Training Science Podcast

What actually drives performance in professional cycling, and how much of it is science versus experience?
In this episode, Dr David Bailey joins us to unpack over two decades of work across Olympic sport and WorldTour cycling. From talent identification and training philosophy to nutrition, heat, altitude, and the evolving role of data, David shares what really matters when building high performance athletes.
We dive into the concept of marginal gains and why most people misunderstand it, how teams prioritize what actually moves the needle, and why talent and training still outweigh everything else. The conversation also explores real world applications of AI, individualized nutrition strategies, and the complex mix of physiology, psychology, and race strategy that ultimately decides who wins.
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Today’s speakers:
Prof Paul Laursen  https://www.paullaursen.com/
Dr David Bailey https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-bailey-77111640/

What can heart rate variability actually tell us about training, recovery, and long term health, and where do most people still get it wrong?
In this episode, Dr Greg Grosicki joins us to unpack the science and practical value of HRV, from what it really measures to why context matters so much when interpreting it. We explore how exercise intensity, sleep, alcohol, sickness, hydration, and metabolic health can all shape HRV, and why a single daily score often tells only part of the story.
We also dive into Greg’s new work on HRV CV, a promising way to understand the stability of recovery over time, and discuss how wearables at scale are changing the kinds of questions sports science can answer.
Today’s speakers:
Prof Paul Laursen  https://www.paullaursen.com/
Dr Greg Grosicki https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorygrosicki/
Greg’s new paper: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpheart.00738.2025?rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed&url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org

What actually changes as we age as athletes, and how should training evolve if we want to keep performing while protecting long term health?
In this episode, Professor Peter Reaburn joins us to explore the science and real world practice of training as a masters athlete. Drawing on decades of research and personal experience as an endurance athlete, Peter explains why resistance training becomes essential with age, how recovery changes, and why training the same way you did in your twenties no longer works.
We discuss muscle loss, polarized training, protein intake, and the importance of balancing performance with longevity. The conversation also dives into heart health considerations for aging endurance athletes and why listening to your body may be the most important skill masters athletes can develop.
Today’s speakers:
Prof Paul Laursen  https://www.paullaursen.com/
Prof Peter Reaburn https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-reaburn-8a498b12/

TOP EPISODE REPLAY
Profiling and training SPEED🏎️ individually might be 30% (!!!) of any SPRINTING performance - get ON IT!
Prof. Dr. JB Morin would like you to consider that if you do not cover, train or assess the WHOLE SPECTRUM of what your athletes can or cannot do, then you are likely leaving BIG 💥💨 gains on the table. Does 30% matter to you?
In the 115th episode of The Training Science Podcast, Martin and JB discuss:
📖 the Force-Velocity relationship in SPRINTING;
✅ training SPECIFIC for individual SPEED profiles;
❤️ SPRINT specific resistance training.
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Today’s speakers:
Dr Martin Buchheit https://martin-buchheit.net/   
Prof. Dr. JB Morin
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Does high intensity training really build the strongest heart, or is it time in Zone 1 and Zone 2 that truly drives cardiac adaptation?
In this episode, Dr Guido Claessen joins us to unpack a landmark longitudinal MRI study on endurance athletes that challenges common assumptions about HIIT and heart remodeling. They explore what actually builds the “athletic heart,” why low intensity volume matters more than most think, and what this means for polarized training.
They also tackle the harder questions lifelong athletes worry about including atrial fibrillation, coronary plaque, myocarditis, and how much endurance sport might be too much.
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Today’s speakers:
Prof Paul Laursen  https://www.paullaursen.com/   
Dr Guido Claessen https://www.linkedin.com/in/guido-claessen-936a18a9/