Some Work, All Play

• 265. Western States 100 Failure, Being Human in Public, and Growing the Hard Way

  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 love, perseverance, and moving through the crap. It’s just running. But it’s also so much more.Thank you for being here for all of it! We experienced so much love in a tough week.We also talked about the magic of the race, breakthrough performances by Abby Hall and Caleb Olson, and even getting to share miles with Kilian Jornet!Your story matters. Your goals matter. You don’t need to be a champion.You just need to be you.-David and MeganClick "Claim Reward" for free credit at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swap Buy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com/ (code "SWAP")For weekly bonus podcasts, articles, and videos: patreon.com/swap

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• 264. Western States 100 Goals, Fears, and Dreams! Plus a Sports Science Study of the Decade!

  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 rates, particularly related to effect size, with massive implications for how we think about interpreting research.Finally, we answer a question about building belief in life. Thank you so much for being here along the journey! A year ago, this would have seemed unthinkable. But with the love and support of so many people lifting us up, here’s what we’ve learned in that time:All big scary goals are unthinkable before they happen.Training is the test, and racing is the celebration. Time to celebrate! “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life.” -Mary Oliver (Ollie’s namesake)BELIEVE.WILDLY.PRECIOUSLY.-David and MeganFollow Huzzah for scholarship details and more! https://www.instagram.com/thehuzzahhub/Click "Claim Reward" for free credit at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swap Check out the least expensive carb mix on the market from TheFeedLab: https://thefeed.com/products/the-feed-lab-high-carb-drink-mixBuy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com/ (code "SWAP")For weekly bonus podcasts, articles, and videos: patreon.com/swap

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• 263. "No Secrets" Q+A on Western States 100 Strategy, Climbing Faster, Passive Heat v. More Training, Weight Vest Use, Life Meaning, and More!

  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 work in 2 weeks!And then we broke down tons of great questions! Topics: what drives us, messages from our younger selves, The Feed's new high carb mix that is resetting the cost curves, responders and non-responders to passive heat, going for it at the back of the pack, diagnosing and improving offsets between climbing and flats, adding passive heat v. adding more training, whether you need heat training in the summer, a couple hypotheticals on road and track athletes coming to trails, a spicy hypothetical on Kilian Jornet, adding weight vest training, balancing competition with self-acceptance, sub-ultra v. ultra for making the sport more accessible, getting into coaching, and the popularity of Park Run in the UK v. the US.May your legs be carbed-up and may your hairs not be given names on a podcast. We love you all! Huzzah!-David and MeganClick "Claim Reward" for free credit at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swap Check out the least expensive carb mix on the market from TheFeedLab: https://thefeed.com/products/the-feed-lab-high-carb-drink-mixFollow Megan's female athlete health initiative at Huzzah: https://www.instagram.com/thehuzzahhub/Buy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com/ (code "SWAP")For weekly bonus podcasts, articles, and videos: patreon.com/swap

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• 262. Western States Pressure, Passive Heat and Hemoglobin, Using Downhills to Build Strength, New OTQ Standards, and Fueling To Take A Hit!

  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 main science topic was a WILD study on the hot tub improving hemoglobin levels, resting heart rate, and altitude performance. It’s “wild” because the hot tub was set astonishingly high, with participants staying in for an astonishingly long time. I like my participants like I like my eggs: hard-boiled. We talk about what it means and why passive heat training might be the easiest advanced training intervention that goes beyond the basics.And this one was full of our favorite topics! Other topics: a training trip out to the Western States course, Kilian Jornet searching for a pacer, Cam Jones consuming 185 grams of carbs per hour on his way to winning Unbound Gravel, Jessie Diggins’ amazing poem on fueling her body to take a hit, a study on ketones and altitude that found no benefits, using downhills to improve strength for flat running, and a genetic link between muscle stiffness and strains, plus a Q+A on the new OTQ standards getting faster for men (we don’t like it), whether to GO FOR IT if going for it might not lead to your big goals, a hypothetical about gold medalist Kristian Blummenfelt at a mountain race, and heat and family planning.The episode finishes up with questions about alcohol and celebrity-flavored bathwater. It’ll make sense soon. Maybe.We love you all! A unit for a unit,-David and MeganClick "Claim Reward" for free credit at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swap Order a Core 2 Sensor here before they sell out: https://thefeed.com/products/core-2-temperature-monitorBuy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com/ (code "SWAP")For weekly bonus podcasts, articles, and videos: patreon.com/swap

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• 261. Kilian's Western States Training Video, Jim Walmsley Isn't Racing (!), Weird Broccoli Sprouts Science, and A New Bicarb Gel!

  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? Kilian is the GOAT too (yes, we have a GOAT herd), and he just released a training video! He abides by the "no secrets" approach, and we analyzed every frame of that video to try to find clues about whether he might be beatable. Answer: no. Bonus answer: Kilian is the best and it's fascinating that he started his own video series by talking about his heat training.And this one was full of great topics! Other topics: our magical coaching day at the US Mountain Championships, thoughts on training for mountain races, Unbreakable 2 cancellation, the wild triumph of Simon Yates, a new bicarb gel that could upend the bicarb market, the wild science of broccoli sprouts and a new juice supplement from Nomio, anti-histamines and athletic performance, why we're eating dark chocolate (it tastes good), lung training via breathing devices, the relationship between speed work and form in ultras, a hypothetical about Conner Mantz racing Leadville or Western States, an article in the New York Times on unethical mountaineering, training with a newborn, dealing with life transitions, fitting the Naked Belt, the cost of running, cheaper suphershoes, and an incredible poem on failing and flying.Everyone forgets that Icarus also flew. Also, if Icarus had broccoli sprouts and Kilian's training video, maybe he would have flown a bit longer.We love you all! HUZZAH! Click "Claim Reward" for free credit at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swap Order a Core 2 Sensor here before they sell out: https://thefeed.com/products/core-2-temperature-monitorBuy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com/ (code "SWAP")For weekly bonus podcasts, articles, and videos: patreon.com/swap

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