Running has the power to create a strong sense of community, but when it comes to road running and trail running they have very little in common aside from putting one foot in front of the other. These sports require different skills and come with their own set of challenges. This is part of what makes them so much fun. While we love both of these sports, we thought it would be fun to debate who are the better athletes: road runners or trail runners?

You typically need more all-out speed to excel on the roads and it takes some time to callus your legs to the impact of racing on hard pavement. This doesn’t mean it’s any easier than trail running though, which takes a lot of agility navigating different terrains and precision to fuel for more time on your feet. There’s no easy way to answer who are the better athletes so RC coach Hayley Munn joins the show to help settle this question.

We can’t promise we’ll follow any formal debate rules but we can promise a fun conversation that will including topics like:

• What skills separate road runners from trail runners?
• Which types of runners are the better athletes?
• Which type of running is the most fun?

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This week’s show brought to you by:

MetPro

Using Metabolic Profiling, MetPro’s team of experts analyzes your metabolism and provides an individualized approach to obtaining your goals.

Your MetPro coach then works with you to consistently make adjustments based on your metabolic data as well as how your plan fits your lifestyle.

MetPro’s coaches are not only educated experts in their field, but they’re empathetic that people have demanding schedules and often stressful lives. They will work one-on-one with you to identify the best nutrition and fitness strategy that is going to work for your personal goals and lifestyle needs.

Get a complimentary Metabolic Profiling assessment and a 30-minute consultation with a MetPro expert at metpro.co/rttt

UCAN

If you’re looking for a better energy gel that contains no sugar and instead uses a revolutionary slow burning carbohydrate called LIVESTEADY, then you should check out UCAN.

Independent, peer-reviewed studies have shown LIVESTEADY is absorbed quickly through the stomach to reduce GI distress, yet is released into the blood stream slowly to provide sustained fueling without the spikes and crashes typically associated with traditional gels.

By avoiding the sugar spikes, UCAN can help be less reliant on frequent feedings of sugar-based fuels during the run.

All this data means using UCAN can help you avoid hitting the dreaded wall during the half, full and ultra marathon distance.

Head to runnersconnect.net/UCAN to get 6 Edge energy gels for FREE. All you pay is shipping. You can also save 20% on your entire order at ucan.co with code RUNNERSCONNECT

If you’re preparing for a fall marathon or other endurance race, then now is the perfect time to start practicing your race day. As the temperatures cool and you hit your peak training, the fatigue in your legs will help to simulate the feeling of racing without actually running the full race distance. It’s super important to mimic the conditions of your goal event to prepare for the challenges of race day. This can help with building confidence because you’ll know you’re ready for the big day or you’ll know what you still need to work on. There’s a lot of variables to consider, so we’re doing our best to cover them all.

Everything from how fast you start your race to what time you want to wake up can be practiced ahead of time and you’ll likely feel better prepared if you do. Coach Andie has years of experience helping athletes conquer races of all kinds and joins the show to share how you can feel as prepared as possible. During the show we’ll cover everything you need to simulate your race including:

• How practicing your race conditions can improve performance?
• How much of your training should be done at goal race pace?
• Do you need to practice the time you plan to wake up for your race?
• How can you simulate your fueling without aid stations?
• How much should you train with the shoes you plan to race in ahead of time?

Even if you’ve been running for years, every race brings different challenges that you can prepare for. We know race day is fast approaching, so let’s get into what you can do to prepare for race day.

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This week’s show brought to you by:

Ketone-IQ

You may have read a lot the last few years about the benefits of ketones for endurance performance, such as mitochondrial efficiency and glycogen sparing.

Your body uses ketones for energy typically during fasting, long periods of exercise, or when you don’t have as many carbohydrates.

The problem is that you typically need to severely reduce your carbohydrate intake in order to take advantage of them, which is difficult to sustain, even for the most dedicated runner.

