When we talk shoes it's almost always midsoles: foams, plates, geometries, hype. We often forget the uppers of our shoes, and problems with them can make or break the running experience. Matt, David, and Nathan get together to talk about their three biggest pet-peeves when it comes to shoe fit. Heel rubbing, too much padding, narrow forefoots, and more. What are your fit pet-peeves? Email us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

We're thrilled to introduce Rabbit as a presenting partner! You can use code DORJAN10 to get 10% off your entire order of $50.00 or more. Note that the code is limited to one use per customer and can’t combined with other discounts. The code is active from 1st of every month to last day at 11:59PM PST, but don't worry because we'll be bringing you a new code every month. Shop now at https://www.runinrabbit.com/.

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING! https://www.skratchlabs.com

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:16 - In for Testing: Powered by Skratch Labs
• 26:31 - What can make or break a shoe's upper
• 31:03 - Low forefoot volume and width
• 32:39 - Not enough room where the midfoot & forefoot transition
• 35:13 - Overly tapered toe boxes
• 41:25 - Too early of a taper
• 43:05 - Overly plush & padded uppers
• 46:37 - Tongues that are either too thick or too thin
• 51:37 - Not enough security in the midfoot
• 54:11 - Heel seams that cause rubbing
• 57:51 - Heel counters that angle into the Achilles
• 1:02:31 - Wrap-up

Our teams loves answering your questions, so here we are to dig into the mailbag! Nathan, Andrea, and David team up and talk to talk shoes, training, and injuries. They discuss advice for running with arthritis and neuromas, the best wet-weather shoes, non-plated speed-training shoes, and much more. Want your question on the next mailbag? Email us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

We're thrilled to introduce Rabbit as a presenting partner! You can use code DORJAN10 to get 10% off your entire order of $50.00 or more. Note that the code is limited to one use per customer and can’t combined with other discounts. The code is active from 1st of every month to last day at 11:59PM PST, but don't worry because we'll be bringing you a new code every month. Shop now at https://www.runinrabbit.com/.

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING! https://www.skratchlabs.com

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:48 - In for Testing: Powered by Skratch Labs
• 16:26 - Advice for running degenerative joint disease and arthritis
• 25:00 - Good shoes for wet/muddy parkruns
• 30:34 - Does toe spring effect hyper extension?
• 40:06 - Brannock size vs. running shoe size
• 44:46 - Non-plated speed shoes
• 49:14 - Advice for children dealing with Sever's Disease
• 54:26 - Shoe options for training with a neuroma
• 1:00:46 - Wrap-up

We're heading into the new year with a new round of Buy or Sell, one of our favorite podcast games. If you don't know the drill, we force ourselves to decide whether we buy or sell an idea, shoe, treatment, etc. Today, Nathan, David, and Matt debate the Saucony Endorphin Azura (Shift 3 replacement??), the venerable ASICS Nimbus, whether runner's high really exists, and much more. Want your idea on the next edition of Buy or Sell? Email us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com!

We're thrilled to introduce Rabbit as a presenting partner! You can use code DORJAN10 to get 10% off your entire order of $50.00 or more. Note that the code is limited to one use per customer and can’t combined with other discounts. The code is active from 1st of every month to last day at 11:59PM PST, but don't worry because we'll be bringing you a new code every month. Shop now at https://www.runinrabbit.com/.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING! https://www.skratchlabs.com

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 4:26 - In for Testing: Powered by Skratch Labs
• 14:20 - Buy/sell: Saucony Endorphin Azura
• 24:34 - The Azura as a Shift 3 replacement
• 29:18 - ASICS Nimbus 28 is better than the 27
• 35:54 - The Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 is a super shoe
• 44:48 - Running a marathon or ultra in 2026
• 53:12 - Running doubles
• 1:01:50 - Runner's high is real
• 1:11:25 - Wrap-up

Nathan and Matt are joined by a very special guest, Dr. Karin Sibernagel, Professor at University of Delaware, to discuss the latest research about tendon anatomy, injury, and rehabilitation. Karin shares her extensive experience, both scientific and practical as a clinician, about everything tendon, especially the Achilles. They dive into the specific anatomy of tendons, why they so often get injured, and what you can do to rehabilitate on your own.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING! https://www.skratchlabs.com

