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+ Nordic Walking for Better Health & Fitness (08/03/2010 - 11:13:17)

Nordic Walking for Better Health & Fitness

Nordic Walking is a great way to improve your current levels of health and fitness, and for some it is proving successful where other conventional methods have failed to hit the mark. There was a good turn out on Sunday the 27th of February at Woodfield park to sample this activity and there was a lot of interest to take up the activity beyond the Taster session.

Sue helps the students to get to grips with their poles and to engage with this fun, fabulous, fitness activity. Designed to help you unwind.

Working Smarter Not Harder...

This morning I woke up bright and early, ate a bowl of sugar free museli, with milk mixed with a scoop of syner-protein to stabilise my blood sugar, followed by a portion of TNT(one scoop provides as much energy as a kilogram of fresh fruit and vegetables and is low in GI ( glycemic index)). This low protein and GI fibre mix stabilised my blood sugar levels (glucose) and gave me plenty of natural healthy energy ready for a mornings bike ride. We rode 40 + miles on the bike, and I must say my energy levels were pretty good throughout the ride, no heavy legs, climbing well on the hills and when I got back another scoop of syner-protein to help with repair and recovery. Other riders dad and son were both feeling worse for wear during the ride (low energy levels, lack of regular training, ride seemed like hard work for both). I am not sure what dad ate for supper or breakfast but his son had eaten a fish and chip supper the night before, a breakfast bowl of cheerios and lucozade, aspartarme laden energy drink during the ride . Next time I reach for an energy drink, naturally I will choose Solstic for great tasting, natural energy to support me even further .

One of the riders suggested using a glucose mix for the feed bottle,but I was unsure how helpful this would be in terms energy levels. This rider also suggested a skimmed milk powder instead of creatine or whey protein. Again, I was doubtful this would help the riders concerned, lots of skimmed milk powders contain hidden sugars so always check the labels and conduct thorough research before making a decision about a product. Recently I came across a triathlete who had this particular experience. Since switching to Syner-protein has made significant improvements in performance on less training.

Extensive research has shown that high levels of glucose in the blood sugar can lead to diabetes and low levels of glucose can lead to hypoglycemia. One of the friends suggested making home made energy bars which would be very expensive to make and contained lots of dried fruit and a whole jar of honey. I am sure they are wonderful, however busy people do not always have time to bake, many find it hard to digest bars while riding, and with a whole jar of honey in the bars the sugar content is guaranteed to be high and may cause an imbalance to the blood sugar levels.

Earlier this year Active Edge Solutions supported cycling bargains racing team cyclists at the Peterborough stage of the tour the riders found as a result they rode well and recovered faster because of Sue's style of specific sports massage.

Rod Freeman, cycling bargains racing team manager, knows his riders always perform better, "with good nutrition, regular training and sports massage. "

Choices are best for the individual and a more informed choice can make the difference to working smarter in your training, performance and recovery. Now, I wonder, which athletes are working smarter not harder when it comes to nutrition, training and good body maintenance!

Solstic Energy Drink : http://www.solstic.uk.com/activeedgehealthfitnesssolutions .

Sports Massage: http://www.activeedgesolutions.co.uk/

Tour Series, Peterborough. Photo credit, Paul Frost

http://www.paulfrostphotography.co.uk/

DIY Stretches

Recently a client asked me this week how he would be able to improve his stretching routine for the demanding sport of boxing and to find out how he could become more flexible in a cost effective way. Whether you run, cycle, take part in fitness or other active sports or general activities it is important to ensure you stretch well and preferably after you have warmed up.

Stretching has many benefits, improving your relaxation, reducing your risks to injury, improving your rate of recovery and helping you to enhance your performance. It is of course up to you how little or much you do. Most people will benefit greatly with the introduction of stretching into their daily life. Depending on how flexible you are or how flexible you want to become for fitness, sports or health here are some DIY suggestions. Each one has has a different focus and it will enable you to improve the way that you stretch, so you improve what you do.

You can develop a stretching routine yourself and in your own time, discover which one works best for you.

