Lead Performance Specialist

James Barber

Having grown up playing sport at a high level, James’ interest for the science behind sporting performance lead him to study Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Bath.

James spent his placement year with The Altitude Centre working as a Performance Specialist, and returned down the line as Lead Performance Specialist having graduated from the MSci programme at Bath with First Class Honours and a Physiology Society Dissertation Award.

James’ focus is on maximising performance with our runners and climbers, providing bespoke 1-2-1 coaching and sport science support to amateur and elite level runners, 8000m climbers, and many more! He also works closely with support staff at Premier League clubs and heads up our educational courses, to help optimise the use of altitude training in top level sport.

Personally for James, he has repeatedly knocked minutes off of his PB’s with the help of altitude training, bringing his 5k to 15:42 and his half to 71:52. Most recently, his debut marathon was a 2:39 at Manchester this year, earning a Championship start at London for 2024.

Next up, fastpacking the Tour of Mt Blanc before getting back into spikes for a big cross country season.

Catch him in the chamber for all things performance related!

Greatest/Proudest Sporting Achievement:

Cycling dawn to dusk, 230 km with over 5,000m elevation on Tenerife.

Challenging adventures at altitude:

Skiing La Sarenne, the longest black run in the world from Pic Blanc (3,300) at Alpe d’Huez and Kilimanjaro!

Favourite meal upon returning from altitude:

Steak, chips and peas

meet the rest of the team