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Fitter Radio Triathlon Podcast

Outdoors

Hosted by Coach Bevan McKinnon and Nutritionist Mikki Williden, both elite athletes and coaches within their respective fields. Fitter Radio brings together their shared passion and knowledge of triathlon, running, nutrition and basically all things endurance! Listen to the latest research, interviews with pro athletes and leading experts to help you improve your sports performance and your health!

Location:

Auckland, Australia

Description:

Hosted by Coach Bevan McKinnon and Nutritionist Mikki Williden, both elite athletes and coaches within their respective fields. Fitter Radio brings together their shared passion and knowledge of triathlon, running, nutrition and basically all things endurance! Listen to the latest research, interviews with pro athletes and leading experts to help you improve your sports performance and your health!

Language:

English


Episodes

Fitter Radio Episode 555 - Tri News. Daniel Barry of First Wheel

3/18/2024
Tim fills us in on the last week in the snow. First Wheel was founded by Daniel Barry, a mechanical engineer and endurance athlete. Daniel has spent years balancing life as a professional engineer with life on the road as a professional cyclist for a number of continental teams. The experience of racing in a team environment in some of the biggest races on the world cycling calendar has greatly influenced his approach to engineering and design. He now combines his sporting and academic passions in the development of high-performance sports equipment and product engineering. We chat to Dan about the incredible work he’s doing on making bespoke front ends to optimise bike performance. (0:00:00) – Tim talks about his last week in the snow. (0:08:30) – News from the Oceania racing and more about Olympic selection. (0:17:13) - Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:17:25) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:17:38) – IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong this weekend (0:18:07) – The PTO T100 series news (0:26:04) – Supersapiens have closed down. (0:29:08) – Hexis competition (0:29:35) – Doping in Spain (0:32:33) – Changes to IRONMAN race rules and intro to Dan Barry of First wheel. (0:37:45) – Daniel Barry of First Wheel. LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ Dan Barry First Wheel at https://firstwheel.co.nz/ IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong at https://www.ironman.com/im703-geelong Link to Spanish race article at https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anti-doping-showed-up-at-an-amateur-race-in-valencia-130-riders-dropped-out/

Duration:01:05:50

Fitter Radio Episode 554 - Jaimie Fuller of eo SwimBETTER: Game Changing Innovation for Swimming.

3/11/2024
Jaimie Fuller is the founder of eo and the driving force behind the development of its brand. As the former Executive Chairman of SKINS, we hear about his journey from founding the compression garment business to innovating in the sports tech industry, and his philosophy of creating products that offer real, tangible benefits to elite athletes. Jaimie explains how the eo SwimBETTER technology allows swimmers to analyse and enhance their stroke technique, force production and efficiency. We discuss the concept of setting a baseline for swimmers to measure progress against and examine the importance of utilizing technology to provide immediate data on stroke changes. We also discuss how the technology maps the hand path through the phases of glide, pull and recovery, offering different visual perspectives to refine strokes. The concept of consistency is introduced, revealing how it can identify asymmetries in a swimmer's technique, and in some cases the need to address underlying issues with a physiotherapist. We discuss the challenges swimmers face in perceiving changes in their movements and how technology can bridge the gap between perception and reality. We hear that only roughly 35 to 40 percent of eo SwimBETTER capabilities have been revealed to date, implying a vast reservoir of features and applications that remain to be shared with the public. Additionally, the conversation highlights the impressive aspect of video-syncing technology, which allows detailed analysis of movements frame by frame, linking video footage directly with corresponding data points. LINKS: https://www.eolab.com/about-us

Duration:00:42:20

Fitter Radio Episode 553 - T100 Miami Race Review. Jack Moody.

3/11/2024
Tim calls in from St Moritz. The Abu Dhabi test event was cancelled at the weekend, we discuss what that means for selection and how it affects qualification for Paris. Bevan and Tim review the racing from the T100 series in Miami and discuss why they believe the PTO have a big challenge on their hands going forward. Marc Wrobel won the free race entry to Ultra Trail Australia. We find out more about him. NZ Professional Triathlete Jack Moody has worked hard on his swimming, and with a focus on consistency and frequency in training he’s seeing improvements. We chat to Jack about his journey and how new technology in the form of a ‘power meter for swimming’ has helped this transformation. (0:00:00) – Tim’s in St Moritz (0:02:33) – Abu Dhabi race cancelled (0:08:24) – Free race entry competition to IRONMAN Cairns (0:10:42) – Marc Wrobel (0:18:25) - Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:18:34) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:18:47) – T100 Miami race review (0:32:31) – eo SwimBETTER and intro to Jack Moody (0:33:23) – Jack Moody LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ UltraTrail Australia at https://uta.utmb.world/ eo SwimBETTER at https://www.eolab.com/about-us T100 Pro Race at https://t100triathlon.com/miami/pro/ Follow Jack Moody on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jacktmoody/

Duration:00:59:49

Fitter Radio Episode 552 - IRONMAN New Zealand 2024. Steve McKenna. Race Ranger.

