Fit Inc

Born Free!!

2012-02-17T01:54:00.000-08:00

What is your first thought when it comes to fitness? For most it’s the thought of a packed out gym, full of body builders to the glamour girls in there Lycra. The majority of us are very self-conscious so the gym is a very intimidating place to go. What if I told you, that you could seek all your fitness goals for free and not have to step one foot into a gym. Sound good? The great outdoors so misunderstood though the fun you could have and the benefits you could receive from exercising outdoors are endless.

It’s Free!!

No membership payments or the struggle to get on a machine. The outdoors is everyone’s to share and enjoy. You don’t need specialised equipment to get fit; you just have to know where to start. The outdoors is always open with no time limits, no restrictions on what you can and can’t do.

Fresh Air

Nothing beats the outdoors for clean air, yes nowadays we are doing what it seems are utmost to pollute our world the outdoors is still twice as clean as air you’d find in a gym.

More Freebies

Yes I give you more freebies much better than your free water bottle and towel you usually get. As you may know the body needs vitamins and nutrients to function properly. Through the sunlight your body receives doses of vitamin D enough without worrying about taking any supplements. Another little bonus you might even pick yourself up a little tan, ok rare but you never know.

Open your Mind

While outdoors your mind becomes more active as it has to take in its surroundings, from hills you climb to a winding path or to the terrain you’re on.

Open your mind; open your heart to the outdoors.

Dave Low

Personal Trainer

Plyometrics

2012-02-17T01:49:00.000-08:00

Plyometric: Bounce Ability

To start with what is plyometric; the main idea behind it is to force the body to exert the greatest amount of force possible, in the shortest time possible from any chosen muscle group. To therefore repeat this action continuously.

Plyometric exercises are more dominantly used with top sports man and woman needing that explosive power, though more and more people are using them in general day to day programmes. Depending on a person’s fitness goals will determine whether or not plyometric will be of full benefit.

Plyometric Benefits

+ Endurance

For most increasing fitness is one of the key areas they like to improve, with plyometric training it allows a greater endurance allowing an athlete or novice to perform at a higher level for longer.

+ Muscle Strength

Another big feature for most is bulking up or becoming stronger, with plyometric exercises lean muscle is developed far greater providing an athlete with stronger and more efficient muscles.

+ Calorie Burn

The big one for most calories burning, due to the intensity of the exercise it enhances your metabolic rate allowing for higher calorie burn.

+ Injury risk reduced

Due to the extent of the training, plyometric training allows greater motion within the joints improving flexibility and providing muscle strength which reduces the risk of injury.

Plyometric training is endless with the different variations to each exercise and provides endless benefits for the participant. To get started try the most common the box jump, enjoy and bounce your way to success.

Box Jump

One of the most recognisable plyometric exercises is the box jump, as it involves the participant to exert the maximum force possible from the legs to jump on top of a box, landing with two feet. Though other kit could be used such a gym bench or even steps depending on how hard you want the jump. Go on give it go.

David Low

Personal Trainer

Top five bodyweight exercises

2012-02-03T02:24:00.000-08:00

The ultimate in workouts has to be your own body weight; you can go to any gym and see everyone doing resistance workouts, dumbbells, barbells, Power plates and studio classes.
Occasionally you see the odd person doing standard press ups at the end of a chest workout or a few variations on there abdominals.
You never really see anyone doing a complete bodyweight no holds barred workout, why is bodyweight training so good

Benefits of bodyweight training:

It's free
Variations are endless
Minimum amount of space required
Can be conducted anywhere
Strength is relative
Body worked functionally
Speed, plyometrics, strength, endurance, stamina, flexibility, movement, are all incorporated

Top five exercises include

PRESS UPS
This is the original bodyweight move and is a great exercise for hitting the chest, shoulders, back and arms, there are many variations and by adding a bit of elevation the range of movement and motion can be increased<strong>.

