Work with Exeter’s world-leading sports physiology experts to boost exercise performance

From amateur enthusiasts to elite athletes, world-leading sports physiology experts at the University of Exeter have launched a new service to help unlock their potential and boost performance.

Sports Physiology and Exercise Training (SPET) uses cutting-edge physiology assessments to provide the insights to train smarter, race faster, and perform to the very best. With decades of research and hands-on experience at the highest level, the team has ensured these insights are not just based on science but proven at the pinnacle of sport.

Professor Andy Jones is a globally recognised expert in endurance performance and has played a pivotal role in the training of world-record-breaking runners, including Eliud Kipchoge’s historic sub-two-hour marathon project.

Andy said: “We’re excited to launch this service and work with local and regional athletes to enhance their performance. The services we offer are identical to those we provide to some of the world’s best endurance athletes. We want people to unlock their potential by accessing our state-of-the-art facilities and receiving advice on training and nutrition from our world-leading experts.”

Dr Tim Podlogar is a leading sports scientist specialising in cycling physiology and has worked with professional cycling teams and top-tier endurance athletes, helping to optimise training and nutrition strategies. Tim’s expertise has contributed to two victories in Cycling Grand Tours.

He said: “Physiological testing has become an essential part of training in elite endurance sport. It provides athletes with precise insights into their physiology, which allows them to target their training in a way that delivers the greatest possible adaptations. This is equally valuable for amateur athletes. With limited time to train, it’s vital that the sessions they do complete are as effective as possible and physiological testing is a great tool that helps to achieve that.”

Understanding the body’s physiological strengths and limitations is key to maximising athletic potential and this new service provides:

• Scientific Precision: Move beyond guesswork with data-driven training strategies.
• Personalised Training Zones: Train at the right intensity for optimal performance gains.
• Performance Tracking: Monitor progress over time to refine training approach.
• Nutritional and Recovery Insights: Optimise fuelling and recovery based on metabolic profile.
• Overtraining Prevention: Avoid overtraining and reduce injury risk by training at the right intensities.

One other service that is unique to Exeter is the personalisation of carbohydrate intake during endurance exercise, which was co-developed by Dr Podlogar.

He said: “Fuelling strategies are now recognised as a key determinant of performance in endurance sports, and our test provides athletes, whether runners, cyclists, or triathletes, with individualised guidance on how best to meet their energy needs. The protocol we use is scientifically validated and has already been applied with some of the world’s best athletes, which makes this a truly cutting-edge service for local and regional athletes.”

More information can be found at – https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/spet/