1 % Better - Hidden Stories in Sport

We hear about Xylon’s traipsing around the world before we discuss a listener email about women outperforming men. We then look at some observations from the World Cup, including some NFL players wanting stadiums to keep the grass from the World Cup. We then look at some happenings from Prefontaine Classic, Yared Nuguse racing London Diamond League and John Korir racing Valencia Marathon. We brief...

We have a huge guest joining us this week; Ironman World Champion Casper Stornes - one third of the Norwegian Hype Train. He joins us on behalf of Nomio to discuss his win in Frankfurt, his plans for Kona and many other things.  Before we get to him we discuss changes to college eligibility, Western States insights, Paying Olympians and the Women’s 800m WR hunt.    (00:00) Introduction (00:18) Med...

We have our regular segments before out interview with professional triathlete and coach Kristian Hogenhaug who joins us ahead of Challenge Roth in a wide ranging discussion about training, tapering, race selection and fueling.    (00:00) Introduction (00:17) Medical Question  (03:44) David’s Race Recap (17:41) Community Shoutouts  (18:51) Listener Questions Doping and Enjoyment of Sport  (22:04)...

After some personal updates and race discussion, we head to community shoutouts and some great questions from listeners. Following this we look at lessons from the Knicks win, including trends that we see repeatedly in sport. We then touch on some observations and fun facts from the football (soccer) world cup. After this we briefly discuss the Comrades marathon, Joshua Cheptegei’s next race and A...

We cover a couple of listener questions and interactions before a quick discussion on the new CBA in the WNBA. We then touch on some new UCI regulations before looking at a paper on ultramarathons and whether they increase risk of bowel cancer. We then review some insights from the Rome and Stockholm Diamond Leagues, get to the doctor’s office and finish off with some interesting discussion in see...

In the final part of the energy series, Aitor joins us to discuss ketones and their use. He brings a wealth of experience and anecdotes from his time working with professional athletes in addition to an extensive knowledge of the literature in the space.  This follows on from the previous episodes about building a performance environment, energy expenditure, carbohydrates and lactate.  (00:00) Int...

In a wide ranging episode we discuss some blazing NCAA sprint times and what the professionalisation of college athletics means for the USA. We then cover the controversy around Kirsty Coventry's comments on athlete pay at the Olympics, and whether Olympians should be getting a bigger slice of the pie. We also touch on Ninja Warrior's surprise path to the Olympics, Keely Hodgkinson's l...

In part 4 of the energy series, Aitor joins us to discuss lactate and exogenous lactate. He brings a wealth of experience and anecdotes from his time working with professional athletes in addition to an extensive knowledge of the literature in the space.  This follows on from the previous episodes about building a performance environment, energy expenditure and carbohydrates.  (00:00) Introduction...

In a wide ranging episode we discuss a format change to the Tour Down Under, another Diamond League and some craziness in the NBA. This leads us to a discussion of which are the teams where it’s important for them to win periodically for the competitions. We then discuss Capetown marathon, some Football World Cup team news and Parker Valby’s return to the track. Our final topic is the media limits...

In part 3 of the energy series, Aitor joins us to discuss carbohydrates and carbohydrate intake. He brings a wealth of experience and anecdotes from his time working with professional athletes in addition to an extensive knowledge of the literature in the space.  This follows on from the previous episodes about building a performance environment and energy expenditure.   (00:00) Introduction (03:4...

After some early discussions thanks to both some research and listener questions and input we briefly touch on Zegama, the Shanghai diamond league and the Football World Cup before jumping into the interview.  Our guest this week is Assistant Professor Emily Dow who is a nutrition scientist, strength and conditioning specialist, and educator currently on faculty at the University of Arizona. Emily...

In part 2 of the energy series, Aitor joins us again to discuss energy expenditure and why it is the lens with which to view everything at a first principles level. This follows on from the previous episode about building a performance environment, the core of which is about appropriate use of resources (energy).  This is a bonus episode, and the following 3 episodes of the energy series will also...

We have some great research to discuss in this episode including a paper looking at durability differences between men and women and another looking at who is the GOAT of running. Aside from this we look at Jimmy Gressier’s 1hr WR attempt, review some racing from Cocodona and Transvulcania and discuss the women’s rugby ball debate. We also cover a few listener questions including Strava PBs and po...

