Listening to old episodes

This pod used to be awesome. Sad that it changed like it did.

Shame on the participants of this roundtable discussion of the the runner's heart. You know that you should have had an indepth discussion on the latest research pertaining to Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB) instead of just a brief mention. You know that (AFIB) is the biggest threat to the runner's heart..... Shame on "The Runner's World Show" for broadcasting this show. You should do a show on AFIB based on the research. Instead you chose to air this garbage.

Love love love this show. I’m re-listening to old ones now. I miss it!! It was inspiring and informative, and it made a big difference in my mental state while being a runner. I loved listening!

I’ll listen to some of the old ones to get me in the zone for race prep and training. Please bring it back! I looked forward to new episodes and it’s a great compliment to the magazine.

This podcast is why I started listening to podcasts. This podcast got me running. This was the best runner oriented podcast of all time!! Please help a poor lost soul stay motivated and please bring this back!!

I used to love this podcast back when it was all running focused. It was inspiring and entertaining. Now they switched formats to make it more fitness focused and they haven’t released a new episode in months. It’s really disappointing.

I used to love listening to the runners world podcast. I think I have listened to every episode at least once. Some definitely more than once. But then you guys changed the format to make it a collage of “all things sports and fitness” which I thought was probably a bad idea at the time since the runners I know identify themselves as runners and not “collage athletes” but hey what do I know? Now it seems you’ve dropped this podcast altogether. I find this very disappointing.

I really miss PB. I loved the version with David Wiley, but did love Kit Fox when he was on. What is going on Runners World?? Come back!

As a long time runner, magazine subscriber and podcast listener, I found the former RW Podcast, and magazine layout, much more entertaining and informative. There seems to be a lot of changes going on at RW with David Wiley and Bart Yasso stepping down. Sometimes change is not for the better.

I am so sad the passing of the torch between Editors has led to this podcast being left behind. I can’t tell you how many times I would be motivated to grab my headphones and run in large part by the chance to hear the inspiring interviews, informative round table talks, or Brian and Kit’s Final Kick during which I literally laugh out loud. Every show was my new favorite. But now, I hold my breath and check to see if a new show has been made only to find November 2017. And it’s just so disappointing. The show made me want to read the magazine, not the other way around.

Just finished episode 3...Ugh... please tell me the future of this channel isn’t this celebrity centered trash. Just finished another episode, can’t anyone see how inferior this product is to what the Runners World staff was doing?

I miss Human Race and The Runners World Show

The Runners world show and human race were favorites of mine. I won't even listen to any more episodes of personal best, as it's just a boring show. They should have continued to focus on their core audience (i.e. Runners).

Kinda says it all. The new leadership at RW sees the responses to their new format. Either they killed the podcast all together or they're stopping to rebuild it to back what it once was. Gut says it's not the latter.... Disappointing.

I wish they had not changed from Runners World show to this. It was much better before.

I really loved the human race and the runners world podcast. I have not loved any episode of this show so far and have actually found some of them to be slightly boring and the questions and subjects weren’t great. I loved the great background stories on human race. These feel like easy lazy stories that are being made because of budget cuts. I really hope the quality improves or they bring back human race. I started listening to podcasts because of that show. I might stop listening because of this one.

The Runner's World Show used to be one of my favorite podcasts, and (with Human Race), the only thing I'd listen to while on the treadmill. Now that they've shifted away from running and to 'general fitness,' I'm less interested. I'd rather see Personal Best as an overall Rodale podcast and a Runner's World-focused podcast for all of us who are just interested in hearing about the running world.

I used to listen to every episode when this was about running. They’ve tried to expand and bring in a larger audience with the new name and format, but instead have alienated the core. Really miss the Human Race podcast.

I was very disappointed when the RW and Human Race podcasts were cancelled but was hoping PB would take things up a notch from what were already excellent podcasts. Well I've been very disappointed. Nothing against the featured guests but the podcasts have comprised of someone reading a list of interview questions. There is no spontaneity in the dialogue. Just one scripted question after another. No production effort at all. And at the end of the interview, the end. I don't know how the same staff that produced such great shows now seemed to take 10 steps backward. The only change we know of is the EIC. The RW and HR podcasts were synonymous with David Wiley. One can't help wonder if the change is due to the new EIC's insecurity.