Variations include

Military Press Up
Toblerone's
Marine press up
Bouncing bomb
Exploding bomb
Bronson press up

BURPEES
This has to be the bad boy of the all over bodyweight exercise; this is a favourite with the British Military and martial artists. Once the subject of unfounded bad press most people ignored this exercise but having never left the top five it has made a dramatic come back.

Variations include

Stand Up burpee
Jump Burpee
Bastardo
Rolling squat burpee
Bouncing burpee
Half burpee

SQUATS
Squats are a great exercise, many people owing to western culture only squat at right ankles, ignoring the Posterior kinetic chain and the elastic energy of the hamstrings and glutes when firing correctly. The squat is also a great indicator regarding hip and ankle mobility or lack of.

Variations include

Jump Squats
Gun Drills
Squat Thrusts
Knuckle squats
Split Squats
Pistol Squats

PULL UPS
Versatile and a mass builder for the back and arms, different variations will allow you to progress quickly, often seen as a test of strength most people find them difficult.

Variations include

Chin up
Side to side
Around the world
One handed
L sit
Parallel
Add a rope, towel, suspension system for variety

ABDOMINALS
The holy grail of exercises, in that we want them, but can't seem to find them. Fear not the six pack is there but don't fall into the "I must do 200 crunches everyday" as the abdominals need to rest like every other muscle group.

Variations include

Ab Roll outs
Super crunches
Double V sits
Jesus Curls
Side plank/oblique twists
Bicycle
Crunches

I need your opinion! Leave a comment with your favourite bodyweight exercises

Brian Fernie
MMA CSCC
Master Personal Trainer

Rehydrate

2012-01-31T02:56:00.000-08:00

When exercising perspiration causes the loss of water from the body along with electrolytes or salts and results in dehydration, this is an ongoing process within the human body where the fluids need to be replaced for optimum bodily functions.

Proper rehydration requires not just water but salts as the body needs these for efficient muscle contractions and nerve impulses. The main electrolytes are sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, hydrogen phosphate and hydrogen carbonate. Exercise depletes the bodies’ salt reserves more quickly bringing the onset of fatigue faster and in this instance water does not have a sufficient amount of these electrolytes to rehydrate as well.

There are three main types of sports drinks available to rehydrate before, during or after exercise with differing amounts of sugars for differing intensities as this is important for performing at your best. Isotonic drinks have the same concentrations of sugars and salts as the human body and are designed to rehydrate sports athletes that perform team sports, middle distance and long distance running, cycling and swimming.

Hypertonic sports drinks have a higher concentration of sugars (carbohydrates) designed to replenish glycogen stores in muscles for after high intensity training or very long distance events like marathons while hydrating and replacing essential salts within the body too.

Hypotonic sports drinks are designed for lower intensities as they have a lower concentration of sugars designed to rehydrate sports people like gymnasts and jockeys as they do not use up as much glycogen as runners or team sport athletes.

When working out at home or within the gym you have to consider the intensity you will be working at to accurately replenish sugars, salts and water within the body. A high intensity workout will require a hypertonic sports drink whereas a moderate or low intensity workout will require isotonic or hypotonic drink.

Daniel O Donnell (much loved by old ladies)
Personal Trainer

Medicine Balls

2012-01-31T02:53:00.000-08:00

Play with your balls

Medicine balls are a great way to train, they can add variety to a workout and can target the upper and lower body there are also many exercises that target the core. Medicine balls can be purchases in many different weights and sizes. Some med balls have handles others are different finishes such as leather, rubber and vinyl finishes. Med ball training can be performed by any age group and by any fitness levels from beginners to top athletes.

Advantages

Can improve range of motion
Core strength and stability
Upper and lower body strength
Coordination
Flexibility
Can be used with a partner, on your own and thrown against walls.

