Everyone was concentrating on Carrolton. When coach named me one of the three juniors that would run, I was scared, nervous and I wanted to perform well. I was running against mostly juniors and seniors. Including last year’s state winner and runner up. All I wanted to do was reach the sub-seventeen, the time under seventeen minutes.
That’s why injuries are so common now, everyone is pushing the limits to make it to the top and live their dream. There is so much work to get race ready in Motocross. Some say it’s as much as 90% preparation and 10% racing. The physical requirements to be at the top level are ridicules; you have to be in amazing shape. Not only having great cardio, but a lot of strength to throw around a 220+ pound dirtbike for 30minutes plus two laps, twice.
In addition, I did pretty good in the 12-minutes run also, probably because running is my favourite sport. I try to run 3 times per week during 30 to 45 minutes. So, running is one of my strengths, because I enjoy doing it and I practice a lot. However, for both of the tests I feel like I could have done better times and scores. Indeed, I went to run and walk outside to do the tests, and it was snowing and there was a lot of ice on the sidewalk, which was making my run harder than if I would have been in a gym or running outside with perfect conditions.
What do you personally hope to gain or accomplish by writing about this topic? My topic of choice is minimalist running shoes, barefoot running versus regular running shoes. I chose this topic because I am a runner. It started back in college when I was running cross-country and track. After a workout I would run barefoot across the field barefoot and feel the tension leave my feet.
You have to constantly the working out before the season and during the season week in and week out because it demands a great deal of strength. Also if you want to be able to perform with the big dogs in the sport you need to be just as strong as them or stronger. That’s what I thought each summer while I ran and lifted with the team everyday. Each day I tried to out perform myself from the last day and the other player on the team. In the mince of that I was training with to personal trainer in between the workouts during the summer.
“Tough.” Whenever I hear this word my mind wonders to the sport that showed me it. Many people see wrestling as just a sport, but I have found it to be much more than that. Wrestling has helped me in many aspects of my life. It has taught me to discipline myself, how to work hard, and to keep myself physically fit and healthy. At wrestling practice we practice technique for an hour and a half and then condition for the last half hour.
In cross country this year, I experienced a feeling that I never thought that I could possibly feel. I felt part of a team. Not just any team though, a team that has strong connections on and off of the race course. This huge family is always seen together sharing many memories and many well deserved laughs off of the course. As soon as those racing shoes come on, they are in their own game of dedication and heart to get them what they want.
My schedule consisted of waking up early every day and taking a 1.5 mile run, followed by taking 500 jump shots, a similar exercise Kobe performed during his high school career. Conquering the fear of failure became an imaginary bond between Kobe and I. I knew that working hard all summer honed my physical and mental edge on the court. When tryouts came around, the odds were against me, as the team roster had been established, but I did my best Kobe impersonation and played harder than anyone else on the court. I made the team because just like Kobe, I wasn’t going to fail. This experience taught me to have fortitude, and to always strive for my dreams.
For example, as well as determination at competition time, which forces an athlete to push themselves to their peak, and athlete must be determined to attend training sessions at all hours whilst also putting training over their social life. As well as their social life, athletes have to be determined to keep their physical fitness consistent and this would require them to have an extremely strict diet and sleeping patterns. A important factor in becoming an Olympic champion is your gentics. Genetics are an important requirement, because take for example an elite high jumper. If a person was to aspire to become an elite high jumper they would have to have the somatotype of an ectomorph.
Physicians have seen a huge increase in “overuse injuries” among young people over the past decade, due in part to more specialization, as well as large workout loads among talented young athletes. These injuries include knee, shoulder, and stress fracture injuries. The majority of overuse injuries are relatively minor and generally heal with rest and physical therapy, however, athletes that push themselves for perfection and extreme performances are at risk for life long injuries. As well as practicing a variety of sports to develop numerous skills, young athletes need to make sure they understand the importance of cardiac health, nutrition, growth, and psychosocial development. Children that start playing sports should be exposed to a variety of sports, rather than just focus on one throughout their whole lives.