's recent injury struggles
• 52:12 - The psychological side of pain
• 1:02:18 - Wrap-up

Over the past couple of years, Diadora has been making strides in the American marketplace with a unique set of shoes. On this episode, Matt is joined by Bryan Poerner, CEO of Diadora USA to take a look at what makes Diadora special. Bryan discusses the hands-on, small-team approach they take in designing and developing shoes, quite literally hand made all in Italy from the upper to the outsole. They also share their common history of D3 running, a love of music, and more. Tune in for a look at a truly boutique approach to running shoes!

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Check out our friends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Skratch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and save 25% on your first order with code DOR24!

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro & Bryan's background
• 12:58 - What makes Diadora unique?
• 22:11 - How Diadora designs & develops shoes
• 30:23 - Bryan's favorite Diadora shoes
• 39:04 - The unique aspects of run retail in the US
• 40:56 - Final thoughts

Catch David and Matt on another edition of our favorite debate game: buy or sell! They cover super shoes over 40mm, brand fit issues, stability super shoes, flexible racers, yearly updates, laces, and more. Tune in for some hot, and slightly unhinged, takes.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Check out our friends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Skratch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and save 25% on your first order with code DOR24!

Chapters:

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:46 - Shoes over 40mm should be legal
• 14:42 - There are certain brands that just won't work for certain runners
• 19:25 - No one will ever make a stability super shoe
• 25:06 - Highly flexible racing shoes
• 30:10 - Shoes don't need an update every year
• 34:44 - All laces should be flat laces
• 37:34 - Not all super racing shoes need to be 40mm in the heel
• 41:01 - Not all trainers need to be max stack
• 44:22 - Santa Barbara has the best tacos
• 47:54 - Wrap-up

Are you experiencing pain on the outside of your knee? Join Nate and Matt as they dive deep into the world of Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome. They'll break down the anatomy of the IT band, explore common risk factors, and discuss effective strategies for managing and recovering from this common runner's ailment. Plus, they'll give you their take on the two updates from ASICS & Diadora: the Cumulus 27 and the Gara Carbon 2.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Check out our friends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Skratch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and save 25% on your first order with code DOR24!

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:22 - Asics Cumulus 27 overview
• 10:28 - Diadora Gara Carbon 2 overview
• 14:38 - IT Band anatomy
• 24:12 - ITBS risk factors
• 31:56 - Is strength training helpful for ITBS?
• 36:44 - Will soft tissue massage or icing help the IT band?
• 43:04 - Pain management & recovery guidance
• 49:30 - Are there shoes that are ideal for people dealing with ITBS?
• 56:32 - Wrap-up

If you're a regular pod listener, you know we love a little friendly disagreement. Matt & Andrea pair up to share their differing opinions on the new Hoka Cielo X 1 2.0. As is often the case, they've had very different experiences, especially in such an aggressively designed racing shoe. They also ruminate on the future of super shoes and how to find racing shoes that line up best with your mechanics.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Check out our friends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Skratch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and save 25% on your first order with code DOR24!

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 6:30 - Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 Overview
• 11:37 - Ride & performance
• 23:02 - Fit differences
• 28:26 - Stability
• 35:14 - Thoughts on racing shorter distance in super shoes
• 43:02 - The effect of heel drop and foot angle in super shoes
• 46:47 - Who might the Cielo X1 2.0 work best for?
• 49:10 - Wrap-up

Knee pain, or patellofemoral pain syndrome, can be a thorn in the side for so many runners. Much like shin splints, it can present many ways, all of them frustrating. Nathan and David get together to provide some clarity on this frustrating injury. They look at the anatomy of the knee, common PFPS symptoms, keys for rehab, and of course, shoes.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Check out our friends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Skratch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and save 25% on your first order with code DOR24!

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 4:58 - An overview of knee anatomy
• 8:46 - What all is encompassed in patello-femoral pain?
• 18:52 - Understanding the balance between load & capacity
• 30:24 - How do our mechanics influence PFPS?
• 41:44 - How can shoes influence PFPS?
• 46:17 - Wrap-up