Functional Threshold Power (FTP) is one of the most popular terms in endurance sport and used by both professional and amateur racers. Take a deep dive into the what, how and use of FTP, what it really means in the world of sports science and why it's often misunderstood as a training tool. Essential listening for anyone who loves a little heavy br…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently advised against the use of masks while exercising. Prof. Ross Tucker and sports journalist Mike Finch explore the real risks, the science and the performance effects of wearing a mask when breathing gets heavier. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.…

The ill-fated Adria tennis Tour, headlined by world number one Novak Djokovic, was a lesson for sporting organisers around the world in what not to do during the Covid-19 pandemic. Professor Ross Tucker and Science of Sport podcast host, Mike Finch, discuss what organisers did wrong, how they could have made it happen safely and the repercussions f…

With soccer matches already under way and many professional sports looking at innovative plans to get back in action, Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch explore the various models being used and what sports' recovery could mean for the rest of society. We also talk about the effect of spectator-less games on performance and do crowds really matt…

Taking part in regular exercise throughout your life has truly remarkable effects on performance and ageing. Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch discuss the effects of age on our bodies, how to design the perfect 'active' life, push back the years and find motivation... no matter how old you are! APOLOGIES FOR SOME OF THE SOUND QUALITY DUE TO REMOTE R…

The impact of the Coronavirus across the globe has been felt in every sphere of life, including sport. From the cancellation and postponement of most major sporting events, including the Olympic Games, to the future of the professional game, Covid19 is likely to have a lasting effect. Join Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch as they discuss the i…

From ice baths to Tom Brady's infrared pajamas, the science of recovery is full of wild claims and wonder products. Join Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch as they interview world-renowned science journalist - and author of the 2019 book Good To Go - Christie Aschwanden, and explore the real science behind athletic recovery and debunk some of th…

Cut through the hype and discover what the science says about training just right... no matter what your sport. Join host Mike Finch and world-renowned sports scientist Prof. Ross Tucker as they explain the fundamentals of a good training plan, how the body gets fitter and stronger, long slow distance vs intervals, how to recover just right and the…

Nike's newly-released Alphafly Next% - released just four days after new regulations on shoe design were announced by World Athletics - will do little to restore the integrity of distance running times and records. Prof Ross Tucker and sports editor Mike Finch, together with guest biomechanist Geoff Burns, explain how the sport may have changed for…

From the shoe that broke running, to drug cheats, Caster Semenya, Alberto Salazar, the best way to make a champion and Red-S, our first season of the Science of Sport Podcast was never short on controversy. Host Mike Finch and Prof. Ross Tucker name their award winners of the year, look back on the lessons learnt and look ahead to the 2020 Olympic …

As one of the world's top obstacle racers and ultra runners, Amelia Boone is regarded as one of the toughest female athletes on the planet. But a lifetime battling eating disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) almost cost the American her life and her sporting career. In this interview with Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch, Boone sp…

Join Prof. Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch - with guests exercise physiologist and scientist Dr Trent Stellingwerff and former elite runner Hilary Stellingwerff - as we look into the causes, culture and psychology of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and the controversy surrounding Mary Cain and the Nike Oregon Project. We look into the e…

Professor Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch looked at the effect that modern day tech has on sport, its role in performance and what the future looks like. We discuss everything from the effect of cellphone distraction on athlete performance, what some federations have done to push back on tech in order to retain integrity, how best to use tech to en…

From law changes to concussion research, World Rugby has taken a proactive approach to make the game safer at all levels. Professor Ross Tucker and host Mike Finch discuss the research and findings into the risks of contact sports around the world, why rugby is leading the way in player safety and what Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy really means.…

Mechanical Doping or Tech Breakthrough? Nike's controversial carbon-plated Vaporfly running shoe has forced us to recalibrate what performances mean. Host Mike Finch joins sports scientist Ross Tucker and biomechanist Geoff Burns to look at the tech, how it works, why it has had such an impact on world marathon performances and what authorities may…

Is Eliud Kipchoge's second attempt at breaking the two-hour marathon mark a human advance or just a technological sidestep? In October the world's best marathoner will attempt to run inside 120 minutes using every advancement available from carbon-plated shoes to carefully-planned pacing and drafting strategies. Understand how VO2 max, running econ…

In one of the most dramatic weeks in athletics history, legendary American coach Alberto Salazar was banned for four years for doping offences, 37-year-old Kenenisa Bekele missed the world record in the marathon by a scant two seconds in Berlin and there was controversy and celebration at the World Athletics Championships in Doha. Host Mike Finch a…