Welcome to a special Christmas Day episode of The Grumpy Old Coaches! Can you believe this is our very first podcast published on Christmas Day, after almost 400 episodes?

In the spirit of the season, we’ve reunited at the White Lion in Wigan, with Steve Lumley and myself joining Marc Laithwaite for our annual Grumpy Old Coaches reunion.

It’s been a year since our last get-together, so we have plenty to discuss. We'll reflect on 2024 and share our experiences of not quite achieving our goals due to injury and illness. Our conversation covers:

We hope you enjoy this festive episode as much as we enjoyed recording it!

P.S. We recorded this episode outside the pub, so you might hear some background noise and occasional colorful language.

Mark’s Challenge Video for the Sprint Triathlon - https://www.facebook.com/marc.laithwaite/videos/1053232629066942

Steve Lumley is back in the market for athletes. You can contact Steve via his email, [email protected]

Marc Laithwaite runs The Endurance Store, an independent running and triathlon store in West Lancashire, and Croston Cycles, just down the road from The Endurance Store! Epic Events organise swim, cycle, run, and triathlon events throughout the North West. 

Www.theendurancestore.com 

https://www.crostoncycles.com/

Www.epicevents.co.uk

You can find all of my social media links HERE:

You’ll also find some really great content on my Instagram and YouTube!

Instagram 

YouTube  

**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**

**To download your FREE infographic ‘7 steps to swimming faster’, please click HERE 

Sign up for Simon’s weekly newsletter

Sign up for Beth’s weekly newsletter

To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.

Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.

If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. 

For any questions please email [email protected].

There’s no such thing as a silly question—if it’s important to you, it’s worth asking!

As a coach, I love helping people solve their challenges, and curiosity is a huge part of that process. Asking questions and exploring ideas is how we grow, and I encourage you to keep them coming.

This week’s podcast is a little different—there are no guests, just me answering a selection of listener questions. If you’ve got a question you’d like me to address in a future episode, don’t hesitate to send it my way

Here’s what we’re diving into this week:

Tune in for actionable insights and advice tailored to your questions. Let’s keep the conversation going—your questions make this podcast what it is!

You can find all of my social media links HERE:

You’ll also find some really great content on my Instagram and YouTube!

Instagram 

YouTube  

**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**

**To download your FREE infographic ‘7 steps to swimming faster’, please click HERE 

Sign up for Simon’s weekly newsletter

Sign up for Beth’s weekly newsletter

To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.

Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.

If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. 

For any questions please email [email protected].

In today’s episode I’m joined by Dr. Sam Shepherd, Head of Sports Science at Precision Fuel and Hydration, and a leading expert on lactate. Together, we dive into the fascinating world of lactate, training zones, and the cutting-edge Norwegian Method often associated with elite triathletes like Gustav Iden and Kristian Blummenfelt.

We wrap up by exploring the Norwegian Method - a high-volume, high-intensity training approach that emphasizes frequent threshold training and precise lactate testing to fine-tune performance. While it may seem like a modern innovation, the principles behind it have been around for decades. In fact, my own journey with lactate began in 1987, and it’s amazing to see how today’s tools bring more precision to what was practiced back then.

Topics we discuss on today’s show are:

Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or sports science enthusiast, this conversation offers valuable insights into how understanding lactate can elevate performance.

Listen now and unlock the secrets of lactate and cutting-edge training methodologies. Be sure to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoy the show!

To follow Precision Fuel & Hydration please use these social media links:

Instagram: @precisionhydration

Here is some other cool stuff you might be interested in:

Free online sweat test: https://sweattest.precisionhydration.com/pages/why-personalise-your-hydration-strategy

Sign up for Simon’s weekly newsletter

Sign up for Beth’s weekly newsletter

Follow Simon on:

Instagram @thetriathloncoach

Facebook simonward1

YouTube TheTriathlonCoach

**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**

To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.

Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].

Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.

If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here.  For any questions please email [email protected].