3/4/2024
The IRONMAN New Zealand episode. Bevan and Tim review the racing from IMNZ at the weekend. We chat to James Elvery of Race Ranger. James is off to Europe for 6 months delivering Race Ranger to a whole host of new events. We chat about the new partnership with IRONMAN, how Race Ranger has developed over the past year, plus we hear about their plans for the future - integration into the age group field plus the development of a portfolio of ‘athlete profiles’ in respect of drafting. Data from each athlete’s drafting ‘behaviours’ at races will be logged and analysed for use at future events. Steve McKenna won the men’s race at IMNZ. We chat to Steve about his race and his plans for the future. Rachael Cunningham won the free race entry to IMNZ, we find out how she went on the day. (0:02:19) – Tim off to Europe with Snowsports NZ (0:03:56) – Chris Beckmans wins the Chester 50 mile ultra (0:04:55) – We review the racing at IRONMAN New Zealand (0:15:43) – Steve McKenna (0:49:43) - Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:49:53) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:50:03) – ULTRO Earbuds competition (0:50:30) – Rachael Cunningham (0:58:00) – Race Ranger partners with IRONMAN (1:00:29) – James Elvery – Race Ranger LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ IRONMAN New Zealand at https://www.ironman.com/im-new-zealand Race Ranger at https://www.raceranger.com/ Follow Steve McKenna at https://www.instagram.com/stevemckenna_/ Nerd Belts at https://www.nerdbelts.com/

Duration:01:31:55

Fitter Radio Episode 551 - Mitochondrial Dysfunction. WTC Napier and Olympic Selection. Alex Yee.

2/26/2024
Bevan and Tim review the racing from the World Triathlon Cup in Napier last weekend plus we catch up on the latest triathlon news. We chat to Anna Dungey, winner of the free race entry to the Integrity Homes Challenge Wanaka half, to find out how it all went. Mikki’s back on the show and tells us all about her 50K trail race at the Tarawera Ultra. Plus, we discuss Mikki’s recent podcast with Mitochondria Dysfunction expert Dr Christabelle Yeoh. Dr Yeoh graduated from medicine at the University of London in 1999 and obtained her membership with the Royal College of Physicians (UK). She has a Masters degree in Nutrition from King’s College London. They discuss the topic of mitochondrial dysfunction and its impact on immunity and overall health. Lastly, we share excerpts from Alex Yee’s interview with the Supertri Face to Face podcast and delve further into the ‘champion mindset’. (0:00:00) – An update on Tim’s ribs (0:01:35) – Bumps and bruises from the Napier World Cup racing last weekend (0:07:46) – WTC racing and Olympic selection (0:16:03) – Has Taylor Knibb moved coaches to Dan Lorang (0:18:05) - Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:18:15) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:1823) – Infinit prize pack competition (0:19:00) – Anna Dungey (0:29:40) – Magnus Ditlev’s training (0:31:33) – Introduction to Mitochondria Dysfunction (0:33:10) – Mikki Williden and Dr Christabelle Yeoh (0:55:22) – Hayden Wilde at the Napier test event. (1:02:32) – Alex Yee (0:47:49) – A champion’s mindset LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ WTCS Calendar at https://triathlon.org/ Tarawera Ultra at https://tarawera.utmb.world/ Challenge Wanaka at https://www.challenge-wanaka.com/ IRONMAN New Zealand at https://www.ironman.com/im-new-zealand Follow Magnus Ditlev at https://www.instagram.com/magnuselbaekditlev/ Mitochondrial Mastery: Exploring Energy, Fatigue and Long COVID with Dr Christabelle Yeoh at https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/214 Dr Yeoh can be found at https://nextpracticehealth.com/locations/nsw-edgecliff/team/dr-christabelle-yeoh Follow Hayden Wilde at https://www.instagram.com/hayden_wilde/ Alex Yee Face to Face podcast interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlhSYZq6xEw

Duration:01:19:31

Fitter Radio Episode 550 - Dr Kate Baldwin: Maximizing Shoulder Mobility and Strength for Swimmers

