The Physical Performance Show: Expert Edition: Huw Darnell: Strength and Conditioning Principles
In episode 368 of The Physical Performance Show, the podcast enters a new era as accredited exercise physiologist Huw Darnell joins as co-host alongside Brad Beer. With over a decade of experience in the endurance sports industry, Huw brings a fresh perspective to the show, sharing his journey from a sport-obsessed youth through injury setbacks to becoming a leading strength and conditioning coach for runners and triathletes. This episode explores Huw’s personal and professional evolution, including the pivotal injuries that shaped his approach to athlete rehabilitation and performance. Huw and Brad discuss the importance of psychological support for injured athletes, the barriers endurance athletes face in adopting strength and conditioning, and practical strategies for integrating effective training into busy schedules. Listeners are introduced to a new show format, Uncovering Injuries, which will feature deep dives into common endurance sports injuries from both physiotherapy and exercise physiology perspectives. The episode is rich with actionable advice, including Huw’s “four pillars of performance”—movement, recovery, mindset, and nutrition—and a weekly physical challenge encouraging barefoot training to build foot strength.
To listen to Episode 368:
Click the icon to listen to the interview on iTunes or listen using the Soundcloud player below:
Listen in as we delve into the following:
- Huw’s background: journey from athlete to exercise physiologist and strength coach
- Announcement of the new “Uncovering Injuries” episode format
- Huw’s personal injury story and how it shaped his rehabilitation philosophy
- Transition to working with endurance athletes, especially triathletes and runners
- Building therapeutic alliances and addressing the psychological impact of injury
- Huw’s top tips for supporting the psychology of injured athletes
- Barriers endurance athletes face in adopting strength and conditioning
- Communication strategies between athletes, coaches, and practitioners
- The importance of objective data in athlete progress and buy-in
- Three essential conditioning exercises for triathletes
- Balancing movement correction and skill development in training
- Fitting strength and conditioning into busy schedules (micro-dosing)
- Periodisation of strength and conditioning through the season
- Tapering strength and conditioning before key races
- Huw’s “four pillars of performance” advice
