The 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!

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It’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/swap

Buy 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

We 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/swap

Buy 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