The Progress Theory

Hybrid athlete and coach, Fergus Crawley, discusses his accomplishments, training for strength and endurance simultaneously, redefining what is hard through physical challenges, and organizing his hybrid training. The chapter also explores drinking capacity, work capacity, and the training approach for a hybrid athlete, emphasizing the importance of balancing volume and intensity.

The podcast delves into hybrid training, balancing strength and endurance, and setting goals for 2022. They discuss strategies for optimizing training intensity and volume, sharing personal experiences and offering training templates.

Explore hybrid training with S&C coach Jonny Pain at Omnia Performance. Learn about balancing strength and endurance, auto-regulating programming, and conquering big challenges like the Celtman. Discover the growth of hybrid training and the importance of understanding non-training stressors. Dive into the methodology of hybrid athletes, Project Vertical, and self-discovery through stress. Embrace challenges for mental health awareness and the transformative impact of noble causes.

Hello and welcome to The Progress Theory where we discuss how to implement scientific principles to optimise human performance. On this episode, we have S&C and sprint coach, David Sadkin.There’s a reason why the 100m sprint final at the Olympics is one of the highlights of every Olympic games. Seeing the fastest athletes in the world reach speeds only a handful of people can reach is awesome. However, Sprinting is more than just running as fast as possible. It takes the right blend of physical qualities, technique and competitive drive to reach our sprint potential. So how do you train to achieve this? In this episode, David and I discuss variations in sprint technique, David’s training philosophy for coaching sprinters, and common mistakes athletes make when training to get faster.In this episode, we discuss:1:22 - An introduction to David Sadkin and how he uses social media5:21 - How David got into Sprint coaching11:47 - Sprint mechanics and what to look for14:43 - Examples of coaching based on a technical issue17:13 - Misconceptions with ‘high knees’18:53 - The use of wickets versus coaching cues22:14 - Testing Stride Frequency and stride length26:51 - David’s S&C philosophy30:04 - common mistakes in S&C for sprinters35:48 - Are we focusing too much on lifting heavy?37:30 - David’s future plans/goals38:10 - Recommendations for aspiring sprint coachesFinal ThoughtsThank you to David for coming onto The Progress Theory and talking about his experience within the S&C community and his work with his sprint athletes. He has a great story of an injured athlete who fell in love with a new sport and wanted to know everything about it, and it has led him to become an incredibly successful sprint coach.I just wanted to provide some final thoughts on key areas which really stood out to me.Firstly, I really enjoyed hearing how open his approach to both coaching sprinting and S&C was. He isn’t constricted to a certain way of doing things. He knows every sprinter requires different training to ensure they progress, so he tries to understand them as an athlete before making a decision on what training they require. He doesn’t try to fit them into his way of doing things, he fits his own ideas based on the athlete themselves.And secondly, he clearly works well within a system for his athletes. His training and coaching decisions come from discussions with the osteopath and physio he works with, his understanding of the science around the determinants of sprint performance, and his own ideas. Again, it is this openness and adaptability to his coaching that allows him to utilise all of the information available and ultimately make the right training programme.Anyways I hope you enjoyed this episode and it sparked your interest in sprinting. I truly believe learning about sprinting transfers so well into other areas of human performance so this really created some ideas for me to reflect on. If you enjoyed the show It would be awesome if you could leave us a review and share this episode on your insta story. Feed that algorithm to help the show grow. We’ll see you in the next one.FOLLOW OUR PODCASTFollow our Host / Guest@theprogresstheory@drphilprice@davidsadkinExplore these Resources or Items Mentioned in the ShowIn this episode, we mentioned the following resources:Testing softwareKinoveaTrackerOptojumpResourcesUSTFCCCAMichael JohnsonSt Mary’s UniversityYoutubeDavid’s guest choicesJurgen kloppAlex Ferguson

Dr. Becky Neal, an environmental physiologist and lecturer at Bournemouth University, dives into the fascinating world of heat and exercise. She discusses how the body physiologically responds to high temperatures and the risks of heat-related injuries. Listeners learn about effective acclimatization strategies tailored for different sporting events, as well as the significant differences in heat tolerance between genders. With insights drawn from the Tokyo Olympics, she emphasizes the importance of understanding and training for extreme heat conditions to enhance athletic performance.

