Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast we are talking with Coach Ken Michal, host of the Running Stupid Podcast about recovery, rehab and injury prevention when training for ultras.
If you want to complete an ultramarathon, you will have to put in lots of training. One of the big keys to successfully training for an ultra-marathon is to log lots of miles without getting sick or injured.
Ken Michal has stood on the starting line of almost every significant ultra, including Western States 100 and multiple rounds of the HURT 100.
And when I asked him about what it takes to successfully train for these kind of ultras, he says, “You’re going to hate me for saying this, but its risk and reward.”
Here are some of the questions I got to ask Coach Ken when we sat down for the interview:
Dr. Segler: Before we get into some questions maybe you could just give us a little bit more background about your running history and why you became so interested ultras and in coaching runners.
Coach Ken: (check out the podcast audio to hear what he had to say)
Dr. Segler: It seems like most runners think of training as simply spending lots of time on your feet and logging lots of miles in preparation for an event. We want to feel strong. But really, there’s a true necessity and mental preparation for these long trail races.
How does “training” prepare a runner mentally for an ultra?
Coach Ken: (check out the podcast audio to hear what he had to say)
Dr. Segler: I know you’ve spent a lot of time training and coaching athletes of a variety of distances. Runners just think of running injuries it’s being some anatomic ailment, like shin splints or tendinitis. But I know you have a different take on this. Can you explain to us how the bar for injury changes with distanced and goals?
Coach Ken: (check out the podcast audio to hear what he had to say)
Dr. Segler: I personally believe that sleep is the most abundant and most underutilized resource available to runners in training. Do you do anything in particular with sleep to make sure you recover faster when you’re in training?
Coach Ken: (check out the podcast audio to hear what he had to say)
Dr. Segler: Once an event is over, a lot of athletes just take time off. But I think recovery is an active process I think there’s a lot of things we can do to speed up the recovery after an event. Maintaining solid nutritional habits to rebuild and refuel after event or a big block of training are critical. For all of those listening right now who might be in training for a long event, what is your best single piece of advice regarding nutrition to help people recover faster, keep training and avoid injury?
Coach Ken: (check out the podcast audio to hear what he had to say)
Dr. Segler: I have heard lots of different athletes talk about their secret weapons to help them recover faster. Some people take naps, others get massages. Some have secret smoothie recipes. Do you have any secret weapons or strategies that you recover faster or decrease your risk of injury when training?
Coach Ken: (check out the podcast audio to hear what he had to say)
Dr. Segler: After race a lot of people just take time off. Sit on the couch. They rest, maybe do something like go on a “vacation.” What do you do to recover after you finish one of your goal races?
Coach Ken: (check out the podcast audio to hear what he had to say)
Dr. Segler: I know you’ve done lots of races but I’m really curious of all the events you have done what has been most memorable. What has been your favorite race you ever competed?
Coach Ken: (check out the podcast audio to hear what he had to say)
Dr. Segler: I know right now a lot of peoples schedules are up in the air, but do you have anything on the calendar right now? And if not, is there something you really would like to do? What is your current goal race?
Coach Ken: (check out the podcast audio to hear what he had to say)
Dr. Segler: Okay I’m at a go go ahead and say that I think everybody should listen to the Running Stupid Podcast. It is perfect for a long run to help you knock out some miles. But for listeners out there right now who haven’t yet listened to the Running Stupid Podcast, tell them what it’s about.
Links we mentioned in the show:
Running Stupid Podcast link: http://runningstupid.libsyn.com
Running Stupid Website: http://www.runningstupid.net
Contact Coach Ken by Email: coachken@runningstupid.net
Running Stupid Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RunningStupid/
Coach Ken on Instagram: @alldaykenmichal
Running Stupid on Twitter: https://twitter.com/runningstupid
Coach Ken’s Ultra Runner magazine Discount Code:
$10 off a new subscription or renewal.
https://subscriber.ultrarunning.com/subscribe/ambassador?code=AM8B875
Enter Referral Code: AM8B875