In this episode, I discuss strategies that I use and recommend to runners and endurance athletes to better deal with the physical and mental pain and discomfort of the pace and distance of training and racing. I cover what I like to call "macro chunking" and "micro chunking," which I use to both plan out my racing strategy as well as maximize my training volume and intensity.

Athlete Factors

Podcast Episode #122: Chunking the Run & Strategies to Deal with Pain & Discomfort During the Race

In this episode, I continue the series covering my first book, Hormonal Nutrition. This episode covers the hormone ghrelin, and goes into what it does in the body and how the body perceives hunger signals. I also cover what activities, foods, and supplements have an affect on ghrelin levels and hunger signaling, as well as how chronic dieting can have an impact in the short-term and long-term when it comes to ghrelin levels.   Get your copy of Hormonal Nutrition here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1657097463?pf_rd_r=M258J1FP5WCYWBBG6C7D&pf_rd_p=8fe9b1d0-f378-4356-8bb8-cada7525eadd&pd_rd_r=91d0f329-4db3-426b-b9f2-9b151b779a3b&pd_rd_w=w7vZ8&pd_rd_wg=ckc8Z&ref_=pd_gw_unk

Podcast Episode #121: Hormonal Nutrition: Ghrelin

  In this episode, I talk with Tom Rapp, boys CC and Track coach at Mason High School in Ohio. We discuss his coaching philosophy, the training variables that he prioritizes with high school athletes, the importance of team culture, and some things he has learned along the way that contribute to individual and team success.   Originally from Trotwood Ohio, Tom was a State Champion in cross country and in the one mile run. He attended Penn State University where he attained All-American honors and captained the team. He worked for Athletes in Action for 23 years, serving in various capacities including development of their track and field department. Tom was recently named Cross Country "Coach of the year" and has 2 State Team titles. Tom is a Spanish teacher at Mason High School. He is married to Mary, who was also an All-American track athlete at Penn State.   Follow Tom on Twitter: @TomRapp16 Follow the Mason Teams: http://www.runmason.com

Podcast Episode #120: Tom Rapp and Developing Elite High School Distance Runners

In this episode, I continue the series covering my first book, Hormonal Nutrition. This episode covers the hormone leptin, and goes into what it does in the body, how body fat percentage and fat mass affects it, as well as how it correlates to insulin sensitivity. I also cover what activities, foods, and supplements have an affect on leptin levels and sensitivity, as well as how caloric balance plays a role in leptin function.   Get your copy of Hormonal Nutrition here: https://www.amazon.com/Hormonal-Nutrition-Kevin-Russell-Kuhn/dp/1657097463/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1631277287&sr=8-1

Podcast Episode #119: Hormonal Nutrition: Leptin

In this episode, I continue the series covering my first book, Hormonal Nutrition. This episode covers the hormone adiponectin, and goes into what it does in the body, how body fat percentage and fat mass affects it, as well as how it correlates to fat-free mass and fat-loss. I also cover what activities/lifestyle factors, foods, and supplements have an affect on adiponectin levels and adiponectin function.   Get your copy of Hormonal Nutrition here: https://www.amazon.com/Hormonal-Nutrition-Kevin-Russell-Kuhn/dp/1657097463/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1631277287&sr=8-1

Podcast Episode #116: Hormonal Nutrition: Adiponectin

In this episode, Brett Cummins joins me to discuss training and assessments for baseball and softball athletes. We cover his priorities and pillars when developing a program for these athletes, the biggest issues and hurdles he has to deal with in his niche, what his assessment of athletes looks like, how the pelvic position affects posture, the scapula, and glenohumeral movement, and some of the things he is learning now that he wished he knew when he was just getting started in the industry.   Brett Cummins, B.S. CSCS, USAW, CSAC, CSAS, CFSC, of Cummins Performance Training, was born and raised in Marietta GA. He attended Georgia State University on an athletic scholarship, and played soccer for GSU, competing in the Colonial Athletic Association. While at GSU, Brett earned two degrees. He received a B.S. in Exercise Science, and a B.A. in History, as well as a minor in Sociology.   Brett, is currently a performance coach at 180 Sports Performance in Hoschton, Georiga, where he works with general population clients, youth athletes, and professional athletes. Brett, also directs and programs strength programs at Devine Baseball in Buford, GA, working with pitchers at all age levels.   Brett has directed training programs for Team Elite Baseball, a club that has produced numerous collegiate and professional players, including five first round picks. He has been active in youth football and youth soccer, directing speed and agility clinics for multiple age groups.   Brett is recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), United States Weightlifting as a Sports Performance Coach (USAW), the National Sports Performance Association as a Certified Speed and Agility Coach (CSAC), the International Youth Conditioning Association as a Certified Speed and Agility Specialist (CSAS), and Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning as a Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC).   Follow Brett on Instagram: @brett_cummins   Follow Brett on Twitter: @bcummins21   Find Brett online: https://brettcumminstraining.com

Podcast Episode #115: Brett Cummins on Baseball Training, Assessments, & Posture/Hips/Shoulders

