Honestly, I have no idea what is the best way to link the Malaysian Airlines debacle with health and fitness. It is horrible to think about what the families are going through and what the passengers have or are going through.
It's sad. It is.
It feels worse that there are so many leads in such a sophisticated world, yet no one can confidentially say that the plane has been found (kind of like playing 'Carmen San Diego'). Then, there is also the question of "why and how did the incident happen?" Blogs have been posted in the past on being fit in case of an emergency (See: Earthquake). But, in this case, that would fall in to the lap of the pilots and passengers. There are too many question marks on that end. The only other connection with health and fitness for this type of event is the case of emergency on the searchers and investigators part: diligence. More appropriately, due-diligence is the term.
Diligence simply states that there is persistence in actions. We are diligent in waking up in the morning and in exercising. Due-diligence states that it must be done. It is due in this case. We do not have to wake up or exercise, but we do because things to get done and are due! We do not have to fix our injuries, but we do because we will, otherwise, be in more pain and lose movement where it is necessary.
Do it. Then, due it.
Really, that is it on this topic.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
Saturday, March 22, 2014
The "Tudes"
Yes, there are the 'Beatitudes'. There are also the "tudes".
Stellartude. Train-atude. Forget-a-tude/Please-a-tude. What-a-tude.
1. Stellartude (See: Stellartude) is a good attitude with a plus. You go above and beyond the good attitude. It is the 'wow-factor'.
2. Train-a-tude (See: March Madness) is your attitude towards training your body in the many "lly's" such as physically or mentally.
3. Forget-a-tude/Please-a-tude fall under the same categories. Forget- is when you tell yourself, "forget it...I will not...I cannot do it." Or, in its simpler form, "pleeeaaassse!" It is the difference between doing a routine squat or accomplishing an athletic achievement versus choosing not to pursue it.
4. What-a-tude holds promise. It occurs when someone says, "What!?" Or, "you want me to do what!?" Either the individual does not do it. The "it" is too difficult or crazy. Or, the person does it. What is "it"? Well, you can take your pick among a plethora of things, including the following: taking on adequate nutrition, walking a mile daily, stretching twice daily, biking daily, practicing a skill until you're a pro at it, and more.
What "tude" do you fall under? What "tude" drives you to success? In a transitional season from winter to spring, many "tudes" will be adopted. No matter what "tude" you choose make sure the "tude" carries you through the next season.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
Stellartude. Train-atude. Forget-a-tude/Please-a-tude. What-a-tude.
1. Stellartude (See: Stellartude) is a good attitude with a plus. You go above and beyond the good attitude. It is the 'wow-factor'.
2. Train-a-tude (See: March Madness) is your attitude towards training your body in the many "lly's" such as physically or mentally.
3. Forget-a-tude/Please-a-tude fall under the same categories. Forget- is when you tell yourself, "forget it...I will not...I cannot do it." Or, in its simpler form, "pleeeaaassse!" It is the difference between doing a routine squat or accomplishing an athletic achievement versus choosing not to pursue it.
4. What-a-tude holds promise. It occurs when someone says, "What!?" Or, "you want me to do what!?" Either the individual does not do it. The "it" is too difficult or crazy. Or, the person does it. What is "it"? Well, you can take your pick among a plethora of things, including the following: taking on adequate nutrition, walking a mile daily, stretching twice daily, biking daily, practicing a skill until you're a pro at it, and more.
What "tude" do you fall under? What "tude" drives you to success? In a transitional season from winter to spring, many "tudes" will be adopted. No matter what "tude" you choose make sure the "tude" carries you through the next season.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
The Soft "Why" - Part I: Appetizer Intro
I have held this topic off for the past year and half. Every year this topic pops up because something or some scenario triggers the soft why approach. What is a soft-why?
(Also see: Eat Motivation)
Well, a hard-why says this, "why are you eating barbecue chicken and waffle flavored potato chips!?" The soft-why says, "are you eating the chips because they are cheaper/tempting/etc or because you do not know what to eat? Is this why you made your choice?" You can add in any "speciality" food that comes to mind.
