

Training Science Podcast
Paul Laursen & Martin Buchheit
Your hosts of the Training Science Podcast, Martin Buchheit and Paul Laursen, take a weekly deep dive into the real world application of training science in the trenches.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 26, 2025 • 1h 25min
From Breath Science to Peak Running Performance — With Dr Eric Harbour & Prof Paul Laursen
BREATH TO PERFORM – SCIENCE‑BACKED TOOLS FOR FASTER RUNNING Dr Eric Harbour didn’t start with pace — he started with RESPIRATORY LIMITERS In this lung‑expanding episode of The Training Science Podcast, Paul & Eric translate cutting‑edge breathing research into everyday coaching gold: When your LUNGS, not your LEGS, hit the wall — spotting respiratory choke‑points Nasal vs. mouth breathing — why, when & how to switch gears Locomotor‑respiratory coupling (LRC) — syncing steps and breaths for efficiency CO₂‑tolerance drills & apnea sets — building calm under metabolic fire The “Breath Tools” framework — practical progressions you can use tomorrow—#TrainingSciencePodcast #HIITScience #AthleticaAI #BreathingScience #BreathTools #RunningPerformance #NasalBreathing #CO2Tolerance #LocomotorRespiratoryCoupling #EnduranceTraining #SportsScience #DataDrivenTraining #CoachingScience #CriticalThinking #ScienceMeetsSportToday’s speakers:Prof. Paul Laursen – https://www.paullaursen.com/Dr Eric Harbour – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericharbour/Reference discussed:Harbour et al. “Breath Tools: A synthesis of evidence‑based breathing strategies to enhance human running.” Frontiers in Physiology (2022). https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.813243/full

13 snips
Jul 18, 2025 • 1h 10min
Top Episode Replay: CARBS, FATS, SALTS & BRAINS - with Professor Tim Noakes and Paul Laursen
Join Tim Noakes, a leading Professor of Exercise and Sports Science known for his pioneering research, and Paul Laursen as they dive deep into the complexities of endurance nutrition. They discuss the minimal carbs necessary for peak performance and how excessive carb intake may hinder liver glucose production. The duo challenges conventional wisdom, emphasizing the importance of the brain in athletic performance and exploring the fat adaptation debate. They also tackle the controversial role of salt in sports nutrition, advocating for a balanced approach to fueling athletes.

Jul 11, 2025 • 50min
From Theoretical Physics to Sports Performance - With Dr Stefano Andriolo & Prof Paul Laursen
🧠 PHYSICS meets PERFORMANCE – AI, DATA & the FUTURE of SPORTS SCIENCE 🔬⚡Stefano Andriolo didn’t start in the gym — he started in STRING THEORY 📈💥In this mind-bending episode of The Training Science Podcast, Paul & Stefano dive deep into the intersection of physics, data science, and elite performance:💡 From THEORETICAL PHYSICS to real-world ENDURANCE performance 📊 DFA Alpha 1 & ventilatory thresholds — measuring what matters 🤖 AI’s potential to TRANSFORM sports research & athlete development—#TrainingSciencePodcast #HIITScience #AthleticaAI #SportsScience #DataDrivenTraining #DFAAlpha1 #VentilatoryThresholds #AIInSport #TheoreticalPhysics #TriathlonTraining #PerformanceMetrics #AthleteProfiling #CoachingScience #CriticalThinking #ScienceMeetsSport_____________________ Today’s speakers:Prof. Paul Laursen https://www.paullaursen.com/ Dr Stefano Andriolo https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefano-andriolo-70925b146/ _____________________ References:Non-linear heart rate & Cycling power:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39065866/ _____________________