Med balls are excellent for working the core which is the abdominals, the lower back, hips and spine areas. Med balls are effective as you can mimic functional movements that you use in everyday life for example lifting a heavy box. With med balls you can work many different core muscles at once. As you improve your core strength you are also working your upper and lower body. Med balls are also effective for rehab for example if you have a shoulder injury you could grab a light med ball and with your arms above your head throw the ball off a wall and catch it again and this will re-strengthen the should joint and muscle.

Disadvantages

Can cause damage to walls such as scuffs and dents
Can cause sprains in the wrists and fingers if the catchers timing is off

Examples of medicine ball exercises

Upper body

Kneeling over head pass (like a football throw-in but on your knees)
Press ups on the ball.
Chest pass

Lower body

Jumping lunges shifting ball from side to side
Squat
Front reach

Core

Russian twists
V-sit passing the ball from feet to hands and back again
Overhead floor slam

These exercises will add variety into your programme and you will enjoy performing them.

Next time you’re in the gym just ask to play with the balls.

Ryan Stewart

Personal Trainer

Pull Up's the action man exercise

2012-01-31T02:51:00.000-08:00

The ultimate upper body workout, you will have seen it the action movies the hero gets ready for the fight and pushes out a quick set of pull ups.

Pull ups build and strengthen your back, shoulders and arms and help you achieve the perfect V shape.

The pull up and all of its variations are not easy to perform and do require a certain amount of strength and technique. If performed correctly and integrated into a training programme significant gains can be seen quickly.

By pulling your body weight upwards from an action of pulling the hands downwards from above your head does involve a big range of motion and places a lot of pressure on your muscles; however the gains out way the cons.

Many people and trainers abdicate the lat pull down machine and seated overhead press in order to progress your pull ups, This won’t aid you in anyway only by executing pull ups and the variations will you progress.

In order to get started and if you are a gym member try using the weight assisted pull up machines which can be found in all gyms, be wary though as you may be lulled into a false sense of security.

If your outside or not a gym member find a bar or tree that can easily be grasped by yourself and execute jump pull ups as follows

Stand below the bar

Use a box step if you have to

Use overhand or underhand grasp andgrip the bar and jump up slowly lower yourself to the ground

as soon as your feet touch the ground jump again repeat

One great piece of advice comes from Pavel Tsatsouline a former Russian spetnatz trainer which he terms as "greasing the pole" which in layman's terms means do a pull up every chance you get.

Pull/Chin up Variations

Here is a list of some types of variations in order to progress your pull/chin ups

Jump up's

Assisted pull up's

Weighted Pull ups (attach a weight belt or dumbbell)

Kipping Pull Up's – use the legs in a swinging motion to create hip thrust, this is a favourite with cross fit athletes

Side 2 Side- pull up taking left shoulder to left hand lower repeat to opposite side

Round the world- chin to one hand slide across to the other hand and return to start position

One arm pull up – Grab the bar with one hand place the other hand on the wrist for support

Clap pull up – standard chin up as you reach the top of the pull execute a clap return the hands to the bar and lower

Doris pull ups- execute a burpee below the bar, explode up from the down position and execute a pull up drop and repeat.

Other variations include the use of towels, ropes chains and partners.

I want your opinion, leave a comment on the ultimate pull up you use.</p>

Brian Fernie
MMA CSCC
Master Personal Trainer

The Art of a Deadlift

2012-01-26T08:09:00.000-08:00

If you are looking to add strength to your physique then look no further than the deadlift. As one of the best compound exercises that you may want to introduce to your workout a deadlift provides a full body workout and is a great exercise to increase muscle strength and mass. A compound exercise involves two or more joint movements.

Muscles used in a deadlift

· Quadriceps (thigh)

Biceps Femoris

Semimembranosus

Semitendinosus

Rectus Femoris

· Gluteus Maximus

· Hamstrings

· Gastrocnemius (calf)

· Erector Spinae (lower back)

· Forearms

· Trapezius

To summarise a deadlift performed correctly will work the muscles in the upper and lower legs, upper and lower back, glutes, forearms and the core.

