The Real Science of Sport Podcast

• Do You Need Only 10g per Hour of Carbs? Tim Noakes Thinks So / Pacing Implosions: When Regulation Fails

  Support us on DiscourseAs Gareth mentioned, Discourse is our "sponsorship", our sole source of income. But it's way more than that - it's a community of experts and enthusiasts who share knowledge on everything sports science related. To become part of that, become a Patron of the site and join the conversationShow notesThis week on Spotlight, we dive DEEP into the world of physiology, pacing, fatigue and the brain. Using some enthralling races from Kona and Chicago at the weekend, and your Discourse questions and comments, we explore how pacing 'errors' happens, and the physiological consequences of those mistakes. We kick off of with our Discourse Digest segment (00:00) and news that Femke Bol will take a swing at the 800m next year. An exciting development, but what will it involve in terms of training and tactics, and what can we expect from the Dutch star?We then move on to the Chicago Marathon (15:56), won by Jacob Kiplimo, emerging as a real star of the Marathon. His success contained a very specific type of "failure" though, as he was on course to break the World Record right up to 35km, and then...physiology hit. Ross explains how fragile pacing is for elite marathoners, and why physiology collected on its 'loan' for Kiplimo. Another physiological "failure" happened in the Kona Ironman (29:26) where Lucy Charles-Barclay and Taylor Knibb raced so aggressively that they first rode and then ran each other to the point of proverbial physiological destruction. We explore how pacing in the context of a warm day caused those dramatic scenes.In Centre Stage (44:57), it's all about the carbs. Tim Noakes has a paper arguing that you need only 10g/h of glucose during exercise. He uses his "Central Governor" model to explain how the brain is monitoring and regulating blood glucose level to protect the brain, such that the 90g per hour or more being consumed by elites is wasteful and unnecessary, part of an 'old model'. We don't see it the same way, and Ross explains concepts of regulation of performance by the brain, a subject he did his PhD thesis on. We discuss heat, altitude, and fuel, to unpack how the truth behind fatigue, performance and pacing regulation, unlocking more insight on those pacing implosions in Chicago and Kona.In Ross Replies (1:06:59), listener Ian asks a great question about using data from a specific test where you lie down then stand up, and use HR to tell you how recovered you are. Ross explains why that test exists, its limitations, and offers tips for how to make more of data, while avoiding some traps.And Finally (1:21:31), we see again that cycling is allergic to the truth, Gareth learns the truth about NZ Rugby Representation, and we tip our hats to Natalie Grabow.LinksA race report from that dramatic Kona women's raceThe full Taylor Knibb statementThe Noakes TweetRoss' PhD thesis on Anticipatory RegulationArticle on orthostatic testing for HR and HRVThe Six who Sat podcast that Gareth mentioned on the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• How to Avoid the Traps of Bro Science / Protecting the Brain in Contact Sport / "Athlete Trafficking" and Talent Pathways

  DiscourseSupport the show, and get way more fascinating insight than the Bros deliver on the pod! Everything in Spotlight is discussed, dissected and debated on Discourse, and membership is judge a small monthly pledge awayShow notesIt's a Bro-Science discussion today, as listener David inspired debate with a post on his epic Zone 2 indoor ride, and got us thinking - how do we spot Bro Science? Is it all bad? What are the alarm bells that should make us cautious, and how can we learn from the experiences and anecdotes of other people while staying credible. That's our Center Stage topic (47:45).Before that, we whip around the world for a Discourse Digest (1:38) that looks at NCAA 'trafficking' in Kenyan athletes, a win-win, but also maybe a loss for some. We talk Caster Semenya's off-now-on case to fight for inclusion into women's sport, and explore why it's about male advantage, not natural advantage. We also visit rugby, where head impacts and concussions are the focus of a big new study, a new player load guideline, and a link with neurodegenerative diseases in the wake of sad news of Lewis Moody's MND diagnosis.In Ross Replies (1:05:45), Gareth asks about training when fatigued, inviting discussion about the body's physiological resource budget, and how we spend it on stress as opposed to recovery. Listener Lens (1:11:41) fields another listener question, this time from Gianni, about the importance, or necessity, of breakfast before training. And Finally (1:14:52), Tua Tagavailoa has been advised that to prevent concussions, he needs more carbs. It's an idea detached from both reality and theory, but we discuss how it might have come about, and how ideas without basis become entrenched by unquestioning media and public.LinkChris Chavez post about NCAA RecruitingDW article on Semenya's legal caseThe entertaining LetsRun article on Tokyo 2025The large NZ study on neurodegenerative disease in rugby playersWorld Rugby's Load GuidelinesFormer guest James Smoliga's article on Tua Tagavailoa's sugar-concussion prevention belief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Women's World Cup Culmination / Ryder Cup Drama / CAS Dismisses Contaminated Meat Defence

