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Send us Fan Mail What happens when a runner who once qualified for the Boston Marathon decides she’s not done chasing bigger goals? This week on Running With James, we’re sitting down with special guest Alaina Laine to talk about her journey from competitive team sports and marathon running to the world of HYROX Pro competition. Alaina’s athletic resume is impressive: two Boston Marathon appearances, nine marathons, a 3:24 marathon PR, a third-place finish in her first HYROX Pro Doubles race, and a second-place finish in her first HYROX Pro Solo competition. But her story isn’t just about finish times and podiums. As a pediatric neurosurgery nurse practitioner, a leader, and a mom of two active kids, Alaina knows what it means to balance a demanding career, family responsibilities, and the pursuit of ambitious athletic goals. We talk about overcoming injuries, bouncing back from a marathon experience that landed her in the emergency room, rebuilding confidence, embracing polarized training, and learning to trust the process. And with HYROX Pro Miami Beach on the horizon, she’s chasing another big goal: a sub-70 finish and a potential World Championship invitation. The takeaway? You’re never too old to chase a new goal. Be willing to be bad at something, do things that scare you, and keep working to get better. Real conversations. Real experiences. Real runners. Change Your Mind. Change Your Life. Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail Every runner has aches, pains, tight muscles, and those little nagging sensations that make you wonder: Should I keep running, modify my workout, or take a few days off? But how do you know the difference between normal training discomfort and an actual injury? This week on Running with James, we’re breaking down one of the most common questions runners face: When should you push through, when should you back off, and when should you stop altogether? We’ll talk about training soreness, muscle fatigue, overuse injuries, warning signs, and why understanding how your body responds to training is just as important as following the training plan. We’ll also discuss: What aches and discomforts can be part of normal training adaptation?What symptoms should never be ignored?When does pushing through become counterproductive?Why rest alone doesn’t always fix an injury.How to modify training without losing all your progress.How to build a stronger, more resilient runner.The goal isn’t to become afraid of every little ache. It’s to become a smarter athlete who knows when to keep going, when to adjust, and when to get help. Because knowing when NOT to run can be just as important as knowing when to run. Let’s talk about it! Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail Are we actually becoming better runners, or are we just buying the lifestyle? From carbon-plated shoes and expensive GPS watches to trendy running gear and the latest gadgets, the running industry has plenty to sell us. But do these things really make us better athletes, or do they just make us feel like we’re making progress? In this episode of Running with James, we get real about the difference between looking like a runner and training like one. As a coach, James has seen athletes chase more mileage, faster times, and the latest gear while struggling with the one thing that matters most: consistency. We’re talking running industry marketing, gear obsession, training shortcuts, and what it actually takes to get faster. Because no shoe, watch, or fancy running kit can replace showing up and doing the work. You can buy the uniform, but you can’t buy the discipline. So before you buy your next pair of running shoes, ask yourself: Are you investing in your training, or just buying the feeling of becoming a better runner? Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail Why do we really run? Is it for the love of the sport, the pursuit of a PR, the recognition, or the validation that comes with posting our miles for everyone to see? In this episode of Running with James, we get real about the pressure to run faster, chase numbers, compare ourselves to others, and prove something through our performance. From Strava kudos and Garmin stats to race-day results and social media, when does healthy competition become a search for validation? We’re not saying stop chasing goals or celebrating accomplishments. We’re asking a bigger question: Are we running because we love it, or because we need it to tell us we’re good enough? It’s time to remember your why, rediscover the joy of the journey, and stop letting your performance define your worth. 🎧 Tune in, join the conversation, and ask yourself: Would you still run if nobody else could see your miles? Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail Running is exploding. Marathons are selling out. HYROX is filling events faster than ever. Run clubs are popping up everywhere. Google searches for “how to start running” and “run club” are hitting all-time highs. Millions of people are suddenly choosing to run, race, lift, compete and train together. But why? Is this really about getting faster and getting in better shape? Or are we searching for something bigger? In this episode of Running With James, we take a look at the numbers behind the massive growth in running, HYROX and the fitness industry—and what that growth might tell us about where we are as a society. We talk about: 🏃‍♂️ Why marathon demand has exploded  🔥 The unbelievable growth of HYROX  📈 The search numbers behind the running boom  🤝 Why run clubs are becoming so popular  🧠 The connection between exercise, mental health and loneliness  ❤️ Whether we’re actually getting healthier—or simply becoming more obsessed with fitness  🏋️ How the fitness industry has shifted from selling workouts to selling community  ⚠️ The darker side of the fitness boom: comparison, burnout and turning everything into a competition  💭 And the bigger question: Are people really searching for fitness… or are they searching for connection? Maybe the biggest fitness trend isn’t running. Maybe it’s belonging. 