Teaching points

The equipment needed for a deadlift is weights and a barbell.

· Stand a couple of inches behind the bar with feet shoulder width apart, pointing forward.

· Squat down grasp the bar with a grip you find comfortable (see variations for grips) hands should be slightly wider than shoulder width, keep the back straight and keep the head up looking forward. The shoulders hips and knees should all be in alignment.

· Keeping the arms straight lift the bar using the quadriceps keeping the weight through the heels, don’t allow your knees to overlap your toes on the lift and keep the bar as close to the body as possible.

· When at the top of the lift thrust the hips slightly forward.

· Return the bar to the ground keeping the back straight.

· The movement for the lift and lower phase should be controlled and in a flowing motion. You should breathe in on the lift phase and out on the lower phase.

Advantages

· Good for building strength mainly in the postural chain which is the glutes, lower back and hamstrings.

· Needs little equipment

· Works major muscle groups simultaneously

· Helps with core stability

· Safe lift as the weight is not over your head

· Develops grip strength

· Provides a cardio vascular workout

Disadvantages

May cause injury in lower back, quadriceps or hamstrings if done with improper technique.

To avoid injury make sure back is straight at all times, this can be made easier by keeping the chest forward and raising the head.

Variations

· Perform using two dumbbells

· Perform a stiff leg deadlift

· Take wider or narrower stance

· Perform using different grip.

Overhand grip: palms facing the body

Underhand/overhand grip: one hand over palm facing the body, the other hand under hand palm facing away from the body.

· To progress the deadlift lift heavier.

Ryan Stewart
Personal Trainer

Fighting Fit

2012-01-26T08:02:00.000-08:00

More and more people now a days are incorporating boxing in to their training schedule, whether it be in a fitness class or playing around with your gyms punching bag putting yourself through the paces. The benefits to boxing are endless and for to start with you don’t need to be the next Muhammad Ali to enjoy the boxing experience.

A boxing workout can be suited for all fitness levels to the very beginner to the sessional pro the benefits are still the same. The combinations and technique can be changed depending on the client with the intensity either increased or decreased.

Boxing is usually seen as a male dominated activity, as due to the physical nature of boxing, though the aspects and benefits of boxing are just as beneficial to ladies as it is men.

For prime example calorie and fat burning are increased due to the intensity of such an activity. As with boxing the workout entails you to use the larger muscle groups and they are constantly been put through their paces increasing the work load. More importantly for women boxing doesn’t add muscle bulk but more toning giving definition to the muscle.

With fitness just being one of the many benefits, boxing training also allows you build a functional physique while provide self-confidence.

The actual boxing workout itself may involve pad work, bag work even a little shadow boxing to the more intense sparring depending on your level of experience. There even might be a few cardiovascular and strength drills so the body is fully conditioned.

As with any new activity you give a try to it is also vital your aware of the safety issues and ensures correct technique is maintained. Go on give it a try; instead of being fit you could be fighting fit.

David Low

Personal Trainer

Thump Boxing Instructor

Pull for Success

2012-01-26T07:58:00.000-08:00

Hi I am Daniel O’Donnell, Personal Trainer at T.O.D Coaching, and I am going to tell you how to become stronger with one move.

Do you want a more powerful upper body, a better posture or just to look good and feel more athletic? Well then drop the weights and get pulling! The effective and universal pull up has been around for decades and is a real test of upper body strength and body balance but is often avoided due to it being too hard or because the knowledge of its effectiveness is not known. People often focus on the ‘mirror muscles’ or ‘beach muscles’ when it comes to getting fit and neglect the bigger and more important muscles of the back. These muscles stabilise the spine and shoulder girdle giving you a stronger base to perform other tasks for example a bench press, picking your child up or performing better in your chosen sport or hobby.

