 |
The Beijing Olympics August 2008
Less than 27 days before the biggest sporting spectacle begins again. This years Olympics promises to be the best ever staged with the a huge regeneration of Beijing seeing some of the worlds best architects designing some of the sporting venues including "The Birds Nest" |
|
In 2002, Government officials engaged architects worldwide in a design competition. Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron collaborated with ArupSport and China Architecture Design & Research Group to win the competition. |
|
FANCY BEING AN OLYMPIC HOPEFULL?
TRY THIS TRAINING SESSION...
Ever wonder what makes the Kenyans such great runners? In a word...hills! And a lot can be learned from their hill training methods.
Training on hills is really a benefit to your overall running program. By running hilly courses you will enable your body to adapt to a new level. And by running a specific hill interval workout, you will be fine-tuning these adaptations even further.
Physiologically speaking, hill running...
1) Increases your aerobic capacity that enables you to use less oxygen at increasingly longer distances.
2) Improves your running economy that enables you to use less oxygen to run at a faster pace.
3) Increases your stamina that enables you to run farther at a given pace.
4) Builds strength in your gluteals (buttock), quadriceps (front of thigh), gastrocnemius (upper calf), and soleus (lower calf) muscles.
Biomechanically speaking, hill running...
1) Improves your stride length (from uphill running) and your stride frequency (from downhill running).
2) Increases your ankle flexion that enables you to "pop" off the ground more quickly, so that you can spend less time on the ground and more time in the air.
3) Teaches you how to run relaxed.
When planning a hill workout, choose either a short hill that may take 30 to 60 seconds to reach the top or a long hill that may take two to three minutes. The short hill will also help you with your sprint speed and anaerobic capacities, while the longer hill will help your endurance and mental fortitude. Both distances will improve your form on flat ground too.
The number of intervals will depend on your level of training but aim for approximately four to eight short hills or three to four long hills. After you reach the top don't stop short, but instead "run-through" the finish line at the top. Then catch your breath and recover slowly back downhill. Wait until your heart rate and breathing rate gets back to where it was before or approximately two to three minutes. Then begin again. Be careful with downhill running as it is an eccentric contraction meaning that the muscle is lengthening while it shortens, truly playing a tug-of-war with itself. And downhill running can be very injurious to your knees, so try not to "pound" the road during your recovery. You can run one hill workout every one to two weeks. Make sure you stretch well before and after.
|
THE BRITISH HOPEFULLS
|
Liz Yelling
|
Liz was Team GB's top finisher in the Athens 2004 Marathon where she finished in 25th place. In 2006 she claimed her first major championship medal with bronze in the marathon at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
In her youth she came through the age groups in the same Bedford and County team as Paula Radcliffe. She won the English Schools’ 1500m title in 1993 and two years later was top Briton at the European Cross Country Championships with a typically aggressive performance. |
|
Kelly Sotherton
|
Sotherton won a heptathlon bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan, overcoming strong competition from compatriot Jessica Ennis to claim the final podium spot.
A bronze medallist in her first Olympic Games at Athens 2004, Kelly had been in silver position after a high jump performance of 1.85 m bettered only by the eventual Champion Carolina Kluft. Her javelin performance lost her ground but she produced a personal best of 2min 12.27secs in the 800m which earned her 932 points but still left her 11 points short of the silver medal won by Lithuania's Austra Skujyte. |
|
Christine Ohuruogu
|
A 400m semi finallist at Athens 2004, Christine was part of the Team GB 4x400m squad which reached the final. She ran a personal best of 50.28 to win Commonwealth Gold at Melbourne 2006.
Ohuruogu missed the 2006 European Championships while serving a twelve month IAAF ban for missing three out of competition drugs tests.
In 2007 Ohuruogu returned to action to claim the 400m gold medal at the World Championships in Osaka, finishing narrowly ahead of compatriot Nicola Sanders to claim a British one-two. |
|
Brooks Sports are pleased to announce …
… that they are entering into a sponsorship deal with Womens Running Network. The network, with training groups throughout the country, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year aims to promote running for women in a safe, fun and social environment, and of course The Runners Centre will offer all WRN members 10% on all Brooks shoes and apparel. |
|
|