I originally subscribe to this as it was a Runner’s World podcast focused on running. With recent changes not only has the host changed but so how’s the focus and content. It’s not a bad podcast but it’s not what I signed up for and looking for one focused on running. It’s sad to see runners world stray from that original focus

I loved the old podcast. I follow Runner's World because I want to hear about running. I don't cycle or swim, and have other outlets for hearing about the other activities I do have interest in. I liked the depth of covering just one sport. I also liked that there were different segments within one episode. It gave the show energy. Since David Willie left, the show has been filled more with the voices and reactions of the hosts, and less with the voices and stories of the subjects. Having this show produced by someone trained specifically in radio/audio interviewing would really save it. I hope it gets back on track. It has left a hole in my podcast list. I don't subscribe to RW magazine, but stories on the podcast sometimes made me go get an issue. They could be such complementary pieces of media if they could get a handle on good reporting and focus on depth.

And I miss The Human Race. Way better than PB. Letting the interviewee tell their story rather than answering one question after another held my interest better. I still enjoy the subjects but it’s harder to listen to. Not sure if I’ll continue. :/

This show was much better as The Runner’s World show. Now it’s just Runner’s World staff intro’ing other pubs’ stories. There are plenty of “something for everyone” fitness shows and now this is just another. Miss the multi-personality hosting, Kit Fox and others as well as the kick.

It’s fine for what it is but the format isn’t as good as the runner’s world format. It also focuses on more than runners and that is not why I personally listen. I don’t mind talking about other sports and cross training as they relate to running but this is not the case. It’s not the podcast it used to be- and they state that. It’s unfortunate. I wish they’d just said they were ending Runner’s world Podcast because the “changes” effectively obliterated the podcast it used to be. They did not improve the podcast. I was looking for similarities. There are very few. Maybe that was my mistake or I was mislead by their attempt to keep old listeners. The first ep was encouraging but the focus on other sports lost me. I am very disappointed. I miss the old Podcast.

I used to love the two podcasts that Runner’s World put out, they were the podcasts that I stayed on top of and listened to as soon as they came out. Unfortunately, the new Personal Best is quite a disappointment and I’ve unsubscribed. Perhaps Rodale is trying to be more inclusive but now they’ve just alienated my demographic (thirty something long distance runner). I want a podcast that will focus on running and the highlights of the “pop culture running scene.” Bring back the old segments! They were so varied and interesting and got me through a ton of long training runs. Also, get rid of the “paper and packaging” advertisements. Shouldn’t all runners recognize that we need to have a healthy environment to run outside? Marketing paper and packaging is not selling your green side, Rodale.

I loved both the Runner's World Podcast and Human Race. This new Personal Best podcast lacks the heart that Human Race brought us and the humor and variety from the Runner's World Podcast. It's dull, and the interviews are far too long. Please consider adding a co-host or adding a segment or two.

We've been told to keep the reviews coming because every single one gets read... Please bring back a running-focused podcast.

I’m not trying to be a hater. I love the Runners World Magazine. That’s why I subscribed to their original podcast. The revamped version has been just okay for me. I love focusing on minority women because I am one but I don’t care about cycling. Which is why I didn’t subscribe to the Cycling World Magazines podcast. Please return to what you once were podcast!!! I won’t give up on you yet.

Once upon a time, Runner's World had two podcasts: The Runner's World Show and Human Race. Both focused on running but in very different ways. The Runner's World Show was a bit more technical and information driven to runners via roundtables, interviews with professionals, and race reports. Human Race was about the rest of us - people who's lives had been affected by running in one way or another and the stories around it. For some unknown reason they decided to discontinue both podcasts and came up with Personal Best. To say I am disappointed is not even a strong enough description. I went from have two running-driven podcasts to having one that talks to professional athletes from all sports. Listen, if I wanted to hear a podcast about a Kite Boarder, I'd go look for that. That's not why I listened to Runner's World and Human Race, but it is why I am discontinuing my subscrption to Personal Best, which has had very little to do with running.

