Natural supplements for exercise, with Will Penrose

How it all began

Not many people could juggle a semi-professional sporting career with a degree from a top university, but it seems to come naturally to Will. Splitting his time between training camps and seminars, he certainly has plenty to keep him busy.

It seems, though, that elite sport is in his DNA.

“My dad was a fairly serious hockey player,” he explains. “He was always playing when I grew up. At that age, I was getting involved in a load of different sports and he suggested that one day I should come along to a Winchester local hockey trial.

“There was a session running on a Sunday for under eights. I was a bit nervous until I realised one of my best friends from school was going! I went along and absolutely loved it. After that I went to every under-eights training session on a Sunday morning and built it up from there.

“So I’ve been playing from the age of 6 or 7. But really from the age of zero I had a golf club in my hand or was kicking a football round. I was exposed to sport from a very young age.”

Getting onto the global stage

Fast-forward 15 years and the Sunday mornings spent training in the rain appear to have paid off. Will is playing hockey semi-professionally, with lots of exciting competitions in the offing.

An indoor European competition in December will see out 2021, before 2022 ushers in a whole host of high level tournaments.

“Wales have just qualified for the outdoor world cup in October, so that’s great news and a real target for me. So, I”m going to a lot more senior training camps and getting to know all the guys a bit more, as I’ve only really just broken into the cycle. It’s about building relationships,” Will says.

While prepping for the world cup will be a long-term commitment (the finals will take place in 2023), Will has his eye on other competitions too.

“In the summer there’s an outdoor Euros for the under 23s, which is another big target of mine. Then there’s the Commonwealth Games. I’d love the opportunity to go to those!”

How to power an elite hockey player

Playing any sport at Will’s high level involves a laser-like focus on food and nutrition. Rising through the ranks of professional players, he’s had plenty of time to experiment with his diet. So, what has he learnt along the way?

“For me, the most important thing is maximising my playing potential by preparing as much as possible. At the end of the day, most of that is done through nutrition.

“I’ve trialed loads of diets, from going vegan and vegetarian to including red meats. Really, the best thing I think you can do is get a balanced diet and really be true to yourself.

“For sports performance especially, if you’re eating crap you can’t really expect the results to be brilliant.”

This is even more crucial in the run-up to a sporting event, such as a half-marathon or weightlifting competition.