Real Life Runners with Angie and Kevin Brown

455: Choose Your Hard… But Not Like You Think

We hear it all the time: “choose your hard.” But here’s the truth—not all “hard” is created equal. In this episode, I break down the difference between aligned hard (the kind that builds you) and misaligned hard (the kind that leads to burnout, injury, and disconnection). Because constantly pushing isn’t discipline—it’s often your body being ignored. Aligned hard looks like showing up when you don’t feel like it, staying consistent, and being patient. Misaligned hard looks like pushing through exhaustion, running hard every day, or ignoring pain. We also reframe “easy” as intentional recovery—and a necessary part of progress, not a step backward. Think of your training like a volume knob, not an on/off switch. You can adjust based on what your body needs. I’ll also walk you through four simple questions to help you decide when to push and when to pull back—plus a quick story that highlights why restraint matters just as much as effort. Because the goal isn’t to choose hard all the time. It’s to choose what actually helps you grow. 00:38 Why Hard Matters 04:31 Aligned Hard Growth 05:56 Misaligned Hard Burnout 10:01 Intentional Easy Recovery 15:10 Volume Knob Balance 17:17 Lent Purposeful Sacrifice 22:59 Four Discernment Questions 29:02 Safety Story Bench Press Join the 30 Day Running Reset [https://www.realliferunners.com/reset] and get a plan that will help you build a strong and injury-proof body by combining running and strength training in a way that actually works for runners like you. Gain access to my new secret podcast, Unbreakable: The Runner's Guide To Injury-Proofing Your Body After 40. Click here: https://www.realliferunners.com/secret [https://www.realliferunners.com/secret] Join the Team! -->  https://www.realliferunners.com/team [https://www.realliferunners.com/team]  Thanks for Listening!! Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30], or your favorite podcast player  Leave a review on Apple Podcasts [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30]. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one! Come find us on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/realliferunners] and say hi!   Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

454: The Hidden Weeds Sabotaging Your Running

In this episode, we share a real-life story about our dog coming back from the backyard completely covered in sticky weeds—and how it’s the perfect analogy for what so many runners are experiencing. So often, we think progress comes from doing more—more miles, more strength, more data, more plans. But in reality, it’s the weeds—the things that don’t belong—that are quietly holding you back. We define weeds as anything that drains your time, energy, recovery, or mental bandwidth. They tend to creep in unnoticed and spread over time—especially when life gets busy and stress is high (which makes this even more important for runners over 40). In this episode, we walk through some of the most common weeds we see: * Focusing on small details instead of the big rocks * Constantly switching training plans * Running most of your runs in that medium-hard “gray zone” * Doing strength work that isn’t actually supporting your running * Getting overwhelmed by watch data and metrics * Letting negative thoughts turn into limiting beliefs We also talk about how to start identifying your own weeds, why consistency matters more than complexity, and how to begin clearing them out—one at a time. Because the truth is, your breakthrough might not come from adding more… It might come from finally letting something go. 10:53 After 40 Recovery Reality 12:49 ACSM Strength Guidelines 16:43 Ask What to Remove 19:03 Weed One Obsessing Details 23:55 Weed Two Plan Hopping 24:32 Weed Three Gray Zone Running 28:35 Plateau Weed Warning 29:52 Random Strength Mistakes 31:48 Balance Load and Intensity 33:54 Data Overload Trap 37:28 Negative Beliefs Root 51:21 Pulling Weeds Action Plan 54:44 Training With Intention Join the 30 Day Running Reset [https://www.realliferunners.com/reset] and get a plan that will help you build a strong and injury-proof body by combining running and strength training in a way that actually works for runners like you. Gain access to my new secret podcast, Unbreakable: The Runner's Guide To Injury-Proofing Your Body After 40. Click here: https://www.realliferunners.com/secret [https://www.realliferunners.com/secret] Join the Team! -->  https://www.realliferunners.com/team [https://www.realliferunners.com/team]  Thanks for Listening!! Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30], or your favorite podcast player  Leave a review on Apple Podcasts [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30]. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one! Come find us on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/realliferunners] and say hi!   Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

453: Training Upgrade or Shiny Object Syndrome? How to Know the Difference

Have you ever felt the urge to switch plans, apps, races, or gear—thinking something new will finally move you forward? In this episode, I’m talking about shiny object syndrome and how it quietly keeps runners stuck. I share a personal example from our business where we changed platforms to “fix” a problem, only to realize later that we didn’t need something new—we just needed to go deeper with what we already had. It’s the same in running. Many runners jump from plan to plan after a tough race or when things start to feel boring. But more often than not, the issue isn’t the plan—it’s consistency. Real progress comes from mastering the fundamentals: easy running, strength, mobility, fueling, and recovery. Speed work has its place, but it’s not the foundation—it’s the finishing touch. There are times when change is necessary—like if you’re dealing with frequent injuries, running everything too hard, or don’t have a clear structure. But a lot of the time, we’re reacting instead of truly progressing. In this episode, I also share four simple filters to help you decide whether it’s time to adjust—or stay the course. If you’ve been feeling stuck or like you’re constantly starting over, this will help you refocus and build real, lasting progress. 00:49 Why Runners Chase Fixes 05:37 Blaming Plans After Races 07:02 Apps Metrics And Reality 08:34 Races As Distraction 11:39 Gear And Super Shoes 15:14 Four I Framework Explained 17:14 Basics Over Trends 21:58 When Overhauls Matter 25:55 Flexible Plan Structure 28:43 Spotting Shiny Objects 30:07 Escape Versus Improve 34:19 Implement What You Know 35:39 Simplify Training Basics 42:09 Speed Work As Seasoning 43:26 Focus On Big Rocks Join the 30 Day Running Reset [https://www.realliferunners.com/reset] and get a plan that will help you build a strong and injury-proof body by combining running and strength training in a way that actually works for runners like you. Gain access to my new secret podcast, Unbreakable: The Runner's Guide To Injury-Proofing Your Body After 40. Click here: https://www.realliferunners.com/secret [https://www.realliferunners.com/secret] Join the Team! -->  https://www.realliferunners.com/team [https://www.realliferunners.com/team]  Thanks for Listening!! Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30], or your favorite podcast player  Leave a review on Apple Podcasts [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30]. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one! Come find us on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/realliferunners] and say hi!   Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

