Training Science Podcast

Your hosts of the Training Science Podcast, Martin Buchheit and Paul Laursen, take a weekly deep dive into the real world application of training science in the trenches.

Training Science Podcast is a health podcast hosted by Paul Laursen & Martin Buchheit, with 233 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Paul Laursen & Martin Buchheit hosts Training Science Podcast, a health show with 233 episodes published.

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  Episode #233

  Rethinking the Determinants of Endurance Performance With Yannick Sondermann, Dr Lars Schwalm and Prof Paul Laursen

  Oct 2, 20261h 5mS1

  For decades, VO2 max, movement economy, and fractional utilization of VO2max have been widely presented as three key determinants of endurance performance. But how strong is the evidence for that third piece? Yannick Sondermann and Dr Lars Schwalm join us this week to challenge some long standing assumptions around fractional utilization and explore whether it truly deserves the weight it has been given in traditional endurance performance models. Drawing on their recently published work, they unpack what fractional utilization actually represents, whether it changes meaningfully with training, and why improvements in the metric may not always mean what we think they do. They also explore VO2max, movement economy, durability, strength training, and what coaches should actually focus on when trying to improve performance. The conversation ultimately comes back to a simple question: are we focusing on the variables we can actually change? Interested in learning more about the latest developments in endurance performance and sports science? Subscribe to the HIIT Science email list for updates on new research, courses, and educational opportunities. Today's Speakers: Prof Paul Laursen https://www.paullaursen.com/ Yannick Sondermann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannick-sondermann/ Dr. Lars Schwalm: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lars-schwalm-223ab2420/ Resources: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijspp/aop/article-10.1123-ijspp.2026-0039/article-10.1123-ijspp.2026-0039.xml

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  Episode #232

  From VHS Tapes to GPS, Metabolic and Mechanical Power With Dr Ted Polglaze and Dr Martin Buchheit

  Sep 25, 20261h 19mS1

  We have more athlete tracking data than ever before. But are we actually measuring what matters? Dr Ted Polglaze joins the podcast to reflect on more than three decades in sports science, from manually tracking athletes on VHS tapes to the arrival of GPS and today's increasingly sophisticated approaches to measuring movement and load. His career has spanned multiple Olympic campaigns, elite field hockey, water polo, rowing, and other high performance environments. The conversation dives into metabolic and mechanical power, why speed and distance alone cannot capture the true demands of team sports, and the importance of acceleration, direction, movement orientation, and what Ted calls "erraticness." Ted and Martin also discuss one element that has increasingly disappeared from modern tracking analysis: time. From the limitations of current models to where athlete tracking could go next, this episode is a reminder that better technology does not automatically mean better understanding. Interested in learning more about the latest developments in endurance performance and sports science? Subscribe to the HIIT Science email list for updates on new research, courses, and educational opportunities. Today's Speakers: Dr Martin Buchheit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-buchheit-6a355828/?locale=fr Dr Ted Polglaze: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ted-polglaze-oly-23b6a81b3/

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  Episode #231

  Top Episode Replay: The Science Behind the Norwegian Method: Insights with Brad Culp & Prof Paul Laursen

  Sep 19, 20261h 8mS1

  Top Episode Replay: HEAT training is ESTABLISHED, EASY ✅ and FOR EVERYONE! Get on it NOW! Brad Culp wants you to understand that HEAT training is not a FAD, and that PREPARING for your ENVIRONMENT is ESSENTIAL to your performance. Norwegians can do it, so can you! Plus, training is cheap! In the 139th episode of The Training Science Podcast, Paul and Brad discuss: the FULL SCOPE of the “NORWEGIAN” method; why FAT metabolism, volume AND intensity are all ESSENTIAL for endurance; how to BUILD a strong sense of “PURPOSE” around high-performance across all ages and sports - like in NORWAY! _____________________ Today’s speakers: Prof. Paul Laursen https://www.paullaursen.com/ Brad Culp https://twitter.com/bbculp _____________________ References: Brad’s Norwegian Methods book: https://www.amazon.com/Norwegian-Method-Groundbreaking-Endurance-Performance/dp/B0CTYHG1ZV?dplnkId=ab116467-05b9-4879-b431-50bdef7a5e20 _____________________

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  Episode #230

  The Science of Cold Water and Extreme Endurance With Dr Jørgen Melau and Prof Paul Laursen

  Sep 11, 20261 hourS1

  What actually happens to the body when an athlete enters dangerously cold water? Dr Jørgen Melau brings more than 20 years of experience as Safety Director and Chief of the Medical and Safety Team at the Norseman Extreme Triathlon, alongside a background in helicopter search and rescue and research into cold water swimming. In this episode, Jørgen breaks down the physiology of cold water immersion, from the initial cold shock response to the loss of muscle function that can occur within minutes. He also explores hypothermia, swimming induced pulmonary edema, the surprising temperature drop athletes can experience after leaving the water, and why cold water can place significant stress on the heart. The conversation also looks at whether athletes can truly acclimatize to cold, how to prepare for extreme events like Norseman, and what more than a decade of research at one of the world's toughest triathlons is teaching us about making endurance sport safer. Today’s speakers: Prof Paul Laursen https://www.paullaursen.com/ Dr Jørgen Melau https://www.melau.no/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmelau/ https://jorgenmelau.substack.com/

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  Episode #229

  AI, Wearables, and the Future of Athlete Data With Mollie Brewer and Prof Paul Laursen

  Sep 5, 20261h 1mS1

  Athletes have access to more data than ever before. But more data does not automatically lead to better decisions. In this episode, Mollie Brewer explores the intersection of sports science, artificial intelligence, wearable technology, and human computer interaction. Drawing on her experience in professional cycling and her current research in computer science, Mollie explains why getting the fundamentals of athlete data right matters before we can unlock the potential of AI. The conversation explores data literacy, training load and intensity management, the risks of chasing metrics, and how interface design can influence athlete behaviour. Mollie also discusses how AI could help bring together previously siloed information while preserving the human expertise, judgement, and athlete feedback needed to interpret it effectively. Interested in learning more about the latest developments in endurance performance and sports science? Subscribe to the HIIT Science email list for updates on new research, courses, and educational opportunities. Today’s speakers: Prof Paul Laursen https://www.paullaursen.com/ Mollie Brewer https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-brewer-21a230aa/

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