The Real Science of Sport Podcast: Recent Episodes
Professor Ross Tucker and Mike Finch
World-renowned sports scientist Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch break down the myths, practices and controversies from the world of sport. From athletics to rugby, soccer, cycling and more, the two delve into the most recent research, unearth lessons from the pros and host exclusive interviews with some of the world's leading sporting experts. For those who love sport. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Kenyan athletes are being banned, literally, by the hundreds. The country that produces many of the world's outstanding distance performers has a huge credibility crisis. It is clear that doping is widespread, but frustratingly, despite dozens of athletes being caught and banned every month, we are no closer to identifying how what have been described as "sophisticated doping regimes" are being managed and delivered to many of the best Kenyan athletes. In this Spotlight, the second episode of the Series, Ross and Gareth talk about the extent of the problem, the challenges faced by authorities who are casting their own spotlight on Kenyan running, and the shadow that sadly looms over Kenyan medals and records.
Show notes
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- The latest AIU list of banned Kenyan runners, as at 1 June 2024. This list has since grown by about 30 names
- A year ago, Kenyan government pledged to fight the doping problem with a significant investment. The bans now may be the result, but is it the solution?
- Rhonex Kipruto is one of the biggest Kenyan names banned to date. Here is the AIU Reasoned Decision describing the ban, including the results and graphs discussed by Ross and Gareth on the show
Olympic surveys:
- Here is the survey we have created for you to rate every Olympic sport's "athleticism" and attributes
- Here is the "bracket", where you choose your favourite Olympic sport in a series of Head-to-Head battles. We are now in Round 2
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Dr Geoff Burns lives and breaths running. From his own accomplishments as an elite-level ultra racer, Burns has spent years researching the biomechanics of running, the science behind what makes great runners and the impact of the new super shoes in this new age of running. Burns has a PhD in Sports Science, is a physiologist with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and is a researcher and engineer with a special interest in running.
SHOW NOTES
Follow Geoff on Twitter
The paper that describes the relationship between calf circumference and running economy
The Japanese study comparing the tendon function of Kenyans to Japanese runners
A paper that looked at cerebral oxygenation in Kenyan runners, another where the effect of being a good runner is hard to tease out from being a Kenyan effect
Geoff and ROSS collaborated on this paper, as discussed on the show, looking at barefoot vs shod running in elite vs recreational runners
www.geoffreyburns.com/stream
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Today we introduce the Science of Sport Spotlight, a category of podcast that we intend to use to round up all the big sports stories with a sports science angle, and then share those insights with you. Today, we discuss the news that transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has lost a case brought against World Aquatics' transgender guidelines at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But it's not entirely as it seems - the case was dismissed because Thomas is not eligible to bring the case as Thomas is no longer a member of US Swimming. In this Spotlight episode, Professor Ross Tucker explains why that is frustrating for World Aquatics and other sports, and why the Thomas case would have made an interesting test in the court.
Notes:
- Sean ingle's article on the decision
- The research paper by Senefeld that analysis Thomas' performance changes with testosterone suppression, alluded to in the show
- Another research paper, on which I am a co-author, which explains why the IOC Guideline on the trans issue is so misguided
- Patrons only: The discourse thread that mentions the Ultra cycling race won by a trans woman this past weekend
You can join the ongoing sports science conversation, and support our work, by becoming a Patron member at this link.
That Patron membership gives you access to our Discourse channels, where like-minded enthusiasts discuss sports science and news
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With 50 days to go to the Paris Olympics, it's all systems go for athletes, coaches, and media. Sean Ingle will be covering his 7th Olympic Games, and he joins us from Rome's European Track and Field Championships to talk about some of the themes we expect to make the news at these Paris Games. They include tech's pervasive and unavoidable influence on performance, a simmering feud in the world of anti-doping, and the evolution and relevance of the Olympic Games in the face of both external and internal pressures. We also present The Official Science of Sport surveys in which you get to vote for your favourite event of the Games, and our ambitious consensus project to classify the Olympic Sports by their physiological and psychological demands. A busy period of great sport starts here!
Show notes:
Here is where you sign up to become a Patron and get access to our awesome and informative Discourse community
The Discourse page, for those who are already Patrons of the pod (you sign in with your Patron log-ins)
If you want to join our survey to rate the Olympic sports for their athletic components, here is the link to the once-off survey
Our 'bracket' challenge to pick your most engaging, popular specific event
We spoke of tech in cycling on the show, and here's an announcement from Team GB/Lotus about their track bikes for their Paris campaign
Here's the paper with Kenenisa Bekele has a co-author, that recognizes that the new era performances, powered by super shoes, and aided by wavelights, need an asterisk alongside them
Follow Sean Ingle on Twitter/X
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Join host Mike Finch, co-host Prof. Jill Warner and Dr Dale Rae, Director at Sleep Science and a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Physiological Sciences at the University of Cape Town, as they discuss what good sleeping habits look like, what constitutes a good sleep routine, catching up on sleep, the effects of sleep deprivation and why sleep dictates mood regulation, body health and even weight gain.
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Dr Nick Tiller literally wrote the book on it, The Skeptics Guide to Sports Science (available from Amazon HERE). As an exercise scientist at Harbour-UCLA in the US, columnist, writer and author, Tiller challenges many of the claims made by marketers and others, in the name of sport science. With the team Tiller delves into the details of questionable sports science, how to spot the good from the bad and the areas where sports science is most vulnerable.
Follow Nick:
Web: www.nbtiller.com Instagram: @nb.tiller X: @NBTiller
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The team is joined by Professor Stuart Phillips from the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University and one of the leading experts on resistance training. Phillips is the Director of the Physical Activity Centre of Excellence (PACE), the McMaster Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Health Research and Lab Lead for the Exercise Metabolism Research Group. In this episode Phillips explains the amazing benefits of weight training, why even a little can reap big benefits for everyone and what sort of training suits best depending on your age, sport and goals.
SHOW NOTES:
Join us on Patreon for more content including access to our Science of Sport Discourse platform, and join the conversation!
Follow our guest Prof Stuart Phillips on X
Stuart's recent paper on the coming of age of resistance training as a primary form of exercise for health
A previous article on Stuart's resistance training research from his university
A few of the specific papers on strength training that were discussed on the show:
- Resistance exercise load does not determine training-mediated hypertrophic gains in young men
- Training for strength and hypertrophy: an evidence-based approach
- Low-load high volume resistance exercise stimulates muscle protein synthesis more than high-load low volume resistance exercise in young men
- Effects of once- versus twice-weekly eccentric resistance training on muscular function and structure in older adults: a randomised controlled trial
Instagram handle for Avery Faigenbaum, Professor of Pediatric Exercise Science, who Stuart mentioned as a good source of information
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A wrap-up of the best stories on our Discourse channel: Spring marathon season: The top performers / Should Eliud Kipchoge go to the Paris Olympics? / Why track and field athletes are earning prize money in Paris for the first time / Is the UCI doing enough to ensure the safety of pro cyclists? / China's doping controversy sparks division in the anti-doping world.
SHOW NOTES:
The Guardian story on prize money in athletics at the Paris Olympics
The Guardian story on the 23 Chinese swimmers who won Olympic golds after testing positive for banned drug
WADA statement on the case of the 23 swimmers
Travis Tygart from USADA releases a statement about WADA statement
WADA statement following comments by Tygart
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Building on from our previous discussions on optimal fuelling for endurance exercise, in this episode we go deep into the details of why carbohydrates are the rocket fuel for our bodies, and how we can take advantage of metabolic agility and different fuel strategies to unlock performance gains. To do this, we are joined by Dr Jamie Whitfield, a postdoctoral researcher in exercise nutrition and an expert in muscle physiology and metabolism. We explore how your body ‘chooses’ whether to burn fats or carbs as fuel and which carbs it prioritizes as we change our intensity and diet. We discuss whether fasting or feasting before exercise is beneficial, and we learn whether ketogenic diets hinder or enhance exercise performance.
SHOW NOTES:
Jamie’s X account: @jwhitfie
Jamie’s page at the ACU
The article by Jamie and a former guest, Prof Louise Burke, responding to Prof Tim Noakes on Keto diets and performance. The entire point-counterpoint is available at the link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38485731/
A research study that Jamie referred to that looked at how ingesting carbohydrates at different rates affected total carbohydrate use during exercise: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-022-05019-w
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In this special episode we join an exclusive panel discussion - in partnership with World Rugby - to debate the future of the sport as it battles to find a balance between the welfare and safety of players and the enjoyment of the game by both participants and spectators. On the panel is Dr Eanna Falvey, World Rugby’s Chief Medical Officer, and former British & Irish Lions Team Doctor; Kate Zachary, the experienced American women's captain and veteran of two World Cups; Ugo Monye, an English rugby pundit/commentator and former rugby union player who played 14 times for England, 241 times for his only club Harlequins and played twice for the British & Irish Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa; English Test player Sarah Bern, who was shortlisted for World Rugby’s Women’s Player of the Year award in 2019 and our very own co-host Prof Ross Tucker, who is also a Research Consultant and Independent Scientist with World Rugby.
SHOW NOTES:
The videos from the entire Welfare Week, not just those preceding this session, will be available on the World Rugby site soon. They're not out just yet, unfortunately, but check back here in the next few days for the specific links.
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It's one of the hottest topics on our Discourse channel but can World Rugby's new law proposasl preserve the spectacle of the game while still ensuring player safety? The team dig into some of the changes being trialled and proposals for more changes.
Plus ultra runners Camille Herron - who broke six world endurance running records on her way to a new women's six-day record - and Jasmin Paris - who became the first female to finish the legendary Barkley Marathon - have raised the question of how women compare to men in endurance sport. Is the gap closing?
Plus why did a group of 26 independent scientists (including Ross) publish a paper to refute the IOC's framework and academic paper on transgender athletes?
Support our work on Patreon HERE at and get free access to our Discourse channel HERE
SHOW NOTES:
Rugby rule changes on our Discourse group.
https://scienceofsportpodcast.discourse.group/t/world-rugby-new-plans-for-the-game/1197/4
Reassessing the use of the TMO in rugby
World Rugby wants to overhaul TMO protocol which has come under widespread criticism for bringing too many lengthy stoppages to the game.
Women's Ultrarunning
Discourse discussionon the Barkley marathon
Sean Ingle's article on Jasmin Paris' Barkley success
Transgender Paper
The academic paper refuting the IOC's Framework and scientific argument
Our Discourse discussion on the paper and the issues
More than 100 elite British sportswomen have told the BBC they would be uncomfortable with transgender women competing in female categories in their sport.
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Never-say-die Maddie le Roux may have been forced to give up her dream of becoming a professional cyclist until the Zwift Academy changed her life and her career. Here's how hard work and pure determination helped this bubbly 27-year-old turn a dream into a reality.
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Is the field of sports science facing a credibility crisis? According to guest Dr Joe Warne, key instigator of the Sports Science Replication Centre at the Technological University in Dublin, most of the research done in the field is unreliable. So what is the true picture, how can studies be done better, what role do journals play in ensuring better standards and how do consumers discern the good from the bad?
Show notes:
- Our Patreon page, where you can sign up for access to the Discourse and other benefits
- The Discourse discussion, for all the post podcast discussions, insights into sports science, and even training and injury prevention advice. For Patrons only!
- Joe Warne's original post on Discourse that inspired this episode (Patron only)
- Simona Halep is cleared to play. We'll wait for the full CAS Decision for more discussion of this decision, but if you want to read the previous decision that led to the four year ban, it's at this link
- For Patrons, via Discourse, more discussion about Halep's ban and clearing can be found here
- Article on the cycling race in Spain that saw 130 riders out of 182 not finish, and anti-doping had shown up. The degree to which the two are linked remains unclear, as discussed
- Joe Warne's Sports Science Replication Center website
- One example of a paper that Warne's group has had published on this issue
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Knowing how to measure and train close to your VO2Max may lead to big performance gains. But what is VO2Max and what's the best way to use it? We also discuss the latest developments around rugby's smart mouthguard and the announcement by World Athletics that they are trialling a new way of measuring the long jump which involves a take-off zone rather than a take-off mark. And no, it's not an April Fools joke!