The soft-why attacks the conscience and the discipline in you. Just as much as time and money are not the main reasons for adopting or abstaining from certain behaviors, knowledge, motivational level, and discipline are the movers of choice and of our choices. For example, throw time and money out of the window for someone who has a lot of time but no money; and you are left with knowledge, motivation, and discipline in this case. Nonetheless, take an individual who has a lot of time and money; and you are still left with knowledge, motivation, and discipline in this case. So, the soft-why targets the latter three active attributes.
Do you practice them or does time and money get in the way? That is actually a trick question with one right answer.
Very quickly, money entered this conversation because an article came out this past winter detailing how an unhealthy diet or food choice was only $1.50 less than a healthy food route. A $1.50, when you incorporate the fact that food is not the only thing that contributes to optimal movement, is not a lot. And, time...well, time is beaten by priority. Yes, as a new dad I can say time is of the essence because you have to be quick. But, offspring take...priority.
There. That is your appetizer.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
(Also see: Eat Motivation)
Well, a hard-why says this, "why are you eating barbecue chicken and waffle flavored potato chips!?" The soft-why says, "are you eating the chips because they are cheaper/tempting/etc or because you do not know what to eat? Is this why you made your choice?" You can add in any "speciality" food that comes to mind.
The soft-why attacks the conscience and the discipline in you. Just as much as time and money are not the main reasons for adopting or abstaining from certain behaviors, knowledge, motivational level, and discipline are the movers of choice and of our choices. For example, throw time and money out of the window for someone who has a lot of time but no money; and you are left with knowledge, motivation, and discipline in this case. Nonetheless, take an individual who has a lot of time and money; and you are still left with knowledge, motivation, and discipline in this case. So, the soft-why targets the latter three active attributes.
Do you practice them or does time and money get in the way? That is actually a trick question with one right answer.
Very quickly, money entered this conversation because an article came out this past winter detailing how an unhealthy diet or food choice was only $1.50 less than a healthy food route. A $1.50, when you incorporate the fact that food is not the only thing that contributes to optimal movement, is not a lot. And, time...well, time is beaten by priority. Yes, as a new dad I can say time is of the essence because you have to be quick. But, offspring take...priority.
There. That is your appetizer.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
March Madness: Bite Size Candy
Many of you probably filled out an NCAA Men's or Women's Basketball bracket. Every year it happens.
Every year there are surprises in the tournament. It is inevitable that upsets will occur; however, no one is exactly sure who will deliver the upset or who will be upset. Upsets can wreck brackets and wreak havoc on filled out brackets. But, that is the beauty of March Madness. Any team can win at any moment - the size of the school does not matter.
(If you have paid attention to the title of this message, I just changed it from 'March Madness: Random vs. Strategic' to what it currently reads.)
Have you ever bitten into a piece of candy without knowing its taste? The inside could be crunchy, smooth, gooey, slimy, bitter, sweet, bittersweet, or even liquefied. Well, that is March Madness. It is also human performance fulfillment in so many ways. Wait, cue in the Forrest Gump quote, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
You fulfill your human performance with or without knowing what you are going to get. For example, if you start training for a 10k, you know you will be sore at some points. You know you will test your physical, mental, and verbal limits. What you do not know is what place you will finish the race. You do not know who may encourage you because you could encounter random supporters. You also do not know how much fat you will burn, how much work your heart will do, or how much your muscles will work because the fact is you can stop or not even start at any point in your training.
This is March Madness. Take a bite of your March candy.
Just like a tournament that is perfectly difficult to achieve a perfect bracket, your train-a-tude is random and strategic. Sometimes, you do not know what you will get out of your training. At the very least, you can, at least, try. Your outcome may be random or depending on how you train the results are strategic. Mind boggled and physically and mentally inclined you just dive in to the chase. In to the pursuit.
This is March Madness.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
Every year there are surprises in the tournament. It is inevitable that upsets will occur; however, no one is exactly sure who will deliver the upset or who will be upset. Upsets can wreck brackets and wreak havoc on filled out brackets. But, that is the beauty of March Madness. Any team can win at any moment - the size of the school does not matter.
(If you have paid attention to the title of this message, I just changed it from 'March Madness: Random vs. Strategic' to what it currently reads.)
