Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for strength, resilience, and longevity

Simon Ward and Brad DeVaney

Every time I see a triathlon bike I look at the design wonder “what were they thinking” when they came up with this idea?

Have you ever thought that?  Today I get to interview the man who designed the triathlon bike that I’ve been riding all summer, the Quintana Roo PRSix (https://quintanarootri.com/collections/prsix) and the rest of the QR range.  His name is Brad DeVaney and he is the bike design guru at American Bicycle group, who also happen to own Litespeed titanium bikes, my particular favourite road bike of all time.

In today’s conversations Brad talks about:

• The dream job for an engineer who loves cycling
• Being mentored by Steve Hed and John Cobb
• The thought processes behind designing an aero bike
• What exactly is SHIFT technology
• Why a bike designer must understand bike fit
• Disc brakes and why we should all be riding them
• Why one 4mm Allen key is enough
• When owning a tri bike is like dating a super-model

 

Read what 220 magazine has to say about the PRSix here.  To find out more about the Quintana Roo PRSix click here.

For more information please go to www.SimonWardTriathlonCoach.com, or www.TheTriathlonCoach.com, or email Beth@thetriathloncoach.com. 

Legends of British Triathlon * Simon Ward and Mike Harris

This week I have another legend of the British Triathlon scene from the 1980’s.  My guest today is Mike Harris, who was at the top of his game around 1986-1990.  In fact, it was around this time that I started to take part in triathlon events and Mike’s name invariably occupied the top of the results list, especially if the race was based in the north of England.  He was British Triathlon Champion 3 times, and 1987 was his best ever year.

In an era when there were not really any full time triathletes, you could argue that Mike was the real life incarnation of the cartoon character, Alf Tupper - Tough of the Track.

Mike worked full time and yet still managed to complete well over 20 hours of training each week, all the while remaining happily married and bringing up 2 small children.  Even today, at the age of 66, Mike is still competing at local cycle and run events and is able to show many of the youngsters a clean pair of heels.  To this day he maintains his high work ethic, with a training load that would embarrass most endurance athletes half his age (including me, although I’m not half his age).

This is an amazing conversation with an athlete who has been at the top of his game for over 40 years and is still going strong.  I’m sure you will enjoy it just as much as I did.  Listen in as we discuss:

*Mike's first triathlon way back in 1983

*Open water swimming in the North East before wetsuits were introduced to triathlon

*Setting a British Ironman record in 1986

*Mike's daily 4 hour training routine, while working full time

*40 years’ worth of training diaries and why we should all keep one

*Why Mike felt ‘left out’ of the British Triathlon scene

*What the Brownlee’s said about Mike's training when they read his book

*Posting a sub 20 minute time for a Park Run and coming 2nd in the process … at the age of 66

*Why he had to write a book about his athletic career

If you want to find out more about the amazing Mike Harris he has published 2 books, “Sixty Years an Athlete - part 1” and “Sixty Years an Athlete-part 2:  Just filling in the cracks”.  Both are available form Amazon, Waterstones, etc.

You can contact Mike by email  mikeharris51@hotmail.co.uk.

For more information please go to www.SimonWardTriathlonCoach.com, or www.TheTriathlonCoach.com, or email Beth@thetriathloncoach.com. 

Simon Ward and Mike Reilly

If you have ever raced an Ironman then I’m pretty certain that the ONE phrase you wanted to hear as you crossed that finish line was, ‘You are an IRONMAN!”

My guest today is Mike Reilly, the man who came up with that phrase and who is known as “The Voice of Ironman”.  In this conversation not only will Mike share some amazing insights on his role as the man who calls you across the line, on top of that you’ll be able to feel the passion and enthusiasm that he has not only for the sport but also the competitors who clearly make his day.  Please listen and enjoy this conversation as Mike and I chat about:

• Mike’s first ever Kona gig in 1989 and how he thought it couldn’t get much better
• Why Dave Scott and Mark Allen are responsible for Mike never racing an Ironman
• The special phone calls he makes if he misses calling someone’s name at an Ironman
• Why announcing is like having a 1-1 conversation with every single athlete
• How he maintains his energy from 4am right through to midnight
• Why Mike never gives any predictions ahead of races
• Getting emotional at the finish line
• His 3 simple goals for every single race he announces

To find out more about Mike Reilly, please visit his website at mikereilly.net.

For more information please go to www.SimonWardTriathlonCoach.com, or www.TheTriathlonCoach.com, or email Beth@thetriathloncoach.com. 

Legends of British Triathlon * Simon Ward and Steve Trew

In some recent podcasts, I have been reminiscing with guests about the ‘early’ years, way back in the 80’s and 90’s. These conversations proved more popular than I imagined so I have decided to create a parallel podcast series called "Legends of British Triathlon". My guest today was one of the pioneers of the sport in the UK.

