The RunRX Podcast

Coach Caroline and Coach Valerie dig into one of the biggest pieces of the RunRx method: strength training for runners. Valerie explains that she has been a strength coach longer than she has been a running coach, and that her approach has always been about balance, not bodybuilding. She talks about how she learned strength training in the 1980s, how the old model for runners was often light weights and high reps, and why that does not always make sense when running itself is already thousands of repeated steps. The goal is not to get bulky or build a big neck; the goal is to build useful strength that supports running, movement, and longevity.
The episode also explains why RunRx strength work starts with bodyweight first and then progresses to dumbbells, barbells, and more load only after the movement is correct. Valerie walks through the kinds of exercises runners really need, including planks, glute bridges, hip hinges, squats, and pushups, and she emphasizes that the exercise itself matters less than how you perform it. She also talks about how strength training has changed over time, from old fears about getting “too big” to the modern acceptance of lifting for running performance, including CrossFit and Hyrox-style training.
Caroline and Valerie also discuss a common mistake: going too heavy too soon. Valerie explains that if strength work starts showing up in the neck and shoulders, the load is probably too much and the body is compensating instead of building the right support. She reminds runners that the hardest job the body does all day is holding the head up, which is why upper-body strength, posture, and core support matter so much as we age. The episode closes with the RunRx message that strength, self-care, and running all work together, and that one coach can help you improve all three in a way that supports better movement for running, walking, and daily life.

▶️ Free 30-Day RunRX Reboot — Skill, Strength & Self-Care https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0N-GZ0AosI&list=PLDPcF8ZrDdILC8bYyn2zR-4xvqKRzp2re
▶️ Join the RunRX Membership https://runrx.fit/join-runrxstrong
Website: https://runrx.fit App: RunRx Academy — search “RunRx Academy” on Apple App Store or Google Play Support email: support@runrx.fit

Coach Caroline and Coach Valerie talk about the upcoming September clinic in Texas and what makes a RunRx clinic different from a typical running event. Valerie explains that this is a learning clinic, not a mileage-heavy run, and that the focus is on drills, learning the gait cycle, understanding running position, and practicing short segments of running so each runner can feel the movement clearly. The clinic is set up in a park with shade, bathrooms, water fountains, trees, and a splash pad nearby, so runners can learn in a supportive environment without worrying about running long distances in the heat.
The episode also explains why people often feel nervous before a clinic but are glad they came once they arrive. Valerie says the clinic is designed for a wide range of people, including injured runners, newer runners, older runners, kids, and anyone who wants to become a more efficient runner or prevent injuries before they happen. She also shares that the first day focuses on movement, gait, strength, and self-care, while the second day gives runners more practice applying what they learned, including a little more running in the morning session.
Caroline and Valerie also talk about how RunRx clinics and private lessons work for people who cannot attend the full weekend event. They explain that Valerie offers private lessons, small groups, and custom clinics for friends, church groups, or travel groups, and that she works with runners of all ages and abilities. The goal is always the same: help each person improve their own running journey, build confidence, reduce the chance of injury, and learn the movement of running in a way that actually sticks.
▶️ Free 30-Day RunRX Reboot — Skill, Strength & Self-Care https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0N-GZ0AosI&list=PLDPcF8ZrDdILC8bYyn2zR-4xvqKRzp2re
▶️ Join the RunRX Membership https://runrx.fit/join-runrxstrong
Website: https://runrx.fit App: RunRx Academy — search “RunRx Academy” on Apple App Store or Google Play Support email: support@runrx.fit

