What if the reason your runs feel heavy and awkward has nothing to do with fitness and everything to do with how often your feet hit the ground?

If you’ve ever felt like running takes more effort than it should, or if you’re tired of shin splints, knee pain, or just feeling clunky on your feet, you might be overlooking one simple but powerful number: your cadence. In this episode, I break down what cadence really is, why it matters more than you think, and how to adjust it in a way that actually sticks without risking injury. You’ll walk away knowing how to measure it, what range makes sense for your body, and the smart, sustainable way to improve it over time.

1. Cadence is how many steps you take per minute. A smoother, quicker rhythm helps your foot land under your body, reducing impact and making running feel easier.
2. Don't jump straight to a high number. Aim to increase your steps per minute by just 3-5% at a time over weeks and months so your body can safely adapt.
3. Forget the myth that everyone needs 180 steps per minute. The real goal is to find a cadence that makes your stride smoother and wastes less energy at your own pace.

• [00:16] What you'll learn
• [01:03] What Cadence Actually Is (and Why It Matters)
• [01:33] What Happens If Cadence Is Low
• [02:49] How to Measure Your Cadence Today
• [03:46] Understanding The Science Behind Improving Cadence
• [04:16] Use This To Increase Your Cadence
• [05:20] The Smart Way To Increase Cadence
• [08:54] What to Avoid When Increasing Cadence
• [11:51] Use these 17 Tips To Increase Your Cadence The Smart Way

• 📈 Get your free Increase Cadence & Habits Plan here: https://dlakecreates.com/cadencefree
• 🎧 Listen, read and learn more here: https://dlakecreates.com/cadencenew
• 3 Easy Tips to Fix Your Run Form in 7 Minutes - https://dlakecreates.com/overstriding
• How To Use Spotify, Music & DJ Mixes To Run With Higher Cadence - https://dlakecreates.com/cadencemusic
• Most Runners Are Doing A-Skips Wrong (Are You?) - https://dlakecreates.com/askips
• Why Pro Runners Do This But You Don’t? - https://dlakecreates.com/strideswithme
• Run Cadence Ultimate Guide - https://dlakecreates.com/improve-running-cadence-tips
• Instagram – https://instagram.com/dlakecreates
• Strava – https://www.strava.com/athletes/120507

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What if everything you think you know about running easy is actually making you slower and more exhausted?

In this episode, I break down why your usual approach to running pace might be sabotaging your progress and how switching to heart rate training can unlock easier, more consistent runs. I explain why the same pace feels easy one day but brutal the next, and share a simple, equipment-free method to find your personal training zones without needing expensive lab tests. You will learn exactly when to rely on your heart rate monitor and—just as importantly—when to ignore it completely to get the most out of your hard workouts.

1. Running the same pace doesn’t always mean the same effort. Heart rate shows when your body is working harder because of stress, poor sleep, heat, or fatigue.
2. Most runners think they are running easy when they are not. Using heart rate and the talk test together helps you slow down enough to actually build fitness.
3. Heart rate is a powerful tool for easy and recovery runs, but it breaks down during short, hard efforts. Knowing when to ignore heart rate is just as important as knowing when to use it.

• [00:27] What You'll Learn
• [01:33] What Heart Rate Training Is + Why It Works
• [02:59] Why HR Training Works
• [03:54] Use This To Run Faster
• [04:49] How to Actually Use It - Step 1: Find Your Easy Heart Rate Range
• [06:24] Step 2 - Use The Talk Test
• [07:10] Step 3 - How To Do This
• [07:37] Step 4 - Ignore Heart Rate On Hard Days
• [08:38] Gear That You'll Need
• [10:54] The Mistakes Everyone Makes: Mistake 1
• [11:15] Mistake 2 - Obsessing Over Hitting The Right Pace
• [11:57] Mistake 3 - Use HR For Everything
• [12:07] Mistake 4 – Expecting Instant Results
• [12:36] Use This To Run and Farther Faster with Little Effort

• 📈 Get your free run at low heart rate zone 2 training plan here https://dlakecreates.com/zone2free
• 🎧 Listen, read and learn more here https://dlakecreates.com/hrtraining
• Run Farther… Without That ‘Why Am I Dying?’ Feeling | Base Training - https://dlakecreates.com/base2
• Instagram – https://instagram.com/dlakecreates
• Strava – https://www.strava.com/athletes/120507

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the real reason you keep getting hurt isn’t laziness or bad form, but one single run where you went just a little too far?

Most people don’t quit running because they’re lazy. They quit because they get hurt doing too much too soon. In this episode, I break down why that happens, why feeling good can actually be the most dangerous moment in training, and how small, boring choices are what keep runners healthy long term. I walk through a smarter way to start running again, how to build fitness without stressing joints and tendons, and how to think about running as something that fits into life instead of fighting it. If you want to stop starting over, stay injury free, and make running something you can do for years, this episode lays the foundation.

1. The run that causes injury is rarely the first one. It’s usually the run where you feel good, push too far, and don’t realize the damage until days later.
2. Walking before running isn’t a setback. It’s the safest way to rebuild tendons, joints, and habits so you can stay consistent without breaking down.
3. Consistency beats intensity every time. Running a few days a week for months is far more powerful than pushing hard for a few weeks and quitting.

• [00:19] What You'll Learn
• [01:06] Why Walking Comes First
• [02:47] The 3-Day Plan
• [03:28] Week 1
• [04:20] Week 2
• [04:33] Week 3
• [04:46] Week 4
• [05:06] Week 5
• [05:38] Use This to Start Running
• [06:29] Why Running Is Different
• [08:01] Build the Body | The Three Must Do Exercises for Runners
• [09:35] The Mindset Reset
• [11:26] Use This to Do Long Runs the Right Way

• 📈 Get your free run farther and faster training plan here https://dlakecreates.com/basefree
• 🎧 Listen, read and learn more here https://dlakecreates.com/startrunning
• How to Run a sub 30 min 5k - https://dlakecreates.com/5ksub30
• You’re Wasting Money on the Wrong Running Gear ****https://dlakecreates.com/gear
• The #1 Mistake New Runners Make With Knee Pain https://dlakecreates.com/runnersknee
• Instagram – https://instagram.com/dlakecreates
• Strava – https://www.strava.com/athletes/120507

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.