The pull up is a bodyweight exercise executed by an overhand grip and pulling the chest up towards the bar, the shoulder blades should be pinched together while keeping the lower body rigid then lower until the arms are fully extended . Breathe in while pulling then out on the lowering phase controlling the movement to prevent locking of the elbows.

The pull up will strengthen the often injured rotator cuff which is essential for stabilising the shoulder and if trained and maintained can help any novice gym goer or athlete push more weight or become more efficient at other exercises or day to day tasks. The pull up is a compound exercise and due to the number of muscles used with this exercise it is a great one for burning fat as it uses the arms, shoulders, chest, upper back and the core which all include the biggest muscle groups within the upper body. Also an added benefit of the pull up is the work out it provides for the shoulder girdle and core which are essential in fixating and stabilising the areas around the spine therefore improving posture.

To improve, increase or just do your first pull up follow these exercises twice a week and you will have success like never before:

Day 1 Chin Up 3-5 sets 6-12 reps

Low Pulley 3-5 sets 8-12 reps

Day2 Inverted Row 3-5 sets 6-12 reps

Dumbbell Row 3-5 sets 8-12 reps

Perform these exercises with your current workout plan and when you can complete more than 8 chin ups and inverted rows try the next group:

Day1 Pull Up 3-5 sets 6-12 reps

Prone Fly 3-5 sets 8-12 reps

Day2 Alternate Grip- 3-5 sets 6-12 reps

Pull Up

Single Arm- 3-5 sets 8-12 reps

Pulley

Daniel O Donell (much loved by old ladies)
Personal Trainer

members comments

2011-11-26T05:34:00.000-08:00

Below are some of the comments from our members since opening in June this year. All comments can be viewed by visiting us @ Fit Inc, studio, gym and dojo West Lothian's Premier Training Centre.

Great help from Wullie and Dave, Good guys very helpful
Robert, Polbeth

Fab street gym with big wullie, learned some new stuff, Thanks
Audrey, newbrudge

Brilliant kickboxing tonight, Thank You Brian
Morag Pumpherstoun

Ann you are legend!
Dizzi Kirkliston

Thanks Brian Feel like I'm dying, another good street gym
Kim Bathgate

Brilliant class Ritchie, beasting us as per
Tracey, Livingston

Quality Circuits
Leo, Livingston

T.O.D Combat the only way to reach peak fitness, awesome training
Craig, Kuk sool won Dunfermline

Military Training? doesnt feel it but it's worth it
Gordon, Currie Edinburgh

Fab workout, Matthew your the biz
Ann Broxburn

Military Training = Pain but very good
Mark, Bathgate

First time back at spin for two weeks, FAB cheers Dave
Carol Livingston

Run club 5.8 miles good fun cheers Lucy
Angela, Livingston

Great core complex class, thanks Ryan
Jenny, Dedridge

Great spin class dave
Lorraine, Livingston

loved the Ton up class, could be longer than 30 minutes thanks David
Tina, Howden

Julianna thanks for the class and and tips
Carol, Murieston

fabby induction by the boss
Karen, Livingston

showers amazing, poles at street gym are a nightmare
Linda howden

loving body pump and getting used to run club
Carol, Livingston

core complex and hells bells great class
Martin, Pumpherstoun

ladies kickboxing, love it
Sharon, Kirknewton

Kettlebell (Metabolic Conditioning)

2011-11-26T03:34:00.000-08:00

Many people use Kettlebells in their workouts, many stick to the basic swings and clean and jerks completing reps for strength rather than endurance. As a kettlebell user, endurance is important as is all your training,

You need to be aware and able to control the effects of (HLA) ,Hydrogen lactic acid, a common mistake is that lactic acid causes cramp and stiffness, we now know that Lactic acid is an energy system and is quickly dispersed through the body on being produced. The body also has an in built bicarbonate system which soaks up some of the hydrogen and other byproducts.

The Hydrogen on the other hand is a different matter and is the cause of

Burning feeling in the muscles
Laboured breathing
Muscle contraction
Muscle inhibition

In order to combat these effects and to have effective endurance , we need to train the body to cope with the demands of the sport.

