Usain Bolt is known to be the man who still holds both world records for 100 meter and 200 meter sprints (records set in 2008). He is also the first man in history to have set three new records at a single Olympics event. In addition to this, he is the first man to win back-to-back gold medals in double sprints.
The fastest man alive was born in Jamaica on August 21, 1986. His talent for running was noticed early on by his coaches at school, and he began to focus on sprinting with coaching from Pablo McNeil, former Olympic athlete. Even by the age of 14 Bolt was shockingly fast, and in 2001 he placed second at his first high school championship. A year later he participated in the 2002 World Junior Championship in Kingston, Jamaica. He managed to win his first 200-meter sprint and he became the youngest world-junior gold medalist ever. Soon after, he was given the fitting nickname: "Lightning Bolt".
Despite having a hamstring injury, Bolt was chosen for the 2004 Olympic Jamaican team. However, he was affected by multiple injuries, until 2007, which proved to be his breakthrough-year, as he set the new national record for 200 meters (previously held for 30 years by Donald Quarrie), and won two silver medals at the World Championship in Japan.
Merely a year later, in 2008, Bolt set the new world record for 100 meters at the summer Olympics, in Beijing. This record was not only set without a favourable wind, but he slowed down at the end to celebrate before finishing, and his laces were untied. The new world record he set was 9.69 seconds, which he then again beat four years later at the London 2012 Olympics, running it in 9.63 seconds. He then again set a new -and currently final- record in 2013, running 100 meters in 9.58 seconds.
Bolts incredible talent and speed has made him a famous man, and has given him both fame and fortune.
søndag 24. april 2016
søndag 17. april 2016
10 tips to maximise your workout!
As I was looking for inspiration for my next post, I realised that a lot of people are discouraged to work out when they don't feel the effect of their hard work. For some, two hours at the gym just makes them feel tired, without giving them the rush of happiness you usually get after a workout. So I did some research, and came up with 10 tips for a better and more efficient workout.
Before the workout
1. Get a proper warmup
It's crucial that you actually warm up your body before you work out. It helps your body get ready, makes you able to preform better, and it drastically decreases the risk of a workout. Your warmup depends on the type of exercise you're doing, but for running you could for example jog 10 minutes at a 10km/h pace, or walk quickly up a long and steep hill.
2. Drink water
And I don't mean right before. It takes a while for your body to absorb the water, so drink some 1-2 hours before your workout. If you're already dehydrated before you start you'll feel fatigued and your mental function will decrease. To be able to preform and push yourself you need to make sure you're hydrated.
3. Set a reasonable goal
Now I don't mean that you shouldn't challenge yourself, because challenging yourself will make you push yourself and thus get better. However, setting a goal that is too demanding will cause failure. This will make you feel demotivated and unaccomplished.
4. Eat before a workout
Eating carbs or proteins before you train is beneficial, because it fuels your body so that you can work better. However, don't eat too much food, because you'll get a stitch.
During the workout
1. Stay away from mirrors
A study of 58 individuals shows that those who exercised in front of mirrors felt more tired after 30 minutes than those who didn't.
2. Have a good playlist
Research proves that those who do cardio whilst listening to some up-beat cardio were able to work 5-15% harder than those who don't. You can either make your own playlist or find one online.
3. Get fuelled by your emotions
Thinking of someone or something that frustrates you or makes you angry is a great way of pushing yourself harder. In addition, it's a great way of burning off your anger and aggression.
4. Don't make excuses
Whenever you feel tired and demotivated, replace the negative thoughts with positive ones. If you catch yourself thinking "I can't do this.", force yourself to think "Uhm, heck yes I can!"
4. Don't watch the TV
If you're a gym member, you probably know that they have multiple TVs around the place. Many people like to watch them because it distracts them from their tiredness. However, a study shows a 5% decrease in effort when you watch TV whilst working out.
5. Work out with a friend
First of all, if you feel like skipping a day at the gym, bring a friend instead! It'll feel like more fun if you make it a social thing. Secondly, you can encourage each other to work harder by having contests and stuff. In addition, you can try out new equipment because you'll feel less awkward when you have a friend you can laugh with if something goes wrong.
After the workout
1. Stretch!!
Stretching after a workout helps reset your body's muscles to their normal postures. You'll also be less sore and stiff later on. Furthermore, it improves your flexibility. And lastly, it provides a mental break, calms the mind and recharges you.
I hope these tips were of some help, and that they contribute to you getting a better workout!