452: Rest, Adjust, or Push? What to Do When You’re Tired

Ever feel tired and wonder what to do about it? With the recent shift from daylight saving time, a lot of runners are feeling the effects of disrupted sleep—and that small change can actually increase fatigue, slow reaction time, and even raise injury risk. That’s why we wanted to walk through how we think about fatigue as coaches and runners ourselves. One of the biggest things we see is that not all fatigue is the same, and learning to recognize the difference can help you make better decisions about your training. We break fatigue into three main categories and address our stoplight framework:  Normal training fatigue = Green light. This is the kind that comes with good training. Your legs might feel heavy at the start, but once you warm up and settle into the run, things start to feel better. Accumulated fatigue or stress overload = Yellow light This is when training stress combines with life stress. Poor sleep, irritability, higher resting heart rate, brain fog, and easy paces feeling harder than usual are all signs your body might need an adjustment. Red-flag fatigue = Red light  This is when your body is clearly asking you to stop. Sharp pain, illness symptoms, deep exhaustion, lingering soreness, dizziness, or severe brain fog are signs that pushing through could do more harm than good. To help runners decide what to do on days like this, we share a simple three-question filter we use ourselves: • Is this physical fatigue or nervous-system fatigue? • If I start slow, does it start to feel better? • What is the intention of today’s run? From there, the choice usually becomes clear: push through, adjust the workout, or take a full rest day. We also talk about why you almost never need to “make up” a missed workout. Trying to cram it back in usually creates more fatigue than progress. In our experience, chronic overload is far more damaging than the occasional missed run. The goal isn’t perfect training. The goal is consistent training that respects your body, especially as we get older and recovery matters more. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should rest, adjust, or push through a run, this episode will give you a simple framework to help you decide. Join the 30 Day Running Reset [https://www.realliferunners.com/reset] and get a plan that will help you build a strong and injury-proof body by combining running and strength training in a way that actually works for runners like you. Gain access to my new secret podcast, Unbreakable: The Runner's Guide To Injury-Proofing Your Body After 40. Click here: https://www.realliferunners.com/secret [https://www.realliferunners.com/secret] Join the Team! -->  https://www.realliferunners.com/team [https://www.realliferunners.com/team]  Thanks for Listening!! Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30], or your favorite podcast player  Leave a review on Apple Podcasts [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30]. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one! Come find us on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/realliferunners] and say hi!   Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

451: The Missing I: Why Intention Changes Everything

Last week we introduced the Three I’s of change: information (knowing), implementation (doing), and integration (becoming). But this week, I realized something was missing. In this episode, I expand the model into the 4-I Framework by adding the most important piece: intention. Because here’s what we see all the time — runners have plenty of information. You know easy runs should feel like a 2–3/10. You know strength training prevents injury. You know consistency matters. But knowing isn’t the problem. The missing link is intention — your direction, your chosen outcome, your commitment. Intention is what bridges information to action and supports real identity-level change. Sometimes intention comes after learning something new. Other times it comes first — like deciding to run a half marathon and then seeking the right guidance. Either way, if your intention isn’t clear, you end up overwhelmed, misaligned, and relying on willpower instead of alignment. In this episode, we’ll help you clarify what you actually want from your running and strength training — and show you how revisiting your intention is the key to sustainable, long-term growth. If you’ve ever felt stuck between knowing and becoming, this one’s for you. 03:09 Missing Piece Intention 05:58 Defining Intention 07:45 Why Behind Workouts 11:33 Ordering the Four Is 12:51 Pathway One Example 15:35 Pathway Two Goal First 18:20 Rechecking Intention Loop 20:18 Ultras and Identity Shift 25:16 Information Culture After 40 28:25 Stop Running All Out 28:51 How Elites Train Easy 29:45 Intention Bridges Identity 31:47 Integration Builds Consistency 33:02 From Willpower to Who I Am 35:55 Journal Prompts for Intention 37:53 Enjoyment First in Lifting 43:20 Align Behavior With Goals 46:23 Avoid Information Overload 51:46 Set One Monthly Intention 53:08 Four I Framework Recap 54:11 Sustainable Change and Wrap Join the 30 Day Running Reset [https://www.realliferunners.com/reset] and get a plan that will help you build a strong and injury-proof body by combining running and strength training in a way that actually works for runners like you. Gain access to my new secret podcast, Unbreakable: The Runner's Guide To Injury-Proofing Your Body After 40. Click here: https://www.realliferunners.com/secret [https://www.realliferunners.com/secret] Join the Team! -->  https://www.realliferunners.com/team [https://www.realliferunners.com/team]  Thanks for Listening!! Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30], or your favorite podcast player  Leave a review on Apple Podcasts [https://open.spotify.com/show/4eGgcWP4ZQzvcHHzt6ryUH?si=ff81c468aa114b30]. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one! Come find us on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/realliferunners] and say hi!   Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.