Some Work, All Play

David Roche and Megan Roche

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!

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

326 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes326

Newest first

Oct 4, 2022 · 1 hr 23 min
122. Marathon Principles, 4 Eliud Kipchoge Training Reactions, and Process-Focus Science!
We got VERY EXCITED about enchiladas before an invigorating episode on training and intrinsic motivation! The main topics: 3 marathon training principles that apply to all endurance runners, the magic of long runs that build aerobic lipidic power, 4 follow-up discussions about Eliud Kipchoge's training before setting the world record, recent studies on why process-motivation supports well-being and performance, a grab-bag of 7 recommendations for training and life fun, how to use cross-training, a big announcement about next week's guest, and the nuances of supershoe variation. Plus doubles, exciting podcast growth, creating sustainable running form, and lots of other fun topics! For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Sep 27, 2022 · 1 hr 22 min
121. Eliud Kipchoge's Marathon Training, Running as a Power Sport, and Aging Superpowers!
We listened to some very, VERY fun audio recordings before a joyous episode on growth and training theory! The main discussion is on Eliud Kipchoge's training, using a mix of sources to come up with 6 lessons for everyone. Zone 1 easy running, controlled workouts around 80% capacity, high (but not wild) volume, long runs with tempo, a growth lifestyle, and so much more! We also chatted about recent marathon breakthroughs for 40+ athletes, and the exciting implications for growth with age in the sport. Finally, we analyzed why running is a POWER SPORT, and how that incentivizes finding our own personal versions of "strong" in the journey. Plus OCR world champion training, horoscopes, the neuroscience of food, the magic of Coke, and tons of other cool topics! For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Sep 20, 2022 · 1 hr 24 min
120. Long Run Theories, 10 Kilian Training Reactions, and Fasted Running Thoughts!
We embraced the pizza underwear process before having such a fun episode with lots of training and life topics! The big training discussion revolved around 10 reactions to the approach that Kilian Jornet used to become the GOAT. Get ready for a buffet of the hottest training takes on: doubles, the theory of long runs and why they don't need to be too long, the complexity of fasted training, Zone 1 work, tapers, minimal dose strength training, hill/flat combination workouts, focused base-building periods, nutrition/supplementation, and the magic of a long-term process focus. We also talked about the perils of marginal-gain optimization, horoscopes, testosterone levels, and SO MUCH MORE! Buckle up, the science was extra sexy in this one. For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Sep 13, 2022 · 1 hr 6 min
119. Kilian Jornet Interview! The GOAT Discusses Life and Training
In one of the most exciting moments of our lives, we sat down with Kilian Jornet, aka the GREATEST OF ALL TIME. Kilian is the winner of almost every major race around the world, most recently UTMB and the Hardrock 100 just four weeks apart. He's also a dad of two and a founder of shoe company NNormal, bringing a process-focus to his life on and off the trails. In the episode, we talk about the dynamics of racing UTMB, how he trained for his dominant 2022, take a deep dive into the physiology of training and how his approach has evolved over time, why he doesn't do strength work, speed work for mountain racing, being a business boss, and balancing it all with family. We love Kilian, and we know you will too. May we all make love to the mountains! White spandex is optional, but encouraged. For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We appreciate you so much! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Sep 6, 2022 · 1 hr 20 min
118. Kilian Jornet's UTMB Training Data, Heart Rate Zones, and Self-Worth in Sports!
We are coming to you with HEALTHY HEART SWAG to talk about Kilian Jornet's training snapshot leading up to his course record at UTMB, training intensity zones and what they mean, how to think about heart rate principles even if you don't use a heart rate monitor, Nico Young's amazing strength, the connection between emotional pain and physical pain, professional athlete contracts, body love, and hill training. Plus, we answer an amazing question on disentangling physical performance from self-worth. It was the most fun episode ever, thank you for supporting these weekly adventures! For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Aug 30, 2022 · 1 hr 16 min
117. UTMB Race Thoughts, Kilian Jornet is the GOAT, and Iron Intake For Athletes!
We got naked in a creek before talking about 9 thoughts from the UTMB races, Kilian Jornet's historic summer and how unthinkably incredible he is, the importance of understanding iron intake for athletes, a checklist to address fatigue, the Manti Te'o documentary and the power of forgiveness, follow-ups to the Clare Gallagher interview, and the worst doping excuse we have ever heard. We have so much fun with these episodes, thank you for listening and giving us an excuse to have research-driven date days each week! For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Aug 23, 2022 · 1 hr 18 min
116. Clare Gallagher Interview! Leadville 100 Winner and Earth-Raging Superhero
