
Why Runners Keep Getting Injured (And How to Fix It) - Replay of Episode 89
From The Pain Free Athlete Podcast by Dana Jones
March 27, 2026 · 34 min
About this episode
The episode discusses injury prevention for runners through movement analysis and the mind-body connection with expert Denise Smith.
Replay ep 89: Run Smarter, Stay Stronger – Injury Prevention & the Mind-Body Connection with Denise Smith What if the key to running stronger, longer, and pain-free had less to do with mileage—and more to do with how you move? In this replay episode, I sit down with physical therapist and movement expert Denise Smith to break down what most athletes are missing when it comes to performance and injury prevention. With over 20 years of experience, Denise shares how analyzing movement patterns, improving balance, and training reaction time can completely change the way you run—and help you avoid the injuries that sideline so many athletes. But we didn’t stop there… This conversation goes deeper into the mind-body connection , the role of mental health in performance, and why athletes—especially endurance athletes—need more than just a training plan to truly thrive. In this episode, we cover: Why most runners are undertraining balance (and why it matters more than you think) How learning to fall safely could actually prevent serious injuries The difference between overuse vs. misuse injuries Simple ways to improve reaction time and agility (no fancy equipment needed) What ultra…
People in this episode
Host: Dana Jones
Guest: Denise Smith
Topics covered
- injury prevention
- mind-body connection
- running performance
- balance training
- mental health
- reaction time
- endurance athletes
Keywords
- running injuries
- performance
- balance
- mental toughness
- reaction time
- agility
- support team
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Why Runners Keep Getting Injured (And How to Fix It), Run Smarter, Stay Stronger
More episodes of The Pain Free Athlete Podcast
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- Run-Walk, Recover, Repeat: Kelley Tenny on Staying Injury-Free (ep 142) · June 5, 2026 · 28 min
- Breath, Mindset, and Resilience with Alexia Clonda (ep 141) · May 29, 2026 · 30 min
- The Mental Side of Injury Recovery Every Athlete Needs to Hear (ep 140) · May 22, 2026 · 29 min
- From NBA All-Star to Mental Health Advocate: James Donaldson’s Story (ep 139) · May 15, 2026 · 29 min
- Back Pain Isn’t From Sitting — It’s From How You Sit (ep 138) · May 8, 2026 · 25 min
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