Hello and welcome to The Progress Theory where we discuss how to implement scientific principles to optimise human performance. On today’s episode, we have Former Marine Commando and published author, Gareth Timmins.I saw Gareth’s new book, ‘Becoming the 0.1%’ on the Amazon pre-order list and I instantly knew I had to have him on the Progress Theory. To make it through all the training to prepare you to fight in the harshest environments in the world, you need the highest level of discipline, resilience and determination. In this episode, Gareth describes how keeping a diary during his military training and career has enabled him to reflect and pass on the greatest lessons he learned during this time. These lessons aren’t just for the military; these are skills you can apply to your everyday life to help you reach your full potential.In this episode, we discuss:3:19 - An introduction to Gareth Timmins and becoming the 0.1%6:50 - Relationship with the MOD9:36 - Pushing out of your comfort zone to develop an elite mindset14:05 - The biggest lessons from becoming a royal marine commando16:50 - Reframing what stress is22:36 - Military Mindset for the general population27:10 - Developing self-awareness and mindset through the chapters of the book42:23 - How you can buy the book ‘Becoming the 0.1%42:43 - Gareth's 3 favourite lessons from the book46:20 - Gareth’s choice of guest for the Progress TheoryFinal ThoughtsThank you to Gareth for coming onto The Progress Theory and talking about his experience in the Royal Marine Commandos and his new book, Becoming the 0.1%. He really only scratched the surface of the stories he shares in his book and I can’t wait to read it. We recorded this podcast just before its release so my copy is on its way.I just wanted to provide some final thoughts on key areas which really stood out to me.Firstly, the concept of ‘out of comfort zone’ must be completely different to Gareth when compared to the general population. The extremes the royal marines go to fully prepare their soldiers is insane. 12 hours sleep in 2 weeks, seriously sounds so uncomfortable. But he reflects on these experiences with a type of fondness. He realised that being pushed so far outside anyone's comfort zone made him truly see who he is as a person. I think that’s fascinating and makes me wonder what I need to do to push myself that far outside my comfort zone.Secondly, I like how Gareth’s opinion has changed on mindset. At first, he thought being fearless was having no emotion. Now, to him fearless means taking on any challenge despite any fear or anxiety you might be experiencing. You can’t eliminate emotional responses to adverse situations, but you can change your perception of how they affect you and how you will persevere through it.Anyways I hope you enjoyed this episode and it allowed you to reflect on your own mindset. Please, everyone, go and buy the book now, you won’t regret it. If you enjoyed the show It would be awesome if you could leave us a review and share this episode on your insta story. Feed that algorithm to help the show grow. We’ll see you in the next one.FOLLOW OUR PODCASTFollow our Host / Guest@theprogresstheory@drphilprice@becomingthe0.1percentExplore these Resources or Items Mentioned in the ShowBecoming the 0.1%Buy the book on amazonRoyal marine commandosMinistry of DefenceMindsetBehavioural/Cognitive Science Leeds RhinosElon MuskDavid Attenborough

