This was one of the most fun episodes ever, answering all the questions on the science and vibes of the Leadville CR! As always, we didn’t hold back with any secrets... sometimes to a fault.

Before that, we reviewed a new study abstract on colon cancer risk in runners, which could have implications for routine screening recommendations. We will keep you updated as the science evolves!

Then it was onto the joy carousel with listener questions! Topics: pro runner status, sleep after ultras, our evolving view of active heat training interventions, taper theory and carb ox changes, Megan’s race plans, whether the DNF was necessary for the breakthrough, the absurd inaccuracy of some watch metrics, how to be a good pacer, the non-linear postpartum journey, what it means to obliterate yourself (with love), running packs, going stealth mode, sleep before races, training changes between races, childcare, the Pain Cave, what hurts when it’s hard, processing failure, chafing, bathroom breaks, mid-race bicarb, and so much more!

We love you all! HUZZAH!

Never not staying soft,

-David and Megan

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New course record at the Leadville 100 Miler in 15:12:30, 14 minutes ahead of last year. What just happened?! We are still processing it all, and this episode shares every detail while it’s all fresh in our sleep-deprived minds.

2 weeks ago, David said there was zero chance that he was going to race Leadville. He was still processing the very public failure at Western States. He felt like he just wasn’t ready.

Megan had other ideas. This episode tells the story of a surreal day that still seems a bit like an impossible dream that came to life, including sharing the final 23 miles together.

David would have estimated the chances of this day at 1 in 10,000. But maybe love changes the odds in ways that science can’t always account for.

Also, Megan predicted the exact time down to the minute. Because of course she did.

We love you all so much. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being there for the full journey.

And remember: failure is cool.

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We conquered the WOOHOO yips before this amazing episode! The main science topic was on a new study that examined the causes of injuries in a 5205-athlete sample. The headline finding was relatively intuitive, but the sub-finding was so shocking that we are still picking our jaws up off the floor. We break it down and discuss how it may clarify training theory!

And this one was full of our favorite topics! Other topics: the yips in athletes (and podcasters), Megan’s Aspen Mountain breakthrough, the interaction of high carb and bicarb to make endurance sports faster, the best protein supplement we have tried, one of our heroes Kate Courtney wins the Leadville 100 mountain bike, Kilian’s next project in the USA, Steph Curry doing weight-vest trail running, and the tricky conversation around bodyweight and health happening in women’s cycling.

Plus there was a Q+A on the mechanics of podcast recording, nutrition considerations for vegan athletes, the complications of rhabdo in ultra athletes, “purposeful flow” in training plans and how that relates to a new study on overload blocks, overcoming fear in racing, daily carb intake, and high carb in the birth process.

It finished with a quote that we’ll be living by. Let’s feel what there is to feel while we are here.

We love you all! HUZZAH!

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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 running a 1:42 800m, and so much more! David was there, coaching and asking questions. He reports back!

And this one was full of amazing topics! Other topics: sodium bicarbonate uses and risks, David's travel nightmare to make it back in time for Megan's race, the cooling revolution in endurance sports, stories from the Tour de France Femmes, how to think about pre-race sleep, the origins of the dinosaur logo, post-race supercompensation windows, supplement timing, treadmill grade, a hypothetical on which runner we'd most like to be for a day, bloodwork after heat training, dealing with shin pain, and lots more!

Thank you all so much for being here for the whole journey! HUZZAH!

-Megan and David

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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, overcoming relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs), an embarrassing "letter to my future self" that David wrote as a kid, whether to pick up and move, how to incorporate cross training, our special talents in a Hunger Games scenario, a controversial article on electrolytes, the perils of making excessively large conclusions from sports science studies, doping in endurance sports, creating in a world with AI, unintentional underfueling, and lots more!

We like our deodorant drawer to be the opposite of our podcasts: full of little travel-sized Secrets. We love you all! HUZZAH!

-David and Megan

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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 Chepng'etich ran a shocking 2:09 marathon to reset everything that seemed possible. In April, she tested positive for a banned masking agent, and her suspension was just announced last week. We provide our initial reactions, including how to balance being compassionate and forgiving to individuals while being skeptical and critical of corrupt systems.

And this one was full of our favorite topics! Other topics: Megan's pacing experience at the Ouray 100 Mile as Dr. Teddy Bross set a new course record, building strength to use poles, the "Breakable" documentary, Tadej Pogacar's Tour de France domination, other Tour stories, middle distance running's stunning improvement, why we think that may be attributable to sodium bicarb, a tribute to one of our favorite poets, plus a Q+A on building small businesses in endurance sports, dog supplements, training and motivation, and the afterlife.

I'll take the usual: A running podcast that talks about the afterlife and even deeper thoughts about miniature horses.

We love you all! HUZZAH!

-Megan and David

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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 understand.

And the episode was full of great topics! Other topics: the blood panels we recommend for athletes (and how to get them), an incredible deal on our favorite gels, game theory in cycling, a new study on mixing protein and carbs for recovery, history is made at the Hardrock 100, what 49-year old Ludovic Pommeret’s win tells us about aging curves, the Kickr Run treadmill, plus a Q+A on speed endurance workouts, the importance of burping for athletes, timing strides in training, threshold training, easy paces for slower athletes, and competitive outlets outside of sports.

This one ends with the best burn in podcast history. Get your fire extinguishers ready.

We love you all! Huzzah!

-David and Megan

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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: how to use bloodwork (and why everyone should know what's going on under the hood), our initial review of On's trail supershoe, the expanding use of computational models in shoe development, a wild study on how birth ratio changes for endurance athletes, plus a Q+A on what we're looking for in the Tour de France, hypotheticals about cyclists becoming runners, heart rate and stress, strength training for aging athletes, pregnancy warnings on gels and other nutritional supplements, car saunas, and how to think about long-term building.

May the study tables, bloodwork, and book club choices be ever in your favor. We love you all!

-David and Megan

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