Episodes
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This week, I’m thrilled to welcome a very special guest . . my wife, Bethany Ward! Beth is training for Ironman Austria 2025, and her last long-distance was back in 2019. We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share how I approach creating a training plan for a new athlete.
In this episode, we cover:
Structuring a training plan after years of focusing on other eventsHow to find the training volume sweet spot for balance and successThe high-performance habits of sleep, nutrition, and stress management that form the foundation of consistent trainingKey steps Beth can take to improve her swimming technique and efficiencyWhy an early physio visit is crucial for identifying injury risks, tight muscles, and weaknesses - and how this shapes mobility and strength plansIf you’re preparing for an Ironman in 2025 and wondering where to begin, this episode will give you the guidance and motivation you need!
Listen now and get started on the right track.
Beth has recommended the book Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect. “ 'Black and white' means you’re doing your job with competence and efficiency; “color” means you make people feel great about the job you’re doing for them." To grab hold of your FREE infographic '7 steps to swimming faster’, click HERE. To get your FREE daily mobility programme, click HERE.**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].
Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Claire Carlin, an accomplished age-group triathlete, karate black belt, and dedicated Assembly of God minister. Claire shares her journey as an athlete navigating the unique challenges posed by her co-occurring conditions of autism and dyspraxia, conditions that often impact her ability to perform coordinated movements. Despite these hurdles, Claire has tackled multiple triathlons, including three full-distance Outlaw triathlons, and recently achieved an impressive PB in each discipline at Ironman Barcelona – crossing the finish line in just under 15 hours.
Claire talks openly about how dyspraxia impacts her swimming, cycling, and running, and how she’s found creative ways to overcome each challenge. She also delves into the ways her faith fuels her athletic journey, including her role as a minister and her involvement in the Outlaw prayer gatherings.
I'm sure you'll enjoy this episode, as we discuss:
Claire’s journey from her first run in 2019 to finishing a full Ironman in under 15 hoursHow dyspraxia and autism shape her training approach and impact her performanceTips for overcoming skill-based obstacles in triathlon for those new to the sportThe importance of faith and community in her life, both on and off the race courseWhether you're struggling to master the skills required for triathlon or simply looking for some powerful motivation, Claire’s story reminds us that with perseverance and heart, we can accomplish extraordinary things.
Tune in for an episode full of insight, resilience, and inspiration!
Follow Claire on Facebook to keep up with her triathlon journey.
Claire has 2 book recommendations. She said you wouldn’t expect a minister to ignore the Bible, so she directs you to the Book of Hebrews.
As many others have, Claire also finds inspiration from Chrissie Wellington’s book ‘A life without limits'
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].
Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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Episodes manquant?
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Over 7 years I have recoded many podcasts on the topic of nutrition (you can find links for these in the show notes if you want to take a deeper dive into the topic). One topic we have not covered in detail to this point is female athlete specific nutrition. For our male listeners, please don’t turn off now. The information you are about to hear will be relevant to any female who works out regularly, and that could be your partner, mother, sister, daughter, training partner or an athlete you coach. To help me understand this topic I have asked Dr Jules Strauss to help me. Jules is a reader in Exercise Metabolism and Nutrition at Liverpool John Moores University where she has published over 40 peer reviewed scientific papers. She is also a Registered Nutritionist and the co-founder of Total Endurance Nutrition which provides sports nutrition coaching and consultancy. In the conversation we talk about:Nutrition fundamentals for female endurance athletes and whether these differ for male endurance athletes?How do these needs change through stages of a female's life? Are there any nutrition approaches that females should avoid (e.g. fasted training, low carb/high fat)How to best deal with topics like weight management, especially relevant if you are a coachWhat are some of the barriers that women can face to effective nutrition? Should women tailor their nutrition to their menstrual cycle? To find out more about Jules please visit the following places:A bit more about Jules - BioWebsite - Total Endurance Nutrition Instagram - @jules_strauss_nutrition @total_endurance_nutrition (This is Jules’ nutrition coaching business) International society of sports nutrition position stand: nutritional concerns of the female athlete This is one of Jules' papers if you want a deeper dive into the molecular mechanisms underpinning differences in metabolism across the menstrual cycle Two books highly recommended by Jules:The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek. "I found this a fascinating read which explores long term thinking, growth mindset and resilience. Whilst not related to sports nutrition, I took some useful lessons from this book." Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez. "An interesting book exploring data bias. As someone who has conducted exercise physiology and metabolism research (for the last 20 years) in women as well as men, I understand some of the challenges that comes with this, but this book really highlights the scale of the data gap and the importance of bridging it." Here are the links to previous nutrition podcasts that I mentioned:Racing Performance:is being lighter truly an advantage? With Lexi KelsonHow to successfully combine plant based nutrition with running - Claire BartholicFuel for the Finish Line - Vegan, Vegetarian & Gluten Free nutrition for athletes - Lexi KelsonRace day hydration and nutrition - lessons from 200 case studiesRace Day nutrition & hydration for athletes - 3 Case StudiesOne MASSIVE TIP for race day hydration and nutrition - Andy BlowIs it OK to eat a cheese and pickle sandwich to fuel my Ironman? - Race day nutrition with Dina GriffinSome simple truths about nutrition with Adam Feit from Precision Nutrition
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].
Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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He’s back and he did it!! Age group triathlete Paul Robinson returns to share his story of conquering Arch to Arc. You might remember that Paul was on the show at the beginning of September. At that point, he was waiting to start the Enduroman (Arch to Arc) challenge which is billed as the toughest triathlon in the world for good reason. Run 87 miles from Marble Arch to Dover, swim the English Channel (which is at least 21 miles and could be more due to currents), and then cycle 181 miles from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Only 59 athletes have ever completed the challenge. Paul also chose to swim without a wetsuit which only 6 of these 59 have done. I’ll spoil the surprise . . Paul finished the event AND set a new record of 67 hours beating the record by over 2 hours. I don’t think that this conversation can truly convey how tough a challenge this was for Paul. You will, however, get a real insight on how a tough mindset can help you overcome almost anything. In this episode we will chat with Paul and his father Dave about:Dealing with the cold while running, swimming and cycling during the nightIt’s all about mindsetF1 style pit stopsAmazing restorative benefits of 10-minute power napsUsing maths problems to pass the timeThe huge value of a support teamDave Robinson gives insight on the conflict of being a supporter and a loving parent To find out more about Paul please visit the following sites: The world's hardest triathlon 30min YouTube video - Arch to Arc world recordJust Giving charity link - Stand Against MND If you fancy a crack at Enduroman, check out their website
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].
Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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Since starting the podcast in 2017, I've been fortunate to speak with quite a few Olympic Gold medallists. It’s even more fun when you have known them since before that victory and observed their progress. Today’s guest is Leeds-based triathlete, Jess Learmonth. I've known Jess for quite sometime, and I'm so pleased to be chatting with her today! About 8 or 9 years ago she started swimming with our Masters group at the Survival Saturday session. 2 hours of pain overseen by our enthusiastic coach, Alan Hutchinson. Jess went right into the top lane and then carried on. As you’ll hear in the show she was getting back into the pool after a 6 year absence. She’d started to dabble in triathlon and, because of the huge engine she built as a younger swimmer, she progressed very quickly. It wasn't long before she was selected for British Triathlon funding and a pathway through to the elite squad. Arguably the strongest swimmer in the sport, Jess often emerged first from the water, and as one of the best cyclists, she then set the tone on the bike, hammering away at the front. As you’ll hear, running was a struggle for Jess. The ‘floppy ankles & feet’ required to be a good swimmer definitely do not help with running. In the conversation there’s a great message from Jess’ run coach Malcolm Brown about the value of consistency in training. Please listen out for that one.Jess and I also chat about:The brutality of swimming squads for young athletes and why it “drained the life" out of JessWhy triathlon swimming seems so easy in comparisonHaving patience and building resilienceFloppy ankles and not being a natural runnerThe hot, surreal experience of winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021Pregnancy, motherhood and why there are more important things in life than triathlonTo find out more about Jess you can go to:Website - JessLearmonth.comInstagram - JessLearmonth Jess recommended the book Scientific Training for Triathletes by Phil Skiba Jess is a keen Leeds United fan and loves this podcast Square Ball: The Leeds United Podcast
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].
Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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Age group athletes are the lifeblood of triathlon They are the ones who pay to enter races, and they make up 99% of the start list. Back in the day when I began in triathlon, the athletes were lifers. I can name a dozen or more who did their first event in the late 80's/early 90's who're still doing triathlons today. But in more recent years, triathlon seems to have become transient, with athletes coming into the sport for a few short years and then moving onto another sport. Two of those who've stuck with the sport are my guests today, Duncan & Claire Shea-Simonds. Duncan started out in triathlon not long after me (1989) although he was significantly younger. Claire started her journey in 1997. In fact, I still have some results from back in the day which contain both their names. Since those beginnings they have been regular participants in popular UK races, as well as international events like Ironman. Both have raced at the Ironman World championships in Hawaii, and both have also represented GB at various age group championships. Race results and fitness are important to them but as you will hear, they also have a simple life and pay a lot of attention to nutrition, strength training and hobbies outside of training. Especially Claire who, according to Duncan, has 101 different hobbies and a craft cupboard full of bits and pieces. They’ve been doing this together for over 25 years, so clearly they have a great relationship as well. As with all of my guests we cover a lot of topics including: Duncan talks about how to maintain enthusiasm after 35 consecutive years of racingHow as a couple they manage their racing calendar and supporting each other at eventsClaire talks about training pitfalls when working from homeDuncan talks about the benefits of using the daily commute for trainingAvoiding comparison with their younger self as performances decline with ageHousehold chores and who does the cooking - turns out that they both like to do their stuff in the kitchen To find out more about Duncan & Claire check out:Instagram - Claire - @clairesstri Duncan @dss123X(Twitter) - Claire - @clairesstri Duncan @dss123
Both Claire and Duncan recommend the following book as a MUST READ:
The Longest Race:Inside the secret world of abuse, doping and deception of Nike's elite running team by Kara Goucher
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].
Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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"Simon, I’d like to lose some weight before my next Ironman event. I’m going keto!” Believe it or not, I hear this on a regular basis and it makes me anxious for the individual. Keto diets have been very successful in helping individuals lose weight although that's mostly due to the body needing to store less water from the reduced carbohydrate intake. True keto is also very restrictive and difficult to sustain for more than a few weeks. It is also stressful on the body. Training for an Ironman is also stressful on the body, which is why attempting both at the same time has the potential for disaster. Having said that, I’m sure there are folks who have done this successfully and if you are one of them, I’d love to hear your story. The truth is that there are much healthier options for losing weight, if indeed you really need to lose any at all. My guest today is Registered Dietitian, Lexi Kelson, who's making her fourth appearance on the show. She has a Master’s degree in Applied Nutrition with a focus on fueling for sports performance and is the perfect person to help us to understand the best approaches for endurance athletes to lose weight. In the world of social media there is a lot of noise, and it is difficult to work out what is nonsense and what to believe. So, if you are interested in getting to your race weight in a health and sustainable way for next season, by the end of this episode you will have a step by step process to help you do exactly that. We talk about:Do you really need to lose weight, and if so, why?Confounding factors which influence performance and weightBalancing health and performance goalsHow to track and monitor weight lossStrategies for sustained weight lossInfluences of behaviour and cultureSome considerations for aging athletesBalancing training and nutritionGuidance for peri & menopausal females regarding weight gain/weight lossAre meal replacements (such as Huel) a suitable alternative to real food?
To follow Precision Fuel & Hydration please use these social media links:
Instagram: @precisionhydrationFacebook: @precisionhydrationTwitter: @thesweatexpertsYouTube: www.youtube.com/c/precisionhydrationLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/precisionhydration
Here is some other cool stuff you might be interested in:
Metabolic adaptation explained: Ponzer study: Are you fueling adequately to maintain health and performance? RED-S: Optimal bodyweight for racing: is lighter really better? https://www.precisionhydration.com/performance-advice/hydration/racing-body-weight/#the-danger-of-focusing-on-weight-lossFree online sweat test: https://sweattest.precisionhydration.com/pages/why-personalise-your-hydration-strategyQuick carb calculator: https://www.precisionhydration.com/products/precision-fuel-sample-pack/#thecarbcalculatorAthlete Case Studies: https://www.precisionhydration.com/athletes/case-studies/triathlon/
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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In last week's email I briefly mentioned my adventurous spirit and pursuit of ’triathlon tourism’.
