The Endurance Lab

Jusman So

The Endurance Lab Podcast is a long-form conversation series exploring training, nutrition, performance, recovery, and endurance sport through the lens of long-term health and longevity. Designed for midlife runners and endurance athletes who care about improving performance without sacrificing long-term well-being, each episode features thoughtful, evidence-based conversations with experts across endurance sport, including researchers, coaches, and specialists in specific areas of performance, alongside midlife athletes who’ve achieved meaningful performance breakthroughs later in life.

  1. Tim Noakes: I Was Wrong About Carbs! 120g/hr Breaks World Records

    2 DAYS AGO

    Tim Noakes: I Was Wrong About Carbs! 120g/hr Breaks World Records

    In this episode we cover what his new paper actually claims about muscle glycogen versus blood glucose, why he now believes 120 grams of carbs per hour works — and why the mechanism is not what anyone thought, the difference between fueling your metabolism and stimulating your brain, why recreational runners may be unknowingly developing pre-diabetes, the central governor theory updated, and his single most important training recommendation for every endurance athlete. Prof. Tim Noakes is a South African sports scientist, physician, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Cape Town. He is the author of the landmark book Lore of Running, one of the most comprehensive references in endurance sport ever written. He ran the Comrades Marathon nine times. He pioneered research on hyponatremia in endurance athletes that has saved lives worldwide. He developed the Central Governor Theory of fatigue. And he has spent decades challenging mainstream thinking on carbohydrates, muscle glycogen, and what actually limits human performance. Professor Tim Noakes has spent nearly 50 years studying endurance performance. He helped build the science of carbohydrate loading. He championed low carb for athletes. And in this conversation, he changed his mind — live — about something he had argued against for years. This is one of the most scientifically dense and genuinely surprising conversations in the history of this podcast. The carbohydrate paper: "Carbohydrate Ingestion on Exercise Metabolism and Physical Performance" by Prof. Tim Noakes and colleagues https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/47/2/191/8432248?login=false The best impact paper: "Carbohydrate ingestion eliminates hypoglycemia and improves endurance exercise performance in triathletes adapted to very low- and high-carbohydrate isocaloric diets" by Prof. Tim Noakes and colleagues https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpcell.00583.2024 The debate paper:"Does a low-carbohydrate diet impede endurance sports performance? Debate Consensus" by Prof. Tim Noakes and Prof. Louise M Burke https://ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165(26)00080-8/fulltext 0:00 Prof. Tim Noakes changed his mind 1:11 His new paper on carbohydrates and performance 9:44 Two glucose pools — muscles vs blood 17:11 Muscle glycogen vs blood glucose explained 21:34 Low glycogen fat burning and carbs during exercise 26:09 Does 120 grams per hour actually work 33:07 Practical carb strategy by athlete type 37:34 Should you carb load the liver 42:27 Practical advice for masters runners 53:06 The central governor theory updated 59:36 Mistakes runners will make after this conversation 1:02:18 The Norwegian method — final takeaway 1:07:23 What endurance means to Prof. Noakes

    1hr 11min
  2. Physiotherapist: Do THIS To Stay Injury Free As A Runner Over 40 | Brodie Sharpe

    8 MAY

    Physiotherapist: Do THIS To Stay Injury Free As A Runner Over 40 | Brodie Sharpe

    Most runners think getting injured comes down to weak glutes, bad form, or worn out shoes. But physiotherapist Brody Sharp says the real reason is almost always something else entirely — and most runners over 40 are missing it completely. In this episode, Brody breaks down the load versus capacity model that explains 90% of running injuries, why strong and weak runners get injured at exactly the same rate, how to use carbon shoes and minimalist shoes as tools to build a more robust and durable body, and the one training ratio that could keep you running injury free for the next decade. Resources: Run Smarter Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-run-smarter-podcast/id1494778818 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RunSmarterwithBrodieSharpe Website and online coaching: https://runsmarter.online/ Run Smarter Book: https://www.amazon.com/Run-Smarter-Evidence-based-Guidance-Opinions/dp/0645520705 0:00 Why runners over 40 keep getting injured 2:42 Early warning signs of injury 7:46 What runners get wrong about injuries 10:05 Load vs capacity explained 13:40 How to measure your training load 17:59 Carbon shoes and injury risk 21:03 How to transition into carbon shoes 28:35 Barefoot and minimalist shoes 31:37 Protocol for transitioning to minimalist shoes 37:10 Heel striking — is it actually a problem? 39:15 Does prehab actually prevent injury 43:45 What to do when injured 48:38 Injury and mental health 51:50 The 80/20 rule for masters runners