Jul 4, 2025 • 1h 53min
Top Episode Replay: Why Are the Norwegians Dominating Triathlon? Asking Questions & Systematically Looking For Answers with Olav Aleksander Bu
Top Episode ReplayFrom a technology nerd, sailor and entrepreneur, to coaching the world’s fastest triathletes and chasing sub 7 hours for the Ironman distance - that’s just the start of our next guest’s bio!In this episode, we hear from leading Norwegian coach, Olav Aleksander Bu. Olav goes into great detail into his unique personal upbringing and background in technology, farming, sport and entrepreneurship and how he combined this experience alongside the development of a TEAM culture that has put the Norwegian program at the forefront of triathlon. There is so much to absorb in this EXTRA LONG 2 hour episode, especially after coming off Kristian Blummenfelt’s recent win at the St. George Ironman World Championships. The conversation includes detailed insight into different types of training for the Norwegian triple powerhouse that is dominating triathlon currently. In the 21st episode of The Training Science Podcast, Paul and Olav have an in-depth conversation into how an athletes' profile can be very different from one athlete to the next, and therefore requires a highly individualized approach (that changes over time!). They also go into the evolution of high-end exercise science methods for chasing long-term improvements, as well as the relentless application of “the right” technology for the athletes.Fancy TRIATHLON and would like to implement sophisticated HIIT like Olav and his team? ➡️➡️ https://hiit-science.thinkific.com/bundles/science-application-of-hiit-triathlon ⬅️⬅️➡️➡️ https://athletica.ai/ ⬅️⬅️_____________________ Today’s speakers:Prof. Paul Laursen https://www.paullaursen.com/ Olav Alexander Bu https://www.linkedin.com/in/olav-bu/ _____________________

Jun 27, 2025 • 53min
Top Episode Replay: The Basics You NEED to Know About HIIT
Top Episode Replay:Designing HIIT workouts isn’t just about the session you put down on paper.You need to first know the important basics of WHY you are doing them, and this relates critically to the CONTEXT! The impact of TIME ⏱️, INTENSITY 🔥 or HOW OFTEN 🖩, you do them is often ignored or forgotten, and these factors need to be implemented in line with CONTEXT (see Episode 1).But can’t you just TRAIN HARD all the time to maximise my GAINS 💰?Well, in our second episode we highlight the 3 major PHYSIOLOGICAL TARGETS 🎯 that you can specifically design HIIT sessions and workouts for👨🏽🏫, and should always be considered.We cover the three big TARGETS as well as the HIIT type effects:Aerobic responses and effects.Anaerobic responses and interaction effects.Neuromuscular responses and interaction effects.Whether you are just after weekend-warrior goals 💪, training more seriously for any SPORTS 🏆, or are a coach, sports scientist or other practitioner yourself - you need understand WHY you are doing what you are doing._____________________ Today’s speakers:Prof. Paul Laursen https://www.paullaursen.comDr. Martin Buchheit https://martin-buchheit.net/_____________________ References:Buchheit M, Laursen PB. High-intensity interval training, solutions to the programming puzzle: Part I: cardiopulmonary emphasis. Sports Med. 2013 May;43(5):313-38. doi: 10.1007/s40279-013-0029-x. PMID: 23539308.Buchheit M, Laursen PB. High-intensity interval training, solutions to the programming puzzle. Part II: anaerobic energy, neuromuscular load and practical applications. Sports Med. 2013 Oct;43(10):927-54. doi: 10.1007/s40279-013-0066-5. PMID: 23832851.Leduc C., Lacome M, and Buchheit M. The use of standardized runs (and associated data analysis) to monitor neuromuscular status in team sports players: a call to action. Sport Perf Sci & Reports,#116, v1

Jun 20, 2025 • 1h 13min
Moderate Training for No One, HIIT for Everyone?! - With Dr Juan Murías & Dr Martin Buchheit
🧬 TRAINING INTENSITY, VO2 MAX & THE ART OF ADAPTATION ⚡💡From tennis coach to top researcher, Juan Murías brings a unique lens to the science of exercise 🚴♂️📈In this episode of The Training Science Podcast, Martin & Juan dive deep into the mechanics of VO2 max, training intensity, and the real-world implications of sports science:🎾 A personal journey from the court to the lab 🔥 Why moderate intensity might not cut it for adaptations 📊 How high-intensity training turns everyone into a "responder" 🧠 Balancing central vs peripheral adaptations—#TrainingSciencePodcast #HIITScience #ExercisePhysiology #VO2Max #SportsScience #IntensityMatters #HIIT #TrainingAdaptations #JuanMurías #ResearchToPractice #EnduranceTraining #HighPerformance #AthleteDevelopment #PerceivedEffort #ScientificTraining #TennisToScience #PhysiologyMatters_____________________ Today’s speakers:Dr Martin Buchheit https://martin-buchheit.net/ Dr Juan Murías https://researchportal.hbku.edu.qa/en/persons/juan-manuel-murias _____________________

