THE SCIENCE OF PERFORMANCE

episode 7: Individualized Science & Equipment with Jesse Frank

Jesse Frank earned his master's & undergraduate degrees at CU Boulder with Roger Kram, tackling projects ranging from building a mobile, gravity-reducing cart to studying bike seat variation on cycling comfort before a five-year tenure at Specialized. Jesse is a co-author on the Nike 4% study, 2:29 marathoner, triathlete, and – fun fact – Dan's wedding officiant. Today, he speaks with Dan on how athlete-specific modifications can improve and enhance performance and how this approach differs from scientific studies that look at averages across a group of athletes.

Episode 6: Nutrition, Hormonal cycles, optimal biomechanics. Keely Henninger & Kate Harrison

Keely Henninger is the 2023 Black Canyon 100k winner, a Freetrail Performance Coach, and a former NIKE researcher. Kate Harrison is a former All-American, D1 runner, Ph.D.  in Movement Science, and BOA Performance Fit Lab manager. They utilize their scientific backgrounds and passion for running to take on popular questions and misconceptions in the space.   

Is there a right way to run? How can the new field of hormone tracking inform fueling and performance? What fueling and training adjustments should runners make when transitioning from traditional road races to ultra trail races? What attributes are most important in a trail shoe? Listeners looking for actionable insights – this episode is for you!   

Episode 5: Physiology of Training, racing performance, durability, fatigue, VO2 max, and more with James Spragg

James Spragg is an applied sports scientist specializing in endurance sports at the world-class INTERCEPT Performance Consultancy, where he coaches elite cyclists, sky runners, and ski mountaineers. James is also finishing his Ph.D. at the University of Cape Town in exercise physiology, studying the mechanisms responsible for the deterioration in performance during grand tour cycling stage races. He speaks with Dan about his work parameterizing performance over the entire athlete and duration of exertion, the waves of physiological training fads on social media, and the difficulty predicting trail running performance. James advises athletes overwhelmed by “black box data” to listen to their bodies and focus on metrics they can check themselves. 

Episode 4: How Shoes Are Made from Brief to Box & Where Biomechanics Fits

Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon, co-founders of Speedland, are revolutionizing athletic footwear with an unwavering commitment to innovation and performance-driven design. Drawing from their extensive backgrounds collaborating with top athletes and biomechanics teams with industry giants like Nike, Under Armour, and Puma, they unveil the secrets behind creating some of the most innovative shoes on the market. The conversation covers the challenges of conducting biomechanics testing amidst traditional production cycles and the unyielding pursuit for the perfect fit. Discover how Speedland places athletes' trust above all else, crafting exceptional products without cutting corners and reshaping the landscape of athletic footwear.

Episode 3: The Mechanics in Biomechanics: injury risk, performance, AI, ML, and Engineereing behind the footwear and wearables you are using with Eric Honert and Emily Matijevich

Eric Hornet and Emily Matijevich, both Ph.D. graduates from Vanderbilt University and former post-doctoral researchers under Benno Negg, contribute their biomechanics and mechanical engineering expertise. They deconstruct prevalent running shoe misconceptions, focusing on shock absorption, loading rate, and pronation. Rather than subscribing to common beliefs, they urge runners to evaluate how shoe features align with their natural movement patterns to reduce the occurrence of micro-stresses. They also cover a recent study by BOA Technology, which quantifies the advantages of specific footwear on trails.

Episode 2: Supershoe Science with Wouter Hoogkamer

In 2016, the Nike Vaporfly 4% launched and “Supershoes” entered running lexicon. Dan engages in a captivating conversation with Wouter Hoogkamer, the esteemed lead author of the groundbreaking article that unveiled the science behind the Nike Vaporfly 4% shoe. Wouter, a renowned runner and footwear expert, delves into the core elements that define a super shoe and its potential to elevate athletic performance. Together, they explored the intriguing prospect of adapting "super shoes" from road running to the challenging terrain of trails.

Episode 1: Introducing the Science of Performance  

Dan and Dylan, Freetrail founder and professional ultra runner with an extensive list of top finishes, kick off "The Science of Performance" podcast series by dissecting the fundamentals of athletic performance. From biomechanics in footwear to the physiology of training, they challenge assumptions about peak performance and its relevance to athletes. Get to know Dan Feeney and gain insights into why biomechanics matters. This episode also offers a preview of future guests and topics, making it the perfect start to your journey into the world of peak athletic performance.