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PODCAST

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for strength, resilience, and longevity

The Be Battle Ready podcast is where everyday athletes, adventurers, and seekers of strength come to forge resilience - in body, mind, and spirit. Hosted by coach Simon Ward, each episode explores the true pillars of endurance: purposeful training, nourishing nutrition, restorative sleep, a resilient mindset, and the art of recovery. It’s designed especially for those in their 40s, 50s and beyond who refuse to rust - men and women who know that age is no excuse to stop sharpening the blade. Whether

sports nutrition

All Episodes

30:00

After 30 Years of Coaching, Here’s What Still Matters.

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2026/02/18

After three decades in endurance sport, what surprises me most isn’t what’s changed.It’s what hasn’t. Training trends come and go. Methods get rebranded. New tools promise breakthroughs. But the fundamentals that drive performance, health and longevity have barely moved. In this episode, I explain why most athletes don’t need more information — they need more consistent application of what already works. In This Episode Why most “new” training methods aren’t actually new The common mistake of

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71:33

I Wrote These Training and Racing Principles 15 Years...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2026/02/11

Beth takes over hosting duties from Santa Barbara and pulls out a list of training and racing principles I wrote about 15 years ago. The catch is I’m not allowed to look at them. So we go through the big ones and I react in real time, seeing which ideas have genuinely stood the test of time, what I’d tweak with today’s experience, and what still matters most for age group athletes who want to perform well, stay healthy, and enjoy the process.We talk about choosing races that suit you (not your

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78:31

The Day My Heart Stopped Mid-Race with Nick Parkes...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2026/02/04

This episode is not about marginal gains.It’s about the thing we all quietly assume, until we cannot: being fit does not make you bulletproof. Nick shares what happened when he suffered a heart attack and cardiac arrest during the GB National Open Water Championships (July 2023), mid-race, in open water. He was resuscitated on site, later underwent a double bypass, and then began the long, patient process of rebuilding his health, fitness, and confidence. It’s an honest conversation about

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54:30

The Over-50 Recovery Thief Nobody Wants to Admit...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2026/01/28

Welcome back. Part one was the foundations. This is the practical, straight-talking follow on where we get honest about what actually moves the needle over 50.We cover six actions that help you keep performance climbing while protecting recovery: less volume but better quality, HIIT done sensibly, reducing alcohol, daily creatine, the broken endurance run-walk approach, and regular health checks. The big themes (what this episode is really saying) Over 50, you do not need to train like a hero. You

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39:48

Over 50? Start Here: Strength, Sleep, Protein (Part 1)

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2026/01/21

This week is part one of a two-parter where Beth and I strip things right back to the foundations that keep you training well, feeling good, and staying properly capable as the years tick on. No gimmicks, no hero sessions, and definitely no “smash yourself then need a week off” nonsense. We cover five core actions that make everything else work: regular strength training that you can actually stick to, doing something that challenges your brain (not just your body), sorting your sleep so recovery is

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49:39

Protein Made Practical: Targets, Timing, and Simple...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2026/01/14

Welcome back, this is part two of our protein mini-series with Dr Jules Strauss. Part two is the no-nonsense version. Less theory, more ‘do this’. Jules and I turn protein into a simple daily system for busy endurance athletes: how to spread it across the day, why breakfast and lunch are where most people miss easy gains, when shakes are actually useful, and what the truth is about that post-session ‘windowWhat we cover What “1.5-2.0 g per kg” looks like in real food Why most people under-do

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41:23

Part 1 - Protein for Endurance and Ageing: What the...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2026/01/07

Protein is having a moment, but the internet has turned it into a shouting match. In part one, I’m joined by performance nutritionist Dr Jules Strauss to cut through the noise and give you a clear framework. We start with the standard “recommended daily allowance” and quickly get into what actually matters for endurance athletes and masters athletes: muscle maintenance, recovery, quality of life, and staying strong enough to keep doing the stuff you love for decades.What we cover The RDA vs

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37:57

Battle Ready: Our 2025 Wins, Wobbles and What’s Next

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/12/31

Beth and Simon wrap up 2025 with an honest look at what worked, what didn’t, and what they’re taking into 2026. Beth reflects on Ironman Austria, the post race dip, and how winter darkness can drain motivation (and how a certain guide dog has helped). Simon shares how the Battle Ready philosophy shaped his year, proving you can tackle big adventures without living in massive training volumes.In this episode Beth’s Ironman Austria reflections and post race burnout Why UK winter can crush

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59:26

‘Fit for Purpose’ The Grumpy Old Coaches Christmas...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/12/24

A proper Grumpy Old Coaches Christmas Special with Simon Ward joined by Steve Lumley and Marc Laithwaite, plus Bethany Ward back in the hot seat(and, as ever, dropping a couple of absolute show-stoppers).We kick off with the state of triathlon participation and what Marc is seeing on the ground as an organiser, including the way athletes are now leaving entries later and how that makes it harder to predict numbers. From there we zoom out and compare triathlon to what’s booming elsewhere, especially

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70:51

Episode 2: How to Fix Your Gut: Practical Steps for...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/12/17

