“You’ve got to have high challenge and high support.” In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Duncan Simpson of Dartmouth’s Teeven Center for Peak Performance to discuss the psychology of pushing yourself to your limits as a runner.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

🔸 Effective strategies to navigate tough moments in a race

🔸 The importance of creating a strong but not singular identity as a runner

🔸 How to create a healthy narrative around your running

🔸Three mindset skills to sharpen in a training cycle

🔸Psychologically healthy vs unhealthy race goals

Tread Lightly Running is hosted and researched by Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris, MSc. Production, show notes, and graphics by Laura Norris. Media kit available to interested sponsors upon request.

About our guest:

Duncan Simpson, PhD, director of Dartmouth’s Teevens Center for Peak Performance and Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) has spent his career studying what happens when people are pushed to their limits, and what allows some to keep performing through high-stakes environments. As the former Head of Mental Conditioning at IMG Academy, Duncan has helped professional, international, and NCAA athletes of all ages perform under pressure and sustain elite performance.

• Connect with Duncan on LinkedIn
• Email duncan.simpson@dartmouth.edu
• Think aloud study
• Ultramarathon study
• Learn more about The Teevens Center

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like:

🎧 The Psychology Behind Peak Running Performance with Dr. Trent Claypool (7 Aug 2026)

Let’s stay connected:

➡️ Tread Lightly Running Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treadlightlyrunning/

➡️ Laura Norris Running on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauranorrisrunning/

➡️ Subscribe for weekly evidence-based newsletters, straight to your inbox, on https://lauranorrisrunning.substack.com/

➡️ Run to the Finish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runtothefinish/?hl=en

➡️ Thousands of running gear reviews and training guides: https://runtothefinish.com/

If you google “Half Marathon Training Plan,” the search engine presents you with an overwhelming variety of options: Galloway, Hansons, Hal Higdon, Daniels, and more. In this episode, we discuss the fundamental principles of volume, intensity, and progression in the most popular half marathon methodologies.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

🔸 If 80-20 is the best training intensity distribution for the half marathon

🔸 How to use the run-walk method for the half marathon

🔸 The pros and cons of the Hansons Half Marathon Method

🔸 If low-volume training plans work for the half marathon

🔸How the Jack Daniels Formula works

🔸Who popular online plans such as Hal Higdon and BAA plans are best for

Tread Lightly Running is hosted and researched by Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris, MSc. Production, show notes, and graphics by Laura Norris. Media kit available to interested sponsors upon request.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like:

🎧 Why 80/20 Doesn’t Work for Every Runner with Jonah Rosner (12 Dec 2025)

🎧 What is Zone 3 Really Doing to Your Running Fitness? (26 Dec 2025)

🎧 Half Marathon Taper: It’s Not Just Less Running (26 March 2026)

🎧 Tune Up Race Formula (14 August 2026)

Let’s stay connected:

➡️ Tread Lightly Running Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treadlightlyrunning/

➡️ Laura Norris Running on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauranorrisrunning/

➡️ Subscribe for weekly evidence-based newsletters, straight to your inbox, on https://lauranorrisrunning.substack.com/

➡️ Run to the Finish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runtothefinish/?hl=en

➡️ Thousands of running gear reviews and training guides: https://runtothefinish.com/

Running is not bad for your knees - if anything, consistent running is remarkably beneficial for your cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health. In this episode, we delve into the research around running, disease risk, and mortality/longevity. You will learn how running improves heart health, lowers cancer risk, helps you sleep, and more.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

✅ How endurance training changes your heart

✅ The impact of running on cardio-metabolic disease risk

✅ How consistent running affects your musculoskeletal system

✅ How endurance training improves sleep

✅ The impact of running on brain health

✅ The immune system benefits of running

✅ How running impacts longevity

Tread Lightly Running is hosted and researched by Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris, MSc. Production, show notes, and graphics by Laura Norris. Media kit available to interested sponsors upon request.

References

🔬PMID: 28365296

🔬PMID: 26178328

🔬PMID: 31103650

🔬PMID: 29342063

🔬PMID: 40664502

🔬 PMID: 31036563

🔬PMID: 2471166

🔬PMID: 38355154

🔬PMID: 30991724

🔬PMID: 25082581

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like:

🎧 Running for Health vs Running for Performance (14 Nov 2025)

🎧 How Much Do Genetics Impact Your Running Performance? (30 Aug 2024)

🎧 Hybrid Training as Health Training with Dr. Alyssa Olenick (6 Sept 2024)

🎧 How Much Does VO2max Actually Matter? (3 Oct 2025)

https://lauranorrisrunning.substack.com/p/does-running-increase-your-risk-of

Let’s stay connected:

➡️ Tread Lightly Running Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treadlightlyrunning/

➡️ Laura Norris Running on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauranorrisrunning/

➡️ Subscribe for weekly evidence-based newsletters, straight to your inbox, on https://lauranorrisrunning.substack.com/

➡️ Run to the Finish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runtothefinish/?hl=en

➡️ Thousands of running gear reviews and training guides: https://runtothefinish.com/