Most Pleasant Exhaustion: Recent Episodes
Most Pleasant Exhaustion
that George presented at an event at his college. In the paper, he discussed some of the things that may have inspired him to keep running after a wreck nearly ended his career (and his life).
This week, George and Allison got together to talk about two big Atlanta-based running stories that have echoed around the endurance sporting world: the death of Olympian and coach Jeff Galloway and the unfortunate debacle at the USATF Half Marathon Championship at the Atlanta Half Marathon over the weekend.
On January 18, Erik and Michelle ran the Tsali 50K in Almond, NC. Even though George had hoped to run it with them, he ended up just cheering instead. The three of us all got together and talked about the race, including the weather, the fueling, the course, and the challenges that Erik and Michelle faced along the way. Spoiler: they had a great time and highly recommend this race.
a harrowing new memoir from Sir Bradley Wiggins. Sir Wiggins--who received his knighthood in 2013--is arguably the most successful British cyclist of all time, having won five Olympic gold medals, numerous world championships, and several stage races on the road. In 2012, he rocketed to fame when he became the first British winner of the Tour de France. Everything came crashing down after that, though. It turns out that there was a lot of trauma in Sir Wiggins's life, and when he quit racing his bike, it all came to the surface. The next decade was filled with drug and alcohol addiction, and he only recently started to find his way back. This memoir was an important step in that process.
Each year, we look spend some time talking about what Spotify told us about our listening habits and what Strava told us about our training habits. Today was that day! Of course, each of this tools gives us the opportunity to reflect on how we have spent our time, and that can potentially prompt changes in how we behave. And it's super-fun!
It's the 2025 gift guide! Every year, we talk about the suggestions that we have for the runners in your lives, and this year, we covered all the bases. Want something small? We have you covered. Big? We have that, too. Kinda random? Yep--there are some of those on the list. We even discussed the things that we suggest that you NOT purchase. Happy holidays!
This week, we spent a lot of time talking about the fabulous men's and women's races at the NCAA cross-country championships, including a repeat win for Doris Lemongole and a long-awaited championship for Habtom Samuel. Before we got into the details of those races and our analysis of the issues related to the races, though, we talked about the biggest news of the week: the unfortunate--but ultimately understandable--postponement of the World 50K Championship that Allison was set to run in December. We discussed how the news hit her and what her plans are moving forward.
This week, we talked about a new job posting from the Atlanta Braves--an opening for their on-field sprinter/entertainer, the Freeze! Although lots of folks have fowarded this application to us, we talked about how incredibly unfit for the job that we are! In addition, we checked in on Allison's mindset with only three weeks to the World 50K Championship, we made a few corrections based on listener feedback, and we discussed a recent controversy in the FKT world.
This past weekend, several records fell at the Tunnel Hill 100-miler, including the women's 50-mile world record, the women's 100-mile world record, and the women's 100K national record. Allison ran the marathon--setting a course record in the process!--so she was on-hand to watch it all go down. This week, she shared with us all that she saw while there!
This past weekend, George and Michelle ran the New York City Marathon! As they made their way across the five boroughs with more than 59,000 other people, they experience the intensity and enthusiasm that makes the New York City Marathon a truly one-of-a-kind event. This week, we talked about how it felt to toe the starting line, to run the race, and to cross the finish, plus we considered some of the performances by the pro runners and celebrities who competed.
We've talked a lot about the New York City Marathon this season since both George and Michelle are running it, and the race is finally upon us! We talked about final prep, the pros that will be there, and our plans for the weekend! (Make sure to tune in next week for the race report!) We also talked about the stunning course records at the first 2026 Golden Ticket race: the Javelina Jundred!
Who talks about a 5K and a 24-hour race in the same podcast? We do! This week, we discussed the IAU 24-hour World Championship that saw Sarah Webster set a new world record for the distance. We also gave our thoughts on the online frenzy around Camille Herron that preceded the race. Before we got into all of that, though, we checked in with Michelle's experience at the local 10-miler--one of her last big tune-ups before the New York City Marathon!--and George's experience at the accompanying 5K, which also happened to be the US Masters National 5K Championship.
This past weekend was HUGE for endurance events, and we started with the most important one: the Hartford Marathon! Allison reported to us how it went, gave us the details on the course, and described the challenges she faced. We then talked about the Chicago Marathon, where among other things, Conner Mantz set a new American record in the men's marathon. We then touched on a few of the other things we tracked this weekend, including the Kodiak 100, the Ironman World Championship in Kona, and the Athlos Games!
This week, we caught up on several pieces of news in the world of distance running, including Courtney Dauwalter's first pro marathon, Killan Jornet's completion of States of Elevation, Connor Mantz's attempt on the AR this weekend at the Chicago Marathon, and the upcoming Athlos track meet in New York City. We also caught up on Michelle's training for the New York City Marathon and Allison's tapering for the Hartford Marathon.
It has been more than two weeks since George, Allison, and Michelle got together, so we spent this week catching up on a few things. First, we discussed Allison's interview with Jeff Garmire that we published last week. Despite being incredibly tired from his incredible self-supported record on the Appalachian Trail, Jeff had some insightful things to share, and we wanted to go back over that stuff. In addition, we talked about George's race over the weekend at the Loch Ness Marathon in Scotland, including how the race unfolded, what the course was like, and how he finished. We then checked in on Michelle's New York City Marathon training and Allison's final preparations for next week's Hartford Marathon!
This week, Allison interviewed her friend and brand new self-supported FKT-holder for the Appalachian Trail, Jeff Garmire! Jeff's accomplishment was amazing; not only did he do the entire trail in 45 days, 8 hours, and 37 minutes, but he did it without any help at all. This meant that he had to solve any problems that cropped up along the way, whether it was missing a food shipment, or having the wrong shoes, or leaving a bunch of chargers on the side of the trail. Allison and Jeff talked about all of it only a couple of days after Jeff finished, and he had a lot to share about the challenges he faced and how he's feeling now.
This week, we discussed a few different things happening in the endurance sporting world, and as usual, we offered our takes on them. We started by talking about the men's and women's marathons at the World Championship, both of which ended in sprint finishes! We went on to discuss the unfortunate recent doping positive of UTMB OCC winner Joyline Chepngeno, considering why and how it may have happened in light of what we have learned about doping culture in Kenya. We talked a bit about Kilan Jornet's latest adventure--a massive undertaking in which he's climbing all 67 14,000-foot peaks in the United States and cycling between them. And finally, we talked about Jeff Garmire's experience on the Appalachian Trail, where he is on the verge of setting a new FKT for a self-supported traverse.
This week, we celebrated Allison's being officially named to Team USA for the World 50K Championship by going back over a few things that Bobby Norwood said during our interview last week. We also analyzed some of the results from Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB), one of the biggest and most prestigious ultra races in the United States. Finally, we discussed a recent article in the New York Times that described a small study by a Virginia oncologist that seemed to suggest a link between distance running and colon cancer. While it's still preliminary, there are some good takeaways for endurance athletes like us!
This week, we got to talk to Bobby Norwood, who recently completed the 2025 Leadville Trail 100. Bobby told us all about his preparation, his fueling, and the race itself. Miles on the trail? A lot. Carbs consumed? So, so many. Twisted ankles? Alas, yes. We got the fully story.
This week, we spent some time talking about the amazing run that Sibusiso Kubheka had at the Adidas Chasing 100 project, but we wondered what the purpose of the event may have been. In addition, we spent a little more time talking about shoes--particularly ahead of UTMB this weekend--and we discussed what the decision to go pro may mean for 800m runner Cooper Lutkenhaus. And of course, we talked about Taylor and Travis!
With Michelle out of town, Allison and George talked this week about Sunday's Leadville 100, which saw both the men's and the women's course records fall. In addition, we reviewed a piece of research that looked at the calorie burns of runners who have just completed a 100-mile race, and we talked about a recent NYT article that explored the broader context of the Kenyan doping issue.
This week, we spent some time catching up with one another. We started by hearing about Michelle's early experiences as a new Zwift user, which has included getting to know herself as a cyclist and becoming a part of the Zwift community. We then talked a bit about what we left out of our coverage of the USATF Championship last week, and we couldn't help but talk a bit more about some of those great races. Finally, we talked about what George's next pair of trail shoes will be, given that he has signed up for a big race in February.
This week, we dove deep into the results of the 2025 USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships. We covered all of the distance events in depth--from a 16-year-old qualifying for the US team in the men's 800 to a 35-year-old finally winning her first US championship in the women's 10,000--but we also touched on the drama in the sprints, the disappointment in the 110 hurdles, and even the pole vault. It was a great meet, and we had a lot to say!
Do you wish that there was more transparency in track and field? So does Allison, and she talked about it on this week's podcast! As usual, we discussed the latest goings on in the endurance sports world--this time, it was the end of the men's Tour de France, the start of the Tour de France Femmes, and the upcoming USA Track Championship--but we mixed in several thoughts on the state of the sport.
We are back from summer vacation, and we talked this week about Michelle's trip to volunteer at the Hardrock 100, the recent news that marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng'etich has been provisionally suspended for taking a masking agent, and the passing of a coaching legend, Joe Vigil.
This week, we heard about everyone's different experiences at the Peachtree Road Race, then we talked a bit about Faith Kipyegon's recent attempt to break 4:00 in the mile. We discussed John Kelly's unfortunate end to his attempt to reset the Fastest Known Time on the AT, and we finished by talking about how the Western States Endurance Run unfolded. We paid particular attention to the performances at WSER of our podcast friends, Tara Dower and Hans Troyer.
It's the only men's Tour de France Preview you need! This year, Justin Dugan was back for the sixth year in a row to talk about what we expect to see at the men's Tour de France in 2025! The stages, the contenders, the stories, and of course, the predictions . . . we have it all!
We can't seem to get enough of John Kelly's FKT attempt on the Appalachian Trail, and we shared a few final thoughts about it before he finishes in the next couple of weeks. We also discussed Faith Kipyegon's upcoming attempt to break 4:00 for the mile, and we offered our predictions for the Western States Endurance Run this weekend. Of course, with the Peachtree Road Race coming up in Atlanta, we talked a bit about that, too.
This week, we talked about the new standards released by the Boston Athletic Association that will add time to a runner's BQ if they ran on a downhill course. We also caught up with John Kelly's Appalachian Trail run, the latest from the NCAA Track and Field Championship, and the new of the cancellation of the final Grand Slam Track event of the year.
Summer is an exciting time to be a fan of distance running, and there are so many things happening right now! Michelle and Allison got together this week and talked about everything from the Peachtree Road Race Expo to John Kelly's progress on the Appalachian Trail, with a bit of professional track and marathon-ing in between. And Allison shared newly released information on the location of the World 50K Championship!
