Faster with Bill Chambers

Faster with Bill Chambers

By Bill ChambersSports
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Faster with Bill Chambers episodes

  • Wendy Miller's experience at the Head of The Charles - Faster Podcast
    My guest today, is Wendy Miller, from Mosman Rowing Club in Sydney Australia. Wendy competed in the 2019 Head of The Charles regatta, and gained 3rd place in her first attempt in the single sculls event.
    I first met Wendy in 2019, as she was travelling through Europe on holidays on her way to Boston. She gave me a call to ask if she could drop by Switzerland, (as you do:-) to do a spot of training with me, before heading over to race in the US. Wendy has a great story to share, with her journey through Europe, training on a yacht whilst sailing down the Italian coast, her ingenuity to source boats, blades and boathouses to use, staying with wonderful hosts in different cities, and finding races to sharpen up before the big event. Nothing stopped Wendy on her way to racing in the 2019 Head of The Charles regatta and having a great adventure along the way. I hope you enjoy listening to her journey as much as I did.
    Head of The Charles Training Plans
    If you are a Masters Rowers, and interested in training for the Head of The Charles Regatta, I have prepared training plans especially for Masters Rowers. Whether you are planning to race in Boston, or compete virtually, these plans will help you to be at your best. The plans are designed by the most successful Masters Rowers, specifically for the Head of The Charles, and for Masters with 6 hours a week all the way to 12 hours of training a week. Click on the link to check out the programs. HOCR Training Plan
    37 min
  • Olympian Tom Bishop's experience at the Head of The Charles - Faster Podcast Episode
    Excited to share my conversation with Tom Bishop, former Olympian (1976) and multiple winner of the Head of The Charles Regatta (2017, 18, 19). Tom shares some amazing stories about his persistence in being selected in the quad, and the challenges he overcame to represent his country. Being coached by Mike Spracklin, and what it takes to prepare for and win the Head of The Charles in the 70+ age group.
    Tom has an amazing track record of success, when ever he puts his hands on a boat, no matter what boat class. Tom has paired up with some amazing rowers over the last 15 years to win in all boat classes, from doubles, quad, four and eights that are unstoppable;Tom Potts, Colin Cusack, Sean Morris and Charles Parry.
    I hope you enjoy listening to Tom and hearing his approach to preparing to win and have fun along the way.
    Head of The Charles Training Plans
    If you are a Masters Rowers, and interested in training for the Head of The Charles Regatta, I have prepared training plans especially for Masters Rowers. Whether you are planning to race in Boston, or compete virtually, these plans will help you to be at your best. The plans are designed by the most successful Masters Rowers, specifically for the Head of The Charles, and for Masters with 6 hours a week all the way to 12 hours of training a week. Click on the link to check out the programs. HOCR Training Plan
    52 min
  • Head of The Charles Regatta with Blair Crawford, HOCR (Chair) Board of Directors
    Since its inception in 1965, The Head Of The Charles Regatta, also known as HOCR, is a rowing head race held in October each year on the Charles River, which separates Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. I thought it would be interesting to find out from the organisers, and rowers, what makes the HOCR so special, and what attracted them to fly half way around the world to race on the Charles River. 
    Over the next weeks, I will be releasing episodes where I chat with crews from around the world, to share insights into what makes this regatta so special, and today I'm speaking with Blair Crawford, Chair of the HOCR Board of Directors.
    If you are a Masters Rowers, and interested in training for the Head of The Charles Regatta, I have prepared training plans especially for Masters Rowers. Whether you are planning to race in Boston, or compete virtually, these plans will help you to be at your best. The plans are designed by the most successful Masters Rowers, specifically for the Head of The Charles, and for Masters with 6 hours a week all the way to 12 hours of training a week. Click on the link to check out the programs. HOCR Training Plan
    53 min
  • Short conversation with Dr Charlie Simpson on Training Intensity & Nutrition

    Charlie is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at Oxford Brookes University and well known for his publications on Rowing. The Complete Guide to Indoor Rowing and Advanced Rowing.

    This Master Class, will present attendees with interesting information about the relationship between common rowing training practices and their effects on  performance measures (e.g. aerobic function; lean body mass). Any discussion of training responses is incomplete without consideration of the dietary intake of an athlete, but rather than review generic aspects of a healthy diet, the presentation will provide evidence about the potential diet changes known to contribute to health and performance (particularly rowing performance). The Master Class will use pre-planned interactive opportunities to provide you with opportunity to actively engage with the session content, while also reflecting upon your approaches to training and diet. This approach makes it possible for willing attendees to share their views and practices as active session participants. After completing this session, attendees should be able to make informed decisions about the value of making specific changes to training approaches and diet.

    • 17 April 2021 @ 20:00 Zürich 15:00 Boston
    • 90-minutes Live on Zoom
    • Interactive presentation
    • Q&A time with Charlie
    • Session recorded for playback after Master Class
    • Reserve your place and purchase your ticket, by clicking here.

      12 min
    • Short conversation with Dr Valery Kleshnev

      Dr Valery Kleshnev, is a best selling author, 'Biomechanics of Rowing: A Unique Insight Into the Technical and Tactical Aspects of Elite Rowing', and considered an expert in Rowing Biomechanics, helping some of the world's best rowing teams to prepare.

      In this brief chat with Valery, he talks about what you can expect to learn from attending his Master Class. How different technique and different boat set-up can help you to be faster and more efficient. Valery is going to share his 30-years of insights and observations of what is is that the world's best do to go fast, and practicle applications for you to apply to your own rowing. Including demystifying some of most common rowing myths: “boat check & do not stop the boat”, as well as “blade inefficiency at the catch”. Valery will also cover, boat velocity efficiency, blade propulsive efficiency, inertial efficiency, and rower’s efficiency and effectiveness.


