why does David Roche keep banging on about being in sub-4 at altitude shape?

The Human Performance Outliers podcast was really great, as they touched upon the issue of ped usage in ultras AS WELL AS injuries in WS. David's name didn't come up.

Just wondering, is David in some sort of protected state? What kinda leverage does he have over the powers that be? He just has inherited wealth and thus "don't F- with me" control or somethin'?

Also no way did he say he's an elite technical trail master. I don't think I've seen him on a trail over here in the People's Republic. Count me in the group that sees his track workouts and his treadmill workouts and goes, "yup, makes sense he decided to sign up for Leadville, the road run-iest trail run to ever road run"

You want no secrets? If David ate half of what he says he does at his age, he would be over his ideal racing weight in no time. He knows this, but he still preaches burgers, fries, Chick-Fil-A and ice cream to the average runner who has no business consuming that junk on a regular basis. But it's all love and inclusion, right? All it takes is one look at the dude to know he's either (a) counting calories (or at the very least tracking macros) or (b) grossly misrepresenting the amount of work he's doing on a weekly basis.

Boulder Boys brought up the exact same thing on their podcast with Finn Melanson. I think it was Adam who asked "Why is David Roche protected?" It is pretty bizarre how little criticism the guy gets. Any negative feedback is scrubbed from social media, and I'm sure David was the driving force behind this thread getting axed/locked/restricted. I find it hilarious that he knows exactly how long this thread is, yet supposedly he's never read it.

It feels weird to criticize a guy who is all about “love and positivity and inclusion and unicorns” because it sounds like a douchey thing to do. But in reality, fooling a bunch of gullible people to buy your products and worship you is the douchey thing to do.

"love and positivity and inclusion and unicorns" is just marketing.

wait.

I'm not supposed to be eating burgers and fries?

Or ICE CREAM? I thought this was America.

That sounds like a Zoe Rom (sp?) thing lol.

Why does this thread have 2000 some comment????

Kilian Jornet just put the mediocrity of David's recent workouts into perspective:

strava.app.link

Morning Trail Run | Strava

View Kilian Jornet Burgada's trailrun on June 13, 2025 | Strava

Link:strava.app.link/5o4fP8braUb

A single mile over a 7 minute grade adjusted pace and that was the one with descent over 700 feet. I don't think Roche stands a chance against this guy.

And he didn’t even tag it as a breakthrough run. Shame.

I’ve been at least relatively silent on this dude.
Just watched his quad rock 50 video. I’ll give it to him.. if he’s not doped to the gills, he is fit af. This is going to be an awesome WSER.

People keep posting these killer workouts, but doesn't Killian do most of his training at very low intensity? Perhaps the answer is that both are true?

Today David did a "Zone 2 flow run" or whatever that means: 5:41/mile pace average for 8-miles on the roads around his house in Boulder. Looks like the film crew was out to document this monumental workout and new breakthrough!

Total elapsed time was a bit longer than run time so really closer to 5:47/mile average. But not bad for "Zone 2"!

As the great Roche writes on his Strava:

"The data says: BELIEVE 🙌
Z2 flow run in the neighborhood, ahead of where I was before Leadville and Javelina by a few percent. As long as my ankle survives, this is going to be incredibly fun. The llamas were out walking! The Season Finale of Road To Western States is at noon MT today 🧡"!!!!!!!

The guy is insufferable imo.

Totally insufferable. At least he is logging his runs with his Garmin now rather than trying to juice his pace further with the Strava app. I don't know in what world this guy thinks 5:40 at altitude is his Zone 2 but whatever David.

Put up or shut up time.

Frankly I'm hoping David doesn't hog too much of the spotlight of the other, younger (more hunger, more interesting) runners.

As well as Killian giving an absolute masterclass out there, with his trademark authenticate friendliness, charity, and, easy-going.

I miss WS where it was between the guy who lives in the hippy town in the mountains, the guy that lives in his van below the hippy town in the mountains, the grumpy guy that lives north of the guy who lives in the van, the sorta-kinda IPOS local, and the Euro hot sh!t. Now we get unicorn barf.

Ah, he has learned much from the wise and powerful Serious Runner. Always plant excuses in advance. If he falls behind at 100k, he can safely DNF without fear of embarrassment because of that darn ankle.

As a lawyer David has mastered the art of double-speak and plausible deniability in all facets of his fake public persona. He has the ankle and the knee to fall back on, plus all the times he has snuck in “I don’t really have a chance at winning” after 10 minute monologues of how “elite and world class” he is. The fact that his fan base falls for all this garbage is kinda mind blowing. The irony is when he DNF’s he’ll probably get even more rainbow hugs and heart rocks than ever before!!!!!!

So that would be Joe Grant, Anton, Speedgoat? (I guess AK is north of everything so could be Geoff), Hal, Killian. I'm down.

Geoff was living part-time in Ned, Anton, Nick Clark, and what's-his-name with that chisled jawline mmmmhmm.