Masters runners make up the fastest-growing group in distance running, yet they are also more likely to struggle with recurring injuries, late-race fade, and inconsistent training. Why does this happen, and more importantly, what can be done about it?

In this episode of The Rehab Runway Podcast, we take a deep dive into the science and practice of masters running. We unpack how ageing changes muscle strength, power, tendon behaviour, hormones, recovery, and durability, and why aerobic fitness is often preserved while tissues struggle to keep up.

You will learn:

• What defines a masters runner and why participation has exploded globally

• How sarcopenia, power loss, and distal muscle decline affect running performance

• Why durability, not VO₂max, is often the limiting factor after 40

• How running biomechanics change with age

• The role of hormonal changes, energy availability, and bone health in injury risk

• Why recovery and sleep matter more than ever for masters runners

• Practical training strategies including strength training, density management, cross-training, and durability-focused long runs

This episode is designed for runners who want to keep improving beyond 40, and for health professionals working with masters athletes who want to move beyond a wear-and-tear narrative

🔗 Related Blogs

• https://www.healthhp.com.au/post/age-is-just-a-number-the-power-of-exercise

• https://www.healthhp.com.au/post/changes-in-the-master-runner

• https://www.healthhp.com.au/post/our-number-one-tip-for-masters-runners

📚 References: for a full list, head to the episode website https://www.healthhp.com.au/the-rehab-runway/episode-5-masters-runners

🎙️ Hosted by Luke Nelson- Sports & Exercise Chiropractor, running coach, and strength coach.
Follow on Instagram @sportschiroluke

In this bonus Q&A episode of The Rehab Runway, Luke is joined again by Tom Goom (The Running Physio) to answer real-world questions from runners dealing with common and often frustrating injuries.

Tom shares practical, evidence-informed advice on managing femoroacetabular impingement while training for a marathon, navigating long-standing iliotibial band pain, and understanding the role of pain hypersensitivity in persistent tendon issues. The conversation also covers when and how to safely reintroduce speed work after injury, helping runners balance confidence, load, and performance.

Short, focused, and packed with clinical insight, this episode is ideal for runners and health professionals looking for clear guidance they can apply immediately.

🔗 Follow Tom Goom: Instagram: @running.physio Website:⁠ https://www.running-physio.com/

🎙️ Hosted by Luke Nelson — Sports & Exercise Chiropractor, running coach, and strength coach.

Follow on Instagram @sportschiroluke

Learn more at⁠ www.healthhp.com.au⁠

This week on The Rehab Runway, Luke sits down with one of the most influential voices in running rehab, Tom Goom, better known as The Running Physio.

Tom has inspired clinicians and runners around the world with his evidence-based yet practical approach to treating running injuries. In this episode, Luke and Tom unpack the real gamechangers that have shaped how they both work with runners, from modern load management to the art of communication and the evolution of running rehab itself.

They explore:

🏃‍♂️ How Tom’s approach to treating runners has evolved

⚙️ The key shifts and “aha moments” that changed his clinical practice

💪 Why strength training remains a cornerstone of injury prevention and rehab

📈 How to approach load management and return-to-run progressions

🚫 The biggest myths and mistakes still seen in running rehab

🧠 The importance of communication, behavioural change, and understanding the runner’s mindset

🔮 What excites Tom most about the future of running rehab

Plus, Tom shares his top three recovery tips for runners and three key lessons for clinicians helping runners return from injury, before jumping into a rapid-fire round that reveals his favourite strength exercise, most underrated rehab tool, and one myth he wishes would disappear for good.

Whether you’re a clinician, coach, or runner, this conversation is packed with insights you can apply immediately in the clinic or on the run.

🔗 Follow Tom Goom: Instagram: @running.physio Website: https://www.running-physio.com/

📝 Show Notes Mentioned in This Episode: Personal Energy Availability Questionnaire (PEAQ): https://mypeaq.streamlit.app/

🎙️ Hosted by Luke Nelson — Sports & Exercise Chiropractor, running coach, and strength coach.

Follow on Instagram @sportschiroluke

Learn more at⁠ www.healthhp.com.au⁠