Published by Chris McClung
Running Rogue is a podcast produced by Rogue Running in Austin, TX. We are here to talk about all things running and help you become a better runner along the way! Check us out at www.roguerunning.com.
Listen on Apple Podcasts56 min
What does it look like to manifest your future? Is it just thinking and dreaming + magic and hope or it is more? In this episode, we discuss the tactics behind manifesting your goals. While some of these tactics might sound cheesy, they are backed by science and years of subjective experience. We cover self-talk, affirmations, re-framing negative thoughts, visualization, and problem solving. Plus, we discuss how to turn "failure" into opportunity and the lessons that will lead to eventual success. It is time to re-program your brain to believe!
53 min
We've discussed knowing your purpose. Now, it is time to paint a picture of what you want in this sport. Your vision is the dream and the big picture which isn't bounded by time. Your goals are the timebound milestones along the way. In this episode, we talk about the process of creating a vision board and then discuss the do's and don'ts of goal setting. Should you create process or outcome goals? Should you have an "A" goal and "B" goal? How do you find the balance of making the goal a stretch without making it unrealistic? We talk about all of this and more!
1 hr 0 min
There are two big questions underpinning this episode... Is mental strength innate or do you build it? What's the distance between your true limits and the perceived limits posed by your mind? We discuss these questions to open the episode. We truly do believe that mental fortitude is built. AND, there is plenty of room to better match your perceived limits with your actual limits. To do that, you have to work at it, and we break down how to do so. Know your plan. Bring your mental tools to race day. Build the mentality needed to give your all. Execute, apply, learn. And finally, do it with a team to best hone your mental skills.
1 hr 3 min
We are turning the page (pun intended) to a new section of the book where we discuss the mental side of training and racing. And, as cheesy as it might sound, it all starts with knowing your purpose for the run. Why do you run, and specifically why do run for performance? For you, running might be about stress relief, health or longevity, but we would submit that there are likely deeper reasons as well, especially if you are listening to us talk. In this episode, we encourage you to dig into your purpose by creating a statement of purpose for your running. We give you 6 tips and several thought starters for doing so. This might be a scary exercise for you, but we promise it will pay off when the going gets tough in training or racing!
1 hr 1 min
If the long run "puts the tiger in the cat," then the long run workout puts the saber tooth in the tiger! Yes, we need all of those easy long runs to build the aerobic foundation. Then, as you gain experience and appropriately timed in the cycle, it is important to add quality into your long runs to give you that extra edge for race day. We call these workouts race simulations or race preps because they give you the opportunity to practice that race-day feeling while still saving something for race day. In this episode, we break down how to do that in an optimal way with all of the do's and don'ts, including example workouts. Are you ready to upgrade some of your long runs with speed? Then, this episode is for you!
1 hr 0 min
There are 3 main pillars of recovery - sleep, nutrition/hydration, and easy movement. In this episode, we talk about the third pillar. In our training programs, easy movement primarily manifests as recovery running. These are the glacially slow runs that enable blood flow which promote healing for the next long or hard thing. If you are skipping your recovery runs, then you are likely on the bullet train to injury. So, get in those recovery runs and do them at paces that are slower than you think. Your body will thank you and so will your next PR.
54 min
Last week, we talked about the long run, and now this week, we talk about the medium long run. I call it the "unsung hero" of fitness building, and it's a run that is often overlooked relative to the speed workout or primary long run. In this episode, we discuss why it's really the third leg or pillar in your training that should be given equal weight to those other two. Listen in to learn about the why and the how of building a robust medium long run to help you smash your goals. It is more important than you think!
56 min
Mile for mile... the long run might just be the most important run of the week. It builds aerobic capacity, improves neuromuscular resilience, and facilitates metabolic flexibility - 3 of the most important tools you need as a distance runner. In this episode, we discuss the benefits in detail and then break down the tactics by answering these 6 questions about the long run: How long? How many or how often? How fast? Can you go too fast? How do you fuel? Hydrate? How do you incorporate long run workouts? Make sure you aren't wasting miles. Listen to this one before your next long run!
51 min
The word "tempo" might be one of the most commonly misunderstood words in coaching vernacular, even as it might be the most commonly prescribed type of workout. It's also one of the most important and critical training efforts for distance runners, so it is critical to understand it well if you want to improve. This episode is all about that tempo. We give you the what, the why, and the how of executing a solid tempo workout. Plus, you get a host of examples of how it might be done in different ways across all training phases. Don't fidget. Tempo!
48 min
400m reps at 5K pace. 800m reps at 10K pace. 1 mile repeats starting at HM pace and working down by 2-3 secs per rep. Our vernacular in running is to use training paces based on what you could theoretically run at each distance. It is a useful tool for dialing into effort, but it IS NOT The end all and be all. In this episode, we give you 9 truths about training paces and how to use them effectively while still keeping the big picture in mind!