I really enjoyed the old format and do not like the new. I haven’t enjoyed the first two new shows - topic, voice or production. I’ll give it a few more episodes to hit its stride but otherwise will move on.

OK, so I was a big fan of Runner's World and their former podcasts The Runners World Show and The Human Race - all centered around running. Now it's morphed to Personal Best - a good idea but the first couple episodes delve into race (not running race, but skin tone race) and sexuality - not exactly easy listening while getting some miles in. Do I really need to learn about a guest's brilliant idea for a LGBT-themed Muscle Milk commercial? No. It's like NPR or The Atlantic took over. Ugh. Seems like our most beloved areas of life must be infected with politics and cultural nonsense these days. Staying subscribed and hoping for improvement in topics.

The old podcast, The Runners World Show, was fantastic — entertaining, inspiring, and informative. This rebranded version is very little of those things. I found it to be dull. I am sad to lose a highlight of my listening pleasures and running inspiration. It is now just a continuous, single interview on a broad set of topics — too broad for me. Maybe if the specific weekly topic and interviewee is interesting to you, you will enjoy some select episodes. However, this is unlikely to be a consistent “must-listen podcast” for anyone. It appears that in trying to be all things for all people, the product has been watered down and lacks any joy or flavor. Total bummer — really miss the old show!!! Bring back “The Kick”!!! Let me know if the format changes. Until then, I am going to unsubscribe.

Used to love this podcast in its former life ...now it’s absolutely rubbish.

I began listen from the beginning of the previous iteration of the show. Obviously I did so because it was from Runners World and my interest is in that realm. After giving the first 2 episodes of the new season a try, I no longer have the same satisfaction with the podcast as I used to have. The topics and subjects covered are fine. Production quality of the show is good too. It just is now focused upon a different audience then I am in. If and when another running episode appears I will listen in. I just don’t foresee listening weekly as I did with the previous seasons.

I was an avid listener of the Runner’s World show and Human Race (Great show, miss it, Rachel Swaby was an amazing interviewer.) until the very end (even what RWS was starting to feel stale). When RWS said they were retooling, I was hoping for something a little more adventurous, instead we’ve gotten the same show, with the same tired format, but now instead of something super focused on one thing, it’s a throw everything at the wall and see what sticks approach. The reason I was getting bored with the RWS was because it was always the same darn thing : Open-Interview-Kick-end. While I love hearing runner’s (and now anybody’s) stories on how they’ve worked hard to get where they are, there’s only so many I can listen to. I want something more exciting, that gets out into the actually things your interviewing people about. If it’s running, get out there, go to a race, go do something, please. You spent an hour talking to a personal trainer this week, who’s built his own company, but all you did was talk. If this is your new approach please get more involved than just doing what is basically the same interview over and over again. Finally, I miss having a show from Runner’s World that’s about the thing I love, running. PB is just too broad, and I really didn’t listen to RWS thinking about starting up cycling or body building. I run, I want to continue to listen more podcasts about running from one of the top magazines about the sport. That being said, if you go that route again, please do more that just interviews. Have some episodes here and there that are about events, and not just x person.

It’s really too bad that this podcast had to change from the Runner’s world show. It’s ok, but not even close to what the original concept delivered

When this was the Runner’s World Podcast it was fantastic. I’m not sure why they have moved completely away from running as a topic and I’m not sure this is even from the correct magazine. Bizarre decision. If it doesn’t change I will have to unsubscribe.

Would have given the old version a hearty five stars, but the new "Personal Best" format has left me wanting. The interviews are unwieldy and far too long. What happened to the training tips and fun little segments? Most of all, why is The Kick gone?? Had to be my favorite part of each previous episode. I'm hoping this is just growing pains, but I'm not currently impressed.