Have you ever bitten into a piece of candy without knowing its taste? The inside could be crunchy, smooth, gooey, slimy, bitter, sweet, bittersweet, or even liquefied. Well, that is March Madness. It is also human performance fulfillment in so many ways. Wait, cue in the Forrest Gump quote, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
You fulfill your human performance with or without knowing what you are going to get. For example, if you start training for a 10k, you know you will be sore at some points. You know you will test your physical, mental, and verbal limits. What you do not know is what place you will finish the race. You do not know who may encourage you because you could encounter random supporters. You also do not know how much fat you will burn, how much work your heart will do, or how much your muscles will work because the fact is you can stop or not even start at any point in your training.
This is March Madness. Take a bite of your March candy.
Just like a tournament that is perfectly difficult to achieve a perfect bracket, your train-a-tude is random and strategic. Sometimes, you do not know what you will get out of your training. At the very least, you can, at least, try. Your outcome may be random or depending on how you train the results are strategic. Mind boggled and physically and mentally inclined you just dive in to the chase. In to the pursuit.
This is March Madness.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Olympic Spirit
No restrictions. Or, no restrictions!?
Pierre De Coubertin had a vision of only making the Olympics for amateurs - a public scenario without the product professionally-skilled restrictions. However, today we have both amateurs and professionals participating in the Olympics. Adding professionals makes for superb competition. Spectators recognize big names. Do not forget that the professional athletes also receive more attention from sponsors if they do well in the Olympics (cue the gold medal winning men's ice hockey athletes from Sochi.) Amateurs provide entertaining skills as well.
If you ask 100 people the question: should professional athletes be involved in the Olympic Games, then a handful will say, "yes", and another handful will say, "no". Without taking the grey-area in this argument, hopefully "no" will win in the end - yes, a return to normalcy. What does this mean athletically?
The inclusion of professionals means that the amateurs have a very slim chance of making it to the Olympic Games, especially in big name Olympic sports such as, basketball and ice hockey. However, the professionals already receive accolades for being a pro of their respected sport. We see them at least 82 games out of the year. But, what about the college kids? Fewer individuals may know their names, but it does not mean they cannot play in the Olympics. Of course, a college student who participates in the Olympics may have to skip that year or season (several of the women's ice hockey players at Sochi who are still in college did not play for their college team this season; in addition, they may not have been enrolled during the academic year.)
Amateurs will give the focus needed to succeed in the Olympics. They are inspirational. Spectators get plenty of inspiration from watching the Olympics. How many of you felt like you could speed skate (long track) after watching speed skating?...Just me? Maybe you like ski jumping. It's fine. In everything, the Olympic Games have the capability to inspire even if you practice self-imagery for two minutes.
Citius. Altius. Fortius.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
Pierre De Coubertin had a vision of only making the Olympics for amateurs - a public scenario without the product professionally-skilled restrictions. However, today we have both amateurs and professionals participating in the Olympics. Adding professionals makes for superb competition. Spectators recognize big names. Do not forget that the professional athletes also receive more attention from sponsors if they do well in the Olympics (cue the gold medal winning men's ice hockey athletes from Sochi.) Amateurs provide entertaining skills as well.
If you ask 100 people the question: should professional athletes be involved in the Olympic Games, then a handful will say, "yes", and another handful will say, "no". Without taking the grey-area in this argument, hopefully "no" will win in the end - yes, a return to normalcy. What does this mean athletically?
The inclusion of professionals means that the amateurs have a very slim chance of making it to the Olympic Games, especially in big name Olympic sports such as, basketball and ice hockey. However, the professionals already receive accolades for being a pro of their respected sport. We see them at least 82 games out of the year. But, what about the college kids? Fewer individuals may know their names, but it does not mean they cannot play in the Olympics. Of course, a college student who participates in the Olympics may have to skip that year or season (several of the women's ice hockey players at Sochi who are still in college did not play for their college team this season; in addition, they may not have been enrolled during the academic year.)
Amateurs will give the focus needed to succeed in the Olympics. They are inspirational. Spectators get plenty of inspiration from watching the Olympics. How many of you felt like you could speed skate (long track) after watching speed skating?...Just me? Maybe you like ski jumping. It's fine. In everything, the Olympic Games have the capability to inspire even if you practice self-imagery for two minutes.
Citius. Altius. Fortius.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
Bobsled-Track & Field Love Connection
Bobsleigh (see: Unsung Sports) attracts track and field athletes. Case and point.
