jill merkel | Garrett McLaughlin, MS, ATC, CSCS, ART

The Best of 2021

January 13, 2022 · by Garrett McLaughlin

Are you new on the blog or curious what high value piece of content you might have missed in 2021? If so, I have you covered.

While facing much unpredictability in 2021, I still tried my best to remain consistent with the educational content. This ranged from social media posts (Facebook & Instagram), webinars & Fireside Chats, and exclusive content in the Ignite Your Run private Facebook group. Whether you caught some of this or none at all, let me help you by summarizing the best of 2021.

At the end of every year, I like to “wrap-up” by sharing the most viewed content. These are not my top choices necessarily but which were viewed the most to provide a more objective measurement system.

Below you will see the top 3 pieces of content broken down by category. This includes articles, videos, Fireside Chats, and webinars. Please click each individual link to view the content and understand why it was so popular in 2021!

And, of course, if you have any questions or need additional help moving forward please click here to schedule a FREE 30-minute consultation.

Top 3 Fireside Chats

In the following, I will share the most viewed Fireside Chat segments in 2021. For those of you new to the Fireside Chat, this is a conversational-type webinar where I invite some of the top professionals in the running, health, & fitness world to share with us their knowledge and experience regarding a particular topic.

#1: Improving Mobility for Runners with David Jennings, DPT

#2: Pelvic Floor & Women’s Health with Cassandra McCoy, ATC

#3: RED-S & Nutritional Considerations for Endurance Athletes with Jill Merkel, RD

Top 3 Webinars

In the following, I will share the most viewed webinars from 2021. These are FREE 60-minute webinars that I hosted on a regular basis to educate people about various topics to improve function of the body, performance, and reduce the likelihood of injury.

#1: Pelvic Control: The Overlooked Link to Better Running Performance & Injury Reduction

#2: Core Training That Matters: How to Train the Foot, Core, & Breathing to Impact Running Performance

#3: How to Reduce Tightness & Feel Your Best Without Wasting Time Static Stretching

I hope this Best of 2021 resource provides you with some guidance and understanding regarding various topics which will allow you to see the best possible results in 2022. Of course, if you have questions or need help moving forward please click here to schedule your FREE 30-minute phone consultation.

Interested in joining a community of motivated runners to learn about running, injury prevention, and nutrition? Click here to learn more about the Ignite the Run private Facebook group!

By: Garrett McLaughlin, MS, ATC, CSCS, ART

Fireside Chat with Cassandra McCoy, ATC – “Pelvic Floor & Women’s Health”

December 1, 2021 · by Garrett McLaughlin

Welcome to the Fireside Chat! This series was designed to provide runners and the general population easy to absorb information regarding running mechanics, nutrition, strength training, and injury prevention. As the series progresses, we will cover a myriad of topics and speak with different professionals in the health & running community.

In this 10th edition, we had a great conversation with guest, Cassandra McCoy, ATC. Cassandra is a licensed athletic trainer and women’s health professional in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The pelvic floor is a commonly overlooked area of the human body. And truth is, it’s rarely talked about which does a disservice to women and men who suffer from injury, urinary incontinence, and/or a myriad of other conditions created by pelvic floor dysfunction. Whether you are recovering from child birth or having difficulty holding your bladder, Cassandra will teach you the basics so you can function your best.

In this Fireside Chat, we covered a variety of topics, including…

What is the pelvic floor?
Common injuries and issues from pelvic floor dysfunction
Why we need to remember the pelvic floor when we…
- Return to exercise pre/post-partum
- Return to exercise following an injury or surgery
Why the pelvic floor shouldn’t be trained in isolation
Q&A

Click the video below to instantly watch the replay of this chat!

Did you enjoy this Fireside Chat and are interested in learning more about upcoming segments as well as high quality educational content for runners? If so, click here to join the Ignite Your Run private Facebook group. The Ignite Your Run group is a FREE community for runners to learn and interact in the journey to become the best version of yourself possible. You can also click here to view the resource page containing previous Fireside Chat’s and webinars.

