What makes the Difference for Champions

As we begin the championship season, there are some must-do practices that could make the difference between competing with the best and resting and wondering what our goals are for next year or moving on to the next level.

Attitude is Everything!!!

• IF you want to win, you must be serious enough to do whatever it takes. If you are a positive thinker, you will realize that all it takes is all you’ve got.

• That means that when you have the opportunity to take that one extra step, you do it. That’s hard because we, as a society, are always looking for the easiest way or for shortcuts. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO SUCCESS.

You Are What You Eat

• Our bodies are magnificent biomachines that will do pretty much whatever we ask of it IF we feed it right. Breakfast is a must even if it’s just toast. Fruits and vegetables are essential because they provide the building blocks to repair what your training breaks down. If you want to build a house (champion) but you don’t have the proper foundation, it won't take very much for it (you) to fall down (breakdown).

Sleep!

• “I don’t have time” is the most overused excuse for not getting what is important and necessary done. Prioritize your time and make sure that you have at least 8 hours of bed rest so that your body can repair and build for the demands that you put on it.

Warmup and Cooldown

• “I’m warm so it's ok that I don’t have on a sweatshirt or pants.” The truth is you think you are warm but really you are ignorant of the facts! Once the temperature is 40° or more below, your body temperature (98°-40°=58°), your body begins to take blood from your extremities, (your legs) and pools it inside in an attempt to keep your organs at a constant temp. (look it up if you don’t believe, because knowledge is power).

• Warmup at least ten minutes of easy jogging as jogging will dilate capillaries and increase blood flow to your extremities and oxygenate each cell. The O² will be used by cellular mitochondria to produce energy by burning that food that you ate in the morning; and prepare your muscles for work.

• Failure to warmup properly will prevent capillaries from dilating and you will be in oxygen debt before your cells can adjust. This is one of the most common causes of a cramp. 98% of cramping is caused by inadequate preparation and thought. (Don’t eat a donut or drink a milkshake right before practice. The process of digestion takes priority and blood goes to the stomach and the 25 feet of intestines instead of your muscle cells.) So if you throw up, well that’s your body's way of calling you an ignoramus. Listen to your body!

• Cooldown with the same jog, but for 20% longer than warmup. When you race, you put all of your cells in an anaerobic state and that respiration process produces lactic acid, a cell waste. You experience this as sore or stiffness within 24 hours. When you jog, the action gently causes lactic acid to move into your bloodstream and then out through your kidneys.

Success is 90% preparation & 10% inspiration.

• Who will be most ready on race day? You?? Or your competition? By making each moment count, YOU put yourself in a position to be a champion. Dreaming about it is nice, but the difference between dreams and reality is action! Make it happen. GOOD LUCK!