The Stronger Stride Podcast

This episode explores the science behind cardiovascular and tendon adaptations during return to running post-injury, discusses social media running trends, and offers practical advice on combining walking and running in races.

Follow Us:
Instagram: ⁠
@strongerstride⁠ | ⁠@lydia_mckay⁠ | @sophielane⁠

YouTube: ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAP9eXZNoDB_9zk7WBMm9WA⁠
Discount Codes:
TAILWINDSTRONG: 15% off Tailwind Nutrition
STRONGERSTRIDE: 15% off Vivobarefoot shoes
STRONGER15: 15% off Skorcha Sunscreen
Thanks for tuning in! TSSP x

*In case you missed it - one of our favourites from the archives - Flow State + Goal Setting for runners w/ Scott Goddard PhD
*Interview starts at 15:40*
It was an honour to be joined by sports and exercise psychologist, researcher and PhD Scott Goddard, who devotes his time into the studies of human performance, goal setting and flow state. Scott has contributed to research focusing on developing and evaluating intervention strategies to induce optimal psychological states in athletes.

We got to dive deep into the science of setting goals, why it's worth setting them and the relationship between setting a target and improving performance. We talk about process vs outcome and learn how our running experience or even personality type might influence the strategy we should select when reaching for a goal.

Scott shares with us about the Flow State, an elusive yet favourable human experience that appears to have a multitude of benefits and not just for performance. We learn about what the current research says about how we can access flow and what it might look like for different runners. Scott gives us some practical ideas on how we might include this into our training.

Today's episode was deeply insightful and left us excited to get out running to trial some flow state techniques and even re-adjust our 2023 goals. Scott was an absolute wealth of knowledge and we know you'll love learning from him.

Thanks for all of your support!

Please rate the podcast, leave a review and follow us on instagram @strongerstride to stay up to date.

Need some nutrition or hydration for your endurance training? Use the code TAILWINDSTRONG at ⁠www.tailwindnutrition.com.au⁠

You can also use our code STRONGERSTRIDE for 15% off Vivobarefoot shoes at ⁠www.solemechanics.com.au

249. Why Do I Keep Getting Running Injuries? (And How to Break the Cycle)
If you feel like you’re constantly dealing with niggles, setbacks, or full-blown injuries… this episode is for you.
Lydia dives into one of the most common (and frustrating) questions runners ask: “Why do I keep getting injured?” Drawing on her experience as a physiotherapist, strength coach, and runner, she breaks down the key reasons injuries keep happening and what you can actually do about it.
This episode goes beyond surface-level advice. It explores the evidence behind injury risk and gives you practical, realistic strategies to help you train more consistently, build capacity, and stay injury-free long-term.
We discuss:
• Why previous injury is the strongest predictor of future injury
• The role of consistency (and why stop-start training sets you up to fail)
• How strength training improves tissue capacity and resilience
• The risks of always progressing and never maintaining
• Why “no pain” doesn’t mean you’re ready to ramp things up
• The impact of load management, recovery, and overtraining
• Low energy availability and its link to injury risk
• How to actually break the injury cycle and train smarter
If you’re stuck in the cycle of injury → rehab → return → re-injury, this episode will help you understand why and give you the tools to finally move forward.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction to Injury Prevention in Running
00:54 Common Reasons for Running Injuries and Personal Experiences
01:14 Introduction to Injury in Runners
03:44 Understanding Previous Injuries and Their Impact
06:36 The Role of Inconsistency in Training
09:39 Importance of Strength Training
12:19 The Impact of Early Sports Exposure
14:54 Managing Training Load and Recovery
17:51 The Dangers of Over-Progression
20:30 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
32:10 The Importance of Maintenance in Running Training
37:10 Understanding Pain and Injury Recovery
44:07 The Risks of Overtraining and Inconsistency
47:45 Simplifying Recovery and Training Strategies
54:24 Nutrition and Energy Availability in Running
57:56 Completing Rehabilitation for Previous Injuries
Follow Us:
Instagram: ⁠@strongerstride⁠ | ⁠@lydia_mckay⁠ | @sophielane⁠
YouTube: ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAP9eXZNoDB_9zk7WBMm9WA
Discount Codes:
TAILWINDSTRONG: 15% off Tailwind Nutrition
STRONGERSTRIDE: 15% off Vivobarefoot shoes
STRONGER15: 15% off Skorcha Sunscreen
Thanks for tuning in!
TSSP x

248. Understanding Plantar Fasciopathy: Causes, Treatment & Prevention with Joe Keain

Today we’re joined by podiatrist Joe Keain to break down one of the most common (and frustrating) running injuries: plantar fasciopathy.

In this episode, Joe shares a clear and practical approach to understanding heel pain - from what’s actually going on in the tissue, to why the term “fasciitis” might not always be accurate. We dive into the key risk factors, common mistakes runners make, and how to effectively manage and progress this injury without getting stuck in the boom–bust cycle.

We cover:

• What plantar fasciopathy is (and fasciitis vs fasciopathy)
• Early stage management and the role of inflammation
• Key risk factors: load, footwear, and training errors
• Strengthening the foot and building tissue capacity
• Pain management and returning to running safely
• When to progress to higher load (plyos, faster running)
• Shoe considerations and what might actually help

This episode is packed with practical takeaways for runners dealing with heel pain, or those wanting to stay ahead of it. Whether you’re in the early stages or stuck in a recurring cycle, this will help you better understand what your body needs, and how to progress with confidence.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest
01:55 Joe’s background and journey into podiatry
14:52 Working with runners and injury prevention
17:42 What is plantar fasciopathy and its symptoms
19:19 Fasciitis vs fasciopathy
20:57 Inflammation and early treatment
21:58 Risk factors and load management
27:05 Foot posture: does it matter?
31:07 Foot strengthening exercises
32:20 Offloading and early management
34:20 Pain management and return to running
36:42 Boom–bust cycle explained
40:56 Recovery timelines
42:54 Progressing to higher loads
43:25 Shoe considerations
45:05 When to seek further assessment
47:35 Choosing the right podiatrist
Follow Us:
Instagram: ⁠@strongerstride⁠ | ⁠@lydia_mckay⁠ | @sophielane
YouTube: ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAP9eXZNoDB_9zk7WBMm9WA
Discount Codes:
TAILWINDSTRONG – 15% off Tailwind Nutrition
STRONGERSTRIDE – 15% off Vivobarefoot shoes
STRONGER15 – 15% off Skorcha Sunscreen
Thanks for tuning in!

TSSP x

In case you missed it - this is one of our favourite episodes from 2023.
*Interview starts at 9:25*
Women's health physiotherapist Madison Cutmore joined us to debunk myths around the pelvic floor including; incontinence, hyperactivity and kegels. Mad's runs us through the pelvic anatomy, its normal function and the common things that can go wrong. We discuss pre and post-natal considerations for runners aiming to prevent leakage and prepare for a smoother birthing experience. 

Mads explains that pelvic floor dysfunction can be experienced by anyone at any age, and she discusses some of the common causes, signs to watch out for and when to seek professional treatment. If you've every experienced leakage or pelvic pain then this episode is a must listen. Incontinence is not normal as runner, despite it being more common that we think! There's so much we can do and seeking help from a professional like Mads is a great place to start. 

You can reach out to Mads on social media where she shares educational content here @physiomads
Thanks for all of your support! Please rate the podcast, leave a review and follow us on instagram @strongerstride to stay up to date.