📩 Email me RIGHT NOW at Brodie@RunSmarter.online
with the subject line: "I’m In"
to claim 75% OFF the 🎯 60-Day PHT Recovery Blueprint!
🚀 Only 5 spots available – first come, first served!

In this episode, Brodie sits down with Moira, a dedicated endurance athlete and physical therapist, to discuss her long and challenging battle with chronic injury. What started as a suspected stress fracture turned into a frustrating cycle of pain, conflicting diagnoses, and psychological hurdles. Moira shares her journey of setbacks, self-reflection, and ultimately, breakthrough moments that led her back to running. Her story highlights the importance of understanding pain science, overcoming fear of movement, and following a structured, gradual return-to-running plan.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The progression of Moira’s injury and the many misdiagnoses she received along the way.
• How medical imaging (MRI, x-rays) and different professional opinions added to her confusion.
• The psychological impact of chronic pain and injury on an athlete’s identity.
• The role of pain science in Moira’s recovery and how she shifted her mindset.
• The importance of finding a trusted health professional who aligns with your approach.
• How Moira gradually returned to running and her current training routine.

Key Takeaways:

• Pain Science & Nervous System Sensitivity: Moira learned that her pain wasn’t solely due to structural damage but also a result of a hypersensitive nervous system. Recognizing this was a major turning point in her recovery.
• Fear of Movement (Kinesiophobia): Despite being a physical therapist, Moira developed a deep fear of movement, which prolonged her symptoms. A gradual and confidence-building approach to movement helped her break this cycle.
• Small, Sustainable Steps: Her return to running started with 10-second run intervals. This slow approach was crucial in rebuilding confidence and reducing fear-driven pain responses.
• The Power of Self-Talk & Mental Reframing: Moira used mantras, journaling, and positive reinforcement to change her mental approach to pain and injury.
• Trust & Patience in the Process: Finding a professional she trusted and following a structured plan were critical in her return to pain-free running.

>> Click here for the FREE 5-Day Course <<
For ALL Other Resources, Visit the Website proximalhamstringtendinopathy.info
Run Smarter AI Assistant: Access personalized, research-based answers to your running and rehab questions. This tool integrates Brodie’s database of research papers and podcast episodes for tailored advice.

📩 Email me RIGHT NOW at Brodie@RunSmarter.online
with the subject line: "I’m In"
to claim 75% OFF the 🎯 60-Day PHT Recovery Blueprint!
🚀 Only 5 spots available – first come, first served!

Optimal Nutrition for Tendon Recovery with Jordi Sullivan

📍 Episode Summary:
In this episode, Brodie is joined by sports dietitian Jordi Sullivan, founder of The Fight Dietitian, to unpack one of the most overlooked aspects of injury rehab: nutrition. While the conversation begins with general performance nutrition, the focus soon shifts to actionable strategies for tendon recovery, particularly for those overcoming proximal hamstring tendinopathy (PHT).

Jordi shares his evidence-based, no-nonsense advice on calories, macronutrients, micronutrients, and supplements, while offering simple frameworks to help injured athletes support healing and stay on track with their rehab goals.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

• Why calorie intake is essential—especially during injury
• How to calculate protein needs and why it's vital for tissue repair
• A breakdown of carbs and fats: their role in recovery and daily fueling
• How to spot signs of under-fuelling, both short- and long-term
• When (and if) supplements like collagen, vitamin D, and protein powders are worth using
• How to keep nutrition simple without sacrificing results
• What recreational runners can learn from elite athlete routines—without overdoing it
• The “factory” analogy to understand how your body uses food to heal

👤 Guest Bio:

Jordi Sullivan is a qualified dietitian with a Master's in Dietetics and a background in exercise and nutrition science. He works with a wide range of athletes including combat sport professionals, endurance runners, and team sport athletes. Through The Fight Dietitian, Jordi and his team specialize in helping athletes optimize performance, recovery, and injury resilience using practical, science-backed nutrition.

