The Progress Theory

The boys are back with round 2 of the Progress Theory Roundtable where they discuss the rise in popularity of Crossfit and Functional Fitness. Over the past 15 years Functional Fitness, predominantly lead by Crossfit, has created a cultural shift where they have popularised the combination of health, competitive fitness and community in their training methodology. Along with the dominance of social media use in today's world, it appears the growth of Functional Fitness is only getting started. In this episode we discuss:

- Is 'Functional' Fitness the right term to use?

- What has been the catalyst for the huge rise in popularity of Functional Fitness?

-  The difference between coaching and supervising

- How far can Functional fitness go? Can the Fitness Racing Federation get competitive fitness into the Olympics?

- A review of the 2020 Crossfit games

- How good is Mat Fraser? Why is he so good and will anyone else reach his level?

This episode is perfect for anyone involved in coaching clients who all have different goals. Download now and join the journey

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It's happened again. The UK is going into its second National Lockdown.  Training is going to have to change as gyms close and access to certain  equipment becomes limited. However, this doesn't mean training needs to  take a step back in order to achieve our goals.   

In Episode 2.3 of the Progress Theory Podcast @thepricep and  @daryl_green_ discuss the lockdown changes being made to their training  programmes as they approach the second half of their training leading up  to the increased strength + 4 hour marathon challenge. They covered the  following topics:   

- The changes Daryl is making to his weightlifting training now that the  gyms are closed 

- Common mistakes people made with training from the first lockdown 

- Their top 3 tips on how to maximise your training during lockdown   

With or without gyms you can still achieve your goals. Download this  episode now so you can achieve yours, too.    

Join the journey   

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How do you programme your training to improve strength and endurance concurrently?

Welcome to episode 2.2 of the Progress Theory Podcast where @thepricep and @daryl_green_ discuss their training programmes for this season's challenge. In this episode the boys cover:

- The details of their training programme for their respective challenges

- How fatigue management and structuring your week is vital for concurrent training success

- Patience is key when increasing intensity

- Do the minimal amount which you believe is necessary to improve performance. Everything else is filler which may unnecessarily increase fatigue and effect future training sessions.

- Running at a 4 hour marathon pace is a skill. Spend time there to practise and increase efficiency

- How your previous training should influence your programming decision making

How do these programmes compare to your training? Let us know in the comments and join the journey

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Introducing the new Progress Theory Roundtable series!!

Each Progress Theory Roundtable will discuss a brand new topic set out at the start of the episode. These topics are meant to be subjective and challenging, allowing for different opinions to be shared. These topics can range from sport event reviews, contrasting styles of training, different sporting philosophies, and approaches to training & coaching.

In 001, @thepricep @daryl_green_ and @m.tyler_pt discuss who is the greatest sportsman or women of all time, and form their own Mt Rushmore of G.O.A.T's. Here they discuss the following:

- What qualities, both physical and mental, create the GOAT

- What separates the GOAT's selected for their respective Mt Rushmore and those that did not make the cut?

- What is a sporting Icon?

- Are we aware of our own bias when selecting who is the GOAT?

- Which GOAT got selected more than all the others?

Who would be on your Mt Rushmore of the G.O.A.T?

Join the journey

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The Progress Theory Podcast is back for season 2 with a new challenge!!!

Want a good engine,  lift heavy and not suck at both? With the rise in functional fitness and many athletes taking on their own challenges after Coronavirus got most of the events cancelled, we decided to cover how it is possible to train for both strength and endurance.

In Episode 2.1 follow @thepricep and @dg.coaching as they detail the next challenge: Increase strength in their chosen lifts while training for a 4 hour marathon. All in 11 weeks.

The cover the following topics:

- What is concurrent training? Is concurrent training more common than we think?

- Why has it been previously perceived that you couldn't train for strength and endurance at the same time?

- Who is Professor  Robert Hickson and how did his seminal research in 1980 start the idea that strength and endurance shouldn't be trained together?

- After critiquing his research what answers do we find?

