I wouldn't call myself an expert. I'm just more knowledgeable than most. Very few educated strength & conditioning professionals focus too much thought on distance running because in the world of strength & conditioning the money is in the big three: football, basketball, baseball...with most focus on football.
You also won't find many people who try to focus on both running and lifting very successfully. The number of folks who can deadlift over twice their bodyweight is very small. The number of folks who can run sub 18 in a 5k is small. Neither of those marks are very outstanding by themselves. Combined I would say they are fairly good. I've passed the age where I would have been able to max my strength potential, but still think I can improve. I still think I could pull off a 2.5bw Deadlift and a sub 3:00 marathon within the same month.
Also you have to realize that any educated strength & conditioning professional (have at least a BS, have either an ACSM or NSCA cert, and more importantly have actually been in a gym themselves, looked at research, etc) could tell you exactly what I'm telling you. Mostly it's a matter of applying basic principles. Running is one of the few sports left to not embrace actual strength training. Pretty much anyone with a BS in Ex.Phys or a related major could tell you the same basic principles. Hell...anyone with a computer and access to the internet can tell you these same basic principles. The difference is that I have taken the time to try and give out free information. I am not a coach, nor am I a personal trainer. I do however lead 10-20 people on a daily basis in physical training.
Alan