Before the workout
1. Get a proper warmup
It's crucial that you actually warm up your body before you work out. It helps your body get ready, makes you able to preform better, and it drastically decreases the risk of a workout. Your warmup depends on the type of exercise you're doing, but for running you could for example jog 10 minutes at a 10km/h pace, or walk quickly up a long and steep hill.
2. Drink water
And I don't mean right before. It takes a while for your body to absorb the water, so drink some 1-2 hours before your workout. If you're already dehydrated before you start you'll feel fatigued and your mental function will decrease. To be able to preform and push yourself you need to make sure you're hydrated.
3. Set a reasonable goal
Now I don't mean that you shouldn't challenge yourself, because challenging yourself will make you push yourself and thus get better. However, setting a goal that is too demanding will cause failure. This will make you feel demotivated and unaccomplished.
4. Eat before a workout
Eating carbs or proteins before you train is beneficial, because it fuels your body so that you can work better. However, don't eat too much food, because you'll get a stitch.
During the workout
1. Stay away from mirrors
A study of 58 individuals shows that those who exercised in front of mirrors felt more tired after 30 minutes than those who didn't.
2. Have a good playlist
Research proves that those who do cardio whilst listening to some up-beat cardio were able to work 5-15% harder than those who don't. You can either make your own playlist or find one online.
3. Get fuelled by your emotions
Thinking of someone or something that frustrates you or makes you angry is a great way of pushing yourself harder. In addition, it's a great way of burning off your anger and aggression.
4. Don't make excuses
Whenever you feel tired and demotivated, replace the negative thoughts with positive ones. If you catch yourself thinking "I can't do this.", force yourself to think "Uhm, heck yes I can!"
4. Don't watch the TV
If you're a gym member, you probably know that they have multiple TVs around the place. Many people like to watch them because it distracts them from their tiredness. However, a study shows a 5% decrease in effort when you watch TV whilst working out.
5. Work out with a friend
First of all, if you feel like skipping a day at the gym, bring a friend instead! It'll feel like more fun if you make it a social thing. Secondly, you can encourage each other to work harder by having contests and stuff. In addition, you can try out new equipment because you'll feel less awkward when you have a friend you can laugh with if something goes wrong.
After the workout
1. Stretch!!
Stretching after a workout helps reset your body's muscles to their normal postures. You'll also be less sore and stiff later on. Furthermore, it improves your flexibility. And lastly, it provides a mental break, calms the mind and recharges you.
I hope these tips were of some help, and that they contribute to you getting a better workout!
søndag 10. april 2016
High Intensity Intervals by Marius Bakken
Ok guys! So my first post will be a review on a type of high intensity workout recommended by Marius Bakken, the current holder of the Nordic records for 3 and 5k. I first heard of his style of training when a friend recommended it for me, and after having tried it a couple of times i was hooked. The reason this workout is so good is because it is fast, effective, and works regardless of what level of fitness you are on.
You start the workout by setting your treadmill to a comfortable pace for your warmup. Jog at this pace for about 5-10 minutes. Once you're warm you increase the pace to a faster run - I recommend starting at somewhere between 11 and 13 km/h the first time, and seeing how that goes. Then you run at that pace for 40 seconds. When you've run 40 seconds you get a 20 second break, in which you have time to drink some water and recover slightly. Before your next repetition you increase the speed with 0.2 km/h, and then you repeat the process. You should do about 15 repetitions, and then you're done. If you don't feel tired already after 5, you can increase the pace or increase the angle of the slope. The point of these intervals is to run until you can't anymore. If you do this workout, say, once a week, you should increase your starting pace every so often. This way your fitness-level will increase rapidly.
I started doing this type of intervals a while ago, and I can already notice that I've gotten fitter. I can now run faster and further than i used to be able to. I used to start them at 11. 6 km/h, with barely being able to finish. Now I'm currently starting them at 13+ (I'm still exhausted when I'm done though). What's also great about this workout is that the short breaks give your muscles enough time to work down the lactic acid, but it's not enough time to bring your pulse down, so your heart rate remains high throughout the workout.
I highly recommend that you try this workout, because it is incredibly efficient. But if you try it once and don't like it I suggest that you still try a couple of more times, because it gets better with time. I despised them at first, but now I love them. High intensity intervals in general are good for increasing your fitness-level, but this type is -so far- my favourite. The only downside to these intervals is that they only work if you have access to a treadmill, and not everyone does. However, if you do, i really recommend that you try them, because they really do give you results, and they come quickly!
Abonner på:
Kommentarer (Atom)