MTB Sports Massage Event Work, Hinchingbrooke Park,23 August 2009

"Team Coach"

Sports Massage, pre/post event work, provided by Active Edge Solutions, Sue Burnett seen in action providing recovery rub to Tour Series Rider...

St Ives CC host the next stage of the Eastern Region Mountain Bike League . To help with race preparations and recovery, the St Ives based club have teamed with the sports massage support team of Phil Young and Sue Burnett, Active Edge Solutions to ensure the riders have the best ride possible. In preparation for the Peterborough Stage of the Tour series, June 2009, cyclingbargains race team manager Rod Freeman is a great supporter of Active Edge Solutions and Sports Massage. He advocates that the best riding mix "for performance riders is to have a balanced training program, good nutrition and sports massage".

Both Sue and Phil will be on hand during the event to provide injury prevention advice, pre and post event sports massage to enhance the riders warm up and race recovery easing away the aches, pains and strains of a days hard riding. This will ensure the riders get the best opportunity to improve their chances of a better performance, reduce the risks to injury and reduce the delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS).

A bad case of the DOMS is not good for riders, runners or sports people because it means returning to training and racing will take that much longer. Riders can avoid a bad case of the DOMS with an effective sports conditioning massage.

Here is what some local riders say about Active Edge Solutions pre/post race massage:

Alex. P, Thatcham, "Very professional and effective"

Davis. D, Cambridge, "Very relaxing and will help with recovery"

Dominic.S, Clapham, "Just what was needed after 156 miles, very comprehensive full leg treatment"

Steve, K, Stamford, "Excellent just the job after hard ride"

James, D, Newark, "Very good, thanks!"

Phil, C, Witnesham, "The advice is as valuable a the massage. Thanks! Very friendly :)"

Active Edge Owner Gets Active in Orange

The colour orange is the inspiration for this logo. It is dynamic vibrant and full of energy rather like it's owner. Once upon a time Sue Burnett had a bike frame that was built just right for her and she decided to have it sprayed pink and yellow. When you spray pink on yellow it goes a zingy orangy yellow colour. Some local riders have seen this 'Retro' bike out and about in Peterborough recently and it may even be appearing at time trial event near you soon. When you see this bike in the craziest shades of orange and yellow, it might just stand out in a rack of grey, red and black carbon fibre frames wheels and discs.

The bike might be little older but when your friends give you a backhanded compliment like "it's not slowing you down much" you begin to realise that it is not necessarily the craziest carbon cycle. the slinkiest style of shoe, or shiniest pair of shades that makes you go any faster, train any better or perform your personal best. It comes down to a good training approach, better nutrition and a healthy attitude to getting rest when it is needed. Make sure you include a healthy amount of rest in your exercise routine, eat healthily and approach your training with a purpose, you too will stand the rigours of time and have the time of your life.

Active Edge Solutions @ Grimsthorpe 10k, 31st August, 2009

Sue, providing sports massage for Cycling Bargains Racing Team riders at the Peterborough Stage, Tour Series, June 2009.

Grimsthorpe 10 k runners are in for a treat this Bank Holiday Monday. Active Edge Solutions has recently teamed up with Bourne Town Harriers to deliver pre/post race Sports Massage at the Grimsthorpe 10k on, Monday 31st of August. This popular 10k event, will be held in the scenic Grimsthorpe Castle grounds it promises to be a good one this Bank Holiday Monday, with lots of fun, varied terrain and fantastic scenery for the runners and spectators. To help you have an even better race, Active Edge Solutions Sue Burnett has teamed with Phil Young to provide a first class pre and post event service to help you prepare and recovery faster from your race efforts.

This top notch sports massage event service has become popular with many club runners at the Frostbite league, the Cycling Bargains Racing Team Riders and the A1 Series this season. A typical, pre/post event massage you can expect to pay around £8.00-£10.00 per 10/15 minute session. You can pre-book your session on the day to avoid dissapointment, it is allocated on a first come first serve basis. Do remember to pack some pocket money so that you can book yours on the day. Active Edge Solutions and Bourne Town Harriers, look forward to seeing you soon and helping you to make your event more memorable.