In part two of my conversation with Harvey Fortis – nutritionist, researcher, and performance specialist working with INEOS Cycling – we move from theory into practical action. Harvey and I dig into the specific foods, habits, and daily choices that nourish the microbiome and help it thrive.We talk about fibre, fermented foods, stress, sleep, pre- and probiotics, the Mediterranean diet, and how simple, consistent choices can transform gut health for athletes and everyday individuals alike. Key

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65:54

Why Your Gut Is Affecting Your Sleep, Mood, and...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/12/10

In the first of a 2 part series, I’m joined by Harvey Fortis, a performance nutritionist and researcher completing his PhD at Liverpool John Moores University, where he studies gut and metabolic responses in endurance athletes. Harvey also works with INEOS Cycling and Total Endurance Nutrition, so he sees first-hand how gut health can make or break performance.We start by laying the foundations of what the gut microbiome actually is, but quickly move into why it matters in everyday life. We explore

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58:54

The Hidden Cost of ‘Normal’ Drinking After 40 with...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/12/03

“You know what you can get away with in your teens and 20s is a little different than your 30s and 40s. Your body is like a classic car now - you can't get away with not servicing it anymore.”This week on the Be Battle Ready Podcast, I’m joined by Clifford Stephan, the founder of Booze Vacation. Clifford’s work focuses on helping people take intentional breaks from alcohol in order to reboot their sleep, metabolic health, energy, cognitive function, and long term wellbeing. Far from preaching

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53:19

Broken Endurance: The Smartest Way to Run Faster for...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/11/26

In this episode, running coach Bobby McGee is back to help us understand the revolutionary concept of "broken endurance" - a strategic run-walk approach that challenges everything we think we know about endurance racing.As Bobby said "This is absolutely a performance tool, a performance approach. It is not a concession. You know, when people view it as a concession, then the whole mindset goes... You will perform better utilising this, not only as a training strategy, but very, very definitely for

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46:50

Episode 3: Should Athletes Fast? The Performance vs....

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/11/19

In the final episode of the fasting series, Simon and Dr. Jules Strauss tackle the complex question of whether endurance athletes should fast, and if so, how to do it safely without compromising training quality or health.Jules brings her expertise in sports nutrition to provide practical guidance on timing fasting protocols around training seasons, the difference between fasting for weight loss and fasted training for metabolic adaptation, and how to monitor whether a fasting approach is helping

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42:04

Episode 2: Types of Fasting Explained - What Works...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/11/12

In part two of the fasting series, Simon and Dr. Jules Strauss dive deep into the different types of fasting protocols available today. From time-restricted eating to extreme approaches with catchy names, they explore what the science actually supports versus what's simply clever marketing designed to sell products.Jules walks through the continuum of fasting approaches and importantly discusses who should avoid fasting altogether, drawing on her expertise in female-specific nutrition and eating

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41:02

Episode 1: Understanding Fasting and Nutrition - The...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/11/05

In this first episode of our three-part fasting series, Simon Ward welcomes Dr. Jules Strauss to explore the evolutionary science behind fasting and what actually happens in our bodies when we restrict food intake. While fasting has become a popular topic on social media, Jules brings her decade of research in exercise metabolism to separate the science from the hype.Together, they unpack how our hunter-gatherer ancestors evolved to handle periods without food, the hour-by-hour changes that occur

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39:17

Creatine, Brain Health, and Ageing Strong — with Dr...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/10/29

In this week’s BeBattleReady podcast, Simon Ward welcomes back Dr Tommy Wood to explore one of the most researched yet misunderstood supplements - creatine. While most athletes associate it with muscle strength, Tommy explains why its benefits go far beyond the gym, extending to brain health, cognitive function, and ageing well. Together, they unpack how creatine works, who should consider supplementing, the differences between athletic and cognitive benefits, and why it might be particularly

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65:33

The 70% Rule: Why Most 'Aging' Is Actually Reversible...

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/10/22

The aging athlete's journey doesn't have to mean inevitable decline. In this reflective episode, Simon and Bethany Ward revisit September's most impactful conversations, distilling key lessons from their discussions with running coaches Bobby McGee and Matt Pendola, plus Lucy Hurn's inspiring Iron Man journey through menopause.From proprioception and fast-twitch muscle loss to hormonal chaos and identity questions, this episode tackles the real challenges facing athletes over 50 - and more

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63:49

Brain Health & Dementia Prevention with Dr. Tommy Wood

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/10/15

Your brain is your most valuable asset - yet most athletes spend more time maintaining their bikes than protecting their cognitive health. In this episode, Simon sits down with neuroscientist Dr. Tommy Wood to explore how endurance athletes can future-proof their brains and maintain sharp cognitive function well into their later years.Dr. Wood, who has also worked with professional athletes in multiple sports including several Olympians and world champions and is releasing his book "The Stimulated

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82:42

Strong Bones, Strong Future — How to Stay Unbreakable

Simon Ward, Be Battle Ready - The podcast for... ·

2025/10/08

Strong bones are the armour that carry us through life’s battles — whether it’s racing triathlon, carrying the shopping, or keeping up with grandchildren. Yet too many athletes only notice cracks in that armour when it fails. In this episode, Simon is joined by Dr Juliet McGrattan and Dr Catherine Jackson to explore what really keeps bones battle ready: the truth about calcium, vitamin D, hormones, strength training, and why endurance sport alone isn’t enough. Together, they unpack how both men and

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203 results

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