Some Work, All Play

We luxuriated in vending machine cookies before this great episode! We started by talking about Megan's first race in 1.5 years. She HAD A DAY, and we share a celebration of the winding road to get here.

We also talked about the USA Track Championships, which might have been the most surprising (and drama-filled) track meet we have ever seen. There was a near-fight in the 200m, Shelby Houlihan winning the 5k, a 16-year old runn...

We gathered up some spicy questions for this amazing episode! It's in the "no secrets" style, where we leave nothing behind the curtain. Prepare for some fun!

Topics this week: post-race fitness bumps, the central governor, creatine supplementation, adapting the 12-week pro marathon plan, what fueling options to buy with $100, the intensity distribution principle that unites real-world elite athlete training, overcomin...

We went face-first into a quart of ice cream before this amazing episode! The main science topic was a new study on microintervals, finding that 4-10 second high-power bursts led to no more metabolic stress than very easy training, but with way more muscular work. That could lay the groundwork for revolutionary studies and theories in the future!

We also addressed the doping controversy that rocked the running world. Last year, Ruth...

We sat down gingerly on bruised glutes before this awesome episode! The main topic was on fueling data coming out of the Tour de France. High carb is ubiquitous in the cycling peloton. We use some of that information as a jumping-off-point to think about fueling for all athletes!

This one also came with stories from our first (and possibly last) gravel bike race. These aren’t your normal racing stories. You really have to listen to ...

We buzzed over our favorite study tables of all time before this great episode! The main science topic was a review of "speed endurance" studies showing rapid progress across all populations and protocols.

That replicability is almost unheard of in sports science, and it's something that every athlete should harness in their training. Spoiler alert: do your strides!

And this one was full of amazing topics! Other topics...

Western States 100 ended in a DNF at mile 62. It’s partially the normal story of a race that didn’t go to plan due to simple errors with hydration leading to a cascade of physical issues. But it’s also a lot more complex than that, like life is always more complex than the simple narratives. This episode tries to share the complex story while it’s still raw.

We talk about anxiety, fear, shame, and embarrassment. We also talk about l...

We're here! It's race week for the Western States 100. This episode talks through how we're feeling before the moonshot. Hopefully there are helpful similarities to all of the big, scary things in your lives!

We also break down a new study that feels like the Manhattan Project of sports science, testing "replicability" in the field. You know it's serious when there are 99 authors! It found low replicability...

Our favorite episodes involve answering listener questions in a "no secrets" style. That means we might be right, we might be wrong, but we'll always be honest (and hairy!).

We started with a game theory analysis on how we think this year's Western States 100 will play out. This is the type of conversation that athletes have before every race, but they usually wouldn't play it out in public. We can check our wo...

This episode was such a fun mix of science, emotions, and hot tubs that could cook a turkey! We started with some thoughts on Western States, less than 3 weeks out from the race. Does embracing the stage also mean embracing social media posts telling you that you aren’t being picked to perform well? Our argument channeling Tyrese Halliburton of the Indiana Pacers: the “noise” can be performance enhancing if you have fun with it!

The...

We gulped down some pungent juice before recording this amazing episode! The main topics were the two big pieces of news: Jim Walsmley won't be racing Western States, and Kilian Jornet is making training videos now. Jim is the GOAT and we gave him an 85% chance of winning just last week. He's the supermassive black hole at the center of the Western States galaxy. Without Jim at the start line, how does it change the race?

K...

This episode was a total joy with toe warmers in all the right places (and some of the wrong ones)! The main scientific topic was a new study on how high carb fueling may improve heat adaptation. We broaden that out to a question from a listener on the old "calories-in, calories-out" framework, and why that doesn't apply to athletes from evolutionary or exercise science perspectives.

The big takeaway from 2 decades of...

We had a ridiculous amount of fun recording this episode! The main science topic was on a new pre-print study on post-exercise ketones, showing higher carb storage and lower glycemia in athletes taking them.

Is it possible that high carb has a special interaction with post-exercise ketones that might be at the heart of recent performances? It's uncertain. We just take them because we like the taste of robot butt.

We also had a b...

Endurance sports are in the midst of a revolution that will change everything about what we think humans can do. This week at the Quad Rock 50 Mile, we felt it firsthand.

David set a 14-minute course record at this classic, steep Colorado race. We break it all down, "no secrets" style. Topics: high-carb fueling, big hydration totals, why heat training might be the next frontier, pre-race meals and supplements, ice bandanas...

Our favorite episodes are these Q+As where we answer listener questions on all of the hottest topics! It's called a "No Secrets" Q+A because we try to take you behind the curtain, speculating about ideas that might not be talked about in public very often. Let's get spicy!

The main topic was Cam Wurf's reported 200 grams of carbs per hour at Ironman Texas to set a bike split record. These extreme carb totals are starting to become m...

We put on our space cowboy outfits for this great episode! The main topic centered on the almost-ubiquitous use of higher carb intakes in recent races, from the Canyons 100k to the Boston Marathon to the cycling classics. What once seemed optional is now mandatory. Where do the next breakthroughs come from? We outline some ideas to try to catch the waves before they become obvious.

There was also some fascinating science on warm-wea...

Our minds were blown by the Boston Marathon right before recording this great episode! The main topic was a new study on the Puma R3 super-shoe, conducted by a top researcher. It showed a shocking 3% improvement in running economy relative to the previous generation of super-shoes, with a universally positive response among study participants.

We discuss the evolution of the tech, how it was made with the help of optimization algor...

We put sensors in all the right places before this HOT episode! The main discussion was on the emerging science of heat training, centered around a 2025 study that showed 3 x weekly sessions could sustain hematological adaptations from an altitude camp.

Heat training is no longer just about being ready for hot weather. It's about helping our blood be full of oxygen, powering performance in all conditions. We try to take a "...

We put on our finest white spandex for this amazing episode! The main topic was a new review study on protein needs for endurance athletes. The authors used a cool method of isotope labeling to argue that endurance athletes need more protein than traditional recommendations. The nutrition revolution is not just about carbs!

And this one was full of great topics! Other topics: the announcement of an Unbreakable 2 documentary heading...

We pondered the genetics of smelling ants before this great episode! The main topic was a new study that found the brain may use myelin lipids for fuel during low glucose conditions like marathons. This could have massive implications for how we think about fueling and fatigue resistance, including for cognitive function. Our big theory: fueling is just as much about nourishing and protecting the brain as it is the legs.

And this on...