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

No way, everyone thinks ROCHE ROCKS!!! Huzzah! Reckon Amaze Balls!

My input is that he posts himself doing strides on IG, and if you've been around running long enough and can tell how efficiently (or not...) people move (particularly mid distance types), those are the strides of a 2:00/4:30 800/mile guy lol, not a sub-4 miler.

Amazing athlete. Crazy Leadville accomplishment. But don't act like you have the chops of a sub4 miler as well...you don't. Different animals.

Agreed

Gotta get that rizz on social media

In what world is that a “very controlled” session for him?

I see that it’s a manual upload and done in the treadmill. How convenient. He doesn’t lie about anything else, so I’m sure that he isn’t lying about this “very controlled” workout.

They have a NordicTrack X22i, which sends data directly to Strava, and they just got the new Wahoo treadmill, which also connects to Strava. BUT he opts to use his watch data, which is very unreliable when on a treadmill. Similarly, why did he alway manually enter his 20% grade runs at 8.5mph?? If he did that, he could just let the treadmill upload.

He and his wife cheat on Zwift, too. It’s not just that she says she’s 110 lb and that he’s 134lb. The power data is unusual. So if they are willing to do it there, they are willing to push it in other areas.

All in all, they are good enough athletes. They don’t need to lie. But I think they are now addicted to the dopamine hits from people telling them they’re the most amazing athletes. Good is not good enough. David now has to be pro peloton quality. Megan has to rush a return from a c section, when they say to wait at least 6 weeks to ensure proper healing. She’s a doctor though, so I guess she knows best!

Exactly. On a treadmill and we’re just supposed to take his word on those splits. Stinks to high heaven

There’s a massive inferiority and insecurity complex among the ultra world… Walmsley and Hawks and Schide and Courtney not part of that. There’s a great core group that don’t complain, don’t over-inflate. Look, Andy Wacker just placed 4th at the diluted USA XC Champs, but dude lined up and dropped a 30-min 10km.

Absolutely nailed it. Mic drop.

She props him up, which is good and what a spouse should do. But they also feed off eachother with the outrageous toxic positivity and refusal to accept any criticism. Reminds me of another certain runfluencer couple. I would subscribe and donate to see a double race / date video with swap and dgr

Also, to Robbe and everyone else at BITR if you read this:

robbereddinger.substack.com

Authenticity is Gold Currency– And REI Just Abandoned It

Robbe Reddinger

A canary in the coal mine of profit over people

Link:robbereddinger.substack.com/p/authenti...

You should stop spending so much time jerking yourselves off and more time running, listening to meg, and letting her run things in general. Robbe and Thomas are clowns and cheats, charlatans at the highest level. Run for your life Meg!

Another thing I noticed is that 75 to 80% of the podcast is them talking about how great David is. Whilst it does have some useful discussion, without all of the self-talk, it would be more like 25 to 30 minutes than the 1.5 hours it usually is.

Like with all of the 'ultra runner of the year' talk - who really cares about that stuff? I guess it helps them make money. Funnily enough most of the best coaches are not the best athletes, but they seem to market themselves based on the success of the coach.

He probably means sub 4 for 1500

I actually used to really like their podcast when it first came out. It was a bit quirky but it was much shorter and much more focused on training theory. Maybe two years ago or so, there was a shift. The podcast became the David Roche Show. All of the runners that I know in my area, who all used to listen the podcast, have stopped listening. Nobody can take it anymore. We don’t want to hear David go on and on about himself. Megan can barely get a word in.

I have no issue with him as a runner. He’s extremely talented even though his training is not original like he says it is. He exaggerates as an influencer as par the course for them. However, I would seriously doubt him as a coach. It isn’t talked about but a bunch of runners dropped him in 2024. I can list at least 10 very talented trail runners who stagnated with SWAP in the past and dropped them. I’m not saying it’s all up to the coach but something I noticed. Two other areas I wouldn’t trust him either: strength training and nutrition.

Who dropped him?