Hello and welcome to The Progress Theory where we discuss how to implement scientific principles to optimise human performance. In this episode, we have S&C and weightlifting coach, and University lecturer and researcher, Shaun Joffe. Shaun is without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable coaches on weightlifting in the country. His research has provided substance and direction to his coaching and programming decisions, and because of this, he has an amazing approach to weightlifting, which he shares in this episode. If you’re a fan of programming to lift heavy barbells fast, this is the episode for you.In this episode, we discuss:2:30 - Shaun’s Background and where his passion for weightlifting came from6:18 - Shaun’s S&C experience10:54 - How a wide variety of experiences can help develop you as a coach15:52 - An introduction to weightlifting as a sport19:44 - Determinants of weightlifting performance25:17 - Weightlifting programming32:30 - Weightlifting programme philosophy37:05 - Technical differences between weightlifters and coaching weightlifting48:31 - How to get involved with Weightlifting and Woking weightlifting clubFinal ThoughtsThank you Shaun for coming onto The Progress Theory and talking about his research and his ideas on weightlifting performance. What a great episode. It really showed how coaches can use research to guide programming decisions, and how overall philosophy is one of the clearest of any weightlifting coach I’ve ever heard.I just wanted to provide some final thoughts on key areas which really stood out to me.Firstly, I enjoyed hearing how Shaun uses clear objectives to influence when he is developing certain qualities in his weightlifting programming. For example, he talks about how max strength is a key determining factor for weightlifting performance, so he wants his lifters to hit certain strength targets before progressing on to focus programming on other qualities. This makes complete sense. Why move onto a new training block with a new focus if you haven’t reached certain targets?And secondly, I love how he tailor his coaching deliberately to allow the athlete to find the appropriate weightlifting technique for themselves. Yes, there are key positions you want to hit, but how every lifter will achieve them will be different due to varying anthropometric and physical qualities. Forcing a certain technical weightlifting style onto someone could hinder their progression. Guide the athlete, don’t tell them what to do all the time.Anyways I hope you enjoyed this episode and it gave you plenty of information and ideas on how to improve your weightlifting programming. It would be awesome if you could also leave us a review and share this episode on your insta story to help the show grow. We’ll see you in the next one.FOLLOW OUR PODCASTFollow our Host / Guest@theprogresstheory@thepricep@woking_weightlifting_club@shaunjoffeExplore these Resources or Items Mentioned in the ShowWoking weightlifting clubBritish weightliftingSchool of champions - weightlifting documentaryEducation and experienceShaun’s researchSt Mary’s UniversityBuckinghamshire new universityEdinburgh universityEdinburgh rugbyLondon WelshEISParalympic rowing

Hello and welcome to The Progress Theory where we discuss how to implement scientific principles to optimise human performance. On today’s episode, we have football coach and adventure athlete, Jamie Carr.Jamie has started the Nothing Ventured campaign where he looks to complete the Marathon Des Sables, a 6-day ultramarathon across the Sahara desert, and row solo across the Atlantic, all to raise £50,000 for children’s charities. In this episode, Jamie and I discuss the reason why he’s taking on these challenges, the logistics of the challenges, and how big physical challenges like these really help you grow outside your comfort zone. I have included the Nothing Ventured website in our show notes so you can donate to this amazing cause if you wish. http://nothingventuredcampaign.com/ In this episode, we discuss:1:30 - An introduction to Jamie Carr2:24 - The Nothing Ventured campaign6:07 - The Charities involved with the Nothing Ventured Campaign9:25 - Why the Marathon des Sables and Atlantic Row14:39 - The logistics and dangers of the challenge15:05 - Safety during the Atlantic row21:03 - Logistics of Marathon Des Sables22:50 - Foot care for MDS25:48 - What you carry during MDS28:04 - Training for the challenge32:10 - Mindset34:53 - Advice for getting out of your comfort zone and doing your bucket list37:17 - Future challenges?42:00 - How to follow the Nothing Ventured CampaignFinal ThoughtsIt is incredible what he is doing to raise money for charities and it will have such an impact on people’s lives. It was an inspirational episode and one which I hope encouraged everyone listening to complete their own bucket list.I just wanted to provide some final thoughts on key areas which really stood out to me.Firstly, it was such a shock to me to learn about so many additional dangers associated with these challenges. I understand the dangers of dehydration and heatstroke during the Marathon des Sables, but it just didn’t cross my mind that scorpions could also play a huge factor. Similarly in the row, being attacked by marlins? I would have never have thought of that. These are dangers you only find out by experiencing it first hand, so like Jamie says, when looking to take on a new challenge, find many people who have done similar challenges and ask as many questions as possible.And secondly, I enjoyed hearing about Jamie’s drive and determination. As he learns more about these challenges and the difficulties you face when taking them on, it seems to spur him on even more. It’s like the more pain he may experience, or the greater the chance of him not succeeding, the more he wants to do it. The most important part of his mindset was acceptance. He accepts it’s going to suck, which reduces his anxiety. You can’t worry about something you’ve already accepted.Anyways I hope you enjoyed this episode and it gave you plenty of inspiration to take on your own bucket list. It would be awesome if you could also leave us a review and share this episode on your insta story to help the show grow. We’ll see you in the next one.FOLLOW OUR PODCASTFollow our Host / Guest@theprogresstheory@drphilprice@nothingventuredcampaign@jamiie00Nothing Ventured CampaignExplore these Resources or Items Mentioned in the ShowMarathon des sablesCancer fund for childrenCity in the communityManchester City FCTalisker Atlantic rowJames CracknellAtlantic row amazon primeGus BartonDomino's pizzaDenaliMt ElbrusCrib GochKilimanjaroMt EverestAdri BrownleeGuest picksDavid GogginsMatthew McConaughey

