Real Life Runners with Angie and Kevin Brown

464: The Optimizer Trap: Is It About Health or Money?

Have you ever found yourself wondering if you're doing enough? Should you be tracking your sleep more closely? Monitoring your glucose? Taking more supplements? Investing in another recovery tool? Finding one more way to optimize your health and performance? In today's world, it's easy to feel like there is always another metric to improve, another score to chase, and another strategy promising better results. In this episode, Kevin and I take a closer look at what happens when the pursuit of optimization starts working against us. We explore the rise of the "optimizer" identity and how many runners and health-conscious individuals are being pulled into a culture that encourages constant measurement, analysis, and self-improvement. While data can absolutely be helpful, we discuss what happens when metrics become the goal instead of a tool. We dive into how wearables, sleep scores, recovery scores, continuous glucose monitors, and other tracking technologies can sometimes create more anxiety than awareness. We also unpack concepts like orthorexia and orthosomnia—conditions where the pursuit of healthy eating or perfect sleep can actually become unhealthy. From there, we shift into one of the most talked-about sporting events of the year: the inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas. Marketed as a revolutionary athletic competition where performance-enhancing drugs were permitted, the Enhanced Games generated headlines, controversy, and millions of dollars in investment. But beneath the flashy marketing and bold promises lies a much bigger story about optimization culture, shortcuts, and the business of selling peak performance. We break down what actually happened, why many of the promised outcomes failed to materialize, and what the event reveals about our modern obsession with finding the fastest path to better results. Throughout the conversation, we keep coming back to a simple truth: The basics still work. The runners who make the greatest long-term progress aren't usually the ones chasing every new biohack. They're the ones consistently sleeping well, fueling appropriately, training progressively, building strength, managing stress, and recovering intentionally. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by all the health advice, gadgets, supplements, and performance metrics competing for your attention, this episode offers a refreshing reminder that you don't need to optimize everything to become a healthier, stronger runner. 04:45 When Metrics Mislead 06:25 Orthorexia and Clean Eating 09:02 Orthosomnia and Sleep Anxiety 10:56 Fragility vs Resilience 12:52 Health Obsession Identity 15:05 Gamifying Glucose Tracking 18:40 Optimization Industry Exposed 23:47 Supplements vs Foundations 26:35 Enhanced Games Explained 31:31 Gladiators and Reality Check 33:08 Clean Athletes Win 33:59 Enhanced Games Recap 34:19 Super Suit World Record 35:29 Weightlifting Hype Fizzles 35:47 Wellness Complex Exposed 38:39 Why Athletes Underperformed 43:17 Foundation Beats Shortcuts 46:06 Recovery Tools vs Basics 49:15 Sleep Over Supplements 50:24 Metrics Without Anxiety 51:41 Marketing Tricks and Pink Tax 55:07 Mental Strength Matter 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.

463: It Doesn't Look Like Anything Yet: What Building a Vanity Teaches Us About Training.

It Doesn’t Look Like Anything Yet: What Building a Vanity Teaches Us About Training Have you ever been in the middle of building something and thought, How is this ever going to come together? That’s exactly what happened when Kevin and I spent three hours putting together our 13-year-old daughter’s new vanity. Somewhere between scattered parts, a cracked panel, and a backwards drawer track, I realized… this feels a lot like training. In this episode, we share why building a strong runner isn’t about one workout or one great week. It’s about putting the right pieces together over time and trusting the process, even when progress feels invisible. We talk about: * Why skipping foundational work often catches up with us later * How base building creates support for everything else * Why sleep, fueling, strength, mobility, and recovery are not optional extras * How setbacks and small problems mirror the challenges that show up in training * Why correcting course early matters more than pushing through * Learning to trust the process, even when it doesn’t look like much is happening yet The question I want to leave you with is: What piece of your training are you leaving out right now? Because every piece matters, and sometimes the thing you’re overlooking is the thing holding everything else together. 03:41 Unboxing The Vanity Chaos 07:21 Skipping Steps Risks 10:28 Teamwork And Coaching 13:21 Right Plan For You 20:40 Recovery And Big Rocks 26:14 Setbacks And Fixing Mistakes 29:41 Fix It Before It Breaks 34:30 Adjusting for Life Stress 35:54 Trust the Slow Progress 46:18 Overnight Success Myth 49:10 What Piece Are You Missing 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.