SHOW NOTES
The New Science of Sport Discourse - a Patron exclusive, a community that we aspire to make the most well-informed forum on sports science in the world: https://scienceofsportpodcast.discourse.group/. Log in with your patron details
Become a Patron of The Science of Sport to get access to the community: https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport
The IFSC Policy on RED-S
Article on that RED-S policy, including athlete interviews
The Long Jump article re changing of the laws
The BBC article on the mouthguards in rugby. Full of holes and errors, a bit of misunderstanding, and some outright dishonesty, which we tried to explain and address in the show
The paper on the sub-2 hour marathon physiology that shows how those elite runners can get to 90% of VO2max for two hours
A more lay explanation of the 2 hour marathon, again discussing how close to max elites can run
Paper on how different durations of interval training affect Power, HR and RPE, which may be useful to guide your choice of interval session structure
The research study that shows how 8 min blocks at close to VO2max improves VO2max and performance, and that the more time you spend close to VO2max, the greater the benefit
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Can you make your own sports drink and what would be the right mix? Here's what to look for. The team also tackles (see what we did there!) the use of smart mouthguards in rugby, whether trail star Stian Angermund was really guilty of doping, why parkrun has removed some of its records from its website and if the controversial Enhanced Games has any chance of succeeding.
SHOW NOTES
Stian Angermund Doping Case
Reigning world short-course trail running champion Stian Angermund says he is innocent and “utterly bewildered” after testing positive for banned substance chlorthalidone after winning the 55km OCC event at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc for the second time last year.
Also the Quartz WADA crossover
https://runningmagazine.ca/trail-running/anti-doping-in-trail-and-ultrarunning-is-the-quartz-program-enough/
James Magnussen and the enhanced games
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/09/australian-swimmer-james-magnussen-enhanced-games-drug-taking
Parkrun removes records
https://www.parkrun.com/blog/news/2024/02/08/changes-to-statistics-on-the-parkrun-websites/
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The team are joined by renowned sports dietician, Australian Louise Burke, to discuss everything from keto and fasting to the latest guidelines in fueling and nutrition in sport. Burke has spent over 40 years working in the field of sports nutrition and is an academic and author. She was the head of sports nutrition at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) throughout its existence from 1990 to 2018 and in 2018 was appointed Chief of AIS Nutrition Strategy. Since 2014, she holds the chair in sports nutrition in the Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University.
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Welcome to the Science of Sport Discourse. A monthly wrap of all the stories doing the rounds on our Patreon and newly-launched Discourse channel. Want to be part of the discussion? Become a supporter of the Science of Sport Podcast on Patreon HERE and get free access to our exclusive Discourse channel moderated by Gareth Davies.
SHOW NOTES
The New Science of Sport Discourse - a Patron exclusive, A community that we aspire to make the most well-informed forum on sports science in the world: https://scienceofsportpodcast.discourse.group/. Log in with your Patron details.
Become a Patron of The Science of Sport HERE
The Valieva doping story - now banned for four years. Sean Ingle wrote the story that summarises the case HERE
After we discussed the case on the show, the full decision was published, which revealed that Valieva’s team had blamed a contaminated strawberry cake for the test. We’ll touch on this in our next show. READ MORE
The full decision in the case of Michael Saruni, now banned after trying to send a friend to provide a doping test
An update on the Enhanced Games, which, as you’ll hear on the pod, Mike thinks is complete “bollocks”
The documentary about rugby’s referees at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Well worth a watch.
Track and field will soon join the docuseries trend
Sean Ingle’s article on rugby risks in children, including mention of the call to ban tackling and rugby in Under 18s, and the mixing of age grades
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Swiss rider Marcel Guerrini is at the top of the pile when it comes to the world's best XC mountain bikers. The team take a look into his world to talk about sacrifice, training, race tactics and pacing. Guerrini is a regular top-five finisher at World Cups and is aiming to qualify for the Olympics in 2024... not an easy task when you come from the strongest mountain biking nation in the world.
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To kick off Season 6 we wrap up some of the latest news from the world of sports science including the craziness of world running records, UCI bans on in-turned brake levers, one athlete's crazy high VO2 Max numbers and why cold weather may increase the risk of concussion in contact sports.
SHOW NOTES
Letsrun article on the 10km WR of Agnes Ngetich
Article on the UCI’s clampdown on inturned brake levers
More detailed discussion of the implications of the UCI policy
The discussion about the insanely high VO2max reported in Blummenfeldt, and some chat about why it may not be entirely legit
The paper we mention that shows how many of the gas analysers used in exercise testing don’t have the reliability and accuracy they should have
The analysis showing that concussion risk in the NFL may be higher on cold days
Rugby start Louis Rees Zammit heads to make it in the NFL, this article explains the challenges he’ll face
Podcast that mentions Coco Pops as a pre-exercise ‘meal’ (don’t overdo this advice!), part of Ross’ tongue-in-cheek New Year’s resolutions (full episode is subscriber only)
Article by Stuart Philips, a future guest of the pod, on the benefits of resistance training
Interview with Tommy Lundberg on the same resistance training topic
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The team talk to Dr Zoe Schaedel on the impact of menopause on sleep patterns and how to resolve them. Schaedel has 15 years of experience as an NHS GP in the UK with expertise in menopause care, sleep problems, sexual health and contraception. She is an accredited British Menopause Society (BMS) Menopause Specialist and is a member of the BMS Medical Advisory Council.
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Join host Mike Finch, Dr Jill Warner and Emeritus Professor John Warner to break down the effect allergies have on sleep quality. The panel discuss the various allergens affecting sleep - from dust mites in your bed to cat dander - and how best to deal with them.
- Dr Jill Warner has a BSc in Immunology and Physiology and a PhD in Allergy from the University of London. She is currently an Honorary Professor in Paediatrics at The University of Cape Town and her research interests are in the foetal origins of allergic disease and environmental allergen avoidance. Dr Jill Warner has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and journal articles in the field of allergy.
- Prof. John Warner is a Professor of Paediatrics at Imperial College London and the University of Cape Town. His research has focused on the early life origins of asthma and related allergic and respiratory disorders. He has published over 400 papers in scientific journals on these topics. He was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology from 1997-2010 and chairman of the paediatric section of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology for 5 years until 2010. He is also a member of the Speciality and Training Committee of the World Allergy Organisation and a past Trustee of the charity known as The Anaphylaxis Campaign. He was a member of the Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes of the Food Standards Agency for 12 years until 2012 and was recognised for his work in food allergy research by the award of an OBE in 2013.
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In this case study Prof John Warner interviews a mother whose 8-year-old child suffers from persistent allergies. Could it be dust mites? Listen in on this consultation to see how allergies are diagnosed.
- Prof. John Warner is a Professor of Paediatrics at Imperial College London and the University of Cape Town. His research has focused on the early life origins of asthma and related allergic and respiratory disorders. He has published over 400 papers in scientific journals on these topics. He was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology from 1997-2010 and chairman of the paediatric section of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology for 5 years until 2010. He is also a member of the Speciality and Training Committee of the World Allergy Organisation and a past Trustee of the charity known as The Anaphylaxis Campaign. He was a member of the Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes of the Food Standards Agency for 12 years until 2012 and was recognised for his work in food allergy research by the award of an OBE in 2013.
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It's been a big year in the world of sport and the team wrap up some of the highlights, focus on the trending sports science stories (incl. Taylor Swift's unlikely running regime) and our selection of the best sporting events we witnessed and, would have liked to have witnessed.
SHOW NOTES
Article showing that cold water immersion impairs performances done about 90 min after
Nice visual representation of positive pacing in the marathon, with specific reference to the big positive splits in Valencia this year
The first salvo in the ketogenic diet and performance debate from Tim Noakes
The response from Louise Burke and Jamie Whitfield
The Systematic review on Talent development and promotion programmes
Youtube interview of Remco Evenepoel, as alluded to on the show
Or the Apple podcast equivalent
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Co-hosts Dr Jill Warner and Mike Finch are joined by Dr Simon Durrant, Associate Professor at the School of Psychology, University of Lincoln and Chairman of the British Sleep Society, to discuss the relationship between sleep and mental health, the most common sleep disorders and how to treat them and how sleep can determine your chances of getting depression.
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Join Dr Dale Rae, Director: Sleep Science, Cape Town and Senior Lecturer at the Division of Physiological Sciences, University of Cape Town, and co-hosts Dr Jill Warner and Mike Finch as they talk about the special challenges adolescents have when it comes to sleep time, regularity and requirements. Understand why teenagers sleep at odd hours, how stress affects their sleep and the best sleep strategies for the younger set.
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SHOW NOTES
Lug worm hemoglobin doping: https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/marine-worm-haemoglobin-could-be-the-new-frontier-of-blood-doping/
Interesting perspectives on sport as entertainment
Transgender Injury in football
Snooker transgender controversy
ICC bans trans women
MAIN TOPIC
Is the Wim Hof method effective?
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The team are joined by Dr Dale Rae, Director at Sleep Science and a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Physiological Sciences at the University of Cape Town, to break down the special sleep needs of sports, and active, people. The team talk about how to earn a 'nap' licence, how much to sleep if you're an active person, how to cope with jet lag and why early risers are more likely to succeed in sport. Co-host Dr Jill Warner also interviews former Olympic gold medallist swimmer Ryk Neethling about his sleep experiences and the lessons he has learnt along the way.
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From the producers of The Science of Sport podcast, comes a limited 6-part series Unlocking Your Sleep Potential. In the first episode hosts Dr Jill Warner and Mike Finch speak to Dr Allie Hare, a consultant physician in respiratory and sleep medicine and president of the British Sleep Society. The team break down the basics of why sleep is so important, the factors that affect sleep, why you probably aren't sleeping enough and the biggest sleep mistake most people are making.
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Former world steeplechase champion, Norah Jeruto, was recently cleared of doping charges despite adverse findings in her biological passport. Does this put the credibility of the passport at risk or is the unusual case a once-off? PLUS Caster Semenya's controversial 'tell-all' book and reactions, can you ingest carbs through your mouth and does the latest world marathon record puts the sub-2 hour within reach?
Show notes and links
- Summary of one of the interview’s Semenya gave in promotion of the book, including some quotes discussed on the show
- One of the very few reviews of Caster Semenya’s book that includes any mention of the biological basis for the controversy, rather than portraying it as a challenge of women with high testosterone
- The appeal decision in the AIU case of Norah Jeruto
- The WADA code that mentions prohibited methods including blood manipulation
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In a recent story on Outsideonline.com top cyclists are reported to be ingesting huge quantities of carbohydrates in recent years which could explain some of their amazing performances. We ask whether this trend is new, how super 'carbing' is done and how it may work for anyone undertaking an endurance event PLUS we wrap up the 2023 Rugby World Cup and explain why the Springbok victory meant so much for South Africa.
SCROLL TO 34:32 FOR THE DISCUSSION ON CARBS
SHOW NOTES
A discussion on Reddit about the Outsideonline.com article
A short explanation article from Asker Jeukendrup’s blog on carb mixes and increasing carb oxidation
The 2004 study that found an increase in carb oxidation when carbs were combined
The 2008 study that found superior performance when carb oxidation was increased thanks to carb mixtures
The study on marathon runners ingesting 120g of carbs per hour, with less muscle damage one outcome
A blog on that study
A final post from Asker’s blog with advice on carb intake, including a useful graphic explainer
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This week World Rugby announced that they will be including head accelerations measured by smart mouthguards into the sport's head injury assessment protocols used at the top level of the game to help identify potential head injuries during a game. This is how they work, why the tech could be a game changer and the challenges facing their adoption.
Credits: Opening clip Rugby World Cup Youtube channel
SHOW NOTES
Sean Ingle’s piece on the instrumented mouthguard technology
Two articles that explore the elusive (and likely impossible) concussion threshold And journals.lww.com/acsm-essr/fulltext/2011/01000/biomechanics_of_sport_concussion__quest_for_the.3.aspx
Russ Petty tweet on playing time of the semi-finalists
My article on the iMGs from the Patron page, now public
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Keith Lewis is the Laws Co-ordinator at World Rugby and Founder of RugbyReferee.net and is at the fulcrum of many of the law changes in the world of rugby union. The team scrum down to discuss how the laws have changed the game over the years, how to manage the balance between player safety and spectator entertainment and how new laws are introduced into the game. PLUS Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa established a new women's world marathon record at the Berlin Marathon. But how much of a factor is the shoe tech and how do we measure the athletic performance?
