Mind Body Marathon

In this episode of the MindBodyMarathon podcast, professional distance runner Anthony Camerieri joins Dr. Leo Kormanik and Zach Goulet to discuss Anthony's journey as a professional runner. Anthony shares that he just completed two sets of hill repeats and talks about his transition from a one-year contract with Tinman Elite to a new four-year contract with Saucony. He details the quick negotiation process, facilitated by his Ole Miss coach, and expresses excitement about having job security as a professional runner.The conversation moves to training locations, with Anthony considering moving to Flagstaff due to better altitude for training. They discuss the dynamics of their training team and how the environment has changed, noting a decrease in the number of athletes training in certain areas.Anthony reflects on his running career, mentioning struggles with injuries and how he managed to compete despite setbacks. He recalls his high school experience, running a successful relay team and eventually transitioning to collegiate running at Miami, where he faced challenges adapting to the required mileage after not running for an extended period. The episode highlights Anthony's growth and resilience as an athlete while also touching on the importance of community and training environments in his journey.In this segment, the hosts discuss Anthony's running journey, particularly his high school and collegiate experiences. Anthony recalls breaking 25 minutes in his sophomore year and improving to around 24:30 by junior year. He shares that after dealing with injuries and a stress reaction in his foot, he shifted to cross training and reduced his running mileage, which allowed him to train consistently. Over time, he gradually increased his running volume while maintaining cross training, ultimately building up his ability to handle the load.They touch on Anthony's high school cross country career, including his best state meet finish and comparisons with peers. The conversation shifts to discussing the evolution of cross country courses and their spectator-friendliness, including frustrations with the criteria for state courses that often prioritize revenue generation over spectator experience.Anthony also shares his experience representing the U.S. in cross country at the World Championships in Serbia. Although he finished fifth on the team and 52nd overall, he reflects on the challenges of the course and the competition. The discussion highlights the importance of competition in athletics and the growth that comes from overcoming obstacles in training and racing.The discussion revolves around upcoming athletic events and training strategies, particularly focusing on cross country and track running. The speaker is considering participating in the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee in 2026, emphasizing the competitiveness expected at the event. They mention the introduction of a new World Championship format, which will occur every four years in the off years of the Olympics and World Championships, providing a more condensed and viewer-friendly experience.The speaker is preparing for the indoor season, with a primary focus on the 3K event, aiming to improve their personal record (PR) and potentially qualify for the US Indoor Championships. They reflect on their recent pacing duties and improvements in their performance, noting a significant PR in the 3K and expressing confidence in achieving a faster 5K time this indoor season.Training strategies are discussed, highlighting the importance of gradual mileage increase to avoid injuries, and the speaker shares their current training consistency at around 80-83 miles per week. They also touch on their interest in coaching, leveraging their knowledge of health and athletic training to enhance their coaching effectiveness. The conversation...

