Our Perspective on Human Performance
As part of the Winter series from the recent Training Peaks Endurance Coaching Summit I want to highlight some of the content Dr. Asker Jeukendrup presented in Manchester….it was also great to hear such candid words from the legendary Dr. Seiler (which I have previously posted) and the prioritised training needs of athletes. Asker, with […]
Following on from the Training Peaks University I attended, I wrote up a synopsis of the Endurance Coaching Summit where real-world practitioners, i.e ‘coaches’ working with sub-elite receational athletes, get to learn some of the evidence of research and schools of thought from professionals and experts in both commercial and academics setting working with elite […]
As we approach a quieter part of the season I thought I would knock out a post about unlocking the principle behind effective training for those who may be experiencing training stagnation. Perhaps a few people may read this, those that tend to be efficient and productive and like to get from A to B […]
Simon Collins has been supported by CPS In-Motion for 3 full seasons now, each year having quite a different competitive focus and event schedule, rather than the same races, ranging from TT, to road-racing and occasional sportive. Even though each year, alone, has presented it’s own set of challenges for preparation, carefully navigating around injury, illness, work […]
Understanding fit methodology CPS In-Motion has spent some time talking to Ronan Descy of FORM in south-west London. Ronan has developed an extensive reputation and experience in bike fitting over the last decade. Here are some of the points he made during our recent chat…… Thoughts on the commercial bike-fit market…. “The different […]
Now that the festivities have finished for another year, hopefully the sight of a mince pie will make you wince in disgust! As all those new years resolutions are being considered with ‘good’ intentions, I thought this would be a prime opportunity to fuel your motivation for taking control of your nutrition once again. You […]
Optimal biomechanical functioning is a key component of physical fitness for all sports, particularly in running and cycling where strength and power are important elements of sustainable endurance. Discrepancies in balance and asymmetries in movement can lead to poor performance and result in muscle strain or joint issues. Similarly, injury prevention allows a cyclist or […]
The end of the competitive cycling season (north of the equator) is nearly upon us, with the exception of a few nasty hill climbs and some World Champs excitement, hopefully. At this time of year you are probably assessing how well your events have worked out or not, whether you’ve noticeably improved in performance (hopefully […]
Intro and workshop Being located in SW London/ Surrey, I have often been asked about the Ball-Buster, a seriously challenging duathlon which can test the mettle of even the most robust athletes. This is an event I frequently recommend to clients to demonstrate their end of summer fitness, on terrain many people commonly train, using ‘The Box’ or […]
Philosophy In-Motion: Becoming a good coach isn’t as simple as attending a few courses or reading a few chapters in a book…as I have learnt over the last few years! I hope to share what are considered the general principles of coaching with my unique perspective from experience with numerous and very different athletes. I […]
The performance sport industry has seen massive expansion over the last few years, most definitely derived from the wealth of evidence-based research and data from advanced applications, technology and physical and cognitive training interventions. Exercise physiology has been successfully applied in many different sports, from dance, to gymnastics and rugby…not just cycling. The Elite Sports […]
My previous post on Terrain’ing briefly explores the use of available terrain for effective physiological performance training, ideal for mountainous events on the continent. Exposure to intensities for durations long enough to stress that part of the physiological spectrum is key for improving and becoming ‘better’ and faster over the course. Essentially, frequency and sequence […]
The 2016 road-racing and event season is well under way, and some great spectacles have already passed with extremely exciting and closely contested monument pro-races Strade Bianchi, Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Nice, Milan-San Remo, Tirrenho-Adriatico and Tour of the Basque, while Amstel Gold and Leige-Bastogne-Liege imminently under way. Winter preparation of strength and endurance should now be starting […]
Chronological vs Physiological time None of us are getting younger??…….This could be more commonly regarded as a false statement now. Even as chronological time ticks by, huge advances in the practice of exercise physiology and application of strength and endurance interventions are now ‘demonstrably’ able to reverse diseased or declining physiological states; obesity, type II diabetes, […]
