The Real Science of Sport Podcast

Delving into influential sports science papers, the hosts discuss concepts like oxygen debt, lactate shuttle, and pacing strategies. They explore the central governor theory, controversial theories on exercise fatigue, and the regulation of pacing strategy in athletic competition. The podcast also challenges the efficacy of altitude training in elite athletes.

Former Olympian and coach Mark Coogan shares insights on training elite athletes for Paris 2024 Olympics, discussing talent spotting, training strategies, challenges of altitude training, importance of trust in coaching, controversy around 'Super Shoes', and the future of track and field amidst doping concerns.

Exploring exercise in the heat through the lens of the Tour de France, the podcast covers topics like physiological failures, brain responses to hyperthermia, and the yellow jersey battle. The analysis includes insights on Pogacar's record climb, challenges faced by cyclists in extreme heat, and strategies for heat adaptation and performance improvement.

Can Vingegaard recover from his accident to challenge Pogacar? Explore Tour de France physiology, performance requirements, and durability in cycling. Speculation and predictions add excitement to the TDF discussion and debate. Fantasy league predictions emphasize uncertainties in forecasting outcomes.

Dr. Tamara Hew-Butler, expert in hyponatremia, debunks myths on hydration during exercise, warning against overhydration. The podcast explores the risks of diluting sodium levels through excessive fluid intake, the impact on performance, and the evolution of hydration strategies in marathon racing. It questions the influence of corporate sponsorship on sports science research and delves into speaker preferences on hydration and beverages.

Kenyan athletes face a credibility crisis with widespread doping issues. The challenges of identifying sophisticated doping regimes among top Kenyan athletes are discussed. The government's efforts to combat doping are questioned. The culture of fear and silence in Kenyan athletics is explored. The podcast also delves into the physiological and psychological aspects of sports, organizing a tournament to select favorite Olympic sports.

Dr. Geoff Burns, an elite ultra racer and sports scientist, discusses the biomechanics of running, the impact of super shoes, calf size on running economy, optimizing running form, shoe technology, and the complexities of athlete diversity in the world of running.

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas lost a case against World Aquatics due to not being a member of US Swimming. Professor Ross Tucker discusses the frustration for World Aquatics, the flawed IOC guidelines, and the missed opportunity for an interesting court test.

With 50 days to go to the Paris Olympics, it's all systems go for athletes, coaches, and media. Sean Ingle will be covering his 7th Olympic Games, and he joins us from Rome's European Track and Field Championships to talk about some of the themes we expect to make the news at these Paris Games. They include tech's pervasive and unavoidable influence on performance, a simmering feud in the world of anti-doping, and the evolution and relevance of the Olympic Games in the face of both external and internal pressures. We also present The Official Science of Sport surveys in which you get to vote for your favourite event of the Games, and our ambitious consensus project to classify the Olympic Sports by their physiological and psychological demands. A busy period of great sport starts here!Show notes:Here is where you sign up to become a Patron and get access to our awesome and informative Discourse communityThe Discourse page, for those who are already Patrons of the pod (you sign in with your Patron log-ins)If you want to join our survey to rate the Olympic sports for their athletic components, here is the link to the once-off surveyOur 'bracket' challenge to pick your most engaging, popular specific eventWe spoke of tech in cycling on the show, and here's an announcement from Team GB/Lotus about their track bikes for their Paris campaignHere's the paper with Kenenisa Bekele has a co-author, that recognizes that the new era performances, powered by super shoes, and aided by wavelights, need an asterisk alongside themFollow Sean Ingle on Twitter/X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Dale Rae discusses the importance of good sleeping habits, routines, catching up on sleep, effects of sleep deprivation on mood, body health, and weight gain. The podcast highlights the impact of sleep duration, regularity on health, the link between sleep and weight gain, reflections on sleep importance, and a balanced approach to maintaining healthy sleep habits.