The Real Science of Sport Podcast

• Spotlight: High Carbs, High Speeds, High Times…and a Drip Too Far

  Become a Discourse memberEnjoy the pod? Support us with a small monthly donation on Patreon and unlock access to our exclusive Discourse community—deep dives, hot takes, and smarter sport talk await!In this week’s Spotlight, we dive into the science behind an eye-watering nutrition number: 200 grams of carbohydrate per hour. That’s what elite Ironman Cameron Wurf reportedly consumed during a record-breaking bike leg in Texas. But does the body actually use it all—or is there a ceiling to sugar oxidation? Ross and Gareth break down a recent study comparing 120g and 90g per hour in trained cyclists, revealing how much of that fuel actually gets burned, and whether it has the purported effects on fuel use during exercise. Before we hit the carb overload, we’ve got a mix of big stories from across the sporting world:🎾 IV drips and bans in tennis – Australian pro Max Purcell has been hit with an 18-month doping ban for intravenous vitamin infusions. We unpack the rules, his case and discover some other athletes who have fallen foul of the IV rule🏏 Cannabis and cricket – South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada served a one month suspension for a ‘recreational drug’. We revisit the criteria WADA uses to ban substances and ask: should cannabis really be on the list?🏃‍♂️ The teen sprint takeover – A 17-year-old ran a wind-assisted 9.92s, with two ninth-graders just behind him, breaking 10.2s. They join Gout Gout as teen phenoms with bright futures🔬 Publish, perish—or post? – We reflect on a growing reality in science: if researchers aren't visible and able to communicate beyond journals, they risk irrelevance. Is it now “share or disappear”?Show notesThe long detailed piece by Ben Rothenberg on the Max Purcell doping banRyan Lochte got done for the same offence, no investigation needed - he served himself up on an Instagram post!A Newsweek article, published after Sha'Carri Richardson's cannabis ban, on how the drug came to be on the WADA listInteresting piece on Gout Gout's coach, Di SheppardArticle on Cam Wurf's Ironman fuelling strategy that kicked off today's main topicWADA's scientists defend cannabis' presence on the banned listRecent review showing no performance enhancing effects of cannabisThe Podlogar article comparing 90 to 120 g/h that we discuss Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  1:19:26
• Spotlight: Talent, Trust and Testing Transparency

  Join The Discourse CommunityIf you enjoy the podcast, you’ll love our Discourse community. Become a member of “The Science of Sport” community by joining with a small monthly pledge on Patreon — and be part of the conversation behind the conversation.Show notesIn this week’s Spotlight, we open with a brisk roundup of major stories from the world of sport and policy. We look at new developments following the UK Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act, including the first tangible policy response. We also revisit the resolution of the tragic ice hockey case involving manslaughter charges, and World Athletics’ announcement of its “Ultimate Championship” event—an innovative idea, but not without flaws. Gareth raises some pointed criticisms about the competition format and the puzzling exclusion of key athletics disciplines.Next, we talk talent. The NFL Draft always offers a window into the world’s most elaborate selection process—but also its inefficiencies. We reflect on how early selection often produces more busts than brilliance, yet remains largely unchanged due to structural inertia. A 14-year-old’s blistering 35-ball century in the IPL leads us to discuss a surprising link between cricket scoring and endurance pacing, and how this informs the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.From there, we shift to the core topic of the episode: scientific integrity. Gareth reflects on our recent Spotlight's deep dive into how scientific papers are made, and our most recent feature podcast on the Boston Marathon and Mike's experiences testing Puma's new shoe. The conversation expands into questions of independence in scientific research and evidence, with specific reference to Puma’s bold claim that their new shoe is “the fastest ever", and why that statement is, at best, premature. But we also give credit where it’s due, praising the transparency and almost certain publication of the results of the brand’s testing, as well as the researcher's realism about trust in their lab's research.And amid it all, Ross shares some personal news—stepping away from his School Academy High Performance and development role, while reflecting on missed opportunities and unrealized HP philosophies.LinksThe Scottish FA acts to protect women's footballAnd the English FA are, apparently, considering itThe case against ice hockey player Matt Petgrave is droppedAn analysis of draft picks that shows how high the proportion of "busts" isHere's a preprint of the Hoogkamer evaluation of the Puma supershoe - this is not peer-reviewed yet, but I strongly suspect that a peer reviewed version of this is on the horizonThe best community discussion you'll read on Supershoes, courtesy our Discourse members (Members only access - you know what to do!) Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  1:11:08
• MARATHON SPECIAL: London & Boston Round-Up / Pacesetters or Not? / We Test What is Claimed to be the World's Fastest Shoe

