Some Work, All Play

318. Our Surprising Take on Carb Loading, Why Even 10 Minutes Counts, Exogenous Lactate Supplementation, and Cross Training Science!

We campaigned for the Nobel Prize in bodily functions before this great episode! A main topic was a new review study on cross training that found no difference between cross training and running interventions FOR RUNNING PERFORMANCE. That’s wild, and we use the result to zoom out to describe why we think most athletes should be doing some cross training.We also talked about a pair of studies on carb loading, and how the science debates are still uncertain. Even we are unsure as the biggest carb proponents in the world!And this one was full of great topics! Other topics: Megan’s breakthrough in side-short pees, arm cooling at the Tour de France, the strange world of lactate supplementation, multi-omic responses to training, building bone density, phobias, warm-ups, long runs, satisfaction meals, and science writing. May your lives be like David’s legs: mostly smooth, with enough stubble to make it interesting.We love you all! HUZZAH!!!Click "Get 40% Off" button for 40% off at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swapBuy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com (code "SWAP")20% flash deal for the Wahoo Kickr Run treadmill on Wednesday: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/kickr-run-buy (code “SWAP”)For training plans, weekly bonus podcasts, heart rate zones, articles, and videos: patreon.com/swap

317. HISTORY at Western States 100! A Full Breakdown. Plus High Carb Study and Questions!

The 2026 Western States 100 was astonishingly fast and uplifting! It was also astonishingly dramatic. This episode breaks it all down when it’s fresh in our minds.We talked the new course records and what it means to go for it in the modern era (and what it means to go for it in life). Other topics include the “death before DNF” mentality, brand battles, racing trends, and carbs in ultras. We brought some passion to this one, and we apologize if any conclusion went overboard (you can probably tell that David had some excessively hot takes).Plus there were lots of other cool topics! Other topics: Megan’s new piercing, a high-carb study showing dose-response with carbs and fatigue resistance, news from a pit toilet mishap, a proposal using cycling power profiles for detecting cheaters, the minimum volume to maintain adaptations, and a question on health anxiety.We use that anxiety question to zoom out and talk about a lot of big-picture topics. Western States always makes us existential, apparently. Remember the big message: VROOM VROOM. It will make slightly more sense soon.We love you all! HUZZAH!Click "Get 40% Off" button for 40% off at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swapBuy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com/swapThe best treadmill on the market: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/kickr-run-buy (code “SWAP”)For training plans, weekly bonus podcasts, heart rate zones, articles, and videos: patreon.com/swap

316. Why Western States 100 Records Are Getting Smashed, Z1 v. Z2 Training, AI Coaching News, and Competitiveness v. Ego!

It’s the best time of the year, and we brought that energy into this great episode! We started by bringing out our big predictions and hot takes for the Western States 100. The hottest take: everything about our understanding of endurance physiology is going to change on Saturday. We tell you why.We also talked about a new study asking a fascinating question: does the intensity of easy training matter for adaptations? The answer: not really, if overall stress is equalized. Our main conclusion is that no pace is too slow for aerobic development. And this one was full of awesome topics! Other topics: switching heart rate monitors with a training partner, our complex thoughts on AI coaching, AI body scans, new data on trail supershoes crowning a possible champion, the perils of optimization based on studies, a cool study on human-wildlife conflict, competitiveness v. ego, burping in races, and a beautiful Listener Corner message. Whenever you’re having a bad day, remember: there might be a thicc zebra waiting for you on the carousel of life.We love you all! HUZZAH!Click "Get 40% Off" button for 40% off at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swapBuy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com (code "SWAP")The best treadmill is the Wahoo Kickr Run: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/kickr-run-buy (code “SWAP”)For training plans, weekly bonus podcasts, heart rate zones, articles, and videos: patreon.com/swap

315. How Lower Carb Arguments Miss The Mark, Answering Bicarb Questions, Overload Weeks, and Heat Training!

We developed the ultimate AM wake-up hack (which we tell you about in the intro) before this great episode! A main science topic was a new paper on how the temperature in an athlete’s training location influences race performance. It tells a story about heat training generally that everyone needs to pay attention to.And guess what? A new journal article makes yet another argument against higher carb approaches. David brings big rant energy and we talk about how the scope of conclusions from exercise science can sometimes be misinterpreted. Plus, there were so many fun discussions! Other topics: Megan’s new documentary coming out on Thursday, what we’re seeing with bicarb use, overload training weeks, some cool science on Omega-3 supplementation, and questions on carbs in cycling, the backwards treadmill, big races, and more!To paraphrase our muse Jesse McCartney: we don’t want this episode to go to waste, we want you and your beautiful listens.We love you all! HUZZAH!Click "Get 40% Off" button for 40% off at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swapBuy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com (code "SWAP")Wahoo Kickr Run treadmill: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/kickr-run-buy (code “SWAP”)For training plans, weekly bonus podcasts, heart rate zones, articles, and videos: patreon.com/swap

314. Carbs and Bone Health, A Reproducibility Crisis in Training Science, Wild Data on Post-Exercise Ketones, and Trail Supershoe Data!

We removed all the cutlery from our house before this great episode! The main science discussion was on a new study looking at reproducibility of adaptations in individual athletes. The relatively surprising finding is that there was no significant correlation in how the same athlete responds to the same intervention across time. We discuss what that means for training science. The word “holistic” is coming in hot.We also talked about a new study on post-exercise ketones, finding a 15% increase in natural EPO levels. Even knowing that, we aren’t recommending ketones to many athletes we coach. What’s going on? The disclaimers will blot out the sun.And this one was full of fun topics! Other topics: when good butter knives go bad, Tom Evans doing the coolest downhill training on the treadmill, new trail supershoe data, a study on carb intake and bone health, and how collagen may impact bone health for female athletes. Plus questions on breathing, uphill treadmill miles, breakups, programming workouts, coaching communication, and more.We love you all! HUZZAH!-David and MeganClick "Get 40% Off" button for 40% off at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swapBuy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com (code "SWAP")20% flash deal for the Wahoo Kickr Run treadmill on Wednesday: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/kickr-run-buy (code “SWAP”)For training plans, weekly bonus podcasts, heart rate zones, articles, and videos: patreon.com/swap