Jun 13, 2025 • 1h 7min
More Reasons Why Norwegians Dominate in Endurance Sports - With Prof Thomas Losnegard & Prof Paul Laursen
Thomas Losnegard from Olympiatoppen reveals why a small country can produce massive results in elite sport 🏔️🥇On this episode of The Training Science Podcast, Paul & Thomas explore the secret ingredients behind Norway’s dominance in winter sports:🤝 A culture of COLLABORATION & knowledge exchange 🧠 Athlete MINDSET, perceived exertion & pacing strategies 📊 Data-led EVOLUTION in cross-country skiing 💻 AI's potential in building smarter performance environments 🌲 And yes… people actually roller ski to work—#TrainingSciencePodcast #HIITScience #Olympiatoppen #NorwegianSports #WinterSports #VO2Max #EliteAthletes #CrossCountrySkiing #EnduranceTraining #HighPerformance #Collaboration #OutdoorLifestyle #SportsCulture #AIinSport #PacingStrategy #PerformanceCoaching #AthleteMindset #OlympicPerformance #KnowledgeExchange #AthleteDevelopment_____________________ Today’s speakers:Prof. Paul Laursen https://www.paullaursen.com/ Prof Thomas Losnegard https://www.nih.no/english/about/employees/thomasl/index.html References:Thomas’ X:https://x.com/LosnegardThomas Pacing for XC skiing:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39231491/ _____________________

20 snips
Jun 6, 2025 • 1h 26min
Desolving the Fat Mystery – Are Carbs History? - With Dr Phil Maffetone, Prof Tim Noakes & Prof Paul Laursen
Join experts Tim Noakes, a sports science pioneer, and Phil Maffetone, a doctor focusing on heart rate training, as they challenge conventional carb-centric dieting for athletes. They discuss how fat oxidation fuels endurance when carbs deplete. Dive into the critical role of the brain in setting limits and the dangers of insulin and sugar addiction in modern diets. Unpack the shifting understanding of nutritional needs, emphasizing that low-carb, high-fat diets could redefine athletic performance and health.

May 30, 2025 • 1h 12min
Modernize Your Strength Programmes Through Motorized Resistance - With Dr Ola Eriksrud & Dr Martin Buchheit
💥 RETHINKING REHAB & PERFORMANCE with Motorized Resistance 🚀From physio frustrations to PERFORMANCE tech! Ola Eriksrud walks us through the evolution of 1080 Motion and why it’s CHANGING the game in both training and rehab 🧠💪In this episode of The Training Science Podcast, Martin @mart1buch and Ola explore how isokinetics, motorized resistance, and smarter load & velocity control are reshaping how we:📊 Monitor progress🔁 Rehab injuries effectively💥 AND boost performance in real-world sport 🎯 If you’re serious about getting athletes back FASTER, STRONGER, and SMARTER — this one is a must-listen.—#TrainSmarter #1080Motion #RehabRevolution #PerformanceTraining #InjuryRecovery #StrengthTraining #Isokinetics #VelocityBasedTraining #Deceleration #MotorizedResistance #SportsScience #TechnologyInSports #LoadManagement #Rehabilitation #JumpMechanics #AthleteMonitoring_____________________ Today’s speakers:Dr Martin Buchheit https://martin-buchheit.net/ Dr Ola Eriksrud https://www.linkedin.com/in/ola-eriksrud-97bb3533/ _____________________

May 23, 2025 • 1h 1min
Data, Testing Context & Long-Term Collaboration in Football Performance - With Carlos Del Barrio & Dr Martin Buchheit
⚽ SPORTS SCIENCE in ELITE FOOTBALL – Building TRUST with DATA 📊🔥Carlos Del Barrio of Atlético Madrid isn’t just crunching numbers — he’s building RELATIONSHIPS that drive performance 🚀In this episode of The Training Science Podcast, Martin @mart1buch & Carlos explore what REALLY matters in sports science:💡 Internships, passion, and the winding road to a dream job 🤝 Trust, communication, and collaborating with coaches & athletes 📊 Using DATA to facilitate decisions, not dictate them 🧠 The power of CONTEXT in testing & injury prevention 📋 Why simplicity and respect are key in testing protocolsCarlos drops gold for ANYONE navigating the complex world of return-to-play, data analysis, and player development 🔥—#TrainingSciencePodcast #HIITScience #AtléticoMadrid #SportsScience #DataInSport #Physiotherapy #PerformanceMonitoring #InjuryPrevention #PlayerDevelopment #Communication #ReturnToPlay #TestingProtocols #SportsPerformance #Collaboration #CareerJourney #TrustTheProcess #ContextualData #Coaching #EliteSport_____________________ Today’s speakers:Dr Martin Buchheit https://martin-buchheit.net/ Carlos Del Barrio https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-del-barrio-fern_____________________