SHOW NOTES:
The article we discussed in the context of how running shoes have undermined all trust in the human contribution to running records, by Knopp
The comparison between different shoes, showing large differences within the same runner in different shoes, and between shoes
The paper that Jordan Santos-Concejero commented on, showing that reducing shoe mass makes a difference to running economy
The link between running economy and performance
Guest Keith Lewis’ details:
Email: Laws@worldrugby.org
X: @keithlewisrugby
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/keithlewisrugby
Website: rugbyreferee.net
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John Dobson is one of South Africa's most celebrated rugby coaches. As head coach of the Stormers franchise, who won the 2021-22 United Rugby Championship, Dobson is renowned as one of the most passionate and knowledgeable coaches in the game. The team talk candidly to Dobson about tactics, what coaches say to players at halftime, what makes a good coach, the clever way coaches communicate with players during a game and why coaching boxes have to be swept before games to ensure they aren't bugged. For the rugby novice and connoisseur alike.
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Having just returned from a week at the Rugby World Cup, Prof. Ross Tucker explains the amazing tech used to spot concussions during RWC matches. Plus the team discuss how the tackle rule is not a perfect science and if 'bomb squad' tactics further threaten player safety. PLUS latest doping news and a Vuelta a Espana update.
SHOW NOTES:
Simona Halep’s 4 year ban announced by ITIA:
Paul Pogba’s testosterone failure
Article on the concussion experienced by the AFL player discussion on the show
The piece that describes the “duty of care” arguments and whether such injuries should be thought of as footy incidents or preventable brain injuries, and at what cost to the nature of the sport
The first of three articles that Ross published on how head injuries happen in rugby
The study that found, among other things, that higher contact tackles are more likely to cause head injuries
The Head Contact Process Currently used by World Rugby for adjudicating high tackles
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Ron Rutland arrived in Paris on 7 September 2023, concluding the fourth leg of a remarkable (and not always planned) journey that has spanned a decade and four Rugby World Cups. Beginning in 2013, Ron rode from Cape Town to London via every country in Africa, then London to Tokyo, Tokyo to Auckland, and Auckland to Paris (via South and North America). It's a journey that has covered over 100,000 km, crossing 115 countries on six continents. In between, he caddied the longest hole of golf every played across Mongolia. Ron has seen and experienced it all - mudslides, heat, illness, adopted dogs, bus accidents, Himalayan and Andean passes, 100km climbs and even longer descents. He and Ross sit down in a hotel coffee shop in Paris to talk about his cycling journey around the world, fitness gains, calorie deficits, see-food diets, and the challenges overcome, lessons learned, and life philosophies developed along the way.
Show notes
The documentary made about Ron's caddying expedition across Mongolia: The Longest Hole
The journey from London to Tokyo is available as a link at the bottom of this page (it just requires sign up for a free trial, and possibly a VPN), including Himalayan Peaks and mudslides: Everything in between
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Ross is joined in Paris by Guardian Chief Sports Reporter, Sean Ingle, to look back on the recent World Athletics Championships, but with a focus more on the off-track news stories, including the state of anti-doping in sport, conflicts in the media zone, and the marketability of the sport and its athletes. They also look ahead to the upcoming Rugby World Cup, with Sean visiting France to set the scene for Paris' upcoming eleven-month festival of sports, and Ross attending meetings ahead of this weekend's opening fixtures. That discussion explores some of Sean's family history in boxing, the value of contact sport, and the challenge faced by all sports to prevent and manage head impacts more effectively.
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Why the Owen Farrell incident may well have saved rugby / Remco Evenepoel takes on the best stage racers at this year's Vuelta a Espana: Can he dominate? / All the best performances and stories from the World Athletics Championships.
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The Q-Collar is a device that is promoted to prevent concussion and "protect the brain during repetitive head impacts", and has been spotted around the necks of athletes in a number of sports, ranging from cricket to football. But do these claims and promises stand up to scientific scrutiny? is there a sound biological rationale for the claims? Should parents, athletes and coaches explore and use devices such as this to prevent brain injury?
In this episode, Ross explores the answers to the above questions with Dr James Smoliga, professor of Public health and community medicine at Tufts University. Dr Smoliga puts an intense and in-depth scientific microscope on the claims, and concludes that there is no quality evidence in support of concussion and brain health claims, and the foundational premise on which the product rests is flawed. We also learn that woodpeckers do show signs of brain injury, that studies linking altitude to protection against concussion are grossly exaggerated and misinterpreted, and, humorously, that NFL teams with animal mascots are less likely to see concussion that teams without animal mascots.
Show notes:
- Dr James Smoliga's university profile page
- The science and research page of the Q-Collar website, describing many of the studies James talks about in the podcast
- James' paper on the mechanisms used by woodpeckers to (partly) protect their brains from injury
- Study showing signs of brain injury in woodpeckers, despite the above mentioned adaptations
- The original study showing a purported protective effect of "altitude" (above 600ft!) on concussion
- The rebuttal letter from James' colleague that absolutely eviscerates the above mentioned altitude study
- James' meta-analysis that looks at over 5 million data points to show that altitude does not have a protective effect against concussion
- The paper discussed on the pod that uses the DTI method to show brain changes with and without the Q-Collar
- The 2021 study that failed to find a reduction in concussion incidence with the Q-Collar
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Day 5 from the World Athletics Championships threw up some intriguing storylines. An upset in the men's 1500m, as history repeated in the GB (actually Edinburgh Athletic Club) vs Ingebrigtsen rivalry, Karsten Warholm returned to the top step of the 400m hurdles podium, and there was an agreed tie for gold in the Women's Pole vault. We discuss the physiological fragility of the 1500m event, ponder fatigue and pacing strategies in the field events, compare Lyles 2023 to Bolt 2009, and Mike gives us insights on Hungarian goulash! Get bonus content on Patreon
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Mike is on the ground in Budapest, and the duo are doing LIVE Instagram chats every morning, discussing the big stories from the World Athletics Championships. In this episode, we go back to Night 3 to talk about the women's 100m champion and a press conference that Mike attended (and asked a question that got a prickly answer!), and discuss Sha'Carri Richardson's volatile relationship with the media, in contrast to her huge potential upside to the sport. We also talk about Faith Kipyegon's absolute dominance of middle distance running (bordering on invincibility), the heat and humidity in Budapest as a challenge to everyone from the schedule-creators to the shot-putter to the marathon runner. We also open the door on some anti-doping stories, including the potential for a new tool, and a brewing doping controversy.
These episodes have been recorded every day on Instagram live (so apologies for some scratchy sound, live from the field), and then all of them are uploaded as Patron exclusives, so if you're enjoying our coverage and feel like being part of the Science of Sport patron community, check us out and consider donating here!
Show notes:
- The article about a tilted runway in the pole vault - Mike and his spirit level are on it!
- Systematic review on cannabis and its effects on exercise performance
- The Sean Ingle piece about AIU and the new antidoping tool
- A brief article on Tobi Amusan's whereabouts failure and the prospect of AIU appealing the decision (the full decision is out today, more to come, no doubt)
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From creating a healthy relationship with food to eating for performance, looking after young athletes is a complex issue with long-term repercussions. The team sit down with dietician Dr Sarah Chantler, from Leeds Becket University, to discuss the challenges and solutions. A must-listen for parents and young athletes alike.
PLUS World Cycling Champs review, Owen Farrell incident and Richard Freeman ban.
SHOW NOTES:
News:
Owen Farrell incident video
Richard Freeman ban
Main story
Dr Sarah Chantler's Instagram
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From pro cyclists to runners and cross-country skiers, altitude training is a popular preparation method for a major event. But is it as simple as training high? The team break down the benefits, the science and the reasons why it may not work for everyone.
SHOW NOTES
Article on the AFL’s potential reduction in contact training
Article on AFL considering mandatory headgear for players
Kate’s caught my eye that looks at five case studies of navicular stress fractures in runners wearing carbon plated running shoes
ALTITUDE TRAINING
The research showing a reduction in VO2max of about 6% per 1000m of altitude gain, with performance impairments 14.5% per 1000m
The first of two good reviews, this one explaining the concepts and principles of altitude training
A decade later, a contemporary review of how altitude training and training periodization should be managed
The research that found that LHTL didn’t have any benefit compared to LLTL in cross-country skiers
One of the “skeptic” reviews calling for more research on altitude training
Very recent review showing that the responder vs non-responder concept may not be as simple as was thought, and that various factors contribute to the success of altitude training camps
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The critical moments that split the top contenders at this year's Tour de France rose more than a few eyebrows. The team take an in-depth look at the cycling spectacle, look closer at the numbers we know and discuss the merits of full disclosure by the top riders to help rebuild trust in cycling performances.
PLUS Migual Angel Lopez's doping suspension and more on the ongoing transgender debate
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Dane Jonas Vingegaard produced arguably the greatest individual time trial in cycling history during the 16th stage of the 2023 Tour de France. The team discuss the numbers, implications and the many questions that such a dominating performance raises. PLUS Carlos Alcaraz's biggest challenge in his tennis career after his Wimbledon victory, Caster Semanya's latest court victory and the recent UCI decision on transgender athletes.
SHOW NOTES:
Tom Dumoulin's assessment of Jonas Vingegaard's 16th stage performance
The power profile of elite cyclists. A great paper to understand what the elite guys are doing. If only we could see this for the front of the race on days like yesterday and today!
A paper on how fatigue affects power output in elite cyclists
A story that talks of the 97 ml/kg/min VO2max of Jonas Vingegaard, as yet unverified
Paper looking at how position on the bike affects speed at the same power output
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A rare case of CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in a young female sportswoman asks the question: Are women more susceptible to head injuries than men? Plus the controversy around an English cricket repor on racismt, the Ben Stokes stumping affair and how some sports are dealing with fat shaming among young sportspeople.
SHOW NOTES:
CTE case identified in a female athlete: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/04/first-case-cte-female-athlete-aflw-player-heather-anderson-diagnosed-australian-researchers
Research article we mentioned where the criteria used to identify TES were challenged
England’s report on racism in cricket
Report on Wetmore and body composition tests in runners
Swimming England bans weighing of young athletes
Enhanced Games initial report
The substack by Sarah Barker that describes how the US Anti-doping category doesn’t think a runner in the non-binary category is male or female
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From the Netflix Tour de France series to the death of pro rider Gino Mader and Geraint Thomas's bicarb blame, the team look ahead to the 2023 Tour de France. We also discuss the latest research into concussion and contact sports, Lance Armstrong's transgender series and an amazing, but obscure, running record.
SHOW NOTES & LINKS
Rugby league tackle height screwup
Death of Gino Mader, and understanding risk
Big new research paper on CTE
Armstrong on Trans issue
Geraint Thomas on Bicarbs
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From ultra-distance events like the Comrades Marathon to the tracks of the Diamond League, athletics records are being broken at every turn. The team drill down to the realities of technology and discuss its influence over these performances to put them into perspective. We also discuss World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz's cramping implosion at this year's French Open and why Novak Djokovic and mountain biker Nino Schurter seem to defy their own advancing years to stay at the top. Get bonus content on Patreon
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From ultra-distance events like the Comrades Marathon to the tracks of the Diamond League, athletics records are being broken at every turn. The team drill down to the realities of technology and discuss its influence over these performances to put them into perspective. We also discuss World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz's cramping implosion at this year's French Open and why Novak Djokovic and mountain biker Nino Schurter seem to defy their own advancing years to stay at the top. Get bonus content on Patreon
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In the aftermath of Evans Chebet's win in Boston and Kelvin Kiptum's sensational victory in London, the world of marathon running has been turned on its head. The team look closely at the latest results from the World Marathon Majors and ask whether the Kipchoge days are finally coming to an end and if the world record is set to fall again sooner rather than later.
JUMP TO 38:34 FOR THE MAIN TOPIC.
SHOW NOTES
CAUGHT MY EYE ITEMS
The article on bicarbonate and ketone’s combined effect on performance https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32735112/
Pogacar’s coach doesn’t think much about the bicarbonate benefit: https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/if-it-improved-performance-it-would-cure-cancer-pogacar-coach-debunks-bicarb-benefits/
Article submitted by Pratima from the Patron page, on how there is not yet evidence to adapt training to the phase of the menstrual cycle: https://www.mysportscience.com/post/no-evidence-to-adapt-training-to-the-phase-of-the-menstrual-cycle
The podcast interview in which Colin Chartier talks about his doping decision and positive: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/collin-chartier-the-exclusive-tell-all-e-p-o-doping/id1595443343?i=1000610466513
MAIN TOPIC
Sean ingle’s article on the super shoes, including the quotes from Chris Thompson about the effects of the shoes: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/22/brands-try-to-get-a-step-ahead-in-battle-of-super-shoes
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Around the world, the way that young talent is identified is often done without an understanding of how young athletes develop. We talk to Norwegian researcher in the field, Eirik Halvorsen Wik, PhD, from Cape Town's Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine at Stellenbosch University, for a close look at the challenges faced by young sporting stars, why there may be a better way to make selections at youth level and how to ensure the best athletes are given the best chance at long term success. Wik has previously worked at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences and the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre.
