About Dr Dirk Dugdale-Duwell | Elevate Performance Testing

Dirk Dugdale- Duwell, wearing a blue 'Elevate' t-shirt in a dark room with gym equipment.

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Founder Story

Elevate Performance Testing UK was founded by Dr Dirk Dugdale-Duwell, a Sport and Exercise Scientist based in Norfolk.

Dirk holds a BSc and MSc in Sport and Exercise Science and a PhD in Occupational and Environmental Physiology, investigating heat stress and the mitigation of heat strain in personnel working in heavy encapsulating body armour.

Alongside his academic career, Dirk has worked across applied sport, human performance and environmental physiology. His experience includes physiological testing, athlete preparation and recovery strategies, strength and conditioning, and preparing individuals for challenging environmental events, including the Marathon des Sables, 8,000 m expeditions and a 950 km ski expedition to the South Pole.

He has also spent more than eight years teaching Sport and Exercise Science at BSc and MSc level, combining academic knowledge with practical laboratory and field-based experience.

This combination of research, teaching and applied experience forms the foundation of Elevate.

The aim is simple: take high-quality physiological testing out of the laboratory and turn it into information that is genuinely useful to you.

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Our Mission

We exist to remove the guesswork from training. The aim of Elevate is to provide true physiological data with meaning to athletes at all levels. This provides the basis of your training and direction, supporting your performance. No estimates. No automations. No compromise.

Oxygen Uptake Testing

Measuring your oxygen uptake allows us to understand your submaximal and maximal responses to exercise. Both are as equally important to your performance when applied as part of the whole picture.

Lactate Threshold Analysis

By measuring your lactate accumulation over speed/power we can identify points that you are most effective at clearing and utilising lactate (LT1) and the point where you accumulate lactate faster than you can utilise lactate (LT2).

These points are the scientific basis of your training zones.

Your physiological profile

Depending on test selection, your custom report will include information collected from the test and personalised to you:

Lactate Threshold and Maximal Oxygen Uptake Test: Your lactate response and oxygen uptake to increases in speed/power. From these we can set your training zones, assess your economy/efficiency, oxidation rates of fat and carbohydrates and maximal oxygen uptake test.

Background & Publications

PhD in Heavy Body Armour and Heat Strain

Applying a range of scientific principles to characterise and inform personnel to the mitigation of heat strain in heavy encapsulating body armour.

Sport and Exercise Science

A BSc and MSc in Sport and Exercise Science, with experience in physiological testing, training plan design and physiological load management.

Applied Work

Preparation for extreme environmental events (8000m peak, Marathon des Sables, 950km ski to the South Pole). Developing strategies to enhance recovery in professional football. Nutritional strategies to enhance recovery following muscle damaging exercise. Strength and Conditioning in academy level rugby.

Research Publications

Roberts, J., Dugdale-Duwell, D., Lillis, J., Pinto, J.M., Willmott, A., Yeshurun, S., Mor, M. and Souren, T., 2023. The efficacy of a home-use metabolic device (Lumen) in response to a short-term low and high carbohydrate diet in healthy volunteers. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 20(1), p.2185537.

Conference Proceedings

Dugdale-Duwell, D., Davey, S., Lee, B., & Oldroyd, M., Thake, D. (2024). Mitigation of Heat Strain in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Suits Using a Liquid Cooling Suit. The International Society for Environmental Ergonomics. Jeju, Republic of Korea.