Simon Ward, The High Performance Human Triathlon Podcast Simon Ward

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 Channel
samdickotri.
 
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 Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.
 


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 Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.

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 split
Building resilience through injury and illness
Winning by learning to race smart
Girona vs St Moritz - which is the best training location?
The balance between technology and human instinct in training and racing
Disrupted training plans and adapting to imperfect situations
70.3 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 Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.
 


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 Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.

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 history
An outline of a HYROX event and the various disciplines, and how it differs from Crossfit
Whether it's possible to combine training for HYROX and triathlon at the same time
A normal training week for HYROX preparation
Do 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/PrecisionHydration
Online 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 Sloan
Instagram @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 format
Hyrox for beginners
Burpee Broad Jumps
Wall Ball
Farmers Walk

Hyrox partner gyms
Hyrox 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 Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.
 


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 Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.

When you're getting close to the day of your big event it’s natural to feel some nerves and even a little anxiety. It happens to everyone, even the very top performers. In fact, if you felt no anxiety or nerves at all, that would probably be a bad thing.
 
It’s one thing to feel a little anxious, but to get to the point where you feel unable to make a decision or you're so uptight that it has a negative influence on your event, that's another matter altogether.
 
Today we have sports psychologist Dr. Josie Perry back on the show. Josie is keen triathlete and a Chartered member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a member of the Association of Applied Sports Psychologists (AASP), and a published author with 6 books to her name.
She is going to help us with some really practical advice on some of the mental challenges that athletes have, leading up to, during, and after their main events. As a triathlete, she has personal experience of some of the topics we chat about today, including:
 
How to stay motivated during training
Self doubts prior to the race
What you can do to avoid crumbling, when your plan is disrupted by injury/illness/life events
How to stay focussed on race morning
Avoiding distraction during boring parts of your event
How to ignore the voices in your head telling you to walk or quit during the hard parts of your event
How to celebrate your achievements post race rather than assigning a good performance to luck


To find out more about Dr Perry please use the following channels:
 
Website: performanceinmind.co.uk

X = @Josephine Perry
Insta: josephineperry76
 

Josie has written 6 books, and you can find links to them all HERE.
 
In the podcast Josie also mentioned this book:
71/2 lessons about the brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett
 

**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 Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.
 


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 Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.

The first triathlon in the UK was 1983. I did my first event in 1987 and while the sport continued to grow for the next 15 years it didn't really take off until the start of the Brownlee era from 2008.

 
Having said that, there are a significant number of folks who I consider the legends - the Triathletes, coaches, and administrators who were instrumental in building the foundations of British triathlon. Since I started the podcast in 2017 I have spoken with many of these legends. Great coaches like Steve Trew and some of the top athletes from the 90’s and 2000’s like Jodie Swallow, Sarah Springman, Robin Brew, and Richard Hobson to name a few.

 
Today's guest is another Legend of British Triathlon, Annie Emmerson, whose name you might recognise from her work with the BBC at triathlon events. We recently worked at Blenheim Triathlon and we started talking about her career in multi-sport from racing to broadcasting. In today's show we chat about:
 
How triathlon saved Annie from a life of wine bars and partying
Some characters from the good ol' days. 
Why racing as a pro isn’t quite as glamorous as you think
Female participation in triathlon 
Who we think should be selected for the Team GB Olympic Triathlon team.
 
To find out more about Annie please check out her Instagram page
 
If you really want inspiration, follow David Smith MBE and listen to this podcast.
 
Facing death taught me how to truly live with David Smith MBE (E215)
 
Annie also recommended the following books:
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari - why you can’t pay attention and how to think deeply again
The Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton - inside the hidden world of the TdF: Doping, Cover ups, winning at all costs
 

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 Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.


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 Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.

As you might have been able to pick up, I’m really getting into strength training at the moment. I feel like I need to share all of my lessons with you, because this type of activity is arguably your best antidote to aging. Dan John is back again today to help me with this.
 
Dan and I discuss the importance of strength training for endurance athletes, particularly those in their 50s, emphasising the need to focus on hypertrophy and explosive lifting to maintain lean body mass and mobility. We also highlight the significance of comprehensive training for triathletes, including mobility work, strength training, and appropriate recovery. Additionally, we discuss the importance of primal movements, such as push, pull, hip hinge, and loaded carry exercises, emphasizing the need for mobility, postural control, and structural support muscles. We also go into detail on:

Primal movements and why they are the basis for exercise selection
Which exercises fit the various primal movements and the best ones for you
How to set up a simple programme and some of the considerations such as sets, reps, rest periods,  total workout duration
Variations to build muscle or strength, or just maintain your current strength
Hypertrophy and explosive lifting to maintain lean body mass and mobility
Dan explains his simple 3x3x3 routine

To find out more about Dan John, please visit these channels:
Website - Dan John University
Sign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter “Wandering Weights” 
Check out Dan John’s books HERE
Dan is a prolific writer. Check out his articles and blogs 
If you have a question for Dan, most have already been answered HERE at my Q and A Forum.
 

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 Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.


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 Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.