This episode was so fun, and it wasn’t just the cinnamon rolls we used for carb research. The main topic was a new study that took a cool design and extended the conclusions beyond their reach, theorizing that athletes should reconsider high-carb approaches for peak performance. We outline where we think the conclusions missed the mark. It makes us uncomfortable to disagree in this way, but we think it’s important for the health and performance of all athletes.

Next, we dove back into our comfort zone with a “No Secrets” Q+A on the best topics! Other topics: the Road To Western States video series getting a green-light for a full season, Megan’s first bike workout back, music during runs and races, how to structure the Trial of Miles, fear before big events, monitoring and improving bone density, and our theories on heat training!

And the Pain Cave Party playlist is here to give you some motivation for your winter training! Listen, and remember the wise words: “You know, technically / I'm not even really supposed to be here right now / So F it / Might as well make the most of it.”

We love you all! HUZZAH!

Trying to make the most of it,

-Megan and David

Watch the new video "Let's Shock The World" on David's Western States build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vpHk6Qoh_g

Listen to the Pain Cave Party Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/59OkJ1rJv5z7N1hbGqrmw9?si=qYzGe9VFRB-uxPusL5tk-A 

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We brought so much gratitude to this amazing episode! The main topic was the news announced this weekend: David's Leadville 100 performance won the International Trail Performance of the Year. Yes, tears were shed. To everyone who listens, THANK YOU. In ways that go deeper than words...thank you. We reflect on the training, the journey, how our lives have changed, and what's ahead. Shooters shoot.

Next it was a "No Secrets" Q+A! Topics: why hydration recommendations of "drinking to thirst" are often wrong in races and training, fitness apps, early AM training, when training volume hits a saturation point, what weekly volumes might lead to breakthroughs, how love evolves (or doesn't), recovery runs, AI and energy use, gel flavors, adaptations to long-term heat training, the number of workouts we suggest per week, our frustrations with running media, and Listener Corner.

This community kept us going with love and belief through some dark forests this year. This is OUR award. It would not have been possible if it was just us chasing history. But when we have this team lifting us up? Well, we might just F around and make history.

We love you all! Huzzah!

FAFOing forever,

-David and Megan

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The best moment of our lives happened last week. It's not the baby. It's a social media mention from the GOAT Kilian Jornet. And we brought that celebration energy to this awesome episode!

The main study was on the types of training that leads to faster marathon times, looking at 150,000 datapoints. With findings that overlap with other studies, we can start to outline the most direct way to make running faster (and more fun).

The remainder of the episode was in our classic "No Secrets" Q+A style! Topics: what makes David think that he can compete for the win at Western States, our initial review of the Wahoo Run Treadmill, whether high carb fueling is for everyone (hint: yes, mostly), whether VERY high carb approaches might be the next frontier (hint: we hope not), improving Zone 2, heart rate zones in cross training, incorporating cross training for the first time, structuring recovery intervals on strides, our thoughts on SWAP Media expansion, the beer 2-mile record, and a beautiful Listener Corner message.

We're calling this the "You Brought It On Yourself" episode. Listen for a hilariously honest call-out near the end. We love you all! HUZZAH!

Always bringing it on ourselves,

-Megan and David

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We got some very surprising news before recording this celebration episode! This one has it all: complicated training questions, predictions for the future, and a stunning twist to start the episode (and we were in for a lot more stunning twists after we recorded). 

The questions from podcast listeners were on tons of amazing topics: heart rate drift tests to estimate zone 2, how to pace ultras, why we think 2025 will be the year of a hydration emphasis in endurance performance, the sponsorship landscape, returning to training after layoffs, supershoes, protein intake, strides v. workouts, our thoughts about daily nutrition outside of athletics, running form analysis, progressive overload across training cycles, and our big goals for next year.

Our new baby’s name is Ollie Hope Roche, after Megan’s favorite poet, Mary Oliver (and the high point of the Leadville 100, Hope Pass). Remember, Ollie, what your namesake wrote: “Only if there are angels in your head will you ever, possibly, see one.”

We love you all! HUZZAH!

-Megan, David, Leo, and Ollie

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We celebrated a wild year with a "No Secrets" Q+A episode! This one is full of fascinating topics, mixing science, theory, and hot takes into the perfect holiday stew.

The questions all came from podcast listeners on the following topics: how to think about gut training, Zone 2 heart rate and how terrible some online calculators are for athletes of all levels, our favorite speed workouts to gauge progress over time, incorporating cross training into long-term growth, specific guidelines for cross training like cadence and effort, adapting and performing at altitude, consistency during the holidays and why it's ok to take downtime, supershoes and ankle stability, how we think about running cadence and form, Kilian's tempo-after-intervals workout, and our current thinking on the 2025 Western States 100.

It's such a gift to record this podcast each week. Thank you all for everything, and happy holidays! You are the most special goats to us.

Always thinking of Kilian,

-David and Megan

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We bowed down to the power of hot mugwort before this amazing episode! The main topic was on a study that may be the long-lost "missing link" in our training theory. It took 12 elite endurance runners and had them do sprints of 100 meters and 400 meters, along with a VO2 max test. Their findings (and one striking non-finding) may connect studies on speed interventions with real-world implications.

