307. A Mind-Blowing Boston Marathon, Jess McClain Runs 2:20 (!!!), and Studies on What Improves Endurance Performance!

Some Work, All Play

David Roche and Megan Roche

Running, Sports

4.8 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2026

⏱️ 90 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We had just the right amount of Dunkin’ coffee (a barrel) before this great episode! The main topic was everything we learned at the Boston Marathon, highlighted by Jess McClain running 2:20:49 to break the American Course Record by over a minute. We break down our experience the most magical weekend!

The most memorable moment for us: Around 30k, Jess fumbled a bottle (with a gel on it) right at the moment when the big moves were happening. What do you do at that moment? Jess turned around, grabbed it, and somehow bridged back to the leaders by surging under 5 min/mile pace. It was an unthinkable moment of perseverance and smarts that will go down in US running history. NO CARB LEFT BEHIND.

And there were other amazing topics when we stopped being obsessed with Boston for a few seconds! Other topics: carbs in marathons, insights from marathon training, a study on cycling training that examines what overlaps with the best performances, a parallel running study, and lots more.

Boston, we love you and your unexplained steam coming from the ground! History fact: Paul Revere listened to the SWAP Boston episode. HUZZAH!

-David and Megan

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Woo!
0:01.0	Welcome to the Some Work All Play podcast.
0:03.0	We are so happy with you today.
0:04.0	Happy Tuesday.
0:05.0	It's Tuesday. And I need some Dunkin on this Tuesday. Oh my God, maybe we need Dunkin' Donuts for the rest of our lives. I actually legitimately think we do. After two days of having it, I am in withdrawal today and I need some help. We were off the wagon for so many years. many years. Both, we left the East Coast, so Duncan Donuts isn't really a thing out here, as far as I know.
0:23.4	There is actually one in Boulder. I need some help. We were off the wagon for so many years. Both, we left the East Coast,
0:20.9	so Dunkin' Donuts isn't really a thing out here, as far as I know. There is actually one in
0:24.4	Boulder. Oh, but I feel like you look this up? No, no, I know. I would drive by it all the time. I think it's on like 28th Street. But the thing is, it just hits different on the East Coast. Okay, that makes sense.
0:33.3	And also, we haven't had coffee for multiple years.
0:36.2	At least three for me.
0:37.9	I'm not sure how many for you.
0:38.9	I think it's been about three.
0:40.4	And then we had it this weekend. And also, we haven't had coffee for multiple years. At least three for me. I'm not sure how many for you.
0:38.9	I think it's been about three. And then we had it this weekend in Boston. And not only do we have it, but you went and got it and brought it back to me in bed. And you told me you're like, Megan, they were pretty mean to me when they made this. Thus, it is authentic. That's how you know it works. If they hate you in Dunkin' Donuts just because you exist, then you're going to get the best coffee of your life. Okay, but it was the best coffee of my life. I sat in bed. It was like 10.30 because we didn't have children. And it was just hanging out in bed at 10.30. Drink in Dunkin' Donut coffee being being like this is the best existence ever.
1:11.1	It was some of the most endorphins I've ever had in my life was sitting there on our 15th floory
1:16.4	window at the Moxie Hotel in downtown Boston. Constant sirens never stopped. Steam coming out of
1:22.6	the ground every single second. I don't know exactly what that's about, but it seems problematic.
1:26.6	And we were right there in it because our our hotel room was so small that the bed was right next to the window. And honestly, it kind of freaked me out. Yeah. But then after you have this coffee, you could literally fly if you had to. It's not even a worry to be at that height. You could just jump from building to building. It made me feel so good. And then we looked up the caffeine content of a medium Dunkin Donuts coffee. And it was like 270 milligrams. And I was like, well, shit, no way. It was the best moment of our lives. So we had a great weekend in so many ways. We're going to talk everything about the Boston Marathon in this episode. So let's just get right to it, since we're recording a little bit later than usual after our flight back last night.
2:03.9	So quick roadmap. We're going to do everything on Boston, featuring the Boston American record
2:09.3	from Jess Frickin McLean. Oh my goodness gracious. I feel like I'm still riding the hype train.
2:14.4	Oh my God. It is just wild. So huge PR, fifth fastest time ever by an
2:19.1	American on any course. Jess has just kept progressing for just, I mean, years now. And it's such an
	...

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