Here are additional resources regarding today’s chat and how to learn more about Cassandra McCoy, as well as her in-person & virtual services…

Email: info@positivelybalancedllc.com
Website
25-Days of Fitmas

Thanks for watching!

By: Garrett McLaughlin, MS, ATC, CSCS, ART

Fireside Chat with Jill Merkel, RD – “RED-S and Nutritional Considerations for Endurance Athletes”

June 16, 2021 · by Garrett McLaughlin

Welcome to the Fireside Chat! This series was designed to provide runners and the general population easy to absorb information regarding running mechanics, nutrition, strength training, and injury prevention. As the series progresses, we will cover a myriad of topics and speak with different professionals in the health & running community.

In this 9th edition, we had a great conversation with guest, Jill Merkel, RD. Jill is a sports and women’s wellness dietitian in Nashville, TN.

Have you had a history of health issues and wonder if they could be from under fueling? Do injuries consistently set you back from performing at your best? Jill educates us on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and how it can have negative long-term consequences not only as an active individual but with basic physiological functions.

In this Fireside Chat, we covered a variety of topics, including…

How to know if you are fueling your body properly
What is RED-S?
Health & performance consequences, as well as warning signs of RED-S
How to address this and prevent it from occurring
Q&A

Click the video below to instantly watch the replay of this chat!

Did you enjoy this Fireside Chat and are interested in learning more about upcoming segments as well as high quality educational content for runners? If so, click here to join the Ignite Your Run private Facebook group. The Ignite Your Run group is a FREE community for runners to learn and interact in the journey to become the best version of yourself possible. You can also click here to view the resource page containing previous Fireside Chat’s and webinars.

Here are additional resources regarding today’s chat and how to learn more about Jill Merkel, as well as her nutrition services…

Website: www.jillmerkelrd.com
Email: merkel.jill@gmail.com

Thanks for watching!

By: Garrett McLaughlin, MS, ATC, CSCS, ART

Fireside Chat with Jill Merkel, RD – ‘Nutrition Tips that Last Beyond New Year’s Resolutions’

January 22, 2021 · by Garrett McLaughlin

Welcome to the Fireside Chat! This series was designed to provide runners and the general population easy to absorb information regarding running mechanics, nutrition, strength training, and injury prevention. As the series progresses, we will cover a myriad of topics and speak with different professionals in the health & running community.

In this 6th edition, we had a great conversation with guest, Jill Merkel. Jill is a sports and women’s wellness dietitian in Nashville, Tennessee. She has been my go to nutrition resource for years and for good reason. She not only knows her stuff but is able to simplify complex topics in a way that creates sustainable long-term results.

Has improving nutrition been on your mind as we enter the New Year? Do you have big running goals and want to learn how proper hydration and fueling can play a role in that? Jill has you covered with fantastic information that can be immediately applied to your situation.

In this Fireside Chat, we covered a variety of topics, including…

Background and experiences (2:06)
Why restrictive diets don’t work (3:30)
Focus on what you can add versus taking something away (9:33)
The 3 things to consider for hydration (12:33)
What dietary changes to make based on your training (19:28)
Q&A (29:00)

Click the video below to instantly watch the replay of this chat!

Did you enjoy this Fireside Chat and are interested in learning more about upcoming segments as well as high quality educational content for runners? If so, click here to join the Ignite Your Run private Facebook group. The Ignite Your Run group is a FREE community for runners to learn and interact in the journey to become the best version of yourself possible. You can also click here to view the resource page containing previous Fireside Chat’s and webinars.

Here are additional resources regarding today’s chat and how to learn more about sports & women’s wellness dietitian, Jill Merkel, RD.

Website: jillmerkelrd.com
Email: Merkel.jill@gmail.com

Thanks for watching!