In order to do this we need to “Address all the components of contact movements in our strength training so that the whole spectrum of flexibility, speed and loads that the muscles will see during training or competition”

The SAID Principle (Specific adaptations to imposed demands) comes hand in hand with the above statement, and allows us to use everything from bodyweight to kettlebells.

Try the following circuit with kettlebells , complete as many reps of each exercise in thirty seconds with fifteen seconds rest in between reps, each set of exercises is grouped in sets of eight, this will allow you to train for five minutes with one minute rest after each set.

Set 1

Turkish Get-up alternate sides
Side press
Arrowhead swings
Clean and press
Alternate arm swings
Pistol
Push Press
Double Squats

Set 2

Squat holding one KB by the horns in the “steering wheel” position
Row
Swing
1 leg Deadlift
Weighted crunches
Squat holding one KB by the horns in the “steering wheel”
Diagonal Snatch
Saxon side bends

Set 3

Round the worlds
Double Swing
Clean
Renegade Pushup’s
Squat Snatch
Windmill
Bottom up military press
Hindu squat

Set 4

High Pull
Burpees (KB’s in each hand)
See saws
Reaching Lunges
Weighted crunches
Shooting stars
Turkish get up
Sumo squats

Ensure that your kettlebell is of an appropriate weight so that correct form can be maintained for as long as possible.

Perform these sets twice a week incorporating them as part of your strength endurance.

Shop yourself thinner?

2011-10-17T00:40:00.000-07:00

Yes it’s true you can shop yourself thinner. Don’t think this means by running between shops, wearing fancy trainers, taking the stairs or carrying you’re shopping and doing squats every fifty meters with it. Some simple shopping advice to help you find the healthier options, four easy steps that could help you stop choosing the unhealthy options.

We all know about whole wheat, sugars, brown rice, fats, five a day, three whole grains a day, friendly bacteria yoghurt’s yes it’s on the television, in magazines, billboards, and radio all day everyday.

When you are at the supermarket, ever suddenly felt hungry, owing to the smell of the so called fresh baked bread, yes some supermarkets do cook fresh bread on the premises, however recent television articles have confirmed that a smelling solution is added to the air blowers in the entrance of supermarkets, so that your sense of smell picks it up and triggers of a chemical reaction, RESULT! For them as you head off to get bread, which is next to the cakes and from there they have you close to the inner sanctum, the unhealthy money making, fat building foods.

So how do we counter act this fact, some people say eat before you go to the supermarket it stops you wanting the unhealthy options, this may work for some, but if possible follow the four rules below and healthier options you shall find.

Label, ensure you read the nutritional food labels and on packaging, ingredients are all listed in order of their quantity.

Avoid just turning up and buying from memory, have a shopping list to hand and stick with it, you will save money as well by not buying any unnecessary items.

Manoeuvre, stick to the perimeter of the shop, here is where you will find mainly fresh ingredients, lean meats, poultry, fish, whole grain breads. After you have visited these areas stay at one end as you shop along the aisles look down them ask yourself, Do I really need to go down this aisle?

Buy it fresh and check the use and best before labels on packaging, try and only buy what your family needs quantity wise and try and eat your purchases before they go out of date or spoil.

Sugar, sweet or sour?

2011-10-17T00:31:00.000-07:00

Our bodies are not developed to handle (despite thousands of years of evolution) sugars, artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated fats etc. Our bodies in fact can just about handle the sugar and carbohydrate intake from natural foods such as fruits, vegetables and honey.

Refined Sugar is bad for us because it raises the insulin level in our blood.

Raised blood insulin levels depress the immune system. If your immune system is depressed then your ability to fight disease is weakened.

Raised blood insulin levels can cause weight gain. Insulin promotes the storage of fat; so, when you eat foods high in refined sugar, you increase fat storage. Obviously, the result is rapid weight gain.

