Putting myself on the chopping block here!
Pic on the left is from the start of Feb 2013.
As you can see, after my Transalpine Run in September 2012 I had turned into a 'skinny fat' physique.
The event took a lot out of my to the point I lost around 8kg of muscle tissue. I'd say it took me a good three months to feel normal after that event and that was after having a period of rest and then getting back into strength training. I was suffering with my joints as the muscles in my legs were very weak from the run.
Pic on the right is from May 8th 2013. I have taken my time since the event to recondition my body. I have been doing this by achieving marginal gains each workout, planning my training cycles and having a solid nutritional base.
I am not in any rush - I am setting my goals and working my way towards them.
I want to remain feeling good, staying injury free, regaining my athletic performance, developing my business and learning.
Now things are getting themselves together I will add more content on this blog relating o my training, thoughts and other such things.
A sports therapy and performance clinic that has the sole aim of taking you from the treatment table all the way through your strength and conditioning training. Here we find out the root cause of all your injury and postural related issues. From there you will receive the correct treatment and rehabilitation that will develop the knowledge and know how within yourself stay away from injury. Here we do more than just treat a symptom.
Friday, 10 May 2013
Thursday, 7 February 2013
Neglected
Howdy!
So I have somewhat neglected my blog as of late.
I am busy expanding the reach of No Regrets Fitness and haven't given the blog any attention.
Will get back to finishing my transalpine story soon enough!!
Nick
So I have somewhat neglected my blog as of late.
I am busy expanding the reach of No Regrets Fitness and haven't given the blog any attention.
Will get back to finishing my transalpine story soon enough!!
Nick
Monday, 21 January 2013
A look at one of my training programs.
My Training partner and I are currently going through a new phase of training.
Our weekly schedule sees us doing x 3 weight training sessions and a minimum of x 1 H.I.I.T session (High Intensity Interval Training).
The sessions are based on 8 exercises per session, grouped into pairs (super sets). The first exercise being lower body followed by an upper body exercise. At this stage we are working with lighter loads (65-70% of estimated 1 Rep max) doing 3 sets, 12-15 reps.
Rest Periods for the first 2 weeks are 30 seconds between the super set and 60 seconds after.
After week 2 the rest after each super set will drop to 45 seconds to not get into a position of stagnation and to force the body into adapting to a new stimulus. (There are many variables to manipulate during training)
We are working to specific tempos on each exercise. Tempo of a given exercise is very specific in determining your training effect.
My Blog post going explaining program structure and tempos can be read here.
http://nick-collins.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/my-program-writing-explained.html
For those familiar with Strength training I follow the Structure & principles of Charles Poliquin.
Right! One of the sessions that we're doing.
A1 - Deadlifts
3 x 15, Tempo (T) 3010
A2 - 45 degree incline bench dumbbell press
3 x 15 T - 2110
B1 - Barbell on back, front foot elevated split squats
3 x 12 each side (e/s) T - 2110
B2 - Seated, Bent over dumbbell rear delt raise
3 x 15 T - 2110
C1 - Forward box step up holding dumbbells
3 x 12 e/s T - 1110
C2 - Lying dumbbell tricep extensions
3 x 15 T - 2110
D1 - Barbell on back calf raises - toes raised
3 x 25 (calfs need higher reps) T - 2011
D2 - Standing dumbbell bicep hammer curls
3 x 15 T - 2110
Please remember that this session is only a fraction of my overall plan so you have an idea of what I am working on.
All training plans are specific to the individual and as such variations, tempos, exercise selection are not mutually exclusive.
The other sessions take into account the movements and muscles targeted in this session to make sure I have a balanced training plan whilst also targeting any structural issues I have.
Please feel free to message me privately or comment if you have any questions on this post or any on your own training.
Stay positive and be awesome.
Nick
Via FaceBook
http://www.facebook.com/NoRegretsFitnessUK
Our weekly schedule sees us doing x 3 weight training sessions and a minimum of x 1 H.I.I.T session (High Intensity Interval Training).
The sessions are based on 8 exercises per session, grouped into pairs (super sets). The first exercise being lower body followed by an upper body exercise. At this stage we are working with lighter loads (65-70% of estimated 1 Rep max) doing 3 sets, 12-15 reps.
Rest Periods for the first 2 weeks are 30 seconds between the super set and 60 seconds after.
After week 2 the rest after each super set will drop to 45 seconds to not get into a position of stagnation and to force the body into adapting to a new stimulus. (There are many variables to manipulate during training)
We are working to specific tempos on each exercise. Tempo of a given exercise is very specific in determining your training effect.
My Blog post going explaining program structure and tempos can be read here.
http://nick-collins.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/my-program-writing-explained.html
For those familiar with Strength training I follow the Structure & principles of Charles Poliquin.
Right! One of the sessions that we're doing.