  Join Discourse and contribute to the Spotlight, and join the conversation - a small monthly donation gets you membership to our community, and that allows you to drive discussion around these shows, and get even more value and insight from what other listeners are sharing.Show notesIn Spotlight this week, we look back at a packed weekend of sports action and offer insights on the big events. We kick it off with the AFL (1:39), where the Grand Final was played, and where listener Josh sent in an article exploring how the body shape and size of players have evolved over the years. Gareth wonders whether the players adapt to the game, or whether the game adapts to the athleticism of its players, and Ross explains the physiological equivalent of 'form follows function'.Then we move to Rugby (9:56), where England were crowned World Champions at the weekend, crowing an unbeaten World Cup cycle in which they've averaged 50 points a match and not lost a single match. The final wasn't exactly smooth sailing, and Gareth and Ross share some thoughts on what impressed us, and where Canada may have fallen short, with hopes for continued growth in the game.From Rugby to cycling for a brief last look back at the Rwanda World Champs (23:10), but where off-bike news in the form of the UCI back-pedal on handlebar widths and other policy changes are the main focus of conversation.Cycling gives way to golf (38:48), and the Ryder Cup, which looked like a foregone conclusion until it wasn't, and one of the year's great sports spectacles unfolded in New York. We learn how Europe used data analytics and simulations to optimize its foursome and fourball combinations, and wonder when data becomes a hinderance as opposed to a helper in sport?In response to a spate of serious ACL injuries in the NFL and in football (51:58), Gareth wonders whether something is happening, perhaps related to the training and conditioning of athletes, or the turf, to increase ACL injury risk? Ross is less sure, explaining how rare injuries can throw up misleading 'patterns', compounded by media bias.We wrap up with some doping stories (55:52), including the CAS decision in the case of Erriyon Knighton, who was initially cleared of doping when he was able to show contamination of an oxtail meal he consumed. But CAS didn't see it the same way, and he got a four year ban because of their interpretation of the pharmacokinetics and the relative levels of the banned substance in the oxtial compared to in his urine. We also go to Kenya, where an athlete admitted not only to taking EPO, but explaining how he obtained it. Whether it's a truthful account is anyone's guess.And finally (1:03:16), the NFL came to (Dublin) town last weekend, and the juxtaposition of some high profile rugby players and the NFL kicked off a conversation comparing the two sports. We end with a semi lighthearted look at the helmet and pad culture of American Football, and offer thoughts on why rugby's lack of protective equipment doesn't necessarily make it more dangerous.LinksTaller, leaner, faster AFL playersYou can read the Knighton CAS decision hereNo Laying Up Golf Analytics Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• World Cycling Champs Review: The Greatest Champs This Century? / Is Remco Close To Beating Pog? / Post Race Interviews

  The 2025 UCI World Road Cycling Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, delivered plenty of drama and debate, and SOS host Mike Finch was there to witness the action first-hand and ask if this was the best championships of the century. We also have the post-race interviews with the big stars and discuss whether Remco Evenepoel can really upset the two-time World Champion Tadej Pogacar at the upcoming European championships on October 5 and the season-ending Il Lombardia a week later.***Join Discourse and contribute to the Spotlight, and join the conversation - a small monthly donation gets you membership to our community, and that allows you to drive discussion around these shows, and get even more value and insight from what other listeners are sharing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Pro Preview: Ashleigh Moolman Pasio on Rwanda's World Cycling Champs

  Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio is one of the most experienced riders in the women's pro peloton and, in 2025, celebrates her 15th appearance at the UCI World Cycling Championships in Kigali, Rwanda. This year the 39-year-old South African lines up as one of the favourites on a course that suits her strengths. But she will be up against the best in the world including powerful French and Dutch outfits led by Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Demi Vollering and Anna van der Breggen and Mauritian rising star Kim le Court-Pienaar. Mike sits down with Ashleigh in her hotel room in Kigali to talk about her own preparation, the challenge of racing at altitude, the African factor and why this year's champs could deliver some big surprises in the elite road races. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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