This week, we were joined by up-and-coming ultrarunner Hans Troyer. Hans recently earned a vaunted Golden Ticket by finishing second at the Canyons 100K, thereby giving him entry into this month's Western States Endurance Run. Hans is a native of Georgia--like us!--and we got to talk to him about the highs and lows that he has experienced in his short but eventful ultrarunning career to this point.
This week, we spent some time talking about John Kelly, the ultra runner and triathlete who is aiming to take down Tara Dower's new AT record. We also discussed the recent non-DQ of a runner at the Black Canyon 100K--a race that Michelle ran!--and the controversy that has resulted. In between, we discussed the changes to the Grand Slam Track format ahead of their third meet this weekend, and we talked about the Bolder Boulder 10K!
The Adidas Atlanta City Games is a unique track meet, and Allison got to have a front row seat! This week, she told us all about the performances that stood out to her and the athletes that she got to interview as part of the event. Before that, we got an update on whether there's going to be a 2025 World 50K Championship, and we talked a bit about the first real running shoe purchase George has ever made for his sons.
This week, we caught up on the latest happenings, both in our lives and in the endurance world! We discussed the last St. George Ironman event, college graduations, Michelle's recent trip to Denver and her new bike, and our experience watching and thoughts on the Cocodona 250.
This week, we discussed a wide variety of topics, including George's recent trip to Tahiti, our initial impressions of the Puma Fast-R 3, and a few more words on Faith Kipyegon's attempt to break 4:00 in the mile. We spent most of our time talking about the various records that were set at the London Marathon, this week's Cocodona 250, and the recent news from Ironman about their move back to Kona for a combined men's and women's World Championship in 2026.
This week, Michelle and Allison caught up on a wide variety of things--everything from Western States qualifying to Faith Kipyegon's upcoming attempt to be the first woman to break four minutes for the mile. They also discussed Michelle's first impressions of the new Puma supershoe and Allison's recent 5K PR!
This week, we discussed two recent races: the Boston Marathon on 4-21-25 and the Mad City 50K on 4-12-25. We started with Boston, offering our thoughts and analysis on a record-breaking day. We then heard from Allison about her stellar performance at the Mad City 50K, where she finished fourth and likely secured her spot on the US World 50K Championship team.
This week, we dived back into a few topics that inspired our listeners to send comments in the last few weeks. Why is there so much pollen?" we recently asked. We now have the answer. "How much should we talk about our training at work?" Some folks gave us their takes. We also talked about a few topics--like sodium bicarbonate and ketone supplements--that friends and training partners have recently discussed with us in workouts. In addition, we talked about a recent study of how social media may negatively impact your training, and we offered our thoughts on the first Grand Slam track meet.
This week, we spent a lot of time discussing the 10,000 meters--whether it was The Ten from last weekend or the upcoming Save the 10,000 effort from Kara and Des--but we also found time to discuss our favorite April Fools jokes and our picks for the Final Four.
This week, Allison, George, and Michelle discussed George's resolution to go without caffeine. Have there been side effects or withdrawals? Is it a net benefit to his life and his training? We discussed all of those things. Of course, we began by catching up with one another, especially since Allison is in here peak week and we're moving into outdoor track season! We found ourselves discussing the Austin running scene, Bandit clothing, the Atlanta Run Club, and even how we talk about running with our co-workers.
This week, Allison, Michelle, and George discussed the brilliant performance of Matthew Richtman and this year's Los Angeles Marathon, where he ran the seventh-fastest time that any American man has ever run in the marathon. After that, we discussed the most recent edition of Barkley Marathon, including how the race unfolded and why George is not a fan.
This week, we talked about George's race at the Marin Ultra Challenge 50-Miler. The conversation was split into two pieces: one before the race and one after the race. In the first part, we discussed his training and his mindset going into the race, and in the second part, we got all the details on how it actually went. At the end of the podcast, Allison and Michelle discussed a little bit about Fastest Known Times (or FKTs) and what distinguishes an FKT from a really good run.
This year, the USATF Half-Marathon Championship took place as part of the Atlanta Marathon and Half-Marathon. Allison, George, and Michelle all took part in varying capacities, and they got together after the weekend to talk about the pro races, the conditions, the course, and the event as a whole.
This week, Michelle and Allison got together to discuss a variety of recent news inside the world of track and field, including the recent disqualification of Raj Pannu for wearing illegal shoes at the US 100-Mile Championship, the US Indoor Track and Field Championship, and the inaugural season of Grand Slam Track. More than anything, though, they discussed their excitement over the US Half-Marathon Championship taking place on our home course here in Atlanta!
Last week, we heard about the last few few things Michelle had to do to get ready for the Black Canyon 100K. This week, we heard all about the race! And to help tell the story of Michelle's accomplishment, she brought along her sole crew member, Eric, and the pacer that they gained in the hotel lobby, Hilary! It took a boatload of determination to get Michelle across the finish line--plus some silent disco headphones--and we got all the details.
This week, we got to hear about Michelle's final preparations before she ran the Black Canyon 100K in Arizona on February 8. We'll hear about what she has packed, how she plans to pace herself, the shoes she's going to wear, and what her mindset is heading into the race. Tune in for Part Two next week!
When Tara Dower last joined us on the Most Pleasant Exhaustion Podcast (Episode 293), she was on her way to scout some parts of the Appalachian Trail in Maine. Since then, she set the record for the fastest known time on the Trail, she became a professional runner, and she moved to Colorado. This week, we got to talk to her about her whirlwind last six months, what it's like to be recognized in the airport, and all of the upcoming races on her schedule.
Have you heard of Heart Rate Variability, or HRV, and wondered what it is? Have you seen it on your watch or in your training log and not known what it means or how it can be used? We have the podcast for you! This week, we discussed what it is, how to interpret it, and how to use it, and what to do if you want it to change.
This week, we considered a recent Wall Street Journal article that described the increasing number of Gen Z runners who are taking on the marathon. We had a slightly different take on the phenomenon than the WSJ! We also talked about the new Puma Project 3, and we offered our ideas on whether the revived Marathon Project will be successful.
On the day that most Americans abandon their New Years resolutions, the whole crew got together to talk about how we are doing on our resolutions so far. We also talked about how we're getting along in the cold weather, and we reviewed the new race from the Atlanta Track Club, the Polar Opposite Peachtree!
This week, the Most Pleasant Exhaustion crew got together to talk about how 2024 went--including the information from their Spotify Wrapped and Strava Year in Review!--and what exciting things we have planned for 2025.
What's it like to race 240 miles? (No, not a typo.) That's what Thomas Odom did in October, and he came on the podcast to tell us all about it. The gear, the crew, the challenges, and the fueling . . . he shared it all.
This week, Allison was back to tell us all about her experience at the 100K World Championship race in Bengaluru, India! We heard about the course, the team dynamics, the crew setup, and the race itself. Allison was able to finish 3rd on Team USA by taking 12th overall and 3rd master. She won her age group to boot!) That was good enough to help the American women finish as the third team.
This week, George shared his experience with the Valencia Marathon! We talked about his shoes, his nutrition, and his trip overall, and we learned about the difficulties he faced along the way.
Looking for the perfect gift for the endurance athlete in your life? We have suggestions! This week, Erik, George, and Michelle offered their suggestions for holiday gift-giving for 2024. We spent the entire year eyeing new releases and trying various things, and we offer our unfiltered thoughts on the budget items, reasonable items, and reach items that would put a smile on any endurance athlete's face!
This week, Allison Mercer--a part of the extended MPE family!--came on the podcast to talk about her upcoming race at the 100K World Championship on December 7! George also has a race coming up--the Valencia Marathon on December 1--so we talked a bit about that, too! Travel plans, goals, preparation, nerves . . . we considered it all.
Our aim was to preview the New York City Marathon this weekend, but we ended up talking about a variety of things including the food sensitivity test that George recently took.
Ruth Chepngetich broke the women's marathon world record by nearly two minutes at the Chicago Marathon. In this installment of the podcast, we talked all about how she did it, where she came from, and what it's like to be a distance running fan when such mind-blowing performances seem to be happening more and more often. We also spent a small amount of time talking about George's run at the Flagstaff Marathon last weekend and the new offering from the Atlanta Track Club: the Polar Peachtree!
This week, after hearing a bit about Erik's experience at the Doggettville 12-Hour, we discussed the destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene on the Blue Ridge Relay course in western North Carolina.
We turned our attention to three big stories this week: Tara Dower's new FKT on the Appalachian Trail, the controversy over Camille Herron's Wikipedia edits, and the two press releases from the Boston Athletic Association regarding entry into the Boston Marathon. We had a lot to say about each of them, including hearing Michelle's first-hand account from the finish line of Tara's run!
This weekend, friend of the podcast Tara Dower (from Episode 293) is going to be finishing the Appalachian Trail in what is likely to be a Fastest Known Time! Michelle will be there to watch the end of Tara's run, but before we sent her off, we talked a bit about where we are, what our fall plans look like, and how we're doing on our resolutions some of our resolutions . . . from 2023.
The weekend after Labor Day means it's time for our favorite race: the Blue Ridge Relay! Last weekend, Erik, George, and four other guys took on the Blue Ridge Relay for the seventh time. Hear about how it went, what we wore, and the challenges we faced along the way.
Have you ever wanted to run fifteen miles on trails at altitude with a donkey? Well, we haven't either, but this week, we talked to two people who did just that! Megan Ressler and Amy Krupka joined us to tell us about their experience with Millie and Charleston--their donkeys--at the Leadville Boom Days Pack Burro Race. We talked about managing the animal and the challenges they faced. And of course, we made a lot of jokes.
This week, we looked back at Sifan Hassan's historic TRIPLE at the Olympics, climaxing with the Olympic Record in the marathon. We also talked about the men's marathon, and we considered how the Americans performed. We wrapped up the podcast with a quick review of the record-setting day at the Leadville 100.
Two years ago, in Episode 227, we interviewed Ken Sevensky, the race director for the Blue Ridge Relay. This week, we brought Ken back to hear about his preparations for the 2024 race. Ken told us about how the race has overcome obstacles over the years and grown into the event that it is today, and he gave us a glimpse of all that goes into pulling off a 200-mile relay across two states with 187 teams and over 300 volunteers.
The three of us have been consumed by the Olympics over the last two weeks, so we took a few minutes together to talk about them today. Even though the Games aren't yet over, we had fun talking about the things we have seen and what we've been thinking over the last little while.
For the second week in a row, we talked to a 2024 Race Across America finisher! This week, it was Katie Aguilar, who raced as part of Four the Record, a four-woman team. Her husband, Carlos, was on the crew, and he also joined us. Katie and Carlos told us about what it was like to take on such an ambitious goal, the changes that Katie had to make to her training (with Carlos's support!), and the various highs and lows they faced when racing from California to New Jersey.
This week, we talked to a couple of folks who just successfully finished Race Across America: Brian Hetherington and Alyssa Godesky! Brian raced as part of a four-person team called Team One Life, and they raised money for a charity called Special Love. Alyssa, herself an accomplished professional triathlete and ultrarunner, coached Brian and served as the crew chief during the race. We talked about training, fueling, logistics, and some of the unexpected difficulties they faced on their way from California to New Jersey.
