With warmer weather coming, people think about going to the beach and the pool. It is also around this time that many will start to think about those winter pounds they have packed on. Instead of rushing to the treadmill or stair climber to shed some extra weight, add a gym sport to your routine.
Racquetball is one of the most popular gym sports and it is a great, fun workout. For those unfamiliar with racquetball, it is very much like tennis but enclosed in a rectangular room where the object of the game is to hit it off of the wall instead of to the other side of a net. The racquet is slightly smaller and squatter and the ball is smaller and faster. It is a fantastic aerobic exercise, as you are constantly moving around to chase after the ball. Your legs, arms and shoulders get an amazing workout while you are burning lots of calories.
If your gym has a pool, there are several different ways to burn calories. Water aerobic classes are a surprisingly effective way of working your body without putting excess pressure on your joints. You could also inquire if members of your gym play water polo or even water volleyball. Some gyms will set up small leagues or the members themselves will sometimes take it upon themselves.
Another gym sport to consider is the always popular basketball. Some gyms will have indoor courts that you can readily incorporate into your workout, but you may have to pursue outdoor courts, which is fine for this time of year. The important thing is to have fun while losing weight instead of tolling away for hours on an exercise bike or elliptical machine. Gym sports are great fat burners. For more information, check out The Gym Sports Site.
by admin on March 31, 2010
What running shoes do you choose when you want to go fast? According to a study of marathon runners, it may not be the shoe so much as the running technique used that determines your finishing time. Could it be that the best running shoes for speed may be one that encourages a runner to land flat-footed?
Biomechanical researcher, Benno Nigg, did a study on running technique in the 1980s. Runners were videotaped while they ran two marathons. The foot strike of the runners was later analyzed. A clear majority of the marathon participants favored landing heel first.
This is not surprising. New runners are introduced to the sport through learn to run clinics held at local running stores. As a result, the ‘proper’ running technique mantra of a new runner quickly becomes “heel-toe, heel-toe”. Running shoes with a lot of cushion in the heel encourage the wearer to land heel first. These ‘shock absorber’ running shoes with padded, re-inforced heels make up the bulk of the running shoe market.
This is not a criticism of learn to run clinics; far from it. People, who are introduced to running in a fun, supportive atmosphere, do have a much higher likelihood of success. Starting an exercise program of any kind can be tough. Graduates of these learn to run clinics race anywhere from a 5km up to a marathon. Pretty impressive considering many may not have even run before in their lives.
However, taking a second look at the runners in the study, we can find another pattern. Less than half of the elite runners used the heel toe strike. In other words, runners whose times were faster than a 5 ½ minute mile pace preferred a mid foot strike.
This would suggest that if you want to run a marathon, go ahead, and use the heel first school of running. When you decide you want to run faster and improve your time, consider a change in technique. Starting with a change in shoes. Choosing from among the brands with less of a heel will almost certainly demand a mid foot strike. Don’t worry, whatever you may lose in height you’ll more than make up for when standing on the winners’ podium!
by ChangeYourLife on March 21, 2010
Nike is generally regarded as “the” mens trainers company. However, many people are actually unaware of where the company got its start and the general misconception is that Michael Jordan made the company what it is today. While he obviously played a big part in their success, they were well on their way before he ever came into the picture.
Nike was actually started as another company in 1966, Blue Ribbon Sports. Initially, they were nothing more than a distributor, but that would change in just a few short years. They ended up separating from their original ties and decided to launch their own line of footwear. The infamous “Swoosh” made its first appearance in 1971 and was registered as their trademark in 1974.
The actual name was the first label that was used for their very first shoe, a soccer shoe. The “Nike” was released in 1971 and Blue Ribbon Sports officially changed their name over to their trademark in 1978. From that moment on, BRS would be known as Nike, Inc.
Nike quickly realized that the best way to get people to buy their mens nike trainers was to have athletes market them. Their first signing was Ilie Nastase and they never looked back. The company started to grow like wildfire and by 1980, they were enjoying an incredible 50% share of the market. By 1982, Nike seemed to be everywhere that you looked and the advertising campaign that was put together was sheer genius.
“Just Do It” made its first appearance in 1988 and has stuck with the company as their slogan ever since. Nike has absolutely owned the industry since that time and has expanded out into just about every sport imaginable. The marriage between Nike and Tiger Woods has now made them one of the premier manufacturers of not only golf wear and shoes, but also equipment. Rest assured that every list or conversation that involves sportswear will involve the Nike name.