Looking At : Mar 24, 2013

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Weekly summary
Tags : assistance device, Google+, links, music, running, studies & trials

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Forums and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

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Looking At : Mar 17, 2013

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Weekly summary
Tags : fitness device, Google+, injury, links, longevity, posture, running, studies & trials

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Forums and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

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Looking At : Jan 27, 2013

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Weekly summary
Tags : fitness device, Google+, links, longevity, memory, running, sleep, still got it, studies & trials, triglycerides, vaccination

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Forums and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

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Aerobic Exercise. When is it Too Much?

by 'Captain' Kirk Fontaine
Filed in : Articles
Tags : climbing, conditioning, photography, running

The holidays are fast approaching and it is getting the time of season where occasional fitness enthusiasts and weekend warriors are focusing on shedding those holiday pounds. Aerobic exercise is just one of the ways to do just that.
Done in moderation and on a regular schedule, aerobic exercise provides significant cardiorespiratory benefits; as well as enhancing our immune response to combat many major diseases and illnesses. So what happens when you do a little too much?

In terms of exercise in general, excessive reliance upon the act of exercising is termed exercise dependence. According to Hamer and Karageorghis (3), it is characterized by an obsessive and unhealthy preoccupation with exercise. Research has focused largely on the behavioral aspect of it but little research has been done on the biological process that takes place.

The Affect Regulation Model states that running serves as a positive feeling enhancer and a negative feeling enhancer. It focuses on two types of runners, one who runs to reduce their distress and one that runs to increase the positive feeling (3).

The research also shows the abstinence of running increases the negative feeling, which can only be alleviated with exercise - thereby reinforcing the need to exercise more.

Exercise Dependence can also disrupt social relationships that indirectly affect psychological health.

Based on the DSM IV categorisation, exercise dependence was found to have the same characteristics as drug dependence. These include tolerance, withdrawal symptoms from complete cessation of an exercise routine, and lack of control - an intense need or want to exercise beyond what is considered normal and routine (1).

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Looking At : Sep 23, 2012

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Weekly summary
Tags : conditioning, genetics, gymchats, links, music, photography, running, still got it, studies & trials

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Forums and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

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Gymchat 185 - Training for Marathons & Triathlons (with Chas Melichar)

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Gymchats (formerly twitterchats)
Tags : cycling, photography, running, swimming

This week we'll be discussing both marathons and triathlons, together with Kirk Fontaine and Chas Melichar. See you there.


NB : if this is your first Gymchat, welcome. Just head over to the URL noted below, and join the hangout. We'll be starting at 9pm EST on Wednesday.


Details -

Who Ultrarunner, airline captain and insanely competitive triathlete, Chas Melichar
Topic : Training for Marathons & Triathlons
When : Wed Sep 19, 9pm EST (here's how to find out when that is in your timezone)
How : Google+ Hangout. Follow either Kirk or Scott for details on the live feed.

See you there.

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Gymchat 182 - Exercise and Aging

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Gymchats (formerly twitterchats)
Tags : running, still got it

A Quick Invitation : this week we'll be talking about an area that impacts all of us in very subtle ways - Exercise and Aging. See you there.

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As we live longer and longer, the active part of that - the healthspan, if you like - also grows.

One of the outcomes from this is that people are now beginning their own strength-training journeys at a variety of ages - it's entirely reasonable to begin at age 8 or 80; or anything inbetween.

This week we're taking a close look this 'training at any age' philosophy. If you're already in your 50s/70s/90s or beyond, how do you start? What sorts of things should you - and could you - be doing?

And for those of us that haven't quite reached those points yet, how do we make sure we're still ready for the heavy stuff when we get there?

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Personal Trainer Kirk Fontaine. Fantastic.

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Gymchat 179 - Interval Training

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Gymchats (formerly twitterchats)
Tags : brain, conditioning, Goal Setting, interval training, photography, running

A Quick Invitation : in this week's gymchat we'll be talking about a fantastic approach to working out, Interval Training. What it is, how it works and the many ways to help it become part of your own routines.

See you there.

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There are many, many ways to get your sweat on. Not to mention recycling the air in the room.


One of the most popular - particularly when it comes to conditioning work - is some form of Interval Training. Running, punching, skipping and so on.

