Alex Ostberg: Who Actually Needs Electrolytes, Why Fitness Beats Every Other Health Marker, and What Coaching a World Champion Taught Him About Race Plans

THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST · Oct 18, 2026 · 1h 2m

Salt might be the most overhyped thing in your running bag. Alex Ostberg is back from Chicago, where Charles Hicks became the No. 3 American all time on a record-eligible course, for his monthly breakdown of the last four editions of The Rundown. He and Dominic start with electrolytes, a piece prompted by Riley Witt’s hot take. They cover why sweating actually raises blood sodium, the four dials that decide whether you need a sodium plan, and why slower marathoners face more hyponatremia risk than the elites. Next, they ask how much of your training actually serves your health. The biggest…