1 % Better - Hidden Stories in Sport

In this episode the guys discuss top earners in sport, some results from the track & field world and a drug ban. They then touch on some research and data on supershoes, specifically in trailrunning before being joined by Dr Sam Shepherd to discuss sodium hyperhydration and a paper on using it in women specifically.  (00:00) Introduction (09:00) David’s Training and Shoes (12:06) Xylon’s Regre...

Another week another bunch of running records which we cover. After this we chat a bit about Tarawera Ultramarathon results and the Tyreek Hill vs Noah Lyles showdown before touching on a new form of doping - Mitochondrial Transplants.  We then get to an interview with Dr Andrew Koutnik a researcher  studying the influence of nutrition and metabolism on health, disease, and performance about a pap...

Xylon & David talk about some Millrose games results, national records falling in the 5k and Visma Lease a Bike’s use of TT helmets on the road before being joined by a guest to discuss training intensity distribution.  Jem Arnold is a PhD candidate in exercise physiology at the University of British Columbia, where his research focuses on sport-related vascular conditions. He is also a physio...

In episode 49 we cover a spate of running records being broken, some discussion about broadcast rights and the power of the individual in sports. We also discuss the UCI’s ban on repeated carbon monoxide inhalation before discussing athletic development in the contact of Albert Philipsen before we grab some audio from a conversation we had with his former coach about Albert. We finish off discussi...

Finally we cover the question of whether music is performance enhancing. But only after discussing Australian open broadcast rights, carbon plated racing flip flops, VR preparation for quarterbacks and some triathlon.    (00:00) Behind the Scenes  (00:50) Introduction  (05:22) Xylon’s Update  (07:40) David’s Training (12:13) Australian Open Broadcast Right and Youtube Wii Tennis  (16:28) Carbon Pl...

On this episode the guys review David’s testing results and answer a listener question about multi year training planning. They then cover some rapid fire happenings before reviewing the Houston marathon and previewing the spring marathons’ elite fields.  (00:00) Introduction  (00:45) Xylon’s update  (08:33) David’s Testing Update and Training (18:23) Community Shoutouts (20:20) Listener Question...

Allison Lynch is a marketing and communications executive with 12 years of experience. This has included roles as Sr. Marketing Manager, US & Global Running and Coros and Senior marketing manager, running & women’s performance at Whoop.  She joins us to discuss athletes vs influencers following a piece she wrote recently.  (00:00) Introduction (03:03) David’s Training (06:00) Xylon’s Docum...

This week’s episode saw multiple listener questions answered including a discussion on prediction of caloric and carbohydrate burn from training data. There’s some quick fire talking points including the new TGL golf league, a women’s 5K world record and Netflix’s content strategy in sport. We then touch on the use of machine learning for talent prediction in football. Finally we look at injury an...

In this episode we review 2024 in sport, from surprises to favourite moments and much more. We then look forward to 2025 and make some predictions on winners and trends we will see.    (00:00) Introduction (03:50) Community Shoutouts  (06:30) Favourite Sporting Moment of the Year (08:56) Most Enthralling Sporting Moment (12:27) Performance of the Year  (14:53) Most Surprising Performance of 2024 (...

In this Holiday Episode the guys discuss training during the holiday period and how to optimise it. In addition they cover a listener question on developing and quantifying durability as well as look at some research on faster marathoners habits and splitting up intervals like a Norwegian.    (00:00) Introduction (03:44) Community Shoutouts (06:40) Listener Question Developing and Quantifying Dura...

Assistant Professor Alex Coates is the principal investigator at the “Exercise Physiology and Performance Lab” at Simon Fraser University. Her broad research interests cover applied exercise physiology, with a focus on understanding the impacts of varied exercise stimuli to systems level adaptations. This includes the areas of overtraining, under-fuelling, training adaptation, and monitoring techn...

Grant Jenkins is the general manager of Propel Health, an Australian based supplement company. He is an exercise physiologist and ASCA Master Coach. He joins us to discuss the supplement industry, manufacturing, safe in sport accreditations and much more. We discuss supplement advice for endurance athletes, developing athletes and positive doping tests from tainted supplements.  (00:00) Introducti...

