Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Blame by Michele Huneven
Losing Mum and Pop by Christopher Buckley
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
Some Things that meant the World to me by Joshua Mohr
The Invisible Mountain by Carolina de Robertis
Strength in what Remains by Tracy Kidder
The Bolter by Frances Osborne
Dreaming in Hindi by Katherine Russell Rich
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Fartlek - Thursday 10th December 2009
Did a fartlek of 6 rounds today, better than 5 rounds last time. Was able to sustain pace throughout the fartlek and in the last round, did a full sprinting. Heels are a problem, but manageable. total running time 46.26 mins.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Moving in Two Directions is Better Than Moving in One
http://menshealth.com/mhlists/body_weight_exercises/add_a_twist.php#ixzz0ZAaLHTO7
The science: Human movement occurs on three different geometric planes:
1. The sagittal plane, for front-to-back and up-and-down movements
2. The frontal plane, for side-to-side movements
3. The transverse plane, for rotational movements
Most weight-lifting movements—the bench press, squat, curl, lunge, and chinup, to name a few—are performed on the sagittal plane; the balance of exercises—for instance, the lateral lunge and side bend—occur almost entirely on the frontal plane. This means that most men rarely train their bodies on the transverse plane, despite using rotation constantly in everyday life, as well as in every sport. Case in point: walking. It's subtle, but your hips rotate with every step; in fact, watch a sprinter from behind and you'll see that his hips rotate almost 90 degrees. By adding a rotational component to any exercise, you'll automatically work more muscle—since you'll fully engage your core, as well as the original target muscles—and simultaneously build a better-performing body.
Apply it: Simply twist your torso to the right or left in exercises such as the lunge, situp, and pushup. You can also rotate your hips during movements such as the reverse crunch.
The science: Human movement occurs on three different geometric planes:
1. The sagittal plane, for front-to-back and up-and-down movements
2. The frontal plane, for side-to-side movements
3. The transverse plane, for rotational movements
Most weight-lifting movements—the bench press, squat, curl, lunge, and chinup, to name a few—are performed on the sagittal plane; the balance of exercises—for instance, the lateral lunge and side bend—occur almost entirely on the frontal plane. This means that most men rarely train their bodies on the transverse plane, despite using rotation constantly in everyday life, as well as in every sport. Case in point: walking. It's subtle, but your hips rotate with every step; in fact, watch a sprinter from behind and you'll see that his hips rotate almost 90 degrees. By adding a rotational component to any exercise, you'll automatically work more muscle—since you'll fully engage your core, as well as the original target muscles—and simultaneously build a better-performing body.
Apply it: Simply twist your torso to the right or left in exercises such as the lunge, situp, and pushup. You can also rotate your hips during movements such as the reverse crunch.
As Elastic Energy Decreases, Muscle Involvement Increases
http://menshealth.com/mhlists/body_weight_exercises/eliminate_bounce.php#ixzz0ZAa0UaQl
The science: When you lower your body during any exercise, you build up "elastic energy" in your muscles. Just like in a coiled spring, that elasticity allows you to "bounce" back to the starting position, reducing the work your muscles have to do. Eliminate the bounce and you'll force your body to recruit more muscle fibers to get you moving again. How? Pause for 4 seconds in the down position of an exercise. That's the amount of time it takes to discharge all the elastic energy of a muscle.
Apply it: Use the 4-second pause in any exercise. And give yourself an extra challenge by adding an explosive component, forcefully pushing your body off the floor—into the air as high as you can—during a pushup, lunge, or squat. Because you're generating maximum force without any help from elastic energy, you'll activate the greatest number of muscle fibers possible.
The science: When you lower your body during any exercise, you build up "elastic energy" in your muscles. Just like in a coiled spring, that elasticity allows you to "bounce" back to the starting position, reducing the work your muscles have to do. Eliminate the bounce and you'll force your body to recruit more muscle fibers to get you moving again. How? Pause for 4 seconds in the down position of an exercise. That's the amount of time it takes to discharge all the elastic energy of a muscle.
Apply it: Use the 4-second pause in any exercise. And give yourself an extra challenge by adding an explosive component, forcefully pushing your body off the floor—into the air as high as you can—during a pushup, lunge, or squat. Because you're generating maximum force without any help from elastic energy, you'll activate the greatest number of muscle fibers possible.
Easy Run - Wednesday, 9th December 2009
Did an easy run of 67.03 minutes today, easy pace, rhythm, breathing was okay.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Muscle Cramping
http://www.scientificamerican.com/askexpert/biology/biology64/>
Mark A W Andrews
Muscle cramping is a common problem encountered by athletes and nonathletes
alike. Defined as painful involuntary skeletal muscle contractions, cramps
may be categorized as either nonexercise related or exercise related. The
etiology of the former group may involve hormonal, electrolyte or metabolic
imbalances, or it may result from long-term medication. Diagnostic medical
testing may be required if cramps are a persistent problem. Exercise-related
muscle cramps (ERMC) are much more common. They typically affect the large
muscles of the legs during or immediately after exercise and last for seconds
to a few minutes. These are typically benign but result in intense pain and
may not seem innocuous at the time.