    1 hr
  3. Lactate Scientist: Why MOST Runners Get Lactate Threshold WRONG | Dr Peter Tran

    1 MAY

    Lactate Scientist: Why MOST Runners Get Lactate Threshold WRONG | Dr Peter Tran

    Most runners train to improve their lactate threshold. But what if improving it is actually making you slower? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Peter Tran — sports medicine PhD, 1:14 half marathoner, and co-founder of Athyx — to break down everything runners over 40 need to know about lactate, how to actually use it to guide training, and why most of what you've heard about lactate threshold training is wrong. We also get into fueling strategies, the truth about high carb versus low carb for endurance athletes, and the future of continuous lactate monitoring — including Peter's new wearable device that could change how runners train forever. Get your Hume Health Body Pod with up to 50% OFF 👉 https://humehealth.com//discount/ENDURANCELAB?redirect=/pages/hume-body-pod&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=ENDURANCELAB Use code: ENDURANCELAB Get 10% off the Athyx Flux 1 👉 https://www.athyx.com/ Use Code: ELAB10 To receive your discount, you need to create an account on the Athyx website. The Endurance Lab Training Plans (5K, 10K, Half & Full Marathon) 👉 http://theendurancelab.run/training-plans Check out all of the exclusive discounts from Partners of The Endurance Lab 👉 https://theendurancelab.run/exclusive-discounts 0:00 Why lactate matters 4:39 LT1 and LT2 explained 11:22 Lab vs real world testing 17:52 Maximal lactate steady state 24:11 Using lactate to guide training 29:48 One test tells you nothing 32:06 Shifting the lactate curve 36:29 Lactate data over time 39:42 Lactate vs heart rate 45:04 High carb vs low carb and lactate 50:46 Continuous lactate monitoring 56:15 Athyx Flux One #LactateThreshold #RunningScience #MastersRunners #EnduranceTraining #Zone2Training #LactateTraining #RunFaster #MarathonTraining #RunningOver40 #ContinuousLactate #Athyx #RunSmarter #EnduranceLab #FatAdaptedRunning #HighCarbRunning #TrainingLoad #RunningPerformance #VO2Max #LT1LT2 #NorwegianMethod

    1hr 9min
  4. The Proven Way To Keep Running Fast Even As You Get Older | Jeannie Rice

    17 APR

    The Proven Way To Keep Running Fast Even As You Get Older | Jeannie Rice

    Jeannie Rice is one of the most remarkable masters runners in the world. In this conversation, she shares how she is still breaking world records in her late 70s, from the 1500m all the way to the marathon, and what really matters if you want to stay fast, healthy, and competitive as you age. We talk about the real reasons behind her longevity in running: consistent mileage, simple training, smart recovery, staying injury-free, disciplined sleep, healthy nutrition, and the mindset that keeps her improving decade after decade. Jeannie also breaks down her weekly training, how much speed work she still does, why she recovers so quickly, and what runners in their 40s and 50s should prioritize now if they want to still be performing at a high level later in life. If you’re interested in masters running, marathon training, longevity, injury prevention, recovery, VO2 max, world records, and what it actually takes to keep running strong into your 70s, this episode is packed with lessons. The Endurance Lab Training Plans (5K, 10K, Half & Full Marathon) 👉 http://theendurancelab.run/training-plans Check out all of the exclusive discounts from Partners of The Endurance Lab 👉 https://theendurancelab.run/exclusive-discounts Follow Jeannie Rice - https://www.facebook.com/jeannie.k.rice Chapters00:00 Intro 00:23 World records in her 70s 05:04 What makes Jeannie different 11:14 Jeannie Rice’s weekly training 18:08 Recovery, durability, and staying injury-free 22:41 Sleep, nutrition, and race fueling 30:44 What to prioritize in your 40s and 50s 40:12 Genetics vs training 45:48 Racing younger runners and aging performance 50:33 Jeannie’s race calendar and goals 55:13 What endurance means to Jeannie Rice

    1 hr
  5. Why You Don't Quit a 200 Mile Ultra Even When Everything Says Stop | Andrea Moore

    10 APR

    Why You Don't Quit a 200 Mile Ultra Even When Everything Says Stop | Andrea Moore