I'm a devoted reader of Runners World and up until today, a listener of the podcast. I gobbled them both up as soon as they came out. Personal Best, as a fitness podcast, it's probably great, but that's not how it was sold to me. It was the Runners World podcast, all things running. Down below is a review that is positive for the new format and I’m happy they like it. However, this statement really bothered me. “I can’t wait until they do an episode on rock climbing. Keep up the good work Runner’s World.” I love fitness and encourage everyone to go out and do something, but rock climbing does not equal Runner’s World. If Rodale wants a podcast that covers all fitness, great, you have that now with this new Personal Best. But PLEASE bring back a devoted Runners World show all about running. I made it to the 3rd episode of this new format and I made through the first 3 mins of the 3rd episode. At that point, I had to skip all the way to the end to confirm my fears. Shalane just won the Chicago Marathon and it wasn't freakin’ mentioned!!! I've unsubscribed now, with hopes of hearing about a running podcast in the near future. Now I'm starting to worry about the magazine. Is Rodale wanting to go down this road and that's why there seemed to be an exodus of staff? I hope that's not the case. I've really enjoyed the magazine over the David Wiley times and hope it continues in relatively the same way with Betty Wong Ortiz. I think Personal Best needs to start the review counter over and not claim all the good reviews the the Runners World Podcast earned. Any reviews that were done before Sept 7, 2017 were for the Runners World Podcast. Be sure to sort reviews by most recent to see the real Personal Best reviews.

This review is specific to the new version of the podcast as of Fall 2017 (for the record, I was a fan of the old Runner's World podcast and especially its sister show, Human Race). I'm guessing that RW's parent company, Rodale, decided to rebrand this podcast to appeal to all athletic interests and not just running...that's fine with me. After all, it's crucial to cross-train and this might give people insight into other sports to try. But the execution of this new podcast is horrible. Brian Dalek plods through the intro/outro at 0.5 speed and over-enunciates like he's learning how to read. The first two interviews are awkward...one is utterly subjective and pandering, the next is meandering and pointless. It might be time to find another running or athletic podcast...or just listen to music during your next run.

I’m a runner and listened to the previous podcast runners world that changed into personal best. Personally I’m looking for something running based and the second and third episodes haven’t interested me. I’m disappointed that runners world cancelled both of their running podcasts. I’ll subscribe to personal best but I’ll delete any non running episodes.

I miss the previous host I couldn’t listen to 5 minutes or this glottal fry guy!

Runner’s World got rid of The Runner’s World podcast and Human Race (one of the best podcasts I’ve listened to) and finally released Personal Best. I subscribed to he Runner’s World podcast because I’m a runner and interested in running, believe it or not. Personal Best is a generic long-form interview and the second episode is about cycling by an editor who clearly has never done an audio interview before. I’ll be unsubscribing.

Please bring back the old show! Anyone interested in a Runner’s World Podcast is interested in all things running, not all things sports, cycling, crossfit etc. The podcast started going downhill when David Willey left and this new version really put the final nail in the coffin for me. RIP the Runner’s World Show. You will be missed.

This podcast has had some great past episodes, but I would particularly like to review "Episode 2: The Trailblazer" - the show contained absolutely no information on how I might achieve my personal best. Focus on your listeners. Serve their exercise needs. Leave your socio/political agenda to another podcast/blog/site.

Runner’s World Podcast was my absolute favorite podcast. The reporting was excellent and fun and it was about RUNNING. I am very disappointed that this podcast is no longer solely about running but now covers other forms of exercise. There are other podcasts for that. Please bring back Runner’s World!

I enjoyed the old podcast with different topics that were mostly about running since it came from Runner’s World. The only talk about bicycling was for cross training. Now the second episode was all about racing bicycles. Hopefully the new editor can regain focus and realize that people listened for running advice and the interesting round table discussions that they used to have.

I’ve been a fan of the RW show for a year or two now, and when they announced that it was being cancelled, I was very sad. However, I am excited to see what Personal Best has to offer! I can’t wait until they do an episode on rock climbing 😄 Keep up the great work Runner’s World

Wrote a race review for the show a year ago. Now that it’s changed to a fitness show, I sadly had to unsubscribe today. Far too many changes to keep listening. It’s a real shame because I wholly enjoyed the RW Show and Human Race.