After some community shoutouts we give a quick update on Cocodona 250 at the time of recording (Tuesday). We then discuss some of the happenings at the World Relay Championships before a quick look at the NBA. After this we briefly look at Surrey Cricket Club trying to get people to ‘work from the cricket’ and some of the news in the tech world. We then get to our interview with Melissa Muzeau.  M...

Before all the fallout from London Marathon, we get through our updates and community shoutouts. We are then on to the Canyons 100k, Liege-Baston-Liege and Allyson Felix’s comeback. Matthew Marquardt then drops in to explain how he solved his cramping problems. We finish off with the Doctor’s office and a sneaky cameo by Xylon’s new puppy Willow.  (00:00) Introduction (00:19) Medical Question (03:...

In our longest episode ever we cover a bunch of listener comments & questions before getting into the news of what’s been happening. This includes world records, young performers, changing allegiances and more.  We then get to Rachel Entrekin, the winner and course record holder from Cocodona 250miler, who’s preparing to line back up for it. She shares amazing insights and great stories about...

We’ve had some great contributions from listeners in the last week which we get to in a mix of information, corrections and questions. Following this we touch on Paris marathon, Marathon des Sables, Paris Roubaix and a quick check in on Gout Gout before our guest joins us.  Our guest this week is Associate Professor Kim Hébert-Losier is an expert in musculoskeletal lower-extremity health and asses...

In a bumper episode we cover off some great listener questions before touching on tonnes of running news. This included Sha’Carri Richardson, Collen Kebinatshipi, Kishane Thompson, Jimmy Gressier, Cassandre Beaugrande and Jane Hedengren. We then touch on a world record, a new world marathon championship and a shoe that detects its own wear. We close out with a discussion of the Ronde van Vlaandare...

We have lots of running chat this week. We discuss Josh Kerr’s record attempt, Georgia Hunter Bell’s efforts in Australia, marathoners behaving badly and a new race in Germany. We also touch on some cycling things with a sport transfer and a new cycling show. Finally we head to France for a mess at their trail championships and finally to Berlin half marathon to discuss a pacer getting second.  (0...

This episode starts with some discussion of David’s achilles, before getting into some listener questions about recovery from injury. We then review the outcomes of the early finish option of the LA marathon, Garmin’s Whatsapp integration and the new qualifications standards from World Athletics including their implications. Following this we discuss Milan San Remo before a discussion of a naval o...

Please excuse the video issues for the parts outside of the interview (which has video).  We have a huge episode this week; we cover a listener question about timezones and the world baseball challenge, then head to some news including Mondo Duplantis’ WR, some doping news from Georgian Rugby and Flotrack broadcasting UTMB. We then discuss Barcelona marathon, Grant Fisher’s debut at NYC half and A...

After a few updates from things we discussed last week and a quick look at the LA marathon we discuss Strade Bianci, Ironman New Zealand and a half marathon world record at Lisbon half marathon. We then discuss some interesting topics for women in sport, including British athletes being required to pay for their own sex tests and Grayson Murphy’s new contract with Salomon.  (00:00) Introduction (0...

After a big surprise, we discuss a listener question about training surfaces. Following this we touch on Louis Hincliffe’s decision to return to college and NIL implications, Keely Hodgkinson and Johannes Klaebo. We then discuss Tokyo marathon, the mess at the USA half marathon champs and the new European Marathon Classics. Finally we touch on a poll from the Athletic talking about the hardest job...

Petter Engdahl is a professional trailrunner and skier for the Team Adidas. Best known for his victory and course record at the CCC race at UTMB in 2022, Petter was 6th at the long trail world championships in 2025. Petter joins us on the back of the announcement he will be running the Boston Marathon.  (00:00) Introduction (00:15) Xylon Update (01:45) Dave Update  (03:27) Interview Starts (04:53)...

In the first of a series we are calling ‘The Energy Series’ Aitor Viribay joins us to discuss how he is crafting a performance environment for Salomon’s professional trailrunning team. The lessons and insights have broad applicability including to the every day athlete!  AItor Viribay is the Global sports performance director at Solomon, a consultant exercise physiologist at Girona football club,...