There is little definitive knowledge of the etiology of ERMC. Traditionally,
such cramping was believed to arise from dehydration, electrolyte imbalances
(including magnesium, potassium and sodium), accumulation of lactic acid, or
low cellular energy levels. These proposals, however, have been shown to have
minimal scientific value.
More recent developments indicate that the cause of cramps most likely
involves hyperactivity of the nerve-muscle reflex arc. In this scheme, some
of the normal inhibitory activity of the central nervous system (CNS)
reflexes is lost as a result of CNS fatigue or overuse of feedback
communication with muscles. These spinal reflexes use two receptors, known as
Golgi tendon organs and muscles spindles, found in skeletal muscles. Golgi
tendon organs may become inhibited and muscles spindles can become
hyperactive, leading to sustained activation of the muscle.
It has been suggested that prolonged sitting, poor or abnormal posture or
inefficient biomechanics (all of which may be related to poor flexibility)
predispose these reflexes to malfunctioning. Age also seems to predispose
individuals to cramping--the phenomenon may develop later in life for people
who exercise for years without prior problems. Other factors include
increased body weight and improper footwear. Eccentric muscle contraction and
other musculoskeletal injuries can contribute to the problem.
If a muscle's hyperexcitability is the basis of cramping, then stretching
should attenuate the response. In evidence, it is well recognized that, once
induced, stretching the affected muscle can ameliorate cramping. Stretches
should be held for 15 to 30 seconds or until the muscle relaxes and the cramp
does not recur when the muscle is returned to its normal relaxed position. In
addition, once cramping starts, exercise should be curtailed for at least an
hour, which allows the muscles and the CNS to recover. It is never a good
idea to "run through" these cramps. Applying heat to the area for a few
minutes while stretching may also help the muscle.
Prophylactic stretching of the major muscles of the lower limbs for at least
five to 10 minutes during warm-up and cool-down periods can help prevent
cramps. The importance of flexibility cannot be overstated, particularly for
older athletes. Other recommendations include minimizing running hills and
stairs (limiting eccentric contractions); undergoing a biomechanical
evaluation of your exercise technique; making sure shoes and other equipment
are appropriate and not excessively worn. If, after a few months, cramps do
not respond to these measures, see a qualified sports physician or physical
therapist.
Mark A W Andrews
Muscle cramping is a common problem encountered by athletes and nonathletes
alike. Defined as painful involuntary skeletal muscle contractions, cramps
may be categorized as either nonexercise related or exercise related. The
etiology of the former group may involve hormonal, electrolyte or metabolic
imbalances, or it may result from long-term medication. Diagnostic medical
testing may be required if cramps are a persistent problem. Exercise-related
muscle cramps (ERMC) are much more common. They typically affect the large
muscles of the legs during or immediately after exercise and last for seconds
to a few minutes. These are typically benign but result in intense pain and
may not seem innocuous at the time.
There is little definitive knowledge of the etiology of ERMC. Traditionally,
such cramping was believed to arise from dehydration, electrolyte imbalances
(including magnesium, potassium and sodium), accumulation of lactic acid, or
low cellular energy levels. These proposals, however, have been shown to have
minimal scientific value.
More recent developments indicate that the cause of cramps most likely
involves hyperactivity of the nerve-muscle reflex arc. In this scheme, some
of the normal inhibitory activity of the central nervous system (CNS)
reflexes is lost as a result of CNS fatigue or overuse of feedback
communication with muscles. These spinal reflexes use two receptors, known as
Golgi tendon organs and muscles spindles, found in skeletal muscles. Golgi
tendon organs may become inhibited and muscles spindles can become
hyperactive, leading to sustained activation of the muscle.
It has been suggested that prolonged sitting, poor or abnormal posture or
inefficient biomechanics (all of which may be related to poor flexibility)
predispose these reflexes to malfunctioning. Age also seems to predispose
individuals to cramping--the phenomenon may develop later in life for people
who exercise for years without prior problems. Other factors include
increased body weight and improper footwear. Eccentric muscle contraction and
other musculoskeletal injuries can contribute to the problem.
If a muscle's hyperexcitability is the basis of cramping, then stretching
should attenuate the response. In evidence, it is well recognized that, once
induced, stretching the affected muscle can ameliorate cramping. Stretches
should be held for 15 to 30 seconds or until the muscle relaxes and the cramp
does not recur when the muscle is returned to its normal relaxed position. In
addition, once cramping starts, exercise should be curtailed for at least an
hour, which allows the muscles and the CNS to recover. It is never a good
idea to "run through" these cramps. Applying heat to the area for a few
minutes while stretching may also help the muscle.
Prophylactic stretching of the major muscles of the lower limbs for at least
five to 10 minutes during warm-up and cool-down periods can help prevent
cramps. The importance of flexibility cannot be overstated, particularly for
older athletes. Other recommendations include minimizing running hills and
stairs (limiting eccentric contractions); undergoing a biomechanical
evaluation of your exercise technique; making sure shoes and other equipment
are appropriate and not excessively worn. If, after a few months, cramps do
not respond to these measures, see a qualified sports physician or physical
therapist.
Tempo - Tuesday, 8th December 2009
Did a tempo for 25 minutes today, easy warm up for 18 minutes followed by tempo and then cool down for 18 minutes. Built up pace nicely during tempo.
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