Refined Sugar contains no vitamins or minerals so in order for sugar to be metabolized it must draw on the body’s reserve of vitamins and minerals.

In summary here are some ways that refined sugar can affect your health:

• Sugar can suppress the immune system.
• Sugar can upset the body’s mineral balance.
• Sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.
• Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
• Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
• Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs).
• Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs).
• Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
• Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.
• Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
• Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency.
• Sugar can cause copper deficiency.
• Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
• Sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose.
• Sugar can promote tooth decay. • Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
• Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
• High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

The cons in this case far out way the advantages as can be seen from the extensive list above.
So in whole if you need to take sugar try the natural approach e.g. honey or at least cut down on the sugar and try and avoid sugar substitutes that contain Aspartame. Aspartame is a chemical found in most sweeteners and is a big substitute in foods to replace sugar, this includes so called healthy drinks. The Aspartame debate is a whole other topic in itself.

Running sessions

2011-10-17T00:27:00.000-07:00

You have permission to publish this article in websites, electronic publications. Ezines and any media format, as long as the article is published in its entirety, including the resource box, all hyperlinks, (HTML clickable), references and copyright information.

RUNNING SESSIONS

Much has been written about running over the years and many forms and types have been developed, the most and common types being Interval, resistance and distance. The following is to give you different ideas regarding types of run training in order to progress you as an individual and ensure that running does not become a set route, time or type. The list is by no means exhaustive and many forms can be mixed together in order to progress and challenge yourself.

Running is a suitable activity for most people. This form of long continuous exercise increases your oxygen uptake and allows your metabolism to function more efficiently. Regular running makes the lungs work more efficiently allowing more air to reach the blood as it is pumped through the lungs. It also increases the number of red blood cells in the blood and muscles allowing more oxygen to be extracted from the air which enters the lungs. Other effects of running training are:

drop in pulse rate
increase in working capacity of the heart
increased pressure on circulatory system will open up underdeveloped arteries
new capillary beds will develop (small blood vessels)
more efficient blood circulation to and from muscles

TYPES OF RUNNING TRAINING

FARTLEK TRAINING (SPEED PLAY OR ALTERNATE PACE TRAINING)

The Swedish coach Gosta Holmer introduced this form of training in the early 1930s. Fartlek is done on a soft surface, ideally the pinewood needle surface of a forest path. It is done on undulating ground so that there is plenty of uphill and downhill running.

Fartlek is a combination of great quantities of easy running, interspersed with sprints and periods of resistance running up hills. The advantage of fartlek is that a lot of good solid running can be done without the factor of boredom appearing. Forest tracks wind continually and the view constantly changes. It is controlled by time ie you would go for a 20, 30 or 40 minute as opposed to going out for a 3, 4 or 5 mile run.

It would be wrong to lay down set intervals for types of work in Fartlek session but the following types of running are examples of running that may appear in a Fartlek session:-

a. fast 60m sprint on flat surface

b. steady strides (70 seconds, 400 metres speed) for half mile

c. 40-100 metres fast as possible uphill

d. fast strides for 400 metres downhill

e. light manning with occasional inclusion of 4/5 fast strides for 3 minutes

f. brisk walk for 3 minutes

g. light even paced running with short acceleration spurts 50-60 metres for 5 minutes

h. jogging and rhythmical exercises for 5 minutes

The sprints and uphill work will force the body into periods of anaerobic work resulting in oxygen debt. This debt must be repaid during the low intensity parts of the cycle. The method educates the body to improve its’ oxygen uptake and speed of recovery. The whole session should be joined together by lively jogging and should be enjoyable.