It's our first interview ever, with our favorite human and athlete in the world! Clare Gallagher won the 2022 Leadville 100 Miler in the 5th-fastest time ever just 36 hours before we recorded the interview. A historic 100 mile win and a 75-minute podcast episode are both equal feats of endurance in our eyes. Clare is a running legend, with wins at Western States, Leadville, CCC, Black Canyon 100k, and the Way Too Cool 50k, all by age 30. But even more importantly, she is a brilliant and world-changing human who is an environmental advocate about to embark on a new journey with marine protection. We love Clare, and we know you will too! For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Aug 19, 2022 · 40 min
Bonus Training Q+A Episode! Stride Duration, Weekly Structure, Doubles, VO2 Complications!
Surprise bonus episode! On Patreon, we are doing weekly episodes where we answer (mostly) training questions from subscribers, and we wanted to release this week's to everyone to say THANK YOU ALL. We said the word "sexy" way too many times... or just the right number of times. Topics this week: the "why" behind different stride lengths (i.e. 20 seconds versus 30 seconds), training week structure and ensuring the right intensity distribution within context of workouts, cross training workouts on the bike and how we use them for some athletes, doubles and just how short/slow they can be, and weird nuances in training theory that apply at the outer margins of human performance. We love you all! HUZZAH! For more episodes like this, subscribe to Patreon here: patreon.com/swap
Aug 16, 2022 · 1 hr 26 min
115. UTMB Race Preview, The Science of Salt Intake, and Performance Enhancement from Cooling!
We conquered the 7-year itch before talking about how we are constantly testing new interventions (ankle weight warm-ups?!), electrolyte consumption during exercise, the interesting offset between literature and practice with salt intake, the science of cooling interventions and how they can lead to 5%+ performance improvements even in temperate conditions, thoughts about the 2022 UTMB races, our extremely biased predictions with a heavy North American focus, and running's impact on longevity. It's our 8th anniversary celebration episode, so there is some raunchy humor as well. It wouldn't be SWAP without it! For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Aug 9, 2022 · 1 hr 8 min
114. VO2 Max Power Training, Quirks of Evolutionary Biology, and Start-Up Ideas!
We did it all for the nookie before talking about the evolution of our training theory about output at VO2 max being a key indicator of aging and long-term performance in athletes, why mechanical power output is often under-appreciated in running training, the weird science of glucose tolerance tests, wonderful news out of Kansas, the predictable disaster of Woodstock '99, the multiple uses of percussive massage tools, why hip labrums are the worst, and how MRI results can be misleading in some cases. Plus 3 start-up ideas that can make any listener a billion dollars at least! For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Aug 2, 2022 · 1 hr 24 min
113. How To Predict Training Responses, Women Rocking Sports, and Fear and Love!
We debated the performance enhancing benefits of potato chips before talking about the importance of understanding load capacity in training and life, why competitive exercise might have some darker mental consequences for some people, how love and fear are intertwined for better and for worse, the foods of the week, 3 ways to anticipate responses to training, the inspiring story of rockstar scientist Jennifer Doudna, the Women's Tour de France, and how women's sports are taking over the world. For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Jul 26, 2022 · 1 hr 32 min
112. Fun With Physiology and 8 Performance Science Takeaways from the Tour de France!
We did bathroom mirror glute squeezes before talking about fun ways to understand exercise physiology terms, why pro cycling is the world's greatest endurance experiment (even for runners), 8 performance science takeaways from the Tour de France, fears about doping in cycling (and other sports), book recommendations (Broken Horses and Win At All Costs), a hot take about PM running, cellulite and why your body is perfect, and Brandi Carlile's song "The Joke" and what it means to us. Our longest and most fun episode ever, ending with the best conclusion of all time. Stick around to hear pure joy! For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Jul 19, 2022 · 1 hr 23 min
111. Hardrock 100 Miler, World Track Champs, and Intergalactic Reflections!
We got really, really excited by astronomy before talking about the historic performances at the Hardrock 100 Miler, physiology that people might not think about enough in high-altitude racing, stories from the World Championships, Devon Allen's infuriating DQ due to a false start, how to think about training for long-term growth, the TV show "The Bear," what we need to do to become the #1 podcast episode in Britain, and reflections spurred by the first James Webb Telescope photos. Things get deep, fast. Then they get shallow even faster. You know how we do it! YES, CHEFS. For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Jul 12, 2022 · 1 hr 17 min
110. Our Favorite Workouts, How The Sport Is Changing, and Feelings as Data!