Today’s podcast guest, Chris Brown, shares a similar and maybe even more enthusiastic approach to life. Chris is a triathlete, racing driver, entrepreneur, Guinness World Record Holder and explorer. I’ve known Chris for about 20 years. We first met through our local triathlon club, Leeds/Bradford, and Chris and his son Mika swam in my session every Wednesday. For as long as I have known Chris he has always pushed the boundaries be it in business, with his fitness, or with the challenges he takes on. While triathlon has taken a back seat in recent years, I think it’s fair to say that regular swim, bike and run sessions help him to maintain the fitness levels required to take on all of these adventures. In this conversation we talk about:A passion for exploring and trying out new thingsWhy exploring requires physical fitness, problem solving skills and lots of planningHis trips to the Centre of Africa, Antarctica, and the middle of the Pacific locating poles of inaccessibilityChris’ early involvement with the ill-fated Titan submarine and why he pulled outSetting a Guinness world record You’ll no doubt agree that Chris is a man who gets a lot done. I really enjoyed finding out what makes him tick! In fact there was a lot that I didn't manage to ask him, so maybe I’ll have to persuade him back for another chat. To check out Chris' past adventures, and to follow him on his upcoming adventures, please visit the following places:Instagram @chrisbrownexploresYouTube @chrisbrownexplores Website brown.co.ukVIDEO: Visiting Point Nemo. The most remote place on earth https://youtu.be/9I_pgS6-suc When I asked Chris for his book recommendation he said, “Any Atlas of the World. When you hear about a place on the news, be it in Ukraine, Gaza, North Korea or anywhere, why not look up where it actually is and what's close?"**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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My guest today is Matt Spooner, who recently completed the Trans Continental Race - a 4200km non-stop bike ride from Roubaix in France, down to Istanbul in Turkey. Apart from the start & finish, there are 5 checkpoints and several compulsory sections known as parcours. There are also some roads which are banned, generally because they are unsafe for the riders. After that the route is completely open to the choices made by the riders. This event isn’t just about cycling for many days. It’s also a logistical challenge and a heaven for any one who likes planning. This is a podcast that was recorded in 2 parts. In the first half you’ll hear me having a short (30-minute) conversation with Matt while he is actually riding his bike through Greece, about 3/4 of the way to his destination. We chat about:Route selection and how that's working outSome of the problems he has encountered along the wayEquipment choices Daily nutrition on the road.In the second half, Matt and I are speaking a few days after he has finished the event. We then reflect on his overall performance and also:Whether executing the plan is more satisfying than the time and positionHis decisions to stop and sleep in a hotel each night versus camping by the side of the roadWhy finishing an event like this is more about being able to eat as much as you can than having a high FTPMore about equipment choices Mindset for tackling TCR To find out more about Matt, please visit the following social media channelsInstagram - matt_still_tri_ingFacebook - matthew.spooner.927LinkedIn - Matthew Spooner If you haven’t yet seen the documentary about the Transcontinental Race, I can highly recommend it:Onboard the Transcontinental Race Some links to topics covered in the podcastDietEfficacy of Popular Diets Applied by Endurance Athletes on Sports Performance: Beneficial or Detrimental? A Narrative Review"I recently read this paper, it's a nicely balanced review of multiple different research papers into different diets. It's a good resource for people who are interested in the best diet.” BooksThe Endurance Diet: Discover the 5 Core Habits of the World's Greatest Athletes to Look, Feel, and Perform Better - Matt FitzgeraldI also really enjoyed The Rise of the Ultra Runners by Adharanand Finn - I identify myself very strongly in this book."
