Podcast: Boston Marathon, Super Shoes, Ultra-Processed Foods, Trail Recipe

Brady Holmer talks Boston, Dr. Mike Roussell dishes on the science of food, and I reveal my (ridiculous) go-to hiking food.

The 130th Boston Marathon happens this Monday.

And so, on today’s podcast, we’re talking about the race, endurance training, and fueling for endurance exercise.

First, I spoke with the great Brady Holmer of the excellent Physiologically Speaking Substack. Brady ran Boston last year. We walked through the marathon, why it’s so legendary, how Brady trained for it, what running Boston is actually like (surprisingly hellish, for reasons that have nothing to do with running!), and how the sport of running is changing (influencers, super shoes, etc).

Then I talked to Mike Roussell, PhD, an old friend, about the downsides and upsides of ultraprocessed/junk foods. Mike is one of the world’s top nutritionists. He’s worked with professional athletes, Fortune-100 tech execs, and everyday people. He knows what works for real people in the real world, no matter their goals. He takes a nuanced view on ultraprocessed foods and can help us learn when they can be useful.

We end the episode in the Two Percent kitchen, where I gave the horrid details of a food I eat every night during long stints in the wilderness. It’s godawful in real life, but delicious endurance magic in the wilderness.

Video version

Audio version

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Show notes

• Brady Holmer’s Physiologically Speaking Substack, which you should subscribe to.

• Boston Marathon qualifying times.

• Nike Vaporly Supershoe.

• Mike Roussell’s 30-day Minimally Processed Food Challenge. It’s free and effective.

• Mike Roussell, PhD’s Dad Bod Rebuilt Substack, which sends research-backed and highly useful nutrition info weekly.

• Kevin Hall’s ultraprocessed food study.

• Ultraprocessed foods: A narrative review of the literature.

• More info about the Tsimane tribe, who don’t eat ultraprocessed food and have the healthiest hearts ever recorded.

• Nurri Protein Shakes, Mike’s go-to ultraprocessed food. Note: These are significantly cheaper if you buy them at an actual Costco warehouse. Costco inflates online prices to account for shipping, etc.

Have fun, don’t die, listen to Two Percent.

-Michael

P.S. If you want a transcript, check your podcast player of choice.