2/20/2024
We discuss the importance of shoulder strength and mobility for swimming and touch on the nuances of swimming technique, the differences between open water and pool swimming, and how strength training and mobility work hand in hand. Emphasizing simplicity, we highlight how gym workouts and other activities can enhance these physical attributes, ultimately benefiting athletes in their swimming and cycling endeavors. We explore the importance of simplifying swimming coaching techniques to focus on key aspects of an athlete's performance. We examine how individual swimmer's capabilities determine their stroke style and how this links to their gym routines, emphasizing the need for tailored mobility and strength exercises. We discuss the common mistake of overcomplicating training with trendy, complex exercises seen on social media, and the value of basic, yet essential, exercises like the shoulder external rotation. Additionally, we touch on the significance of shoulder girdle strength and stability, particularly on the posterior side, for achieving a long and effective stroke reach. We also discuss the anatomy of the shoulder joint, highlighting its unique structure and the role of rotator cuff muscles in maintaining stability without sacrificing mobility. We focus on the importance of strengthening and stabilizing the scapula and rotator cuff for overall shoulder health, particularly for athletes. We discuss the benefits of exercises like bent-over rows and scapula push-ups for building muscles such as the rhomboids and the serratus anterior, which are crucial for stabilizing the scapula. We emphasize the necessity of balancing rotator cuff work with exercises that target the muscles around the scapula, advocating for a 50/50 approach in workout programs. Additionally, we touch on the role of mobility in sports like swimming and cycling, highlighting how mobility affects performance aspects like reach, rotation, and breathing coordination. To improve mobility, Kate recommends dynamic movements over static stretches, as these can enhance muscle fascicle length whilst also building strength, tailored to the individual needs of the athlete. Lastly, we focus on the concept of reciprocal inhibition and its role in enhancing mobility and strength, particularly in swimmers and triathletes. We explore strengthening exercises that can improve the coordination between agonist and antagonist muscles, allowing for a full range of motion and mitigating tightness. Kate shares specific workouts like the lat hang, scapula hang, and movements that target the rhomboids and lats, providing not only strength but also mobility benefits. We discuss the importance of core engagement and proper form to maximize the effectiveness of these exercises. The conversation also touches on the common issue of shoulder tightness due to prolonged positions in sports, such as the TT position in cycling, and how certain exercises, like the overhead dowel movement, can counteract this by opening up the chest and simultaneously strengthening the shoulders and core. Kate offers practical tips on maintaining correct posture and avoiding excessive strain during these exercises. LINKS: Dr Kate Baldwin of Valere Endurance at https://valereendurance.com/

Duration:00:31:23

Fitter Radio Episode 549 - Challenge Wanaka. Swimming Strength and Mobility.

2/19/2024
We review the racing from Challenge Wanaka plus Bev chats to winners Kyle Smith and Els Visser at the finish line. Seth Williams won the free race entry to IRONMAN Australia. We find out more about him. We talk swimming and the swim warmup and share excerpts from the ‘Swimming Revisited’ podcast where Joel Filliol talks about the effectiveness of dry land activation, neuromuscular and strength exercises. Tim catches up with Kate Baldwin of Valere Endurance to talk about the importance of strength and mobility for swimming. (0:00:00) – Integrity Homes Challenge Wanaka (0:07:30) - Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:07:41) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:08:23) – Seth Williams (0:17:04) – Another drugs bust (0:21:24) – World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum dies in a car crash (0:23:00) – Build up for the Olympics starts soon (0:26:11) – Challenge Wanaka recap (0:33:00) – Kyle Smith and Els Visser (0:45:29) – The swim warm-up (0:47:49) – Joel Filliol: Swimming Revisited (0:54:39) – Kate Baldwin of Valere Endurance LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ Tarawera Ultra at https://tarawera.utmb.world/ Challenge Wanaka at https://www.challenge-wanaka.com/ IRONMAN New Zealand at https://www.ironman.com/im-new-zealand Kyle Smith at https://www.instagram.com/kylesmithnzl/ Els Visser at https://elsvisser.com/ Kate Baldwin of Valere Endurance at https://valereendurance.com/ Real Coaching podcast with Joel Filliol at https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/real-coaching-with-joel-filliol/id1052949196 Stian Angermund tests positive at https://athleticsweekly.com/athletics-news/world-trail-running-champion-tests-positive-1039975266/

Duration:01:05:26

Fitter Radio Episode 548 - Dr Stacy Sims. Chelsea Sodaro. Sleep.

2/10/2024
Tim and Bev catch up on this week’s news. Chelsea Sodaro is doing IRONMAN New Zealand. We hear from Chelsea at the finish line after her win at the IM703 in Tasmania. Dr Stacy Sims has revised her world best seller book ROAR. Bev chats to Stacy about the changes plus we hear more about 2 female health events coming soon to New Zealand. Sleep and the athlete – we share an excerpt from the ‘We Do Science’ podcast where Prof Neil Walsh tells us about the importance of sleep, the accuracy or otherwise of our sleep and recovery trackers plus our perceptions of sleep. (0:00:00) – Tim’s having to pull the pin on IM703 Taupo. (0:03:08) – Kate Carter, Runner’s World’s UK Acting Commissioning Editor accused of cheating at the 2023 London Landmarks Half Marathon (0:08:33) - Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:08:40) – Fuelme in New Zealand are now stocking Infinit Products (0:09:25) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:09:36) – Ben Boyd’s Taronga Zoo Fundraising at https://www.teamtaronga.org.au/users/ben-boyd (0:12:05) – This weekend… the Tarawera Ultra and Challenge Wanaka (0:12:25) – Free race entry giveaway to the Ultra-Trail Australia (0:13:25) – Chelsea Sodaro is doing IRONMAN New Zealand (0:14:33) – Will Roth be the race that suffers most from the introduction of the PTO and IRONMAN Series (0:16:52) – Chelsea Sodaro at the finish line of IM703 Tasmania (0:25:27) – Intro to segment with Dr Stacy Sims (0:25:28) – Dr Stacy Sims (0:47:11) – Sleep apps, are they accurate? (0:51:26) – Excerpt from the ‘We Do Science’ podcast Sleep and the Athlete with Professor Neil Walsh LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. Fuelme at https://fuelme.co.nz/ ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ Marathon Investigation article at https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2024/01/runners-world-editorr-scrutiny.html Tarawera Ultra at https://tarawera.utmb.world/ Challenge Wanaka at https://www.challenge-wanaka.com/ Ultra-Trail Australia at https://uta.utmb.world/ Chelsea Sodaro at https://chelseasodaro.com/ IRONMAN New Zealand at https://www.ironman.com/im-new-zealand IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania at https://www.ironman.com/im703-tasmania Dr Stacy Sims at https://www.drstacysims.com/ ROAR The Revised Edition at https://www.drstacysims.com/roar Hormone Health Matters at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hormone-health-matters-tickets-775234074987?aff=oddtdtcreator Healthy and Active Female at https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/healthy-and-active-female-expert-panel-tickets-795761442897 We Do Science podcast ‘Sleep and the Athlete’ with Professor Neil Walsh at https://www.wedoscience.com/sleep-and-the-athlete-with-professor-neil-walsh/

