Supporting Champions

In 2016 Tom Boother ran (yes ran) from Land's End to John O'Groats (for the non-Brits, that's bottom left to top right of Great Britain). What is remarkable about Tom is that he classes himself as a non-athlete, and in fairness to his running speeds he isn't going to threaten Mo Farah anytime soon. BUT for me that is the remarkable thing about Tom, that he has found a way, through his own tenacity, courage, resilience and search for understanding. Inspired to question, "There must be more to life than this", when taking his law exams (probably enough to push anyone to question their existence), he set about entering the Tour du Mont Blanc and caught the bug and eventually set his sights on running the length of the country. In this episode we hear about how he hatched the idea, the many trials and tribulation along the way, the serendipity of birthdays and blisters in Bristol, the joys of receiving random acts of kindness along the way and how he is making sense of what he has learned about life and business along the way. I hope you enjoy the listen it was fun to record full of insights.

Show notes

It was a very long run!

Racing driver ambitions

The lawyer and dyslexia combination

Chamonix Ultra trail inspiration

Don’t disqualify someone with a sports law degree!

Chamonix race, bad blisters and a police escort to hospital

The 2012 Grand Union Canal race

The beginning of a change, creating a change and pre-event planning

The appeal of working towards a long term goal

A nutter in need! Support from the Human Performance Unit, University of Essex

Beginning the Land’s End - John O’Groats journey

Statistics – target was 14 days it actually took 15 days, 18 hours and 18 minutes Averaging 85 kilometers a day the total distance 1400 kilometers

Blisters…again!

Preparation, failing, nutrition problems and ramifications of small issues growing

A stroke of luck – the Queen’s birthday and a podiatrist!

The kindness of strangers and running through the pain

Headwind messing with Tom’s head

Worn through shoes at the Scottish borders 

Sport psychologists, uncomfortable questions and making a commitment

Support from strangers. The charities Great Ormond Street and EACH East Anglia Children’s Hospices, creating a buzz for a wonderful cause

Crossing the line at John O’Groats and a cold shower!

Tom’s seven core principles: Do it, become it, reward and routine, endure the pain (contract of resilience), team, time to quit and desire

The Running Friend, if you can run 3 miles you can run a marathon

Running across America now the naivety has gone?! 

Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Dr Barry Fudge is Head of Endurance at British athletics and lead scientist for many outstanding endurance athletes like Sir Mo Farah. Barry has a PhD in exercise physiology which uniquely he undertook the majority of which in East Africa working with the richly talented Kenyan and Ethiopian teams, which at the time included Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele. Barry was actually my postdoctoral researcher back in 2007 and despite this is has gone on to achieve incredible amount. First as a physiologist as the key architect Mo Farah’s transformation from an also-ran to a world beater. Then being promoted to Head of Endurance with the much wider remit creating the conditions to nurture success in British Athletics. Barry spoke at our 2017 conference which you can also catch up on the podcast, and in this discussion expands on some are many challenges works through, how he works with athletes and coaches on a day-to-day basis and in the arena of the track and field stadium and he explores his purpose and shares with us why he does what he does. 

Show notes

Barry’s role and background

The different components that come to together to facilitate elite sport

How did Barry get into sport?

PhD in endurance running in Kenya

Ethiopian athletes and impacting on performance for the first time

Doing science differently

Being comfortable with uncertainty & observing over time

Understanding the UK system, how to systematically support athletes and coaches

Mo Farah, focus and clarity of purpose

The relationship between science and performance, to execute when it matters most and how you then approach competition in the long term.

Focussing on what matters, the complexity of a big event and managing the environment around the athletes

Forgetting what sport is actually about…the drama!

Providing calm, focus and clarity

The vulnerability of athletes

It’s ok to win and to lose, will the athlete be happy or upset? Being mechanical or inhuman

Enjoying the journey of sport for what it is, there will always be ups and downs

Key lessons: purpose, passion, enjoying it and being comfortable with where you are

‘Own the start line’ – looking ahead to what you want to achieve, what would you have to have done in order to be fully prepared and then work your way back

Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Adam Conlon was a captain in the British Army, undertaking his officer training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. He the entered the Royal Artillery, and is a veteran of two tours of Afghanistan. Adam talks about the development path from basic training to the heat of battle, where his job was in leading teams, calling the shots and co-ordinating the use of weapons on the battlefield. Adam shares the intense feeling of receiving volleys of fire from the Taliban, how he responded under that pressure and how his training and camaraderie developed and enabled him to perform. Poignantly, Adam shares the process and the emotions of decompressing after a tour and adjusting back to normal life.  Adam spent a brief time serving Her Majesty the Queen in Human Resources, but now is leadership consultant and speaker, but still finds time to out his skills to use in the first response teams that aid disaster zones and we get into that skill of developing rapid teamworking and the importance of listening and rapport in engaging with survivors and locals in catastrophe stricken areas. This interview was humbling, richly engaging and I would say 1 hour and 25 minutes of pure performance. I finished the interview fascinated, moved and frankly I was thankful that we have people like Adam amongst our population that do what they do in order to make the world a better place.