There is so much going on in the world of endurance sports right now! We spent a lot of time this week talking about our experiences in the 2024 Peachtree Road Race, plus the first week of the Tour de France, the Olympic Track Trials, and an incredibly fast day at the Western States Endurance Run.
This week, we previewed the 2024 Men's Tour de France with our crack analysts Justin Dugan and Justin Schmidt! As they have done the last few years, Justin and Justin joined us to talk about the course, discuss the contenders, and of course, make a few predictions.
On June 9th, George got to run the one race he's always wanted to run: the Comrades Marathon in South Africa! He trained with this race specifically in mind for nearly a year, including a lot of strength and mobility work, but he ran into some training issues with only a month to go. Nonetheless, he was able to finish the race with a silver medal, and he told us all about the experience this week.
This week, we talked about the controversy that is brewing around Spring Energy's gel, Awesome Sauce. We also recapped the Bowerman Mile, and we talked about George's final preparations before he heads off to South Africa for the Comrades Marathon next Monday!
Episode 294--Comrades Training Update and the Upcoming Olympic Marathon Showdown! by Most Pleasant Exhaustion
In April, Tara Dower won the overall title at the Umstead 100, and this week, she came on the podcast to tell us about it! Even though Tara is fairly new to ultrarunning, she has found a great deal of success, and she tells us what she has learned in her short career, what it's like to be sponsored by Altra, how the Umstead race unfolded, and what's next!
This week, we talked all about our experience at the Tobacco Road Relay over the weekend. TRR is an event that Erik and George helped win in 2022 in its inaugural year, and this year, they were back to give it another go on a three-person team with their friend Lee. The course had changed a great deal, though, and the race director--Ken Sevensky, the race director of the Blue Ridge Relay--put together a great event. We talk all about our running, our fueling, and of course, our gear, as we made our way as a three-person team over the 75-mile course in central North Carolina.
This week, we visited our friend and sponsor Elemental Altitude to do some sweat testing! Both Michelle and George spent an hour on the treadmill to see how much fluid they would lose and how salty their sweat was. The results met our expectations in some ways, but in other ways, we were surprised by what we found.
This week, we talked to Doug Olsen. Doug recently finished the brutal Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker 50-mile race, which traverses three massive climbs and includes 12,000 feet of gain and loss over the course. Along the way, he summited Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the eastern United States. Doug talked to us about his training, the challenges he faced along the way, his gear, and his [surprising] nutrition.
This week, we discussed George's recent run at a new trail race, the Cove 50K. We also talked about the amazing performances at The Ten, a time-trial-style race in California where eight men ran under 27:00, Nico Young set a new collegiate record, and a woman (Tigise Gebreselama) ran under 30:00 for the first time on American soil.
In this week's short episode, we talked about all of the people we know that are racing over the weekend, and we heard a bit about Michelle's experience at the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, VA.
This week, we caught up on everyone's training, and we discussed George's test of the new KICKR Treadmill! We also talked about our takeaways from Lululemon's Further event, where Camille Herron set fourteen new ultra-running records.
This week, we discussed a variety of things, but we spent most of our time considering what Molly Seidel talked about in the final episode of her limited series podcast, The Build Up. The podcast, which was only six episodes long, described the hurdles Molly faced in building up to the Olympic Marathon Trials race--a race that she ultimately did not start due to injury. Among other things, we talked about the mental and physical risks that professional athletes take, and we talked about whether those risks are really worth it.
This year, the Atlanta Track Club made some big changes to the Atlanta Marathon, including a new start and finish area and new race formats. Michelle and George took advantage and ran the first Atlanta Marathon Relay, and this week, they offered their thoughts on the course, the race, and the changes that Atlanta Track Club instituted.
We couldn't let the news of Kelvin Kiptum's death go by without discussing it, but we also talked about where our training is right now, the apocalyptic conditions at Mountain Mist 2024, and the death of another great Kenyan runner, Henry Rono.
Yesterday, the best marathoners in the United States raced to see who would get to represent their country at this summer's Olympic Games. Both the men's and women's races were exciting, and we recap them here, along with our analysis.
This week, we talked about a variety of stuff, but we mostly focused on two things: a recent article published by Strava about what coach Jim van den Berg says that amateur athletes can learn about training by looking at the pros, and a preview of the Olympic Marathon Trials here in the US.
This week, we talked a bit about George's takes on Caster Semenya's book, The Race to Be Myself. We also reviewed how George ran at the Disneyland Half Marathon, and we discussed why Michelle was forced to pull out of the Houston Marathon at the last minute. Finally, building on our conversation from the last episode, we had a bit more to say about influencers.
This week, we're sending Michelle off to the Houston Marathon, so we got to hear a bit about her training and final race preparation. We also talked a bit about the role of influencers in the running landscape.
It's our long-awaited gift guide! Not sure what to get the endurance athlete in your life? Well, we've got a few ideas. Clothes, technology, stocking stuffers, accessories . . . we've got it all.
After spending a bit of time talking about our Spotify Wrapped for 2023, we finally reviewed a book we started reading back in September, "The Race That Changed Running; The Inside Story of UTMB." It offered an interesting history of the event as well as a thorough exploration of the changes that have been made over the past few years. It's filled with photos and charts, and if you're planning to run UTMB, you can't miss it.
On November 11, friend of the podcast Allison Mercer ran a new American record for masters women at the Tunnel Hill 50-mile! This week, we got to talk to Allison about how she prepared for the race in the six weeks between running the Berlin Marathon and Tunnel Hill, and we heard all about her crew, her nutrition, her race strategy, her shoes, and of course, how the Ragnar Relay we did together in April contributed directly to her performance.
This week, we got to talk to longtime endurance athlete Brian Hetherington about his experience at the 2023 Ironman Arizona. Brian has been a runner and cyclist for years, and we dove into what brought him to long course triathlon and what he plans to do next. (Spoiler alert: it's 4-person Race Across America!)
This week, we talked a bit about the results at the New York City Marathon, then we spent a while discussing Michelle's approach to her long runs. Along the way, we shared a bit about what the research says on whether to fast or fuel and how far to go.
Episode 272.1--Ironman World Championship Race Report with Jaclyn Nasser! by Most Pleasant Exhaustion
On September 10, the men's Ironman World Championship was contested in Nice, France, and Joseph McLeod is here to tell us all about it! After years of trying to qualify, Joseph earned a spot based on his performance and Ironman Chattanooga, and he came on the podcast to tell us about his training and his race experience.
Only one week after the Blue Ridge Relay, Erik ran more than fifty miles at the Doggettville 12-Hour race, once again taking the "Double Dog Dare" trophy. (He's the only man ever to have won it!) This week, he told us all about the race, his strategy, how he fueled, and how he got more miles than he's ever gotten in this race despite having a compromised build.
George ran the 2023 Berlin Marathon, and he gave us a full race report this week--everything from his training and pre-race meals to his shoe choice and post-race soreness. We discussed how he approached the race, whether he met his goals, and what it was like to share the course with the new women's world record holder!
GC Kuss! For this extra episode, our friend Justin Dugan joined George to talk about the US's latest Grand Tour Champion, Sepp Kuss! Last week, Sepp, from Durango, CO, became only the fourth U.S. cyclist to win a Grand Tour when he took first place at the Vuelta a Espana. It wasn't a straight path, though, and we discussed the challenges he faced in taking the win.
This week, we discussed George and Erik's experience at the 2023 Blue Ridge Relay! This was the sixth times they've run that race, and they recounted the challenges they faced, the shoes they wore, and why they keep going back to this one race.
This week, we talked about our favorite moments at the men's and women's track World Championship from last week, including several thoughts about the relays, Jakob Ingebrigsten, and Sifan Hassan.
This week, we talked a bit about the Blue Ridge Relay, now coming up in less than three weeks! We also announced the new Book of the Quarter, and we discussed a bit about what we've seen in the Track and Field World Championships so far.
Two big things were unveiled this week: the name of the new coach of the Atlanta Track Club elite team and the details of the Olympic Marathon Trials to be held in Orlando next February. We offered our thoughts on both of these things, plus caught up with where everyone is after the Silver Rush 50 and before the Blue Ridge Relay and Berlin Marathon!
This week, we talked about our Book of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2023: Choosing to Run by Des Linden. We found it to be straightforward and fun, which is exactly what we were looking forward. Even so, there were a lot of things in it that stood out to us, and it was fun to discuss them on the podcast.
We kept it under wraps a bit, but last weekend, Erik and Michelle both ran the Silver Rush 50 in Leadville, CO! This week, they joined us on the podcast to talk all about it, including their training, how they handled the altitude, what they used for nutrition, the shoes they wore, and of course, what's next!
This week, we had an interview with one of our new favorite people: Kyle Torok from Atlanta Snack Club! It's hard to pin down exactly what the ASC is, but it's clear that they have a lot of fun exploring Atlanta on foot. We appreciated Kyle's refreshing take on the purpose of running, and we're excited to go to an upcoming group run!
Justin and Justin are back to preview the men's 2024 Tour de France! This year, newly minted expert Michelle joined us to talk about the stages, who we're excited to watch, our favorite jerseys, and our predictions for this difficult and exciting edition of the Tour. We even discussed which pro riders we believe each other resemble. This is everything you need to know about this year's men's Tour!
After a brief summer break, we spent some time this week talking about the Netflix documentary about the Tour de France and a few of the many recent impressive performances from around the world of running.
This week, we finally discussed our Book of the Quarter for Q1 of 2023: "Fit Nation" by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela. While the book wasn't our favorite, we did have a good conversation about the ideas in it and what they mean for us as members of the endurance community. We also announced our next BOTQ, which we will make sure to finish on time!
This week, we were joined by Krystle Andrews--Ironman, Boston Qualifier, Six-Star Medal winner, and recent finisher of the Antarctica Marathon! Krystle told us all about the things she saw and experienced as part of this unique marathon, including the difficulties in getting there, the course, and the penguins!
This week, friends of the podcast Justin Dugan and Allison Mercer came on the podcast to review the Ragnar Ultra Relay that the two of them, Michelle, and George all did together on April 21st and 22nd. Each runner did six trail runs totaling around 31 miles over the course of the roughly twenty-hour race, and we discussed the course, our nutrition, and the challenges we faced along the way. (Spoiler alert: we won the race.)
This week, we bring you another race report! This time, we talked to James Aldridge about his experience at the Boston Marathon. We spoke to James a few days before he left about his preparation and his expectations for the race, and then we came back to him about a week after the race to hear how it went.
The Boston Marathon is right around the corner, and the fields for the men's and women's races are incredible. We took a little bit of time to discuss them after giving Camille Herron the praise she deserved for setting a new 48-hour world record last month.