SHOW NOTES:
A news story on the Ultra runner who took a car trip for 2.5 miles mid race
The paper in which coaches are revealed as not being all that good at spotting good running economy
Our guest Eirik Wik’s study on injuries in adolescent athletes
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In the second of our two-part special on fatigue we examine Fatigue Resistance or durability. Is it just a modern term for an old concept, what does it really mean and what sort of training helps build it.
SHOW NOTES
Caught My Eye Segment
The Zwift study looking for remote research participations, as submitted by Gareth D
The third of Gareth’s submissions, looking at the helmet approved in Quarterbacks in the NFL
Main Topic (Skip to 35:48)
Link to the Ed Maunder paper that describes the durability concept
Some examples of papers that assess durability (as a performance outcome) in elite cyclists:
- Mateo-March paper with 112 cyclists over 8 seasons, showing that World Tour cyclists had much smaller power decay than Pro Tour cyclists with accumulating levels of fatigue
- 26 Pro cyclists over a combined total of 85 seasons, showing how Cat 1 cyclists drop off less than Cat 2 cyclists when fatigued https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33731651/
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Mental and muscle fatigue is part of every sporting endeavour. But what is fatigue? What happens in the body when we get tired and is it possible to push beyond our perceived limits?
SCROLL TO 19:35 FOR THE MAIN TOPIC
SHOW NOTES:
Caught My Eye:
The case of the cheating fishermen
The article on the fallout from the apparently botched doping case of Peter Bol.
The Swimming England announcement of their trans policy
Fatigue Discussion
My own review article on how pacing strategy is regulated as part of a homeostatic system
A paper on how neurotransmitters in the brain affect fatigue and performance
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At first glance the story of New Zealand's Zane Robertson is just another web of lies. But is it? The team take a close look at one of the most tragic doping cases in recent times. Plus World Athletics recently announced new rules regarding transgender and DSD athletes. We ask how does the decision impact world sport and particularly the International Olympic Committee?
SHOW NOTES:
Patron Joshua Stacey the long jump that never quite caught on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp7BclslUyo
Article on the underarm basketball throw that also didn’t catch on: https://www.sportscasting.com/rick-barrys-underhand-free-throws-and-why-nba-players-today-dont-follow-suit/
From Patron Travis Hawkins, on the Norwegian protest of their own athlete’s shoe: https://www.triathlete.com/culture/news/the-world-triathlon-protest-against-the-norwegians-was-filed-by-the-norwegians/
From Patron Travis Hawkins, on the Norwegian protest of their own athlete’s shoe: https://www.triathlete.com/culture/news/the-world-triathlon-protest-against-the-norwegians-was-filed-by-the-norwegians/
World Athletics’ policy on trans and DSD athletes:
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Over the past few years English schools have begun to introduce non-competitive sport in an effort to be more inclusive. But is that the right strategy when it comes to producing future champions and developing a 'winning' mentality? The team take an in-depth look into the evidence surrounding the debate and examples of countries that have already rolled out similar plans.
> Jump to 45:17 for the main topic.
PLUS RED-S in male athletes / Bicarb in endurance sport / shinty drug testing / Remembering Dick Fosbury, the inventor of modern high jumping.
SHOW NOTES:
Caught My Eye Segment
Jake Smith’s Instagram post about his RED-S: https://www.instagram.com/p/CpN0OeAIwH6/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D
The 1984 study on bicarbonate as a performance enhancer: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6094373/
A 1993 meta-analysis on bicarbonate: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8388767/
A 2022 systematic review on bicarb and performance: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34687438/
A recent article that contains some of Maurten’s promises and promotions: https://outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/maurten-baking-soda-performance-boost
Primoz Roglic’s glowing endorsement of bicarb. “With 600W it always hurts, huh?": twitter.com/jumbovismaroad/status/1630250918217408512?s=46&t=mS9SAzUee6t-Ey1G1XKN3g
The BBC piece on Shinty’s drug testing plans: https://www.bbc.com/sport/scotland/64805783
David Epstein’s article on Dick Fosbury: https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/the-fosbury-flop-changed-athletes
Main Segment
Article on how early specialisation and training rather than fun increases injury risk; https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2325967120922764
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Christopher McDougal's latest book, Born To Run 2, revisits the barefoot and minimalist movement that upended the world of running over a decade ago when he published his first book Born To Run in 2009. But what does the latest research say and is running barefoot the key to running nirvana?
SHOW NOTES:
Sean Ingle’s report after UK Athletics announced a “non-policy” recognition of the trans women issue and were corrected by EHRC:
The statement by the Equality and Human Rights commission
The Peter Bol doping story, as submitted by Patron Joshua Stacey
The Connor Benn doping clearance story, with much to be discussed and determined
The WADA study on clomiphene in eggs: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19440049.2021.1949497
The twitter thread that speculates about the use of biomechanics as a way to identify a doper
The article that is skeptical about barefoot running
Study on stiffness of tendons in cushioned vs minimalist runners
One of the reviews showing no injury risk difference between shod and barefoot runners
Study showing successful transition to barefoot running in 71% of runners with a 20 week transition programme
Nic Tam’s study on individual responses to barefoot running
Nic’s second paper on how individuals respond to a barefoot running programme
Nic’s third paper on the effect of fatigue on biomechanics when barefoot vs shod
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Author and motivator Richard Sutton talks about his experiences working with some of the world's best tennis players and within the Chinese Olympic structure. Sutton's unique insight makes for a fascinating discussion on what really motivates success and how it plays out at the top level of sport. Sutton recently released his third book 'Thrive: The Power of Resilience" where he draws on his experience to empower individual and business leaders.
SHOW NOTES:
Caught My Eye
Kara Goucher's tweet about Brody Buffington's banning for over-celebration
Article on Camille Herron's long run views, with some really interesting discussion on bone stress in response to training, as submitted by Patron Edward Price
Article mentioning Eilish McColgan’s rebound hypoglycaemia, submitted by Julia Littlefair and hopefully a topic for future exploration
Story on South African women's cricket player being left out of national team after failing fitness test, sent in by Graeme Smith as a Caught my Eye Topic.
Main Interview
Amazon link to the Richard Sutton's book
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Respected sports journalist and writer Clinton van der Berg talks about his journey writing his book 'Guns And Needles: A Journey into the heart of South Africa's sport's steroid and drug culture." Van der Berg shares how he managed to get sports people, accused and convicted of doping, to tell their story; how he found out about the shocking incidences of doping in school and junior sport and why both young and old are susceptible to the performance benefits of illegal supplements and drugs. It's a cautionary tale for amateurs and professionals alike no matter what country you come from.
SHOW NOTES
- An article about the "sport" of powerslap, as discussed in the Caught my Eye segment
- If you've got the stomach, here are some examples of why slap fighting is so indefensible
- Buy Clinton's book on Amazon here
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From sudden death in exercise to risk factors, screening and heart health in sports, the team talk to Dr Jonathan Dresner, Director of the University of Washington's Medicine Center for Sports Cardiology and co-Chair of the UW Medicine Cardiovascular Wellness and Prevention Programme. He is Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Sports Medicine and serves as a team physician for the Seattle Seahawks, OL Reign, and UW Huskies.
Show notes:
- The Caught my Eye subject - the bizarre and indefensible sport of "Power slapping"
- Four second power output and performance improvements study
- Article on "exercise snacking" as discussed in the podcast
- Prevalence of Inflammatory Heart Disease Among Professional Athletes With Prior COVID-19 Infection Who Received Systematic Return-to-Play Cardiac Screening
- Prevalence of Clinical and Subclinical Myocarditis in Competitive Athletes With Recent SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Results From the Big Ten COVID-19 Cardiac Registry
- A meta-analysis of myocarditis in athletes recovering from Covid 19
- Really good epidemiologist article on Covid and sudden deaths
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England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) recently announced a new tackle law which could have far-reaching ramifications for the safety of the game and, potentially, the style of play. The radical change, due to be instituted in the amateur game on July 1, 2023, has met with controversy but will it really put an end to rugby concussions?
SHOW NOTES
Prof Ross Tucker's view on Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/posts/lowering-legal-77489775
BBC story on Nigel Owens' reaction to the tackle law
https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/64365045#:~:text=Former%20international%20referee%20Nigel%20Owens,from%20the%20Premiership%20and%20Championship.
The Guardian story on the new laws
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jan/20/rugbys-authorities-hit-a-new-low-with-unworkable-change-to-tackle-rules
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In this first episode in 2023, the team discuss the pros and cons of early specialisation, alcohol and exercise, ketones and what caused American footballer Damar Hamlin's sudden cardiac arrest in the middle of a game.
SHOW NOTES:
The bicycling magazine article on alcohol in cycling: https://www.bicycling.com/health-nutrition/a42259477/cycling-drinking-alcohol-effects/?source=nl&utm\_source=nl\_byc&utm\_medium=email&date=010223&utm\_campaign=nl30130268&user\_email=011b810884e3e70b55fc3ab4cdb827f5f8bcb56bf8fd283524686fb8195fcc2f&utm\_term=AAA%20--%20High%20Minus%20Dormant%20and%2090%20Day%20Non%20Openers%20%28NEW%29
Armand Duplantis documentary: https://www.svtplay.se/video/jxkavqg/armand-duplantis-born-to-fly?position=10&id=jxkavqg
Zwift Academy documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wGa8Cc1P3o
My Patron article on sudden cardiac arrests and death in young athletes: https://www.patreon.com/posts/sudden-cardiac-76864053
Commotio cordis article describing how the events happen: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/194700
Good summary of Commotio Cordis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24760424/
Fascinating article on the Italian criminal case brought against a player after a Commotio cordis death: https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/12/06/a-cruel-blow-a-seemingly-harmless-slash-to-the-chest-resulted-in-the-death-of-a-hockey-player-in-italy-now-jimmy-boni-will-go-on-trial-for-manslaughter
The Ketone study showing how ketone ingestion increased EPO levels: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajpendo.00264.2022
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The team are joined by Sean Ingle, chief sports writer for The Guardian, to talk through the highs, lows, dramas and celebrations from one of the busiest years in world sport. From outrageous cheating and doping scandals to top performances at the World Athletics championships, the ongoing transgender debate, the state of marathon running and super shoes and who really is the great footballer of all time after this year's World Cup?
Follow the discussion on Twitter @sportsscipod and on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport
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British football journalist Ben Lyttleton literally wrote the book on football penalties. As the author of 'Twelve Yards: The Art and Psychology of the Perfect Penalty' and 'Edge: What Business Can Learn From Football', Lyttleton is arguably the world's leading authority on the subject. His encyclopedia-like and passionate knowledge of both the game of football and the controversial penalty, make this one of the most entertaining podcasts we have done yet.
SHOW NOTES:
Caught My Eye
The obituary of anti-doping pioneer Werner Franke: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/04/sports/werner-franke-dead.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Main Interview
The Twitter handle of our guest Ben Lyttleton: @benlyt, or https://twitter.com/benlyt
Ben’s website, Twelve Yards: https://twelveyards.substack.com/
Article on where to aim, high or low: https://twelveyards.substack.com/p/high-or-low-where-to-aim
Fascinating article with video on Neymar’s now illegal stop-start method, and his adjustments: https://twelveyards.substack.com/p/what-neymar-did-next
The curse of the superstar - why stars miss more penalties: https://twelveyards.substack.com/p/mbappe-culture-and-the-superstar
The study on English players’ failure in shootouts that kicked off this interview: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19058088/
Emotional contagion paper, and how player celebrations affect shootout results: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20544488/
The most famous penalty miss ever? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8WtxgFvvj0
The original panenka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxXWIZULgyw
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With World Cup football in the air, the team talk to sports data specialist Omar Chaudhuri, Chief Intelligence Officer of the Twenty First Group, about the stats and data that matter in world football. Chaudhuri explains how data has changed the game, what the numbers say about the best players in the world and who the form teams are for major events like the World Cup. Football fans... this is for you!
