In this episode, we meet with Nick Hart from the Altitude Centre. Nick is a specialist in extreme environment physiology and brings this knowledge into the discussion with our head Coach Philip. This conversation explores the basics of physiological testing, altitude and heat training. All of these are services available at the Altitude Centre in London.

First, we discuss how physiological testing enables athletes to understand their signature or blueprint of their physiology. This can illuminate training efficiency opportunities. 

We also cover altitude training methodologies and the best practices for athletes to use altitude training to boost performance or time spent training. We consider how home rental of altitude tents and exercise machines can be a viable alternative for athletes wanting to maximise their time or recover effectively from injury.

Finally, we look into the importance of heat adaption and training for heat tolerance. This new service in their centre impacts more athletes than you would have realised.

This is one of those episodes where you want to keep diving deeper, but for now, we will scratch the surface and explore more of this in subsequent episodes.

This episode's guest is a world record holder, a true endurance athlete and someone who constantly challenges what is possible and forces us all to ask, why not?

We first encountered this athlete after hearing he was the first Para athlete to complete the Northern Channel crossing. Not only did we not know what the Northern Crossing was, but we soon discovered an incredibly inspiring athlete who was excellent in cold water and distance swimming.

Additionally, he is a pioneer in making the open water and countryside more accessible for people with disabilities. He is involved with several charities and organisations where he passionately believes in making sport accessible. 

Jonty Warneken is a GB para-athlete, an ice swimming world record holder, and is heavily involved in OMT, the World Open Water Swimming Association and the Ice Swimming Association. We are delighted to spend some time talking to him, though we realise his ability to normalise some of the most daunting endurance feats is infectious. There is a strong chance that by talking any longer with him, we would jump at the opportunity of going cold water swimming, completing an ice mile and looking for the next distance swim challenge. Why? Well, because why not?!

In this fascinating episode, we explore his feats of endurance, ability to withstand freezing temperatures, and how he works with a greater sense of purpose to achieve his goals.

For more information on Jonty and some of what we have covered in today’s episode:

Ice Swimming

International Ice Swimming – https://internationaliceswimming.com/

Para Ice Swimming – https://www.openwaterswimming.com/para-swimmers-made-ice-swimming-history-at-the-5th-iisa-world-championship/

Para-swimming

Para V swim series – https://www.para-v.com/

Open Water Swimming Advisory Board – https://www.openwaterswimming.com/announcing-our-new-wowsa-advisory-board/

Charity Work:

Opencountry charity – https://www.opencountry.org.uk/ 

Yorkshire dale river trust – https://www.ydrt.org.uk/ 

In this episode, we have coached athlete and physio Rosemary Fernando and her business partner, Cat-1 cyclist and physio Penny Colloff, talking to us about their experiences of starting a new business as physios and a bit more about their profession.

In this episode, we look at what athletes can do to gain the most out of a physiotherapy session, how they can understand what different pains mean and how to decide if they need to go and see an expert or if they can carry on working through a niggle or pain.

Listen to this fascinating, informed and genuine conversation between two passionate professionals and our coaching team. There will undoubtedly be something for all abilities as we explore how athletes can use this knowledge and inspiration to get back onto their podium, whatever that may be for them.

In this episode, we meet Carmen Somerset, a long-distance swimmer. Carmen used to train in our Oxfordshire Swimming Squad before moving to Brighton, where she moved from lake swimming all year round to sea swimming all year round. This change moved her towards longer-distance events. She has completed the Channel swim as part of a relay, Lake Windemere, The Rampion wind farm and swum the length of Loch Ness. Next year, she is focussing on a Channel swim solo. 

After her Channel Relay, she reflected on swimming and wrote down the following thoughts:

"My swimming has taken me far beyond what I thought or even expected it could, and that's so important to me; I have let it evolve, I have welcomed opportunities, I have tested myself, I have met incredible people, swam in amazing places and made memories that will last a lifetime.

Swimming is not something I do; swimming is me. I've never felt more determined about anything, and I am giving this challenge everything I have."

We explore what training for these long-distance swimming events looks like, the natural fears people get of open water and how that can resonate in life, as well as some really fantastic insight into mindset and psychology that can be useful for all athletes hoping to balance extra-ordinary dreams through their busy lives. This one is a must-listen episode. 

There are many reasons for wanting to complete a triathlon. In this podcast Coach Denise talks to Lesley Walker, who has recently completed her first middle-distance triathlon. Lesley took on a series of challenges to raise money for Alzheimer's Research, stretching her abilities both physically and mentally. Here she reflects on what she has learned during this process and what she would pass on to other athletes.

In this episode we recover the Coaches on the Couch episode where coach Philip and coach Alan spoke about the the aspects of choosing a race that suit your training and motivations.

In this episode we recover the Coaches on the Couch from the 31st of May, where coach Alan and coach Kevin spoke about the work that has been done by the Norwegian athletes and coaches that are putting them in the Spotlight.