Artificial Intelligence and how it will revolutionise coaching * Simon Ward and Prof Paul Laursen

This week one of our most frequent guests, ’The Prof’ Paul Laursen, is back. Why has he been on so often? Because he always offers so much value to any conversation and this one is no different. Today we chat about artificial intelligence (A.I.) and The Prof’s new project Athletica.ai.

Like it or not, the machines are coming and AI is here to stay. It’s been around for many years in other spheres but now coaching apps and platforms are starting to make progress with it, and your life will be a lot easier when the app you use can effectively ‘crunch’ all of the data from your gadgets and wearables. So, will this make coaches redundant? Definitely not! Machines will never be able to replace the empathy that good coaches have with their clients. Having said that, the future will be different and we need to embrace this opportunity. We get into the weeds chatting about a couple of issues around COVID.  In the conversation Paul explains all of this as we chat about:

• What exactly is artificial intelligence?
• How AI benefits athletes and coaches
• Machine learning vs pattern recognition
• How Athletica.ai works 
• The irony that the most important elements to Athletica are NOT data driven
• Intelligence vs wisdom and why coaches with wisdom are irreplaceable
• Returning to training after COVID and why it’s no different to recovering from the flu
• Nutrients and Vitamin D - The Profs two BIG ways to protect your immune system

The prof has reduced his social media footprint in recent years but you can still find him on these channels

Athletica website 

Twitter - @PaulBLaursen, @Athletica_AI

We also mentioned these topics in the podcast.

This article with the Prof and Dr Phil Maffetone

The Perfect Storm: Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic Meets Overfat Pandemic

These books

Breath - The new science of a lost art - James Nestor

The Oxygen Advantage : The simple scientifically proven breathing techniques for a healthier, slimmer, faster, and fitter you - Patrick McKeown

The Science and Application of HIIT: Solutions to the programming puzzle - Prof Paul Laursen & Martin Bucheit

The Seventh Sense: Power, fortune, and survival in the age of the networks - Joshua Ramo

To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE 

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes

Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here

For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com

Could you ride faster with a better saddle? * Simon Ward and Daniel Schade

The subject of today’s podcast is something that very rarely gets talked about in triathlon – saddles.  My guest is Daniel Schade, an expert in helping riders find the perfect seat for their ride. Daniel is CEO of Gebiomized who is based in Germany.  If you’re not yet familiar with them, you’ll know the riders they have worked with - Frodeno, Kienle, Brownlee, and Haug to name a few.

I was staggered to realize how underrated the importance of the saddle is. For example, think of your own situation. When considering upgrades for your bike to improve performance, where would the saddle be in your list of priorities, if in the list at all?

This was an eye-opening chat for me and I’m sure it will be for you too. During the conversation, Daniel explains how the company was formed, and their unique pressure mapping system which enables them to create the most comfortable saddle for each rider.  We also discuss:

• The health and performance impacts of a poor saddle fit
• How stability and comfort on the saddle have a direct relationship to your aerodynamics
• The difference between triathlon and road bike saddles
• 3 biggest saddle errors committed by triathletes, and why you’re probably guilty of at least 2
• Why your first equipment upgrade should be the saddle
• The ‘Secret Saddle Club’
• The importance of understanding how you load your saddle

If you would like to find out more about Gebiomized, please visit their website HERE

To find out specifically about their saddle technology go HERE

You can also find them on these social media channels:

Instagram - gebiomized

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/gebioMized

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/gebiomized

Twitter - @gebioMized

Here are some interesting blog posts that you might like to read

On outdoor testing including pressure mapping

On comfort increase on the turbo trainer

On fusioning aerodynamics and biomechanics in a bikefit project

This video also illustrates the ‘saddle shuffle’ we discussed relating to Contador. If the commentator on the video listens to this podcast he’ll find out why it’s happening.

To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE 

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes

Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here

For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com

How to be in The Ready State * Simon Ward and Dr. Kelly Starrett

In this week’s show, I’m joined by strength and mobility expert, Dr. Kelly Starrett.  Dr. Kelly Starrett is a coach, physical therapist, two-time New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, speaker, and co-founder of The Ready State, the world’s most comprehensive collection of guided movement, mechanics, and mobility instructional videos.