🎧 Listen now and tell us: Why do YOU run? Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail You trained for the race. You put in the miles. You did the workouts. But do you actually have a race plan? A great race doesn’t just happen because you’re fit enough to finish. How you pace yourself, fuel, hydrate, manage effort, handle the tough moments, and respond when things don’t go according to plan can make or break your race. In this episode of Running with James, we’re breaking down how to create a race plan that gives you the best chance of executing on race day. We’ll talk about: 🏃 How to set realistic race goals  ⏱️ How to determine your pacing strategy  ❤️ Using effort and heart rate instead of blindly chasing a pace  🥤 When and how to fuel and hydrate  🧠 What to do when the race starts hurting  🔥 How to avoid the biggest race-day mistake: going out too fast  📈 How to adjust your plan when things don’t go perfectly  🏁 Why your race plan should be flexible—not rigid Whether you’re preparing for your first 5K, a marathon, HYROX, or your next big competition, the goal is the same: Don’t just show up fit. Show up with a plan. 🎙️ Running with James — real coaching, real training, and real conversations about becoming a better athlete. If you enjoy the episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who has a race coming up. Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you put James, Lauren, and Rocky in the hot seat and ask the questions they normally wouldn’t answer? This episode of Running With James is a little different. No training plan. No structured interview. Just three coaches answering questions about training, racing, fitness, personal life, pet peeves, embarrassing moments, unpopular opinions, and everything in between. Some answers are serious. Some are ridiculous. A few might get us in trouble. 😂 Who has the worst training habit?  What’s our biggest pet peeve?  What would we never do again?  Who takes competition the most seriously?  And what questions did we REALLY hope nobody would ask? You asked. We answered. This is Running With James… Hot Seat style. Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail YOU DON’T NEED TO RUN MORE TO GET FASTER. Or do you? One of the most common pieces of advice runners hear is simple: if you want to get faster, run more. But is more mileage actually the answer? In this episode of Running with James, we challenge the idea that more running automatically leads to more speed. We break down frequency, volume, intensity, recovery, and the 80/20 approach to training—and why constantly adding miles may not be the smartest way to improve. We’ll talk about why runners often turn easy days into hard days, why your hardest workout isn’t necessarily your most important run of the week, and why recovery is part of training—not time away from it. Whether you’re training for a 5K, marathon, HYROX, or simply trying to become a better runner, there’s a good chance the answer isn’t “just run more.” More running isn’t always better running. And more miles definitely don’t guarantee more speed. So… do you really need to run more? Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail Who really belongs in HYROX? This week, we’re going straight into one of the more controversial conversations in the sport: Do you actually need to be prepared to do HYROX? What about the people who sign up just for fun? The athletes who show up underprepared? The people who aren’t chasing a podium, a qualifying time, or a personal best? Does HYROX belong only to serious competitors, or is there room for everyone? We break down where we stand on the “HYROX for fun” debate, what being “unprepared” really means, whether there should be a minimum level of preparation, and why the growth of HYROX is bringing a whole new group of people into the sport. It’s a little controversial. It might ruffle some feathers. But it’s a conversation worth having. So… who REALLY belongs in HYROX? Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail Think getting faster in HYROX means you just need to run more? Think again. In this episode of Running with James, we break down the 5 key areas you need to train to become a faster, stronger, and more efficient HYROX runner. HYROX is unique because you’re not running a fresh 1K, you’re running eight of them while your legs are constantly getting beat up by the stations. That means your training needs to prepare you for much more than just running mileage. We break down the five training “buckets,” how each one impacts your HYROX performance, and how to put them together so you can run faster when you’re already fatigued. Whether you’re training for your first HYROX or trying to take minutes off your next race, this episode will give you a better strategy for improving your running and your overall race performance. Stop just running. Start training to run fast at HYROX. 