SHOW NOTES:
The home page of Twenty First Group, the company of which OMAR is CIO: https://www.twentyfirstgroup.com/
Twenty First Group’s World Cup Hub: https://www.twentyfirstgroup.com/tfgs-fifa-world-cup-2022-hub/
One example (of many) that do football analytics including expected goals, xG, as discussed on the show: https://www.infogol.net/en
The Caught my Eye subject - women’s boots and balls: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-63636201
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The team gets to grips with the inner workings of a top professional football team in an interview with Nick Chadd, the Head of Sport Science and Strength and Conditioning at Portuguese giants Benfica. Chadd offers a unique perspective when it comes to player management, rest and recovery, talent identification and, most importantly, managing performance. Chadd has previously worked for the City Football Group and Manchester City, the English Institute of Sport, Wasps and Sheffield United.
SHOW NOTES
Article on fatigue in football: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18416591/
Good concise summary of some of the scientific and physiological elements of football: https://www.gssiweb.org/sports-science-exchange/article/sse-125-physiological-demands-of-football
Link to the Special Football edition of the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijspp/17/9/ijspp.17.issue-9.xml?rskey=U0Zy5b&result=1
One article from that special edition, which details how muscle soreness and sleep quantity affect injury risk: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijspp/17/9/article-p1399.xml
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Does playing contact sports make you more likely to suffer long-term damage later in life? And does it matter? During the recent International Conference on Concussion in Sport, Prof. Ross Tucker witnessed two sides to a controversial story that has both legal and ethical implications. Get bonus content on Patreon
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In this first of a three-part series on rugby union, we discuss the women's game with passionate rugby journalist Jess Hayden. We delve into the rapid growth in participation, viewership and interest in the last five years, and discuss the unique medical and welfare challenges faced by women, and the research that needs to be done to reduce risks to players.
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In this first of a three-part series on rugby union, we discuss the women's game with passionate rugby journalist Jess Hayden. We delve into the rapid growth in participation, viewership and interest in the last five years, and discuss the unique medical and welfare challenges faced by women, and the research that needs to be done to reduce risks to players. Get bonus content on Patreon
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The question as to whether disabled athletes with prosthetic limbs can compete in able-bodied events has been steeped in controversy since the days of Oscar Pistorius in 2009. But since American Blake Leeper hit the headlines in 2019 the debate has been re-ignited with two groups of scientists on opposing sides. We speak to one of the world's foremost biomechanical experts - Dr Peter Weyand, Professor of applied physiology and biomechanics at Southern Methodist University in Dallas - to break down his side of an intriguing15-year-old saga.
SHOW NOTES
This week’s caught my eye, on Triathlon’s inaction on shoe technology: https://www.triathlete.com/culture/news/world-triathlon-confirms-idens-imwc-shoes-not-illegal-no-rules-on-running-shoes/
Some background on the Kenyan doping cases this year, including the “new drug” (old to cycling fans), triamcinolone: https://www.letsrun.com/news/2022/10/2021-boston-marathon-champ-diana-kipyokei-suspended-and-her-agent-doesnt-hold-back-diana-is-completely-guilty-i-am-sorry/
Peter Weyand’s Locomotor lab YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/LocomotorLabSMU
Peter Weyand’s most recent article on double amputees and sprint performance: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.220397
The “compromise” paper by Weyand et al prior to the debate and split in the research team: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00174.2009
Peter Weyand’s counterpoint response that concludes a 12s advantage to Pistorius: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/pdf/10.1152/japplphysiol.01238.2009a
The CAS Decision on the first Leeper appeal, including the remarkable claims about Leeper’s true ability (372 & 373): https://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Award__6807___for_publication_.pdf
The World Athletics Mechanical Aid Review Panel decision when Leeper appealed the first CAS decision: https://www.worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/world-athletics-panel-decision-application-from-blake-leeper
CAS Summary of the second decision in the Leeper appeal: https://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/CAS_Media_Release_7930.pdf
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Few have studied protein in sports as much as Prof Stuart Phillips, from the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Together with the team, Phillips shares some of the latest research on the value of protein in exercise sports, discuss whether protein supplementation has any real value in enhancing recovery and performance and what the best type of protein is to consume.
SHOW NOTES:
CAUGHT MY EYE SEGMENT:
WADA bans tramadol, now that the proverbial horse has bolted (The horse is from Colombia, and rides a bike): https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/wada-outlaws-tramadol-use-2024-maintains-cannabis-ban-2022-09-23/#:~:text=SYDNEY%2C%20Sept%2023%20(Reuters),on%20cannabis%20after%20a%20review.
Good piece by Matt Lawton on the boxing controversy, the fight that ended up not happening: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cadf7aae-44e9-11ed-8885-043c27446b97?shareToken=0fd65796afe945e5ad8a6e6c98d2c4f3
Article on the doping suspension and investigation of a Portuguese pro team leading to numerous bans: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/seven-portugese-riders-banned-over-doping
A detailed article on the angling cheating scandal: https://www.yahoo.com/news/lead-weights-and-lie-detectors-the-scandal-that-rocked-a-cleveland-fishing-tournament-and-became-worldwide-news-033353103.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMnouSCoCuNO7biPeFoeAg4JzCiXcWAF2pp0quSL3c5pBqL2HG-R8-UB2ZoJ5LEuhkcvZTC-2jUHv3LRIRoqgS5hDosIKtpYqGG3hXj3aRedy08l82XfFNjDo3zi3gt8v73hjXjuAiY9IGDwv99bCPg3xzqa4VJ_b8zHMWDK6I3r
MAIN INTERVIEW
The article mentioned by guest Stuart Phillips on protein supplementation requirements: https://www.clalit.co.il/he/lifestyle/sport/fitness/Documents/2004_ProteinRequirementsandSupplementationinStrengthSports.pdf
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From the young talents of US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz and Tour of Spain champion Remco Evenepoel to the good and the bad of commentators, the team wrap up a week of sporting action plus delve into how sugars are processed by the body during exercise and how to best to make them work for you.
SHOW NOTES:
Marine Doping Controversy link to story on the New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/30/us/navy-seal-training-death.html?unlocked_article_code=kiOrYVUmlzRdYjELh6prnMUVKRd2FVeZeOXb0NEm5THQ_FBpuuWKjDnBz-WafQLeOf1ALVzBSCrnGiIHsINBjfrO5ZRM5Bc12Lo5RkjYBoSM__xSlOImFPjkKpr25dq0dWUiLGucxRQD4Qwp2dZ1lyDPEsWGl8cS1KJ1eurUlIqEw-reYerQfvzUZL-oS1uRC53q5WBhbzsvWMqjLjZtaqVaL7DInOA722CpT6UyphjF5i5Vv9G4tQimDGSKfKPmoytPjEHKicR2n1e0MwZAOJk9fkiaMsra5Z1TtaCU_kus9WOkKOYA5VGjek1XIl0lFNOMpFlaDEG0mITzrQ∣=share-url
Best To Follow On Cycling Analysis
https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily?s=11&t=a7EZLuz7EjR6jo1Tj6mQZQ
https://twitter.com/naichacacycling?s=11&t=a7EZLuz7EjR6jo1Tj6mQZQ
https://twitter.com/cyclinggraphs?s=11&t=a7EZLuz7EjR6jo1Tj6mQZQ
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Elite ultra runner Jenna Challenor made headlines during the recent 89km (56-mile) Comrades Marathon when she crawled across the finish line on all fours to finish fourth. Mike Finch talks to her about her Comrades experience, how she dealt with debilitating long Covid, training and pacing strategies and how to tough it out.
SHOW NOTES:
Jenna Challenor's dramatic Comrades finish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULZQiAZF03A
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The team take a look at the world of endurance running after the recent Comrades Marathon and discuss why humans are so successful at long distance running. We discuss adaptations and physiology, how muscle is affected by long distance running and why long distance trail events are so different from long road events from a physiological perspective.
SHOW NOTES
Caught My Eye Segment
The article on the ball controversy at the US Open: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/aug/29/us-open-tennis-balls-row-iga-swiatek
Science of Ultras Segment
LetsRun article on the Triple Crown of Ultra running, including Comrades and UTMB: https://www.letsrun.com/news/2019/06/the-greatest-ultramarathons-in-the-world-the-triple-crown-of-ultras-comrades-western-states-utmb/
The study by Millet et al that was discussed on the show, showing how muscle function is affected by UTMB: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0017059
A scientific review on physiology and pathophysiology of Ultra running: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2018.00634/full
A Guardian piece on men and women in Ultra marathons: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jan/03/female-ultra-athletes-leading-field-women-less-ego
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The team speak to cardiopulmonary physiotherapist Samantha Holtzhausen about the role of effective breathing in life and exercise. Holtzhausen explains why good breathing can aid performance, reduce illness and even make you happier and then gives some practical advice on how to improve your breathing.
SHOW NOTES:
Caught My Eye Topic:
A paper that describes the second wind in patients with McArdle’s disease, who can’t break down glycogen: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24651984/#:~:text=Patients%20with%20McArdle's%20disease%20(McA,a%20few%20minutes%20of%20exercise.
Another more recent study on McArdle Disease, including the case that was described on the show, whose HR and effort levels both drop when the oxidative fuel supply kick in: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/782745
On Breathing For Exercise
Website on the concepts discussed on show: https://www.bradcliff.com/
Samantha Holtshauzen on Instagram: @samanthaholtz, @nhhpulmonaryrehab
Her practice on Facebook: NHH Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Practice website: www.nhhphysio.co.za
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From amateur to pro, allergies affect a relatively large proportion of athletes. But the latest treatments and protocols could end the suffering. The team talk to specialist allergologist Prof. Claudia Gray about the latest research and treatments, what allergies really are and the surprising prevalence of allergies among sports people.
SHOW NOTES:
Caught My Eye Segment on Nairo Quintana and Tramadol:
The UCI Policy in which the Tramadol rule and procedures are explained: https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/4dfXPdgyPYHuFUwsEpXO5v/2611cc440358c188af2746d6195659f2/part-xiii---medical-rules---01.03.2020.pdf
The USADA article on tramadol, including their request to ban it and testimony from athletes: https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/education/tramadol-why-some-athletes-and-anti-doping-experts-want-it-banned/
A paper describing tramadol use, including four studies on its effects: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8222773/#:~:text=Results%20of%20this%20study%20revealed,et%20al.%2C%202018b).
Paper on elite young Italian cyclists in which they (wrongly) identify tramadol as doping: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24184855/
Prof. Claudia Gray Interview
The IOC systematic review on the prevalence of lower airway dysfunction: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/56/4/213
A related article on the incidence of asthma in elite Swedish Athletes: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02770903.2020.1728769#:~:text=In%20the%20present%20study%2C%20the,%2Dyears)%20(11%E2%80%9313
Dr Claudia Gray on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_claudia_gray/
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How does exercise affect heart rate (HR)? The team discuss everything from HR drift and fatigue to a special interview with Heart Rate Variability (HRV) expert Marco Altini. We break down why HRV may be the best way to measure physiological and psychological stress and why it's opening up a new way of heart rate monitoring.
SHOW NOTES:
Caught my eye:
The UCI Policy on covid: https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/6J9stmEo2OIrC7tr8VqU2f/e471f21f58c91254b070daf24c3290cf/2022.06.27_COVID_Protocol_Road_ENG.pdf
The article by Alan Abrahamson on Shelby Houlihan and US attitudes to doping: https://www.3wiresports.com/articles/2022/7/29/americans-insist-they-care-about-doping-in-sports-and-then-theres-shelby-houlihan
Mathieu van der Poel on altitude and his TDF struggles: https://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/van-der-poel-suspects-altitude-training-to-blame-for-tour-slump/
News of a change in the RFU’s policy on trans players: https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/rfu-council-votes-in-favour-of-change-to-gender-participation-policy
Marco Altini interview on HRV:
The four-part series by Marco on HRV, explaining what it is, how to measure it, and a lot of case studies:
Part 1: https://medium.com/@marco_alt/the-ultimate-guide-to-heart-rate-variability-hrv-part-1-70a0a392fff4
Part 2: https://medium.com/@marco_alt/the-ultimate-guide-to-heart-rate-variability-hrv-part-2-323a38213fbc
Part 3: https://medium.com/@marco_alt/the-ultimate-guide-to-heart-rate-variability-hrv-part-3-5fe902f3d2b3
Part 4: https://medium.com/@marco_alt/the-ultimate-guide-to-heart-rate-variability-hrv-part-4-909b52f71131
The website of HRV4Training: https://www.hrv4training.com/
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09:13 - 2022 World Athletics Championships: From suspect timing systems to the accidental super shoe, the biannual celebration of track and field served up a feast of talking points including what the future of the sport may look like.
57:37 - Tour de France: The fans conundrum: Most exciting Tour in years or are we in the middle of a new performance-enhancing substance era? What we know.
