What should endurance athletes actually eat before training? Does fasted training improve adaptation? And why do some athletes thrive on high carbohydrate intake while others perform better with less?

In this episode, Dr Jeff Rothschild joins the podcast to unpack the complexity behind endurance nutrition, recovery, and training adaptation. Drawing from his work as a sports dietitian, researcher, and performance analyst, Jeff shares insights from years of research exploring carbohydrate practices, fasted training, substrate utilization, and individual variability in athlete response.

The conversation explores why high intensity sessions may not require fasted training to stimulate adaptation, how recovery responses differ dramatically between athletes, and why generalized nutrition guidelines often fail to capture individual needs.

Jeff also discusses the growing role of data science, machine learning, and longitudinal athlete monitoring in understanding recovery and fueling strategies, along with the practical realities of applying nutrition science in elite sport.

This episode offers a balanced and highly practical discussion on endurance nutrition, helping athletes and coaches better understand how to fuel training without getting lost in dogma or extremes.

Today’s speakers:

Prof Paul Laursen https://www.paullaursen.com/
Dr Jeff Rothschild https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-rothschild-phd-016170146/

https://www.eatsleep.fit/

🥑 RETHINKING NUTRITION in ENDURANCE PERFORMANCE 💥🧠

Tim Noakes & Phil Maffetone aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo — especially when it comes to CARBS, FAT, and FUELING the brain 🧬

In this thought-provoking episode of The Training Science Podcast, Paul, Tim & Phil dig into what REALLY fuels performance:

🔥 How FAT OXIDATION supports endurance when carbs run low
🧠 Why the BRAIN—not the body—often decides your limits
📉 The trouble with INSULIN and sugar addiction in modern diets

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#TrainingSciencePodcast #HIITScience #TimNoakes #PhilMaffetone #SportsNutrition #LowCarbHighFat #FatAdaptation #EndurancePerformance #GlucosePools #CarbohydrateDebate #FuelingTheBrain #InsulinResistance #SugarAddiction #MetabolicHealth #AthletePerformance #BrainPower #NutritionRevolution #ChallengingBeliefs #PerformanceFueling #EnergySystems

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Today’s speakers:

Prof. Paul Laursen https://www.paullaursen.com/

Dr. Phil Maffetone https://philmaffetone.com/

Prof. Tim Noakes https://x.com/LoreofRunning1

What if endurance performance is not so much about VO2max, lactate threshold, or running economy… but more about the muscular system itself?

In this episode, Dr Marius Bakken shares the thinking behind his latest book The Norwegian Method Applied and the decades of experimentation that shaped his approach to endurance training. From double threshold training and lactate controlled intensity to muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness, this conversation explores performance through a very different lens.

The discussion unpacks why sub-threshold training became foundational within the Norwegian system, how muscular state may influence performance and fatigue more than most athletes realize, and why recovery is often misunderstood in modern endurance training.

Marius also reflects on his experiences training in Kenya, his observations of elite African runners, and how balancing training load may matter more than any other factor.

This episode challenges conventional thinking around endurance performance and opens up a broader discussion about what truly limits adaptation, recovery, and race day performance.

Today’s speakers:

Prof Paul Laursen https://www.paullaursen.com/
Dr Marius Bakken https://www.mariusbakken.com/

The Norwegian Method Applied Book: http://geni.us/norwegianmethod