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7924 3rd Ave Brooklyn, NY 11209 (718) 238 4935 Fax: (718) 238 4936 Mike, prop. |
• Hey, who do you think you are? Know what kind of athlete you are before
signing up for a race. If you excel at short sprints but run out of steam at mile 5,
then take advantage of your natural ability to go short and fast, sign up for all the
local 5k’s (3.1 miles) and make room for a trophy shelf in your home.
• Don’t “Just Do” anything! Time is a factor when training, it seems more of us
lack extra free time, so why waste a work out with an “ehh, I’m just going to go for
a run” plan? Attack every workout with a purpose: Instead, say: Today I am going
to do a 45 minute tempo run in between 15 minutes of drills, a warm up and a cool
down. Today I am going to work on stroke efficiency during quarter mile repeats
instead of “just grabbing a swim”. Today I am going to focus on my cadence during
hill repeats instead of “just going for a ride”.
• You little sneak! You remember putting a thumb tack on your substitute
teacher’s chair? You sneaky little…! Well, in sports, it is good to still be a little sharp,
sharp like that thump tack. So instead of going around telling everyone how you are
going to attack the course, why not keep that to yourself? Sneak up on the course
and your competition. Besides, this will save you the shame and embarrassment if
you broadcast your plan and it fails. Let your strategy be yours for you, not for
everyone else to hear.
• Practice makes perfect! It’s summer time. So if you plan on racing in this heat,
then so should be your training. Stop going to the gym’s treadmill for the air
conditioning. Bask or bake in the sun to help prepare your body and mind for your
race course. Remember to hydrate, take in some extra salts, wear a cap, put on
some shades and lather up the sunscreen. Being a prepared athlete makes the
difference between having a race day PR and feeling like a piece of bubble gum stuck
to the side walk.
• Race like a kid, not your age! Remember when you were a kid and nothing
about the weather affected you? It never snowed too much, rain never really ruined
anything, and the sun and the heat never, I mean never was a complaint in your
childhood. If anything, it was your power source almost like Birdman (I know you
remember that cheesy cartoon too). But as we grow older, the weather, can be one
of life’s little complaints. “Oh darn! I can’t run today, it’s too hot”. Well kiddo, it is
too hot, too hot baby, are you gonna run for shelter, are you gonna run for shade.
Or will you welcome the extra sunshine and power up a few more times like Birdman?
• Blind folded! I know I must have wrote this once before, but so very vital, it
is worth a second type. KNOW THY COURSE! There is nothing better than knowing
the lay of the land before showing up on race day to a course. I will use myself for
an example. The Queens Half Marathon. I signed up thinking about the patch I
would receive if I did all 5 half marathons, but did I ever see the Queens course, take
a ride out there to run it? No, and because I didn’t, my legs and mind suffered every
agonizing twist and turn of this ugly race (yes, I say ugly because by the design of
the course, there is no way a runner designed it). Sure I got my patch but finishing
strong, healthy, and with my tail wagging in the wind would have been much more
satisfying.
• "Tha's all I can stands, and I can't stands no more!" You guys remember
Popeye, right? Not the Chicken shack, but the first lovable character that taught us
in his strange way to eat our spinach. So, what does Popeye and you have in
common this race season? Right! Don’t forget to eat healthy all season long. Ok we
get it, Hot Dogs are so good off the grill, but are you preparing for a race or trying
to compete against Joey Chestnut? Remember to see food as fuel for your next big
event, save the dogs and brew for the reward meal!
• Never get flat! This applies to all the cyclists and triathletes reading this. Do
your tires need a lot of air each time you go for a ride or does one or two pumps
work? If you answered yes to the first part of the question, then that is an
indication that you are not riding your bike enough. So if your tires get flat in the
garage, guess what, so will your training. So get pumped and stay on your horse 3
times a week, even if it is a short 30 minute ride, always be on your horse, it will
treat you kindly on race day.
• Entourage! Not the show on HBO, but your entourage? Who are you bringing
to your half Ironman? Who will be waiting for you at the end of the NYC marathon?
Who is meeting you at the Hoban BBQ? I ask because, most of the time, these are
the most important people in our lives, so, even if you feel like you hit the wall,
finish strong for them. They patiently waited, maybe they met you on the course
and passed you a cut orange or gave you your favorite GU. Maybe they are cheering
“Go Mom!” “You get them babe!” “Yo Bro, I got a Heineken with your name on it”.
Well, who ever they are and what ever they are cheering, let them see you shine, let
them be joyful to hug your sweaty body and congratulate you. Your world is
watching, what do you want them to see: the thrill of victory, or the agony of
defeat?”
I hope you enjoyed some of these practical tips, feel free to email any ides or tips to
share.
signing up for a race. If you excel at short sprints but run out of steam at mile 5,
then take advantage of your natural ability to go short and fast, sign up for all the
local 5k’s (3.1 miles) and make room for a trophy shelf in your home.