Show notes

Adam Conlon and his background

Sandhurst, becoming a soldier, captain and leader

Leading people and making the decisions to fire artillery within the infantry

The importance of 'fit' in finding the right people for the right roles

Variety and being a generalist 15:15 Leading people, by developing followers - ego and vulnerability

Upping the pressure to test your skills

Being relaxed in chaos

High performance industries develop people because if they don't the consequences are high

Nad Ali and the operations in Afghanistan

Getting on the front foot with the enemy

Response to the first rattle of fire

Humour as a pressure valve

Fight or flight is a good option, freezing is not

Decompression on the way home from a tour

Stressful heart rate response to post-tour come-down

Letting the emotion out with crying

Working for Her Majesty the Queen

Learning what he didn't want to do

From tax consultant to frontline operations through sport

Applying skills to disaster zones

Operating in the Caribbean in 2017 

Get face to face 

Listen, empathy and trust

Arriving in Dominica - it was like a bomb had gone off

Sensing when there might be trouble - being observant when something is out of place - the absence of the normal 

Who supports Adam, family, friends 

Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

In this special podcast episode I talk to Kelly Sotherton just after receiving a retrospectively awarded Olympic medal for the 4x400m, ten years after the Beijing games.

Show notes

Introduction to Kelly Sotherton and the award of 4x400m medal from the Beijing Olympics alongside Marilyn Okoro, Christine Ohuruogu and Nicola Sanders

Background of how we developed 400m running performance from heptathlon training

Sadness and hope. Sadness that athletes and countries resorted to cheating. Hope that the authorities are punishing athletes retrospectively

Athletes taking the courage to speak out against cheating

The moment the women’s 4x400m team received their medals

Finally got the medal 8:00 Heptathlon medal still to come

Mixed emotions, when Kelly retired there was a sense of bitterness and being heartbroken but being reflective that she did everything to get her in the best shape possible

After Athens 2004 Olympics, her coach Charles van Comenee left the UK, Kelly pulls together a group of coaches

The running begins to plateau - where the two of us started to work together

The fact finding mission at a training camp in Portugal

The results start to come. Kelly medals at the Worlds Championships. Kelly calls out Lyudmila Blonska, someone who already cheated. The gamble of investing in a new approach to running

Focussed on speed to renew Kelly’s running ability and my transition to the coaching team

Background to Kelly calling out other athletes as dopers

How Kelly felt about competing against athletes. Blonska and Chernova effects Kelly performance

The headline is injustice, sympathy for missing out on the moment, loss of earnings – but competing against dopers did negatively affect her performance

Kelly’s hopes that we don’t see these retrospective medal awards

Sport won’t forget athletes like Kelly as victims of cheaters

Many athletes haven’t received their rightful medals, so Kelly feels fortunate to have the moment. Goldie Sayers still waiting

How Kelly and I came across the 400m while focussing on developing the 300m ability

Top Britain in 2008 indoor season and 8th in World – leading to a curiosity in her 400m ability

Not getting distracted by the 400m. A trial of whether Kelly’s ability could contribute to the 4x400m team, running 51s split

In shape for heptathlon – but capable of a great 400m performance. A pivotal 300m trial that impresses the 4x400m coaches

8th fastest GB 400m split of all time

A lesson in rounded training that can help overall performance

Reflecting on what could be but blighted by injury, trying different training methods to keep Kelly fit when injured

Kelly applies the lessons learned from her career to athletes now        

Heptathlon medal still to come, how Kelly focuses on the individual medal having more meaning

Three time Olympic medallist

The consequences of being cheated

Kelly being active as a coach, team leader, establishing the athlete commission, “What are you doing about it?” Make it happen, make it better 

Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Lucy Balfour is a leading dancer at the world renowned contemporary dance company Ballet Rambert. Lucy trained at the International Ballet Academy in Christchurch, then spent ten years with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, before joining Rambert. In this episode, Lucy talks about the competitiveness of becoming a ballerina, the singular focus on realising her dream, with no back up plan. She talks about the pressure of selection and performing, maintaining self-identity throughout balanced by the privilege of being a dancer. Lucy is pregnant and gives an insight how Rambert have been supporting her to continue to rehearse and perform (Lucy performed on stage with Rambert up to 5 months pregnant) and now looks ahead with the question of whether she'll return to dance once she becomes a mum.

