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Be the hunter, not the hunted - Hunting Safety Tips everyone should know
By Rebecca Blain of http://www.discount-hunting-supplies-and-tips.com . Out of all of the sports participated in around the world, hunting is considered to be one of the most dangerous. Due to this, many safety precautions must be made to ensure...
How Dance Dance Revolution is getting kids off the couch
Dance Dance revolution is the latest dance craze that is a fun and addictive way to lose weight and get into shape. Are you concerned about the lack of exercise your child is getting? Would you like to see them up and moving instead of sitting...
Not all paintball markers are made the same!
There’s a wide selection of paintball markers on sale, so it pays to do your research to make sure you buy one that suits your abilities. Paintball guns range in price from under $200 for a decent entry level gun, such as a Spyder or Tippmann, to...
Ten Quick Fixes to Save Your Running Knees and Joints Long Term
1.Take at least 1-2 rest days per week. This means no impact giving your joints a rest from the pounding forces that running produces. Less experienced runners may need 2-3 rest days per week. 2.Perform no more than 1-2 "break through" or high...
World-Class Athlete: Do You Have What It Takes?
The following excerpt comes from the book, Soccer Dreams, (a top-seller in sports journalism at Amazon) which describes Leah Lauber’s true adventure following the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, as a fan and 12-year old Junior Reporter during the...
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Beginners Luck?
For most athletes, finishing an Iroman triathlon is beyond their physical and mental capabilities. To be an actual competitor is unfathomable. Maintaining the speeds these elite individuals do, over the courses and distances, is a truly amazing feet of human perseverance and endurance. That is why I was astounded by the incredible finish of Alex Morton, a 35 year old first time Ironman rookie.
Alex raced the Great Floridian Ironman in October. Not only was this his first Ironman, but it was his first marathon. Alex was 26th out of the water, moved up to 7th at mile 116 on the bike, and reached 5th at mile 11 on the run. It was at this point his inexperience took its' toll. Alex did not eat or drink enough on the run and hit the wall. He got sick, recovered, and still managed to limp in to finish first in his age; 12th overall. I have no doubt in my mind that if Alex had stuck to a more regimented plan for staying fueled and especially hydrated, he could have maintained or exceeded the 5th placed he attained.
There is no denying Alex is a gifted natural athlete. But he only began his training with CTS in spring of 2002, just 6 months before his Ironman race. Alex competed in cycling from 1986-89. He had to stop riding for some time to allow a back injury to heal up. He did a few sprint tris in 1994 and took up cycling again in 1995-97, but hung the bike back up. He did not get back in the saddle again until July of 2001 when he weighed a stout 195 lbs. His exercise at that point consisted mainly of golfing.
Alex told his wife Sandy that he wanted to race an Ironman. She gave him an account with CTS, and the time
to train as a gift. Alex started training with me in April. Pretty much from the beginning I realized he had enormous potential. His numbers were superb and he had great determination. Alex also has tremendous ability to recover from even the toughest work outs. His weight dropped to a pre-competition 165 lbs. His speed continued to improve through the summer as his heart rate dropped. Alex came down with a bad case of bronchitis, but decided to compete in a large sprint race in Cleveland against my better judgment. He did not realize until someone called him the next day he was first in his age and second overall! This is when I began to consider I was working with someone truly exceptional.
Moving forward, Alex would like to qualify and compete for the Kona Ironman. He would also like to finish an Ironman in less than 9 hours. He could not train like he does without the full support of his wife Sandy. He has two children, Gabriel 3 and Alex 1, and is General Manager of Preferred Industries. Obviously this requires some serious time management skills and understanding from his family. Alex is motivated by the need to demonstrate to his children they can achieve great things if they work hard for them. Competing is his way of proving anything is possible. I am very optimistic about his future.
About the Author
Matt Russ has coached and trained athletes around the country and internationally. He currently holds licenses by USAT, USATF, and is an Expert level USAC coach. Matt has coached athletes for CTS (Carmichael Training Systems), is an Ultrafit Associate. Visit www.thesportfactory.com for more information.
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