Find the show notes for this episode here.

In this episode, Siobhan Milner (Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Dutch Olympic Team) takes you through an introduction to training load monitoring and planning, and how to use the acute to chronic training workload ratio model (ACWR) specifially. This episode is perfect for coaches and athletes who may have limited access to a strength and conditioning coach in their own setting, and want to know how to monitor and plan their training load.

Thoughts about this episode? Let me know over on IG!

Siobhan Milner believes we’re made to move. She is an exercise scientist with over a decade of experience working with everyone from Olympians, to premier-league hockey players, to patients with low back pain, to professional dancers, to individuals with cancer and chronic lung diseases. She uses her expertise to help you improve your athletic performance, and prevent, manage, and recover from injuries.

Siobhan is currently a Strength & Conditioning Coach with TeamNL (Dutch Olympic team), training Shorttrack Speed Skaters, the national Curling team, and talent and elite beach volleyballers.

She also works with several independent athletes, primarily in endurance sports and dance, and with clients seeking her knowledge in injury rehabiliation.

Siobhan Milner is a believer in evidence-based exercise prescription, but also strongly believes that all training should be athlete-focused; specific to their goals, their needs, and their likes and dislikes. Most of all, she loves seeing change in her athletes’ lives – whether it’s at the level of function, pain, or performance.

Are you ready to improve your sporting performance, or change the way your body feels? Get in contact with Siobhan Milner here to discuss how she can help you get the most out of your body.

Where to find Siobhan:

Website: www.siobhan-milner.com

Instagram: @siobhan.milner

Facebook: Siobhan Milner Athletic Performance & Rehabilitation

Twitter: @siobhancmilner

Tiktok: @siobhan.milner

• Stay up to date on the Total Performance podcast where you can join Siobhan Milner and guests as we explore the many aspects that come together to build our total performance.

• Find Siobhan Milner on Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook

Excited to get this out into the world because Kurt Michael Downes is a coach you should know. Not only does he know his stuff, he’s incredibly generous in sharing that knowledge.

Kurt also has an impressive amount of industry experience (in addition to all those fancy letters next to his name), including coaching Canadian Olympian Brandon McBride to the 800m record of 1:43.20, and guiding Kelsey Balkwill to a top 6 placing in the 400H at the World Junior Championships and top 20 placing at the World Indoor Champions in the 400m. How lucky am I that such cool people are happy to chat with me?

I really enjoyed this discussion with Kurt, and I felt like I learned a lot. We spoke a lot about how track and field style training can be used for non track and field athletes, and we also talked about speed and agility in general, and mechanics of running in general.

Kurt gave a lot of practical examples and I found this a super, super valuable listen. I hope you enjoy. Find it everywhere you get your favourite podcasts.

Thoughts about this episode? Let me know over on IG!

Kurt Michael Downes is an award winning teacher with the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board and President and Head Coach of the Border City Athletics Club.

Kurt has represented Canada as a staff coach at nine international events, including the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. He coached Canadian Olympian, Brandon McBride to the 800 meter record. He guided Kelsey Bale to a top six placing in the 400 hurdles at the World Junior Championships and a top 20 placing at the world Indoor champions in the 400 meter.

He is an advocate for community and sport access for youth, having facilitated, led and created discussions, forums and programs for youth and diversity.

He is a public speaker and builder, and he was also the recipient of the Canadian Running Magazine Golden Shoe Award as the Community Builder of the Year, the Under Armour Diversity Award,  Athletics Canada Dr. Doug Clement Coach of the Year, and the Contributions to Catholic Education Award. Kurt has also recently begun his PhD in kinesiology.

Where to find Kurt:

Twitter / X: KurtMichael_dee

LinkedIn: Kurt Michael Downes

Instagram: @kurtmichael_dee

• • Stay up to date on the Total Performance podcast where you can join Siobhan Milner and guests as we explore the many aspects that come together to build our total performance.

• • Find Siobhan Milner on Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook

In this podcast episode, Siobhan Milner provides some quick tips for self-directed strength training. That is, strength training for athletes and coaches without a dedicated strength and conditioning coach as part of their team. Siobhan breaks down how she sets up sessions, and addresses common fears about training without a strength coach. Take a listen if you're heading into the gym without a guide!

Important links:

Find the transcript of this podcast on the show notes page.