• Don’t “Just Do” anything! Time is a factor when training, it seems more of us
lack extra free time, so why waste a work out with an “ehh, I’m just going to go for
a run” plan? Attack every workout with a purpose: Instead, say: Today I am going
to do a 45 minute tempo run in between 15 minutes of drills, a warm up and a cool
down. Today I am going to work on stroke efficiency during quarter mile repeats
instead of “just grabbing a swim”. Today I am going to focus on my cadence during
hill repeats instead of “just going for a ride”.
• You little sneak! You remember putting a thumb tack on your substitute
teacher’s chair? You sneaky little…! Well, in sports, it is good to still be a little sharp,
sharp like that thump tack. So instead of going around telling everyone how you are
going to attack the course, why not keep that to yourself? Sneak up on the course
and your competition. Besides, this will save you the shame and embarrassment if
you broadcast your plan and it fails. Let your strategy be yours for you, not for
everyone else to hear.
• Practice makes perfect! It’s summer time. So if you plan on racing in this heat,
then so should be your training. Stop going to the gym’s treadmill for the air
conditioning. Bask or bake in the sun to help prepare your body and mind for your
race course. Remember to hydrate, take in some extra salts, wear a cap, put on
some shades and lather up the sunscreen. Being a prepared athlete makes the
difference between having a race day PR and feeling like a piece of bubble gum stuck
to the side walk.
• Race like a kid, not your age! Remember when you were a kid and nothing
about the weather affected you? It never snowed too much, rain never really ruined
anything, and the sun and the heat never, I mean never was a complaint in your
childhood. If anything, it was your power source almost like Birdman (I know you
remember that cheesy cartoon too). But as we grow older, the weather, can be one
of life’s little complaints. “Oh darn! I can’t run today, it’s too hot”. Well kiddo, it is
too hot, too hot baby, are you gonna run for shelter, are you gonna run for shade.
Or will you welcome the extra sunshine and power up a few more times like Birdman?
• Blind folded! I know I must have wrote this once before, but so very vital, it
is worth a second type. KNOW THY COURSE! There is nothing better than knowing
the lay of the land before showing up on race day to a course. I will use myself for
an example. The Queens Half Marathon. I signed up thinking about the patch I
would receive if I did all 5 half marathons, but did I ever see the Queens course, take
a ride out there to run it? No, and because I didn’t, my legs and mind suffered every
agonizing twist and turn of this ugly race (yes, I say ugly because by the design of
the course, there is no way a runner designed it). Sure I got my patch but finishing
strong, healthy, and with my tail wagging in the wind would have been much more
satisfying.
• "Tha's all I can stands, and I can't stands no more!" You guys remember
Popeye, right? Not the Chicken shack, but the first lovable character that taught us
in his strange way to eat our spinach. So, what does Popeye and you have in
common this race season? Right! Don’t forget to eat healthy all season long. Ok we
get it, Hot Dogs are so good off the grill, but are you preparing for a race or trying
to compete against Joey Chestnut? Remember to see food as fuel for your next big
event, save the dogs and brew for the reward meal!
• Never get flat! This applies to all the cyclists and triathletes reading this. Do
your tires need a lot of air each time you go for a ride or does one or two pumps
work? If you answered yes to the first part of the question, then that is an
indication that you are not riding your bike enough. So if your tires get flat in the
garage, guess what, so will your training. So get pumped and stay on your horse 3
times a week, even if it is a short 30 minute ride, always be on your horse, it will
treat you kindly on race day.
• Entourage! Not the show on HBO, but your entourage? Who are you bringing
to your half Ironman? Who will be waiting for you at the end of the NYC marathon?
Who is meeting you at the Hoban BBQ? I ask because, most of the time, these are
the most important people in our lives, so, even if you feel like you hit the wall,
finish strong for them. They patiently waited, maybe they met you on the course
and passed you a cut orange or gave you your favorite GU. Maybe they are cheering
“Go Mom!” “You get them babe!” “Yo Bro, I got a Heineken with your name on it”.
Well, who ever they are and what ever they are cheering, let them see you shine, let
them be joyful to hug your sweaty body and congratulate you. Your world is
watching, what do you want them to see: the thrill of victory, or the agony of
defeat?”
I hope you enjoyed some of these practical tips, feel free to email any ides or tips to
share.
| 7924 3rd Ave Brooklyn, NY 11209 (718) 238 4935 Fax: (718) 238 4936 Store Hours Monday-Friday 11A.M - 7P.M Saturday- 10A.M - 6P.M Sunday- 11A.M - 5P.M |
| Hey Babe, Take a walk on the Competitive Side (Hints and tips to getting and staying competitive during race season) This is your season! Each summer season, those athletes that race, race hard, sprinting to the finish line. Even the first time racers say "I just want to finish, but I don't want to be the last one". So, it seems, more of us are way more competitive than we think. So, here are some T&R tips to give you the upper hand, the ace up your sleeve, that competitive edge this summer! |