The Podium

No person can sustain a "pedal to the metal" pace of training for 52 weeks per year.  An effective training plan allows for times of increased load, as well as for recovery.  A given year or season must incorporate encouragement of varying physiologic processes, some of which should not be trained concurrently with others.  The concept of "Periodization" is what allows for a training plan which is complete and goal-oriented.In this episode, we discuss the rationale behind Periodization and the various methods for employing this practice in your training.

One of the most frequent questions I receive from patients is, "How much exercise is too much?"  We have all seen the stories or personally known someone who suffered a cardiac condition despite being extremely fit.  Yet, it is well established that exercise is ultimately good for the heart.  This raises the question of whether you can get too much of a good thing.No one is more qualified to address this topic than Dr. Aaron Baggish, and he joins us on this episode of The Podium.  Dr. Baggish, an athlete himself, is the director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center. He serves as team cardiologist / physician for numerous athletic organizations including US Soccer, US Rowing, Harvard University Athletics,  New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, New England Revolution, and is medical director for the BAA Boston Marathon.  When I have any question regarding Sports Cardiology, I go straight to Aaron!  I'm excited and thankful to have him join us on this episode to discuss an important topic.

Morning Routines have become the subject of many articles and discussions in the popular media of late, and for good reason.  Having a routine can ensure that you start each day on the right foot.  However, such practices risk becoming overly complicated and counterproductive in some instances.  In this episode, we look at Morning Routines and how they can be beneficial.  In order to explore the topic and examine the vast differences among successful individuals, we gathered input from some very successful people across multiple walks of life.  Thanks to these folks for submitting audio contributions and sharing their routines, no matter how seemingly simple!Here's a list of who joined us for this episode:3:09 - Dylan Frittelli (PGA Professional)4:15 - Scott Holtzman (UFC Fighter)11:08 - Will Ahmed (CEO of WHOOP)12:18 - Jimmy Whelan (Pro Cyclist, EF Pro Cycling)24:10 - Dr. Allen Lim (Exercise Physiologist, Founder of Skratch Labs)25:16 - Alex Howes (Pro Cyclist, US National Champ., EF Pro Cycling)38:03 - Mike Woods (Pro Cyclist, EF Pro Cycling)38:07 - Jeff Byers (CEO of Amp Human)

Cheri Mah, MD, MS, is a world-renowned expert when it comes to the relationship between sleep and performance in elite athletes.  In addition to performing some of the most important research on this topic, Dr. Mah serves as the sleep expert for the Nike Performance Council.  She has worked with the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants, San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Toronto Blue Jays, and other teams, as well as being a consultant for numerous international sports organizations and leagues.  Her work has been featured by the NY Times, ESPN, NPR, and many other media outlets.I'm thrilled to have Cheri join us for this episode to discuss sleep and performance!  There is no better resource on this topic, and I think you will learn a considerable amount from her in this episode.  I know I did!

Athletes rely on a sharp mind and disciplined focus in order to perform at their best.  These attributes are crucial to the execution of a game plan.  For those of us who don't make a living competing in professional sports, these are also necessary tools.  We all benefit when our mind is clear and our focus is unshakable.  In this episode, we look at how we can train and support mental Focus and Cognition every day.

Dr. Aaron Baggish joins us to talk about the cardiac complications and evaluation of athletes who have had COVID.  Aaron is the Director of the Cardiac Performance Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, and is a globally-recognized expert on all aspects of sports cardiology.  The international guidelines around COVID and heart evaluations have been written and revised by Dr. Baggish and his colleagues, so in my desire to dig into this topic more deeply, it only made sense to go straight to Aaron.

Heart Rate Variability (or "HRV") is the metric which elite athletes are following daily to assess their recovery and plan their daily training.  The science around HRV dates back many decades, but only recently has this become something we can all easily measure.  Whether you are aiming to compete at the highest level or simply perform in daily life, might HRV be the guide you have been looking for?

Glucose, or "blood sugar", is a variable which can change significantly throughout our day.  Those kinetics are a major determinant of our health and of our athletic performance.  In this episode, we review the basics and talk about the most effective ways to measure and impact our blood glucose levels.

Sleep.  It seems so simple, but sleep is often an overlooked determinant of health and performance.  The recognition of this importance is growing, and for some, the pendulum may have even swung too far the other way.  In episode 3 of this season on The Podium, we dig into the science of sleep, how it affects us, and what we can do to ensure we have the best plan for optimizing our daily sleep and recovery.

While at the PGA's Memorial Tournament in Dublin, OH, I got to sit down with two of the top trainers and physios in professional sports.  Adam Kerley, Nic Catterall, and I sat down with tacos and bourbon to talk through all aspects of high performance.  These two are a wealth of knowledge, and their insight is valuable to athletes competing in any sport or discipline.Adam Kerley is a physical therapist, athletic trainer, and certified strength and conditioning specialist who has worked with collegiate and professional athletes across multiple sports.  He now spends much of his time traveling with professional golfers on the PGA Tour.Nic Catterall (https://www.cattogolf.com/) is an Australian high-performance coach, specializing in Musculoskeletal Therapy and Strength & Conditioning for professional golfers on the PGA Tour in the U.S. With over five years of tour experience, plus 10 years of clinical and industry experience across multiple sporting codes, Nic takes a tailored approach to each athlete he works with.