So, you want to start running… but something keeps holding you back?

In this episode of The Runner’s Soul, podiatrist and runner Sharon breaks down how to start running the smart, safe, and sustainable way — especially if you’re a beginner or returning after injury.

Running feels hard at the beginning not because you’re bad at it, but because your body is learning something new. In this episode, Sharon explains what your body is actually going through when you start running, why early discomfort is normal, and how most running injuries happen not because running is bad, but because people start without the right guidance.

You’ll learn what a realistic first week should look like, why run-walk training is smart (not cheating), how to tell the difference between normal soreness and red-flag pain, and how understanding your feet can protect you from injury.

This episode is for anyone who has ever thought:

• “I’m not built for running”
• “I’m too slow”
• “I tried before and got injured”
• “I want to start but I’m scared”

By the end of this episode, running will feel less intimidating, less confusing, and far more achievable — one smart step at a time.

⏱️ Episode Breakdown (Timestamps)

00:18 – 01:29
Why running is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to improve health and mindset

01:49 – 02:23
Common fears that stop people from starting running

02:31 – 03:26
Who this episode is for (new runners, returning runners, injured runners)

03:52 – 04:48
Why running feels so hard at the beginning

04:58 – 05:36
Why most running injuries happen

05:47 – 06:40
You’re not bad at running — pace doesn’t matter

06:20 – 07:35
Why run-walk training is smart and how adaptation works

07:44 – 08:01
How progress actually builds over time

08:09 – 08:55
Understanding your feet and why they matter

09:21 – 10:15
Normal soreness vs red-flag pain

10:45 – 11:29
The biggest mistake new runners make

11:46 – 12:22
Why clarity beats motivation

12:40 – 13:05
What’s coming in Episode 2

13:20 – 14:10
Your 7-day beginner homework

14:20 – 15:00
Community invite & closing message

✅ Key Takeaways

• Running feels hard because it’s honest movement, not because you’re bad at it
• Speed, distance, and pace do not define a runner
• Run-walk training is smart and protective
• Muscles adapt faster than tendons, bones, and fascia
• Discomfort is adaptation — pain is information
• Consistency beats motivation every time
• Understanding your body builds confidence and prevents injury

📌 Homework from This Episode

For the next 7 days:

• Move your body intentionally at least 3 times
• Walking, light jogging, or run-walk intervals are all perfect
• Pay attention to how your feet and legs feel before, during, and after
• Don’t judge pace, distance, or speed — just notice

👥 Join the Community

Join our Facebook community to connect, learn, and share your running journey with real people:

👉 https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17oz7x3jFe/

🎧 What’s Next?

In Episode 2, we’ll cover common beginner mistakes — the small, innocent choices that quietly turn excitement into pain or injury.

Make sure you’re following the podcast so you don’t miss it.

Chronic plantar fasciitis can be one of the most frustrating running injuries — it lingers, it hurts, and it feels like nothing works. In Episode 6 of The Runner’s Soul, Sharon Miller, podiatrist and runner, dives into advanced strategies for tackling stubborn heel pain.

From why some cases become chronic to targeted treatments like shockwave therapy, PRP injections, and the 10X procedure, Sharon explains what actually helps and what myths to ignore. She also shares the mental tools runners need to stay motivated during long recovery periods.

With practical advice, real patient stories, and her brand-new Foot Care Toolbox, this episode equips you with everything you need to finally get your heels — and your running — back on track.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔ Why some plantar fasciitis cases become stubborn
✔ The role of delayed treatment, overload, and biomechanics in chronic pain
✔ Advanced treatment options: Shockwave, PRP, 10X procedure, and surgery
✔ The importance of full rehabilitation — not just pain relief
✔ Mental strategies to stay motivated through chronic recovery
✔ How to return smarter, stronger, and pain-free
✔ Foot Care Toolbox: practical tips for daily management
✔ Real patient stories of recovery and comeback

🏃‍♀️ Key Takeaways

• Chronic plantar fasciitis is common, but not permanent
• Persistence and consistency are just as important as the treatment method
• Advanced therapies help when home care alone isn’t enough
• Mental resilience and patience accelerate recovery
• Full rehabilitation — strength, stretching, cross-training — prevents recurrence
• Smart recovery can reshape your running technique for long-term gains

🎧 Who This Episode Is For

• Runners struggling with chronic heel pain
• Anyone stuck in a cycle of plantar fasciitis
• Athletes looking for advanced recovery strategies
• Beginners unsure of how to handle persistent plantar fasciitis
• Anyone wanting actionable, evidence-based tips for long-term foot health

👥 Join the Runner’s Soul Facebook Community

Connect with runners, share your journey, ask questions, and get ongoing support beyond the podcast:

👉 https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17oz7x3jFe/

🔮 Coming Up Next (Season 3)

Next season, we’ll stride into new topics every runner should know about:
✔ Shin splints
✔ Ankle tendon issues
✔ Stress fractures
✔ Runner’s knee
…plus science-backed tips and real-life solutions to keep you running stronger and healthier.