This week, George and Michelle went to Elemental Altitude to take a tour of the various physiological tests that they have there--and to take a Resting Metabolic Rate test!--and, of course, to complete a workout at 10,000 feet. The owner Chuck took us through the history of the place and told us all about the various offerings he has. He also told us a bit about who can benefit from high-altitude training at a facility like Elemental Altitude and how.
Japan is one of the top countries in the world for marathoning. There are multiple examples of Japanese races with literally hundreds of people running under 2:20. Why is this so? This week, Brett Larner, the writer behind Japan Running News, came on the podcast to discuss the historical and cultural reasons that Japanese marathon fields are so deep. It was a fascinating conversation.
This week, Lee and Aaron joined us to share their experience at the Croatan Buck Fifty gravel bike race in North Carolina. Aaron--who rode with his 75-year-old dad--was riding his first bike race, and Lee was looking to finish strong. In the pre-race interview, they tell us about their training, their fears, and their expectations, and in the post-race interview, they recap how it all went down. There were definitely some surprises!
This week, we heard about George's experience at the Austin Marathon, which came five weeks after the Houston Marathon and three weeks after the Mountain Mist 50K! We discussed the hills--including one particular hill--the vibe of the race, and perhaps most importantly, how he felt doing his third big race in just over a month. Before we got to it, we also discussed the Atlanta Marathon and Half-Marathon, we talked a little about Erik and Michelle's upcoming 10x5K, and we discussed whether we'd be watching "All Quiet on the Western Front," which features a screenplay by World Champion Triathlete Lesley Paterson.
This week, we got to talk to David Eliuk about what it took to set the Guinness World Record for Most T-Shirts Worn During a Half-Marathon. David described how he decided on this goal, how he trained, the requirements for the record to be recognized, and the challenges he faced along the way. Running 13.1 miles while wearing 120 shirts is no mean feat, and it was fun to hear about David's background, goals, and challenges.
This week, after catching up a bit on recent news--including the story of a Canadian man who ran a half-marathon wearing 120 shirts!--we discussed the training metrics that are available on popular watches and online training logs. While the way that various companies calculate your training "load" can be helpful, we also discuss a few drawbacks with the approach.
This week, we discussed some impressive early-season indoor track performances, and we talked about the "constrained daily energy expenditure" model of metabolism. The model, as described by Dr. Herman Pontzer, suggests that no matter how much you exercise, your metabolism will be roughly the same.
This week, we welcomed our new sponsor, Elemental Altitude Training Center! We also announced the new Book of the Quarter, talked about lots of endurance news from Australia, described the Boston Athletic Association's new policy on pregnancy deferrals, and discussed a recent piece of research on the differences between trail and road runners.
We chose to run 2023 Mountain Mist 50K together, and we had a lot to say about it! With a pre-race conversation on Friday night, our first impressions post-race on Saturday, and our final wrap-up on Sunday, we discussed every aspect of the race--the weather, the gear, the course, the competition, and the results.
This week, we discussed the new pricing structure at Strava, even though we--and everyone else--do not really know what it is. We also reviewed the Houston Marathon, which one of us may have run.
This week, we reviewed our most recent Book of the Quarter, "Running While Black" by Alison Desir. The book, Desir's memoir of growing up and becoming a runner as a Black women in a sport and country that is filled with white spaces, was provocative and interesting, and we will all continue to think about the ideas for the next long while. We also announced a new sponsor and the return of our Race Report podcasts!
On the last day of 2022, we talked about how the year went for us--including our Strava "Year in Sports" data--what our favorite races were, and what we're resolving for 2023.
This week, we talked a bit about the Lookout Mountain 18-miler and the . . . interesting . . . experience that George had there. We also updated our CIM and Olympic Marathon Trials coverage, and we discussed the new standards released by World Athletics for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Are we a triathlon podcast now?? This week, we discussed three big pieces of news in the world of triathlon: the retirement of Mike Reilly, the location of the 2023 Ironman World Championship, and the return of Gwen Jorgenson. Just to assure everyone that we're still runners, we also discussed some strangeness related to the USATF's awarding of the 2024 Marathon Trials to Orlando.
This week, we discussed a variety of news items from the world of running, including the non-ratification of Camille Herron's 100-mile WR, Eliud Kipchoge's announcing that he'll be in Boston on Patriots Day, and the US Marathon Championship at the California International Marathon.
This week, we discussed what Spotify told us about our listening habits in 2022, and we talked about what Katelyn Tuohy's new Name/Image/Likeness contract with adidas may mean for collegiate distance running.
After reviewing our Thanksgiving races and giving a few updates to the topics we discussed last week, we spent a lot of time this week discussing the items that would be great for you to get for the endurance athletes on your holiday gift list!
This week, we got back to our roots a bit as we discussed research on music while exercising. In particular, we looked at the power of "beats per minute" and its ability to motivate--or distract?--us during hard workouts. We also talked about some recent research on how men's and women's physiological responses to exercise differ depending on what time of day they work out, and we talked about how we measure and upload our heart rate data from our runs.
This week, we heard all about George and Michelle's experience at the Shut-In Ridge Trail Run in Asheville, NC. The race had over 5000 feet of climbing over the course of about nineteen miles, and featured lots of steep drop-offs and slick leaves.
This week, Erik told us all about his experience at the Delirium 24 ultra race. He had a good race, but he learned a lot of lessons from falling just short of his goal. Join us to hear about how it went, what his big takeaways were, and what's next for him.
Kilian Jornet recently released a detailed look at his training over the last several months leading up to his record-breaking win at UTMB. This week, we discussed what we can take from Jornet's description of his training and racing. Believe it or not, there are things that we can apply ourselves!
This week, we discussed our takes on this quarter's Book of the Quarter, How She Did It by Molly Huddle and Sara Slattery. It was interesting and important, and we believe that there's something for everyone in it. We also talked about Michelle's recent trip to West Virginia and Erik's final prep for the Delirium 24 next weekend, as well as the Backyard Ultra World Championship, Tim Tollefson's new video about body image, and Danielle Friedman's recent piece in the New York Times. Finally, we announce our next BOTQ!
This week, we discussed George's run at the London Marathon, plus the pro performances there, the new WR at the Berlin Marathon, and Day One of the Ironman World Championship in Kona.
This week, it was all about George! His departure for the London Marathon is eminent, and this race has been a long time coming. We discussed how he qualified for the World Marathon Majors Age Group World Championship, the workouts he did along the way, the changes he made to his diet, and most importantly, the clothes and shoes that he'll be wearing for the big race. Along the way, we got to hear about his process and approach to training.
Of course, we had to take a little bit of time this week to talk about our experience at the 2022 Blue Ridge Relay this past weekend. We also discussed Eliza Fletcher a bit, and we teased a future episode about Killian Jornet's new training document.
It's less than 48 hours to the start of the 2022 BRR! This week, we talked a bit about our final preparations, and we debriefed our interview with the race director, Ken Sevensky.
This week, we spoke with Ken Sevensky, the founder and owner of Blue Ridge Endurance and the director of the Blue Ridge Relay! Ken talked about how the relay came to be, the challenges he faces as the director of the race, and what we can expect from the 2022 edition, which kicks off on September 9th!
This week, we talked about Michelle's mission to re-take a local legend title on one of her favorite Strava segments, her rekindled love for Crocs (in sport mode, preferably), and the end of her tortured relationship with Coros watches. There are good lessons in all of this--or at least in the last one--for all of us. We also discussed a recent obstacle to Erik's training, and we reviewed George's workout at a local altitude center.
This week, we talked about the recent piece that Malcom Gladwell wrote on his blog calling for a change to the way that we do high school cross-country in the United States. We also heard about Erik's (and Grace's) new ultra focus, and we talked a bit about the incredible performances at the Monaco track meet. Only four weeks to the Blue Ridge Relay!
July is always the best month of the year, and this week we talked about our favorite things from that month: the World Track Championship, both Tours de France, and Michael Wardian's run across the United States.
This week, we discussed our Book of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2022, "Out of Thin Air" by Michael Crawley. Crawley spent fifteen months living and running with high-level athletes in Ethiopia, and he shed light on their beliefs, training practices, and motivations. In the process, he reconsidered his own running habits and reasoning. While only two of us really loved the book, we all thought that there were important takeaways.
This week, we caught up on the first few stages of the Tour with its newest mega-fan, Michelle! We also shared some reflections on the USA Track Championship that we previewed a couple of weeks ago, and we talked about our experience with this year's Peachtree Road Race!
It's that time of year again! Justin Dugan and Justin Schmidt joined George on the podcast this week to talk about the 2022 Tour de France for men. (They'll be back in a couple of weeks to talk about the new Tour de France Femmes!) We reviewed the key stages, discussed the riders to watch, gave our picks for the win, and even answered a few questions about cycling from Michelle.
This week, we talked about the two big events of the weekend: Western States and the USA Track Championship in Eugene! We talked favorites, conditions, and a few extra people to look out for. Enjoy this massive weekend of running!
This week, we talk all about P.I.S.S.--our acronym for staying safe in hot weather. Spoiler alert: staying hydrated is only one part of it! Also, since we haven't been together for a couple of weeks, we took a lot of time to catch up with each other and the latest happenings in the world of running.
Grace Hall was back on the podcast with us this week to tell us all about her second 100-mile race, the Keys 100. She has learned a lot since she told us about her first 100-mile finish back in Episode 187, and she would need all of that--plus a determined crew and a lot of chocolate almond butter sandwiches--to get her through the southern Florida heat and to the line as the fourth woman and nineteenth finisher overall.
This week, we caught up with some of the news in the endurance sporting world, including a few notes from the Maasmarathon, the Flying Pig Marathon, and the Wainwrights. We also reflected on our favorite parts of our interview with Allison Mercer, and we heard about George's win at the New River Marathon.
Last weekend, Allison Mercer had a historic run at the Strolling Jim 40-mile run in Tennessee, becoming only the third woman to earn a coveted gold shirt for running under five hours. We talked to her about her start in distance running and return to it after a stint of focusing on ultimate frisbee, her moving to ultras, her brilliant run at Strolling Jim, and how it felt when she got word that Camille Herron would be showing up.
This week, we talked about two sprinters--Lester Wright and Erriyon Knight--and that will probably be the last time we talk about sprinters this year. We also fixed and expanded on a few things from our Boston recap, we discussed George's slightly modified spring marathon plans, and we heard all about the Tobacco Road Relay.
The 2022 Boston Marathon is behind us, and this week, we looked at several storylines from the race. We talked about the winners, of course, but we also discussed our friends who ran, the pros who competed well, and the stories of several athletes that you may have missed from Marathon Monday.
This week, after a bit of a digression into F1, we debriefed last week's conversation with Danielle Friedman. We then announced our NEW Book of the Quarter for Q2 of 2022! We also talked a bit about next week's Boston Marathon--one of only two World Marathon Majors this spring and the first Boston Marathon to be held on its traditional April date since 2019!
