Jun

10

Eating Right for Long Workouts

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The New York Times article, Real Thought for Food for Long Workouts, published June 5, 2008, discusses how the body recovers from long workouts. Some interesting points from the article:

  • “During exercise, muscles stop the biochemical reactions used to maintain themselves such as replacing and resynthesizing the proteins needed for day to day activities. It’s not that exercise is damaging your muscles; it’s that they halt the maintenance process until exercise is over.”
  • Muscles don’t need much protein — a 176 pound man would only need about 20 grams after a long workout.
  • Muscles don’t need many carbohydrates either: only about 1 gram for every kilogram of body weight.
  • The two hours after the workout is the best time to replenish protein; the 4 hours after is the best time for carbs.
  • “Although studies by Dr. Jeukendrup and several others have shown that consuming protein after exercise speeds up muscle protein synthesis, no one has shown that that translates into improved performance. The reason, Dr. Jeukendrup said, is that effects on performance, if they occur, won’t happen immediately. They can take 6 to 10 weeks of training. That makes it very hard to design and carry out studies to see if athletes really do improve if they consume protein after they exercise.”

Interesting stuff for those who swear by protein shakes and PowerBars.

Jun

9

Day Dreamers

Filed Under Quote, Running, Training | Leave a Comment

Setting goals is an important part of running. Any runner should have goals that they want to reach whether they run for competition, for fitness, or for fun.

An article I read recently on setting goals (found here) had some excellent tips for goal setting. I have copied the main points of the article below.

  1. Set specific and measurable goals.
  2. Set goals that are challenging yet achievable.
  3. The fitter you already are, the less you will improve.
  4. Do not expect quick results.
  5. State your goal in terms of performance rather than outcome.

This is some excellent advice, but they forgot to mention in the article to write your goals down. If you do not write them down they will be easily forgotten and not completed.

After setting your goals, follow them through to the end! If you set your goals and do not follow them through, your goals will not be effective. All it is is common sense!

Here is a quote about dreams:

“Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that all was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, and make it possible.”

-T.E. Lawrence

Please curious runners, set goals and achieve the impossible. Dream with your eyes open.

Jun

2

Triathlon Training

Filed Under Miscellaneous, News, Running, Training | 1 Comment

For peak performance, 3 is not better than 1

This is an interesting article from the New York Times about training for triathlons. The article discusses the pros and cons of training for 3 different sports at the same time.

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    • Jacob Taylor at the Camelsback Classic 2009

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      This is where I write about running, training, races, and anything else running related. Because I run for Mountain View High School I may write about my team and opposing teams in the Treasure Valley. Everything written in this blog is my personal opinion and does not reflect the views of my coaches, my teammates, or my school.