📌 Resources & Links:

• 🌐 Visit The Fight Dietitian Website
• 🌐 Website 'PDF Guides & Courses'
• 📸 Follow Jordi: @the_fightdietitian
• 📸 Follow Lauren (Endurance Specialist): @thexfitdietitian
• 
  

💬 Key Quotes:

🎧 Tune In If:

• You're recovering from PHT or any injury and want to optimize your healing
• You want clarity on protein, carbs, fats, and how much you really need
• You’re curious about collagen, vitamin C, and other trendy recovery supplements
• You want to stop guessing and start fuelling your body the smart way

>> Click here for the FREE 5-Day Course <<
For ALL Other Resources, Visit the Website proximalhamstringtendinopathy.info
Run Smarter AI Assistant: Access personalized, research-based answers to your running and rehab questions. This tool integrates Brodie’s database of research papers and podcast episodes for tailored advice.

📩 Email me RIGHT NOW at Brodie@RunSmarter.online
with the subject line: "I’m In"
to claim 75% OFF the 🎯 60-Day PHT Recovery Blueprint!
🚀 Only 5 spots available – first come, first served!

Episode Summary

In today’s episode, we welcome back Matt, who originally shared his success story in Episode 95. Two years ago, he successfully overcame proximal hamstring tendinopathy (PHT) in his left leg. However, in the past year, he faced a new challenge—PHT on his right leg. Unlike his previous experience, this case proved to be more stubborn and took nearly a year to resolve.

Matt’s journey provides deep insights into the complexities of PHT rehab and highlights the importance of strength training, patience, and persistence. This episode is a must-listen for runners struggling with recurring injuries, as Matt shares his key takeaways from his rehab journey, the role of gym-based strength work, and the adjustments that finally led to full recovery.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

🔹 The Reality of PHT Recurrence

• After successfully treating PHT on one side, Matt developed it on the other leg a year later.
• Despite applying the same rehab strategies, this case was more stubborn and required new approaches.

🔹 What May Have Caused the Second PHT Case

• Started a new training cycle with a strong emphasis on strides and uphill sprints.
• Simultaneously introduced gym training, leading to a hamstring strain near the knee.
• Once the strain healed, mild PHT symptoms began to develop, possibly due to hamstring weakness.

🔹 Rehab Attempts That Didn’t Work

• Performed targeted home-based hamstring strengthening exercises, focusing on painful movements.
• Experimented with different exercise frequencies, intensities, and recovery strategies.
• Symptoms remained at a mild but persistent 1-2/10 pain level for nearly a year.

🔹 The Breakthrough Moment

• Started going to the gym twice a week with a full-body strength program after running.
• Increased load with heavier weights and compound exercises (e.g., squats, deadlifts).
• Adopted a "one-set-per-exercise" approach to maximize exercise variety.
• Noticed improvements within 4 weeks, and symptoms completely resolved within 2 months.

🔹 Possible Reasons This Approach Worked

1. Heavier Strength Work – Increased tendon load beyond what was possible with home workouts.
2. Exercise Variety – Instead of focusing only on painful movements, he incorporated full-body training.
3. Running Before Strength Training – This may have helped fatigue healthy tendon fibers, forcing the injured portion to adapt and strengthen (as explained by tendon researcher Keith Baar).

🔹 Takeaways for Runners with PHT

• Strength training is non-negotiable if you want to avoid PHT.
• Ignoring symptoms early on can lead to longer recovery times. Address small flare-ups before they become chronic.
• The “Easy Interval Method” allowed Matt to include speed work without triggering symptoms.
• Runners should expect some setbacks. PHT recovery is not always linear, and adjusting training when needed is key.

Final Message from Matt

If you're dealing with mild but persistent PHT, don’t lose hope! The right training adjustments can help you return to pain-free running. Matt’s key lesson: Running alone makes you weaker—strength training is essential to stay resilient.

>> Click here for the FREE 5-Day Course <<
For ALL Other Resources, Visit the Website proximalhamstringtendinopathy.info
Run Smarter AI Assistant: Access personalized, research-based answers to your running and rehab questions. This tool integrates Brodie’s database of research papers and podcast episodes for tailored advice.