The running world gets to watch in awe as elites set new records and perform incredible feats. But it’s not all rainbows and unicorns for these athletes. World record holders face injuries and challenges, too.

Charlie Lawrence set the record in the 50-mile distance in 2023, clocking in at 4:48:21. That’s an unbelievable average of 5:46 per mile. Charlie also ran his marathon personal record of 2:16 while qualifying for the US Olympic Trials Marathon for the second time.

In this episode, Charlie and I talk about:

The glute injury and hip labral tear that led Charlie to pull out of the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials
The emotions behind dropping out of the Trials
How a series of injuries in 2024 led Charlie to take almost 3 months off of running
The treatment and recovery Charlie applied to heal from the injuries, including aqua jogging and pool running
Using PRP (platelet rich plasma) and a levering off-load device on the treadmill to aid recovery
An aggressive approach to ultra training and the mentality needed to make it work
Being proactive in injury prevention, from foam rolling to activation work
How Charlie trained to set a 50 mile World Record at a 5:46/mile average pace
Charlie’s fueling strategies for ultrarunning and a World Record
What running goals Charlie wants to focus on next

This is an inspiring episode for runners of any distance who could use a realistic take on performance and recovery from an elite runner.

Links & Resources from the Show:

Charlie on Instagram
Get strategies to prevent injury.
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Thank you LMNT!

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How 50mi World Record Holder Charlie Lawrence Treats Serious Injuries, Fuels his Ultras, and More

The Strength Running Podcast