A bit about David: David Mehlman is an entrepreneur, investor, and avid endurance athlete. Throughout his career, David has worked in sell-side equity research, for a multi-billion-dollar equity hedge fund, and as an early-stage investor focused on the consumer and technology sectors. His love of data led him to explore the subject of quantitative analysis and assessment in sport and his own performance.

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OUTLINE:

0:00 - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

0:35 - David's Marathon Journey and Introduction

2:00 - Transition to Endurance Sports and First Triathlon

6:05 - Evolution of Training and Optimization

8:00 - Philosophy of Maximizing Potential and Capacity Utilization

10:53 - Comparisons and Misconceptions in Training

15:42 - Technology's Role in Calibration and Recovery

19:33 - Importance of Easy Runs and Stress-Rest Balance

22:10 - The Impact of Stress on the Body

23:05 - Acute vs. Chronic Stress in Running

23:30 - Physiological Characteristics in Training

24:00 - The Cyclical Nature of Training

25:15 - Micro Sine Waves in Training

26:00 - The Fallacy of Predicting Race Outcomes

27:00 - Willingness vs. Physiological Adaptations

28:30 - The Fallacy of Proving Fitness in Workouts

30:00 - Input Metrics vs. Output Metrics

33:00 - Stressing the Body for Adaptations

36:00 - The Pitfalls of Chasing Output Metrics

38:00 - The Danger of Data Misinterpretation

41:00 - Data as a Guide, Not Gospel

43:01 - Heart Rate as a Crucial Internal Variable

43:46 – Importance of Heat Adaptation and External Conditions

43:52 – Adjusting Pace Based on Heart Rate

44:04 – Managing Stress and Blood Flow

44:23 – Seasonal Considerations in Workouts

45:23 – Monitoring Cardiac Drift

46:05 – Achieving Negative Cardiac Drift

47:00 – Importance of Limiter Testing

48:13 – Specificity in Training Metrics

51:38 – Personalization and Goals

53:51 – Physiological Profiling and Testing

54:25 – Running Community and Support