What Can You Take (Legally) to Improve Performance- Alex Hutchinson

Runners are continuously searching for answers, we always want to know what we can do to get better, and how we can keep improving. I don’t know about you, but I always love learning from the experts to find out what they have discovered throughout their career.

At runners connect you know we are all about the science. We love to dive into the research, and give you the most up to date findings without the bias. My guest today is a well known writer for runners world who also does the same thing. He has been on the podcast before, but has so many insights that I thought he would be a great guest to have on the show again. I had the opportunity to ask some questions that I have always wanted to know the answer to. I am sure many of you will have wondered the same thing, well I hope so anyway! This is an interesting interview, and I am sure you will learn many practical tips that you can take to improve your running in the future.

My guest today is

• Former physicist, lifelong runner, and science journalist who writes for runners world- blog sweat science, the globe and mail, NY times, the walrus, and more
• Author of Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights: Fitness Myths, Training Truths and Other Surprising Discoveries from the Science of Exercise
• Sweat science- what does evidence show? What RC is all about; the studies and evidence within the running and fitness world
• National magazine award winner 

Today Alex and I are going to discuss:

• Why you need to balance the scientist and artist within you to get the most out of your running
• The importance of responding to intuition and why you should consider not taking measuring tools with you on runs to force yourself to listen to how you feel
• Why Alex thinks the “running will kill you” claims keep coming back into the limelight
• Why caffeine, creatine, and beta alanine are three supplements that you should consider to improve performance
• How caffeine affects the body, and when you should take it
• Whether coffee drinkers should stop taking caffeine the week before the race, to get the maximum effect on race day
• Why middle distance runners should consider beta alanine to improve finishing kick
• Why stacking performance enhancing products will not necessarily lead to multiple performance improvements
• Why what has worked for you in the past will work for you less and less as time goes on, and why you need to continually look for new workouts to add into your training

What Can You Take (Legally) to Improve Performance- Alex Hutchinson