Some Work, All Play

289. Threshold Training Explained, How To Run Strides, VO2 and Longevity, and The Best Story We Have Ever Told!

Some Work, All Play

Show Notes

We are still recovering from the laughs at the end of this episode! Before getting to that story, this one had a great training discussion on improving threshold performance. We dug down into why it’s more complex than just doing threshold workouts, and how you can put it into practice. There was also a new study on VO2 and its relation to aerobic and lactate thresholds. We broaden it out to address recent conversations on VO2 and longevity. David went for a joke that almost ended the podcast altogether. You know, the usual. And this one was full of great topics! Other topics: the hot tub science experiment, Megan’s inclusion on the Singletrack list for course records of the year, the most hilarious year-end list, David’s fueling realization, the continuation of the shoe saga, a study on breakfast and metabolic health, the Roast My Strava app, self-care gifts, how to run strides, peeing in longer races, overpronation and shoe choices, dressing in winter, rowing as cross-training, and the most beautiful Listener Corner message. It ended with a story that we have been holding in for a full year. Stick around to the end for a treat. We love you all! HUZZAH! -David and Megan Click "Claim Your Sponsorship" for $40 free credit at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swap Buy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com (code "SWAP") Follow the meme account we mentioned: https://www.instagram.com/maxjolliffeunsolicitedmemes/ Check out Roast My Strava: https://roastmystrava.com/ The Wahoo KICKR Run is the best treadmill on the market: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/kickr-run-buy (code “SWAP”) For training plans, weekly bonus podcasts, articles, and videos: patreon.com/swap

More from Some Work, All Play

Oct 20, 2026

We had to clear our search history after this great episode! The main topic was a list of the ways we’ve been wrong in coaching. Examples: fasted training, treadmills, heart rate monitors, squats, and lots more. We use the discussion as a chance to zoom out and make jokes that had to be censored. We also talked about a new study on eccentric muscle contractions, which found persistent adaptations for 6+ weeks after a single stimulus. WTF is going on?! There are major implications for how we think about training for all types of events. And this one was full of fun topics! Other topics: our curse removal, elliptical training, a follow-up on the ultimate carbs study from last week, the problem of reproducibility of adaptations in exercise science, and lots more. We love you all! Huzzah! -David and Megan Click "Get 40% Off" button for 40% off at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swap Buy Janji's amazing gear: janji.com/swap Get a deal on the best treadmill on the market from Wahoo: 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

Oct 13, 2026

The carbs were flowing for this great episode! The main topic was a new study on carb intake that answered so many open questions about fueling. And in the process, it inadvertently dunked on the low carb studies from last year! Get ready, we have a new all-time favorite study. We also talked about the Chicago Marathon, focusing on the American athletes taking big swings at the front. We might love Vinny Mauri even more than we love that carb study. And there were tons of more fun topics! Other topics: our new shoe of destiny, the best caffeine gels, a big discussion of advanced training and health in the high-carb era, a pair of carb studies that help explain what we’re seeing in the real world, the low volume base training plan, the Ironman World Champs finish, elliptical training, Chip Kelly and adapting coaching approaches for athlete skills, AI solving math problems, the Taco Bell 50k, Rachael Rudel's breakout season, and lots more. We love you all! Huzzah! Click "Get 40% Off" button for 40% off at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swap Buy Janji's amazing gear: janji.com/swap Get a deal on the best treadmill on the market from Wahoo: 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

Oct 6, 2026

On this episode, we got extremely excited by some of the coolest training theory. So we just ran with it! The big discussion was on the 10 lessons we have learned from coaching pro road runners. David took a trip to the US 10k Champs this weekend, where Emily Venters won, Allie Ostrander was 3rd, and Amanda Vestri was 4th. It gave us a lot of fodder to talk about what we’re seeing and hearing behind the scenes of the performance revolution. Other topics: new standards for iron deficiency, Vinny Mauri’s wild training for the Chicago Marathon, our excitement for Emma Grace Hurley’s debut, the cycling World Championships, what we can learn from the evolution of cycling theory, and lots more. We had so much fun nerding out on this one. Thank you all for being here! -David and Megan Click "Get 40% Off" button for 40% off at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swap Buy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com/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

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We grunted our way through the day before this great episode! The main training topic was a new study on the dose-response curve for intensity, finding that only 11 minutes led to 80% of the benefits. We zoom out to talk about how training theory can shift away from the goal of accumulation of intensity. That study connected to another finding that just 12 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity correlated with major longevity improvements. There are a million confounders for both, but there may be similar mechanisms at play. Other topics: what happens when you throw gels on the floor, the best headphones, grunting as a performance enhancer, Run Rabbit Run’s $100,000 prize purse, active heat training, Keely Hodgkinson’s speedsuit, Sydney Sweeney’s ad, a Hyrox follow-up, David’s dumb take of the week, “one more rep” workouts, maladaptations from overtraining, a new study finding that cocoa may enhance fatigue resistance, and questions on start line etiquette, opening gels, breakups, running economy v. power, watch bands, tapers, and lots more. We love you all! HUZZAH! -David and Megan Click "Get 40% Off" button for 40% off at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swap Buy Janji's amazing gear: https://janji.com/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

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