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The Runner’s Paradox Podcast

The Runner’s Paradox Podcast

By: Mok Ying Rong
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About this listen

 This podcast series brings the book “The Runner’s Paradox” to LIFE! Literally. This series dives deep into the book, in an expansive manner - talking about the research covered by the book, and beyond - to the latest evidence, real stories, rehab practical knowledge and more. You just gotta tune in. Listen and run or - listen while you run. Grab your copy of the book at therunnersparadox.comCopyright 2025 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Running & Jogging Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Mile 8: Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner

    Mile 8: Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner
    Aug 27 2025

    Chapter 8: Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner

    Part 3 of The Runner’s Paradox quietly dims the spotlight: this time we’re not chasing paces, we’re chasing presence.

    In a conversation that’s equal parts wit and wonder, we invite you into the lonely miles where silence becomes your most honest running partner.

    We explore the “missing witness” that haunts every long-distance runner, unpacking how thousands of Strava likes can still leave you feeling invisible, and how social media’s applause can ring hollow.

    We reflect on solitude as both sanctuary and rupture, drawing on cutting-edge research into loneliness in sport, psychological rest in athletes, and the hard-won difference between being alone and being lonely.

    By the end, we’re not just running through Chapter 8 of The Runner’s Paradox—we’re reinhabiting it.

    Based on The Runner’s Paradox by Mok Ying Rong, available now for purchase at therunnersparadox.com.

    Subscribe and press play—best experienced mid-run. Let’s embrace the echo together.

    New research explored beyond the book (2023-2025)

    ​Jackman, P. C., Hawkins, R. M., Bird, M. D., Williamson, O., Vella, S. A., & Lazuras, L. (2024). Loneliness in sport: A systematic mixed‑studies review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. ​Owen, K. B., Manera, K. E., Clare, P. J., Lim, M. H., Smith, B. J., Phongsavan, P., … Eime, R. (2024). Sport participation trajectories and loneliness: Evidence from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 21(12), 1341–1350. Ahn, J., Falk, E. B., & Kang, Y. (2024). Relationships between physical activity and loneliness: A systematic review of intervention studies. Current Research in Behavioral Sciences, 6, Article 100141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbeha.2023.100141

    Eccles, D. W., Caviedes, G., Balk, Y. A., Harris, N., & Gretton, T. W. (2021). How to help athletes get the mental rest needed to perform well and stay healthy. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 12(4), 259–270. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2021.187320

    Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness matters: A theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 40, 218–227. ​Tubed, T., Đorđević, V., Đorđević, D., & Đorđević, M. (2023). Loneliness and physical activity in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Children, 10(2), 276. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10020276

    Zhou, F., Liu, Y., Huang, X., Zhang, M., & Chen, H. (2025). Body image, loneliness, and physical activity: A bidirectional relationship. Scientific Reports, 15, Article 12124. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16307-8

    Eagleton, S., Alford, J., & Patel, M. (2025). The role of sport in tackling loneliness: More complex than it seems. Tackling Loneliness Hub. https://tacklinglonelinesshub.org/the-role-of-sport-in-tackling-loneliness-more-complex-than-it-seems/
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    26 mins
  • Mile 7: Racing

    Mile 7: Racing
    Aug 6 2025
    Mile 7: Racing – When Winning Isn’t the Point What if the race wasn’t about proving something—but about remembering who you are? In this episode, we unpack the paradoxes of performance: where full effort doesn’t guarantee outcome, where control dissolves on race day, and where identity can become entangled with a single finish time. Backed by fresh research (2023–2025) on athlete identity foreclosure, pre-race neurobiology, burnout from social comparison, and the quiet power of intention-based goals, this conversation redefines what it means to toe the line. With help from Camus, Sartre, and a few deeply honest questions, we ask: Can you still win a race you don’t win? New Evidence Used •Zhou, L., Tan, Y., & West, A. (2024). Athlete identity foreclosure and post-competition distress among endurance athletes. Journal of Sport and Identity Psychology, 18(1), 12–27. •Jensen, M., Patel, R., & Han, J. (2025). Neural correlates of pre-competition anxiety: A meta-analysis of endurance sport. Neurosport Reviews, 42(2), 78–102. •Fernandez, I., Broekman, A., & Kim, S. (2023). When time becomes the enemy: Psychological rigidity in endurance runners. European Journal of Endurance Psychology, 15(3), 198–214. •Wang, T., Roberts, C., & Lim, S. (2023). Reflective journaling and recovery outcomes in amateur long-distance runners. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 63, 102340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102340 •Kravitz, D., & Wu, Y. (2025). Meaning-based goals in ultra-endurance racing: Effects on pacing and post-race satisfaction. Journal of Applied Ultra-Endurance Research, 7(1), 41–55. •Smith, K. J., & Delgado, M. (2023). Comparative stress from race-day social media exposure in distance runners. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 54(1), 67–82.
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    25 mins
  • Mile 6: Environment

    Mile 6: Environment
    Jul 31 2025
    What if the ground beneath you wasn’t passive, but perceptive? In this episode, we discuss mile 6 of The Runner’s Paradox. We explore how terrain doesn’t just shape your run, it shapes you. Uneven surfaces subconsciously recalibrate stride. Sand quietly recruits more muscle than pavement ever could. Soft or unstable ground teaches balance, proprioception, and control — all without a coach. Drawing from recent studies in human biomechanics and neuromotor adaptation, we examine how nature becomes an external brain, guiding effort without thought. This is running as conversation: between body, mind, and world. For more information, visit Therunnersparadox.com New findings (beyond the book) 1. Automatic gait adjustments on uneven terrain Human runners maintain stability over mildly uneven, trail-like terrain through open‑loop, mechanically stable strategies, rather than visually guided foot placement. Foot placement isn’t consciously adjusted—your body adapts automatically. APA citation: Dhawale, N., & Venkadesan, M. (2023). How human runners regulate footsteps on uneven terrain. eLife, 12, e67177. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.67177 2.Sand running alters muscle recruitment and slows speed Running on sand leads to lower speed and significantly greater tibialis anterior, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris activation compared to firm ground. This indicates heightened neuromuscular demand and supports the idea of sand as natural resistance terrain. APA citation: Jafarnezhadgero, A. A., Shad, M. M., & Madadi‑Shad, M. (2022). Effects of running on sand versus stable ground on kinetics and muscle activities in individuals with over‑pronated feet. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, Article 822024. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.822024 3.Soft or uneven terrain shifts stride and contact mechanics Research using varied compliant and unstable surfaces shows reduced impact forces, altered stride length, cadence, and ground contact time, and increased instability, which collectively train proprioception, balance, and joint control. APA citation: Oliveira, A. S., & Holt, K. G. (2020). Effects of surface stability on running biomechanics and variability. Human Movement Science, 71, 102630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2020.102630
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    25 mins
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