Kelly is super knowledgeable, was great to chat with, and we cover a whole range of subjects including:

• Definition of mobility
• Doing what works and rejecting what doesn’t
• Should we refer to mobility as ‘position transfer exercise’?
• Creating a durable body so you can ‘play’ as much as you want, and doing the best with your body in the context of your life
• How much mobility should we do each day?
• Using social media as a teaching platform?
• Why good mobility allows you to control, NOT compensate
• Foam rolling - yes or no?
• The pursuit of ‘adventure fitness’ rather than racing

SPECIAL OFFER for High Performance Human podcast listeners, get a 14 day FREE trial of The Ready State Virtual Mobility Coach.  Click HERE to start your trial today.

If you would like to follow Dr. Kelly Starrett you’ll find him on all of the social media channels, by going HERE

Check out his website - Thereadystate.com

I mentioned the books Kelly has written

Becoming a Supple Leopard - The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain, Preventing Injury, and Optimizing Athletic Performance

Ready to Run Unlocking your potential to run naturally

Deskbound Standing up to a sitting world

Waterman - Optimized Movement For Lifelong, Pain-Free Paddling And Surfing

Some others items we mentioned

Franz Bosch book…

Kelly Mobility WOD

Born to Run and Natural Born Heroes by Chris MacDougal

To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE 

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes

Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here

For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com

Outlaw 2021 Update * Simon Ward and Iain Hamilton

On this bonus podcast, we welcome back Founder and Race Director of Outlaw Events, Iain Hamilton.  We chat about what they learned from putting on Outlaw X in September 2020, and we get into the specifics of the first event of 2021, Outlaw Half Nottingham scheduled for May, and what athletes can expect in terms of race organisation.  We specifically cover provisional arrangements for swimming due to lack of preparation time for athletes, and finally we discuss barriers to races happening at all in the first part of 2021 and beyond.  

How to be a High Performance Human * Simon Ward

This week’s podcast is another solo cast as I share my thoughts on how to move towards becoming a High Performance Human.

After years of trying to help individuals achieve their triathlon goals, I’m now aiming to help a wider group of individuals upgrade their entire human performance. I’m using the skills and experiences from the last 25 years to focus on sleep, recovery, nutrition, mobility/strength, and mindset to promote better health and longevity and in doing so contribute to better athletic performance if that’s what you want to achieve. Equally, you may just wish to have a really nice balanced life with abundant health and energy living to a ripe old age and enjoying life for as much of that time as you can.

In this episode I share insight on the following:

• Why your body is like a high performance Ferrari
• Health-span versus life-span
• The importance of mindfulness
• How precious time is, and how to use yours more efficiently
• Sleep - the bedrock for everything and how to improve yours
• Some simple and very effective tips on nutrition
• Gut health and its influence on your human performance
• Holistic exercise guidance (not what you might expect for a triathlon coach)
• How you can work to live
• Building better relationships and mental health

Here are links to some of the topics I mention in this episode

To get a copy of my 40-page E-book for just £5, email Beth@thetriathloncoach.com

Join the High Performance Human Facebook community

Sleep podcast with Nick Littlehales

Live as healthy as possible for as long as possible with Paul Clayton

Why the gut is the second brain with Bella Lindeman

Delay Ageing with Colin Rose

Video with Dr Brian Walsh '18 ways Gut Dysbiosis (Bad Bacteria) Ruins your Health'

The Whoop sleep and recovery app

Whoop Blog - posts about sleep and much more

The Oura ring

Precision Nutrition article ‘Fix your gut, fix your health'

Books I mention

Nick Littlehales book ’Sleep’

Matthew Walker’s Book 'Why we Sleep’

The ONE Thing

To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE 

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes

Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here

For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com

How to enjoy running, and in the process become a better runner * Simon Ward and Malcolm Brown

