Once Inspired

Archive for January, 2010

This is certainly the best article I have read regarding training. I have been training like this for a while now and, not to brag, but it shows. Please enjoy an exemplary and very informative piece of writing.

“There are many myths about lactic acid.  Perhaps the greatest of all is the notion that there is lactic acid in the human body.  There is not.  The body actually produces lactate, which is lactic acid minus one proton.

Technique in swimming is the single most important thing to making a success of it. Unfortunately swimming is more complex than most would perceive it to be. Bad habits are hard to break and because each movement affects the next your technique is important from start to finish.

Head position is vital as your head leads the way. A lot of swimmers have a good head position whilst facing down but as soon as it comes to taking a breath head tilt becomes a factor and the swimmer is making corrections from this point forward thus rendering the rest of the stroke inefficient and the swimmer begins to tire. Maintaining a good head position ensures alignment thereby making the swimmer more streamlined.

The Darwin Awards

Yes, it’s that magical time of year again when the Darwin Awards are bestowed, honouring the least evolved among us.

Here is the glorious winner:

1. When his 38 calibre revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach , California would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time it worked.

And now, the honourable mentions:

2. The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a finger in a meat cutting machine and after a little shopping around, submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company expecting negligence sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried the machine and he also lost a finger. The chef’s claim was approved.

Technique is vital, training efficiently and maintaining a good technique while racing  is important and will save youtime. It’s also useful for keeping injuries away.

Photo: Larry Rosa

It’s the age-old question that bugs every triathlete: how should you focus your training? As we head into the new season, most of us will be planning (or will have planned) the months to come. A lot of us will cram in as many miles as possible, while others will go for a more structured approach to their training.

But whichever path you choose to take, it’s worth heeding the advice of Pete Jacobs. Eighth at Kona and one of the fastest swimmers in Ironman (he was third out of the water at Hawaii in 50:03), the Aussie has honed his training to ensure he gets the optimum return from the miles that he puts in.