 

Since completing his first triathlon, Steve Trew has forged a career based around triathlon - as a journalist writing for triathlon running and cycling magazines, having 2 triathlon fiction books published, coaching and commentating for the BBC. He’s been there, seen it and done it all, and I’m delighted that he could join me today as we chat about a whole range of subjects including: 

• The catalyst behind Steve’s first ever triathlon in 1983
• How Steve’s swim/run background set him up perfectly for triathlon
• What Steve would do differently if he was starting out in triathlon today
• Writing the world's first ever triathlon fiction book
• Steve’s ground breaking triathlon camps in Malta which ran for 17 years
• Commentating for the BBC at the Olympic Games

If you'd like to contact Steve you may email trew@peorsnalbest.demon.co.uk.  You can find him on Facebook, Steve Trew, or check out details on his Training Camp in Italy via his Facebook page at Annual Personal Best Triathlon Camp, Cesenatico, Italy.

For more information please go to www.SimonWardTriathlonCoach.com, or www.TheTriathlonCoach.com, or email Beth@thetriathloncoach.com. 

Simon Ward and Gill Fullen

This week marks our 52nd podcast, which means that we are almost celebrating our first anniversary!  To mark this special occasion, I have a very special guest today. A lady who will inspire you because of her athletic achievements all the while overcoming a very serious personal challenge.

Gill Fullen came to triathlon late, only completing her first triathlon in 2009. By 2011 she had represented GB at her age group in the world championships and completed her very first Ironman.

Since that time she has won World Championship Gold medals in duathlon at every distance from sprint to long distance. She has also won Gold medals at ITU world middle and long course triathlon, as well as her age group at the world 70.3 championships in 2015. On top of that she has raced at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships twice and this year she will return to the Big Island for a third time.

What makes this year so remarkable is that in 2016 she was diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine mammogram, after which she had a mastectomy and months of chemotherapy.

She completed her treatment just before Christmas 2016 and in July 2017 she won the Outlaw Full triathlon outright, setting a new course record of 9hrs 44 minutes.  Just 3 months later she won her third slot to race in Kona at Ironman Barcelona. Gill is not just a remarkable athlete, she is also an amazing person. Settle down and listen in as we chat about:

 

• The not so natural move from karate and dressage into triathlon
• Competing at a very high level in dressage
• Coping with a cancer diagnosis
• How to train for triathlon while undergoing chemotherapy
• The similarities between training horses and triathletes
• Why most doctors don’t understand the mindset of triathletes
• Gill’s advice for anyone who is diagnosed with cancer
• The NEW cancerfit.me project which Gill is involved with

 

To read the full article with Gill Fullen in Tri247 https://www.tri247.com/triathlon-features/interviews/gill-fullen-interview-cancer-strikes.  You can also visit CancerFit.me website.  If you want to communicate with Gill Fullen regarding cancer or triathlon please email hello@cancerfit.me 

For more information please go to www.SimonWardTriathlonCoach.com, or www.TheTriathlonCoach.com, or email Beth@thetriathloncoach.com. 

Simon Ward on How to Avoid Over-Training, Under-Recovery, and Getting Injured

This week Simon is answering more of our listener's questions and focussing on subjects that have been very topical on the various social media platforms and always at the forefront of the endurance athlete's mind.

None of us like to get injured or ill, and yet these two major disrupters of training (and of a healthy life) seem to come around far too often. Some see it as a side effect of pushing the boundaries and chasing elusive goals, while others see them as entirely avoidable . . . while still chasing those elusive goals.

In today's episode Simon will:

• Define exactly what over-training and under-recovery are
• Identify 7 signs of under-recovery
• Highlight why you must recognise that ALL stressors are cumulative, and the importance of taking the correct action to minimise stress
• Share some simple tips for avoiding under-recovery syndrome
• Reveal the 3 key causes of running injuries and how to avoid them
• Explain what to do when you feel a niggle while training
• Describe how to return to training after a running injury

In the podcast Simon also mentioned 3 other podcasts which you might find useful.  They are:

Simon's chat with the ‘White Witch' Louisa Edmonston about the benefits of a full musculo-skeltal assessment with your bike fit https://simonward.podbean.com/e/simon-ward-and-louisa-edmonston-part-1/

Simon and Louisa continue their conversation chatting about how to strengthen the weaknesses identified during the bike fit https://simonward.podbean.com/e/simon-ward-and-louisa-edmonston-part-2/

Simon speaks with Olympic physio, Alison Rose about how to avoid injuries https://simonward.podbean.com/e/alison-rose-and-simon-ward/

To read more about the 7 warning signs of under-recovery https://www.core3training.com/7-warning-signs-of-under-recovery-and-what-to-do-about-it/

An awesome article about overtraining and under-recovery - http://www.podiumsportsjournal.com/2007/02/15/overtraining-under-recovery/

 

For more information please go to www.SimonWardTriathlonCoach.com, or www.TheTriathlonCoach.com, or email Beth@thetriathloncoach.com. 