Hey folks, today we have a repeat of a show we did 3 years ago, in January 2018.  At the time, we released it as 2 shows but today we’re combining them into one.  My conversation with Malcolm Brown is just as timely now as it was then, maybe even more so.  Malcolm is one of the foremost running coaches in the world.  He knows a thing or two about helping athletes to run faster, and the resume of athletes he’s worked with is very impressive:  Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, Vicky Holland, Non Stanford, Kelly Holmes, and Paula Radcliffe to name a few.  In the first half of this podcast, we talk about a very simple subject:  How to run faster.  And the answer may surprise you.  We cover:

• 3 basic principles underpinning the ability to run fast
• Why you should measure progress over 12 months and avoid changing the plan until that time
• 2 qualities possessed by all top athletes, and which you need in order to succeed
• Why it’s better to be a “Steady Eddie” than a “Shooting Star”
• The importance of being able to relish training and just enjoy being a runner
• Lower limb resilience and its influence on your success
• If you want to race faster than before, do this in training year-round

Moving into the second half of the podcast, we chat about:

• Why endurance sports require a long term (several years) approach to training
• Why it’s important for athletes not to get too worried about the outcome of any particular single session
• The paradox that means no session is critical, but every session is critical, and why training matters but yet it doesn’t matter
• How reading the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” can help your training
• Why you must be equally enthusiastic about recovery as you are about training
• Why you should aim to peak a maximum of 2 times per year
• How the best performances come when you’re committed physically, mentally, and emotionally

To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE 

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes

Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here

For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com

Jim Miller, Chief of Performance at USA Cycling * Simon Ward and Jim Miler

Since this podcast, I’ve been amazed at how many awesome guests we’ve had who are right at the top of their profession. Today’s guest continues that trend as I chat with Jim Miller, Chief of Performance at USA Cycling. Jim raced as a pro cyclist on US domestic teams in the 90’s alongside a previous guest, Dirk Friel from TrainingPeaks. While racing he started out coaching in a small way, and on retiring he built his own coaching business before being enticed across to USA cycling where he spent the next 17 years. Jim enjoyed a short spell working with Dirk at TrainingPeaks before returning to USA cycling in March 2020 to take up his current position and help prepare athletes for the 2021 Olympics in Japan.  This is another fascinating and enjoyable conversation as we chat about:

• Why even in a management role, Jim always negotiates freedom to continue with some coaching
• Remarkable differences between how USA cycling is funded compared to other nations like UK or France
• Measuring HRV and why Jim is a big fan of the Whoop band
• Virtual racing, ’no compromises’, and why it’s important to stay focussed on the long term goal
• Topsy turvy results in pro cycling and why so many young riders are winning
• FTP is important, but why you should understand the ‘real’ requirements for your chosen event
• Polarised training, Stephen Seiler, and why Jim is a big fan of both
• Jim’s top 3 tips for your winter training

Jim is a really interesting and knowledgeable guy, and I would highly recommend you follow him on social media. 

You can find him here

Instagram jimmillertime 

Twitter @jimmiller_time 

If you’re interested in finding out more about USA Cycling go HERE

Other links you might be interested in

Previous podcasts with Stephen Seiler talking about Polarised Training

Part 1

Part 2 - Q & A

In terms of remote coaching and monitoring athletes, Jim is a obviously a big fan of TrainingPeaks and TrainingPeaks-WKO5

Jim is a big fan of the Whoop band as am I. They have some great articles and podcasts on their website HERE, including this one with Lawson Craddock of Pro Cycling team EF Pro Cycling - Last is Hardest

You might also be interested in this Whoop podcast with Kevin Sprouse, Medical Director for EF Pro Cycling

To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE 

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes

Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here

For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com

How to Delay Ageing * Simon Ward and Colin Rose

On this week’s podcast, we set another record with our oldest guest ever. Colin Rose, the author of 10 published books including Health Defence and Delay Ageing, talks the talk and walks the walk. If you look at the accompanying video you would never believe that Colin is 80 years old, and listening to him you wouldn’t think that either. 

