The Strength Running Podcast

Sam Alexander is the head coach of the men's cross country and track & field teams at Connecticut College (Jason's alma mater!). Sam recently coached the track team to a historically high finish at the New England championships and helped the cross country team qualify for the National Championships for only the second time in program history. 
This episode focuses on development - or, how to progress through beginner to advanced stages of running. We discuss:
Athletic development for college runners vs. new runners
The "order of operations" of development
How to build speed and mitigate injury risk
"Fundamental" workouts that build specific skills
Talking to college coaches is always educational because these are the operators, those in the trenches with athletes every day in high-stakes, performance-driven environments. We can learn a lot from Sam!
Resources & Links from the show:
Follow Conn XC/Track on Instagram
Listen to my interview with Conn's prior coach Jim Butler (Jason's coach)
Training Excerpt! See a week of training from college cross country
Connecticut College Men's Track Program info
Develop with fewer injuries!
Please subscribe or follow the podcast and if you'd like to support us, support our advertising partners!
Thanks Previnex
Previnex is offering 15% off your first purchase at previnex.com with code jason15. 
And big news: Muscle Health Plus - a unique combination of amino acids, creatine, and ingredients that aid protein synthesis and absorption of amino acids - has an all new citrus flavor that is much tastier than black cherry. Now's the time to try Muscle Health Plus because this is your anti-soreness supplement. It will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. 
I love Previnex because they adhere to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they're going to do, ingredients are tested, and they donate vitamins to kids in need. So yes, Muscle Health Plus has ingredients that are clinically proven to improve protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids - critical for helping promote lean muscle mass, strength, recovery, and better body composition. 
Kelly just used the Jason15 discount code and wrote, "Muscle Health Plus has allowed me to recover much more quickly from my long runs and strength workouts. Plus, I just feel I have more energy!"
Jordan left a review that said, "Love the Muscle Health Plus formula. Hard to find such a complete blend like this that's stimulant free. I Notice I'm stronger in the gym when taking this regularly."
Finally, Nancy said "I definitely feel stronger. My muscles don't get as fatigued during my workouts." That's what I love about Previnex. Their products just work!"
Get 15% off your first Previnex purchase by using code jason15 at checkout. Visit previnex.com, now with international shipping, and just remember: they offer a 30-day money back guarantee where if you don't feel benefits on their product you get your money back no questions asked. 
Thank you LMNT!
A big thanks to LMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at LMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You'll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best.
And BIG news! Their newest flavor is now permanently available : LEMONADE SALT!
LMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.
LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. I'm now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.
Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They're the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out LMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

Why did American Record holder Zach Bitter fail at his goal of besting his own 100-mile record? Was it his new embrace of high carb fueling instead of his tradition low-carb approach?
In this episode, former WR holder and current AR holder Zach Bitter joins us to discuss how he navigates failure, what led to his DNF at his recent 100-mile record attempt, his experiments with fueling and carbs, and a lot more.
Don't miss Zach's amazing podcast, Human Performance Outliers or his website ZachBitter.com. You can also listen to him in 2024's Endurance Episode.
If you have not yet, please follow or subscribe to the Strength Running Podcast!
Thank you 2Before!
We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrant berries designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles.
Just like beetroot powder but more effective, 2before uses the powerful vasodilation benefits of blackcurrant berries to prime you for hard work. If you're getting ready for a big workout or race, their caffeinated version is a must try! You'll get the oxygen boosting benefits of blackcurrants, plus the performance benefits of caffeine.
So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.
Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!
Thank you Gut & Green!
Previnex's new Gut & Green Superfoods powder is my new go-to. It has organic barley and oat grass, alfalfa, spirulina, chlorella, kale and broccoli… and that's it. Simplicity is powerful and Gut & Green delivers on what I care most about: doing one thing really well.
Their ingredients are backed by clinical data and contain three specific gut fibers that help promote GI health, digestion, reduced inflammation, and a better microbiome. As someone who doesn't always eat all of their vegetables, this is important to me.
With twice of the fiber of my last greens mix and a better flavor, it's a no brainer. Gut & Green Superfoods is like insurance against my diet (which isn't always as good as it should be) so I can feel my best throughout the day.
Try it for yourself here at previnex.com and be sure to use code "JASONGREENS" to save 15% off your first order. Don't tell anyone, but if you put Gut & Green Superfoods powder in your cart, then the 15% off discount will work for anything else you add into your cart as well. Thanks Gut & Green!