If you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis and wondering what actually works — this episode is for you.

In Episode 5 of The Runner’s Sole, Sharon Miller, podiatrist and runner, breaks down real, evidence-based treatment options for plantar fasciitis — from simple things you can start at home to professional treatments used in clinic.

No gimmicks. No miracle cures. Just what works, what doesn’t, and why.

Sharon explains why plantar fasciitis recovery isn’t about one magic stretch or expensive insole, but about following three core principles:
✔ Reducing load on the fascia
✔ Supporting healing
✔ Gradually rebuilding strength

You’ll learn how to heal your heel properly — and prevent the pain from coming back.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔ Why plantar fasciitis doesn’t heal with rest alone
✔ The 3 pillars of successful heel pain treatment
✔ Home remedies that actually work (and why)
✔ The role of stretching, footwear, and load management
✔ What night splints, heel cups, and insoles really do
✔ Myths that slow recovery (including cortisone injections)
✔ When to see a podiatrist — and why it matters
✔ Clinical treatments like orthotics, shockwave & dry needling
✔ Why surgery is almost never needed
✔ How to return to running stronger than before
✔ A real patient story of recovery and comeback

🏃‍♀️ Key Takeaways

• Plantar fasciitis treatment is not one-size-fits-all
• Reducing overload is the first step to healing
• Stretching alone is not enough — strength matters
• Supportive footwear can be a game-changer
• Professional care accelerates recovery when home care stalls
• Prevention is about rebuilding, not just pain relief

🎧 Who This Episode Is For

• Runners dealing with heel pain
• Anyone stuck in a plantar fasciitis cycle
• Beginners unsure where to start treatment
• Athletes who want to recover properly — not rush back
• Anyone tired of wasting money on “quick fixes”

👥 Join the Runner’s Sole Facebook Community

Connect with runners, share your journey, ask questions, and get ongoing support beyond the podcast:

👉 https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17oz7x3jFe/

🔮 Coming Up Next (Episode 6)

Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: When the Pain Won’t Quit

We’ll explore:
✔ Why some cases become stubborn
✔ Advanced treatments that work
✔ Mental strategies to stay motivated
✔ A full runner’s recovery toolbox

Heel pain isn’t always plantar fasciitis — and misdiagnosing it can delay recovery or make things worse.

In this episode of The Runner’s Sole, Sharon Miller — podiatrist, runner, and foot health expert — explains how plantar fasciitis is properly diagnosed and how to tell it apart from other common causes of heel pain.

You’ll learn how clinicians identify plantar fasciitis, what red flags to look for, and why not all heel pain should be treated the same way. This episode is essential if you’ve tried rest, stretching, or new shoes but your pain just won’t settle.

In this episode, Sharon covers:

• The classic signs and symptoms of plantar fasciitis
• Why morning heel pain is such a key diagnostic clue
• How plantar fasciitis feels different from nerve pain or stress injuries
• Conditions often mistaken for plantar fasciitis (and why that matters)
• When imaging is useful — and when it isn’t
• Why self-diagnosis can delay healing
• When to seek professional help for heel pain

This episode helps you understand what’s really going on under your heel, so you can take the right next step — not just guess and hope.

🎧 Whether you’re a runner, walker, or someone struggling with stubborn heel pain, this episode gives you clarity and confidence.

🔗 Listen to the full episode

🎧 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545750/episodes/18316625

👥 Join Our Facebook Community

Connect with runners and heel-pain sufferers, ask questions, share progress, and get ongoing support:

👉 https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17oz7x3jFe/

Let’s stop guessing — and start treating heel pain the smart way. 👟💙

Christmas is here — and so is your festive glow-up episode. ✨🎄

This special Runner’s Sole Christmas Bonus is not about burning calories, punishment runs, or guilt.
It’s about joy, balance, confidence, and keeping your sparkle alive through running — even in the middle of mince pies, parties, late nights, and cold mornings.

In this fun, honest, and motivational episode, Sharon Miller — podiatrist, runner, and unapologetic foot nerd — shares why December feels so hard on our bodies and how running becomes your secret weapon during the holidays.

