Ep 516: Rethinking Endurance: Fitness Myths & Life Long Health with Brad Kearns

In this episode, Dr. Jannine Krause is joined by Brad Kearns—New York Times bestselling author, Guinness World Record-setting speed golfer, former national champion, and #3 world-ranked professional athlete. As the host of the B. Rad podcast and a top-ranked high jumper, Brad is passionate about promoting lifelong peak performance through fitness and mindset. Today's podcast dives into his new book with Mark Sisson, Born to Walk, which questions conventional fitness wisdom around endurance running and asks whether the idea of “more suffering equals better results” might be misleading. Tune in for a fresh take on fitness where health and sustainability are the main focus. 

What You'll Learn In This Episode:

• The Suffer Ethos vs. Effective Fitness:

  • Why pushing yourself to the max in workouts may not yield the best results.

• Running Shoes: Cushioned vs. Barefoot:

  • Insights into the cushioned shoe industry's marketing tactics.
  • Why cushioned shoes might be allowing poor form that leads to overuse injuries.
  • Introduction to Peluva shoes, a barefoot-style shoe with separated toe design for natural foot alignment.

• Injuries & Misconceptions in Endurance Running:

  • Injury Statistics: 50% of runners are injured annually, with 25% nursing injuries at any time.
  • Running and overuse injuries caused by repetitive high-impact movement.

• The “Skinny Fat” Phenomenon:

  • Running isn’t always an effective weight loss strategy and can contribute to lean mass loss
  • Why high-volume running can lead to increased cardiovascular inflammation, especially in endurance athletes

• Zone 2 Cardio and the Benefits of Walking:

  • The value of Zone 2 (low-intensity) cardio and why walking may be a better alternative for long-term health.
  • How to make a gradual transition from running to a walking-focused routine.

• The Myth of Extreme Events:

  • How extreme physical events may lead to accelerated aging and a breakdown in the body over time.
  • Brad’s take on sprint workouts as an effective alternative to distance running
  • A twist on the 26.2-mile marathon distance story and why its origin might surprise you.
  • Insight into the creation of the Iron Man race and its impact on the fitness culture.

Resources From The Show: 

• Brad's Website
• Peluva Shoes - Use code HEALTHFIX at peluva.com for a discount on your purchase.
• Born to Walk - Brad Kearns & Mark Sisson's book