Whatever our running goals may be, we all have to carve out a unique path to achieve them. This week’s guest epitomizes what it means to follow your own path, blending strength and speed to achieve a sub-3 marathon goal.
Having navigated a slew of running injuries over the years, I learned the hard way that strength training is fundamental to your health and longevity in the sport. Readers know I’m a relentless advocate of strength training, whether you’re doing bodyweight exercises at home or lifting heavy in the gym.
But some runners take strength training to a level above and beyond the rest of us – and find great success along the way.
This week’s podcast features a fellow running coach and one of my private coaching clients, Elizabeth Corkum. Elizabeth – who goes by the nickname Corky – is a 2:58 marathoner and 5-day per week weightlifter.
Coach Corky has multiple coaching certifications, including USA Track and Field, Road Runners Club of America, and the Lydiard Foundation. She is also a certified personal trainer and specialist in sports nutrition.
Coach Corky on Running and Lifting
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Elizabeth has immersed herself in running and coaching and is always seeking to learn more about the sport she loves. She is not only knowledgeable and upbeat, but is also a unique case study in balancing extensive time in the gym with ambitious running goals.
As a coach, it’s always a privilege to work with a smart, diligent and focused runner to help her meet a long time goal. Elizabeth has put in the work over the years and accumulated a great deal of wisdom along the way.
Your path may or may not look exactly like hers, but you can learn a lot from her journey and our discussion, including:
- How Elizabeth incorporates her extensive strength work into her race training
- The unexpected path she took to reach her sub 3 hour marathon goal
- How you can go all in and have fun at the same time
- The importance of being patient and trusting the path you’re on
- Why every training cycle will help you get somewhere new, even if it’s not what you planned
Subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or Google Play.
Links & Resources from the Show:
- Learn more about Coach Corky
- Follow Coach Corky on Instagram
- Learn how to get strong with Strength Running
- Listen to a podcast about running a sub 3 marathon
- Periodize your weightlifting with High Performance Lifting
Thank you Elemental Labs!
A big thanks to Elemental Labs for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. And you can get a free sampler pack of 4 flavors and 8 individual packets when you pay $5 in shipping.
Elemental Labs’ products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.
The citrus flavor has quickly become my favorite. I’m drinking one a day now to help me get enough fluids in our dry Colorado air. It’s tasty and delicious and I find that I’m not peeing every 45 minutes throughout the day, which might be an indication I wasn’t eating enough sodium.
There’s now mounting evidence that higher sodium intake levels are not unhealthy – and athletes need substantially more than your typical sedentary person. Of course, ask your doctor if you’re worried. But for those athletes running outside in the heat, an electrolyte replacement makes a lot of sense. So check out Elemental Labs to try their new flavor or get a free sampler pack.
Thank you Impossible Sleep!
We’re also supported by Impossible Sleep, a new performance sleep drink to help high performers get the most out of their nightly rest. Impossible Sleep is a melatonin free sleep drink mix that provides deep recovery while gently lulling you to sleep. It only has two ingredients, with magnesium to promote muscle recovery and deep sleep, and L-theanine for a subtle calming effect that helps you wind down at the end of the day.
High achieving runners have to prioritize their sleep – it’s like a performance enhancing drug that allows us to absorb our training, improve, and race faster. The Impossible Sleep drink helps you optimize your bedtime routine so you can get as much deep recovery as possible.
When you consider that studies have shown that sleep loss can lead to glucose imbalances, increased anxiety, and your risk of getting sick, it’s a no-brainer to get as much high quality sleep as you can. Learn more about Impossible Sleep drink and be sure to use code Jason20 to save 20% on your first subscription order.