I met Colin many years ago when I was introduced to his UniVite supplements business and he is linked with two of my previous guests, Toby Baxendale and Dr. Paul Clayton. I read 'Delay Ageing’ prior to chatting with Colin and much of the advice and guidance dispensed by Colin in the book covers much of the information that I have covered with other guests in the last 12 months.  It’s reassuring to find that we are on the same path. If, like me, you have a goal of sliding up to the graveside screaming, “yea ha, what a ride!” then you’ll love this conversation as we give you all of the knowledge you need to make that happen. I hope you enjoy the conversation as we chat about:

• The importance of a healthy microbiome
• Why you should choose foods with different colours
• Another vote for balance and diversity in your diet
• Genetics vs Epigenetics (nature vs nurture)
• The Japanese practice of 'Hara hachi Bu’ or “Stop eating when you are 80% full’
• The real reason why the Mediterranean diet works
• Intermittent fasting, autophagy, and why you need to rid the body of zombie cells
• How to be the master of physical and biological ageing
• Strength training, aerobic exercise, and their contributions to delayed ageing 

You can follow Colin on his various social media channels

Wikitia page

Facebook 

UniVite HealthCare

Accelerated learning Systems

Uni-Vite healthcare YouTube site

The following list includes podcasts with topics related to today’s conversation

Dr Paul Clayton - How to live as healthy as possible for as long as possible

Toby Baxendale - High Performance Human

Bella Lindemann - Why the gut is the second brain

To purchase a copy of Colin’s latest book, 'Delay Ageing’ please go HERE

Valter Longo - Longevity Diet 

Dirty Dozen - The ‘dirtiest' fruit and veg in the UK with regards to pesticide levels

The Hallmarks of Ageing research paper 

To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE 

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes

Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here

For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com

Gynaecologist Kyrin Dunston explains why you should be having the best sex ever in your 50’s * Simon Ward and Dr. Kyrin Dunston

On this week’s show, I chat with Kyrin Dunston, an obstetrician and gynaecologist (OBGYN) from Atlanta. Kyrin has an amazing story of transformation, losing over 100lbs and healing herself from several chronic illnesses, avoiding conventional medicine and instead addressing the root causes of her issues. In 2011 this was the catalyst for a change of direction in her professional life as well, as she left her OBGYN practice and trained to become a practitioner in Anti-Aging, Metabolic and Functional Medicine with a goal of helping women heal with this revolutionary type of natural medicine.

What I loved about this chat is that it felt like a real-life case study, drawing together some of the lessons learned from recent podcasts on gut health, menopause, and female-specific nutrition (links to these podcasts in the show notes).  So here we have a conventionally trained medical practitioner speaking openly about using homeopathic remedies and Eastern style practices which are often shunned by Western medicine in favour of prescribing pharmaceuticals.

I hope you enjoy the conversation as we talk about:

• Breaking the chain of ‘pill for every ill’ and ’surgery for every symptom'
• Fibromyalgia and IBS are symptoms, NOT a diagnosis (this is also something Bella Lindeman mentioned when she talked about Irritable B/S)
• Are you really intolerant to certain foods or do you just eat too much of them?
• Why females should be having the best sex ever in their 50’s
• Why your sex drive is an overall barometer of vitality
• How and why you do sometimes need to actively detox your body
• Once again a guest tells us “mother knows best”
• Food and diet - eating seasonal locally grown foods and variety in the diet

Kyrin is visible on most social media channels including:

Website - KyrinDunstonMD

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kyrindunstonmd/

Twitter @KyrinDunstonMD

YouTube - Her Brilliant Health

You might also find these podcasts useful as we discuss some of the areas which Kyrin mentions:

Gut health with Bella Lindeman

Menopause with Juliet McGrattan

Female specific nutrition with Dina Griffin

Health extension with Paul Clayton

Kyrin recently hosted a virtual summit, “Stop The Menopause Madness”. Although the summit was in November you can still get access to the presentations at a super low rate.  Please CLICK HERE for more details.

To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE 

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes

Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here

For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com

2020 Wrap Up * Simon Ward and Grumpy Old Coaches

It's our last podcast of 2020 and what a year it has been to forget. Actually that's not quite true, because on the podcast we've had some truly memorable guests this year.