in Strength, conditioning and flexibility
If you want to improve performance, the cardinal rule is: be more specific Your best gains in performance will be achieved when key parts of your training closely mimic what you do when you compete. To put it another way, the more specific your training, the greater the impact of your training on your performances.... MORE
in Strength, conditioning and flexibility
Most runners think that strength training routines are something carried out in a weight room or gym utilising various pieces of equipment (barbells, dumbbells, weight machines) Most runners think that strength training routines are something carried out in a weight room or gym utilising various pieces of equipment (barbells, dumbbells, weight machines, etc.). However, the... MORE
in Strength, conditioning and flexibility
A safer alternative for back strengthening Often strength athletes overemphasise ‘quad dominant’ exercises such as squats, leg presses and step ups, neglecting posterior chain exercises that work the lower back and hamstrings. Chris Mallac looks at a safe and effective way of redressing this balance – the Romanian deadlift.The Romanian deadlift (RDL) is not a... MORE
in Strength, conditioning and flexibility
Certain squat variations have much to offer power and strength athletes Squats are one of the toughest exercises in the gym, but as James Marshall, explains, certain squat variations have much to offer power and strength athletes.Speed, acceleration and power are vital for many track and field events as well as numerous other sports. And... MORE
in Strength, conditioning and flexibility
Olympic lifts: increase your strength and power I’m a firm believer in the benefits of the Olympic lifts and their variants as being of real importance for sportsmen and sportswomen, despite some recent criticisms of them – of which more later. In this article I outline six benefits of the Olympic lifts plus three variation... MORE
in Strength, conditioning and flexibility
There’s increasing evidence that stretching before exercise doesn’t improve performance or reduce injury risk There’s increasing evidence that stretching before exercise doesn’t improve performance or reduce injury risk. And the most comprehensive review of its kind concluded that flexibility training has no known health benefits(1). Gary O’Donovan presents the evidence to help you decide if... MORE
in Strength, conditioning and flexibility
Triathlon may be the ultimate test of cardiovascular endurance, but triathletes who neglect musculoskeletal strength and flexibility will never fulfill their true potential Triathlon is an endurance sport consisting of swimming, cycling and running over various distances. In most modern triathlons, these events are placed back-to-back in immediate sequence, and a competitor’s official time includes... MORE
in Strength, conditioning and flexibility
Warming up for strength training The need for strength in sports is now generally accepted. I have witnessed mediocre teams and individuals in field sports and other events improve quite dramatically by adopting a structured strength programme. Whether at elite or recreational level, a strength training programme should be planned and implemented according to sound... MORE
in Strength, conditioning and flexibility
The strength preparation phase of training The need for strength in sports is now generally accepted. I have witnessed mediocre teams and individuals in field sports and other events improve quite dramatically by adopting a structured strength programme. Whether at elite or recreational level, a strength training programme should be planned and implemented according to... MORE
in Strength, conditioning and flexibility
The traditional methods of resistance training might not be the most effective way to increase strength For thousands of years, athletes have used resistance training to increase their strength and performance. But as Keith Baar and Mike Gittleson explain, recent scientific advances suggest that the traditional methods of resistance training might not be the most... MORE