This week, I’m joined by triple Olympian, world champion cyclist, PhD engineer—and now author—Emma Pooley. From humble beginnings as a cross-country runner to Olympic silver in the time trial, Emma shares her fascinating athletic journey, why she hated cycling at first, and how she learned to love descending. They explore: Why joy—not just performance—should drive training Emma’s candid experience with eating disorders in elite sport The benefits of real food over engineered nutrition Her new book Oat to Joy—a mix of simple recipes and powerful personal stories Bike fit for smaller athletes (and why crank length matters!) Training smarter with age, embracing strength work and quality sleep And why she prefers butter before jam on a scone! Whether you're an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, Emma’s insights on food, fitness, mindset, and longevity will leave you inspired and smiling. Notable Quotes: “The more I ate, the faster I was.” “True courage is tackling the things you're scared of, not pretending the fear doesn’t exist.” “You’re not always going to be an athlete, but you’re always going to be a human.” Links & Resources: Oat to Joy - You can also buy Emma’s book in the UK via the Alpkit stores Find Emma on the following channels: Website: (forever home for Oat To Joy): https://www.emmapooley.net/oat-to-joy/ Instagram: Oat To Joy instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oat_to_joy_recipes/?hl=en Emma Pooley - https://www.instagram.com/pooleyemma/?hl=en BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/pooleyemma.bsky.social If you are NOT in the UK then you can also get hold of Emma’s book’s here: USA , EU , Switzerland Emma’s book recommendation: Myths of Sport Performance by Dr Amy Whitehead and Jenny Coe. Fascinating insights by experts. Busts some myths and makes advanced theory interesting and relatable. These are links to some other cool stuff that Emma recommends, because sport can make a difference even in the big things: Gaza Sunbirds: https://gazasunbirds.org/ Asylum for Afghan cyclists in mortal danger and needing rescue: https://shannongalpin.substack.com/p/an-open-letter-to-global-cyclists The Green Runners (I chose to end my sponsorship with a running brand to join them): https://thegreenrunners.com/ Some FREE Downloads for you Click here for the Race Day Execution Checklist Click here to get your copy of 7 steps to swimming faster Infographic To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE To download your FREE infographic ‘6 key daily health metrics’, please click HERE Ready to Take Action? If you want to build a stronger, healthier, more resilient version of yourself, there are two ways to get started: 1-1 Coaching with Simon Ward – Get a personalised programme designed for your lifestyle and goals. Book a call today Join the SWAT Inner Circle – Our exclusive training community focused on real-world strength, health, and performance You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here , and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here . Call to Action: If this episode inspired or helped you, please: Leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review Subscribe to the High Performance Human Podcast on your favourite platform Share this episode with a friend who's racing soon! Looking for more content? Check out my Instagram and YouTube! Instagram YouTube Sign up for Simon’s weekly newsletter Sign up for Beth’s weekly newsletter To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk . For any questions please email
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