  In this round-up of the two big spring marathons—Boston and London—Mike and Ross rate the performances of the top athletes while debating whether pacesetters should be used in major marathon events. The team then delve into the ultra-competitive world of shoe tech, where Mike gets to do a running economy test in a pair being touted as the world's fastest running shoes.SHOW NOTES:Results of the testing done by the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Puma's Fast-R 3Study on how shoe mass affects running economyThe study we discussed that shows how a 1.1% improvement in metabolic cost of running translates into a 0.78% improvement in performanceThe original Vaporfly study that got the ball rolling on the 4% benefit, for comparison of methods Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  1:34:59
• Spotlight: The Birds & the Bees of Sports Science Research Papers. How Research is Conceived & Delivered

  Join our Discourse CommunityThe Science of Sport is more than a podcast — it’s a growing community of curious, thoughtful people in sport and sports science. Join our Discourse by pledging on Patreon and tap into the deeper conversations.Show NotesWhere do scientific papers come from?In this week’s Spotlight, our main focus is a “birds and bees” conversation of the scientific world. Ross walks Gareth through how a research paper is conceived, conducted, and eventually delivered into the world through publication in scientific journals. We break down what is essential to how a paper fits into the larger sports science puzzle, and share some insider tips for reading research with a critical eye. We explore why the “why” behind a study matters more than most people think—and how every piece of research fits into a much bigger picture. Plus, we dive into the obligations and ethical requirements researchers face, and why transparency, study design, and disclosure are the foundations of real science.But before we get to that deep dive, we tackle a mix of stories from the world of sport:🏃‍♀️ A sub-4-minute mile for women?There’s fresh talk of breaking the barrier—but Ross is sceptical. Is this genuine progress or just another gimmick? We explore what it would mean if it happened, and what will need to be thrown behind the world's best athlete to make it possible.🚴‍♂️ Durability > sprint capacity?From Remco’s win over Wout in Brabantse Pijl to takeaways from the Boston Marathon, we examine how this underrated concept—producing a fresh performance while fatigued deeper into a race—plays out in real-world results.🎾 Doping rules, showers, and sample tampering.A new controversy in tennis gets us talking about anti-doping protocols, and some of the wildest attempts in history to game the systemIt’s science, scepticism, and sport—exactly how we like it.LinksThe two papers we discussed in our "Birds and Bees" section:Greg Roe's Rugby paper: Spot the DifferenceNic Tam's Barefoot running paper: We don't all adapt like the story book saidThe Breaking 4 campaign launchesTennis on the defensive about the anti-doping shower policy Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  1:43:50
• Spotlight: The UK Supreme Court and Implications for Women's Sport / A Tour of World Records, Paris Roubaix and Discourse Achievers

  We’ve got a blockbuster episode of Spotlight for you today.We kick things off with an important discussion around women’s sport and transgender athlete policies, following a landmark ruling from the UK Supreme Court on the legal definition of “woman” in the Equality Act. We know this topic won’t be for everyone, so if you'd prefer to skip ahead to the sports performance and race insights, you can jump straight to that action at about 1:07:12 in the podcast.For those looking for insight on this important topic, Gareth and I unpack the Supreme Court decision—a ruling with far-reaching implications. We’re joined by Helen Joyce, a leading women’s rights advocate who was in the courtroom for the verdict. She explains why the decision matters, what it means for sports governing bodies, and how it could reshape the future of competitive sport.Then we shift gears into performance talk: world records fell in the pool and in the discus, and we explore how weather and tech have combined to break new ground. Paris-Roubaix delivered two standout races. In the women’s event, race savvy beat strong legs (for once) as Pauline Ferrand-Prévot stormed to a solo victory in the Roubaix Velodrome. In the men’s race, we got another much-anticipated clash between Pogacar and van der Poel. We break down the physiology behind their efforts, the tactics—including van der Poel’s composed response to Pogacar’s crash—and how plain bad luck robbed the race of a deeper duel.Gareth also dives into the UK’s gym boom. With more people training than ever, we ask: is it all good news? Or is there more to the story? And finally, we celebrate our Discoursers—listeners and athletes around the world who’ve been tearing it up in races. Gareth shares some standout performances, and we invite you to join the community for world-class training insight and support.Show notesJoin our Discourse communityIf you enjoy the podcast, you’ll love our Discourse community. Become a member of “The Science of Sport” community by joining with a small monthly pledge on Patreon — and be part of the conversation behind the conversation.Links to topicsThe UK Supreme Court Decision discussed in the first part of the showThe FA's Transgender Policy, and the Appendix for Risk acceptance that trans men are required to signBBC piece discussion implications for sportArticle on Paul Biedermann's world record being brokenDiscus records galore in RamonaGareth's discussion on Discourse about the gym membership increase (Members only) Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  1:49:35

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