Duration:01:13:31

Fitter Radio Episode 547 - IM703 Tasmania. Amelia Watkinson. Kristian Blummenfelt.

2/5/2024
Bevan and Tim review the racing at IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania last weekend. Amelia Watkinson talks to Jason Cheshire of Infinit Nutrition about her season ahead and her nutrition strategy. We share excerpts from Kristian Blummenfelt’s interview with the Super League Triathlon podcast where he discusses his plans for 2024 and the importance of his relationship with Gustav Eden Kristian Blummenfelt is reported as having a VO2 max of over 100. We share excerpts from The Real Science of Sport Podcast in which eminent physiologists and scientists are quoted as saying that these numbers are impossible and just don’t stack up. Is Kristian’s VO2 result being over-reported? (0:00:00) – Tim’s had an accident in training. (0:04:24) – Bev and Tim review the racing from IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania last weekend (0:13:50) – Nick Thompson and Grace Thek racing at Challenge Wanaka next weekend. (0:14:13) – Intro to Amelia Watkinson interview (0:15:23) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:15:39) – Competition for a free year’s access to Hexis (0:16:06) – Excerpts from Jason Cheshire’s interview with Amelia Watkinson (0:29:00) - Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:29:22) – IRONMAN New Zealand female start list (0:30:13) – It’s not a traditional season for athletes anymore as they chase a range of series this year (0:40:03) – Where’s Gustav Eden? (0:42:44) – Excerpts from Super League’s podcast interview with Kristian Blummenfelt (01:02:24) – Kristian Blummenfelt’s VO2 and the recent Santara Tech social media promotion. (01:05:26) – Excerpts from The Real Science of Sport Podcast discussing Kristian’s VO2 results. LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ Follow Amelia Watkinson on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ameliarosewatkinson/ Follow Kristian Blummenfelt on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kristianblu/ Blummenfelt’s VO2 numbers at The Real Science of Sport Podcast Season 6 Episode 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/hello-2024-news-wrap-another-world-running-record-uci/id1461719225?i=1000642745023 The Super League Triathlon Podcast with Kristian Blummenfelt at https://blubrry.com/short_chute_show_triathlon/127818530/kristian-blummenfelt-interview-winning-olympics-is-just-part-of-the-journey-face-to-face/ IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania at https://www.ironman.com/im703-tasmania

Duration:01:21:31

Fitter Radio Episode 546 - Race Scheduling and Controversy in 2024. Our Kiwis and the Olympics.

1/29/2024
Bevan and Tim highlight the difficulties and controversy surrounding race scheduling for 2024. We discuss the kiwi perspective on the race for selection to the Olympics and share excerpts from interviews with Hayden Wilde, Dylan McCullough and Hayden’s coach Craig Kirkwood. Alex Bees, winner of the free race entry to the Tauranga Half, tells us how it all went. (0:00:00) – Tim updates us on his training for the IM703 Taupo. (0:06:37) - Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:06:58) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:07:05) – Calley Homes Mount Festival of Sport intro to Alex Bees (0:08:28) – Alex Bees (0:15:04) – IRONMAN Australia free race entry competition (0:17:46) – The difficulty of scheduling a race calendar in 2024 (0:20:29) – The Malibu race controversy (0:23:41) – Changes to the start list at the World Cup race in Napier (0:25:01) – Our Kiwi perspective and the race for spots at the Olympics (0:27:31) – Dylan McCullough (0:40:52) – Hayden Wilde (0:56:59) – Craig Kirkwood LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ Calley Homes Mount Festival of Sport at https://mountfestival.kiwi/events/tauranga-half/ IRONMAN Australia at https://www.ironman.com/im-australia Hayden Wilde Superleague Face to Face podcast at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTLcy7l7_Bk Dylan McCullough World Triathlon Podcast at https://www.triathlon.org/news/article/world_triathlon_podcast_87_dylan_mccullough Craig Kirkwood That Triathlon Show at https://scientifictriathlon.com/tts421/ The Gold Mine Effect: Crack the Secrets of High Performance by Rasmus Ankersen at https://www.amazon.com.au/Gold-Mine-Effect-Secrets-Performance/dp/1848313993