    Andrea Moore is one of the most accomplished ultra runners in the sport, completing eight races over 200 miles in just eight months in 2025. In this conversation, we explore what it really takes to race at the edge of endurance, from 100 milers to 200+ mile ultras, and how fueling, fat adaptation, recovery, mindset, and durability all change as the distances get longer. Andrea shares how her approach evolved from road running to trail and ultra racing, why she shifted to a low-carb, fat-adapted fueling strategy, how Vespa changed her recovery and muscle durability, and why she believes ultra running is as much emotional and spiritual as it is physical. We also talk about training for ultramarathons, back-to-back long runs, high-intensity work for ultra athletes, strength training, injury prevention, and why the pain cave is not something to fear but something to move toward. If you’re curious about ultra running, 100 mile races, 200 mile races, fat adaptation for endurance, ultra fueling, recovery after long races, or the mindset needed to go deep into suffering and keep moving, this episode is for you. The Endurance Lab Training Plans (5K, 10K, Half & Full Marathon) 👉 http://theendurancelab.run/training-plans Check out all of the exclusive discounts from Partners of The Endurance Lab 👉 https://theendurancelab.run/exclusive-discounts Follow Andrea Moore: Instagram: @andthensome1 TikTok: @andthensome1 Chapters: 00:00 Endurance is ... 01:20 Andrea Moore’s 200-mile journey 06:32 Low-carb fueling, Vespa, and fat adaptation 14:24 Road marathon vs ultra running 19:48 Fueling during 200-mile races 24:38 Strength training and training for your first ultra 30:18 Why ultra runners still need speed work 35:03 Big mileage vs mobility and mindset 40:06 Running toward the pain cave 46:40 Why more older runners move into ultras 49:50 Staying durable and recovering after 200 miles

    55 min
  6. HRV Expert: Most Runners Read HRV Wrong | Dr. Marco Altini

    1 APR

    HRV Expert: Most Runners Read HRV Wrong | Dr. Marco Altini

    Most runners track HRV, but very few actually know how to use it correctly. In this conversation, Dr. Marco Altini explains what HRV can tell you, what it can’t, and how to use it to make better training decisions without becoming a slave to the data. Get your Hume Health Body Pod with up to 50% OFF👉 https://humehealth.com//discount/ENDURANCELAB?redirect=/pages/hume-body-pod&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=ENDURANCELAB Use code: ENDURANCELAB The Endurance Lab Training Plans (5K, 10K, Half & Full Marathon) 👉 http://theendurancelab.run/training-plans Get 10% off the Isocapnic BWB to train your respiratory muscles 👉 https://shop.isocapnic.com/?sca_ref=10462834.lsRLwaoT7WUNdYI Use code: JusmanSo Check out all of the exclusive discounts from Partners of The Endurance Lab 👉 https://theendurancelab.run/exclusive-discounts Dr. Marco Altini is a physiological data scientist, HRV researcher, coach, and the founder of HRV4Training. Over the last 15 years, he has worked at the intersection of physiology, wearable technology, machine learning, and endurance performance to help athletes better understand stress, recovery, and training readiness. In this episode, we go far beyond the usual “high HRV is good, low HRV is bad” conversation. We break down how HRV should actually be interpreted in the real world, why resting heart rate still matters, when HRV is useful for adjusting training, and why context matters more than any single number on your watch. We also discuss how HRV changes with age, how life stress compares to training stress, whether HRV can predict overtraining, how tapering affects HRV before a race, and whether HRV is really a meaningful marker of long-term health and longevity. Resources: Marco Altini Substack: https://marcoaltini.substack.com/ Marco Altini personal site: https://www.marcoaltini.com/ HRV4Training: https://www.hrv4training.com/ Coaching: https://marcoaltini.substack.com/p/coachcorner-my-training-philosophy iPhone App: https://apps.apple.com/app/hrv4training/id686923970 Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.asma.hrv4training If you are a runner or endurance athlete over 40 trying to train smarter, recover better, and make sense of what your wearable is telling you, this conversation will help you understand HRV in a much more practical and nuanced way. In this episode, we cover: • what HRV actually reflects physiologically • why HRV and resting heart rate should be viewed together • how to know when an HRV change is meaningful • when low HRV should change your training • why HRV is more useful for holding back than pushing harder • whether HRV can help detect overload or injury risk • how HRV changes with aging • life stress vs training stress • whether HRV is linked to metabolic health • what happens to HRV during taper week • whether HRV predicts longevity • morning HRV readings vs overnight wearable data • how women’s HRV can change across the menstrual cycle • whether strength training affects HRV This episode is especially for runners who want to use wearable data intelligently, improve training quality, and avoid misreading HRV trends. Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:45 Why HRV matters 10:14 Why RMSSD is the standard 15:39 When HRV should change training 20:37 HRV for hard vs easy days 31:15 How HRV changes with age 38:04 Life stress, metabolic health, and seasonality 47:01 Overtraining, tapering, and long-term health 55:16 Morning vs overnight HRV reading 1:04:00 Sex differences, hormones, and strength training