SHOW NOTES
The article that caught the eye of Patron Liam Fergus, describing Ryan Crouser’s diet: https://www.worldathletics.org/news/feature/ryan-crouser-usa-shot-put-perfection
The study that found no relationship between fat-free mass and shot put performance, discussed in the Caught my Eye segment: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46403565_Body_Composition_and_Performance_in_Shot_Put_Athletes_at_Preseason_and_at_Competition
Sean Ingle’s piece on the shoes worn by Nigeria’s 100m hurdles WR break Tobi Amusan: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jul/25/tobi-amusan-shatters-100m-hurdles-world-record-to-reignite-super-shoes-debate
The Letsrun.com compilation of data suggesting something was up with the timing system in Eugene: https://www.letsrun.com/news/2022/07/was-devon-allen-screwed-theres-at-least-a-99-9-chance-that-he-was/
The 2009 Study suggesting a change in the reaction time allowed in sprint events: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278022260_IAAF_Sprint_Start_Research_Project_Is_the_100_ms_limit_still_valid
A piece looking at the contribution of doping, anti-doping and technology to the speed of professional cycling: https://cyclingtips.com/2022/06/why-has-worldtour-racing-gotten-so-fast-an-investigation/
Thibault Pinot’s comments on the two speeds in the peloton: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/there-is-still-cycling-at-two-speeds-thibaut-pinot-speaks-out-on-cortisone-and-ketone-use-in-the-peloton-490284
Joe Lindsey’s excellent article on Pogacar’s time loss to Vinegaard in the Tour, describing the CP model and the fueling issues that may have been responsible. https://www.bicycling.com/tour-de-france/a40632389/what-happened-to-tadej-pogacar/
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From understanding heart rate zones to the best stance for recovery, the use of TUE's in sport after the Rafael Nadal-Thibaut Pinot controversy and how heat training affects haemoglobin production in training. Plus much more. We answer the most intriguing questions from our Patron supporters.
Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport
SHOW NOTES:
The podcast we did on the DSDs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caster-semenya-explaining-sex-vs-gender-in-sport/id1461719225?i=1000437011090
A clear and concise explanation of the three-zone system of moderate, heavy and severe exercise to guide your zone training: https://drmarkburnley.wordpress.com/2020/08/31/exercise-intensity-domains-and-phase-transitions-the-power-duration-relationship/
The article showing that hands-on-knees beats hands-on-head for heart rate recovery and breathing:
https://journals.lww.com/acsm-tj/fulltext/2019/02150/effects_of_two_different_recovery_postures_during.1.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0i_syx_XpNN0jwsTHjFmwz1Kl9hSENWFYJJid0WRNbVci2WZ_3U9dh4mU
The article showing how training easy in the heat increases haemoglobin mass, even in elite cyclists: physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1113/EP088544?campaign=wolacceptedarticle
British Fell runner survives a body temperature of 18.8C:
itv.com/news/border/2022-06-24/man-found-clinically-dead-saved-after-leaving-blood-trails-in-snow
Article on the UCI change to, among other things, gear ratio rulings for youth cycling: https://cyclingtips.com/2022/06/uci-scraps-the-junior-gear-restriction-relaxes-tt-position-rules/
The comments of Pinot and Martin about Nadal: https://road.cc/content/news/pinot-and-martin-question-nadal-injections-293447
A paper by a sports ethics expert describing the TUE dilemma in sport: https://philpapers.org/rec/PIKTUE
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Former Royal Marine, Green Beret and now amateur cyclist Richy Poynter transports us deep into the mindset and training of an elite soldier. From physical fitness to both emotional and mental challenges, Poynter offers a fascinating insight into what it takes to make it through and how some of the lessons he learnt as a soldier have made him a better sportsman.
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From the extremes of cold water swimming to how the body loses heat and hyperthermia. The team takes a deep dive into the fascinating physiological effect of cold on the exercising body, how to deal with it and what you can expect when the temperatures drop Get bonus content on Patreon
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The team take on three different subjects in our new segment called 'Caught My Eye." We tackle the subject of how different rules and regulations in women's soccer can improve the quality of the game to the potential of African riders to start dominating world cycling and the relationship between sleep and concussion in impact sports.
Show Notes:
Sleep article https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/doi/10.4085/1062-6050-0078.22/482396/Prospective-Implications-of-Insufficient-Sleep-for
The study on brain oxygenation in Kenyan runners that Ross was part of: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28321639/
A paper analysing the Kenyan running phenomenon that Ross published: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264745551_Analysis_of_the_Kenyan_Distance-Running_Phenomenon
The study on scaling football in women based on physical differences: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00762/full
People To Follow
Marco Altini on Twitter - @altini_marco
Sian Allen on twitter - @DrSianAllen
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The team take a critical look at an interview with Simon Lockett, the person responsible for the racing footwear category at adidas Running. Simon leads the overall strategy, product creation, and go-to-market approach for both ADIZERO racing footwear and the Duramo franchise, and leads a team of expert product managers who work alongside design and development to produce the world’s fastest running shoes. But have adidas succeeded in taking on Nike and were they sent into panic mode when the US giant released the first super shoe back in 2016? Get bonus content on Patreon
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Excuses for doping are as varied as the drugs available on Amazon (yep, it's that easy!). But what does it take to be a doper? Are authorities winning the war and is American track superstar Shelby Houlihan really guilty of being a doper herself? The team unpack it all in this latest update on the war against performance-enhancing drugs.
Show notes:
Read more about the topics discussed in this podcast here:
- Ross' detailed technical analysis of the Shelby Houlihan case
- The Q&A that LetsRun.com does with Ross on the case
- The full CAS decision in the Shelby Houlihan case
- A review of the risk of contamination of supplements
- A second review on the risk of inadvertent doping through supplement use
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From top level cyclists to world-class runners and speedskaters, pro training regimes offer a fascinating look into what it takes to count yourself among the world's best. Recent research among top-level athletes is also leading us to question entrenched training methods as sports scientists continue to learn more about the way the body adapts and reacts to exercise.
SHOW NOTES:
The study of world class distance runners’ training - https://sportsmedicine-open.springeropen.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s40798-022-00438-7.pdf
A study comparing polarized training to a high threshold pyramidal training model, as mentioned in the show: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jonathan-Esteve/publication/237096628_Does_Polarized_Training_Improve_Performance_in_Recreational_Runners/links/0a85e530cba391399a000000/Does-Polarized-Training-Improve-Performance-in-Recreational-Runners.pdf
Marius Bakken’s website, which describes the Norweigan model: http://www.mariusbakken.com/the-norwegian-model.html
The training approach of Nils van der Poel: https://www.howtoskate.se/
One of Stephen Seiler’s early descriptions of the polarized training of elite athletes: https://paulogentil.com/pdf/Quantifying%20training%20intensity%20distribution%20in%20elite%20endurance%20athletes%20-%20is%20there%20evidence%20for%20an%20optimal%20distribution.pdf
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In this cycling special, we take a deep dive into the numbers that helped Mathieu van Poel win the Tour of Flanders, why new research on cadence has challenged decades-old beliefs and how sportspeople with heart problems may still be able to compete at the top level thanks to modern technology. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Transgender athlete Lia Thomas recently won the 500-yard title at the US National College Swimming (NCAA) Championships triggering an uproar and suggesting that her participation may have wide-ranging implications for women's sport. At the recent MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston, Prof. Ross Tucker was invited as a guest to discuss the transgender issue in sport and discusses the issue here in the context of the Thomas affair. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Viewership figures are down, fewer cities want to host them and their integrity is being seriously challenged. What does the future of the Winter and Summer Olympic Games look like? The team talk to the Chief Sports Reporter of the UK's The Guardian, Sean Ingle, and renowned author, journalist and columnist David Epstein to present the facts and the challenges facing the Games and potentially the solutions to help them survive. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Prof. Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch break down the various forms of energy the body uses, how they work, how we fuel them and when to use what. Plus learn to decipher the ingredients in energy supplements, understand why carbs are still king and how best to train your body to become an efficient endurance machine. A must-listen for any endurance athlete. Get bonus content on Patreon
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What makes world-class ice hockey players, cross-country skiers or biathletes? We ask two experts to help explain the special set of skills needed to compete at the top level, the challenges athletes face and the training they do to compete. If you've never understood anything about the Winter Olympics here's your chance to take a deep dive into three of the most fascinating disciplines.
Guest Biographies:
Tommy Lundberg is a consultant to the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation along with his job as a lecturer and researcher at the Division of Clinical Physiology at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Follow him on Twitter @TLexercise
Kerry McGawley is a senior researcher and Associate Professor at Sweden's Winter Sports Research Centre. She is actively involved in performance development among Sweden's top winter sports athletes. Follow her on Twitter @KerryMcGawley
Support the Science of Sport podcast https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport
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Welcome to endurance month! In this episode the team break down the mechanics of endurance, the five challenges that long-distance athletes face, how the body changes the longer we exercise and why humans are more adapted to going long than any other living creature on the planet. We also ask whether excessive exercise is always good for you and look back at the lessons learnt from endurance athletes of yesteryear. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Welcome to Season 4 of the Science of Sport Podcast! So what happens to our bodies when the temperatures go up? The team dig into the mechanics of exercising in hot conditions, how to cope with extremes, the differences are between heat stroke and heat exhaustion, when it's too hot to train and why sporting event organisers should all have a heat policy to safeguard participants. Get bonus content on Patreon
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In this bonus episode, Ross shares brief thoughts on the latest, inevitable and increasingly volatile controversy in the transgender athlete debate. Swimmer Lia Thomas has been shattering university records, setting the fastest times in the USA, and is well on the way to becoming the highest profile trans women athlete to date. Her times as Lia are within sight not only of legends of US women's swimming, but also very close to what she swam as Will Thomas, prior to a period of suppressing testosterone to become eligible for women's sport. This confirms what science has shown, that biological and performance advantages of males cannot be undone by a period of testosterone suppression. What next? Ross shares some insights, explaining how Thomas is the result of a system that has failed women from the top, how women are now being told to hold their thoughts, science be damned, and why the argument about winning and being unbeatable is spurious, and how Thomas refutes an old and incorrect rebuttal saying "if there is an advantage, where are all the medalists?". Also, a 2021 Christmas wish, and thanks for listening to the podcast in 2021. Get bonus content on Patreon
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In this bonus episode, Ross sits down with Dr Emma Hilton, a developmental biologist who has outspokenly defended women's sport and explained the science and physiology of male vs female sporting performance differences. In a candid conversation, she shares insights ranging from political to philosophical, both personal and scientific. Why is the recent IOC Framework such a failure of leadership and setback for women? What do we make of trans men in men's sport? How should sports respond to sex reassignment during childhood? What are the most compelling arguments for and against inclusion, and how should fallacies like the length of Michael Phelps' arms steer our thinking about fairness in sport, and the need to protect the women's sporting category? All these questions, and more, answered in this wide ranging interview, which was initially broadcast live on Twitter Spaces on 25 November. Get bonus content on Patreon
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced controversial new transgender guidelines which could threaten the future of women's sport. But what does the evidence say and why did the IOC ignore the science? Mike Finch and Prof. Ross Tucker explain all. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Responders and non-responders are easily identified but poorly understood. Elite coach and sports scientist John Kiely from the Institute of Coaching & Performance, University of Central Lancashire, discusses why our response to training is about more than just genetics, offers tips on how to change mindset and trust in the process and if neurobiology can unlock training benefits for all. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Coaching development specialist Stuart Armstrong, of Sport England, discusses the role of sport in childhood development with Prof. Ross Tucker. The two answer controversial questions from our Patreon supporters and delve into the murky world of early recruitment and why healthy sport has nothing to do with future champions. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Lachlan Morton is an Australian cyclist famous for taking on audacious endurance challenges, including his recent solo 5500km Alt. Tour de France. In this interview Morton talks about his philosophy, how he gets through the tough moments and how he and his EF Education-Nippo team come up with his crazy challenges. Funny and inspiring, Morton is a unique voice in the world of professional sport. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Stuart Armstrong has made a career coaching sport and his role at Sport England is to help coach the coaches and make sport and exercise accessible to all. In this interview, Armstrong talks through the challenges of balancing the thirst for future champions and creating a healthy environment for kids and teenagers to thrive... no matter what their ability. It's a must-listen for parents, coaches and administrators alike.
