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Simon Ward, multiple award-winning triathlon coach, shares insights on how to improve your triathlon performance with a High Performance Human approach to life.
Episodes
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Wednesday May 13, 2020
This week’s podcast is slightly different in that I am focussing more on the High Performance Human aspect. My guest is one of the high performance humans that I have the pleasure of working closely with in achieving their triathlon goals. Gerard Gallagher is a Partner and a Management Consultant who leads EY Energy business across Europe, Middle East, India and Africa. His role involves working with client teams from across 110 countries, and consequently this requires much travel. At the same time, he is trying to achieve his personal triathlon goals, and be the best father, husband, and friend possible. There are a lot of plates to spin (an analogy that you will hear me use regularly during these conversations). It is a challenge for all of us, and Gerard is not the only person in this boat. Many of you will face similar challenges, and hearing how these guests organise their lives will hopefully provide some ideas and inspiration.
We cover much ground including:
- How "reverse mentoring” works
- Gerard’s favourite books including “The Seventh Sense” and why the message is particularly relevant to current events
- When life gets out of balance - the mistakes made and lessons learned
- The power of mindfulness
- That moment in your life when you realise what is truly important (see the Nigeria video)
- Why Gerard prefers breakfast meetings
- How to become a talent magnet and start every day trying to put yourself out of a job.
See Gerard’s top 7 book recommendations from 2019 HERE (You’ll need to be a LinkedIn member).
In the podcast Gerard refers to a challenging time in Nigeria. Watch the video HERE and notice the shirt/tie combo.
If you are a LinkedIn subscriber you can follow Gerard Gallagher HERE.
Two books Gerard mentioned in the conversation are The Seventh Sense and Multipliers
To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE
To comment on this podcast, please visit Simon's Facebook page HERE
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes
For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com
Tuesday May 12, 2020
Tuesday May 12, 2020
Monday the 11th of May was a sad day for OSB as they finally had to admit defeat and announce the inevitable, the cancellation of the 2020 Outlaw Full. Iain was gracious enough to spare me some of his valuable time on Monday morning after making the announcement so that we could discuss the full enormity of this decision. Iain’s a longtime friend of mine and I’ve been involved in the race for all of its 10 years, so while we discuss the personal side of cancelling a race that you’ve grown from nothing, we also discuss the wider implications of COVID-19 on the sport of triathlon, and what that might look like in the future. Iain’s also candid about discussing things like the refund process which caused so much debate a few weeks ago.
Friday May 08, 2020
Friday May 08, 2020
Today we're releasing a special podcast, as I chat with Joe Duckworth, an airport firefighter who is spending the first 10 days in May doing 10 Ironman triathlons. Each day consists of a one-hour indoor rowing session, 112 miles on Zwift, and a 26.2 mile treadmill run. Why would someone do this? To raise money for the NHS personnel and show support for all their sacrifices. Listen in to hear why he decided to do this, and how he's getting through each day.
If you'd like to show support and/or find out how you can join him on Sunday for his final ride, you can find him here: Joe Duckworth 10 in 10 FB page
To make a donation to NHS, please visit Joe's Just Giving Page.
To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE
To comment on this podcast, please visit Simon's Facebook page HERE
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes
For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Wednesday May 06, 2020
In this week’s podcast the “Grumpy Old Coaches” are back as they let rip about another subject close to their hearts - coaching. Inspired by another podcast recently which attempted to answer the question, “what makes a good coach?”, our three heroes set about trying to find the answer that has eluded others. The long term benefits of coaching have been proven by scientists, whereas the rest of our advice has no basis more reliable than our own meandering experiences. We will dispense this advice in the podcast and cover such subjects as:
- Is a straight talking ’Northerner’ the best model for a coach?
- Why you should be careful about the advice you buy, but patient with those who share it
- The importance of qualifications
- What the hell does Dunning Kruger have to do with being a good coach?
- Should you wear sunscreen?
- How important is it that your coach was/is a good athlete?
- How much technical skill do coaches need?
- What are the key attributes of a good coach?
