Transform Your Training with Smarter Sleep: Insights with Charlotte Edelsten - Season 8 Ep 1

About this episode

Dirk Friel interviews sleep researcher Charlotte Edelsten about the critical role of sleep in endurance training and performance.

Host Dirk Friel is joined by sleep researcher and sleep coach Charlotte Edelsten, whose expertise is backed by over two decades of research on sleep and performance. Together, they dive deep into the science behind sleep for endurance athletes—addressing why sleep is a true foundation for training adaptations, injury prevention, and race-day performance. Charlotte Edelsten shares insights from her years conducting research at high-profile endurance events like UTMB Mont Blanc, unpacks why many athletes struggle with sleep quality (even Olympians!), and dispels myths about supplements and wearables. She discusses practical strategies for managing sleep during training and competition, including napping protocols, sleep banking, and how to optimize rest at altitude or before an ultra-endurance race. 00:00 "Endurance Training & Sleep Insights" 03:37 Sleep Disturbances in Athletes 09:10 Caffeine: Adenosine Blocker Explained 11:10 Limitations of Sleep-Tracking Devices 13:21 "Sleep's Impact on Athletic Performance" 18:46 "Understanding Sleep Through Sleep Diaries" 20:54 "Supplements Won't Cure Sleep Issues" 26:07 "Pre-Race Sleep and Mindset" 29:18 "Sleep Strategies and Performance"…

People in this episode

Host: Dirk Friel

Guest: Charlotte Edelsten

Topics covered

• sleep and performance
• endurance training
• sleep strategies
• athlete recovery
• sleep quality
• caffeine effects

Keywords

• sleep
• endurance athletes
• performance
• training adaptations
• injury prevention
• sleep quality
• caffeine
• napping protocols
• sleep banking
• ultra-endurance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: TrainingPeaks

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