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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As we all start to consider the ways in which we can improve our performances after 2024, I think it is really useful to consider the role that sleep plays. More and harder training is often the first resort for many athletes seeking improvements in fitness. What if you were to do similar training to the previous season, but explored ways in which you could make that training more productive? Like a rising tide that lifts all boats, more or better quality sleep improves everything. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I don't believe there is any circumstance where more sleep has a negative impact. In today’s show I’m joined by Sport Sleep Specialist Dr. Luke Gupta who practices with the Better Sleep Clinic. He has over a decade of experience working within high performance sport, including premier league football teams, England rugby, The Lionesses, and Formula 1, to name a few.In this conversation Luke and I chat about:The 2 way relationship between sleep and performanceIndividual sleep needs are unique and should be determined through trial and errorHow to get better sleep when travellingLimitations of sleep tracking devicesThe 3 top fundamentals of good sleep To find out more about Luke and to dive deeper into sleep health with his book and research recommendations, please check out the links below:Website - The Better Sleep ClinicInstragram - The Better Sleep ClinicLinkedIn - The Better Sleep ClinicLuke recommends the following books:The Reality Bubble: How Science Reveals the Hidden Truths That Shape Our World by Ziya TongInsomniac by Gayle GreenLuke recommends the following books:The Reality Bubble: How Science Reveals the Hidden Truths That Shape Our World by Ziya TongInsomniac by Gayle GreenResearch PapersDoes Elite Sport degrade sleep quality? A systematic reviewSleep and the athlete. A narrative review and expert consensus recommendationsThe 5 principles of good sleep health
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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What do you think is the toughest triathlon in the world? Ironman Lanzarote, Norseman, ICON Livigno? They are all tough and have a legitimate claim, but what about this one? Enduroman, also known as Arch to Arc. The athletes attempting this will run 87 miles from London to Dover, then swim at least 21 miles from Dover to France (distance could be more depending on currents/tides), and finally bike 181 miles from Calais to Paris. There have only ever been 59 finishers! The latest to attempt this is Yorkshireman Paul Robinson. Paul is a seasoned triathlete and has been involved in the sport for over 30 years. He has completed several ultra distance events, as well as 3 Channel swims, so he has no illusions about what he is attempting. He is taking on Enduroman to raise money for charity, after being inspired by Nottingham triathlete Sam Perkins who now suffers from MND. Sam has set up his own charity Stand Against MND. This is Part 1 of a 2 part episode, and in this conversation we’ll talk about:Specific logistical challenges for EnduromanHow do you train for an event like this?Body fat for warmth vs weight loss for running How and what Paul eats/drinks while running, swimming and ridingMental strategies for staying focussedThe impact of the great British weather To find out more about Paul please visit the following sites: Just Giving charity link - Stand Against MNDThis is Paul’s interview with BBC Derby when he talks about the challengeBBC website article on Paul's Challenge - Derbyshire man prepares to take on the worlds hardest triathlon Paul's inspirational book - Becoming Brutal by Claire Smith - first British athlete ever to complete a continuous Double Deca Iron Distance triathlon. 48 miles of swimming, 2,240 miles of cycling and 524 miles of running in 28 days.
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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"If you want to run faster, move better." That's the advice of several top running coaches I have spoken with. It’s particularly important for us older athletes, because as you might already know (and be experiencing) lack of mobility is part of the aging process.
Fortunately, today's guest Tim Anderson from Original Strength has a solution to the mobility loss, he calls it 'Pressing Reset’. As humans we are designed and born to be strong and healthy throughout our entire lives, and in our conversation Tim will explain how 5 simple movements that we all learn as babies literally builds our brain and ties our nervous system together. The cool thing about those movements that we're born with is that we keep them forever. We don't lose them! In the conversation Tim explains how, with just 10 minutes of easy movement every day, you can tap back into those original movements, no matter what age you are, and rediscover your original strength. We talk about a lot of concepts that we have discussed in previous podcasts, such as:Nose breathing at rest and during exerciseHead and eye control and how it impacts postureRocking, rolling and crawling - The basis of simple movementThe secret to aging wellBorn to Run, going barefoot and how to walk wellHow to Press Reset as part of your daily routineTo find out more about Tim Anderson you can go to:Website OriginalStrength.netYouTube Original StrengthFacebook Original StrengthInstagram Original Strength Get a Copy of Tim’s book Pressing Reset: Original Strength Reloaded How to discover your own Original Strength**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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Gravel biking is growing really fast, and as much as I like being on my road bike, I find gravel riding much more fun. I discovered gravel riding during the pandemic, which is also what happened to this week's podcast guest. She is professional gravel racer Danni Shrosbree, and she races globally for the Felt UN1TD racing team. She was UK National Gravel Champion in 2022, runner-up in 2023, and has finished 4th in the world famous Unbound Gravel race in Kansas.What makes this conversation even more enjoyable is that Danni is the first child of a previous guest, Bernie Shrosbree, who was on the show in 2019. Danni and I chat about:Athletic influences from Mum and DadHow a diverse athletic childhood helped shape her current careerDoing the OtillO swim/run event with BernieGravel racing and how to prepare for itFocussing on sleep and nutrition for the best recovery To find out more about Danni Shrosbree please check out the following channels: Website Instagram - @dannishrosbreeYouTube - @dannishrosbree - Danni has some cool videos on her channel.
