MASSAGE FOR POST-RUN RECOVERY
We know we just talked about it, but now that marathon season is fully in swing, we thought this information could bear to be repeated! Make sure you aren’t burning out and that you are taking the time you need to recover as we head into this busy summer! Remember, your recovery is just as (if not sometimes MORE important) than your training!
MASSAGE FOR POST-RUN RECOVERY
Massage therapy is regarded as one of the most important aspects of an athlete’s training arsenal due to its use as preventative maintenance and assistance in recovery. It’s not just viewed as a luxury but as a necessity for athletes or people who live an active lifestyle.
How can a post-event massage help, and what are the benefits? What should you expect from your session?
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST 5K
You just finished training for your first 5 K. It’s race day! You’re excited and a bit nervous. What should you expect? Here is some guidance from an old runner about what to look for on race day.
RUNNING & STRENGTH TRAINING
Most runners love running because it’s easy to put on some running shoes and just hit the street. Or running trail. Or treadmill. But what about running and strength training? Do you really need to lift weights to become a better runner? What about if you are training for a race?
WHY DO YOU RUN?
If you recently signed up for a 5k, you may or may not be entirely sure why you signed up for the race. Understanding why you chose to run can help motivate you on days you don’t want to and give you direction for your training. I challenge you to answer these questions honestly about why you are choosing to put yourself through this challenge. Get out a notebook or jot these answers down in your notes app to see why you’re really in the race!
MENOPAUSE & EXERCISE
Most women will start to experience menopause between 45 and 55 years of age. It’s a normal part of ageing. But with that process comes change. Levels of the hormone estrogen begin to fall as the ovaries stop releasing eggs to get fertilized. Menstrual cycles or periods can become more irregular. The time from when that process begins and for a year after a woman’s final period happens is called ‘perimenopause.’ But how should you be exercising during this time?
JANUARY’S TRAINER TIPS
Missed out on our trainers' valuable tips this month? No worries! We've got you covered with a quick roundup of some noteworthy insights shared by our fitness experts at Pitt Fit Project. Here are a few highlights from our IG account: @pittfitproject.
MAXIMAL ATTEMPTS: MENTAL & PHYSICAL APPROACH
You have finally reached the point in your program where you’ll be taking maximal attempts. Whether these are snatches and clean and jerks or bench presses, squats, and deadlifts, they will no doubt challenge what you have worked for up until this point. Maximal attempts are just that, they call for us to exert both our reserve of strength as well as require the highest level of technique and precision that we can muster at that moment. Not only are our physical capabilities challenged but our mental capacity to focus and overcome what is in front of us. It is, without a doubt, extremely difficult but you are more than capable of doing so.
TEEN WEIGHTLIFTING AT PFP BARBELL
The Teen Weightlifting Program at PFP Barbell is designed to introduce teens to barbell exercises and movement in a safe, positive, and supportive environment.
VARIATION IN TRAINING: WHY DO IT?
One of the main reasons people start training/exercising is because it can be fun and challenging. There comes a certain point when you do the same things over and over they can become boring and unfulfilling. This usually leads to people dropping exercise altogether or resorting to making changes with no real plan for why. Another phenomenon that occurs is called the law of accommodation. This basically states that our bodies will eventually adjust to the stimulus we enact on them and that in order to see results, we must keep challenging it. Although, how much change is enough?
PROGRESS TRACKING: WHERE TO NEXT?
We’re moving into spring, and the first portion of your new training plan is done. You’re about to start the next part, but you are unsure how to quantify what you’ve done and how to progress to the next portion of it. There are a number of ways to determine the quantity and magnitude of your training over time. Setting yourself up properly for the future can be difficult without tracking because how can you discern what is too much or too little?
HYPERTROPHIC TRAINING: SIZE IS THE PRIZE
If you want to have a larger amount of muscle mass, you need to undergo hypertrophic training. Hypertrophy is the process of muscle cell growth through resistance training. Exercise/training is a process that causes stress and damage to our muscles. When we recover through sleep, hydration, and eating, our muscles repair themselves and increase in mass.