Dr Logan Sherman Of The Dallas Marathon On The Workout Routines Of Professional Athletes

Professional athletes have to perform at the highest levels. While not all of us will share Professional athletes’ athletic skills, we can learn insights from their workout routines about how we can improve our own exercise regimens. In this interview series, we are talking to professional athletes from all sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, Soccer, Olympics, Golf, Tennis, etc.) about the workout routines that they use to help them achieve top-level performance. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Dr. Logan Sherman.

Dr. Logan Sherman graduated with honors from Parker University in August 2013 with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Dr. Sherman is passionate about being a chiropractic sports practitioner and holds certifications in Chiropractic Clinical Neurology, Active Release Technique (ART), KinetaCore Functional Dry Needling, Graston Technique and Rocktape Fascial Movement Taping (FMT 1 and 2). Dr. Sherman was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where he competed in cross-country, track and field, and hockey for JJ Pearce High School. Upon graduation, he attended Texas A&M University, where he studied business and was a member of the TAMU varsity track team. Between his senior year at JJ Pearce High School and Freshman year at Texas A&M University, he was asked to train at the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. During his athletic career, Dr. Sherman regularly received chiropractic care to maintain high performance and prevent injury.

After receiving his degree in business administration from Texas A&M, Sherman pursued a career in chiropractic sports medicine, attending Parker University, where he balanced education, road racing and serving the community. While at Parker, Sherman served as class president and was awarded “Who’s Who” among students (2013). He focused his studies on biomechanics and functional neurology and was selected to participate in a rotation at the Dallas Veterans Administration Hospital. His work at the VA gave him hands-on experience and an ability to help our wounded veterans — an experience he will always treasure.

In April 2013, Dr. Sherman was selected to represent the city of Dallas in the Sendai International Half Marathon. He continues to pursue his goal of competing in the Western States 100 miler and participants in numerous local races and competitions. You can find Dr. Sherman volunteering with local running groups, including Luke’s Locker, Run On and Marathon Kids, as well as posting information on Facebook in order to communicate his passion for promoting and living a healthy life.

Dr. Sherman has had the privilege of working on collegiate and professional athletes. Athletes that compete in track and field, cross country, swimming, triathlons, cycling, dance and martial arts. His passion is helping everyone to lead a more active and healthier lifestyle.

Dr. Sherman is proud to teach generations of medical doctors, physical therapists, massage therapists and chiropractors how to perform Active Release Technique (ART). ART is considered the “gold standard’ in soft tissue care. Dr. Sherman has had many success stories utilizing ART while treating patients since 2011.

Thank you so much for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your backstory and how you became a professional athlete?

I grew up in Dallas, TX, as a small, overweight kid with a strong competitive spirit. In middle school, I once got in trouble during PE for talking too much. The gym teacher gave me a choice: either serve a detention or run two miles. Naturally, I chose the two-mile option to avoid my parents finding out. Driven by my competitiveness, I ran fast enough to impress the PE teacher who encouraged me to try out for the track team — although he still told my dad (and yes, I got punished!). But that moment sparked my love for running. Several years later, I was invited to join my high school’s relay team for the Dallas Marathon while still in middle school. The experience of running within the marathon crowds had me hooked, and from that point on, I dedicated years to running — first for Pearce High School and then for Texas A&M. My lifelong goal was to come back to the Dallas Marathon and break the tape, which I was lucky enough to accomplish in 2015 after many years of trying.

Can you share the most interesting story from your career and the lessons you learned?

One of the most memorable experiences was running on a treadmill for 12 hours to raise money for Back on My Feet, an organization dedicated to combating homelessness through fitness, community support, and essential employment and housing resources. While I fell short of my goal to break the Guinness World Record, we raised over $25,000. That experience help change my perspective. It wasn’t just about personal achievement — it was about understanding suffering and pain, much like what someone who is homeless experiences.

Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you share a story or example for each?

1. Passion — From that first two-mile run, I developed a passion for running that fueled my career.
2. Commitment — It took 16 years of training and competing to achieve my goal of winning the Dallas Marathon.
3. Consistency — In every phase of training, showing up day after day is vital.

Can you share a story about the funniest or most interesting mistake in your sports career?

One of the funniest moments of my career happened during the Cowtown Ultra Marathon (50k). Around mile 20, I pulled out a GU energy gel, tore off the top, and consumed it without realizing I had unintentionally opened two packets at the same time. I put the second one, still open, into my back pocket and kept running for about 4–5 more miles before I reached back and discovered chocolate GU running down the back of my leg. At that moment, I turned to the lead cyclist and asked if I looked like I had gone to the bathroom on myself! Despite the mishap, I went on to win the race, which made me the only person to have won every event Cowtown offers — the 5k, 10k, half marathon, full marathon, and the 50k.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that might help people?

After achieving my marathon goal, I began investing more time in bringing others into the event. Today, I serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the BMW Dallas Marathon. I have also joined the Board of the Dallas JCC and serve on a steering committee for my youngest daughter’s preschool. These roles allow me to combine my passion of running and serving others to make a positive impact on larger groups of people.

Can you share a few workout routines that help you perform at peak levels?

For running, I focus on three types of workouts: endurance, strength, and speed.

Endurance: This involves long-distance runs over extended periods, building your engine and increasing your stamina. It’s the foundation of training.

Strength: This includes long steady-state runs or hill workouts to increase power. It makes up about 30% of my training and is key for developing speed and resilience.

Speed: The final component is speed work, focusing on form and efficiency. This sharpens your skills and makes up a small but critical part of training.

What do you do to prevent injuries during workouts or competitions?

My college coach always said, “The devil is in the details.” That means focusing on everything — from proper sleep and nutrition to strength training, soft tissue work, and allowing the body to rest when needed. Working on all those pieces and balancing them is essential for staying healthy / injury-free.

What type of workout regime has helped you rehabilitate from injury?

Honestly, rest has been the most effective for me. As elite athletes, we often think progress should be linear, but sometimes you must pause and recover before pushing forward. Resting early can save you from getting completely off course.

Do you practice mindfulness or meditation as part of your overall training routine?

Absolutely! I have found apps like Calm and Headspace to be helpful. Mindfulness is essential to staying centered in high-pressure moments.

What exercises do you do to strengthen your core?

This question hits especially close to home. About three years ago, I injured my lower back while pushing my daughter in a running stroller. Since then, I’ve focused a lot more on foam rolling, stretching, and core work. My routine includes 3x’s 60-second planks, Superman exercises, and 30-second side planks Monday through Friday.

What are the “5 Things You Need To Create A Successful Career as a Professional Athlete”?

1. Goal: Setting a clear goal gives you direction and purpose.
2. Plan: Having a roadmap ensures you’re progressing effectively.
3. Team: Surrounding yourself with the right people provides support, guidance, and motivation.
4. Perseverance: There will be setbacks, but the ability to keep going despite them is key.
5. Grace: Showing yourself grace when things don’t go as planned is just as important as striving for success.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.