Forerunners of Sleep, Exercise, and Athletic Performance.

This thesis explores associations between sleep, exercise, and performance. Two studies examining ~20,000 adults across ~6.5-million nights revealed strenuous evening exercise may disrupt sleep and autonomic function, whereas changes to regular sleep patterns may influence next-day exercise behaviour. Two studies examining 10-years of NBA data revealed eastward jet lag may impair performance, whereas the presence of crowds may be the predominant driver of NBA home court advantage. Athletes and non-athletes alike should consider the important role sleep plays in the pursuit of optimal health and peak performance.