Zone Intensity Training

Part 2/2

ZONE INTENSITY TRAINING

Now that you have ready Part 1 and have an understanding of how the body creates energy it is time to look at how you can tailor your training sessions to make these energy systems stronger...so that you can do all of your favourite things faster, longer and without as much fatigue!  Enter...Zone Training.

Amazing Energy Systems!

Part 1:2
See Zone Training next!

The human body is an amazing machine! We have multiple energy systems within our bodies that provide fuel for our activities so that we can run, spin, jump and play at a range of speeds and durations. Although we are always using a combination of energy systems to move our bodies, there are two main methods that your body uses to produce ATP (energy currency of the body!) Aerobic and Anaerobic. The actual processes involved to create energy so that we can move our bodies, are highly complex, but this overview will give you an idea of what your body is up to on those runs and rides;)

What's Your Plan?

BIG goals, deserve GOOD plans!

Goals, dreams, passion, energy, excitement...all key ingredients in creation of performance and success!  But...what is the best recipe?  What are the steps to take, the moves to make and the cues of when to make them?  A training plan is like a recipe for your goals.  Without one, you are left flying by the seat of your pants, with a loaf of bread that didn't rise and wondering where it all went wrong;)

• Have you started training for a goal with enthusiasm, only to quickly feel the wheels come off and lose your focus and motivation?
• Are you unsure if you are doing the right training type, amount, intensity and frequency to reach your goal?
• Do you bounce around between ideas and plans, making things up as you go?
• Do you get injured, burnt out or frustrated with lack of results?

Should I Exercise In This Wildfire Smoke??

Are you wondering if it is safe to exercise with so much smoke in the air from forest fires around British Columbia?  You are not alone!

Training Principles: Overtraining

You have been rocking your workouts and adding extra training sessions to your week, just because you are feeling so damn great!  You almost feel invincible!  Now is the time to find out what you are capable of and push even further, harder and faster, right?

You have been doing all of your training sessions but you felt slower on your last couple of runs/rides.  Easy pace didn't feel easy and your heart rate is too high.  You couldn't get your speed up to target pace during your last couple of interval sessions.  You are training so hard but your performance is stale or getting worse.  Now is the time to push further, harder and faster, right?

You are beyond stressed out at work and home life is just as crazy right now.  You can't get to bed before midnight but you still have to get up early and do it all again tomorrow. You feel like you are burning the candle at both ends and man, now your throat is a bit sore. You missed your key workouts last week because of 'life' and exhaustion.  Now is the time to make up those workouts and push yourself to squeeze even more in, right?

WRONG!

Beat the Heat

 

BEAT THE HEAT

The temperatures have climbed sky high and we are getting a real blast of summer heat – and a quick lesson in acclimating!   Some people thrive in the heat (me) and others wilt.  There are many factors that determine our ability to tolerate heat and cold including the temperature that we grew up in, how much time we spend in the heat/cold on a daily basis, body composition, stress, health conditions, genetics and more.   The great news is, our bodies do adapt through exposure and there are also many ways to prevent overheating.  Here are some tips to help you beat the heat!

Mind Games: 10 Tips for your Motivation Toolbox

It's sideways raining...again.  I'll go later...  I'll go tomorrow...  I don't want to go!

Been there?  Me too!  Yet people are often surprised to hear me even whisper about periods of low motivation let alone announce them to the world.  They expect me to shout rah rah rah from the rafters day in and day out.  And quite honestly, mostly I do;).  But I think it is important to share that I also feel the weight of inertia slowing down my mojo or even threatening to paralyze my body from time to time.  It has happened before.  It will happen again.  And it happens to everyone including me and you.

Training Principles: Recovery

TRAINING PRINCIPLES: RECOVERY
By Sarah Seads, BA Kinesiology


Training doesn't make us stronger. We need recovery for that.

The body is an amazing, adaptive machine. Overload it with a new stimulus and it will respond with adaptive mechanisms and rebuild itself to handle the new load. Wowza.

Want to get stronger? Lift more.

Want to run faster? Run faster.

Want to run further? Run longer.

Want to improve range of motion? Reach further.


Right?

Yes and no.