University of Hertfordshire research teams work to maximise performance of UK-based athletes

The Performance and Fitness Consultancy (PFC) and the Functional and Performance Nutrition (FPN) research teams at the University of Hertfordshire have carried out 6 years of extensive research to aid athletes in the UK increase their performance potential.

The PFC team provide:

• High level physiological testing
• Performance nutrition advice to customers, from fitness enthusiasts to world-class professional athletes

Additionally, the FPN team has undertaken a variety of research studies supporting companies with nutritional and marketing claims. In 2011, this led to the testing of elite triathletes in an attempt to maximise performance through close assessment of the companies new formulas applied to professionals.

"The team was knowledgeable on what they were doing and treated the athletes with the required respect and professionalism throughout the process. It has helped us tweak the athletes’ nutrition plan, which hopefully will form a strong ingredient in their future success."

Raphael Deinhart
High 5 Sports Nutrition

Business challenge

The challenge was to predict whether fuelling strategies could be enhanced enough for athletes to compete at world record pace.

High5 Sports Nutrition approached leading Performance Nutritionist, Dr Justin Roberts, to initiate collaboration in evaluating a new product containing multiple carbohydrates and caffeine.

This required the development of an experimental protocol that was designed to push several top triathletes to their limits both from a performance and sports drink perspective, with support from their coaches and physiology testing staff.

How did the University of Hertfordshire help?

The PFC team are the only consultancy enterprise fully operated via Sport and Exercise Science undergraduates, whose professional development is refined from the minute the students arrive at the University through to their final year. This is when opportunities such as testing pro athletes are extended to them – increasing their experience and developing their employability skills.

Whilst working with High 5 Sports Nutrition, the PFC team:

• Operated individualised testing profiling various cardiovascular/metabolic parameters relating to an athlete’s training or fitness
  
• Worked with Doctors Justin and Mike Roberts to develop a suitable protocol for thorough assessment of the athletes’ performance
• Held open discussions and supported confidential race strategies
• Helped to design a laboratory test to assess the new formula at high levels of intake
• Provided support throughout for all involved

Real business results

Lead staff and students of the PFC were able to support High5 Sports Nutrition in the overall recommendations for race feeding strategies designed to optimise carbohydrate and fluid delivery without causing upset or early fatigue.

This led to one of the athletes, Marino Vanhoenacker, breaking the world Ironman record in Klagnefurt, Austria - demonstrating that hard training and applied performance nutrition can lead to world-class results.

Find out more

Dr Justin Roberts
BASES Laboratory Director Performance and Fitness Consultancy Co-ordinator
Tel: +44 (0)1707 286495 or +44 (0)7794122020
Sports consultancy