Ben Stephenson, PhD - Heat preparation, physiology, performance planning, and the Paralympics | EP#443

Ben Stephenson, PhD, is Performance Planning Lead and physiologist for the Great Britain para triathlon squad in Loughborough. He joins us off the back of the Paralympics in Paris where Team GB had a very successful games with five para triathlon medals, including two golds.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT:
-Core temperature and thermoregulatory strain in sprint distance triathlon
-Heat preparation: science and practice
-How to minimise the risk of getting ill: which factors matter the most?
-The performance planning process behind Great Britain's Paralympic success
-Training to performance demands or to the individual physiology?
-Balancing the art of coaching and sports science

SHOWNOTES:
scientifictriathlon.com/tts443

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LINKS AND RESOURCES:
-Ben's Twitter (x.com/bstephenson311) and Research Gate (researchgate.net/profile/Ben-Stephenson)
-High Thermoregulatory Strain During Competitive Paratriathlon Racing in the Heat (researchgate.net/publication/333665508_High_Th…) - Stephenson et al. 2019
-Mixed Active and Passive, Heart Rate-Controlled Heat Acclimation Is Effective for Paralympic and Able-Bodied Triathletes (researchgate.net/publication/335883684_Mixed_A…) - Stephenson et al. 2019
-Training Load, Salivary Immunoglobulin A and Illness Incidence in Elite Paratriathletes (researchgate.net/publication/328183489_Trainin…) - Stephenson et al. 2019
-Bent Rønnestad, PhD | EP#386 (scientifictriathlon.com/tts386)
-Training talk with Bex Milnes | EP#353 (scientifictriathlon.com/tts353)
-Failure is not an optioon: Mission Control From Mercury to Apollo 13 (amazon.com/Failure-Not-Option-Mission-Control/…) - book by Gene Kranz
-Mallorca Training Camp 2025 (scientifictriathlon.com/training-camp-mallorca)

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SPONSORS:
• Precision Fuel & Hydration (sweattest.precisionhydration.com/discount/TTS2…) produce our favourite gels, sports drinks, and electrolyte and carbohydrate products here at That Triathlon Show and Scientific Triathlon. Use the free Fuel & Hydration Planner (precisionhydration.com/planner/?code=TTS2026&a…) to get a personalised plan for your carbohydrate, sodium and fluid intake in your next event, and get 15% off your first 2026 order by using the code TTS2026 at checkout.

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