London Marathon – Lesley Wall
The London Marathon. What can I say……….
It was an amazing experience and I would recommend everyone to enter the ballot, Read More…
Adam Heath
In 2013 I started slimming world and was close to getting to my target of 3 stone. I started to enjoy running but on my own it was hard to motivate myself and became very boring. I drove past a running group every time I went to slimming world. I was nervous but decided to give it a go and turned up. Everyone was so welcoming and I loved the fact that nobody gets left behind. I’ve reached my weight loss target and running is a part of my life. Stokefit has played a massive part in getting me where I am today. I would recommend anyone who wants to become more active to put that nervousness aside and come along. There are people of all abilities running every week. I guarantie you will be hooked after the first week! Thankyou stoke fit
New year = new you
What is going to be new for you in 2014?
This is the start of the 2 week period that sees a massive influx of people into gyms up and down the country! It seems like everybody joins the gym, albeit with the best intentions, but where are they in February when the gyms are empty again?!! Why do they stop going?
The answer is Read More…
Fats
Everybody wants a flat stomach with a six pack, and can probably feel the six pack buried in there somewhere – but why won’t it show it’s face?? The answer is that it’s hidden beneath a layer of fat. To have a six pack you need to drastically reduce your fat intake so your abs have nowhere to hide!
Again, understanding what foods and drink are high in fat are the key. You might not eat chips and think you have cut it out, but have you?
Your body does need fat – just the Read More…
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates provide our muscles with fuel and they are our most efficient way of receiving energy. They are mainly divided into two groups: simple carbohydrates, and complex carbohydrates.
Simple carbohydrates (including fruit and sweets, fizzy drinks and chocolates) are the most basic form of sugar and provide a quick, short energy burst that doesn’t last. They only add extra calories and not many nutrients.
Foods higher in carbohydrates include ones that provide dietary fibre and whole grains as well as those without added sugars. Natural food sources of carbohydrates include grains (rice, cereal); fruits (apples, oranges, bananas); starchy vegetables (peas, potatoes, corn); and dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt). To understand the functioning and role of carbohydrates, it is very important to know its types.
The two vary nutritionally, and are broken down in different ways during digestion. Read More…
Gaze out from the mirror, don’t stare into it.
If you do your research, read 100 books, search 1000 websites, speak to 1,000,000 runners, the theme will be common:that running is a lonely sport, that its the most popular solo sports event since the dawn of time.
What a load of tripe. It is the biggest team event in the world. Where else do you see 55,000 people tie their laces and all run in the same direction with the same goal? Read More…
Who trains the trainers?
On Tuesday, I was invited along to Staffordshire University to take part in some tests called V02 MAX tests. The test was part physiological, and part psychological – to see if our body’s physiology and mental ability to cope under the stress of high intensity running was helped out by listening to music. This week I did the test without music. Next week it will swap over!
The test involved me warming up on a treadmill, and then being linked up to heart rate monitors and oxygen supplies. I was then started off on the treadmill and the speed was increased by 1 kph every 30 seconds. Every time the speed was increased, I was asked to point to a number on a chart (a Borg scale) that was relevant to how I was feeling, with 1 being no exertion, and 20 being completely exhausted. Read More…
How to run free
Running injury prevention is a very important topic, especially if you are training for longer distances like a half or full marathon. There is no one reason why runners get injured, but there is a pretty consistent interaction of factors that play a role in most runner injuries. Factors commonly recognized include muscle weakness, inadequate flexibility, training errors, poor or incorrect running shoes, and poor or abnormal biomechanics.
Knowing how to train properly and safely is crucial to staying injury-free. Here are some ways you can stay injury-free.
Do not race or do speedwork too often
Information courtesy of Cole’s therapy & injury clinic
Level playing field
Another factor that could have a significant impact on running injuries is road camber. No doubt you always run on the right side of the road facing traffic (unless you’re lucky enough to have a home in Spain!). That’s good for safety reasons. But it also gives you a functional leg-length Read More…
Put your best foot forward
Shoes are the most important piece of equipment that you need to run, so having a pair that fits you properly is crucial to your running success. There is no one shoe that is right for every runner and there is no shoe that is guaranteed to eliminate an injury. To find the right shoe for your Read More…