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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Kay Bretz is an ultra-runner and corporate leader from Australia. Kay has a passion for inspiring the magic, and shares his life lessons in his book Turning Right. Kay thrives on embarking on quests which appear impossible. He was already accomplished in the corporate world, before going on to seek personal growth by entering the world of ultra-running where he learned to master the inner game. He began a challenging journey of emotional development where he learned to let go of his limiting beliefs. This resulted in him lifting his performance by 22% in 18 months, and in the process becoming the fastest-ever Australian at the 24-hour world championships in 2019. His insights go beyond what it takes to achieve world-class results, and have helped him since to be a more effective corporate leader.He believes that anyone can step into their greatness – all we need is the courage to walk new paths in the midst of chaos, and making the choice to "turn right". Some of the topics we cover in the conversation are:Talent vs hard workHaving a growth mindset and being agileThe ‘mystery run’ and getting out of your comfort zoneDaily meditationBeing the happiest person on the start line To find out more about Kay please visit the following channels:Website: https://turningright.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kay-bretz/ To find out more about:a) Kay’s ultra running exploits check out this reflection on his most recent 135-mile race b) Kay’s thought leadership practice, check out this introduction video, Turning Right. To purchase a copy of Kay’s award winning book,Turning Right, click here (available as audio, book and e-book). Kay also recommends the following book: "The High-performance Mind. Mastering brainwaves for insight, healing, and creativity" by Anna Wise. Here's a quote from the book: “A high-performance mind is one that can enter at will the state of consciousness that is most beneficial and most desirable for any given circumstance.”
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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In last week’s podcast about recovery, our guest Natalie Brown told us that there were 3 key elements to good recovery - sleep, nutrition and stress management.
One area which many athletes (and non-athletes) are keen to explore is a plant based diet. There is certainly plenty of anecdotal evidence about how it can improve health and performance. In his book, Eat and Run, Scott Jurek attributes a change to plant based eating as being instrumental to his success in the ultra running world.
What better way to find out about how to combine running with a plant based diet than talk to someone who advocates just that?
Coach Claire Bartholic has helped hundreds of runners chase their dreams and conquer what they never thought possible. Her coaching philosophy combines science-based training, plant-based running nutrition, and proven mindset techniques to unlock every runner's true potential.
She's a certified running coach, sports nutrition specialist, mom, and borderline obsessive plant lover.
As an athlete herself, she went from a 4:02 first marathon all the way to a 2:58 finishing time at the age of 42, entirely plant-based.
She coaches vegan, plant-based, and plant-curious runners to achieve the same dramatic success, from those on a walk-run program, general fitness, up to high-level athletes.
Conversation topics include:
Plant based vs vegan vs vegetarian dietsHow to successfully switch to a plant based dietPlant based eating and weight loss for runnersStrength training for runners and why it’s almost impossible to gain weightPlyometrics, HIT and Z2 trainingTo find out more about Coach Claire please visit the following channels:
Website:The Planted Runner
Author of The Planted Runner: Running Your Best with Plant-Based Nutrition
Host of the top-rated Planted Runner Podcast
Instagram: @theplantedrunner
Email: [email protected]
Some other resources you might like to check out:
'Forks over knives’ documentary which inspired Claire to try a plant based diet
Claire talked about a plyometrics video on her YouTube channel
The Planted Runner Podcast: 5 ways strides can transform your running