You’ll learn:
🎄 Why Christmas makes us feel sluggish, bloated, and exhausted (and why that’s normal)
🎄 What sugar, alcohol, stress, and late nights really do to your body
🎄 Why running isn’t a punishment — it’s your anchor and sanity ritual
🎄 How even 10 minutes of running can transform your mood, posture, confidence, and glow
🎄 A zero-pressure Christmas running guide you can actually stick to
🎄 How to stay mentally strong without guilt, restriction, or “earning food”
🎄 Festive foot-care tips (because Sharon is still a podiatrist… even at Christmas)

This episode is your reminder that:
✔ You are not broken — December is just a lifestyle earthquake
✔ Running is about feeling alive, not being perfect
✔ Even one short run counts
✔ The best thing you can wear this Christmas is your energy, confidence, and smile

So grab a hot chocolate, embrace the chaos, and let running help you look and feel sassy all season long. 💃🏃‍♀️✨

🎧 Listen Now

🔗 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545750/episodes/18316625

👥 Join Our Facebook Community

Connect with runners, share your journey, ask questions, and stay motivated all year round:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17oz7x3jFe/

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 3 of The Runner’s Sole — the podcast where running meets science, stride by stride. In this episode, podiatrist and runner Sharon Miller finally answers the million-dollar question every listener has been waiting for:

Why does plantar fasciitis actually happen?

In the last episode, we explored the anatomy of the plantar fascia — the spring-like structure under your arch that stores and releases energy with every step. Today, we go deeper and uncover the major root causes and risk factors that load your plantar fascia beyond its limits.

In this episode, Sharon breaks down:

• The #1 cause of plantar fasciitis: overload (even if you're thin!)
• How sudden increases in mileage, steps, or activity can cause micro-tears
• Why lifestyle overload — like new jobs, new routines, or new pets — also triggers heel pain
• Foot mechanics: overpronation, high arches, tight calves, stiff ankles
• How poor biomechanics stretch or strain your fascia with every step
• The role of age, recovery habits, and ignoring early warning signs
• How walking on concrete and other man-made surfaces overloads the fascia
• Why unsupportive shoes, old running shoes, flip-flops, and ballet flats worsen pain
• Real patient examples showing how small changes can create the “perfect storm”

You’ll also hear:
✔ Why plantar fasciitis is almost never caused by a single reason
✔ What questions you should ask yourself if you’re experiencing heel pain
✔ How identifying your personal risk factors can help you prevent or eliminate plantar fasciitis

This episode is your roadmap to understanding how plantar fasciitis develops and what factors might be at play in your own foot pain story.

In the next episode, we’ll dive into:
✔ How podiatrists diagnose plantar fasciitis
✔ What other conditions can mimic heel pain
✔ How to know for sure whether YOU have plantar fasciitis

Join our Facebook community to connect, learn, share your journey, and get support:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17oz7x3jFe/

Run smart, recover well, and keep taking care of those feet!

Heel pain doesn’t just appear out of nowhere — there’s always a reason behind it. In Season 2, Episode 2 of The Runner’s Sole, podiatrist and runner Sharon Miller uncovers the hidden causes of plantar fasciitis, one of the most common and misunderstood foot conditions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How training errors, sudden mileage increases, or high-intensity runs can trigger plantar fasciitis
• The role of footwear: why worn-out shoes, flats, or minimalistic shoes can overload your fascia
• Biomechanical quirks that contribute to heel pain: flat feet, high arches, tight calves, and weak hips
• Lifestyle and risk factors: standing jobs, weight changes, and aging tissue
• How multiple small factors can stack up and lead to heel pain
• Real-life case study: “Mark,” a teacher who developed plantar fasciitis due to lifestyle loads rather than running

Sharon also busts common myths:
✔ Plantar fasciitis isn’t only for runners
✔ It’s not just bad luck
✔ You can recover and prevent it from returning

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear understanding of why plantar fasciitis develops and how to spot your personal risk factors — so you can prevent or manage heel pain effectively.

Join our Facebook community to share your story, ask questions, and connect with other runners and foot health enthusiasts:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17oz7x3jFe/

Keep running smart, recover well, and take care of your feet!

If you've ever stepped out of bed and felt that sharp, stabbing heel pain shoot through your foot… you’re not alone. Today’s episode kicks off Season 2, where we dive deep into one of the most common and misunderstood foot conditions:

Plantar Fasciitis.

In this episode, Sharon Miller — podiatrist, runner, and your resident foot expert — breaks down:

• What your plantar fascia actually is
• Why it becomes irritated, inflamed, or degenerative
• What’s happening under your heel when you feel that morning pain
• Why both runners and non-runners get plantar fasciitis
• The truth about heel spurs vs. plantar fasciitis
• How your foot absorbs 3–5× your body weight with every step
• Why ignoring heel pain can worsen your gait and cause new injuries

You’ll also hear a real patient story about “Sarah,” whose months of heel pain nearly stopped her from running — until she understood the root cause.

This episode sets the foundation for the entire season.
In upcoming episodes, we’ll cover:

✔ Causes of plantar fasciitis
✔ Treatment options
✔ Stretches & exercises
✔ Prevention tips
✔ How to get rid of heel pain for good

Join our Facebook community: connect, learn, share your progress, and ask questions!
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17oz7x3jFe/

Keep moving smart — and take care of those feet!