In this episode the guys discuss some results from the Valencia marathon and address some listener questions about ultramarathon success and failure points. They go on to discuss swearing as a performance enhancer and the impact of orthorexia on sleep.    (00:00) Introduction  (04:00) David’s Update and Training (05:13) Xylon’s Update and Birthday (11:50) Community Shoutouts (14:00) Valencia Marat...

Paul Francis is the CEO and Cofounder of FC 32. Paul’s career includes time with both the Italian and British Olympic federations, multiple NFL teams and numerous advisory board positions including Strava. He was Global head of sports science for Adidas and prior to this he worked in innovation for nike. He joins us to discuss developing elite environments with lessons that span sport and business...

Hein Kriek is a Professional rugby coach, currently working as head coach of the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport Rugby International Institute. He has coached professionally in multiple countries and joins us to discuss coaching in foreign cultures following the recent appointment of Thoms Tuchel to coach the English Men’s Football team. There’s lots in this for non-rugby and football fans though, w...

Episode 37 covers some updates to WADA’s banned list, the impact of caffeine on sleep and half marathon time prediction. We also briefly discuss Grand Slam Track’s venue announcements, Neymar hits the doctor’s office and we cover a bunch of community shoutouts and listener questions.    (00:00) Introduction (01:50) David’s Background   (10:04) David’s Training (12:00) Xylon’s Update (17:50) Commun...

This week the episode focuses on a listener question about the determinants of endurance performance. Before this, we briefly recap the New York Marathon and cover our usual segments including the Doctor’s Office where we touch on concussion, concussion protocols and CTE.    (00:00) Introduction (02:51) Xylon’s Injury Update  (06:00) David’s Recovery from Valencia Half Marathon  (13:00) Community...

The guys debrief the big races from the weekend including Valencia half marathon and Kona Ironman, chatting pacing as part of this and some listener questions. They then discuss the Tour de France courses and have the usual segments.    (00:00) Introduction (06:09) David’s Valencia Efforts  (13:50) Pacing and How to Pace  (21:37) Xylon’s Current Training (26:07) How do you Practice Pacing?   (31:3...

This week’s episode starts with a recap of Cape Town Marathon and a view towards Valencia Half Marathon. We then tackle a listener question on potential downsides of heat training. After this we cover some thoughts from Chicago Marathon, some observations on brands in the running space and finally examine some papers on circadian rhythm and performance, AI vs dietitians and probiotic use. The Doct...

Matthew Marquardt is a professional triathlete currently Ranked 19th in the PTO rankings and 9th in the IM Pro Series. He came 11th in the 2023 IM World Championships and joins us to talk about his preparation for Kona 2024 and how he balances being a professional triathlete with being a full time medical student.  (00:00) Introduction (00:24) The Heart, its Function and Adaptation to Training (10...

We are joined on the podcast by Christie Jenkins, Co-Founder & Chief Investment Officer at F32 a multi-club football ownership group focused on world class player development. We discuss her journey, including competing in 3 sports at an international level and background in finance. We also discuss Women's sport and what the future looks like, including FC32’s approach to this.    (00:00) Int...

The guys discuss the IMWC in Nice and Pogacar’s superhuman effort before a research paper on underfueling in the premier league and fuel requirements at different body weights. They answer some listener questions about training intensity and race shoes on pro’s and finish off with October’s 1% Better Challenge. (00:00) Introduction (02:03) Xylon’s Holiday  (04:40) Xylon’s Training & Injury Upd...

Dr Amy Boalch joins the podcast this week to talk about safe participation in endurance events and common problems seen by event medical staff. Amy is the project lead for the race ready app, a medical doctor and currently undertaking her masters in medical education. She shares best practice advice for how to hydrate and manage pain in endurance events as well as some mistakes she sees in athlete...

This week the community really shone and we answer a number of listener submitted questions, some about previous episodes some not. From there we discuss Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s debut half marathon and then it is onto some scientific papers. One on the physiology of backyard ultras and the other on recovery and carbohydrates. We finish up with some concussion discussion in the doctor’s office.      (...

This week is all about adapting to training. The guys discuss not ice bathing post training, longitudinal changes due to sprint training, life long cardiac changes in an elite marathon runner and the use of power data in anti doping. They also touch on magnesium supplementation and the race between Mondo Duplantis and Karsten Warholm, which landed the latter in the doctor’s office.    (00:00) Intr...