meteors
Apparently a few dozen meteors were visible last night but the sun was shining during open water training. I nearly got mowed down by a motor boat since swimming as best as I could. It was wavy enough to lose sight of the lead group but managed to keep going anyway and didn’t get run over.
Although the high levels of activity undertaken by our ancestors led to the selection of men and women who were all physically fit, all individuals did not possess the same type of athletic ability. Athletes of today cover a variety of sports including sprint and power events like weight lifting, and endurance events like 1500 metres or marathons. Variations in physiology make specialising in these different areas possible; today nearly three quarters of our weight is dedicated to movement.
You should be hydrated before you start training for competition and minimise hydration during exercise. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) recommends matching your fluid intake to your fluid losses as closely as possible. While the IAAF (International Athletics Association Federations) warns against over-hydrating yourself before and during exercise particularly in events lasting longer than 4 hours.
Constantly drinking water may dilute your blood so much that your sodium levels fall. Drink when your thirsty; sports drinks are better than water during intense exercise (over 60 minutes) because their sodium content promotes water retention. However it is advisable to dilute these drinks since they are full of sugar or make your own:
Allow a cup of green tea with a spoonful of honey to cool, add to a water bottle with a pinch of salt, squeeze half a lemon and top up with water.
While intense exercise increases the requirement for several vitamins and minerals there is no need for supplementation provided you are eating a balanced diet.
However it’s the week-end and the hardcore are still training heavily, I can just remember what that’s like.