In this episode of the MindBodyMarathon, Dr. Leo Kormanik interviews Forrest Webb, also known as ForrestGetemGump. Forrest shares his journey from being a former professional breakdancer to becoming a health enthusiast and runner. Recently, he was inducted into the Breakin' Hall of Fame in New York City, which will be part of the upcoming Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx. Forrest reflects on his breakdancing beginnings in the 1970s, his peak years in the 80s and 90s, and the evolution of breaking as it gained mainstream popularity, notably through the Rocksteady Crew's appearances in media.The conversation shifts to Forrest's transition from breakdancing to running, which began after a series of personal challenges, including the loss of his mother and dissatisfaction with the entertainment industry. He shares how he struggled with weight gain, reaching 260 pounds, before committing to running and ultimately losing weight, getting down to 185 pounds. Forrest recounts his initial experiences with running, including training for races without prior knowledge of running techniques, and reflects on how these changes transformed his life.In this segment, Forrest Webb discusses his personal journey with weight gain and the pivotal moment when his wife remarked that she didn't recognize him, which sparked a change in his mindset. He began running as a coping mechanism, realizing its positive impact on his mental health and relationships, as he found that running helped him manage stress and become a better partner.Forrest contrasts the environments of breakdancing and running, noting that breakdancing is highly competitive and can lead to humiliation if one loses a battle, while running is less about direct competition. He shares his early experiences with breakdancing, including a significant moment when he lost to a more skilled dancer, which motivated him to improve his skills.He also describes the structure of dance battles, which can be organized competitions or informal "dark circles." In organized competitions, dancers are paired randomly and battle for a set number of rounds, while dark circles allow for spontaneous challenges among dancers. Each battle typically lasts between 30 to 45 seconds per dancer, depending on the number of rounds.Forrest Webb discusses the evolution of breakdancing competitions, highlighting the contrast between informal battles and organized events that gained prominence in the 1990s. He notes key competitions like the Pro-Am in Miami, the Freestyle Session in New York, and the Battle of the Year in Germany, which showcased both performance and competitive elements. He emphasizes that while European competitions received recognition, breakdancing remained vibrant in New York through local crews.Webb also delves into the complexities surrounding breakdancing's inclusion in the Olympics. He explains the disagreements among different organizations vying for national governing body status and how this affected the scoring and judging for Olympic breakdancing. He criticizes the judging criteria, which he feels may not accurately reflect the creativity and skill of the dancers, leading to outcomes that don't align with the talent showcased in other competitions.He expresses concern over the perception of breakdancing as less entertaining than expected, suggesting that the scoring system favored less innovative moves. Webb believes that the sport’s essence lies in its dance roots, making standardization challenging. He reflects on the subjective nature of judging and the importance of the connection between performers and the audience in informal battles.Finally, he shares his current training goals in running, aiming to participate in the Boston Marathon and complete the six world major marathons.The speaker shares their eating habits, practicing intermittent fasting, and a low-carb diet, which they find helps maintain their weight and energy

In this episode of the MindBody Marathon, Dr. Leo Kormanik, Dr. Matt Pisanelli, and Zach Goulet discuss low back pain, especially relevant since a significant portion of the adult population experiences it. They introduce themselves while donning festive holiday attire and share personal anecdotes about their experiences with back pain.The conversation touches on the misconception that such injuries are always related to significant strain, highlighting that low back pain can result from seemingly minor actions, like bending over to pick something up. They explain that many back injuries may not even stem from a single event but rather build up over time, akin to a dam breaking under pressure.The hosts also discuss the various causes of low back pain, including disc issues, which can be asymptomatic or cause significant discomfort, and issues related to posterior elements, such as facet joints. Muscle spasms are also common in back injuries, often acting as a protective response. Additionally, they mention that visceral issues, like kidney stones or reproductive problems, can manifest as referred back pain.The episode concludes with a discussion about sciatica, explaining how it can be caused by nerve impingement in the lower back and how systemic inflammation from poor diet can exacerbate nerve issues. They suggest that managing overall body health and focusing on core stability can help alleviate and prevent low back pain.They explain that disc problems can vary significantly, with central, paracentral, and lateral herniations affecting movement and treatment approaches differently. The McKenzie method is introduced as a movement-based treatment strategy that emphasizes exercises to restore spinal function and alleviate pain, particularly for disc issues. The hosts elaborate on how certain movements can either exacerbate or relieve pain depending on the type of disc issue. They stress that not all disc problems are created equal and emphasize the importance of understanding the specific nature of a disc issue for effective treatment. Moreover, they discuss the misconception that a diagnosis of a disc herniation is dire; many people live with them without severe issues. The conversation highlights the body's innate ability to heal itself given the right conditions and treatment, contrasting this vitalistic approach with traditional allopathic methods, which often focus on invasive interventions. They caution against the tendency to resort to surgery for milder symptoms like tingling or numbness, which were often treated more aggressively in the past. Instead, they encourage a conservative approach, highlighting the importance of recognizing "red flags" that indicate when surgical intervention may be necessary.The conversation transitions to practical techniques for managing chronic back pain, particularly for the majority who experience tightness or discomfort without severe issues. The hosts recommend the McKenzie method, particularly exercises like press-ups, which help decompress the spine without using back muscles. They also stress the importance of maintaining hip flexor flexibility to prevent undue stress on the back.They warn against excessive stretching of tight muscles, suggesting that the focus should be on normalizing movement and gradually easing muscle tension without overextending. They express caution about using planks for patients with severe pain due to the potential for increased abdominal pressure and spinal stress. Instead, they recommend diaphragmatic breathing, which engages the diaphragm and helps stabilize the spine, as well as the McGill Big Three exercises, which include gentle movements to strengthen deeper spinal muscles without excessive strain.The hosts emphasize the significance of activating the transversospinalis group, which can atrophy with chronic back pain, leading to muscle spasms. They argue against aggressive...