A slew of track and field athletes have made their way to the ice track. It is a matter of skill versus coincidence. Every sprinter on the dry track knows the fundamentals of a powerful start and acceleration period. Meaning, every sprinter is a minor for the major ice track start...or are they? A bit of grit is included in the formula as well. If every sprinter could bobsled, then why hasn't Jamaica asked Usain Bolt to join their team? OK, Bolt is 6'5". Well then, why are the shorter sprinters not on the ice track?
I am not entirely sure. But, something tells me that attitude and ferociousness out of the dry track blocks has something to do with the transition to, what some bobsled experts say, "being a pitbull off the start in the bobsled event." Several U.S. athletes have made the smooth transition from dry track to ice track and medaled in Sochi, including Steve Langton and Lauryn Williams. Cheer it up because Lolo Jones, Aja Evans, Jazmine Fenlator, Emily Azevedo, Jamie Greubel, Kristi Koplin, Christ Fogt, Adam Clark, Nick Cunningham, Johnny Quinn, and Dallas Robinson.
So, that is about half of the U.S. National Bobsled Team.
What can you divulge from bobsleigh? Power days. Leg power exercises such as, jumping, repetitions for speed, and acceleration exercises. For the home, these exercises include the following: jumping to touch or toward your ceiling, rapid squats or rapid split stance lunges, and wall drills (i.e., hands on the wall and driving through as if you are trying to push the wall forward.) Of course, you may have musculosketelal limitations that prevent you from properly executing these exercises. In that case, they should be addressed first as well as the modified way of either performing the exercise at a slower tempo or at the range of motion before pain arrives.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
A slew of track and field athletes have made their way to the ice track. It is a matter of skill versus coincidence. Every sprinter on the dry track knows the fundamentals of a powerful start and acceleration period. Meaning, every sprinter is a minor for the major ice track start...or are they? A bit of grit is included in the formula as well. If every sprinter could bobsled, then why hasn't Jamaica asked Usain Bolt to join their team? OK, Bolt is 6'5". Well then, why are the shorter sprinters not on the ice track?
I am not entirely sure. But, something tells me that attitude and ferociousness out of the dry track blocks has something to do with the transition to, what some bobsled experts say, "being a pitbull off the start in the bobsled event." Several U.S. athletes have made the smooth transition from dry track to ice track and medaled in Sochi, including Steve Langton and Lauryn Williams. Cheer it up because Lolo Jones, Aja Evans, Jazmine Fenlator, Emily Azevedo, Jamie Greubel, Kristi Koplin, Christ Fogt, Adam Clark, Nick Cunningham, Johnny Quinn, and Dallas Robinson.
So, that is about half of the U.S. National Bobsled Team.
What can you divulge from bobsleigh? Power days. Leg power exercises such as, jumping, repetitions for speed, and acceleration exercises. For the home, these exercises include the following: jumping to touch or toward your ceiling, rapid squats or rapid split stance lunges, and wall drills (i.e., hands on the wall and driving through as if you are trying to push the wall forward.) Of course, you may have musculosketelal limitations that prevent you from properly executing these exercises. In that case, they should be addressed first as well as the modified way of either performing the exercise at a slower tempo or at the range of motion before pain arrives.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
AMP: Athlete Mentorship Program
Athlete's need mentoring whether they are top-notch athletes in their sport or if they just need an extra motivation to get to the next level. Sometimes, the very tool that is missing is a tweak in a strength and conditioning program, examples in their sport, support, guidance, and more.
TEEM's Athlete Mentorship Program (AMP) serves to assist athletes near and far. They may be involved in face-to-face training sessions or virtual ones. The bottom line is to help the athlete fulfill his or her goal. Some athletes think they cannot make a certain team...just because. They need AMP. Some athletes may not know about certain athletic resources to propel them to the college level of play or to the professional level. They need AMP. Unofficially, TEEM has four athletes in AMP so far from two sports.
AMP is open for growth as a product of TEEM Performance Training. You can visit the Facebook Page or the TEEM website for more information. Note: the TEEM website is undergoing changes.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
TEEM's Athlete Mentorship Program (AMP) serves to assist athletes near and far. They may be involved in face-to-face training sessions or virtual ones. The bottom line is to help the athlete fulfill his or her goal. Some athletes think they cannot make a certain team...just because. They need AMP. Some athletes may not know about certain athletic resources to propel them to the college level of play or to the professional level. They need AMP. Unofficially, TEEM has four athletes in AMP so far from two sports.