We put on some sexy white spandex shorts before talking about the different workouts we'd recommend if an athlete could only do one, our favorite sessions and the rationale for different workout types (tempo, long intervals, short intervals, and hills), whether we'll ever understand what cryptocurrency actually is, the incredible movie Everything Everywhere All At Once, why we are skeptical about vegetables, reflections from watching Unbreakable for the first time, how the sport is changing over time, and the liberating idea of feelings as data, rather than a threat. Plus side-discussions on death, sex, and taxes! You know, THE GOOD STUFF. For a weekly bonus episode (and bi-weekly newsletter), make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Jul 5, 2022 · 1 hr 24 min
109. Mount Marathon, Gel Reviews, US Mountain Champs, Shoe Review Update!
We overcame an acute case of over-stoke syndrome before talking about the wildest race in the world, how Mount Marathon breaks algorithms and ankles, the incredible stories of Tabor and Eli Hemming, a recap of the US Mountain Championships, how to think about "pain" in the context of training, a full review of 9 different energy gels (prepare for some spicy hot takes), shoe review updates on the most buzz-generating models of the summer, the complex science of functional overreaching, and Adam Peterman. All praise the Petergod! For a weekly bonus episode, make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Jun 28, 2022 · 1 hr 15 min
108. Western States Recap Celebration! Plus Cooling Techniques and Media Review
We took some hardcore grass naps before talking about 13 things we learned at the Western States 100 Miler! That includes the booming media coverage, Adam Peterman becoming a PeterGOD, theories for why the times are so fast, and much more. Plus we do some deeper dives into the exciting world of mid-event cooling techniques (and how we think that will drive performance changes even in temperate races), how speed is so important for long races, the exciting and evolving landscape of running, and the less exciting prospect of 12-inch probes. It'll make sense soon. For a weekly bonus episode, make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Jun 23, 2022 · 41 min
BONUS: Western States 100 Time Predictions, Microbiome and Performance, and Hydration Science
This week, we are bringing our BONUS Patreon episode to everyone to highlight some sexy science! Megan was just named the Western States Research Co-Director, and our celebration is to bring you some research updates in hot-tub conversation format. We start with reviewing two fascinating talks at the medical conference on hyponatremia/hydration and how the gut microbiome may influence performance and health. Then, we examine some BREAKING NEWS SCIENCE from Dr. Marshall Burke on how heat impacts performance, and what that means for time predictions for this year's race. If you want to have access to these weekly bonus episodes (plus a newsletter, fun videos, and more!), subscribe to our Patreon: patreon.com/swap We love you all! HUZZAH!
Jun 21, 2022 · 1 hr 28 min
107. Broken Arrow Race Recap, VO2 Max Competitions, Western States 100 Stories
We got really, really excited about Olympic Valley before talking about takeaways from the Broken Arrow skyraces, the complexity of races that reward VO2 max, how training for other sports can support running (but how that might also hide the true performance drivers), 6 tips for dealing with pre-race anxiety, 4 narratives around the Western States 100, our sleeper picks for podium finishes, the importance of eating enough for male athletes, and thinking about running training in a power-per-stride framework. Plus lots more fun! Make sure you stick around to the very end for the G.O.A.T. pregnancy burp. We love you all! WOOHOO! For a weekly bonus episode, make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Jun 14, 2022 · 1 hr 23 min
106. Western States 100 Preview and Picks!
We dodged an angry moose before dedicating almost the whole episode to one of our favorite events of the year: The Western States 100! Whether you care about this race or not, we hope to convey big enthusiasm, bigger science, and even bigger subjective opinions. It was so much fun to break down wild ultra science on how physiology responds to this race, the unique demands of the course, 2022 sub-plots, and who we are picking for top finishes. We are SO EXCITED for the Super Bowl of US ultra running! Plus, we gave some happy pregnancy updates! For a weekly bonus episode, make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon. We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP
Jun 7, 2022 · 1 hr 19 min
105. Speed v. Volume, Hydration Reviews, and Data Periodization
We witnessed some real-life Twitter beefs before talking about 3 things we learned at the American College of Sports Medicine conference, data periodization and how to maintain joy while learning more about your body, athletics before GPS, our love/hate list for hydration products, a new study on increasing easy volume versus adding hard intensity, recent research on the menstrual cycle and training, and the mind-altering power of a cold Coca Cola. For a weekly bonus episode, make sure you're subscribed to our Patreon! We love you all! WOOHOO! Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap Try Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/SWAP The link from Listener Corner: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/hunger-artist/202106/eating-meat-recover-anorexia-the-ethics-trick WHOOP promo code "SWAP" for 15% off