The Season After the Season: How to Plan After a Breakthrough Race, with Sara Manderscheid

The Strength Running Podcast

Jason Fitzgerald

Health & Fitness, 10k, Beginnerrunning, Marathontraining, Fitness, Injuryprevention, Marathon, Halfmarathon, Running, Sports

4.8 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 12 June 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A breakthrough race is intoxicating. Running a big Personal Best is a clear sign that you're training well, thriving, and on the right track.

But what happens next?

What happens after you run a big PR and your season comes to an end? How do you keep the momentum going, while still respecting recovery and your need for down-time?

This episode is a repost of a conversation on the Elevate Your Running podcast with coach Sara Manderscheid. We talk about:

Recovery is a real phase of training. Learn how long to rest and why it's more than physical.
Race analysis and reflection: Discover how to learn from your recent race, identifying both successes and areas for improvement.
New Goals or No?: Explore diverse approaches to planning your next training cycle.
Smart base rebuilding: Find effective strategies for a gradual and consistent return to training.
Preventing burnout and staying motivated: Keep your passion for running strong, even during the off-season.

More resources:

Thanks Boulderthon!

Boulderthon is a top 10 race in America according to USA Today and one of the best fall marathons according to Runner’s World. With a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon, Boulderthon offers an amazing fall destination race weekend right at the foothills of the Rockies. Use code STRENGTH20 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon.

Join me in Boulder, one of the top running destinations in the country, on September 28th, to experience the tight knit running community here, race on the epic streets of Boulder, and finish on historic Pearl Street. While I live in Denver, I travel to Boulder probably once a week to run. It’s arguably one of the best running locations in the United States.

There’ll probably be cool and crisp fall weather for racing fast, too. And don’t worry, Boulderthon is a BQ-eligible, USA Track & Field Sanctioned Event.

Boulderthon is on track to sell out again this year so don’t miss out. Use code STRENGTH20 to save $20 on the marathon or half-marathon here and I hope to see you in Boulder this fall.

Thank you 2Before!

We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation.

2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles. Just like beetroot, New Zealand blackcurrant berries act as a vasodilator to increase blood flow, helping you perform better.

Boost your performance and immune system with 2Before. Use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.

Thank you 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

Transcript

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0:00.0	Ready, set, go!
0:04.1	This is episode 409, featuring me in the hot seat getting interviewed by running coach Sarah
0:10.5	Mandershide about how to structure a season after you've had a breakthrough race. Welcome to the Strength Running podcast.
0:26.8	We surround you with the same experts as pro runners.
0:29.5	So keep listening to hear running coaches, physical therapists, strength experts, dietitians, sports psychologists, and other thought leaders give you the best guidance
0:39.2	possible to take your running to the next level. I'm your host, coach Jason Fitzgerald.
0:44.6	I'm a former cross-country and track athlete for Connecticut College. I've been coaching runners
0:49.1	since 2010, and I used to write for Trail Runner Magazine and Runner's World. Today I'm the head coach
0:55.1	of Strength Running, host of this podcast, and I work with a small handful of startups in the
1:00.1	running space. You can learn more about me and Strength Running at Strengthrunning.com. A quick request for you
1:06.6	today before we start the show. If you haven't yet, go leave the podcast a rating or review in
1:12.4	Spotify or Apple. Those reviews are very meaningful and I appreciate them so much. Thank you.
1:19.0	Also, a big thanks to our partners who support the show. If you get a lot of value from the pod
1:23.4	and you've ever wondered how to support the Strength Running podcast, take advantage of one of these
1:28.2	offers. They show our sponsors that our community is engaged, and that in turn makes the podcast
1:33.4	sustainable for the long term. A big thanks to Two Before. Get yourself a whopping 30% discount on
1:40.4	their 20 pack and multi-packs at Twofore.com for their all-natural, scientifically
1:46.6	proven pre-workout with code Jason. Two-before, which is the numeral two, followed by the word
1:53.0	before, is made from New Zealand black current berries, which improves vasodilation or blood flow,
1:59.4	just like beetroot. But they also improve recovery after exercise by managing oxidative stress
2:05.4	through their unique ratio of antioxidants, which also have a nice side benefit of supporting
2:10.7	your immune system.
	...

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