Hey Team,
Take a peek at the video below of Australian sprint cyclist Shane Perkins. It’s a pretty neat view into the fine tuning of a very high performing athlete. Note the attention to detail and the support that he has to get to his best performance.
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnzPNUfLncw’]
Now turn that same lens onto yourself and your health and performance. We may not want to achieve incredibly high levels of performance but we should be striving for maximum health. Think about the support crew that you have around you that is helping (or hindering) your pursuit of optimum vitality.
Are there things that you should be doing that you aren’t? Are you training well but eating or sleeping poorly? Are you proactive with things like medical treatment and body upkeep?
I know I can improve in some areas and I feel that optimum health will escape me until I do… what are your thoughts?
Turts
Today’s Workout
Buy-in: Full warm-up prior to class – and include some rolling/massage ball – does the addition of this make you feel better to take on the WOD?
WOD: “Block Rock”
NOT for time (but maintain a steady pace at around 80% effort throughout):
4 rounds of –
- 500m run
- 12 KB/DB presses per arm (35/55 – no leg drive, body lean is okay)
- 12 ring rows (chest to hands each rep, body parallel with ground, PLEASE quality reps!)
- 12 toes to bar
- end the whole workout with one last 500m run (you will do 5 x 500m runs in total!)
Zone 2 – scale run to 400m, presses and ring rows as needed, sub double crunch for ttb
Zone 1 – scale workout as needed
Cash-Out: Group stretch
no time because it is going to take an hour?
ooops take ME an hour?
Hmmm… lots to say on this topic so I’ll try not to write a novel…
Definitely the 2-5 hrs spent in the gym each week are the tip of the health iceberg. In fact, it’s very likely that quality food and sleep are much more important than getting another wod in each week.
One thing a lot of people forget to think about is the little chronic stressors in their lives which take their toll. Some of these can’t be avoided but many can if health is a priority.
Another huge factor is the importance of family/social ties (which is why going to train at a place like the zone is much more valuable than merely throwing some barbells around)… aren’t there studies that show that pack-a-day smokers with solid social networks are much less likely to get cancer? I think the social aspect of health is worth thinking about. The desire to be healthy and avoid alcohol/gluten can lead to never leaving the house (what do you do on friday night if you’re not getting drunk and crushing entire pizzas??)… striving for “health” can make you a bit neurotic and become a stressor rather than a healthy choice. i guess the key is to learn how to have a good time without booze… and if anyone has figured this one out please let me know!!
Very cool video. It’s interesting to think about how far each of us could go if we had that kind of team of sports and nutrition experts behind us! The possibilities may not be endless, but they may be pretty close!
Mike: good time without booze = bbq, poker, frisbee and trampolines. It’s a tried and true combination.
I just realized that I don’t hang out with Sarah W enough… that sounds like my kind of good time.
Haha interesting thoughts gang…
Definitely the social aspect of health is one that can be easily overlooked in busy lives… a positive and supportive group of freinds/family can easily enhance well-being and decrease stress.
I find the one thing I’m trying to do better is being proactive and putting the appropriate priority on things that will not only help me now but also in the future.
Keeping a log of my daily habits of sleep, nutrition, training, and work stress has helped a lot and revealed the areas that need work.
Mike, am I sensing the need for an intervention here 😉 ? I’m sure bbq + frisbee would heal your soul as Sarah suggests 🙂
Cam
I miss the family <3 hugs all around