1 hr 3 min
We take a break from our book discussions to reflect on 400 episodes and nearly 10 years of podcasting. Our hope with this one is simply to remind you and ourselves of why we do this. Thank you to everyone who has listened and downloaded through the years. We do it for you. One step at a time. Onward.
58 min
Recovery is how you build fitness. We need recovery after hard and long days, hence our emphasis on recovery running. You also need recovery after hard weeks, so in our programming, we do "down weeks" every third week to consolidate the fitness gains of the "up weeks." Two up, one down. That is the rhythm of working hard and then recovering from that work to actually get faster. In this episode, we talk about the what, why, and how of down weeks. What do they look like? Why do we do them? And how do you make them as effective as possible with 6 key success factors? Almost at 400 episodes!
1 hr 5 min
In this episode, we cover the final 2 phases of your training block - the taper and the post-race recovery phases. Both are critical for hitting this peak and then getting to your next one. We give you the reasons for the taper and the mechanics of it (for volume, speed, and routine), and then we break down how to recover from your race. It is critical to taper in order to be fresh and ready for your A race, and then it is imperative to recover appropriately in order to start your next cycle on the right foot, pun intended. In this episode, we also talk about special cases, including tapering while slightly injured or sick, as well as answer questions such as "what to do with strength training during the taper?". It's time to get fresh and ready, y'all!
1 hr 8 min
We continue our journey through the training phases. In this episode, we talk about the goals and guiding principles of the race-specific phase of work. This is where you put the icing on the cake or the cherry on top of the sundae. You've earned the right to be a little more aggressive, but it's time to crowd out the noise/distractions and focus on the final steps to be race-ready!
1 hr 5 min
Last week was all about that base. This week is all about that aerobic strength - the aerobic strength phase of work specifically. We think there is a lot of confusion about this phase of work and what's involved. We break it all down in this episode. It's about building endurance and staying power in order to be prepared for the race specific phase to come. We give you guidelines on volume building, sharpening, and the nature of the workouts in this phase of work with plenty of examples. If your base is big enough, then the next step is to get aerobic strong enough as you step toward the big day!
1 hr 15 min
In this week's episode, we begin a walk (err... run) through each period of training. We start with base building, digging into what it should look like for you. What should you focus on in this phase? How should you think about the running and building your weekly mileage? What are other considerations including strength and lifestyle? We also discuss the Maffetone Method and how it might fit into your base building plans. Have you spent an extended time on base lately? If not... we would encourage you to consider it!
1 hr 1 min
We wrap up this mini-series on polarization with the final 5 questions for you. First, we cover Chris's experience at his first stage race - Moab Run the Rocks - put on by the great folks at TransRockies Running. It is a 3-day stage race event covering ~54 miles of trails over 3 days in/around Moab, Utah. Chris had a blast and shares a little bit about his experiences there in the first 25 minutes of this one. Then, we get to the final questions on polarization. Are you polarizing your training enough to optimize it? The full list of questions (including the 4 from part 1): a. Are enough of your miles easy vs. hard? b. Are you varying the distances of your runs appropriately? c. Are your easy miles easy enough? d. Are you doing weekly strides? e. Are you working faster and slower than race pace in workouts? f. Are you training for a variety of race distances over time? g. Is there a difference between your peak training and your post-race recovery mode? h. Are you balancing stress and rest well in training? i. Are your race strategies structured to allow you to start smart and finish strong? Now, ask yourself: how did I do on the pop quiz? If you missed on a question or two (or more), then pick 1 area to work on and go from there. You won't regret it!
1 hr 0 min
From periodization to polarization, we cover two "ization" words in as many weeks, and we promise it isn't as boring as it might sound! With this podcast, we discuss something that might just be at the crux of reaching your potential. Is your training polarized enough? Plus, we make it fun by turning it into a pop quiz with 4 questions in this episode and more in part 2 coming next week. Grab a #2 pencil and a blue book so you can take the test that will determine if you are on a path to reaching your full potential, or not yet...
1 hr 3 min
We start with some beef that I have been sitting on for a minute. We love our influencers and content creators in the running world, but there is at least ONE thing that a few of them need to stop doing. Let's see if we can agree... Then, James and I dig into the art, science, and details of periodization. How should your training cycle be constructed in phases? Every. Single. Time. No exceptions or shortcuts. Oh, and there are 5 periods to know, not the 4 you may have in your head. Can you name them?! Execute these 5 periods on repeat for the rest of your running life, and there will be big things in your future!
50 min
We believe that MOST runners are thinking in planning windows that are too short. If your focus is ONLY on your very next race, then you are leaving potential on the table. In this episode, James and I discuss how to think about planning in 12-18 windows by strategically considering your sequence of macrocyles (aka big training blocks). If you think long-term with THE big, main-priority goal in mind, then you will increase your chances of getting there. To break it down, we discuss what is a macrocycle, how to plan/periodize them, and how to schedule your racing checkpoints along the way. Paint the big picture so that you are then master the details along the way!
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Observed July 30, 2026.
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