s5e19 How to Think Like a Runner with Jeff Horowitz | The Running Explained Podcast
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
In this episode of The Running Explained Podcast, author, certified running, cycling and triathlon coach, and personal trainer Jeff Horowitz shares why he left a 20-year legal career to pursue his passion for fitness and running. He talks about how running started as a coping mechanism during law school and evolved into a practice that offered mental clarity, emotional healing, and a deep sense of community. Host Elisabeth Scott and Jeff discuss the psychological side of running, exploring the importance of redefining success, trusting your body, and celebrating wins and milestones. Finally, they examine how running can be a tool for self-discovery and resilience, the challenges of injury, and why there is more to running than just race results.
What You’ll Learn:
How running helped Jeff transition from a high-stress legal career to a life centered on fitness and personal well-being.
The profound mental and emotional benefits of running.
Why redefining success in running is crucial, especially as runners age or face new life stages.
The importance of identifying as a runner and taking yourself seriously, regardless of pace or experience.
How to mentally navigate injuries and make wise training decisions that reflect self-respect, not weakness.
Why being present during your runs enhances joy and deepens your connection to the sport.
The value of planning races with intention and creating a “bucket list” of running experiences.
How engaging with the running community can provide support, inspiration, and a greater sense of belonging.
Sound Bites:
“There are lots of different training guides out there, including mine, but nothing just talking about the mental approach, which is funny because as runners, we spend so much time thinking when we're out there, thinking about what we're doing, why are we doing it, what we're going to do next. And we just haven't really started that conversation.”
“Being a runner is not about just always aiming for that killer race. It's not about your PRs. It's not always about getting faster because at some point you will top out. That's inevitable.”
“I would encourage anyone who is into running at any level to treat themselves like they deserve everything that an elite runner would get.”
“Every time I line up for a marathon, I think how incredibly lucky I am to be able to do that. To be able-bodied, to be healthy, to be out there, to be in a position in my life where actually I have the time, the place, the support to do this thing.”
"It all starts with trusting what your body's telling you, not to deny it, not to live in this imaginary world where pain isn't really pain."
"That's what I love about our community. I mean, we are serious. We are whimsical. You know, we're adventurous. We're dedicated. We're consistent. We're spontaneous."
Chapters:
00:00 Introducing Jeff Horowitz
11:52 Think Like a Runner: Mental Approaches to Running
24:17 Taking Yourself Seriously as a Runner
31:21 Accepting and Appreciating Aging as an Athlete
40:03 Discipline in Training & Racing
46:39 Trusting and Respecting Your Body'
51:29 Facing Injury and Making Smart Decisions
01:01:10 Crafting a Runner's Bucket List
01:07:14 When Does It Become "Too Much Running"
01:14:16 The Importance of Cross-Training
01:16:52 Reflections on Thinking Like a Runner
Connect with Jeff:
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About Your Host
Elisabeth Scott is a running coach, educator, and the founder of Running Explained, where she helps runners train smarter, run stronger, and enjoy the process. After getting sober at 29, she laced up her running shoes with the goal of finishing a 5K—and never looked back. Since then, she’s gone on to complete multiple races, including marathons with a Boston Qualifying time, all while deepening her expertise in endurance training.
With a science-based approach, Coach Elisabeth is passionate about making complex running concepts accessible and actionable for runners of all levels. Her coaching philosophy centers on building a strong aerobic base, improving running efficiency, and developing a whole-human approach to training that prioritizes consistency, injury prevention, and sustainable progress.
Through Running Explained, Elisabeth offers training plans, online courses, and 1:1 coaching designed to help runners achieve their goals while avoiding the common pitfalls of overtraining, under-fueling, and burnout. Whether you’re training for your first half marathon or chasing a new PR, her guidance will help you train smarter, race stronger, and love the journey.
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