Running to the Castle

RTTC #221 How Many Races Should You Sign Up For?

25 min · 12. maj 2026
episode RTTC #221 How Many Races Should You Sign Up For? cover

Description

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318942/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali breaks down how many races slow, back-of-the-pack, or injury-prone runners should realistically sign up for each year without ending up burnt out, injured, or hating training.  She shares her own strategy of training for a 10K proof of time months in advance instead of rushing into races unprepared, and explains why shorter races can actually help runners earn better placements for runDisney events.  Dr. Ali also dives into the physical reality of marathon recovery, why constantly signing up for races can backfire, and how social media can create unrealistic expectations about racing frequency.  She encourages runners to choose races strategically, focus on enjoying training, and remember that consistency and staying healthy matter. Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. ! Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race?  Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. [https://dralipt.com/strong-fast-runner-pod] Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources * Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt [https://instagram.com/rundisneydpt] * Join the Facebook Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainforrundisneyrace] to get training support * Check out FREE training plans [https://dralipt.com/rundisney-race-training] for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.  * Book a Free 30 minute Call [https://calendar.app.google/zPti7T9rNLMiuNAN7] with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense. Hi, I'm Dr. Ali I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

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232 episodes

episode RTTC #232 How to Keep Strength Training Simple Enough to Actually Do It artwork

RTTC #232 How to Keep Strength Training Simple Enough to Actually Do It

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318942/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali gets real about why strength training falls off the schedule, and what to actually do about it.  She breaks down how to match your strength training approach to your life, your goals, and your brain's bandwidth, including when low weight and high volume makes sense versus when machines might be your best friend.  Dr. Ali also unpacks the concept of neuromuscular demand, explaining why some exercises feel harder than they should, and why that hidden cognitive load might be secretly derailing your consistency.  Whether you're training for a Dopey challenge or just trying to stay healthy as a runner, this episode will help you build a strength training habit that actually sticks. Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. ! Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race?  Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. [https://dralipt.com/strong-fast-runner-pod] Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources * Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt [https://instagram.com/rundisneydpt] * Join the Facebook Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainforrundisneyrace] to get training support * Check out FREE training plans [https://dralipt.com/rundisney-race-training] for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.  * Book a Free 30 minute Call [https://calendar.app.google/zPti7T9rNLMiuNAN7] with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense. Hi, I'm Dr. Ali I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

25. juni 202625 min
episode RTTC #231 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Weeks 5 and 6 artwork

RTTC #231 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Weeks 5 and 6

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318942/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali gets real about what happens when life completely derails your training plan and why that's okay. She walks through a chaotic few weeks of new-build home repairs, including a major shower overhaul, a family health scare, and a weeks-long air conditioning nightmare that left her with almost zero workouts. Along the way, Dr. Ali shares her honest take on what missing two weeks of training actually does (and doesn't do) to your fitness, and how to ease back in without setting yourself up for injury or burnout. If you've ever had to hit pause on your training, this episode is the reassurance you didn't know you needed. Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. ! Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race?  Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. [https://dralipt.com/strong-fast-runner-pod] Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources * Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt [https://instagram.com/rundisneydpt] * Join the Facebook Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainforrundisneyrace] to get training support * Check out FREE training plans [https://dralipt.com/rundisney-race-training] for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.  * Book a Free 30 minute Call [https://calendar.app.google/zPti7T9rNLMiuNAN7] with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense. Hi, I'm Dr. Ali I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

23. juni 202632 min
episode RTTC #230 What Makes You Faster Quicker Running or Strength? artwork

