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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

41:05

Nevis to St Kitts Swim + Why I Finally Decided to...

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

2026/04/08

In this episode, Beth and I reflect on our recent Nevis to St Kitts swim, a brilliant open water adventure that reminded us what it really means to be Battle Ready.We talk about the event itself, the experience of swimming across open water in a stunning setting, and what we learned from it. Then we shift gears into a more personal topic. I share why, after years of resisting it, I’ve decided to start taking statins. It’s not medical advice, but an honest conversation about health, ageing, and the

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71:10

Why Mobility Matters More Than You Think with Tom...

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

2026/04/01

Mobility is one of the most overlooked parts of training.Most athletes ignore it until something hurts. Then it suddenly becomes important. In this episode, I’m joined by Tom Morrison, creator of the Simplistic Mobility Method. I first came across Tom through athletes I work with, and his name kept coming up again and again. What stood out to me is that Tom hasn’t just studied mobility. He lived the consequences of ignoring it. From overtraining and constant injuries to a serious back issue that

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38:33

Your A Race Gets Cancelled. Now What?

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

2026/03/25

You’ve trained for months. Everything is building nicely. Then suddenly, your A race is cancelled.For many athletes, that moment feels like the rug has been pulled from under them. Motivation drops, structure disappears, and the question becomes… what now? In this episode, Simon and Beth explore the emotional and practical impact of losing a key event. They discuss why races matter, why so many athletes rely on them, and how to respond in a way that keeps your progress moving forward. More

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50:10

Durability vs Volume: Why More Training Isn’t Always...

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

2026/03/18

Why training more isn’t always the answerMost endurance athletes assume that getting better simply means doing more training. More miles. More hours. More big sessions. But after decades of coaching and competing, Simon argues that the athletes who achieve the best long-term results are rarely the ones doing the most volume. They are the ones who train consistently without breaking down. In this episode Simon and Beth explore the idea of durability versus volume, why chasing big sessions can

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35:36

Nervous About Your First Open Water Swim of the...

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

2026/03/11

The pool drills that prepare you for the chaos of open water swimmingLearn how triathletes can practise open water swim skills in the pool and feel more confident on race day. Can you really prepare for an open water swim if all you have access to is a pool? In this episode, Simon and Beth explain how triathletes can build open water skills into normal pool sessions before the race season begins. They cover sighting, breathing to both sides, faster cadence, group starts, drafting and learning to

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50:21

Durability Over Ego: Our 2026 Plan

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

2026/03/04

In this real-world episode, Beth and I share our 2026 event calendar, from a 50k ultra and a 40k paddle-board race to a 2.4 mile Caribbean swim and a 700km gravel bike ride following one of the Camino trails in Spain. More importantly, we explain how we’re applying lessons from recent podcasts directly into our own training and lifestyle Different disciplines. Same foundations. 5 Talking Points Broken Endurance for the Ultra Run-walk intervals to reduce impact, improve pacing and finish

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59:16

Heat Training: The Early-Season Edge

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

2026/02/25

Most athletes only think about heat training two weeks before flying to Kona.That’s reactive. Used early in the season, heat training can increase plasma volume, improve heart rate control and build durability before racing even starts. This episode was recorded last year and I’m re-releasing it now because this is exactly when smart athletes should be using it. I’m joined by Lindsey Hunt from Precision Fuel & Hydration to break down how it works and how to apply it safely. In This Episode •

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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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210 results

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