Making Strides Podcast

About Making Strides Podcast

Actionable and evidence-based running rehab and performance advice from doctors of physical therapy and running-specialists, AJ Cohen and Adam Schwerdt. This podcast offers answers to the most misinterpreted questions in the running rehab and performance world. Whether injured or looking for ways to maximize your performance, this podcast will prove invaluable to all runners looking to enjoy and maximize their running experience for decades to come.

Publisher

AJ Cohen and Adam Schwerdt

Category

health & fitness · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Apr 2020

Latest episode

22 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

36 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Jul 2026

   #36: The Smarter Way to Return to Running with Dr. Vikash Sharma

   In this episode of the Making Strides Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Vikash Sharma, founder of Perfect Stride PT in New York City and Running for Life Education, to break down one of the most frustrating topics for injured runners: returning to running. Return to run can feel confusing. Some runners try to come back too fast the moment their pain settles down. Others shut everything down for weeks or months, only to feel like they're starting from scratch. And sometimes clinicians make the process harder by telling runners they can't run at all until symptoms are completely gone. We talk through what runners and clinicians often get wrong, how much pain is actually acceptable during a return-to-run process, when rest helps versus when it starts to hurt, and how to think about run/walk programs, intensity, hills, and training progressions. We also play a return-to-run tier-ranking game, where we rank common running injuries by how difficult they usually are to come back from, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, proximal hamstring tendinopathy, runner's knee, IT band syndrome, shin splints, bone stress injuries, and calf strains. The big takeaway: returning to running is rarely perfectly linear, but that does not mean you're failing. The goal is not just to get back to where you were before. The goal is to rebuild your capacity, learn from the process, and come back more prepared than before. Topics covered: • Why pain going away does not always mean you're ready to resume full training • Why complete rest can make some runners feel worse • How to decide whether pain during running is acceptable • When a run/walk program is helpful and when it may not be necessary • How to think about frequency, duration, intensity, and hills • Why clinicians need to fight harder to keep runners active when appropriate • Which running injuries are usually the easiest and hardest to return from • Why the long way is often the shortcut in injury recovery Guest: Dr. Vikash Sharma, PT, DPT Founder of Perfect Stride PT in New York City Founder of Running for Life Education --- Connect with us: Adam Schwerdt: https://www.runmental.com/ AJ Cohen: https://www.upandrunningpt.com/ Guest - Vikash Sharma: https://perfectstridept.com/

2. 

   1 May 2026

   #35: Esteban Trujillo: How to Get Faster at 40, From a 2:14 Marathoner Who Took 7 Years Off

   At 40 years old, Esteban Trujillo ran 2:14:30 at the California International Marathon, qualifying for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Five months later, he ran 2:16 at the Boston Marathon for second place masters. But the part of his story most podcasts miss is what happened in between college and his comeback. At 28, after years of training in the shadow of his Olympian twin brother Carlos, Esteban threw his running shoes in the trash, moved to Alaska, and didn't run seriously for seven years. In this episode, AJ Cohen and Adam Schwerdt sit down with Esteban to talk about what it actually takes to still be getting faster at 40 while most runners are managing decline. The conversation goes deep on the seven-year break that may have saved his running career, the daily morning conversation he has with his body, the difference between mental toughness and recklessness, and the twin brother dynamic that shaped two decades of his life. This is a conversation about identity, durability, and the radical idea that running should not be serious, from someone running 5:07 pace for 26.2 miles. What we cover: Why a seven-year break may be the single biggest reason he is running fast at 40 How his relationship with running changed from obsession to choice The recovery non-negotiables that keep his body intact at 130 miles per week What "listening to your body" actually means when you do it well The morning routine that prevents 90 percent of his potential injuries His advice to the 40-year-old runner who feels like their best days are behind them The pity clap at Hayward Field, the embrace at the CIM finish line, and what it means to outrun your twin brother's Olympic time About Esteban: Esteban Trujillo is a strength and running coach at Genesis Health Clubs (Miramont South) in Fort Collins, Colorado. He ran collegiately at the University of Oregon and is a 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier. Follow him on Instagram at @frontrangerunner. Mentioned in the episode: The Weekly Stride newsletter from Up and Running PT Brad Hudson coaching Front Range Elite Puma Running Connect with us: Adam Schwerdt: https://www.runmental.com/ AJ Cohen: https://www.upandrunningpt.com/

3. 

   19 Nov 2025

   #34 Inside the Runner's Mind: Beliefs, Pain, and Injury Risk

   In this episode of Making Strides, AJ and Adam dive into a study that surveyed more than 700 recreational runners before a local race. The results were eye-opening and, honestly, a little concerning. You'll hear the two break down what runners think causes injuries, what actually matters, and how these beliefs shape training behavior and mindset. They walk through each slide from the post that inspired the episode and use it as a jumping-off point to explore running psychology, injury risk, and why good intentions sometimes steer runners in the wrong direction. What we cover: • Why runners say they run Most surveyed runners run for social interaction and atmosphere, not performance or health. AJ and Adam compare that to their own motivations and the differences between recreational and competitive runners. • The biggest injury-prevention misconception The study participants overwhelmingly believe stretching and "the right shoe" prevent injuries. AJ and Adam explain why appropriate training load is actually the powerhouse, why strength training matters, and how media marketing shapes runner beliefs. • Training through pain: what runners actually do One in five runners showed up to the event with pain at rest. They dig into what this means, how different types of runners react to pain, and why so many people race while hurting. • What happens when runners get injured Instead of cross-training or adjusting, most runners simply stop moving altogether. AJ and Adam talk about identity, flexibility, and how a healthier relationship with running leads to better outcomes. • The "injury–performance paradox" Pushing for performance increases injury risk. The guys explain why that happens, how competitive runners toe that line, and how emotional flexibility and better coping tools can reduce injury risk even when training hard. • The psychology side: obsessive vs flexible runners The final slide looked at mindset differences. They unpack how emotional resources, adaptability, and coping skills influence injury rates far more than many runners realize. If any of these topics hit home for you, give the episode a listen. These conversations are exactly why AJ and Adam do the work they do. 00:00 Intro and episode overview 02:00 Why runners say they run 08:00 Misconceptions about injury prevention 18:00 Pain at rest and showing up injured 25:00 Injured runners becoming sedentary 33:00 The injury–performance paradox 40:00 Mindset, obsessiveness, and injury risk 48:00 Final takeaways and how to get help Connect with us: Ty Mangum: https://www.instagram.com/tymangum/ Adam Schwerdt: https://www.runmental.com/ AJ Cohen: https://www.upandrunningpt.com/

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

349

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

34

Social presence

0

YouTube

64

Engagement

68

Contact Making Strides Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.