Do you want to improve and race faster in 2026? I want to help you do exactly that!
In this episode, coach Jason Fitzgerald is sharing his most impactful training interventions for dramatic running improvement. We're discussing:
Hill Sprints (see here)
Monthly mileage
Aerobic cross-training
Heat training
Heavy weightlifting (start here)
If you haven't yet, follow or subscribe to the podcast!
Thank you Previnex!
After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I'm cautiously changing my tune. I'm now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I'm optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I'm excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.
Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.
Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 – and having a thin frame – has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids.
Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they're going to do.
They're now offering international shipping so if you live in the UK, Canada, Australia, or anywhere around the world, you can try Previnex as well.
Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you'll try it!
Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex!
Thank you LMNT!
A big thanks to LMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at LMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You'll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best.
And BIG news! Their newest flavor is now permanently available : LEMONADE SALT!
LMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.
If you're not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I'm now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.
Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They're the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out LMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

Dan Cleather is a strength and conditioning coach, professor at St. Mary's University, and author of The Practice of Change: The Art & Science of Training. 
So, what exactly is "training?" Is it different than "exercise?"
In this episode, we discuss what training specifically is, what it's not, and what it's attempting to do. Once you understand that we're after change in our bodies, we can better structure training to reach our goals. 
Visit Dan's website or follow him on Instagram here. 
Please support the show by supporting our partners!
Thank you 2Before!
We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrant berries designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles.
Just like beetroot powder but more effective, 2before uses the powerful vasodilation benefits of blackcurrant berries to prime you for hard work. If you're getting ready for a big workout or race, their caffeinated version is a must try! You'll get the oxygen boosting benefits of blackcurrants, plus the performance benefits of caffeine.
So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.
Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!
Thank you Gut & Green!
Previnex's new Gut & Green Superfoods powder is my new go-to. It has organic barley and oat grass, alfalfa, spirulina, chlorella, kale and broccoli… and that's it. Simplicity is powerful and Gut & Green delivers on what I care most about: doing one thing really well.
Their ingredients are backed by clinical data and contain three specific gut fibers that help promote GI health, digestion, reduced inflammation, and a better microbiome. As someone who doesn't always eat all of their vegetables, this is important to me.
With twice of the fiber of my last greens mix and a better flavor, it's a no brainer. Gut & Green Superfoods is like insurance against my diet (which isn't always as good as it should be) so I can feel my best throughout the day.
Try it for yourself here at previnex.com and be sure to use code "JASONGREENS" to save 15% off your first order. Don't tell anyone, but if you put Gut & Green Superfoods powder in your cart, then the 15% off discount will work for anything else you add into your cart as well. Thanks Gut & Green!
Thank you MOBO Board!
Invented by renowned physical therapist Jay Dicharry, MOBO helps you stabilize your stance with an innovative rocker board that's set up on two fins. The design effectively forces you to drive your big toe into the board to improve your stability. I was pretty arrogant going into my first session on the MOBO Board. How hard can it be to balance, right? Well, I was humbled pretty quickly!
Even if you're a good runner, better balance, stability, and proprioception is going to help you have a more powerful stride and prevent more running injuries. You'll learn how to improve the efficiency of the kinetic chain from your hip to your big toe. Because as Jay likes to say, it's not just how strong you are, but how well you use that strength.
I was recently at a weekend physical therapy workshop (lol I was the only running coach) and learned how important (and rare) this simple movement is. Save 10% with code STRENGTHRUN10 at checkout at moboboard.com.

Jonah Rosner is an applied sport scientist who spent 10 years working with athletes and teams from all major American professional team sports, particularly the National Football League. 
He's a certified running coach and strength and conditioning specialist and he previously partnered with Nike to run the Nike Running Performance Lab in New York City. You can sign up for his Marathon Science newsletter here.
Jonah was also the sport scientist on hand during a fitness retreat I attended last year where I had my VO2 Max measured. Jonah administered the test, which you can watch on Strength Running's YouTube channel.
In this conversation, we myth-bust around the hottest topics in running: 
Heat training
How to develop better running economy
Heart rate Zones
Why beginners shouldn't worry about Zone 2
Overpronation
Electrolytes and sodium consumption
If you like this episode, be sure to listen to Facts vs. Fads: Dr. Nick Tiller on Nasal Strips, Organics, Cupping, Detox Diets, & More.
Thank you Previnex!
After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I'm cautiously changing my tune. I'm now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I'm optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I'm excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.
Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.
Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 – and having a thin frame – has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids.
Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they're going to do.
They're now offering international shipping so if you live in the UK, Canada, Australia, or anywhere around the world, you can try Previnex as well.
Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you'll try it!
Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex!
Thank you LMNT!
A big thanks to LMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at LMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You'll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best.
And BIG news! Their newest flavor is now permanently available : LEMONADE SALT!
LMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.
If you're not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I'm now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.
Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They're the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out LMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.