INTERVAL TRAINING

This particular form of ‘punishment’ was developed by Emil Zatopek, the great Czech middle distance runner and was brought to a climax by Britain’s Gordon Pirie. Interval running consists of running a specific number of short distances (between 50-100 metres) in a given time with short rest periods in between. The rest periods are normally spent jogging walking. The main emphasis of this type of conditioning is to develop the heart capacity and to strengthen the heart wall muscle, thereby improving the stroke volume of the heart (the volume of blood pumped at each stroke/beat). To increase the difficulty of the training period, you can:-

a. run the interval in a faster time

b. decrease the recovery distance time

c. increase the number of repetitions

REPETITION TRAINING

A similar type of running to interval running except that the recovery period is long enough for the athlete to get his breath back. The sprinter will do far more of this work than pure interval running. Here, good fast running is wanted in every effort, so the heart and lungs are given a chance to recover before the next run. A rest of 4 to 6 minutes between each run is required.

CONTINUOUS RUNNING

Although interval training develops stamina in the body, it sometimes fails to condition the mind to racing hard over a racing period. Continuous running is done for distances over the normal racing distance at as near possible racing speed. The athlete needs a downhill course with a prevailing wind. He records the best time he can, using a watch and mile markers to estimate progress. During workouts on this basis the athlete is subject to all the mental visions of collapse that he suffers in a race. By fighting his way through these ‘black periods’ in training he makes himself aware of the fact that most fatigue is only in the mind.

TEMPO RUNNING

This type of running can be done anywhere and is normally done for a set period of time or distance, The runner picks a rate that can be maintained at a comfortable pace and maintains this pace throughout, some runners use split times or heart rate monitors to gauge their desired pace E.G 60% of Maximum heart rate.

RESISTANCE RUNNING

Under this category come sand hill, snow and mud running. Running towing equipment such as tyres, trolleys or a partner offering resistance on a harness can also be included as resistance running. In the absence of a harness partners can do the old fashioned methods of

A. Holding onto the waist of the runner and dropping their body weight in a squat position as they offer the resistance, trying to hold the runner back as they move forward.

B. In front of the runner with hands on the shoulders offering resistance as the runner aims to go forward.

PAARLAUF

This form of training is a competitive form of interval running. As in a proper race, two man teams compete against each other. The distance of the race is unspecified, only a minimum and maximum time being given. Thus a race could last from 30 to 45 minutes. After a certain time has elapsed (this time is prior decided but unknown to runners), the referee blows a whistle then for a period of one minute. The winning team is the one who has carried the baton the furthest. The 2 runners can decide how they wish to share the running – they can either run interval quarter miles or every other furlong, jogging across the track to regain the baton.

As a training workout, the number of runners can be increased in a team of 4, 6 or 8. With 8 runners, they could spread out over 400 metres and move with the baton from some 60 metres with about 55 seconds rest before the next effort.

CROSS COUNTRY

The mental stimulus and the physical value of cross country running and racing are invaluable to the middle distance runner. The lengths of the courses vary fro 3 to 10 miles and usually become longer as the season progresses. (For this reason, the miler/3 miler is advised to curtail cross country racing in March by this time, the courses will be too long and in any case it will be time for the athlete to consider returning to the track for most of his work-outs). Cross country running is invaluable for the triathlete a sit aids in core stability and strengthens ankle and knees owing to the nature of the surfaces this type of running covers.

ACCELERATION RUNNING

This type of running can cause confusion and some may think it is a play on words in relation to fartlek. This is not the case and is a recognised and useful form of training. Again pick a distance or set time the main aim here is to start of slow and progress to full race pace prior to the end of the set period. For example a 15 minute run may be split into 30 second segments with the last two minutes being near threshold or race pace as possible.

Alternatively this form of training is used by coaches in football; athletics etc in order to test the acceleration speed of athletes, a normal set for this would be 3 x 30 meter sprints. Take the average of the 3 sprints in order to get an indication of your acceleration speed.

Survival of The Fittest (Mens Health) 2011

2011-10-17T00:04:00.000-07:00

7 of our intrepid warriors took the test and one.

Well done to the ladies who took part and I know they are looking forward to the next challenge!