Is this old school remedy of any therapeutic benefit to metrosexual endurance athletes? In the old days it was not uncommon for footballer players and boxers and the like to retire to a hot bath full of Epsom salts after a battering to soothe their aches and pains.

Certainly research and years of field experience show there are many positives to come from the use of this convenient combination of magnesium and sulphur in the form magnesium sulphate.

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Anybody with an appreciation for athletic history will recall the controversy surrounding Finnish distance running great Lasse Viren. The Scandinavian legend is the proud holder of a unique athletic double, winning both the 5,000m and 10,000m at successive Olympic Games (Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976). However, the fact that he managed to peak just when it counted prompted accusations that he had used blood doping techniques to boost his performance. Long thought to have been banished to the archives as an ergogenic aid, blood doping has reared its ugly head again (Tyler Hamilton) as the testing authorities look to get ahead of the EPO cheats.

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The body adapts to the physical stresses imposed upon it only when it is subjected to rest. Tapering is about adding the final touch to months of base, build and peak mileage endurance training. This is the end game for all that effort and discipline, so it requires your close attention. Along with the higher intensity interval training, the tapering of your program should enable you to compete in a refreshed, peaking state.

The tapering process is individualised, with no hard and fast rules as to a magic formula. Tim Noakes states in his book Lore of Running that “no one knows precisely how long one should taper for before a big race, but I believe that it may take at least 10 - 14 days and possibly longer for the body to recover from months of heavy training and racing.” This comment was made in respect of running and in particular marathons, so too can it be said of tapering for multi-discipline endurance events.

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I was downing a cup of green tea while watching the “Dragons’ Den” late last year when I had to sit up and take notice of a renowned Loughborough University academic try to trump up cash to commercialise his “Respi-vest” product. While I chortled at the gob smacking ignorance and arrogance of the Scottish robber baron as he tried to humiliate the academic my attention was drawn to the main benefit of this new product - strengthening of the diaphragm or “breathing muscle”. It’s a localised functional area of the body targeted by many a pilates and yoga instructor. The diaphragm is the large muscle just posterior to the rib cage that is used for respiration, and it is often disregarded as an involuntary muscle.

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Cartography is the art and science of representing our world in two dimensions. Cartography is an art because the map composition and its content will directly influence perception of the information presented. Cartography is also a science because maps do not exist without data – and there is a whole industry behind maintaining, providing and using the data that goes on maps. I have been working in this industry - the geospatial industry - for about 10 years.In this series of articles, I will reveal some of the secrets behind making maps and how to use them to your best advantage. The examples taken are from New Zealand, but the same can be applied for Australia, the US and probably anywhere else where topographic information exists.

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Listen to this Altdirt interview with Craig Gordon, world 24-hour MTB solo champion.

 

 Craig Gordon: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Experienced athletes, no matter what the sport will attest to the draining and dispiriting effects of homogenous training and competition. Maintaining enthusiasm and vitality is essential to improving performance and cross training is a practical, fun and effective way to engender enthusiasm and revitalise yourself.

Look, sport is meant to be fun not a chore; a form of play not punishment. Hopefully your personal philosophy embraces variety, stimulation, challenge and relaxation, benefits that can be realised by incorporating not only yoga, plyometrics and the venerable medicine ball in your training programs but also by indulging in cross training – the stimulus of other sports.

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