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In the ongoing debate and discussion about the risk of injury in rugby, many people have suggested that cutting the number of substitutes is the easiest and most obvious "fix". The truth, however, is a little more complex than this, because there are grounds to suggest that doing this will backfire and make the situation worse, not better. That's why decision-makers in the sport have to prioritize evidence when making decisions. In this bonus episode, Ross shares the two models in play for the substitute-case, and explains how research is needed to identify which model holds sway, and what this means for player welfare decisions in the sport. Get bonus content on Patreon
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In this follow-up podcast, sleep science specialist Dr Dale Rae returns to answer all your questions from polyphasic sleeping, eating right for your sleep type, finding your optimum sleep time and coping with frustrating 3am insomnia.
Follow Sleep Science on Instagram on @sleepscience_ or visit their website on www.sleepscience.co.za
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All Black legend Conrad Smith, from the International Rugby Players body, talks to Prof. Ross Tucker on World Rugby's newly-released guidelines for contact in rugby training, how it will hopefully impact player welfare and why the new guidelines are not as radical as they, at first, seem.
The contact load guidelines we discuss can be found at this link: https://www.world.rugby/the-game/player-welfare/medical/contact-load
And the full guideline document (which we encourage you to read) available here: https://resources.world.rugby/worldrugby/document/2021/09/22/d2bd955b-1a87-438d-805b-398e3e099752/210806-Contact-Load-guidelines-final-for-website-.pdf
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The UK Sports Councils have released guidelines on transgender participation in sport, following an exhaustive and comprehensive review process. The two key points made are: 1) to confirm that the current policy that suppresses testosterone for twelve months is not fit for purpose, because advantages are retained even after testosterone is reduced, and 2) that "categorization by sex is lawful" (it also states that this categorization remains the most useful and functional division relative to sporting performance.
The implications of those two statements alone are profound, and they effectively mandate the sports to make a choice between three options, also offered in the guidelines. In this bonus episode, Ross explains what they are, what this all means, and perhaps most importantly, discusses revelations from the report about fear and anxiety from those who don't believe in inclusion and fairness, and how they've been threatened into silence or compliance on this issue. That should be alarming, but the presence of this report should be encouraging. What happens next? Nobody knows, but this podcast has you covered for where we are now.
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American Neal Henderson is one of the most celebrated coaches in endurance sports - particularly triathlon and cycling. Having coached pros like cyclists Rohan Dennis and Evelyn Stevens to Hour records (and most recently bronze in the Olympic time trial for Dennis), Henderson has trained all levels from first-time finishers to national and World champions and several Olympians. He most recently travelled to the Tokyo Olympics for the Australian cycling team but has served on multiple coaching committees for both USA cycling and triathlon. He is currently the head of sport science at Wahoo with a strong interest in using science in his coaching methods. Ross caught up with him at his home in Boulder, Colorado. Get bonus content on Patreon
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From weight loss to fuelling for performance, the team demystify the world of sports nutrition with leading sports nutrition specialist Prof. Graeme Close. Close is a Professor in Human Physiology at Liverpool's John Moores University where he combines his academic research with nutrition and physiology consultancy to some of the worlds leading sporting individuals and organisations. As well as a masters degree in sports nutrition Close is currently the expert nutrition consultant to England Rugby, has been the lead nutritionist to Everton Football Club and works with some of the worlds leading golfers such as Jason Day, the British Number 1 tennis player Johanna Konta and with many Rugby League players. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Climbing makes its debut at the Tokyo Olympics and the format is both controversial and fascinating. Here's all you need to know about one of the four new sports being showcased in 2022 from UK-based climbing specialist Ollie Torr.
Ollie is one of the founders of Lattice Training, and also works as a coach within the company. With an extensive list of qualifications and experience to his name, Ollie’s knowledge within the field of coaching, training and sports science is extensive. He has an undergrad degree in Sports Science (First Class Honours), a Masters degree in Strength and Conditioning (Distinction), holds a Personal Training Level 3 qualification and is a Mountain Training Development coach. Alongside that, he has worked as a Personal Trainer for a variety of athletes over many years, deciding to specialise as a climbing coach around 10 years ago. Ollie has coached numerous junior and senior athletes, including the GB National Youth Climbing Team.
Ollie’s own climbing repertoire is varied and impressive. With 12 years of climbing under his belt, Ollie has climbed Fat Lip V13, Mecca Extension 8c, and has some memorable experiences on the North Face of the Eiger. One of his major goals is to climb some hard Alpine multi-pitch routes and Action Direct 9a at Frankenjura.
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Stuart McMillan is one of the world's most respected sprint coaches. Currently in his 25th year of professional coaching, McMillan has worked with professional and amateur athletes in a variety of sports - with the focus being on power and speed development. He is an accredited S&C and Sprints Coach and has personally coached over 70 Olympians at 7 Olympic Games; over 30 of whom have won Olympic medals. The team take an in-depth look at the science and technique of track sprinting, how the fast train, what motivates them and the psychology that helps them win at the top level. Get bonus content on Patreon
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The team are joined by gymnastics coach, biomechanist and former competitor Dr Helen Bayne to talk through the scoring systems, debate the controversies and pick the favourites for this year's Tokyo Games. PLUS: Is Simone Biles really the greatest gymnast of all time? Get bonus content on Patreon
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SOS Podcast co-host Prof. Ross Tucker took on the challenge of riding half the distance of each 2021 Tour de France stage to see how he would cope. This is what he discovered about himself, his body and his mind after over 60 hours of riding in three weeks. PLUS the team wrap up the 2021 Tour de France, look at the top performers and ask the questions on everyone's lips. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Slovenian Tadej Pogačar has dominated the 2021 Tour de France but questions about his performance remain given cycling's doping history. How much do we know? What can cycling do to become more transparent and is seeing really believing? The team also catch up with all the latest Olympic news including the recent State of Emergency announced in Tokyo, new confirmed doping violations and two teenage athletes who will be forced to change events after being confirmed as having a DSD condition.
SHOW NOTES:
For more in-depth cycling analysis follow https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily
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The 2021 Tour de France has highlighted the spread of ages among the leading contenders from 41-year-old Alejandro Valverde to defending champion Tadej Pogacar: How normal is this and how do riders extend their careers? The team also investigate the crash-prone first week and look at whether there is any such thing as perfect cycling genetics. Get bonus content on Patreon
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The 2021 Tour de France is set to be a battle of the all-rounders with less climbing and more time trialling: The team look at the form book and the course, discuss the different training strategies of the favourites and pick the contenders. PLUS... Olympic organisers set to allow non-cheering spectators while the controversy over New Zealand's transgender weightlifter, Laurel Hubbard, rages on Get bonus content on Patreon
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When Danish football star Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during a Euro 2020 clash it raised the question of sudden cardiac arrest in world-class sportsmen and women: But how often does it happen, who is at risk and what could have caused it? The team also discuss the positive dope test of American track star Shelby Houlihan and how super spikes may be distorting track records. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Whether it's endurance, strength or agility, defining 'fit' is a complex subject. The team talk through definitions, how fitness depends on your discipline or lifestyle, how to know if you're fit and when fitness goes too far. Get bonus content on Patreon
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When it comes to fitness it's a case of use it... or lose it! But how fast do we lose fitness, how can we limit the damage when we take time off and is there such a thing as muscle memory?
SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:
Kramer et al 2017 - an amazing study where people were given bed rest for 60 days, and various physiological measures were assessed before and after. This study found that even 3 min of hopping six days a week cut these changes enormously: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-13659-8
Chi et al 1983 - this is the study we discuss where 6 to 12 weeks off causes the oxidative enzymes to drop significantly, but they still remain well above the levels of never-trained people: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6829750/
Maldonado-Martin 2017 - this is the study on elite cyclists who stopped for the 4 week off season, and VO2max, RBC, Skinfolds and peak power were among the variables measured: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27476326/
Garcia-Palleres 2009 - the kayaking study, where some elite kayakers stopped training entirely, others did about 20% to 30% of their normal training and cut their losses in half: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19997013/
Houmard et al 1990 - a study on runners where keeping the intensity of training the same allowed for certain performances to be defended even though volume was cut down significantly: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2318562/
Madsen et al 1993 - another runner study, this one showing how high intensity training defends high intensity physiology, but the fat oxidation and endurance capacity drops off significantly: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/jappl.1993.75.4.1444
Henwood et al 2008 - one of the two strength training studies we discuss, where detraining and then retraining is able to return strength to pre-detraining levels within about half the time it took to lose it: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18693231/
Blocquiaux et al 2020 - the other strength study, which also found a drop in strength that could be regained in about half the time it took to lose it: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32017951/
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Allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sporting competitions has created a storm of controversy around human rights. The team get to grips with the facts around moves to prevent transgender athletes from competing in certain women's sports and why fairness, and even safety, are at stake. We also unpack recent comments made by American comedian and social commentator, Sarah Silverman, and explain why she got it so wrong Get bonus content on Patreon
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Disordered eating is common among sportspeople, both amateur and professional. The team talk to dietician and psychologist, Kim Hofmann, about why most people experience it, how to identify bad habits and the secrets of a healthy - and sustainable - eating plan.
Recommended reading:
Geneen Roth, Breaking Free From Emotional Eating
Jan Chozen Bays, Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy Joyful Relationship with Food
Linda Kaye, The Daily Dare for Eating Disorders
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With thousands of studies being conducted around the Covid pandemic, many are now finally producing results. Prof. Ross Tucker and co-host Mike Finch look at the latest research in sport and if fitness level can help mitigate the severity of both Covid and other diseases.
SHOW NOTES
The “open window” debate: A debate between scientists about the validity of the Open Window hypothesis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32139352/
Inflammatory heart disease in professional athletes with COVID-19 infections - this is the study on 789 USA pro sports athletes: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2777308
Cardiac involvement in young athletes with COVID - this is the study in college aged athletes in the USA: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.054824
Ben Jones’ studies on transmission of COVID19 in rugby league: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2021/02/10/bjsports-2020-103714
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In this episode, the team answer your questions. We tackle the effects of the Covid pandemic on elite sport progression, whether the mind is capable of pushing the body to greater performance, how delayed specialisation may benefit young sportspeople and the importance of self talk no matter what your sport.
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When the UK Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) recently found former Team Sky and British Cycling head doctor, Dr Richard Freeman, guilty of illegally ordering testosterone for an unnamed rider, it sent shock waves through British sport. The team talk to renowned sports journalist Sean Ingle of The Guardian who followed the case closely for almost two years. Ingle offers a fascinating insight into the testimonies that he witnessed and what the future may hold for British Cycling. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Sleep, and the quality of it, can dictate everything from our moods to our sporting performances. Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch interview sleep science expert Dr Dale Rae for a deep dive into the importance of sleep, the effects of poor sleeping habits, how genes can dictate whether we are larks or owls, practical tips on getting better quality naps and if modern tech really works for monitoring our sleep patterns.
To support this podcast visit our Patreon site at https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport
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We asked our Patreon community to pose their most vexing sport science questions so that we could answer them. Prof Tucker and Mike Finch discuss everything from salty sweaters to the real facts behind the 80-20 endurance training rule, women-specific training protocols and the accuracy of modern-day fitness smartwatches to predict VO2 max.