RTTC #230 What Makes You Faster Quicker Running or Strength?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318942/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali tackles one of the most common questions she hears from slow and back-of-the-pack runners: what actually makes you faster: running more, strength training, or speed work?  She breaks down the "gray zone," the frustrating middle ground where runners feel exhausted all the time but never seem to improve, and explains why the right answer depends entirely on where you are in your running journey.  Dr. Ali also shares a simple standing test to figure out whether your legs need more strength work or more speed practice, and why pain is never a reliable measure of whether a workout is working.  By the end, you'll understand why sequencing strength and speed correctly, instead of trying to do everything at once, is the real key to getting faster. Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. ! Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race?  Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. [https://dralipt.com/strong-fast-runner-pod] Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources * Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt [https://instagram.com/rundisneydpt] * Join the Facebook Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainforrundisneyrace] to get training support * Check out FREE training plans [https://dralipt.com/rundisney-race-training] for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.  * Book a Free 30 minute Call [https://calendar.app.google/zPti7T9rNLMiuNAN7] with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense. Hi, I'm Dr. Ali I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

18. juni 202632 min
episode RTTC #229 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Week 4 artwork

RTTC #229 Proof of Time Half Marathon Training Week 4

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318942/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali walks through every workout from Week 4 of her Proof of Time half marathon training… the wins, the hard ones, and everything she had to rearrange when life got lifey.  She digs into the "2 minutes per mile slower than race pace" advice that gets passed around constantly online, and explains exactly why it doesn't work for back-of-the-pack and run/walk runners the way it's intended to.  Dr. Ali also shares what she's learning in real time about pacing, run-walk intervals, and how cumulative training stress across an entire week affects a single workout.  If you've ever had a run feel completely off and couldn't figure out why, this episode will give you the bird's-eye-view framework to make sense of it. Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. ! Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race?  Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. [https://dralipt.com/strong-fast-runner-pod] Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources * Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt [https://instagram.com/rundisneydpt] * Join the Facebook Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainforrundisneyrace] to get training support * Check out FREE training plans [https://dralipt.com/rundisney-race-training] for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.  * Book a Free 30 minute Call [https://calendar.app.google/zPti7T9rNLMiuNAN7] with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense. Hi, I'm Dr. Ali I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

16. juni 202657 min
episode RTTC #228 Running Is Part of Your Life Not Your Whole Life artwork

RTTC #228 Running Is Part of Your Life Not Your Whole Life

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318942/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali explores one of the most common questions she hears from runners: what do you do when life gets in the way of your training schedule?  Dr. Ali shares her personal philosophy that running should fit into your life, not the other way around, and why embracing that mindset is actually what makes training sustainable.  She covers the structure of her recommended training week, the value of cross-training and rest days, and how slowing down on easy runs can transform running from a chore into something you genuinely look forward to.  Whether you're wondering if you can split a long run, skip a workout, or simply miss Global Running Day guilt-free, this episode gives you permission to make running work for your real life. Episodes mentioned that talk about “The Gray Zone”: * Episode 202 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/running-to-the-castle/id1732327008?i=1000753488472], * Episode 203 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/running-to-the-castle/id1732327008?i=1000754553886], * Episode 206, [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/running-to-the-castle/id1732327008?i=1000756178090] * Episode 210 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/running-to-the-castle/id1732327008?i=1000758802901] * Episode 211 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/running-to-the-castle/id1732327008?i=1000759987838] Learn more about Stronger. Faster. Finisher. ! Ready to cross the finish line stronger, faster, and prouder at your next runDisney race?  Get personalized support, smarter training, and strategies designed specifically for slow, back-of-the-pack runners who want to build a bigger buffer ahead of the balloon ladies, have time for character photos and energy to enjoy the Disney Parks. Learn more about the Stronger. Faster. Finisher. [https://dralipt.com/strong-fast-runner-pod] Program today and be the first to know when doors open! Free Resources * Follow me on Instagram @rundisneydpt [https://instagram.com/rundisneydpt] * Join the Facebook Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainforrundisneyrace] to get training support * Check out FREE training plans [https://dralipt.com/rundisney-race-training] for injury-prone runDisney runners on my website.  * Book a Free 30 minute Call [https://calendar.app.google/zPti7T9rNLMiuNAN7] with me if you're wondering how you should train and if working together makes sense. Hi, I'm Dr. Ali I've been running for 15+ years and been in the rehab space since 2012 when I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. I get injury prone runDisney runners across the finish line without feeling broken.

4. juni 202631 min