The Running Clinic

05/19/2026

New blog post | A perspective on REDs in runners

REDs — Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport — can be difficult to identify, even in runners who continue to train and perform well.

In this new blog post, Waldo Cheung reviews recent evidence on low energy availability and its potential impacts on health, performance, bone stress injuries, concentration, sleep and anxiety in runners.

An important read to better understand a condition that can remain silent, but have real consequences in endurance sports.

👉 Read it on The Running Clinic blog: https://therunningclinic.com/runners/blog/a-perspective-of-reds-in-runners/

05/04/2026

How much fasters can marathons be run?

In the wake of Sabastian Sawe’s jaw-dropping 1:59 marathon, our colleagues Jean-Francois Esculier and Olivier Roy-Baillargeon are quoted in The Daily Mail.
Was it the shoes? The carbs? The training?

Read on to know what the latest evidence says!

Last week, Sabastian Sawe made marathon history by smashing the two-hour barrier in London. But just how fast can the marathon be run?

04/28/2026

Mechanical Stress Quantification: The Key Element in the Prevention and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Injuries
If you weren’t able to attend live or would like to revisit the session, the full replay is now available below!

https://zoom.us/rec/play/gL1NmU3vsmFxDgP3LH2GlEf_SH_thJB1okgwChl4e3_alwzAEFe1TS3Scg-Fz5cY7Xik969gQ5-2vR8x.4j4Ta97_4L2Oxk-c

04/22/2026

⛰️ What About Hills? Do They ‘Pay the Bills’?

Strength training is a staple for runners. But is it always the best approach?

👉 What if hills already do more of the job than we think?

In this blog, Waldo Cheung explores a compelling idea: while we carefully plan gym sessions, many of the world’s best runners are simply… running. A lot. And often on hilly terrain.

🔎 What it raises:

- strength matters—but in what form?
- lab-based gains don’t always translate perfectly to running
- hills might be a more functional, sport-specific alternative

💡 Takeaway: more isn’t always better—but more specific often is. Sometimes, the smartest strength work is already built into your run.

A must-read if you’re rethinking your balance between gym and mileage.

https://therunningclinic.com/runners/blog/what-about-hills-do-they-pay-the-bills/

04/19/2026

We heard you.
And we understood—it was time to bring them back.

“Do you know when they’re coming back? Asking for a very impatient child. (Me.)”

“I think my kid grew just to force me to buy a new pair… do you have a date?”

“Our entryway smells terrible. We’re ready for a fresh pair.”

Good news: they’re back.

Shipping within Canada only.
Please note: our website is currently available in French only. If you need a hand placing your order, we’ll be happy to help.

04/09/2026

Negative split isn’t just a race strategy — it’s one of the clearest hallmarks of elite performance.

By holding back slightly early on, you limit early fatigue, preserve your running economy, and give yourself the best chance to finish strong when it matters most.

From lactate threshold to VO₂ kinetics, central fatigue resistance, and perceptual regulation, pacing plays a major role in performance.

Sometimes, the smartest way to run faster… is to start a little slower.

Infographic by

04/07/2026

Our colleague Jean-François Esculier is featured in the latest issue of Nutrition Action.

In this interview, he breaks down a question many runners and walkers ask: should you choose minimalist or maximalist shoes?

As he explains, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right choice depends on your history, your needs, how well you’re adapted to your current shoes, and the type of load your body tolerates best.

One key takeaway: changing shoe type is not trivial. If a transition is needed, it should be done gradually.

A must-read to better understand what really matters when choosing your running shoes.

https://www.cspi.org/article/what-kind-running-or-walking-shoes-are-best

03/24/2026

🦵 Do clinical factors change how we diagnose patellofemoral pain?

Today, clinicians are increasingly seeing patients arrive with imaging results and lab reports in hand. But an important question remains:

👉 Do these findings actually improve our diagnosis… or do they introduce bias?

In this latest blog post, Jessie Zhang and Waldo Cheung explore how clinical factors such as imaging, athletic status, BMI, and crepitus can influence diagnostic reasoning in patellofemoral pain.

A recent study highlights a key issue:

- Imaging can influence diagnosis, even when it’s not needed
- Diagnostic labels are often broad and lack precision
- And most importantly, clinician confidence plays a major role in diagnostic consistency

💡 Key takeaway: more information doesn’t always mean better clinical decisions.

This blog is a timely read for clinicians looking to reflect on bias and what truly drives sound diagnosis in patellofemoral pain.

🔎 Read more here: https://therunningclinic.com/runners/blog/do-clinical-factors-change-our-diagnosis-of-patellofemoral-pain/

03/08/2026

🩷💙💜

02/26/2026

“Super shoes”: real performance boost… or mostly placebo? And can sleep quality really predict injury risk?

In 2025, our research team published 56 peer-reviewed papers (with collaborators) across sports medicine, biomechanics, rehab, injury prevention, and performance. This blog post distills the findings that actually change practice—return to running post-surgery, patellofemoral pain, footwear, load management, and more.

👉 “Read the blog: Research in 2025”

https://therunningclinic.com/runners/blog/2025-in-research/

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine's day to all!