462: It Can Be Two Things At Once

Let It Be Enough: Escaping the Comparison Trap in Running and Life In episode 462 of the Real Life Runners podcast, we dive into the comparison trap and how easily runners can fall into measuring themselves against others—or even against past versions of themselves. Whether it’s pace, fitness, race results, or life circumstances, comparison often steals joy and makes us feel like what we’re doing isn’t enough. We start by discussing the Cocodona 250 and Rachel Entrekin’s incredible overall win and course record, along with the conversations it sparked around how accomplishments are measured. We explore the mindset shift of “Why not you?” and how often we place limits on ourselves before we even begin. We also reflect on seasons of transition, from graduations to changing training goals, and the reality that pride, grief, excitement, and uncertainty can all exist at the same time. Sometimes moving forward requires letting go of old expectations and embracing who you’re becoming instead of trying to recreate who you used to be. We close with reminders to trust the process, celebrate where you are, and build the future version of yourself one step at a time. 02:23 Cocodona 250 Explained 07:13 Rachel Wins Overall 08:24 Comparison Trap Debate 16:52 Why Not You Mindset 21:27 Hypotheticals and Depth 23:38 Gender Gap Nuance 24:56 Celebrate Wins Without Comparison 26:30 Graduation Seasons and Letting Go 30:53 Closed Doors New Training 35:01 Let Go to Let In 37:52 Build Who You're Becoming 39:57 Ironman Grit Over Time 46:03 Two Truths at Once 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.

461: Stress Overload, Decision Fatigue, and Why Your Runs Feel So Hard

Have your runs been feeling harder lately… even when your training hasn’t changed? Maybe your legs feel heavy for no obvious reason. Your motivation disappears by the end of the day. Easy runs suddenly feel exhausting. Or you find yourself overthinking every workout, nutrition choice, and race decision until your brain feels completely fried. In this episode of the Real Life Runners Podcast, Angie and Kevin unpack two major factors that runners often overlook: stress overload and decision fatigue. Because here’s the truth: your body doesn’t separate training stress from life stress. You’ll learn why stress can make runs feel harder than they should, how decision fatigue quietly drains your energy and consistency, and why this can become even more noticeable during perimenopause due to hormonal shifts and brain fog. Angie and Kevin also share a simple but powerful framework to help you reduce overwhelm, protect your energy, and make running feel lighter and more sustainable again—without needing more motivation or discipline. Inside this episode, we cover: * Why your body reacts to all stress the same way * What decision fatigue actually is and how it affects runners * The connection between stress, recovery, sleep, and performance * How perimenopause can amplify mental fatigue and overwhelm * Why hard workouts and important decisions should happen earlier in the day * Why recovery weeks and nervous system recovery matter more than you think * How to adjust your training during high-stress seasons without losing progress If you’ve been feeling exhausted, unmotivated, emotionally drained, or frustrated that running suddenly feels harder than it used to, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on—and what you can do about it. Because sometimes the answer isn’t pushing harder. It’s reducing the load your body and brain are already carrying. Listen now and learn how to work with your stress instead of constantly fighting against it. 10:50 Sneaky Signs Your Body Is Overloaded 12:49 What Decision Fatigue Really Means 16:22 Race Decisions + Running Mental Load 24:44 Decision Lever One: Reduce Daily Choices 27:25 Simplifying Your Training Plan 29:08 Decision Lever Two: Timing Matters 31:36 Decision Lever Three: Build Real Recovery 32:13 What True Recovery Actually Looks Like 37:18 Why Running Suddenly Feels Harder 38:43 The Importance Of Recovery Weeks 42:49 How To Adjust Training On Stressful Days 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.

460: Progressive Overload: The Principle Behind All Progress

Progressive Overload for Runners Over 40 Build strength, mileage, and speed—without breaking down Progressive overload isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing just enough to create adaptation. In this episode, we break down how to train smarter as a runner over 40 by working with your body (not against it). We cover the stress → recovery → adaptation cycle and why recovery becomes even more important with age, hormones, and life stress. You’ll learn how to use the 3 key training dials: * Volume * Intensity * Frequency …and why adjusting one at a time is the key to staying consistent and injury-free. We also dive into: * 5 ways to progress your strength training (without just adding weight) * How to build mileage safely (without overloading your long run) * Smarter speed progression, starting with strides * Why your nervous system plays a bigger role than you think Plus: Join our FREE live masterclass on May 12 👉 realliferunners.com/brain Train smarter. Recover better. Keep running strong. 07:02 Why Progressive Overload 09:34 Stress Recovery Adaptation 11:57 Three Training Levers 14:10 Over 40 Recovery Reality 18:22 Strength Training Overload 23:36 Tempo and Rest Strategy 26:45 Mileage Progression Myths 29:41 Acute vs Chronic Load 30:57 Long Run Injury Spike 32:16 Fueling And Recovery Gaps 32:52 Weekly Miles Over Long Run 35:50 When Breaking Rules Helps 36:59 Experience And Deep Roots 38:11 Speed Work Risk Dial 39:33 Strides And 80 20 41:17 Hormones Stress Nervous System 42:13 Cross Training And Neural Gains 45:00 Perimenopause Listening Cues 48:09 Common Mistakes To Avoid 48:48 Down Weeks And Deloads 52:01 Stop Comparing Past Self 53:06 Train Less Eat More 54:19 Progressive Overload Recap 56:07 Membership And Masterclass 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.