Simon Ward and Simon Blackburn

This week's SWATcast guest is another of Simon’s triathlon buddies from the 80’s.  You may not have heard of him but Simon Blackburn has been involved in some pretty significant triathlon history in the UK, and recently he has embarked on another ground breaking venture which is sure to have an impact on the future delivery of triathlon events in Great Britain and beyond.

Simon and Simon start off by reminiscing about the good old days of triathlon and some of the great names that they both know.  Shortly after that the conversation turns to other matters including:

• Being one of the original founders of High 5 nutrition
• Introducing Ironman to the UK market with the first Ironman UK in 2001
• Sponsoring Luc van Lierde, the course record holder in Kona for many years
• Qualifying for Kona at Roth (the original Ironman Germany) back in the early 90’s 
• Triathlon racing on the A1
• Commentating from a steamed up car in the middle of a soggy field
• Simon's quest to banish the goody bag and single use plastic from races 

To find out more about Simon Blackburn and his latest triathlon project visit RacePerk.com.

For more information please go to www.SimonWardTriathlonCoach.com, or www.TheTriathlonCoach.com, or email Beth@thetriathloncoach.com. 

Simon Ward and Jack Maitland

This week I am speaking with another guest who is firmly rooted in the history of British Triathlon.  Jack Maitland has been involved in endurance sport for over 40 years from a junior competitor to an elite athlete and then onto an elite coach.

This conversation takes us on a journey of one man's life and the impact he has had on the sport of triathlon including:

• Representing Scotland at 3 different international sports
• An early example of polarised training
• How fell running training could help you to become a more powerful cyclist
• How a trip to Nepal for a marathon ended up in a lifelong passion for Yoga
• How Jack and I started working together
• Developing the best triathlon performance centre in the world
• Coaching the first GB athletes to win olympic triathlon medals 
• How a less interventionist coaching style can often get the best results

 

To contact Jack and find out more about triathlon coaching or yoga email him via jack@thetriathloncoach.com.

 

For more information please go to www.SimonWardTriathlonCoach.com, or www.TheTriathlonCoach.com, or email Beth@thetriathloncoach.com. 

Simon Ward and Iain Hamilton

In this week's podcast and ahead of this weekend Outlaw Full I managed to grab a precious few minutes with the Outlaw race director and One Step Beyond owner, Iain Hamilton.

Iain is part of the DNA of UK triathlon with his involvement in the sport stretching right back to the late 1980’s when he raced as a junior. In this chat we cover a wide range of subjects such as:

• Reminiscing about the very beginnings of triathlon in the UK
• Iain’s involvement with one of the very first UK triathlon shows, Total Fitness Nottingham
• Starting One Step Beyond as a college project at 17 years of age
• The beginning of the Outlaw
• Race Day nightmares faced by a race director
• How long does it really take to organise the race route for the Outlaw?
• How social media has changed the face of event management
• Why the Outlaw events have the best volunteers in UK triathlon
• Iain gazes into his crystal ball to try and predict the future for triathlon events in the UK

If you are going to be an athlete or a spectator at this weekend's event, please feel free to come and say hello at the event.  Simon and Iain will be hosting the race briefings on Saturday, and Simon will also be part of your race day commentary team.

 

For more information please go to www.SimonWardTriathlonCoach.com, or www.TheTriathlonCoach.com, or email Beth@thetriathloncoach.com. 

Simon Ward and Tim Heming

Our roving triathlon reporter is back this week as Simon chats with Tim Heming about what's been happening in the triathlon world recently.  In this week's conversation Simon and Tim chat about:

• Staying safe when riding on the road after a spate of high profile bike crashes 
• The ‘Horse on the Course” incident at the Windsor triathlon
• Drafting at ironman Austria, Suzie Cheetham’s response, and what Ironman did next
• The forthcoming European Championships in Glasgow
• Frodeno versus Lange showdown in Frankfurt and whether it has any bearing on Kona
• WTS calendar 2019

If you have any subjects that you’d like Tim or I to discuss in our next chat, please post them on the Facebook page, simon.ward1.

For more information please go to www.SimonWardTriathlonCoach.com, or www.TheTriathlonCoach.com, or email Beth@thetriathloncoach.com.