- What is the interference effect? Does an understanding of the molecular pathways which regulate strength and endurance adaptations help explain why endurance training may inhibit protein synthesis after resistance training?

- Which factors affect how powerful the interference effect is? can we structure training so we can reduce the interference effect and maximise Endurance and strength training simultaneously?

Hope you enjoy the episode. Like and subscribe to our podcast and join the journey. What are your experiences with concurrent training?

Welcome to Episode 1.4 - The 5/10km Re-Test - of the Progress Theory Podcast. It's here, check in to see how the 5/10km sub20/40 minute challenge went.

In this episode @freddiereadhead and @thepricep discuss their 5/10km re-test results and reflect on how training for the challenge went. Topics include:

- Recapping the training strategy for this challenge (The 6 day cycle, polarised training)

- How constant changes due to covid restrictions effected training

- The choice of training plan and maintaining a work/training balance

- If we had longer than 8 weeks how much more do we think we could improve?

- What we've learnt from this experience

- How reflection is the key to making better future training decisions

- How we want everyone to join in with this journey. Let us know your challenge

That's season 1 done. Check in next time for season 2 where Progress Theory goes up a notch. Big plans ahead.

Check out episode 1.3 where Freddie and Phil discuss their S&C training leading up to the 5/10km in sub 20/40 minute challenge.

The boys could have discussed so many points in this episode. Instead, they focused on key areas which formed the principles they followed when programming S&C. Topics include:

- How important is S&C in running?

- How S&C training was structured around a 6 day running training microcycle

- How strong do you need to be to be a good runner?

- What is the difference between ballistic and plyometric exercises?

- Is running a plyometric exercise?

As always, like & subscribe to our channel. Please leave a review and send us a message about your training journey.

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Check out Episode 1.2 of the Progress Theory podcast as @freddiereadhead and @thepricep discuss how they developed their running programme for their 5km/10km sub 20/40 challenge. The episode starts with the boys reflecting on the first 2 weeks of training, how they have found the programme so far. Then they get stuck into how the programme was developed.

This episode covers:

- Phil guides us through why he chose a 6 day training cycle over a typical 7 day training week

- How Pareto's law provides the basis of balancing a programme made up of slow, long runs, intervals and tempo runs.

- Polarised training, a structure involving a balance of shorter, faster sessions and longer, slower sessions, is discussed.

- How running volume and intensity changes over the 8 weeks leading up to the re-test.

- How having an understanding of your programme and the scientific principles behind it helps training with intent.

Check it out. Like and subscribe to the Progress Theory Podcast.

Welcome to episode 1 of the Progress Theory Podcast.  

In this episode, Freddie Readhead and Dr Phil Price reflect on Freddie's  'Stairway to the Stratosphere' challenge, where Freddie ascended and  descended his staircase 3,846 times, the equivalent height of sea level  to Earth's the stratosphere (10 vertical kilometres). Freddie and Phil discuss how this challenge came about and how it eventually lead them to  start up the 'Progress Theory Podcast'. We believe that with the right  knowledge, preparation and mindset, you are able to take on any  challenge, regardless of what discipline, format, distance, time or prior experience. Fundamentally, it's about creating a culture of small wins, marginal gains and consistent progress towards a specific goal.  

In our first episode we discuss Freddie's training programme and cover topics such as: 

* Strategy - How Freddie broke down the number of flights of stairs  needed per hour to reach The Stratosphere in a 48 hour window. 

*Problem Solving - How Freddie used the training climbs for the  challenge to identify areas which could potential cause problems. 

*Training Methods - How Freddie used a gradual approach to his training,  hoping to expose his body to the stresses and physical demands of  climbing stairs for long periods of time. 

* Strength and Conditioning - How Phil programmed Freddie's strength  training to focus on developing key physical qualities necessary for the  climb. 

* Reflection - What would Freddie change about his preparation for the  climb and overall thoughts about the climb itself.     

Check it out, like and subscribe.   

Progress Theory.