🏃‍♂️🔥 Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail You don’t need to be better at everything in HYROX. You need to get better at the right things. In this episode of Running with James, we break down the 5 HYROX stations that can make or break your race—and why simply training harder isn’t always the answer. After our recent BC Fitness Movement Performance Clinic with Coach Tommy, we looked at athletes through a different lens: movement quality, efficiency, fatigue, pacing, and the numbers behind performance. We’re breaking down: 🔥 Sled Push  🔥 Sled Pull  🔥 Burpee Broad Jumps  🔥 Wall Balls  🔥 The Roxzone — the “hidden station” that can quietly destroy your race We’ll talk about the biggest mistakes athletes make, where they’re leaving free time on the course, and what you can actually do in training to turn your weaknesses into strengths. Because in HYROX, seconds matter. And sometimes the fastest way to get faster isn’t running faster—it’s wasting less time everywhere else. Train smarter. Move better. Race faster. Running with James BC Fitness Houston HYROX Run Club Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail You trained for it. You put in the miles. You did the workouts. You felt ready. Then race day comes… and somewhere along the way, you hit the wall. Your pace falls apart. Your heart rate climbs. Your legs feel like bricks. Suddenly the finish line feels a whole lot farther away than it did an hour ago. But why does this happen? In this episode of Running with James, we break down why athletes blow up on race day and what you can do to prevent it—from marathon racing to HYROX and everything in between. We talk about: 🏃 Pacing: Why going out too fast can ruin the race you trained for ❤️ Heart Rate: What your body is telling you when the effort starts getting too expensive ⚡ Race Adrenaline: Why feeling amazing early can actually be dangerous 🍌 Fueling: How running out of energy can bring even the fittest athlete to a stop 🔥 Threshold: Understanding the line between pushing yourself and going too hard 🏋️ HYROX Stations: Why attacking one station too aggressively can cost you later 🏃‍♂️ Compromised Running: Learning to run when your legs are already fatigued 🧠 The Mental Battle: What to do when your brain starts telling you that you can’t keep going And most importantly, we talk about how to recognize where the blow-up actually began. Because sometimes you don’t hit the wall at mile 20. You hit the wall at mile 1—you just don’t realize it until mile 20. If you’ve ever blown up in a race, this one’s for you. Train smart. Race smart. Save something for the finish. 🎙️ Running with James Change your mind. Change your life. #RunningWithJames #HittingTheWall #Running #MarathonTraining #HYROX Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail What if failure isn’t something you should avoid? What if it’s actually part of the process? In this episode of Running with James, we’re flipping the script on failure. As athletes, we’re constantly chasing PRs, faster paces, heavier weights, podiums, and better performances—but if you’re never failing, are you really pushing yourself far enough to grow? We talk about what failure looks like in training and racing, how to tell the difference between productive failure and pushing too far, and why a workout that falls apart might actually teach you more than one that goes perfectly. We’ll break down how to: 🏃‍♂️ Use failure as feedback  🔥 Push yourself beyond your comfort zone  🧠 Separate a bad performance from your identity  📈 Learn from failed workouts and races  💪 Turn setbacks into progress  🎯 Find your edge without crossing the line into reckless training  🔄 Fail → Analyze → Adjust → Try Again Because failure isn’t the goal—but if failure is never possible, you might not be challenging yourself enough. You don’t have to be ready today. “Not ready yet” doesn’t mean “never.” Failure is an option. Quitting isn’t. Change your mind. Change your life. Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail THE HEAT IS ON! Summer running can make you question everything—your pace is slower, your heart rate is higher, and every mile feels harder. But what if that struggle is actually making you a better runner? This week on Running with James, we’re breaking down the science of running in the heat and why heat training can become one of your biggest performance advantages. We’ll talk about: The benefits and adaptations that come from heat training How humidity changes your performance Why your heart rate climbs when temperatures rise How much performance you can expect to lose in the heat Heat training vs. altitude training—and how they compare Hydration, electrolytes, cooling strategies and safety How to adjust your pace without sacrificing your training How to use summer training to set yourself up for a stronger fall racing season Stop fighting the heat. Learn how to train with it. Because that slow summer mile might be building the fitness you’re going to cash in when the temperature drops. Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Send us Fan Mail Everyone is searching for the next breakthrough workout, recovery gadget, or supplement that promises faster results. But what if the biggest gains don’t come from the latest trend? In this episode of Training Truths, Coach James cuts through the noise and explains why consistency, not hacks, is the real key to becoming a stronger runner, HYROX athlete, or everyday fitness enthusiast. We’ll dive into: Why training “secrets” are often just good marketingRecovery gadgets: what’s worth it and what’s overratedThe influence of social media on your training decisionsThe habits that actually lead to long-term progressHow mastering the basics will outperform chasing shortcuts every timeIf you’ve ever felt like you’re missing the “magic formula,” this episode is your reminder that the closest thing to a cheat code is showing up, week after week. Because the athletes who improve the most aren’t chasing hacks, they’re mastering consistency. Support the show Become a member and support the show: https://patreon.com/RunningwithJames?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link