Transition to off-season training

    Earlier in the week, I talked about the effects(both positive and negative) of the post-season training, and for how long you should do it.  In reality, you should give your body 3-4 weeks of active-rest, or time for your body to recover from the rigorous season in which you have just encountered.  Now, once your joints have healed, and your body feels rested and rejuvenated, it's time to transition back into training mode to prepare for the next season...after all, September is just around the corner!
    The biggest problem that athlete's  make when they begin training again is to jump into it too fast.  Remember, it doesn't talk long for our body to lose the VO2 levels and muscle gains that we had while training and performing during the season.  During this first phase back, make sure to build up your base.  Building a base is critical, as it allows your body to make steady, safe growths as it begins to get back into shape.  My mentor, Arik Weist(who has an excellent Blog that you can read here), used to hammer home the importance of building a base with your training.  There's a reason that your training should begin so early in the year, and that's because you want to draw out the base process as long as possible.  In training, the term "slow and steady wins the race" could not be more accurate.  Start slow, especially in resistance training...lots of reps, lower weight.  Let your muscles hypertrophy(grow) at a pace that will allow you to be active, without putting yourself out of commission due in part to muscle-fiber breakdown.  Be sure to hit your entire body, making sure not to ignore a certain area.  This will cause imbalances in your body, potentially leading to injury.  Be safe, start slow, and have fun with it!

NEW SEASON PRICES!

Hey everybody! I'm so glad to announce that Excelerate Athletics has set the schedule and pricing for individual, partner and group classes! All classes focus on Speed, Agility and Strength, with pre- and post-session assessments. We're running a special through the month of February...sign up with a partner, and you each receive $75 off your total!  For all available classes, you can choose to get a one-month training, or for just a little more, get an additional 4 weeks.  We're also offering group classes, which are offered at a lower rate, so gather some friends and sign up!  The best part about all of this...I will come to you!  All the equipment is in place and ready to go.  To sign up for classes, call or E-mail today. A price breakdown is located on the side of the blog, along with all of the contact information.  Hope to see you soon!

Post-Season Training

As we enter the month of February, many athletes are finishing up a long stretch of football and basketball seasons. At this point in the year, their bodies are running on empty, tired and banged up from the last five months of rigorous activity.  For most high school athletes, the end of basketball season marks the end of sports for the year. Training can start as early as last March, through two-a-days in August, finishing up with the pounding on their knees from the hardwood during games. Starting now, they are entering the most pivotal time of the year...the post-season. This is often referred to as "active-rest", a time for athletes to let their bodies recuperate and heal. A common mistake, however, is that young people take too much time off, therefore letting their bodies become completely out of shape. This is where the term active-rest comes into play. During the season, the knee and hip joints take quite a pounding. During active rest, I encourage my athletes to find an activity that has three qualities: (1) it is fun, (2) it keeps their oxygen up, and (3) it is easy on the joints. One suggestion is to swim. Swimming is an incredible cardiovascular workout, while providing little to no pressure on your major joints (start slow to avoid rotator cuff injuries). Biking is another fun and effective post-season workout. It is important to take 3-4 weeks after the season to let your body recover. Thursday, I will give you tips on how to best transfer into the next phase of the year (and my personal favorite)...off-season training!