If you really want to elevate your fitness, you’ve got to look at the whole picture. That means you’re conscious of what you’re eating both before and after the gym.
All in fitness
5 Reasons to Train Outside
Embrace the warm weather while it’s still here by taking your gym routine outside. Admit it— you prefer the fresh air, so go ahead and change the scenery. Your mind and body will thank you!
HIIT 101
HIIT is the sweetest thing that’s come along for busy bees since sliced bread and it packs a powerful punch at the same time, keeping workouts quick and intense.
Why Stretching is a Non-Negotiable
When you skip stretching before and/or after your workout, you may be saving some time but you’re also gambling with your body. It’s not just about warming up and cooling down, it’s about preventing injury and protecting your physical health.
Top 3 Traits of Elite Athletes
It takes more than talent and timing to rise to the top of the ranks as an athlete. It's clear when watching a world-class competition like the Rio Olympics, that those who reach the “elite” status share the same key characteristics.
The Unicorn of Mountains - Alpe d'Huez
Leaving Munster is always bittersweet. However, after a seven hour drive from Munster, I reached my reached my destination atop Alpe d’Huez, Hotel La Castillan.
Alsace - Training Camp
After a decadent French dinner and some exquisite Bordeaux, I found myself back on the bike to ride one of my previous routes from July 2011.
Starting Over.
Starting over...again. It's been nearly a year since I've visited my experience on the bike. Last time I blogged, I was playing in the French Alps - my last stop Valloire, where I tested my legs and mind to the limits on the infamous Col du Telegraphe and Col du Galibier.
One final Col...
Celebrating my last day evening in Valloire and my ascent of Col du Galibier, I ended up at a local Pizzeria where I enjoyed some Italian food (hard to eat when you’ve just been in Italy) and vin rouge with my dinner.
Up, down, Up, down, Up, down. c'est tout.
Tires inflated to the perfect amount for climbing/descending: check. Perfect mix of electrolyte powder in my bottles for 30C weather: check. My bike clean enough to lick: check. New bike kit so I “look” pro doing today’s ride: check. Ipod sync’d with optimal music for a quintessential 3 hour ride: check. Legs smoother than yours: check.
Moment of truth - inspired by vin rouge
I’ve put an enormous amount of pressure on myself to have this remarkable last ride before returning to Toronto. It got me thinking how we each set benchmark’s for ourselves from a very early age and spend a lifetime trying to live up to these expectations (we create) which may or may not be realistic or attainable.
Bici, vino and passion in Italy
Bolzano – Verona – Vicoforte Seems like a million years since I last blogged about my European adventure (which began July 14th ), although it’s only been 4 days. Interestingly, I accidentally pulled up the screen on my GPS which gave me all the stats since plugging it into my car in Frankfurt. I’ve spent 49 hours driving that wonderful Audi some 3400 km’s across Germany, France, Switzerland and Italy.
Terminal velocity, Mr Happy and a day without wine
Tuscany -> Florence -> Chianti -> Milano ->Bolzano (read: lots of driving) Monday morning I woke in Montalcino to see the sun shining, which was a welcome change from the previous day’s rainstorm
Watch for deer AND cows? ...only in Italy.
Alpe d’Huez -> Tuscany After an action-packed first driving to Alpe d’Huez from Munster, the rain, the cold and the first ascent; the second day was far more relaxing.
My last night in Munster was (again) a long one; again no sleep...Merde! Not sure what the deal is with Munster, even with beautiful and serene landscape, I just couldn’t seem to relax. With rain threatening my attempt at climbing the most challenging climb, Col du Platzerwasel previous days, as luck would have it, I rolled out of bed at 6:30am to find dry roads and cool fall-like temperatures (read COLD).
Munster – cont’d Well, yesterday it rained; rained hard. So much so that I’m quite sure if an ark had wheels that would have been my training instrument by choice. Not only did it rain it was also 10 degrees. I can’t say that I would expect 10 degrees in late July but that’s indeed what was going on over here... cold and rainy.
That bike's got a motor!
Sleepless last night, jet-lag got the better part of me – never mind how my legs felt this morning. However, with rain in the forecast tomorrow and Monday I had to take advantage of the sun-filled skies and ‘suck it up’.
What do croissants, riding and wine have in common?
Today was filled with all kinds of fun, pain and surprises. After getting my bike finalized, I headed out the door for my first ride in the lovely Alsace region. It was cloudy at noon here and a tad chilly, only 16 degrees.
(30) DAYS OF EDEN
What started as an emotion quickly became reality when I pushed the ‘confirm’ button online and booked my ticket to Spain. Within 4 days I was frantically packing and rushing out the door headed to the airport on Good Friday. I mean, how much better can a Friday really get?
The tale of the mongoose and the cobra
What does descending a mountain at 60+km’h into a hairpin with only a one foot barrier separating you and a 100 metre drop-off have in common with a 9km climb at an average grade of 8%? … sa Calobra - translated into English means ‘the cobra’