Running Coaching from David & Megan Roche
SWAP Coaches
David Roche
Megan Roche, M.D.
Megan Roche, M.D.
David is the 2014 USATF Trail Runner of the Year at the sub-ultra distance and winner of the 2024 Leadville 100 in course record time. He is a two-time national champion and three-time member of Team USA. He graduated with honors from Columbia University with a degree in Environmental Science and received a master's degree and law degree with honors from Duke.
Megan Roche, M.D.
Megan Roche, M.D.
Megan Roche, M.D.
Megan is the 2016 USATF Trail Runner of the Year at the ultra and sub-ultra distances. She is a five-time national champion, a North American Mountain Running Champion, and a six-time member of Team USA. She graduated with honors from Duke with a degree in Neuroscience and received her M.D. from Stanford Medical School. At Stanford, she a
Megan is the 2016 USATF Trail Runner of the Year at the ultra and sub-ultra distances. She is a five-time national champion, a North American Mountain Running Champion, and a six-time member of Team USA. She graduated with honors from Duke with a degree in Neuroscience and received her M.D. from Stanford Medical School. At Stanford, she also earned a PhD in epidemiology, focused on female athlete health and performance research. In 2024, she launched "Huzzah," sharing female athlete performance science.
Addie Dog
Megan Roche, M.D.
Addie Dog
Addie Dog holds the most-likely-to-be-famous SWAP yearbook award, fastest dinner eating record, and the SNARF honor. She researches pizza and cuddling.
SWAP Coaching Philosophy
The Approach
The best place to start if you are on the fence is the Some Work, All Play podcast, where we talk about science, training & life in a fun way.
In particular, this episode on Fatigue Resistance shows how we think about the interaction of training theory and science.
And this article on the science of downhill running demonstrates how our views evolve over time based on new data.
The Little Things
SWAP training methodology is all about applying science, research, and training theory to long-term growth. The main emphasis for most athletes is improving running economy, making faster and stronger running feel easier over time. We want athletes to breakthrough to new levels through speed, whether they're long-time pros or people exploring the speed skill for the first time.
For a breakdown of how we think about science and training theory, check out these SWAP Science Corner podcasts and Trail Runner articles:
The Big Things
SWAP has had success over the years because of our main coaching emphases:
1. We are here for unconditional support, not just running coaching.
2. All we care about is long-term fulfillment.
3. Every athlete is "elite," pace and distance don't matter.
4. Consistency and joyful daily adventures are what lead to long-term health and happiness.
5. You are freaking awesome! (not always directly relevant to the mechanics of coaching, but an important reminder)