Of course, there's a lot more to it than simply adjusting the length of your rest breaks. This week we're exploring interval work of all kinds; what it is and how to make it work for you.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than the Cube Dweller Fitness Guy himself, Troy Pesola. Fantastic.

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Gymchat 178 - Exercise and the Brain

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Gymchats (formerly twitterchats)
Tags : brain, cycling, injury, memory, music, running, studies & trials

A Quick Invitation : in this week's gymchat we'll be talking about a fascinating area, the many ways that a dose of exercise can help modify the brain. To improve memory, increase IQ and a whole lot more.

See you there.

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As you're no doubt aware, a regular dose of exercise has many, many benefits.


This week we're taking a look at just one of those; an aspect of physical fitness that's often overlooked. The impact of exercise on the brain.

What happens to the brain during periods of exercise, and during recovery? How can you adjust your own fitness regime (and your lifestyle in general) in order to maximise these benefits? From the other side of things, can you use a regular dose of exercise to help heal the brain after an injury? Improve memory? Increase IQ?

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than personal trainer Kirk Fontaine. Fantastic.

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Looking At : Jul 15, 2012

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Weekly summary
Tags : bodybuilding, brain, links, photography, quantified self, running, still got it, studies & trials

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Forums and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

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Looking At : Jun 17, 2012

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Weekly summary
Tags : back pain, conditioning, links, photography, running, still got it, studies & trials

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Forums and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

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Looking At : Jun 10, 2012

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Weekly summary
Tags : brain, links, photography, quantified self, running, still got it, studies & trials

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Forums and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

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Looking At : May 20, 2012

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Weekly summary
Tags : climbing, conditioning, links, pain, photography, running, still got it

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Forums and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

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A Word of Advice for Training : The Importance of Fundamentals

by Justin Andrushko
Filed in : Articles
Tags : conditioning, photography, running, training

Over the past week or so I have gotten into a groove of watching youtube videos of strength and conditioning coaches training their athletes. One thing that has come to my attention is that in this day and age of training with all the "innovative training" and "functional training" methods out on the market today, it has really taken away from the fundamental development of athletes. What I mean by this is that trainers have outfitted their gyms with all these new training tools/fancy toys that supposedly give them an advantage over the competitors.

However, I see these tools becoming the standard to training which is extremely concerning for me considering that the use of these tools takes away from building a solid foundation of movement and strength.

If you are unsure about what I am writing about I will give you an example; the use of sleds, parachutes and other resistance running or even accelerated running tools on the market today should NOT be used on athletes that still need to learn how to run! You do not need anything but space to teach an athlete how to run properly, and even run an effective training session that will have excellent results. The truth is, only a very small percentage of people become 'experts' in movement (running, lateral movement, etc) and until someone becomes an expert the growth, development, and improvement of an athlete's running mechanics can and will improve immensely with just the training without the use of any tools.

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Mizuno Wave Enigma Running Shoes Review

by Bill 'Body By Long' Long
Filed in : Equipment
Tags : endurance, running, shoes

I've been gone training for a while but I've got a great new pair of shoes for you guys to try out if you're in to running. I got a pair of Mizuno's brand new line of shoes the Wave Enigma.
These shoes are the newest member of Mizuno's neutral collection and are Smooth Ride Engineered with a blown rubber forefoot outsole design for cushioning and flexibility. These just came out July 5th and I have been using them since. I have a gait that makes me land midsole of my foot and I've been running a lot lately at long distances in an attempt to run my first competitive half marathon. I must say I was skeptical of the amount of cushion on this shoe since I have been running in my Nike Free 7.0 and my Vibram 5 finger's. I've never even owned a pair of Mizuno running shoes! But I decided why not try out these state of the art cushioned shoes and run 13+ miles in them and see how I feel.

I eased into them by first running 3 miles the first day in them. Felt a little stiff, but not to bad. Then as the days continued I ran further with 5, 7, 10 miles on them I began to feel them break in nicely after about 2 weeks of running in them. I then picked up the amount of miles I ran in them to 30 and 40 miles a week. I mostly ran on hard ball roads (concrete) but did manage to venture off the beaten path and run some trails in them. My first thought was the amount of cushioning may cause me to roll an ankle on the uneven terrain, but things went just fine and felt great!

