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KNOW WHEN TO PUSH YOURSELF

We all think our bodies are invincible, but there’s always a chance we could break. Trainers and athletes especially need to stay cautious of what they’re doing in order to be successful; every session counts! We just want to make the most out of it so we can feel satisfied with ourselves at the end of the day – no matter how hard we pushed. However, it’s tricky to know when you’re pushing yourself too hard without taking care of yourself properly- so here’s some tips on how to tell whether you’re going too far one way or another (and when you should back off)!

FREEDIVING, FOOTY AND ENDURO – WITH JACKSON BYRNE

Jackson Byrne is 17 years old, in his final year of school and working as a lifeguard, competing for an AFL club and racing at state level for Enduro mountain biking! All of this combined with his somewhat surreal passion for freediving and spear fishing keeps Jackon’s feet firmly on the ground and helps him stay calm. There is never dull moment in Jackson’s life and he has learnt so much about looking after himself and life generally through sport.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ELECTROLYTES AND HYDRATION

Every athlete knows that proper hydration and electrolyte balance are crucial to their training, but finding the right balance can be difficult, especially for new athletes who don’t yet have a natural feel for how much water or sports drink they need to stay hydrated and avoid muscle cramps. Luckily, there are several simple rules of thumb that athletes can use to get them off on the right foot. This guide will help you understand what electrolytes are, why you need them, how to determine if you’re dehydrated and the best ways to rehydrate yourself when necessary.

IGNORING THE VOICE IN MY HEAD SAYING – ‘I CAN’T’ – WITH ALEX KENT

Alex is an Ironman triathlete and nurse from Western Australia. She lived and breathed triathlon for several years whilst training and racing for Ironman. Her reason for racing was not to be the best in the field, but to conquer the demons in her head. Her thoughts told her she couldn’t on countless occasions, yet she told herself, she could. Alex then went on to finish two of the most gruelling Ironman races in Australia!

PLANT-BASED DIETs for FEMALE ATHLETEs

Not eating meat has become popular over the past 10 years and certainly a point of interest and consideration for many athletes. However, as a female athlete, is it possible to adopt a plant-based diet safely, whilst maintaining a high intensity and volume of training? Can this be done without risking injury or fatigue?

How much protein do we need?

How much protein do we really need? As an athlete, it is vital that you ensure your protein intake is adequate and this particularly applies in the post training period. When exercising, the presence of adrenaline and absence of insulin results in muscle proteins breaking down to release amino acids. As muscle protein is breaking down, post-activity protein consumption is needed in order to repair muscle protein, increase muscle mass and form new enzymes. Here are 5 simple ways to ensure you optimise muscle repair and hit those protein targets…

SPEED SKATING champion – ASHA HICKFORD

Asha Hickford is a National and International in-line speed skater from Western Australia who is only 17 years old and already a National Record Holder for both the marathon and 500m speed skating events! Her training not only involves skating, but also gym work, stability and strength training, explosive as well as endurance sessions and the patience and dedication of champion.

MAD ABOUT RUNNING – WITH MICHELLE DZIEGO

Michelle is literally mad about running. Having only started running in her early 40s, she has gone from 5km parkruns to training for her first 50km ultrarun! Michelle is heavily involved in the running community and simply adores the people she shares her love of running with.

FROM TETRATHLON TO TRIATHLON – WITH BROOKE

Brooke Bishop is a tetrathlete, modern pentathlete and triathlete, based in in Western Australia. When you combine all three of these sports, you have: swimming – short and middle distance, running – middle distance and long distance, fencing, shooting, cycling and show jumping! Brooke has competed for Australia nationally and internationally in tetrathlon and modern pentathlon and recently took up triathlon after her plans to pursue pentathlon professionally were put to an abrupt hold by the pandemic.

STRENGTH TRAINING for ENDURANCE ATHLETES

Most endurance athletes will do an awesome job of training their aerobic system with hours of cardio. But how important is strength training for endurance athletes? We know strength training is a vital building block for any athlete, regardless of the time, distance and speed at which they are exercising. Strength training combined with performance nutrition is the key to longevity in sport. It will help you minimise injury and improve your performance. So before you go for another run and skip the gym this week, lets take a look at why strength training is so important for endurance athletes…