Welcome to The Mind Body Marathon: the podcast that puts you on a path to a healthier lifestyle–whether you’re a daily runner or just finding your footing.

Running is one of the best forms of exercise to improve both your mental and physical health, leading to stronger cardio health, more sleep, higher energy, and even stronger immune systems. But it’s not the only way to get healthy. This podcast will explore running as well as other exercise, health, and wellness topics that relate to nearly everyone.

Hosted by Dr. Leo Kormanik, this podcast will offer insights into getting or staying fit without the risk of injury, tips and tricks for improving your health for the long-term, and a deeper understanding of health trends and fads that may or may not be beneficial for you.

The goal is simple: to help you better understand both your body and mind so you can live a healthier life.

Dr. Leo is a sports chiropractor, running physiologist, and former elite runner with a marathon time of 2:18. His career is focused on helping runners, athletes, and workout novices improve their performance and reach their health goals while reducing the risk of exercise-related injuries.

Each week, Dr. Leo and his guests will be exploring topics that are relevant to fitness newbies, elites, and everyone in between, including:

• The doubts and anxieties that hold us back from our physical and mental potential
• Differentiating between injuries and muscle fatigue to speed up recovery and avoid greater damage
• The myths and facts surrounding current and past wellness trends, such as ice baths, saunas, cupping, acupuncture, cryotherapy, and hyperbaric therapy
• Fitness goals (and how to reach them) no matter where you’re starting out

Your health is a marathon, not a sprint, so start taking the steps to better long-term health. The Mind Body Marathon is here to help you set the pace.

Welcome to The Mind Body Marathon: the podcast that puts you on a path to a healthier lifestyle–whether you’re a daily runner or just finding your footing.

Today’s episode is all about coaching: the experience both as coaches and as the athlete being coached, and the current paradigms and ideas around coaching. Our host, sports chiropractor Dr. Leo Kormanik, is joined by two colleagues, Jeremy Pope, a veteran ultra-marathoner, and Zach Goulet, a licensed massage therapist.

All three of the men have been on both sides of coaching–as athletes in high school, college, and as professionals, as well as having coached other athletes themselves. This discussion circles around a central theme of coaching paradigms, personal experiences from high school to professional running, and the profound influence of coaching on athletes' performances and mental condition.

Dr. Lea kicks off the conversation by reflecting on his early coaching days and the evolution of running logs that sparked competitive spirit among runners. Jeremy and Zach share their own stories, detailing their respective journeys through the realms of running under different coaching styles.

Together, they emphasize the importance of having a coach who isn't just a guide but a connector who truly understands the athlete's physical and mental needs.

Throughout the episode, the trio debates the effectiveness of modern training techniques, the critical role of mental resilience in endurance sports, and the potentially negative impacts of social media and superficial motivational sources on an athlete's genuine passion and mental toughness. The importance of understanding the "why" behind an athlete's drive for enduring physical challenges is considered fundamental in achieving their true potential.

Remember to tune in next week for more insights aimed at helping you lead a healthier, more balanced life. Your health is a marathon, not a sprint, and the Mind Body Marathon is here to help you set the pace.

Key Takeaways

1. Personal Coaching Relationships Are Crucial: Leo, Jeremy, and Zach each emphasized the tremendous impact of having a coach who can provide not only training guidance but also mental and emotional support. The connection between a coach and an athlete goes beyond workouts; it’s about building trust and understanding personal limits and ambitions.

2. Understanding Individual Athletic Needs:They discuss the dangers of a one-size-fits-all approach to training, highlighting the importance of personalized coaching that adjusts to an individual's metabolic, psychological, and physical attributes, and responds to personal life situations and pressures.

3. Significance of Mental Toughness in Ultra Running: Jeremy shared his intrinsic motivations and the dark, challenging moments faced during ultra-marathons. These stories illustrate the necessity of mental fortitude, an aspect as crucial as physical stamina, if not more, in overcoming extreme challenges.

4. Coaching Beyond Technicalities: There was a unanimous agreement on the need for coaches to prioritize mental conditioning and toughness alongside physical training. It’s about shaping an athlete's mindset to tackle both seen and unforeseen challenges during their endurance pursuits.

5. Impact of Social Media on Athlete Psychology: The conversation briefly touched on how modern athletes are influenced by social media, where the emphasis is often misplaced on mimicking successful figures without understanding the context of their success. Authentic experiences and individual-centric coaching are deemed more beneficial in fostering true sportsmanship and mental resilience.

Welcome to The Mind Body Marathon: the podcast that puts you on a path to a healthier lifestyle–whether you’re a daily runner or just finding your footing.

On today’s episode, Dr. Leo is joined by his wife, Samua Kormanik, who, despite having ran several marathons, hates running. Together, they’re diving into the emotional and mechanical dynamics of running marathons, revealing how this demanding sport shapes the body and the mind.

Marathons are not merely about running 26 miles; they are a holistic challenge that tests your physical readiness and mental fortitude. Samua shared her experiences with self-doubt before races, while Dr. Leo discussed the lessons learned from not finishing marathons. This conversation highlighted the need for thorough mental and physical preparation, acknowledging that sometimes, the mental barriers are as taxing as the physical ones.

Running tightens more than just your schedule; it tightens your body and can even play a role in how your skin ages, thanks to the impact on fascia. Dr. Leo, with his background in sports medicine and physiology, detailed how running influences everything from bone mass to muscle density, and the crucial role of body mechanics in avoiding injuries. Understanding individual physicality can significantly enhance your training and prevent common running injuries.

Yet, running is more than biomechanics. It’s about the joy of pushing your limits, the simple pleasure of movement, and sometimes, the therapeutic solitude of a long run. Dr. Leo and Samua shared personal stories that highlighted the emotional rewards of running, such as Samua’s touching recount of her daughter’s participation in a 5k race, shedding light on the inclusive spirit of the running community.

Beyond the physical and emotional, the episode also tackled practical tips for both aspiring and veteran runners, from addressing running-related injuries to embracing the communal joy of themed races like the upcoming Disney 10-miler.

Remember to tune in next week for more insights aimed at helping you lead a healthier, more balanced life. Your health is a marathon, not a sprint, and the Mind Body Marathon is here to help you set the pace.

Key Takeaways:

1. Mental Fortitude Equals Physical Strength: Dr. Leo emphasized the importance of mental resilience over physical prowess in marathons. Successful runners cultivate a strong mental game to complement their physical training, meeting both visible and invisible challenges head-on.

2. Tailored Training is Crucial: Acknowledging individual differences in flexibility, strength, and overall body mechanics is vital. Dr. Leo discussed the necessity of customizing stretching, strengthening, and recovery plans to fit personal needs, which helps in achieving better performance and avoiding injuries.

3. The Joy of Running: Both hosts delved into the intrinsic pleasures and motivational aspects of running. For Samua, running offers a sense of personal accomplishment and emotional release, while Dr. Leo sees it as a means to enjoy physical exertion and mental clarity.

4. Understanding Your Body Mechanics: It’s essential to know how your body works. Dr. Leo’s insights into the mechanical aspects of running—such as how the sport affects bone density and muscle tightness—can empower runners to make informed decisions about their training regimes.

5. Community and Inclusion in Running: Running is for everyone. This episode underscores the inclusivity of running, celebrating how it brings people together, fosters communal support, and encourages individuals of all abilities to participate and enjoy the myriad benefits of the sport.