This week, we talked about our Book of the Quarter, "Let's Get Physical," with the book's author, Danielle Friedman! We had a great conversation about the history and nature of the women's fitness movement, and we discussed the ways that exercise over the last seventy years has both challenged and reflected prevailing ideas about womanhood.
This week, we caught up on the latest goings-on in our lives and the endurance sports world, we reflected on our interview with Shane Streich, and we shared the highlights of Peyton's Wild and Wacky 10x5K.
We got to interview the new American record holder in the indoor 1000m, Shane Streich! Last month, Shane ran 2:16.16 in Louisville, and this week, he came on the podcast to tell us about how he got to that place in his career, the reasons he chose to go pro with the Atlanta Track Club, and what's next for him.
Over our last two podcasts, we interviewed two really different runners: ultrarunner Coree Woltering and 800m runner Sadi Henderson. This week, we reflected on our big takeaways from our time with each of them. We also caught up on a lot of missed news, like the performances at USA Indoor Nationals, the Tokyo Marathon, Grant Fisher's new American records, the new 50K world record, and the death of John Landy.
This week, we spoke to professional runner Sadi Henderson. Fresh off a fifth-place finish at the USA Indoor Nationals in the 800m, Sadi told us a bit about that race, her decision to become a professional runner, her time with Oiselle and the Atlanta Track Club, and her work in mental health.
This week, we had a super-fun discussion with professional ultrarunner Coree Woltering. We discussed his going from a middle-distance runner to an ultrarunner, his experience on Eco-Challenge Fiji, his FKT on the Ice Age Trail, his breaking the ultrarunner mold, and of course, his affinity for red velvet cupcakes.
This week, Swedish speed skating Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Nils van der Poel released a 62-page document that detailed his training approach leading up to the 2022 games. His approach, while traditional in many ways, included a lot of provocative and unique elements. While most of us cannot approach the awe-inspiring scale of his training, there are still aspects of his program that are worth consideration for those of us who are not world-class athletes.
This week, after catching up with each other and with the news in the running world, we discussed cold weather running. We discussed factors to keep in mind when you're running in the cold and what gear works best.
Since our last podcast, Michelle ran the Houston Marathon--where two new American records were set!--and George ran the difficult Mountain Mist 50K. We discussed our experiences at these race and also announced our new book of the quarter!
This week, we considered our Book of the Quarter for the last quarter of 2021: The Practice of Groundedness by Brad Stulberg. Stulberg argued that western culture inspires a destructive personality orientation that he called "heroic individualism." We considered the six practices that Stulberg recommended to combat heroic individualism and talked about their relevance to and feasibility in our lives. We each brought different things to this book, and we each got something different out of it.
This week, we looked back at 2021, including our favorite races, what we learned, and our goals and resolutions for next year. Happy New Year!
This week, we heard about Erik's race at the Beast of the East 50-miler (which was won by the incomparable Karl Meltzer) and Camille Herron's new American record in the 100 mile distance. We also reflected on our great interview with Pat Binienda, sharing our favorite pieces and biggest takeaways.
This week, for our 200th episode, we interviewed the man who talked Michelle into running her first marathon. Pat Binienda has been a runner for nearly fifty years--having run at least one marathon in each of those years--and recently ran across the United States. He shared the wisdom and insight he has gained over all those miles, and he offered advice for anyone who is intrigued by the prospect of a big challenge.
Wondering what to look for in a pair of off-road shoes? This week, Erik took a deep dive into what makes trail shoes different and special. In addition, we talked a bit about our Spotify year-in-review lists, our Turkey Trots, our Jingle Jogs, and a bit of research on the endurance benefits of bodyweight exercises.
This week, we spent a lot of time discussing the NCAA XC championship, but we also talked about some recent research on running uphill in super shoes, the new men's world best in the half-marathon, and Tommy "Rivs" Puzy.
There's always a lot of stories that come out the New York City Marathon, and 2021 was no different. We consider the performances of Molly Seidel, Ben True, Shalane Flanagan, Chelsea Clinton, Wrinkle the Duck, and others.
This week, we did a roundup of all the latest news, led by the amazing half-marathon run by Letesenbet Gidey. We also discussed the newly announced selection criteria for the Team USA World Championship Marathon team, Camille Herron's latest win, the upcoming NYC Marathon, and Atlanta Track Club's new sponsor.
This week, we heard a lot about Michelle's difficult experience at the Boston Marathon. She had a gutsy performance, but it wasn't what she hoped for. We also revealed our last Book of the Quarter for 2021!
Our old friend Justin Dugan came on the podcast to tell us about his experience at the 2021 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah. Hills? Check. Extreme weather? Check. Top-notch competition? Check.
This week, we shared our thought's on this season's Book of the Quarter: Rise of the Ultrarunners by Addie Finn. As usual, there were things we liked and things we didn't like, but overall, we are all happy to have read the book.
George and Erik discussed the challenges and highlights of the 2021 Blue Ridge Relay, and we got a brief update on Michelle's Boston training and our Book of the Quarter.
This week, we finally discussed one of the biggest stories of the summer for fans of American distance running: the positive doping test of American record-holder Shelby Houlihan. We also talked about recent running-related Covid developments. On a brighter note, though, we described the amazing ultrarunning feats of Aleksandr Sorokin and Courtney Dauwalter, and we considered Camille Herron's latest pursuit.
After a brief summer break, we took tonight's episode to catch up and talk about our favorite moments from the Olympic Games.
This week, we discussed the events that we're most excited to watch at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, now being held after a one-year postponement.
This week, we debriefed our interview with Grace Hall a bit, checked in on George's Berlin Marathon training now that the Zwift Duathlon League is behind him, and described the incredible exploits of Lachlan Morton in the "Alt Tour." We also named our next Book of the Quarter! Tune in next week for our Olympic Games preview!
Last month, 17-year-old Grace Hall become one of the youngest people ever to finish a 100-mile race. As it happens, she's the daughter of podcast regular Erik, so she joined us this week to tell us about her decision to do the race, her training, her nutrition, and the race itself.
This week, we reviewed our book of the quarter: "Bravey" by Alexi Pappas. In the book, Pappas--a Greek Olympian and filmmaker--describes the physical and mental challenges she has faced as an elite athlete and the survivor of depression. It's an important contribution to the ongoing conversation about athletes and mental health, but we had differing opinions of the book.
Justin Schmidt and Justin Dugan are back to talk about the 2021 Tour de France, which begins on June 26! The course, key stages, riders to watch, our theories about how the race will unfold, stage and podium predictions . . . it's all here just in time for the Grand Depart!
This week, we got to talk to triathlete Tiencia James. Tiencia recently qualified for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, and she told us about her path to qualification, her expectations for the race, and of course, her favorite workouts.
This week, we spoke with age group world record holder Betty Lindbergh. At age 96, Betty still competes at a variety of distances, and she offered us advice on how to endure for as long as she has.
We took a few minutes this week to record a special edition about Sifan Hassan's new WR in the 10,000m . . . that was then broken by Letsenbet Gidey two days later! We break down each race and talk a bit about what we hope to see if/when the two amazing runners square off in Tokyo this summer!
We had a lot to say this week about Colleen Quigley's new contract, Naomi Osaka's exit from the French Open, Hobbs Kessler's new HS 1500 record, Francine Niyonsaba's new 5K PR, and Erik's new favorite shoes!
This week, we debriefed our interview with Taggart VanEtten, we discussed the virtuosity of Simone Biles, and we celebrated the accomplishments of Hellah Sidibe and the Marietta High School XC teams. We also discussed (again) whether the Tokyo Olympics will be happening, and we recounted the tragedy at the Yellow River Stone Forest 100K in China this past weekend.
On May 1st, Taggart VanEtten ran 100 miles on the treadmill faster than anyone ever has. This week, we talked to Taggart about the race, his setup and nutrition, his background and training, and what's next on his calendar.
This week, we talked to professional runner Wilkerson Given. Wilkerson qualified for both the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, and he told us a bit about how he got where he is, the challenges he has faced along the way, and what it was like to be a professional athlete in 2020 when no races were happening. Wilkerson is also the co-owner of Stoke, a company that he founded with his friend James Perez that makes elite nut and seed butters.
We're all about the marathon this week, as we recount George's virtual Eugene Marathon, which he also used for the World Marathon Majors Global Challenge. (Spoiler alert: it went well!) We also discussed the gigantic margin that runners had to be under the qualifying standard in order to gain acceptance to the 2021 Boston Marathon, and we celebrate the fact that Michelle is one of those very runners!
This week, we had the opportunity to interview the Executive Director of the Atlanta Track Club, Rich Kenah. Rich is an accomplished runner--he won two World Championship bronze medals and was on the U.S. Olympic team in 2000--who came to Atlanta to lead the track club in 2014. We talked about the challenges he has faced, the changes he has made, and what the near future holds for ATC and its most famous race, the Peachtree Road Race.
This week, we focused on two races: Des Linden's world best in the 50K, and our own Erik Hall's win at the Southern Tour Ultra 50-miler!
This week, we talked about a wide variety of news items, including a recent OTQ from the Atlanta Track Club, the latest on Des Linden's 50K record attempt, Hellah Sidibe's run across the United States, our own launch of a Race Across America team, and a new race in Colorado that's on Michelle's radar. Erik tells us about his preparation to run a 50-miler this weekend, and we discuss a bit about whether we enjoy listening to music while running and why.
It's tech night on the Most Pleasant Exhaustion Podcast! Super shoes are here to stay, and the number of brands offering them continues to grow. This week, we talked about new offerings from Diadora, Asics, and Puma. We also announced our next Book of the Quarter!
This week, we reviewed our book of the quarter, "Running to the Edge" by Matthew Futterman. "Running to the Edge" is the story of Bob Larsen, who coached a ragtag group of runners to a U.S. cross-country championship in the 1970s, coached the UCLA track and cross-country teams through the 1980s and 1990s, and coached Meb Keflezighi for Meb's entire career. Despite our appreciation for Larsen and our enjoying Futterman's storytelling, we had mixed feelings about the book.
This week, we briefly looked back on the life of pioneer Dick Hoyt, who along with his son Rick paved the way for thousands of athletes with disabilities to compete in endurance events. We also talked about the updated registration procedures for the Boston Marathon and the Peachtree Road Race, and we discussed Des Linden's upcoming attempt on the 50K world record. And oh yeah: we discussed George's second impromptu marathon in as many weeks!
This week, we spent a lot of time deepening topics that we had previously discussed, like the Lake Biwa Marathon, Gwen Jorgensen's recent performances, the Virtual Boston, and Yuki Kawauchi's training. We also spent some time talking about the strategies you can and should use when you're using running power versus those that you use when you're using cycling power.