Duration:01:11:15

Fitter Radio Episode 545 - Dr Phil Skiba: Critical Power/W Prime

1/23/2024
We welcome back Dr. Phil Skiba to the show to discuss his latest book, "Scientific Training for Endurance Athletes," and in particular his work with Critical power/W Prime. W Prime (also known as Anaerobic Work Capacity), is the amount of work you are able to do above your Critical Power (CP) and is measured in joules (J) or kilojoules (KJ). A world-renowned expert in elite athletic performance, Dr. Philip Skiba is the Medical Director of Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine for Advocate Aurora Health, where he leads both the Human Performance and Biomechanics Laboratories. He is also the head primary care sports physician for the NCAA Division 1 University of Illinois – Chicago (UIC). He has extensive experience in covering mass-participation events, including the NYC and Chicago marathons, ITU Triathlons and the Soldier Field 10-Miler. Dr. Skiba has personally trained a number of Olympian, national champion and world champion athletes, including world-record holders. His work on the mathematics of high-intensity exercise (The W′Balance Model) has fundamentally changed how scientists and coaches prescribe and analyze interval training and race strategy. Recruited to the Nike Breaking 2 project, Dr. Skiba worked with 3 of the fastest runners on the planet in pursuit of the sub-2-hour marathon. He appeared in and narrated the Cannes award-winning National Geographic documentary Breaking 2. Dr. Skiba serves on the medical board of USA Cycling, and is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. He has academic appointments at both UIC and the University of Exeter (UK). In this episode we explore the significance of understanding the threshold between stable and unstable physiology, especially in relation to endurance sports like running and cycling. Critical speed or power serves as a marker for this threshold and exceeding it taps into a finite energy reserve conceptualized as W prime. Managing this energy is crucial for race strategy, determining when to make an effort and how long it can be sustained for. We discuss the critical power W prime model and its importance in training over traditional FTP workouts. We consider training strategies for both novice and seasoned athletes, highlighting the benefits of base training and fatigue resistance before moving on to threshold and interval work. For experienced athletes, we discuss a reverse periodization approach to training. We explore the nuances of training for long-distance triathlon, focusing on how manipulating W prime and critical power can optimize performance. We share insights on the importance of tailoring interval sessions to an athlete's individual capacity, particularly for those with a smaller W prime who may struggle with standard VO2 intervals. Lastly, we explore the benefits of using GPS and power meters for monitoring athlete performance, noting the advantage of having concrete data during training and competition, and we address the increasing challenges in professional sports, including the issue of doping and its impact on clean athletes. LINKS: Follow Dr Skiba on Twitter on https://twitter.com/DrPhilipSkiba Scientific Training for Endurance Athletes at https://www.amazon.com/Scientific-Training-Endurance-Athletes-Philip/dp/0979463629/ International shipping site at http://shipitto.com/ Dare to Tri at https://dare2tri.org/

Duration:00:51:00

Fitter Radio Episode 544 - Calley Homes Mount Festival of Sport. Critical Power/W Prime

1/22/2024
Bevan and Tim review the racing from the Calley Homes Mount Festival of Sport at the weekend. Plus we ask, should all events have an Open Category? We discuss Dr Phil Skiba’s work in the area of critical power and the W prime model and its importance in training over traditional FTP workouts and share excerpts from our interview with Dr Phil Skiba, out tomorrow. (0:00:00) – Calley Homes Mount Festival of Sport. (0:03:49) – Fitter Radio “Best triathlon podcast for raising your IQ” – Triathlete Magazine (0:06:39) - Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:06:50) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:07:04) – PTO World Series announcement January 30 2024 (0:10:15) – News from Race Ranger (0:12:21) – Should all events have an open category (0:19:15) – Calley Homes Mount Festival of Sport race review (0:29:16) – Sprint finishes. W/Prime and an introduction to Dr Phil Skiba (0:32:33) – Excerpts from our interview with Dr Phil Skiba, out tomorrow. LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ Calley Homes Mount Festival of Sport at https://mountfestival.kiwi/events/tauranga-half/ 15 of the Best Triathlon Podcasts to Make Indoor Training Time Fly By at https://www.triathlete.com/culture/best-triathlon-podcasts/ Follow Dr Skiba on Twitter on https://twitter.com/DrPhilipSkiba Scientific Training for Endurance Athletes at https://www.amazon.com/Scientific-Training-Endurance-Athletes-Philip/dp/0979463629/ Race Ranger at https://www.raceranger.com/ Logan Rodger on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.lost.zorn/ Brad Dixon video of sprint finish at https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cKMGEC9SWw8

Duration:00:54:11

Fitter Radio Episode 543 - Gut Training. Aaron Royle on Swimming.