Back by popular demand! Mrs. Ward returns to the podcast following the amazing feedback from her previous episode. This time, we dive deeper into the challenges she faces in the pool and explore solutions that resonate with many triathletes.

As a coach, I’ve seen these obstacles time and again, which inspired me to create the "7 Steps to Swimming Faster" infographic. You can download your FREE copy using the link in the show notes!

In this episode we break down the 7 steps, including:

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned triathlete, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you swim faster and more efficiently.

Resources Mentioned:

Sign up for Simon’s weekly newsletter

Sign up for Beth’s weekly newsletter

Follow Simon on:

Instagram @thetriathloncoach

Facebook simonward1

YouTube TheTriathlonCoach

**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**

To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.

Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].

Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.

If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here.  For any questions please email [email protected].

Have you ever wondered if plyometrics could boost your performance as a triathlete or distance runner? On today’s episode, we’re jumping into the world of plyometric training (see what I did there?) — what it is, why it matters, and how it can take your endurance game to the next level.

Joining me today is strength and fitness coach Joe Hotton, founder of Gym Geek, a sports science and personal training facility in Weymouth. With a BSc in Strength & Conditioning and extensive experience working with athletes across various disciplines, Joe is the perfect guide to help us navigate this topic.

We explore:

Don’t miss this episode if you’re looking to enhance your strength, power, and overall performance as an endurance athlete!

To find out more about Joe visit these places:

Mediball Slams

Pogo jumps 

Counter Movement Jump

Bounds

Trapbar deadlift 

**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**

To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.

Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].

Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.

Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.

If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here.  For any questions please email [email protected].

This week, I’m thrilled to welcome a very special guest . . my wife, Bethany Ward! Beth is training for Ironman Austria 2025, and her last long-distance was back in 2019. We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share how I approach creating a training plan for a new athlete.

In this episode, we cover:

If you’re preparing for an Ironman in 2025 and wondering where to begin, this episode will give you the guidance and motivation you need!

Listen now and get started on the right track.

**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**

To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.

Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].

Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.

Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.

If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here.  For any questions please email [email protected].

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Claire Carlin, an accomplished age-group triathlete, karate black belt, and dedicated Assembly of God minister. Claire shares her journey as an athlete navigating the unique challenges posed by her co-occurring conditions of autism and dyspraxia, conditions that often impact her ability to perform coordinated movements. Despite these hurdles, Claire has tackled multiple triathlons, including three full-distance Outlaw triathlons, and recently achieved an impressive PB in each discipline at Ironman Barcelona – crossing the finish line in just under 15 hours.

Claire talks openly about how dyspraxia impacts her swimming, cycling, and running, and how she’s found creative ways to overcome each challenge. She also delves into the ways her faith fuels her athletic journey, including her role as a minister and her involvement in the Outlaw prayer gatherings.

I'm sure you'll enjoy this episode, as we discuss:

• Claire’s journey from her first run in 2019 to finishing a full Ironman in under 15 hours

Whether you're struggling to master the skills required for triathlon or simply looking for some powerful motivation, Claire’s story reminds us that with perseverance and heart, we can accomplish extraordinary things.

Tune in for an episode full of insight, resilience, and inspiration!

Follow Claire on Facebook to keep up with her triathlon journey.

Claire has 2 book recommendations. She said you wouldn’t expect a minister to ignore the Bible, so she directs you to the Book of Hebrews.

As many others have, Claire also finds inspiration from Chrissie Wellington’s book ‘A life without limits'

**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**

To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.

Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].

Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.

Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.

If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here.  For any questions please email [email protected].

• Nutrition fundamentals for female endurance athletes and whether these differ for male endurance athletes?

**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**

To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.

Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].

Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.

Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.

If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here.  For any questions please email [email protected].

• Dealing with the cold while running, swimming and cycling during the night

**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**

To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.

Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].

Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.

Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.

If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here.  For any questions please email [email protected].

• The brutality of swimming squads for young athletes and why it “drained the life" out of Jess

**To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE**

To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk.

Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via [email protected].

Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here.

Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life.

If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you!

Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here.  For any questions please email [email protected].