Doctors of Running Podcast · Doctors of Running

#262 The Biggest Mistakes Runners Make

·1 hr 3 min·4 clips

Too many runners tie self-worth to podiums, placements, and times.

1. Doctors of Running Podcast #262, “The Biggest Mistakes Runners Make,” focuses on training, life stress, and identity issues that show up in runners of different levels. 2. Dr. Myers, Dr. Sloss, and Andrea lead the discussion as Doctors of Physical Therapy who also coach and run, which makes their examples practical. 3. The episode asks what mistakes runners keep repeating that could be changed to stay healthy and keep enjoying the sport. 4. Andrew names “not keeping your easy runs easy” as her first mistake and connects it to Strava comparisons. 5. She says an easy day after a hard workout is meant for active recovery, not for chasing other people’s pace. 6. Andrew points out that a runner can feel fine until opening Strava and seeing a friend’s workout, then suddenly feel worse without any real physical change. 7. David adds that many runners do not meet themselves where they are, whether they are new to running or returning after years away. 8. He says people often use old paces or old fitness as the standard instead of current effort and current recovery. 9. David frames one common failure as doing too much too quickly, especially when runners try to change duration, frequency, and intensity at the same time. 10. He gives his own example of adding double-threshold workouts last year and finding that the added life stress made the training less useful. 11. Andrew broadens the injury conversation beyond training and asks what people do outside running, including standing for eight hours or sitting all day. 12. She describes patients who developed plantar fasciitis after switching from supportive shoes to flat shoes for work. 13. Andrew also says a desk job plus a marathon build can combine into stiffness, especially when someone sits for eight hours and then increases mileage. 14. She recommends using standing tasks, wireless headsets, and adjustable desks to break up long sitting stretches. 15. Andrew’s second non-running example is driving, including a new car or a changed seat position that leaves the hamstring on stretch. 16. David then shifts to the performance mindset and says too many runners connect podiums, placements, and time standards with self-esteem. 17. He links that pressure to high school, college, post-collegiate, and recreational runners, and mentions Anna Cockrell as an example of a healthier shift in outlook. 18. The conversation stays conversational and practical, with the three hosts interrupting each other, joking about Strava, and using personal examples like bike racing and Achilles issues. 19. People who want injury-prevention advice and honest training talk will get the most from this episode. 20. Runners looking for a race recap or product review will probably skip it.

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