1/14/2024
The term 'gut training' is thrown around a lot these days, but what does this actually mean? We share excerpts from the podcast “The Long Munch: Fueling Endurance - Nutrition podcast for runners, cyclists & triathletes” where sports dietitians Steph Gaskell & Alan McCubbin take us through what we mean by gut training, why would runners, cyclists or triathletes want to do it, what is the evidence that it works and how you go about gut training. Clive Asplen won the free entry to IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong. We find out more about him. We chat to professional triathlete and 2 x Olympian Aaron Royle about his swim training. Aaron shares with us his weekly load and details the specific work and consistency required to maintain and improve your swim including stroke rate, force production and feeling comfortable in the water. (0:00:00) – Tim’s training for the IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo in March. (0:01:52) – The Moreghetti Fartlek Session (0:04:16) – Wollongong to host the World Champs final in 2025 (0:06:05) – Our world cup moves from Plymouth to Napier (0:06:37) – The Italians will be racing in Wanaka for the Friday night event. (0:07:39) – Cairns and the damage to the bike course (0:10:26) – The changing landscape in triathlon events and the opportunities opening up (0:14:38) – Clive Asplen (0:22:42) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:23:00 - Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:23:19) – Improving your race day fuelling via gut training (0:26:11) – Gut training excerpts from the Fueling Endurance podcast (0:45:56) – Hayden Wilde’s swimming improvements and intro to Aaron Royle interview (0:50:00) – Aaron Royle on swim training (1:11:39) – The use of sponges, towels and parachutes in swimming. LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ Stephen Moneghetti at https://twitter.com/steve_mona The Long Munch: Fueling Endurance - Nutrition podcast for runners, cyclists & triathletes at https://thelongmunch.podbean.com/ Episode 41A - What is gut training and how do I do it? At https://thelongmunch.podbean.com/e/ep41a/ Purchase the Fueling Endurance e-book at https://fuelingendurance.com/shop/ IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong at https://www.ironman.com/im703-geelong Hayden Wilde on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hayden_wilde/ Aaron Royle on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/aaronroyle/

Duration:01:18:02

Fitter Radio Episode 542 - Fatigue in Endurance Athletes. IRONMAN Series v PTO Series: Lionel Sanders and Sam Long

1/6/2024
Dr. Guillaume Millet is a professor at Jean Monnet University in Saint-Etienne. His general research area investigates the physiological, neurophysiological and biomechanical factors associated with fatigue, both in extreme exercise and in patients. This week on the podcast Mikki speaks to Dr Guillaume Millet about the endurance athlete. They discuss what creates fatigue, how we might train to be better athletes and how to build resilience against fatigue. We hear from Lionel Sanders and Sam Long about their 2023 seasons plus some of the decisions they’re having to make this year around their race schedules. Lastly Race Ranger – will IRONMAN now have to consider introducing it into their events in order to compete with the PTO? Bevan and Tim discuss the likelihood. (0:00:00) – Tim is out training on his new TT bike for IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo in March. (0:11:09) – Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:11:19) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:11:28) – ULTRO Competition promotion (0:12:15) – Lionel Sanders on 2023/24 (0:30:42) – Race Ranger (0:33:41) – Sam Long on 2023/24 (0:48:10) – Mikki’s back and we talk ‘Fatigue’ (1:02:30) – Dr Guillaume Millet on ‘Fatigue in the Endurance Athlete’ LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ Mikki Williden at https://www.mikkiwilliden.com/ Link to full episode ‘Fatigue in the endurance athlete - Dr Guillaume Millet’ at https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/216 Dr Millet’s profile here: https://libm.univ-st-etienne.fr/en/research-teams/paf/researchers/millet-guillaume.html Research gate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Guillaume-Millet-3 Sam Long YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@SamYoYoYoLong Lionel Sanders YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@Lionel.Sanders

Duration:01:22:14

Fitter Radio Episode 541 - Mental Fitness in Endurance Sports

1/1/2024
Rachael Cunningham won the free race entry to IRONMAN New Zealand. We find out more about her. We explore the crucial role of mental fitness in endurance sport and its significance for both performance and recovery. We discuss how athletes handle pre-race anxiety and stress differently and the mental resilience required in elite adventure racing where cognitive stamina and decision-making under duress are as crucial as physical ability. We share insights from an episode of That Triathlon podcast with certified psychologist Stuart Holliday, who specializes in working with endurance athletes. Stuart discusses the o of self-talk and the need for athletes to conduct a robust self-assessment, examining their psychological approach before, during and after races. We introduce Matt Fitzgerald's book "How Bad Do You Want It?" as a resource for understanding and improving mental toughness in the face of adversity. We examine key concepts such as the central governor theory by Tim Noakes, discussing the role of the brain and mind in athletic performance. We also explore the notion that athletes don’t encounter their true physical limits due to a maximum tolerance for perception of effort. While some individuals possess an innate ability to push past their perceived limits, for most, this is a skill that can be developed. We touch on cases where athletes perform significantly better on race day compared to their training sessions, suggesting a psychological component that unlocks higher intensity and effort levels. Lastly, we consider the role of psychology in recovery, discussing practices like yoga nidra and meditation, which can aid in activating the parasympathetic nervous system for improved rest and digestion. (0:00:00) – Aero testing with Jack Moody (0:06:20) – Psychology and how it relates to endurance sports (0:12:58) – Rachael Cunningham (0:19:46) – Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:20:06) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:20:18) – Hexis competition promotion (0:20:36) – Intro to Stuart Holliday excerpts (0:24:26) – Stuart Holliday excerpts (0:37:48) – Intro to Matt Fitzgerald excerpts (0:41:09) – Matt Fitzgerald excerpts LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ IRONMAN New Zealand at https://www.ironman.com/im-new-zealand Hexis at https://www.hexis.live/ That Triathlon Show - Psychology and triathlon performance with Stuart Holliday at https://scientifictriathlon.com/tts364/ Matt Fitzgerald book ‘How Bad Do You Want It?’ at https://www.amazon.com.au/How-Bad-You-Want-Psychology/dp/1937715418 Clip to Bevan’s full interview with Matt Fitzgerald at https://share.snipd.com/snip/c5a0c935-be38-43e0-a5fb-50e721b2adb3 Huberman Lab at https://www.hubermanlab.com/ Dr Andrew Huberman’s Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) Protocol at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKGrmY8OSHM

