Long Run 261 Full Corrected - Sophie Speidel

·1 hr 34 min·5 clips

Sophie Spidell, recovering from a meniscal root tear, shares her 15-week post-op journey and the mental battle of returning to running.

This episode of Ten Junk Miles features a long-run conversation between host Scotty and guest Sophie Spidell, an ultra runner introduced by Sarah Lavender Smith. The central theme is their shared experience of recovering from meniscal root tear surgery, a severe knee injury common among older runners. Scotty outlines his injury timeline, starting with pain after the Mount Washington Road Race, a six-month delay in getting an MRI diagnosis, and his surgery on August 10th. He details his current return-to-run protocol, which involves gradual run-walk intervals overseen by his coach Liza Howard. Sophie is 15 weeks post-op, following a conservative PT plan that allows hiking, cycling, and swimming but not yet running. She describes the moment of her injury during a dog walk and how she immediately suspected a root tear from following triathlete Alyssa Gadeski's story. The discussion delves into the variability of surgical and rehab protocols, with Scotty using an offloader brace for six months and Sophie not. Both emphasize the psychological and physical hardships of the six-week non-weight-bearing period, including challenges with daily tasks like showering and carrying items. They explore how their ultra-running mindset helps them push through pain but also requires discipline to follow medical advice. The conversation broadens to include their running histories, with Sophie starting in triathlon in her 30s and running ultras since 2002, and Scotty's involvement in race directing and winter ultras like Arrowhead 135. They talk about future goals, with Sophie hoping to run a 50k by November and Scotty planning a comeback at Race for the Ages against Ann Trason. The episode also touches on the value of volunteering in the sport when injured, the supportive online community for meniscal repair, and the gratitude gained from temporary disability. It concludes with mutual appreciation for the connection and resources shared through their common injury.

As heard by us

A shared root tear leads into rehab, aging, dog-walk miles, and the uneasy return to technical trails.

Ten Junk Miles' long run with Sophie Spidell turns a shared root tear into a grounded conversation about running when recovery, age, and a long life in the sport overlap.

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Why you'd press play

You get a root-tear recovery conversation that moves from pogo hops and PT drills into the nerves of returning to technical trail.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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