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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Building fitness in the long term is quite a simple equation. You workout, and then you recover. If you get the balance of these two right, you should see a steady upward progress over time. Most folks I know and work with are pretty good at the training part, but maybe they could do better on the recovery side. I don’t know about you, but over the years I’ve come to appreciate the recovery part a lot more! Fortunately, my guest today is an expert in recovery. Dr Natalie Brown (who you may remember from her podcast with me on menopause a few months ago) has done an awful lot of research on this topic. Throughout Natalie’s career working in elite sport, recovery has been a primary focus to optimise performance. Since completing her PhD, Natalie has continued to implement recovery strategies in practice, alongside lecturing at Swansea University on this topic. Natalie’s approach to recovery is underpinned by understanding what you are recovering from and ensuring fundamentals of sleep, nutrition and stress reduction are in place when approaching recovery in sport.How long does it take to recover from an Ironman? It depends! (1:55)If you truly believe a recovery process works then it probably does for you (27.35)You don't need wearables to monitor your recovery (35:14)Why you might feel like you are getting a cold when tapering for an event (39:32)How to make sure you don't get ill after a big event (46:39)There's no evidence that recovery is slower in older athletes (58:00)Menopause DOES impact the ability to recover (1:01:50)The 3 TOP ways to recover, and they are all FREE (1:05:58) To find out more about Natalie Brown and her work please visit these channels:Instagram Optimal.Period Website www.optimalperiod.com, You can find some other great resources using the following links:Podcasts The Female Athlete, For continued education please check out Menstrual cycle online coaching modules:UK Coaching resources I also asked Natalie to recommend a book. This is her choice:Good for a Girl Lauren Fleshman
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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Regular listeners will have heard me talking about turning 60 in February of this year, and how it has sharpened my mind and prompted me to adjust my focus around training and life habits. I’ve also become a lot more curious about how others are tackling life post-60. Are they just waiting for the inevitable, or are they being proactive and doing everything they can to continue living life to the full?
Today's guest, Jason Dunn, is doing the latter. His book Unlimited: The art of being Limitless tells the story of making a huge decision when he turned away from his boyhood dream of becoming a professional football player in England and, at 17, moved to Australia. There he started to build his new life and succumbed to cigarettes and alcohol, and often chose the easier road. For two decades, he carried the weight of "I could have", until, at 34, he made a radical shift. Despite never having learned to swim or ride a bicycle, he resolved to qualify for the Hawaii Ironman World Championships. One simple choice to take the tougher road and face life's fears set in motion the pathway to being unlimited. Along the way, his path was littered with adversity, life-threatening accidents, and heartbreaking failures.
During the conversation we chat about:
Overcoming self-doubt and achieving success through consistent effort and mindset (06:01)Face to face with a 6 foot Monitor Lizard during a run (37:10)Maintaining perspective when things don't go to plan (23:59)Building resilience (31:56)From a non swimmer with a fear of water to Ironman Hawaii with a 2.4 mile open water swim (47:43)The 4 second rule for decision making (1:01:50)The 90 day high performance plan (1:09:05)The importance of nutrition and movement for health, recovery and longevity (1:23:40)To follow Jason, please visit the following channels:
Website: GrowAdviserCapability.com
YouTube channel - Jason Dunn - YouTube
LinkedIn - Jason Dunn
Facebook - Jason Dunn
To purchase a copy of Jason’s book please click here: Unlimited: The art of being Limitless
Other books Jason's read for inspiration:
'One man: 20 million steps' by Pat Farmer
'Rise of the Ultrarunners: A journey to the edge of human endurance' by Andharanand Finn
Any super fit over-60’s might like this Facebook group which Jason recommends.
If you want to build a Dave Goggins like mindset, Jason suggests you check out this Facebook group.
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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The Paris Olympics start this week, and I have clear memories dating back to the first one I can remember: Munich 1972.
