We felt infinite gratitude to not feel infinite stomach acid before this celebration episode! The main training topic was Kilian Jornet's training to win Sierre Zinal, the Olympics of trail running. The GOAT described his weekly volume, approach to training structure, and all of his workouts. We broke down what it means for everyone else!

We also talked about a new study on double threshold workouts. The authors sought to answer a novel question: how do stress responses differ when a big workout is split into two parts in the AM and PM versus when it is conducted all at once? If this study was any more Norwegian, it would be listening to weird pop music and telling us that the secret is not keeping score in youth sports.

And this one was full of fun topics! Other topics: the hilarious adversity we faced in the Leadville 100 taper, why our baby is tougher than we are, when specificity training is taken too far, cross training for aerobic development, using the uphill treadmill for threshold training, how fast to run strides, a coach in politics, Fiona O'Keefe and the decision to race with health concerns, concerning parent heart rate at the Olympics, Courtney Dauwalter motivating the U.S. Women's Soccer team, Cole Hocker's gold medal pass on the inside, Sifan Hassan's bonkers race schedule, lots more Olympics thoughts, and hot takes.

Do you want to know one listener's way to engage their glutes? Stick around to the end of the episode. PTs don't want you to know this one big secret!

We love you all! HUZZAH!

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We considered buying our very own pommel horse before this amazing episode! The main topic was a new study that may show a big reason for performance leaps across sports. In the study, just a few weeks of heat training caused 3% improvements in hemoglobin mass, associated with jumps in fitness. However, the adaptations reversed to baseline rapidly. What does it mean?

Heat may be the next frontier of health and performance. Professor Nelly said we should take off all of our clothes, but the study authors beg to differ.

We also talked about the Tecton 3, the new trail supershoe from HOKA. It's a total remake, with similar responsive softness as road supershoes. We are big fans, with some small gripes. All of these shoe companies are now on the clock to take a similar evolutionary leap. Adapt or die, trail shoe edition.

And this one was packed full of the best topics! Other topics: putting the finishing touches on Leadville 100 training, saying big goals out loud, bad hot takes on gymnastics, medium hot takes on politics, built-in gaiters, another study showing performance improvements from sodium bicarbonate, the uncertain future of bicarb supplementation, our favorite stories from the Olympics, Pommel Horse Guy, Simone Biles and the power of FAAFO, our admiration for Noah Lyles, Grant Fisher's 10k bronze, Kristen Faulkner winning gold after quitting her VC job, Olli Hoare and critics, Snoop Dogg, the wild marathon course, and hot takes.

What do Garfield and Clifford listen to when they want to get freaky? Tune in and find out.

We love you all! HUZZAH!

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We brought hearts full of love to this episode! We start by remembering the amazing Maddie Giegold, an ultrarunner and doctor who passed away suddenly several days before finishing her medical residency. Maddie was so full of life and love. The Universe will always be brighter because she was here.

The main science topic was on data connecting microbiome composition to athletic performance, which companies are now racing to develop into supplements. The more research is done, the more we are seeing that gut health is tied to every aspect of health and performance. Will there be a future where we can take a personalized pill to optimize our brain and body via the microbiome? The jury is out on that question. In the meantime, there will be poop jokes.

We also talked about studies that compare stress from easy training and higher-intensity training. How much more stressful is harder exercise? The answer has major implications for how we think about intensity distribution.

And there were tons more great topics! Other topics: quad soreness from downhill running, Leadville 100 training, the importance of electrolytes in hydration approaches, core work "snacks," Kristian Blummenfelt reportedly moving to cycling in 2025, what we think about suspiciously high VO2 max numbers, why we loved the Opening Ceremony at the Olympics, stories from the Olympics so far, why running should embrace "weirdness" of terrain and outcomes, a study on genetic variation and red blood cell counts, implications for what we call "talent," a follow-up on cardiac output, and hot takes.

Let's all yell "woohoo" extra loud today, for Maddie. We love you Maddie, and we will miss you forever.

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We had a party with our insect friends before recording this great episode! A big topic was answering a listener question on how to use heart rate zones in practice when the data can seem so noisy. We think that calibrating effort is incredibly helpful for athletes... as long as they keep it simple. We break down what that looks like!

Plus, we tried something new in this episode with a segment called "Hot News" near the start. This week, it included Tadej Pogacar's remarkable Tour de France (and the entire peloton's stunning improvements), Jamil Coury purchasing Ultrarunning Magazine, Nike's stock plummeting, McKendree Hickory's record at the High Lonesome 100, and Joe Biden's DNF in the Presidential race.

We had to edit out one especially spicy political take. Let your imaginations run wild.

And this one was full of so many fun topics! Other topics: meeting a podcast listener on a summit, why "don't change" might be the most powerful message of love, how carbs and caffeine interact for fatigue resistance, a theory for why fat oxidation doesn't need to be trained in a specific way, the value (or not) of sweat tests, a new study on "strides" in hockey players and how that impacts cardiac output, and hot takes.

We'll tell you what we told the insects invading our house. You are welcome here. You are loved. Make yourself at home in the protein powder.

We love you all! HUZZAH!