A1 - Deadlifts
3 x 15, Tempo (T) 3010
A2 - 45 degree incline bench dumbbell press
3 x 15 T - 2110
B1 - Barbell on back, front foot elevated split squats
3 x 12 each side (e/s) T - 2110
B2 - Seated, Bent over dumbbell rear delt raise
3 x 15 T - 2110
C1 - Forward box step up holding dumbbells
3 x 12 e/s T - 1110
C2 - Lying dumbbell tricep extensions
3 x 15 T - 2110
D1 - Barbell on back calf raises - toes raised
3 x 25 (calfs need higher reps) T - 2011
D2 - Standing dumbbell bicep hammer curls
3 x 15 T - 2110
Please remember that this session is only a fraction of my overall plan so you have an idea of what I am working on.
All training plans are specific to the individual and as such variations, tempos, exercise selection are not mutually exclusive.
The other sessions take into account the movements and muscles targeted in this session to make sure I have a balanced training plan whilst also targeting any structural issues I have.
Please feel free to message me privately or comment if you have any questions on this post or any on your own training.
Stay positive and be awesome.
Nick
Via FaceBook
http://www.facebook.com/NoRegretsFitnessUK
Friday, 14 December 2012
Transalpine stage 2 - St. Johann (AUT) – Kitzbühel (AUT)
Day 2 started in particularly funny fashion. After shooting off to find a toilet rather quickly I returned to a slightly bloodied Dave.
'What's happened Dave?!'
'Well, I love a dog as you know.....went to stroke one, turned out to be a bit frisky and as I bent down it jumped up and bit my face!'
my reply was sincere. It went something like this 'HAHAHAHAHAHA!'
The hazy warm early stages of day two came to a somewhat slow ebb. We had only been going around 1km and then suddenly there was a traffic jam that stopped 600 people in their tracks. Us in the pack became stuck on hazy hill for a good 15 minutes before the line began to move.
The cause of this was down to the track changing into a steep single file windy slog. People were pushing in, others getting annoyed and others having a merry time singing and laughing. I much preferred those people.
Problem was that the group was so mixed up that fast runners were stuck behind slow runners. When we got over the peaks, I was able to hurtle past some slower downhill peeps which in truth was great fun. As the photo shows below I was making friends a long the way. I had the Canadians behind and the Germans in front. I have always liked the fact that regardless of where you are from you are able to form bonds with guys that you will know either in just a particular moment or for the rest of your life.
| Down Hill Traffic! |
| It was a long way down |
The canyon picture above was at the point JK and Staff caught back up with me. I had been squeezed further forward in the traffic jam and just about to scramble up a climb I hear 'OI EARS!'......could only of been JK that haha.
Was good to get the band back together on the trail. Due to the big delays to the stage the organisers got rid of the cut off times for check points one and two.....not too sure if they done that for the whole stage though.
As with all alpine runs there comes another hill to climb. On this particular slope though there were cows. I never noticed as my eyes were fixed to the floor going up but as I took a look around a cow was no more than a few feet from me. In my oxygen deprived state I went in to say hello. A happy ending though (not in the thai massage sense!), gave the cow a rub on the nose which was soft & warm surprisingly and carried on my way up the slope to where the next video kicks in......
At the top of the hill is where I believe I may of started off the troubles in my left knee that affected me for the remaining stages. The track was slippy and as I took a long stride down the slope my foot slipped on a rock and put my in a very stretched and rotated position through the hip and knee joint. Although I didn't feel sore for the rest of the day I could certainly feel it through day 3.
The next pic is from the top of the climb after the video.
Staff and I made our way down a forest track that was superb. We took our time on this one due to three reasons really.
1. The down hill previous had taken quite a bit out of Staffs knee
2. Teamwork
3. Because we could.
We arrived at checkpoint two enjoying the warm sun on our backs and the knowledge that we could now top up on the high 5 energy drink and the plentiful amounts of veggies, cake, soup, fruit and did I mention cake!
It was also nice to see where you had come from on the trail map. As you can see from the below pic that the next part was a red climb which only meant one thing....this is going to be tough!!A video to let you know what Staff and I were seeing and thinking leading from check point 2.
After what seemed like a long time after that climb we got on our way to the last high point of the day. You know when you get up to a ski lift that the only way is down!
When you come to the end of a stage the final 1km in gives you a good mental boost and the confidence going into the next stage......and you know that there is a beer tent waiting for you!
Staff and I had a really good day. Keeping each other going right until the end. The sense of teamwork with my running partner to keep us going was growing with every mile that we ran together. This is what the event was partly about. Sharing this mission with your buddies, to battle through any dark times and to enjoy the elation of achieving goals that were mere thoughts in your head throughout the training back at the start of the year.
A few thoughts from me at the end of the stage 2.
Sitting in the sun with a victory beer. Worth the effort. Cheers.
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