The Valencia Marathon, initially unknown to the Dr. Leo Kormanik and Samua Kormanik, turned out to be a significant race, often considered one of the fastest marathons globally. Despite recent floods in the area, over 28,000 runners participated. The marathon is known for its high percentage of finishers breaking the three-hour mark, with around 18.5% achieving this in 2023. The course, while not particularly fast in design, draws many elite runners due to its accessibility and the potential for fast times.The host highlighted the vibrant atmosphere of Valencia, the local cuisine, and the lack of American representation at the event, possibly due to its timing during Thanksgiving. Notably, American runner Sarah Hall achieved a top-ten finish and set a Masters record. The conversation also touched on the impressive expo, which featured many unique brands and a large turnout, despite logistical challenges caused by the floods.Overall, the host expressed a desire to return to Valencia for the marathon and the expo, emphasizing it was one of the best marathons he had attended in his extensive running experience.In this discussion about the Valencia Marathon, the host reflects on the unique experience, particularly highlighting the crowd support, which was reminiscent of the Boston Marathon—there were both quiet and energetic spots along the route. The finish line was especially lively, with roaring crowds on either side of the narrow course, adding to the excitement. The host compares the atmosphere to the Tour de France, noting the lack of barriers between runners and spectators, which created an intense experience as fans were very engaged. While there wasn't much music or entertainment along the course, the crowd's enthusiasm made up for it.The conversation then shifts to the host’s personal experience with marathons, discussing his struggles with injuries over the past year and a half. Despite these challenges, he successfully completed the Valencia Marathon in 2:51, feeling strong cardiovascularly but recognizing the need to build strength in his legs due to previous injuries and travel fatigue. He aimed to finish under 2:53 as it would qualify him for the New York Marathon, although he acknowledged the complexities of getting into that race despite meeting the time requirement. Overall, the Valencia Marathon was a fulfilling experience for the host, blending the thrill of competition with the charm of the city.The conversation revolves around the challenges and experiences of running a marathon after traveling internationally. The speaker discusses how flying to Brazil and then Spain affected their physical performance during a race, where they aimed to finish under 2:53 to qualify for the New York Marathon, albeit recognizing that entry is still highly competitive. They mention the complications with timing chips that inaccurately recorded their finish time due to a late start.The speaker prefers to break the race down into manageable 5K splits rather than counting down by kilometers, which helps mentally during the run. They express admiration for the fast times achieved by other runners, despite warmer weather conditions during the race, noting differences in how American runners might react to heat compared to other competitors.The discussion also highlights the interesting phenomenon of "balloon ladies" at Disney races, who are not official sweepers but rather a group of runners helping others gauge their pace and avoid being swept off the course. This has unintentionally created a sense of dread among some participants, despite the balloon ladies' friendly intentions.Lastly, the conversation touches on the effects of jet lag on performance, with the speaker sharing tips on how to adapt before a race, emphasizing the importance of timing regarding arrival to minimize the negative impacts of travel on running performance.The discussion...