The science behind the shoe is that it is for the neutral gait runner and is able to go high mileage without losing support. The Enigmas have a full length Parallel Wave Plate, AP+ and a blown rubber forefoot. The upper part of the shoe wrapping around the foot and ankle area is soft and has breathable mesh to allow your feet to stay dry on those high mileage hot runs! With the flexible rubber and breathable mesh the shoe flexes and moves the way your foot moves. So you don't have to worry about the Wave Enigma causing you to run like you have bricks on your feet!

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7 Health & Fitness Monitoring Devices

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Articles
Tags : conditioning, fitness device, quantified self, running, sleep

This week we'll be holding part II of the 'Future of Fitness' twitterchat (if you missed Part I, there's a brief summary here).
Ahead of the discussion - which will be featuring the insights of Personal Trainer Kirk Fontaine - I've compiled a list of several relevant gadgets that are currently on the market. I invite you to leave a comment below, and tell us about your own experiences with them (and any others that you've come across); and to join us for the twitterchat. Really looking forward to it.

In the meantime, here's a brief look at 7 Health & Fitness Monitoring Devices.

Nike+ GPS

The original Nike+ was essentially a wireless pedometer, specifically designed for running enthusiasts. Embedded in the shoes, it passed information to an iPod or iPhone which was worn by the runner.

The Nike+ GPS uses the phone's GPS to provide similar information - quite accurately - with your own choice of footwear.


Note that if you're not using an iPhone, you're limited to the original Nike+ system (using an iPod as your display), with much the same information being tracked - running duration, distance, calorific expenditure and so on.

Runkeeper

RunKeeper provides similar information to the Nike+, again using the 'phone's GPS. This includes the distance run, time taken and average speed; with the whole lot plotted on a map.


And as with the Nike+ offering, your daily running details can be tracked in your profile; and shared with your friends.

FitBit

FitBit is a small clip-on device, based around an accelerometer, that monitors your physical movements throughout the day. This data is used to provide feedback on your sleep patterns, exercise habits and a whole lot more.


The FitBit is wirlessly linked to a USB basestation, and whenever you're within range (currently about 15') it'll upload your latest data to an online profile. This lets you see long-term trends, and make adjustments accordingly.

What's more, it's deeply integrated with some of the other products listed here; particularly RunKeeper. And a freely available API will doubtless see many others following shortly.

Jawbone's 'Up' Wristband

Although it won't be released until next year, Jawbone's 'Up' Wristband looks to provide similar functionality to the FitBit. No screens, wear it all day - nice and simple.

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Review : Vibram FiveFingers

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Reviews
Tags : running, whey, workout clothing

I absolutely love these.

When it comes to footwear for training, the Vibram FiveFingers are ideal. Not only are they flat (and the absence of a heel will have an immediate impact by itself), they encourage your feet to really engage themselves in the running, lifting and climbing.

It really is like a controlled barefoot training session.

Once your feet become used to them (and this could take hours, days or weeks depending on your current footwear), there are several long-term benefits. Improved posture, balance and so on. It really does get better and better.

Where To Get Them

This is one type of footwear that I'm entirely happy buying online. The sizing depends on the length of the foot (details here), and is flexible enough to cope with minor variations from person to person.

In Australia, they're available from :

Professional Whey

NB : this is where I bought mine, and the service is superb. Overnight delivery; no problems at all.

In the US, swing by the main Vibram Five Fingers site. I've also received good feedback on stores like Kayak, and of course, Amazon.

Outside these countries, your best bet is either a local shoe store, or a major online retailer (such as Amazon, or the main Vibram site). Whatever your experiences, I'd love to hear them.

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Beach Sprints

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : photos
Tags : endurance, running

A bit of beach action at CrossFit Endurance. Nice one.

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Running in the Rain

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : photos
Tags : running

Via CrossFit Endurance : who needs umbrellas when there are bumper plates?

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Blast from the Past : Unusual Equipment - Treadmills

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Blast from the Past
Tags : abdominal, conditioning, running, treadmill

Over the past five years this site's amassed an enormous amount of content. To help you find the highlights, I'll be taking a wander through the archives each Sunday.
This week - Unusual Equipment - Treadmills.

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There's certainly some unusual workout equipment on the market (just take a look at the many varieties of rowed tricycles), and treadmills are no exception. Here are a few of the more creative versions we've looked at over the years :

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