We also answered listener questions in the "no secrets" style! The most hairy question was on a topic that people don't talk about too much in public: supplements. We say what we take and why we take it, with a million disclaimers because we're cool like that.

And this one was full of the best topics! Other topics: takeaways from Strava's Year in Sport, why an experience this week may influence how we think about training theory, the cost of the Western States 100, year-end voting, how fueling and hydration are letting people race more, AI use cases for athletes, our thoughts on cold plunges, a framework for mental toughness, nose strips in poker, the evolution of shoes, and Listener Corner.

In the episode, we talk about a video we saw where champion triathlete Lionel Sanders had his treadmill directly in front of a photo of one of his competitors celebrating a victory. We're inspired. So if you hear some extra motivation in our voices, it's probably because we put a photo of the Smartless guys in front of the mic in our bedroom.

We love you all! HUZZAH!

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We collected some wonderful questions before this great episode! It's our classic "no secrets" style, where we take you behind the scenes to combine research and theory with what athletes are actually doing, but maybe not talking about.

We started with a new study on maintaining heat acclimation, which helps answer questions on how to improve blood volume year-round in a sustainable way. Then it was onto the questions!

Topics of the questions: sodium bicarbonate and ketone use, the difference between big dreams and excessively big dreams, speed development for long races, our possibly-surprising take on speed versus volume, how bicarb supplementation changes sodium intake, our experience with topical bicarb lotions, preventing cramping, why hill strides may feel harder than flat strides (and how that's connected to their value), the recovery cost of strides, our approach to self-massage for recovery, the potential benefits of hot yoga, and more!

We love... the 2005 movie "Hitch" starring Will Smith and Kevin James. And we love you all! HUZZAH!

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We got our Rich Roll on before this amazing episode! David's appearance on the Rich Roll Podcast came out this week, and we started with some takeaways from a surreal experience. We then pivot into some talk on protein in adaptation and recovery. When in doubt, the answer for us is often to throw some protein on it.

Next was a truly wild study that looked at low energy availability and managed to do the impossible: it included a control group that was blinded to the intervention. How is it even possible to make subject unaware of their caloric intake? How could 2 weeks of intentional underfueling be allowed ethically? We delve into a new frontier of nutrition and performance science.

And this one was jam-packed with fun topics! Other topics: banging the cymbal, what we learned in the few months since the Rich Roll episode was recorded, why enhancing "fat metabolism" via nutritional interventions has limited utility, a review study on swearing and performance, how that has implications for self-talk and internal monologues generally, the emerging science of continuous lactate monitors, our predictions for their future use, an article on the uncertainty of ketones, contrasting that with their widespread adoption in endurance sports, a study on gold medalist Kristian Blummenfelt, how he meets his astronomical fueling needs, how heart rate zones vary across athletes, why everyone is different with heart rate, and Listener Corner.

Thank you all for the love and support to make any of this possible. We love you all! HUZZAH!

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We brought some joyful and fluid-tastic vibes to this great episode! The main topic involved us picking our jaws off the floor as records were absolutely annihilated at the JFK 50 Mile, America's oldest ultramarathon. We have some inside info on how David Sinclair set the record, which we think could be Ultra Performance of the Year. Plus we worship the queen, Rachel Drake. Why are we seeing record after record get smashed at every major race? The answer likely lies at the intersection of training, shoes, and most of all--fueling.

We also talked about a breakthrough new study from the Boston Marathon. Researchers found that the prevalence of low energy availability indicators was associated with worse performance and health outcomes. Find your strong, and you will find your fast!

And this one was full of fun topics! Other topics: David recording through fluid adversity, Megan taking one for the team because she loves the podcast mornings, the "Shoot Your Shot" mini-documentary on the Javelina 100, the frontiers of lubrication, lessons from Ryan Sullivan's incredible long-term progression, Shelby Houlihan returning from her ban, why we want to uplift forgiveness, a question on embracing competition, and Listener Corner.

We love you all! HUZZAH!

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You can smell the excitement on this amazing episode! The main training topic was on David's favorite study of 2024, which caused major changes in his training approach. The study found some potential mechanisms for improved fatigue resistance, but we take it a step further into theories about solving for a puzzle that has flummoxed coaches and researchers forever. Could this study be the missing link connecting fatigue resistance and training interventions? Maybe. We dive into the cutting edge of endurance training to find out.

We also talked about how Megan is planning to rebuild for big goals in 2025 and beyond. It's the perfect opportunity to discuss the interplay of power, speed, cross training, and strength work in an athletic journey. It's also the perfect opportunity to talk about critical internet comments. Scared money don't make money!

And this one was full of awesome topics! Other topics: the perils of heat suit training and weak laundry practices, building strength and power, why people are weird on the internet, a shoe that really let us down, some reviews of "supertrainers" and why we think these shoes are so important in training, a triathlon case study on carb oxidation in long events, the controversy around NSAID use in endurance races, and Listener Corner.

This one was SO MUCH FUN. Like the listener at the end of the episode, you (and we mean everything that goes into what makes you... plus what comes out of you) = awesome.

We love you all! Huzzah!

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