You can find more information about Steve Lumley HERE
Marc Laithwaite is a coach who also runs a running/triathlon shop - The Endurance Store
You can find more about both HERE
To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE
To comment on this podcast, please visit Simon's Facebook page HERE
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes
For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
I have always found running the hardest of the 3 triathlon sports to fall in love with. To run feels like a chore and probably has something to do with a period of years when I had calf and achilles injuries and running was painful. That is why I envy those who are able to just drop into a trance-like state when they run, and why I was so interested to chat with today’s guest. Sanjay Rawal is a photographer and film maker based in New York City who has recently completed the film 3100: Run and Become. Sanjay views running as a chance to breathe in the sky, re-connect with the earth, and shed anxiety while focusing on the moment - a type of transcendence we all so desperately need right now.
This was a fabulous conversation and it certainly helped me to view running from a different lens. You will love Sanjay's wisdom on:
- Running as a conversation between mind, body, and spirit
- "Running dumb" and finding joy in exertion
- How running's lessons translate to life - and what if the bumps along the road weren't the problems we think they are?
- The long-distance mindset, and what happens to mind, body, and sneakers over 3,100 miles of marathon
- The ‘real’ story of the Marathon Monks from Japan and the incredible 1000 day challenge which is simply a matter of ‘life or death'
Find out more about 3100:Run & Become HERE along with cinemas where you can watch. In the UK the film is available on Amazon Prime HERE.
In the show, we also talked about some of Sanjay’s other films. Challenging Impossibility is available on Vimeo HERE, and Food Chains is available on Vimeo HERE. And Ocean Monk which is available on Vimeo HERE.
We talked about the spiritual work that Mark Allen did before (and since) winning the Hawaii Ironman in 1989. This article with Brant Secunda is worth reading - 9 ways to be a shaman at work. There is also a video on YouTube that you can watch HERE.
If you want to follow Sanjay the best place is his Instagram account HERE.
To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE
To comment on this podcast, please visit Simon's Facebook page HERE
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes
For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com
Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
In this week’s episode of the High Performance Human Podcast my guest is the CEO of Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), Sam Renouf. I’ve known Sam for many years and in fact the first time I came across him he was seeking information on a triathlon forum about how to become a professional triathlete. This was pre-Facebook which will give you an idea of his longevity in the sport. Sam managed to live the dream for a few years, training with some of the world’s best under Brett Sutton’s tutelage in Switzerland, Thailand, and Brazil and in the process he got to know some of the world’s best triathletes. Having come to the realisation that he didn’t quite have what it took to earn money as a professional triathlete he entered the business world, eventually finding his way to the top of the tree at Active.com. The last time I met Sam was in Kona (Oct 2019) when he informed me that he was to be announced as the CEO of PTO the following week and starting in January 2020. Since then it’s been a whirlwind 4 months, dealing with the attempted takeover of Ironman, the announcement and then cancellation of The Collins Cup, and most recently the COVID-19 crisis. So, I was extremely grateful to have an hour or so of Sam’s time to chat about:
- The bid to takeover Ironman and what really happened
- How the PTO really works
- PTO investor Michael Moritz and Crankstart Investments
- The long term plans for PTO
- How the PTO has been able to help professional triathletes financially during the COVID-19 crisis
- Why the PTO are modelling themselves on UFC, and can Alistair Brownlee be the triathlon version of Connor MacGregor?
- What’s happening with the Collins Cup?
To find out more about the PTO Hub, please Click HERE
Read the press release here announcing the Crankstart investment with PTO
To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE
To comment on this podcast, please visit Simon's Facebook page HERE
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes
For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
This week’s podcast has several guests, all top-level coaches working with reasonably large groups of athletes. First up we have Helsinki-based UK Coach David Tilbury-Davis, who works with high-level pro and age group long-distance athletes. Next, we have the Smiling Tri Coach coach, Kate Offord, working with a large age group community. In third, we have Mike Ricci, all the way from Boulder, Colorado. Mike runs D3Multisport and has 9 coaches looking after almost 200 athletes. Finally, we have another UK coach, Matt Dixon, based in San Francisco, CA. Matt is the owner of Purple Patch Fitness and has a large group of coaches and athletes to manage.
Each of these coaches was gracious enough to share their time and provide insight into how they are currently working to manage their athletes and coaches, as well as their own health and well being. Despite having different bases and athlete numbers, you’ll find that they have all adopted a similar approach during the Coronavirus pandemic. To me, this is unsurprising as they are all high-level coaches and you don’t get to this level without having a certain type of outlook and philosophy.
