The Real Science of Sport Podcast

From the shoe that broke running, to drug cheats, Caster Semenya, Alberto Salazar, the best way to make a champion and Red-S, our first season of the Science of Sport Podcast was never short on controversy. Host Mike Finch and Prof. Ross Tucker name their award winners of the year, look back on the lessons learnt and look ahead to the 2020 Olympic year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As one of the world's top obstacle racers and ultra runners, Amelia Boone is regarded as one of the toughest female athletes on the planet. But a lifetime battling eating disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) almost cost the American her life and her sporting career. In this interview with Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch, Boone speaks openly about her dramatic past, relationships and the lessons others can take from her ongoing battle against her toughest opponent, herself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trent Stellingwerff, an exercise physiologist specializing in performance nutrition, and Hilary Stellingwerff, a former elite runner, delve into the pressing issues surrounding Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). They discuss the intense pressures athletes face regarding body image and weight, emphasizing the detrimental effects on mental and physical health. The conversation covers how unrealistic weight goals can harm performance, stresses the importance of prioritizing long-term athlete health over short-term gains, and calls for better education and support for young athletes.

Professor Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch looked at the effect that modern day tech has on sport, its role in performance and what the future looks like. We discuss everything from the effect of cellphone distraction on athlete performance, what some federations have done to push back on tech in order to retain integrity, how best to use tech to enhance performance and what the future could look like. AI anyone? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From law changes to concussion research, World Rugby has taken a proactive approach to make the game safer at all levels. Professor Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch discuss the research and findings into the risks of contact sports around the world, why rugby is leading the way in player safety and what Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy really means. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mechanical Doping or Tech Breakthrough? Nike's controversial carbon-plated Vaporfly running shoe has forced us to recalibrate what performances mean. Host Mike Finch joins sports scientist Ross Tucker and biomechanist Geoff Burns to look at the tech, how it works, why it has had such an impact on world marathon performances and what authorities may need to do to regulate running shoe technology Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Eliud Kipchoge's second attempt at breaking the two-hour marathon mark a human advance or just a technological sidestep? In October the world's best marathoner will attempt to run inside 120 minutes using every advancement available from carbon-plated shoes to carefully-planned pacing and drafting strategies. Understand how VO2 max, running economy and lactate threshold affect performance, the benefit of wearing Nike's controversial % shoe, the V-shaped pacing strategy and the effect of crowd support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In one of the most dramatic weeks in athletics history, legendary American coach Alberto Salazar was banned for four years for doping offences, 37-year-old Kenenisa Bekele missed the world record in the marathon by a scant two seconds in Berlin and there was controversy and celebration at the World Athletics Championships in Doha. Host Mike Finch and sports scientist Prof. Ross Tucker look at the facts of the case against Salazar, the shoe that is defining marathon running performances and how Doha, despite poor crowds, is still delivering top-class competition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World Athletics Championships takes place in Doha from September 27 to October 6 and handling heat, hopefully, will the major talking point. From midnight marathons to air conditioned stadiums to the best way to stay cool, we tackle the science of heat in athletic performance. We also look into the latest doping controversies and pick the best races, and athletes, to watch in the post-Bolt era. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Prof Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch as they speak to renowned author Peter Bills about his latest book 'The Jersey: The Secrets Behind the World's Most Successful Team'' (Pan Macmillan). Bills - one the UK's foremost sports journalists and writers - spent four years researching the book on the New Zealand All Blacks to discover what it is that makes them the dominant force in world rugby. From team culture to the 'no dickheads' policy, playing the referee and the influence of the Polynesian players, Bills' intimate insight in to what makes the All Blacks tick is both revealing and entertaining. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.