Podcast
Some Work, All Play
Hosted by David Roche and Megan Roche · EN
Five to ten topics, sometimes about running, with lots of love and enthusiasm and science. We dig deep into training, races, studies, pop culture, and much more! With Megan Roche, M.D. and David Roche!
41episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
322. Why Exercise Physiology Wisdom Can Be Wrong, Doping in Ultrarunning, Bicarb in Long Races, and AI Controversy!
2d ago01:27:39Summary readyWe excavated sand from sensitive places before this great episode! A main topic was a new study on cold water immersion, with surprising results that contrasted with the hypothesis of researchers and upended the conventional exercise physiology wisdom. We talked about why that offset might be important for how we think about big training and physiology questions. The word of the day is “nuance.” Also “Andromeda.”We also did a Controversial Topics Corner! The 3 topics were recent discussions on doping in ultrarunning, the Hank Green AI conversation, and speculation about illegal “fairings” being used in the Tour de France Femmes. Our opinions may not be right. But in our defense, at least we’re not making front-facing social media videos about them.And this one was full of cool topics! Other topics: Megan’s learning experience, a study on bicarb in longer events, 2 cool studies on low energy availability and variable carb intake, and questions on returning to running, hot yoga, nasal hair, strength, immortality, ferritin, and more.May your bras be long, strong, and down to get the lack of friction on due to their aerodynamic construction.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/swapGet a deal on the best treadmill on the market from Wahoo: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/kickr-run-buy (code “SWAP”)Follow Kate: https://www.instagram.com/road_to_leadville/ For training plans, weekly bonus podcasts, heart rate zones, articles, and videos: patreon.com/swap
Summary321. Why Hydration Unlocks Endurance, A Creatine Experiment, Tour de France Takeaways, and Athletic Identity Crisis!
1w ago01:36:58Summary readyWe got intellectually swole on creatine and astrology before this great episode! The main science topic was a study connecting carb oxidation to hydration status. We explain how hydration is the gateway to fueling.We also provided details of the first week of David’s creatine experiment. There is some very strange heart rate data that we’re tracking. Correlation or causation? We'll find out!And this one was full of fun topics! Other topics: bailing on workouts on bicarb days, how runners should think about improving bike power, tons of thoughts from the Tour de France including the massive power numbers and a follow-up on overnight drug testing, AI in mathematics, a fantastic article in JAMA on tendon healing, and questions on dealing with an identity crisis in athletics, stairmill v. biking, a listener passionate about oysters, a grooming tip, Malcolm Gladwell, stoppage time in runs, and low iron levels.You’ll never look at Cheez-Its the same. We’re sorry and/or thank you. 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")Get a deal on the best treadmill on the market from Wahoo: 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
Summary320. Why POWER Makes Champions, The Key Downhill Cue, Overnight Drug Testing at Tour de France, What We’re Trying Now, and Adult Potty Training!
2w ago01:41:26Summary readyWe learned way too much about toe weightlifting before this great episode! The main topic was a discussion of a difficult, nuanced topic: how to think about power development over time, and what that means in a messy athletic life. It all comes from a “Dear Younger Me” letter that David wrote to his 11-year-old self, and it extends forward to the performance revolution we’re seeing across endurance sports. Running is a POWER SPORT. That discussion starts at 55:04.And this one was full of the best topics! Other topics include: the downhill “monster truck” running cue, 5 things we’re trying now, Josh Kerr’s mile world record, overnight drug testing at the Tour de France, the Enervit lactate gel, why Kate Courtney is our favorite athlete, and questions on adult potty training, uphill treadmill threshold work, the mental side of running hard, and the Leadville documentary.When in doubt, remember: the shockwave machine is not what it looks like.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")Get a deal on the best treadmill on the market from Wahoo: 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
Summary319. New Fueling Lessons from The Tour de France, Uphill Treadmill Threshold Theory, Prototype Shoe Ranting, The Hardrock 100, and Coaching Questions!
3w ago01:38:40Summary readyWe spread our toes wider than nature intended before this great episode! A main topic was on the fueling evolution in the Tour de France, and how that has predicted everything that has happened across endurance sports. We also break down what fueling looked like in the 1990s from an old study! High carb is changing everything, and cycling is always the first mover on the next breakthrough.We also did an update on uphill treadmill threshold workouts. More than any training intervention we have ever seen, these workouts seem to be correlating with better performance for road runners, where every 1% counts. And this one was full of fun topics! Other topics: David’s embarrassing online order, the wild and mostly unchecked world of shoe prototypes, the Hardrock 100 (featuring 50-year old Ludovic Pommeret setting another course record!), AI cheating in college and what that means for creative work, a “supplement” at the World Cup, when to move to the 100-mile distance, peeing thoughts, our uncertain take on Nomio in ultras, our heat video in the hot tub, and a big discussion of how we think about learning in coaching.Come for the vibes. Stay for David realizing mid-hot-take that he is a hypocrite and should stop talking about shoes.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
Summary318. Our Surprising Take on Carb Loading, Why Even 10 Minutes Counts, Exogenous Lactate Supplementation, and Cross Training Science!
Jul 701:35:56Summary readyWe 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
Summary317. HISTORY at Western States 100! A Full Breakdown. Plus High Carb Study and Questions!
Jun 3001:38:16Summary readyThe 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
Summary316. Why Western States 100 Records Are Getting Smashed, Z1 v. Z2 Training, AI Coaching News, and Competitiveness v. Ego!
Jun 2301:41:40Summary readyIt’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
Summary315. How Lower Carb Arguments Miss The Mark, Answering Bicarb Questions, Overload Weeks, and Heat Training!
Jun 1601:26:47Summary readyWe 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
Summary314. Carbs and Bone Health, A Reproducibility Crisis in Training Science, Wild Data on Post-Exercise Ketones, and Trail Supershoe Data!
Jun 901:34:04Summary readyWe 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
Summary313. Marathons v. Ultras, Fatigue Resistance Debates, Gene Editing Breakthrough, and Posture Impact on Blood Volume!
Jun 201:33:31Summary readyWe put some cinder blocks under the head of our bed (for science!) before this great episode. A weird study just came out finding that head-up sleeping may increase red blood cell totals. We talk about what it means and what it doesn’t mean. Excuse us while we launch a cinderblock start-up.We also discussed a breakthrough in gene editing for cholesterol, and what that could mean for the future. The world is going to be so different in 50 years! Maybe by then, David can use CRISPR to be able to pronounce science words. And this one was full of fun topics! Other topics: our training log discussions, iron levels in athletes, breaking news on heat training from Unbound 200, a science debate on fatigue resistance terminology, and a study on glucose v. fructose. Plus, we answer questions on heat training in the car, clean sport for age group athletes, marathon v. ultra training, and health uncertainty.You’re going to learn a lot about what Megan would do for 40 grams of carbs. Totally normal stuff if you ask her!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
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