NOTES:
- 2020 Review on Occlusion training, a systematic review: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0363546520964454?journalCode=ajsb
- Early (2009) review on occlusion training: https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/fulltext/2009/06000/the_use_of_occlusion_training_to_produce_muscle.11.aspx#:~:text=LOW%2DINTENSITY%20OCCLUSION%20
- Potential safety issues with blood flow restriction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21410544/
- Review on the mechanisms for improvement with blood flow restriction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25249278/
- Health for Performance resources in the context of women’s sport and RED-S: http://health4performance.co.uk/
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S3, Ep1: In our first episode of 2021 Mike Finch and Prof. RossTucker discuss the science of staying motivated, if Body Mass Index (BMI) is outdated and how exercise affects body temperature. We also discuss plans for the year, the issue of health versus performance and whether or not the Tokyo Olympics may go ahead this year. Get bonus content on Patreon
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From shoe tech to the effect of crowd support on performance, 2020 has been an unprecedented year that also provided some unique opportunities. Together with some of the leading voices in global sports science, Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch look forward to the breakthroughs and controversies likely to dominate in 2021, why they matter and how they will change the games we play. Get bonus content on Patreon
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In early October 2020, World Rugby released its Transgender Guidelines aimed at protecting player safety. But the guidelines were followed by controversy with some unions even refusing to implement them, Prof. Ross Tucker, who was part of the World Rugby committee that decided on the guidelines, explains why the science makes sense and why all sporting codes need to look closely at World Rugby's lead. Get bonus content on Patreon
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The ground-breaking 2020 London Marathon saw the great Eliud Kipchoge lose his first marathon since 2013 as Ethopian Shura Kitata took the men's win and Brigid Kosgei the women's title. But the real story of the marathon was the weather and what really happened to Kipchoge on race day. Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch take a close look at one of the most dramatic city marathons in history Get bonus content on Patreon
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Slovenian Tadej Pogacar's sensational penultimate stage performance up the famed Les Planche de Belle Filles, on his way to his overall win, will go down in legend as one of most dramatic moments in Tour de France history. Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch break down the numbers, discuss the implications and wrap up an enthralling edition of the world's greatest stage race. They also discuss cadence vs power, the meaning of VAM, the Covid success story and whether leg length and height make a difference in cycling. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Do excitable fans on the side of the roads really present a threat to cyclists in the midst of the Covid pandemic? Join Mike and Ross for a second week analysis of the 2020 Tour de France as they delve into the facts, the numbers and the stats and look forward to a thrilling final week Get bonus content on Patreon
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This week double Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya lost her appeal in a Swiss Federal Court to have a decision made by World Athletics - effectively forcing her to lower her testosterone levels artificially in order to compete in her favoured event - overturned. Ross and Mike break down this complex issue, question some of the suspect evidence and decisions made by World Athletics and what the future holds for the controversial athlete. Support our podcast @ https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport Get bonus content on Patreon
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The first week of the delayed 2020 Tour de France threw up some big surprises and some stunning performances. But what does all the data say about the state of the sport, the contenders and what it takes to win? Prof. Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch take a deep dive into the first week of a long-awaited Tour, break down the facts and make some predictions, Support our podcast @ https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport Get bonus content on Patreon
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From vitamins to weight-loss tablets, muscle builders and energy drinks, supplements promise a quick fix to performance and health. But is there any evidence that they work? Join Prof. Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch as they lay bare the often murky, and unregulated, world of supplements, the bogus claims and some of the dangers of believing in the hype. Support our podcast @ https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport Get bonus content on Patreon
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The perfect hydration strategy during exercise is simpler than you think. Join Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch as they delve into the science, discuss how advice has been corrupted by suspect marketing claims and why drinking too much may be a bigger threat to health. Support our podcast @ https://www.patreon.com/thescienceofsport Get bonus content on Patreon
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Functional Threshold Power (FTP) is one of the most popular terms in endurance sport and used by both professional and amateur racers. Take a deep dive into the what, how and use of FTP, what it really means in the world of sports science and why it's often misunderstood as a training tool. Essential listening for anyone who loves a little heavy breathing.
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently advised against the use of masks while exercising. Prof. Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch explore the real risks, the science and the performance effects of wearing a mask when breathing gets heavier. Get bonus content on Patreon
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The ill-fated Adria tennis Tour, headlined by world number one Novak Djokovic, was a lesson for sporting organisers around the world in what not to do during the Covid-19 pandemic. Professor Ross Tucker and Science of Sport podcast host, Mike Finch, discuss what organisers did wrong, how they could have made it happen safely and the repercussions for all sporting events in the near future Get bonus content on Patreon
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With soccer matches already under way and many professional sports looking at innovative plans to get back in action, Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch explore the various models being used and what sports' recovery could mean for the rest of society. We also talk about the effect of spectator-less games on performance and do crowds really matter
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Taking part in regular exercise throughout your life has truly remarkable effects on performance and ageing. Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch discuss the effects of age on our bodies, how to design the perfect 'active' life, push back the years and find motivation... no matter how old you are! APOLOGIES FOR SOME OF THE SOUND QUALITY DUE TO REMOTE RECORDING. Get bonus content on Patreon
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The impact of the Coronavirus across the globe has been felt in every sphere of life, including sport. From the cancellation and postponement of most major sporting events, including the Olympic Games, to the future of the professional game, Covid19 is likely to have a lasting effect. Join Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch as they discuss the impact of the pandemic, how and when normal sport may resume, the consequences of reduced training time and the role health and fitness play in the fight against the virus. Get bonus content on Patreon
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From ice baths to Tom Brady's infrared pajamas, the science of recovery is full of wild claims and wonder products. Join Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch as they interview world-renowned science journalist - and author of the 2019 book Good To Go - Christie Aschwanden,and explore the real science behind athletic recovery and debunk some of the myths along the way Get bonus content on Patreon
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Cut through the hype and discover what the science says about training just right... no matter what your sport. Join host Mike Finch and world-renowned sports scientist Prof. Ross Tucker as they explain the fundamentals of a good training plan, how the body gets fitter and stronger, long slow distance vs intervals, how to recover just right and the simplest way to manage your own progress like a pro. It's a must- listen for anyone serious about their performance. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Nike's newly-released Alphafly Next% - released just four days after new regulations on shoe design were announced by World Athletics - will do little to restore the integrity of distance running times and records. Prof Ross Tucker and sports editor Mike Finch, together with guest biomechanist Geoff Burns, explain how the sport may have changed forever... and not in a good way! Get bonus content on Patreon
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From the shoe that broke running, to drug cheats, Caster Semenya, Alberto Salazar, the best way to make a champion and Red-S, our first season of the Science of Sport Podcast was never short on controversy. Host Mike Finch and Prof. Ross Tucker name their award winners of the year, look back on the lessons learnt and look ahead to the 2020 Olympic year Get bonus content on Patreon
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As one of the world's top obstacle racers and ultra runners, Amelia Boone is regarded as one of the toughest female athletes on the planet. But a lifetime battling eating disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) almost cost the American her life and her sporting career. In this interview with Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch, Boone speaks openly about her dramatic past, relationships and the lessons others can take from her ongoing battle against her toughest opponent, herself. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Join Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch - with guests exercise physiologist and scientist Dr Trent Stellingwerff and former elite runner Hilary Stellingwerff - as we look into the causes, culture and psychology of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and the controversy surrounding Mary Cain and the Nike Oregon Project. We look into the effects of RED-S on both female and male athletes and why long-term health is always more important than short term gains. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Professor Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch looked at the effect that modern day tech has on sport, its role in performance and what the future looks like. We discuss everything from the effect of cellphone distraction on athlete performance, what some federations have done to push back on tech in order to retain integrity, how best to use tech to enhance performance and what the future could look like. AI anyone? Get bonus content on Patreon
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From law changes to concussion research, World Rugby has taken a proactive approach to make the game safer at all levels. Professor Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch discuss the research and findings into the risks of contact sports around the world, why rugby is leading the way in player safety and what Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy really means. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Mechanical Doping or Tech Breakthrough? Nike's controversial carbon-plated Vaporfly running shoe has forced us to recalibrate what performances mean. Host Mike Finch joins sports scientist Ross Tucker and biomechanist Geoff Burns to look at the tech, how it works, why it has had such an impact on world marathon performances and what authorities may need to do to regulate running shoe technology Get bonus content on Patreon
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Is Eliud Kipchoge's second attempt at breaking the two-hour marathon mark a human advance or just a technological sidestep? In October the world's best marathoner will attempt to run inside 120 minutes using every advancement available from carbon-plated shoes to carefully-planned pacing and drafting strategies. Understand how VO2 max, running economy and lactate threshold affect performance, the benefit of wearing Nike's controversial % shoe, the V-shaped pacing strategy and the effect of crowd support. Get bonus content on Patreon
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In one of the most dramatic weeks in athletics history, legendary American coach Alberto Salazar was banned for four years for doping offences, 37-year-old Kenenisa Bekele missed the world record in the marathon by a scant two seconds in Berlin and there was controversy and celebration at the World Athletics Championships in Doha. Host Mike Finch and sports scientist Prof. Ross Tucker look at the facts of the case against Salazar, the shoe that is defining marathon running performances and how Doha, despite poor crowds, is still delivering top-class competition. Get bonus content on Patreon
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The World Athletics Championships takes place in Doha from September 27 to October 6 and handling heat, hopefully, will the major talking point. From midnight marathons to air conditioned stadiums to the best way to stay cool, we tackle the science of heat in athletic performance. We also look into the latest doping controversies and pick the best races, and athletes, to watch in the post-Bolt era. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Join Prof Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch as they speak to renowned author Peter Bills about his latest book 'The Jersey: The Secrets Behind the World's Most Successful Team'' (Pan Macmillan). Bills - one the UK's foremost sports journalists and writers - spent four years researching the book on the New Zealand All Blacks to discover what it is that makes them the dominant force in world rugby. From team culture to the 'no dickheads' policy, playing the referee and the influence of the Polynesian players, Bills' intimate insight in to what makes the All Blacks tick is both revealing and entertaining. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Join one of the world's most outspoken voices in rugby, former Springbok player, international coach, analyst and World Rugby advisor Nick Mallett as we explore what it takes to make it to the top level of international rugby union. Mallett describes - in bone-crunching detail - the pressures of being in the scrum, what players really fear, what makes a winning team and the three things he would do to change rugby right now. It's essential pre-World Cup listening! Get bonus content on Patreon
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Why do sportsmen and women cheat? Because they are human. But when is cheating just sporting gamesmanship or plain fraud? We look into some of the most elaborate cheating scandals in history, how they did it and how some of them (almost!) got away with it. From having an invisible twin to being contaminated by drugs through kissing and illegally relaying a race with your brother, the stories of cheating are sadly as much a part of sport as winning or losing,. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Prof Ross Tucker and journalist Mike Finch interview David Epstein, author of the New York Times best-selling book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World . The team focus in on the debate around late specialisation in sport, why champions like Tiger Woods may be the exception rather than the rule and the impact of age on performance. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch delve into the real facts and stats behind what makes a world class sportsman or woman. Find out if when and where you are born can make a difference to sporting success, whether practice really makes perfect, how early to specialise and if your youngster has what it takes to become one of the elites. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Explore the challenges of working as a doctor at the Tour de France as Ross and Mike talk to Dr Adrian Rotunno, one of the team physicians for the UAE Team Emirates pro cycling team. Rotunno talks candidly about being a doctor in a pro cycling world tainted by doping; what it takes to keep riders healthy and strong during one of the toughest endurance events in the world and how pro riders prevent infection in that critical area between their saddle and butts. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Professor Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch dig deep into the world of drugs in sport: What are they? How are they used? What percentage of athletes take illegal performance-enhancing drugs? Are authorities winning the war or is there not enough will to fight? An unashamedly honest and objective look at the impact of drugs across all sports and the future of anti-doping Get bonus content on Patreon
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Join Professor Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch as they chat to cricket doctor Dr Janine Gray about the complexities of sports injuries, how to protect your back no matter what sport you play, why so many young cricketers suffer from stress fractures and why hand-eye co-ordination ability may be linked to your economic status. They also delve into how the mind can sometimes be the toughest body part to mend and why baseball players make better throwers than cricketers. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Former international opening batsman and coach of both the South African and Indian cricket teams, Gary Kirsten talks frankly about the modern game, the impact of the shorter formats, what it's like to face up to the fastest bowlers in the international game, winning a World Cup with one of the most supported sports teams in the world, the future of fast bowling and the game of cricket itself. A unique and fascinating insight from a player and coach who has competed at the highest level. Get bonus content on Patreon
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In this emotional interview, Olympic middle distance runner and former 5000m and 10 000m NCAA champion, Dominique Scott-Efurd opens up about the training, self sacrifice and dedication needed to mix it with the best in the running world. Scott takes us through her tough training regime, the lessons learnt from moving from her home in South Africa to the US and her dramatic collapse at the World Cross Country championships in 2019 Get bonus content on Patreon
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World-renowned sport scientist Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch explore the science behind running shoe technology. Explore whether or not cushioning and pronation-control really work, find out if expensive shoes are really any better than cheaper options and the best running shoe options to buy next time you're at the local shoe store Get bonus content on Patreon
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On May 1, 2019 double Olympic and three-time World 800m champion Caster Semenya lost her case against the IAAF in the Court of Arbitration forcing her to take medication to lower her testosterone levels if she is to continue to compete in her favoured events. Mike and Ross analyse the controversial ruling, debate the facts and explain one of the most complicated issues ever to haunt the world of sport. Get bonus content on Patreon
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Since 2009 Caster Semenya has ignited debate around female athletes with differences in sex development that may give them have an unfair advantage due to differences in testosterone levels. Professor Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch explain the issues and why this may be a 'no win' situation for sport. Get bonus content on Patreon
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An introduction to the Science of Sport Podcasting series with Professor Ross Tucker and veteran sports journalist Mike Finch Get bonus content on Patreon
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