This week, we talked about George's last-minute decision to jump into the Atlanta Marathon and the BAA's decision to offer a virtual option for this October's Boston Marathon. In addition, we discussed Yuki Kawauchi's 101st sub-2:20 (and PR!) at the deepest marathon ever run. We wrap up by discussing the incredible Frederick Davis.
This week, we heard about Erik's major undertakings on the bike last week, George's completing a big goal, and Michelle's return to running after her post-race break. We also caught up on some of the results from the last week of pro racing, and we talked a bit about the Atlanta Marathon and Half-Marathon, happening this weekend.
In a solo effort this week, George talked about a few new rules that the UCI passed to start the 2021 cycling season, and he considered the research on Vitamin D supplementation.
This week, we unveil a new segment as Erik tells us about a recent trail run. We also talk about a lot of recent race results, Pam Reed's 100th 100-mile race, George's penchant for flagging people on Strava, and our takeaways from some of the stats in the 2020 Global Runner Survey.
This week, we talked about runners Keith Gill and Mariko Yugeta, and we discussed some recent research on the relative benefits of moderate endurance exercise versus high-intensity training. As we often do, we also circled back to several topics such as the new carbon-plated shoes from The North Face, George's ever-changing race schedule, power and running, our book of the quarter, and the common mistake that many endurance athletes make when left to their own devices.
This week, we touched a wide range of issues, including some interesting insights based on "big data" gathered from Strava, Michael Ortiz's completion of his "Game of Hundos," Jim Walmsley's attempt at the 100K world record, the jammed fall marathon schedule, and some new carbon-plated trail shoes.
This week, we picked up where we left off last week talking about running power, using Michelle's recent workout as an entry point. We also talked about whether George should race an ultra after a serious dog bite, the highlights of Strava's year-end data summary, and whether we think the Tokyo Olympics are going to happen this summer.
It's tech week on the podcast! This week, we talked about running power. Power has been an extremely useful and influential measurement in cycling, and there has consequently been an effort to create a metric for running that can do the same thing. Join us as we talk about what running power is, how it could be useful, how it's measured, and some of the flaws that we see in it.
This week, George, Michelle, and Erik discussed how they first got started in endurance sports, the hurdles they have faced along the way, and how they managed to get re-started when they got off track. We also announced the book that we're reading together for the first quarter, as well as a few other changes we're looking to make on the podcast in 2021.
This week, we present a massive year-end podcast that not only has all four podcast regulars--Michelle, Erik, Patrick, and George--but also several of the guests that we hosted on the podcast this year. We considered two questions: our favorite races of the year and our biggest takeaways from 2020. We had a fun and interesting conversation about where we are at the end of the unique and difficult year. Thanks for joining us in 2020, and we look forward to seeing you in 2021. Happy New Year!
In this week's episode, we talked a lot about The Marathon Project and a little bit about PTO Daytona. Both were unique races, and we may or may not get to see more of these sorts of races once the pandemic is done.
Race reports are a rarity in 2020, but this week, we were able to bring you one. Addie Wetzels, a first-time Ironman, competed in Ironman Cozumel in late November. We spoke with him a few days before he left for the race about his preparation for the race, and we caught up with him a few days after he finished to hear about how the race went.
Wondering what to get for the endurance athlete in your life? Erik, George, and Michelle have some gift ideas! This week, we offered a few general suggestions for those who are looking for something special during the upcoming holiday season.
This week is our first in a monthly series that we'll be doing on tech and gear for endurance athletes. Our resident guru is Erik Hall, who was originally with us back on Episode 127. This week, Erik addresses two burning questions: what was going on with Michelle's watch during her pacing that half-marathon last week, and what shoes should George wear for his trail 50K in January? Tune in this week--and in future episodes--to hear Erik talk about ephemeris data, which shoe he calls "The Tank," and more!
In this week's episode, we caught up on the latest ways that endurance athletes like us are finding ways to race, including a race report on Ironman Florida from Charlie "Sprinkles" Holder. We talked about the end of the cycling season, Tierney Wolfgram's new record, the Marathon Project, DesTober, and how this week's announcement about a potential Covid-19 vaccine is influencing our thinking about next year's events.
Given the attention that plant-based diets have received lately, George decided to go without animal products for five weeks in August and September. This week, we brought on vegetarian Kacie Darden and vegan Lauren Fogarty to talk about the reasons for going without animal products and the challenges that such a commitment presents.
This week, we were really excited to have Katie Arnold, author of Running Home, on the podcast to discuss her writing and running. If you've been reading the book over the past few weeks, you know that it's thoughtful and well-written, and we had a wide-ranging conversation with Katie about some of the big ideas. And of course, we asked her about her 2018 Leadville 100 win!
This week, we talked about Michelle's experience running the Virtual Boston Marathon, and George's experience with the 2020 Blue Ridge Relay! The lead-in, the weather, the performance, the aftermath . . . it's all here.
This week, we answered the questions that folks sent in. Need more details on Michelle's injury? On Patrick's base training? On why teams matter in the Tour de France? What an in-person race needs to do to be safe? Michelle's favorite workout? The difference between "old school coaches" and "new school coaches?" We get to all of that this week.
This week, Justin Schmidt and Justin Dugan joined us to talk about the Tour de France! We discussed the context in which the race is happening--almost two months later than usual!--the course, and the contenders.
This week, we talked about Joshua Cheptegei's new world record in the men's 5000m, some misleading headlines about gaiters, and a mind-blowing challenge taken on by Michael Ortiz that is nearing completion.
July saw an explosion of activity in the endurance sports world. There were virtual races, time-trials, Everesting, inter- and intrasquad meets, and more, and a lot of folks accomplished some really incredible things! We review our favorites this week, and we introduced our new book club book!
This week, Patrick, George, and Michelle discussed The Happy Runner by Megan and David Roche. We selected this book a couple of months ago with the help of our listeners, and we had a lot to say about it this week. Did you read it? If so, let us know what you thought! And let us know what you think of our thoughts!!
The head of Peak Racing, Tony Hammett, joined us this week to give us the race director's perspective on restarting the race season. Peak normally has fifteen races a year, and in 2020, they've only been able to have one. Tony shared with us his priorities and plans for the latter half of the year. We also discussed the big news out of New York and Berlin, and we talked a bit more about athletes taking on novel challenges like the hour record and Everesting.
The last couple of weeks have seen a return to racing, but events are definitely not what they were prior to COVID-19. This week, we talked about a few of those events, and guest Katie Bennett told us how things looked at a recent trail race. We also checked in on the book we're all reading--Happy Runner by Megan and David Roche--and talked a bit about vRAAM. Thanks for listening!
After Ahmaud Arbery was killed while running, many endurance athletes began to consider the privilege they have that affords them the ability to run without worrying about being shot. As our community wrestles with this issue, we brought Dr. Brandon Lewis on the podcast to talk a bit about what privilege is and how it works.
For this episode of the podcast, Michelle and George were joined by Dara Steele-Belkin and Eric Letbetter. All four of us were supposed to run the 2020 Boston Marathon, but each of us followed different paths to our race entry. Dara was poised to compete in her tenth straight Boston Marathon, and Eric was just preparing for his first. We discussed our feelings about the initial postponement of the race and its ultimate conversion into a virtual race. Thanks for listening, and thanks to our sponsors: ITL Coaching and Performance, Blue Pineapple Travel, and SlayRX!
This week, George was joined by experienced cyclists Chrissy Blaisdell Oyler and Ben Holliday to talk about a few of the different platforms athletes can use to train on the bike indoors. Over the last two months, the panelists rode on Rouvy, Zwift, TrainerRoad, Bkool, Sufferfest, and Fulgaz, and we offered here the strengths and weaknesses of each platform. We also discussed what you should take into consideration in determining which platform you want to try, and we reveal the apps that we plan to continue to subscribe to!
In this week's short podcast, we offer our thoughts on Part One of the new 30-For-30 documentary on Lance Armstrong, and we tell the story of Keegan Swenson--the pro mountain biker who went out and broke Phil Gaimon's Everesting record only four days after Gaimon set it. We also have an extended segment on what's bringing us joy with a special guest star: Candler Budd from Grab the Remote!
This week, we talked about the three different ways that Michelle, Patrick, and George are setting up their training right now. All three of us are accustomed to choosing a goal and building methodically to it, but without a clear picture of which races will be happening, we have been forced to rethink our approach. We each have our own strategies, and we discussed people in the news who are taking similar approaches. Also, we announced our first choice in the MPE Book Club!
For Episode 140 of the podcast, we caught up with one another a bit, then we talked about Ahmaud Arbery, a bit about The Impossible Games, a bit about the Atlanta Track Club director's reflections on the Olympic Marathon Trials, and a bit about VRAAM. (Yes, that's VIRTUAL Race Across America!) And of course, we talked about the things that are bringing us joy.
This week, we talked what we've been doing in lockdown, including Michelle's 10K time trial training, George's virtual bike races, and Patrick's steady mileage building. We also discussed some new research that shows that very short bursts of activity may counteract the drawbacks of sitting. Finally, for news, we talked about the popularity of virtual races right now, the Peachtree Road Race's new date, the insane pro cycling schedule that leaked last week, and World Athletics attempt to mitigate some of the financial hardship of their athletes. And of course, we talked about the things that are bringing us joy.
Episode 138 of the podcast is our first podcast on YouTube! This week, we talked what we've been doing in lockdown, including Michelle's 10K time trial training and George's indoor cycling. We also discussed a bit about how Zoom tires you out, and how endurance sports may look as we begin easing social restrictions. Finally, we talked about the things that are bringing us joy.
This week, we update you a bit on how we're doing amidst the changes in our lives right now, plus bring you another round of things that are making us happy.
For the second week in a row, we discuss some of the things that regularly bring us joy--old races, funny news, YouTube videos, podcasts, and even a Facebook group. Enjoy!
Amidst all of the things out there that are making us sad right now, we shared a few things that make us happy--a couple of books, some races from the past (that you can find on YouTube!), and even a video of a musical performance that you simply must watch.
Now that pretty much everyone has been relegated to base training, we talk a bit about what base training is and how the approach to it has changed over the last decade or so.
This week, we discussed the implications of the IOC's monumental decision to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics until at least 2021. In addition, we discussed a few of the ways that folks are staying fit and connected while safely social distancing and respecting COVID-19 quarantines.
This week, we added a bit to our Olympic Trials Marathon coverage, but we spent most of our time talking about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected endurance sports around the globe. Thanks for listening!
George describes his raceat the Los Angeles Marathon. He entered the LA Marathon at the last minute following the cancellation of the Tokyo Marathon. Notes on the course, the expo, and the overall experience are included!
This week, we discussed the incredible event that was the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials! We recap the race, we describe the feel of the event, and we ask a few important questions moving ahead!
This week, we spoke with Chuck Sims from Elemental Altitude. Last year, Chuck opened this cycling and running facility where athletes can train in conditions that simulate high altitude. This enables endurance athletes to get the same sort of physiological boost that athletes who train at high altitude get. Chuck talked to us about altitude training in general and about his facility.
