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The Strength Running Podcast

How the Fitness Industry Began: Exploring 200+ Years of Training Evolution with Professor Conor Heffernan

The Strength Running Podcast

Jason Fitzgerald

Fitness, Sports, Running, Health & Fitness

4.71.5K Ratings

🗓️ 27 November 2025

⏱️ 61 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How did we transition from a society with no "sports" or competition, to one where they're ubiquitous?

Learn the history of the fitness industry: how weightlifting and running emerged, early versions of equipment, how people trained 200+ years ago, and more. Dr. Conor Heffernan explores the main themes from his book, When Fitness Went Global.

If you like history and training, you're going to love this episode!

Thank you 2Before!

We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrant berries designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles.

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So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.

Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Ready, set, go!

0:04.1

This is episode 434 with Professor of Social Sciences in Sport at Ulster University, an author

0:11.5

of the new book, When Fitness Went Global, Dr. Connor Heffernan. Welcome to the Strength Running podcast.

0:26.9

I'm Coach Jason Fitzgerald, and I want to help you become a better runner.

0:30.9

Don't miss our award-winning website at strengthrunning.com, our YouTube channel that has reached more than 100,000 subscribers, or feel free to

0:39.3

connect with me on Instagram at Jason Fitz 1. Now, I couldn't do this show without the support

0:44.7

from our sponsors, so I hope you'll support them by using their discount codes.

0:49.5

A big thanks to Two Before. Get yourself a whopping 30% discount on their 20 pack and multi-packs at

0:56.5

2Before.com for their all-natural, scientifically proven pre-workout with code Jason.

1:03.8

2B4, which is the numeral 2 followed by the word before, is made from New Zealand black current berries,

1:10.6

which improves vasodilation or blood flow,

1:13.3

just like beetroot. But they also improve recovery after exercise by managing oxidative stress

1:19.2

through their unique ratio of antioxidants, which also have a nice side benefit of supporting

1:24.6

your immune system. Now, the main antioxidant is called anthocyanin,

1:29.4

which I hadn't heard of before, but is actually more present in New Zealand blackcurrant

1:34.0

berries than tart cherries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries. Plus, two before tastes delicious.

1:41.5

I love products that are both good for your performance and good for your

1:45.5

overall health. Get yourself 30% off any multi-pack with code jason at 2 before.com. They have a

1:53.9

caffeinated and non-caffeinated version, which is great depending on your caffeine tolerance.

1:59.1

Me, I love having the caffeinated version with 120

2:02.6

milligrams of caffeine in place of coffee before my morning runs, especially if I'm in a rush

2:08.3

and I don't have time to brew a pot of coffee. Go to numeral 2 before.com with code Jason for 30%

...

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