AMP is open for growth as a product of TEEM Performance Training. You can visit the Facebook Page or the TEEM website for more information. Note: the TEEM website is undergoing changes.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
Be a Top Cold Country. Win.
(Top Winter Activities - no specific order: 1) Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding 2) Ice Hockey 3) Snowshoeing 4) Skating 5) Cross Country Skiing)
When you search for the coldest countries in the world, you will repetitively see Antarctica, Canada, Russia, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Mongolia, and even the U.S. sneak on the list. But, ATA, ISL, GRL, and MGL did not medal in Sochi. Canada, Russia, and Finland are formidable opponents (ironically, the men's ice hockey team played all three of these teams in Sochi and lost to two of them.)
The Top 5 Olympic Medal Winners from Sochi:
Russia (cold)
USA (cold)
Norway (cold)
Canada (cold)
Netherlands (cold)....the rest are cold too.
The Top 5 winners from Vancouver:
USA (cold)
Germany (cold)
Canada (cold)
Norway (cold)
Austria (cold)
OK, so some of the coldest countries win big at the Winter Olympics Games. Perhaps the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranking has something to do with Olympic success (Russia - #7; USA - #1; Norway - #23; Canada - #11; Netherlands - #18). Over the past two Winter Olympics, four of the top 15 richest countries in the world measured, respectively, overall and per capita, have finished in the top 5 on the medal table: USA - #1/#7; Germany - #5/#18; Canada - #13/#9; Norway - #46/#4; Austria - #37/#11; Netherlands - #23/#12; Russia - #6/#57.
So, it is a money thing right?
No.
Plenty of countries are rich and do not place on the medal table. Plenty of countries are cold and do not place on the medal table. So, it is a culture thing...right?
Now, we are getting somewhere.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
When you search for the coldest countries in the world, you will repetitively see Antarctica, Canada, Russia, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Mongolia, and even the U.S. sneak on the list. But, ATA, ISL, GRL, and MGL did not medal in Sochi. Canada, Russia, and Finland are formidable opponents (ironically, the men's ice hockey team played all three of these teams in Sochi and lost to two of them.)
The Top 5 Olympic Medal Winners from Sochi:
Russia (cold)
USA (cold)
Norway (cold)
Canada (cold)
Netherlands (cold)....the rest are cold too.
The Top 5 winners from Vancouver:
USA (cold)
Germany (cold)
Canada (cold)
Norway (cold)
Austria (cold)
OK, so some of the coldest countries win big at the Winter Olympics Games. Perhaps the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranking has something to do with Olympic success (Russia - #7; USA - #1; Norway - #23; Canada - #11; Netherlands - #18). Over the past two Winter Olympics, four of the top 15 richest countries in the world measured, respectively, overall and per capita, have finished in the top 5 on the medal table: USA - #1/#7; Germany - #5/#18; Canada - #13/#9; Norway - #46/#4; Austria - #37/#11; Netherlands - #23/#12; Russia - #6/#57.
So, it is a money thing right?
No.
Plenty of countries are rich and do not place on the medal table. Plenty of countries are cold and do not place on the medal table. So, it is a culture thing...right?
Now, we are getting somewhere.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
Unsung Winter Olympic Sports: Sochi-style
Women's Hockey Olympics
Approval: 1992
Olympic Debut: 1998
Most Golds: Canada
The Big Three: Canada, USA, Switzerland/Sweden
Women's ice hockey has been around in the Olympics since 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Even though the United States and Canada have dominated the gold medal game, playing in every gold medal match except one, with Canada winning four gold medals to the U.S.'s one gold medal, the competition in women's ice hockey continues to grow. Switzerland was a formidable opponent in Sochi, winning bronze and losing to Canada 3-1 after stellar goaltending. Most of the women played college ice hockey in the U.S. and matriculated to various pro leagues including the CWHL (Canadian Women's Hockey League with the Boston Blades being the only U.S. team) and men's pro leagues in Europe.
