trail and ultra running does take time to figure out and runners over 30 often do well in those events.
So it makes sense that a former 30 flat 10k runner would become a really good ultra runner.
What doesn’t make sense is him suddenly pretending at 36 that he’s a sub 4 miler and sub 28 10k runner
Nothing makes sense here. This is all some youtube theatre for the unwashed masses. Science and speed is all overrated when it comes to ultras. But we will see this year when he has to run the blazing hot canyons at Western State.
Money. The more attention he gets the more advertising money and paying athletes he gets
You can tell someone’s performance potential by looking at their stride on a YouTube video? You should definitely have a career in gait analysis!! Amazing!!!
Haha! I have that gene too. 23andMe said for me to just watch how much iron I consume as a supplement. Maybe I should try the rest of his supplementing regime to see if I too can have such a breakthrough. Or maybe I can ask his wife for albuterol? Kidding. Kidding. I don’t want Roche fans to get their panties in a bunch.
That’s cool. Not hating on having a genetic gift but it’s just funny to me how much credit he gives to ketones and other unproven methods when it turns out he has a superior ability to store iron and transport oxygen. Of course living at altitude, supplementing iron, heat training as well as dedicating every waking moment to yourself will also help a bit…
And to add, they not that transparent on the supplement or nutrition regime, so don't waste your time listening to their podcast for that information. They've danced around the subject on their podcast but it's never very specific. They certainly like to push ketones, precision products, and beta fuel gels. I will say that David reviewed different protein powders and turned me on to Vega products, which is working well for me.
Why didn't this help him for the first 10+ years of his running career? Does it only kick in when your hit 36?
It did help him…to be in about 30 flat 10k shape.
trail and ultra running does take time to figure out and runners over 30 often do well in those events.
So it makes sense that a former 30 flat 10k runner would become a really good ultra runner.
What doesn’t make sense is him suddenly pretending at 36 that he’s a sub 4 miler and sub 28 10k runner
Except he also never ran a "30 flat 10km". As others have posted his only legit measured 10km time was actually more like 31:30. Let's not be like David and start extrapolating to much faster performances then actual measured race distances in real competition have shown!
Bros, chill with the pile on. All I wanted to say was that I didn't think he was in sub-4 minute mile shape based on his workouts and stride, and that he should stop claiming that he was. We don't need to eat his first born child.
Bros, chill with the pile on. All I wanted to say was that I didn't think he was in sub-4 minute mile shape based on his workouts and stride, and that he should stop claiming that he was. We don't need to eat his first born child.
With as much time as they put into David’s own training and content creation, they couldn’t possibly have enough time to coach a big roster. And I would never want to sign up with a coach who was so active in their own athletic endeavors because they will always put themselves first.
Now that Megan is back to training, she is going to try to be the female David. So their poor athletes will get the short end of the stick (most of them likely already are).
I’m not saying you can’t be an athlete and a coach. But the amount of time they spend training, producing their podcast, and on social media takes up A LOT of time. And they have two kids. So…to be adequate coaches, they really couldn’t handle many between them. Priorities. Do you want to be a coach? Or do you want to be an athlete with a side gig? With as many athletes as it seems they have, they must not be individualizing or giving proper attention to all, or they’ve hired outside help that they haven’t told their clients about.
In the longest running segment of that video he runs 64m downhill in 11 seconds - being very charitable with all measurements. That's 4:37 pace, which to my eye looks about right. The captions says he's running 3:52 pace.
The strava data shows a peak of 3:52 pace. Looks like he did about a 20s kick that averaged around 4:00-4:05 pace with a 3:52 peak for 3s. But of course gps data can’t be trusted in this situation to be really accurate. But I don’t think it’s dishonest for him to caption 3:52 when that’s what the data says.
In the longest running segment of that video he runs 64m downhill in 11 seconds - being very charitable with all measurements. That's 4:37 pace, which to my eye looks about right. The captions says he's running 3:52 pace.
The strava data shows a peak of 3:52 pace. Looks like he did about a 20s kick that averaged around 4:00-4:05 pace with a 3:52 peak for 3s. But of course gps data can’t be trusted in this situation to be really accurate. But I don’t think it’s dishonest for him to caption 3:52 when that’s what the data says.
3:52 pace is a 29 second 200m. So at the end of his 20 second kick, he was running 29 second pace.
This is what so-called running influencers do. Look at Spencer Brown's recent Strava post. He says that he sprinted at 3:24 pace (I'm guessing he meant 1500m, not mil). That's, what, 26-27 second 200 meter pace? Not outlandishly fast for a well-trained middle distance athlete, but "3:24 pace" sounds much better
The strava data shows a peak of 3:52 pace. Looks like he did about a 20s kick that averaged around 4:00-4:05 pace with a 3:52 peak for 3s. But of course gps data can’t be trusted in this situation to be really accurate. But I don’t think it’s dishonest for him to caption 3:52 when that’s what the data says.
3:52 pace is a 29 second 200m. So at the end of his 20 second kick, he was running 29 second pace.
