Welcome to the Critical Oxygen Podcast! In this episode David Mehlman and I discuss the use of technology to optimize your training and how he is using these principles to maximize his performance!

A bit about David: David Mehlman is an entrepreneur, investor, and avid endurance athlete. Throughout his career, David has worked in sell-side equity research, for a multi-billion-dollar equity hedge fund, and as an early-stage investor focused on the consumer and technology sectors. His love of data led him to explore the subject of quantitative analysis and assessment in sport and his own performance.

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Follow David on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dmehlo/

Interested in testing, courses, or other long form content check out the critical oxygen website - https://www.criticaloxygen.com

OUTLINE:
0:00 - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
0:35 - David's Marathon Journey and Introduction
2:00 - Transition to Endurance Sports and First Triathlon
6:05 - Evolution of Training and Optimization
8:00 - Philosophy of Maximizing Potential and Capacity Utilization
10:53 - Comparisons and Misconceptions in Training
15:42 - Technology's Role in Calibration and Recovery
19:33 - Importance of Easy Runs and Stress-Rest Balance
22:10 - The Impact of Stress on the Body
23:05 - Acute vs. Chronic Stress in Running
23:30 - Physiological Characteristics in Training
24:00 - The Cyclical Nature of Training
25:15 - Micro Sine Waves in Training
26:00 - The Fallacy of Predicting Race Outcomes
27:00 - Willingness vs. Physiological Adaptations
28:30 - The Fallacy of Proving Fitness in Workouts
30:00 - Input Metrics vs. Output Metrics
33:00 - Stressing the Body for Adaptations
36:00 - The Pitfalls of Chasing Output Metrics
38:00 - The Danger of Data Misinterpretation
41:00 - Data as a Guide, Not Gospel
43:01 - Heart Rate as a Crucial Internal Variable
43:46 – Importance of Heat Adaptation and External Conditions
43:52 – Adjusting Pace Based on Heart Rate
44:04 – Managing Stress and Blood Flow
44:23 – Seasonal Considerations in Workouts
45:23 – Monitoring Cardiac Drift
46:05 – Achieving Negative Cardiac Drift
47:00 – Importance of Limiter Testing
48:13 – Specificity in Training Metrics
51:38 – Personalization and Goals
53:51 – Physiological Profiling and Testing
54:25 – Running Community and Support