    1hr 12min
  7. Respiratory Scientist: How To Breathe So Running Feels Easier | Dr. Andrew Sellars

    22 MAR

    Respiratory Scientist: How To Breathe So Running Feels Easier | Dr. Andrew Sellars

    Can your breathing be the hidden reason running feels harder than it should? In this episode of The Endurance Lab, I sit down with Dr. Andrew Sellars to explore one of the most overlooked performance limiters in endurance sport: breathing. Most runners focus on aerobic fitness, mileage, and strength training — but almost nobody trains the muscles that power every breath. Dr. Sellars explains how inefficient breathing can quietly drain performance, why the respiratory system may be the bottleneck for many runners, and how targeted breathing training can improve running economy, VO2 max, and overall endurance. We talk about how the respiratory muscles affect performance, why breathing may decline with age if left untrained, and how runners can improve it without adding more mileage. We also dive into CO2 tolerance, nasal vs mouth breathing, respiratory muscle training, and how breathing patterns can influence how hard running feels at marathon pace and beyond. Get the Hume Health Body Pod for up to 50% off👉 https://humehealth.com//discount/ENDURANCELAB?redirect=/pages/hume-body-pod&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=ENDURANCELABUse code: ENDURANCELAB Get 15% off all NovaaLab red light therapy products👉 https://tidd.ly/46iKcApUse code: EnduranceLab15 Get 10% off the Isocapnic BWB to train your respiratory muscles👉 https://shop.isocapnic.com/?sca_ref=10462834.lsRLwaoT7WUNdYIUse code: JusmanSo Train smarter with Athletica and get 15% off for as long as you stay subscribed!👉 https://athletica.ai/?via=theendurancelabUse code: JUSMAN Check out all exclusive partner discounts from The Endurance Lab👉 https://theendurancelab.run/exclusive-discounts In this episode, we cover: • Why breathing is often ignored in endurance training • How the respiratory system can limit running performance • Why breathing can use up a significant amount of energy during hard efforts • The role of respiratory muscles in fatigue • Whether breathing gets worse with age • CO2 tolerance and why it matters for runners • How respiratory muscle training works • How breathing affects VO2 max • Nasal breathing vs mouth breathing for runners • Why slower, deeper breathing may help running feel easier • How to integrate breathing training into marathon prep Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:40 Who Is Dr. Andrew Sellars?2:15 Is Breathing Limiting Your Running? 7:26 How Does Breathing Limit Performance? 10:43 What Actually Limits Your Breathing? 16:08 The Low-Hanging Fruit Most Runners Ignore 18:08 What Is CO₂ Tolerance? 25:45 How To Improve CO₂ Tolerance? 29:41 What is Respiratory Muscle Training? 34:438 How Much Faster Can Breathing Training Make You? 41:37 Can Respiratory Muscle Training Improve VO₂ Max? 47:07 How Would Respiratory Muscle Training Fit Into A Training Plan? 57:013 The Best Breathing Pattern for Marathon Pace 01:02:14 Nasal vs Mouth Breathing #running #endurancetraining #breathing #vo2max #marathontraining #runningperformance #zonetraining #respiratorytraining #nasalbreathing #mastersrunning #theendurancelab #jusmanso

    1hr 8min

About

The Endurance Lab Podcast is a long-form conversation series exploring training, nutrition, performance, recovery, and endurance sport through the lens of long-term health and longevity. Designed for midlife runners and endurance athletes who care about improving performance without sacrificing long-term well-being, each episode features thoughtful, evidence-based conversations with experts across endurance sport, including researchers, coaches, and specialists in specific areas of performance, alongside midlife athletes who’ve achieved meaningful performance breakthroughs later in life.

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