Hockey players in general are athletic. Balance, flexibility, strength, power, agility, aerobic fitness, anaerobic fitness, and speed are all vital components used in ice hockey. Core strength and power are part of the game, but so is lower body power and lower body strength.
Curling
Invented: 1541 in Scotland, currently most popular in Canada
Olympic History: Became an official Olympic event in 2002 after many years as a demo sport; Its debut was in 1924 in Chamonix; Great Britain and Sweden are the only countries that have appeared in every Olympic Curling event since 1924 (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
Most Medals: Canada (10). The U.S. has one medal (bronze), which was won in Turin, Italy in 2006 by the men.
The Big Three: Canada, Sweden, Great Britain
Main Equipment Used: granite stone, curling broom, slider shoes (Teflon sole), non-sliding shoe (for the thrower)
Curling, "chess on ice", is similar to shuffleboard, billiards, and bowls but played on ice. You may think that this sport is boring, but it is not. It's fun, strategic, and challenging. In short, the object is to be king of the ice. Your curling stones need to be closer to the center dot, "the button" at the other end of the ice sheet inside "the house", which is the part that resembles a bullseye. The closer to the button, the more points garnered for your team. Each team of four players receives eight stones to throw. The thrower typically uses the curling broom for balance while sliding the stone down the ice. The two sweepers serve to guide the stone down the ice, helping it curve and increase speed. Picture sweeping to decrease friction. But, do not touch a moving stone since that is a penalty. Confessing to touching a stone is the sportsmanship way to go in curling.It is possible to have a curling game end up as unwinnable. In the delivery of the curling stone, the captain of the team known as, the skip, will call out the velocity, line, and turn of the stone. So, if you watched curling this Olympics, then you probably saw someone talking as they threw the stone. Let's affectionately call him or her, "Skipper". The vice skip takes over the instructions when the skip is throwing.
A curling athlete needs balance and flexibility to effectively operate on the ice. You cannot be stiff when throwing a stone down the line.
Bobsled/Bobsleigh
Most Dominant Team: Germany for 4-man and 2-man bobsled; Germany and USA for 2-woman bobsled.
Most Medals: Germany (40 combined)
Olympic Debut: 1924 Chamonix Olympic Games (no country has been in all of the games)
The Big Three: Germany, Swiss, USA (back in the day, this event was USA dominant)
No, this event is not Santa's extreme sport. Bobsled has its roots in the 1870's in St. Moritz, Switzerland where the first tracks were built. Get these stats: tracks are made of concrete and coated with ice, stand 1,200 to 1,300 meters long (that's three to three and quarter times around a track and field), speeds amass 150km (93 mph), athletes experience 5g forces with high degree bank turns and directional turns (270 and 180 degrees respectively). Wow! Would anyone like to try it? Lake Placid and Salt Lake City offer rides.
The bobsleigh (love that word) athlete needs power at the start. Starting off well is crucial in addition to steering the bobsleigh around the turns.
Biathlon
Olympic Debut: 1924 Chamonix
Most Medals: Germany (43)
The Big Three: Germany, Norway, Russia
Norway might have coined the term around 1861. But, Germany dominates the medals. Cross country skiing is a large part of Norwegian exercise, and this sport, which combines shooting, used to be referred to as "military patrol" in the Olympics. Biathletes compete at the Individual (men = 20km, women = 15km), Sprint (10km, 7.5km), Mass Start (15km, 12.5km), Relay (7.5km, 6km), Mixed Relay (7.5km, 6km), and Team events. Shots are fired with a bore rifle and are attempted in prone position (targets are 45mm wide) or in standing (targets are 115mm wide). The biathlete needs to be in tremendous shape to execute this sport effectively. As cross-country skiers, they amass some of the largest VO2 max capacities out of any sport. If you want to go aerobic, then cross-country ski. Balance, aerobic fitness, flexibility, muscle endurance are huge characteristics of...the biathlon.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.tee,pt.com TEEM Performance Training
Approval: 1992
Olympic Debut: 1998
Most Golds: Canada
The Big Three: Canada, USA, Switzerland/Sweden
Women's ice hockey has been around in the Olympics since 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Even though the United States and Canada have dominated the gold medal game, playing in every gold medal match except one, with Canada winning four gold medals to the U.S.'s one gold medal, the competition in women's ice hockey continues to grow. Switzerland was a formidable opponent in Sochi, winning bronze and losing to Canada 3-1 after stellar goaltending. Most of the women played college ice hockey in the U.S. and matriculated to various pro leagues including the CWHL (Canadian Women's Hockey League with the Boston Blades being the only U.S. team) and men's pro leagues in Europe.
