I have been testing the new iRULE mens endurance racing shirt the TORO literally all summer; run, ride, paddle ad nauseum on the NSW mid North Coast and North West Slopes and Plains country. It has handled everything I have thrown at it in scorchingly hot and humid conditions and has powered through each challenge by keeping me cool and comfortable and protected from the ravages of the Australian sun.

The new TORO marks a departure for the iRULE designers from their obsession with high tech merino variants as it is constructed from a light weight version of the Meryl Nateo so successfully used in their top selling MOTUS and RANTS knicks. The Meryl is an amazing microfibre yarn which is super soft against the skin but durable, wicks moisture like a decent bilge pump and provides constant airflow all while giving you unmatched protection from nasty UV light.

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Long a staple of the generations of athletes who have trained at QE II stadium under the tutelage of Mark J Elliott and others over the years, stair running is a powerful tool in the training kit bag for improving, strength, power and both aerobic and anaerobic capacities.

Given the potential for repetitive strain, impact and fall injuries to occur, stair running is an activity that needs some careful assessment, planning and execution.

Running stairs has been e very popular in the USA with athletes such as footballers and basketballers. Recent research however points to a reasonable risk of injury. It does not hurt to assess alternative exercises using gym-based stair climbers or elliptical machines. Remember, it’s not the running up that causes problems ( unless you slip or fall ) it is when you run back down that injury looms as your knees must absorb about three times your body weight on each step. If you add running to this you increase the impact by 7 to 12 times depending on your body weight, stair height and speed you are traveling.

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Magnesium is regarded as the anti-stress mineral as it works to relax skeletal muscles tissue, the smooth muscles of blood vessels and the gastro-intestinal tract. In contrast, Calcium plays the lead role in stimulating muscle contraction.

Despite magnesium’s pivotal role in energy production, many coaches and athletes remain unaware of its critical importance in maintaining health and performance.

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