Hello and welcome to The Progress Theory where we discuss how to implement scientific principles to optimise human performance. In this episode, we have Associate Professor Jess Hill who is an exercise physiologist and researcher into compression garments.Compression garments are used readily in sport, particularly in endurance sports such as running and cycling, and field-based sports like football and rugby. However, like most sports equipment on the market, not only do you wonder if compression garments are worth the money, but do they actually work? Can they actually enhance sports performance by improving the rate of recovery? In this episode, Jess Hill explains which types of garments you should wear, when you should use them, and if using them too much can actually decrease the physiological adaptations you were trying to achieve through training.In this episode, we discuss:2:18 - An introduction to Dr Jess Hill3:21 - What are compression garments and how they work5:48 - When to wear compression garments7:53 - Which compression garments to use11:41 - Compression garment effectiveness and the level of the athlete13:00 - Can compression garments create a placebo effect?16:05 - Made-to-measure compression garments20:15 - Level of inflammation may determine how much compression you need23:25 - Compression garments improving performance28:40 - Recommendations for using compression garmentsFinal ThoughtsThank you to Dr Jess Hill for coming onto The Progress Theory and talking about her research on compression garments. It was great to get an understanding of what we currently know about compression garments. They’ve been purchased and used by athletes for years yet how they improve recovery is less well known. I definitely think we should be more aware of how these interventions work to help sports performance before we start using them, especially as so many factors always seem to influence their effectiveness.I just wanted to provide some final thoughts on key areas which really stood out to me.Firstly, it was the importance of made to measure compression garments. The thought of spending £50 on some generic compression leggings only to find they don’t apply the right level of compression really annoys me. Compression works, but it appears only if you buy the right garments. Made to measure garments are designed so that the garment is specific to your body shape and size. They may be more expensive, however, it is more likely that they will have a positive effect on your recovery, so it would be worth spending the extra pennies on them.And secondly, when you wear compression garments is vital to how effective they will be to your programme. If you need to recover quickly, like during a Rugby 7’s tournament wearing them between matches, or after a big event which you have been training for several weeks, then compression garments should be used to enhance your recovery. However, the inflammatory response is vital for the adaptation from training. If you wear compression garments after regular training, even if it is a hard session, it could blunt the adaptive response and reduce the effectiveness of your programme. As a rule of thumb, compression garments are good to use during a tournament or after a big competition, but may not be the best idea during training when adaptation is key.Anyways I hope you enjoyed this episode and it gave you enough information on compression garments that it allows you to make your own decision on when and how to use them in your own training. It would be awesome if you could also leave us a review and share this episode on your insta story to help the show grow. Also, head to our website theprogresstheory.com and listen to our other episodes. We’ll see you in the next one.FOLLOW OUR PODCASTFollow our Host / Guest@theprogresstheory@drphilprice@JessHill84Explore these Resources or Items Mentioned in the ShowDr Jess Hill ResearchCompression leggingsRunner’s world review of compression leggingsVitalactiveSKINSLohmann-RauscherCompression socks