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:32 - Karin's background & research
• 6:30 - An overview of the anatomy of tendons
• 10:40 - How the muscle, bone, & tendon work together when in movement
• 14:18 - How to analyze how ready the calf complex is for running
• 21:18 - They physiology of tendon pain
• 24:46 - Risk factors for tendon injuries
• 27:24 - Rehabbing tendon pain
• 31:08 - Why heavy loading rebuilds tendons
• 36:38 - Timelines for tendon healing
• 38:32 - The results of Karin's latest research
• 48:52 - How useful is shockwave therapy?
• 54:24 - The role of shoes in achilles tendon pain
• 59:28 - The effect of consistent super shoe use on tendon health
• 1:08:54 - Wrap-up

In this final part of our series meeting with brands to highlight their updates in the next year, Andrea is joined by Russ Stevens & Carolyn Todd from Topo Athletic. They highlight the big redesign to the Specter 3 featuring an all new A-TPU midsole. They'r also bringing updates to the Atmos, Ultrafly, trail favorites like the Terraventure, and many more.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING! https://www.skratchlabs.com

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:28 - What makes Topo tick
• 6:08 - Specter 3
• 10:47 - Atmos 2
• 15:34 - Ultrafly 6
• 19:12 - Aura 2
• 22:48 - Connect
• 28:28 - Ultraventure 5
• 31:18 - Terraventure 5
• 33:56 - Future Cyclone updates
• 38:45 - What the next couple years have in store for Topo
• 43:54 - Wrap-up

As we continue our in-depth looks at upcoming 2026 shoes with different brands, David is joined by Luca Ciccone, Cory Hoffman, and Katie Pyle of Saucony, who's coming up big in 2026 with updates and new releases. The Endorphin line gets a new member with the Azura, a plateless PWRRUN PB trainer, and updates to the Endorphin Pro and Elite. Looking for max cushion? The Triumph and Hurricane are getting big updates, and they'll be joined by the new Paramount Max. Listen in to hear about even more of what they have coming next year.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING! https://www.skratchlabs.com

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:50 - Endorphin Azura
• 8:20 - Endorphin Pro 5
• 14:42 - Endorphin Elite 3
• 20:56 - Paramount Max
• 29:32 - Triumph 24
• 35:02 - Hurricane 26
• 41:40 - Updates to the Ride & Guide
• 44:54 - A breakdown of all of Saucony’s foams
• 50:38 - Wrap-up

We're here with the second episode in a series of interviews with running shoe companies as they show off what they've got in store for 2026! Matt is joined by long time friends of the pod, Tina Danforth and Evan Day from Brooks. They give us a look into Brooks's unique approach to developing shoes for walkers, casual runners, elites, and everyone in between. They walk us through the new Glycerin FLex, Glycerin Max 2, Ghost Trail, Hyperion Elite 6, and many more.

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING! https://www.skratchlabs.com

This episode is sponsored by RunDNA. We love the Certified Endurance Running Course, designed for anyone that wants to deepen their understanding of running and training. It’s not only deeply scientific, but also practical and applicable. Over 10,000 people around the world have enjoyed this course. If you want to check it out, go to ⁠RunDNA.com⁠ and use code DOR20 to get 20% off.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 4:38 - How Brooks approaches shoe "experiences"
• 12:24 - Glycerin Flex
• 18:52 - Updates the the rest of the Glycerin line
• 21:34 - The Ghost line updates
• 28:02 - Updates to the Beast
• 31:20 - Updates to the Hyperion Elite
• 36:50 - Hyperion Max
• 41:22 - Trail shoe updates
• 45:40 - The new Revel Max
• 58:16 - Wrap-up

With 2026 right around the corner, we've got a series of conversations with running brand to take a deep dive on the shoes they've got coming up next year. Andrea is joined by Mizuno's Shunsuke Aoi, Global Product Line Manager to take a look at their brand new Hyperwarp line of racing shoes (Pure, Pro, and Elite). They also discuss what we can expect to see in the updates to the fan-favorite Neo Zen and Neo Vista models. Read our Hyperwarp Pure review here, and keep an eye out for reviews of the Elite & Pro models: https://www.doctorsofrunning.com/2025/12/mizuno-hyperwarp-pure-review-2026.html

Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/

Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING! https://www.skratchlabs.com

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:06 - An overview of Mizuno's new racing line
• 6:42 - The development of the Hyperwarp line
• 8:32 - Hyperwarp Pure
• 11:26 - Hyperwarp Elite
• 16:20 - Plate design
• 23:20 - Hyperwarp Pro
• 29:06 - The future of the Rebellion line
• 30:42 - What's next for the Neo line
• 38:28 - The future of the Wave Rider
• 41:16 - What 2026 holds for Mizuno
• 45:36 - Wrap-up