This week, the whole crew interviewed Morgan VanGorder. Morgan is a graduate of the University of Georgia and a member of the Atlanta Track Club Elite team. At the 2019 Twin Cities Marathon, she qualified for the Olympic Trials Marathon here in Atlanta. It wasn't an easy road, though, and Morgan told us about her development as a runner, her goal-oriented approach, and the feeling of qualifying for the Olympic Trials.
This week, we talked to Erik Hall. Erik is a runner, coach, and GPS aficionado. As an engineer and an officer on a Navy submarine, Erik learned a great deal about the benefits and shortcomings of GPS, and he has brought this insight to his training and coaching.
To kick off our 2020 race reports, Patrick and George took the podcast on the road to Jekyll Island to run the inaugural Jekyll Island Half Marathon! Before the race, we described our goals and expectations for this tune-up race, and afterwards, we talked about how the race went for us.
This week, Michelle came on the podcast to offer her take on some of the biggest stories of the year: the demise of the NOP, the first sub-two-hour marathon, the rise of the next generation of great cyclists, and the amazing number of people who have qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta.
In Part One of our Year in Review podcast, Patrick and George looked back on 2019 using Strava's year-end report as an entry point. In 2019, Strava athletes uploaded more than 822 million activities, collectively covering more than 8 billion miles. All that training yielded a mountain of data that sheds light on different trends inside the endurance community.
This week, we're bringing you another of our race reports! We spoke with Kelly Kingsfield about a week before she left to compete in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, and we followed up with her about a week after she got back. In the pre-interview, she told us about her anxieties, goals, and the long path she took took to get to the starting line. In the post-interview, we got to hear whether the race met her expectations.
This week, Michelle, Patrick, and George were all in the studio to discuss Mary Cain's allegations the she was physically and psychologically abused by Alberto Salazar with the support of Nike during her time at the Nike Oregon Project. We considered the nature of the allegations, what this means for Nike, how this fits into the overall context of the sport, and where this leaves us as endurance athletes and consumers.
This week, we interviewed Prentiss Douglass! Over the last several months, Prentiss has been running every street in his hometown of San Francisco. Literally: he's traversing every single street inside the city limits on foot. He shared with us the logistical and physical hurdles that have accompanied this unique challenge, and he described the insights that he has gained about his city and his running as a result.
This week, Michelle Frank is back to discuss today's New York City Marathon, the recent retirement of Shalane Flanagan, and the renewed controversy surrounding Nike's Vaporfly and AlphaFly shoes.
This week, we talked to athlete and author Kate Edwards. When she was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, Kate was told that she cold no longer run, bike, and swim. We discussed what it was like to lose this big part of her life, how it influenced her interactions with patients at her physical therapy clinic, and how it led her to open Precision Performance & Physical Therapy.
We spoke to our new friend Robert Hudson in September about his ambitious goal at the Berlin Marathon. We soon heard that he had an even more ambitious goal: PR at Berlin, then run Chicago and New York only a few weeks later. We followed up with him the day after Chicago and found out that he did even better than expected!
This week, we talked to Blue Ridge Relay veteran Lee Ragsdale. Lee has run the 208-mile relay through Virginia and North Carolina several times, and he had a lot to offer about how to approach the logistics, how to train, and just why someone would want to do a major relay like this one.
What a weekend! We got to see someone run a sub-two-hour marathon for the first time on Saturday morning, and then we watched a new world record in the marathon be set on Sunday! We could not let the weekend end without putting out a few thoughts.
This week, Patrick, Michelle, and George are all here for an in-depth discussion of the four-year suspension given to Olympian and famed coach Alberto Salazar for doping violations.
This week, Michelle Frank came on the podcast to discuss a wide variety of endurance-related news, including the races at the Berlin Marathon, Boston Marathon qualification standards, the new 100-mile world record, our interview with Cat Bradley, and several other topics. Thanks for listening!
This week, we traveled to the SlayRX lab in west Atlanta to undergo testing. We each spent a hard hour in a hot and humid room, and afterwards, the team at SlayRX analyzed both the volume of our sweat and its electrolyte content. The results were interesting and very informative! We recorded the entire process and then we debriefed it afterwards, so you will get a clear sense of how the process works and what it means for hydrating in hot conditions.
This week, we had the opportunity to interview pro ultra-runner and 2017 Western States Endurance Run winner Cat Bradley! Cat had a lot of really interesting things to share about her experiences training and racing some of the biggest and baddest ultra races in the world. Thanks for listening!
This week, we talked to Stacy Perlis from Wahoo Fitness. Wahoo is an Atlanta-based company that has international reach; athletes like Jan Frodeno, Peter Sagan, Heather Jackson, Chris Froome, and Egan Bernal use their computers and indoor cycling hardware. Stacy told us about the latest things that Wahoo has been working on, including their recent acquisition of Sufferfest and the release of the KICKR BIKE. Thanks for listening!
Did you notice that we left off the outro at the end of our conversation with Katie Ferguson? Well, we did! But here it is. Thanks for listening!
This week, we had a great conversation with Katie Ferguson, an accomplished athlete and coach from Atlanta. She shared a lot of fresh and interesting perspectives on running, coaching, marriage, and motherhood.
Building off our podcast a few weeks ago on dealing with hot weather, we take a deep dive this week specifically into hydration and dehydration and their significance for endurance athletes.
In this installment, we talk about the Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta gaining Gold Level status, the retirement of Leo Manzano, Allyson Felix's new contract with Athleta, and research on what causes injuries and whether you should focus on intensity or duration.
Today, we talk a bit about what the research says about how best to acclimate or acclimatize to the heat before a big race. We also look into the research and Tour de France results of cycling teams who supplemented with ketone body drinks.
This week, we revisit a topic that we have discussed a couple of times before, but it bears repeating here in the middle of the summer. If you've been struggling through hot and difficult training sessions, listen to what we have to say about how to deal with the heat and humidity of summer.
This week, we interview Thomas Odom, the sixth-place finisher and first American at the 2019 Race Across America, and Jesse Turk, the crew chief for the team. Thomas and Jesse tell us all about the challenges that RAAM presented, how they prepared, and why they did it.
We couldn't let the whole race go by without an update, so today we have a mid-race check-in on the Tour de France. We also talk a bit about the new women's mile world record, courtesy of Sifan Hassan.
We have a new sponsor, and this week, we got to know them a lot better in this week's podcast! Kara, Harvey, Sri, and Chuck from SlayRX joined us to tell us about their unique hydration products. SlayRX hydration products come in a variety of electrolyte levels, and they even offer lab testing that will help you determine which product (and how much of it) is right for you!
This week, we talk about the 50th Peachtree Road Race, the start of the 2019 Tour de France, the recent change to Kona start times, the IAAF's recent report on running participation, and whether folks are qualifying for Boston under the new standards.
In which we reflect on our interviews with Ben Holliday and Alex Hutchinson, discuss RAAM, recall the life of Gabe Grunewald, and share research on using gelatin to promote tendon growth.
In this edition, we look back on our biggest takeaways from the research and conversations that we've had over the last few years during our first 100 podcasts. Thanks for listening!
In which we interview runner, author, and journalist Alex Hutchinson. Alex is a National Magazine Award winner, and his latest book, Endure, explores the role that the brain plays in elite performance.
In which we discuss training for and racing the Cruel Jewel 50-mile trail race--a race with 17,000 feet of climbing and descending that offers four UTMB points--with local endurance athlete Ben Holliday.
In which we talk about training and racing the 5K--including why long-course athletes would want to race a 5K--just in time for summer.
In which we discuss the case of Caster Semenya, Eliud Kipchoge's fall plans, the carbon plate arms race, and research about caffeine detoxing and the differing ways that swimming and running restructure the heart.
In which we talk to runner and triathlete Izumi Yamashita about her recent experience with the Boston to Big Sur Challenge, which involves running two well-known marathons on opposite coasts over the course of two weeks.
In which we talk about the impressive performances at the 2019 London Marathon, and we discuss one piece of recent research that suggests a new link between sitting and exercise and another piece of recent research that sheds light on the way that drivers see cyclists.
In which we recap the races at the 2019 Boston Marathon, share our takeaways, and tell a few of the human interest stories.
In which we discuss with Rachelle Kuramoto her expectations for the 2019 Boston Marathon a week before the start, and then follow up with her on how it went a week after the race.
In which we re-broadcast part of our Boston Marathon preview, describing our experiences with the race, the course, and some pointers on strategy.
In which we discuss a wide variety of topics, from Smartphone use and Women's Soccer to the latest on Kemoy Campbell and the new world record in the indoor mile. We also take a deep dive into what the new IAAF Olympic standards may mean for the Olympic Marathon in Tokyo.
In which we talk with Lauren Fogarty before she ran the Chattahoochee 5K about her goals and training, and then again after she ran to see how it went.
In which we talk to marathoner Smitha Barki about her goals, training, and expecations before she ran the Tokyo Marathon, then followed up with her after the marathon to hear how it went.
In which we discuss what the research says about how to get going if you've been feeling unmotivated.
In which we discuss recent news about a pub that rewards you for running miles, Zion Williamson and his shoes, Kemoy Campbell and his health insurance, Travis Kauffman and his mountain lion, Laura Muir and her shoes, and the prospect of a citizen participation marathon alongside the Olympic Marathon in Paris in 2024. We also discuss some research related to recovery and some other research on who benefits the most from increasing their efficiency.
In which we discuss news of the Hoka One One Carbon Rocket, the near-miss on the indoor mile world record, and the runner who turned the tables on an attacking mountain lion. We also talk a bit about some recent research on tongue strength and endurance. (Seriously.)
In which we interview Erin Wetty, who completed RunDisney's 2019 Dopey Challenge. Over the course of four days, Erin ran a 5K, a 10K, a half-marathon, and a marathon--a feat which was complicated by early-morning wake-ups and long days in the Disney parks after her races. Erin shares with us what motivated her to sign up, how she trained, and her strategy to finish.
In which we discuss the announcements of the London Marathon and Boston Marathon elite fields, recent compilations of the "fittest" and "most dominant" athletes of 2018, and research related to shoe selection and altitude acclimatization.
In which we give advice for people who either want to start an endurance training program or want to add intensity or volume to what they're already doing. This is the third in a three-part series wrapping up 2018 and starting 2019.
In which we talk about what makes a good resolution, and we share a few of our own for 2019.
In which we discuss some of the most memorable happenings in the endurance sports world in 2018.
In which we make a program note about our holiday break but still offer a small tidbit for our listeners about Christmas Creep.
In which we discuss our recent personal experience training for and racing marathons in our Nike Vaporfly 4% shoes, including whether we believe that the benefit of wearing the shoes was as great as the shoemakers claim.
In which we describe our recent experiences at the Philadelphia Marathon and California International Marathon.