Coach Caroline and Coach Valerie kick off marathon season with a clear RunRx message: the best way to train for a marathon is to first build running efficiency, then train for time and form, not just miles. Valerie explains that the RunRx process starts with the immersion, where runners focus on running form, efficiency, and staying out of injury before moving into the marathon plan. From there, training includes two interval days, one longer day, bodyweight strength work, exact self-care, and skill drills so the body stays ready to race.
The big difference in this episode is that RunRx does not rely on the traditional “build to 20 miles, then taper” approach. Instead, runners are trained to hold form for one hour, then two hours, and to test that ability over time. Valerie explains that she does not use 20 miles as the goal, because time on feet and repeated quality work matter more than chasing mileage. She also shares how her own marathon coaching with Dr. Romanov included a 10-mile run the Monday before race day, because the body was recovered and ready by Sunday.
The episode also touches on ultras and trail races, where the training changes a bit because walking, hiking, terrain, and repeated back-to-back efforts come into play. Even then, the core of the program stays the same: build the movement first, stay efficient, and train in a way that protects the body while preparing it to perform. If you are heading into marathon season and want a simpler, smarter approach, this episode lays out exactly how RunRx coaches runners to get there.

▶️ Free 30-Day RunRX Reboot — Skill, Strength & Self-Care https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0N-GZ0AosI&list=PLDPcF8ZrDdILC8bYyn2zR-4xvqKRzp2re
▶️ Join the RunRX Membership https://runrx.fit/join-runrxstrong
Website: https://runrx.fit App: RunRx Academy — search “RunRx Academy” on Apple App Store or Google Play Support email: support@runrx.fit

Coach Caroline and Coach Valerie talk about bringing RunRx clinics back and what makes an in-person clinic different from watching videos at home. This live training is set up at a park with shade, water, bathrooms, and room to work, but it is not a mileage-heavy event. Instead, runners practice the elements of the gait cycle, do drills, and take a few running steps so they can feel the movement in real time.
Valerie explains why that live feedback matters so much. In person, she can correct runners immediately, help them feel pose, fall, and pull, and adjust what they are doing before old habits take over. She also points out that online coaching works well through video check-ins and Zoom, but an in-person clinic gives runners the chance to feel the movement in their body and carry that feeling back into their training.
The clinic also includes a second day for reinforcement, questions, and deeper practice. Valerie says the two-day format helps runners absorb what they learned, notice what still feels unclear, and keep practicing instead of hearing the information once and forgetting it. RunRx clinics combine skill, strength, and self-care, so runners get drills, injury prevention, stretching, and strength work all in one place.
Clinic: Runrx.fit/clinics
▶️ Free 30-Day RunRX Reboot — Skill, Strength & Self-Care https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0N-GZ0AosI&list=PLDPcF8ZrDdILC8bYyn2zR-4xvqKRzp2re
▶️ Join the RunRX Membership https://runrx.fit/join-runrxstrong
Website: https://runrx.fit App: RunRx Academy — search “RunRx Academy” on Apple App Store or Google Play Support email: support@runrx.fit

In this episode of the RunRx Podcast, Coach Caroline and Coach Valerie talk about what really happens inside the RunRx Zooms and why so many runners feel awkward at first, but then start to understand the movement over time. Valerie explains how the Zooms work, why they require only a small amount of space, and how she coaches runners live through drills, warmups, hops, skips, and running-specific movement patterns. The conversation also covers why most runners do not naturally do drills, why so many people skip warmups, and how learning the why behind the movement changes everything.
Valerie shares how training like an elite athlete is not about identifying as elite, but about using the same kind of preparation, repetition, and movement awareness that elite runners use. She explains the importance of understanding pose, fall, pull, and the running man drill, and why memorizing a movement is not the same as truly understanding it. The episode also highlights how community plays a huge role in running success, how runners can feel silly at first, and why that feeling usually disappears once they understand how the drills improve their run. Valerie also shares a real success story from a Marine runner who trained with her, came in second overall in a 50K, and then brought a group of fellow Marines to learn how to run more efficiently and stay out of injury.

▶️ Free 30-Day RunRX Reboot — Skill, Strength & Self-Care https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0N-GZ0AosI&list=PLDPcF8ZrDdILC8bYyn2zR-4xvqKRzp2re
▶️ Join the RunRX Membership https://runrx.fit/join-runrxstrong
Website: https://runrx.fit App: RunRx Academy — search “RunRx Academy” on Apple App Store or Google Play Support email: support@runrx.fit