The Running Clinic

08/27/2026

Coming soon: Psychology and Physiotherapy — How Evidence Changes Clinical Practice

Many physiotherapists receive little training in the psychological dimensions of pain and rehabilitation. This series gives them practical tools to identify relevant processes, adapt their communication and interventions, and collaborate when a situation falls outside their scope of practice—without making diagnoses, stepping into the role of psychotherapist, or reducing symptoms to something that is “all in the patient’s head.”

The series features twelve critical, evidence-based summaries by Mélanie Fournier, a doctoral student in psychology, and William Rinkenbach, a physiotherapist.

Topics will include:
→ Psychologically informed physiotherapy: What does it really mean?
→ Screening without diagnosing: How useful are “yellow flags”?
→ Validating pain without reinforcing fear
→ Discussing prognosis without creating nocebo effects

First article coming next week!

06/02/2026

New blog article | Does ice soothe the pain or the injury?

Applying ice after an injury is a deeply ingrained reflex in sports medicine. Yet its most clearly supported effect appears to be more analgesic — temporarily modulating pain — than truly accelerating tissue repair.

In this new article, Mélanie Fournier, PhD candidate in psychology and part of The Running Clinic team for over 10 years, offers a nuanced reflection on the role of ice in managing running-related injuries.

👉 https://therunningclinic.com/runners/blog/does-ice-soothe-the-pain-or-the-injury/

06/02/2026

Great weekend in Ottawa for the Fundamentals of Running Injuries course. 24 health professionnals are now newly certified by The Running Clinic.
Thank-you to MOOV Physiotherapy and Wellnesss for hosting the course and to Eslin and Cindy for all the help.

05/27/2026

Share your clinical experience!

An international research team led by Dr. Yoan Bourgeau-Gagnon is conducting a questionnaire-based study on greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS).

The goal: to better understand current practices, barriers and knowledge among healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of hip conditions.

The survey is open to physiotherapists, physiotherapist assistants, orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, physiatrists and rheumatologists, including residents and fellows.

It takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

👉 Complete the survey: https://redcap.cred.ca/surveys/?s=MTJLKMFRKDYECN7T

This project has been approved by the ethics committee of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS.

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