But, thanks to Ketone-IQ you quickly deliver ketones to your bloodstream, putting you into ketosis within minutes without the need to fast, restrict calories or carbs, or exercise away your glycogen stores.

And the academic literature on the effectiveness of ketones for running performance is overwhelming.

For example, a 2021 study demonstrated that the ingestion of ketones improved mitochondrial efficiency by 7% and 2019 study concluded that using ketones significantly enhanced endurance performance while minimizing overtraining.

If you want to see more of the research, head to ketone.com/RTTT

Plus, for a limited time you can save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six pack of Ketone-IQ by going ketone.com/RTTT. That’s K-E-T-O-N-E dot com slash RTTT.

LMNT

Maintaining healthy electrolyte levels will not only improve performance and endurance on the run, but can help with preventing headaches, maintaining a healthy weight, and help with recovery.

That’s why we recommend all runners check out LMNT. It's loaded with everything you need to replenish your electrolyte balance with 1000mg of sodium, 200mg of potassium, and 60mg of magnesium, and doesn't include anything you don't need like extra sugar or anything artificial.

Even better, they are currently running a special deal where you can get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order. So, order your favorite flavor and get a free sample pack to try out new flavors or share with your running friends.

To get this special offer and make sure you’re hydrating properly this summer, head over to drinklmnt.com/runnersconnect.

Building mental toughness is one of the best ways to improve your running. Without any change in fitness, having good mental strategies can help you to unlock a new level of performance. This is the key to overcoming a setback or managing stressful situations that all runners face like pre-race nerves or balancing a hectic schedule.

Ashley Eckermann is a former competitive triathlete and a noted psychology practitioner who teaches athletes of all abilities to perform at their best without positive thinking. Studies show that positive affirmations don’t actually work and this interview is all about uncovering what does. You can actually train your brain to perform better!

This is not a science lecture, and we’ll focus on going through specific examples of how to apply these strategies in training and racing. Some of the topics we’ll cover include:

• What is mental resilience?
• How do the pros think differently than the rest of us?
• What is the best way to deal with a stressful situation in training?
• How can you apply strategies of mental resilience during training and racing to improve your performance?

Ashley has helped numerous athletes to transform their thinking and perform at a higher level. This is a fascinating conversation that will literally change how you think.

Maximize the Mind - Mental Performance Coaching

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• Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month!
• Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community
• RunnersConnect Facebook page
• GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT!

This week’s show brought to you by:

TIMELINE

Improving your mitochondria is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your performance and make your body work better.

Time-line Nutrition's Mitopure is backed by over a decade of research and is clinically proven to revitalize mitochondria.

Mitopure restores mitochondrial function, so every cell in your body has the energy to do its job and keep you healthy and functioning right. In fact, clinical studies have shown that 500mg of Urolithin, one of the main ingredients in Mitopure, can significantly increase muscle strength & endurance with no other change in lifestyle.

Improving your mitochondria is one of the best things you can do for your health and with Mitopure from time-line nutrition, it has never been easier.

Go to timelinenutrition.com and use promo code RUNNERSCONNECT for 10% off the plan of your choice.

UCAN

If you’re looking for a better energy gel that contains no sugar and instead uses a revolutionary slow burning carbohydrate called LIVESTEADY, then you should check out UCAN.

Independent, peer-reviewed studies have shown LIVESTEADY is absorbed quickly through the stomach to reduce GI distress, yet is released into the blood stream slowly to provide sustained fueling without the spikes and crashes typically associated with traditional gels.

By avoiding the sugar spikes, UCAN can help be less reliant on frequent feedings of sugar-based fuels during the run.

All this data means using UCAN can help you avoid hitting the dreaded wall during the half, full and ultra marathon distance.

Head to runnersconnect.net/UCAN to get 6 Edge energy gels for FREE. All you pay is shipping. You can also save 20% on your entire order at ucan.co with code RUNNERSCONNECT