In which we describe recent research related to the shape of the cycling peloton, the link between stride width and ITB syndrome, and the recent release of Strava's 2017 data.
In which we discuss recent news of the Ultraman World Championship, the NCAA XC Championship, the growing environmental movement in the endurance world, and the death of Paul Sherwen.
In which we discuss research related to tryptophan's effects and training your gut to handle more calories for long races. Happy Thanksgiving!
In which we discuss the incredible races at the recent New York City Marathon, and we add some extra tidbits on the new half-marathon world record, the NCAA XC Championship, and the upcoming Kona broadcast.
In which we discuss our favorite races and the races that we'd most like to do. Do you have races you'd add to the list? Let us know!
In which we discuss some more research on the differences between treadmills and overground running, and we describe what science shows happens when you think about your running form.
In which we review some of the happenings at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon and discuss some of the topics that have bounced around the running community this week as part of the buildup to the New York City Marathon.
In which we discuss some recent research on which changes to your sleep routine make the most difference and whether muscle activation is the same in treadmill and overground running. This week, we're separating our biweekly News and Research podcast into two separate podcasts--one out on Sunday and the other out on Thursday.
In which we discuss the results of the 2018 Chicago Marathon and the 2018 Ironman World Championship. Starting this week, we're splitting our News and Research podcast into two parts: News on Sunday and Research on Thursday.
In which we discuss the top ten errors that we see endurance athletes make year after year when it comes to training and racing.
In which we describe the sponsors, the course, the history, the qualifiers, and the contenders at this year's Ironman World Championship on the Big Island in Hawaii.
In which we discuss recent news related to the Chicago Marathon elite field, Ironman Chattanooga and North Carolina, Katelyn Tuohy's record XC 5K, the release of the Atlanta Marathon course, and the new Boston Marathon qualifying standards. We also consider research on ankle strength and HR data.
In which we discuss our recent interview with Haley Chura, more on Eliud Kipchoge, the women's race in Berlin, the Vuelta a Espana, and recent research related to sleep and weight training.
In which we discuss our initial thoughts about Eliud Kipchoge's record-setting 2:01:39 marathon in Berlin on Sunday, 9/16.
In which we interview professional triathlete Haley Chura. After helping the UGA swim team win a national title, and after twice qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the backstroke, Haley turned her eyes to triathlon. She competed as an amateur until 2012. She began winning professional races in 2013, but she was sidelined by a car in 2015. She's come on strong in the last two years, though, and we talked a lot about her professional sporting career, her pivotal crash, and equity for women in professional triathlon.
In which we discuss the recent announcement of the NYCM elite fields and the establishment of the Reebok Track Club. We also consider some research about the BMI of swimmers versus the BMI of runners, and the possible link between emotional intelligence and race performance.
In which we interview professional runner Brandon Hudgins. Brandon was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called vasculitis in 2008. After several rounds of treatment, he broke 4:00 in the mile in 2015, and he qualified for the Olympic Trials in 2016. He described for us his time in the sport, his struggle with the disease, and his outlook on life.
In which we describe the various reasons that people competing in marathons, half-marathons, Iron-distance, and half-Iron-distance triathlons still need to do a lot of training at faster paces than they plan to use in their races.
In which we discuss recent news about rising track star Jakob Ingbritsen and biomechanical data released by the IAAF collected at the 2017 World Championships in London. We also discuss the process and research of "fasted" workouts.
This is the updated version of our interview with Tes Sobomehin Marshall, the founder of Runningnerds. We have corrected the audio issues of the original release. Runningnerds is a race management company in Atlanta that aims to create unique races--such as the Monday Night Brewing 10-Miler and the Atlanta 20K Relay--that attract diverse crowds and offer a festive, supportive atmosphere. She had a lot to tell us about her own development as a runner, how she became a race director, and what she has learned from directing.
In which we revisit some research on the brain's chemical reaction to mental fatigue, we discuss other research on the link between poor sleep habits and dementia, and we review news about the Tour de France, the recent AR and WR in the women's steeplechase, and a recent piece by the New York Times on the impact of Nike's Vaporfly 4%.
In which we have a conversation with Dr. Carrie Smith about the methods she uses as a physical therapist, including mindfulness and craniosacral therapy. There's a discount code in the last several minutes!
In which two endurance athletes describe the benefits of strength training for runners, cyclists, and triathletes.
In which we discuss the results of the Peachtree Road Race (with a special guest appearance from Michelle Frank!), the start of the Tour de France, the death of Donald Ritchie, and some research related to the brain, endurance, mental health, and injury.
In which we talk about the upcoming Peachtree Road Race, the Western States 100, and a bit about several other topics!
Tina Tait dreamed of being a runner, but she was overweight and out-of-shape. After Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery, she lost 130 pounds and started running. In the process, she joined a community that would support her through several half-marathons, two marathons, and the death of her husband. She gave back by designing the 2015 Peachtree Road Race t-shirt, and she continues to pay it forward by volunteer-coaching with the Atlanta Track Club.
After the UGA Bulldogs finished first and second at the NCAA Track Championship last weekend, we reached out to Dr. Josh Glass, the team chiropractor, to get the inside scoop on how it went down.
In which we discuss a lot of recent news, including the exploits of high schoolers Reed Brown and Caitlin Collier, Chris Froome at the Giro d'Italia, and Sara Hall's recent breakthrough at the Ottawa Marathon. We also discuss new research on the "marshmallow test" and the breakdown between coaches' instructions and athletes' actions. There were also a few digressions.
In which we discuss news about the Peachtree Road Race, news about the USA Half Marathon Championship, news about WTC's acquisition of Ultra-Trail Australia, research about deception and pacing in triathlon, and research about the impact of social support on endurance athletes.
In which we debrief our interview with Nicole, discuss research related to training and the immune system, talk over research related to training and aging, and consider news about the Giro d'Italia, Asbel Kiprop, Jenny Simpson, Galen Rupp, Ironman Texas, prize money at the Boston Marathon, and the new IAAF testosterone rules.
In which we talk to Nicole DiMercurio--professional runner, University of Georgia alumna, and sixth-place finisher at the 2018 Boston Marathon.
In which we discuss the recent London Marathon, the Olympic Trials coming to Atlanta, Yuki Kawauchi's announcement that he's going pro, and some research related to kids' endurance and the inertia of inactivity.
In which we discuss the 2018 running of the Boston Marathon. Patrick reflects on his fifth Boston finish in epic weather conditions along with Lauren, who finished her first Boston Marathon this year. There are important takeaways for anyone who is focused on a big goal.
In which we discuss a great deal of research on hydration, including the most hydrating drinks, hyponatremia, the link between brain function and hydration, absorption rates, and the profiles of major sports drinks.
In which we discuss the recent Half Marathon World Championships, Calum Neff's return, some recent research on de-training and de-conditioning, and some recent research on nutritional timing, metabolic rates, and recovery.
In which we discuss the upcoming Boston Marathon--strategy, history, the course, the weather, and pace considerations.
In which we discuss the start of the racing season, the recent Publix Georgia Marathon and Half-Marathon, some new research about the varying effect of caffeine on endurance performance, and the alarming correlation between the use of smartphones and pedestrian deaths in the United States.
In which we discuss all of the big things you need to consider when planning and preparing for your big race. We discuss the fundamentals of logistics, gear, nutrition, and strategy.
In which we discuss research on VO2 max training, research on the link between diet and depression, whether Atlanta will get the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, and the lives of Dave Martin and Roger Bannister,
In which we have a wide-ranging conversation with chiropractor Josh Glass. We talk about his work with Olympic track and field teams, his work with college track teams, and about how everyday endurance athletes can benefit from chiropractic care.
In which we discuss recent news related to the Winter Games, Olympian Gwen Jorgensen, twin runners Jake and Zane Robertson, and an attempt to become the "world's heaviest marathoner," and research related to fueling for long events and the importance of sleep. Thanks for listening!
In which we describe the fundamental training principles that we employ when crafting training schedules--including our own!
In which we talk about recent news and research. We also go back over a few things from our interview with Peter Rea.
In which we talk with Peter Rea, head coach at ZAP Fitness in Blowing Rock, NC, about ZAP's mission and training.
In which we discuss the different systems that endurance athletes must train to reach peak performance.
In which we discuss some recent news and research, and then we describe periodization, a core principle of endurance training.
In which we discuss what Eddie has learned from running 30+ marathons and 50+ half-marathons, including every Run Disney race in the U.S.
In which Patrick Ollinger and I discuss our takeaways from our performances at the 2017 Chicago Marathon.
In which we respond to listener questions and comments from Episode 25 about why you'll run faster in your target race than you think.
In which we describe the main reasons that your target race will be faster than you might think.
In which we pick up on our conversation last week about technology by taking another look at Strava and a longer look at TrainerRoad. Plus, we talk a bit about Sub-2 tech and motivational music. And a little about treadmills. And blood volume. There may be a digression.
In which we catch up on some news and talk about some research on low-tech and high-tech stuff!
In which we describe the first lesson from the life of Ed Whitlock--the benefits of high-intensity interval training.
In which we answer a few additional questions about the NYCM, strides after long runs, and the greatest races of 2016!
In which I describe my experience training for and running the 2016 New York City Marathon.
In which we discuss a few things to keep in mind when you're making your New Years resolutions.
In which we discuss a few stories that arose from the Olympic Games in Rio, including the success of the U.S. Women's team vs. the way that we talk about women in sport, the 800m runner Caster Semanya, and the marathoner Feyisa Lelisa.
In which we discuss the false dichotomy of "fast vs. slow" and the things that all athletes, regardless of how they classify themselves, can do to improve their experience in endurance sports.
In which we look at what research says about standing and standing desks, commuting, circadian rhythms, and impact loads while running. The issue with the intro music is now fixed!
In which we look at what research says about standing and standing desks, commuting, circadian rhythms, and impact loads while running.
In which we discuss the inaugural Star Wars Dark Side 10K and Half Marathon at Disney World with show sponsor Kacie Darden!
In which we discuss the impact of Title IX on women's sports participation, the impact of sports participation on women, the research about women and men in endurance sports, the untold story of Roberta Gibb, and the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team's lawsuit.
In which we update you on the Kyle Pease Foundation, on an email from Wil Cramer from West Stride, on some tips from Stacy Perlis of Wahoo, on my injury and ESWT recovery, on the World Half Marathon Champs, and on the new book about Emil Zatopek.
In which we interview Kyle Pease about spreading the benefits of endurance sports more broadly.
In which we interview Brent Pease and Paul Linck about the great things they have done for physically challenged athletes with the Kyle Pease Foundation.
In which we interview Stacy Perlis from Wahoo Fitness about Wahoo products, the indoor cycling movement, and data-driven training.
Part One of a two-part series on fatigue. Here we talk about recent research related to fatigue, particularly with regards to fatigue and the brain.
In which we talk about Extra-corporeal Shock Wave Therapy and the psychology of injured athletes.