Why take protein? Protein is required for anabolic activity; repair and replacement of damaged proteins (caused by oxidative stress of high energy turnover and mechanical disruption) after intense resistance or endurance based exercise. Muscle Protein Synthesis (MPS) and muscle protein degradation are opposing processes present during and after exercise that acutely fatigues muscles to the […]
Recovery and Adaptation In the previous post I discussed the interaction effect which occurs between strength and endurance training, and how strength gains are restricted at the molecular level in the muscle due to intense aerobic exercise. Optimal strategies exist to maximise strength gains, practically with appropriately scheduled training and nutritionally with ‘windows of opportunity’ […]
Since my first experiences as a youthful spectator of professional cycling watching Gianni Bugno win the 1990 Wincanton Classic in Brighton, I have been fascinated by what it takes for performance cycling passionistas like us to achieve elite status and I am still learning how the process can be accelerated for all of us, with precious little time […]
As a member of BASES looking to gain accreditation as a Chartered Scientist in Sports and Exercise Science I am obliged to follow the code of conduct which is formed around World Medical Association guidelines for conducting scientific experimentation on human volunteers and subjects enrolled into novel investigation for the purposes of scientific progression. Even […]
Scientists can tend to over think things. Analysing results and being as objective as possible is part of the culture, as to differentiate white from black in a world of grey. Scientific processes [hopefully] use techniques to answer yes / no questions regarding uncertain hypotheses and concepts which may never be understood properly. Using a […]
The club 10 or an odd half-marathon now and again don’t seem to satisfy us endurance athletes anymore, as we seek bigger and bigger challenges the fitter we get. The number of sport science publications have also rocketed in the last few years, on hydration, fuelling and general long distance performance. Ultra-distance events are definitely […]
As the last of the Northern classics are finished, and the Giro is looming, now is the time that many of you who are in store for some Continental cycling, or a late Spring training camp further afield will be anticipating some long awaited back-to-back days of ascending and descending some legendary pro-tour climbs! As many of my […]
One day I believe we will have real-time lactate and glucose measurements, with feed back biometrics from biosensors and our power-meters, displayed to us through ‘Reality Glasses’ or something ridiculous like that. But until that day, the best way of understanding these biochemical processes during our simulated performance is through a good physiologist or sports scientist who appreciates […]
If I had to choose what I felt was the most important aspect behind any of the principles of applied exercise physiology, then without doubt I would pick Supercompensation above the rest. Supercompensation explains the mechanism behind how we, as organisms, adapt and respond to any physical stimulus, and is therefore fundamental to performance progression. […]
I believe in serendipity. The process of stumbling across a significant finding purely by chance, totally unaware of its potential application. Many great discoveries have been made this way (Viagra, Penicillin and even the microwave oven), as opposed to systematically being teased out, fabricated and ultimately commercialised, with many not standing the true test of […]
VO2max testing has long been regarded as the ‘Gold Standard’ and ultimate physiological measurement in many types of endurance sport. Even though this performance parameter is seen as the holy grail in sports performance, the numbers are unreliable and have very little value for helping an athlete wishing to progress in training. This might sound […]
testing post creation
Even though the TPU started off with a bang, the fireworks had started to fizzle out in Manchester as the Endurance Coaching Summit welcome party kicked off at the National Cycling Centre. This was a great chance to mingle with the coaches and TP staff on hand for the next 2 days plus another 100 […]
This coming weekend, the London Duathlon will be raced for another year in the Royal Richmond park. The course is surprisingly far from flat and should not be under-estimated. So your preparation better have been top notch! However, good performance doesn’t stop at training alone. Avoiding physical crises such as glycogen shortage or ‘bonking’, cramps and […]
Disappointment The most sensible decision is often the hardest to make. Realising extensive training over the last few months will not be fruitful is difficult to accept. But the reality is the inflammation hadn’t subsided enough and more damage may be done which risks a long term debilitating condition. Even though I felt that I would be able to […]