In this episode, I start a series covering my first book, Hormonal Nutrition. This episode goes into the hormone Insulin, and covers what it does in the body, what happens when thew body becomes desensitized to insulin, how to improve insulin sensitivity, and what types of food, supplements, and lifestyle factors play a role in improving insulin function. Get your copy of Hormonal Nutrition here: https://www.amazon.com/Hormonal-Nutrition-Kevin-Russell-Kuhn/dp/1657097463/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hormonal+nutrition+Kevin+kuhn&qid=1630060207&sr=8-1

Podcast Episode #114: Hormonal Nutrition: Insulin

In this episode, I talk about the major themes and lessons I drew from Chris Lear's book, Running With The Buffaloes, which follows the the 1998 cross country season of the Colorado University Buffaloes men's team. It provides some very unique insights into the mind of legendary coach, Mark Wetmore, as well as members of the team, like Adam Goucher, Mike Friedburg, Jay Johnson, and Chris Severy. I enjoyed the book so much that I listened to the audiobook twice in a row. If you want some context for how much further and faster you may be able to push your body before it breaks, this provides some useful lessons. It will probably get you fired up for a long run, too! 

Podcast Episode #113: Book Review: Takeaways from Running With The Buffaloes

In this episode, I talk about a priority and commitment framework that I use use to help my athletes develop focus before the season, and maintain their "why" during the season. If you have a medium to long-term goal, this framework helps keep you consistently working on the necessary daily actionable steps required to hit that goal.   Follow me on Instagram and Twitter: @athletefactors

Podcast Episode #112: My Message to This Season's Cross Country Athletes: Priorities & Commitments

In this episode, my friend Elliott Farris joins me to discuss the often confusing and mysterious idea of "peaking" or "tapering." We cover the most often used definitions, how it relates to end of season success, and why he doesn't believe the traditional concept of "peaking" makes physiological sense. We then go over training and programming strategies to ensure the best chances of success when you need to race the fastest.   Elliott Farris is a former collegiate athlete and coach for Texas A&M. As a runner he earned All-Region honors in XC and made the NCAA first round for the Aggies, and has since run a 2:26 marathon. Elliott earned a BS in Animal Science and a Master of Agribusiness before realizing he could not leave his passion for endurance sports, and he now coaches privately while managing the best running store in Texas. Follow Elliott on Instagram: @elfarros Follow RunOn! Richardson on Instagram: @run_on_richardson

Podcast Episode #111: Elliott Farris on Peaking, Tapering, & How to Run Fastest When it Matters

In this episode, Luke Scribner joins me to share his latest project for high school cross country and track coaches. We talk through his "How To" guide for coaches who want to improve the quality of their distance running program. This practical and easy to digest collection of keys to creating a successful training environment and step-by-step direction to creating a proper training program is a must-read for any high school coach who works with distance runners.   Luke Scribner is the Head Cross Country and Track Coach at Frisco Reedy High School. Scribner comes from a background of running at Tarleton state collegiately, and Nomad Running society post collegiately. He coaches athletes of all ages and skills, from middle school to elites, and everything in-between.   Contact Luke: Scribner.luke@yahoo.com

Podcast Episode #110: Luke Scribner on How to Build & Coach a Successful Endurance Running Program

In this episode, Dillon Harris and Steven Machek join me to discuss their recently published review paper - Theacrine as a Potential Caffeine Alternative for Enhanced Ergogenic and Cognitive Performance in Athletes: A Call to Action and Brief Review. We talk about the role of Theacrine, how is it is similar and different to caffeine, and what the future may hold for this unique compound. Read the paper here: https://www.journalofexerciseandnutrition.com/ManuscriptUploadsPDF/200.pdf   Follow Dillon on Instagram: @dillon_reis Follow Steven on Instagram: @stretch_rx

Podcast Episode #109: Steven Machek & Dillon Harris on Theacrine as a Caffeine Alternative

In this episode, I share my experience since my assessment with Ambrose Coleman. I talk about how my achilles feels, how I thought my training volume would have to be cut (spoiler alert: 2 workout pr's and 2nd highest mileage week for the summer), and how I'm feeling about my progress. If you're interested in this whole process, be sure to check out my assessment podcast episode with him (episode #107). Get yourself assessed! Follow Ambrose on Instagram: @goseeambrose

Podcast Episode #108: Week 1 Update Since Full Assessment with Ambrose Coleman

In this episode, Ambrose Coleman comes to my office to assess me. This episode is to show that even a Kinesiologist needs another Kinesiologist. I find out what my current movement limitations are as Ambrose runs me through the gambit of passive and active assessments. I learned where my gaps in programming are, and will be able to address these issues before we retest in a few weeks. Follow Ambrose on Instagram: @goseeambrose

Podcast Episode #107: Ambrose Coleman and a Full Assessment

In this episode, I discuss some of the buzz around the sport of Track & Field, some of the details related to the tainted burrito controversy, and how exciting the Euro 2020 soccer tournament is.

Podcast Episode #106: Olympic Trials, Beef Burritos, and Euro 2020

Here we discuss any and all factors related to increasing athletic performance.

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Athlete Factors

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