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The Training Blog

s5e25 Gummy Bears, Hobbiton, and Doing "Just Enough": A Real Runner Chat with Dr. Marie Whitt | The Running Explained Podcast

  • Aug 1
  • 3 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

In the newest episode of The Running Explained Podcast, Coach Elisabeth is joined by Dr. Marie Witt, a strength coach for runners and doctor of physical therapy, to uncover why so many runners still get hurt during training and what key factors we’ve been missing.

They begin by breaking down a brand-new study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine that reveals single-session spikes in long-run distance, not weekly mileage, are the true culprit behind most injuries, prompting a major reassessment of conventional running wisdom. The conversation then shifts into how strength deficits, underdeveloped single-leg mechanics, and mental resilience play pivotal roles in both injury prevention and recovery.





What They Discuss:

  • Gummy bear fueling and why sour candy hits different

  • What happens when your miles slow way down in the summer heat

  • Shoes, Hobbiton, Regency costumes, and other delightful detours

  • The “minimum effective dose” approach to strength training

  • Why doing less is often the smartest move a runner can make


Sound Bites:

  • “The standout finding (of the study) was that single session spikes in distance carried a much higher injury risk.” 

  • "If you do increase your long run by 30%, but you have been consistently strength training, I wonder if that could help decrease that dramatic potential increase in running injury."

  • "As runners, when we were talking about our injury risk, we don't really appreciate the fact that there are probably going to be in almost all of us, parts of our very important muscles, tendons, ligaments, tissues involved in running somewhere in that chain is going to be a weak link, and it's the weak link that fails first."

  • "Run the race, have fun, do your thing. But we need to have a backup plan."

  • "The number one question I get from every single person I work with is, do you think I would be able to XYZ reach my goal, right...And it doesn't really matter what I think. And even if I thought that it was possible, you won't know until you try."

  • "I think for a lot of us, as long as we are able to get into the consistent rhythm of doing enough, enough probably isn't as much as you think it is."


Chapters:

  • 00:00 Introducing Dr. Marie Whitt, DPT

  • 15:16 Introducing the Study: How Much Running Is Too Much?

  • 22:04 Finding Your Limits & Weak Links as a Runner

  • 30:19 Using Injury As Opportunity

  • 42:02 Achieving Goals: You Won't Know Until You Try

  • 47:52 Making Hobbies Fun as an Adult

  • 54:41 Fueling for Travel and Running

  • 01:02:05 Training Without Burning Out

  • 01:07:48 Strength Training for Marathon Runners

  • 01:18:48 "Enough" Is Less Than We Think It Is

  • 01:24:37 Low Mileage and the Beauty in Maintenance


Connect with Marie:

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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.

📲 Learn more at ⁠RunningExplained.com⁠

📢 Follow on Instagram: ⁠@runningexplained

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