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Our GPS watches told us we were "Peaking" for this great episode! The main topic was inspiration from the Hardrock 100. Ludovic Pommeret won just before his 49th birthday, setting a course record in the process, redefining what's possible with age. Courtney Dauwalter set her 3rd consecutive course record, once again proving that she's the GOAT.

We talk about how athletes should think about training for steep uphills and downhills, along with lessons for everyone from the record-setting era we are in. The regular news right now is bonkers in a bad way. But the endurance sports news? Only the best type of bonkers!

And this one was full of fun topics! Other topics: nonsense metrics from GPS watches, the Leadville 100 decision, red meat rumination, applying principles from The Cooling Revolution in summer runs, the best drink mix, whether to consider taking ketones on race week, a new study on downhill running, how hot and cold exposure impact recovery from muscle damage, why we love CICLISMO, amazing reporting on carbon monoxide rebreathing possibly being used illegally in cycling to increase red blood cell production, individual variability with supershoes, and hot takes.

Megan makes a provocative statement about alien octopus love at the end of this episode. Stick around. Feel the slimy tentacles of happiness.

We love you all like Megan loves octopus aliens! HUZZAH!

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We took some Big Leadville Energy into this great episode! The main topic was the Silver Rush 50 Miler, which David raced on Saturday. The last few months have been a doozy, starting with the bike accident and severe concussion back in early April. It has been hard at times, in ways that go a lot deeper than athletics. This episode is about falling, and the power to GET. BACK. UP.

The 50 Miler was David's best ultra yet, and it possibly sets up a date with destiny at the Leadville 100 in August (or not). It gave us an excuse to talk about so many fun topics: the decision to race after sickness, the non-linear mental health journey since the concussion, pre-race meals, Naked belts, road shoes in trail races, unconventional tapers, altitude racing, the logistics of high-carb fueling and how that relates to effort level, and whether to bicarb or not to bicarb. Plus lots more!

And that was just the start of a celebration episode! Other topics: Tour de France stories including Mark Cavendish's legendary win record, embracing power and finding your strong, the most epic aero glasses, lessons from Klaire Rhodes' win at Mount Marathon, combining ketones and caffeine, the UK's ridiculous Olympic standards, Michelle Rohl's podium finish in racewalking at 58, and hot takes.

David wore Hoka Mach Xs (a road shoe without any traction) for a 50 miler with tons of rocks. So maybe keep that in mind during his spicy shoe take at the end of this episode. Or better yet, treat it like advice from George Costanza, and do the opposite.

We love you all! HUZZAH!

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We were flying high after the best sports week of all time for this amazing episode! The main topic was the 2024 Western States 100, the most insane race we have ever seen. It was not a cool year, but the times were wildly faster across the board, building on massive speed breakthroughs from 2023. What are we seeing? The same trends are present on the track and even in other endurance sports. We have theories!

The biggest, most exciting question of all: where might this trend be going next? We aren't sure, but after seeing this year's Western States unfold... we think it's indicative of a fundamental shift across endurance sports, and we can't wait to see where things go from here.

Storylines included Jim Walmsley and Katie Schide further establishing legacies as two of the best ever, Rod Farvard's breakthrough that might be the story of the race, the importance of pushing the pace earlier than previously thought, the cruelty of sports existing right alongside the uplifting stories, aging athletes resetting what's possible, and so much more!

Plus, we brought tons of fun stories from the Olympic Track Trials, which we got to experience firsthand with the athletes. There are so many lessons to share. Most importantly, there were unlimited free snacks. We'll be eating like we stole a vending machine for weeks.

This episode is full of so much love, joy, and inspiration! We hope that you feel it, absorb it, and go on to chase your own limits. How fast can you go? How many snacks can you grab? There's only one way to find out.

We love you all! HUZZAH!

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We are coming to you from Eugene, Oregon at the Olympic Track Trials for this amazing episode! The main topic was on some inspiring stories from the first half of the Trials, which feels like the ultimate party of the US running world. And like most good parties, it features a lot of Snoop Dogg.

We also talked about lessons from Broken Arrow, including Jim Walmsley doing the Vertical Kilometer race prior to the Western States 100, right alongside Anna Gibson racing the VK prior to the Olympic Trials 1500 meters. It's clear that we are seeing something about how this type of skill applies to all types of events, whether those events are 4 minutes or 14 hours!

And this one was full of some of the greatest topics! Other topics: our initial thoughts on Oregon and Tracktown USA, getting coaching credentials at the Trials, birthday reflections, a question on salty food options for endurance events, why Broken Arrow was one of the most competitive races ever on US soil, Jade Belzberg's incredible journey for an incredible race in the 23k, Drew Hunter's gutsy 4th place in the Trials 10k, the psychology of racing in heats, why an emphasis on coaches in Olympics coverage makes David nervous, why Megan thinks it's a weak argument, a Western States preview, how this year's race will unfold, the incredible tech of the Coros Arm Band HR monitor, UTMB's new prize money announcement, and hot takes.

The episode finishes with a meditation inspired by our spiritual teacher, Ludacris. May all of your days and all of your drinks be crunk.

We love you all! HUZZAH! Trucks!

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