By: Garrett McLaughlin, MS, ATC, CSCS, ART

The Best of 2020

December 23, 2020 · by Garrett McLaughlin

| Article written on December 21st, 2020 at 07:22am | Follow Garrett on Facebook and Instagram |

2020 was a wild ride, wasn’t it? Despite the ups and downs this year threw at us, there were still tons of people staying active and pursuing their health, running, & fitness goals. This includes searching for the top content and resources across multiple platforms.

At the end of every year, I like to “wrap-up” by sharing the most viewed content for those of you who might’ve missed it. These are not my top choices necessarily but which were viewed the most to provide a more objective measurement system.

Below you will see the top 4 pieces of content broken down by category. This includes articles, videos, Fireside Chats, and webinars. Please click each individual link to view the content and understand why it was so popular in 2020!

And, of course, if you have any questions or need additional help moving forward please CLICK HERE to contact me directly.

Top 4 Fireside Chats

In the following, I will share the most viewed Fireside Chat segments in 2020. For those of you new to the Fireside Chat, this is a conversational-type webinar where I invite some of the top professionals in the running, health, & fitness world to share with us their knowledge and experience regarding a particular topic.

#1: Foundational Principles to Improve Your Running with Nicole Sifuentes

#2: Finding the Right Shoe for the Job with Dr. Jesse Riley, DC

#3: Your Running Form: What Matters and What Doesn’t with Nicole Sifuentes

#4: Debunking Food Rules & Myths with Jill Merkel, RD

Top 4 Webinars

In the following, I will share the most viewed webinars from 2020. These are FREE 60-minute webinars that I hosted on a monthly basis to educate runners about strength training, injury prevention, and running mechanics.

#1: Cadence: How to Manipulate Your Step Rate to Reduce Pain & Improve Performance

#2: Build Your Run Series: Injury Prevention

#3: Build Your Run Series: Strength Training & Plyometrics

#4: Become a Faster Runner: Movement Strategies to Increase Your Running Speed

I hope this Best of 2020 resource provides you with some guidance and understanding regarding various topics which will allow you to see the best possible results in 2021. Of course, if you have questions or need help moving forward please contact me directly by clicking here.

Interested in joining a community of motivated runners to learn about running, injury prevention, and nutrition? Click here to learn more about the Ignite the Run private Facebook group!

By: Garrett McLaughlin, MS, ATC, CSCS, ART

Fireside Chat with Jill Merkel, RD – “Debunking Food Rules & Myths”

July 27, 2020 · by Garrett McLaughlin

Welcome to a brand new series called the “Fireside Chat.” This was designed to provide runners and the general population easy-to-absorb information regarding running mechanics, nutrition, strength training, and injury prevention. As the series progresses, we will cover a myriad of topics and speak with different professionals in the health & running community.

In our first segment, we were fortunate to have guest Jill Merkel, who is a registered sports and women’s wellness dietitian in the Nashville, TN area. Over the last 3-4 years, Jill has been a tremendous resource to my clients as the nutrition component is often very misunderstood in the running community. She has tons of knowledge and experience in the nutrition field and can very easily simplify complex topics in a way that leads to better execution and reliable long-term results.

In this Fireside Chat, we covered a variety of topics, including…

The impact of low carb on energy levels (8:05)
Weight gain during the pandemic (19:09)
The difference between foods being filling vs. satisfying, and why both can be important (28:52)
How to get in contact with Jill (31:59)
Q&A (36:05)

Click the video below to instantly watch the replay of this chat!

Did you enjoy this Fireside Chat and are interested in learning more about upcoming segments as well as high quality educational content for runners? If so, click here to join the Ignite Your Run private Facebook group. The Ignite Your Run group is a FREE community for runners like you to learn and interact in the journey to become the best version of yourself possible.

Here are additional resources regarding today’s chat and how to learn more about Jill…

Website: www.jillmerkelrd.com
Intuitive Eating Small Group: https://www.jillmerkelrd.com/intuititve-eating-support-group
Nutrition for Runners Webinar: https://www.jillmerkelrd.com/runners-workshop

Thanks for watching!

By: Garrett McLaughlin, MS, ATC, CSCS, ART