Hello and welcome to The Progress Theory where we discuss how to implement scientific principles to optimise human performance. On this episode, we have GB ParaPowerlifting High-Performance Coach, Ben Richens.Paralympic powerlifting is different to traditional powerlifting as it focuses on one lift: The bench press. Paralympic powerlifting is a sport that is growing quickly in the UK and we’ve got a strong contingent heading to the Tokyo Paralympic games, all of which are coached by Ben Richens. Yet despite its growing popularity, there are many who are unfamiliar with the sport. In this episode, Ben describes the training and coaching differences between traditional powerlifting and paralympic powerlifting, where common programming mistakes are made, and how you can get into the sport.In this episode, we discuss:2:00 - Why Ben did this podcast while in isolation (his recent competition in Dubai)2:45 - An introduction to Ben Richens6:58 - How Ben got into Powerlifting and Para-Powerlifting11:12 - The difference between powerlifting and para-powerlifting15:56 - Ben’s fulfilment and accomplishments in coaching and coaching Para-powerlifting20:44 - The Invictus Games23:40 - The team for the Paralympic games24:46 - Getting involved in para-powerlifting27:09 - Programming for para-powerlifting28:56 - Training for performance and quality of life34:22 - Longevity and progress in para-powerlifting40:43 - creating small wins to avoid the repetitiveness of training41:42 - common mistakes when training the bench press48:06 - Advice for getting into para-powerlifting coachingFinal ThoughtsThank you to Ben Richens for coming onto The Progress Theory and talking about his work with the GB para-powerlifting team. For a sport that is quite simple in nature, it is truly fascinating, and Ben did an amazing job discussing his ideas around training and the differences between the bench press and para-powerlifting bench press.I just wanted to provide some final thoughts on key areas which really stood out to me.Firstly, it was the importance of variables outside of the training programme which will have such a profound effect on the athlete. As coaches, we spend hours thinking of how to create the most beneficial programme that is specific to the athlete. However, if poor lifestyle factors such as lack of sleep, poor food choices and a lack of water are being followed by an athlete, then the effectiveness of the programme will never be realised. Often it is these lifestyle factors that are more important for an athletes progress than the programme itself. We should be aware of this as coaches and educate our athletes appropriately. Secondly, the importance of training for quality of life. We sometimes get over-focussed on programming to improve performance that we forget how that might affect the athlete outside of the gym/sport. If we drastically reduce an athlete’s quality of life through the training and our programming, it may lead to a situation where the reduced quality of life now negatively affects the training. It can be a vicious circle. This highlights the need for us to be athlete-focused with our programming. Always think ‘How is your programming going to improve this athlete at their sport and as a person?’Anyways I hope you enjoyed this episode. As Ben says, we need more lifting clubs so get busy and start one. What better way to become better at training is by immersing yourself in the right environment that you’ve created for yourself. It would be awesome if you could also leave us a review and share this episode on your insta story to help the show grow. Also, head to our website theprogresstheory.com and listen to our other episodes. We’ll see you in the next one.FOLLOW OUR PODCASTFollow our Host / Guest@theprogresstheory@drphilprice@sfbtrainingExplore these Resources or Items Mentioned in the Show@bwlparapowerlifting@britishwlBritish WeightliftingBritish Para-PowerliftingEleikoInvictus games@datadrivenstrength @miketuchscherer@bryce_tsa