Show notes

Lucy's journey into dance

Decision ballet school or high school?

First ballet contract with The Royal New Zealand ballet company

Focus, rejection, perseverance and belief: developing resilience

No plan B

Dealing with rejection

Advice for the 16 year old Lucy Balfour

The day in a life for a dancer at the Rambert Dance Company

Coping with the ups and downs of the selection/audition process

Stay alert use rejection as a learning opportunity, learning from your peers without the pressure! Staying aware of your behaviour

Getting in the right place for a new performance: preparing physically and mentally, writing down corrections in a training diary and not being afraid to ask lots of questions

Late specialisation

Pregnancy and performance

Life after the birth

Dancing whilst pregnant

Facing the prospect of being a dancer and a mum

Viewing ballet through a different set of eyes which will help in the future, learning more about the craft of ballet

The length of a ballet career - it's not about age, it's about desire and physicality

Dancer's Career Development - thinking ahead

Wanting to inspire others, an ambassador for dance mamas and helping others to realise their potential at an earlier age

Top tips for a career in the performing arts

Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

In this episode I interview Professor Liz Stokoe, while we were both speaking at Cheltenham Science Festival. Liz is a Professor of Social Interaction at Loughborough University, specialising in conversational analysis. Liz shares her insights into the dynamics of conversation, some of the aggressive moves people make and how to manage these situations and what we can learn from delicate exchanges such as marriage guidance mediators and suicide negotiators. I really enjoyed this interview and found it utterly fascinating to hear Liz's insights and advice.

Show notes

The future of human communication

The forensic examination of conversational encounters 

'Mis-greeters' and 'recalibrating' initial greetings

Liz's route to conversational analysis

Liz's PhD - an analysis of university tutorials. Students reluctant to show they worked hard, cool to not prepare but actually working very hard

Myth busting - Gender and interaction. Zero evidence that women and men talk differently in systematic ways

Identity categories such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity, age etc stereotype and narrow conversational focus, anything can be turned into an aspect of your identity which limits and reinforces stereotypes

The concept of coaching differently because of gender

'Recipient design' - the monitoring of a conversation recipient to see if ideas are landing via body language, fractional delays in responses etc

'First movers' - challenging greetings. For example, "Where've you been?" as a mis-greeting

Dealing with a first mover! Recalibrating the conversation and socializing

Conflict is good, it is important to be able to challenge

Responding under pressure - suicide negotiators. Live conversation analysis in a real-life, lifesaving setting

Conversational Analytic Roleplay Method (CARM) - real conversation from real encounters paused…what would you do next? Learning through the expertise of others

What actually works in a real-life, live encounter, rather than roleplaying guidelines

The problems with traditional roleplay

Mediators for relationship management. Explaining a process rather than philosophy. Are you willing…? Willing works! Single words can change the outcome of a conversation either positively or negatively

Subtle changes in language create different outcomes 'Let's get things sorted out' rather than 'I can help'

The field of conversational analysis in the future

Sports coaching - tennis parents and kids. The conversations between parent and child at the beginning, middle and end of a competition

Liz's ted talk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtOG5PK8xDA&t=1042s Follow Liz on Twitter https://twitter.com/LizStokoe Find out more about Liz's CARM training http://www.carmtraining.org/

Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

In this episode I talk to Jo Meek, aka the "Running Squirrel". Jo is one of the world's leading ultra-endurance runners. In 2013 Jo was 2nd woman across the line in the Marathon de Sables. In 2014 Jo was first in the Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica (a 225km run which she completed in 29h 17mins, 19s; 5th in Comrades marathon; 4th in the World 100km Champs. Jo has a 10km time of 34:36; a marathon time of 2:46; and a 100km time of 7hr 43mins. Jo offers a unique insight into managing training, discomfort of training and how she reframes challenge into a positive.