Each of the conversations follows a similar format as we discuss:
- How each coach has adapted training for pro and age group athletes
- Managing expectations
- How and how often coaches interact with clients and other coaches
- Who supports the coaches during this stressful time
- At the end of each chat, our coaches offer tips for athletes and coaches
Mark Wahlberg & James Corden morning workout
Kate Offord - The Smiling Tri Coach
Mike Ricci - D3Multisport
Matt Dixon - Purple Patch Fitness
The Purple Patch Fitness podcast
To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE
To comment on this podcast, please visit Simon's Facebook page HERE
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes
For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com
Wednesday Apr 08, 2020
Wednesday Apr 08, 2020
In this week’s podcast Simon is joined by two of his old mates, Marc Laithwaite and Steve Lumley. Steve, Simon, and Marc have all been coaching for at least 15 years, so there’s a wealth of experience and a whole load of grumpiness that goes into their coaching. The seeds for this conversation were sewn several weeks ago as each of them got agitated over triathletes discussing how many and which type of swim drills should be inserted into swim sessions. They dive down a lot of rabbit holes, but the basic topics are:
- Gadget overload
- Why Zwift might be good for your fitness, but not so good for your bike handling skills
- Diet BS and fads
- Are today’s brand of Ironman one-and-done just box tickers who aren’t really prepared for the rigors of IM racing?
- Are marginal gains relevant for most triathletes?
- Silver bullets as “the thing” versus keeping sight of the basic essentials
- Buying speed
- Do you really need 10 training zones?
- Collecting data on a smart watch, yet not doing anything with it
- Ultra-precision in training, and zero precision with sleep and nutrition
So basically, this podcast is 3 grumpy old triathlon coaches whining about the behaviour of some triathletes.
To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE
To comment on this podcast, please visit Simon's Facebook page HERE
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes
For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
In this week’s podcast, I have asked some of my pro-athlete contacts to share their thoughts on the current situation. In particular, I wanted to know:
- How they have adapted their training given the current restrictions to group sessions and facilities
- Their mental approach to having no races in the calendar for the immediate future
- What financial challenges they face now that they have no opportunity to win prize money
My 3 guests include two returning guests who are based in Leeds: Rising star of the 70.3 world, Elliot Smales, high performance athlete Sam Dickinson, and also two new guests to this show! An Olympian, twice former World Champion, and now mother of two, Helen Jenkins along with husband and coach also an ex pro and Olympian, Marc Jenkins. These are 3 very candid and open conversations where we chat about:
- Getting some perspective on life
- Swim training without a pool - what the pros do
- To ride outdoors or not
- Coping without group training
- The mental aspect of being a racer and having no races
- How PTO is helping athletes
If you would like to join SWAT but finances are challenged right now or will be in the near future, please reach out to us by email and we will find a way to try and help, Beth@thetriathloncoach.com.
To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE
To comment on this podcast, please visit Simon's Facebook page HERE
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes
For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
In this week’s podcast we have another hot topic - mental toughness. A few weeks ago, superstar Ironwoman Lucy Gossage launched a new 6 part mental skills programme with her Sports Psychologist, Helen Davis. I have known Lucy for many years and watched most of her victories, and I always assumed that racing at the front came completely natural to her. As you will hear in this conversation I was totally off the mark. Lucy is also an oncology doctor currently working at Nottingham City Hospital so is experiencing the Coronavirus situation on the front line. Whether you use mental skills for improving race performances or handling tough life situations, you are sure to find this podcast very informative. Please make sure you read the show notes for details of a discount code that you can use if you wish to sign up with her programme.
In today’s conversation Lucy, Helen Davis and special guest, Masters Swim World record holder, Helen Gorman chat about:
- Lucy’s current work in the NHS and her first hand experiences of the COVID19 situation
- How the “iron-mind” skills are helping Lucy in her workplace at this very moment
- Why my perceptions of how Lucy raced were totally wrong
- Finishing 2nd at Ironman New Zealand on just 2 weeks of running
- Helen Gorman explains how mental strength can help with your swim performance
- When COVID19 recedes, how to manage expectations when you finally get back to racing
To find out more about the Iron-Mind course please click HERE
Helen Davis is a chartered psychologist and you can find out more about what she offers HERE
Lucy Gossage is a retired pro triathlete but you can still follow her on Twitter HERE
Follow the “Killer Shark” Helen Gorman HERE
To get a 5% discount when you sign up Iron-mind use this code —>> SWARD5
To find out more about Simon’s SWAT programme, please click HERE
To comment on this podcast, please visit Simon's Facebook page HERE
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes
For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com