Hockey players in general are athletic. Balance, flexibility, strength, power, agility, aerobic fitness, anaerobic fitness, and speed are all vital components used in ice hockey. Core strength and power are part of the game, but so is lower body power and lower body strength.
Curling
Invented: 1541 in Scotland, currently most popular in Canada
Olympic History: Became an official Olympic event in 2002 after many years as a demo sport; Its debut was in 1924 in Chamonix; Great Britain and Sweden are the only countries that have appeared in every Olympic Curling event since 1924 (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
Most Medals: Canada (10). The U.S. has one medal (bronze), which was won in Turin, Italy in 2006 by the men.
The Big Three: Canada, Sweden, Great Britain
Main Equipment Used: granite stone, curling broom, slider shoes (Teflon sole), non-sliding shoe (for the thrower)
Curling, "chess on ice", is similar to shuffleboard, billiards, and bowls but played on ice. You may think that this sport is boring, but it is not. It's fun, strategic, and challenging. In short, the object is to be king of the ice. Your curling stones need to be closer to the center dot, "the button" at the other end of the ice sheet inside "the house", which is the part that resembles a bullseye. The closer to the button, the more points garnered for your team. Each team of four players receives eight stones to throw. The thrower typically uses the curling broom for balance while sliding the stone down the ice. The two sweepers serve to guide the stone down the ice, helping it curve and increase speed. Picture sweeping to decrease friction. But, do not touch a moving stone since that is a penalty. Confessing to touching a stone is the sportsmanship way to go in curling.It is possible to have a curling game end up as unwinnable. In the delivery of the curling stone, the captain of the team known as, the skip, will call out the velocity, line, and turn of the stone. So, if you watched curling this Olympics, then you probably saw someone talking as they threw the stone. Let's affectionately call him or her, "Skipper". The vice skip takes over the instructions when the skip is throwing.
A curling athlete needs balance and flexibility to effectively operate on the ice. You cannot be stiff when throwing a stone down the line.
Bobsled/Bobsleigh
Most Dominant Team: Germany for 4-man and 2-man bobsled; Germany and USA for 2-woman bobsled.
Most Medals: Germany (40 combined)
Olympic Debut: 1924 Chamonix Olympic Games (no country has been in all of the games)
The Big Three: Germany, Swiss, USA (back in the day, this event was USA dominant)
No, this event is not Santa's extreme sport. Bobsled has its roots in the 1870's in St. Moritz, Switzerland where the first tracks were built. Get these stats: tracks are made of concrete and coated with ice, stand 1,200 to 1,300 meters long (that's three to three and quarter times around a track and field), speeds amass 150km (93 mph), athletes experience 5g forces with high degree bank turns and directional turns (270 and 180 degrees respectively). Wow! Would anyone like to try it? Lake Placid and Salt Lake City offer rides.
The bobsleigh (love that word) athlete needs power at the start. Starting off well is crucial in addition to steering the bobsleigh around the turns.
Biathlon
Olympic Debut: 1924 Chamonix
Most Medals: Germany (43)
The Big Three: Germany, Norway, Russia
Norway might have coined the term around 1861. But, Germany dominates the medals. Cross country skiing is a large part of Norwegian exercise, and this sport, which combines shooting, used to be referred to as "military patrol" in the Olympics. Biathletes compete at the Individual (men = 20km, women = 15km), Sprint (10km, 7.5km), Mass Start (15km, 12.5km), Relay (7.5km, 6km), Mixed Relay (7.5km, 6km), and Team events. Shots are fired with a bore rifle and are attempted in prone position (targets are 45mm wide) or in standing (targets are 115mm wide). The biathlete needs to be in tremendous shape to execute this sport effectively. As cross-country skiers, they amass some of the largest VO2 max capacities out of any sport. If you want to go aerobic, then cross-country ski. Balance, aerobic fitness, flexibility, muscle endurance are huge characteristics of...the biathlon.
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, CSCS www.tee,pt.com TEEM Performance Training
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