Out and Back

#41 Brady Holmer - High Carb Evidence, Ketone, and How to Actually Sleep Before a Race

Out and Back

Show Notes

Brady Holmer is back for his third appearance, which officially makes him the most tenured guest in Out and Back history. He's a week out from Grandma's Marathon, coming off a stress injury and a training block built around high bike volume, durability workouts, and progression long runs in the Texas heat. The conversation covers a lot of ground: what the research actually says about high carb fueling (and where the evidence gets murky), why the crossover point matters more than oxidation rates, gel selection and why he's cycling between multiple products, a new ketone IQ study showing a 15% boost in EPO production post-exercise, and what Nomeo is actually doing in the body. Then Jacob admits he spent race night at the New York Half taking Advil PM every hour hoping to knock out, and Brady walks through what the research says about sleep before races -- including why trying harder to fall asleep is the worst thing you can do. ZBiotics: This episode is brought to you by ZBiotics, a pre-alcohol probiotic drink designed to break down the toxic byproduct that builds up in your gut when you drink -- so you can have a good night and still show up for your long run the next morning. Go to zbiotics.com/outandback, use code OUT AND BACK for 15% off your first order. Backed by a 100% money back guarantee.

Meteo Pace: Be prepared for race day by getting 20% off MeteoPace Pro at ⁠⁠https://www.meteopace.com/redeem⁠⁠ Code: OUTANDBACK ⁠⁠https://app.meteopace.com/redeem?code=OUTANDBACK⁠

⁠⁠⁠Join our Strava group⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy merch: https://outandback.shop/ Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s YouTube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Out And Back YouTube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s Coaching Website⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Rory's Coaching Website⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SandyBoy Productions

Brady's training block and Grandma's Marathon prep Durability workouts: combining bike and run Heat training in Texas What the research actually says about high carb fueling Gel strategy, product lineup, and decoupling fuel from hydration New ketone IQ study: EPO production and recovery Nomeo: how it actually works (and what we don't know) Sleep before a race: why trying harder makes it worse Recovery modalities: red light, ice bath, and compression boots ranked Rapid fire: cross training, electrolytes, and pre-race caffeine

More from Out and Back

Oct 18, 2026

Fresh off Chicago Marathon weekend, Jacob and Rory are back in Flagstaff to break down the biggest performances, surprises, and takeaways from the race.

Oct 12, 2026

The Out & Back Podcast hits the road for its first-ever live show! Recorded at Fleet Feet the day before the Chicago Marathon, Rory Linkletter and Jacob are joined by Chicago's own Eric Floberg for a conversation about racing, training, and everything that comes with marathon weekend. Eric opens up about his recent Berlin Marathon, where a difficult lead-up and unexpected challenges kept him from the race he had hoped for. The three discuss what happens when a marathon doesn't go to plan, the mental side of racing, and the lessons that come from chasing big goals. They also look ahead to Chicago with course insights, race day advice, bold predictions, and questions from the live audience. It's a special episode celebrating the running community that has grown around Out & Back over its first year. Support our Sponsors: Meteo Pace: Be prepared for race day by getting 20% off MeteoPace Pro at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.meteopace.com/redeem⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Code: OUTANDBACK ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://app.meteopace.com/redeem?code=OUTANDBACK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AquaOmega: For your daily dose of Omega-3’s, go to myaquaomega.com/OUTANDBACK and use code OUTANDBACK for 20% off. OS1st: Your shoes are only half the battle on race day! OS1st makes performance socks with targeted compression, including their lightweight Thin Air socks designed to keep your feet cool and comfortable. Find them at os1st.com or your local Fleet Feet. GIVEAWAY: We're giving away 20 pairs of OS1st Thin Air socks! Head to our Instagram to enter for your chance to win. Transparent Labs: Fuel your training with protein, creatine, electrolytes, and more from Transparent Labs. Use code FLAGSTAFF for a discount on your first order. Merch Store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://outandback.shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Coaching: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s Coaching Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s Coaching Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Strava group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Out And Back YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SandyBoy Productions⁠

Oct 4, 2026

Fall marathon season is here. Rory and Jacob catch up on their own training before recapping Berlin and looking ahead to Chicago, including their picks for the top Americans, the women’s race up front, and the athletes they’re watching. Then, with Chicago around the corner, they break down their approach to the final weeks of marathon training: when to schedule the last big workout, how much to taper, what to do when training doesn’t go to plan, and why the biggest goal now is simply not screwing up all the work you’ve already done. Plus, updates on Valencia and CIM, pacing duties in Chicago, and the Out & Back live show. Support our Sponsors: Meteo Pace: Be prepared for race day by getting 20% off MeteoPace Pro at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.meteopace.com/redeem⁠⁠⁠⁠ Code: OUTANDBACK ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://app.meteopace.com/redeem?code=OUTANDBACK⁠⁠⁠⁠ AquaOmega: For your daily dose of Omega-3’s, go to myaquaomega.com/OUTANDBACK and use code OUTANDBACK for 20% off. Transparent Labs: Fuel your training with protein, creatine, electrolytes, and more from Transparent Labs. Use code FLAGSTAFF for a discount on your first order. Merch Store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://outandback.shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Coaching: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s Coaching Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s Coaching Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Strava group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Out And Back YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SandyBoy Productions⁠

Sep 27, 2026

Fresh off a Canadian half marathon record, Jadyn Keeler joins Rory and Jacob in Flagstaff to break down her 68:03 performance at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen. Jadyn shares how the race unfolded, what changed during her first training block in Flagstaff, and how years of patient development at the University of North Dakota helped set up her breakout performance. She also talks about training under Terrence Mahon, her plans to make her marathon debut this spring, and her bigger goal of making Canada’s 2028 Olympic marathon team. Plus, Rory and Jacob recap the rest of Copenhagen, including the standout performances, the American results, and Rory’s own experience racing Worlds. Support our Sponsors: Meteo Pace: Be prepared for race day by getting 20% off MeteoPace Pro at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.meteopace.com/redeem⁠⁠⁠ Code: OUTANDBACK ⁠⁠⁠https://app.meteopace.com/redeem?code=OUTANDBACK⁠⁠⁠ AquaOmega: For your daily dose of Omega-3’s, go to myaquaomega.com/OUTANDBACK and use code OUTANDBACK for 20% off. Merch Store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://outandback.shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Coaching: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s Coaching Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s Coaching Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Strava group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Out And Back YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s Strava⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rory’s Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob’s Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠SandyBoy Productions⁠

Sep 20, 2026

Rory is in Copenhagen for the World Road Running Championships, Jacob is getting ready to open his season at the Cow Harbor 10K, and Vinny Mauri joins the show three weeks out from the Chicago Marathon.

See all episodes →