Monthly Archives: April 2018

Preparing to exercise is, in many ways, just as important as the exercise itself. That means eating the right foods at the right times, hydrating your body properly, and getting enough sleep — and that's just to make a start. Preparations go beyond physically making your body ready, though. What about what you need to accomplish your fitness goals? For the weightlifter or the cardio master, it's all about what goes into the gym bag each day. If you prefer the pool, the same concerns remain: what will you pack in your bag to bring with you?

If you haven't given it much thought before, chances are you've arrived at the pool more than once to find you'd forgotten something essential. By stopping to think about what you need to bring in advance and developing a routine around packing your bag, you can ensure you're always ready to face whatever challenges await you in and out of the water. With that said, everyone's kit bag for the pool will be different in some ways. Generally speaking,

Take a moment to imagine this scenario which is unfortunately all too common around the world. You ride your bike to run an errand, say to grab some groceries to make dinner that evening, and when you arrive, you park your bike outside. You may even take the extra step of using a lock to secure your bike to a post or other object. When you return from your errand, you step outside and realise with horror that your bike isn't where you left it — it's been stolen. While no one wants to contend with the consequences of a bicycle theft, it happens with alarming frequency.

No bike lock is perfect, but using a weak lock (or worse, none at all) is just asking for unscrupulous individuals to ride off with your prized possession. With the right choice, you can afford your bicycle more security while creating more peace of mind for yourself at the same time. However, there are tonnes of different locks out there on the market, and no shortage of conflicting information on which one is the

The marathon is the gold standard of endurance tests for runners. Individuals who can set out at the starting line and make it to the finish line 42 kilometres later, no matter how long it takes, have achieved something great. It's tough to train straight up to the marathon level, though, and the gruelling test it poses isn't for everyone. The half-marathon, instead, is the better choice: it offers a more manageable distance while still posing a substantial challenge.

All around the world, thousands of half-marathons take place every year. Which ones stand out from the crowd as something truly spectacular or unique? Let's spin the globe and take a closer look at ten of the biggest, best half-marathons you'll find worldwide.

1. Chase away winter blues with the Bermuda Half-Marathon

One of the very first major events of the year, the Bermuda Half-Marathon allows runners to escape the winter weather and head to a place where tropical warmth dominates

When you want to develop your fitness, exercise is the only way to do it, but how you do it is up to you. Ask around, though, and what's the top advice you're likely to hear from everyone? "Go to the gym!" It's the default place people think of when the topic of personal fitness comes up in conversation. It's true, too, that the gym provides many exceptional opportunities, plus access to expensive equipment you aren't likely to have space or funds to bring home with you. So, you've signed up for a gym membership, and perhaps you've even paid the weight room a few visits already. You're all set, right? Pump the brakes — you could be in the middle of committing some common beginner's errors.

From forgetting to respect your fellow gym-goers to using the incorrect form on an exercise machine, these mistakes range from a simple faux pas to a severe problem that could cause you an injury. For that reason, you should take the time to familiarise yourself with conventional gym norms, alongside

The many people who learned how to swim as a child probably don't think of themselves as "beginners," but when you decide to get in the pool for some serious fitness, it's a fact everyone must accept. Swimming is more than just staying afloat or getting from one end of the pool to the other. Pursuing it seriously, either to improve your health or because you want to compete on some level, means acknowledging the more technical aspects of the sport. Michael Phelps didn't win the most gold medals in history by just "winging it," after all. It took years of hard work and training!

Just like with any other sport, be it running, cycling, or some other type of fitness activity, it's easy to make mistakes when you're just beginning. Sometimes, these mistakes can become the unfortunate foundation for bad habits that plague your exercise efforts for some time to come. Other times, they could push you towards quitting the sport or even risking an injury. To help you skirt around these pitfalls

For those who don't want a gym membership, need a way to lose some weight, or just don't want to purchase too much fancy equipment, running is the sport that many people turn to for meeting their exercise needs. From the new year's resolution planner to the diligent marathon runner, this fundamental yet challenging activity is an excellent way to work out for individuals across many age groups. While not everyone has the genetic luck and focused ability of a runner like Usain Bolt, it’s rewarding, all the same, to set personal records, go the distance in a race, and meet all kinds of other goals.

Everyone must begin somewhere, though, and when you first start out as a runner, it’s easy to make mistakes. At first, you might simply think it's just about putting one foot in front of the other; before too long, you'll realise there is far more to it than that. To stay on the right track, it's helpful to know how to avoid some of the problems that beginners frequently encounter. No one

For many people, learning to ride a bike is an integral part of their childhood. Others first hop in the saddle as teenagers, and still more individuals don't come to find the joy in cycling until they're adults. Have you recently begun to consider taking up cycling as one of your primary forms of exercise? It's a good choice: it boosts your heart health, increases your lung capacity, and can be an excellent way to burn calories while working towards a weight loss goal. No one starts out at the level of a Tour de France winner, though, and it can take some serious time and effort to feel completely comfortable when cycling long distances.

As a beginner, there are a few important things to keep in mind, beginning with a simple fact: you don't know everything necessary for success right off the bat. Instead, it's important to take your time, learn the "ins and outs" of cycling, and find the type of routine that suits you best. Likewise, you'll also want to be careful to avoid making

Just a decade ago, "virtual reality" was still something that existed more in the realm of science. Sure, there had been attempts at VR video games in the past, and there were always some cutting-edge scientific efforts exploring this technology. However, over the past few years, virtual reality headsets have gone from being prototypes on paper to real devices that have ended up in the hands of countless consumers. These include models such as the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, with more VR companies springing up since. At first, the primary focus for these technologies was on video games. However, as these products mature, more people have turned their attention to other areas.

Fitness and exercise are two of those areas now receiving more attention in the context of virtual reality. Could VR be the wave of the future that will transform the way we relate to our exercise? What are the potential benefits of using VR for fitness, and are there any drawbacks? Though the answers to these

Running is an incredibly accessible activity for individuals of all ages, from the young to the old. That being said, there is a point in time at which your body has everything it needs to propel you to some serious heights regarding running ability. As a teenager, your body is more resilient, better adapted to the changes brought on by exercise, and still in the process of growing. These facts combine to mean that it is far easier to develop good running habits and physical fitness without some of the risks of injury — and the lack of time — that come from running when you're older.

You know it's not just as simple as picking up a pair of running shoes and automatically being good at things, though. It takes arduous work and a lot of practice. So, what should you keep in mind while you try to improve your abilities as a teenager? From knowing your limits to taking advantage of your body's plasticity, there's plenty you can do to set the stage for success. Let's look at seven tips

Sports provide a way for us to do far more than merely train our bodies to be healthier and more physically fit. They also offer a way for us to challenge ourselves mentally, and to strive to achieve incredible things with our bodies. In some pursuits, these challenges are easy to see and quite well-known. For runners, there are all kinds of races, with the marathon (and the super marathon) holding one of the top titles for prestige. If you can run a marathon, people know that you've mastered your running ability. For cyclists, riding in a stage race or travelling 100 kilometres without stopping offer the same kind of challenge.

What about for the swimmers of the world? What types of challenges are out there to test the most determined hardcore swimmers? While there isn't anything as easy to point to as a marathon, there are still plenty of competitive ventures that take place in the water. From indoor pool races such as those held at the Olympics to gruelling open water swims in