Duration:00:57:31

Fitter Radio Episode 540 - Laura Siddall and Sonia Bracegirdle-Moerloose

12/25/2023
For our Boxing Day episode, we’re delighted to be able to bring you a chat with Laura (Sid) Siddall and Sonia Bracegirdle-Moerloose. Sid and Sonia discuss their experiences participating in the extreme triathlons Patagonman and Fodaxman. An inspirational discussion during which they both share their motivations for taking on these challenging races and the preparation involved. We hear about their experiences of both races, for Sonia as a participant at Fodaxman and as support crew for Sid doing the Patagonman. The unique challenges and atmosphere of both races, the unpredictable weather conditions and the stunning landscapes. LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ FODAXMAN Extreme Triathlon at https://www.fodaxman.com.br/ PATAGONMAN Patagonia Xtreme Triathlon at https://www.patagonman.com/ Follow Laura Siddall on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lmsid/ Follow Sonia Bracegirdle Moerloose on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sonia.kiwi/

Duration:01:10:00

Fitter Radio Episode 539 - Dr Nicky Keay: Hormones, Health and Human Potential

12/18/2023
Dr Nicky Keay is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Medicine at University College London and previously Research Fellow in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Durham University. She conducts clinical research in sports/dance endocrinology, resulting in a range of research publications and awards. Dr Keay is a member of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine and the British Menopause Society. She is also the author of ‘Hormones, Health and Human Potential: A guide to understanding your hormones to optimise your health and performance”. In this podcast we discuss the importance of hormones in achieving our full potential in terms of both health and exercise performance. We explore the connection between hormones, training, nutrition and recovery in relation to athletic performance. We learn how hormones play a crucial role in driving positive adaptations and how our behaviors and lifestyle can affect their effectiveness. We emphasize the importance of finding the optimal balance for each individual athlete and provide tips on how to harness hormones to support training and achieve peak performance. We also explore the concept of allostasis and how it relates to the body's ability to adapt to exercise. We address the misconception that more training is always better and highlight how stress and psychological factors can affect our hormones. Balancing all aspects of our lifestyle, including nutrition and mental well-being, is crucial for optimizing our hormone levels. We discuss the pressure athletes face to perform perfectly and how it can affect their hormones. We touch on the effects of stress and anxiety on hormones and offer practical solutions for managing them. We also mention common signs of hormonal imbalances, such as unexplained weight gain and the potential negative effects on the body. Lastly, we discuss the changes in hormones as we age, particularly the significant decrease in female hormones after menopause. We emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including proper training, nutrition and recovery, as well as incorporating strength training to combat potential muscle loss. Additionally, we highlight the importance of vitamin D supplementation. LINKS: Dr Nicky Keay at https://nickykeayfitness.com/ Hormones, Health and Human Potential book at https://nickykeayfitness.com/new-book/

Duration:00:54:38

Fitter Radio Episode 538 - Dr Nicky Keay. WILD.AI. Tri News.

12/18/2023
Helen Guillaume is back on the show to talk about the new WILD.AI Coach Dashboard. An initiative designed to help coaches understand, support and maximize the potential of their female athletes. We share excerpts from Jonny Brownlee’s interview with Super League. Jonny reflects on his glittering career and admits he’s coming to terms with the fact that ‘it won’t last forever’. We hear about what the future holds for him. We have a free race entry to the IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong to give away in our Coffee Club! Competition details in the newsletter. Dr Nicky Keay is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Medicine at University College London and previously Research Fellow in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Durham University. She conducts clinical research in sports/dance endocrinology, resulting in a range of research publications and awards. Dr Keay is a member of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine and the British Menopause Society. She is also the author of “Hormones, Health and Human Potential: A guide to understanding your hormones to optimise your health and performance”. We share excerpts from our upcoming interview with Dr Keay, out tomorrow. Doug Gordon won the free race entry to the IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo. He tells us how his day went. (0:03:23) – Rotorua Suffer (0:04:26) – Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:04:33) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:04:49) – We announce the winners of the competition for 2 x free race entries to the Whakatipu Legend. (0:05:22) – We have a free race entry competition for our Coffee Club members to the IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong event. (0:06:20) – IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo – the bike course and the world champs course (0:09:46) – The PTO courses – why is there still no information (0:13:19) – Doug Gordon (0:19:21) – Skye Moench and her recent interview with the Triathlon Hour (0:22:49) – Introduction to Dr Nicky Keay (0:24:03) – Dr Nicky Keay excerpts (0:37:09) – Helen Guillaume of WILD.AI (0:48.43) – Taylor Spivey and Olympic selection (0:52.24) – Introduction to Jonny Brownlee (0:55.08) – Jonny Brownlee excerpts LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ The Whakatipu Legend at https://www.thewhakatipulegend.co.nz/ IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo at https://www.ironman.com/im703-taupo IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong at https://www.ironman.com/im703-geelong WILD.AI Coaches Dashboard at https://www.wild.ai/coach-dashboard Dr Nicky Keay at https://nickykeayfitness.com/ Hormones, Health and Human Potential book at https://nickykeayfitness.com/new-book/ Follow Skye Moench on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/skyemoench/?hl=en Triathlon Hour interview with Skye Moench at https://howtheytrain.podbean.com/e/skye-podcast/ Jonny Brownlee interview with Super League ‘Face to Face’ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrq0Pf8SEhU Follow Jonny Brownlee on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jonnybrownleetri/