Show notes

The origins of the nickname "Running Squirrel"

Unconventional entrance to sport. Sport as a key to join in and be cool! Road running and now running on Dartmoor

English cross-country champion, road racing and marathon and then ultra-marathon

Mental resolve, persistence and hard work. Mental resolve is innate for Jo

Sport Science top tips

Make running your routine

The pros and cons of becoming a full-time athlete

What moderates Jo's training?

The army, frontline action in Iraq for 4-5 months

The army taught Jo the importance of looking after yourself

Endurance background to ultra and the Marathon de Sables

Highest British female finisher in the Marathon de Sables!

Variety of races, UTMB 170km around Mont Blanc, France, Switzerland & Italy

Tuning training to the event. UTMB training marathon training, long run becomes 3-4 hours and back to back long runs

Training schedule, daily routine

Managing winter training and darkness

Mental resilience, anticipation of problems to stay positive for the race planning…control the controlables

Ultra-running is easier than marathon running!

The next challenge…Western States Endurance Run?

Jo's top tips for ultra-training, consistency with training, fuelling and enjoy it!

More from Jo at; https://twitter.com/jo_meek https://jomeekblog.wordpress.com/

Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

In this episode I talk to long standing colleague, coach and friend Toni Minichiello, coach to one of the World's greatest athletes Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill. I've worked with Toni since 2001 and while we've talked about everything and anything over the years, it was fascinating to capture his thoughts about the key area of communication, his thoughts, ideas, techniques and how they have evolved over the years;

Show notes

Communication and conveying knowledge and ideas for maximum impact

Gleaning information from the athletes of different ages/abilities/experience

Athletes critiquing themselves negatively

Toni Minichiello's coaching style

Communication assumptions!

High performers and communication

Finding a mutual vocabulary/language

Motivational styles and mindsets

Succinct information at critical points…deliver two points

Motivation, confidence…pushing the positive

The coach has to make the decision based on your knowledge and experience of the athlete…coach what you see

Working/communicating with a coach…add value!

Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

009 Yann Le Meur

This week's episode features an interview with Dr Yann Le Meur, physiologist and creator of the infographic phenomenon.

Yann Le Meur - training strategies - tennis/triathlon, improving fitness, sport science & Rodger Federer

Studying Sport Science, PE teacher, exercise physiology/

Heat altitude training, recovery nutrition provided a breadth and grounding in sport.

Synchronised swimming, modern pentathlon - working with national team and high level athletes

Act as a chameleon! Adaptation

Infographics - a way of explanation, communication and interaction

Teaching to make information - infographics

Elite sports teams in France

Consultancy and performance improvement

Applied sports career top tips, fairness, relationships & hard work

Create a network, work hard and challenge yourself create opportunities to create a good reputation

Opportunities in sport

Infographic stats: first began August 2014, 200 per year, 70,000 Twitter followers

No-one was reading my paper!! A simplification of the message = infographics was born

Infographic promotes what is new in sport science, the infographic is not enough, it is a simplification of the full paper which should be read

Different levels of evidence - infographics have limitations

Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.

Episode 008

In this episode I am joined once again by Rosie Mayes, and Jamie Pringle to talk culture in high performance sport and in the wider world of business and education.

Show notes

Why are we talking about culture?

Could you put culture on a dashboard of metrics?

How quickly can you pick up on a culture?

Whose responsibility is culture?

Process review

Culture as a determinant of performance

Early experiences, environment culturing achievement

If culture is poor how does it manifest in people?

Getting the balance right between under or over investment in peak performance and stress

The responsibility and potential for those in charge in leadership

Rosie as a benchwarmer - but served a key role in team dynamics

Coach decisions and responses on a day to day basis that define culture

Projecting and ownership of pressures

Sensitive moments in performance, such as selection and de-selection

Can you get more and do it well?

Purpose, autonomy and mastery

High performance habits for all

How does sport influence culture and culture influence sport?

How do you tap into and lead "the way it works around here"

Key insights into optimising culture

Supporting Champions on Twitter www.twitter.com/support_champs

Steve Ingham on Twitter www.twitter.com/ingham_steve

Supporting Champions on Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/company/supporting-champions

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/supportingchampions/

A reminder if you’re keen to pre-register for the next wave of Graduate Membership enrolments then you can do so at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/membership/

If you’re looking for some coaching support or some virtual team development help to support you to get to the next level in work, life or sport then take a look at https://supportingchampions.co.uk/coaching-mentoring/

or drop us a note at [email protected] then you can sign up for a free consultation to explore which package is right for you.