H.E.A.T. Blog

Hey gang, here's a great MSN piece on how to recognize the signs of exercise fatigue or burnout -- and what to do about it -- which I've talked to many of you about individually. Expecting unrealistic results all at once, working toward one big goal without setting milestones along the way, and doing the same workout over and over again are all bad strategies that can make it hard to keep going. Instead, try some of these tips, which include shorter training sessions when you're first starting out and doing lots of different kinds of drills (like we do in camp) to keep your muscles "on their "toes" and keep you coming back for more. {Read the rest}

With the long weekend coming up, I'm sure many of you will get in at least a few workouts (as well as a little partying) before I see you again. Keeping that in mind, I thought it was a good time to discuss stretching, a commonly overlooked but really important activity that can prevent injuries, make you faster and stronger, and even make you feel better.

Think about it this way: Whether you've worked out or not, every day you bend, sit, walk and repeat many of the same movements over and over again. Studies have shown that regular stretching -- versus the occasional stretching I'm guessing a lot of you do -- reduces your chances of developing repetitive stress syndrome, keeps your joints limber, helps you find muscle imbalances, and relieves stress. Stretching is for every day! {Read the rest}

Since we do a fair bit of running in camp (I know many of you have nightmares that involve the words, "to the water coolers and back!"), here are a few suggestions to make sure you don't jack yourself up while barreling down the trail.

Some of the top tips include only training 3 days a week; listening to your body (i.e., walking when you need a break, instead of pushing through); slowing your pace; and never stretching a muscle that's injured. I know we all wanna be as hardcore as possible, but there's nothing hardcore about having to sit out for several weeks because you can't use one of your limbs. (Just ask some of your fellow campers, who've gone through it in the past.) Read the rest for more running tips that will keep you in the game.