      You can purchase your ticket to attend the Master Class with Dr Valery Kleshnev by clicking here.

      10 min
    • Training Intensity for Masters Rowers with Dr Charlie Simpson

      Excited to share my latest episode of the Faster Podcast, this time with Dr Charlie Simpson.

      Charlie is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at Oxford Brookes University and well known for his publications. The Complete Guide to Indoor Rowing and Advanced Rowing.

      In this episode, Charlie and I talk about how masters can train with intensity to improve their 1k sprint and head distance racing. Why strength training is important and how to go about it. Supplements and nutrition, what works and what doesn't. And a lot more... It's a long episode, and perfect for a long indoor endurance session.

      • Defining training intensity
      • The holy trinity in training intensity; heart rate, RPE and power
      • Key training zones to pay attention to
      • Lactate testing
      • How to set up your season and week for training
      • Nutrition and hydration strategies
      • The Big 5 supplements that can make a real impact on performance
      • Thank you to our Faster podcast supporters: Precision Hydration, Bont Rowing, Filippi Boats and Citius Remex seat pads. These companies want to support Masters Rowers to go Faster and offer exclusive benefits to my newsletter subscriber. To gain access to exclusive bonus offers, ensure you subscribe to my newsletter.

        If you'd like to connect with Charlie, you can join a Masterclass on Training & Nutrition, live via Zoom. Go to www.whchambers.com for more information.

        1 hr 42 min
      • How the brain regulates performance, with Prof Tim Noakes MD

        My guest today is well known in the world of sports science and considered an expert in this subject. Originally born in Harare, Zimbabwe, he grew up in South Africa, studying Medicine and Exercise Science.

        He is the author of several books on exercise and nutrition, including the Lore of Running and Challenging Beliefs and has over 750 scientific articles, being cited over 19,000 times.

        In 2008, he was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine (UK), and in 2015, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in recognition of his involvement in the field of Sports and Exercise Medicine. My guest has run over 70 marathons and has enjoyed rowing, whilst at university in South Africa.

        My guest today is Prof Tim Noakes.


        Books recommended by Prof Noakes

        • The Big Fat Surprise, by Nina Teicholz
        • Boat race: The Oxford revival, by Daniel Topolski
        • The White Spider, written by Heinrich Harrer

        • YouTube Links

          • Josh Dunkley Smith 2k Ergo 
          • TedX talk 

          • The Noakes Foundation

            • Link to website 
            • 52 min
            • Peter Hardcastle - Triple Olympian - Head Rowing Coach Imperial College - Strength Training - Mental Approach To Racing - Keeping Training Interesting

              Peter (Pete) Hardcastle, is well known in Australian and World Rowing. Pete represented Australia at the Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympic Games in different boat classes. After the olympics, Pete moved to the UK in 2008, where he coached at Dulwich College, Emanuel School and London Rowing Club, and coached the men's four at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2014.  In 2017, Pete joined Imperial College as the Head of Rowing and in his first season at Imperial, he coached the crew that won the Prince Albert Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta.

              Pete is an amazing athlete, and still continues to amaze mere mortals, with his Ironman Triathlon exploits, and marathon running. In this episode, Pete and I explore what got him into rowing, and how he progressed to the U23 World Championships and then the Elite team under 4-years. We talk about personal motivation, and challenging others to explore what is possible. We review what is really going on with some of the rapid crews we are watching today, and he shares his tips on how to get yourself ready to race as well as preparing your race mindset.

              This podcast is supported by, Precision Hydration, Bont Rowing, Filippi Boats and Citius Remex seat pads. For more information about our supporters, please ensure you subscribe to my newsletter (www.whchambers.com) to gain access to exclusive bonus offers.

              1 hr 21 min
            • James Goodwin - Head of physical performance and science for the Swiss Rowing Federation.

              My guest today is James Goodwin, Head of physical performance and science for the Swiss Rowing Federation. In this episode, James and I will be answering questions related to strength training for Masters Rowers.

              • Best exercises for Masters Rowers
              • Benefits of strength weights vs. light circuit style training
              • How to best recover after weights training
              • This episode is supported by Precision Hydration. You can take Precision Hydration's free online sweat test at www.precisionhydration.com and save 10% on purchases when you use the code FASTER10 at check-out.

                47 min
              • Conversation with Anne-Marie Howald - U23 & Junior Team Coach - Swiss Rowing Federation

                Anne-Marie Howald is well know in the rowing world, having represented Switzerland at the 1987 & 88 World Championships as a lightweight, and now as the Head Coach of the U23 and Junior Squad.

                In 2018, Anne-Marie was awarded the “Swiss Olympic Coach Award” for the impressive achievements of the junior national team at the European Championships in Krefeld and the World Championships in Trakai.

                Anne-Marie leads the talent identification of young rowers in Switzerland, with the 'Future Rowers' programme that takes promising young athletes through to the Elite level. In this episode, Anne-Marie covered how she first started in rowing and how that love for rowing, and high performance, has taken her on her own journey to coaching and inspiring others. Plenty of inspiration for the listener, some ideas and tips on how to move the boat faster, along with some nice insights into her time training with the legendary coach, Harry Mahon.

                This podcast is supported by, Precision Hydration, Bont Rowing, Filippi Boats and Citius Remex seat pads. For more information about our supporters, please ensure you subscribe to my newsletter (whchambers.com) to gain access to exclusive bonus offers.

                You can connect with Anne-Marie via email: anne-marie.howald@swissrowing.ch

                1 hr 17 min

              About Faster with Bill Chambers

              From the publisher's feed

              Long-form conversations with the best people in rowing — coaches, sports scientists and athletes — on how to go faster.