This is what so-called running influencers do. Look at Spencer Brown's recent Strava post. He says that he sprinted at 3:24 pace (I'm guessing he meant 1500m, not mil). That's, what, 26-27 second 200 meter pace? Not outlandishly fast for a well-trained middle distance athlete, but "3:24 pace" sounds much better
Spencer is actually a legit sub 4:00 miler though with a bunch of proven track times and performance results. If he says he’s “in sub 4-min Mile shape” he can actually back that up with legit track splits.
3:52 pace is a 29 second 200m. So at the end of his 20 second kick, he was running 29 second pace.
This is what so-called running influencers do. Look at Spencer Brown's recent Strava post. He says that he sprinted at 3:24 pace (I'm guessing he meant 1500m, not mil). That's, what, 26-27 second 200 meter pace? Not outlandishly fast for a well-trained middle distance athlete, but "3:24 pace" sounds much better
Spencer is actually a legit sub 4:00 miler though with a bunch of proven track times and performance results. If he says he’s “in sub 4-min Mile shape” he can actually back that up with legit track splits.
How many track races has David Roche done?
I'm not saying David is sub 4 or even close--if you look in this thread you'll see that I say that quite a bit.
My point is to show how this is a trend among running influences. Yes, it was probably true that David was running "3:52 mile pace"...at the very end of a 20 second kick. Most runners who can run 4:30 in the mile can run a 29 second 200. But the average dumb runner--which is who he is catering to--doesn't know that. They just see "3:52 mile pace" and think "Wow he can run a 3:52 mile! huzzah amazeballs!"
With as much time as they put into David’s own training and content creation, they couldn’t possibly have enough time to coach a big roster. And I would never want to sign up with a coach who was so active in their own athletic endeavors because they will always put themselves first.
Now that Megan is back to training, she is going to try to be the female David. So their poor athletes will get the short end of the stick (most of them likely already are).
I’m not saying you can’t be an athlete and a coach. But the amount of time they spend training, producing their podcast, and on social media takes up A LOT of time. And they have two kids. So…to be adequate coaches, they really couldn’t handle many between them. Priorities. Do you want to be a coach? Or do you want to be an athlete with a side gig? With as many athletes as it seems they have, they must not be individualizing or giving proper attention to all, or they’ve hired outside help that they haven’t told their clients about.
It would be easy to hire an outsider to post comments like "Amazeballs" and "Awesomesauce" every couple of days on all the training plans as their feedback on a cookie cutter template of training ---or if they are strapped on time they could do that themselves probs
I'm not saying David is sub 4 or even close--if you look in this thread you'll see that I say that quite a bit.
My point is to show how this is a trend among running influences. Yes, it was probably true that David was running "3:52 mile pace"...at the very end of a 20 second kick. Most runners who can run 4:30 in the mile can run a 29 second 200. But the average dumb runner--which is who he is catering to--doesn't know that. They just see "3:52 mile pace" and think "Wow he can run a 3:52 mile! huzzah amazeballs!"
Mile pace is more relatable to the audience than 200 pace, particularly for those who have never raced on the track. Even those of us who ran track can relate to mile relay/4x400 times. I remember the first GPS watch that I tried was my brother's Forerunner 305 in 2006ish during a family get together in Hawaii. I sprinted down a road at 3:35/mile pace and that was fun, particularly since I have never raced a distance or have a PB for a distance shorter than 1500m in my life.
Classic example of David’s propensity to lie is in the latest SWAP podcast he talks about being voted #2 ultra runner of the year, with Hayden Hawks #1. David says he agrees with the voting and that he, in fact, voted for Hayden. He has to abruptly stop and add “Well, I don’t have a vote. But in my mind I voted for Hayden.”
When someone’s knee jerk reaction is to lie, even if it’s a small lie, it makes you wonder what else they’re not being truthful about.
Classic example of David’s propensity to lie is in the latest SWAP podcast he talks about being voted #2 ultra runner of the year, with Hayden Hawks #1. David says he agrees with the voting and that he, in fact, voted for Hayden. He has to abruptly stop and add “Well, I don’t have a vote. But in my mind I voted for Hayden.”
When someone’s knee jerk reaction is to lie, even if it’s a small lie, it makes you wonder what else they’re not being truthful about.
Ha this was on a patreon only podcast though which means you still pay him every month for his knowledge
Classic example of David’s propensity to lie is in the latest SWAP podcast he talks about being voted #2 ultra runner of the year, with Hayden Hawks #1. David says he agrees with the voting and that he, in fact, voted for Hayden. He has to abruptly stop and add “Well, I don’t have a vote. But in my mind I voted for Hayden.”
When someone’s knee jerk reaction is to lie, even if it’s a small lie, it makes you wonder what else they’re not being truthful about.
** this **
Also, imo it's worth $5/month to hate listen and find more fodder to expose the charlatan he is.
So, David, if you see this - you've said it before that the haters aren't on Patreon. Perhaps some are.
David Roche is a straight beast. Knowledgable, intelligent wife and fast runner. He’s got pubes for hair but look at all he’s accomplished compared to letsrun weirdos.
I noticed that too Podblaster, he went on and on about it, comparing baseball stats and all this other stupid sh!t when he could have just said “hey thanks guys!” and moved on… the guy feeds off of approval from others which is so obvious it’s sad.
This post was edited 3 minutes after it was posted.