Duration:01:17:22

Fitter Radio Episode 537 - IM703 Taupo. Riding Hilly Bike Courses. Georgia Taylor-Brown.

12/11/2023
Bevan and Tim review the racing from IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain and IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo. Plus, we talk about course management and what that IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo Worlds course might look like. Brad George won the free race entry to IRONMAN Western Australia. We find out how it all went. We discuss bike pacing on undulating courses and how to manage energy output using the Alan Couzens models of the 50/40/30/20/10 rule and power pacing calculator. We share excerpts from Georgia Taylor-Brown’s interview with Super League. An honest and open chat in which Georgia shares her experiences with injury and personal issues. We have 2 free race entries to give away to the Whakatipu Legend – you choose the distance you’d like to enter. The Competition: Email in to info@fitter.co.nz the answer to the following question… The Whakatipu Legend has an event called The Combo Challenge. What is the total distance that swimmers will swim at this event?' The answer can be found on their website at www.thewhakatipulegend.co.nz The competition will be drawn on Sunday 17th December and the winner announced on the podcast the following week. (0:00:00) – Tim has a new TT bike (0:04:39) – Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:04:47) – Infinit Nutrition competition for coffee club members (0:05:01) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15 (0:05:14) - Competition for 2 x free race entries to the Whakatipu Legend. (0:06:23) – Bike crashes in events (0:11:10) – The IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo course (0:14:10) – Brad George talks about his race at IRONMAN Western Australia (0:24:73) – IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain recap (0:27:40) – Ali Brownlee and Javier Gomez coming up against some bad luck in the twilight of their careers (0:30:23) – An introduction to the Georgia Taylor-Brown excerpts (0:32:39) – Georgia Taylor-Brown excerpts (0:54:56) – IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo race recap (1:05:06) – Riding a variable terrain race course (1:07:45) – Cam Wurf excerpts (1:13:47) – Alan Couzens: The 10/20/30/40/50 rule and the power pacing calculator LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ The Whakatipu Legend at https://www.thewhakatipulegend.co.nz/ IRONMAN Western Australia at https://www.ironman.com/im-western-australia IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo at https://www.ironman.com/im703-taupo IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain at https://www.ironman.com/im703-bahrain Georgia Taylor-Brown interview at The Super League Triathlon Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cuqQlOuWF4 Alan Couzens Power Pacing Calculator at https://www.alancouzens.com/blog/bike_pacing_calculator.html The 10/20/30/40/50 rule at https://alancouzens.com/endurancecorner/2015/09/know-your-enemy-part-iii-optimal-pacing-for-different-courses/

Duration:01:23:47

Fitter Radio Episode 536 - Simon Cochrane: Ultraman World Champion

12/5/2023
Kiwi triathlete Simon Cochrane has won the iconic Ultraman World Championships in Kona smashing the previous race record by an incredible 44 minutes. Travelling over 515km in three days of racing, the event starts with a 10km ocean swim followed by a 145km cycle. Day two a challenging 276km cycle and Day three 85 kms of running (a double marathon). We chat to Simon about his previous victories leading in to the World Championship – the Ultraman Australia race and Ultraman Canada, where he dominated the competition and secured his spot at the World Championships. He talks about his mindset going into the race and his strong performance on each day, including a challenging swim and a solid lead on the bike. As an experienced athlete and coach, Simon shares his approach to training and how he has consciously worked on developing mental strength. We discuss the significance of choosing more challenging options in training and how this translates to confidence on race day. Simon reveals his strategies for mental preparation and provides valuable insights into the mental side of endurance training. We talk through Simon’s race in Hawaii, the lead up to the race and how he adjusted his taper. We also hear about the challenging conditions which led to a crash on the bike. Simon shares his plans for the New Zealand summer, which includes a solid attempt at IRONMAN New Zealand in March, plus we’ll see Simon on the start line at the IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo this weekend! LINKS: Simon Cochrane at https://www.athleticpeak.co.nz/ Ultraman World at https://ultramanworlds.com/

Duration:00:42:38