Every 4 years we witness amazing performances and emotional moments. Hopefully, 2024 in Paris will be the same. For our podcast guest this week it will be a magical moment, when he steps onto the pontoon for the Men's Individual Triathlon next week. Sam Dickinson is a professional triathlete based in Leeds, and he is one of 5 who have been selected for the GB Olympic triathlon team for the Paris Olympics. He will race in the men's individual event as well as the team relay over the next 2 weeks. It’s a great pleasure to welcome Sam back as he was a guest on this show 6 years ago, almost to the day. If you are interested in listening to the 18 year old Sam, you can listen using the above link. Back then, Sam had just arrived in Leeds to start his journey as a full time triathlete at the Leeds Performance Centre. And since then, Sam has slowly and patiently built his fitness and learned his race craft in the various levels leading to World Triathlon series and the Olympics. This journey has not been without its challenges of injury, illness, and disappointment. But as you will hear from Sam, each of these experiences have been valuable lessons which have helped him to build resilience, and ultimately to achieve what for many athletes is a lifetime goal: To represent their country at the Olympic Games.To find out more about Sam please visit his Instagram Channelsamdickotri. This is the first podcast we recorded back in 2018. Sam’s favourite book is Atomic Habits by James Clear - a book which I can highly recommend as well. Sam says it's “a great book about moulding your environment to help you reach desired outcomes." Clearly it has had a huge influence on Sam’s career so far! For chilling out, Sam likes to listen to 'The Rest is Politics' podcast.**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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On the podcast this week, we have Kyle Smith! Kyle is a professional triathlete from New Zealand. Raised in Blackburn, UK on a diet of motocross and modern pentathlon, he moved to Taupo in his youth, found triathlon and set about becoming one of the best in the world. He is often first off the bike with blistering swim and bike splits, and this year he's been backing that up with solid run performances. As you’ll hear, he prefers the middle distance events such as T100 and 70.3, but he's found success at every level from World Triathlon short course racing, to off-road XTERRA. After 2 frustrating years dogged by illness, Kyle has been showing his true potential in 2024. After winning the PTO Championship race in Samorin, he was beaten by the width of a running vest at the T100 event in San Francisco. He’s currently 4th in the T100 rankings and is focussing on the World 70.3 championships in his home town of Taupo, NZ later this year. Conversation topics include:Why no one remembers the guy with the fastest bike splitBuilding resilience through injury and illnessWinning by learning to race smartGirona vs St Moritz - which is the best training location?The balance between technology and human instinct in training and racingDisrupted training plans and adapting to imperfect situations70.3 Taupo - an opportunity to race the world championships in your home town To find out more about Kyle Smith, please check out the following:Instagram - kylesmithnzl YouTube - Kyle Smith Kyle loves the following book:Legacy: What the All Blacks can teach us about the business of life By James Kerr
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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If you struggle to find a reason to insert regular strength work into your training plan, maybe the motivation from entering a HYROX event will help.HYROX is a relative newcomer to the mix of indoor events combining strength and endurance. At first glance you might think it’s similar to CrossFit, but actually it's quite different. To help you and me to understand what HYROX is all about, I have 2 guests to help. Andy Sloan is a 39 year old former triathlete who competed twice at the IM World Champs in Hawaii, and he's recently started racing in HYROX events in the Pro division and regularly finishing in the top 10 at international events. Mel Varvel is a 53 year old female former triathlete who took part in her first HYROX event at the end of 2023. She competed in the doubles category with her racing partner Ron, and is currently preparing for her first solo event in London later this year. Mel is also a staff member for our nutrition/hydration partners at Precision Fuel and Hydration. Mel and Andy give us a full run down about HYROX so that you’ll have all you need to decide whether to try your hand in that world. Topics covered include: Background on their respective triathlon historyAn outline of a HYROX event and the various disciplines, and how it differs from CrossfitWhether it's possible to combine training for HYROX and triathlon at the same timeA normal training week for HYROX preparationDo you need to join a HYROX gym? To find out more about Mel and Andy, please use the following social media channels:Mel Varvel (most of Mel’s links are for Precision Fuel and Hydration)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/precisionfandh/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/precisionfandh/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PrecisionHydrationOnline Fuel & Hydration Planner: https://www.precisionhydration.com/planner/ Please remember that as a podcast listener you can get 15% discount off your first order (and 15% off ALL orders if you join my SWAT Inner Circle). Contact me directly to get the code. Mel’s book recommendation is Good for a Girl: My life running in a man’s world by Lauren Fleshman. Andy SloanInstagram @Andy.nca If you want to take a deep dive into the HYROX world you might like this podcast, RoxLyfe.Andy’s favourite book is Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins. To learn more about HYROX or to enter an event, click HERE. You can also watch these videos to find out more about the events:Race formatHyrox for beginnersBurpee Broad JumpsWall BallFarmers WalkHyrox partner gymsHyrox time race calculator And a couple of specific links to HYROX case studies featuring Mel and Andy!https://www.precisionhydration.com/athletes/case-studies/other/andy-sloan/26-11-2023/https://www.precisionhydration.com/athletes/case-studies/other/mel-varvel/26-11-2023/
**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**
To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.
Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.
Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.
If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!
Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here. For any questions please email [email protected].
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